oppressor that they may know their obedient and loving subjects from proud traiterous rebels for * Virgil Regûm est parcere subject is and debellare superbos it is the property of Kings to spare their subjects but to suppresse the proud and rebellious And as they are the ministers of God so their office power is the ordinance of God he hath appointed that there shal be Rom. 13 1. 2. governors rulers over the people in his power it is to set up and pull downe whom he pleaseth From whence it may he reasoned thus whatsoever function or administration is ordained and appointed of God whither it be for the good of the body or soul of man or both whosoever shal be lawfully called to the executing of any such charge are to be prayed for and thankes to be given to God for their good or the good which we receave by them But Kings and those that are put into lawfull place are so ordained and appointed of God therfore to be prayed for c in obedience to Gods ordinance and that it may be sanctifyed unto us Thirdly the burthen of all the civile state lyeth principally on their shoulders and their miscarriage tendeth to the damage and hurt of the whole body politick and so unto Christians as they are members of the Comon wealth as well as others as we may see by daylie experience On the other hand the safety preservation and good carriage of the King reacheth unto the whole common wealth What can be then lesse done for them than to commend them and their governement to God in our prayers saying * Ps 72 1. Give the King thy judgment ô Lord and thy righteousnes to the Kings son Fourthly they are appointed of God amongst other things for the maintaynance of his church and truth against the persecuting hands of malitious bloody enemyes therfore necessary it is yea the duty of every member of the Church to pray for them that the Lord would make them v Isa 49 23. nurssing fathers to his Israel For the x Pro. 21 1. hearts of Kings are in the handes of the Lord and as the rivers of water he turneth them whither soever it pleaseth him Fiftly how ever it come to passe whither they be friends or enemyes good or bad for us or against us yet in praying for them we please God and our prayers returne into our owne bosomes as hath bin before noted Which may serve for the just condemnation Vse of those that in stead of praying for Kinges princes and magistrates doe curse them that is speake evill of them Neither doe they beare that honour and reverence in their hearts to them which is meet Exod. 22 28. Eccl. 10 20. 2 Pet. 2 10. 11. Jude vers 8. And the equality and truth of this point may be a ground of exhortation to all that feare God to manifest their honour love and fidelity to their prince by praying for him What though he be not so wise and prudent in governing as he ought yet let not that put thee off from performance of thy duty which God hath required of thee He shall answere for his administration and thou for thy subjection and fidelity His negligence shall not excuse thee for thine What though he be an enemy to the truth and seeketh to destroy thy body and goods becaus thou canst not with good conscience obey his humane lawes which thou findest to be contrarie to God's law yet cease not to pray for him yea know that in such case thou hast greater reason to pray for him that God would turne his heart And what knowest thou but thy fervent prayers may prevaile so farr with God as to move him to inclyne his heart to shew favour to his people and to suffer the truth to flourish or at least to favour thee in thy particuler We have the comfortable experience here in this land of God's power in this kind witnes our feedome of the gospell which we here enjoy farre otherwise than ever any of our fathers could obtaine in our native Countrie the more is the pity the Lord lay it not to their charge and can not the same God worke the same in the hearts of other princes and magistrates doubtles his hand is not shorter in one place than another but for ought thou knowest it is becaus thou art slack and negligent in calling upon God to powre his Spirit upon thy prince and to give the Senators wisdome and inclyne their hearts to shew pitie to his heritage Besides is the King or the magistrate an enemy to thee take heed how therfore thou seekest to y Rom. 12 19. avenge thy self of him by withholding thy prayers from him for this is displeasing to him who hath commanded thee to z Math. 5 44. love thyne enemyes blesse them that curse thee doe good to them that hate thee and pray for them which despite fully use thee and persecute thee If ever the Christian people of the English nation stood in need to be stirred up or awakened in this kind now is the time for me thinkes I heare divers complaine of the distance and discord which is between the Kings majestie and the honourable Court of parliament and the unreasonablenes of the malignants whom the King seemeth to countenance and I heare divers and that religious people too bemoaning the parliament and blaming the King yea preparation is made of weapons of warre and that by religious people the forwardest and most godlie labour to shew their zeal in helping the parliament with men and mony and I heare also of fasting and prayer for the good of the land and preservation of the parliament but I heare few or none of the better sort utter