came the same he taught and practised as begore so did his Apostles after him for the weapons of his warfare are not carnal c. 2 Cor. 10.4 But he charged strictly that his Disciples should be so far from persecuting those that would not be of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray Mat. 5. when they were cursed they should bless the reason is because they that are now Tares may hereafter become Wheat tehy who are now blind may hereafter see they that now resist him may hereafter receive him they that are now in the Devils snare in adversness to the Truth may hereafter come to repentance they that are now Blasphemers Persecutors Oppressors as Paul was may in time become Faithful as he they that are now Idolaters as the Corinths once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become true worshippers as they they that are now no People of God nor under mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2.20 may hereafter become the People of God and obtain mercy as they Some come not till the eleventh hour Mat. 20.6 if those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed because they came not at the first then should they never come but be prevented And why do men call themselves Christians and do not the things Christ would CHAP. 7. Persecution for cause of Conscience is against the profession and practice of famous Princes First we beseech your Majesty we may relate your own worthy Sayings in your Majesties Speech at Parliament 1609. Your Highness saith It is a sure Rule in Divinity that God never loves to plant his Church by violence and bloodshed c. And in your Highness Apol. pag. 4. speaking of such Papists as took the Oath thus I gave a good proof that I intended no persecution against them for Conscience cause but only desired to secured for civil obedience which for Conscience cause they were bound to perform And pag. 60. speaking of Blackwel the Arch-Priest your Majesty saith It was never my intention to lay any thing to the said Arch-Priests charge as I have never done to any for cause of Conscience c. And in your Highness Expos on Revel 20. printed 1588 and after 1603. your Majesty truly writeth thus Sixtly The compassing of the Saints and besieging of the beloved City declareth unto us a certain note of a false Church to be Persecution For they come to seek the Faithful the Faithful are those that are sought the Wicked are the besiegers the Faithful be besieged Secondly the saying of Stephen King of Poland I am King of men not of Consciences a Commander of bodies not of Souls c. Thirdly the King of Bohemia hath thus written And notwithstanding the success of the later time wherein sundry opinions have been hatched about the subject of Religion may make one clearly discern with his eye and as it were touch with his finger that according to the verity of holy Scripture and a Maxime heretofore held and maintained by the ancient Doctors of the Church That mens Consciences ought in no sort to be violated urged or constrained and whensoever men have attempted any thing by this violent course whether openly or by secret means the issue hath been pernicious and the cause of great and wonderful Innovasions in the principallest and mightiest Kingdoms and Countries of all Christendom c. And further his Majesty saith So that once more we do protest before God and the whole world that from this time forward we are firmly resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or molested any person whosoever for matter of Religion no not they that profess themselves to be of the Roman Church neither to trouble or disturb them in the exercise of their Religion so they live conformable to the Laws of the States c. And for the practice of this Where is Persecution for cause of Conscience except in England and where Popery reigns and not there neither in all places as appeareth by France Poland and other places Nay it is not practised among the Heathen that acknowledge not the true God as the Turk Persian and others CHAP. 8. Persecution for cause of Conscience is condemned by the ancient and later Writers yea by Puritans and Papists HIllary against Anxentius saith thus The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted and lamentable it is to see the great folly of these times and to sigh at the foolish opinion of this world in that men think by humane aid to help God and with worldly pomp and power to undertake to defend the Christian Church I ask of you Bishops what help used the Apostles in the publishing of the Gospel With the aid of what Power did they preach Christ and converted the Heathen from their Idolatry to God When they were Imprisoned and lay in Chains did they praise and give thanks to God for any dignities graces and favours received from the Court Or do you think that Paul went about with Regal Mandates or Kingly Authority to gather and establish the Church of Christ Sought he Protection from Nero Vespatian c. The Apostles wrought with their hands for their own maintenance travelling by land and water from Town to City to preach Christ yea the more they were forbidden the more they taught and preached Christ But now alas humane help must assist and protect the Faith and give the same countenance To and by vain and worldly honours do men seek to defend the Church of Christ as if He by his Power were unable to perform it The same against the Arians The Church now which formerly by enduring Misery and Imprisonment was known to be a true Church doth now terrific others by Imprisonment Banishment and Misery and boasteth that she is highly esteemed of the world whereas the true Church cannot but be hated of the same Tertul. ad Scapul It agreeth both with humane Equity and natural Reason that every man worship God uncompelled and believe what he will for another mans Religion or Blief neither hurteth nor profiteth any man neither beseemeth it any Religion to compel another to be of their Religion which willingly and freely should be imbraced and not by constraint for asmuch as the Offerings were required of those that freely and with a good will offered and not from the contrary Jerom. in Proaem lib. 4. in Jeremiam Heresie must be cut off with the sword of the Spirit Let us strike through with the arrows of the Spirit all sons and disciples of misled Hereticks that is with testimonies of holy Scriptures The slaughter of Hereticks is by the Word of God Brentius on 1 Cor. 3. No man hath power to make or give Laws to Christians whereby to bind their Consciences For willingly freely and uncompelled with a ready desire and chearful mind must those that come run unto Christ Luther in his Book of the Civil Magistrate The Laws of the Civil Government
flight I answer God preserved Moses and the rest in their flight till the time was come that he imployed them in his service then in no case he would suffer them to flie as when Moses manifested his exceeding backwardness to the Lords work in helping his People out of Bondage using many excuses the Lord was very angry with him Exod. 4.10 15. And whither out Saviour flie when the time came that he was to shew himself to Israel Luk. 1.80 If any of these men can prove the Lord requireth no work at their hands to be done for his Glory and the Salvation of thousands of ignorant souls in their own Nation let them stay in foreign Countries But I trust Gods People have learned not to say the time is not yet come that Babel should be destroyed and the Lords House builded but that the time is come to build the Lords House and not to dwell in ceiled houses Hag. 1. or any way to seek our outward promotion which if it be granted that the time is come not only to come out of Babel but to destroy her all these objections are nothing except they prove that when God called any of his People to his Work they left it for fear of trouble This doctrine was not approved of God when the time came that his Adversaries were to be rooted out and that his People had gotten some victory The Rubenites and the Gadites could have been content to have remained to