his people that he is the Authour not of those Actions alone in and with which sin is but of the very Pravity Ataxy Anomy Irregularity and sinfullnesse it self which is in them 12. That all Lyes come forth out of the mouth of God 13. 'T is the will and command of God that since the coming of his Son the Lord Jesus a permission of the most Paganish Jewish Turkish or Antichristian consciences and worship be granted to all men in all Nations and Countries and they are only to be fought against with the sword of Gods Spirit the word of God and for the Parliament to use any civill coercive meanes to compell men of different judgment is one of the greatest sins that can be named 't is committing a greater rape then if they had forced or ravished the bodies of all the women in the world Yea if it be mens consciences the Magistrate may not punish for blasphemies nor for denying the Scriptures nor for denying there is a God 14. That no man was cast into hell for any sin but only because God would have it so 15. That a man had life before God breathed into him and that which God breathed into him was part of the divine Essence and shall returne unto God again 16. That we should think of our selves no better then was meet for God loves the creatures that creep upon the ground as well as the best Saints and there is no distance between the flesh of a Man and the flesh of a Toad 17. That the Prince of the ayr that rules in the children of disobedience is God and that there is no other spirit but one which Spirit is God 18. That God hath not decreed all the actions of men because men doing what God decreed do not â—in 19. That God was never angry nor displeased with man for if he were ever displeased and pleased again then there is a changeablenesse in God 20. That God loved not one man more then another before the world neither is there an absolute particular election but only generall and conditionall upon perseverance and the Scripture no where speaks of Reprobates or Reprobation 21. That the soul dies with the body and all things shall have an end but God only shall remain for ever 22. Every creature in the first creation was God and every creature is God every creature that hath life and breath being an efflux from God and shall returne into God again be swallowed up in him as a drop is in the ocean 23. That to a saving knowledge of God it sufficeth not to know him in the book of nature nor secondly as revealed in the holy Scriptures but that we must know him as abstract from his mercies and all his attributes 24. That in the Unity of the God-head there is not a Trinity of Persons but the Doctrine of the Trinity beleeved and professed in the Church of God is a Popish tradition and a Doctrine of Rome 25. There are not three distinct Persons in the Divine Essence but only three Offices the Father Son and holy Ghost are not three Persons but Offices 26. That there is but one Person in the Divine nature 27. That Jesus Christ is not very God not God essentially but nominally not the eternall Son of God by eternall generation no otherwise may he be called the Son of God but as he was man 28. That Christs humane nature is defiled with originall sin as well as ours Christ had from the birth to his death the same originall corruption as ours he took our sin into his nature as well as our flesh upon him Christ is not of a holier nature then we but in this appeares Gods love to us that he will take one of us in the same conditition to convince us of what he is to us and hath made us to be in him me thinks the beholding of Christ to be holy in the flesh is a dishonour to God in that we should conceive holinesse out of God and again a discomfort to the Saints that he should be of a more holy nature then they as being no ground for them to come neer with boldnesse to God 29. That we did look for great matters from one crucified at Ierusalem 16 hundred yeares ago but that does us no good it must be a Christ formed in us the deity united to our humanity Christ came into the world to live thirty two years and to do nothing else that he knew and blessed God he never trusted in a crusified Christ. 30. Christ was true man when he created us yea from eternity and though he had not flesh yet was he very man without flesh 31. That Christ died for all men alike for the reprobate as well as for the elect and that not only sufficiently but effectually for Iudas as well as Peter for the damned in hell as well as the Saints in Heaven 32. That by Christs death all the sins of all the men in the world Turks Pagans as well as Christians committed against the morall Law and first Covenant are actually pardoned and forgiven and this is the everlasting Gospel 33. That Christ did only satisfie for the sins against the first Covenant but not for the sins against the second Covenant as unbelief he died not for the unbelief of any 34. Christ died only for sins past i. e. before the Gospel is revealed