Antichrist from whom they are descended and succeeded both lineally and of great antiquity Mystically Wherefore I humbly beseech the King and Parliament that you will betimes listen unto the holy spirit in the mouth of the prophet which saith Psal 2.10 Be wise now therefore ye Kings be learned or instructed ye Judges of the earth serve the Lord in feare and rejoice in trembling kisse the Son of God lest hee be angry and ye perish in the way of persecution when his wrath shall suddenly burn Let not therefore the Kings of the earth band themselves with the Bishops and Ministers of Antichrist Psal 2. â— 3. 1 Ioh. 2.20 Rev. 17.14 nor Princes assemble themselves together against the Lord and against his amointed that is against Christ and his Church seeing both he and she break your bands and east your cords from them Rev. 12.11 Yea her seed overcommeth you by the bloud of the lamb and by the word of their testimony for they love not their lives unto death Beware then in time lest you offend any more of these little ones that beleeve in Christ seeing Christ saith it were better to have a milstone hanged about the neck Matth. 18.6.10 and drowned in the depth of the Sea then so to do He meaneth that it were better for you to lose your lives then any way to consent to the offence of such little ones that beleeve in Christ See then I pray that they be not despised burned banished hanged and imprisoned For their Angels alwaies behold the face of Christs Father in heaven and remember he saith Matth. 10.38 39. Matth. 11.35.36 the tree is known by his fruit but persecuting of Christians is an evill fruit And that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things but persecuting of christians is no good thing and that for every idle word men shall speake they shall give accounts at the last day of judgements How much more for every wicked and cruel deed of persecution as burning banishing hanging and imprisoning of those that confesse with the mouth Rom. 10.9 and beleeve with the heart the Lord Iesus and that God raised him from the dead whose laws and ordinances they are carefull to keepe and obey Christ saith that such shall be saved and yet you feare not to burn banish hang and imprison such But if you beleeve that God will avenge his elect Luk 18.9 beware of persecuting his servants that cal on his name specially such as witnesse his truth against the abominations of Antichrist Suffer not your Bishops to destroy those men and women that strive to serve God according to his will in his word Be not your Bishops executioners in burning banishing hanging and imprisoning of harmlesse and peaceable Christians but let them enjoy freedom of the gospel and liberty of conscience that so the apostolick Church which is scattered and driven into the wildernesse and desart of this world may be againe gathered together both of Jews and Gentiles into visible and stablished congregations 2 Thes â— 8 And that the Catholick and universall Church of Antichrist may bee consumed and abolished by his word and spirit as the holy Apostle hath foretold even the uttermost of his arrivall which is the Emperiall and triple Crowne I pray the Lord to give such grace the Sea of Rome may ebbe apate through the triple sea of Rome And again I humbly intreat the King and Parliament to vouchsafe to heare me with patience yet a little further If freedom of the Gospel and permission of conscience might be granted then would not Papists nor any others dissemble their religion to the dishonor of God the destruction of their souls and to the great danger both of King and State seeing they are forced to Church against their consciences may not Popish Priests and Jesuites unawares to the Bishops become the Bishops Ministers seeing the change of their Religion and religious habit differ so little and so by degrees infect the people with more Popish doctrine as occasion shall be Nota. From Popes submission there is great suspition And such men will readily embrace the Bishops Orders and so they shall readily have the Bishops favours by which means they may more easily and speedily have accesse unto the Court and presence of the King and Prince which indeed is very dangerous howsoever not regarded Therefore I doe according to my duty humbly advise his Majesty not to beutifie his Court and presence with any popish stones not with one though it be of Alablaster But permission of conscience and freedom and liberty of the Gospel will no way be dangerous to the King or State if such like rules as these be observed 1. That no people tainted with treason doe beare any office 2. That all sorts of people tainted with treason do at all times from home weare a black hat with two white signs the one before 1 Kin. 2.36 41 42. Rom. 13 1. to 5. the other behind in open sight 3. That no people tainted with treason approach within ten miles of the Court without licence 4. That no people tainted with treason do inhabit the City of