their most peace and commodity Num 32. but Moses said unto them Shall your Brethren go to war and ye tarry here where fore now discourage ye the hearts of the Children of Israel c. sharply reproving them as an increase of sinful men risen upon their fathers steads still to augment the fierce wrath of the Lord and Moses would not be satisfied until they had promised that they would go with their Brethren to the Lords work and would not return to their houses till they had accomplished the same And the Angel of the Lord doth say Curse ye Meroz curse the inhabitants thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to help the Lord againsst the Mighty Judg. 5.23 Also because the men of Jabesh Gilead came not up to the Lord to help their Brethren against the wicked men of Gibeath all the men were destroyed and all the women that had lien by men Judg. 21.11 no excuse whatsoever could serve Did God thus respect his Work and People then as all must put to their helping hand and none must withdraw their shoulder lest others were discouraged and is there no regard to be had thereof now but any occasion as fear of a little Imprisonments or the like may excuse any both from the Lords work and the help of their Brethren that for want of their society and comfort are exceedingly weakned if not overcome If answer be made They perform their duty in both that they do the Lords work the pastor feeding his flock and the People walking in fellowship one towards another I demand Doth the Lord require no more work of them doth he not require that they should help to cast down Babel If reply be made They do it by their Books I answer That may be done and their Lights shine by their mouthes and conversations also among the wicked which is the greatest means of converting them and destroying Antichrists Kingdom They overcame not by flying away but by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12.11 Gods People are the Lights of the World a City set on a hill a Candle set on the candlestick giving light to all that come in Mat. 5 and therefore must shine by their Persons more than by their Books And great help and encouragement would it be to Gods People in affliction of Imprisonment and the like to have their Brethrens presernce to administer to their souls or bodies and for which cause Christ will say I was in Prison and ye visited me in Distress and ye comforted me and unto those that do not so according to their ability Go ye cursed Mat. 25. If men had greater love to Gods Commands or the Salvation of thousands of ignorant souls in our Nation that for want of instruction perish than to a little temporal affliction they would never publish nor practise as they do in this thing Thus have I in short shewed you my poor ability in these things And for all other things we hold as the lawfulness of Magistracy Gods blessed Ordinance And Christ our Saviour taking his flesh of the Virgin Mary by the wonderful work of the holy Ghost c. You may see them in our Confession in print published four years ago Indif Many that be called Anabaptists hold the contrary and many other strange things Ch. We cannot but lament for it so did many in Christs Churches in the primitive times hold strange opinions as some of the Corinths denyed the Resurrection and in many of the Seven Churches were grievous things which the Lord by his Servants warned them of upon pain of his displeasure and removing of his Presence from them nevertheless others professing the same general Cause of Christ were commended Indif Well you will yet be called Anabaptists because you deny Baptism to Infants Ch. So were Christians before us called Sects and so they may Iohn Baptist Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles Anabaptists for we profess and practise no otherwise herein than they namely The baptizing of such as confess with the mouth the belief of the heart And if they be Anabaptists that deny Baptism where God hath appointed it they and not we are Anabaptists But the Lord give them repentance that their sins may be put away and never laid to their charge even for his Christs sake Amen AN HUMBLE SUPPLICATION TO THE Kings Majesty As it was presented 1620. To the High and Mighty KING JAMES By the Grace of God King of Great Brittain France and Ireland To the Right Excellent and Noble PRINCE CHARLES Prince of Wales c. To all the Right Hanorable NOBILITY Grave and Honorable JUDGES and to all other the Right Worshipful GENTRY of all Estates and Degrees assembled in this present Parliament Right High and Mighty Right Excellent Noble Right Honourable and Right Worshipful AS the Consideration of that divine Commandment of the King of kings Let Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all Godliness and Honesty doth cause in us a daily practice thereof in our secret Chambers for you all as in duty we are bound of which the searcher of all hearts beareth us witness so let it be pleasing unto your Majesty and the rest in Authority that we make humble Supplications and Prayers to you for such our bodily miseries and wants as
ground is manifested in this Dialogue following wherein is shewed their palpable ignorance in that they know not the Mystery of God and therefore have they made this Canon in flattery to the King only to support their Pride and Cruelty For if the Kingdom or Land of Israel or Canaan now under the Gospel be an earthly Kingdom or Land or Israel now a worldly or fleshly Israel as both were under the Law Then we would confess there should be an earthly King thereof But if the Kingdom of Israel now be not earthly but heavenly Joh. 18.36 and the Israelites now not of this world Joh. 15.19 Then the King thereof is not of this world as they are not of this world Joh. 17.16 And if these spiritual Lords confess that Christ is King now of the Land and People of Israel but yet he hath left our Lord the King his Deputy to make such Laws and Lords over the Church as pleaseth him the Word of the Lord is against them There is but one Lord 1 Cor. 12.5 and one Law-giver Jam. 4.12 over his Church Nay his Majesty himself is against them who saith There is no earthly Monarch over the Church whose word must be a Law And saith further Christ is his Churches Monarch and the holy Ghost his Deputy alledging Luk. 22.25 The Kings of the Gentiles bear rule one over another c. but it shall not be so among you Saying further Christ when he ascended left not Peter with them to direct them in all truth but promised to send the holy Ghost to them for that end c. If any will be rebellious against the Word of the Lord herein yet let them not be rebellious against the word of the King Oh that any thing would prevail with them to make them leave off these cruel courses of persecuting poor souls that desire truly to fear God and are most faithful Subjects to the King and desire also the salvation of the souls of these their cruel Persecrutors who do seek their utter undoing by all the fore-named Persecutions only because they cannot of faith offer up such Worship to God as these spiritual Lords command and the rather let them leave off persecuting seeing the Kings Majesty acknowledgeth It is a sure Rule in Divinity That God loves not to plant his Church by Violence and Bloodshed And if it be a Law for all Christians That in indifferent things one must not offend another but the strong to forbear rather than offend his weak brother otherwise he wounds the weak conscience and sins against Christ 1 Cor. 8. Then how much less hath any man power to be Lord over the weak conscience forcing it to practise that it hath not faith in bringing it thereby unto sin and unto condemnation Rom. 14. We do unfainedly acknowledge the Authority of earthly Magistrates God's blessed Ordinance and that all earthly Authority and Command appeartains unto them let them command what they will we must obey either to do or suffer upon pain of Gods displeasure besides their punishment But all men must let God alone with his Right which is to be Lord and Law-giver to the soul and not command obedience