tythes of the spoile as due to him the giver of victory the subduer of the enemies and the preserver of the Conquerour Holy Abraham was by this blessing well informed upon what grounds tythes were payable unto God and therefore he would not on any condition give away Gods portion wherefore he gave the tenth of the spoile which was Gods due to the Priest of the most high God though he would not take the residue of the spoile or goods which he had got in the warre when the King Gen. 14. 21 22 23. of Sodom would have had him Again the expressing of the Apostle seemes fully to give a reason of his paying tythes of both He annexeth immediately to the interpretation of Melchizedecks names the mentioning that Abraham gave a tenth of all as a sufficient reason of Abrahams paying tythes of his substance and tythes of the spoiles The Apostles words are these To whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all first being by interpretation King of Righteousnesse and after that also King Heb. 7. 2. of Salem which is King of Peace as if he would have us to consider that the tenth part of all is to be given to the God of righteousnesse who exacts nothing from any people but that which is right and the tenth of spoiles also as well as the tenth of substance is to be given to the God of peace who causeth all to enjoy peaceably whatever they do inherit 5. Thou asks Did he it ever any more then once Answ Abrahams example of doing it though we had no intimation how oft he did it is binding to all who are by profession children of Abraham according to faith so oft to do it as they have the same grounds for doing it which Abraham once had As therefore Abraham paid unto the Priest of the most high God the tyth of all his substance on this ground because the Lord was the high Possessor of heaven and earth and so the giver unto him all his increase even so every true believer must return to God the tythe of his substantial increase as oft as the Lord gives unto his substance an increase Deut. 14. 22 which is yearly for so God hath told him and such have Abrahams example acting herein on this ground because God was the blesser of him from leaven and on earth in all his particular increase and as Abraham paid tythe of the spoiles which were took in War on this ground because the Lord had preserved him and given him the victory over his enemies so at every time when the Lord shall call any true believer to triumph over his enemies he ought to return unto God the tythe of the spoiles taken as a thankful acknowledgement that the Lord was his keeper and deliverer from his enemies and the subduer for him of those who were risen up against him and as oft as he doth this he is in doing so an Imitator of Abraham who on the very same grounds did pay tythes of all It is not plainly said how oft he did so because the holy Scripture was not indited to be an hystory either to relate every particular act which was done by these holy men of whom it makes mention or every particular time of their doing the self-same holy act for substance which it saith they did but Gods intention of recording in holy Scripture any good act which they did though there be no mention how oft they did it was for our learning and imitation that we might thorough patience and comfort of the Scriptures have hope namely Rom. 15. 4 that we from the good presidents of any good which it reports they did might learne to be patient or perseverant in the like well-doing and might be comforted seeing the holy Scripture commends unto us the good which they have at any time done And holy Scriptural commendings are vertual commandings of us to practice the same good at all times on the same grounds which moved them at any time to act it according to the Apostle follow saith he ever that which is good and think on these things in which there is any praise as there 1 Cor. 10. 18 is a great deal in the good done by the holy men in Scripture whom the Lord commendeth Besides though holy Scripture tells not in plain termes how oft Abraham paid tythes to Melchizedeck for the reason already given yet there is an expression which seems to imply that it was more then once for the Apostle commands not to be slothful but followers of those who through faith and patience Heb. 6. 12. inherit the promise and presently instanceth in Abraham continuing still his discourse of him thoroughout that Chapter and unto the next where he tells of his act of paying tythes of all to Melchizedeck and of his act of dividing unto Melchizedeck the tenth out of the spoile This following of Abâ—aham is a word of prosecution and naturally implies that Abraham made more steps or acts then one onely in tything wherein we are as well called in following him to propose him unto our selves for an example as we are called on to walk after his patterne in those several steppings or actings which he made in believing the promises and in patiently enduring until Heb. 6. 13 14 15. he had obtained them 6. Thou asks Was it a standing thing to be done after him Answ 1. I suppose it is already very cleare by what is said that paying of tythes to Evangelical Ministers is a standing duty to be paid unto them even as it was but duty in Abraham as it hath been proved to pay tythes to Melchizedeck the Evangelical Priest of the most high God who met him not with Altars and sacrifices like a Levitical Priest but with bread and wine as if he had been a Minister of the Gospel Paying tythes is a standing duty to be discharged unto the Ministers of the Gospel so long as Christ imployes them in his stead to do his Evangelical service of blessing the people and of blessing God for them and for their good successes and of seeking the welfare of their souls and bodies in teaching them to inherit eternal blessings in and thorough him the Lord Jesus Christ 2. It is plain paying of tythes was a standing thing to be done after Abrahams time because Jacob who was Abrahams Gen. 28. 22 grandchild vowed to pay the tenth to God of all that which he should give him That holy man well understood the grounds on which tythes are due unto God both from his father Isaac's blessing wherein he expresseth that all that which he was to have was to be given unto him from God God said Isaac give thee of the dew of heaven and the fatnesse of the earth and plenty of corne and wine and also at his vision Gen. 27. 28 of the providential ladder he understood so much from Gods own promise that he would give unto him and to his
on earth that he shall never more conflict and combate with it for so long as he lives he shall be less or more troubled with its inherency turbulency and Tyranny though it shall have in him no regency no Soveraignty no conquest to cause him to serve sin The Apostle knew that the old man was crucified that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth he and others in Christ should not serve Rom. 6. 6. Râ—m 7 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 sin yet he complaines of the Inbeing of his corruption and of its powerfull working presence In crossing him the motions of the spirit unto good and in haling him to be a captive unto evill though he acknowledgeth with thankfulness that it shall not have any totall and finall conquering prevalency over him 7. I believe according to the holy Scripture that there is no living man upon the earth who is free from sin a personall sinlesse perfection is not to be found among any mortall men on earth because the Scripture telleth us Their 1. King 8. 46. Prov. 20. 9. Eccl. 7. 20. is no man that sinneth not and againe who can say I have made my heart cleane I am pure from my sin and againe there is not a just man on the earth that doth good and sinneth not The meaning is he sinneth in doing good for so the Prophet acknowledgeth all our riâ—hteousnesses are as filthy rags Againe one 〈◊〉 64. 6. â—â—m 3. 2. Iohn 1. 8. Apostle saith in many things we offend all he includes himself other Apostles as great as he in holiness and both of them were very holy men excludes not himself saying If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourâ—elves and the truth is not in us I believe the tâ—uth of all these scriptures and therefore I do not believe that any mortal man while he is on the earth is free from sin 7. Quest Dost thou owne that salvation that is wrought out with fear and trembling Answ That Salvation the working out of which with fear Phil. 2. 