Selected quad for the lemma: blood_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
blood_n	death_n	drink_v	eat_v	7,654	5	7.4459	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44790	The glory of the true church, discovered, as it was in its purity in the primitive time also, a manifestation how and when the apostacy came, and how long it hath continued in the Church of Rome, proved to be in it, because she differs in doctrin & practice from the Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes : published for this end, that people may be informed, and their understandings opened to discern of the times and seasons, and see the difference between the lambs wife and the mother of harlots / by one who desires that all may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved, and walk in the light of the Lord, Francis Howgill.	Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669.	1661 (1661)	Wing H3162; ESTC R38990	108,097	179

prescribed because it became him to fulfill all Righteousness and he being not yet sacrificed up this offering was not ended but now he being offered up this is to be witnessed in the Spirit and in the hearts of his people who are marked and bear his spot when a destroyer comes to execute vengeance upon the Wicked he passes over his Seed which bears his Image And when Christ came with the twelve and sate down in the place appointed in the even the same night he was betrayed And he said unto them I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer Luke 22. 15 17 19. And he took Bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave it unto them saying this is my Body which is given for you this do in remembrance of me likewise also the Cup after supper saying this is the Cup of the New Testament for you in my blood ver 20. and this he gave as a sign a token to the Disciples that as often as they did eat the bread drink the Cup they should remember him and it should shew forth his death till he came again and this was practised by the Disciples according as Christ had said unto them therefore the Apostle said 1 Cor. 11. 23. That I receive of the Lord that delivered I unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night he was betrayed took Bread and brake it and said take eat this is my Body which is broken for you after the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying this Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as often as ye do it in remembrance of me ver 24 25. For as often as ye eat this Bread and Drink this Cup ye shew forth his death till he comes and so he pureth them upon examination ver 28. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of this bread and drink of this cup ver 29 For he that eats and drinks unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body But Believers grew in the knowledge of the mystery which was revealed through the Spirit and came to see beyond these outward things and things visible 2 Cor. 4 28. While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things that are seen are temporal but the things that are not seen are eternal So that which was given for a sign to be observed in remembrance of Christ till he came was visible to wit the bread and the Cup which he gave to the Disciples at supper which they were exercised in for some time in the time of weakness while their eyes and minds where much outward but they came to look at things which are beyond time and things they saw which are not seen in time but things that were Eternal and this they sed upon and so the Corinthians grew up in the Life and knew the flesh of Christ and his Blood and they did eat his Flesh and Drink his Blood and had Life in them now they which eat his flesh and drink his Blood need nothing to put them in memory of that which they already enjoy and possess and so the Apostles brought them to a further examination not to look at things visible but to examine themselves whether they were in the Faith for he that is in the Faith is in that which is visible Prove your selves know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. Now they who came to witness Christ in them knew the Resurection and the Life in them and witnessed the Life of the Son of God to live in them and they in it and this was a further state then looking at visible things which was in remembrance only of his death and blessed are they who have an eye to see and an heart to believe these things And now the Apostle spake unto wise men and bad them judge what he said 1 Cor. 10. 