belong to the soul they may compell men by their Laws and Edicts to come unto Ecclesiastick meetings it cannot be denied but by this means faith and the conscience are forced Christian liberty is taken away and a Mosaick compulsion is put in its place DD Bullinger p. 18. That a Christian ought not to be a Magistrate that Christians ought not to resist them that offer violence and so have no use of any Judicatories Hortensius p. 13. All Magistrates are to be put down it is necessary to oppose Magistracy with all our might EE Hortensius p. 13. The Anabaptists increasing much every where did exercise Jurisdiction among themselves in private houses they punished their own members even unto death FF Hortensius p 13. Though the Apostles had not the right of the sword yet unto their followers now God hath given power to take away the prophane Magistrate by the sword as they thought meet Bullinger p. 3. They taught that God had revealed to them that all Princes and Nobles were to be cast down that God had given to them the sword of Gedeon against all Tyrants to set at liberty the people of God and to set up the new Kingdome of Christ upon earth GG Historia Davidis Georgii p. 11. The Battenburgicks avowed that peace and grace was removed from the earth after the time that the gracious offer made by Becold was refused henceforth the refusers were to be killed with the sword HH Bullinger p. 2. all of their society were to be counted elect and children of God all others were to be counted wicked and to be killed III Hortensius p. 13. Before the last day Christ was to have a temporall Kingdom upon the earth here only the Saints should bear rule all Princes being cut off by the sword and that now this Kingdome was begun in the Anabaptists Guy du Brez p. 5. They preached their dreams as divine oracles to wit that there should come a new world wherein dwelled righteousnesse and for this cause it was necessary to root out of the earth all the wicked with all Princes and infidell Magistrates all that was not of their sect and faction they called infidels KK Historia Davidis p. 9. The Monasterians did affirm that the time wherein the Saints were to be afflicted was come to an end that the time of the Harvest was now come wherein God would revenge and deliver his people and put their enemies under their feet LL Hortensius p. 14. To spoyl the Temples they counted it lawfull saying that the Jews of old had done the like when under the command of Moses they went away lâ—aden with the spoyls of the Egyptians Also Bullinger p. 61. At this time some lofty spirits promise great things to themselves before the last day as the Jews of old did abuse the fair promises of the Prophets all which they understood carnally and according to the letter MM Hortensius p. 31. O Becold the Father gives to thee the sword and cals thee to be King that thou maist reign in Sion c. NN Hortensius p. 30. The King said that he was appointed of God to be King to take â—â—ay 〈…〉 men by the sword that he was to go throrow the world and to execute with death all that did not beleeve OO Hortensius p. 37. Commonly the men had five wives many sixe some seven or eight PP Sleidan l. 10. p. 274. The complaints that were brought to the King for the most part concerned Divorces these were most frequent so that some who had lived together till old age were put asunder QQ Vide supra Cap. 1. RR Vide supra Cap. 1. SS Heresbachius p. 43. Let no man have any proper goods but let all be brought and laid down at the feet of the Preachers after the example of the ancient Christians TT Heresbachius p. 152. The Famine in Munster was equall to that of Jerusalem for the Soldiers searching the houses for prey did finde the legges and arms of the young children salted for food yet the King and Rotman and Knipperdolling had good enough provision VV Hortensius p. 37. Their Law was to accompany with their wives while they had conceived XX Historia Davidis p. 28. These Saints were exempted from all laws of Matrimony of bloud and affinity the difference of Father Mother Brother Sister among them doth cease and evanish XX 2 Bullinger p. 37. They did perswade the women that they did sin grievously if they kept company with their own husbands who remained Pagans and were not yet rebaptized but that they sinned not in keeping company with any Anabaptists because among all them was a spirituall matrimony YY Historia Davidis Georgii p. 43. Shame was contracted through sin and now is to be laid aside so by faith in Christ all that shame for the secrets of nature is to be cast away ZZ Ibid. p. 28 29. The words are so abominable that I cannot translate them AAA Historia Davidis p. 36. David Georgius went to glory of his mysteries as if they had never entred in the minde either of men or Angels but had been reserved to the last times that with their new light the old Doctrines of the Prophets and the Apostles were to be darkned as the starres are put out by the brightnesse of the rising Sun BBB Vide supra AAA CCC Historia Dav. p. 52. The tenet of the Catholick Church concerning Angels and Devils that they are invisible spirits created of God in their own distinct substances separate from men is nugatorious that the Angels are only qualities and motions which God inspires into men that the Devils are nothing but only boggles in the night to terrifie men arising from mens imaginations DDD Bullinger as I remember ascribes this to some of the Anabaptists EEE Historia Dav. p. 52. That heaven and hell Christs last comming and Judgement life eternall c. are no where to be expected but within a man Ibid. p. 51. The place of eternall happinesse shall not be above us in the heaven but upon the earth Ibid. p. 50. In the last judgement there shall be no other change in the heaven and in the earth then we see dayly what the Apostle speaks of such a change is to be referred to the manners and mindes of men not unto the outward elements FFF Historia Dav. p. 50. The second comming of Christ shall not be seen with bodily eyes but spiritually it is even now performed within in the minde GGG Historia Dav. p. 44. In this time of perfection all outward worship all rites and Sacraments must cease and evanish HHH Historia Dav. p. 43. Many of these things were exhibit in Christ Jesus and his Apostolick Church but only according to the letter and the body not according to the spirit who at that time was not exhibit III Apocalypsis in Davide Georgio He avowed that he had absolute authority to condemne and to quicken and that in the last day he was to judge the twelve Tribes of
it all into fancies FFFFF Some of them make the world eternall others all creatures to perish They make God personally to subsist in every creature they make him the life of all the living and his essence the proper form of all things GGGGG Some of them make the world eternall going on in a continuall generation and succession of things as now we see them HHHHH others make all to be destroyed Some deny all resurrection others makes the bests rise to glory heaven and earth and what ever is therein for ever to perish and nothing of any creature to remain but that portion of the Divine essence which was in them and gave them their beeing IIIII Some of them that admit of a resurrection after this life make it generall of all creatures that ever have been even of beasts birds and fishes to a new life of glory KKKKK They teach abominable obscenities I reade not that their Doctrine is yet so extremely obscene as that of David George yet here also they are come prety near him for two of their Teachers M. Gorting and Mistresse Attaway with their Disciples have declared themselves for the dissolution of all unequall Marriages and such are all those with persons of a different mind from themselves LLLLL That which we have heard of their practising of incest is now publickly avowed in print they do not with David George lay aside all naturall relations in matter of marriage they will not passe the consideration of Father and Mother Brother and Sister but which is worse they will have these relations to be grounds of a Matrimoniall conjunction as if these marriages were most laudable which are betwixt persons nearest in bloud Brother and Sister Father and Daughter Mother and Sonne Uncle and Neece this spirit of abominable villany doth now walk in publick among us MMMMM whereunto if you will adde M. Miltons doctrine of dismissing wives so oft as men please MMMMM 2 you shall make it lawfull for every man once a month to marry if they were thirty of his nearest kinswomen a wickednesse which David George himself did never think of They follow David George in his greatest absurdities But that which was David George his chief wickednesse in debasing the administrations of God and advancing himself above all that is called God making the dispensation of the Law the Kingdome of the Father the preaching of the Gospel the carnall Kingdome of the Son but his own Ministery to be above both the Ministery of the holy Ghost in a new world of love whereof himself was the great Prophet farre more excellent then all before him this madnesse is also in the midst of us Attaway made it the subject of divers of her Sermons that the Kingdom of the holy Ghost and of love more excellent then that of Christs was now at the doors NNNNN That Jerusalem was quickly to be builded and from thence extraordinary Prophets to be sent for the preaching of the eternall Gospel OOOOO And now much sooner then we expected before one stone is laid in Jerusalem behold the great Prophet is come and has printed his Divine light The Divine light of their new great Prophet proclaiming himself the anointed of the Lord for this great service of preaching the eternall Gospel PPPPP assuring that all who opposeth him are not onely apostates Arians Antichrists The fall of Adam the clearest Scriptures are but allegories but also very incarnate Devils QQQQQ The rare mysteries which this great Prophet brings to the world from heaven are these Doctrines That