London nor yet within ten miles thereof 5. That none tainted with treason do make any assembly or congregation 6. That no person or persons in whatsoever difference by reasoning or disputing do draw any weapon nor give any blow stroke or push in paine and penalty as his Majesty and Parliament thinke meet 7. That for the more peace and quietnes and for the satisfying of the weak and simple among so many persons differing in Religion it bee lawfull for every person or persons yea Jewes and Papists to write dispute confer and reason print and publish any matter touching Religion either for or against whomsoever always provided they alledge no Fathers for proof of any point of religion 2 Tim. 2.24 25 Iames 3.17 but only the holy Scriptures neither yet to reproach or slander one another nor any other person or persons but with all love gentleness and peaceableness informe one another to the glory of God honor of the King and State and to their own good and credit Note A true signe of false Bishops and Ministers by which means both few errors and few books wil be written and printed seeing all false Ministers and most people have little or nothing else besides the Fathers to build their religion and doctrine upon or if it be once stablished by law that none shall confirm their religion and doctrine by the Fathers and by prisons burning and banishing c. but by the holy Scriptures then error will not be written nor disputed except by obstinate persons feared consciences seeing the word of God will be no shelter for any error Yea I know by experience among the people called Brownists that a Man shal not draw them to write though they be desired
his Bishops and Ministers to perswade Prince and people to heare and beleeve the Gospel by his word and spirit and as Ambassadors for him to beseech both Prince and people to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 6.20 and not as Tyrants to force and constraine them by persecution At â—y thousand Ambassadors Martyrs of Christ hath Bishops caused to bee slaine since Christ ascended Mark 13.9 Persecution destroys Christians but not errors Thirdly because through persecution it will come to passe that the Ambassadors of the onely spirituall Lord and King Iesus may he persecuted and imprisoned burned hanged or banished for delivering the message of their gracious Lord sincerely and often both to Prince and people which to doe is a more hainous fact then to persecute the Ambassadors of the greatest King and Prince in the world for in stead of hereticks they shall as they have already burn banish and hang the Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ who doth choose out whom he pleaseth to beare his name before Kings and Rulers for a testimoniall to them Fourthly because then we cannot say we have the liberty of the Gospel in our Land seeing where that is there is no persecution for any difference in Religion nor forcing of the conscience to beleeve the Gospel except by the word and spirit of God onely the which do wound and kill the errors of men and not their persons 2 Cor. 10.4 1 Tim. 1.13 15. Luke 9.53.55 Persecutors rebuked of Christ Fifthly because Christ came into the world to save sinners and not to destroy them though they be blasphemers seeing the Lord may convert them as he did Saul after called Paul and though they have difference in Religion or will not heare nor beleeve in Christ that they may be converted yet ought you not to persecute them seeing Christ rebuketh such his Father sent him not into the world to condemn the world but to save it be ye followers therefore of Christ and not of Antichrist in gathering people to the faith 1 Cor. 10 32. Col. 4.5 Sixthly because then you shall not walke wisely towards them that are without as the Scripture teacheth but shall offend also the Iewes and all other strangers who account it tyranny to have their consciences forced to religion by persecution Seventhly because if persecution bee not laid downe and liberty of conscience set up then cannot the Jews nor any strangers nor others contrary minded be ever converted in our Land for so long as they know aforehand that they shall be forced to beleeve against their consciences they will never seek to inhabit there by which means you keep them from the Apostolique faith if the apostolique faith be only taught where persecution is Eighthly because if freedom of conscience be not set up and persecution laid down then all the Kings subjects and all strangers inhabiting the Land that shall beleeve the Apostolique faith must depart the land to some free country or else abide the danger of burning banishing Persecution does make many strangers hanging and imprisoning the first will be a great impoverishing and weakning of our land besides a losse of the faith fullest subjects and friends The second will provoke the Lord to wrath by spilling the blood of his faithfull servants ambassadors and witnesses and also open the mouths