good desires concerning the King though I can not but think that they intend the King with his parliament as necessary adjuncts and all becaus they take him now to be misled carryed out of the way by wicked counsell Is it so that the King seemeth to be led aside from the way of Justice and it maie be unwittingly to his majesty runing upon the rocks of perill and poverty and hazarding the whole kingdome thereby what great cause is there then for the faithfull to lift up strong cryes unto God to confound and turne to foolishnes the counsels of the a 2 Sam. 15 31. Achitophels and to remove the wicked from the throne of the b Pro. 25 5. King and so over rule and perswade the heart of the King that as a father he may tender the lives estates of his children his subjects and as a prince of God may so administer the affaires of the kingdome that peace and truth may kisse each other that such as professe to feare that great name of God may under him lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie which is the fourth particular considerable in this exhortation and the
Zealous Beleevers are The best Subjects to CAESAR Or An exhortation to all good Christians to pray for their princes there being nothing wherein they can better shew their allegiance Published Invindication of the Saints against the false imputations of such as count it rebellion to be religious by I. F. Imprinted in the yeare 1643. Psal 120 2. 5. 6. 7. DEliver my soul ô Lord from lying lips and from a deceiptfull tongue VVo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Redar My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace I am for peace but when I speake they are for warre Revel 3 8. 9. 10. 11. I Know they works behold I have set before thee an open doore and no man can shut it for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word and hast not denyed my name Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan which say they are Iews and are not but doe lye behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee Becaus thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the houre of tentation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the Earth Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crowne To the right worshipful John Browne Esquire Lord of the mannor of Frampton in the county of Dorset and one of his Majesty's Iustices of peace for the same county grace and peace from him that is that was and that is to come SIR I could have published this small treatise without any particuler dedication but that the remembrance of the manyfold favours which I have from my childhood untill now receaved from your worp and your worthy family obligeth me to make some publike acknowledgment thereof least I should be unthankfull desireing therein to imitate the example of the blessed a 2 Tim. 1 16. 17. 18. Apostle towards Onesiphorus whom I am commanded to b 1 Cor. 11 1. follow as he followed Christ Luke dedicated his Euangelicall historie to his noble Theophilus Paul an epistle to his beloved fellow-labourer Philemon and the Disciple whom Jesus loved a letter to Gajus his host and why not I this homely piece which is of publique concernement to you my noble land-lord to wâ—â—â— I owe by the law of our laâ—â— both suite and service Wâ—â—ch seing I am by the calling wherein God hath set me restrained from civile performance of I can not but think my self bound to doe you service in that which I have Sir I have bin the more earnestly provoked hereunto by some information which I have lately receaved of your being a member of that honble house of Commons now assembled in Parliament and intrusted with the care of our County in helping to reform and settle the present enormities and distractions I know that many invective speeches whereof that honourable Court is not ignorant have bin cast out since these troubles began against the way c Acts. 24 14. wherein I worship the God of my fathers believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets which is by manie accounted heresy and doctrine of d Lue. 23 2. rebellion and men are prone by nature to follow the voice of the e Exâ— 23 2. multitude and very easily to be drawen to condemne that which f Iude vers 10. they know not To the end therfore that your worship and that ho ble court with you may not through misse-information call g Isa 5 20. light darknes and condemne the innocent without cause I have bin constrained out of h 2 Cor. 5 14. love to God and for the honour of the truth to cast my mite into the Lord's treasurie and to give you a tast of the fidelity and loyaltie of those that doe truly professe seperation from Babylon spiritually so called to the higher powers Who if they shall neverthelesse be still condemned as evill-doers yet I hope by their patient suffering and i 1 Pet. 3 16. good conversation shall in the end make their enemyes ashamed who falsely accuse them The religious carriage which I have in my youth alwayes noted in your wor p and your whole familie the redressing of the publike profanation of the Lord's day and other profanenesse in the place where you have authority at your first coming to the enioyment of the estate of your deceased father like an other k Nehem. 13 15. 16. 