the eating of the forbidden tree the burning of the world with fire and such other Scriptures are but meer allegories RRRRR That the humane nature of Christ is a Person The whole Trinity suffered in the person of Christs humanity That there is no union of the second Person of the Godhead therewith but that all the three Persons in the time of the Passion did come down and subsist in his humane Person That all the three Persons did truly suffer in the humane Person of Christ and that by the Passion of the Godhead of all the three Persons alike the world was redeemed SSSSS That the Passion of the Trinity in the humane Person of Christ was nothing but the conflict of the two Divine Attributes Mercy and Justice the one with the other TTTTT That the former days of the Gospel were Christs private Kingdome and the world of Esaus curse wherein Christ did sit as a Judge to torment and condemne the reprobate VVVVV But now since he the great Prophet The great light which this Prophet brings from heaven is that all the Devils and all the reprobates shall be saved by his Gospel the Lords annoynted began to Preach the new and the last world is come the world of Jacobs blessing the time of the Spirits Ministery of Christs publick Kingdome wherein the eternall Gospel is preached XXXXX That the summe of this Gospel is the salvation of all without exception even of the Devils and of those who were damned by Christ in the world of Esaus curse YYYYY That saving faith is nothing but the belief of this universall salvation ZZZZZ That whoever beleeves it not shall be damned that is they shall undergoe for some time hels torment though at last with the Devils they be delivered therefrom That by this faith any three or four persons may become so strong sons of God as to save not onely themselves but a world of misbelievers AAAAAA Randals grosse Familisme It were long to enumerate all the abominations that are among many of these who goe under the name of Anabaptists it will be hard to name any of the conceits of their Fathers in Germany which is not here entertained by some one or other I am sure the incomparably worst of the Sects over Sea was that of the Georgians and among us the Familists are their naturall brood what they have learned from Henry Nicholas and he from David George we may see it yet more distinctly in two late Writs The discovery of Familisme The description and confutation of Familisme We reade in the first that a great many who have been counted zealous and gracious are now of that Sect BBBBBB That a great man a Peer of the Land and divers Doctors of Divinity are of that number CCCCCC That M. Randall for some years has preached peaceably at the Spittle to as great a multitude of people as follows any Sectary about the City That the learned Author of the Discovery did hear him preach the following positions who wrote them down with a refutation and before many witnesses sent them to him to be answered No resurrection no heaven no hell after this life To wit first that all the resurrection and glory which Scripture promises is past already and no other comming of Christ to judgement or life eternall is to be expected then what presently in this earth the Saints
charitable mercies unto every creature of Angels spirits and mankinde likewise because all power is committed to the holy Ghost to manifest Christ a spirituall Christ and all-saving Jesus therefore the holy Ghost speaking to Christ as just Judge condemning damning and tormenting a part of his creation c. XXXXX Divine light p. 7. Esau's world of the curse is now almost passed away and the world of Jacobs blessednesse is now entring in Ibid. p. 14. Christ in his private kingdome sate Judge over the quick and dead to condemne and execute torments upon the rebellious whom he held as prisoners for a time but Christ in his publick kingdome by the power of the holy Ghost shall raign for ever to bring up all to life and immortality Christs publick Monarchicall kingdome is now appearing now the waters of troubles are abated and in the new heavens and new earth of Christs publick kingdome there shall be no more sea of Antichristian mysteries onely the old heavens and earth of Antichrists wickednesse must be burnt up with the fire of Gods Spirit yea all things naturall and supernaturall must bee changed at these resurrections now comming YYYYY Divine light p. 7. In the world of Jacobs blessednesse now entring in the reprobate condition of men and Angels shall be regained death and hell shall be destroyed all shall be created of new to life and immortality the damned Prisoners shall be sent forth out of the pit Ibid. p. 11. For a time millions of thousands were damned by their Antichristian works yet not damned to perish for ever for there is none can be damned totally all the generations that are deceased in the old world of Esau shall arise by glorious resurrections ZZZZZ Ibid. p. 11. This true Christian vocall faith is to beleeve the Covenant of generall redemption Ibid. Those which believe and maintain the Covenant of generall redemption are onely the true Church of whom Christ is the head AAAAAA Ibid. p. 11. All the damned that did not or doe not receive it must be saved by this faith Ibid. p. 13. Although there were but three persons beleevers in the earth with Christ yet God will have his whole Creation although not any else did beleeve but these three in and with Christ Ibid. p. 14. Such sons and daughters of God onely by beleeving are made instruments of blessing unto the whole Creation although there should be but three in the whole earth BBBBBB A description of Familism and confutation of the Familists by Benjamin Bourn to the Reader Many of them being such formerly as were to be beloved and delighted in Give me leave to speak according to men were ye not once as reall for Christ as you are now for Antichrist yea I will be one witnesse what close communion you had with God and how many times you have to the refreshing of many drooping spirits made a large acknowledgement of the manifestations of Gods love and favour toward you in Jesus Christ CCCCCC The discovery of Familism p. 10. Let not the Familists say it is not M. Randall and we only that teach this doctrine of Henry Nicholas there have been and are great Doctors of Divinity so called yea and some great Peers and persons of quality and estate in this Land DDDDDD The discovery of Familism p. 2. Whosoever shall teach and perswade the people that the perfection and resurrection spoken of by Paul 1 Cor. 15. are to be attained in the fulnesse and perfection of them in this present time before the common death of the body doth herein teach the deceitfull doctrine of Familism taught by Henry Nicholas but M. Randall does so teach as sundry persons that heard him can witnesse and so he does destroy the hope of the Saints as touching the personall comming of Christ in his glory to judge the quick and the dead and of the resurrection of the bodies of the Saints and of the glory of life everlasting of body and soule hereafter EEEEEE Ibid. p. 2. M. Randall delivered that a man baptized with the holy Ghost knew all things even as God knew all things which himself greatly admired as a great mystery Ibid. p. 7. Henry Nicholas says of himselfe God hath made me alive through Christ and anointed me with his godly beeing manned himself with me and Godded me with him FFFFFF Discovery p. 4. M. Randall turns the holy writings of Moses and the Prophets of Christ and the Apostles and the proper names persons and things mentioned and contained therein into allegories and gives them out to be the mystery and spirituall meaning of the same GGGGGG Benjamin Bourns description and confutation p. 6. Their first errour is that there is but one spirit or life in all things both in heaven and earth and that is absolutely and essentially God HHHHHH Ibid. p. 7 8. Is this a universall Christ as Antichrist cals him that is the flesh and blood of the whole world which the Godhead assuming makes out a discovery of himself to himself in and by all creatures whatsoever IIIIII Description p. 13. Whether all things are the act of God yea or no whether every creature in all its actions be acted and ruled by the Spirit of God The errour is explicated and confuted KKKKKK Gangren second Part p. 7. When the Committee of Lords and Commons was in Guildhall companies of thirties and fourties vented boldly all sorts of opinions some maintained that no mortall spirit could sin or be capable of sinne and it being objected What say you to the Devils they denied the Devils either sinned or could sin LLLLLL Gangren first Part division second p. 24. Nichols did justifie to M. Greenhils face that God was the Author of all sin that no man was sent to hell for any sins but cast thither onely because God would have it so MMMMMM Bourns description p. 24. These spirits that we call good and evill Angels they call good or evill motions of mans minde NNNNNN Ibid. Their third errour is that nothing shall remain eternally but the essence life and Spirit of God which is now in all creatures OOOOOO Ibid. Their fourth errour is this that the Scriptures are a confused allegory a meer shadow a false history and ought not to be any mans foundation no more then any other Book or the Apocrypha PPPPPP Bourns description p. 36. The comming death resurrection ascension and intercession of our Lord Jesus is absolutely denied by all the principall writings and doctrines of the Familists Ibid. p. 38. I will take here in their other errour that there is no resurrection nor last judgement for the world QQQQQQ Ibid. p. 24. They say sixthly that all ordinances are but meat for babes that a man should live above them without the use of them RRRRRR Ibid. p. 53. The first branch of their seventh Chap. shall be handled in this Chap. by way of question whether perfection in the highest degree both of grace and glory be attainable in this
