Kings that have power and authority shall destroy Antichrists Kingdom and nourish and cherish Christs Kingdom Ch. Most true it is the Lord hath spoken it and therefore it ought to be a great comfort to Gods People but what is this to the purpose in hand namely That Kings may persecute the contrary-minded The words of the Prophet Isaiah prove that Kings and Queens that have formerly persecuted and destroyed the Church their hearts shall be turned by the power of Gods Word to be lovers and preservers of the Church And the other place Rev. 17.16 proves that Kings shall make that Whore desolate c. not by their temporal Authority or Sword as some say that make more shew of Religion than you do although themselves be now persecuted yet if Kings were of their minds would be as cruel as you for they maintain the same thing but by the Spirit of the Lords mouth and the Brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 For this kingdom of Antichrist shall be destroyed without hand Dan. 8. 25. only by the Everlasting Gospel the true Armour indeed wherewith the Witnesses fight against the Antichrist As the Kings Majesty acknowledgeth Apol. pag. 93. Ant. You are so stiff against using of outward weapons in Church matters Did not our Saviour make a Whip of small cords and whip the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple And why may not we follow his example Ch. In this and many other actions of Christ our Saviour we are to consider him as the fulfiller and ender of the Law as in the action of the Passover and sending him that was clensed of his Leprosie to offer to the Priest the gift that Moses commanded in which things we are not to imitate him for by him the Ceremonies are fulfilled and abolished and the everlasting Gospel established in the which we are to walk and it were more than foolish to reason thus Christ whipped wicked men out of Gods Temple made with hands with whips made of cord therfore we may whip wicked men out of Gods Temple made without hands with whips made of cord There is a wholsom doctrine to be collected from the Type to the Truth as thus Christ drove out wicked men out of the Temple made with hands by a carnal or worldly whip So Christ by his People must drive wicked men out of the Temple made without hands by a Spiritual whip even his Word which is called a Whip or Rod. Rev. 2 27. and Psal 2.9 So is Excommunication 1 Cor. 4.21 Ant. If freedom of Religion should be granted there would be such Divisions as would breed Sedition and Innovasion in the State Ch. Thus when your shews out of the Scripture are answered then you run to conceits and imaginations of Sedition Innovasion and the like thinking thereby to disswade Princes and all that are in authority therefrom knowing else your kingdom of iniquity would fall But that it may appear to all that you deal deceitfully herein let us consider first the Scriptures secondly behold the success of suffering of Religion free in other Countries And first Christ our Saviour who is that Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 not of Sedition hath taught Mat. 10 and Luk. 12. That he came not to send Peace on the earth but Debate to divide five in one house two against three and three against two the father against the son c. And a mans enemies shall be they of his own houshold And his desire is that the fire of such Sedition should be kindled Where we see this Prince of Peace putteth difference in Religion by preaching his Gospel which some receive as the savour of life unto them others refuse it and so become enemies unto the Truth and witnesses thereof as they did to Christ Jesus himself and his Disciples and as you do to me and others Secondly behold the Nations where freedom of Religion is permitted and you may see there are not more flourishing and prosperous Nations under the Heavens than they are Indif The Convocation of Bishops and the rest have made a Canon That whosoever shall affirm that the Kings Majesty hath not the same power in Causes Ecclesiastical under the Gospel that the godly Kings of Israel had under the Law let him be excommunicated ipso facto Ch. Yes they have so In the beginning of his Majesties Reign when they had gotten him sure unto them of the which they so much doubted as with my own ears I heard some of their chief followers say when his Highness was coming into England Now must Steeples down and we shall have no more High Commission with a lamentation they spake it then they made this Canon because their consciences are convinced that they stand only by his Power and if his hand be turned their spiritual power of darkness falleth to the pit of darkness from whence it came and whither it must go though there be never so much means used for the supporting of it for the strong Lord hath spoken it Revel 18. As for their sending men to Hell as they suppose with their ipso facto Excommunications if they had no stronger weapons for the supportting of their kingdom it would stand but a short space If Israel now were of this world as it was under the Law then they said something but if it be not of this world as it is not John 17.14 then the King of Israel is not of this world for when this King came the worldly Israel knew him not Indif I see evidently that all are but cavels and that no mortal man can make any man offer Sacrifices under the New Testament until he be a Believer and converted for he must be in Christ before he may offer Sacrifices for in Christ only the Father accepteth us But what say you Have they not power to compel men to come to the place where the Word is publickly taught that they may be converted Ch. Well then you see that the example of the Kings of Israel who had power to compel them to Sacrifice or to cut them off applyed to earthly Princes is gone as a meer doctrine of man and not of God And for compelling men to hear that they may be converted we can learn of no better than of Him who if we hear not we shall have a dreadfull recompence He had all power in Heaven and in Earth for converting souls given unto him and sent his Disciples as his Father sent him Joh. 20.21 charging them that when they should come into a City c. if they would not receive them nor their Word to shake off the dust of their feet for a witness against them saying it should be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment than for that City or house And so the Apostles went from City to City accordingly Here were no Temples made with hands nor worldly power to compel all to come unto them to hear the Word of the Lord but they were commanded to go
to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm before the Ordinary or any other having power to take such Presentments or Indictments or if the Minister petty Constable or Church-wardens or any two of them shall at any time hereafter complain to any Justice of Peace near adjoyning the place where any person complained of shall dwell and the said Justice shall find cause of suspition that then any one Justice of Peace within whose Commission or Power any such person or persons shall at any time hereafter be or to whom complaint shall be made shall upon notice thereof require such person or persons to take the said Oath And that if any person or persons being of the age of eighteen years or above shall refuse to take the said Oath duly tendered unto him or her according to the true intent and meaning of this Statute that then the persons authorized by this Law to give the said Oath shall and may commit the said Offender to the common Jayl c. Where we see that if any take the said Oath at their first apprehension they are not to be committed or if they being committed take the said Oath at the next open Court they are be set at liberty if they will not take the said Oath to be in a Premunire as is at large in the Statute declared and as is daily practised with Papists and others Ant. The Kings Majesty requireth your Allegiance to be testified by your coming to Church Ch. I pray let me demand this Question Doth the King require my coming to Church to worship and serve God or to worship and serve the King If to worship and serve the King I am ready to obey if to worship and serve God which none can do but of conscience the King himself saith he never intended to lay any thing to the charge of any for the cause of conscience and this coming to Church being a cause of conscience if not he why do you lay any thing to my charge for the same And therefore you wrong his Majesty in thus affirming for his Highness requireth only my faithful allegiance to be testified by the aforesaid Oath and therefore hath ordained it as I shall shew by his Highness own testimony If I should come to Church and not in conscience but for other respects as many Papists and other Hypocrites do to God it were most abominable and what faithfulness can be hoped for in such towards his Majesties Person and State Can any godly wise man think that he that playeth the dissembling Hypocrite with God that he will do less with men and will not work any villany if it were in his power and therefore herein you compelling me by tyranny to bring my body whereunto my spirit cannot be brought you compel me to hypocrisie with God and man for if my heart were not faithfull in sincerity to his Majesties Crown and Dignity as I take God to witness before whom I must be condemned or justified it is these courses would rather harden my heart to work villany than otherwise Now for his Majesties many Testimonies in his Writings they are worthy to be recorded with thankfulness to the Highest for guiding his heart and pen to write such things In his apology for the Oath of Allegiance pag 4 he saith speaking of such Papists as took the Oath of Allegiance And I gave a good proof that I intended no Persecution against them for conscience cause but only desired to be secured of them for evil obedience which for conscience cause they were bound to perform And pag. 60. speaking of Blackwel the Arch-Priest he saith I never intended to lay any thing to the said Arch-Priests charge as I have never done to any for cause of conscience And pag. 127. he saith First for the cause of their punishment I do constantly maintain that which I said in my Apology That no man either in my time or in the late Queens ever dyed here for his conscience for let him be never so devout a Papist nay though he profess the same never so constantly his life is in no danger by the Law if he break not out into some outward act expresly against the words of the Law or plot not some dangerous or unlawful practice or attempt c. Where we may see in short what is the whole sum that he requireth And in his Majesties Speech at the last Session of Parliament Anno Dom. 1609. where he saith he sheweth his Subjects his heart he saith thus I never found that blood and too much severity did good in matters of Religion for besides it is a sure Rule in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by violence and bloodshed natural reason may even perswade us and daily experience proves it true that when men are severely persecuted for Religion the gallantness of many mens spirits and the wilfulness of their humours rather than the justness of their cause makes them take a pride boldly to endure any torments or death it self to gain thereby the reputation of Martyrdom though but in a false shadow A most undoubted Truth which if be as most manifest it is by the Testimony of the holy Ghost throughout Christs Testament as before is proved then how cursed are all the rank of you that continually break this sure Rule of God thus confidently acknowledge by his Majesty planting your Church by violence and bloodshed forcing many thousands against their consciences to be of your Church and to receive your Sacraments by all the persecutions that would follow if they do not yeeld and those that fear God more than men and dare not yeeld casting them into noisom Prisons amongst most wicked Blasphemers of God to the wounding of their souls dividing them from their Wives Children and Families and from their Callings some an hundred miles and more utterly consuming that substance they have which sustaineth the blood of them their Wives and Children seldom or never affording them Release but either by yeelding to you against their consciences or else by consuming their bodies to death in Prison Banishment or the like leaving them and their Wives to horrible temptations of Adultery by parting them and their Wives and to all manner of evil in taking them from their Callivgs and so leaving them in continual Idleness Is Gods Church thus planted or do Christs Disciples thus plant Indif Oh I see this spiritual power is little inforiour cruelty to the Romish spiritual power I pray how or when was this set up Ch. Henry the eight casting off Pope Clement the seventh and so the Popes Power anno 1534 set up this Spiritual Power under him See Acts and Mon. pag. 1201 c. Indif I pray you shew the likeness between these two spiritual powers Ch. I will do my best endeavour which is but small First the Romish spiritual Power doth make Laws to the Conscience and compel all thereunto by Excommunication Imprisonment Banishment Death and the like
