bidden For seeing that al things concerning both body soul are contained within this short compasse of these sixe petitions I conclude that all our prayers must of necessitie if we wil follow Christs direction be made both pythic and short And how soeuer I am not able to reason the case with a Scholler because I am no Scholler my selfe yet the Spirit of God telleth me against the greatest schollers in the world that hee is out of Christs schoole whosoeuer hee bee that doth reason to the contrarie of which sort how soeuer they may seeme to please themselues it is a sufficient argument that such neither loue Christ nor his prayer And to make my resolution good I am readie to approue it by such two sufficient witnesses that if thy eyes bee not darkened still thou wilt confesse the same My first proofe is Christ himselfe who draweth a reason from Gods omnipotencie in these words For your Father knoweth whereof ye haue need before ye aske of him Math. 6. 8. My second proofe is Salomon in these words Bee not rash with thy mouth nor let thy heart be hastie to vtter a thing before God for God is in the bea◅ens and thou art on the earth therefore let thy words bee few Eccles. 5. 1. These two examples who for wisedome was neuer any comparable these iumpe both in one reason being drawne from Gods omnipotencie Now the question is whether that thou wilt rest thy self still in thy owne conceit as thou hast done or thou wilt yeeld thy selfe vnto these 2. examples I dare vndertake that for any prayer thou makest before thy Sermons deuide the same into 4. parts and as much and more may be contained in one part as is in all the rest Againe for thy followers likewise al their prayers with their families in priuate all their prayers at their meetings in publike with their thāks before and after meate though these taste very Heathenish yet rather then eyther thou or they will direct your prayers after the Lords Prayer or seeme to taste thereof you are so farre from any loue or liking therunto that your conceited noses beeing so glued vnto that Indian and most stinking weede of your owne imaginations that ye haue vtterly refused to taste of that most sweet flowre which growes in the garden of God If one should aske thee this question why thou doest not knit vp thy prayer before thy Sermons with the Lords Prayer It may truely be answered by the words going before that it is because thou neither louest Christ nor his Prayer ◅nd yet if it chance that thou doe repeate the same as seldome thou doest all that heare thee may very well perceiue that the sweetnesse thereof hath no good rellish in thy owne conceite for running it so fast ouer as though thou wert counting to twenty doth argue that thou neither takest loue or liking thereunto and therefore marke well what I say thou who refusest the counsell of Iesus Christ and wilt not be aduised by his followers resisting the Spirit of grace offered thee shalt one day without a speedy repentance so taste and drinke of that poysoned cup of thy owne conceit that very deseruedly and most worthy therof thou shalt bee excluded both from Iesus Christ and his members for euermore Now because that the world shall better perceiue how contrarie thy thoughts and conceited imaginations are vnto the true meaning of the Lords Prayer I will according to that little measure of knowledge explaine the same in as briefe a manner as I can And first what is meant by hallowed be thy Name that is to desire with the inward affection of the heart that God alone may haue all honour and glory vnto himselfe but thou who restest in thy own conceit attributest honour vnto thy selfe herein thou art a thiefe in robbing God of his glory Againe Thy Kingdome come that is to desire with the inward affection of the heart that God would so rule and raigne both in our inward affections and outward actions as that neither Sathan nor our owne corruptions may rule or domineere against vs desiring further that hee would hasten his comming to Iudgement becau◅e his Name is so greatly dishonored Now seeing that thou refusest to desire this in thy hart which God greatly requireth or vsing to passe it ouer sometimes so slightly as thou doest it is no maruell that thou art inchanted by Sathan to follow the vaine imaginations of thy owne heart Therefore thou canst not say say truly Hasten thy Kingdome Againe Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen That is to desire that our wils and affections may bee framed according to Gods will and as the Angels in heauen are alwaies ready in a heauenly obedience to do Gods wil both readily willingly and gladly Euen so should we alwaies be readie in obedience wherevnto God doth command vs imitating the Angels willingly gladly readily Now how far off thou art from submitting thy wil and affection vnto Gods will doth appeare in thy disobedience against Principalities and Powers And againe how sarre thou art off from the example of the blessed Angels appeareth by the fruits both of thy life and doctrine so that thy will and affections are so contrarie vnto Gods will that they are only linked vnto the imagination of thy owne heart Againe Giue vs this day our daily bread that is to desire all things conuenient both for body and soule Heerein thou hast made thy selfe vnworthy to partake of the least of Gods benefits yet although the wicked flourish for