then by the Word and soe reiecting Christ and his Kingdom they breake his bands asunder and cast his cords froÌ„ them In further proofe whereof Psa 2.3 obserue He who is the Word saith to his Disciples Luk. 10.8.9 Into whatsoeuer citie ye enter and they receiue you say vnto them the Kingdom of God is come neere vnto you that is because in theire preaching the Word is come to rule and enlighten them in all things needefull to saluation the Arme that should rule for God is come the Word of which is saide He shall iudge amonge the nations and to whome is saide Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies vers 16. for he saide then to his Apostles He that heareth you heareth me viz. me the Word and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me viz. whos 's Word I am vers 11. and who should rule for him therefore he saith there And if they receiue you not say vnto them the verrie dust of youre citie wee wâ—pe of against you notwithstanding be ye sure of this that the Kingdom of God is come nigh vnto you viz. in the Word there preached though they will not receiue him to rule them but * Psal 107.11 Dan. 9 5. Rom. 10.21 Mat. 21.43 Chap. 23.37 rebell against the Word and conspire to expell him and his Kingdom out of theire citie First then wee see that this beeing the fault of Ierusalem of the cheife Preists and other Iewes who gainsaied his doctrine put him to death and persecuted his seruants Therefore saith he say I vnto you The Kingdom of God shall be takeÌ„ from you and giuen to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof Often would I haue gathered thy children together as c. and ye would not Behold youre howse is left vnto you desolate for I say vnto you you shall not henceforth see me viz. me the Word till ye say blessed is he that commeth in the Name of the Lord. viz. with the Word and Truth reuealed And secondly hereby also wee may see the greate wickednes of the Pope and Church of Rome Vers 13. who also shut vp the Kingdom of God against men like the Scribes and Pharises Luk. 11.52 neither entring in themselues nor suffering others that would for they also take away the key of knowledge they will not suffer the Word manifested in Scriptures in diuers points of faith and saluation to be preached amonge theÌ„ nor read in a knowne tounge but fight against the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles persecute the professors thereof giue theire traditions * Concil Tri. Sess 4. Mark 7.13 equall authoritie and reuerence with the Word obey them more and indeede make the Word of God of none effect with theire traditions and in all theese things conspire and rebell against the Word and expell him and his Kingdom out of all theire Cities Vilages and Howses Which in some degree is also donne by such carnall and feigned Gospellers as call themselues Protestants and yet are enemies to preaching hearing and writing or what worse is set vp new and contrarie doctrines against the Word of Grace such as those of Pelagius Arminius and others for false doctrines are by Christ called tares Mat. 13.25 and he that soweth them is iudged an enemie of Christ and his Kingdom and if that be true which our Sauiour saith of Neuters and lukewarme Ministers Who doe not seeke the Kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof but their owne gaine ease or honour He that is not with me is against me Mar. 12.30 and he that gathereth not with me scattereth How much more will they be found against the Word who either oppose and scorne preaching or set vp new and contrary doctrines hindring his absolute raigne and the peace of his Kingdom this doe all Hereticks and Seducers who bringe in another word to rule in matters of faith and saluation Theire word eates at the Word and Kingdom of God 2. Tim. 2.17 and so at the roote like a canker or gangrene and therfore they are seditious Preachers in Gods Kingdom moueing people to fall from Gods word obedience to theires and what in them is â— Thef 2.16 Forbidding men to speake to people some things of the Gospell that they might be saued to fill vp theire sinnes alway for the wrath is come vpon them to the vttermost This Kingdom Christ had in some Christ had and hath this Kingdom as in the Apostles many other Disciples beleeuers who by the Word were regenerated gouerned in all matters of faith and saluation and to such he the Word Mat. 19 2â— saith Ye which haue followed me in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sit in the throne of his glory ye shall also sit c. and inherit euerlasting life Chap. 24.14 This Gospell of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witnesse to all Nations Walke worthy of God 1. Thes 2.12 who hath called you to his Kingdom and glorie Who hath deliuered vs froÌ„ the power of darknes Col. 2.13 hath translated vs into the Kingdom of his deere SoÌ„ne This Kingdom he coÌ„mended to his Apostles Ministers saying Seeke ye the KingdoÌ„ of God the righteousnes thereof All power is giuen to me in Heauen in Earth Goe ye therfore teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you and loe I viz. the Word am with you allwayes euen vnto the end of the World As if he saide because all power is giuen to me therefore ye may goe into all Kingdoms of