of all strangers to speake yet more lamentably of the cruel and bloody persecution of our Land Ninthly because if persecution continue then the King and State shall have against their wils many dissemblers in authority and office both in Court City and Country yea no man of any degree shall know whether they are all faithfull and true Christians that are about him and with whom he hath to doe seeing most men will conforme themselves for feare of persecution although in their hearts they hate and detest the Religion whereto they are forced by law the which is very dangerous and hurtfull both to King and State in time of temptation from beyond the seas and in rebellion at home for they that are not faithfull to God in their Religion will never be faithfull to the King and State in their allegiance specially being tryed by a great reward or by a mighty rebell but wil to encrease their honors revenues conform themselves and some to save their honors land goods and lives will yeeld and submit though against their wils even as they have done in case of Religion for through forcing men to Church by persecution the true hearted subjects are forced out of the Land and out of the world some banished others burn'd hang'd and imprisoned to death Tenthly because then Persecution causes many religions in the Church if there be many religions in the land as it is well known there are it will come to passe through the continuance of persecution that many religions will be continued in the Church seeing all are forced to Church who bring their Religions with them as well as their bodies whereby all their devotion is against their consciences and all the Church is a confused Babel Rev. 18.2.4 full of every uncleane and hatefull bird even a bold of foule Spirits as the Scripture speaketh out of which the people of God are commanded to flee lest as of their sins they be also partakers of their plague And the Bishops the authors of persecution are very ignorant to think that when they have gotten people to their Church by persecution that then they have gotten them to their faith and Religion Better were it to have many religions in the land then in the Church the which is nothing so for most people though contrary minded to save life and goods will dissemble their Religion as for example the Jews in Spain and Portugal and the Papists Reformists and others in England but when they come hither or to some other free City or Counrry where praised be God is liberty of the Gospel then they shew that before they dissembled to avoid the cruell persecution of our Land Moreover the Bishops bewray great ignorance when they perswade the King and Parliament to force Prince and people to Church by persecution for if that be the means to come to the Church of Christ then Christ hath taught us to flee the means of salvation seeing hee hath taught us to flee persecution Mat. 10.23 Christ teacheth to flee persecution ergo it cannot possible be good Mat 7. 13. Note see 2 Tim. 3.3 4. the which the Bishops and their Ministers perswade to be a great means to bring men to the Church Indeed I confesse it is the onely meanes to bring Prince and people to the false church and therfore Christ teacheth us to flee that means least through persecution which is a great temptation we be constrained to goe the broad way which is the false Church that leadeth to destruction and many go in thereat and no marvail for there men may bee any thing except
is most certain Better today then tarry till tomorrow though most uncertain when that those antichristian and popish laws may bee disanulled and made void in time lest wee all lament and bewaile it when it wil be too late And I pray your Majesty and Honors to consider Rev. 17.16 Gen. 17.6 Rom. 4 17. that Kings and Princes hearts are in the hands of the Lord as the rivers of waters to turn as he will the Scripture saith the ten horns by which I understand ten Kings shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked Likewise the Scripture saith to Abraham the father of beleeving Princes as well as beleeving people Also I will make thee exceeding fruitfull and will make nations of thee yea Kings shall proceed of thee which Scripture doe also overthrow the judgment of those men that hold a Christian may not bee a King nor Magistrate Ismael and Edom excepted Gen. 17.8 with Gen. 15.13.18 16.10 17.18.20 26.3 21.13 Gen. 14. 