15. So that novices or them that were young or Babes had hardly been able to discern if he had spoken such things to them but he spoke to wise men which could judge of what he said and ver 16. thus he said the Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ and the Bread which we break is it not the communion of the Body if Christ ver 17. for we being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all partakers of that one Bread and that one Bread was Christ who said I am the Bread of Life and this they witnessed and these are great mysteries and them whose eyes are towards visible things cannot see them And what a noise and a stir hath been made these many hundred years and what killing and persecuting about things that are seen And since the Mysterie hath been lost and the key which opens the Mysterie how people have waded in the dark till they have lost themselves and are sunk down into utter darkness as hath been manifest about visible things which do corrupt how many have been killed about this Bread and this Cup which are visible since the Apostles daies and how many Institutions and Laws have been made about this and have foughten like Swine about the husk and discerns not the life neither the Lords Body It is endless to declare what stir they make about this Bread and this Wine in the Church of Rome which I shall not now stand to particularize much but however after the Priest have consecrated it they conclude it to be the very Body and Blood of Christ and yet a thing which may be seen and that is a temporal thing and so gave it names past numeration And what work they have made about times and dayes when it was fi● to be received and how many Decrees have been made about these things Anaclatus caused a Decree to be made that all was to come to it under pain of Excommunication And Victor denounced that those should be interdectid from all service when they should receive the Sacrament that would not be reconciled to their Neighbours of all Gurdges and hatred Again Clepheranius one hundred years after Anaclatus commanded that all that professed Christ or bare the name of Christians being of the age of twelve or fourteen years should at least once a year at Easter receive the blessed Sacrament Fabianus decreed that they should receive it three times in a year and Innocentius the third decreed it should be kept in the Church that it should be ready at all times least they that were sick should want the spiritual comfort of it And Honorus the third confirmed the same And Austin concluded the Eucharist to be of absolute necessity for Infants And what a stir hath been in the reformed Churches so called about this And what disorderly work and what high Imputations they have

Christ to be her Husband and sate as a Queen and the Kings of the Farth John sa● in the Revelation drink of her Cup and bewitched by her Sorceries and then all the Nations becoming Water and unstable being drunk with fornication sraggered up and down and reeled up and down and stood in nothing being out of the power which should have stablished them And then a great Beast arose out of these Nations Kindreds and Tongues and People which are these waters with seven heads and ten horns and then these Apostatized Disciples or Ministers which preached for filthy Lucre and them that beleived them sheltered them under the Beast and cryed who is able to make war with the Beast and the Kings of the Earth gave their strength to the Beast which arose out of the waters and now the false Church gets upon him these that had the form of Godliness and out of the power and rides upon the Beast and he carries her and hath done this many years and she hath travelled in the greatness of his strength And then Laws began to be made about Religion and then began compelling we heard of none in the Primitive times nor in the true Church but now the false Church calling her self by the Free-Womans name and getting on the outward dress and habit and attire saith I am she have not I the form and ordinances which was practised in the Apostles dayes Who doubts of that may look into the Primitive times and see that I am conformable to the form which was amongst the first Christians in things that are outward And thus she hath deceived the Nations Rev. 18. 23. Now Rome look to thy beginning and read thy Original and view thy Antiquity We will grant thee every dram and every hour of time these thirteen hundred years and prove thee to be in the Apostacy in doctrine and practice from the Primitive time after the first hundred years after Christ was manifested in the flesh And Christendom look about thee for thou art measured and thy compass is seen If Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and People have drunk the Whores Cup since Johus dayes as will be made manifest then what cause hast thou Rome to boast of Antiquity and universality for that doth the sooner prove thee to be a Harlor then the true Church and thy universality which hath long been boasted of proves thee no more to be the true Church of Christ then the sea can prove it self to be a Rock for if Nations Kindreds and Tongues and Languages and People universally be the waters that the Whore sits upon and the Beast rose out of the Waters Now read thy self we have measured thee as in the hollow of a hand and we have thee in the Apostacy clear thy self when thou can If the Beast compelled all both small and great to worship him and made war with all that bore not his Image then we have thee between us and the Apostles time as in a press for not such compelling was in the true Church by any Ecclesiastical or Secular power