we may see how these men wil needs have that signification that best serves their turnes whether proper or improper when the proper most fits them then the improper cannot be meant there when the proper makes against them the improper is pleaded for as none more usual then that thus the word houshold must include infants when baptism is spoken of but when the passover is spoken of then infants are excluded because else we shall argue from thence to their eating the supper as they from circumcision unto their baptism but this by the way that it may be noted how the men will have things their own way by hook or by crook not that I deny the word kingdomes to be taken properly for all the whole kingdome here yea I grant it but let us see what of that why even this if the whole kingdom be the Lords then infants must unavoidably be members of Christs Church and if we ask how comes this about he will tell you two wayes First as infants are all of the Kingdomes of this world taken for the whole kingdom Secondly as by the word kingdom of Christ is meant Christs church Now let us spell and put all together and it is thus much First by Kingdomes of this world is here meant the whole Kingdome of this world or Kingdome taken universally not for some part of it onely Secondly by Kingdomes of the Lord and his Christ is here meant Christs church onely Thirdly infants are a part of the Kingdomes of this world and so consequently of Christs church for the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of the Lord and his Christ i. e. Christs church oh brave and plain Scripture proof for infant church-membership and baptism Let us examine what is true and what is false in this First as above I grant that here the Kingdomes of this world signifie the whole Kingdome as he pleads it but that here the Kingdome of the Lord and his Christ signifies Christs church I utterly deny it and am amazed that a reasonable man should affirm it and so consequently I deny that it appears from this place that infants are now members of Christs church But he brings reason for it such as t is and that shall be a little examined First if they say saith he that the Kindome of Christ is not here meant Christs church they speak against the constant phrase of Scripture which calls Christs Kingdome his Church et conversim Christ is King and saviour of the same society what is Christs Kingdom but his church To which I answer Christs Kingdome is the whole world as well as his church And Secondly that he is King and Saviour of all men in some sense as well as of that same society And Thirdly that it is not against the constant phrase of Scripture to say by Christs Kingdome here is not meant his church for though it is true by his Kingdome is sometimes exprest his church et retro by his church is meant his Kingdome in a special and restrictive sense yet not constantly there being many places where the word Kingdome of Christ is taken in a larger sense as signifying not the church but the whole world O bad 21 the Kingdome i. e. Monarchy of the whole earth shall be the Lords i. e. Christs so Dan. 7. the Kingdome i. e. Dominion Monarchy and greatness of the Kingdome under the whole heaven is given to the son of man and the Saints yea his Kingdom is over all he shall rule the Nations govern and judge the whole world in righteousnesse Oh saith Mr. Ba. the Kingdome of Christ is more large and more speciall but here it cannot be meant of his kingdom in the larger sense nor as he ruleth common societies and things for so saith he the Kingdomes of this world were ever the Lords and his Christs and it could not be said that they are now become so To which I answer First that in granting what he here does that Christs kingdome is taken sometimes in a larger sense then for the church he contradicts himself above where he saies it is the constant phrase of Scripture to call Christs Kingdome his church and what is Christs kingdome but his church Secondly whereas he saies the Kingdomes of this world were ever the Lords and his Christs in the larger sense as taken for his Government and Rule I grant de jure Christ hath been Lord of the whole earth a long time but de facto he is not King so as actually to reign over the whole earth as ere long he shall do i. e. at his appearing 2 Tim. 4.1 to this very day but in that indeed i. e. when he comes he shall be King Monarch over all the earth and rule with a rod of iron over the Nations and judge the world in righteousnesse together with his Saints who hath been judged in unrighteousnesse by the Nations and Rulers hitherto Zach. 14. Dan. 7. Act. 17. P 2. Rev. 2. then he shall be in point of execution as before by commission and really and actually as now intentionally King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. but till then as yet a little while and his Kingdome comes to his hand and the Kingdomes of the world do thus become his for the work of recovery of his right is now very hot in fieri and will not be long before it be in facto esse till then he hath been an underling and other Lords besides him have had dominion over him in his and also over the whole earth which is his and over the Kingdomes of this world which de jure are his but specially that servus servorum dominus dominorum the Pope and CCClergy that are the whore that hath reigned in three divisions over the earth between whom and Christ the great justle now is in all christendome whether he or they that by permission have had it so long from Christ who onely hath the commission for it shall be King of Kings and Lord of Lords hitherto Christ hath reigned in the world as Charles the second hath reigned in England and no otherwise i. e. hath reigned in the hearts of a few of his friends and followers But I perceive the Gospel or good news of the Kingdome of Christ coming which is to be preached more had more before the end is yet a riddle to Mr. Ba. and though I hope it will be if seeing he will see yet t is not yet given him to know the mystery and manner of Christs Kindome Thirdly whereas he saies that the Kingdom taken in the larger sense i. e. for the world cannot be meant here but the church onely by this phrase the Kingdomes of the Lord and his Christ I strongly assert that of all places in Scripture the word Kingdomes of Christ cannot here be construed for the church that the church cannot be meant in that phrase but the Kingdomes in the largest sense i. e. the whole world and
in that truth on their side doth animate and assist them you meet them with staff and spear and humane accomplishments and they stand before you in the name of God and strength of that truth and true Israel of his whom you yet defie this makes Schoolmen like Schoolboyes under the rod when they are taken tardy in their exercise and see they are like to be whipt for it cry spare us in that their School-masters the Pope and Councels have overtaskt them and set them a Theam which Scripture whence onely they must fetch all their proofs saies just nothing of at all This makes the Disputers the Divines to come abroad a begging in print among the vulgar as you here do saying cover pass by bewayling the weakness of their Arguments their defects in disputing their presumption in entring the lists their non-preparation for the disputation because it s not the true Gospel they disputed for a very stripling may make a Gyant give back if he have hold on the hilt of his sword and the other thrust hard against the blade 't is hard for thee O Saul to kick against the pricks a learned lawyer may be at loss in a lame suit Asinus ad lyram may play his part better and make sweeter musick then the most accurate musitian that hath nothing to beat upon but a board it may well put any but the meer Sophister to his shifts to prove the moons made of green cheese and so 't will any save the meer self-seeker that is set to serve it out of a sight that he can serve himself of it and therefore is resolv'd to make any Argument serve turn even libet ergo licet rather then leave it to prove Infant-baptism much more Infant-rantism to be a good cause and yet the more 's the pitty this is the cause you have to make good and have been so bold as to stand up for which though your wishes are here that it may not suffer wrong through your defects yet mine are much rather that you may not suffer your selves to be wrong'd any more or to be wrong'd for ever through its defects for howbeit it flatters you into an opinion of its ability to be maintain'd by you by its appearing ability to maintain you yet you 'l find ith'end that by its fair flourishes it hath flusht you into more zeal then furnisht you with ability to maintain it when it shall have brought you to your choice of one of these two ex quibus minimum est eligengendum viz. either of Repentance from it and all other your Parochiall dead works tithes and other traditions that depend upon it upon a sight and acknowledgement that you have been mistaken about these as well as other Romish Remnants that you have seen cause through the Parliaments eyes to renounce