soules But they vse to stop the mouthes of their auditorie that should so say or enter into such discourse with them that if they haue not gotteÌ„ knowledg and profited in sanctification by their preaching then are they all without faith so in a woeful case in no estate of saluation bidding them prooue and examine themselues if Christ be not in them then are they reprobates c. This argument so terrifieth the poore soules consciences that neither haue knowledg to examine their waies by Godes word whether they lead vnto life or vnto death neither haue euer seene or beene taught any better course then that they are in to which if you add that general verbal knowledg of Christ and some fâ—…w other doctrinâ—…s touching faith and manners somwhat more pure then the doctrine of the papistes vvherin they haue found comfort yea and finding their consciences pricked and convinced of some sinnes they haue 〈◊〉 in their sermons haue indeuored through the grace of God to leaue thâ—…m at length gorteÌ„ victorie ouer them c. This knowledg comforâ—… remorse so worketh with these poore soules that they hold the ministers of these things in such veneration as they are ready with the people of Lystra to sacrifice vnto them not knowing in deed the effectual working of Sathans delusions with what shew of light and truth with what power signes lying vvonders he shal deceaue such as haue not receaued â—…he loue of the truth They know not that the false Church shal haue her religion vvorship also her ministers preachers of the Gospel of Christ c. y t these ministers shall transforme themselues as though they were ministers of righteousnes shall deceaue many vvith their false Christes and Gospels that they preach in these latter daies vvherof our Sauiour Christ his Apostles haue warned vs vvhy the false Church could not haue these thinges vvithout some general knowledg vvhich general knowledg shall reprooue such thinges as are contrarie to the same and yt being spiritual yt shal also haue spiritual effectes as to moue ioy or sorowe This the preaching in the popish Church also effecteth vvho hath taught your preachers this argument and hath as good right to vse yt towardes them as they vnto you or vnto vs. But can this knowledg which you get by them iustifie your vvaies your Church ministerie vvorship c. if not seing they are so directly against y e word of God what booteth this knowledg to eternal life Balaam vvith all the false prophets had and the deuils haue this faith knowledg in as great measure as the learnedst of these ministers yet the one is damned the others tremble As for the comfort receaued by their preaching yt hauing no promise of blessing in the word of God your Church whole ministerie being accursed is rather a feareful signe of the effectual working of their delusions theÌ„ any reason wherby you may assure your sâ—…lues or iustifie theÌ„ in their vngodly proceedings whome the word of God in al their workes coÌ„demneth Looke not to gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles or any good fruites of such euil trees as are not of our heauenly fathers planting therfore shalbe plucked vp by the rootes You see they haue stood teaching you day vnto day line vpon line line vpon line heere a litle there a litle yet haue neuer brought you to a cleere sight acknowledging of the truth You see they lead you in the crooked pathes of death they teach and stand ministers in the false Church of whose ministerie in this estate is no comfort but assured destructioÌ„ to be looked for they being sent of God in his wrath to deceaue the children of death the reprobate You see they are like those inchanters that resisted Moses who doe all their miracles both in Egipt and Babilon c. to deteine the people in Egipâ—… and Babilon They haue all gone out of the way they haue beene made altogether vnprofitable there is none that doth good no not one their throte is an open sepulchre they haue vsed their tongues to deceit the poison of aspes is vnder their lips whose mouth is full of cursing bitternes their feet are swift to shed blood destruction and calamitye is in their waies the way of peace they haue not knowen the feare of God is not before their eies How then should they profite this people or guide them right when they themselues know not the right way But heere they wil straight be vpon me with this question where I had my faith vnderstanding of the right course if not from them their preaching there being no other meanes left in the land to beget faith then their ordinarie preaching in this ministery this church which we now forsake The vanitie of this argument I haue euen now shewed and howe therby much rather the Church and ministerie of Rome with all the abhominations therin might be iustified seing they were much more catholike vniuersal then these But to their question I answere that God neuer leaueth himself without faithfull true witnesses which abhor iniquitie teach practise the truth so far as yt is reuealed vnto them which no doubt instruct manie and turne them from their euill waies Further we haue the holy word of God and the Lambe hath obteined to open the seales therof who hath giuen vs his Spirit to guide vs into all truth and bring all things to our remembrance that he hath taught vs. God is not tied to the lippes of these phariseis