Instance if thou can from the Apostles writings any such thing or where Cains Weapons was lifted up or Creatures men and women killed by the Sword or destroyed with lingring torments in the time of the Apostles Now in that it is said the Church hath been universal to that more might be said Europe or some parts adjacent is not all the Earth and it is no where found since the Apostles that klling and compelling and forcing hath been but by thee and them that are at the best but in the Suburbs of thy City which afterwards I shall in brief descend to and so it is evidently known that thy Church so called hath been upheld more by cruelty and force then any sound Doctrine or Practice agreeable to the Apostles dayes Though thou may wipe thy Mouth and say I am clear we persecute none to death we have a Beast to ride upon and will make war for our City and will compell to our worship and institutions we 'l cry him up for the higher power and we will frighten people that who resists this resists the ordinance of God And he will kill and destroy and compel and force and we shall be clear and he will call us the holy Church and we will call him the higher Power And so it is clear and evident by what hath been said that thou art in the Apostacy as hereafter shall be manifested by name and practice First thy Ministers are not according to the Ministers of Christ in the Primitive times their call not such their practice no● such They were made Ministers in the primitive times by the holy Ghost and by the Spirit but yours by natural parts Tongues Arts Philosophy and Study and packing up Old Authors together to make a little discourse of and this must be called the Gospel Secondly the Ministers of Christ they preach freely not for gifts and rewards and Tythes but you have brought in Judaisme Tythes which belongeth to the first Priest-hood your Oblations Obventions your Mortuaries and these Invented and Introduced things to maintain your Ministers by Thirdly the Ministers of Christ did not compel any at Corinth Thessalonica Macedonia or any other Church to give them such and such maintenance by force who received not their Doctrine But you compel and force and have made that which you call the Gospel chargeable to the Earth where you have power 1 Cor. 9. 18. Fourthly your Doctrine is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the primitive times as that the real and substantial presence of Christs Body and blood after the consecration of Priests is in the bread and wine which may corrupt and so doth not the body of Christ do contrary to Christs Doctrine who saith he that eats my flesh and drinks my blood shall live for ever Joh. 6. 56. But you that eat that which you call his substantial and real Body and blood both it and you shall corrupt Fifthly of the unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse this sacrifice doth no good at all for where there is no blood there is no life and where there is no blood there is no remission saith Paul Heb. 9. 14. and so your sacrifice is abominable and an Idol and such an one as there is no mention made of in the Scriptures Sixthly of your Liturgy and publick prayers in an unknown tongue this is an unprofitable and a vain Worship and this is like your unbloody Sacrifice herein you are like Barbarians one to another and how should they that worship with you say Amen when they know not what you say you praying in an unknown tongue is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said 1 Cor. 14. and the 18 verse I thank my God I speak with Tongues more than you all verse 19. yet in the Church I had rather speake five words with my understanding that I might reach others also then ten thousand in an unknown Tongue

with two Deacons were burned the same year for being Christians this Valerian the Emperor Raigned seven years and was taken in the War by the King of Persia who made him his Block to take Horse on to his dying day and though the Christians in this time were much Darkened yet they were much more justiffed in the sight of God then the Heathen Emperors who came all or most of them to a woful End for their Cruelty and Tyranny and Murther for the hand of the Lord who distributes Justice equally to every man according to his Works found them out and Gallianus the Son of Valerianus who joyned with his Father in Persecution had many earthquakes and thirty rebellions and insurrections raised in his time in the Empire in nine years time and this stopt their Persecuting of the Christians somewhat And after Gallianus the Emperor succeeded Claudius who Raigned two years and after him Quintilian●s the Brother of Claudius who continued only seventeen dayes about the year 274. in this time the Christians had some rest from Persecution The ninth Persecution began under Aurelianus who began his Raign mildly but soon after moves the ninth Persecution about this time many Christians suffered and some of the Bishops of Rome and Sixtus and Dionysius and many others in the middle of his Raign there was a Council of the Christians at Antioch the Emperor seeming