since that long since Lutheran reformation which after longer standing out will be so much the harder Chapter for you Clergy men to run throw or else which is worse then nought of perseverance in your evil waies and dead works against light to prevent the other which last the Lord prevent from befalling any of you if it be his will Pre Who would not have presumed to have entered the lists c. Post. It had been no presumption in you had you been true Ministers of Christ and the cause you stood up in Christs cause indeed for grant it to be presumption in Vzziah to meddle in the publique service of the Temple and in Vzziah to put forth his hand to uphold the Ark and consequently for so you argue not we for men to meddle so as to minister to the Gospel publiquely in your Churches that are not in holy orders yet it is none vos Apello for the Priests or ordained Ministers of Christ to stand up any where in defence of Christs truth where it s traduced but rather duty which in speciall they stand bound to in that therefore you accounting your selves Christs Ministers do grant it to be presumption in you to put forth so publiquely when you saw it tottering you do no less thou give the cause you stood up in to be none of his as indeed it was not but your own and that was it only which made it presumption and very high presumption in you too in that you durst enter the lists against the Lord Iesus in in his own ordinance and that with such weak Arguments such flags as flam'd like swords but alas such as could not bear the brunt when it came to blows here how much less will they in that battel of the great day of God Almighty which is now marching apace upon you 'T is true therefore as you here confess you have been presumptuous and presumption is one of the most desperate sins that can be against Christ yet for all that in his name and as an Embassador from him though otherwise an unworthy and ever a contemptible creature in your eyes as though himself did beseech you by me I am bold to beg of you that you would not despair but come in and be reconciled to him presuming no more to stand up against him with such weak weapons as before least he tear you in pieces fall upon you and grind you to powder but sit down and humble your selves that you have stood so long in the way of Sinners so that they could not come to Christ through your Blurres lay down your arms and yield your selves prisoners to him stoop to that golden Scepter he yet holds out unto you own him as your King Priest and Prophet list no more against him but list your selves under him for he is gracious and will yet receive you and baptize you with his spirit if you turn at his reproof and repent and be baptized in water in his name for remission of sins Pro. 1.23 Act. 2.38 become little children in such a sense as you should be that you may be baptized and then be baptized in truth and in token for your memory hath lost your traditionary token sprinkling that hereafter you will not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified but manfully fight under his banner against sin the world and the devill and continue Christs faithful souldiers to your lives end How happy had it been for you if you had took quarter from Christ before this time for he would have given it and forgiven all your enmity against him in his truth but you are stiff-blades and your words have been stout against him you Clergy men are Lords you will not come neer but I beseech you become Lord beggars at the throne of grace as Brightman said truly the Bishops were for earthly honor at the thrones of Kings and Princes that you may have more of that grace and holiness to worship God with reverence according to his own will which God gives to all humble Suppliants then had you less learning and living then you have and more disgrace in this world then ever
honest men in both Ked and Bewdley among whom if Mr. Ba. be one it shall not grieve me at all yet according to Dr. Featleys nor yet according to Mr. Baxs own definition who say a true visible Church is a particular company of men professing the Christian faith known by two markes viz. the sincere preaching of the word and due administration of the Sacraments Dr. Featly p. 4 or a society of persons separated from the world to God or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called out of the world c. Mr. B. p. 87. neither of those two parishes are true visible Churches of Iesus Christ for neither were they ever yet called out of the world or separated from the world to God in that wise i. e by such meanes and in such manner as Christs Church is i. e. by the pure preaching of the word and pure power of God but rather by the power of the word of man i. e. partly of the Pope and partly of the civil sword in this nation of old under a penalty imposing upon them their present posture nor is the word preacht to them to this hour sincerely by Mr. Ba. or any other parish minister who unlesse he sing a new song will make them no more a Church of Christ then he found them but with wonderful much mixture of mans invention yea the fear of God is taught by him according to the precepts of men much lesse are the Sacraments rightly administred for their baptism is no baptism at all And as touching separation I know but three separations they have had since they stood under the name of Christian Churches answerable to the different Christian Religions of point blank Papism prelatical Prostantanism and present Presbyterianism which the parishes haue past under since they have been Parishes viz. a Presbyterian separation by appointment of the present Parliament who on pain of their displeasure commanded all to separate from the lesser superstitions of episcopall formes ceremonies services to a finer and more directorian kind of Protestant profession a generall Protestant separation by the Appointment of our english state under K. Ed. and Q. Eliz. who commanded all on pain of their displeasure to separate from the Romish grosser superstitions Popes Supremacies masse and other Marian opinions and professions also a parochial and a paropopical separation or distinct oppidal division of their particular selves from each other and all other particular Churches i e. Towns besides themselves by the appointment of the Pope and his Subs and Subsubs viz. Christian Emperours Kings and Princes who when they threw down their Crownes and gave up all their power to make one beast called Christiendome and themselves and theirs to be ruld and reignd over wholly by the whore at her wil did both separate all Christendome from the world and then sub-separate it into many smaller Christendomes and constituted Churches i. e national provincial parochial and thus Ked and Bew. first began to be Churches or societies visibly separated from the world viz. by the call of the Pope who separated one parish from another but Christs Churches had another separation i. e. by the word barely preached and not by outward force imposed they were called to faith in Christ and baptism not Rantism into his name for remission of sins and after that continued in the Apostles doctrine and in fellowlowship one with another not forced but free and in breaking of bread and prayers these are the Churches to which as then so now the Lord adds dayly such as shall he saved and therefore I must tell Mr. Ba. and the honest men in either Ked or Bew. that are of Mr. Bs. beguiling that except they repenting both for and from their dead works and their vain conversation in point of baptism worship Church-fellowship c received by Tradition from their fathers and their unadvised zeal in siding to smite Christ with reproches thorow the sides of the true Churches be baptized better then ever they have been and do as those did in Act. 2. which as no infant then did so now none can do they have neither the true matter nor the true form constitutive of the visible Church of Christ yea so many of them onely as shall gladly receive the word which infants cannot do and yet may do well enough too neither that nor walking in fellowship being required of them as it is of others and be baptized according to his will shall be owned as the true visible Church of Christ in these two parishes as Christs appearing Sixthly the residue of Mr. Bs. book which containes his arch argumentation from three principles for infants baptsm viz. their discipleship Church-membership and rightship of being dedicated unto Christ is for the most part to the satisfaction of any that are minded to own the truth though not so intentionally in way of formal answer to Mr. Ba. so fully and effectually enervated before where the same arguments as they are used by others are examined that it could amount to no other then superfluity and Tautologie to answer them over again because they are urged in another that is a more pedantick for me by him whose work is not at all to produce any new principles from which to prove the point but onely to improve more largely in a way of labor more long then strong to manage more formally in a way of hipothetical