Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	apostle_n	believe_v	word_n	5,252	5	4.0580	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43822	Nevv lords, nevv lavvs, or, A discovery of a grand usurpation, in opposition to the Holy Laws of God and contempt of the good laws, and royal prerogative of the supream magistrate, as it hath been lately practised by the lordly Matthew Caffin, a pretended true apostle of our blessed Lord and Saviour, and ruling head of his congregation, usually meeting at Southwater near Horsham in Sussex. By R. H.	Haines, Richard, 1633-1685.	1674 (1674)	Wing H202B; ESTC R216445	62,553	67

that which is no less than a Damnable Erroneous Principle For if it be true as you have in words said That the Church of Rome he become a Harlot which once was the Spouse of Christ Then Vsurpation is a Damnable Error For if she had not Usurped Authority to Compel Persons to do and practise more or less then what is by their Supream Lord and Master required and appointed for Discipline and. Government of the Church according to the Holy Scriptures then no doubt but she had continued a true Church unto this day Again If the Church Officers had not through Usurpation been corrupted but had governed the Church according to the Will of our Lord and Saviour revealed in Scripture and not mixt their own Inventions with Christs Institutions Then doubtless the Officers of the Church of Rome had still deserved the Honour to be stiled The Holy Successors of the Holy Apostles But if as you say by usurpation she be now come a VVhore and her Officers none of Christs Ministers Then I infer that Usurpation is a Damnable Sin For ever since such Usurpation her Officers are ceased to be the holy Successors of the Apostles and are become the Antichristian Successors of Usurpers Tyran●s and Murtherers and notorious Enemies to all true Christian Emperours Kings and Princes Whence 't is evident that Usurpation is a Damnable destroying Sin and most dangerous to Church and State But you may possibly say That Usurpation cannot be the greatest and most damnable Sin since it is the Sin of the Holy Ghost that is the greatest Sin and never to be forgiven To which I answer That the Sin committed against the Holy Ghost in my opinion is that Sin only which is committed under the highest degree of saving means to wit God by his holy Spirit and Word opposing and the person persevering in his intended wickedness so that whether it be the Sin of Usurpation Rebellion Tyranny Hypocriste Idolatry c. any of these may thus be committed against the Holy Ghost and so become impardonable And therefore my Brethren look to your Consciences if Baal be God serve him but if the Lord be God how dare you go beyond his Word and unerring Rule Believe not trust not the best of men in matters of Religion in any thing that is not according to the Word of the Lord remember that a man of God was torn in pieces by a Lyon because he believed one who was not as then a Prophet an Example worthy the observation of those that incline to trust any private man rather than the Word of God Be no longer deluded Oh ye my Beloved although unkind Friends and bear with me for endeavoring at once to defend my own Innocent Just Cause and shew you your Delusions and how you are Betray'd For hath he not corrupted your Authority and Government so as to render it to be Lordly Arbitrary and Tyrannical contrary to the Will and Mind of Christ whom you suppose is the Head of your Church Yea and I do also believe That you think that you Act under Christ by vertue of Authority and Commission received from Him only and not otherwise which if really true then are you the true Church or part of the true Church and so ought to go no further than the Lords Commission which so long as you observe you are undoubtedly his beloved Children and true Subjects to him here and such as shall Reign with him in his Kingdom forever which I also believe is your hope and expectation And to this you are often encouraged by your pretended true Apostle and to believe that the Order of his present Government will bring you to this happy estate But if like a pretended Angel or Light he with smooth Words and hypocritical Speeches and Pretences of Tender Love to you and Honour to the Church have led you out of this good way and order in which you might stand and remain in safety and hath inveigled you into a Government under which you are become Servants to another Master and Rebels to Him whom you conceit you serve and honour like those grievous Transgressors of whom the Lord complains Isaiah 58. 2. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways as a Nation that did Righteousness and forsook not the Ordinance of their God They ask of me the Ordinance of Justice they take delight in approaching to God What I pray have you done more than they Oh! that you would lay it to heart and consider Whether you are not as much deluded as they were Which if so Then beware of vain Confidence and be sure that you are in danger wherefore for your Reformation I pray consider First That you ought to do nothing in obedience to your true Lord and Master but what you believe is your duty because Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin Secondly That your Faith and Belief hath a firm and sure Foundation for what you do and especially for what you do compel in matter of Religion otherwise your Building may come to sudden ruine Add not therefore sin to sin but haste haste for Reformation apply yourselves to the Law and to the Testimonies In case he compells person to submit to his or your Wills without that Authority