14. Let such consider that the Lord here speaketh of Abrahams spirituall seed and not of his naturall seed because if it be understood of his naturall seed then cannot Abraham be the father of many nations seeing all Abrahams naturall seed are called Jews and are but one nation of the Iews so that the covenant of God could not be performed that said I wil make nations of thee yea Kings shal proceed of thee therfore it must be understood of his spirituall seed of which may be Kings and Princes that are not naturally descended of him as well as people that are naturally descended of him therefore beleeving Kings may safely walk in the steps of their father Abraham and with their swords defend their subjects against their adversaries and redeem their brethren out of the jaws of all devouring beasts and bloody persecutors Rom. 13.4 for they beare not the sword for nought And now also I desire those subjects of what degree soever that would destroy their Kings and Governours for difference in religion to consider that therin they justifie their Kings and Governours which destroy their subjects for difference of Religion for as it is sin for Kings and Governours to destroy their subjects for difference of Religion at the perswasion of their Bishops so is it sin but in a higher degree for subjects to destroy their Kings and Governors for difference of religion at the perswasion of their Bishops and Ministers Therfore persecution for difference in religion is a monstrous cruell beast that destroyeth both Prince and people hindereth the Gospel of Christ and scattereth his disciples that witnes and professe his name But permission of conscience in difference of Religion saveth both Prince and people for it is a meek and gentle lambe which not onely furthereth and advanceth the gospel but also fostereth and cherisheth those that professe it as may be seen by the permission of the Princesse Elizabeth and others that were permitted and fostered in Dutchland at that time Permission of conscience a furtherance to the gospel and a safety both to prince and people Also permission of conscience is a great and sure band and benefit to the King and State as may likewise be seen in the same Princess Elizabeth who if she had not been permitted but had suffered death as the bloody Bishops earnestly desired then had not the kingdom bin so surely nor yet so purely kept and preserved for his Majesty and his royall Issue as now it is the Lord be praised therefore Further I beseech his right excellent Majesty and Parliament to observe that persecution was the occasion that the apostolick Church was at first scattered and driven into the wildernesse that is desert places of the world whither she fled to save her self from the rage and tyranny of Antichrist Rev. 12.6.14 13.17 2 Cor. 11 1â— and his Apostles and Ministers the first authors of persecution under the gospel Therefore his Majesty and Parliament may please to consider that so long as persecution continue so long will the apostolick Church continue scattered and persecuted into the secret places of this world and no marvail for her faith and discipline is as offensive as odious and as unwelcome unto Antichrist and his Bishops and Ministers now as it was then as their burning banishing hanging and imprisoning do witnesse even unto this day And it is to be noted that as the Apostolick faith and discipline in the Apostles days 2 Thess 2.6 7. when through them true signes and wonders were wrought by the extraordinary gift and power of the holy Ghost did let and hinder the mystery of iniquity wrought by Antichrist his Apostles and Ministers by whom the lying signes and wonders were done through the extraordinary spirit of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. 2 Tim. 3.1 4 5. 2 Pet. 2.1 3. 1 Joh. 4.41 2 John 7. Jud. 4 11.16 18. Note well 1 Joh. 4 3. So now the catholick or antichristian faith and discipline having gotten the upperhand by her lying signs wonders and by persecution do by the same let and hinder the mystery of godlinesse wrought by Christ his Apostles and Ministers by whom the true signes and wonders were done without persecution And it is well worthy to be observed both of King Prince and people that the Bishops Ministers of Antichrist cannot abide nor endure the faith and discipline of the apostolick Church because it will be the overthrow of their blasphemous and spirituall Lordships and of their Antichristian and bloudy kingdom And therefore are they so fiery hot and zealous for the Catholick or antichristian faith and discipline for by their faith they shew plainly that they are succeeded and descended from antichrist Who confessed not that the Messiah came in flesh and by their discipline or government they plainly shew they are Antichrists Bishops and Ministers who persecute with fire and sword all degrees both King Prince and people that will not confesse their faith obey their discipline And it is very plain and easie both for King Prince and people if they will not take up Religion on credit and content them with the religion they were born and brought up in as do the Papists to discern who they be that teach the apostolick faith and discipline who they be that teach the Antichrists faith and discipline for the holy Apostle sheweth it to all men that will give heed thereto for he saith Dearly beloved beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the world which confesse not that Jesus Messiah came in flesh Hereby shall you know the spirit of God The Syriack saith Came in flesh every spirit that confesseth that Iesus Messiah came in flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Messiah came in flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist whom