syllogism and to drive on more furiously these few old ones therefore excuse me specially since Mr. T. hath given reply some while since who is more strictly concern'd in it if I am loath unless there were more need then Mr. Baxs new triming up of two or three old arguments ministers thereunto to begin and play over the whole game again I know a trick worth two of that viz. to refer you to what is already written by Mr. T. and what I have said my self above and my friend thereby be admonished for to make many books much more upon one subject is to no end and much study is a weariness to the flesh yet a general return I may chance to give and some brief reply to his arguments in particular The truest general verdict I can give of it if I may speak my judgement without offence is this it is a three footed stool the legs of which are all lame and decrepid made by Mr. Bax. for the people of Ked and Bewd to sit at ease on in that popish posture and practise in which truth being hid for ages and generations both they and all Christendome have been housed and out of which Christ Jesus is now about to storm them it is a tree shooting forth with three Trunkes against the truth whereof the middlemost which is the main runs out in tot ramos ramulos ramusculos so many smaller boughs twigs and twiggles and layes it self forth at large into such a train of Trivials so many littles to the purpose that he will find himsel◠great store of
may read as it were in text letters your own abstract from that of mine when you please and signing the Titles of the CCClergy whether true or surreptitious with three letters in the front as C. C. C. PPP c. most commonly when I speak of â—hem in the lump to denote the three PPParts into which that great City B B Babylon which they make stands divided I proceed as followeth That Heresies must be the Apostle hath said yet it makes no more for a tolleration of them in the true Church I mean though others mean in the civil state than that of our Saviour of offences saying foreseeing no question how by means of the Clergies crying out Heresie Heresie Schism against the way of truth being once turned aside to Heresie themselves the world would be offended at his little ones for walking in it They must come but wo to the man by whom they come the Apostle reckons Heresies among the works of the flesh Idolatry Witchcraft c. Gal. 5.20 which alone is argument sufficient against the Patronage and Invitation of them unless withal license in the true Church should be given to all other carnal sins why should the Church of God upon Earth make much of those against whom the Kingdome of Heaven shall be shut her pale is not so strong to keep them out from breaking in upon her like wild bores and wolves to spoil and wast her but her good will should not be so great to them as to wellcome them in to her fellowship till they repent from their dead works of superstition bloody tenet of persecution for cause of conscience worshipping God after mens traditions blaspheming the name of God and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven trampling the holy City Heresie Schism from the primitive truth c. Neverthelesse howbeit to tolerate and harbour Hereticks in communion with them whilest they oppose the true way of Christ would be an error and an evill too intollerable in a true Church of Christ yet I hold that opinion of the C C Clergy not onely intollerably Heretical in it self but intollerably hurtful also to themselves that Hereticks may not be tolerated in a civil state for if Fines Prisons Banishments Racks Wâ—ips Tortures headings hangings burnings and such like punishments with the civil sword were the due of every Heretick and Schismatick in the faith as the C C Clergy have for ages and Generations born the world in hand that they are to the causing of all these their national Church censures to be inflicted on the Saints when they have once blindly sentence them to be Schismaticks to the civil power if this I say were the due of every Heretick or Schismatick and every true Heretick and Schismatick had his due too good Lord how have the C C Clergy condemned themselves out of their own mouthes to devastation when the civil powers shall find them to be the Arch-Hereticks in the world if taking them at their word they shall do with them as they say they ought to do in this case concerning others but God forbid that with what judgement they judge they should be judged and with what measure they meet it should be measured to them again at our suggestion if their own Cheek-by-jole carriage to the Stern-men of the State do not pull it unavoidably upon themselves yea verily though as far as those that oppose themselves against the truth of Christ they may well challenge the name of Schismaticall Hereticks and though Amen might justly be said by the Magistrate in this point to the opinion of Gangraena and his Gang and might Amen be said to his wise wishes as concerning us who teach and practise baptism in its primitive fashion we could expect to be suffered in the Common-wealth no more then High-way Murderers yet dare we not desire their exâ—irpation out of any of their native rights in the several states wherein they are nor such uncivill suppression of them meerly for their erroneous Tenets as they have sollicited the higher powers to concerning us we have not so learned Christ nor would they if they had heard him and had been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus for howere it comes to passe that the C C Clergy whose own the worst would he if that were true and execution done accordingly are so besotted as to believe that Hereticks and Schismaticks from the faith men of false waies worships religions though elsewise never fo peaceable and innocent must not onely be dischurched but discommunicated also from the patronage of the civil power and cut off from the priviledges of other Subjects yet neither Christ nor any of his Apostles as from him gave any order for such rigid rejection indeed the Apostle Paul wills in his Epistle to Titus cap. 3. who was a Church officer that a Heretick after a second and third admonition be rejected i. e. from the Church and Gal. 5.12 wishes that they were cut off from the Church that did trouble the Church and Rev. 2.20.21 the Church of Thyatira was reproved for suffering that woman Iezebel which calleth her self a prophetesse to teach and seduce his servants to fornication i. e. false worships c. but it will noâ— follow therefore that such may not have license to live civilly in civil states for the weapons of the Churches warfare wherewith she is to fight against Heresies and which she is ever to have in readinesse to revenge all disobedience to Christ by are noâ— carnall 2 Cer. 10.4 5 6. not such as are used by the officers of States but onely spirituall as admonition reproof and in case of obstinacy putting out from among them delivering up to Satan and not delivering up to the secular power as the Popish Priesthood used to do when any of their creatures specially of their Clerico-creatures turned Hereticks i. e. departed from their Heresies to the truth saying pray take him into your power and be merciful to him meaning hang or burn him for a Heretick The Church I say is neither to use the carnal weapons of the State nor yet to stirr up the State so to use them on her and truths behalf as to imprison fine hang burn or banish false worshippers unbelievers misbelievers or Hereticks further then they are withall as by meer unbelief they are not offenders against the civil State I find the Lord Christ foretelling by himself and his Apostles that for the most part the more is the pitty the Rulers Kings Governours and Princes of the world would be such enemies against his Gospel that his Disciples should be â—ald before them as evill doers for his names sake Matth. 10.18 that not many mighty and noble men would own his truth 1 Cor. 1.26 that rich men would oppresse the Church and draw them before their Judgement seats and blaspheme that worthy name wherby the poor in this world which commonly are the richest in faith are called Ia. 2.6 that the Kings