for God where he commandeth none And this is onely that which we dare not but maintain upon the peril of our souls which is greater than bodily affliction And only for the maintenance of Christs right herein do false Prophets and Deceivers who by that craft are cloathed in fine apparrel and fare deliciously every day labour to make us odious in the ears and eyes of Prince and People knowing well that if they had not power by Persecution to force men to dissemble to believe as they their kingdom and gain would soon come to nought the wickedness of which course is discovered in this Writing following For the manner being Dialogue-wise we thought it the fittest in two respects First for the understanding of the simple to whom especially Gods Mysteries appertain more than to the wise and prudent of the world Secondly Because all the Objections that we have met with might be set down and the plainlyer answered And because we have faith and assurance that many will see and acknowledge the unlawfulness of tyrannizing over the Conscience by persecuting the bodies of such as cannot be subject We have also though it meet to manifest the fearful estate of such subjection that they may deliver their souls if they will be saved and also have set down the beginning of that old and good way that John Baptist Christ Jesus and his Apostles have left unto all that will be saved unto the end of the world Beseeching that Almighty worker that he would work in the hearts and consciences of men that they may enquire for it and that out of the Scriptures and walk therein then shall they find Rest unto their souls although Afflictions to their bodies Oh it is time for the Lord to work for they have destroyed his Law and have set up in many Nations such Worship for God as best pleaseth them that are in Authority and have power to persecute the contrary-minded Let all Gods People cry How long Lord when wilt thou come to destroy Antichrists cruel Kingdom and establish Christs meek and peaceable Kingdom As thou hast begun even come Lord Jesus by the Spirit of thy Mouth and the Brightness of thy Coming even come quickly Amen By Christs unworthy Witnesses his Majesties faithful Subjects Commonly but most falsly called ANA-BAPTISTS PERSECUTION for RELIGION JUDG'D and CONDEMN'D In a DISCOURSE between an ANTICHRISTIAN a CHRISTIAN Antichristian VVHy come you not to Church Christian VVhat should I do there Antich Worship God Chr. I must worship God as he requireth and not as any mortal man requireth Ant. True but the Worship that we require you to offer up is the Worship God requireth Ch. If it be so I will with all willingness assent unto it but my conscience must be satisfied thereof by the Word of Truth that I may have faith in it otherwise it is my grievous sin Rom. 14.23 For I may not believe it so to be because you affirm it Ant. Well you must go to Church otherwise you are disobedient to the Law and will fall under punishment Ch. But still remember that you would have me worship God as you pretend therefore let us agree what Worship God requireth Christ saith Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth Here we see what Worship God requireth viz. That we worship him with our Souls and Spirits and also that we worship him according to the Truth of his Word And therefore for your Book-worship if it were according to Truth from the which it is as far as light is from darkness yet if I cannot offer it up with my spirit it is not acceptable to God but most abominable Ant. Well you must come to Church Ch. I pray let me ask you a
God let him require what he will I must in conscience obey him with my body goods and all that I have But my soul wherewith I am to worship God that belongeth to another King whose Kingdom is not of this World Joh. 18.36 Whose People must come willingly Psal 110.3 Whose weapons are not carnal but spiritual 2 Cor. 10.4 c. Ant. Is this all the Authority that you will give to the King Ch. VVhat Authority can any mortal man require more than of body goods life and all that appertaineth to the outward man The heart God requireth Prov. 23.26 He commanded to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and to Himself the things that are His Luk. 20.25 Now if all the outward man be Caesars and the inward man too so that he must be obeyed is his own matters and in God's matters also then tell us what shall be given to God If you or any man will give him more Power or Authority than I give him then you give him more than his Majesty requireth as shall be shewed Ant. We do not say that the King can compel the soul but only the outward man Ch. If he cannot compel my soul he cannot compel me to worship God for God cannot be worshipped without the soul Joh. 4.24 If you say he may compel me to offer up a worship only with my body for the spirit you confess he cannot compel To whom is that worship not to God Then consider you who they worship that are thus compelled say you by the King Let it well be here observed that you make the King a commander of such worship as is not to God contrary to his Majesties own mind manifest in his Writings But this you do not to advance Gods Glory nor the Kings Honour but your own cursed kingdom of darkness which you hold by flattery and falshood For if this compelled worship which is not to God were taken away then your kingdom would fall to Hell from whence it came and therefore all men may here see it is supported only by wickedness Ant. I confess the Kings Authority is earthly but he is Head over the Church under Christ Ch. God forbid that any mortal man should so equalize himself with Christ who alone is Head of his Church as the Husband is of the Wife Eph. 5.23 and hath left no Vice-gerent in that his Office for he is never absent from his Church Mat. 18.20 amd 28.20 All that any mortal man can be is to be a subject of his Kingdom for there is but one Lord 1 Cor. 12.5 and one Law-giver Jam. 3.12 And that this is so his Majesty confirmeth by his own testimony in his Apology for the Oath of Allegiance pag. 46 47. But as I well allow of the Hyrarchy of the Church for distinction of Orders for so I understand it so I utterly deny that there is any earthly Monarch thereof whose word must be a Law and who cannot erre in his sentence by an infallibility of spirit because earthly Kingdoms must have earthly Monarchs it doth not follow that the Church must have a visible Monarch top For the World hath not one earthly temporal Monarch Christ is his Churches Monarch and the Holy Ghost his Deputy The Kings of the Gentiles reign over them but ye shall not be so Luk. 22.25 Christ did not promise before his Ascension to leave Peter with them to direct and instruct them in all things but he promised to send the Holy Ghost unto them for that end These are his Highness own words whereby it evidently appeareth his Majesty challengeth no supremacy over the Church but laboureth to overthrow that abominable exaltation of that Man of Sin in the Romish Profession for Christ hath given no Supremacy in or over his Church to any mortal man but expresly commanded the contrary as that place of Luke mentioned by his Majesty plainly declareth His Highness is supream Head and Governour over all his Subjects Bodies and Goods within his Dominions and therein I detest and abhor all forreign Powers whatsoever But now for the thing in controversie betwixt you and me of compelling men by Persecutions to do service to God as is pretended wherein they have not Faith it shall be manifest not to be of God in that Christ Jesus himself the only Lord and Law-giver to the soul neither had any such Power and Authority neither taught any such thing to his Disciples but the contrary First Mat. 28.18 19. All Power is given me in Heaven and in Earth Go therefore and teach all Nations And 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to cast down strong Holds c. Here we see Christ hath no worldly power nor worldly weapons Secondly He practised and taught the contrary When the Samaritans would not receive him going to Jerusalem Luke 