then know It is because his pretended Holiness is turned into VVickedness Haste then I say and do Justice when by the Lord it is required of you although it be to the cutting off of your right hand when by reason of a Gangrening malignant distemper it is destructive to the whole Body But if notwithstanding all that I have said you are so strongly deluded that he cannot appear in your Judgments a Rebel and an Usurper Then tell me I pray who it is gave him Commission and Authority to Accuse Condemn Judge and pass sentence against a member of the Church for that which is no Transgression and not suffer him to plead his Cause with the Congregation whom in words you declare are the proper Judges or reason with those that were offended in order to give them Satisfaction But contrary to the way of peace and peace-makers perpetually to Interpose with malicious Agravations So that we were not suffered to propose any Terms of Reconciliation each to other Do you verily believe Christ gave him Commission to Exercise this Arbitrary Government If you do shew me good grounds for such your faith and I will believe it also otherwise remember the Popes Acts of Tyranny are of as good Authority as yours and he as honest as your Apostle and not half so much an Hypocrite Secondly Who requires you to be so Slavishly at the dispose of this pretended Apostle as through his Instigation to Condemn a member before ever it was proved that he had Transgressed any known Law wronged Man Woman or Child or ever dispised any Admonition or indeed that he was ever so much as Admonished at all by any Two persons or that there ever was any occasion

days The consideration of all which together with the Effects that did every day attend it to the great dishonour of the truth did after some time upon just grounds engage me to publish the matter and manner of their proceeding against me and accordingly I did make preparation for it and that long before the Publication hereof But if it demanded why I did not publish it sooner I faithfully and sincerely can answer my reason was this viz. Because I greatly feared that by this means not only the Offenders would be ill thought of as justly they may but that the way of truth it self and honest Professors might happen to be Censured by some inconsiderate people and evil reported of to the dishonour of God and prejudice or discouragement of the innocent Wherefore I did rather resolve to use all fair and safe means to prevent these ill effects and bring the matter to be heard determined and composed without such Publication To which purpose I read part of what I had written to a person pretending much kindness to me who I well knew did intend also to serve my causeless Adversary to his power yet 〈…〉 thought he ha●h been such 〈◊〉 one as 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈…〉 person after I had so shewed him the substance of what I 〈…〉 for publick view did intent me to forbear to which 〈…〉 consented upon condition I might have the matter heard by 〈◊〉 London Friends that had power to do justice and did promise that 〈…〉 were done I would totally desist 〈…〉 ways This my 〈◊〉 being made he 〈…〉 perswade me to 〈◊〉 it to some 〈…〉 Congregation by which means the matter might be com 〈…〉 but I considering that all or most of the Congregations 〈…〉 respects inferior to him and he much adored and e 〈…〉 them did 〈◊〉 refuse so to do whereupon he ac 〈…〉 undertook to perswade Mr. C. and other 〈…〉 London 〈…〉 did I apply my self to an Elder with whom only I had a little 〈…〉 for his advice and he appointed both time and place and also did speale to several Church Officers to be there because my self had little 〈◊〉 acquaintance with any of then This is that Elder that first advised me to a appeal to the General Assembly and thought it no unfit that such of the Nation as I thought meet might be present at the heating of the Cause notwithstanding they were not in Fellowship However at this meeting the matter on M. Caffins said was generally disliked of and he admonished by the persons aforesaid to wit Mr. G. Mr. W. Mr. 〈◊〉 Mr. T. Mr. C. and divers others there present To go home and call 〈…〉 together and reform the matter Accordingly home they 〈…〉 me but when I came home which was about six days after 〈◊〉 general Reports went contrary to my expectation some relating they 〈◊〉 Justified in what they had done but that being opposed as a 〈◊〉 by one that heard the matter debated Then one of them to wit the same that would have a man Damned for displeasing their Lord C. rather then for offending the most High as you may see in the ensuing Treat se replyed that they were not to regard what our London Friends did for said he VVe not own them Which indeed pr●●es to be very true for all their Grave and Pious Council and Advice for Peace and Reconiliation was rejected and contemned And since that time their pretended Apostle Mr. C. hath also declared in the Assambly of his Congregation the same thing saying As for those London friends meaning those who gave him such Admorition before named we do not own them And this was the end of my first proposal and willing endeavours in order to prevent this Publication and the ill effects if any should attend it Yet notwithstanding their obstinate persisting in their illegal practice without any 〈◊〉 President on Example for their Authority I still resolved to wait hoping in time their eyes might be opened and 〈◊〉 minds incline to Repentance But when after a long and 〈…〉 ctation I perceived no appearance or probable hope of their 〈…〉 mation I then again began to think of publishing the matter 〈…〉 still feared my so doing might tend to their greater confusion c. 