ye have heard how that he should come and now already is he in the world The same is the Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son whosoever denyeth the Son the same hath not the Father 1 Ioh. 2. â—… 2â— Iohn 17.3.5.8 1 Cor. 15.47 Iohn 6 38.4â— 62 7.26 27. Iohn 16.2 3.27 21. the Apostle meaneth such as deny Jesus to be Messiah the Lord that came down from heaven as Christ and they have taught such have not the Father but doe deny him also as they have taught him and therefore Christ saith The times shall come that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service but these things they will do unto you because thay have not known the father nor me the father loveth such as beleeve that I came out from God thus saith Christ but Antichrist and his Ministers beleeve not this doctrine neither doe they thus teach Christ Jesus the Messiah And you may please to understand that of this Antichrist or rather as the Syriack of this false Christ came the Church of Rome whose Bishops and Ministers teach not this doctrine and as the mother so the daughter also teacheth not this doctrine but will likewise persecute both Prince and people that shall confesse that Iesus Messiah came in flesh as John teacheth 1 Ioh. 4 2. Iohn 6.62 and 3.13 Iohn 17 5. 1 Cor. 15.47 49 1 Ioh. 4 3. 2 Cor. 11 12 15. Rev. 12.6.14 or that the Son of man ascended up where he was before or that he was glorified with his father before the world was as himself saith Or that he was the second man the Lord from heaven or that he had and hath a heavenly body as Paul teacheth for these and such like doctrines doe the Church of Rome and her daughters persecute with fire and sword being indued with the spirit of Antichrist By which Antichrist his Apostles and Ministers the Apostolick Church was scattered and driven into the wildernesse that is desert and secret places of this world even by their bloody persecution the which still they continue and raise against the members and witnesses thereof who were and are the martyrs which in all ages have and doe suffer death imprisonment and banishment since the first persecution and we never read nor ever shall read that the Apostolick Church or such as have derived their faith and discipline of her did ever persecute Therefore I humbly desire his Majesty and Parliament with all godly carefulnesse to consider that it is not possible that the Church of Rome called Catholick or those that are descended of her and have received their Ministry and Ordination from her ever was or could be the apostolick Church called primitive Church or she that is descended from her seeing the Scripture saith the Apostolick Church called in Scripture the woman hath a place prepared of God in the wildernesse a thousand two hundred and sixty days from the presence of such as did persecute her Rev. 12 6.13.14 How then I beseech you consider may it be possible that the church of Rome called in Scripture a mystery great Babylon the mother of whoredoms and abominations of the earth the woman that sitteth upon a scarlet coloured beast ful of names of blasphemy the woman arrayed in purple scarlet and guilded with gold and precious stones and pearls having a cup of gold in her hand full of abominations and silibinesse of her fornication the woman that is drunken with the blood of saints with the blood of the martyrs or witnesses of Iesus by her beastly persecution was or could be ever the Apostolique Church or are those that are descended from her seeing the Scripture saith Rev. 12 6.13.14 she hath a place in the wildernesse prepared of God where she should be sed a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes from the presence of her persecutors If so be you will have the Church of Rome and those that are descended from her to be the true Apostolick church Note then it wil follow that the church called the woman and did fly into the wilderness from her persecutors was and is the false Antichristian Church and also it will follow that those which we account to be the martyrs and witnesses of Jesus were not of the true Apostolick Church 2 Thes 2.3 6.8 1 Tim. 4.1.2 â—… Rev. 12.6 11 14. and 17.2 6 17. 2 Tim. 3.1.9 4.3 4. 