to the sinner and the sins of men committed after conversion Christ died not for but they are pardoned by his being a continuall sacrifice 35. Every man satisfies for himselfe for the sins against the second Covenant namely unbelief because he that beleeves not the wrath of God abides upon him so that for a years unbelief a man beares a years wrath and this is all the satisfaction God requires 36. That no man shall perish or go to hell for any sin but unbeleef only 37. That the Heathen who never heard of Christ by the Word have the Gospel for every creature as the Sun Moon and Stars preach the Gospel to men and in them is revealed the knowledge of Christ crucified and sin pardoned if they had eyes to see it 38. Those Heathen that perish do perish only for not beleeving according to the Gospel they enjoy 39. Christ did not by his death purchase life and salvation for all no nor for the elect For it was not the end of God in the coming of Christ to purchase love and life but Christ himself was purchased by love that hee might make out love and purchase us to love 40. Christ Jesus came into the world to witnesse and declare the love of God to us not to procure it for us or to satisfie God as some say Christ was a most glorious publisher of the Gospel he was sent to preach the Gospel to heal the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the captives in all that Christ saith to be the end of
their partie crying them up in Pulpits News-books conferences calling them the saviours of the Kingdomes and for this purpose they have certaine men that are Criers and Trumpetters between the Armie Citie and Countrey who trumpet forth their praises giving them the titles of Terrible c. a large book would not containe the relation of all the victories glorious actions exploits having been given to the Armie called Independent 2. Practice They give out and boast their partie to be more and greater than they are some of them will speak in all places as if all were theirs all for them they have given out as if Parliament Armies Citie of London Countrey all the godly wise judicious understanding men were theirs and will be theirs yea that the Assembly the French Churches the Commissioners of the Church of Scotland thought well of their way and so of particular persons that are prime men they have given out as if they were or are coming over to them Some of them have bragg'd that Sir Thomas Fairfax that vâ—liant victorious Commander in chief of the Parliament Forces began to have some glimmering of new light and I can prove Letters have been written over to some of their partie in Holland that Mr. Marshall was turned Independent they use to boast of their friends in the House of Commons and they will acquaint their friends in the House of Commons and they brag of a Toleration giving out their friends in the House of Commons have said they shall have a Toleratioâ— and they boast thus to awe persons and to make men afraid to speak against them or to oppose them but rather to adhere to them who are so powerfull and have so many on their side 3. Practice They appropriate to themselves the name of the godly and well-affected partie the title of Saints calling themselves the Saints that they only preach Jesus Christ and though they be Anabaptists Seekers c. yet they are the Saints this is common in printed Books Petitions Sermons Discourses what speak against the Saints be against a Toleration for the Saints meaning themselves only 4. Practice They pretend one thing when they intend quite another and it is usuall for them to pretend the publike good the benefit of the State when it is evident they intend their owne interest and strengthen of their partie they pretend peace love forbearing of all names of difference to make the Presbyterians secure negligent and to forbeare all means of setling things and yet at the same time go quite contrarie using all means and waies for promoting their own partie as they did after the losse of Leicester 5. Practice What themselves are most faultie in that they will charge upon others the Presbyterian Miâ—isters and people as making dâ—visions wanting love as breaking the peace and causing mis-rules tumults as be guilty of persecution when as 't is evident to all the world they are most faulty in these particulars and in many more and for the proof of it I Iould demonstrate it in a hundred instances 6. Practice They do on purpose having got Churches void keepe manie Churches without Ministers seeke out for none stop all they can Orthodox Ministers from coming in which they do for two reasons 1. That so they may pay no Tithes 2. That so they may have the liberty of the Pulpits for all kinde of Sectaries and mechanick preachers who come from London the Armies and other places to preach in and corrupt the people and that the people being as sheep without a shepherd may be more easily now drawne away to error and schisme and of this practice