yea his glorie is to hide these things from the prowd and prudent and to reueale them to babes and sucklings The wind bloweth where yt listeth c. Faith is the only gift of God who neuer wanteth meanes to publish his truth and to saue his elect These popish priestes that stand ministers after a false and counterfait order euen after the order of Antichrist not of CHRIST and the order of his Testament that stand ministers of idolatrie vnto idolaters that hate to be reformed or reproued haue nought to doe to take God holy word in their mouthes But if they were as true famous ministers as euer spake vpon the earth yet if they should exercise such a ministerie as they do in those places after that idolatrous and corrupt maner to al the prophane and wicked Yf they had all the giftes of al men and Angels yet were they to be holden accursed to be left and not to be receaued to house c. we are to follow the Apostles no further then they walke with CHRIST no nor the whole church any further then they obserue the rules of the word vve are not to erre or be drawen into transgression with a multitude or by the mightie They breake the communion that breake the faith they breake the faith which transgresse the word But
of the elders whiles yt was inlightned with the burning lamps of Gods spirit and that the Book was receaued and opened of the Lamb whiles CHRIST sate vpō the white horse his owne holy word that they remained togeather in that heauenly order vvher in CHRIST had placed bestowed euerie member the Apostles those excellent workmē had planted left them being fitly coupled ioined togeather by euerie ioint for the seruice help of the whole according to the effectual power that is in the measure of euerie part vntil Satan I say that auncient enimie of our happines had that great sword giuē him vvherwith he made stil shal make bloudye war raise vp greeuous persecutiō against the woman her seed without vvithin vvhiles they slept were negligēt sowing his darnel of errors and tares of discord amongst them raising vp sectes through the ambition and vainglory of some drawing others into schisme through pride and hypocrisie others into heresies through their headstrong vnbridled asfectiōs al into his snare through the general default of al who slacked their duties kept not their orderly watch one ouer an other and iointly ouer the whole as they were cōmanded prescribed by the Apostles But as the age that arose after Ioshua those Elders of his time vvas sone corrupted and forgate the ordināces of their GOD and the great thinges the Lord had done for their forefathers so these sone fell frō the Apostolike order and left their primitiue diligence care The people vpō a superstitious reuerence preposterous estimatiō vnto their teachers and elders resigned vp al thinges euen their du◅ie interest libertie prerogatiue into their handes suffering them to alter dispose of all thinges after their owne lustes without inquirie or controlemēt vvhervpon the true patterne of CHRISTES Testamēt so highly and with so great charge incōmended by the Apostles vnto the fidelitie of the vvhole Church was soone neglected and cast aside especially by these euil work mē these gouernours who some of thē affecting the preeminēce sought to draw an absolute power into their owne hādes peruerting those offices of more labour care into swelling titles of fle◅hly pompe and vvorldly dignitie Thus vvrought the mysterie of iniquitie yea so far were manie of them caried with a vaine opinion and ostentation of the excellencie of their giftes as they vnder holy pretextes of doing good vnto others sought al◅o vnder this cloke a iurisdiction and regencie ouer other congregat◅ons also which was easily obteyned the people thr◅ugh the iust iudgmētes of GOD being now so bewitched and blinded with their sweet tongues that they easily condiscended Then were these caled Bishops of such a Citie and if they were cities of rule to which any territories townes or hamletes in the countrie belonged then were they called Bi◅hops of such a Diocesse c. had vnder them inferiour or countrie Bishops as also Deacons subdeacons Thus the whole Church growing remisse negligēt both people officers that heauenly patterne left by the Apostles was soone violate and vpō new pretences more more innouate For hereby was a wide gap opened to al licenciosnes disorder the people growing dissolute the priestes as they terme them proude so that religion with was erwhile so irksoome to flesh and blood so mightily persecuted by Sathan and all the princes of the world grew now so plausible to all sortes of men so pleasing to their affections appetites that the great Princes of the world and all their realmes countries flowed apace to the Church in this estate the gates and entrie being as ill kept without as the watch within So that vpon this increase there were manie of these citie Bishops wherby the pride of some could not heerwith be satisfied vntil they had gottē them a new dignitie namely to be Archbb s. ouer all the BB s. in a Prouince or countrie Heer were also new Deacons Archdeacons erected Yet was not the ambitious thirst of some thus stanched but they aspired yet to a more high degree preeminēce so that there must now be picked out fowre principal cities vvhich must carrie 4. Patriarches These had yet higher power thē