a little consider of it In truth it is to say that in one respect they have Gods Promises appertaining to them in another respect they have Gods most fearful Torments pronounced against that Beast and that false Prophet Rev. 19.20 appertaining to them In one respect they are Gods People serving Him their Master in another respect the Devils people serving him their master In one respect they shall be saved in another respect they shall be damned But what false doctrine this is Gods holy Word doth discover Our Saviour saith No man can serve two masters ye cannot serve God and Riches Mat. 6.25 And can any serve Christ and the Beast God and the Dragon When Christ shall come at the last day to give to every man according to his works will he say to any one In respect of thy personal graces I will save thee Come thou blessed as he will say to all his Children But in respect of thy being a member of Antichrists body I will damn thee Go thou cursed as he will to all that worship or obey the Beast Will not Christ Jesus pronounce absolutely either Salvation or Condemnation to every one and that according to this word Joh. 12.48 so as God in his Righteousness will either justifie or condemn every man So hath He taught us to know that no Fountain can make salt water and sweet Jam. 3.12 And therefore that by mens fruits we should know and judge them to be not both good and evil trees at one time as this opinion teacheth but either good or evil alwayes taking heed we justifie not the wicked nor condemn the innocent both which are abominable to the Lord And for any communion whatsoever with them What fellowship hath Christ with Antichrist the Righteous with the Wicked the Servants of the Lamb with the servants of the Beast But I leave this for further answer to thse who although they are nearer to this man that hath published this opinion than I am yet hath according to truth confessed in writing That there is nothing to be expected from Christ by any member of the Church of England but a pouring out of his eternal Wrath upon them Mr. De-Cluse Advertis pag. 9. Indif Well I praise God I am much informed in these things yet one thing more I will desire your answer unto The case standeth thus with me In these things I am betwixt faith and doubting though the rather I believe these things you say are true and that I may never go to these Assemblies again without sin but I am not so perswaded thereof that I dare suffer for it What if I should not having Faith to suffer for fear of persecution go to their Worship again Ch. It were your most fearful sin which I prove thus and I pray you observe it well You must do it either as being verily perswaded you do well and then all this beginning of Light in you should be extinguished and so your estate is with the worst if not worse or else you must do it doubting whether you do well or no For I hope you will not say you do it knowing you do evil If you do it doubting the Lord saith It is sin Rom. 14.23 which I hope you will acknowledge and not approve your self to do well in sinning and then God is merciful to forgive your sin either this or any other 1 Joh. 1.9 But if you say you sin not therein doing it doubtingly you make God a lyar who saith It is sin and your sin remaineth Indif What if I should many times go through weakness Ch. If you unfainedly repent being through weakness there is mercy with God though it should be seventy times seven times in a day Mat 18.21 22. But we had need to take heed of our repentance The Apostle saith where there is godly sorrow for sin what Care it worketh in you yea what Indignation c. 2 Cor. 7. and custom in sin is dangerous we had need to take heed we be not hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3.13 Indif Then you hold that if any man approve himself in sinning his sin remaineth Ch. If any man sin and say he hath not sinned there is no truth in him 1 Joh. 1.8 and God will enter into judgment with him Jer. 2.35 Indif Then absolutely I see that if any man worship the Beast or his Image c. as before you have shewed he neither hath Faith nor Fear of God in him what shew of Godliness soever he maketh But what say you may not a man that separateth from all uncleanness though he yet see not the way of Christ in his Ordinances may not such a man be saved Ch. Yes upon this condition that he believe in Jesus Christ for his only Righteousness and be willing and ready to hear and obey his Ordinances an example hereof we have in Cornelius Acts 10. But if any will not hear that Prophet Christ Jesus in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them they shall be destroyed out of his People Acts 3.22 23. Indif What do you mean by will not hear Ch. That when any part of the Way of God is manifested to them they despise and contemn it or carelesly neglect it otherwise men may not receive some of Christs Truth and yet not be said that they will not receive it Indif Next after forsaking the wayes of wickedness and imbracing Christ for our Righteousness what must we do Ch. Christs whole Testament teacheth this and no other way after repentence from dead works and faith towards God to be baptized with water Matth. 16.16 Acts 2.41 and 8.12 38. and 9.18 and a cloud of witnesses calling these the beginnings of Christ and foundation Heb. 6.1 c. Indif May none be admitted to the Church to partake in the Ordinances except they be baptized Ch. If any teach otherwise he presumeth above what is written 1 Cor. 4.6 and therefore ought to be held accursed Gal. 1.8 9. For there was never true Church since Christ was manifested in the flesh joyned together of unbaptized persons though some have vainly published the contrary Indif True I think that cannot be denyed where the persons were never baptized but now the members of the Church of Rome from whence the Baptism of the Church of England cometh are baptized Therefore why need they again be baptized Ch. If they be baptized with Christs Baptism I will acknowledge they need not again be baptized but that the Baptism of the Church of Rome is Christs Baptism that can never be proved for Christ requireth that only his Disciple should baptize his Disciple and into his Body none of which is in Romes baptism For Christs adversaries wash with water those that are not Christs Disciples into the body not of Christ but of Antichrist Indif I confess that the Church of Rome and members thereof are the Church and members of Antichrist but they use the water and words in their Baptism that
Reasons 1. In regard of the Majesty Wisdom and Grace of them from all other Writings for there is a great Glory in these Scriptures as in the making of this wonderful World which is most evidently discerned Heb. 11.1.2 By their Teachings which excel all humane teachings leading us from Satan from this world and our selves to God to holiness faith love fear obedience humility 3. The true events of them or fulfilling of the Prophesies contained in them 4. The consent and agreement of all the parts of them the like whereof cannot be shewed of so many several Writers since the world began 5. The admirable preservation thereof against Time and Tyrants all which could not extinguish them 6. The Devil and his Instruments rage against those that practise the Doctrines contained in them 7. The Conversion of thousands to God by the power of their Doctrine 8. The Vengeance that hath come upon such as have not obeyed them 9. The Acknowledgment of them by the very professed Adversaries thereof 10. The Miracles confirming them from Heaven 11. The fight of a Saviour to man is only by and from them And lastly the simplicity of the Writers and plainness of the Writings for God hath chosen the mean contemptible and despised to manifest unto the world his Mysteries 1 Cor. 1. These are sufficient to perswade that those holy Writings are inspired of God and so able to make wise unto Salvation and perfect to every good work These Scriptures contain the Law and Testimony and if any Church Council Prince or Potentate speak not according to this Word it is because there is not light in them Isa 8.20 And we are commanded to hold them accursed Gal. 1.8 9. For Whosoever shall adde unto these things God shall adde the plagues written herein and whosoever shall take away from these things God shall take his name out of the Book of life and out of the holy City and from those things that are written Revel 22. Much by us shall not need to be written on this Subject the thing is so evident and so generally acknowledged at least in words excepting the Papists with whom we have not here to do only we will adde some humane Testimonies Whites Way to the Church dedicated to two Bishops pag. 12. The learned Protestants affirm and prove that it is the doctrine of the Church of England Artic. 