12 13 an trembling the Apostle exhorts to because God worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure is properly the worke of obedience and Piety which one works who is in the State and course of Salvation This is called salvation because it conduceth to and will end in salvation for a man who continueth to the end in the course of true Obedience and Mat. 29 13 piety is sure to obtaine felicity he who endureth to the end shall be saved I say then that 1. I own that salvation which is to be wrought out I own that their should be a finishing the work of obedience and graciousness which tends to salvation even of all such good workes which God hath ordained that we should walke in and Eph. 2. 10. 2. I own that this obedient and pious working which tends to further us toward the end of our faith the perfect salvation of the soule should be wrought with fear and trembling that is as these words as here conjoyned do genuinely signify with an awfull reverentiall humble carfulness neither to offend God on whom their must be a dependency or ability to worke nor to deserve his Judgment by any proud arrogancy in presuming on the worke which we do though it be good seeing it is of his pure grace of his good pleasure that the very working out the very doing and finishing of any good is effected by us I do own this holy fear and trembling commended in Scripture which is an holy dread in the soule whereby it stands in awe of God having a great carefulnesse to walke humbly with God and fiducialâ—y to depend on him in all holy working And I do verily beleive that this fear and holy awe of the soul in its endeavouring to observe Gods commandments and to depart from evil is a surer evidence of one that works out his salvation in fear and trembling then are the quakings shakings wrestings and wringings of any body whatsoever for it is well known that in some men bodily quakings have been the effects of their Dâ—ut 28. 65 Psa 69. 23 bodily diseases in others they have been the fruites of Satanicall possessions and in some they are from divine curse and infliction 8. Quest Dost thou owne the same Revelation and Inspiration that the Apostles and Prophets had now in this age yea or no Answ I own all those selfe same revelations which were revealed to the Apostles and Prophets by the inspiration of the Spirit when they indited the holy scripture for in the writings of these his holy Pen-men Christ hath now fully and finally recorded the whole will and counsel of God concerning the way of his service and concerning all things necessary for mans salvation these are able to make wise unto salvation and seeing that God now only in these last dayes speakes unto us 1. Tim. 3. 15. Heb. 1. 1. Iuk 10. 6. Math. 28. 20. by his son and his son speakes to us teachingly from his word written by his Ministeriall servants with whom he hath promised to be untill the end of the world Therefore I disowne all those immediate Revelations which some in this age pretend to have knowing that these cannot reveale any saving truth which is not already revealed in the writings of the Prophets Apostles knowing that they all are accursed who seek to add to the Propheticall and Apostolicall Revelations any new Revelations or to preaâ—h unto men any other Gospel then Rev. 22. 28. 19. Gal. 1. 8. that which is received My faith is grounded as all good Christians faith ought to be upon the divine Revelations which the Prophets and Apostles received and have recorded in holy Scripture but not upon any other revelations which either in former ages or now in this age any other learned or holy persons have received 9. Quest Dost thou own the Prophesying sons and daughters in this age and that the Lord will poure his spirit upon all flesh Answ 1. I do believe that the Lord did poure of his spirit in plentiful measure of extraordinary gifts in an unusual manner so as they who received it in that manner did speak on a sudden in various and sundry languages the wonderfull works of God Ioel. 2. 28. Act. 2. 7. 18. 19. Act. 2. 1. this I believe because the Prophet Joel said that it should come to pass and the Apostle Peter said that it was come to pass and the Evangelist Luke hath told when it came to passe on the day of Pentecost when the Disciples were all with one accord in one place then was Ioels prophecy fully fulfilled in respect of the extraordinary effusion of the spirit But I do not believe that such an extraordinary pâ—uring out of the spirit in such a visible manner with such an apparent abundance of gifts and donations was ever known in the world either
that these scoffers and mockers are Iude 3. 2 Pet. 2. 1. men who walk after their own ungodly lusts they are dâ—riders of the best counsel and comfort which Gods Word gives unto them they follow the guidance of their own corrupt reason and affections ordering their whole life according to their own lustings Such mockers and scoffers were those Seducers and false Teachers and their followers which the Apostle said should come and these since their first rising have had their ebbings and flowings in the several Ages of the Christian Church according as it pleased the Lord to exercise his Church with greater or lesser numbers of them And I believe that the numbers of these seducing and heretical mockers and scoffers of the holy Scripture and of all persons Ordinances duties services instructions directions comforts and commands commended unto us in the holy Scripture was in no time of the Church so increased as they are in these our days whereby we assuredly know that we are in the last days wherein evil men and seducers 2 Tim. 3. 13 shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 3. Thou asks further and are not these the marks of the false prophets mockers scoffers bâ—iars thornes thistles Answ 1. I finde that Peter and Jude do give the name of mockers and scoffers unto such false teachers whom they foretold should arise and therefore every one may infallibly conclude that such teachers are without doubt false teachers who are such mockers as the Apostles speaks of who scoffe at holy Scripture and cast all reproaches on it to villifie and nullifie it yea and who jeare and gibe at holy Ministers for their preachings of the Gospel of Christ which that word of truth holds out The Rabbies of the Romish Church and the rabble of teachers which they of your way heap up to your selves will never free themselves from that mark given to know false teachers by Whosoever hath to deale in the contrroversies of both must be of a stupendious inobservancy if he espies not both of them to be grand mockers and scoffers of holy Scripture and of the holy contents of it 2. The holy Scripture doth not by these words briars thorns and thistles particularly and distinctly decipher out false teachers from other wicked men It ascribes them in general to all wicked men in which number false teachers may be comprehended but it gives not these names properly and peculiarly to false teachers as Marks or Characters whereby they may be known to be no other then false teachers I think therefore it was not advisedly asked are not these the marks of false teachers briars thornes and thistles yet to satisfie thee understand that the holy Scripture doth certifie us touching these words As 1. We are told that it is a piece of the curse on the ground Gen. 3. 17 18 Isa 7. 23 24 Heb. 6. 7 8 for mans sinne that it should bring forth thornes and thistles and that it is threatned as a sore judgement to a land that it should become all briars and thornes and that the earth which bringeth out these is nigh unto a curse 2. The holy Scripture informes us that the enemies of Gods Eze. 28. 24 people of Israel were pricking briars and grieving thornes and that the enemies of Christs Church are all of them Cant. 2. 2. thornes surrounding her as pricking and stinging thornes do a Lilly 3. The Scripture certifies us that among Gods own people of Israel there were wicked men of all ranks which it calls thornes and briars One Prophet calls the common people Isa 9. 