there are many sad examples in Hartfordshire Bucking Essex and that in some great market-townes as Chesham where thousands of souls are 7. Practice They have laboured and do by all waies to have no Church-Government at all setled in this Kingdome but to keep it out Or secondly if there must be any yet to have a defective imperfect loose Government and Reformation that may not be able to do the worke that so others may fall off to their way the more and for proof of this they have refused to joyn for a pure full Reformation in points according to their own principles that so one good might not hinder a greater good as was expressed and have opposed to the utmost a thorow Presbyteriall Reformation 3. They have laboured to get a Toleration granted before the Government be setled to get an exception before the rule was made and if once they had gotten that let the Presbyterians get the Government then when they could and this they stirred in and sought to effect last winter 4. Seeing they could not do this but this policy was espied they labour for a Toleration together with a Reformation that the Church-Government and a Toleration might be borne and brought forth together as twins in one day and so go hand in hand and this they are labouring for now the monster of Toleration conceived in the wombe of the Sectaries long ago they having growne big with it ever since are now in travell to bring it forth and till they could be ready and get things fitted for a Toleration they bestirred themselves so against the London Petitions that of September those of November lest Government should be setled before a Toleration and therefore one of them said to some Citizens why should you bee so hâ—sty for Government cannot you stay awhile how long said they To spring said this Sectarie hoping their toleration businesse would be readie by that 8. Practice In some Parish-Churches where the Sectaries are put in they have put downe all siâ—ging of Psâ—lms as at Elsly in Cambr. sâ— Alberie in Hartford-shire and will not suffer the Parishes to enjoy any singing of Psalms and in other places they begin to put down all Prayer in the publike Assemblies and to say there must be onely discoursing and preaching and in places where they cannot prevaile to shut out singing of Psalmes they in a contemptuous manner clap on their hats in the time of singing of Psalms and having been pull'd off put them on again yea in prayer also many of them keep on hats 9. Practice They send forth into severall Counties of this Kingdome from their Churches in London as Church-acts severall Emissaries members of their Churches to preach and spread their errours to dip to gather and settle Churches they are not content with their owne meetings on Lords-daies week-daies keeping constant Lectures in set places for all to come to that will thereby poisoning many in the City but they endeavour the leavening of all the Counties as I might give instances of Lam Kiffin with many others sent abroad yea of some sent into the North as farre as York 10. They have appointed and kept Disputations from towne to towne in the Countrey giving out the time places and questions they will dispute of as of Poedobâ—ptisme the Ministery of the Church of England
as Paul the Apostle 〈◊〉 he was a blasphemer * Baleuâ— de Roman Pontificum Actisâ—vita Leon. decim Iul. teri Quantum nobis ae nostro coetui proâ—uerit ea de Christo fabula satis est saeculis omnibus notum Tum Iulius Si voluit Deus usque adeo propterunum pomum irasci ut ejiceritprimos parentes ex Paradiso curnon liteat mihi qui sum ejus Vicarius irasci propteâ— pavonem cùm multò major res sit pavo quà m pomum Schismatici non sunt longaevi Nulla haeresis unquam c. * Vide carâ—w in locum quamobrem illud statuamus eos qui se effeâ— unt dejectos iri decasuros etiamsi vertice coelum atrigerint unde nostro proverbio jactatur Pride will have a fall Antapol p. 21 28. Vide Independ razing their owne foundation pag. 314 5. * The Declaration of the Kingdom of England and Scotland by the honourable Houses of the Parliament of England and the honourable Convention of Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland in the year 1643. page 3 â— a Mr. Prins Discoverie of prodigious nevv lights shewes some Sectaries boasting of their friends in the House of Commons b Some Sectaries have said it to some who have told it me that there is never a Committee about London but they have some friend or other in it that as soone as any of them is in question gives them notice of it and of the Articles against them and acquaints them with the state of things Quod autem ad veritatem Doctrinae spectat ubi castior integrior vel in universo terrarum orbe Totus Papatus hic jugulatur Anabaptistae Antitrinitarii Arriani hujusmodi monstra excitata rursum ab inferis partim in Germania partim in Transylvania nusquam acâ—orem hostem invenerunt quid etiam non tentaverit ut Germanicis Ecclesâ—is