this has ever been the way of Schismaticks The ordinary custome of Hereticks is not to labour but to spoyl the labors of others like drones and wasps to fall upon the labours of others they use not any where to be the instruments of any Reformation or conversion but when that work by the labour of others is done then they come in to spoyl all pressing upon a reformed and a converted people their fancies Z When the Gospel was flourishing in Munster King Becold enters Munster a certain Taylor of Leyden in Holland one John Becold did come to Town who at home in his own Country had drunk in all the Anabaptistick ravery the man was of a quick and subtill wit a great dissembler insinuating himself in the favour of the Ministers he did propone at first only by way of scruple his arguments against infants baptisme AA but in the mean time in his secret conventicles over all the City he did instill the whole mystery of Anabaptisme The chief Minister Rotman did at the beginning preach zealously against that way BB Some of the prime Ministers are gained to Anabaptisme but after that one Stapreda a violent Anabaptist had eropen in to be his colleague Rotman was gained to that party and at a publique disputation declared himself for them notwithstanding the other Ministers did confute so clearly the Anabaptists grounds that the Town Senate remained satisfied and by that Edict commanded all the Anabaptists to depart the City CC The slacknesse of the Magistrate though orthodoxe did ruine the City But this Statute was so slackly executed that the most remained still in Town and did in their night meetings so diligently advance their cause that a great many more were conquered upon which strength waxing confident they defied their opposites and came to a publique insurrection DD The Sectaries though fewer and weaker yet by wit and industry did master their opposites As yet the orthodox were the greater part but the Schismaticks were the more witty and industrious they managed so well their smaller strength that they became not only considerable but so formidable that their adversaries were glad to indulge them their liberty and toleration which they had long desired EE but behold the issue of that indulgence They who of a long time had made it their great work to cry down persecution and up toleration when they had obtained that desire they did not stand there By the stirrup of toleration the Sectaries ascended to the saddle of Soveraignty but went on every day to adde new members to their society till at last finding the great increase of their strength within the City they did invite by Messengers and Letters their associates abroad from all quarters to joyn with them These summons made many strangers to slock to the Town upon whose appearance without farther delay a publick Proclamation was issued for all to be rebaptized or else immediately to depart the City under the pain of death FF Many of the best did flee whose houses and goods were seized upon yet many good people were forced to stay for the Bishop of Munster had then blocked up the City whereby divers of those whoe offered to get out were killed and spoiled and the rest were frighted from attempting any escape to the Country The Anabaptists becomming absolute Masters of the Town Being once Masters of the City they presently changed the Government made it their first care to discharge all the former Magistrates and to substitute in their place a new Senate of their own faction GG over which they did set two Consuls Knipperdolling and Kippenburgh two of their most forward friends They seised on the goods of all and killed whom they would About that time a certain Baker of Harleim John Mathie did make himself a great Prophet among them this man one day did deliver as a revelation from heaven that every one should bring together all his books and papers the Bible onely excepted of all these he made a faire bonfire HH His next command was that every one should bring forth all his money and goods under the paine of death that all might be common II none durst be bold to disobey Iustice was so quick and severe amongst them One Truteling a Smith for a merrie word against the Prophets was brought forth before the people and shot dead by the Prophet Mathies own hands KK after this Mathie pretending a Commission from God went out his alone with confidence to overthrow the whole camp of them who besieged the City but by the first of the Enemies Soldiers the false Prophet was killed LL For all this so strong was the delusion The peoples mindes being insnared by their errours their tyranny became irremediable the blinded people did not open their eyes Becold and Knipperdolling did dayly preach new visions Becold having lien in a trance three daies when he awakened he appeared to be dumb but by writing Tables he signified it was the command of God to change yet further the Government of the City he set down the names of twelve of his greatest confidents to be Governors and Princes over the twelve Tribes of Israel MM This was no sooner proponed then executed So soon as the holy Prophet got his mouth opened the first motion he makes They proclaimed Polygamy was that the Preachers would consider if it were not the will of God for the increase of the holy seed that every one of the Saints should have more wives at the first the Preachers opposed this abomination but thereafter by threats and flatteries they were brought to yeeld Becold began and at one time married three but at once he came to the number of fifteen together NN The great Prophets example was followed by many and by all that would many honest Matrons were forced to marry with any of these villains who liked them This unheard of wickednesse did so imbitter the spirits of the remainder of ingenuous men that they rose up in a conspiracy and laid hold on Becold Knipperdolling and the rest of their false Prophets but behold the common people got up in a tumult rescued the Prophets and killed forty nine of the honestest Citizens for their assaying to put some end to their intolerable misorders OO A faint and unsuccessefull resistance did hasten and confirm Becolds Kingdome Nothing more advances the affairs of Tyrants then a faint imprudent unsuccesseful resistance Becold by this unhappy attempt of his Enemies having confirmed his authority suborned one of the Prophets to preach to the people that it was the Command of God to make Becold the King of the whole Earth promising that all the Kings and Potentates of the world should certainly be subdued by his Sword for he was the man that should rule all Nations with a rod of Iron PP Becold at the hearing of these news humbled himself to the ground adored the truth of that prophecy
the prophecying and questioning of private men in the face of the Church Unto their new gathered Churches of rebaptized and dipped Saints they did ascribe very ample priviledges for first they gave to every one of them a power of questioning in publick before the whole Congregation any part of their Preachers Doctrine N Secondly to every one of their members they gave a power of publick preaching O Women preachers are from them This liberty they gave no lesse to women then men for they had among them not only preaching and prophecying women but also some who took so much upon them as to professe themselves to be the Christ and Messias to all of their own sexe P Thirdly Their Pastors must renounce all former ordination take their full call of new must come from the hands of their people to their particular Churches they gave power of electing and ordaining such of their own Prophets whom they thought fittest to be Pastors to the rest whoever was not elected and ordained whoever had not their full calling from the people alone and did not renounce what ever ordination they had from any other to them were no Pastors at all Upon this ground among others they refused to hear any of the Ministers of the reformed Churches because they did not renounce their former ordination and calling to the Ministery that they might take it again from the hands of their new gathered and separate Congregations Q They required no letters in their Preachers Fourthly in their Pastors they required no secular learning R yea to them all secular learning was abominable they did burn all books but the Bible as impediments and hurtfull instruments to the Ministery of the Gospel S Fiftly they required their illiterate Pastors to work with their own hands for their livings T Merchandize or any other Calling wherein there was no personall and handy labour to them was unlawfull V Sixtly they cried down all tythes X The crying down of tythes and all set stipends is from them yea all set stipends for any Church Officer Y But it would be considered that they did avow it was as unlawfull to pay any set rent or yearly duty to any Landlord as a stipend to a Minister Z Seventhly Independency of congregations and the peoples power in Church censures is their invention unto their single Congregations they gave a supreme and independent power to judge in all Ecclesiasticall causes not only judicially to pronounce all questions about their Pastors Doctrine but also to proceed to the highest censure of excommunication as well against their Pastors as others when they found cause AA Their excommunications of one another were so frequent and for so light causes The Seekers who deny all Churches are their disciples that sundry of them fell to the opinion and practice of those whom we call Seekers they served God single and alone without the society of any Church finding no Churches on earth with whom they could agree BB The Anabaptists usurpation upon the authority of the Church did quickly lead them to the same practice upon the State as they took upon them to deprive their Pastors and exempt themselves from all Ecclesiastick jurisdiction of Church Synods so likewise they broke in peeces the yoke of all civill subjection to Magistrates Princes Parliaments or any temporall judicatories At first they denied the power of the Magistrate in matters of Religion alone First they cried down