not to be against it nor them but afterwards he was about to seal an Edict for further Persecutions of the Christians but he was so terrified with thundering and lightning that it stopt his tyranny in the sixth year of his Raign he was slain about the year 276. After him succeeded Tacitus who Raigned but six Months and Florianus Raigned next who Raigned but sixty dayes and after him Raigned Marcus Aurelius Probus who Raigned six years and four Months in this time there was no Persecution but the Christians had rest as in matters of Religion but he was slain by his souldiers in the year 248. Carus with his two Sons Carinus and Numerianus succeeded Probus in the Empire the Raign of which Emperors continued in all but three years Carus was slain with lightning and Numerianus was also slain and Carinus the other Son Raigned alone in Italy with much Wickedness who afterwards was slain by the hands of the Tribune at Rome so that from the latter end of the Raign of Valerianus unto the Raign of Dioclesia there seeming to be about forty four years in which there was little Persecution of the Christians but they had rest and enjoyed their Worship in quiet and they were kept under sufferings and the Law and did not exercise Authority over the consciences of the rest as afterwards they did when they came to have Power in their hands although as I said before divers things were brought in by the Bishops of Rome in this time which were much disagreeing from the Apostles dayes yet they held part of the true Worship and bore a Testimony against the open prophaness and cursed Idolatry and Pride of the Heathen Emperors who killed one another for the Impeiral Seat and in this Testimony that they bore for God I Beleive they were accepted and had peace with God The tenth Persecution began under the Raign of Dioclesian which was in the year 289. this was the last Persecution against the Christians which was horrible and grievous that never was any Persecution before or since comparable unto it for the time which it continued which was the space of ten years together though there were more Emperours which had an hand in this Persecution yet principally it beareth the Name of Dioclesian This Dioclesian the Emperor took unto himself Maxillianus to be Partner with him in the Empire those two Emperors chose two others to themselves that is to say Gallerius and Constantius whom they called Cesars Gallerius was sent into the East parts against the Christians and Constantius to the West to Britain these two last Raigned moderately and did not Persecute the Christians for about 10. years so they Prospered in their Wars abroad but afterwards by reason of their victories were puft up with pride in their hearts they Ordained a triumph at Rome after which triumph Dioclesian gave commandment that he himself should be worshiped as God and said he was Brother to the Sun and Moon and so commanded the People to kiss his feet which afterwards when the chief Bishop of Rome got up into pride and claimed superiority over all the Christian Churches having got the Authority of the Dragon commanded the Emperors and Kings then to kiss his feet and so in this the Pope hath imitated the Heathen Emperor who was the greatest Persecutor that ever we read of But to return to Dioclesian he began a great and grevious Persecution of the Christians which was the nineteenth year of his Raign in the year of Christ 103. he commanded all the meeting places of the Christians to be spoyled and the Books of the holy Scriptures to be Burned he sent out a Proclamation for casting all the Bishops and Elders into Prison in his Empire and constrained them by several torments to Worship Idols and so great Persecution there was among the Christians and grievous torments they suffered because they would not offer sacrifice to Idols one Nobleman at Nicom pluckt down the two Emperors Proclamations against the Christians not fearing the Emperors who were then in the City for which act he was put to most bitter death afterwards they were so mad that they sought to destroy all the Christians in the World it can hardly be expressed with words what numbers suffered and what Blood was shed throughout all the Regions and they cast the Christians among the Lions Bears and Leopards who were kept Hungry for that purpose and them that the wild Beast would not Devour they slew them with the Sword and threw them into the Sea Cerena the Wife of Dioclesian he killed because shee was a Christian two thousand were burnt in one place many suffered in Phrygia and were burnt with the whole City in this Persecution likewise in France Spain and Brittan so that some Rivers were Coloured with Blood one thousand slain sometimes in one day and they slew them by ten twenty sixty and sometimes an hundred Men Women and Children Damasus Beda Oratius Honorus and others do testifie that there was slain in the space of one Month seve●●een thousand Persons likewise Peter Bishop of Alexandria and three hundred more were slain with axes there Mauritius was slain with 6666. Victor with 360. were slain in the City of Troy the Christians notwithstanding all this Persecution did increase and though a Cloud was over many and darkness entred in in part respectively to what had been in the first Century yet they were the best Witnesses for the Lord in their generations and the Christians did increase so that the two Heathen Emperors were tired with Persecuting and gave up their

