stands in as ye would from a quag-myre wherein ye are sinking over head and eares Presbyterian Churches we hope are for the most part of them faithfully administred and therefore cannot admitt of a mixt prophane multitude to the Lords Table Fifthly Be pleased to Consider and aske your selves what ye have been doing all these blessed times all along while the Lord wonderfull in Counsell and excellent in worke hath been doing such glorious things in all the peoples sight that are not blinded with light Certainly the voyce of rejoycing and salvation is still as it hath been in the Tabernacles of the righteous And they are working together with God in His owne strength who doth all to helpe-on the glorious worke of the Lord and carry it on to an expected end so serving glorious providences their God instructing and enabling them so to doe Nor are they discouraged at all but rather the more animated and spirited to their worke in the power of His might seeing the contrary workings which must be looked for in such times of the Devill and Satan together with all his cursed Children He hath great wrath now why so angry because he knoweth his time is but short We crave leave to put it to the Question againe What are ye doing now about the worke we call Reformation to the Midwyfring or bringing it forth into the world doe ye a sweate at this Neh. 3. 20. a Nescit tarda molimina spiritus sanctus Qui non zelat non aâ—aâ— We doe not love reformation if we have not zeale for it Satan endures no mediocrity nor will God you must be wholy and â—â—â—â—ely His or lot at all your ove must be much else He will account it no little â—atred Not to love God and work for Hâ—â— in the same degree heaâ— and height of love as we â—ought is a degree of hatâ—ed oâ— Him worke doe ye build earnestly as they at Jerusalems wall he was fyery hot at his worke flagrante animo as Junius translateth it This worke will not be done else As the Lord God hath a zeale at this worke so have all His servants they worke for God now as the Devill and his servants worke against Him The Devill knowes he hath but a little time he will doe as much worke as possibly he can and he will doe it earnestly and presently he will not delay a Minutes time he sees all will scape out of his hands else see what present work he makes by the Ranters hands and Quakers hands and by the hands of the corrupt Ministry in the Land that filth garbage and common sinke all over the earth see what worke he makes by them in their Churches and Chappell 's And among the rest see what worke he hath made by two at the least and indeed by all the carnall Ministery over the Nation Verily Deare and Honoured Sirs ye must worke as earnestly for the Lord and Christ as the Devill doth now with all his fellow-helpers in this iniquity doe worke against Him Sixthly In the next place be pleased to Consider what ye have been praying for all these times ye love Jerusalem as ye have mourned for her ye seeke for peace and prosperity heartily your peace here and hereafter being involved therein ye are fellow-Commoners with her joynt-adventurers in the same Ship on the same bottome consider againe and againe what ye have been praying for all these tempestâ—ous times when this Ship hath been in so much danger sometimes covered over with waves tossed with Tempests and not comforted What were ye sleeping all that time or were ye praying We will take the boldnes to answer for you here so be ye will make full proofe that ye are the Lords Remembrancers and then you can never hold your peace day nor night ye have enquired after the Accomplishment of those glorious things the Lord hath caused to be prophesied off and His people to pray for grounding themselves upon His promise and His Oath The calling of the Jewes The utter downfall Dr. G returne of prayers Pag. 13. of all Gods Enemies The flourishing of the Gospel The full parity and liberty of Gods Ordinances The particular flourishing and good of the Society and place ye live-in all they whose hearts are right have and doe treasure-up many such prayers as these and sow much of such pretious seed which they must be content to have the Church it may be in after ages to reape We would adde to these Holy and Learned Mans words those we read some leaves after pag. 43. That which was the Spirit of supplication in a man when he prayed Rests upon him as the Spirit of obedience in his course so as that Dependance he hath upon God for the mercie he seekes for is a speciall motive meanes to keepe him fearefull of offending and diligent in Duty to looke to his paths to walke and behave himselfe as becomes a suitour as well as to come and pray as a suitor To apply these momentous and weighty words to our purpose Ye pray for the calling of the Jewes Then must ye pray for the remooving of that which hath letâ—ed hitherto and will let till it be remooved Surely the earth must be shaken first all those Crownes shattered to pieces that will not be laid downe at the feete of Christ The Heavens must be shaken too else we are much mistaken all false Religions in the world how specious soever in mans eye Gods house must be swept too and His floore purged from you should know what because these out-sweepings which must be are your owne doings Then Is your mind intent upon all this as your mind is such your Prayers are as to that matter Ye pray for the downfall of Anti-christ Take heed ye doe not in whole or in part hold that-up you professe to pray downe Ye pray for the flourishing of the Gospel and that your labours therein in speciall may be taking and prevailing with your people that thereby life and immortalitie may be brought to light unto their soules Ye must not now practise crosse to your prayers ye must not obstruct your owne way to the blessing ye seeke for ye must not then give that to Baptisme which the Lord Himselfe gives to the preaching of His Word So much hath been spoken to this before that we will adde little to it now only this Your Leaarned Brother feares not to tell us we owe our Religion to Infant Baptisme Truly we owe it and give unto it as much honour we thinke as he doth or ought to doe being an Ordinance of Christ and to be administred according to due order as He hath prescribed in His word which is we conceive to give due honour to it yet we feare to say we owe our Religion to it no more than we owe our lives to that Master who hath given us to weare his badge or livery we owe him all the service that is due from a Creature to a
feeles the law of that Relation of a Minister so also of a father to His people and they to Him in the Relation of Children even as Paul was he desires and endeavours to be gentle among them as a nurse cherishing her children 1 Thes 2. exhorting comforting charging every one as a father doth his children And how curiously doth he walke before them looking round about him least he should loose his way or misse his end Eph. 5. 15. and should be blamed in that for which he blames others he considers with all his heart turpe est Doctori And remembers all along his walke that his people observe him more in the streete within or without the house than they doe in the pulpitt their eyes are more intent upon his doings than their eares are unto his sayings and thereafter they fashion themselves and their whole course commonly by what they see him doe not to what they heare him say unlesse he speakes to please their Lusts Therefore feeling this Law of his Relation with all his care he is carefull here so as he can say as his patterne before him Yee are witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably We behaved our selves among you that beleeve And they were as carefull to give no offence to them that were without We must adde this That there be no mistake here These that know the law of their Relation behaving themselves thus gently are as sharpe as who are sharpest in reprooveing of sin for it is good to reproove as God reprooves Ye remember who he was that did not frowne upon sinners because they were his sonnes but God frowned upon him and brought sore displeasure upon his family Great sinners must have great reproofes as he saith Job 13. 39◠Some must be saved by feare a sanctified meanes to pull them out of the fire Ye must cast them into the fire that they may escape the fire Pittifull cruelty is better than cruell pitty Some in dealing both with sinfull practises and erroneous opinions of men handle them as men handle thornes as if they durst not touch them this fatneth sin and confirmeth errour May we not adde doe not some deale with Drunkards as sweetly as they should deale with Disciples And with notorious sinners unexcommunicate as if they were Saints It were infinitely better for them if they had been delivered-up to Satan for now they are delivered-up to their owne hearts lusts Lyars evill Beasts Slow-bellies as the most of your Nominall Beleevers are if not all must be rebuked cuttingly that they may be sound in the faith Sores must be cut and lanced before they be healed Thirdly They that know the law of their Relation and feele it upon their hearts doe know they stand before the people as Ambassadors sent unto them from the Prince of the Kings of the earth nay they are in Christs stead therefore as they must speake unto them whereof before so must they deale with them as to all Church-Administrations neither more nor lesse but full-up to their Commission even as Christ Himselfe did doe when He was upon the Earth and hath appointed to be done till His returne from Heaven all that which is comely to be done by all those that stand in His stead and are Stewards in His house whereto so much hath been said that we shall say no more to it in this place Nor shall we speake to this Relation which indeed containes much they stand in Relation of Shepheards to their sheepe they walke-on before them like the Admirall Ship carrying the Light and they looke well to their walke and observe as well who followes them and accordingly they deale with them and who will not follow them but follow after Srangers unto Strangers let them goe for these good Shepheards will make a difference as becometh men instructed to Ezek. 34. 