the Magistrates power in matters of Religion asserting a liberty only for their conscience that it might be free from the controll of all superiour power they esteemed every Law of the Magistrate in matters of Religion to be unlawfull Next in all matters even civill and the smallest penalty to be a Mosaicall compulsion of the conscience and a true persecution CC But forthwith they went on to deny the Magistrates power absolutely in all things whether Ecclesiastick or civill crying down his very calling and office how well so ever regulate as an unjust tyranny Together with the Magistrate they condemne all Judicatories all wars Yet they took to themselves an absolute civill power first over all them in their own Churches all defence all oathes DD For all this they permitted not that sword which they had stricken out of the hand of others to ly long upon the ground but immediately they plucked it up themselves At first they exercised their usurped Magistracy only upon the persons within their own Congregations judging all their causes as well Civill as Ecclesiastick proceeding herein to capitall sentences and executions as they found the crimes of their members to require EE Next over all Princes and people in the whole world This exercise of justice was so agreeable to their humour that quickly they thought meet to extend it much beyond the limits of their own Congregations they did anon proclaim their right not only to deny but to take away with their sword all the Princes and Magistrates of the earth as Tyrants FF And because these few persons who were Magistrates had not blood enough to quench the thirst of that cruell spirit which led them they went one step further proclaiming a Commission they had from heaven to kill not only all the Magistrates but also all the wicked people of the whole earth GG And how many Nations and Languages came within this compasse you may judge by the narrow circle within which they inclosed all the godly no more were Saints and to be saved then joyned to their Churches and received their Anabaptisme all the rest to them were wicked and to be cut off HH The were strong millenaries To this very dangerous practice they were led by another principle Muncer among his other Enthusiasms did bring forth to his followers the dream of Christs visible and ovtward Kingdome upon earth II confirming it by the same Scriptures which our late Chiliasts bring for the same fancy albeit a little refined Upon this ground he built many of his grossest practices for he gave out that then the time of that kingdome was come KK that the Saints the members of the Anabaptistick Churches were the members thereof that it was the will of God they should take and kill all who were opposite thereto that they had a just right to enter in possession of the spoyl of Christs Enemies and to enjoy all their lands and goods as the Israelites did those of the cursed Canaanites LL They made adulteries and murders lawfull To these dreams of Muncer John Becold and his fellow Prophets at Munster made some Additions That in this visible kingdome there behoved to be a King over the Saints MM That this King was to rule according to the revelations of the Spirit That all disobedience to his voyce was to be vindicate by present death NN Among the rest of King Becolds commands this was one That the Polygamy of the old Testament should be renewed
any thing contrary to our understandings and consciences so neither can we forbear the doing of that which our understandings and consciences bind us to do GGG Ibid. It is the Magistrates duty to tender the liberty of mens consciences which is the tenderest thing unto all conscientious men and most dear unto them and without which all other liberties will not be worth the naming much lesse enjoying and to protect all under them from all wrong injury oppression and molestation HHH Blackwoods Storming of Antichrist p. 23. Evill works committed against the light of nature and reason as the setting up of Mahomet or any other God beside the Creator of heaven and earth Atheism when any man shall boldly affirm there is no God Polytheism when men affirm many Gods blasphemy murder these and such like the Magistrate whether Heathen or Christian is to be a terror unto 2. These evill works which are against the light of Nations there is no Nation in the world but in it the Magistrate will punish those that speak against the God that they professe and against that which they think is Scripture so if any rail against Christ or deny the Scriptures to be his Word or no rule for us and so unsettle our faith this as I take it may be punished by the Magistrate III Williams Bloody Tenet of persecution for the cause of Conscience in the Preface to the Parliament p. 2. It is the will and command of God that since the comming of his Son the Lord Jesus a permission of the most Paganish Jewish Turkish or Antichristian consciences and worships be granted to all men in all Nations and Countries KKK Ibid. p. 19. I acknowledge that to molest any person Jew or Gentile for either professing Doctrine or practising worship meerly religious or spirituall it is to persecute him and such a person what ever his doctrine or practise be true or false suffereth persecution for conscience The compassionate Samaritane p. 16. The Anabaptists or Brownists or whatever Sect there is or may be LLL Liberty of Conscience p. 22. Such fines imprisonments or lesser punishments whatsoever are justly to be accounted force and that in the highest nature Ibid. p. 17. How incongruous and dangerous a way of proceeding it is to joyn profit or preferment hopes or fears threats or force to work upon the conscience Ibid. p. 23. In such Countries where the Inquisition ruleth or people are forced to go to Church upon penalties how small soever Compassionate Samaritane p. 5. Little can be done in their behalf unlesse liberty of conscience be allowed for every man or sort of men to worship God in that way and perform Christs ordinances in that manner as shall appear to them most agreeable to Gods word and no man punished or discountenanced by authority for his opinion unlesse it be dangerous to the State MMM Toleration justified p. 8 9. All Sectaries whether Presbyters Independents Brownists Antinomians Anabaptists c. have a like title and right to freedome or a toleration the title thereof being not of any particular opinion but the equity of every mans being free in the State he lives in and is obedient to matters of opinion being not properly to be taken into cognisance any further then they break out into some disturbance or disquiet to the State But you will say that by such a toleration blasphemy will be broached and such strange and horrid opinions as would make the ears of every godly man to tingle what must this also be tolerated I answer it cannot be just to set bounds or limitations to toleration any further then the safety of the people requires the more horrid and blasphemous the opinion is the easier it will be supprest by reason and argument NNN Liberty of Conscience p. 16. And what command finde we in the word of God which warrants us to imprison fine banish or put to death any one especially amongst Christians for difference of opinion in Religion many I know are so indulgent as to be contented that every man might enjoy his own conscience quietly but would not suffer them to have the free exercise of it to discourse or publish their opinions unto others but hereof I finde no ground in Scripture Saint Paul says 1 Cor. 9.16 A command is laid upon me and wo is me if I preach not the Gospel and our Saviour said unto S. Peter Acts 22.32 When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren so that the same God which commands me to try the spirits requires of me also that when I have found the truth I should not with-hold it like a candle under a Bushel Yea but some will say God requires you to teach the truth but you teach heresie in stead thereof and therefore you ought to be persecuted My answer is that I apprehend it to be the truth and do but discharge my conscience though it be erroneous desiring to see the warrant for persecuting such as teach or publish erroneous Doctrines which they in their own opinion thought had been sound OOO Bloody Tenet p. 56 57. Of these that fall into this dreadfull ditch both Leader and followers how deplorable in more especiall manner is the Leaders case upon whose neck the followers tumble the ruine not only of his own soul being horrible but also the ruine of the followers souls eternally galling and tormenting Soul-killing is the chiefest murder it is a truth the mischief of a blinde Pharisees blinde guidance is greater then if he acted Treasons murders c. and the losse of one soul by his seduction is a greater mischief then if he blew up Parliaments and cut the throats of Kings and Emperours so precious is that invaluable jewell of a soule above all the present lives and bodies of all the men in the world PPP Vide supra III. KKK LLL Also Bloody Tenet p. 54. Civill Magistrates were never appointed by God defenders of the faith of Jesus PPP 2 Innocency and truth justified p. 46. I told him I could not take the Covenant Englands Birthright p. 12. The Covenant was first ordained to beget unity between the Nations but as sad experience teacheth in its effects it produceth nothing lesse amongst us setting us at as bitter a Warre and contestation amongst our selves almost as we have with our professed Enemies who before this unhappy make-bate came amongst us were knit together in love Ibid. p. 29 30. O that the Parliament would give leave to some of their honest fellow-Commoners to remonstrate the inconveniency and mischievousnesse of this Covenant and I am confident it would easily and clearly be made appear to themselves so vile that they would never enforce it any more but rather recall it The last Warning p. 5 6. Such as only personate Religion to bring their ends about whose Religion indeed is prudentially and zealously to dissemble these are they that frame oathes and Covenants for you in such ambiguous expressions like Delphian Oracles you will