the Archb s. and were erected to see to the gouernment discipline as they call yt of al Churches in respect or rather in despite of those 4 beastes vvhich had so many eies and vvings and ◅tood day and night about the throne of GOD. but they vvere rather those 4 angels vvhich stood vpon the 4 corners of the earth holding the 4 windes of the earth that the windes should not blow vpon the earth neither on the sea nor on any tree But Sathan hauing yet a further reach ceased not heere but euen amongst those 4 he stil cōtended to set vp one chief which variably fell out somtimes to one somtimes to another vntil at length the lot rested vpō the Sea of Rome vvhere the papacie being vpholdē by mixed with the Empire and in the end swallowing yt vp became the very throne of An◅ichrist vvhere he sitteth in his exaltatiō to vvhome the key of the bottomles pyt vvas giuen vvhich being by him set vvide open the smoke of his cannons deuises trumperies and abhominations darkned the funne poisoned the aire the Locustes Scorpiōs that came out of this pit out of this smoke the multitudes and swarmes of monkes fryers cannons vagrant mendicant preachers parish priestes c. so pestered and prisoned euerie tree so stung enuenomed euerie conscience as they could beare no fruite neither brooke any wholsome doctrine Thus Antichrist being now established and fortified in the midst of his strengths his councel of Cardinals his Metropolitane Archbishops Palatine Lord BB s. in euerie countrie he now receaued the great charter of his prerogatiue infernal euen the Dragon his power throne and auctoritie He now boldly opened his mouth against God blaspheming the tabernacle of CHRIST them that dwel therin innouating and changing all thinges after his owne ◅ustes the ministerie gouernment orders worship thus exalting himself against al that is called GOD sitting in the temple of GOD as GOD shewing himself that he is GOD causing all men to worship his miage to receaue his mark to buy his vvares c. bringing ◅orth his harlot vpon the stage of the vvorld stately mounted vpon his beastly power pompously araied and gorgiously decked and adorned the more to allure intise vvhose cup of fornicatiōs was caried far neere to many nations people and tongues so that the kings of the earth committed fornication with her the inhabitants of the earth vvere drunkē with the vvine of her fornications which she conueied vnto them by the handes of her merchantmen vvho are vvax◅n ritch vvith the abundance of her pleasures Yet in al this defectiō corruptiō apostacie hath GOD
words hath arisen amongst them without end or edifying Therfore let vs for the apeasing and assurance of our consciences giue heed to the word of God and by that golden reed measure our temple our altar our worshippers euen by these rules wherby the Apostles ◅hose excellent perfect workmē planted built the first churches comparing the synagogues of this lād vnto them in the people the ministerie administration order gouernment c. This way cannot deceau◅ vs for neit◅er can the simplest erre therin neither any pol◅uted how subtle and cunning soeuer passe by yt vnespied vnre◅rooued For as ther is but one truth ◅o whatsoeuer is diuerse more or less th◅n that truth is faultie and to be repented FIRST THERFORE because euerie building consisteth of stones let vs examine of vvhat kinde of stones this Church of Eng◅and as they terme yt consisteth and is compact vvhether of such elect precious liuing stones vvhich are gathered vnto and ◅uilt vpon CHRIST IESVS and in him grow vnto an holy and spi◅itual temple vnto GOD c. or of common Babilonish repro◅ate stones wherof the Lord hath sworne that not one of them ◅halbe taken for a corner or for a foundation in his house The material temple which was but a type of this vve ◅eade to be built from the verie foundation of choice costly perfect stones the beames rafters of choise Cedars Algummin trees No cōmon or vile thing vvas vsed towardes yt neither might any profane polluted enter into yt But of the incomparable bewtie vnvtterable excellencie of this spiritual Temple vnder the holy ministerie and happy perfect gouernment of CHRIST all the prophetes haue with great delight spoken fore told and with extreme desire inquired longed to see the reuelatiō of these ioies graces which they in the spirit foresaw foreshewed vnto vs to whome they should be performed The prophet I saiah speaking of the excellēcie therof breaketh forth into these vvordes Behold I vvill lay thy stones vvith the Carbuncle thy foundatiōs with saphirs I will make thy vvindowes of Esmeraldes thy gates of shining stones and al thy borders of pretious stones and thy children shalbe taught of the Lord much peace shalbe to thy children And in an other place speaking of the excellent glorie of this spirituall temple he vseth these wordes For brasse I vvill bring gold for yron I vvil bring siluer for vvood brasse for stones yron I vvill make also thy gouerment of peace thine exactors of righteous◅es c. thy people also shalbe all righteous they shall possesse the land for eue◅ the graffe of my planting shalbe the work of mine handes that I may be glorified And againe For thornes there shal grow firr trees for nettles shal grow the myrrh tree yt shalbe to the Lord for a name for an euerlasting signe that shall not be taken away Al