17. Discretion and so are enabled to judge between Cattle and Cattle the Rams and the He-Goates When we have said all and how little is our All in these matters ye may summe-up all in this one Relation of a Minister of Christ he that finds the law of that one Relation written in his soule by the finger of God they humble themselves to walke with their God and treate with their people as a father with his children standing before them in Gods stead they deale with them as becometh faithfull Stewards and good Shepheards In a word They make cleare proofe that they have learnt Christ and can teach him when they shew forth His life in theirs when they walke even as He hath walked when as He was so they are in this world when the same minde judgement affections are in them which were in Christ Jesus their Lord. From all this we would draw these Conclusions and then proceed § 4 This Minister of Christ that feeles the law of his Relation written upon his soule fully knowes Intus in cute as ye say or endeavours his utmost so to know the state of his people as exactly well in desire and endeavour as a father doth the state of his children a Steward the state of the household the Shepheard the state of his flocke It is his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his very worke and buisines to know That we meane the state of his people for Secondly Put the case for teaching sake we may doe it though it be not possible but that a Minister knowing that Relation must know it That he knowes not the state of his people then this must follow he must speake unto them generalls onely for not knowing their states in particular he cannot speak unto them in particular and so deale with them answerably Some of them declare their sin as Sodome they hide it not they trample pearles under their feete turne againe and rent the Dispensers of them accordingly these must be dealt with Some againe and none of the worst have need of Corrosives other some may need Cordials Some have need to be searched and humbled some to be encouraged and comforted their states in particular must be enquired into that the Minister of Christ may doe accordingly We remember the expression that James saith Confesse your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed As if he should say none can be able to pray for you so effectually for your comfort as those That know your sins well and so can confesse them before God A Minister must know the state of his flocke Thirdly That there is no case or condition these people can be supposed to be in but this Minister of Christ upon whose heart the law of his Relation is written is able in the strength of Christ by the supply of the Spirit to give in that which shall fitt the case be an adequate or proportionate helpe ayde succour cure thereunto he shall be able to give-in Reproofe correction instruction counsell comfort
enquire as little after Him who is the way the Truth and the life Who points His people to this way leads them in it and carryes them as in His hand to the end of the way eternall life But this can be no greife to us nor offence of heart That the way is so contemned seeing Christ is so slighted and His Church so vilified It is good to fare as Christ fareth and His Church fareth The Spirit shall have the better cheare if not at present yet anone The way to Heaven is not the wide way of the world which windeth to the Devill but it is a straight way which few walke in for few walke godly in Christ Jesus Holy Bradfords words Object 2. Observe it well and you shall see the poorest and meanest of a parish goe this way and but a sprinkling of them neither here one and there one and yet so confident they seeme to be of their way they would have all walke with them calling them to their foote Ans Indeed they would to speake to that first wish as that all could prophesie so all were as they are excepting their bands scornes and reproaches though these they must meete with if they will be godly But they will never yeild unto any That this is any other but an holy confidence and their zeale for God and love to His people That all were the Lords people They wish that they could speake so gloriously of the Churches of Christ we meane as to the numbers of them as ye speake of your Monstruous Church They are all holy every one of them and borne to Church-priviledges But yet they would account it almost blasphemy to say so to them Indeed they could wish they could see many wise men and learned men and rich men walking along with them and yet though they see it not yet they see no cause of discouragement though The day is come which was prophesied off The glory of Jacob shall be made thin and the fatnesse of Isa 17. 4. his flesh shall be made leane we take it we may allude to that Scripture Relating there to a temporall desolation which followed for indeed the wayes of Sion lye desolate and in comparison forsaken The wayfaring men cease therein and those few that walke therein are counted the veriest fooles in the world but by the fooles of the world the wicked and unreasonable men there It was said of old and it is the stumbling block still which flesh and blood will never passe over Have any of the rulers or of John 7. 48 49 the Pharisees Beleeved on Him But this people which knoweth not the Law are cursed They were a poore people still that saw their wants and were oppressed with them who followed Christ These and no other except for His Loaves They must be fooles that is they must know their owne wisdome to be foolishnes their light darknesse their sight into heavenly Isa 35. 8. matters blindnesse their strength weaknes yea rottennesse they must be fooles that walke in this way There is as one saith 1 Cor. 3. 18. Hil Joh. 4. 19. a kind of kingdome which of all the corruptions that are in the nature of man is the greatest impediment and bar unto saving grace and so to the walking in His way The a Rom. 8. 