a time and that the dearest of Gods children many times doe want these outward blessings yet it pleaseth God so to enrich them with his inward graces that outward wāts neuer trouble their mindes at all Now thou who art so disobedient both vnto God and man being but an intruder in thy calling hast tyed thy selfe in a double bond as vnworthy to partake of these outward blessings and resting thy selfe in thine own imaginations thou hast depriued thy self of the inward graces And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Whereas wee desire here to haue our offences forgiuen vs with a condition who knoweth not that all those who are accompanied with a patient Spirit of adoption that they are so farre off from the least shaddow of reuenge that they are alwaies readie and willing to forgiue their vtter enemies But how contrarie minded thou art herein I might appeale vnto thy owne conscience if thou haddest any but seeing thou hast none the world may iudge what spirit thou art of as appeareth before concerning a Letter written vnto one of the chiefe of thy sect For which how greatly I was troubled and likewise what it cost my purse I omit to set downe because I expect no better requitall at any of your hands vntill such time as the wisest in your own conceit can prooue that grapes may growe vpon thornes and figgs
THE ENGLISH PHARISE OR RELIGIOVS APE Being the weekes worke of a poore vnlearned professor of the Gospell of CHRIST zealously and truely checking the counterfeit professor but open persecutor of Christs true doctrine and discipline 2. TIM 2. 7. Consider what I say and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things By Iohn Walker dwelling at Leeds in York shire Printed Anno Dom. 1616. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND THAT MOST Worthy Gouernor William Greenebâ—…ry Lord Maior of the Citie of Yorke RIGHT HO AMONGST many worthie and true Professors of the Gospel I haue presumed and emboldened my self to dedicate this little book vnto your Hâ—… view and although not worthy your acceptation being not done scholler-like yet for that good wil I beare vnto the truth and for the truthes sake I humbly entreat your Honor to accept thereof and howsoeuer it may seeme distastfull vnto all disobedient and vnsanctified spirits which haue as Saint Iude saith separated themselues yet vnto all faithful Christians which truely fight vnder the banner of Iesus Christ I know that such will not onely accept my good will but likewise louingly and thankfully bee ready to embrace my poore indeuors herein seeing that I haue kept my selfe being guided by the Spirit of God in that sanctified place of Christs Vineyard alone and yet for all this I know that the malice and mischiefe of Sathan is such that from all those haters of their brethren who with hateful Esau haue separated themselues contemned their birth-right I expect no better gratuitie at their hands then deadly hate and reuenge and my reason is this because Grapes cannot grow vpon Thornes nor Figs vpon Thistles If that kingly Prophet DAVID had great cause to complaine of his times how that his enemies were greatly multiplied his sorrowes much increased by how much more hath our most gracious King iust cause to complaine seeing that Sathan now worketh after such a strange and most fearefull manner by his wicked instruments as the like was neuer heard nor seen from the beginning of the world vntill this present time of which times Saint Paul hath truely prophesied should bee most perilous that this is true who is he that liueth in our daies and seeth not that prophesie the which our blessed Sauiour fore-tolde should come to passe euen hard before his comming to Iudgement how that it is now by the children of disobedience most fearefully working amongst ys that is how that the Sunne should be darkned and the Moone should lose her light how that the Starres should fall from Heauen and the powers of heauen should be shaken Againe who is he that doth but look about him and likewise seeth not how that those immediate tribulations the which our blessed Sauior foretold should come to passe euen hard before these fearefull signes are now alreadie finished part of them in our late and gracious Queenes time of famous memorie and likewise the rest of these tribulations being the greatest in his Maiesties time especially since his Highnesse came amongst vs For who is hee that knoweth not how that bloudy Cain that man of sin would not haue left one Abel aliue if that God himself had not stood in the gap for vs Now for these tribulations I doubt not but that the very strengths of them are alreadie past and that this most fearefull plot of Gunpowder Treason what else was the very last shake of the glasse These and such like persecutions and tribulations haue at all times and in all ages displayed themselues against the poore despised Church of CHRIST but of all those engines which Sathan by his instruments hath deuised was neuer the like heard of as that fearfull plot of Gunpowder which they offered to shake vs withall and yet behold most worthy Sir there is such a fearefull shaking by the children of disobedience now amongst vs as for the time neuer was nor I hope neuer shall be untill the day of iudgment we haue but yet spoken of the shaking of our mortall bodies But behold and yee shall see further how that