the world and teach the Gospel noe man noe King ought to forbid you because if they doe not subiect to him it is saide Psal 2. He shall bruise them with a rod of yron and againe Be wise now therefore ô ye Kings Kisse the Sonne lest he be angrie c. And when after his resurrection they asked of him Act. 1.6.7 saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore againe the Kingdom to Israel He saide vnto them it is not for you to know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power But ye shall receiue power after that the Holy Ghost is come vpoÌ„ you and ye shall be witnesses vnto me both in Ierusalem and in all Iudea and in Samaria and vnto the vttermost part of the Earth Act. 26.17 I now send thee to the Gentiles to open theire eies to turne them Dan. 7.27 c. Wherein that of Daniel was fulfilled The greatnes of the KingdoÌ„ vnder the whole heaueÌ„ shall be giueÌ„ to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an euerlasting Kingdom and all dominions shall serue obey him For theese brought whole NatioÌ„s to
That to this ende the weapons of * Ideo fortes esse dicuntur quia Praelati Sancti Ecclesiae perfecti sunt in obseruatione mandaroruÌ„ Domini omnes tenentes gladios id est spirituale verbum quia predicando vitia Subditorum debent reprimere Bernard de obedien Serm. 19. theire warfare are mightie to cast downe the stronge holds and high things of Hereticks which exalt themselues against the knowledge of Christ. Indeede if Princes will not suffer theese of the Clergie or others to cast downe theese Holds of Hereticks with the sword of the spirit but like the Arrian Emperours and others will kicke against the pricks and with Saul breath out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord such as are subiects of this Kingdom or labour to bringe others to the true knowledge and obedience of the Word if they will aduenture to prouoke God by such persecutions to the danger of theire owne Kingdoms who shall hinder them theire subiects may speake in Gods cause but if that will not serue they must suffer not resist by the sword not run into rebellion Yet ought they to confesse Christs name who is the Word before Kings and Rulers and euen to fight against the mightiest of them with the sword of the spirit Reu. 17.14 chap. 19.21 Because so the Lambe ouercomes them who is the King of Kings Wee all ought to beare witnesse vnto the Truth though it cost vs our liues Bishops and Ministers more espetially who are * Isa 62.6 and Heb. 13.17 Mat. 28.18.19.20 watchman set which should neuer hold there peace not keepe silence as they that must giue account For he is the Lord of Lords who saith All power is giuen to him in Heauen and in Earth and who therefore bids his Disciples goe into all the world and reach all Nations to obserue all things that he commaunded them who after his Ascention carried themselues accordingly For when the Rulers examined them Act. 4.11.12 they contended stoutly to proue Christ a stone of them reiected ver 18.19 to be the Head of the corner And after when they and the high Preists called them and commaunded them not to speake at all nor teach in his Name they answered Whether it be right in the sight of God to bearken vnto you more then vnto God iudge ye for wee can not but speake the things which wee haue seene and beard Act. 5.28 And after when for teaching in the Temple they were questioned by the High Preist saying Did wee not straightly commaund you that you should not teach in his Name And behold ye haue filled Ierusalem with youre doctrine Peter and the other Apostles answered and saide wee ought to obey God rather then men The God of our Fathers raised vp Iesus Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince viz. to rule in all matters of faith and salnation Behold now againe againe they contest and fight with the sword of the Spirit for him his Kingdom against his greatest opposers and were therein examples to all ministers and Seruants of Christ to the worlds ende This did the man borne blinde before Christs death that by good proofes Steuen Act. 7. chap. 18.26.28 Apollos and many others did as much after his resurrection against opposers and Hereticks The Apostles Paul Peter Iohn Iude wrote and contended against Hereticks and peruerters of the Scriptures and commaunded others to doe soe but more espetially Bishops to hold fast the faithfull Word taught them Tit. 1.7.9.10 chap. 3.10 to looke to deceiuers whose mouthes must be stopped who subuert whole howses teaching things which they ought not for filthie lucres sake Act. 20. to reiect Hereticks as beeing Wolues Theeues and Speakers of peruerse things Iudge yet whe ther many such haue not crept in who came not with the Spirit of Truth but with the Spirit of errour as the Appealer Cosens and others who entred not by the Word that is by Christ the doore of the sheepe but rather by errour and the Father thereof who abode not in the Truth and whether Bishops that would be counted Christs Watchmen and Seruants haue not slept while enemies haue sowed tares The Remonstrance of the Parliament in summerlast manifested that many Arminians and Popish teachers haue risen in theese our dayes with theire cousening tenets and deuotions and yet haue not the