2 Pet. 2.1.3 1 Ioh. 2.18 19 and 4.1 2 Iohn 7. Iude 4 11 16. Like mother like Daughter 1 Tim. â— â— Rev. 2.24 but were obstinate persons and heretiques even as their adversaries in Rome Spain England and elswhere did persecute adjudge and execute them for But if you will have the prophecy of the Apostles to be true and will beleeve their holy writings and also will have the martyrs that have been burned banished hanged imprisoned to be of the true Apostolick Church then it wil follow and that justly according agreeable to the Scriptures that the Church of Rome and those that did and doe persecute are descended from the false antichristian Church called a mystery great Babylon the mother of whordoms and abominations of the earth c. which was and is drunken with the blood of saints and martyrs of Iesus seeing they have her antichristian faith and lordly discipline and for the defence and maintenance thereof will also burn banish hang and imprison so hot and fiery zealous that thereby they shew plainly that they walk so just and even in the steps and paths of the mysticall woman great Babylon their bloody parent and mother so even I say as if they studyed her lying and hypocriticall doctrine her deep and devilish divinity her blasphemous princely and dangerous dignity and her beastly bloudy and deadly discipline Through the continuance whereof not only the Apostolick church is continued still in the wildernes and desert of this world but also the Iews and others both in great Britain and all over the world are kept backe from the knowledge of Gods holy Word the onely order and ordinance Christ hath appointed for the gathering of his Church together out of all places of the world 1 Joh. 4.1 And so long as persecution continue you cannot try the spirits of the many false Prophets that are gone out into the world as the holy Apostle doth lovingly advise and admonish you But like the Papists Fire and sword no equall weapons to the spirit and Word must be eyed onely to the spirits of your lordly Bishops and their Ministers who will have all both King Prince people to receive their spirits and therefore will not have any others to preach and print within the land lest their lying doctrine and lordly discipline be discovered and disclaimed And in stead of disputing and writing by the word and spirit of Christ against their adversaries they wil cruelly persecute and fight against them by fire and sword and spirit of
for one of their preachers called Mast Rob. hath had a writing of mine in his hands above six moneths Now above 12 months and as yet I can get no answer it seemes hee knoweth not how better to hide his errors then by silence and this will bee the case of all false Bishops and Ministers Iohn 3.20 Iohn 3.10 who had rather be mute and dumb then to be drawn into the light with their errors Therefore permission of conscience and liberty of the gospel in our land of great Britain wil mightily further the advancement of the Apostolick faith and chiefly their bookes whereout sufficient matter will be drawn for the convincing of every particular Religion which is against the Religion stablished by Christ and his Apostles who by all meanes lawfull sought the conversion and salvation both of Jewes and Gentiles 1 Cor. 9.20.22 Act. 16.3 And they are unconstant and faith lesse men or at least very ignorant that think error will overcome and prevaile against the truth For the abolishing of such thoughts I desire such men to consider the mighty victory and prevailing of the truth in the time of Christ his Apostles which notwithstanding resisted and disputed against by the most part of the Priests and learned men both of Jewes and Gentiles yet overcame and prevailed against all the errors of the high Priests and great learnedmen both of the Jews and Gentiles and the Apostle faith we cannot do any thing against the truth 2 Cor. 13.8 but for the truth and seeing it is the same truth which all good men would embrace why should wee not hope the same victory by it Did not King Darius all the people both Iew and gentils cry out and say that truth is great and strongest 1 Esd 4.38.41 Why then should those that have the truth and those that would have the truth be afraid of error seeing truth discovereth dark and dangerous wayes of error though abroad in open books even as light discovereth dark and dangerous places though abroad in open high wayes And as the more darke and dangerous the wayes be the more necessary needfull will light be found of all that travel So the more darke and dangerous the errors be the more needfull and profitable wil truth be found of al that would travel to heaven But some may object and say let all this be granted yet it is no wisedom we think to bring dangerous errors into the light that so many men may stumble at them Which being not brought to light would not be so much as known to some I answer no more then a Rock that lyeth hid under water Answer which for want of bringing into the light many men may make Shipwrack there on and so stumble or fall neverthelesse though it be not so much as known to them before Therefore as a Rock in the Seas though not so much as known to some yet for want of being made known many men stumble and fal thereon and so perish both men and goods So an error though not so much as known to some yet for want of being made known many men may stumble and fall thereon and so perish both bodies and soules the which is more lamentable And as Rocks in the Seas the more they manifest