18 who were grosly wicked briars and thornes as he stiles the great ones who were also wicked the thickets of the forrest Anothet Prophet tells us that the great ones the Princes and Judges and great men in Israel even the very best of them were as a briar the most upright sharper then a thorne hedge The former Prophet did threaten that their wickedness should be Mic. 7. 3 4 as a fire in a Wood which should destroy the Nation it should first take hold on the briars and thornes and then consume all the trees so wickednesse should first destroy the poorest and meanest sort of wicked people and after the Grandees or them of higher rank and reckoning 4. The holy Scripture calls those who rebel against the Word of the Lord spoken and taught by his true Prophets briars and thornes and scorpions and bids his Prophet not to Ezek. 2. 6 be afraid of them nor of their words Thus wicked men are in Scripture called briars and thornes and thistles because their fruits is not good they choak the Mat. 13 12 Ezek. 2. â— Micah 7. 4 good seed of Gods word which his Ministers sow among them not suffering it to take root in their souls they are disposed to tear and hurt the servants of God and likewise others and many times they do so they yeeld no fruits of righteousnesse no grapes of grace to comfort and cheare any no figs no fruits of faith to assure themselves that the Lord is their possession or portion for men gather not grapes of thornes nor figs of thistles Though then false teachers as all other wicked Mat. 7. 16. men are briars and thornes and thistles yet these names are no peculiar mark of them that they are such they are not by these names marked out from all other wicked men to have it signified thereby that they have this property more then wicked men who are briars and thornes that they are false teachers 4. Thou having said that the fruits of these is mocking and scoffing at honest people dost further ask Do we we not see that these fruits proceed from thee Answ Mocking and scoffing and other sinnes of wicked men are fruits which proceed from themselves but they do not proceed from me or any other faithful Minister of Jesus Christ For 1. They proceed from wicked men themselves even from Mat. 15. 19 the corruptions of their own hearts which are fields fertile in all sorts of wickednesse but barren in any goodnesse and pro. 24. 30 31 prov 1. 24 25 they proceed from their own neglects of husbanding aright their hearts and from their refusals to have their hearts and lives ordered and husbanded spiritually by Gods holy commands and reproofes uttered unto them by his Ministers And 2. These evils of wicked men doth not proceed from us who are faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ and who preach Gods Word to take people off from such vanities and vild conversation for the Word preached doth good to them who are good who walk uprightly The faults of wicked men continuing still in their reproachful courses after the Word hath been faithfully dispensed to them are most unjustly by thee and others said to proceed from the preachers of the Word The Pharisees having heard our Saviour preach against Luk. 16. 14 serving Mammon derided him the Evangelist
other places where his name is recorded and Exod. 20. 24. called his as namely Gods house Gods Church and the like and where his Rationall Church of holy people meet to remember him and to learn to be improved in all his holy wayes and service 3. Quest What scripture hast thou for sprinkling of Infants Answ I will tell thee 1. What the Scripture holds out touching sprinkling as no wayes condemning the use of it in baptizing and then I will 2. Tell the some scriptures injoyning the baptizing of Infants First know that though holy scripture requires that in baptizing a such an application of wtter unto the party baptized should be made as may expresse representatively or signifingly the vertue of Christs blood in washing a way sin yet seing it no where injoynes expresly that the manner of that application should be either by dipping and dousing in agreat quantity of water or by pouring or sprinkling a little water on the party baptized therfore the Scripture allowes that baptisme which is performed by Sprinkling as well as that baptisme which is donne by dipping I the rather thinke so because the Holy-â—hâ—st in those holy writings doth not make choice of the expression of dipping dousing or ducking to signifie the application of Christ blood but he have made choice of the word sprinkling to notifiy so much Thus the sprinkling of the uncleane with Hysop dipt Heb. 9. 13. 14 Numb 19 18 19 Isa 52. 15. Heb. 10 22 Heb. 12. 24 1 Pet. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 3. 21 in the water of purification did testifiy faith on Christs blood applying that blood for our clensing It was prophecyed of Christ that he should sprinkle many nations we are said not to have our hearts dipt but to have them sprinkled from an evil conscience Christs blood is called the blood of sprinkling and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ is an expression whereby the Apostle intimates our justification whereof baptisme is the representation Secondly know that I have these scriptures warrantizing me and other Ministers to baptise Infants or little Children Math. 28. 19 Psâ— 117. 2. Psa 148. 12 13 Acts. 2. 38 39. Rom. 15. 8. 9. 10 Our Saviour commandes his Apostles to baptise all Nations excepting none of the Nations no not infants who are in the Psalmists opinion a very considerable part of them He having in one Psalm said Praise the Lord all ye nations in another he doth call on Kings of the earth and all People to praise God and he recounts children among the particulars mentioned both young men and maidens old men and children let them praise the name of the Lord. Againe Peter exhorts the Jewes to be baptized because the promise was made to them and their children and to all that are a farre of even as many as the Lord our God shall call seing then the promises of Grace belongs to the infants of believing Parents therefore according to holy scripture they are to be baptised Againe the Apostle saith Jesus Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God to confirme the promises made unto the fathers and that the Gentiles might glorify God foâ— his mercyes as he saith Rejoyce yee Gentiles with his people Christ discharged his ministeriall Office among those of the circumcision the Jews to confiâ—me the promise made to the fathers and that the Gentiles might have a portion in the same promise that so both Jewes and Gentiles might rejoyce together before God What Christ in discharging his ministry a-abolished in the Covenant made with the Fathers is abolished but that is still confirmed and to be in use what is therein specified and was not abolished either by himself or by any of his Apostles This scripture affords a double proof of the lawfulness of baptizing the Infants of believing Parents One is from the confirmation of signing those with the seale of the Covenant who where formerly signed The other is from Christs command injoyning Baptisme to be the seale of the Covenant and not exempting from it any Infant of believing Parents 1. God at the first making of the Covenant commanded that the Children of believing Parents or Parents in Covenant should be signed with the seale of the Covenant which command was not repealed by Christ the Lord of the house which is the Church but he confirmed the promises made to the fathers and 2. Christ himself commanded that Baptisme should be the seale of the Covenant and Infants not being exempt by him from the bond of the Covenant but being such as he would have brought unto him and of whom he hath told us that of such is the Kingdome of God are therefore to receiue the seal of the Covenant appointed by him which is Baptisme These Scriptures to name no more do justifiy the baptising of the Infants of Professional believers 4. Quest What scripture hast thou for the word Sacrament Answ The 28. of Math. v. 19. 26. Math. 26 27. 1 Cor. 11. 