Sathan by his sharpest most hot instruments doth now shake the verie powers of heauen For Iesus Christ who now sitteth in heauen hauing receiued all power from God his Father is so shaken at this present time in his wounded members that except God of his infinite mercy vnto his little Church had appointed and ordained our most gracious King as aspecial meanes to hinder Sathan in his progresse herein I am verily perswaded that hauing preuailed so far alreadie as hee hath done that if hemight but bee suffered to haue his intent further that according to our blessed Sauiours speech no flesh should bee saued and therefore for this cause I most humbly craue vppon my bended knees that as GOD by his mighty power and loue vnspeakeable vnto his church hath so often stood in the gap against the power of Sathan and his most wicked instruments to deliuer his Sacred Maiestie from so many eminent dangers that now at last it would please his Grace in some recompence of so many and vn-vtterable great fauours receiued to stand once more in the gap for him then as we haue had alwaies iust cause our comforts beeing increased and our spirits further emboldned to cry still from the bottom of our harts with heartie teares of repentance vnto the Lord of Hosts that as hee hath so many seuerall times miraculously defended and protected his Maiesty so it would please him still for the great honor of his Name and the great comfort and good of his Church to defend protect him still vnder the shadow of his wings and not onely himselfe but likewise our most gracious Queene with that most blessed and hopefull Progenie that it wold so please him to protect them all in safetie peace that neither the wild Bore of the Forrest nor Esau this most wicked hunter which hunteth cruelly within this English Pale may euer preuaile or take any further rooting herein and here once againe let no man bee offended that seeing this vnnaturall brother hath not only broken that vnion which should bee amongst Christs members and so fallen from Christ himselfe but doth likewise dayly withdraw infinite multitudes by his life doctrin to become deadly haters of their brethren in so much that loue charitie hath lost her sight therefore still vpon my bended knees I most humbly craue that seeing the Lord of heauen and earth is by them so greatly dishonored it would please his sacred Maiestie to stop the passage of these violent Hunts-men which wilfully spoile and destroy the game Then according to our blessed Sauiours speech that last signe of the Sonne of Man immediately before his last comming to Iudgement shall more cleerely appeare amongst the clouds then shall there bee such cause of reioycing as meeting Iesus Christ our Redeemer we shall reioyce with him for euermore Our blessed Sauiour saith Hee that is not with
vpon thistles Againe And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from all euill Here wee desire that God would not suffer Satan and our naturall corruptions to tempt vs aboue our strength and because out greatest strength is too weake to resist wee desire in the second place so to assist vs that by his speciall power he would deliuer vs from all euill Now whereas thou hast refused to pray vnto God in Christ in this most perfect prayer it is no maruaile that God in his iust iudgement hath giuen thee ouer vnto Satan and thy owne corruptions letting thee swimme in that sinfull sea of thy owne imaginations And thus may the world see how contrarie thou art to Iesus Christ and his prayer refusing the God of light betaking thy selfe to an Idol god of darknesse Our blessed Sauiour Christ saith And when thou prayest be not like the Hypocrite for they loue to stand and pray in the Synagogues Matth. 6. 5. and Saint Paul saith praving for the Ephesians I bow my knees vnto the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Eph. 3. 14. Now as thou hast shewed thy selfe a contradicted spirit against both God and good men so now especially lest the world should not take more full notice of thy folly thou hast gotten thy selfe into the verie height of shame and as thy deformed conditions of disobedience haue burst out of thy in ward parts so now at last thou shewest likewise what a deformed creature thou art in thy outward parts for wheÌ„ other are at their praiers vpon their knees thou and thy followers stand vp like May-poles amongst vs as though ye had no knees at all Now how true this is it cannot bee denied for both thy selfe and infinit multitudes of thy followers in all places of this Land doe manifest the same And as this is true in thy publike prayers in the Church where specially it is forbidden so likewise at the receiuing of the Sacrament although Iesus Christ be as truly there by the eie of faith after a spirituall manner as though we did beholde him and touch him as Saint Thomas did yet thou who neither fearest God nor reuerencest man as thou hast shewed thy selfe a deformed fellow from the beginning doest not blush to stand in receiuing this holy Sacrament when others are vpon their knees Now if the Officers of the Church come to reproue these thy followers because they are an offence vnto their brethren then must their vsurping guide say Sirra let them alone and thus are almost al the places of this Land abused with this disobedient Sect and that this is true wofull experience doth manifest the