6 chap. That the Scripture comprehended in the Old and New Testament is the Rule of Faith so far that whatsoever is not read therein or cannot be proved thereby is not to be accepted as any point of Faith or needful to be followed but by it all Doctrines taught and the Churches Practice must be examined and that rejected which is contrary to it under what title or pretence soever it come unto us And further they say p. 1. That the Pope or any mortal man should be the Rule that must resolve in questions and controversies of Faith is an unreasonable Position void of all indifferency when common sense teacheth That he that is a party cannot be Judge And again pag. 17. Which is the Church is controversal which is the Scriptures is not therefore let that be the Rule which is out of doubt And again The Scriptures contain the Principles of our Faith and shall we not believe them Or cannot we know them infallibly of themselves without we let in the authority of the Church This and much more the learned Protestants have written and sufficiently confirms that no Church nor man whatsoever may be the Judge Rule or Umpier in matters of Faith but only the holy Scriptures and whosoever teacheth and practiseth otherwise they must hold and maintain the Papists Creed or Colliers Faith which the Protestants so much in words detest pag. 6. and mention our of Staphilus his Apology thus The Collier being at the point of death and tempted of the Devil what his Faith was answered I believe and dye in the Faith of Christs Church Being again demanded what the Faith of Christs Church was That Faith said he that I believe in Thus the Devil getting no other Answer was overcome and put to flight By this Paith of the Collier every unlearned man may try the spirits of men whether they be of God or no by this Faith he may resist the Devil and judge the true interpretation from the false and discern the Catholick from the heretical Minister the true Doctrine from the forged If the Answer of the Collier and the Papists Conclusion upon it be not sound but detestable as the Protestants confess and cry wo unto the Papists for the same and that justly Then is it no less detestable in the Protestants or any other to require or any to yeeld so far in Religion and Faith that upon such a temptation he hath no better answer to make than as the Collier to say I believe and dye in the Faith of the Church or of the Prince or of the Learned for being demanded what that Faith is if he be not able to prove it by Gods Word contained in the Scriptures it is no better nor other than the answer of the Collier The Faith that I believe in Oh how many millions of souls in this Nation not Papists but Protestants live and dye and have never other Faith than this whereunto they are constrained and compelled by persecution without either Faith or Knowledge CHAP. 2. The Interpreter of this Rule is the Scriptures and Spirit of God in whomsoever THe next thing as the immediate Question from this former is Who must interpret this Rule because as is objected There are many dark places in it 2 Pet. 3 hard to be understood Unto which we answer The two Witnesses of God shall be the onely Interpreters therof which are The Word of God contained in the same Scriptures and the Spirit of God so are they called Joh. 15.26 27. Act. 5.32 First for the Scriptures themselves though some Doctrines in some places be dark and obscure as Peter speaketh yet the self-same Doctrines in other places are plain and manifest For all the words of the Lord are plain to him that will understand and streight to them that would find knowledge Pro. 8.9 And knowledge is easie to him that will understand Prov. 14.6 Secondly the Spirit of God So saith the Apostle 1 John 2.6 It is the Spirit that beareth witness for the Spirit is Truth And John 14.26 But the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance which I have told you And Joh 16.13 Howbeit when he is come which is the Spirit of truth he will lead you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear shall he speak and he will shew you of things to come And 1 Cor. 2.10 For the Spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God And ver 11. For the
their Traditions Mat. 15.6 And Act. 13.27 The Rulers of Jerusalem the High-Priests Scribes and Pharisees knew not Christ nor yet the words of the Prophets which they heard read every Sabbath but fulfilled them in condemning him And our Saviour saith Mat. 11. I thank thee Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of understanding And none of the Pharisees nor Rulers believed on him Joh 7.48 And 1 Cor. 1.20 Where is the Wise where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this world Hath not God made the wisdom of this world follishness And ver 26. Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called c. And for the Learned since the time of our Saviour The Council of Ephesus were where 132 Bishops Of Seleucia where were 160 Bps related by the Protestants How grievously did they erre in decreeing the detestable Error of Arrianism Who is ignorant knowing the Histories that from time to time both particular Popes and general Councils have grosly erred in many things only one we will mention passing by Trent and others The Council Lateren we mean Pope Innocent 1215. which for universality was behind none where were present 2 Patriarchs 70 Archbishops Metropolitans 400 Bishops 12 Abbot 800 Conventual Priors the Legats of the Greck and Roman Empire besides the Ambassadors and Orators of the Kings of Jerusalem France Spain England and Cyprus In this Council it was decreed That all Hereticks and so many as do in any point resist the Catholick Faith should be condemned c. And also that the Secular Powers of what degree soever they be shall be compelled openly to swear for the defence of the Faith that they will to the uttermost of their power root out and destroy in all their Kingdoms all such persons as the Catholick Church hath condemned for Hereticks and if they do not they shall be excommunicated And if they do not reform within one whole year then the Pope may denounce all their Subjects absolved and utterly delivered from shewing or owing any fidelity or obedience towards them Again that the Pope may give that Land to be occupied and enjoyed of the Catholicks to possess it all Hereticks being rooted out quietly and without any contradiction Tho. Beacon in his Reliques of Rome printed 1563. And the Protestands confess that this imperfection hath hung so fast upon all Councils and Churches that Nazianzen saith He never saw any Council have a good end Thus are here sufficient Testimonies proved from Scriptures and Experience That the Learned may and have usually erred and therefore the holy Scriptures often warn us To beware of false Prophets for many are gone out into the world Mat. 24. and 1 Joh. 4. And will not your Majesty your Highness your Honours your Worships be pleased to consider of these things but will your selves submit the guidance of your Souls to the learned Spirituality as they are called without due examination by the Scriptures which if you will stil do we can but bewail with the sorrows of our hearts and not so only But will you with your Power which God hath given you to use well compel and constrain your Subjects and Underlings to believe as the Learned believe not suffering us to reade or search the Scriptures Which if you abhor as being the Romish practice Will you do that which is worse letting us reade the Scriptures whereby we may know the Will of our Heavenly Master and have our Consciences enlightned and convinced but not suffer us to practise that we learn and know whereby our Sin and Condemnation is made greater than the blind Papists as is proved Luke 12.47 And not only so but will you consâ—â—ain us to captivate our Consciences and practise in that which in our â—â—â—ls we know to be evil and contrary to the manifest Law of the Lord and that only because the Learned have so Decreed whom you acknowledge are subject to erre aswell as others or else lye in perpetual Imprisonment and be otherwise grievously persecuted May it please you to observe that the Church of Rome seeth and acknowledgeth in words That Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and hath abolished the Priesthood of Aaron and the legal Sacrifieces but the Jews see it not to this day nay the High-Priests Scribes and Pharisees saw it not but for the publishing thereof persecuted Christ the Lord and his Apostles unto the Death calling their Doctrine Heresie and them seditious Enemies to Caesar c. For the which we all justly condemn them for their wickedness so often as we reade the holy History And the Church of England seeth and acknowledgeth divers damnable Doctrines of the Church of Rome this among many That the Scriptures are not the only Rule of Faith but that men ought to be constrained to believe as the Church believes The Protestants see the iniquity of this because they see and acknowledge all Churches are subject to erre But the learned Papists see it not but have decreed That whosoever resisteth in any point shall be judged as an Heretick and suffer fire and faggot and every Temporal Magistrate that doth not root such Hereticks out of their Dominions shall be excommunicated and if he do not reform he shall be expelled his earthly Possessions and his Subjects freed from owing any fidelity or obedience towards him c. For the which height of iniquity the Protestants and we justly cry out against them for all the innocent blood that they have shed And we see most manifestly that what soever is not of Faith is Sin Rom. 14.23 And without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 And therefore that no mortal man may make a Law to the Conscience and force unto it by Persecutions and consequently may not compel unto any Religion where Faith is wanting as hereafter more largely we prove But the Learned of this Land see it not or rather will not practise it but for our not submitting herein procure your temporal Sword to persecute us by casting us in Prisons where many of us have remained divers years in lingring Imprisonment deprived of all earthly comforts as Wives Children Callings c. without hope of Release till our God for the practice of whose Commandments we are thus persecuted perswade the hearts of your-Majesty your Highness your Honours your Worships to take pitty upon us our poor Wives and Children or His heavenly Majesty release us by Death Will not succeeding Ages cry out against the Cruelty of the learned Protestants herein aswell as they cry out against the Cruelty of the learned Jews and Papists yes we are assured they will as many millions do in other Nations at this day The Scriptures declare the cause of the Jews blindness was not the obscurity of the Scriptures but that they winked with their eyes lest they should see that which would deprive them of their honours and profits
came the same he taught and practised as begore so did his Apostles after him for the weapons of his warfare are not carnal c. 2 Cor. 10.4 But he charged strictly that his Disciples should be so far from persecuting those that would not be of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray Mat. 5. when they were cursed they should bless the reason is because they that are now Tares may hereafter become Wheat tehy who are now blind may hereafter see they that now resist him may hereafter receive him they that are now in the Devils snare in adversness to the Truth may hereafter come to repentance they that are now Blasphemers Persecutors Oppressors as Paul was may in time become Faithful as he they that are now Idolaters as the Corinths once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become true worshippers as they they that are now no People of God nor under mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2.20 may hereafter become the People of God and obtain mercy as they Some come not till the eleventh hour Mat. 20.6 if those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed because they came not at the first then should they never come but be prevented And why do men call themselves Christians and do not the things Christ would CHAP. 7. Persecution for cause of Conscience is against the profession and practice of famous Princes First we beseech your Majesty we may relate your own worthy Sayings in your Majesties Speech at Parliament 1609. Your Highness saith It is a sure Rule in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by violence and bloodshed c. And in your Highness Apol. pag. 4. speaking of such Papists as took the Oath thus I gave a good proof that I intended no persecution against them for Conscience cause but only desired to secured for civil obedience which for Conscience cause they were bound to perform And pag. 60. speaking of Blackwel the Arch-Priest your Majesty saith It was never my intention to lay any thing to the said Arch-Priests charge as I have never done to any for cause of Conscience c. And in your Highness Expos on Revel 20. printed 1588 and after 