stoned to death And this was according to the Law of God their bloud was u●on their own heads And when Israel ●usted after a King he gave them a King and they had many Kings who were Anointed of God by his appointment which was to rule in the same manner as Moses Joshua and the rest of the Judges had done and whosoever were disobedient unto the aforesaid command of God whether in things civil or things concerning the worship of God and several punishments were to be in●●icted by them for several transgressions as Blasphemers Sabbath breakers false Prophets and Wizzards and witches were not suffered to live This was before Christ the Seed was manifested in the flesh this was the old way the old paths that Israel was to walk in But this Covenant was filthy as the Apostle saith and the Ministers thereof could not continue by reason of death The Law was changed and the Priest-hood was changed and the Ordinances and worship was changed when Christ came to be manifest the end of the Law for Righteousness Now as A●ron and the rest of the high Priests were but types and figures of the everlasting High Priest So the Judges and Kings of Israel were types and figures of Christ the King of Kings and King of Saints and Lawgiver and Judge And their outward power which continued but for a time in compelling to the true worship under that Covenant or restraining from Idolatry did but continue until the time of Reformation was but a type and a figure of Christ and his spiritual power and weapon and spiritual execution upon his enemies who are not subject to his government o● power seeing the Father hath committed all power unto him in Heaven and in Earth And Moses the Mediator of the first Covenant which stood in outward Ordinances both the Mediator the Covenant and the Ordinance had an end when the better Covenant was given the Covenant of Light and Christ the Mediator thereof was manifest And this Covenant and Ordinances pertained unto the Jews and the compelling unto the worship and punishing for Idolatry partained to the Jews only who were under that Covenant and not to the Gentiles as it is written To Jacob he gave his Law and to Israel his Statutes to every Nation he did not so So they which would bring people now under this Covenant and the power thereof denies the second the everlasting Covenant his power and them that would preach up compelling and forcing to worship and bring those Scriptures of the first Covenant to be their ground are ignorant of the times unto which they were spoken And upon this false Foundation hath the false Church persecuted about worship this many hundred years and this Doctrine is in too much credit with many in these dayes who say they are under the Gospel And this hath made people to hate and persecute one another And the Ministers of Antichrist hath pressed it upon Kings Rulers that God hath required it of them to enforce and enjoyn all people unto a Worship although they themselves are divided amongst themselves one while for this thing and another while for that and because the Kings of Israel did so and had power to do therefore they have concluded that Princes and Judges ought to do so and so have made them put their neck in a yoak which is too heavy for them to hear which the Lord hath not required at their hands and because of this compellings and forceings many hypocrites have been made and many of Gods peoples consciences wounded and burned and many Kings and Rulers have lost their Dominions and they have been taken from them because of this by the Lord. So all they that have in truded upon Christs prerogative Soveraignty in this thing are sure to be reckoned as no other but as usurpers and intruders into that power which the Father alone hath given unto his Son which Power Dominion and Glory he will not give unto any other as to be Judge Law-giver in the hearts and consciences of his people Object But some may say did not the Prophets exhort to inquire for the old paths and the good old way And did not the Prophets say Kings should be nursing Fathers and Queens nursing Mothers And must not this be fulfilled in these dayes Ans. This is true that the Prophet did exhort the Princes people of Israel who were in the revolted estate who had transgressed the Commandments of the Lord and had lost the guide of their youth the rest of their souls And therefore he turned them back to consider of the day of old and inquire after the good old way that they might walk therein wch they were gone from but this doth not pertain at all unto this time for Christ Jesus is the new and living way which all is to inquire after now who is the end of the Law for Righteousness and the first Covenant unto them that believe