〈…〉 Whereupon I again said it by with resolution to make my appe●●● the next General Assembly of Church Officers at London in hope some good might be done by them and accordingly I made my pre●●● Friends acquainted therewith and not only by word of mouth 〈…〉 ral of the Confederates whom I desired to be there to 〈…〉 mony to the truth of what they knew but also by a 〈…〉 their publick Meeting and desired the messenger 〈…〉 of that Congregation to deliver and desire M. C. to 〈…〉 gregation But althought it were delivered into his 〈…〉 that he the said M.C. not only promised at other times that he 〈◊〉 by no means prevent the matter from being heard but also said he 〈◊〉 do what he could to have it determined there yet when the time came and the Church Officers assembled together I appearing amongst them with several persons that were my Witnesses Matthew Caffin himself moved the matter saying that there was present a certain person that had been dealt withall in the Country that did make his Appeal to them and sail he I perceive he is resolv'd to move the cause to you and therefore you were as good hear what he hath to say now or to that effect Whereupon I who had been before made to doubt by M. C. and other that my cause could not be heard in this Assembly because of an agreement they had made not to hear any there before it had been heard by some Neighbour Congregation first desired to know whether they would intermeddle in such case and determine a matter in controversie between a Congregation and a single person whereto it was forthwith replyed by Mr. M. we can chuse out a party six or more persons and refer the matter to them who may determine it presently before we part or to that effect Then said I I am ready for it but then Matthew Caffin how agreeably to his former promises and pretences let sincerity judge interposed saying But the matter concerns the Congregation and they are not he●e and therefore it cannot be heard now which was seconded by one of his Assistants and so the matter put off The Consideration of this acting so palpably contrary to such promise that he would no ways hinder the matter from being heard but do what he could that it might be here determined puts me in mind of that Cardinal of whom it is reported he should declare That an honest man ought not to be a Slave to his word and might make a stranger apt to imagine this high pretender endued with such Cardinal Policies 〈…〉 with the honesty of a true Apostle For nothing imaginable 〈…〉 and design to 〈◊〉 the Heating by that excuse did hinder 〈…〉 having

his party there without whom he well knew as is evi 〈…〉 hand that it could not be done and though he did do 〈◊〉 was not ●o civilly honest as to let me know thereof that so I might 〈…〉 and unnecessary Charge which he knew would be consi●●●able 〈◊〉 the consideration of all which and for that all means of Reconcili 〈…〉 said M. C. and his Associates contemned and their ill 〈…〉 acts practised and defended by pretended Au 〈…〉 but now at last conclude it highly my duty to make 〈…〉 that so those who are concerned may at their next 〈…〉 I do appeal by these presents take it into 〈…〉 consideration and doing right may clear themselves and the Profession in general from the imputation of such mischievous errors whereunto otherwise they may be thought accessary leaving it to them to judge whether this pretended Apostle be not an Usurper and whether his Government be not Arbitrary Tyrannical and dangerous both to the Church and Civil State and also whether he be not a partial and unjust judge a deluder and seducer of those who otherwise would he innocent and a contemner of the Authority of all that are above him Lastly whereas some sober persons think it strange that I do not withdraw my self from the Baptized Congregations my answer is that I know not any other Congregation of that perswasion corrupted with any of those errors but that their actions and conversations are according to their Profession in the judgment of Charity And forasmuch as I do upon safe and Scripture grounds believe That the way they prosess is the way to Grace and Glory I therefore dare not desert it but desire to be found persevering therein with Heart and Affection And that all good people may do the same is the hearty prayer of him who is a lover of Truth Righteousness and Peace and of those who imbrace the same under what Notion or Form soever they be Richard Haines A word to the Ingenious and Learned Perusers Honoured Sirs SInce neither Nature nor Education have furnisht me with those 〈◊〉 and Accomplishments which I must acknowledge necessary to all such as expose their writings to the Publick eye let me intreat and not be denyed your favourable Construction in the ensuing Leaves as often as you find me unskilfull in Language or Methodical Order for as I have never been exercised in such publick endeavours so should I not now have appeared to the world in this manner had not the Conscience of my duty constrained me therèunto nor had I been thus tedious and burthensome to the Reader but out of a desire to regain my poor deluded Brethren who pretend great love unto Your humble Servant R. H. NEVV LORDS NEVV LAVVS HAving some time since received much Injustice and Abuse from Matthew Caffin a Pretended Apostle of Christ and Elder of a Congregation together with some other of his deluded Confederates who without any Authority or Example and for a matter not proved to be any Sin or Crime by any Text of Holy Scripture procecded to pass Sentence of Excommunication against me and still persist in and