1603. your Majesty truly writeth thus Sixtly The compassing of the Saints and besieging of the beloved City declareth unto us a certain note of a false Church to be Persecution For they come to seek the Faithful the Faithful are those that are sought the Wicked are the besiegers the Faithful be besieged Secondly the saying of Stephen King of Poland I am King of men not of Consciences a Commander of bodies not of Souls c. Thirdly the King of Bohemia hath thus written And notwithstanding the success of the later time wherein sundry opinions have been hatched about the subject of Religion may make one clearly discern with his eye and as it were touch with his finger that according to the verity of holy Scripture and a Maxime heretofore held and maintained by the ancient Doctors of the Church That mens Consciences ought in no sort to be violated urged or constrained and whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course whether openly or by secret means the issue hath been pernicious and the cause of great and wonderful Innovasions in the principallest and mightiest Kingdoms and Countries of all Christendom c. And further his Majesty saith So that once more we do protest before God and the whole world that from this time forward we are firmly resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or molested any person whosoever for matter of Religion no not they that profess themselves to be of the Roman Church neither to trouble or disturb them in the exercise of their Religion so they live conformable to the Laws of the States c. And for the practice of this Where is Persecution for cause of Conscience except in England and where Popery reigns and not there neither in all places as appeareth by France Poland and other places Nay it is not practised among the Heathen that acknowledge not the true God as the Turk Persian and others CHAP. 8. Persecution for cause of Conscience is condemned by the ancient and later Writers yea by Puritans and Papists HIllary against Anxentius saith thus The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted and lamentable it is to see the great folly of these times and to sigh at the foolish opinion of this world in that men think by humane aid to help God and with worldly pomp and power to undertake to defend the Christian Church I ask of you Bishops what help used the Apostles in the publishing of the Gospel With the aid of what Power did they preach Christ and converted the Heathen from their Idolatry to God When they were Imprisoned and lay in Chains did they praise and give thanks to God for any dignities graces and favours received from the Court Or do you think that Paul went about with Regal Mandates or Kingly Authority to gather and establish the Church of Christ Sought he Protection from Nero Vespatian c. The Apostles wrought with their hands for their own maintenance travelling by land and water from Town to City to preach Christ yea the more they were forbidden the more they taught and preached Christ But now alas humane help must assist and protect the Faith and give the same countenance To and by vain and worldly honours do men seek to defend the Church of Christ as if He by his Power were unable to perform it The same against the Arians The Church now which formerly by enduring Misery and Imprisonment was known to be a true Church doth now terrific others by Imprisonment Banishment and Misery and boasteth that she is highly esteemed of the world whereas the true Church cannot but be hated of the same Tertul. ad Scapul It agreeth both with humane Equity and natural Reason that every man worship God uncompelled and believe what he will for another mans Religion or Blief neither hurteth nor profiteth any man neither beseemeth it any Religion to compel another to be of their Religion which willingly and freely should be imbraced and not by constraint for asmuch as the Offerings were required of those that freely and with a good will offered and not from the contrary Jerom. in Proaem lib. 4. in Jeremiam Heresie must be cut off with the sword of the Spirit Let us strike through with the arrows of the Spirit all sons and disciples of misled Hereticks that is with testimonies of holy Scriptures The slaughter of Hereticks is by the Word of God Brentius on 1 Cor. 3. No man hath power to make or give Laws to Christians whereby to bind their Consciences For willingly freely and uncompelled with a ready desire and chearful mind must those that come run unto Christ Luther in his Book of the Civil Magistrate The Laws of the Civil Government
ground is manifested in this Dialogue following wherein is shewed their palpable ignorance in that they know not the Mystery of God and therefore have they made this Canon in flattery to the King only to support their Pride and Cruelty For if the Kingdom or Land of Israel or Canaan now under the Gospel be an earthly Kingdom or Land or Israel now a worldly or fleshly Israel as both were under the Law Then we would confess there should be an earthly King thereof But if the Kingdom of Israel now be not earthly but heavenly Joh. 18.36 and the Israelites now not of this world Joh. 15.19 Then the King thereof is not of this world as they are not of this world Joh. 17.16 And if these spiritual Lords confess that Christ is King now of the Land and People of Israel but yet he hath left our Lord the King his Deputy to make such Laws and Lords over the Church as pleaseth him the Word of the Lord is against them There is but one Lord 1 Cor. 12.5 and one Law-giver Jam. 4.12 over his Church Nay his Majesty himself is against them who saith There is no earthly Monarch over the Church whose word must be a Law And saith further Christ is his Churches Monarch and the holy Ghost his Deputy alledging Luk. 22.25 The Kings of the Gentiles bear rule one over another c. but it shall not be so among you Saying further Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them in all truth but promised to send the holy Ghost to them for that end c. If any will be rebellious against the Word of the Lord herein yet let them not be rebellious against the word of the King Oh that any thing would prevail with them to make them leave off these cruel courses of persecuting poor souls that desire truly to fear God and are most faithful Subjects to the King and desire also the salvation of the souls of these their cruel Persecrutors who do seek their utter undoing by all the fore-named Persecutions only because they cannot of faith offer up such Worship to God as these spiritual Lords command and the rather let them leave off persecuting seeing the Kings Majesty acknowledgeth It is a sure Rule in Divinity That God loves not to plant his Church by Violence and Bloodshed And if it be a Law for all Christians That in indifferent things one must not offend another but the strong to forbear rather than offend his weak brother otherwise he wounds the weak conscience and sins against Christ 1 Cor. 8. Then how much less hath any man power to be Lord over the weak conscience forcing it to practise that it hath not faith in bringing it thereby unto sin and unto condemnation Rom. 14. We do unfainedly acknowledge the Authority of earthly Magistrates God's blessed Ordinance and that all earthly Authority and Command appeartains unto them let them command what they will we must obey either to do or suffer upon pain of Gods displeasure besides their punishment But all men must let God alone with his Right which is to be Lord and Law-giver to the soul and not command obedience for God where he commandeth none And this is onely that which we dare not but maintain upon the peril of our souls which is greater than bodily affliction And only for the maintenance of Christs right herein do false Prophets and Deceivers who by that craft are cloathed in fine apparrel and fare deliciously every day labour to make us odious in the ears and eyes of Prince and People knowing well that if they had not power by Persecution to force men to dissemble to believe as they their kingdom and gain would soon come to nought the wickedness of which course is discovered in this Writing following For the manner being Dialogue-wise we thought it the fittest in two respects First for the understanding of the simple to whom especially Gods Mysteries appertain more than to the wise and prudent of the world Secondly Because all the Objections that we have met with might be set down and the plainlyer answered And because we have faith and assurance that many will see and acknowledge the unlawfulness of tyrannizing over the Conscience by persecuting the bodies of such as cannot be subject We have also though it meet to manifest the fearful estate of such subjection that they may deliver their souls if they will be saved and also have set down the beginning of that old and good way that John Baptist Christ Jesus and his Apostles have left unto all that will be saved unto the end of the world Beseeching that Almighty worker that he would work in the hearts and consciences of men that they may enquire for it and that out of the Scriptures and walk therein then shall they find Rest unto their souls although Afflictions to their bodies Oh it is time for the Lord to work for they have destroyed his Law and have set up in many Nations such Worship for God as best pleaseth them that are in Authority and have power to persecute the contrary-minded Let all Gods People cry How long Lord when wilt thou come to destroy Antichrists cruel Kingdom and establish Christs meek and peaceable Kingdom As thou hast begun even come Lord Jesus by the Spirit of thy Mouth and the Brightness of thy Coming even come quickly Amen By Christs unworthy Witnesses his Majesties faithful Subjects Commonly but most falsly called ANA-BAPTISTS PERSECUTION for RELIGION JUDG'D and CONDEMN'D In a DISCOURSE between an ANTICHRISTIAN a CHRISTIAN Antichristian VVHy come you not to Church Christian VVhat should I do there Antich Worship God Chr. I must worship God as he requireth and not as any mortal man requireth Ant. True but the Worship that we require you to offer up is the Worship God requireth Ch. If it be so I will with all willingness assent unto it but my conscience must be satisfied thereof by the Word of Truth that I may have faith in it otherwise it is my grievous sin Rom. 14.23 For I may not believe it so to be because you affirm it Ant. Well you must go to Church otherwise you are disobedient to the Law and will fall under punishment Ch. But still remember that you would have me worship God as you pretend therefore let us agree what Worship God requireth Christ saith Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Here we see what Worship God requireth viz. That we worship him with our Souls and Spirits and also that we worship him according to the Truth of his Word And therefore for your Book-worship if it were according to Truth from the which it is as far as light is from darkness yet if I cannot offer it up with my spirit it is not acceptable to God but most abominable Ant. Well you must come to Church Ch. I pray let me ask you a