the plantes of this orcha◅d shalbe of the Lordes planting they shal all be incense Aloe trees pomgranates and fir trees which shal cōtinually bring forth pleasant newe fre◅h fruit because they grow by the sides of the riuer of life are watered with the dewe of heauen and refreshed vvith the windes of godes spirit They come not nor grow not heere vntil they be first cut off from their corrupt natural stock vvhere they grewe before be ingrafted into ◅he true ol◅ue tree the true vine yea being planted and ingrafted that plāt that branch that bringeth not forth good fruit shalbe hewen downe shalbe cut off cast out c. Into this mountaine entereth no venemous or harmfull creature the cockatrice aspe the Lion Leopard enter not and lodge not heere vntill they haue left their poison their fiercenes c. so that the sucking child may pla◅ vpon the hole of the Aspe the weaned child pu◅ his hand vpō the hole of the Cockatrice the lambe and the wolfe dwel togither the kid the Leopard ◅at straw together and a litle child shal lead them Ther may none be admitted into the church of CHRIST but such as enter by publike profession of the tru◅ faith None remayne there but such as bring forth the fruites of faith The forerunner Ihon the baptist first preached repentance to prepare the way and make strait the pa◅hes of the Lord before he baptised any The like did our Sauiour Christ and his disciples The Apostles also first gathered a people by preaching vnto the faith then receaued and ioyned them to the Church and administred vnto them the holy pledges of the faith baptisme as a seale of their ing◅affing into CHRIST the holy supper as a symbole of their communion with CHRIST and al his faithful seruantes Thus see we vvhat kinde of stones vvhat manner of people the Lord will haue built receaued into his Church Now yt remaineth tha◅ vve by these rules examine the stones and people of the Church of England whether they be such chosen pretious stones as we see here described as the high priest caried in his broidered brestplate vvhether they be such a chosen redeemed faithful free holy people as are called vnto and walke in the faith of CHRIST IESVS or they be rather of the reffuse common pibble chalke stones which cannot be vsed to any sownd and sure building euen al the profane and wicked of the land Atheistes Papistes Anabaptistes heretikes of al sortes gluttōs riot◅urs blasphemers periures couetous extortioners thieues whores witches coniurers c. and who not that dwelleth within this Iland or is within the Queenes dominion All without exception or respect of person are receiued into and nourished in the bosome of this Church with the word and sacramentes None are here refused none kept out This Church as the prophet saith openeth her knees to euerie passenger furnisheth a table to the multitude and drink offerings to the numbers she keepeth open house to all commers bread and wine and welcome Neither is she more dainty of her stollen waters then of her hid bread of her adulterate baptisme then of her Sheshak supper not denying baptisme to the seed euen of whores and vvitches she receaueth thē al into her couenāt vvhich is not w t GOD but with death and hell giuing them her peace selling them her wares c. This is their communion of saintes their holy fellowship thus are they bound enchained togither in opē sacriledge idolatrie impietie euen al estates Prince priestes and people and as the Prophet saith euen vvreathed togither as in a strong cable of iniquitie and folded one vvithin an other as thornes in an hedg or rather vvrapped and plighted together as thornes to the fire of Godes wrathfull iudgmentes For whither vve consider the vvhole estate or any particuler part therof vve shall find yt wholy corrupte deeply s◅ as in
fruites therof but take in all the common welth euen al the Queenes subiectes into this thâ—…ir Church vnder CHRISTS gouernment and protection for so would they beare them in hand that such this reformation which they seeke is Their false maner of exercising this their pretended discipline may 〈◊〉 appâ—…re by the weake and fearfull practise of some of their forward men who that they might make a faire â—…hew amongst their rude ignorant parishners in stead of CHRISTS gouernmeÌ„t set vp their counterfait Discipline in and ouer all the parish making the popish Churâ—…hwardens periured Questmen Elders And for M r. Parson himself he takes vnto him the instrumeÌ„t of that foolish shepeheard his pastoral staffe or woodden dagger of suspension wherwith he keepeth such a floorishing as the flies caÌ„ haue no rest yea by your leaue if any poore man in the parish offend him he may peraduenture goe without his bread wine for that day Their permanent Synods and councels also which they would erect not heere to speake of ther new duch Classâ—… for therin is a secret should only consist of Priests or Ministers as they terme them people of the Churches be shut out and neither be made acquainted with the matters debated there neither haue free voice in those Synods Councels but must receaue obey without contradiction whatsoeuer those learned Priests shall decree These Synods Councels shall haue absolute power ouer all Churches doctrines ministers to erect ratifie or abrogate to excommunicate or depose at their pleasures Their decrees are most holy without