Bishops theire superiours and ouerseers that should watch ouer mens soules Heb. 13.17 as they that must giue account reproued and conuinced nor suffered others to publish bookes to confute them but rather preferred the Seducers and hindred the preferment of theire opposers so far hath hopes of preferment from some courtiers and other gifts blinded theese men as of old it did some Pharises and after them the Bishops and Clarks of Italie to iustify the wicked or theire doctrines and practises for a reward Indeede the Archbishop of Canterburie shewed his dislike of theese Seducers and theire bookes Bishop Carlton writ against the Appealer and proued him a dangerous peruerter of the Scriptures and of the Articles and it may be there are two or three Bishops more that haue shewed some litle distastof theire tenets and practises but by meanes of the late Duke and other Courtiers the greater number haue gonne the cleane contrarie way Doctor White that for the Dukes fauour approued the Appealers booke was in recompence of that * 1. Tim. 1.19 Shipwracke he sustained elected Bishop of Carlile made Amner and since translated to Norwich Other freinds of theese Pelagian and Popish teachers tenets haue also had theire reward Mr. Cosens his Maister Doctor Neale was remoued to Winchester Doc. Laude to London Doctor Feild to S. Dauids Doctor Buckridge to Elie Doctor Mountaine to Yorke after his death Doctor Harsnet was translated to Yorke Doctor Howson to Durham Doctor Maw Chosen Bish of Bath and Wels Doctor Corbet B. of Oxford and Doctour Curle late Prolocutor in the conuocation howse for his fauourable carriage in that place towards theese new Maisters was promoted to the See of Rochester Doctor Lindsey and others haue acheiued Denaries or other preferments On the other side theese and some others soe wrought that the Archbishop of Cant was put besides the execution of his place and the Appealer himselfe was set vp in his verrie seate that writ against him and that presently after that the Parliament that coâ—â—â—â—â—ned of him and them was prorogued which Schollars in thâ—â—â— iuersities and other parts perceiuing according to the deuiâ—◠〈◊〉 the pioiectors bent theire studdies toward the mount or raâ—◠〈◊〉 molehill of preferment When the Parliament approched theâ— laboured to haue it put off or if not that the howse might noâ—â—â—estion such men nor others preach dispute or write against theire tenets and peruerting faculties but that themselues might be the only Iudges in theire owne cause yet for feare of the worst they at last
man will I hope be so rash as to conceite that your Maiestie a Christian King should not ouercome a Pagan Prince in that much honoured vertue much lesse so far to forget the duty of a subiect as to infer from this example that we vnder the Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ haue liued to a time vvhen it should be accounted a crime in any Christian to confesse and defend the faith of Christ crucified IdeÌ„ in orat ad Câ—rol 5. inter Epist Youre Maiestie by youre Roiall title is Defender of the faith and consequently of all those youre Maiesties subiects that professe and maintaine the same Then saith Gueuara is the Prince naturall of the Kingdom when he doth obserue and defend the Gospell of Christ I confesse right high and mightie Monarch youre Maiesties affaires are many important that amonge many things offered to youre Princely coÌ„sideration some may be of greater consequence in the conceite of the preferrers then in true substance and may perhaps be therefore answered with parturiunt montes nascetur rediculus mus or with that Non vacat exiguis rebus adesse Ioui But this Confession amonge other things manifesteth that the successe and safety of temporall Kingdoms depende on the due receiuing and maintenance of Christs and extirpation of all the open secret enemies thereof Knowing then that in this Island Christ hath had a Kingdom theese seauenty yeares or vpwards that there is noe true Christian nor good subiect but would be loth to see it eaten out by Iesuiticall or Pelagian practises what honourable or loial Seruant is there in youreâ— Maiesties Court that if a man Ieh 9.1.30 as weake as he that was blinde from his birth should by Gods assistance pleade Christs cause to the Rulers with good proofes would not take that of our Sauiour into consideration chap. 12.48 He that reiecteth me and receiueth not my words bath one that iudgeth him the Word that I haue spoken the same shall iudge him in the last day The first part vvhich conuinceth the Iewes may seeme at first sight to make nothing for or against any here nor much to coÌ„cerne Christs cause in this Island but as it like a greate wheele moueth all the lesser and like a Roote yealdeth sap and life to all the branches the worke it selfe is but litle and that subiect fills not a fifth part of it vouchsafe therefore greate Kinge youre Roiall and Princely patience and youre Maiestie shall soone see how reuiued heresies doe eate at the roote both of Church and State and that vvith noe ordinarie danger Yet doe I not strike at the Arminians but through the sides of the Pelagians nor soe much at theire tenets as at theire practises nor at them but as they are against the