of the very Christian Nations would throw down their crowns and give up their power and strength unto the beast commit fornication with the W W Whore and at her instigation make war with the Lamb and at last be overcome by him Rev. 17.14.17 and be put down together with all their rule authority and power as very enemies though once his ordinance under his feet 1 Cor. 15.24.25 I find also Ephe. 4. that he hath set in his Church Apostles Pastors c. for the work of the Ministery and affairs of it but I no where find in his will and Testament that Christ intended the Magistracy as his Ordinance though undoubtedly in other cases the supreme ordinance of God to men whether in the Church or out of it for civil good to officiate so immediately in matters of Religion faith church order c. as to execute Church-discipline Church censure for meer Church disorders Church Divisions Church offences or so as to make all men within their jurisdiction and yet though their Churches be no true Churches neither so the CCClergy would have it to believe as the Church believes worship as the Church worships and be members of the Church whether they will or no if not to pray with them yet at least to pay to them or else to be excommunicated out of all they have and under the name of Hereticks dischurcht out of the world for so verily they do doctrinally at least who teach such false doctrine that men of false relegions whether heathens Jewes Turks or Pagans or men erring most grosly about the true as Papists or whatever else though never so submissive in all civil things to the civil Powers yet may not lawfully be licensed to live in civil States or in any Common-wealth under the Sun for by the same reason that Iews Turks Heathens Hereticks may not without sin be tolerated in one Nation but must ex officio be rooted out of it upon that meer account of denying and defying Christ which is as high as ever any Heretick went they may not without sin be permitted to be in another and so either some nations mâ—st sin in allowing these to live in them or else though de facto they cannot by reason of their number yet de jure they ought as far as they well can by Kings and Princes among whom few or none are so well acquainted as they should with what is Heresie and what truth to be driven quite out of the world and so the poor Iewes whose conversion the Priests pray for with much zeal and compassion must in quiet live no where at all that they may be converted but must belike be turned altogether into the sea Besides the notion of their being Christians adds nothing to mens power as Magistrates so but that if such magistrates as are Christians are Church officers as Magistrates then other Magistrates as heathen Magistrates must be Church officers as well as they and then how well that Christian Church is likely to be served and governed whose head Church-officers are Heathens a fool may see Yet whether the Magistracy be Heathens or Christians it matters not to the Church so long as they are the ministers of God and Christ to them and others too for civill good to punish evil doers that are injurious against the common or any mans proper weal Church-member or other in body goods or name by stealing lying murder defiling defaming defrauding c. whereby any are prejudic'd in point of their outward well being mean while whether he be the minister of God onely or Christ also and that not onely as God but God man also it matters not so long as he is an ordinance to us for civil good so that if any matter of Division of inheritances or of wrong and wicked lewdnesse be brought before the Magistrates committed whether by a church-member or any other it is all one reason wills that the Magistrate should hear it and be they Heathens or be they Christians who stand before him determine and destribute according to the equity of his civil Law and as much as Mr. Baxter looks askew at this assertion p. 120. as if he thought the Magistrate were to do a Pagan no right against a Christian without partiality not favouring a Christian in a civil cause against a Heathen a Turk an Egyptian a Pagan so as to take the Christians part further then the equity of his cause in hand may justly call for it more then the others though the Magistrate himself also be a christian and a brother to the christian whose cause depends before him or a member of the self same congregation with him not balking to do civil justice against Church-members they deserving punishment as if the church were exempted from his jurisdiction in civil things because he is no christian but a heathen nor yet denying to do right to church-members if they be injured by others for if he do any of this I am sure he does no justice in his place whereupon Gallio the Depuputy Goâ—ernour of Achaia who was not a little to be commended in one thing was no lesse to blame in another Act. 18.17 in that when the Greeks in a rude and barbarous manner took Sostenes the chief Ruler of the Synagogue and beat him for letting Paul preach in it before his face and before the very judgement Seat too yet he cared for none of those things for those were the things that fell duly and directly under his cognizance as he was a magistrate and so the minister of God to men for good whether they be Christs disciples or no for the redresse of such civil abuses neither is Christ yet in his own person Luke 12.13.14 nay nor yet by any Church-officers of his qua sic unlesse they be civil Magistrates also and then as in that capacity they must do that right that concerns them as such as meer church-officers to be judge in those outward cases and as therein the outward man onely is concerned for then Paul one of the chief Apostles and officers of the Church being then present might have taken upon him in the behalf of Sostenes and himself as the Pope and the P P Priesthood do for the most part in their religions to have determined for themselves in that civill dissention but Christ as man and his church as his Church are yet no judgers nor dividers over men but the Magistrate by Gods and if I say by Christs appointment it hurts us not is made as onely in such so the only judge and divider in such civil matters but if it be a question and a brabble about Heathenism Turcism Iudaism Christianism and about Religion worship and faith and Iesus and words and names as Antinomists Arminians Anabaptists Pelagians Socinians Anti-christians Pedobaptists Sectaries c. and about his law and about Heresie and spiritual Truth and Schism in the Church and Ministry and such like about which the eares
enemy came and sowed among the wheat i. e. in the same parts and places of the world Towns Countreyes c. locally considered the children of the wicked one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thes. 2. that wicked false worshippers of God after their own inventions mens precepts not his will people and priests grown up into a Church worship ministery religion insensibly by little and little from false principles and foundations custome forefathers prudential additions of orthodox men c. not the pure naked word it self a people born to their religion yea their christian religion in the way of flesh and blood and the will of man of the Pope and councells constituting and civil powers from them commanding not of God by the word of truth The Enemy that sowed them is the devil for he indeed filled the whole world even the whole Christian world with false worshippers false principled Clergy men and when he could not kill the wheat the Christians in the ten persecutions in his open war against them by the mouth of thâ— beast or empire heathen wherein he prosecuted them under their own names because Constantine a Christian was come now to the crown then he turned Christian himself and would have Christianity imbraced by all meanes by a law and sowed the seed of false principles of stablishing Christian religion as the onely religion before which all other shall now down promoting Christianity in the shell that he might kill it in the substance causing great honours revenues Peters patrimonies to be given in favour of Christianity from which principles selfish ambitious lazy luxurious Ministers as the Pope formall meer nominal Christians grew up and overtopt the truth and true Saints that kept close to the truth in the midst of all this mock shew wherin the devil hath kept an apish imitaon of Christs church all along and ministry ordinances baptism supper church censure but all corrupt and trod the holy city to the ground Rev. 11. the same subtle one now he sees his trade of forcing men from the truth by the principle of conformity to the false Christianity and the old Spiritualty fail is now shifting himself undoubtedly in to another Spiritualty that will as much corrupt delude the world by the principle of liberty of conscience abused and turnd by the Ranter into license though we who plead for liberty of truth say in maxima libertate est minima licentia in the greatest liberty of conscience to serve God there 's the least licence to serve the devil by our lusts and corrupt our selves in what we know naturally as bruit beasts nor is that conscience that makes conscience of nothing The harvest is the end of the world the reapers the Angels by whom at that time Christ will throughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into his barn and burn up all chaff Tares husks weeds bryers thornes idolators hypocrites subtle seducers and sinful subverters of the truth whoever shall appear to have been such and all other trash with unquenchable fire Matth. 