9. his Disciples would have had Fire come down from Heaven and devoured them but Christ rebuked them and said Ye know not of what spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them And the Apostle by the Spirit of Christ 2 Tim. 2.24 commandeth the Servants of the Lord not to strive but to be gentle towards all men apt to teach suffering the evil-men patiently instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may know the truth and come to amendment out of the Devils snare c. These Scriptures need no explanation for this most evident Truth Ant. Well yet notwithstanding all this it is manifest in the Scriptures by the Example of the Apostle Peter smiting Ananias and Saphira to death Act. 5. and of the Apostle Paul striking Elymas the Sorcerer blind Act. 13.11 and also by delivering Hymeneus and Alexander unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that punishment upon the body may be used and the flesh destroyed For if it were lawful for them to smite to death and the like though by extraordinary means then it must be lawful for us by ordinary means since extraordinary means now fail If you say it be not lawful for us then you must say it was not lawful for them and that were to accuse them of laying a false foundation which none fearing God will affirm Ch. I dare not once admit of such a thought as to disallow the truth of that Foundation which the Apostles as skilfull Master-builders have laid But for your Argument of Peters extraordinary smiting of Ananias and Saphira he neither laid hand upon them nor threatned them by word only declared what should befall them from God and therefore serveth nothing to your purpose Also that of Paul to Elymas he laid no hands upon him but only declared the Lords hand upon him and the judgment that should follow If you can so pronounce and it so come to pass upon any do it and then it may be you may be accounted
of this point that your Faith may be full herein consider that we are to wait for the Jews Conversion and not to destroy them Indif It is true that might give all men satisfaction in these things Ch. Oh yes if men had any regard of God or his Word they would never deal more in this thing the Lord we see Rom. 11. hath promised That when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in the Jews shall be converted Now if the Jews who are such fearful Blasphemers of Christ and his Gospel that contemn him and his Testament with all despite if their Conversion must be waited for that they may not be destroyed from off the face of the Earth then who may not see if they shut not their eyes that the Conversion of all is to be waited for and that no man for blaspheming Christ and his Gospel may be destroyed or afflicted by Imprisonments Death or any Calamity whatsoever Indif It is not to be gain-sayed with any shew of truth I would God the Kings Majesty would consider of this point seeing that the cruel Bishops by using his Power commit such sin against God in this thing both in persecuting them that cannot in faith yeeld and also in forcing them that do yeeld contrary to their consciences to sin against God and to perish if they repent not Ch. I am perswaded that if his Highness did but once well weigh and consider it he would never suffer such high iniquity to be committed against God contrary to his express Commandment and all to be done by the King's Power for nothing have they else to bear them out The Lord perswade the hearts of his Majesty and his posterity unto it seeing his Throne is established by him that he and his Posterity may sit and reign over these Nations and Kingdoms till Jesus Christ the Commander of these things come in his Glory to recompence every man according to his works without respect of persons Ant. If wicked Malefactors should be let alone to the end of the World then where is the Magistrates Sword it is of no force if evil men may not be cut off Ch. I acknowledge unfeignedly that God hath given to Magistrates a Sword to cut off wicked men and to reward the well-doers Rom. 13. But this Ministry is a worldly Ministry their Sword is a worldly Sword their punishments can extend no further than the outward man they can but kill the body Luke 12.4 And therefore this Ministry and Sword is appointed only to punish the breach of worldly Ordinances which is all that God hath given to any mortal man to punish The King may make Laws for the safety and good of his Person State and Subjects against the which whosoever is disloyal or disobedient he may dispose of them at his pleasure the Lord hath given him this Sword and Authority fore-seeing in his Eternal Wisdom that if this his Ordinance of Magistracy were not there would be no living for men in the world and especially for the Godly and therefore the Godly have particular cause to glorifie God for this his blessed Ordinance of Magistracy and to regard it with all reverence But now the breach of Christs Laws of the which we all this while speak which is the thing only I stand upon His Kingdom is spiritual his Laws spiritual the Transgressions spiritual the Punishment spiritual everlasting Death of Soul his Sword spiritual no carnal or worldly weapon is given to the supportation of his Kingdom nor to punish the Transgressors of the Laws of this Kingdom The Law-giver himself hath commanded that the Transgressors of these Laws should be let alone until the harvest because he knows they that are now Tares may hereafter come to repentance and become Wheat they that are now Blasphemers Persecutors and Oppressors as Paul was may by the power of Gods Word become Faithful and a faithful Witness as he was They that are now Fornicators c. as some of the Corinthians once were 1 Cor. 6.9 may hereafter become washed clensed and sanctified as they were They that are now no People nor under Mercy as the Saints sometimes were 1 Pet. 2.10 may hereafter become the People of God and obtain Mercy as they did All come not at the first hour some come not till the eleventh hour if those that come not till the last hour should be destroyed because they came not at the first hour then should they never come but be prevented Ant. Were not Blasphemers put to death in time of the Law Lev. 24.11 c. Ch. Yes an Israelite blaspheming the Lord or doing any thing presumptuously which was Blasphemy Numb 15.30 no Sacrifice was to be offered for him But would you from hence have the Kings Majesty put all his Subjects to death that contemn the Truth of Christ If yea see what will follow All Papists ought to be put to death who are direct Blasphemers Rev. 16.10 11. When the Vial of Gods Wrath was poured upon the Throne of the Beast which all England confess is meant the Popish Power they blasphemed the God of Heaven c. All the Jews that speak many things blasphemously against Christ ought to be put to death Yea of what Profession soever he be doing any thing presumptuously against Christ ought to be put to death by your Affirmation no Sacrifice to be offered no Repentance to be admitted dye he must under two or three Witnesses But that this is most false Christ and his Apostles in his Testament do manifestly declare as is before shewed Was not Paul a Blasphemer yet received to mercy But this the holy Ghost teacheth from Blasphemy under the Law Heb. 10.28 He that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three Witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy that treadeth under foot the Son of God and counteth the Blood of the Testament as an unholy thing wherewith he was sanctified and doth despite to the Spirit of Grace speaking of such as had received and acknowledged the Truth ver 26. This is now the due proportion an Israelite according to the flesh in the time of the Law presumptuously sinning against Gods Commandment by his Command must die by the worldly Sword no Sacrifice was to be offered for him So in the New Testament or time of the Gospel a spiritual Israelite according to the Faith contemptuously or despitefully sinning against Christs Commands which he hath formerly acknowledged despiting and contemning them by his Command must die by the spiritual Sword no repentance to be admitted seeing he crucifieth again to himself the Son of God and makes a mock of him Heb. 6.6 David and Peter came not within this compass though they sinned of knowledge yet they did it not contemptuously or despitefully but through frailty If an Israelite under the Law did ought through ignorance as Numb 15. or through frailty as Levit. 6. there was Sacrifice for him So under the