17. c. Nehemiah wherin I hope you persevere maketh me to be confidently perswaded of many good things which the Lord hath wrought in you and that you wil be an instrument in the hand of the Lord to countenance and incourage such as walke in his feare Worthy Sir if this my indeavor may be acceptable to God and you and profitable to anie I have my reward In the meane time though I am absent in the body yet I shall not forget to commend you and your whole family and the proceedings of that honourable Court wherof you are a member if I be not misinformed togither with the present calamities of my native country unto Almightie God in my daylie prayers and be ready to doe you and them any service in the Lord. I. F. Amsterdam in Holland this 4th of the 5 moneth called May 1643. To the well-advised Reader IF ever man might excuse himself of speaking in the cause of God before the princes and people of the earth by saying I am not eloquent but slow of speech of a slow tongue Exod. 4 10. or Ah Lord God! behold I can not speake for I am a child Ierem. 1 6. then may I who am constrayned by the knowledge of myne owne weaknesse to confesse my self of all men most unworthy to open my mouth in the gates For the which cause I have though often moved by the present distractions to speake in way of defence of the gospell of Christ which now undergoeth as great reproach and as unadvised censures as ever restrayned the bewraying of myne owne illiterature and weaknesse to the world still hoping that God would stirre up some more able instrument to have mynded those things whereon I have had some thoughts and to have published that which might have bin suffitient to remove the stumbling block But having hitherto failed of my expectation and the fire still burning within me Psal 39 3. I have now at length adventured to ease my mynd in this homely treatise Wherein Courteous reader thou hast the substance of some doctrines which were long since delivered on a day of publike prayer commanded by the states of the Netherlands for the good successe of those Countries against their enemyes to a CongregatioÌ„ of beleevers who are commonly but corruptly called Brownists some of whome have bin many yeares a goe banished out of their owne native Country for the professioÌ„
they are his ministers they could have no power except it were given them from above and therfore good reason that they should use it principally in the furtherance of godlinesse See Dan. 2 21. 37. Pro. 8 15. Joh. 19 11. Ezek. 29. 19. 20. Rom. 13 1. 2. 3. 4. Jerem. 27 8. Secondly God hath honoured them with giving them his title I have said ye are Gods c. Psal 82 1. 2 Cron. 19 6. therfore it is their shame if they should â—ishonour him which they doe if they â—eeke not by all lawfull wayes and meanes â—he promotion of his worship and service Thirdly this appeareth by the administraâ—ion of Almightie God in all ages since we â—ead of Kinges ruling upon Earth both â—n the land of Judah and also in Israel and others Countries in that he hath preâ—erved those that have feared him and â—romoted godlinesse though but in a â—mall measure whereas he hath destroyed â—nd cut off their name and memoriall that have rebelled against him and bin abetâ—ors of Idolatry and false worship though â—t have bin but in the forme and manner of his service which amongst men is accompted an indifferent thing but it is not so with God who will have his will to be the only law to rule in mens consciences as he did the Kinges of Israel who maintayned the calves at Dan and Bethel which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had set up And how did he plague Pharaoh and all Aegipt for that they would not * Exod. 5 1. suffer the childeren of Israel to goe and doe service to their God as he had commanded them which example me thinketh were alone enough to make the hearts of all Kings princes and magistrates be they of supreame or inferior authority to tremble and quake who know that historie of God's fearfulâ— judgments upon that king and people and yet are guilty of the same sin foâ— they will not suffer the people of God to f 2 Cor. 6 17. seperate from their Idolatries and to serve the Lord upon the * Rev. 14 1. VVith Zach. 2 7. Mount Sion where he hath commanded to be worshipped by his Saints They will havâ— the Saints of God the holy ones of the most high to pollute themselves witâ— their Aegyptian Idols to hold communion with their Babylonish Synagogue and to approve and justifie them yea to accompanie with them in their unfruitfull works of darknes Idol-service and Image worship or els fire and fagot halter and gibbet sword and persecutioâ— shall follow them yea and such new kinds of torture as never before these evill dayes have bin heard to have biâ— inflicted upon the Saints as if men for conscience towards God were to be notcht cut or mark'd like dogs rogues or open perjured varlets If this be noâ— a great oppression of the poore weakling and a depriving the free borne subject of his liberty nay his liberty of conscience which is more deare than life and making them slaves and vassals to mens wills and malitious practises whither right or wroÌ„g I am ignorant what is whereas man being a reasonable creature and having a spirit of wisdome and understanding given him from the Almightie should be governed by rationall lawes grounded upon the law of God light of nature and when he is found after due conviction to be a rebell then is it time enough to punish him but if a man be able with meeknes and feare any wise to manifest that that which is put upon him is contrary to the word of God and he can not doe this without sining against God and the scripture saith it is better to obey God than man then to compell such a man to doe any thing against the check of his conscience or to punish him for not doeing it or for doeing the good which is contrary thereunto is not ruling but tyranie Oh that now at length the g Psal 2. 