same If I should aske thee this question why thou wilt not pray kneeling thou wilt answer me It is not because thou thinkest it vnlawfull but thy reason is that thou canst pray with as good a deuotion standing as I can doe kneeling I doe not deny but that one may pray standing going riding sitting or lying But whereas our Sauiour Christ coÌ„mands that we should not stand praying in the Synagogues or Churches Why wilt thou hauing conuenient roome not yeelde thy selfe vnto Christs command I did once make answere for thee before and because thou hast no good reason for thy selfe I will second an answere for thee once againe Because thou wouldest make the world beleeue that thou art better then thy neighbours in shew of thy outward actions therefore thou hast separated thy selfe from others and rather then the world should not take notice that thou art singular as Salomon saith of such in thy owne eyes still Prou. 16. 2. Thou now standest streight vp when others are kneeling that all men may now behold that thou art but a plaine Hypocrite Againe for thy behauiour both at thy first sitting down in the Church and likewise at thy appearance in the Pulpit thou art so far froÌ„ submitting thy selfe vnto God that without either priuate prayer or seeming to sing with vs there thou standest looking about thâ—…e as though thou wert come from that Indian Countrie whose praiâ—…rs thou imitatâ—…st Now seeing thou doest but intrude thy self prefuming too boldly into that place of sanctitìe if thou wilt neither pray nor sing with vs couer thy face or come there no more and bewaile these sinfull times wherein we liue as being the principall instrument for Satan thereof and be sure of this one thing that ifthou dost not feele a touch for thy sinnes vpon the sight heereof thou maiest perswade thy selfe that thou art in a most fearefull and lamentable case and be aduised how thou presumest into that holy place any more for assure thy selâ—…e that Christ whom thou hast so grieuously offended in his members will one day and that verie shortly without present repentance require their blood at thy hands and will auenge their cause in that place where all Hypocrites shall haue their portion which burneth with fire and brimstone for euer One thing more I remember which I would not willingly haue omitted how that a reformed Minister submitting himselfe at his approch into the Pulpit as his maner is one of thy chiefest followers being a Ring-leader of this crue most shamefully burst forth into a scornefull laughter This is one of thy brood that being hatcht vnder such a Cockatrice no better fruit can come therof Now seeing that all thy outward actions are but flourisht like painted sepulchres and that from all thy actions both inward and outward nothing doth proceede but enuy and strife pride and vaine-glory hatred and malice and most cruel reuenge why dost thou not begin to tremble quake for feare seeing that the axe is alreadie laid to the roote of the tree and that euery tree which bringeth not soorth good fruite must be hewne downe and cast into the fire Mat. 7. 19 Our blessed Sauiour saith Hee that is not with me is against me Ma. 12. 30 Now who is he that seeth not how that thou opposest thy selfe against Christ and therefore as Saint Iohn saith an Antichrist of whom it is said That there are many gone out into the world whereby wee know that it is the last time I. Iohn 2. 18. Againe who knoweth not that thou art a starre fallen from heauen who by thy accusing iudgements in condemning both the quicke and the dead seeming to pull that peculiar rod foorth of Gods owne hands who therewith hauing condemned the members of Iesus Christ maketh the very powers of heauen to shake Mat. 24. 29 And againe who seeth not that by the fruiâ—…s of thy life doctrine thou hast caused the Sunne to be darkened and the Moone to lose her light the Ministery of the Gospell to be bee eâ—…ill spoken of and loue and charitie to bee smothered And who is hee that doth but looke about and seeth not how that thou with the Pope of Rome are those two speciall false prophets which goe in sheepes clothing but inwardly are rauening wolues Mat. 7. 15. Whose qualities and conditions
Saint Paul hath plainely described in the 2. Epistle of Timothy and 3. Chapter from the first verse vnto the 9. verse of whom our Sauiour Christ hath taught vs that by these fruites we know thee And thus the whole World may plainly see how thou hast separated thy selfe from the body of the Church and therefore hast brought thy selfe into a most fearefull and lamentable case and yet to aduise thee to turne vnto repentance I feare me it is in vaine because Salomon faith There is more hope in a foole then of him that is conceited Pr. 26. 12. And therefore it matters not to tell thee how thou hast offended God in denying obedience vnto supreme power contrary to the Word of God Mat. 22. 21. Rom. 13. 1. 2. Peter 2. 10. Titus 3. 1. Iude 8. vers It matters not to tell thee how thou hast offended God in thy accusing and condemning iudgements Mat. 7. 1. Luk. 6. 37 contrary to the Word of God Ro. 2. 1. Rom. 14 10. 1. Cor. 4. 3. It matters not to tell thee how contrary thou art to Christ in making al thy prayers and likevvise how wilfully thou refusest the Lords prayer Matth. 6. 7. Mat. 6. 