Princes the other Subjects and Subjects must be obedient Ch. Most true it is but is it not also true that Princes must afford all their Subjects Justice and Equity although they be as Heathens and Publicans For if Princes be freed from doing Right and Justice and protecting their Subjects that be excommunicated why are not Subjects also freed from Subjection and Allegiance to their Princes being excommunicated if Excommunication be Christ's Law to all alike that will be saved without respect of persons And also Is not that Law of Christ herein to be observed That whatsoevr ye would men should do unto you even so do ye unto them Mat. 7.12 And therefore as Princes would that all their Subjects should be faithfull and obedient unto them so ought Princes to be just and equal to all their Subjects in maintaining them in every just and equal cause between man and man For For this cause not for Religion saith the Apostle the Saints at Rome payed Tribute to Caesar their Heathen Prince who was against them in Religion Shall they not escape Damnation for this accursed doctrine and practice and think ye you shall Thou that judgest another judgest thou not thy self By this it may appear as also by exceeding many other doctrines and practices how near you are to that bloody spiritual power what pretences to the contrary soever you make Ant. It were a lamentable thing if that bloody Religion should be practised again in this Nation Ch. I acknowledge it a bloody Religion but God hath cast down the Power thereof in this Kingdom blessed be his Name but I would you could see your own cruel bloody Religion But that God of his mercy hath restrained it by the Kings Majesty who thirsteth not after blood How many only for seeking Reformation in Religion have been put to death by your Power in the dayes of Qu. Elizabeth and how many both then and since have been consumed to death in Prisons Yea since that cruel spiritual Power hath been set up hath not Hanging Burning Exile Imprisonments and all manner of contempt been used and all for Religion although some for grievous Errours and yet you see not this to be a bloody Religion Further You cry out of their bloody Cruelty the reason is because you will not be of their Religion And when you have done your selves are most bloody and cruel so far as is in your power because we and all men will not not be of your Religion Ant. If men hold Errors and will not obey the Truth do they not sin against God and deserve punishment Ch. Yes such deserve punishment but God hath appointed their punishment and the time thereof Their punishment Rom. 2.8 9. To them that are contentions and disobey the Truth and obey unrighteousness shall be Indignation and Wrath Tribulation and Anguish shall be upon the soul of every one that doth evil Mark 16.16 He that will not believe shall be damned 2 Thes 1.8 In flaming fire rendring Vengeance unto them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which shall be punished with everlasting perdition from the Presence of the Lord and the Glory of his Power The time thereof is mentioned in the last recited place ver 7. When the Lord Jesus shall shew Himself from Heaven with his mighty Angels And Rom. 2.5 The day of Wrath. And ver 16. At that day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ And Mat. 13.40 41. At the end of this World the Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of Fire c. Here is shewed the Punisher the Punishment and the Time thereof This Punisher hath commanded you to wait for their repentance by his own example which is in his hands to give them and not to cut them off and send them to Hell as you teach and practise which is contrary to God who is patient towards mockers which walk after their own lusts 2 Pet. 3.3 Because he would have no man to perish but would that all men whatsoever should come to repentance But you contrary to Him use all means you can to cut men off that they might perish in that you seek to destroy their bodies whilst they remain in their errors Ant. I confess that God commandeth Matth. 13. that the good and bad must grow together unto the end of the World but that is in the Church Ch. Well if that be the true exposition I pray you why do you then excommunicate any out of your Church contrary to your own acknowledgment And here let all men take notice that by this Exposition you overthrow your own Excommunication quite and accuse Christ for giving a Rule Mat. 18. and the Apostle Paul and the Church of Corinth for practising that Rule 1 Cor. 5. in casting out of the Church For you say all must grow together to the end in the Church But the Exposition of the Law-giver himself is against you that the Field is the World ver 38. Yet in that you confess that the Wicked and the Godly must be let alone in the Church unto the end then much more in the World unto the end For if the Wicked pollute not the Church sure it is they pollute not the World This then you are commanded unto ver 29 30. Nay gather them not let them grow together unto the end of the World Ant. Let them come to Church and they shall grow together unto the end Ch. Indeed I think so Hereby you manifest you regard not how wicked and ungodly men be so they come to your Church you will not destroy them though they remain in their abominable lusts but if they will not come to your Church let them be Wheat or Tares you will gather them and as much as in you is send them to burning Herein all men may see as I said before that you seek your own Glory and Obedience and not Gods and so exalt your selves above God 2 Thess 2. Indif Well I bless God I see this as clearly as the Sun shining in his brightness That it is to fight against God to compel any contrary to their consciences to perform any service unto Him in that there are so many places of Scripture commanding the contrary Ch. The whole New Testament throughout in all the Doctrines and Practices of Christ and his Disciples teach no such thing as compelling men by Persecutions and Afflictions to obey the Gospel but the direct contrary viz. to suffer at the hands of the wicked when they were persecuted for Righteousness sake to suffer it when the unbelievers and wicked curse them to bless and pray for their repentance and that God would forgive them and never lay these sins to their charge as our Saviour Luke 23.34 Stephen Act. 7.60 and the rest did And for a conclusion
Gospel an Israelite doing ought through ignorance or through frailty as Peter and Barnabas with the rest of the Jews mentioned Gal. 2. or the Incestuous Person 1 Cor. 5. there is Repentance for him This is it that confounds all true Religion That because it was so in the time of the Law therefore it may be so in the time of the Gospel by which reason men might set up as truly the whole Law as some part and utterly abolish Christ I pray you seriously consider what is here said Ant. Hath not the King the same Power that the Kings of Israel had who compelled men to the observation of the Law of God Ch. First I answer you That the Kings of Israel had never power from God to set up any thing in or for the the service of God but that only which was commanded by God Deut. 4.2 no not so much as the manner of any Law Numb 15.16 and 9.14 and therefore this will not serve your purpose that Kings may set up within their Dominions such spiritual Lords and Laws for the serving of God no nor the manner thereof as may best please themselves under what pretence soever thereby making God for his Worship subject to their pleasures And his Majesty acknowledgeth that Christs Church after the establishing of it by miracles in the primitive time was ever after to be governed within the limits of his revealed will Speech at Parliam Anno 1609. Secondly the Kings of Israel might compel men to the Sacrifices and Ordinances of the Old Testament all which were carnal and purged not the conscience Heb. 9.9 10. as Circumcision the Passeover c. But no mortal man whatsoever he be can compel any man to offer the Sacrifices of the New Testament which are spiritual and purge the conscience except he can beget Faith in him and convert his soul The Ordinances of the Old Testament were to be performed by the posterity of Abraham according to the flesh that thereby they might be taught Christ but the Ordinances of the New Testament are to be performed only by the posterity of Abraham according to Faith that have learned Christ and have put on Christ and so having Him all things else appertain unto them But one thing I demand of you Who now is King of Israel Ant. I confess CHRIST is King of Israel Ch. Yes CHRIST alone is King of Israel that sits upon Davids Throne and therefore mark the true proportion In the time of the Old Testament the Kings of Israel had power from God to compel all to the Ordinances of God or to cut them off by their Sword from the earthly Land of Canaan and the Promises thereof So in the New Testament the King of Israel Christ Jesus hath power from the Father to compel all to the Ordinances of God or to cut them off by his Sword from the heavenly Land of Canaan and the Promises thereof The Kings of Israel only had this power under the Law and the King of Israel only hath this power under the Gospel And therefore whosoever will challenge this power under the Gospel he must be the King of Israel in the time of the Gospel which is peculiar only to Jesus Christ unto whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is given And let it be here well observed that by this opinion of yours you make the Kingdom and Ordinances of Israel under the Law and the Kingdom Ordinances of Israel under the Gospel all one directly contrary to the whole Scripture for the Kingdom and Ordinances of Israel under the Law were of this world but the Kingdom and Ordinances of Israel under the Gospel are not of this world as Christ the King thereof himself testifieth John 28. And therefore you setting up a worldly King over this Heavenly Kingdom and Ordinances you and all of your Profession declare your selves to be of that worldly Kingdom and so to look for that Heavenly and Spiritual King yet to come in the flesh being of the number of those that deny Him to be come in the flesh and so are Deceivers and Antichrists whatsoever you say to the contrary Ant. Well yet I cannot see but that as the Kings of Israel had power from God to compel all their Subjects to the Worship then appointed so the King being a Christian King hath power to compel his Subjects to the Worship now appointed Ch. You may see if you shut not your eyes that what power the Kings of Israel had under the Law in matters of Religion Christ Jesus the King of Israel hath under the Gospel but I pray let me ask you this Question you say the Kings Majesty hath this power as he is a Christian King my Question is Whether it appertain unto him as he is a King or as he is a Christian Ant. Neither simply as he is a King nor as he is a Christian but joyntly as he is compleat in them both for I grant that no Heathen King hath power to compel in matters of Religion but a Christian King hath Ch. Then you confess that if a Christian King may be deprived of his Christianity for of his Kingdom or Kingly Power or any part thereof I affirm he may not be deprived he hath lost this power you plead for in compelling men in matters of Religion What say you to this Ant. I confess if he may be deprived of his Christianity he hath not this power I plead for Ch. Then I demand this Question Whether every Christian without respect of persons ought not to be subject to Christs Laws for his Salvation Ant. Yes it cannot be denyed Ch. Christ hath given his censure Excommunication for the Salvation of every Christian That he that will not hear the Church is to be as a Heathen and a Publican that is hath lost all right and title in Christ and in his Church till he repent Now I know it cannot be denyed but every Christian whatsoever is subject to sin and so to Excommunication to be as an Heathen c. If you say that Kings either are not subject to sin and to impenitency therein and so not to this censure of Christ of Excommunication for their impenitent sin then consider what you make them and God you make a lyer If you grant as you cannot deny that Kings as well as others are subject to impenitent sin and so to Excommunication for the same then they being deprived of their Christianity by your own confession they are deprived of power to compel in matters of Religion the which if it were any part of their Kingly Power they might be deprived of a part of their Kingly Power by being excommunicated Consider what a wicked doctrine you teach herein Ant. Doth not the Prophet say That Kings shall be Nursing Fathers and Queens Nursing Mothers to the Church And also it is said that Kings shall hate the Whore make her desolate eat her flesh and burn it with fire Where we see that