Gospel an Israelite doing ought through ignorance or through frailty as Peter and Barnabas with the rest of the Jews mentioned Gal. 2. or the Incestuous Person 1 Cor. 5. there is Repentance for him This is it that confounds all true Religion That because it was so in the time of the Law therefore it may be so in the time of the Gospel by which reason men might set up as truly the whole Law as some part and utterly abolish Christ I pray you seriously consider what is here said Ant. Hath not the King the same Power that the Kings of Israel had who compelled men to the observation of the Law of God Ch. First I answer you That the Kings of Israel had never power from God to set up any thing in or for the the service of God but that only which was commanded by God Deut. 4.2 no not so much as the manner of any Law Numb 15.16 and 9.14 and therefore this will not serve your purpose that Kings may set up within their Dominions such spiritual Lords and Laws for the serving of God no nor the manner thereof as may best please themselves under what pretence soever thereby making God for his Worship subject to their pleasures And his Majesty acknowledgeth that Christs Church after the establishing of it by miracles in the primitive time was ever after to be governed within the limits of his revealed will Speech at Parliam Anno 1609. Secondly the Kings of Israel might compel men to the Sacrifices and Ordinances of the Old Testament all which were carnal and purged not the conscience Heb. 9.9 10. as Circumcision the Passeover c. But no mortal man whatsoever he be can compel any man to offer the Sacrifices of the New Testament which are spiritual and purge the conscience except he can beget Faith in him and convert his soul The Ordinances of the Old Testament were to be performed by the posterity of Abraham according to the flesh that thereby they might be taught Christ but the Ordinances of the New Testament are to be performed only by the posterity of Abraham according to Faith that have learned Christ and have put on Christ and so having Him all things else appertain unto them But one thing I demand of you Who now is King of Israel Ant. I confess CHRIST is King of Israel Ch. Yes CHRIST alone is King of Israel that sits upon Davids Throne and therefore mark the true proportion In the time of the Old Testament the Kings of Israel had power from God to compel all to the Ordinances of God or to cut them off by their Sword from the earthly Land of Canaan and the Promises thereof So in the New Testament the King of Israel Christ Jesus hath power from the Father to compel all to the Ordinances of God or to cut them off by his Sword from the heavenly Land of Canaan and the Promises thereof The Kings of Israel only had this power under the Law and the King of Israel only hath this power under the Gospel And therefore whosoever will challenge this power under the Gospel he must be the King of Israel in the time of the Gospel which is peculiar only to Jesus Christ unto whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is given And let it be here well observed that by this opinion of yours you make the Kingdom and Ordinances of Israel under the Law and the Kingdom Ordinances of Israel under the Gospel all one directly contrary to the whole Scripture for the Kingdom and Ordinances of Israel under the Law were of this world but the Kingdom and Ordinances of Israel under the Gospel are not of this world as Christ the King thereof himself testifieth John 28. And therefore you setting up a worldly King over this Heavenly Kingdom and Ordinances you and all of your Profession declare your selves to be of that worldly Kingdom and so to look for that Heavenly and Spiritual King yet to come in the flesh being of the number of those that deny Him to be come in the flesh and so are Deceivers and Antichrists whatsoever you say to the contrary Ant. Well yet I cannot see but that as the Kings of Israel had power from God to compel all their Subjects to the Worship then appointed so the King being a Christian King hath power to compel his Subjects to the Worship now appointed Ch. You may see if you shut not your eyes that what power the Kings of Israel had under the Law in matters of Religion Christ Jesus the King of Israel hath under the Gospel but I pray let me ask you this Question you say the Kings Majesty hath this power as he is a Christian King my Question is Whether it appertain unto him as he is a King or as he is a Christian Ant. Neither simply as he is a King nor as he is a Christian but joyntly as he is compleat in them both for I grant that no Heathen King hath power to compel in matters of Religion but a Christian King hath Ch. Then you confess that if a Christian King may be deprived of his Christianity for of his Kingdom or Kingly Power or any part thereof I affirm he may not be deprived he hath lost this power you plead for in compelling men in matters of Religion What say you to this Ant. I confess if he may be deprived of his Christianity he hath not this power I plead for Ch. Then I demand this Question Whether every Christian without respect of persons ought not to be subject to Christs Laws for his Salvation Ant. Yes it cannot be denyed Ch. Christ hath given his censure Excommunication for the Salvation of every Christian That he that will not hear the Church is to be as a Heathen and a Publican that is hath lost all right and title in Christ and in his Church till he repent Now I know it cannot be denyed but every Christian whatsoever is subject to sin and so to Excommunication to be as an Heathen c. If you say that Kings either are not subject to sin and to impenitency therein and so not to this censure of Christ of Excommunication for their impenitent sin then consider what you make them and God you make a lyer If you grant as you cannot deny that Kings as well as others are subject to impenitent sin and so to Excommunication for the same then they being deprived of their Christianity by your own confession they are deprived of power to compel in matters of Religion the which if it were any part of their Kingly Power they might be deprived of a part of their Kingly Power by being excommunicated Consider what a wicked doctrine you teach herein Ant. Doth not the Prophet say That Kings shall be Nursing Fathers and Queens Nursing Mothers to the Church And also it is said that Kings shall hate the Whore make her desolate eat her flesh and burn it with fire Where we see that