23. c. are scriptures which doe positively injoyne those holy institutions and actions which are called among the most of Christians Sacraments however some stiles them the seals of the Covenant and though the word sacrament be not in Scripture yet seeing what is thereby meant is fully set down in holy Scriptture and the word is not used by any true Protestant in their Theologically writing to signify any thing which disagrees from No men nihil hahet Criminis quod non perturbat sensum Religionis Hilarius lib. de synod contra Arium rope finem what the scripture asserts therefore none ought to blame this and other Theological terms used for explanation of some scriptural truths and never used to be additions of something unto the holy scripture which it mentions not nor to be perversions of the true sence meaning and intent of any part of holy scripture concerning any of the Ordinances and truths which it injoynes and conteines 5. Quest Hast thou heard Gods Voyce immediately from heaven as Prophets and Apostles did or Christs Voyce Answ Though I have neither heard Gods voyce immediately from heaven as did the Prophets and Apostles whome he extraordinarily inspired and sent with his immediate messages to his people nor Christs Voyce immediately as did the Apostles and Disciples who conversed with Christ while he lived on earth yet as it becomes the Ministery which I have received fom him in his ordinary way of mission I have in all these doctrines which I taught to his people communicated to them that very voyce or mind of God and Christ which was heard immediately by the Prophets and Apostles and have tighrly informed them concerning these for I have said no other things then those that the Prophets and Moses and Christ and his Apostles said and taught God in these Heb. 1. 1. 2 latter dayes hath ceased to speake any more as he did of old to the father by immediate voyces and other extraordinary
Apostle John or Paul or any other holy Writer haâ—h recorded concerning Antichrist and Antichrists unto the faithfull Ministers of the Refoâ—med Churches for these Ministers doe teach the truths of God but not the traditions of men they teach the doctrins of Christ but not the doctrines of Devils nor the dotages and decretalls of any mortalls They also from the Apostolicalâ— writings do convincingly detect unto the world the grand Antichrist and the fry of many Antichrists both which abuse the world with their lying deceipts errors and heresyes I will say something concerning the Antichrist and Antichrists whom the Apostle describes and then I will punctually answer to thy demand Antichrist as the name signifyes is one who opposeth Christ the scripture intimates that he is such an one who covertly under the Vizard of professing Christ and his Doctrin opposeth him There is One who is more eminent then others in this 1 Joh. â— 18. 2 Theâ— 2. 3 4 Rev. 9. 11. Opposition he is called in scripture The Antichrist And the man of sin and the Son of perdition who opposeth and the King of Locusts or the cheife over such swarmes of seducers who also are inferiour Antichrists and pretend that they come in the name of Christ Jesus and do in all places seeke with subtilty to oppose and over throw the pure doctrines of Christ This great Antichrist hath his seate in Rome Papal Their are also a multitude of false teachers who were and are opposers of the Doctrines of Christ These bring in privily damnable heresiyes thereby seeking to oppose and destroy Christ Doctrines These are called by the Apostle Antichrists â— Joh. 2. 18 many Antichrists for they are many in number and many in factions and they vent many false notions many unsound poysoning doctrines thinking thereby to draw many Disciples after them and to be Masters of their faith or Sectmasters these Antichrists are creepers into houses to lead captive them who are silly especially sinful women and they mostly reside among their popular intertainers Both the Grand Romish Antichrist and these puny Roaming hereticall Antichrists are such as thou demands after namely who transgresseth and are deceivers and have not God noâ— Christ and are not to be bid God-speede I will in these severall particulars named by the Scriptures demonstrate it of them both First both the grand Antichrist and these Hereticall Antichrists are such who have transgressed it were easie to write volumes of the particular transgressions of them both Suffice it to know That the holy Scripture calls the papall Antichrist a man of sin that is a man transcendently vicious peerlesly infamous 2 Thes 2. 4 for all unrighteousness The very Popish Chronicles and Histories of the lives of Popes do testifie that many of them were both themselves men of sinne and that also they made others sinne The holy Scripture likewise reckons up a catalogue of such sins whereof Hereticall Antichrists either as they are distinguishable from Papists the followers of the grand Antichrist or as 2. Tim. 3 ver to the 10. 2. Tâ—m 4. 3. 4. they are considered as conspiring with them are commonly guilty The Scripture tells us that they are selfe lovers covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents sierce dispisers of those that are good traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasure more then lovers of â—od having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof that also they are 2. Pet. 2. Jude 8. scoffers mockers walkers after their own lusts that they despise Dominion speake evill of Dignities that they tuâ—ne the grace of God into lasciviousness that they are separatists sensuall having not the spiriâ— they are thus as the Papall Antichrist al-also is transgressours and their endeavour is to corrupt others and make them also in like sort transgressors like themselves Secondly as the Papall Antichrist and the hereticall Antichrists 2. Epist Joh. v. 9. are such as transâ—resseth so they both do not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Whosoever shall compare the Doctrine of the councel of Trent touching faith and worship which Doctrin the Papall Antichrist maintaines and curseth all who disclaime it with what is extant in Paulâ— Epistles he must acknowledge that the Papall Antichrist is a great Apostate and the Head now of that great Apostacy from the faith and true worship of God which at this day is found among such who professe Christianity and whosoever compares the holy Scriptures aslertions touching the faith and true worship which God requires with the sundry principles and positions touching these which the heretical Antichrists of this age do contend for and defend damning all who are otherwise minded then they themselves are he must affirm that these heretical Antichrists have shaken hands with the Papall Antichrist and his confederates in Apostatizing from the faith which was once delivered to the Saints which was kept sound and incorrupt in the purer times of Christianity The severall heresies about the severall heads of the Christian saith which at seveâ—all times were preached by several Hereticks in the Apostles days and afterward were so many standing puddles of false Doctrine which much annoyed the Christian world for some space of time At length Popery prevailing in the Westerne part of the world it became as a corrupt Sea into which most of the filthy streames of former heresies therein did runne and was received and they with the additions of pestilent poysoning popish mixtures do slow out againe as oft as the Papall Antichrist and his instruments do thereby hope either to infest or to infect the Evangelicall or reformed Churches I will name only two Doctrines of Christ wherein the Papall Antichist and hereticall Antichrists have not abode 1. It is a Doctrine of Christ that Christs is come in the flesh The papall Antichrist and hereticall Antichrists do not in direct terms deny it for both use the name of Christ in their words and writings and some of them in words say so much yet because the Apostle calls them deceivers the word signifies such who professe the Cosening of others even while others 2. Epist John 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lookes on them and Antichrist who do not confesse that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh therefore it is certaine that though some of them professe it yet both do consequently deny it in some of their tenents The papall Antichrist and his adherents acknowledge in word that Christ is come in the flesh but while they maintaine that the bread and wine in the Lords supper is turned into the very body and blood corporall of Christ they thereby affirme that Christs body is made of bread and wine and so do implicirely deny that Christ is at such a time come to them in the flesh untill that very instant be come wherein the Priest utters the words of consecration Some hereticall Antichrists say that Christ is come in the flesh but when they are asked what