3.12 Mean while I say still Tares may stand among wheat locally in one Country yet not lawfully in one church society Weeds and flowers Roses and nettles Lillies and thornes Vines and brambles Idolatours and true worshippers Believers and infidells the children of the Kingdome and of the wicked one the Temple of God and idols Christs church and the Devils chappel discovered hypocrites and sincere Saints Christians of all sorts save such whose very principle prohibits toleration and they make the case uncapable to be which will win or loose all stand alone or not at all as whether the P P Priesthoods do not or at least did not let all men judge Jews Turks and Pagans may be lawfully allowed their religions living in subjection under one civil power if the whole world were but one Monarchy in one World in one Field or Common-wealth though not in one Garden not in one Vineyard or Church and may not be made to be of the true religion whether they will or no yea I appeal to the conscience of any sober minded man whether if Pontius Pilate whom the Scripture stiles the Governour of Iudaea and a lawful Governour over the church a very heathen may be but no heathen lawfully a member much lesse an officer or a Governour in the Church whether I saie if Pilate should have been converted by Christ at the bar while he sate on the bench and truely believed in him it would have pleased Christ that he should have improved his civil power to have established Christianity in Iudaea and forced all men under penalty to believe in christ and renounce all meer Jewish worships or whether it had been as lawful a decree in Augustus Caesar to have forced all men to be Christians under a penalty as t was in him to issue out a decree that all the world should be taxed I suppose not but that he must have left all to their waies and have practised it himself and protected it from injury and propounded it to all in way of preaching but not prosecuting any by his civil power if they would yet remain Jewes or heathens and Christ might as easily have made Emperors his Disciples had he meant that the Gospel should be established by civil power And this is for the further safegard and advantage to the wheat as I sayd before for Christ gives this reasâ—n why he would have the tares to be let alone least by rooting out the tares the wheat be rooted out also for if all religions may stand then the true one may stand in quiet without disturbance if all people may walk every one in the name of his God Mich. 4.5 then we may walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever but if all be beaten down in a state and but one stand ten thousand to nothing it is not the truth that is there established for truth may be trodden down but treads not down others in a violent way of persecution Besides if true Religion establish it self alone in some States by forcing men to subject to it its gives a bad example to false religions in other states that think themselves in the right to do the like and force men that love the truth there to submit to them and so there 's quit for quo and no end of disturbances they saying that we are Tares we that they are and so there is nothing but pulling up by the roots if toleration be not tolerated as the most peacemaking principle and so in these bussles if the wheat grow alone some where it must fall elsewhere even every where where the tares are resolved to stand alone and so Homo Homini Lupus Christianus Christiano Diabolus men must be wolves and devils each to other throughout the world Besides if the power in any place be ignorant and under an erring conscience that conscientia errans
as well as they do in the tenth part of it already will take cognizance ere long that it can be no great ease to truly tender consciences who with the CCClergy are ever stiled Sectaries and Schismaticks to lie under the lash of these Lords over Gods heritage and in tender consideration thereof and compassion to those righteous souls who are vexed with their vanities proclaim such a Iubilee that the true spouse of Christ whom they made a keeper of their vineyard shall have leave to keep her own vine yard go forth from her Apprenticeship to these spiritual Task-masters that their consciences shall be no more yoaked nor captivated to their crude and carnal conceptions and the wings of the CCClergy so clipt that they shall not soare so high as they have done over the faith of all people yea in the name of the blessed and onely Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ Iesus I warn all the civil Powers Princes and Potentates of the world that have been bewitched by the sorceries of that WWWhore who corrupts the earth with her fornications that they give up their power and strength no more to be improved to the forcing of the inhabiters of the earth to drink of the golden cup and wine of her fornications but that they improve it rather henceforth to the freeing all men from from her conscience crushing principle of persecution by the civil sword that submit not to her Sinodical constitutions and if they refuse to obey the will of the Lord in this thing and permit not all people to live peaceably in their several forms of worship they behaving themselves civilly and in all subjection to them in civil matters in their several States I testifie unto them that then the hand of the Lord will be so heavy upon them and their PPPriests and people that he will plague them as certainly as he did Egypt Pharoah and his Magicians till they let his Israel go forth and serve him as he required Yea O ye Powers if ye shall yet persevere to Tyranize over truth and trample upon tender consciences and force all men to that one faith which the men or rather the woman Rev. 17. the CCClergy in their counsels make the standard through you several States the Lord Christ will tread you and your people in his wrath and trample you in his fury and stain all his raiment with your blood and strengthen your own Subjects against you and your PPPriesthood IIIezebel that stirs you up whose lovers you are with invincible courage and irresistable wrath against you to suppresse your miserable misgovernment and cast her into a bed and you that commit adultery with her into great tribulation except you repent of your deeds yea he will endlessly imbroile you in wars one against another about your false faiths and Anti-christian Christianities and bring plagues upon you the sword famine death and destruction that he may repay unto you the things that have been done unto his chosen and will hold his tongue no longer as touching the wickedness of that kind which hath been profanely committed but as innocent and righteous blood crieth unto him and the souls of the just complain continually so the Lord will surely avenge them and receive unto him all the righteous blood from among them behold his people hath been led as a flock to the slaughter but he will not suffer them now to dwell any longer in the land of Egypt i. e. under the Lordly tyranny of the PPPriesthood who is that threefold great City BBBabilon which is also spiritually called Sodom for her Spiritual whoredoms and Egypt Rev. 11.8 the land of Israels captivity in the streets within the territories of which the carcases of Christs witnessesly dead where also our Lord was crucified But he will bring them out with a mighty hand and a streched out arm and will smite EEEgypt with plagues as before and will destroy all the land thereof EEEgypt shall mourn and the foundation of it be smitten with the plague and punishment that God shall bring upon it like as they do yet this day unto his chosen so will he also do and recompence unto their bosom and he will make the Princes of the earth to know that t is Christs right alone to rule over the consciences of the children of men and that no meer man may sit as a judge there and thou O PPPriest shall know that Christ alone is King in his Church and in the conscience and the true Ministers but meer Ministers or servants unto both and not Masters over either and that the civill state is the element and the Orbe which the Magistrate onely is to move in under him and that only meerly in matters civill and that thy self who art a creature not of Gods but of thy own creating and hast usurp'd a supreme jurisdiction at least a jurisdiction over all these hast nothing but naught to do in any of them at all and as thou art no plant of the heavenly fathers planting so shalt assuredly be plucked up by the very roots from all thy pretences priviledges provinces parishes and other profits and places in which thy earthly father the Pope hath planted thee yea thou shalt be weakned as a poor woman with stripes and as one chastised with wounds so that the mighty and lovers shall not be able to receive thee would I with jealousie have so preceeded against thee saith the Lord if thou hadst not alway slain my chosen exalting the stroak of thine hands and saying over their dead when thou wast drunken set forth the beauty of thy countenance the reward of thy whordome shall be in thy bosom therefore shalt thou receive recompence like as thou hast done unto my chosen saith the Lord spoiling and destroying them that fear the Lord wasting and taking away their goods tearing them with thy teeth for Tith and casting them out of their houses even so shall God do unto thee and shall deliver thee unto mischief thou shalt be cast down by them as stubble and they shall be to thee a fire look what thou hast they shall spoil it and marre the beauty of thy face and the glory of both thou O poor Princely PPPriesthood and of all those PPPriestly Princes that adhere to thee shall be dried up as a flower when the heat shall arise that is sent over thee Be wise now therefore O yee Kings be instructed ye that are judges of the earth see that you serve the Lord with fear in your own persons according to his own will and way revealed in his word and know that howbeit you are the Gods of the earth to judge all men that are under you whether in the Church or of the world in earthly cases and matters of meer secular concernment that you are not the Gods of heaven that is the Church so far as to meddle at all as earthly judges to correct in those meer heavenly