And as for Kings being nursing Fathers the Queens nursing Mothers this was Prophesied by the Prophet before they went into Captivit how the Heathen should have power over their Kings Prophets and Priests and people and Jerusalem should lye desolate Now this the Prophet spoke of concerning the return of them unto the Lord and they to inhabit their own land then their own Kings and Queens should rule over them be as nurses to them when they should return from their Captivity then Jacob should rejoyce and Israel should be glad and this was spoken to the Jews and this had reference to their state in that time Further it may be objected ought not Blasphemy Idolatry and Adultery to be punished is this to be suffered now Seeing it was punished under the Law Answer Yea this is to be punished and shall be punished and that even with death for as I said the Father hath committed all Power unto the Son who will execute his judgement upon all them who will not have him to raign in their hearts as it is written these my enemies that would not that I should rule over them bring them before me that I may slay them with what weapons With carnal nay but with the sharp two edged Sword which proceeds out of his Mouth and with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and the Spiritual weapons which runs thorow the Blasphemer and kills him and flayes the false Prophet and Soothsayer and Inchanter and Idolator and yet saves the Creature a live take one example of Christ the new and living Way when the Pharisees brought a woman tempting Christ which was taken in Adultery saying according to the Law of Moses she ought to be stoned to death he that was the end of the Law said he that was without sin cast the first stone convicting them al that they were in the same nature and yet did not approve of the Adultery but said go and sin no more least a worse thing

come upon thee Likewise Paul said I was a persecutor and a Blasphemer This generation who professeth Pauls words would say let him dye he hath confessed he was a Blasphemer but he was slain with other weapons Christ slew the Blasphemer and the Persecutor in him and left the man alive and made him a chosen vessel to declare against Blasphemy and lead out of all ungodliness And herein is the second Covenant more excellent then the first and the Ministration more excellent then the former and the Dominion and Government of Christ more excellent then the Dominion and government of the Kings of Israel and the weapons more excellent then theirs and the power greater then theirs which is able to destroy the works of the Devil as Blasphemy Idolatry and Adultery and save the Creature alive This is the better Covenant indeed the everlasting and herein is the mercy of God exalted his Dominion and Power exalted and Christ the King of Glory exalted And these sins before-mentioned punished with great severity and great Judgment For in the first Covenant they slew with a temporal death But Christ when he appeareth in his power and glory in flames of fire renders vengeance within upon the wicked which burns and scorches and brings anguish tormenteth all them that are in that Nature and banisheth all them from his presence and from the Glory of his power till that be dead and slain which would not have him to Raign to wit that which is born of the flesh which is within And blasphemy Idolatry Murther are the fruits of the flesh where the flesh is not lived in these things cannot be brought forth I speak not of the Creature who is Gods Workman-ship for that may be alive when the birth fruits which are after the flesh are both dead and herein is the mighty power of God made known and his Justice and his severe Judgment which all must pass thorow before they come to witness eternal life He that dispised Moses Law died by the mouth of two or three witnesses which was a natural death of how much sorer punishment shall he be worthy which treadeth underfoot the Son of God and counteth the bloud of the Covenant an unholy thing Heb. 10. 28 29. and blasphemeth But further it will be objected that the Apostle exhorteth for a submission unto every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2. 13. whether it be unto Kings as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent of him and in Romans the 13. 1 2. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher power for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained of God Ans. From these Scriptures many bad Constructions and Inferences hath been gathered as that Kings and Rulers were to be obeyed in all things and that every worship which is commanded by●a King or Superiour ought to be obeyed and that Kings and Rulers had power in Spiritual things to make a Law for such a Worship or forbid such a Worship and all these ought to be obeyed And so in the Apostacy the Ministers of Antichrist hath brought in many Inventions and Traditions and humane Institutions for Divine Worship and Service and thereby hath pressed Rulers to make Laws and compel all people to receive them although they have been repugnant to