beares rule by thy means which the Lord sent Jeremiah to cry against Jer. 5. which was an horrible filthy thing committed in the land which the people loved to have it so for which God would visit them I in holding up such do I obey the Prophets voice or am one of the foolish people that have eyes and see not hath ears and hear not without the fear of God holding up such as bear rule by their means Did they not look upon Jeremy as one being deceived and was not he cast into prison and dungeon Did not the Priests and the Princes say he was worthy of death 5. Art not thou one of them that divines for money and teaches for hire and if I will put in thy mouth thou will preach peace to me if I will not thou will prepare war against me Did not such bring the people all on heaps yea Jerusalem Did not God say night should come on such and was not Micah full of the power and full of the Spirit to declare unto them their sin and transgression And is it not a sin and transgression now answer me 6. Art not thou one of them that seeks for the fleece and hath made a prey upon the people in this cloudy and dark day and with force and cruelty ruled over them Doth not the Lord say he will seek and gather them from your mouths and feed them upon the tops of the mountains even I will do it saith the Lord God Ezek. 34. 7. Would thou bear rule among the people if they should take away thy means Wouldst thou divine if they should take away thy money Wouldst thou keep the flock if they should take away the fleece Did not the Prophets cry against such and how can thou clear thy self from these steps if thou canst answer me by Scripture and the Apostles practise 8. Art not thou in the steps of them that the Apostle speaks of to the Romans that with thy fair speeches and good words deceives the hearts of the simple which serves not the Lord Jesus Christ but thy own belly 9. Art not thou one of the Lovers of their own selves that art covetous and to be turned away from 2 Tim. 3. Art not thou one of them as Peter speaks of that with covetousness and fained words makes merchandiâ—e of the people and so art in Cains way and Balaams way answer 11. Were not these the wels without water and clouds carried about with Tempests which the Apostle saw coming in before his departure 12. Art not thou one of the Novices spoken of in the Scripture seeing that thy Gongregation is so out of order scoffing giving names railing and abusing as Witches and such slandring expressions to honest people Are not these the Mockers now that should come that the Apostle said should come that now we see hath reigned since And are not these the Marks of the false Prophets Mockers Scoffers Briars Thorns Thistles Do we not see these fruits proceed from thee and shew that thou hast not profited the people at all Jer. 23. Doth not Christ say By their fruits ye shall know them Mat. 7. inwardly ravening Do we not see that people could be but wild Mockers and Scoffers if thou never spoke to them and are not these thy fruits and doth not the Apostle say their fruits shall whither and shall not these fruits wither thinks thou 13. Where did the Apostles give Davids quakings Prophecies Reproaches fastings in meeter to sing to the world 14. Is the Priesthood changed that took Tithes Is the Law changed by which they were made Is the commandment disanulled that gave them tithes Did Abraham pay tithes to Melchizedeck of his substance or of the spoil Did he ever do it to him more then once Was it a standing thing to be done after him Is the Son of God come the end of all similitudes and liknesses Now if thou say that they which preach the Gospel must live of the Gospel and have I not power to eat and power to drink yea when Christ sent forth his Disciples he bad them enquire who was worthy and what they set before them they might eat But did he that said have I not power to eat say have I not power to take stipends augmentations tithes gleab-lands great sums of money or parsonage houses Now if thou come to my house who says thou art a Minister of the Gospel and Minister unto me spirituall things I shall set before thee of my carnall things if thou hast enquired and found my house worthy so said Christ what they set before thee eat so said the Apostle have not I power to eat to drink but said I have not writen this nor spoken this that it should be so done unto me for I have not used my power But if thou come to a towne or come to an house and inquire for tithes and augmentations tithe woll hay Pigs Bees Gardens money for smoak passing up Chimnyes Foales Eggs Geese Chickins Calves Lambs and other creatures and thou canst not shew me by Scripture where the Apostle did so I must say thou art one of those evill beasts that mindes earthly things and thine own belly if thou cannot prove to the contrary 15. If any people had followed the false Prophets false Apostles and such as made a prey upon them for filthy lucre and covetousnes and took their money bear rule by their meanes and divined for mony sought for their fleece the Priest that preached for hire and come to Christ from the hirelings that will flee who hath laid down his life for the sheep who saith learn of me I am the way to the father and witnesse the word in them and the annointing in them to teach them are they to maintaine and uphold such before mentioned that Christ the Prophets and Apostles cryed against or maintain such Prophets and Priests in their way yea or nay as Priests and ministers and teachers 16. Are not they Ministers of unrighteousnesse and so messengers of Satan that seeks for meanes maintenance tithes of them they doe not work for is not that an unrighteous deed thing Now if it be said the labourer is worthy of his hire is it not then an unrighteous thing to go and take hire of them answer me and let truth spake and come to the light and bring thy deeds to it Now if you say we plow in hope and thresh in hope that we may be made partakers of our hope now if thou plowest not for me nor threshest not for me how can thou bring the Scripture and say the workman is worthy of his hire to on that hath not set thee at worke and that thou plowest not for and threshest not for 17. What is the first principle of the pure Religion Is the steeple house the Church What scripture hast thou for sprinkling Infants What scripture hast thou for the word Sacrament hast thou heard Gods voice immediately from
in their course to content their flesh to fulfil its lusts of uncleanness or its impure lustings 2. He names also them who were Libertines in judgement ver 10. and practice men who despised government who had slight contemptuous thoughts and opinions concerning all civil Government and power who perswaded others to believe that Christians are freed from the yoke of Magistracy and from the bondage of having Rulers over them they were such who were not afraid to speak evil of Dignities they were revilers of those who did bear authority or were dignified The Apostle also plainly relates the evil conditions of these men 1. He saith they were presumptuous or men of impudent ver 10. daring spirits to undertake enterprises impious and perillous And 2. He saith that they were self-willed or such who were resolved and set on it that they would have their own will and way and as natural bruit-beasts contemnes things the use whereof they know not or which they apprehend to be contrary to their nature even so these kinde of men speak evil of ver 12. the things which they understand not or conceives to be things crossing their corrupt doctrines and wicked lives such speak evil of the holy Scriptures of most Articles of Religion of Magistracy of Ministry they speak evil of these sporting themselves with their own conceits or delusions and the Apostle ver 13. further 3. Tells us that they were men of lascivious wanton looks and were restless in sinfulnesse that they beguiled unstable souls that ver 14. their hearts were exercised with covetous practises that they were turned Apostates having forsaken the right way and that ver 15. they were gone astray And having spoken of them in this manner he compares them to waterlesse Wells and to unstable and unsetled clouds saying these are Wells without water Clouds are carried with a tempest ver 17. 