the committee to be able godly and Orthodox which Independent proposition I hardly know what to make of it is so odd what Sits does the denomination of a right constituted Church depend upon the Pastors being approved to be able godly and Orthodox a right constituted Church is that which is built upon the foundation or principles of the word of Christ and the Apostles Heb. 6.1 2. Ephes. 2. some of which you Independents yet want but go on in your light for me till you see it darknesse I can speak but obiter to you here yet know that if you settle not upon all the foundation even your Church will be a come down castle too ere long a right constituted church is that which hath right matter viz. baptized professors right â—orm i. e. free fellowship of such together in one body in breaking of bread and prayers whether they have yet a Pastor over them yea or no for the churches were rightly constituted first and had elders after ordained among them as they were found gifted yet with you the church that hath no Pastor and he not approved Orthodox is yet not to be declared a right constituted church what if the Pastor prove Hetâ—rodox does the church loose its true constitution or I would I knew what you mean by constitution for perhaps I do not and why do you talk in singulari so much of the Pastor and Pastor of a Church as if you were of the mind that a church might have no more Pastors and Overseers over it but one whereas t is most evident that there may be more Elders Pastors Overseers these are all one 1 Pet. 5.1 in one Church and that not without need neither when that one flock or congregation grows numerous for then they oft grow out of the observation too much of one eye see Act. 20. Paul sent for the Elders of the Church of Ephesus whether any Church ever had but one Pastor or Overseer in it or no if any at all I know not but I am sure the use was to ordain more then one to one Church Act. 14.23 Tit. 1.5 but one cannot Lord it so well if others be i th traces with him but however why must all this business of declaring which be right constituted Churches Orthodox Pastors which not hang upon the Committees approving or not approving of the Pastors what if the Committee should chance to be Heterodox it self or the Major part of it or the Major part sitting at that time when this Pastor comes for approbation what shall a true constituted Church lose or keep her name of a true constituted Church at a venture upon the vote of a Committee and what need at all that the Committees be so cumbered with the care of such affairs and what vanity to venture the determination of which be true Churches of Christ which the Scripture declares plain enough whether the Committee see it yea or no upon the verdit of a Committee to whom other affairs are most properly committed let all the Churches come before the Committee and all people declare their ways and their God and he whom the Committee saies is God let him be God and not the rest will you have it so if you will I will not take truth upon trust from the vote of any Committee man under the Sun and if you would not have it so you were better never trouble Committees with such matters at all then not commit them finally to them so as to agree to act at a venture as they determine in matters meerly of Religion and that the true Churches of Christ who know no King but Jesus in church and conscience will never do but prove themselves to be true constituted churches of Christ and preach the Gospell too as it is in Iesus where ere they see people ignorant of it whether they will hear or forbear though all the Committees yea and all the Kings and Popes and Priests and People in the world should declare against them Beloved Friends me thinks you look too like a national Ministry to be of the right stamp yet I had hoped Independents would never have turned State Ministers and have lookt so much after State honour State help State approbation State preferment State Maintenance for ministering to either their Churches or to the purblind nation as I see they do but Sirs if you be true constituted Churches of Christ indeed I do not say you are nor is it my businesse here to prove you are not though you are not till you own his baptism but if you be as you imagine you are know that Christ hath set in his Church Apostles or Messengers to be sent forth not by the State but by the Church it self to preach his Gospel to the world at the Churches and not the worlds charges and to preach the Gospel to the Parishes without pilling the poor parish people making way for the Gospâ—l and the truth by force and law whether they be free to have it to buy aâ—d receive it on such terms as you tender it on yea or no therefore send forth and maintain your messengers among your selves you are rich enough and let them preach the Gospel to them gather Churches but alas now I think on t how can they preach the Gospel by the halves and gather true constituted Churches that yet own not as ye O Independents yet do not all the principles of the oracles of God nor all the first doctrines of Christ as that of baptisms laying on of hands upon which together with the rest the true visible Church stands as on her foundation and are yet not onely unbaptized but unwilling to be baptized or to baptize with any other baptism then that Rantism that ran down hither through Rome You propound that when any of the Pastors of right constituted Churches dye or leave them to take up some other imployment they choose and present another Pastor within six moneths and may have one settled among them within 12 moneths by approbation from the said Committe or to dissolve or disperse themselves into other Churches Good Sirs what mean you by this shall the Parliament and their Committees never have their liberty to attend onely and perfectly the true liberties of the subject nor be at quiet from this wearisome work of approving and setling of ministers that are men mostly so unsetled in their minds that they 'l never if they have such liberty to leave as you here allow them settle longer in one place then till they have more means or be more to their minds in another had this piece been propounded by parish ministers and people it had become them as sounding somewhat sutable to their posture and principle for t is the usual tone they talk in when one Pastor having left them to take up another call from Christ or imployment somewhere else to his advantage they addresse to the Committee for the approbation or settlement of
legerdemane or other most paultrily purchased but specially under the Papacy where si nihil attuleris ibis Homere foras Calvin saies vix cente simum quodque beneficium in papatu sine Simonia conferri c. scarcely every hundredth benefice is bestowed at this day in the Papacy without Simony as the old writers defined Simony I do not say that they all buy them with ready mony but shew me one of twenty that cometh to a benefice without some by commendation some either kindred or alliance promoteth and some the authority of their parents some by doing of pleasures do get themselves favour Finally benefices are given to this end not to provide for the Churches but for them that receive them therefore they call them benefices by which words they do sufficiently declare that they make no other account of them but as the beneficial gifts of Princes whereby they either get the favour of their souldiers or reward their services I omit how these rewards are bestowed upon Barbers Cooks Moil-keepers and such dreggish men And how judaical Courts do ring of no matters more then about benefices so that a man may say that they are nothing else but a prey cast afore dogs to hunt after Is this tolerable even to be heard of that they should be called Pastors which have broken into possession of a Church as into a farm of their enemie that have have gotten it by brawling in the law that have bought it for money that have deserved it by filth services which being children yet scantly able to speak have received it as by inheritance from their uncles and kinsmen and some bastards from their fathers But this is more monstrous that one man I will not say what manner of man but truly such a one as cannot govern himself is set to govern six or seven Churches A man may see in these dayes in Princes Courts young men