themselves So errors in the world the more they manifest themselves the more furtherance in the way to heaven And you shall understand that errors being brought to the light of the word of God will vanish as darknes before the light of a torch even as the chaffe before the winde cannot stand so error before truth cannot abide therefore it is no hinderance but a great furtherance to have all erroneous Rocks in the haven to heaven made knowen and published And a great and sure argument it is Another true signe of false ministers that those Bishops and Ministers have not the truth that publikely dare not dispute or write against error as may be seene in the Bishops ministers in Queen Maries dayes which could not abide to have books written Printed of that which they called error and heresie but caused that if any such were written both them and the Authors to be burned if they could come by them Therefore if permission of conscience and libertie of the Gospel be not granted and burning lawes repealed then the Bishops ministers now may perswade and cause to be burned both the Books the Authors that have the truth instead of heresy and hereticks even as their predecessors have done already The Word of God the onely defender of the faith of Christ and so shed more innocent bloud and also provoke the Lord to further wrath against the King and State It is not the gallowes nor the prisons nor burning nor banishing that can defend the Apostolick faith indeed the King and State may defend Religions peace by their sword civil power but not the faith otherwise then by the word and spirit of God The dutch Princes and Peeres say that force sword gallows in matter of religion is a good meanes to spil bloud and make an uprore in the land but not to bring any man from one faith to another The Pagans will not persecute one another for religion though as I read there be above three thousand sorts among them And you know both King Henry Queen Mary thought themselves defenders of the faith and though they burned hereticks and heresy when they burned Men and their books Idol Bishops and false Ministers authors of persecution Rev. 16.14 but now you see and must acknowledge that they were peesecutors of the faith instead of defenders therof and also that they through the instigation of their bloudy Bishops burned the word of God and those that professed and wrought it instead of heresy and hereticks And thus it will be now if the Bishops and their Ministers may have their wils and therein they as their predecessors fulfill the word of God in gathering Kings of the earth to the battell of the great day of God Almighty For they perswade Kings to force their subjects Rom. 10.14.17 to receive the faith and to be of the Church whereas the word of God teacheth otherwise saying Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God and not by the Kings sword And Christ saith Teach of nations and not force all nations and this teaching is to be understood by the word and writing of the Prophets and Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Christ which is the Word of God For they that wil be of the true Faith and Church must be called thereunto out of the World by the Word of God in every nation and not forced and constrained in every nation as the Bishop of Rome and all other false Bishops and Ministers have and doe perswade Kings Emperors and Magistates And his Majesty and Parliament may please to understand that so to do Mat. 16. 16.
1 Thes 5.19 is to quench the Spirit of God in Christs Bishops and Ministers and also to frustrate the precept of Christ which saith Preach the Gospel to every creature Besides it maketh their one office function void they ought to preach and instruct with al meeknes them that are contrary minded proving if God at any time wil give them repentance 2 Tim. 2.24 25. that they may know the truth for the ministers of the Lord must not strive but be apt to teach gentle towards all men suffering evil men patiently telling Kings and Princes that the weapons of Christ Bishops and Ministers are not carnal as the weapons of all false Antichristian Bishops and Ministers are but Spiritual and mighty through God to cast downe holds casting downe every high thing 2 Cor. 10.3.5 that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Also if al within the land be forced to be of the church as the Bishops and their ministers would stil have it then there would be no world in the land but al the land would be the Church which is absurd contrary to the scriptures and great ignorance do the Bishops Rev. 11. â— Act. 2.41 47. Note Act. 2.47 their ministers shew when they think the whole nation of people is the church of Christ for then it cannot be said out of great Britaine the Lord added to the Church from day to day such as should be saved seeing within the land there would be none without to be added Also within that land A true Church wil not persecute Mat. 12.25 Rev. 18.2.8 