controulement vnlesse yt be by the Prince or the high Court of ParliameÌ„t Not â—…eere to speake of their solemne orders obserued in these councils and Synodes as their choice by suffrage amongst themselues of their Archisynagogoâ—… or Rector Chorj their president as they call him propownder or moderator of their councell about which their predecessors haue had no small stir vntil their holy Father the Pope put an end to the strife by getting the chaire This stusfe they would bring in againe vnder colour of reformatioÌ„ â—…hese many more their leauened corrupt writings of discipline and their supplications vnto the Parliament dâ—…clare With what pernicious forgeries what kind of sacrilegious profanation of Gods holy ordinances shal more playnly appearâ—… wheÌ„ we haue sâ—…t downe the truth of CHRISTS institutioÌ„ which is the only arch-type and true patterne of all true builders buildings which who so at any hand transgresseth either in matter or maner as they speake is to be reproued as an euill workeman and his work to burne seeme yt to haue neuer so great anâ—…iquitie holines vâ—…ilitie in pretence The auncient waies of the Lord are the only true waies whatsoeuer is second or diuers is new false This I say because both these factions of our pontifical and reforming Priests haue sought rather to the broken pitts drie cisternes of mens inuentions for their direction and groundworke then vnto the purâ—… fountaine of Gods word The first sort most groâ—…ly drawe al their water from that most 〈◊〉 drayne and poisoned sinke of the papistical corrupâ—…ion as is to be seene by their whole ministerie worship ministration gouernment c. because yt in all pointes accordeth â—…o their antichristian prelacie idolaâ—…rie pride c. and only beâ—…t agreeth to the corrupt estate of this realme vvhich hath so long beene made dronke with the vvhores cuppe that they can now taste or brooke no other liquor Tâ—…e other sort they fetch their reformation from the primitiue defectioÌ„ when the ministerie began to vsurpe grow into vnlawful superioritie and iurisdiction when they began to decline from the true patterne of CHRISTS Testament and grew bold to innouate as to set vp a new antichristiaÌ„ ministerie as their Prouincials Bishops Archbishops Archdeacons Metropolitanes Patriarchs to take the whole regiment of the Church into their hands to gather councils of Bishops to make new decrees c. All which proceedings as I find them defected from the rules of CHRISTS Testament so far dare I boldly pronownce them their proceedings I meane leauing their persons to the Lords iudgment wicked vngodly not looking vnto or respecting the learning or holines of the men how ancient how manie soeuer From these ancient defections haue these learned reforming Priests drawen their platforme of reformation as best suting to the estimation of their persons the admiration of their learning and holines and not greatly opposite to the sinfull estate of the land especially as they in theiâ—… wisdomes would vse the matter who I dare vndertake for them good men would not molest or offend anie of welth or authoritie liue as they list neither need they be so afraid of the thunderbolt of exâ—…munication they wil I warrant you proceed to yt with a leaden heele especially agâ—…inst such men And for the râ—…st which seemes so strange in their eares as their Pasâ—…ors and Elders for their Parson Questmen their Synodes in stead of their Commissaries courts their high councels in stead of the high coÌ„mission let them neuer be afraid for by that time they are acquâ—…inted with the new names they shall not finde the iurisdiction halfe so strange as yt seemes It wil be troublesome to none but to their Lords the BB. their courts attendants and the dombe ministers in deed their cake is dough if this geare this sweeping new reformation come in As for these new officers these Elders they shall be but of the welthiest honest simple men of the parish that shal sit for ciphers dombe by their Pastor meddle with nothing neither poore soules shal they know more then they say As for the ordering of all things y t shalbe in the Pastors hands only especially in some chiefe men who shall be these presidents rulers of Synodes councels and so the pâ—…ople be kept as far from the knowledg performance of their duties as euer they were for so long haue the Priests for so still I call all false and antichristian ministers vsurped and deteined the sole regiment of the Church in their hands as yt wilbe a verie hard matter for the people euer to recouer their libertie agâ—…ine You see how the one side the Pontificals I meane prescribe in their quiâ—… possessioÌ„ reiect al claime the people can make refuting them by Mâ—…hiauels coÌ„siderations 〈◊〉 his Politikes in stead of the new Tesâ—…ameÌ„t alledging I wore not how many pollitike incoÌ„uenieâ—…ces in way of Barre The other sect or factioÌ„ rather these Reformiâ—…s howsoeuer for fashioÌ„ sake they giue the people a litle libertie to sweeten their mouthes make theÌ„ beleeue that they should choose their owne ministers for further right in the censuring their ministers or in the ordering the affaires of their churches they allow not as hath beene sayd yet euen in this pretended choice doe they coozen beguile theÌ„ also leauing them nothing but the smoky windy title