errores suos evelleret Brightman In Apocalyp pag. 53. In Antitypo Iudaeisunt quotquot ertoribus implicaâ—i sibi unis veritatem fidem salutem promissiones Dei arrogant nihil nisi Templum Templum crepantes quales fuerunt Arriani Episcopi sub Constantino Constantio Valente Vide plura Brighton pag. 5â— Vide Brightâ—n in loc pag. 56. Vide Brightmanâ—um in Apocalyp pag. 57. * Hieron in Epist. ad Titum cap. 3. Viâ— esse Schisma ullum quod non aliquam confingat haeresim ut ab Ecclesia meritó recessisse videatur Quicunque enim labitâ—r in Errorem aliquem ab unitate Ecclesiae se divelli nunquam patitur ille Error in eo esse poterit hoeresis materialiter non formaliter non enim in eo est pertinacia qui Ecclesiailli adhaeret aâ— qua paraâ—us est docerl M. Antonius De Dominis de Republ. Eccles. l. 7. c. 10. August coatralit Petil. lib. 1. Schisma omnia scelera sâ—pergreditur * Optatuâ— lib. 1. Distantiam esse delictorum aut remissio testatur aut paena quod in sacrilegos parrâ—cidam non secerat in sâ—ismaticos â—ect August Epist. 142. Qui fecerunâ— idolum usitata gladii morte perempti sunt qui vero schisma facero volnerunt Matu terra principes devorati turba consentienâ— igne consumpta est Diversitate paenarum diversitas agnoscitur meritorum Vide New Annotations on Matt. 13â—25 * Calv. in Psal. 2.10 Adde quòd inanis sapientiae fâ—ltus qâ—o turgent eos quid reâ—â—on sit disâ—ere non patitur Quum eos jubet intelligentiá esse praeditor oblique falsâ—m prudentia confidentium in ipsis persiringit Ergo quansumuis sibi placeant mundi Principes in suo ocumine sciamus eos plaâ—e desipere deneâ— fiant humiles Christi discipuli * Gerb. de Magistratu politico Sect. 5. Tuncuerò Christo serviunt ipsamque osculantur si non ipsi soluin doctrinam Christi recipiunt ac fide amplectuntur sed etiam potestate divinitùs sibi data hoc efficiunt ut puritos doctrinae in Ecclesia conservetur idololatriae falsi cultus aboleantur lupt ab ovisi Dominico arceantur Ministri Ecclesiae commâ—de alantur c. * Aug. Epist. 166. Et quibus dictum est Servite Domino in timore c. Nonne Regibus At quonam modo serviunt Dominy Reges in timore nisi ea quae contra Domini jussa fiunt religiosa seueritate prohipendo Aliter enim eorum quisque servit quia 〈…〉 quia Rex est uam 〈…〉 sâ—rvit vivendo fideliter quia verò Rex est servit Leges pracipientes connaria prehibentes convenâ—enti rigore sanciendo * Calâ—in in Psal. 2.12 Peâ—iâ—e de viâ— quidem exponunt propter viam perversam vol sâ—eleratam vivendi rationem Ahi resolvunt 〈◊〉 via vestra percat Mihi magis anida diversus sensuâ— quod David fere denuntiet ut â—os intercipiat subitus Dei furer dum se putabant adhue esse in medio sladio Scimus enim ut Dei contempteres sibi in secunda fortunâ— Llandiâ—i seleant quasi in laâ—â— campo se 〈◊〉 Non aâ—s re 〈◊〉 minatur Propheta quum dixerinâ— â—ax securitas se procul 〈◊〉 siue suo putantes repentino interitu 〈…〉 * Calv. n Psal 2 10. Per Adverbium nune significat mature illis esse resâ—pèscendum quia non semper eadem dabitur oppertunitas a Scult Annal. Dec. â— Melch Adam vit Musculi pag. 377. Musculi loci commun de Haeresi pag. 611. Iohannes Gaster AnabaptistaruÌ„ Doctor quem in còlloquio Ambiosins glaureus Eslingae in viam reduxit Scultet Annal. Dec. 2. b Vide Letter pag. 70 71. of the second part of Gangraena * These persons have been with me and what I write I had from their owne mouths and relations as many others also have had Igitur scelestus blasphemus est eorum Error qui sic ab hac Ecclesia deficiunt quasi hinc Christus exularet prorsus nec ulla spes salutis manentibus esse posset Cogitent hic Christum convivantem cum suis. An pudebiteos illic discumbere ubi vident Christum non pudere An illo sanctiores mundiores erunt Sed quare se non convincunt suo ipsorum usu non possunt inficiari quin prius in Christum crediderint quam secerunt à nobis divortium unde haec fides Annon ex praedicatione in nostra Ecclesia Nunquid autem praedicare quis potest nisi mittatur Rom. 10 13 c. Quamobrem redire ad unitatem Ecclesiae quae vos genuit aluit Si fugiatis hunc Christum qui cum electis in nostris cae ibuscaenat ac eos vicissim excipit profecto nulquam invenietis Sanitatis mentem precor illis ut ad veritatem redeant quo fugiant sup licium quod desertores manet * Let us now reach forth our hearts and hands unto our Brethren of Sea land let us come up fully unto this our ingagement and rejoyce in it for certainly that Nation is a Nation that God doth love a Nation that God doth honour and by those many expressions of his love sheweth that he doth intend to make them speciall instruments of the great things he hath to doe in this later age of the world It is a Nation that is united the most firmly of any people under heaven wee may truly call it a Philadelphia And Brightman that famous light in forâ—er times 30 or 40 yeares since did parallel the Church of Philadelphia with the Church of Scotland Philadelphia signifies brâ—therly love VVhen