9. It matters not to tell thee how contrary thou art to Christs command in receiuing the Sacrament and likewise to pray in the Church standing Mat. 6. 5. Ephes. 3. 14. It matters not to tell thee how that with Esau thou deadly hatest vs Genes 27. 41. And likewise to tell thee how that like Esau thou hast sold thy birth-right for meere vanitie Genes 25. 34 It matters not to tell thee how thou hast separated thy selfe from vs 1. Iohn 2. 19. Iude vers 19. It matters not to tell thee how thou art become a false prophet in iudging the young man in the Gospel Mar. 10. 17 It matters not to tell thee that thou art become a false Christ and a false prophet in opposing thy self both against Christ and his Word Mat. 24. 24. Mark 13. 22. 1. Iohn 2. 18. 1. Peter 2. 1. Iude vers 4. Reuel 22. 19. It matters not to tell thee how contrary thou art to the Word of God in auenging thy self Mat. 5. 39. Luke 6. 29. Ro. 12. 19. 1. Cor. 6. 7. For thou wilt not only denie wherein I haue in euery particular iustly charged thee but thou wilt with Pilate take water and wash thy hands and pleade innocency vnto the whole world and yet this plea will no more preuaile with thee then it did with him For as he pronounced sentence of iudgement against Iesus Christ the head of the Church deliuering him vp vnto the hie Priest to be crucified so hast thou brought his members vnto the barre of Gods iustice hauing pronounced sentence of iudgement already against them it sheweth how willing thou art to offer vs vnto that high Priest the Pope of Rome to murder vs and here may the whole world perceiue Iesus Christ in his members hanging beâ—…wixt two theeues And now at last who is he that liueth in these daies and doth not lament to behold how that Religion euen in those which doe professe Christ is now become nothing else but a plaine cloke or a couer for sinne for is it not too manifest that some one of the chiefest of thy sect meeting a Countriman in his trauell by meere chance took occasion for some by-respect to haue some conference with him but his name being demanded hee did not only peremptorily deny himselfe but likewise altered his name in somuch that some other countrimen being of good note and fashion who know him better then he knowes himselfe being sorrie to heare a man of his coate their Countriman so shamefully to denie himself demaÌ„ded further where he dwelt but his answer being friuolous as before said Euery where where our King hath any land Now if this to deny a mans owne selfe and his country and to alter his name bee not such equiuocation as all of your sect do hold damnable in a Papist I referre my selfe vnto your owne iudgements in your seuerall doctrines Nay I would know what sinne there is which the chiefest of thy sect will not commit if so be that hee can but get so much as one figge tree leafe to couer his shame I will not say how worthily any of thy sect doe deserue that woe the which the Prophet Micah saith they shall haue Who by violence do keep and maintaine the inheritance from the right owners therof I rather wish from the bottom of my heart as a friend that if any such be guiltie in this kinde that not onely present restitution bee made but likewise to get them forth of that place who so vnconscionably remaine therein For assure himselfe whatsoeuer he bee and howsoeuer by quillits and trickes great boastes may be made thereof yet certainely without all doubt at that tribunall seat of Christ such vncertainties shall beare no plea at all for better things then these shall be 〈◊〉 of that hye court of conscience and therefore let mee aduise thee whosoeuer thou art to make thy selfe such friends heere as Iesus Christ may become thy friend elsewhere for according to our blessed Sauiours spâ—…eches With what measure soeuer wee measure heere the like shall bee measured to vs againe Doth any man truly measure a thing but by a line except it bee such which stand in their owne conceit as most of thy Sect doe Saint Paul saith in the person of all Gods children that we 〈◊〉 â—…ot number or compare our selues with such who praise themselues 2. Cor. 10. 12. For saith hee to praise a mans owne selfe the children of God not going without the line of Gods Word reioyce in no such things 2. Cor. 10. 13. Therefore seeing that most of thy Sect are so ready to boast and compare your selues before others it may bee required and very necessarie for thee to shew what Townes or Countries ye haue wonne vnto the Lord. But for thy answere herein it is needlesse For being too apparant that such Trees cannot possibly bring forth any good fruit what can it preuaile thee to haue an Angels tongue and a Deuils heart thou art no better then a post in the crosse-way that rots it selfe to direct others To speake well and doeill is to build vp heauen with the voice and hell with the conuersation and therefore seeing that thy words and thy deeds doe not agree together I may truely compare thee vnto such a Souldier which at the table could make fine talke of warres who when hee came into the field to fight was neither valiant nor expert and therefore seeing that all thy actions both inward and outward being not guided by the line of Gods Word but by thy own conceit no maruell that they proue as Saint Iude saith but spots in your feasts of charitie which being without all feare feede but your selues being clouds without water carried about with windes corrupt trees without fruit twice