1. He compares them to wells without water saying they are such wells As wells without water deludes the travellers expectation of finding relief and refreshment therein so these false teachers will at length deceive the hopes of their seduced followers who thinking to have from them soul-saving and soul-sanctifying instructions will in time finde that they are as empty Wells having nothing in them but the mud and filth of sin defiling and soul-damning doctrines and conceptions The Apostle in calling them Wells without water intimates plainly that their misled followers will have but empty and uncomfortable ver 18. performances of these alluring great swelling words or promises of liberty and happy peace which they tell them is to be had only in their way and which they give out concerning their way as that it is a nearer path to heaven then that which the holy Apostles and faithful Ministers teach of living by faith in the Sonne of God and of exercising Gal. 3. 20. 1 Tim. 4. 7 2 Pâ—t 2. 18 19 ones self unto godlinesse in the works of mortification and vivification But the Apostle saith while they promise them liberty they themselves are servants of corruption intimating that their followers will finde that there is no peace in impurity and no liberty to be got by following the way of those who living in errour and teaching errour do themselves continue servants in bondage to corruption 2. The Apostle compares them to clouds carried with a tempest these clouds are usually whirled this way and that in an unsteady positure with a conslict of windes which is a whirlewind 2 Pet. 2. 17 or tempest as the Apostle calls it so that they keep not to any settled point or site of the heavens but are somtimes in one and somtimes in another position and sometimes in none but inclining to any part whether the winds will hurry them such are Seducers they are empty clouds having no droppings in them of any sound doctrine to distill towards the benefit of the Church and towards the improving of it towards heaven but they are rather darkning clouds which seeks to obscure those divine lights of holy truths which are already revealed and conteined in the holy Scripture yea they are clouds ever and anon whirled or carried about with the tempest of divers and Heb. 13. 9. strange doctrines every new doctrine carrieth them into a new way and when they meet with several new doctrines they are whirled round and know not where to rest becoming I am 1. 8. thereby unstable in all their wayes Sometimes they are in one opinion and sometimes in another crosse conceit they are usually exercised with great conslicts from plausible and pleasing though polluting and destroying doctrines so as they are unresolved unto what they should hold resolutely trying several wayes till they be outed of all wayes and become seekers or rather loosers of themselves being herein like thin empty clouds tossed with several windes divers wayes which at last vapours into nothing The Apostle tells us that these kind of men are unlearned and unstable and that they wrest 2 Pet. 3. 16 the Scriptures unto their own destruction Thus it may be easily understood that not the setled Ministers of Christ who preach his truths and his Gospel but that false teachers and seducers who broach and belch out damnable doctrines are the men whom the Apostle calls Wells without water and Clouds carried with a Tempest think not that these will instill into thy soul any of the water of the Wells of salvation for they are empty Wells and whosoever trusts to them and runnes after them to get soul-saving comforts from them will at length finde themselves deluded in them even as the little ones were who the Prophet mentions who were sent to the pits and found no water and returned Ier. 14. 3. with their vessels empty and were ashamed and confounded and think not that it can be safe unto thy soul to follow those clouds carried with a tempest as the Apostle stiles them for whosoever will follow their pernicious wayes will prove as unstable as their giddy guides and will be still as children tossed to and fro and carried with every winde of doctrine by the Eph. 4. 14. slight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lay in wait to deceive and without repentance they will fall into the same condemnation of an horrible tempest with their Psal 11. 6. seducing Leaders even into the mist of darkness which is reserved for them for ever 2 Pet. 2. 17 Enough is said to thy eleventh Head of Demands CHAP. XII Thy twelfth Head of Demands is thus set down by thee ARt not thou one of the Novices spoken of in the Scripture seeing that thy Congregation is so out of order scoffing giving names railing and abusing as witches and such slandering expressions to honest people Are not these the mockers now that should come that the Apostle said should come that now we see hath raigned since and are not these the marks
witnesse and that for this end he came into the world that he might bear witnesse unto the truth and he hath fully and truly spoken out of the will of God and he is one of these three Great witnesses which bears record in heaven yet the people of God and Christ ought not because he is the faithfull witnesse to think that therefore the Ministers are not Christs publick witnesses and Rev. 19. 10 publishers of his truths unto his people for the Scripture tells us that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy the testimony of Jesus is that he hath chosen these his Ministeriall servants to beare witnesse to his people of his truths doth give unto all his faithfull Ministers the Spirit the authority the boldnes the life the liveliness to discharge that Propheticall or preaching service which he hath appointed them to performe the testimony of Jesus touching this particular is thus recorded Math. 24. 14 the Gospel of the Kingdome shall be preached unto all the world as a witnesse unto all nations Christ after this his testimony did commission Ministers to preach that Gospell and the Ministery which Ministers have received of the Lord Jesus is to Mark 16. 25 testify the Gospell of the Grace of God And therefore none of Gods people ought on this ground because Christ is the faithfull Acts. 20. 24 witnesse after a most eminent manner to deny that the Ministers are Christs publick witnesses to his people they are chosen and ordained to publish his truths according to his appointment Moreover Christs being the faithfull witnesse doth not warrant any of his people to deny due maintenance unto his Ministers of whom he said they shall be witnesses to me to the uttermost parts of the earth because Christ hath already condemned all kinde of misusage which shall be done to these Prophets Acts 1. 8. wisemen and scribes which he sends and because he hath faithfully witnessed that though they whom he sent shall not take pay for their working miraculously cures because they had Mâ—th 23. 34 35. freely received that miraculous gift and were therefore to give freely its worke yet Christ hath testified that they whom he sends may for their paines in preaching receive the pay of maintenance saying for the labourer is worthy of his hire or Luk. 10. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his reward worthy to have a reward answerable to and fully recompencing his worke 5. It is true that Christ is called the Lords Anointed because Psal 2. 2. Aâ—ts 10. 38 Joh. 3. 34. 1 Joh. 2. 27 he was anointed with the Holy-Ghost and with power and the Spirit was not given him by measure it is true also that the anointing of grace by his Spirit is received from him and abideth in his holy people yet it is also most true that neither Christ being anointed to preach which he did personally perform on earth and doth since his going to heaven Ministerially perform by his Ministers nor his sanctified people being anointed with grace received from him doth exclude outward teaching and the Ministers from being Christs publick servants to teach his people seeing Christ hath set them in his Church Eph. 4. 11 12 for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of his body the Church Moreover Christs being anointed in a supereminent manner Heb. 2. 