1 Cor. 8.11.12 Luc. 10.3 Gen. 32.28 Rom. 13.4 there would be no persecution seeing the church of Christ doth not persecute at al much lesse it self but the Ministers and members of that Church do persecute one another and therefore it cannot be the spiritual Kingdome Church of Christ but of Antichrist seeing it is divided against it self and persecuteth one another and wil with her mother great Babilon be consumed and condemned seeing as she they burne banish hang and imprison one another which is no Christian but Antichristian monstrous cruel woolvish tyranous part and practise for Christ sent his Ministers as lambs among wolves and not as wolves among Lambs Againe I humbly and with al reverence do beseech his right excellent Majesty to give me leave to put him in minde of those things that do concern the glory of God the assurance of his owne salvation the stablishment of his throne the benefit both of the Church of Christ and the common wealth of al his Dominions And though as Josias he finde by reading in the booke of the New Testament a great alteration of the Apostolick faith change of the lawes ordinances of Christ within his Dominions Yet not to be dismayed as Henry Legrand but be encouraged as Josiah to labour endeavour the redresse thereof according to the minde of Christ in his New Testament And I doubt not but as Iacob the Patriarch prevailed with God men so shal Iacob the King prevails both with God men especially being his chief steward by his new testament Through the zealous reading whereof will be found that Antichrist the King of the Catholick faith discipline called the mystery of iniquity doth sit in the Temple of God even as the Scripture hath foretold 2 Tim. 2. 1 Tim 4. Rev. 7 15. 2 The. 2.8 Rev. 17.16.17 But it is to be noted that the Scripture hath also foretold of the consummation abolition of this antichrist the man of sin and his mistery of iniquity with the utmost of his arrival or highest top of dignity he is come unto and this shall be done by the spirit of the Lord in the much of his servants For when the words of God be fulfilled then shal the servants of the Lord prevaile by his word spirit with ten Kings that shal hate Câ—aled the Temple of God 2 Thes Rev. 17 1.1â—.18 Ioh. 16.2 and make the whore desolate which sitteth in the hearts and consciences of peoples multitudes nations and this whore is the woman called the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth meaning the church of Rome by her false faith and discipline which is so faâ—… setled in the hearts consciences of the Kings of the earth that they think they do God good service in killing burning his servants that do speak against her faith and diâ—cipline and that wil not buy any of her warâ—s that is Rev. 17.13 14. her Antichristian doctrines and ordinances But as she hath had her exaâ—tation and arrival to the height and dignity of the sea Empire of Rome by the love of kings who have given their power and authority unto her and who have fought for her against the Saints servants of Iesus So she shal have her consummation abolition from that height and dignity by the hatred of Kings who againe shall take their power and authority from her and therewith defend the peace and persons of the Saints and servants of Iesus and not for religions peace will use their power and authority against the bloudy persecution of Antichrist and al his bloudy Bishops and Ministers and so become nursing fathers unto the Church of Christ And as it hath pleased God to give his Majesty peace round about as he did unto King Cyrus in whose dayes the material Temple began to be repaired which was a figure of the spiritual temple So I pray it may please him also in the peaceable dayes of King James to begin to repaire the spiritual Temple the Apostolick church scattered and driven abroad into the wildernes of this world Esa 2.4 Ezra 4.7 Ha. 24.10 whose calling and gathering together must be by the preaching of the word of God both to Jewes and Gentils and not by the sword of the Kings of the earth as Antichrist's and his Ministers have now along time perswaded prevailed whereby not onely the Jewes and infidels but also papists and other false Christians are hindred and deprived from the knowledge of the Apostolick faith And it is to be noted that David might not build Gods Temple because he had spilt much blood which sheweth no blood ought to be spilt for the building of the spirituall temple 1. Chro. 28.3 Ergo peace in religion is a good meanes to make a unity of religion among so many Christian sects Exod. 25.2 and 35.5 Act 2.40.41 Mat. 28 And it is wel worthy consideration that as in the time of the old Testament the lord would not have his offerings by constraint but of every man whose heart gave it freely so now in time of the gospel he will not have the people constrain'd but as many as receive the word gladly they are to be added to the church by baptism Mat. 16.16 Mat. 10.11 14. and