was there ever a Nation such a Church that joyned together in such firme Covenants as they have done had we had that Reunion among us O how great things had we done before this time A Nation it is that hath ingaged it self to God in a higher way in a more extraordinarie way then any Nation this day upon the face of the earth hath done in the most solemne way covenanting with the eternal God pawâ—ing sorth their prayers and their tears for joy together with their covenanting A Nation that hath reformed their lives for so smalltime more then ever any people that we know of in the world have done And a people that have risen up against Antichrist more in another way then ever people have done and that is the great worke of God in these times And therefore God certainly hath a love into them because they breake the ice and begin the worke and arise in such a way as they do for the pulling downe of the man of sin Mr. Burroughs Speech delivered at Guild-hall pag. 28 29. Vide plura Vide Scots late Declaration I saw some Letters written lately from Newcastle by English there as one Mr. P. and others who speak much of the integritie and faithfulnesse of the Scots and that they suffer not a man ill affected to come to Court no not so much as into the Towne
those Articles to be burnt by the hand of the common Hang-man and the war to go on which proved their ruine and fatall destruction And for a conclusion of this Symptome I will end it with those words of the Prophet Isaiah Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see but they shâ—â— see and be ashamed for their envie towards thy people yea the fire of thine enemies shall devoure them Lord thou wilt ordaine peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works for us And though it be a sad thing that men holding forth a profession of Religion should fall to those wayes and grow to such an height as I have laid open yet I am perswaded it is a good hand of God and his speciall providence and mercie to his Church in these Kingdomes to leave the Sectaries to fall into so many evils to take such strange wayes thus to discover themselves and to proceed so far that so the Kingdomes knowing them well they might in the issue be more effectually cured and perfectly delivered from them for had these men kept themselves within the compasse of a few of their opinions and carried things faire and not broke out as they have done we should have thought them good holy men been much taken with them and many would have been deceived by them yea in time they might have got such an interest and had such an influence as to have corrupted all but now having thus early discovered themselves both in matters of Church and State in opinions and practices this hath so opened the eyes of this Kingdome yea of both that it will cause them to abhor and abominate them as a wicked Faction whose principles would bring in an universall Anarchy both upon Church and State overthrowing all Ministerie setled Government and order in the Church being against Kingly Government the House of Peeres House of Commons unlesse ad placitum and so long as the common people like them and all power of Magistrates in capitall matters over Church members in the Commonwealth and who cared not to have sacrificed the Religion peace happinesse of these Kingdomes upon the ambition furie pride lust opinions of Anabaptists Libertines Seekers Brownists Independents And therefore however the Sectaries may flatter themselves in the encrease of their partie in the power they have in some places in the favour they find among some great men yet let them know notwithstanding their policies all their arms of flesh all their friends in the Armies in the House of Commons and in Committees which they so boast of yet God will overthrow them and these eight particulars are certaine symptomes of their ruine and let who will do what they can to uphold them yet God will bring them downe for when they spring as the grasse and as the Workers of iniquitie flourish then is it that they shall be destroyed for ever And therefore let us be couragious and faithfull to the cause of God contending earnestly for the faith which was once at livered to the Saints and let us be in nothing terrified by the Sectaries And to all the Symptomes I have given already being so many fore-runners of their fall let the Reader consider this That they have their deaths wound already the fatall arrow sticks in their sides and having begun to fall they shall surely fall and that besides the Citie of London and other instruments God will honour our Brethren of Scotland to make them a great means of their falling and they shall fall before the Scots whom they have so vilified and unworthily dealt with as the Prelaticall and Popish partie did and me thinks the way of Gods proceedings all along this way of Reformation and many passages of his providence hint point it out to us for the Sectaries are a Faction alike opposite to our Brethren of Scotland viz. the other extreme and all along from first to last God hath made the Scots instrumentall for the good of this Kingdome and bringing things thus far And that God will honour the Kingdome of Scotland and the Church-reformation according to their way to bring down the Sectaries let the Reader consult with M. Brightman a man of a propheticall spirit in his Exposition on the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3. 