Kings that have power and authority shall destroy Antichrists Kingdom and nourish and cherish Christs Kingdom Ch. Most true it is the Lord hath spoken it and therefore it ought to be a great comfort to Gods People but what is this to the purpose in hand namely That Kings may persecute the contrary-minded The words of the Prophet Isaiah prove that Kings and Queens that have formerly persecuted and destroyed the Church their hearts shall be turned by the power of Gods Word to be lovers and preservers of the Church And the other place Rev. 17.16 proves that Kings shall make that Whore desolate c. not by their temporal Authority or Sword as some say that make more shew of Religion than you do although themselves be now persecuted yet if Kings were of their minds would be as cruel as you for they maintain the same thing but by the Spirit of the Lords mouth and the Brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 For this kingdom of Antichrist shall be destroyed without hand Dan. 8. 25. only by the Everlasting Gospel the true Armour indeed wherewith the Witnesses fight against the Antichrist As the Kings Majesty acknowledgeth Apol. pag. 93. Ant. You are so stiff against using of outward weapons in Church matters Did not our Saviour make a Whip of small cords and whip the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple And why may not we follow his example Ch. In this and many other actions of Christ our Saviour we are to consider him as the fulfiller and ender of the Law as in the action of the Passover and sending him that was clensed of his Leprosie to offer to the Priest the gift that Moses commanded in which things we are not to imitate him for by him the Ceremonies are fulfilled and abolished and the everlasting Gospel established in the which we are to walk and it were more than foolish to reason thus Christ whipped wicked men out of Gods Temple made with hands with whips made of cord therfore we may whip wicked men out of Gods Temple made without hands with whips made of cord There is a wholsom doctrine to be collected from the Type to the Truth as thus Christ drove out wicked men out of the Temple made with hands by a carnal or worldly whip So Christ by his People must drive wicked men out of the Temple made without hands by a Spiritual whip even his Word which is called a Whip or Rod. Rev. 2 27. and Psal 2.9 So is Excommunication 1 Cor. 4.21 Ant. If freedom of Religion should be granted there would be such Divisions as would breed Sedition and Innovasion in the State Ch. Thus when your shews out of the Scripture are answered then you run to conceits and imaginations of Sedition Innovasion and the like thinking thereby to disswade Princes and all that are in authority therefrom knowing else your kingdom of iniquity would fall But that it may appear to all that you deal deceitfully herein let us consider first the Scriptures secondly behold the success of suffering of Religion free in other Countries And first Christ our Saviour who is that Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 not of Sedition hath taught Mat. 10 and Luk. 12. That he came not to send Peace on the earth but Debate to divide five in one house two against three and three against two the father against the son c. And a mans enemies shall be they of his own houshold And his desire is that the fire of such Sedition should be kindled Where we see this Prince of Peace putteth difference in Religion by preaching his Gospel which some receive as the savour of life unto them others refuse it and so become enemies unto the Truth and witnesses thereof as they did to Christ Jesus himself and his Disciples and as you do to me and others Secondly behold the Nations where freedom of Religion is permitted and you may see there are not more flourishing and prosperous Nations under the Heavens than they are Indif The Convocation of Bishops and the rest have made a Canon That whosoever shall affirm that the Kings Majesty hath not the same power in Causes Ecclesiastical under the Gospel that the godly Kings of Israel had under the Law let him be excommunicated ipso facto Ch. Yes they have so In the beginning of his Majesties Reign when they had gotten him sure unto them of the which they so much doubted as with my own ears I heard some of their chief followers say when his Highness was coming into England Now must Steeples down and we shall have no more High Commission with a lamentation they spake it then they made this Canon because their consciences are convinced that they stand only by his Power and if his hand be turned their spiritual power of darkness falleth to the pit of darkness from whence it came and whither it must go though there be never so much means used for the supporting of it for the strong Lord hath spoken it Revel 18. As for their sending men to Hell as they suppose with their ipso facto Excommunications if they had no stronger weapons for the supportting of their kingdom it would stand but a short space If Israel now were of this world as it was under the Law then they said something but if it be not of this world as it is not John 17.14 then the King of Israel is not of this world for when this King came the worldly Israel knew him not Indif I see evidently that all are but cavels and that no mortal man can make any man offer Sacrifices under the New Testament until he be a Believer and converted for he must be in Christ before he may offer Sacrifices for in Christ only the Father accepteth us But what say you Have they not power to compel men to come to the place where the Word is publickly taught that they may be converted Ch. Well then you see that the example of the Kings of Israel who had power to compel them to Sacrifice or to cut them off applyed to earthly Princes is gone as a meer doctrine of man and not of God And for compelling men to hear that they may be converted we can learn of no better than of Him who if we hear not we shall have a dreadfull recompence He had all power in Heaven and in Earth for converting souls given unto him and sent his Disciples as his Father sent him Joh. 20.21 charging them that when they should come into a City c. if they would not receive them nor their Word to shake off the dust of their feet for a witness against them saying it should be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment than for that City or house And so the Apostles went from City to City accordingly Here were no Temples made with hands nor worldly power to compel all to come unto them to hear the Word of the Lord but they were commanded to go
from City to City and from house to house Indif In those dayes the Magistrates were Vnbelievers but the question is where Magistrates are Believers Ch. Christ had all power needful for that work if Magistracy were a power needful for that work then Christ had not all power Magistracy is Gods blessed Ordinance in its right place but let not us be wiser than God to devise him a means for the publishing of his Gospel which He that had all power had not nor hath commanded Magistracy is a power of this world the Kingdom Power Subjects and means of publishing the Gospel are not of this world Ant. A goodly thing indeed that men must go about the Country to preach Ch. In your estimation it is base and contemptible your Pomp and Pride will not bear this it is more easie for you to hunt after Promotion till you come to the highest in getting to be chief Bishop of Bishops within these Dominions and then cometh your fall full low if you repent not But the wisdom of God hath appointed the chiefest Officers of Christs Kingdom even the Apostles thus basely to go up and down to and fro to preach the Gospel yea that worthy Apostle Paul preached this Gospel night and day with many tears openly and throughout every house Act. 20. Indif But if this be thus as for my own part I am fully perswaded it is then I see the High Commission cannot stand for as I take it it is only for Causes Ecclesiastical Ch. So far as it is over Church-matters it is most unlawful for the Commission for judging and punishing of the transgressors of the Laws of Christs Church is given to Christ the Monarch thereof a part whereof he hath left to his Disciples which is no worldly Commission or Power but only the Power of the Lord Jesus the uttermost of which Commission is Excommunication 1 Cor. 5. Ant. The High Commission is from the King and dare you once call it into question Ch. If I do take any authority from the Kings Majesty let me be judged worthy my desert but if I defend the Authority of Christ Jesus over mens souls which appertaineth to no mortal man whatsoever then know you that whosoever would rob him of that Honour which is not of this world he will tread them under foot Earthly Authority belongeth to earthly Kings but spiritual Authority belongeth to that one spiritual King who is KING of Kings Ant. Well all your pleading will not serve your turn either you must come to Church or else go to Prison Ch. I have shewed you by the Law of Christ that your course is most wicked to compel any by Persecution to perform any service to God as you pretend Now I desire also to shew you that the Statute