indeed I have for had I thought that the Parliament had had no rule but their own will to have walked by I should never have drawn my sword for them and for my part I know no difference betwixt Tyranny and such proceedings Ib. p. 3. Since the first of May last I have by authority from the House of Commons been three times imprisoned before ever I knew mine accuser or my accusation or ever was suffered to speak one word in mine own defence Ib. p. 14. Hear O heavens and give ear O earth and thou righteous God that lovest Justice and judgement and hatest and abhorrest oppression and cruelty which makest wise men mad put forth thy hand and do justice thy self upon the unjust and unrighteous Judges of this age whom the people have set up for their good namely to preserve their lives liberties and estates as their faithfull Stewards and servants and yet destroy what they would seem to maintain p. 17. Amongst those that would be thought their friends they are rob'd plundered spoiled opprest undone and destroyed by all sides and no remedy left for redresse but the little ones to be eaten up of the great ones in every place which makes poor mens lives a burden to them that they are ready to wish themselves back again in Egypt in their bondage and rather to have one Tyrant then many Alarum p. 11. These deceivable snares leading to worse then Egyptian slavery wherein we our poor infants on their mothers breasts others who know not the right hand from the left yea and our whole posterity are most pitifully catched and involved even as Gods own particular people the Jews were in the days of Haman except there come such a happy and speedy remedy as it pleased him in mercy then to send beyond the expectation of man IIII Gangren second Part p. 117. They teach that the people of God are a free people and what they do they should do freely and voluntarily and not to be assessed and rated by the Parliament compelled to pay rate upon rate assessement upon assessement KKKK Gangren second Part p. 122. It was laid to M. Oats charge then that he had preached against the assessements of Parliament and the taxes laid upon the people teaching them that the Saints were a free people and should do what they did voluntarily and not be compelled but now contrary to this they had assessement upon assessement and rate upon rate LLLL Remonstrance p. 1. Calling those their Commissioners in Parliament to an account how they have discharged their duties to the universality of the people their Soveraign Lord from whom their power and strength is derived and by whom ad bene placitum it is continued MMMM Ib. p. 3. We are your principals and you our agents to preserve the splendor and glory of that underived Majesty and Kingship that inherently resides in the people or the State universall the representation or derivation of which is formally and legally in the State elect or representative and none else whose actions ought all to tend to that end against encroachments usurpations and violences of all its creatures officers and Ministers in the number of which are Kings themselves from whom for whom they have all their power and authority as the execution of their will and minde for their good and benefit to whom they are acountable for the faithfull discharge of that trust reposed in them NNNN Birthright p. 32 33. Whether is it not agreeable to Law justice equity and conscience that there should be a Parliament once every year and more often if need require that seeing this present Parliament by reason of the extraordinary necessities of the Kingdom have sate four years many of the Members betrayed their trust and those that remain ingrosse Law-making and also Law-executing into their own hands contrary both to reason and to the meaning of the Law by which manifest abusing negligent and not true using the Laws oppressions mischiefs and grievances are no lesse if not far more increased then they were before the Parliament began many times by the powerfull interest of a faction in the Parliament to save some one two or three of their Members undeserving credits they so violate the known unrepealed and declared Law of the Land yea and their own Votes Ordinances Declarations Protestations as if they had never made them I say all these things considered ought not the free men of England not only to choose new Members where they are wanting once every year but also to renew and enquire once a year after the carriage and behaviour of those they have chosen OOOO Vide supra NNN PPPP Remonst p. 20. Nor do we value a Trienniall Parl. before 3 years come to an end grievances mischiefs may be past remedy QQQQ Birthright p. 30. We have just cause to fear they will set up an interest of their own destructive to the common freedom so make this present Parl. an everlasting Parl. the War a never dying War seeing it tends so much to the enriching of Parliament men their Officers RRRR Vide supra also Conscience cautioned p. 12. If neither Law nor Lords will allow the people to be saved then may they not be saved any way and both Laws and Lords fall before their Soveraign the people as Dagon did before the Ark rather then the people perish Birthright p. 32. I have heard it reported that self-denying Cromwel was about a design of getting a Committee set apart an order made published to the whole Kingdom that if any man were unjustly oppressed by any Member of Parl. Committee-man or any other Officers or Ministers let him bring his complaint he shall have a just and fair hearing and justice done not in words but in actiâ—ns upon the transgressor Interest p. 10. We know it is not Gods way to have respect of persons in judgment and that the doing thereof has frequently lost Gods favour and made States miserable Englands lameâ—table slavery p. 6. What became of that common and thredbare doctrine that Kings were accountable only to God what good effects did it produce No they are but corrupt and dangerous flatterers that maintain any such fond opinions concerning either Kings or Parliaments SSSS The Conqueror rob'd England of Edward the Confessors Laws and in stead of them set up the Dictates of his own will whose Norman rules practises to this day yet remain in the administrations of the Common-Law at Westminster Hall By reason of their tediousnesse ambiguities uncertainties the entries in Latin as bad as the French because it is not our own tongue their forcing men to plead by Lawyers and not permitting themselves to plead their own cause their compelling of persons to come from all places of the Kingdome to seek for justice at Westminster which is such an iron Norman yoke with fangs teeth in it that if we were free in every particular else
the right gathering of a Church an Apostolick calling and a Baptism with the holy Ghost is always necessary GGGG This is the issue of Anabaptism in many and is likely to be daily in more as we are taught not only by the zealous and diligent observer of the Sectaries motions M. Edwards HHHH but also from that great Patriarch of the Anabaptists Confession M. Spilsberry who in his Treatise against the Seekers is forced to acknowledge the apostasie of too too many of those who once had been cordiall for his way of Anabaptism IIII We are not yet come towards any period of the journey of these wanderers for the spirit that is in them is restlesse Many of the Anabaptists are become Antitrinitarians and keeps them in a perpetuall motion these who are only Seekers notwithstanding of all their enmity against the setting up of Churches or use of ordinances till Elias and new Apostles come to kill the Antichrist and reform these Antichristian abuses that have destroyed for so long a time the true being of all Churches yet are they content in a private and personall way to embrace the Scriptures and the most substantiall truths therein contained but many Anabaptists are now begun to make havock of all The Trinity they abominate they will not only have Paul Beasts blasphemy to go without any censure but they do also joyn with him to preach down the Divinity of Jesus Christ and the Person of the holy Ghost KKKK as their old Father the Anabaptist Servetus does lead them the way It is very suspicious that their seven Churches in their Confession make no mention at all of the Trinity The Confession of their seven Churches is here unsound nor expresse any thing of the Person either of Christ or of the holy Ghost when they have pregnant occasion so to do What they speak in their second Article of the Father Word and Spirit as being all three one God is expounded by some of their followers not of the Trinity of Persons but of three offices onely of one and the same Person LLLL It cannot but give offence that in their twenty second Article where they speak of that which Scripture holds out and we accordingly are to beleeve of Jesus Christ and the holy Ghost they mention in both their Editions onely the nature and offices of Christ the power and fulnesse of the Spirit in his works and operations but speak not a syllable of the Persons either of the Son or of the Spirit and to Christ they give but one nature while as all Divines since his Incarnation give him two Richardson one of their prime Leaders a blasphemer of the Trinity But that which most clearly evidences their Heterodoxy in this point is that having set down rightly in the end of their second Article the personall relations and properties the Fathers being of himself the Sons generation of the Father from everlasting the holy Spirits procession from the Father and the Son yet in their second Edition they scrape out all this and in the margin of its Preface they referre those who desire to know farther of their minde to their Brother M. Richardsons Treatise now this man tels us that what ever is written against the Anabaptists is all from the Devil MMMM and if we understand him right he pronounces our Doctrine of the