10. 11. 12. Kings of the earth would be wise and that the Judges and rulers of the world would by that and such like examples learne to serve the Lord in feare and rejoyce in trembling Oh that they would themselves and their people with them cast off that affinitie which they have made with that Arch-enemy of Christ the man of sin and would kisse the son least he be angry and they perish in the way when his wrath shall suddainly burne and none shall quench it for it is the will of God that h Iob. 5 23. all men should honour the son as they honor the father he that honoureth not the son honoureth not the father which hath sent him But is it so that they will not honour the son by submitting themselves their crownes and scepters at i his feet to serve him Rev 21 24. and his church by being nursing fathers unto his people Isa 49 23. and 60 10. if they will not k Ier. 22. 3. execute Iudgment and righteousnes and deliver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor and vexe not the stranger the fatherlesse or the widowe but will doe violence and shed innocent blood will they not set before them the law of the Lord God of heaven l Deut. 17 vers 18. 19. 20. read therein and learne thereby to feare the Lord God whose name is Iehovah and keep all the wordes of his law to doe them but will have their hearts lift up above their bretheren and will oppresse them and make them submit to their humane lawes and ordinances which they have themselves sucked out of the poysoned cup of fornications in the hand of that great whore that rideth upon that scarlet beast whose name is a a Mysterie great Babilon the mother of whoredomes and abominations of the earth and will m Rev. 17 13. 14. have one mynd and give their power and authority to the beast and all to fight against the lambe and those that are with him who are called and chosen and faithfull Then let them know that if they turne not sudainly he that is n Rev. 19 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. faithfull and true who judgeth and warreth righteously whose eies are a flame of fire and on whose head are many crownes whose name is THE WORD OF GOD who hath a companie of warriers following him upon white horses clothed with fine lynnen white and pure out of whose mouth goeth a two-edged sword wherewith he smiteth the nations who is the king of kings and Lord of Lords and hath all o Mat. 28 18 power given him both in heaven and earth that he I say hath p Psol 7 12. bent his bow and made his arrowes ready to shoot at those wicked persecutors and sudainly will he speake unto them in his wrath vexe them in his sore displeasure Then shall they be slaine with the q Rev. 19 18 21. sword of him that sitteth upon the horse which sword cometh out of his mouth and their flesh shal be given
for meat to the foules of heaven Remember what the Lord did for Israel his people how he avenged the wrong that was offered or done unto them by the princes and nations of the earth how he overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the red sea he smote r Ps 136 15. great Kings and slew famous kings Sihon King of the Amorites and Og the King of Bashan and gave their land for an heritage unto Israel his servant yea he suffered no Å¿ Ps 105 14. 15. man to doe them wrong but reproved Kings for their sakes saying touch not myne anointed nor doe my prophets no harme Who ever hath fought against God and prevailed it is t Acts. 9 5. hard to kick against the pricks now they that molest and persecute the members of Christ fight against and resist v Acts. 9 4. Christ for they that touch them touch the x Zach. 2 8. apple of his eye and pretious in the sight of the Lord is y Ps 116 15. the death of his Saints Therfore let them not thinke to uphold themselves by their present power and dignitie which they doe enjoy as if there were no possibilitie to prevaile against them but let them consider with feare and reverence that he by whom z Pro. 8 15. Kings raigne and princes decree justice who lifteth and a Dan. 4 25. setteth up Kings pulleth them downe againe at his pleasure can turne the hearts of their nobles and people against them and make them be cast out like b Dan. 4 33. Nebucchadnezar to eate grasse with the beasts of the field till they know that the most high ruleth the kingdoms of the earth Yea when they shall say peace peace pleasing themselves in their wickednes and making sure to them selves the bringing to passe of their purposes then c 1 Thes 5 3 shall come upon them sudaine destruction as travaile upon a woman with child and they shall not escape And Honesty This is the honour and safety of a common wealth The shamefull sins of the heathens were the causes wherfore their lands did spew out both them and their princes Therfore it can not but be an espetiall duty of Kinges and all that are in authority by the sword of justice committed to them to cut downe sin and iniquity that it be not suffered much lesse maintained in their dominions For sin and iniquitie abounding is the caus wherfore the Lord doth bring great and terrible judgments upon the nations of the earth A fruitfull land saith the d Psa 107 34. psalmist becometh barraynnes for the iniquity of the people that dwell therein And this doubtlesse is the controversy which the Lord hath at present with the Inhabitants of England becaus there is no e Hos 4 1. 