Law of the Land requireth only civil obedience and his Majesties Writings maintaining the Oath of Allegiance testifie the same The Law of the Land requireth that whosoever cometh not to Church or receiveth not the Sacraments the Oath of Allegiance is to be tendred to them which that it may be manifest to all that not only I but all that profess the Faith with me are most willing to subscribe unto it in faithfulness and truth I have thought good to express it The words of the Oath Anno 3 Jacobi Regis I A. B do truly and sincerely acknowledge profess and testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the World That our sovereign Lord King James is lawful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries And than the Pope neither of himself nor by any other Authority of the Church or Sea of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to depose the King or to dispose of any his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions or to authorize any forreign Prince to invade or annoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty or to give licence or leave to any of them to bear Arms raise Tumults or to offer any violonce or hurt to his Majesties Royal Person State or Government or any of his Majesties Subjects within his Majesties Dominions Also I do swear from my heart that notwithstanding any Declaration or Sentence of Excommunication or Deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successors or by any Authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his Sea against the said King his Heirs or Successors or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their Obedience I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration or otherwise and will do my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors all Treasons and traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against him or any of them And I do further swear that I do from my heart abhor detest and abjure as impious and heretical this damnable doctrine and position That Princes which be Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in conscience am resolved that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full Authority to be lawfully ministred to me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I do make this Recognition and Acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true Faith of a Christian So help me God Ant. This Oath was intended for the Papists and not for you Ch. It is not so for his Majesty at the last Session of Parliam Anna 1609 saith thus Some doubts have been conceived anent the using of the Oath of Allegiance and that part of the Act that ordains the taking thereof is thought so obscure that no man can tell who ought to be pressed therewith c. And therefore if there be any scruple touching the ministring thereof I would wish it now to be cleared c. And thereupon this Statute was made Anno 7. Regni Regis Iacobi c. Chap. 6. towards the latter end And if any person or persons whatsoever of or above the age of eighteen years do now stand or at any time hereafter shall stand and be presented indicted and convicted for not coming to Church or receiving the Lords Supper according
man would not be deceived by them nor plead for them but because they teach many Truths people receive them But first for whatsoever they teach they neither could nor should teach publickly their mouths should be stopped if they received not that their power to teach such Truths from those the Dragon sends and therefore none can receive those Truths from them but they receive the Devil by whose power they teach for as our Saviour saith Mat. 10.40 He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me So he that receiveth those the Beast sends receiveth the Beast and he that receiveth the Beast receiveth him that sent him that is the Devil Further. Did not that Southsayer Balaam teach excellent Truths Numb 23 24 chapters Yea the Southsayers of the Philistims the like 1 Sam. 6. Yea Those in the Gospel preach in Christs Name Mat. 7.22 As many moe testimonies might be manifested And secondly For their bringing of people to Reformation and therein doing great works Did not the Southsayers before recited 1 Sam. 6. shew the Princes their sin in detaining Gods Ark and the judgments against them for the same exhorting them to send it away and not to harden their hearts as Pharoah and the Egyptians hardned their hearts And was not Reformation wrought hereby And did not they that preached in Christs Name cast out Devils and do many and great works of whom our Saviour testifieth he never acknowledged them But let us a little consider wherein the Reformation consistech procured by their preaching in Drunkenness Whoredom Swearing c. moral duties which things whosoever is not reformed in shall never see Gods Kingdom yet which things many of the Philosophers that knew not God abounded in as they that know the Stories cannot deny But do they teach their hearers to hate vain inventions and love God's Law In a general manner of teaching they may but if it come to particular practice you shall see what they will do Do they teach any to submit to that one Law-giver Christ Jesus for the guidance of his Church and not to Antichrists Abominations No they will tell you you must sigh and groan till the Magistrate will reform for you are a private person and must be subject And if the powerful working of Gods Word and Spirit prevail in you to let you see that the Magistrates not reforming will not excuse you at the day of account but that that soul that committeth abomination shall dye and that rather than you will worship the Beast or his Image you will suffer with Christ peaceably separating your self from such open prophanation as neither can nor will be reformed endeavouring to square your self both in your entrance and walking in Christs way unto that golden Rule that he hath left for direction then the best of all those Preachers and Reformers will be hot and bitter labouring with all the turning of devices to turn you and withhold you from Reformation And if they cannot prevail hereby then publish you in their priviledged Pulpits where none may answer them You are a Schismatick Brownist Anabaptist and what not to make the multitude abhor your doings and not to follow you therein and some of them if not all under a colour procure your Imprisonment and trouble by their Canonized Lords or some of their hellish Pursevants And such Preachers of Reformation are the best of them all Indif Oh how have we been besotted in these things for want of true knowledge and understanding from the Scriptures how have I and others satisfied our selves with these things in that our estate was happy perswading our selves thereof when alas our fear towards God was taught by the inventions of men but the reason thereof was we judged our selves by our own perswasions and not by Gods Word Ch. I pray you let not that seem strange unto you that people should perswade themselves of their good estate with God when it is not so The Israelites Gods People thought their estate good many times when alas it was otherwise as the Prophets declared unto them yea our Saviour testifieth that they boasted of God being their Father when they not so much as knew him Joh. 8.19 yea when they were of their father the Devil ver 44. The five foolish Virgins thought their condition good enough and that they should have been let in but it was otherwise Luke 20. The wicked thought they did God service that killed Christs Disciples Joh. 16.2 Mans heart is deceitful Jer. 17.9 Who are more confident of their good estate with God than the Papists notwithstanding all their gross abominations Even so have you and I God pardon us thought beyond all that we were in a good estate having such zealous Teachers that teach so many excellent Truths under the title of Christs Ministers till we came to examine them as the Church of Ephesus did Rev. 2. then we found them to have no other Ministry than that they received from the Beast and his Image