Trinity of Christs eternall generation and of the Spirits procession from the Father and the Son to be no lesse a crime then very blasphemy NNNN That the seven Churches will own such horrible assertions though they referre us to them I cannot obtain of my self to beleeve albeit too many of their friends goe all this length and much farther Divers of them are abominable blasphemers of Christs Person Paul Beasts blasphemies against the Divinity of Christ and the holy Ghost are no more his singularities but are now become a part of the new light which shines in Lambs Congregation OOOO and openly in Westminster Hall is defended without all fear either of God or man PPPP yea so great is the despight of divers Anabaptists at the Person of Jesus Christ that they rail most abominably against his holy name they not onely spoil him of his Godhead but will have his Manhood defiled with sinne QQQQ yea they come to renounce him and his Crosse RRRR Though some of them with a great deal of confidence avow themselves to be the very Christ SSSS And if any worse can be Others of them are become perfect Atheists some of tbis generation are gone yet higher from the Trinity of the Persons they fall on the very nature and essence of God giving to him a humane shape and bodily form of three men wherein when he pleaseth he makes himself visible TTTT And which yet is worse some of them deny all beeing to God as if he had no existence neither in the heaven nor the earth or any where else VVVV Thus farre Boggis M. Hobsons man and M. Oats dear companion did openly avow and Webbe confessed that as once himself so many of his companions were turned expresse Atheists XXXX The holy Scripture the onely ground of faith They evert reject the whole Scripture which once being overturned all the building of our belief must fall is most lamentably blasphemed by them not onely the old Testament but the new also is set aside the letter of the most plain Texts is turned into allegories YYYY the Scripture is denied to be the word of God ZZZZ and is avowed to be full of lies and errours AAAAA men are sent from the word to seek revelations above and contrary to it BBBBB The Familistick Anabaptists do cleave fast to the most of David George his abominations and adde more of their own thereto Many of them are turned Familists denying the immortality of the soule They deny that any mans soul is a living spirit affirming it to be onely a bodily vapour like the life of beasts which at death does perish They are not onely for the sleeping of the soul at death but for its annihilation and for this they have published whole Books CCCCC At first these mortallists did grant a resurrection of the body and for that end a new creation of a corporal soul but now they speak out their mind more boldly they deny all resurrection after death all life either of body or soul what Scripture speaks of the day of judgement of the burning of the elements and of life eternall they turn it into allegories and make it all to be performed in this life but after a mans death they admit not of any return to life or to any more beeing DDDDD A heaven for the joy of the Saints Denying heaven and hell angels and devils a hell for the torment of the wicked after this life they utterly deny EEEEE That ever there was either Angel or Devil they also deny what Scripture speaks of these creatures they allegorize
do enjoy nor any more hell and condemnation to be feared then what in this life before death is endured DDDDDD The Saints in this life become as perfect as God Secondly that all the Saints in this world are fully perfect that they become omniscient as God that they are Godded Deified and become God EEEEEE Thirdly that the most clear Historick passages of Scripture in matters of the greatest moment are but meer allegories untrue in any proper literall sense FFFFFF The clearest Scriptures are false in a literall sense This writ Randall received but was never pleased to return one word of answer yet to this day he goes on to preach these and the rest of the Familists errours And to shew his boldnesse he hath lately printed two very dangerous Books and set his Preface before each of them composed as he professes long agoe by Popish Priests the one by a Dutch Frier and the other by an English Capuchine both of them pretending to the highest degree of holy very high and hardly intelligible contemplations the fittest morsell that could have been prepared for the giddy multitude who is most ready to be catched with any new sublime and subtill notions were they never so full of deadly poyson whereof M. Benjamin Bourn has found in these two Treatises no small store to wit first That in all things Angels Devils Men Women That God is formally the life and subsistence of all creatures there is but one spirit and life which absolutely and essentially is God That there is no more but one Spirit in the world That the life and beeing of God is every thing and every thing is the life and beeing of God GGGGGG Secondly that Jesus Christ had not a particular soul and body that was created in the womb of the Virgin That Christ had not a particular soul nor a particular body but the flesh and bloud of the whole world HHHHHH Thirdly every creature in all its actions is acted and ruled by the Spirit of God IIIIII Creature in their very sins are acted onely by the Spirit of God upon this ground God is made the Author and onely Actor of all sins and hence some deny that there is any sin at all affirming that the Devils never sinned nor can sin KKKKKK others tell us that none are cast in hell for sin but for Gods meer pleasure LLLLLL Fourthly that the spirits which we call good and evill angels There is no such spirits as angels devils or soules are nothing but the good and evill motions of the minde of man MMMMMM Fifthly Nothing remains for ever but God that nothing is everlasting but the life and essence of God which now is in all creatures that no created thing whatsoever does continue for ever NNNNNN Sixtly that the Scriptures are a confused allegory a meer shadow Scripture is but a false shadow and no ground of faith a false History and ought not to be the foundation of any mans faith more then other Books or then the Apocrypha OOOOOO Seventhly they deny the comming dying resurrection ascension intercession and returne of our Lord Jesus Christ They deny both the first second coming of Christ they avow that there shall be no resurrection and last judgement for the world PPPPPP Eighthly they make all ordinances to be but meat for babes They cast away all ordinances and that men ought to live above them without the use thereof QQQQQQ Ninthly they teach that the highest degree of perfection both of grace and glory is attained in this life RRRRRR These and many more such blasphemous and horrible Heresies are entertained as fine The certaine truth of these imputations excellent rare profound mysterious truths by these Anabaptists who are admitted to the highest classe of the Family of Love if we may trust M. Bourn who professeth his certain knowledge thereof not onely from their Books but from their preachings conferences disputations at which often he was present SSSSSS By all the former discourse I conceive it is apparent that as evill and wicked a Devill does rage in the way of Anabaptism this day in England as of old in Germany or in any other Heresie of any time in any place which I wish were well considered as a ground of fear and trembling by many a simple soul who is carried down headlong towards these errours proceeding from one degree to another without any certainty where their unconstant motions may have any period I observe but one thing more wherein the English Anabaptists seem much worse then the Dutch The English Anabaptists are generally more erroneous then the Dutch however the Dutch have been much divided and exceedingly erroneous yet every Sect among them have had some zeal for that which they apprehended to be truth and some care to save their company from all which they esteemed errour and this without respect of persons who ever of their number did fall into any thing which they conceived hereticall had he been their Father brother or dearest companion they did cast him out of their Society and reputed him thereafter as a person excommunicate Amongst the English Sectaries there is no zeal at all against any errour The carriage of the Mennonists towards the Georgians and of the Georgians towards them and of every one of their Sects towards their dissenting Brethren is known But among the English Sectaries there appears no zeal at all for any thing they call truth a man now among them may run through the whole circle of errours from Independency to Antipaedobaptism from hence to Arminianism from this to Antinomianism thereafter to the Seekers thence to the Antitrinitarians the Antiscripturists the Familists the Atheists or whither he will and no Church censure at all be executed against him nor any of his fellows abstain from his company as an excommunicate Heretick but if he make a profession of piety notwithstanding of all his opinions he shall be entertained as a Saint and the generality of the Sectaries shall be very unwilling to have him in the least measure troubled by any censure either of Church or State TTTTTT I do not so much wonder at this more then ordinary want of zeal against any errour in Sectaries whom God has strucken with this among other spirituall plagues for their apostasie from his truth whereof themselves sometime have made a fair profession but it is oft to me a matter both of marvell and grief to behold the very sons of truth who in their hearts are opposite to every errour to be so languid and faint now for so long a time in promoting any reall course for the restraint of that deluge of all manner of hereticall and blasphemous errours which with their eyes they see overflowing the Land much more then any place of Christendome in any by-gone time I doubt not but divers make it a good part of their work both with God and man to have