Kingdom of God the honour of youre Maiestie the peace safety and strength of youre Kingdoms Neither is that donne by me but by Christs owne Confession and Complaint and such consequences as necessarily follow froÌ„ the same the examples out of holy writ and other Histories here gathered beeing only Instances of the neuerfailing truth of that which Christ in his Confession denied or affirmed Now therefore the greate God of heauen and earth in whose hands are the hearts of Kings giue youre Maiestie to see embrace and establish the things that belonge to the peace of youre Kingdoms Luk 19 42. and now perplexed subiects which is the thinge herein desired and daily begd of God in continuall prayers by youre Maiesties most humble subiect and Vassall To the Christian Reader CHRISTIAN and Truth-louing Reader I offer here to thy most retired and serious considerations the Confession and Complaint of Christ Iesus our Sauiour with such vndeniable consequences as necessarily follow from the same that so thou maiest obserue from his mouth who is the best Pilote what course to steere in this troublesom and tempestious age to bringe that pretious Iewell Vessell of thine thy yet floting Soule vnto the Hauen of true happines that it may not be surprised by Seducers suffer shipwrack against the Rocks or late sunke Vessels of errour nor runne a ground in the shallowes of ignorance Ephes 4.14 That wee henceforth be noe more children tossed to and fro and carried aboute with euery winde of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in waite to deceiue But following the Truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ A worke that might haue beene vndertaken by one more experienced in such sacred mysteries and better qualified for them then I am Yet if a man that is but an ordinarie Passenger in a ship shall espie it to be neere a Rocke a Ship sunke or some other Sea marke set vp to discouer a danger who will blame him if while others that should watch are sleeping or otherwise buisied he giue notice thereof to them that are with him embarked in the same Ship or in any other within hearing that the dangers may be auoided Such as beare good will to Sion pray for truly seeke the peace of our Ierusalem will soone perceiue that my indeauours herein are only exercised in seeking the Kingdom of God the honour and safety of our Soueraigne Lord the Kinge the peace and happines of his Maiesties Kingdoms and of Gods Church in them together with the conuiction and amendment of such as haue donne euill offices to any of theese 2. Tim. 2.25 If God peraduenture will giue them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth and that they may recouer themselues out of the snare of the Deuill who are taken captiue by him at his will But on the other side if any that haue exchanged theire best iudgments for such honours and other gifts of the World as blinde the eyes of the wise or for the hopes of them If any who are Iesuited or poisened with Romish or Pelagian errours finding themselues touched with theese lines shall make a worse construction of them to cleare themselues or theire adherents then can with good Conscience be giuen and framing a minde to me out of theire owne shall therevpon begin to inueigh against this litle tratise or the composer thereof the Booke it selfe will I hope say enough to stop such mens mouthes and if that doe not I know a longe Epistle can not doe it I will therefore leaue all further Apollogies and appealing from them to God to whome all hearts lie open implore his almightie protection In the meane time hopeing such things of thee as accompany saluation and beseeching thee to excuse and correct with thy pen such faults as not without wronge donne to me haue escaped the Printer in the printing I rest Thine in Christ Iesus I. P. CHRISTS CONFESSION AND COMPLAINT Ioh. 18.36.37 Iesus answered My Kingdom is not of this world If my Kingdom were of this worâ—d then would my Servants fight that I should not
people saying this is the blood of the Testament which God hath enioyned vnto you That was a type of this Testament sealed and dedicated to all mākinde in Christs blood which sprinckleth both the Testament as a witnesse and seale of it and the people as redeemed and sealed vnto therefore this blood of the euerlasting couenant is called a witnessing Heb. 12.24 a speaking blood The blood of sprinckling which speaketh better things then the blood of Abel It witnesseth the Truth of all things declared in the new Testament and so speaketh reconcilliation grace peace life to the consciences of all them that receiue the same Testament and the loue of the Truth therein manifested in all things necessary to saluation See that ye refuse not him that speaketh vers 25. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not wee if wee turne away from him that speaketh from Heauen viz. by this blood and the representatiue signes thereof in his Sacraments therefore Saint Iohn saith 1. Ioh. 5.8 There are three that beare witnesse in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and theese three agree in one They all witnesse and seale the same thinge they agree in witnesse of one Truth one Testament Ioh. 14.26 chap. 16.13 The Spirit that is the holy Ghost that brought all things to the mindes of the Apostles that Christ had told them and that witnesseth the same Word and noe other vnto vs for he guided them into all Truth he was not to speake of himselfe but to take of Christs and shew vnto them nothing but that which Christ had * Ioh. 15.15 made knowne vnto them saue only that he should shew them things to come viz. touching the comming of the man of sinne his lying wonders him that letted Seducing Spirits that should forbid marriage and some meates the seauen seales the 7. Triumpets the 7. Vials the Dragon with tenne hornes the Beast his marke them that receiue it Babylons Ruin and the like Whereof our Lord speaketh when he saith I haue yet many things to say vnto you Ioh. 16.12 but ye can not beare them now theese can not be as the greate whore and her members most impudently affirme the traditions of the Church of Rome as inuocation of saints single life of Preists distinction of meates theire obserued fasts and feasts the Popes succession in Peters chaire as head of the Church priuate masses drawing Soules out of purgatorie c. For this is a bold diuination for thire owne proffit any other Hereticks may say as much for theire herefies if that would serue and to disproue them all our Sauiour speaking of things absolutely necessary to saluation saith All things that I haue heard of my Father haue I made knowne vnto you Ioh. 15.15 theese the Spirit brought to theire mindes and in theire writings * Act. 20.27 1. Ioh. 1.3 chap. 2.27 Charac of a Christian p. 86.96.106.110 they manifested them to vs and to theese the Spirit beareth witnesse on earth And the water viz. in Baptisme it is a seale of that Couenant and Truth it exhibiteth and witnesseth the same things vissiblie and to the Soule in a sealing signe that the Testament doth And the blood this did Christs bloods shed on the Crosse and this doth the cup in the Sacrament for therefore Christ giueth to the signe the name and sealing virtue of the thinge signified saying This is my blood of the new Testament viz. that witnesseth and confirmeth the truth of it and of all that it offereth and teacheth to youre Soules This cup is the new Testament in my blood the Testament witnessed sealed confirmed and dedicated to you in my blood as the first Testament was in the blood of Calues of Goates c. and therefore Saint Iohn there addeth If wee receiue the witnesse of men 1. Ioh. 5.9 the witnesse of God is greater for this is the witnesse of God which he testifieth of his Sonne that is which he testifieth of the Word of the Truth which is his Sonne and which God witnessed and sealed vnto vs not only by voices from Heauen and myracles but also by the blood of his Sonne and now by his Spirit by the water of Baptisme and by the cup in the Lords Supper therefore it is saide Him hath God the Father sealed Ioh. 6.27 and therefore John Baptist saith of Christ Ioh. 3.33 He that receiued his testimonie hath set to his seale that God is true that is true in his Word and true in the sealing that he giues to it he iustifieth him in his sayings Rom. 3.4 He that beleeueth him not in euery thinge he hath saide but reiecteth the Testament the Truth in any point of faith and saluation he beleeueth not God but hath made him a liar vers 10. because he beleeueth not the record that God gaue of his Sonne He beleeueth not the witnesse of the Spirit of the water of the cup not the witnes which Christ bare vnto the Truth in his blood he refuseth him that speaketh by theese yea he reiecteth Christ the faithfull and true witnesse and the Seale or marke of God Reu. 1.5 euen the testimonie of Iesus * chap. 19.10 see Character of a Christian pag. 228. receiued by all them that are in a right and saueing manner of the true Church Wherein there is noe other Word receiued in matters of faith and saluation but Gods Testament Noe vaine brags of the spirit but by the Scriptures the * 1. Ioh. 4.1.6 Act. 17.11 1. Thes 5.21 Isa 8.20 Spirits are tried To the Law and to the testimonie if they speake not according to this word it is because there is noe light in them And consequently noe spirit of prophesie in them If a man be well skilled or mightie in the proofes power of the new Testament as Apollos was saide to be mightie in the Scriptures Act. 18.24 then he hath the spirit of prophesie otherwise not for that true member of the true church endued with such excellent knowledge that Iohn would haue worshipped him Reu. 12.9 chap. 19.10 saith I am of thy Brethren the Prophets of them that keepe the sayings of this booke Which expoundeth that I am of thy Brethren that haue the testimonie of Jesus he had nothing else but his Testament he came out from the Arke of his Testament out of that Temple wherein was noe other Word he was powerfull in that nor would he allow any doctrine which was not agreeable thereto to be of the Spirit therefore he saith for the testimonie of Iesus is the Spirit of prophesie noe other If therefore men bringe not that testimonie they vainly talke of the Spirit of prophesie as Papists for theire traditions Anabaptists for theire dreames and others for theire Heresies wherein they reiect the testimonie of Iesus doe despite to the Spirit of grace Wherefore the Apostle saith Heb.