7. carnall mind or wisdome of the flesh It cannot endure this way being enmity it selfe against it for such it is against God Thy wisdome and thy knowledge it hath perverted b Isa 47. 10. thee and it is noted as a wonder That a great Company of the Priests were obedient to the c Act. 6. 7. faith That the Carnall Ministery should hearken after these things it were a wonder Learned men and wise men after the flesh these are Lords they have no need of God they can live without Him They bid for the most part defiance to Him and His wayes they would rather dye than be pent-up in so straight and narrow a path Indeed these Learned men men puffed up with their Learning these knowing men but yet know nothing as they ought to d 1 Cor. 8. 2. know thinking they doe know and are lifted-up with that thought these wise men are as brutishly ignorant as we a brutish and sottish people are at these two principall points for how little doe they know about originall and actuall sinne which is their disease and how little about Christ who is their Physician these are Mr Burges his words So then they that are wise and learned Pag. 41 after the flesh must become fooles that they may be wise and taught to unlearne their Learning as â—o any Confidence in that flesh before they can learne Christ and know that they know Him walking in His way They to whom the Mysteries of salvation are revealed must be babes By whom is not meant those that have no knowledge or are Children in understanding but such as are lowly and humble and weake comparatively with others and so carry themselves as weaned-ones yet have their understandings opened and have a saving knowledge of Him Who is eternall life and their life And this may suffice to remoove that block of offence Object 3. The principles of this way are not peaceable for we see what worke they make and what differences are caused between Neighbours and Friends Ans We can say little to the peaceablenes of this way we are verily perswaded which was more than once hinted before flesh and blood will find no peace nor pleasure in it It is a way most If you labour to doe the worke of the Lord pray thinke it not strange if among men curses be your reward and detestation your wages Dr. Owen Jer. 15. 19. Pag. 10. Cum ab hominibus damnamur a Deo absolvimur crosse or contrary to one principle at least of Infant Baptisme And therefore seeing that is reported to be a peaceable principle this way and every step in it standing in the greatest opposition to it as doe the remotest extreames this way can have no peace in it as the world calls peace nor shall they have any peace from men that preach-up this way and walke in it But we hope the way is not the more to be disliked for this but the more to be liked and the rather to be chosen It is condemned of men it is approved of God and that peaceable principle of Infant Baptisme the more to be loathed It is a way of holinesse else those people and Ministers that have the Law of their Relation written in their inward parts would not walke in it And Holinesse we know with the way of it is a meere contraction to flesh and blood and a very torment to it as flesh and blood is a very bloody enemy to Holines It would persecute and drive holines out of the world not thinking enough if it could helpe it to drive Holines out of the heart whereat the flesh is
lifting every day but conscience holds it and will not let the forme of it goe the power was never there Well we grant that no principle of this way so far as we know is peaceable It yeilds no peace to the flesh but to the Spirit peace peace For being an holy or pure way it must needs be peaoeable first pure then peaceable O it is a peaceable way James 3. 17. to the Spirit It yeelds more peace to the Spirit renewed in one houre than that peaceable principle of Infant Baptisme can yeild the person all his life time Nay that peaceable principle is like to end in desperate sorrow There is no peace to this peace to be subject to the Prince of peace the more subject thou art in thy walke to Him the more peace shall be upon thee The connexion of these two is observable Of the encrease of His government and of His peace there shall be no end to shew saith that Saint on earth now in Heaven Dâ— Preston That as His government encreaseth in mens hearts and is enlarged so as a man is made more subject to Him so also peace Eph. 5. 9. encreaseth In those that are most subject there is most peace and therefore He is called the Prince of peace for where He rules as a Prince there is that peace which He as a mighty Prince is able to procure to them But He landeth upon the soule as an Enemy and with His sword makes a Conquest there before He is to that soule a Prince of peace Object 4. This way causeth differences betwixt Neighbours and Friends whereas observe it well they that walke in the way of a Nationall Church both Ministers and people as Mr Hs sayes and we find it to be just so are very well accorded there is no difference between us Ans This makes for the way still to be the way of Holines and that other way to be the way of wickednesse because they are all that walke in that broad way so well agreed and accorded We doe believe That the veriest varlet in the National Church agrees with Mr Hs Mâ— Prynne and John Timson and are all three all one as to that Doctrine of free admission That all are to be admitted even the worst of all to the Lords Table so be they stand not excommunicated These three are in one way and of one judgement how or wherein can they differ I have said Luther Non aliud habco robustius Argumentum no stronger Argument against the Pope and his shavelings than this That they are all agreed platted together like thornes against Christ and the offence of the Crosse ceaseth amongst them This banding against Christ and though in other things they differ greatly all true Christians hath accorded deadly enemies as once it did Herod and Pilate for upon the like account they were made friends together who before were at enmity between themselves Luke 23. 