one and always so remain is above the reach of any man I may say to him as Mat. 7.3 Luke 6.41 42. OOOO Vide supra KKKK PPPP Gangren second Part p. 123. A person of quality told me that in Westminster Hall near the House of Commons doore a great Sectary had been discoursing with him that he would be loth the Parliament should bring Paul Bests bloud upon them for denying the Trinity QQQQ Vide supra Also in Gangren first Part second division p. 105. See Cousins of Rochesters horrible blasphemies against the Manhood of Christ Den and Lamb doe preach in this mans House RRRR Gangren first Part division second p. 5. M. Webbe a man that pretends a new light said to me That he blessed God he never trusted in a crucified Christ nor did he beleeve him to be the Sonne of God nor the Scriptures divine but humane inventions SSSS Gangren second Part p. 142. A Sectary in Lambs Church affirmed that he was Jesus Cbrist and maintained it stiffely the man was in his wits for he spoke sensibly and to the things that were spoken of though in this blasphemous abominable way TTTT Little Non-such p. 3 4. Some seeing the shape and form that man bears in his personall appearance do conceive that God the Creator beareth the same form Man was made according to the likenesse of God in personall shape it is said God shewed unto Moses his back parts but his face should not be seen therefore if he hath back parts and a face he hath a shape which when he pleaseth he can make visible as then he did What were the three men that appeared to Abraham as he sate in the Tent if not the Trinity VVVV Gangren second Part p. 134. John Boggis comming down to Yarmouth with Captain Hobson as his Chirurgion and in M. Oats company he went from Anabaptism to the desperate height of Atheisme being spoken to at Table to give thanks he said To whom should he give thanks whether to the Butcher or to the Bull or to the Cow when it was told him to God he replied Where is your God in heaven or in earth aloft or below c. going on in unspeakable blasphemies XXXX Gangren first Part division second p. 22. M. Webbe confessed that he was in the ready way to Atheisme and many of his companions in these opinions were turned Atheists YYYY Ibid. p. 111. The Anabaptists of Somersetshire teach that the whole Scripture doth hold forth nothing else but a Covenant of works thus vilifying the whole word of God by the name Letter and making their interpretation to be the Spirit Little Non-such p. 4. Some would have the whole matter of eating the forbidden tree to be an allegory and understand by the Serpent in this place no other then concupiscence and by the fruit of the tree in the midst of the Garden some other thing then the eating of a materiall Apple ZZZZ Webbe affirmed that the Scriptures were onely a humane invention and not fit for a rule of life and conversation for any to walk by and in confirmation of this he said The Scriptures were that golden Calf and Brazen Serpent that set at variance King and Parliament and Kingdome against Kingdome and things would never be well untill the golden Calf and Brazen Serpent were beaten to pieces AAAAA Gangren third Part p. 34. It was witnessed before the Magistrates of Norwich that Priscilla Miles had said None would speak against Anabaptists but drunkards and liers she avowed there was in the Scriptures a number of lies BBBBB The Anabaptists of Somersetshire say that the Scriptures are not the word of God but the conceits of men and that we are not to adhere unto them but to revelations Gangren second Part p. 136. Clarkson in Colchester in his Sermon did vilifie the Scriptures all Ordinances Duties Ministers and Church-state CCCCC Mans mortality or a Treatise wherein is proved both Theologically and Philosophically that whole man as a rationall creature is a compound wholly mortall contrary to that common distinction of soul and body and that the present going of the soule into heaven or hell is a meer fiction Ibid. The hell-hatched doctrine of the immortall soule discovered the heavens triumph in the wain of the world to see such light break out on its posterity Pag. 3. Death returns man to what he was before he was that is not to be whence appeareth p. 8. that none ever entred into heaven since the Creation during death man is void of actuall beeing and has no present actuall beeing in glory p. 24. I prove it from the non-entity of hell that there can be no casting into hell before hell be p. 28. Christs humanity was three days and three nights in the grave after his death Ibid. p. 29. I may possibly affirm that the place of glory for the dead Saints is not yet p. 34. Christs ascension was into the Sunne according to famous Copernicus it is in the highest station of the whole Creation it may bee fitly called the right hand of God DDDDD Gangren first Part p. 112. The Anabaptists of Somersetshire affirm that the Divine essence which subsists in the persons of men shall be reduced unto God again but the persons shall be annihilated for the soul is mortall and the body shall never rise from the dead that even the body of Christ did never rise from the dead but was annihilated the world shall ever endure by generation from time to time without an end Ibid. p. 5. I asked Webbe of his opinion concerning the resurrection and he affirmed that there was no more resurrection of a man then of a beast nor had he any more soule then the body EEEEE Ibid. Webbe a great Ring-leader of the seduced Sect of Anabaptists acknowledged no differenâ—e between the godly and the wicked for locall torment more then is upon earth he denies any locall hell Ibid. p. 26. Marshall a great follower of Randall maintained that there was no hell that all the hell that is is in this life which is nothing else but the legall terrors and fear men had in their consciences FFFFF Ibid. p. 5. Webbe denies that there are any devils more then men are devils in themselves Gangren second Part p. 6. A woman came to the Minister of S. Martins to question him about his Sermon and affirmed to him that there was not any such thing as sin or hell or the devill or tentation or the holy Ghost or Scriptures she said all the hell that was was the darknesse of the night GGGGG Gangren first Part p. 112. The Anabaptists of Somersetshire do teach that God in the beginning did give forth of his divine essence a variety of forms and severall substances which we call creatures so that God doth subsist in the creatures HHHHH Ibid. They teach that the world shall ever endure by way of generation from time to time without an end IIIII Ibid. Others of them teach that
the whole Creation shall be annihilated and reduced into the Divine essence again KKKKK Mans mortality p. 49. The resurrection of the beasts all other creatures as well as man shall be raised and delivered from death at the resurrection the death of the beasts was a part of the curse and is to be taken away by Christ LLLLL Vide Disswasive first Part p. 116. also 145. Letter NNNN Also Gangrens second Part p. 117. Dear friends as you have cast off many Antichristian yokes so proceed to cast off all a chief whereof are unequall marriages MMMMM Little Non-such p. 5. God took one of Adams ribs made a woman and brought her to him how comes it then that there are forbidden degrees in marriage or is it not so in truth but a Popish injunction for their profit The woman is of the mans own proper substance then in regard there can be no more matches in this nature the very next of kin were to joyn in marriage and that both by custome and command For example we finde that Sarah was Abrahams Sister whom he took to wife a better president we cannot have Ibid. p. 6. So naturally confident were the servants of God in propagating by the next of kin that Lots daughters did not doubt to raise up seed to their Father Lot might justly be blamed for drinking so liberally that he perceived not what he did yet we finde no reproof upon the daughters because what they did was according to the institution Ibid. p. 7. The next place that seems to fortifie this opinion against all opposition is that of Juda and Tamar his daughter in Law the sincerity and integrity of Tamar was sublime Ibid. The prohibition of degrees in Leviticus is to be understood of fornication not of marriage Tamar did not doubt to be her brother Ammons wife but detested the act of fornication But for the holy institution of marriage with the next of kindred we see it hath not onely been permitted but commanded If mutuall correspondency happen betwixt the nearest of kindred their marriage is most naturall most lawfull and according to the Primitive purity and practice MMMMM 2 Gangren second Part p. 9. Mistresse Attaway among other passages spoke to them of M. Miltons Doctrine of Divorce and asked them what they thought of it saying It was a point to be considered of NNNNN Gangren first Part second Division p. 31. Mistresse Attaway in her exercise delivered that God the Father did raign under the Law God the Son under the Gospel and now God the Father and God the Sonne are making over the Kingdome unto God the holy Ghost OOOOO Ibid. 113. It is given out that Mistresse Attaway met with 〈◊〉 Prophet here in London who hath revealed to her and others that they must goe to Jerusalem and repair Jerusalem and for that end Mistresse Attaway hath gotten money from some persons ten pounds of one young maid and other money of others towards the building up of Jerusalem Gangrens second Part p. 145. There is a Prophet arisen who is shut up for a time but at the end of this Summer is to come forth with power to preach the generall restauration of all things which Prophet hath given a roll forth already into some hands in which roll many things are written and who ever hath that roll hath the spirit of Prophecy he hath appointed some to be publishers and Prophets and to go to Jerusalem to build it up where Abraham Isaac and Jacob shall meet them from heaven and these persons thus sent unto Jerusalem are assured they shall