8 9 10. where he shews that Church to whom so many promises are made to be the reformed Churches of Geneva France Scotland and those who are according to that way of Reformation in Doctrine and Church Government and among many things observed by M. Brightman on that place I shall only point at two 1. That Philadelphia the type of Geneva Scotland and the Churches of that Reformation is most famous for truth of Doctrine As for truth of Doctrine where is there any place in the whole world chaster and sounder Here the whole Papacie is destroyed Anabaptists Antitrinitarians Arrians and such monsters raised again from Hell partly in Germany partly in Transylvania never found a sharper enemy 2. By those who say they are Jewes and are not vers 9. in the Antitype are all those who holding errours do arrogate alone to themselves truth faith salvation the promises of God boasting nothing else but the Temple such were the Arrians under Constantine Constantius Valens and such are at this day the Papists glorying in Peters Chaire these will be accounted the only Catholikes and their Church the only Church of Christ c. Now if wee consider well of these two things 1. We shall find no Church sounder for Doctrine than the Church of Scotland nor greater enemies not only against Papacie and Prelacie but against Anabaptists Seekers and all kind of Sectaries than they are 2. Wee shall not among all Heretikes and Sectaries that have been since the writing of this Epistle find any that have more resembled the Jewes in boasting themselves to be the only people of God than the Sectaries of our times the Anabaptists Independents who extoll themselves for the only Saints calling themselves the Saints the people of God the Church and their way is called by them the Church-way Church-fellowship Christs way and that all who are not of their way are without c. so that these words do most fully agree to them who say they are Iewes and are not but do lye and therefore to conclude this Corallarie all the promises made to Philadelphia do belong in a speciall manner to our Brethren of Scotland as First That God will make them come viz. those who are the Antitype to those Jews the Sectaries Anabaptists Independents that whole Faction and worship before their feet and to know that God hath loved them that is they shall overcome and triumph over these Sectaries and however they have been hitherto abused and scorned by them neither have these unthankfull men acknowledged my love from that singular gift of zeale pietie which I bestowed upon thee yet I will adorn thee with those things which are in great
account in the world thou shalt have victories over these enemies and thou shalt enrich thy self with their spoiles so that no man but shall be compelled to acknowledg thee deerly beloved whom above all hope they shall see so wonderfully encreased O Church of Scotland and all yee that are for Reformation Presbyteriall against the Sectaries nourish your hopes by these things neither let your hearts be troubled whatsoever the wâ—â—ld speaks against you Secondly Because they have kept the word of Gods patience God will keep them from the houre of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth That is because they stood for my Doctrine and truth with a great deale of danger and yet with a great deale of patience have constantly continued in their duty I will therefore deliver them out of their dangers I will not suffer them to sinck and perish in their trialls but I will give them strength whereby they shall not only strongly beare their calamity but they shall also over-come and be conquerors not that the houre of temptation shall not at all touch these Philadelphians for it can hardly be in the common calamity of the whole world that they should be wholly free but to keep them from the houre of temptation is to deliver them as God saved them from the hands of their enemies that is deliver them 2. Iudg. 18. 