from City to City and from house to house Indif In those dayes the Magistrates were Vnbelievers but the question is where Magistrates are Believers Ch. Christ had all power needful for that work if Magistracy were a power needful for that work then Christ had not all power Magistracy is Gods blessed Ordinance in its right place but let not us be wiser than God to devise him a means for the publishing of his Gospel which He that had all power had not nor hath commanded Magistracy is a power of this world the Kingdom Power Subjects and means of publishing the Gospel are not of this world Ant. A goodly thing indeed that men must go about the Country to preach Ch. In your estimation it is base and contemptible your Pomp and Pride will not bear this it is more easie for you to hunt after Promotion till you come to the highest in getting to be chief Bishop of Bishops within these Dominions and then cometh your fall full low if you repent not But the wisdom of God hath appointed the chiefest Officers of Christs Kingdom even the Apostles thus basely to go up and down to and fro to preach the Gospel yea that worthy Apostle Paul preached this Gospel night and day with many tears openly and throughout every house Act. 20. Indif But if this be thus as for my own part I am fully perswaded it is then I see the High Commission cannot stand for as I take it it is only for Causes Ecclesiastical Ch. So far as it is over Church-matters it is most unlawful for the Commission for judging and punishing of the transgressors of the Laws of Christs Church is given to Christ the Monarch thereof a part whereof he hath left to his Disciples which is no worldly Commission or Power but only the Power of the Lord Jesus the uttermost of which Commission is Excommunication 1 Cor. 5. Ant. The High Commission is from the King and dare you once call it into question Ch. If I do take any authority from the Kings Majesty let me be judged worthy my desert but if I defend the Authority of Christ Jesus over mens souls which appertaineth to no mortal man whatsoever then know you that whosoever would rob him of that Honour which is not of this world he will tread them under foot Earthly Authority belongeth to earthly Kings but spiritual Authority belongeth to that one spiritual King who is KING of Kings Ant. Well all your pleading will not serve your turn either you must come to Church or else go to Prison Ch. I have shewed you by the Law of Christ that your course is most wicked to compel any by Persecution to perform any service to God as you pretend Now I desire also to shew you that the Statute Law of the Land requireth only civil obedience and his Majesties Writings maintaining the Oath of Allegiance testifie the same The Law of the Land requireth that whosoever cometh not to Church or receiveth not the Sacraments the Oath of Allegiance is to be tendred to them which that it may be manifest to all that not only I but all that profess the Faith with me are most willing to subscribe unto it in faithfulness and truth I have thought good to express it The words of the Oath Anno 3 Jacobi Regis I A. B do truly and sincerely acknowledge profess and testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the World That our sovereign Lord King James is lawful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries And than the Pope neither of himself nor by any other Authority of the Church or Sea of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to depose the King or to dispose of any his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions or to authorize any forreign Prince to invade or annoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty or to give licence or leave to any of them to bear Arms raise Tumults or to offer any violonce or hurt to his Majesties Royal Person State or Government or any of his Majesties Subjects within his Majesties Dominions Also I do swear from my heart that notwithstanding any Declaration or Sentence of Excommunication or Deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successors or by any Authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his Sea against the said King his Heirs or Successors or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their Obedience I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration or otherwise and will do my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors all Treasons and traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against him or any of them And I do further swear that I do from my heart abhor detest and abjure as impious and heretical this damnable doctrine and position That Princes which be Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in conscience am resolved that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full Authority to be lawfully ministred to me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I do make this Recognition and Acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true Faith of a Christian So help me God Ant. This Oath was intended for the Papists and not for you Ch. It is not so for his Majesty at the last Session of Parliam Anna 1609 saith thus Some doubts have been conceived anent the using of the Oath of Allegiance and that part of the Act that ordains the taking thereof is thought so obscure that no man can tell who ought to be pressed therewith c. And therefore if there be any scruple touching the ministring thereof I would wish it now to be cleared c. And thereupon this Statute was made Anno 7. Regni Regis Iacobi c. Chap. 6. towards the latter end And if any person or persons whatsoever of or above the age of eighteen years do now stand or at any time hereafter shall stand and be presented indicted and convicted for not coming to Church or receiving the Lords Supper according
and 6.6 8. the Wisdom of God therein teaching that the Forehead and Hand are the apparantest parts of the body to the view of all men so that to receive the Mark in the Forehead or Hand is to make manifest Profession of him we obey The sum of all which is that whosoever openly professeth obedience and subjection to that spiritual cruel power of Rome the Beast or to that spiritual cruel power of England his Image wheresoever they or either of them are exalted such a one and such persons shall drink of the Wine of Gods wrath and be tormented in fire and brimstone and shall have no rest day nor night for evermore Indif Your description of the Beast the Papists will deny so will the English Lord Bishops and their followess deny your description of his Image but thousands will grant both and some will deny both as the Familists who say that Religion standeth not in outward things and therefore they will submit to any outward service and they that do not so but suffer persecution say they are justly persecuted Ch. Those Enemies to the Cross of Christ are most of them not worth information because for the most part they are such as do with an high hand sin after enlightning having forsaken the way wherein they walked because they would not bear Christs Cross but in that some simple souls may be seduced by them let us a little in general compare their Opinion with the Scriptures True it is that Religion standeth not only in outward things for God requireth the heart and truth in the inward parts but that God requireth not our subjection upon fearful punishments to those outward Ordinances which he requireth is a doctrine of Devils as I shall prove And first for the outward Ordinances of the Old Testament which were meerly shadows and now are beggerly rudiments Gal. 4.16 what indignation the Lord had towards them that transgressed Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire which the Lord hath not commanded a fire went out from the Lord and destroyed them Levit. 10.1 2. The men of Bethshemesh looking into the outward Ark which God had forbidden the Lord slew fifty thousand and threescore and ten of them 1 Sam. 6.19 Vzza of a good intent leaning his shoulder to the same outward Ark which God forbad the Lord slew him I Chr. 13 7 10. Vzziah the King oftering up outward Incense which God commanded to be done only by the Priests Numb 18.3 7. the Lord smore him with Leprosie until his death 2 Chron. 26. Corah and his company what fearful Judgments came upon them though he a Levite for presuming to meddle with the Priests Office the Earth opening and swallowing them up Numb 16. King Saul likewise offering up Incense in time of need as he thought the Lord rent his Kingdom from him 1 Sam. 13. as also for his disobedience afterwards touching the fat of the Amalecks Cattel 1 Sam. 15. How often was the wrath of the Lord poured down upon them Israelites because of their transgression of his outward Ordinances in place person and things for it was a Law Lev. 17.3 4. That who so brought not his Sacrifice to the place viz. to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation but offered it up other where blood should be imputed to that man and he should be cut off from among his People yea such Sacrifices were esteemed of God as offered to Devils ver 7. And the Lord caused them to pronounce Deut. 27.26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them and all the people must say So be it Was God thus jealous of Moses's Ordinances and is he less jealous of Christs Must he dye that despiseth Moses Law and shall he escape that despiseth Christs upon what pretence soever And Christ saith It becometh him and all his to fulfil all Righteousness in outward Ordinances as washing with water Mat. 3.15 And whosoever saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandments which are outward aswell as inward he is a lyar 1 Job 2.4 And whosoever breaks the least Commandment and teacheth men so he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5.19 And whosoever will not hear that Prophet Christ Jesus in all things that he shall say unto them shall be destroyed out of his People Acts 3.22 23. The affections of the soul are to be manifested by the actions of the body according to Gods Word and all other good intents or affections are abominable We may not neither can we worship God with our spirits and the Devil with our bodies for we are bought with a price and therefore must not be the servants of men but must glorifie God with our bodies and with our spirits for they are his 1 Cor. 6.20 and 7.23 And this may suffice to satisfie any concerning the overthrow of this cursed Conceit knowing also that Christ and his Apostles and all his Disciples to the end of the world might and may live peaceably enough from Persecution if this Doctrine might be observed viz. Submission with our bodies to any outward service The Lord discover such Hypocrites Indif I bless God I have learned of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13.8 to say nothing against the Truth but for the Truth and therefore when I see things are evidently manifested by the Scriptures am desirous to submit and not to cavil But you know it is pleaded they have the Word and Sacraments in the English Assemblies Ch. I confess they have the Scriptures in the which Gods Mysteries are contained which are locked up from them and revealed to his Saints Col. 1.26 which they wofully pervert to their own destruction They have also imitations of Gods Ordinances as Water Bread and Wine and other things which they use after their own inventions which things make them boast so much of their Christianity and of their Church which makes them reason thus We are Gods People for we have the Word and Sacraments The Philistims might better have reasoned 1 Sam. 5. who had the true Ark of God amongst them these have but a shew We are Gods People for we have Gods Ark and holy Oracles amongst us But I think they had no great cause to rejoyce thereof in the end No more shall these have in the end when God recompenceth all that withhold the Truth in unrighteousness Gods dealing is not now as it was of old he now reserveth punishment to the last day he is patient and would have men repent but they despise his bountifulness and long-suffering preaching peace when there is no peace Indif It cannot be denied but that the Ministers preach many excellent Truths and do bring people to much reformation in many things Ch. True it cannot be denied For if the Devil should come in his own likeness men would resist him but because he transformeth himself into an Angel of light therefore he deceiveth So his ministers if they should teach all lyes