justify the same and endeavours yet further to render me Infamous It is therefore the design of the following discourse for the several causes and Reasons mentioned in the Epistle to the Reader to make a full discovery of all proceedings in that affair that so innocence may be cleared Friends at a distance truly informed and these Lordly Spirits if possible made ashamed of and so repent for such their wicked and erronious courses All which I shall endeavour by relating plainly and sincerely First The Cause or pretended Crime Objected Secondly The most partial unjust and cruel proceedings thereupon again●t me And Thirdly The unreasonableness of both in several Circumstances and the mischievous consequences of such Anti-christian Popis●e Principles and Practises The occasion or thing for which I was Excommunicated was as follows I having by my Industry found out and invented a way to cleanse a certain sort of Grass Seeds by some called Trefo le by other Nousu●● and by others Hop-clever but properly may be called Yellow-clover because it beareth a three leaf'd grass and yellow flower from its husk and course Grass Seeds which course Grass was very destructive to the other so that the same by means of such invention is become better then it was before as some of my Adversries themselves confess Now forasmuch as it did evidently appear that such a way of cleansing the aforesaid Seeds was a thing that would be for a General benefit to all should make use of the said Seeds I then considered that it was reasonable I should have the benefit of cleansing the same according to the Statute in such cases made and provided which priviledge of invention I did understand by Councel Learned in the Law The King by his Royal Prerogative might lawfully grant and confirm by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England to the first and true Inventer And I being the same as one of my chiefest Adversaries declared at their Meeting publickly that he verily did believe I was did and still do conceive that I might lawfully endeavour to obtain it as my lawful and just priviledge Forasmuch as by this means I should prevent no person enjoying any of their former Rights and Priviledges which they enjoyed before this my doscovery for as they bought sold sowed and improved it before so they may still without the least interruption nor have they cause to complain that by the Kings Letters Patents they are prohibited from cleansing the said Seeds seeing every person may have the priviledge of sowing the Seeds which I thus cleanss so that every one may ●eap the profits of my labour and the greatest profits too for if the cleansing of it were free to all the advantage would be very little wherefore I did on good grounds hope that no honest man would be offended with the Kings Letters Patents nor with me for attaining them except it were a generation of self ended men who envy my prosperity nor could I believe that I for this thing should be condemned by those who are my pretended tender loving Brethren since I have not hereby transgressed any known Law for where there is no Law transgressed I do belive there is no Law to punish unless it be under that Government where Usurping Tyrants beare rule All which considered I did proceed in my endeavours to obtain his Majesties Gracious favour for the grant of his Letters Patent for my aforesaid Priviledge But being willing to let some of my friends know of my design therein before I had finished my business and judging Matthew Caffin most Faithful I therefore thought him most worthy to be trusted with secret things Some other also I declared my mind ●● to who did promise secrefie nor did they report it to any that I know of but he the said Matthew Caffin whome I thought most faithful was

that I had wronged any man I therefore demand of you oh ye my pretended tender loving Brethren whose Majesty I have offended that my Soul must be offered up in sacrifice to pacifie his Wrath and Indignation If he be not the true God was it not your Idol Thus they feared the Lord and served their Idol and yet will they lean upon the Lord and say I not the Lord amongst us and no evil can come upon us But one thing more which is not altogether impertinent to the case take as followeth One person more with whom I was very conversant who was at both meetings In which their infallible Apostle practised his design against me and notwithstanding he as I hope is a man as honest as any amongst them were he not seduced and deluded so as in all points to please his Idol for notwithstanding he never did believe nor could charge the thing to be unlawful or that it was against the mind and will of the most high God yet when he was at the solemn adoration of their Idol he not considering that he should do as he would be done unto did give his consent to this horrible cruelty and from that time is become a great defender of his Idols Tyranny and such is the force of his delusion that he is constrain'd to believe that what his Idol saith is as Oracles and therefore cannot but express the strange alteration of his whole mind and affection And now in his judgment I ought not only to be damned for opposing his Idol but also to be hanged drawn and quartered for said he to me you never had had your Patent if you had not stole the Seal To which person I say I do not remember that I at any time was reputed or suspected to be a Thief before nor yet known to be an obstinate offender of the most high God nor of those who are his faithful and honest people and yet will you think it pleasant for such an one if you were the party your self to be hanged