9. above his fellows and his sanctified people being anointed with grace according to measure doth not warrant any of his people to deny unto the Ministers of the Gospel their maintenance Isa 61. 1. Luk. 4. 17 18 for Christ was anointed to preach but not to abolish the maintenance of Preachers or of any else which is for upholding the publick preaching of the Gospel in the world And the anointing which his believing people received from him was to make them gracious but not to give unto them any allowance to be injurious unto any in with-holding their dues least of all to Ministers whom he hath appointed to be instruments by their preaching to work gracious men to become more 1 Cor. 14 22 gracious for Prophecy is for them that believe namely to perfect the grace begun in them since they were in Christ Besides it is of divine appointment that as Christs Ministers Math. 5. 14. 15 are by him placed publickly to be lights on a Candlestick pouring out the oyle of their labours in their lightsome informations of people so Christs anointed people are placed by his providence as Olive trees round about his Ministerial servants that every Zach. 4. 11 12 13 14. one of them should be as Olive branches emptying the golden oyle of maintenance for his Ministers out of themselves Gods 1 Coâ— 9. 11 appointment is that if his Ministers so v unto his people spiritual things his people should not grudge his Ministers or count it a great thing if they reap their carnal things Thou hast a full Answer to thy fifteenth Head of Demands CHAP. XVI Thy sixteenth Head of Demands is as followeth ARe not they Ministers of unrighteousnesse and so messengers of Satan that seeks for meanes maintenance tythes of them they do not work for Is not that an unrighteous deed and thing Now if it be said the labourer is worthy of his hire is it not then an unrighteous thing to go and take hire of them that have not hired them answer me and let truth speak and come to the light and bring thy deeds to it Now if you say we plow in hope and thresh in hope that we may be made partakers of our hope now if thou plowest not for me nor thresheth for me how can thou bring the Scripture and say the workman is worthy of his meat to me and the labourer is worthy of his hire to one that hath not set thee on work and that thou plowest not for and threshest not for Answ Ministers who discharge the work of the Ministry which God hath given them to do in those places where he doth set them to be teachers unto his people are neither Ministers of unrighteousnesse nor messengers of Satan because they require the allowed maintenance by tythes or any other things from those people among whom they spend and are spent 1. They are no Ministers of unrighteousnesse for 1. It can be no unrighteousnesse in them to discharge their Ministerial duties seeing God who enjoynes his servants no unrighteous thing hath commanded them to do so And 2. It is no unrighteousnesse in them to demand the maintenance by tithes from those people among whom they discharge their Ministeriall dutyes seeing the maintenance by tithes which they demand is Gods own peculiar rent wherewith he as Lord of all hath charged all lands and hath assigned his due since himself needs nothing to his servants the Ministers of the Gospell for that service which in his stead they performe among his people They in demanding
wayes and now he speakes to his people by his Sonne People are therefore said to be all taught of God because they Joh. 6. 45 have the doctrine or teaching of Christ who is God whose doctrine is the Gospel or the the spell or speech of God Now Christ the son of God from his word written by the mouth of all his holy Ministers in their interprating and applying his whole revealed will or voyce touching the wayes of his service and their salvation doth preach and speake Eph. 2. 20 that his people might be built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ being the corner stone And this his preaching by his Ministers from and out of his word written 2 Pet. 1. 19. is called a more sure word of Prophecy It is a word more sure for the benefit of the Church then any immediate voyce whatsoever 6. Quest Dost thou believe that a man shall come to that which is perfect while he is up on the earth and have the body of sinne put off and be free from sin Answ I believe all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets and in the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles and therfore I believe no otherwise touching those things whereof thou askes here what is my belief then according as I finde what is conteined in these holy writings Take then this distinct account of my beliefe concerning what thou demaunds 1. I believe that in some places the holy scriptures speakes of that which is perfect to which they only have come who are in heaven but thereunto they who are on 1 Cor. 13. 10 Heb. 12. 23 Phil. 3. 12. earth have not come though while they abide on earth they must be still striving that they may come to celestiall perfection 2. I believe that the holy scriptures saith that believers are perfect or compleat in Christ their head by reason of their union with him and justification by him who supplyes Col. 2. 10 Heb. 12. 14. 1 Thes 3. 10 Col. 1. 28 Eph. 4 12 Gen 6. 9. 1 Cor. 2. 6 Phil. 3. 15. Eph 5. 14. Heb. 6. 1 2 Cor. 13. them with all things necessary for their salvation and yet though these believers have from Christ supereminent prerogatives and surpassing spirituall influences they are neverthelesse not perfect in themselves for as much as they need perfecting that which is lacking in their faith however they are men to be esteemed in the way of perfecting or compleating 3. I believe that the Holy scriptures speakes of some who are comparatively perfect that is perfect in comparison of others so was Noah a man perfect in comparison of the wicked who live in his generation Thus strong Christians who out strippt weake ones in the knowledge of Christ in grace and piety and in the practise thereof are called perfect in comparison of such who adhere to Mosaicall ordinances and priviledges and who were rude and raw even babes in the knowledge and practise of Christianity yet such who were called commparatively â—erfect were not so perfect but that the Apostle exhorts them to a proceedure unto further perfection and he wishes the absolut perfection of those who yet were strong or in some measure perfect 4. I believe that the holy scripture in some places speakes of some who were evangelically perfect that is whose 1 Kings 15 14 2 King 20. 3 Job 1. 1. Luk. 1. 9 Obedience was not hypocriticall but sincere and upriâ—ht such were Asa Hezâ—kiah Job Zachariah and Elizabeth and others and yet the holy Scripture shewes that these were not legally perfect that is they were not such whose obedience 2. Chro. 15. 10 2. Chrâ— 32. 25. 26. Iob. 7. 20. Iob. 9. 20. Luk. 1. 20. had so exactly conformed to the Law of Righteousness as that from it they had not at all swerved for it records their particular defaultings however God was pleased to account them evangelically perfect because he accepted the uprightnes of their intention instead of perfection justly requirable in their obedient actions pardoning all what was amisse and their falling short of exact perfection in their performances 5. I believe that though holy men on earth may be called perfect because they have grace which is the good work begun in them for perfecting them yet they are not perfect by their bare haveing Grace because the holy scripture exhorts all gracious ones to abound in grace and to strive to be perfect in the 2. Cor. 8. 7. 2. Cor. 13. 11. Jaâ— 1. 4. Psal 84. 7. Râ—m 1. 17. Phil. 3. 15. highest degree or pitch of grace and to let their grace have its perfect work and it tels us of gracious mens progressions in grace they going from strength to strength according as the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith Yea the Apostle who counted himselfe perfect in respect of his Grcace in Christianity yet acknowledgeth that he was not perfect namely in respect of the supereminencyes of those graces after which he Phil. 3. 