12. Truely we cannot readily find a more peaceable principle raking in the dunghill of Popish superstitions than is this That although the worst of all are to have free Admission to the Lords Table The Ministers of that perswasion hold to this the people love to have it so what disagreement For observe Secondly Those places and persons and their way where their Religion is rivited-in by Infant Baptisme Observe it in villages Townes Cities and see how quietly and peaceably they live no difference among them in point of Church-Administrations Then againe observe those places where Religion hath been Rivited-in by preaching the Gospell the power of God to salvation and see what deadly fewdes and devillish differences there are there occasioned by those hellish lusts in the hearts of men which Gospell-light comes to discover and with a sword in its hand to slay and with fire in its mouth to consume We would remember more of Luthers words here also If we were all quiet and lived at peace one with another while yet we live in our sinnes It is a sure signe the Gospel is not come unto us or it be come it hath made no conquest over us it hath not throwne fire amongst us we have not felt it cutting like a sword making division betwixt us and our lusts for how well accorded and like Friends doe we live while Friends and well accorded with our lusts Truly said Luther Nisi tumultos istos videâ—em Christum in mundo non crederem Math. 10. 34. Luke 12. 51. unles I should see what I doe see and heare what I doe heare words like swords drawne out against God and all good men troubles and tumults and divisions I should not beleeve the Gospell to be in the world for it brings a sword with it where ever it comes and causeth Division As we have read from our Lords own mouth and so have we heard and seene It is notable if we can observe it That the people of God were never vexed with more and more strange adversities or grievances to the flesh than at that when the Lord Christ lived amongst them when were there more leapers palsied men and women lunaticks and men possessed with Devills so usually it is with our Spirits when Christ Jesus our Lord lives within us for He brings a sword and maketh Division there before He establisheth peace in our borders We proceed-on here Tell us we pray you what difference have you observed for we doubt not but you have made your observation in the place where you were borne betwixt Pastor and people there or in any other place where you have made your observation and there is like Priest like people as the one is such like are the other and a just agreement betwixt them for indeed what should make difference here in this broad way of the Nation The whole Nation is Baptized and every person there and now Religion is Rivited into them by their Infant Baptisme and thereby they are instated in and possessed of all Church-priviledges for that is the peaceable principle thereof Certainly those make-bates the Spirit of the world without and that uncleane Spirit of man within will cause no difference there They all goe-up to their meeting place as friends then up to the Lords Table as Beleevers Disciples Saints and in the After-noone to the Ale-house if they please their Church will passe no censure upon them what difference can be here for Aske them now what they would have more to make peace amongst them and to take away all differences Their Minister will give it to them having indulged them so much if they can tell what they would have more as to Church Administration We teâ—â— our perswasion That Satan himselfe as to their Church matters desires no more and he seekes their peace so far that he will not disquiet them and therefore he will not visibly appeare among them though he is their God Prinoe by choice and the head of their company amongst whom there
scoffing at Holiness as it is too too easie to find such nay where may one find better in the state they are now-in and a godly preacher comes to this people and a few Godly own him Must this preacher and those few Godly be enforced to communicate with such after due meanes used for the instruction of the rest or may they not withdraw from the rest who are scoffers at Godliness sure we beleeve God and Angels and Saints will justifie such a seperation in this ordinance and to draw into a closser communion to practise Discipline among themselves specially while such a Congregation was never orderly united and joyned together by a free submission to the Gospel having in most places never enjoyed it in the power of it which Consideration indeed wipes off many objections So far that worthy man Truely Reader thou hast the very marrow and substance of the whole matter already Yet because we have made it our very work and business in this place to remove the scandalls in the way to this