which the Dragon gave Rev. 13. Indif Are all without exception in this fearful estate to be case into the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Ch. All that submit obey or worship the Beast without exception for there is no respect of persons with God So saith the Lord If any man worship c. These worshippers under the Beast's Image may be divided into two sorts First those that ignorantly perswade themselves that all that is practised is good and acceptable to God Secondly those that see and acknowledge many things to be evil which they would gladly have removed but because they cannot without the Crosss of Christ partly for that and partly by the perswasion of their Prophets that the things are not fundamental and the like pretences all submit and teach men so Indif Some affirm There be thousands in England that never worshipped the Beast c. but be careful to keep the Commandments of God and Faith of Jesus Ch. Such are not under these Judgments but if their meaning be of any that submit to these Ordinances appointed for these Assemblies such Teachers preach peace when there is none strengthen the wicked that they cannot return from their wicked way by promising them life whose reward shall be according to the reward of such false Prophets Ezek. 13.1 and chap. 14.10 because they follow their own spirit and have not received it from the Lord for thus saith the Lord Such shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God Indif It is also affirmed by some That in respect of personal graces some of the Professors as they are called are the Children of God and may be communicated with privately though in respect of their Church actions they are members of Antichrists body to whom are Judgments of God appertaineth Ch. This opinion proceedeth not from Gods Word but from man's vain heart by the suggestion of the Devil which that it may evidently appear let us
things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God And 1 Joh. 2.27 But the Anointing that ye have received of Him dwelleth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and it is true and is no lye and even as it hath taught you you shall abide in Him And 1 Joh. 3.24 Hereby we know that He abideth in us even by the Spirit that He hath given us And 1 Cor. 12.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of Wisdom and to another the word of Knowledge by the same Spirit The Scriptures be so plain in this that the greatest adversaries thereof do acknowledge the truth of it only herein lyeth the difficulty Who it is that hath this Spirit of God to interpret the Scriptures which is this sure Rule which in the next place is to be handled CHAP. 3. That the Spirit of God to understand and interpret the Scriptures is given to all and every particular person that fear and obey God of what degree soever they be and not to the wicked PRoved Psal 25.12 What man is he that feareth the Lord him will he teach the way that he shall chuse And ver 14. The secret of the Lord is revealed to them that fear Him and his Covenant to give them understanding And Psal 107.43 Who is wise that he may observe these things he shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. And Dan 12.10 None of the wicked shall have understanding but the Wise shall understand For God will do nothing but He revealeth his Secrets to his Servants Amos 3.7 And Psal 119.99 c. I have had more understanding than all my Teachers and than all the Antients because I kept thy Precepts For he that keepeth the Law is a Child of understanding Prov. 28.7 And Joh. 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the Father and He shall give you the Spirit of Truth And ver 23. If any man love me he will keep my Word and my Father and I will come unto him and will dwell with him And John 7.17 If any man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or no. And Acts 5.32 Yea and the holy Ghost whom God hath given to all that obey Him And Luke 21.15 I will give you my Disciples that obey me and suffer for my sake a mouth and wisdom c. and Luke 12.12 The holy Ghost shall teach you what ye shall say For Mat. 10.20 It is not you that speak but the Spirit of my Father that speaketh in you And Mark 4.11 To you my followers is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God but not to them that are without For the Mystery of the Gospel is made manifest to the Saints Col. 2.2 The Church and Saints of God have revealed unto them by the Spirit the things that eye hath not seen c. 1 Cor. 2.9 10. And they have received the Spirit of God that they might know the things that are given them of God But the natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual discerneth all things c. ver 14. Hence is most plain to whom the Spirit of God is given even to every particular Saint of God And it is no private spirit but even the publick Spirit of God which is in him which enableth him to understand and so to declare the things given him of God 2 Pet. 1.20 That is a private spirit that is not of God though it be in multitudes but the Spirit of God though but in one Saint is not private Gods Spirit is not private for it is not comprehended only within one place person or time as mans is but it is universal and eternal so is not mans therefore mans is private though they be many Gods is publick though but in one person CHAP. 4. Those that fear and obey God and so have the Spirit of God to search out and know the mind of God in the Scriptures are commonly and for the most part the simple poor despised c. PRoved Mat. 11.5 Our Saviour faith The Poor receive the Gospel And v. 25. I thank thee Father because thou hast opened these things unto Babes it is so O Father because thy good pleasure was such And Jam. 2.5 Hearken my beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the Poor of this world that they should be rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised c. And 1 Cor. 1.26 c. Brethren you see your calling that God hath chosen the foolish of this world the weak of this world the vile of this world and dispised and which are not Gods dealing is to give unto the Simple sharpness of wit and to the Child knowledge and discretion Prov. 1.4 The Sprit bloweth where it listeth John 3.8 and is not tyed to the Learned Poor persecuted Micaiah had the Truth against four hundred of King Ahabs Prophets 1 King 22. So had Jeremiah against all the Priests and Prophets of Israel The Lord of Life himself in his fleshly being what was he but a man full of sorrows in his Birth laid in a Cratch because there was no room for him in the Inne Luk 2.7 A Carpenter by Trade Mar. 6.3 Having not a hole to rest his head in Mat. 8.20 And in his Death contemned and dispised His Apostles in like manner what were they but mean men Fishermen Tentmakers and such like having no certain dwelling-place 1 Cor. 4.11 which the worldly-wise Scribes and Pharises took notice of and reproachfully said Joh. 7.48 Do any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believe in him but this people that know not the Law are accursed ver 49. The truth of this is as plain as may be that the Scriptures being the Rule of Faith perfect and absolute and that the plainness of them is such as by the Spirit of God they may be easily understood of those that fear and obey God but of none else and that such are most commonly the poor and dispised for if any man want wisdom be he never so simple let him ask of God and he will give him Jam. 1.5 Which is also confirmed by humane Testimonies The Protestants confess Whit. pag. 7. That in the Primative Church the Doctrines and several points of Religion were known and discovered by the most mean of the people and the Bishops exhorted them thereunto c. Also pag. 9. That this Rule is of that nature that it is able to direct any man be he never so simple yea the most unlearned alive may conceive and understand it sufficiently for his salvation And they relate the Sayings of the Ancient in this thing pag. 32. First Clemens Alexandrinus The Word is not hid from any it is a common Light