2. 3. truth nor mercie nor knowledge of God in the land but by swearing lying killing stealing committing adultery they break out blood toucheth blood Therfore shall the land mourne every one that dwelleth therein shall languish with the beasts of the field with the fowles of heaven yea the fishes of the sea also shal be taken away Whereas the rooting out of wickednes and vice and the maintaynance of true religion and virtue hath bin is and shall be an espetiall meanes to procure God's blessing both upon King and people as may be seen in the examples of the good Kinges of Judah when they brake downe the Images put away the Sodomites and witches c out of their land 2 Cron. 30 14. and 34 33. and 33 15. and in Jehu the king of Israel who is commended for pulling downe the temple of Baal c. 2 King 10 26. 27. 28. though he abode in the sin of Jeroboam still and for his service herein and destroying the house of Ahab he had the kingdome of Israel confirmed to his sons to the fourth generation We see then how much it concerneth princes to looke to themselves and the people committed to their charge and how they should with Solomon crave of the Almightie f 1 Kin. 3 9. a wise and understanding heart to discerne between good and evill to uphold and maintaine them that doe well but to drive from their courts counsels and countenance all dishonestie and iniquity all oppression and evill doeing that so their thrones may be established with Justice And Vse for our owne parts to whom this is spoken that we may not goe away without some particuler application of this to our selves let us consider what great thinges the Lord hath done for our soules in that he hath placed us in this Country where though we live among a people of another speech yet God hath bin pleased so to inclyne the hearts both of princes and people that we live a peaceable life under and amongst them Let us not then receave such great good from the hands of God without rendering due thankes and praise to him for this good gift which he hath bestowed upon us Consider what misery and affliction our friends and brethren in our native country do suffer at present while we enjoy felicity and quiet Oh that our ingratitude and carelesse walking deprive us not of it Secondly let us know that we are bound to pray for the magistrates and people of the land by whose good will next under God we enjoy this Let therfore their trouble be our trouble and let us pray to God for them as for our selves let their deliverances be our deliverances and let us give thankes to God for whatsoever good is bestowed upon them knowing that in g Ier. 29 7. 3. their peace we have peace And lastly seing we enjoy here a peaceable and quiet life let us walke in all godlines and honestie Have we quietnes freedome oâ— conscience to meet togither to serve God without let let us then take heed how we turne this grace of God into wantonnesse how we abuse this peaceable life we have from them by an unquiet life among our selves Be therfore zealous of everie good worke carefull of sanctifying the Lords day making his sabbath a delight unto us spending it altogither in the service of God publikely and privately and towards men let our conversation be in all temperance sobriety and equity not doeing injury to any h Rom. 12 17. 18. recompencing no man evill for evill but as much as in us is live peaceably with all men Let our i Mat. 5 16. light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorifie our father which is in heaven For the grace of God that k Tit. 2 12. 12. 13. 14. bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem
so to bring the fabrick of natures-order which God hath so wonderfully made and so wisely and orderly disposed to a confused chaos So that Christians to avoyd this absurdity must necessarily mynd themselves every one while he liveth in the world in any governed city Countrie province or common weale to beare or represent a double person or estate 1. A member of the church wherein his dignity and honour spiritually in the sight of God is as great as any other member or officer in the same body and greater than any King or prince of the world that is not a member of the Church of Christ 2. A member of the common wealth a citizen of the city an Inhabitant of the towne or a member of the familie wherein he is either superiour or inferiour If fuperior to rule and governe those committed to his charge according to the will of God v Col. 4 1. doeing to every one that which is just and equall knowing that he hath also a master in heaven If inferior he is to be subject and obedient to all thinges that are agreable to the word of God whither they be things Spirituall or temporall and that not for feare but for conscience sake x Ephâ— 6 6. 7. 