never die with many other of this kinde PPPPP Divine light sent forth by the Minister of the Lord Jesus whom he hath anointed his servant for the good of all in bringing glad tidings of good things unto the whole Creation QQQQQ Ibid. These are the Antichristi-apostat-Arians in chief that deny the holy Covenant of generall redemption by those the spirit discovereth the Antichristi-apostat-Arians Egyptians Sodomites and drunkards of Ephraim the Devils incarnate which are or shall be found to deny the Covenant of generall redemption This Antichristi-apostat-Arianisme is in that Dragon that old Serpent called the Devil and Satan in that he denieth the holy Covenant of generall redemption but this Dragon and grand Devil must be cast out of heaven the Church and all his angels the false Ministers and tyrannous Magistrates must be cast out with him Deniers of the Covenant of generall redemption and all brute beasts and hypocrites have approved themselves devils incarnate RRRRR Divine light p. 15. The private kingdome of Christs Justice must passe away to give place to the publick kingdome of God the Father in his Jehovah mercies unto all the heavens and the earth shall not be destroyed as drowsie drunken Ephramites and blind Egyptians do imagine out of their own evil hearts by misconstruing the Scripture Ibid. p. 2. In that abominable transgression of our first Parents Adam and Evah we their children transgressing in the same line of Rebellion by eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil that is by seeking in our selves a righteousnesse thinking to be wise and making our selves like to God we became naked foolish blinde and desperately wicked SSSSS Divine light p. 19. He sanctified the humane person of Christ to be a sacrifice Ibid. p. 4. God setting himself in his lost creatures stead namely the whole Creation God the blessed Trinity the three persons in unity in the spirit of the Deity setting themselves in Christs humanity the Father Son and holy Ghost the whole Godhead set it self bodily in Christ to suffer for their transgressing creature Christ in his humane nature feared when the Godhead and Trinity of persons came down in him to suffer TTTTT Divine light p. 2. God was pacified by his own passionate sufferings in that heavenly conflict which the Deity and Trinity of persons had in Christs humanity when our God lovingly set himself to work out our salvation he made his love so to overcome his justice as yet to satisfie his justice meritoriously Ibid. p. 6. God set himself in Christs humanity in the essence of his Deity to work out our salvation setting his love against his justice Ibid. p. 5. Therefore the whole Trinity was forced to assume the whole power of the Godhead to suffer that passionate suffering which was due to the transgressions of the whole Creation this was the passionate work and suffering of the Godhead placed in Christs humanity to perfect redemption for all VVVVV Ib. The elect and reprobate in their severall cases in Esaus world which is the world of the curse Ibid. p. 8. The Father and the Son doe commit their whole strength for the delivering the whole Creation unto the ministration of the holy Ghost and therefore it is that those that have been damned in Esaus world of the curse could not be delivered untill the holy Ghost came in full power in the fulnesse of all
as well as their Parents The manifold windings and turnings of the adversary from this place does but wrap them the further in the net The next place I cite is the first of the Cor. 7 14. How infants are holy 1 Cor. 7.14 For the unbeleeving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbeleeving wife is sanctified by the Husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Here the children of Christians are affirmed to be holy that is separated and dedicated to the service of God as those who are in Covenant with him to whom he is a God and whom he takes for his people for the Church in the Old Testament both young and old were accounted a holy and separate people Deut. 14.1 2. Ye are the children of the Lord your God thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himselfe above all the Nations that are upon the earth Isaiah 63.18 The people of thy holinesse have possessed it but a little while This priviledge continues to the Church in the New Testament to the worlds end 1 Pet. 2.9 But ye are a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God The Anabaptists for to loose the knot of this argument endeavour with much paine to cast a mist of confusion upon the whole text but to make clear and short work with them we reason thus The holinesse spoken of by the Apostle Paul here is one of three either the holinesse of justification and inherent sanctification flowing from the application of the bloud of Christ and inhabitation of the holy Ghost or else a civill holinesse of legitimation flowing from the lawfulnesse of a just matrimony or else a foederall holinesse whereby the whole church of God young and old by vertue of his covenant with them are separate and dedicated unto him no other senses use to be ascribed to the word holy in this place by any disputant the first two are inconsistent with the text the third therefore must be received The first cannot be approved by any who is sound in the doctrine of justification and sanctification for who ever will make all the children of every beleeving parent to have the holinesse of a reall justification and sanctification must either recall this tenet or in the end cannot but join with the Papists and Arminians in their great article of totall and finall apostasie from the most saving grace As for the second sense we deny that ever in Scripture children are called holy because begotten in lawfull marriage for so the children of the greatest Idolaters and worst of the Pagans who have no relation at all to God but as sinfull creatures dedicated to Idols that is of creatures very unholy and at best meerly naturall and civill must be accounted holy according to Scripture 2. The Apostle speaking of an holinesse which belongs to the Corinthians children from this that one of their parents is a beleever Legitimation cannot be such an holinesse for the faith of one or both parents contributes nothing to that the children of two unbeleevers are as lawfull as the children of two beleevers and so as holy in such a sense But the holinesse whereof the Apostle is there speaking is such whereof the children of parents who are both unbeleevers are not capable for it belongs to the children by vertue of the faith of one of the parents So this civill holinesse of legitimation if there were any such could not agree to the Apostles words in hand The first two senses being removed from the words onely the third does remain a foederall holinesse whereby the children are joined with God in covenant and dedicated to the service of God by vertue of that covenant as well as their parents Such an holinesse is a good reason of that which goes before and a solid ground of solution of the Corinthians scruple which the Apostle is loosing they had propounded to the Apostle their doubt If a beleeving husband might lawfully cohabit with his unbeleeving wife the Apostles answer is affirmative and the reason of the answer is because what ever the unbeleeving parties may be in themselves yet their cohabitation is sanctified to beleevers and of this sanctification the holinesse of their children is brought for an evidence since the Lord counted their children holy and in covenant with him the beleevers might rest assured that their abode with their companions though unbeleeving was acceptable unto God The Apostle here is speaking of husbands and wives not of men and whores though some other Scriptures should prove the bastards of beleevers to be holy yet this Scripture speaks nothing either of them or of their holinesse or of any thing else belonging to them only to settle the conscience of beleeving husbands and wives concerning their lawfull abode and sanctified cohabitation with their unbeleeving companions the foederal holines of their children is brought in for a proof To have said that children was lawful was no more then that their marriage was lawful which was not the question but to say that the children of their lawfull marriage were holy did infer not onely the lawfulnesse of the marriage but the sanctified use of the marriage and that now their cohabitation was without sin and acceptable to God My second argument I take from infants Circumcision The second argument is from the Circumcision of Infants which thus I frame Circumcision was administred to infants under the Law Ergo Baptisme ought to be administred to infants under the Gospel Nothing here is doubtfull but the consequence which thus I prove Baptisme under the Gospel succeeds to Circumcision under the Law Ergo if Circumcision was ministred to infants under the Law Baptisme ought to be ministred to infants under the Gospel Both the consequence and the antecedent of this argument are denyed When for the proof of the consequence we bring in the common rule of reasoning from analogy and proportion It is safe to resume from Scripturall consequences yea proportions these of the adversaries who prove to be so great disputers as to challenge the chief Ministers of the City to publick debates doe deny to us all such rules of disputation and which is much worse avow their mis-regard of what ever consequence we are able to fetch from any Scripture by the rules of the rightest reason leading us directly to that base and brutall fancy of the Jesuite Veron who for a time did please himself to admit from Protestants in all controversies no consequences at all but onely expresse formall and syllabick texts Though the Jesuits themselves did cry down and crush this irrationall inhumane conceit of their colleague yet the Anabaptists among many more exploded and sopited errors shew their boldnesse to renue this also but in this madnes their learned friend M. Tombs deserts