3. Him that over-commeth God will make a Pillar in his Temple he shall go no more ouâ— c. that is God promises to make that Church over-comming being an Hebraisme nominativi absoluti and the reward is that that Church shall be like a Pillar in the Temple of God that is shall remain firm and lasting in the Church neither shall that Church feare any ruine or destruction however the raine falls the flouds beat the winds blow and all things with a joynt force break in upon them The spirit of God alludes to the two Brasen Pillars placed by Solomon in the Temple of God which set forth the stability of the sonnes of God And so by the grace of God is this Church not tainted nor corrupted with Schisme and base defection as the Church of Sardis was which having no care of a full Reformation by the just judgement of God lost the most of the people CORALL III. HEnce then from all these Errours Heresies Blasphemies and Practises of the Sectaries we may see what a great evill and sin separation is from the communion of the Reformed Churches and how highly displeasing to God for men to make a Schisme and Rent in the Church of God in a time of Reformation God punishing the Schisme and Separation of our times with so many Heresies Blasphemies wicked practises c. as I have laid down in this and my former Book wherein God witnesses from Heaven against the present separation in giving men up to great spirituall judgements and evills and indeed God testifies more against the Sectaries of our times then against the old Brownists and Separatists leaving the Sectaries of these dayes to fall into greater Errours Heresies Blasphemies and more pernicious Practises then the former few of them in comparison falling either to those Opinions or Practises which generally the Separatists do now but held to their first principles more a great reason whereof I conceive to be this the old Separatists having greater scandals and more just occasion of separating then the new the old Separatists being like men stealing upon need or some want the new like those who steale upon wantonnesse and for their pleasure the onelike wives and children going away and leaving harsh bitter hard unkind husbands and parents the other forsaking loving and kind husbands and Parents allowing them all things siting and that can reasonably be desired their sinne was not so great then as now and so the punishment not so great There are two wayes to judge of the greatnesse of sinnes and of Gods displeasure against them either by the nature and kind of them viewing them formaliter in their formality or in the effects and fruits of them effective Now this Corallary leads me to judge and speak of Schisme and Separation in the latter and among all punishments the effects and fruits which declare the greatnesse of any sinne spirituall judgements and punishments are the sorest and sadest The punishment upon the Heathen Rom. 1.21.24 c. when they knew God for not glorifying him as God and for their idolatry is giving them up to uncleanenesse and vile affections to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient suffering them to be fild with all unrighteousnesse wickednesse covetousnesse malitiousnesse deceit malignity debate to be proud inventers of evill things without naturall affection Covenant-breakers implacable c. 2. Thes. 2.11 The judgement of God upon the Antichristian world as a fruit of their sin in not receiving the truth in love is Gods sending them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye 2. Tim. 13. and the punishment of God upon Seducers is that they shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived that they who are filthy shall be filthy still Revel 22 11. Now the judgements of God upon the Heathen Idolaters upon the Antichristian Faction upon Seducers and filthy persons are upon the Schismaticks and Separatists of our times God hath given them up to feareful Opinions to damnable Heresies blasphemies God hath sent strong delusions to beleeve lyes strange conceits and God hath left them to all kind of filthynesse unrighteousnesse uncleannesse unnaturalnesse c. Whosoever doth but read and consider the First and Second Part of Gangraena must needs say that God hates Schisme and Separation in leaving those who are guilty of it to do those things they do daily I may truly say God hath set markes and brands upon this way of Separation not only burning them in their hands but branding them in their foreheads Schisme hath Coins mark and brand upon it of a Fugitive and Vagabond upon the earth How do we see in daily experience our Sectaries have no rest but wander and go from one Errour and way to another till they quite lose themselves being Saint Iudes raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame wandring Stars to whom is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever The punishment of Schisme and Separation from the Church is Separation from God Heresie Blasphemy Atheism uncleannesse unrighteousnesse Schisme doth most easily draw into Heresie and we hardly ever knew or read of any Schisme in the Curch which did not make a Heresie that it might deservedly seem to forsake the Church The ancient Fathers as Irenaeus Cyprian do excellently shew that those who forsake the Church do necessarily fall into most foule Errours against the truth of faith and some of them show that Schisme is a worse and more pernicious evill in the Church of God then Heresie and no Errour will be