that have three Abbacies two Bishopwricks one Arch-bishoprick but there be commonly Canons laden with with five six or seven benefices whereof they have no care at all but in receiving the revâ—nues Inst. lib. 4. cap. 5. Sect. 6. etc. Thus they yea the Popes studied nothing more saith Helin Geog. p. 184. then to advance their Nephews for by that name the Popes use to call their bastards hence came the saying of Alexander the third viz. the laws forbid us to get children and the devil hath given us Nephews in their stead and though Luther add Calvin were themselves men of more moderate minds then to purchase preheminencies titles dignities to themselves yet though somewhat better then at Rome it hath been too bad among the Successors of both in Clerical capacity as to that corrupt kind of climbing to the chiefest punctillioes of earthly eminency they can attain to yea verily there 's very few of them but they are Papalis Ambitionis homines of Popely aspiring minds seeking superiority gaping after glory of this world not that to come liking to be lookt upon with distinction as men not like other men as men of worth when their worth lies more many times in what they have then what they are affecting to be applauded for their very Sermons to be humb'd when they come to a period in order to which I blush to think how they were wont to pause and look for 't in university pulpits and sometimes too when to their greater shame they went without it and to be thankt for their great pains when they have done thus surfeiting upon self-conceit and being drunk with affectation they erre in affection to the rule of faith for how can ye believe saith Christ when ye receive honour one of another and seek not that honour that cometh from God onely Iohn 5. this honour from beneath is the very element in which and not in God save as they are his creatures these Chamaeleons the CCClergy live move and have their being The ar of popularity is the breath by which the Heretick lives vain glory the stirrop by which he mounts into such magnitude and towers so high as to overtop not onely all other people but all other Princes also of the earth and to exalt himself above all that is worshipped and called God he lackt to make himself a name like to the name of the great men that are on the earth for the name of Minister or Servant to so plain and disrespected a Master too as the Master Christ was whose name was cast out as evil who made himself of no reputation and would have all his Servants specially the Servants of all his Servants to be of the same mind and follow him through scorn shame suffering and not be above him here if they mean to reign with him hereafter this was too mean a name for him to be known by he must be Dominus Dominorum here KKKing it over the Kings of the earth Paschalis the first caused the Priests of certain parishes at Rome by reason of the neernesse of his person their presence at his election and to honour their Authority with a more venerable title to be called Cardinals they are now Mates for Kings and numbred about 70. Helin Geog. p. 182. And howbeit Christ forbad his ministers the seeking of glory from men in this world as not the time for them to come to the crown in or to any thing but the cross yet his desire was Dicier hic est to be cryed up by the people as Supreme Moderator in all the matters of Christs Church and civil State too against the plain will of the old master in his word and to be sought after as a new Master Our Saviour saith of the Pharisees they loved the praises of men and the present priesthood of the Protestant nations lay this to our charge who are Christs Messengers and Servants to his Churches whom they call Anabaptists calumniating us so far as we are zealous and follow on according to the many covenants which both they and we have taken to reform fully by the word as if we sought nothing but glory and to be seen of men and meerly to make our selves Masters of a sect and such like which if we do we shall dearly answer for the sin of seeking and serving our selves of Christs service at the last as well as they but me thinks if blindnesse in this point had not happened to them they should see of themselves that men cannot seek secular honour to themselves by siding with such a sect as ever was and ever will be whilest the world stands such is its hatred to the truth every spoken against yea verily the name of these churches that own and keep close to all the principles of Christs doctrine and own the whole truth for Christs sake whose they are both are and yet will be cast out as evil by all other churches yet grant these Churches should grow into more request and favour among men as they do at sometimes more then some Act.
three fat parsonages or special benefices together t is a shame that for all the night is so far spent here in England yet even here there is such endevouring for preferments still such heaping up of more spiritual dignities and Ecclesiastical emoluments then one and pluralities of profitable places ingrost by single persons and such as would be singularly accounted of too but never will be by wise men had in so little as single shame whilst they harp so much after such double honour the Pope and Arch-bishops in the Popish times were till of late they grew more corrupt complainers and correcters of this greedy practise Alexander the third and 301 Bishops in a Lateran councel saies Mr. Den in a Sermon of his concerning Iohn the Bap. p. 64. concluded no Priests should have 2 benefices 1179. 1231. Richard the costly Archbishop of Canterbury complained to the Pope that Priests in England held more livings then one and though it hath been thought that many livings are a good step to a Bishoprick yet I have read of one John Bland saith he elected Archbishop of Canterbury but refused by the Pope chiefly for holding two livings without dispensation 1233. and John Pecham Archbishop of Canterbury made a Canon that no Clergy man within his province should hold two livings 1304 what a stinking shame is it therefore that to this day there is such inhauncing ingrossing for my part I am well assuted that though it be not yet yet long it will not be before stick and stone of the whole fabrick of the tripple BBBabel or National Ministry will fall and all their severall sorts of forced maintenances fall with them throughout Europe but first here in England for the tenth part of the City i. e. the Clergy here falls first yea as there have two woes to the Clergy fell on them here already which have cast out the two corrupter sorts of these spiritual men and all their spiritual maintenance and revenues the first whereof fell upon the flat Popish false Ministry viz. Cardinals Votaries Friers Abbots Nuns and Abbeyes and with them all their maintenance and the foolish forms of their false ministrations viz. their golden legend and book of false miracles bulls indulgences Masses dirges â—igintals and other trumpery the second upon the second part of the great City or Clergy viz the Archbishops Bishops Chancellers Comissaries Dears Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and their Officials and with them fell all their land means and maintenance together with all their false manner of ministration viz. the Common-prayer liturgy book of ordination of Priests and Deacons Homilies and all the Crutches of that lame and lazy Clergy so the third is now nigh to come upon the Presbyterian Clergy whether they see it or no for the face of the skies and Scriptures do both look and lour alike upon them with whom will fall that their still pleaded for maintenance by Tithes Gleabs Parsonages Vicarages and all their Ecclesiastical Profits and emoluments whatsoever together with all their Church constitutions Synodical directories and formes of worship and government Classes creeds Catechisms parochial posture yea their Euphrates too is dayly drying up in the hot sunshine of the Gospel though they for the most part scorched with great heat rather blaspheme the name of God that hath power of these plagues then repent to give him glory Rev. 16.9 I say most certainly all these false national parochial constitutions of Church and Ministry Babi-baptism and maintenance must down in due time but in the mean time though I wish its fall yet I heartily wish that you Clergy were so charitable as to share the maintenance that 's yet alloted you as the National Ministry a little more evenly among your selves and not be so basely covetous as to sherk one another without reproof and to suffer some to have two or three livings or if but one yet that worth two happily three perhaps four five six or 700 per annum as some livings are and some as honest and painful and worthy in their way and godly in suo genere as the other to be pincht within the income of as few scores as the rest have 100ds by the year some having but seven some six others but five others four three two and some scarce a score of pounds to bring the year about with and yet have not a farthing worth of help from the high flown favorites of their