the true worship of God and then such Teachers hath pressed such people to obedience as of duty and necessity because the aforesaid Scripture doth Command subjection to all Rulers And thus hath Babylon reared up her City and gotten Merchants to put off her Merchandize and so hath cheated both Rulers and people and hath led them to hate and destroy one another Unto these Scriptures and divers others which speaks of obedience to Magistrates in all things must needs be truly understood to be of things that are Just and equal which are onely civil and concerning things between man and man and the Ordinances which are for the well being of a Nation or the good and wholesome government of a state and cannot be understood of things Spiritual or relating to things appertaining to the Conscience or respecting things about the worship of God My reasons are weighty for in that time and age the Apostle wrote whether Peter Paul or any other the Magistrates were all Heathens as Herod Pontius Pilate Augustus Caesar Tiberius Caesar and Nero who were all Heathen Emperours of Rome and Idolators and at that time they had power over Rome and also over Jerusalem Judea and Paul writing to the Romans and Peter to Capadocia Pontius and Asia who were also under Heathen Rulers and did not worship the true God doubtless they injoyned not submission unto the Heathen Rulers in spiritual things for then they must have been joyned unto Idolatry for if it be understood that they had power in spiritual things which partained unto the Conscience and that they ought to be obeyed in all spiritual things then Peter and John were transgressors themselves when they taught boldly the things of the Kingdome of God in every City where ever they came And the Rulers in most places opposed and put Peter and John out of the City and commanded the Apostles to speak no more in the Name of Jesus And yet they returned again and disobeyed their Command and their power and authority and said whether it were better to obey God or man judge ye So that no King Ruler nor Magistrate as a Magistrate has power given of God to Imprison or force or perscribe any Law or worship upon the hearts and Consciences of men For that belongs onely to Christ the Law given the Bishop of souls But then it will be objected if not as a Magistrate yet then as a Christian he may injoyn and give Command concerning worship and compell and punish them that obey not Answer As a Christian they have no priority but as they stand in the growth of truth not above others for God is no respecter of persons for the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who preached the Gospel and had begotten many into the Faith thorow the power of God which was with them by which they spoke and in things spiritual might have claimed obedience to their Command much more then any temporall Prince and yet they said we are not Lords over mens faith nor did they exercise Lorship over mens Consciences but left every one to Gods witnesse and to the word of his grace which was nigh in their hearts And furthermore said let every one be perswaded in his own mind said if any should be contrary minded God would reveal it to them and so waited in the patience to see the work of God prosper and was content And so forcing and compelling about Spiritual matters by temporal punishments and temporal Law is all contrary to the Apostles practice in the primitive times though the heathen persecuted the Christians by their temporal Laws for Spiritual things and

Churches or Meeting places but on the other side the second Nicene Councils determined that Images were not only to be placed in the Churches but also to be worshipped and the pope said that Images were to be Lay-mens Calenders The latter Council under Julius the second did repeal the Decrees of the Pisan Council The Basil Council deterrmined that a Council of Bishops was above the Pope but the Lattern Council under Leo Decreed that the Pope was above the Council and they decreed also that he that should think otherwise should be held for an Heretick and yet the Bishops and Abbo●s in the Council of Basil aforesaid Decreed that they that judged that the Bishops were not above the Pope were Hereticks and yet these Councils the Church of Rome layes claim to to be of their Faith and Church and yet one making void what another had decreed The same Council did with an uniform consent remove the Pope Enge●ius and put Amidius in his place But Engenius vilifies the Councils decrees and condemns them The Council of Trent commanded that Bishops should teach the people and should have no more benefit for preferment then one place But since they have made this decree void and now whole Countries is too little and the Protestants imitates the same and does not teach the people and so of what validity have these Councils been worth or of what force hath the Decrees been of mutable men who have been tossed up and down like waters need I nominate the several Convocations and Councils that hath been amongst the reformed Churches as they are called and their Synods one