drawn quarter'd and afterwards damn'd for ever But shall I be angry with him no I will not but sorry I am and pitty him I must because he cannot see his strong delusion But possibly he will say no I would not have a man suffer death for such a thing To which I answer that if he were not strangely deluded and seduced he then would say that it is much honester to hang a man for transgressing the Law of a King than it is to punish both Soul and Body for ever in Hell for transgressing the Laws of him who is no less than a Usurper Tyrant and an Idol and that before you know that you have any command from God for it or that you know that the party accused is an obstinate offender of God which indeed no person in the world can prove Now my beloved observe whether this his and your practise and principles be not the same with his brethren beyond the Seas who command the ignorant to believe as they believe and do as they bid and whether he hath not so far deluded you as to put you upon such practises as do justifie the Church of Romes usurped Authority rather than the Church of Christ whose government is according to Scripture authority let him that readeth judg and though Hypocrite like in words he doth disown them yet how can he honestly disown them when both he and you act by the same authority And though at a distance he may call her Whore and Harlot yet if she be so is it not clear that in matter of fact he hath committed Fornication with Her by approving of her corrupt and wicked wayes And therefore now my beloved you may no longer wonder that he should have Communion with Idolators and unclean persons rather than with those that keep themselves from Idols and approve of Letters Patents for if Idolatrous zeal hath not blinded your Eyes you may see that he himself is an Idol and a Fornicator and hath fellowship with Idolators every day But whereas some of you cry out against me for saying That he is a false Apostle and doth contemn the Authority of all that are above him I am therefore apt to conceive some objections will be raised or shifting excuses endeavoured to be made by this Lordly Usurper to wave or deny what he hath said or done notwithstanding all may be proved by many persons if they were injoyned to speak but the Truth of what they know viz. his saying If there be a Statute for it what is that to us what have we to do with the Laws and Statutes of Men That Patents are of the Devil And that he could as freely have Communion with Idolatrous and unclean Persons as with that man that should have a Patent Nothing of which was opposed by you although all those expressions savour strongly of contempt of All Authority whatever and seem directly to oppose that Precept of Peace Loyalty and Obedience enjoyned by the Apostle to a11 true Christians 1 Pet. ca. 2. v. 13. and 14. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man c. But possibly he will alledge That several persons of good quality subscribed their hands against me in procuring the Patent To which I answer that those worthy persons opposed my proceedings only upon a mistake and the false Informations of one or two Conspirators and that some of them since they came to understand the truth of the matter have freely declared to me in the presence of several persons that they were sorry they did appear against me and did now believe it was both just and right for me to enjoy my Priviledge But suppose he should deny the truth and say he did not affirm that Patents were of the Devil then observe I pray whether it doth not appear very plainly by his actions in the very Case of the before mentioned Covetous Person who is suffered by Deceit and fraud unlawfully to exercise or enjoy his Neighbors priviledge or Calling for notwithstanding they know it is contrary to all Law yet in Contempt thereof he and his covetous practises are allowed of But suppose this covetous person should have obteined a Patent from the King whereby he might enjoy the Trade or Livelyhood of other men then according to his Law it must come under the same condemnation so that it appears evident That 't is Patents not Covetousness Patents not Fraud simply Patents not Deceit that is the forbidden fruit of him whom you adore Again if he did not condemn Patents abstractedly and meerly as such to be of the Devil why are Patents worse in his conceit than Idolatry and Uncleanness but if you should say That you condemn me for justifying of Patents that by false information and so to unlawful Ends were obtained I answer this cannot be for I ever said That if any other Persons did make the Discovery before my self then it was their Priviledge and not my own

and that in such case my endeavours had been evil since as I always declared Patents are grantable only to the first Inventors and not otherwise and that if it could be proved that any person before my self did find out the thing I should immediately desist Again if Patents were not of the Devil in his conceit why should he condemn me for justifying of a Patent and not because I endeavoured to secure the thing it self but judged it lawful for me to prevent other Persons of cleansing of the Seeds and also did justifie me for ingaging my Servants by promise not to cleanse the same or to instruct any other therein Therefore most plain it is That my withholding persons from doing the thing is not the Sin or Evil but Patents and Patents simply that is sinful and of the Devil if not why is not one means lawful as well as the other seeing they both tend to one thing and one end Furthermore if he did not judge Patents in themselves to be of the Devil why should