12 pressed hard From all thess assertions of the holy scripture it is that I do believe that a man while he is on eaâ—th may come to have that perfect proportion or measure of grace given to him which God sees convenient for his state standing and service in Christianity while he lives yet seeinâ— the fullest Eph. 4. 7. measure of the most eminâ—nt in grace on earth is far short of that hiâ—hest pitch to which Grace may be extended and which shall be heâ—eafter attained to in heaven therefore I believe that though a gracious man is and may be called perfect in respect of that stinted measure of grace which is allotted to him on earth yet he is not absolutely perfect on earth because he hath not as yet attained to that ultimate consummate heavenly perfection which he is to presse after on earth and which shall be by him possessed in heaven when he shall their be gloryfied 6. I believe that a man on earth may have the body of sin put off that is he â—ay have it mortified or so destroyed as that sin shall not raiâ—n in him and that he shall not serve sin But I have no ground to believe that while a man is on earth he can have the body of sin put off that is so mortified or utterly destroyed in him that no Relicks of his corruption should remaine in him This I cannot believe because it is contrary to holy Scripture which describes a regenerate man to be one who is not altogether spirit but in whom there is both flesh and spirit and these in him lusts one against the other and it is certaine Gal. 6. 17. the warre between them will not cease untill he himselfe hath fought the good fight of faith and hath finished his 2. Tim. 6. 12. 2. Tim. 4. 7. course sin therefore will not be so mortified and destroyed in any holy man while he is
before that time or since or that there shall be the like in any of the succeeding ages This I do not believe because I have no ground from holy Scripture on which I can establish a belief that their shall be such a thing And therefore as I disowne any of the Sons of men in this age who pretend that they are Prophets by an extraordinary mission and 2. Cor. 14. 34. 25. 1. Tâ—m 4. 2. 11 12. inabling inspiration unlesse they confirm both these by ungainsayable proofes and evidences or by true and reall miraculous operations as they in the old and new Testament did who had extraordinary mission and commission to prophecy or preach so also because the holy Scriptures hath plainly prohibited women to preach therefore I disowne all preaching Daughters of men which are in this age both the Jesuitisses among the Papists and the Prophetesses in imitation of them late sprung up among deluded Protestants notwithstanding their great pretentions to extraordinary abilities and their extraordinary immodest impudency in delivering as they prate messages from the Lord. I disowne these because the Scripture disowne Isâ— 27. 11. them an hath told us that God will neither have mercy on them nor shew them any favour who are the fiery zealous auditors and followers of these feminine predicants 2. I do not owne or acknowledge that their is or will be in this or succeeâ—ing ages of the Church any such pouring out of the Spirit on the sonnes and daughters of men who are the Eph. 4. 8. 11. servants and hâ—ndmaides also of God or the children of the Church to make them all Prophets or Preachers because the Apostle saith that when Christ ascended he gave gifts unto men He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and teachers He gave some therefore not all to bâ— teachers yet I do owne or acknowledge that there is now and in other ages of the Church such a pouring out of the Spirit which will make men holy and heavenly disposed wherefore though sonnes and daughters cannot in truth be said to Prophecy as Prophecying signifies the publick expounding 1 Cor. 14. 1 1 Cor. 13. 9 2 Thes 5. 20 1 Cor. 11. 5 the writings of the Prophets because they only do thus lawfully prophecy who are thereunto peculiarly called to waite on that service yet they may be said to prophecy according to such significations of the word Prophecy which the Scriptures allowes to any Professour though he be no Preacher of the gospell As namely they Prophecy when they attend diligently with their presence on the Ministeriall teaching which is the publick unfolding and applying of the Scriptures called the sure word of Prophecy whereby they are 1 Per. 1 19. Joh. 6. 45. taught of God And they are said to prophecy when from a clear understanding of holy Mysteryes which they have heard and learned they magnify and praise God either by singing or by holy discoursing for his wonderfull workes and saving mercyes And thus both men and women sonnes and daughters can bear a part in prophecying But God 1 Chro. 25 1 Psâ— 66. 10 hath excluded all women and the most of men from being his officers in prophecying as it signifiys the Preaching of his word officially 3. Though I do own and acknowledge that the Lord hath poured out his spirit on all flesh yet I cannot own or acknowledge that he doth in all times of his Church and upon all persons perteining to the Church power out such extraordinary gifts of his Spirit as he once did visibly miraculously and plentifully poure on his Disciples in the day of Pentecost Act. 2. 4. whereby they were filled with the Spirit and fitted for plantting the Church and for confirming at first the Gospell in all Nations For these extraordinary inspirations and donations of the Holy-Ghost have already obteined those ends in the primitive times of the Christian Church and are not further usefull seing Churches every wheâ—e are planted and Pastors are set over them and the Holy spirit is pleased now by the ordinary meanes only of reading meditâ—ting praying studying sifting searching finding out and setting in order Scriptural truth to blesse his servants with the treasures of that wisdom and truth comely order and free utterance whereby his Church is best benefited I do therefore account such men highly presumptuous who dare pretend in these dayes that such forerecited extraordinary effusions of the Spirit rests on them and in them yea and I am confident that they who beleive it of themselves are given up to a strong delusion 4. I own or acknowledge that in all and severall ages of the Church the Lord hath ordinarily poured out of his spirit on all â—oly good Christians men and women young and old sons 1 Pet. 4. 14 and dauâ—hters for their sanctification to make them Holy and fit them for glory But I do not own or acknowledg that the Lord doth ordinarily poure from his spirit the gift of interpreting Scripture on every one whom he sanctifyes by his Spirit neither do I own or acknowledge that any are therefore authorised to preach to others or are made vessells in the Pastorall function because by the gift of Sanctification they are made Holy vessells to receive full salvation in their glorification 10. Quest When Christ saith to his disciples Be ye not called Masters for ye have one Master and ye are all brethren Where dost thou read Mr. Paul Mr. Mathew Mr. Mark Mr. Luke Mr. John Mr. Peter Mr. James Mr. Timothy Mr. Titus that these transgressed the command of Christ Answ I have already in answering the second head of thy demands answered this There I proved that one of these here mentioned was named Master and I shewed in what respects Paul and Philip was named so and likewise how a Minister of the Gospel and any other Christian professing subjection to the Gospell many lawfully be called Master and yet none of these formerly did nor now doe therfore transgresse Christs command I shall not need to repeate my answer there given reade and ponder on it for it may give thee satisfacton if thou art not resolved against being satisfied 11. Quest Is not he Antichrist that transgresseth and the Deceiver and hath not God nor the Sonne and is not to bebid God speed read Johns second epistle and answer me Answ I have read both the second and also the first Epistle of John in which he speakes of an Antichrist who in his dayes was to come and who in our dayes is already to come He speakes also of many Antichrists who were in the world in his time And doubtlesse both the one and the other were transgressors and deceivers and neither had communion with God nor with the Son of God and Gods people are charged to shew unto them no tokens of communion or familiarity Surely they have most uncharitably transgressed and are grosly deceived who apply what the