as Joh. 11.48 And because their fear towards God was taught by mens precepts and because they looked to their own way and to their own advantage and had rejected the Word of the Lord and because they builded their Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity and sought their own honour and not Gods as before is proved So the cause of the blindness of the learned Papists in denying the Scriptures the only Rule of Faith is not the obscurity of the Scriptures but their winding with their eyes lest they should see that that would bring them from their honours and profits and all the forenamed in the Jews And also as the Protestants well observe Whit. pag. 18. First That they might make themselves Judges in their own cause For who seeth not that if the Church be the Rule of Faith and their be the Church which way the verdict will go Next for that the greatest points of their Religion have no foundation on the Scriptures c. So that take away the Scriptures and establish their Religion but establish the Scriptures and their Religion vanisheth and that Mother of Whoredoms that glorified her self as a Queen Rev. 18. shall be consumed and her Merchants that were waxed rich through her pleasures and profits shall wail and weep the which they now seeing shut their eyes lest they should see that which would bring them from these honours profits and pleasures In like manner it may easily be judged by every indifferent man that the cause why the Learned of this Land will not see or at least practise that seeing there is but one Lord Eph. 4.5 and one Law-giver over the Conscience Jam. 4.12 Therefore no man ought to be compelled by persecution to a worship wherein he hath not Faith is not the obscurity of the Scriptures but their winking with their eyes lest they should see that that would take away their honours and profits For if Bribes blind the eyes of the Wise Deut. 16.19 then Honours and Profits much more For who seeth not if none should be compelled by persecution to worship God in Spirit and Truth such only worship Him and none but such are required to worship Him Joh. 4.23 that these Learned would lose their Honours Profits in being Lords and Law-makers over the conscience souls of men although your Majesty might lawfully give them what temporal Honours and Profits your Highness liked of These are the true causes of the blindness of the Learned For so Christ saith How can ye believe when ye seek honour one of another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God alone Joh. 5.44 And how can men but be blind in gods Mysteries when they look to their own way for their own advantage and for their own purpose for having rejected the Word of the Lord what wisdom is in them they have no answer of God that build up their Sion for so they account their Churches and Professions with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity as before is proved If these Learned could free us from the Lords wrath or if they might answer for us and we be free it were safe for us to submit our selves and captivate our judgments and practice to them but seeing they cannot so much as deliver their own souls And that if the blind lead the blind both must fall into the Ditch Mat. 15.14 and Every one must give account of himself to God and be judged by his own works done in the flesh and that the soul that sinneth shall dye We dare not follow any mortal man in matters of salvation further than we know him to agree with the meaning of God in the Scriptures Paul the holy Apostle of Jesus Christ taught That we should follow him no otherwise than he followed Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 Yea Christ himself sent men to the Scriptures to try his Doctrine The Apostles suffered their Doctrine to be tryed and commend them that try it And the Protestants confess Whit. pag. 127. This Doctrine was never misliked till a Church rose up whose Silver being Dross and whose Milk Poyson could not endure the tryal which being true that we may try why may we not also judge and practise according as Gods Spirit shall direct us in our tryal If a man should drink poison and know it to be poison were he not in a worse estate than he that should drink it ignorantly not knowing thereof even a murderer of himself in the highest degree So he that drinketh spiritual poison knowing it for according unto mens faith it is unto them he is in a worse estate and a murderer of his own soul in the highest degree And therefore that Church or those Learned that will suffer their Doctrine to be tryed and yet constrain men to receive and practise it when upon examination their consciences are convinced of the falshood thereof are worse and do more highly sin than they that constrain a blind conscience though both be evil We despise not Learning nor Learned men but do reverence it and them according to their worthiness only when it is advanced into the seat of God and that given to it which appertaineth unto the holy Ghost which is to lead into all Truth than ought all as Ezekiah did unto the brazen Serpent detest it and contemn it CHAP. 6 Persecution for cause of Conscience is against the Doctrine of Jesus Christ King of Kings 1. CHRIST commanded that the Tares and Wheat which are those that walk in the Truth and those that walk in falshood should be let alone in the world and not plucked up until the harvest which is the end of the world Mat. 13.30 38 c. 2. The same commandeth Mat. 15.14 That they that are blindly led on in false Religion and are offended with him for teaching true Religion should be let alone referring their punishment unto their falling into the Ditch 3. Again Luke 9.54 55. He reproved his Disciples who would have had Fire come down from Heaven and devoured those Samaritans that would not receive him in these words Ye know not of what spirit ye are the Son of man is not come to destroymens lives but to save them 4. Paul the Apostle of our Lord teacheth 2 Tim. 2.24 That the servant of the Lord must not strive but must be gentle towards all men suffering the evil men instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may acknowledge the Truth and come to amendment out of the snare of the Devil c. 5. According to these aforesaid Commandments the holy Prophets foretold that when the Law of Moses concerning Worship should cease and Christs Kingdom be established then all carnal weapons should cease Isa 2.4 Micah 4.3 4. They shall break their Swords into Mattocks and their Spears into Sithes c. And Isa 11.9 Then shall none hurt nor destroy in all the Mountain of my Holiness c. And when he
extends no further than over the body or goods and to that which is external for over the Soul God will not suffer any man to rule only He himself will rule there Therefore wheresoever the Civil Magistrate doth undertake to give Laws unto the Soul and Consciences of men he usurpeth that Government to himself which appertaineth to God c. The same upon 1 King 6. In building of the Temple there was no sound of Iron heard to signifie that Christ will have in his Church a free and willing People not compelled and constrained by Laws and statutes Again he saith upon Luke 22. It is not the true Catholick Church which is defended by the Seculare arm or Humane power but the false and feigned Church which although it carries the name of a Church yet it denyes the power thereof And upon Psal 17. he saith For the true Church of Christ knoweth not Brachium Seculare which the Bishops now a dayes chiefly use Again in Postil Dom. 1. post Epiph. he saith Let not Christians be commanded but exhorted for he that will not willingly do that whereunto he is friendly exhorted he is no Christian Therefore those that do compel them that are not willing shew thereby that they are not Christian Preachers but worldly Beadles Again upon 1 Pet. 3. he saith If the Civil Magistrate would command me to believe thus or thus I should answer him after this manner Lord or Sir look you to your Civil or worldly Government your Power extends not so far to command any thing in Gods Kingdom therefore herein I may not hear you For if you cannot suffer that any man should usurp Authority where you have to command how do you think that God should suffer you to thrust him from his seat and to seat your self therein The Puritans as appeareth in their Answer to Admonit to Parl. pag. 109. That Papists nor others neither constrainedly nor customally communicate in the mysteries of Salvation Also in their Supplication printed 1609 pag. 21 c. much they write for Toleration Lastly the Papists the inventers of Persecution in a wicked Book lately set forth thus they write Moreover the means which Almighty God appointed his Officers to use in the conversion of Kingdoms and People was Humility Patience Charity c. Saying Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves Mat. 10.16 He did not say I send you as wolves among sheep to kill imprison spoil and devour those unto whom they were sent Again ver 7. he saith They to whom I send you will deliver you up in Councils and in their Synagogues they will scourge you and to Presidents and to Kings shall you be led for my sake He doth not say You whom I send shall deliver the people whom you ought to convert into Councils and put them in Prisons and lead them to Presidents and Tribunal Seats and make their Religion Felony and Treason Again he saith ver 12. When ye enter into the house salute it saying Peace be to this house He doth not say You shall send Pursevants to sansack and spoyl the house Again lie saith Joh. 10. The good Pastor giveth his life for his sheep the Thief cometh not but to steal kill and destroy He doth not say the Thief giveth his life for his sheep and the good Pastor cometh not but to steal kill and destroy c. So that we holding our peace our Adversaries themselves speak for us or rather for the Truth CHAP. 9. It is no prejudice to the Commonwealth if freedom of Religion were suffered but would make it flourish BE pleased not to hearken to mens leasings but to what God and Experience teacheth in this thing Abraham abode among the Canaanites a long-time yet contrary to them in Religion Gen. 13.7 and 16.3 Again He sojourned in Gerar and King Abimelech gave him leave to abide in his Land Gen. 20 21.33 34. Isaac also dwelt in the same Land yet contrary in Religion Gen. 26. Jacob lived twenty years in one house with his uncle Laban yet differed in Religion Gen. 31. The People of Israel were 430 years in that famous Land of Egypt and afterwards 70 years in Babylon all which times they differed in Religion from the States Exod. 12. and 2 Chron. 