he and you upon deliberate consultations agree That it should be unlawful for any Brother to Buy or Sell for him that should have a Patent Whence it must be concluded that either Patents or this your Apostles practise must be of the Devil And what he hath done is either to please the most High God or himself If you say it doth please the most High I demand of you to prove it But if you will say That it was his and the Churches Duty to practise these things only to satisfie the Weak Brethren and Common sort of People Shew me your Commission for it if not then give me leave I pray to shew the danger of this seducing Error which you conceit is a righteous and charitable principle to preserve peace love and unity in the Church to which purpose be pleased to consider If a person that shall obtain a favour of a Prince or do any other thing which the weak Brethren may interpret or call an Offence to them may not be suffered upon pain of Excommunication or Damnation which is all one in your sense whether the thing for which they are offended be lawful or unlawful as your new Law-maker hath asserted and endevoured to prove to be as you well know to be true observe then I say whether this be not a Stirrup to mount himself into a Saddle of Supremacy or a foundation Step to exalt him into the Seat of the highest Dignity and Authority so as that all from the King on his Imperial Throne to the meanest Subject must Truckle to him and be in subjection under him and his pretended weak Brethren and Common sort of Men since no person may offend them in any Case upon pain of Excommunication nor oppose his Lordships Design he having the commanding power and the weak Brethren on his side for they like so many Children are easily perswaded and deluded by their Strong Lord and Master This must needs open a wide Gap for all kind of Usurpation and Tyranny and makes Excommunication meerly an Instrument to gratifie the malitious revenge of a private person on his Brother under colour of offence For if any one displease his Lordship who hath the commanding power he then may make it his work and who shall hinder him to render such person and his Case as odious as he pleaseth And at this work he is not a little Arch and Dexterous but can forecast his devises so as to accomplish his Design and when he hath thus by his subtilty instigated the weak Brethren against the person whom he resolves to Crush then they must declare that they are offended although they have nothing to say therein nor do understand the matter However having declared against the party or thing according to his pleasure and the words by him put into their mouths he then assembling again with these his weak Brethren and in the Congregation makes it his business to engage them also against the person for that he lies under the most abominable Crime of accepting a lawful favour from a King which is an offence to the weak Brethren And for this offence without proving the matter to be any Breech of the Law of God the party must suffer Excommunication and had He but the Priviledge of a Torturing Inquisition all that dare oppose his Designs doubtless should be sure to be according to his own word Severely dealt with But to proceed in his disorderly Order you must observe in the next place That he himself is to manage the Tryal between the supposed Offender and the pretended Offended though the quarrel be still his own and the thing designed only to bring about his Revenge or what pleaseth him best which he is able to manage without Controul as you well know for by his twenty years Prerogative he will not suffer the Case to be debated between the Offender and his Accusers and those of the Court nor is it necessary in his Government though prescribed in Scripture that the weak offended Brother should endeavour first by himself and afterwards with one or two more to admonish the Offender But such is his Arbitrary Order That the Party accused shall never know who his accusing weak Brethren are nor do I know to this day though I did several times demand the same Having thus setled his absolute Government wherein himself in effect has Authority to all viz. Accuse Judge and Condemn whilst all the rest are silent or speak according to his pleasure not daring to oppose so as to take the Prisoners part upon pain of damnation What then I pray shall hinder him from exercising his Usurped Authority and making his Tyranny and Cruelty his unlimitted Power and greatness known so that he may as he lifts prosecute his Revenge against those that will not ADORE him the refusal whereof I verily believe was my great Crime He therefore calls a Court Commands one of his Subjects as he thought to appear before his Lordship and there accuseth him as aforesaid for accepting of a lawful Favour from a King but subtilly pretends it an Offence to the weak Brethren and common fort of Men as he calls them This thing faith he Is odious and abominable and according to our Law unsufferable Whoredome Fornication or Idolatry We allow of rather than This. What sayest thou Thou mayst plead for thy self but 't is to no purpose For if thou hast offended me and my deluded weak Ones thou shalt know that I am thy Accuser Lord and Judge my Self and thou must not expect any benefit in this Court by pleading thy Cause with any others besides my self For it is my Priviledge and hath been so these Twenty Years and What Do you think I will loose it now And then after an insulting manner render such an one as odious as malice and a lying Tongue subtilly can express As you may likewise well remember All which perhaps Strangers may suppose to be only