seperation and the offences taken against it and withall to speak to the understanding or the simple as we our selves are slow and dull to conceive we take leave to proceed according to our proposed Method and this we would say first First We take it from Holy Writ That this must be there must be a seperation For as holy Bradford said There are but two Masters Christ and Satan Two kinds of people righteous and wicked Two wayes the way of Holines and the way of wickednes Two mansion places heaven and hell Now it is not possibâ—e to serve both these Masters If you joyne to one you seperate from the other And as impossible for the one and the same person to be holy and unholy at the sâ—me time as it is to be in an extreate heate and in an extreame cold at one and the same time As impossible to have our foote stand in both these wayes as it is for one foote to tread Eastward and the other West or to fixe one eye on heaven and the other on earth Impossible also that we should arrive at heaven when we saile with winde and tide hell-ward as that one and the same way should lead us to two dâ—ffeâ—ent and contrary Mansion places Hence then it must needs follow to goe over this againe that here must of necessity be a seperation They that will with full purpose of heart serve their great Master the Lord Jesus Christ must turne their backes upon them that will serve the other Master And seperate from them as to any familiarity or intimacie with them They that are resolved at this high point they will be holy they have not a velliety a faint wish or cold desire but they will be holy and walke holily As the men of the world say they will be rich come on it what will they will be rich though they make shipwrack of faith the profession of faith and of a good Conscience what care they they will be rich though they pierce themselves thorough with many sorrowes The others say as resolutely too with the helpe of God and blessing upon the meanes they will be Holy These now must make a separation from the other They cannot be holy and unholy together It is said that seldome it is that the inward and outward man prosper together such an enemy walketh and prosperity is to the soules weale But certaine it is holines and unholines are so far from thriving together that these would come no nearer together than the East comes to the West Therefore the holy and unholy must part and separate as their wayes must part and when they come to the end of their way then there must be an everlasting seperation and as far as heaven is from hell those so separated mansion places In the second place Secondly Gods people must seperate for He hath as marvâ—ilously separated them His gratious Saints as He did between the Israelites and Egyptians Now how unworthy had it been and Psal 4. 3. unbecoming for the Israelites to have mixed themselves with the Egyptians I will dwell in them and walke in them and I will 2 Cor. 6. be their God and they shall be My people Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the uncleane thing and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty As if the Lord had said not else If ye expect I should walke with you ye must walke as is comely for sons and daughters that looke to have that sweet and comfortable presence of God with them If ye walke with the world and as the world doe that is familiarly and not having buisines with them nor with an intent to doe good unto them If ye will walke with them I will not walke with you saith the Lord. If ye will not separate from them I 'le separate from you and woe unto you when I depart from you It is as if a man should be conversing with some nasty poluted Creature while He is talking with the greatest Prince on earth or as if a Bridegroome to some great Princesse should be courting of a strumpet before his Ladies face whence we conclude That there is as good a warrant for Ministers and people that know the law of their Relations to seperate from the Nationall Church as they have to seperate from the world and from Babylon God will have it so If Ishmael fall a mocking out with him saith the Lord Gen. 21. 9. 12. If they will seperate from Me seperate ye from them Gods people will doe as their Lord bids them Thirdly We say that Godly Ministers and their people cannot be said so much to make a separation from the wicked as these from them The wicked will have no communion with godly Ministers or people unlesse at the Lords Table oâ— at a feast of wine and strong drinke we meane where the flesh is feasted no where else they abhorre all other communions You must communicate with them in sin else they will have no Communion with you The world loves to Converse with whom they love their owne And should not they that are chosen out of the world love to doe so too The Godly need not separate from the wicked these will separate from them These can endure holy Company no more than they can endure Holinesse which they have persecuted out of their house and would persecute it out of the world And should these be admitted to partake of holy things who persecute holines and will Communicate with you no where else but at the Lords Table and if not there no where And why so willingly and chearefully there to speake that by the way Holy Bradford gives you we thinke the Reason of that wherefore your people are so ready to Communicate with you at the Lords Table onely what he spake