36. Come to the time of Christ where Israel was under the Romans where lived divers sects of Religions as Herodians Scribes and Pharifees Saduces Libertines Theudaeans Samaritans besides the common Religion of the Jews Christ and his Apostles all which differed from the common Religion of the State which is like was the Worship of Diana which almost the whole world then worshipped Act. 19.20 All these lived under the Government of Caesar being nothing-hurtfull to the State and Commonwealth for they gave unto Caesar that which was his and for Religion to God he left them to themselves as having no dominion therein And when the enemies of the Truth raised up any Tumults the wisdom of the Magistrates most wisely appeased them as Acts 18.14 c. and 19.35 c. Again be pleased to look into the neighbour Nations who tolerate Religion how their Wealths and States are governed many sorts of Religions are in their Dominions yet no trouble of State no Treason no hinderance at all of any good but much prosperities brought unto their Countries they having all one harmony in matters of State giving unto Caesar his due and for Religion they suffer one another If any object the Troubles of France Germany c. We answer They are such as have been procured by the learned but most bloody Jesuites who seek to establish their Religion by blood for subversion of whom your Wisdoms are wise to deal in Yet be pleased not to let faithful Subjects be punished for their wickedness But let most severe Laws be made for the maintenance of Civil and humane Peace and Welfare as to your Majesty and others shall seem expedient And if it be well observed it is the Learned that raised up all the bloody Wars among the Princes of the Earth CHAP. 10. King are not deprived of any Power given them of God when they maintain Freedom for cause of Conscience WE know the Learned do perswade that Kings have power from God to maintain the Worship and Service of God as they have power to maintain Right and Justice between man and man For Christian Kings say they have the same power that the Kings of Israel had under the Law For answer to which First let it be observed the Kings of Israel had never power from God to make new Laws or set up new Worships which Gods Word required not nor to set high Priests or Spiritual Lords for the performance of the Services other than such as God by Moses expresly had commanded and therefore the power of the Kings of Israel will warrant to Kings to make or confirm Canons set up new Worships and appoint Spiritual Lords and Law givers to the
Conscience and persecute all that submit not to them 2. Let it be well observed only the Kings of Israel had this power but no other Kings whose Commonwealths did flourish to them and their seeds after them to many generations and it must be granted that he that is King of Israel now which is Jesus Christ the truth of those typical Kings of Israel he hath the power according to the proportion the temporal Kings had temporal power to compel all to the observation of those carnal or temporal Commandments Heb. 7.16 and 9.10 So Christ the Spiritual King hath Spiritual Power to compel all to the observation of his Spiritual Commandments For when he came himself said Joh. 4.23 The hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father requireth even such to worship him If Christ be only King of Israel that sits upon Davids Throne for ever as he is Acts 2.30 far be it from any King to take Christs seat from him The Wisdom of God foresaw that seeing the Misteries of the Gospel are such spiritual things as no natural men though they be Princes of this world can know them he left not Kings and Princes to be Lords and Judges thereof seeing they are subject to erre but he left that Power to his beloved Son who could not erre and the Son left his only Deputy the holy Ghost and no moral man whatsoever as your Highness worthily acknowledgeth in Apol. pag. 46. I utterly deny that there is any earthly Monarch over the Church whose word must be a Law and who cannot erre by an infallibility of spirit Because earthly Kingdoms must have earthly Monarchs it doth not follow the Church must have a visible Monarch too Christ is the Churches Monarch and the holy Ghost his Deputy The Kings of the Gentiles reign over them but you shall not be so c. Luke 22. Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them into all truth but premised to send the holy Ghost unto them for that end c. Further these Learned alledge the Commandments Exod. 23.33 Deut. 7. and Deut. 13. where Israel are commanded to destroy all the Inhabitants of the Land lest they intice them to serve their gods and to slay all false prophets c. These they collect from the time of the Law for in the time of the Gospel they have nothing to alledge for Rom. 13. maketh nothing for their purpose Caesar being a Heathen King For answer unto the places of Moses first The sins of this people the Canaanites were full and the Lord would destroy them and give their possessions unto the Israelites but the sins of the refusers of Christ are not full until the end or last hour as before is proved 2. The Children of Israel had a special Commandment from the Lord to destroy them but the Kings of the Nations have no Command at all to destroy the bodies of the contrary-minded nay they are expresly forbidden it Mat. 13.29.3 The Canaanites would have rebelled against Israel and have des troyed them but the contrary-minded will not rebell against their Kings but give unto them the things that belong unto them not so much for fear as of conscience and of this the GOD of Gods is Witness 4. The Heads and Rulers of Israel could command and compel the people to observe those carnal Rites and Ordinances of the Law even as CHRIST the Head and Ruler of Israel can compel to the observations of his spiritual Ordinances of the Gospel but the Heads of the Nations cannot compel their Subjects to believe the Gospel for Faith is the gift of God which Faith if they want all they do in Gods Worship is sin Rom. 14.23 Heb. 11.6 Therefore they cannot compel any to worship because they cannot give them Faith for which cause the Lord in wisdom saw it not meet to charge Kings with a duty which they cannot perform God will never require it at their hands the blood of the faithless and unbelieving shall be on their own heads He that will not believe shall be damned Mark 16.16 Again Seeing it is true as your Majesty well observeth in your Highness speech at Parl. 1609. That the Judicials of Moses were only fit for that time and those persons And also it is confessed the Law for Adultery Theft and the like is not now to be executed according to the Judicials of Moses nor directions for the Magistrates of the Earth to walk by Why should these be any directions for them seing also our Savior and his Apostles have taught the contrary as before hath been proved If all false Prophets should be now executed according to Deut. 13. the Kings of the Earth would not onely be deprived of many of their Subjects but the Cities of their habitation with all the Inhabitants of the Cities must be destroyed with the edge of the sword the cattel thereof and all the spoyl thereof must be brought into the midst of the City and the City and all therein by burnt with fire be made a heap of stones for ever and never be built again which God forbid such execration should ever be seen And if these Judicials of Moses be not now directions for the Kings of Nations we reade not in all the Book of God any directions given to Kings to rule in matters of Conscience and Spiritual Worship to God But often we reade that the Kings of the Nations shall give their power to the Beast and fight against the Lamb Rev. 16.14 and 17.2 12 13 14 18. and 18. 3 9. and 19.19 as lamentable experience hath plainly taught it Thus all men may see there is only deceit in these Learned mens comparisons of the Kings of Israel in the Law with the Kings of Nations in time of the Gospel in matters of Religion Much might be written to prove that Kings are not deprived of their power by permitting of Freedom of Religion but are rather deprived thereof by using compulsion to the contrary-minded and do sin grievously in causing them to sin for want of Faith but this may suffice the Almighty blessing it with his blessing which we humbly-beseech Him for his Christs sake for his own Glory sake for the prosperity and welfare of these Kingdoms and for the comfort of your faithful and true-hearted Subjects that are now distressed by long and lingring Imprisonments and otherwise who of conscience give unto Caesar the things which are his Which is to be Lord and Law-giver to the Bodies of his Subjects and all belonging to their outward-man for the preservation of himself and his good Subjects and for the punishment of the evil In which preservation the Church of Christ hath a special part when their outward Peace is thereby preserved from the fury of all adversaries in which respect Princes are called Nursing Fathers as many are at this day blessed be our Lord. Oh be pleased to consider why you should persecute us for humbly beseeching you in the words of the King of kings Mat. 22.21 To give unto God the things which are Gods which is to be Lord and Law-giver to the soul in that Spiritual Worship and Service which he requireth If you will take away this from God What is it that is Gods Far be it from you to desire to sit in the Consciences of men to be Law-giver and Judge therein This is Antichrists practice perswading the Kings of the Earth to give him their power to compel all hereunto But whosoever submitteth shall drink of Gods fierce wrath Revel 14.9 10. You may make and mend your own Laws and be Judge and Punisher of the transgressors thereof but you cannot make or mend Gods Laws they are perfect already Psal 19.7 You may not adde nor diminish Deut. 4.2 Rev. 22.18 19. Nor be Judge nor Monarch of his Church that is CHRISTS Right he left neither you nor any mortal man his Deputy but only the holy Ghost as your Highness acknowledgeth And whosoever erreth from the Truth his Judgment is set down 2 Thess 1.8 c. Rom. 2.8 c. and the time thereof Matth. 13.40 and 25.31 c. Rom. 2.16 This is the Sum of our humble Petition That your Majesty would be pleased not to persecute your faithful Subjects who are obedient to you in all Civil Worship and Service for walking in the practice of what Gods Word requireth of us for his Spiritual Worship as we have Faith knowing as your Majesty truly writeth in your Medit. on Mat. 27. pag. 69. in these words We can use no Spiritual Worship or Prayer that can be available to us without Faith This is the sum of our most humble Petition thus manifoldly proved to be just O LORD GOD of Glory raise up in this High Assembly the heart of some Nehemiah of some Ebed-melech That may open their mouthes for the Dumb that cannot speak for themselves in a Truth so apparant as this is lest it be said as Isa 59.16 And when he saw that there was no man he wondred that none would offer himself Therefore his Arm did save it and his Righteousness it self did sustain it And now we cease not to pray for the King and his Son and his Seed and this whol High and Honourable Assembly now and alwayes Calling the all-seeing God to witness that we are your Majesties loyal Subjects not for fear only but for Conscience sake Unjustly called ANA-BAPTISTS