8. not as men pleasers but in singlenes of heart as unto Christ knowing that of the Lord they shall receave their reward whither they be bond or free for in so doeing they serve not men properly but the Lord Christ Thus we may see how the estate of a Christian doth not overthrow but rather establish the order of nature and the civile governments of this life But indeed thus much maie be intimated by waie of conclusion that if it could so come to passe which we have no ground to expect that a whole land or citie were both magistrates and people high and low all faithfull and sincere Christians diligently observing the rules of Christ for the redresse of things amisse at anie time there would be so little use of civile power as if it were a needlesse administration But seing God hath in his divine wisdome foreseen that after the fall and transgression of Adam there would be alwayes a mixture of beleevers and Infidels in the world and that the wicked should be as pricks and thornes in the eyes and sides of his Saints to try their faith and patience and hath to the end that the wickednes of men who are ready by nature to break forth into blood oppression and open violence to the destruction of the creature which God hath made and which it standeth him in hand to preserve that so his mercy may be seen both to just and unjust may be restrayned and kept in some order appointed Kinges princes and estates with the good will and approbation of the people to rule and governe that the wronged may have right and the oppressed may be delivered and violent wrong-doers may be terrified by the sword of Justice and it hath bin is and shal be allwayes the portion of the little flock of Christ to have their residence or sojourning in some Common wealth or other let us therfore admire the wonderfull wisdome of God in thus restayning the rage of man and let us be so farre from y 2 Pet. 2 10. despiseing governements or principalities as that for conscience towards God wee doe submit our selves unto all manner ordinances of men for the Lord's sake z 1 Pet. 2 13. c. whither it be to the King as unto the suPreame or unto governors as unto them that are sent of him for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that doe well For so is the will of God that by wâ—ll-doeing we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men as free and not having the libertie for a cloake of malitiousnes but as the servants of God 1 Pet. 2 7. Feare God honour the King Prov. 24 21. My son feare thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change THE END A postscript wherein some thing is spoken not altogither unworthy of consideration in these times HAving taken in hand thus farre to speak unto thee loving reader have patience till I have uttered a few words more and then judge as the Lord shall give thee discerning I have heard and read manie grievous complaints since the sitting of this present Parliament against Brownists and Brownistically affected as the great enemies at this day in common accompt against whom almost all mens mouthes are open both to King and Parliament as if they were the only cockle darnell evill weeds the unprofitable branches which hinder the growth of the good corne and spoile the vine of of the common wealth and as yet I have not seen or heard anie information or discription what they be for men and women that may rightly and truly be so named for countenanceing and favouring of whom the Parliament hath bin much complayned of and yet for ought I know they are at a great stand about the true knowledge of that sect seing by their owne confession all Ansvv to K declar of vict Octo. 3. 1642. well affected persons are called by that name Forasmuch therfore as they have bin only hitherto named but their nature not defyned yea that hath bin a nick-name cast upon those to whom it doth not of right belong I shall with as much brevity as I can mynding the unworthines of the subject set the saddle upon the right horse and that not as an Ad consilium ne acceseris antequam voceris advertiser to the King or Parliament for who am I that I should speake unto Pharaoh Exod. 3 11. but as a well willer to the common people and one that desireth to doe my countrie good or at least to labour the discharge of myne owne conscience and therein I hope I shall approve my selfe loyall and faithfull both to the one and the other It is we know a receaved custome in the world to call the men of one sect religion or faction after the name of those that have bin chief broachers maintayners or faithfullest witnesses thereof and not of such as returne againe from their receaved practise to their former course as the Nicholaitanes are called of Nicholas who was their false Apostle Lutheranes are so called of Luther who was a faithfull witnesse of the light which was revealed to him Calvinists of Calvin who was an able and worthy instrument of spreading the light which he saw and so Arminians of Arminius which was a cunning deceaver stood stoutly to professe teach and publish the false doctrines unto which he fell away c or els they are called after the false doctrines which they teach as Anabaptists becaus they deny baptising of infants and men of age though they have once receaved true outward baptisme yet coming to them must be againe baptised papists because they hold the doctrine of the pope and church