times Dr. Featley had two livings while he was alive as it seems by himself in his Epistle to Mr. Downham to whom he complaines that both his pulpits were taken from him but though Episcopal Parasites did hold no more then they could get yet we being six or seven years past the darknesse of those times me thinks now the Clergy should cry out upon each other when they see any clambering beyond a competency and consider the incompetency of their fellows voluntarily whether the Parliament augment one out of another yea or no but no bubble stands higher then the rest of the water it rides on for a while but t will break within a while and be level'd to the residue of its element in the mean time they have enough among them if they can be contented to enjoy it in equal portions and not fall out about the shifting it so much is yet left though so much already is confiscated that moderate minded men that mean not to erre from the faith by the love of money more then of Christ need not set up their Notes to the State to administer more I le tell thee what thou hast had and yet hast oh HHHireling SSShepheard within this Island of Brittain nay in England which is but the one half the whole of which is but a poor patch of about a tenth part of the rest of Christndome and this out of thy own mouth I mean a man of thy own fraternity see Helin Geog. p. 464.465 an Episcopal Clergy man vaunting of the greatnesse of thy maintetenance which mouth of thine is still opening in some or other of the younger brothers of the present Presbytery to this day to call out for more The Clergy saith he meaning of England onely was once of infinite riches as appeareth by the Bill preferred to King Henry the fiâ—t against the Temporall revenues of the Church which were able to maintain 15. Earles 1500 Knights 6000 men of Arms more then a 1000 Almes-houses and the King also might clearly put up 20000 pounds as they now are not so rich so are they far more learned and of more sincere and Godly carriage wherein they give place to no Clergy in the world and for learning I dare say cannot be any where paralleld neither are they so destitute of the externall gifts of fortune but that they are the the richest of any Ministers of the reformed Churches For besides 5439 Parochial benefices being no impropriations and besides the Vicarages most of which exceed the competency beyond Seas here
are in England 26. Deaneries 60 Archdeaconries and 544 dignities and Prebends all of which are places of a sur revenue And as for the maintenance of Priests Monks and Friars before thâ— reformation Mr. Camden reckoneth 90 Colledges besides those in the universities 110 Hospitals 3374. Chanteries and free Chappels and 645 Abbeys and Monasteries more then half of which had above the yearly imcome of 200 pounds in old rents in Many above 2000 and some 4000 almost So studious were our Ancestors both in those times of blindnesse and those of a clearer light to encourage men to learning and then reward it thus far he concerning the wealth of the English Clergy so that here was no lack yet I think but of a law that some should not sink and the rest swim in superfluity and hold two livings as Democritus would weep saies Mr. Den to hear some pluralists plead they do out of Charity it may be out of it indeed but t is in no charity to their brethren but oh the bottomlesse pit of the Priestly purse beyond sea where poor Peter reigns in his posterity who had neither silver nor gold in his own person Act. 3.6 of the gettings of that one great man the Pope to say nothing of the endlessenesse of his Priests eagerness after money there is no end nor yet weight number nor measure of his treasures t would make your eyes dazzle to see it and will make your ears tingle to hear what a deal of this ministerial maintenance is at Rome and her immediate Territories where there are no lesse then a million of Officers mendicants and others maintain'd at other mens cost themselves disbursing not a penny The ordinary Temporal revenue of the Papacy saith Helin Geog. 192.193 Boterus makes to be better then two millions of Crownes the extraordinary and spiritual to be wonderful Pius Quintus who ruled six years onely got from the Spanish Clergy fourteen Millions Sixtus the sixth took from the Iesuites at one clap 20000 Crowns of yearly Revenue because they were too rich for men that vowed poverty and having sate but five years had coffered up five Millions four of which his Successor Gregory the fourteenth spent in lesse then a year Out of France they reap no lesse then a million of Crowns yearly out of England when it was the Popes Puteus inexhaustus they extracted no lesse then 60000 Markes which in our present money is 120000 pounds being at that time more then the Kings certain Revenue And this was in the time of Henry the third before their Rapine was fully come to the height Let other Countreys be rated accordingly Next adde the moneys received from the particular pardons for dâ—spensing with unlawful Marriages the profits arising from pilgrimage from greats mens deaths and funeralls from the indulgencies granted unto Abbies and Convents in all which the Popes have a share and it would passe a good Arithmetician to passe his Entrado Here take the saying of Sixtus the fourth that a Pope could never want money while he could hold a pen in his hand yet is their Treasury seldome full for 1. the State they keep because of their height of honor above all Princes 2. the large allowance they give unto their Legates Nuncios and other Ministers and 3. their greedy desires to enrich their Sons or Kinsmen with the Churches Lands or money with which humour Pope Sixtus the fift onely was never touched keep their coffers exceeding low Adde to this the exceeding Gorgeousnesse of the Papal vestments and especially that of the tripple Crown for when Clement the fist transferred his seat to Avignion we read how with a fall from his horse he lost a Carbuncle with which his Crown was thick set worth 6000 Ducats at the least Thus he And saith Lord Napier on Rev. 9.21 and note q thereof It is more nor notorious what Abbies and Bishopricks from simple Princes what lands and yearley Revenues from landed men what money and goods from men of all estates hath been deceitfully stollen for indulgencies pardons remissions of sins trigentals soul masses dirges de profundis and other superstitions stealing thereby not onely mens goods but even their souls If all this treasuring up of trash be not covetousnesse excuse me if I know not what else to make of it it would make me laugh as sorry as I am for all such hereticizing and Schismatizing among the Ministers from primitive plainnesse as hath been to see a Clergy man stand up and tell me now that much maintenance is a necessary means whereby to enable ministers of Christ to promote the Gospell specially if they consider how this covetousnesse hath caused the CCClergy in all CCChristendome to erre so miserably from the truth thereof after the traditions of one another that some of the great Ghostly Fathers that had the greatest maintenance if that could have maintained them in or had not rather bewitcht them from it did not onely turn rank Hereticks but stark Atheists by their sin of covetousnesse when maintenance increased so much upon them if either lucre or learning could prevent the corruption or cure the ignorance of the Ministry the Popes had not proved such incarnate devills as the richest and the learnedst of them did Leo the tenth was indeed a great favourer of learning and layer up of wealth but so little favoured he of Religion that he was oft times heard to say Quantas nobis divitias comparavit ista fabula Christi a speech saith Helin so blasphemous that Lucian Porphirie or Iulian the Apostate could never match it in his time began the reformation by Luther and t was but high time for thee Lord to begin who wilt make an end also in thine own time for men yea thy ministers for so they all call themselves have throw covetousnesse utterly erred and universally made void thy law But enough if not too much saith Helin and so say I of these Ghostly Fathers and of their sanctities I will as he does p. 185 end with the Painter who being blamed by a Cardinal for colouring the visages of Peter and Paul too red reply'd that he painted them so as blushing at the lives of those men who stiled themselves their successors I have done with the causes of his heresies and come to his design The design of the Heretick even this Heretick of Hereticks the CCClergy is to propagate his Error and as his grounds are wicked so are his manners in mannaging of them intrat ut vulpes regnat utleo he pretends verity but intends onely victory that he may reign over the kings and people of the earth and that they might all stoop to his commands directions and under pretence of verity at first he did get victory at last over the whole world so that Pape Oh strange the whole world wondered after him and doted upon him as their Lord God and became slaves in chains to his Priestly will yea as he loved to