while decreeing this the next throwing it down again And yet all these will lay claim to be Ministers of the True Church and persecute as Hereticks to death them who owns not their Changeable Decrees and mutable Institutions but such hath been the Arogancy and pride of her that hath set as a Queen upon the waters that she must be the only Judge and then the Prophets must be slain Pope Julius said no Council is of any credit unless it be confirmed by the Church of Rome And Boniface the eighth saith that no man in the world can be saved unless he be subject to the Romane Church And Pope Paschal thus said as though said he any Council could make Laws for the Church of Rome and all Councils do subsist by it and receive their strength from it and that w●h the Pope approveth or disapproveth And so all Confederacies Councils of men who are out of the life and power of God doth decree that which brings the Seed of God into bondage Now Rome look to thy infallability and thy universality which thou so much cryest up and thy unity one while sets up one thing another time throws it down again when it wil not s●rveparticular interests and what a stir has here been amongst them that call themselves reformed in these latter ages one setting up this another that sometimes this service for a worship then the next calls it Idol●trous then another service and this Ceremony and the other Ceremony and this Pater noster and the other Creed this Ca●echism and the other Ca●echism these Articles of Faith the next Synod make them void and so leads people into distraction and madness and this Ca●on and the other Institution one while its Idolatrous another while Sacred and Holy And thus people has been led up and down many generations too and ●ro up and down and persec●tion about Changeable Mutable and alterable things and the life which redeems out of the world up unto God has not been sought after And so all that looks to have peace and to enjoy the Testimony of Gods blessed Spirit come out of this Babylon this City of confusion whose seat is ●rected upon the sand whose Foundation is laid in the waters and faith upon the humane institutions of men which are variable and subject to Mutation and come to know the Rock of Ages and the unalterable Council of the Lord and the wisdome of the most High to rule in your hearts wait in the Immortal Light of God which is within that you may see over all these Mountains of darkness which is risen up in the Apostacy and over all the Institutions Decrees Statutes Ordinances and Inventions of men to before all these things were and come to him who is the beginning of the Creation of God who is that quickning Spirit by which all that believe are raised out of death to be partakers of the Life which is Immortal which fades not away and the Lord will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Away with all Types and Figures Shadows and Vails humane Institutions and Ordinances of men Ceremonies and vain superstitions Traditions which God hath no pleasure in which doth not profit at all and whatsoever leads the mind into visible things from the invisible God is to be thrown aside as a menstruo●s Cloath and as the breath of abominable things which God will confound because he hath no pleasure in them for the life is risen and the vail of the covering is rent which has been spread over all Nations the night is gone the day is come and appeared in brightness the shadows are past away and the morning of Righteousness is appeared the Son of God is come who has given his flock an understanding in whom life and blessedness and peace and everlasting Consolation resideth and resteth upon his People for ever more CHAP. XVI Something concerning the worship of God whether that Kings and Rulers now in Gospel times have any power from God to compel or force about Spiritual things declared and some Scriptures answered which hath been perverted by them who are in the Apostacy to maintain the Beasts power and the false Churches worship under the raign of Antichrist VVHen the Lord brought Israel out of the land of Eygpt by a strong hand and an outstreched arme he made a Covenant with them and gave forth a Law at Mount Sina by the hand of Moses the Judge of Israel and statures and Ordinances which Israel should walk in who were as a family who came of one stock and the Laws and Statutes which were then given forth was concerning civil things as concerning man and man and betwixt a man and his Neighbour and for the Government of whole families and the Camp of Israel And likewise Laws and Statutes which concerned the worship of the true God which may be read at large in Exodus Numbers and D●uteromony and that worshipped not the true God according to the command given in the first Covenant which was outward were to have Judgment executed upon them according to the Law and Moses over Israel and the rest of the Judges were to see the Laws and Statutes Executed upon the transgressors and if any were an Idolater worshipped a false God or a Blasphemer were to be stoned to death or Sabbath-breaker was to be