Admonition Unto Congregations, Treatise · Part 3

Admonition Unto Congregations · Treatise · Part 3

p. 20Of Succeſſion.

T… … your Leaders are … them that mainteyne a Succeſſion, and that …, and you will have all …, and tongues to come to you, and … Ordinances of Chriſt: and … adminiſter in the holy … to you, and … and … power and all the holy … with the man of ſinne … called o… God, and … vnderunder the … vnderunder the … Rom. 3.1.2.) … becauſe … of God. … your … manner of way? … of credit to … but … confeſſ… … and the … vntounto … proceed from … Ieruſalem … call your … you and … do, to your … them to it, and to them p. 21everlaſting diſtruction in ſo d…ing and ſuffering them ſelves to be to dra…n. Thus then … ſpeake of the heavenly … And … people ſhall … vp to the mountaine of the … to the … of the God of … will … S…on, and … manner ſpeaketh … …rd ſhall ſend the … theſe Prophecies … … become … you this … … taught the … when he ſaid … word of the lord our … you onelyonly … you alſo taught of … humbled, and humble your ſelve … people▪ …

If this will not … word … be called … Prophet … Compact together … the Tithes of the … to praiſe the name of the … you this … I… you be the … but the Tithes muſt come to … the grace of God … you cannot … but you will … ſhalbe the people. And … p. 22Mount Syon, which cannot be removed? and ſhal you remaine for ever? If you can promiſſe this of your ſelves, you go beyond all the excellent Churches that are ſpokē of in the new teſtament, whereof there remaines no mention at this day to be ſeene but onelyonly that the ſcriptures teſtify that ſuch Churches there were but not one of them hath remained vntounto this day. Therefore none of them were Mount Syon. And will you lift vp your horne on high, and be more then they all? this is the fooliſhnes of folly, beare with our rudenes: The lord knoweth wee ſeeke his glory and your good herein, although our infirmities may too much appeare. It is your turning from theſe your evills that wee diſire, for Godes glorie and the ſalvation of your ſoules: and therefore will wee through Gods grace, endeavour yet further to ſhewe you your error in this point.

The Prophet in the 48. Pſal. 2.3. Seaketh on this wiſe Mount Syon Northward is faire in ſcituation, it is the joy of the whole earth & the Citie of the great king. In the Palaces thereof God is knowne for a refuge, and verſ. 8. God will eſtabliſh it for ever, Selah. To add vntounto this, the glorious diſcription ſo at large ſett downe by Iohn. Reuel. 21.10. VVhere he ſaw, that great Citie that holy Ieruſalem deſcending out of heaven from God, whoſe wall had twelve foundations, ād in them the names of the twelve Appoſtles of the lambe verſ. 14. wch Citie hath no need of the Sunne, neither of the Moone to ſhinne in it, for the glorie of God doth light it, and the lambe is the light of it verſ. 23. And the people that are lived ſhall walke in the light of it verſ. 24. And the Nation, & the kingdome that will not ſerve thee ſhall periſh: and theſe nations ſhalbe vtterly diſtroyed Iſa. 60.12. See your ſelves now how unlike you are this Citie: are you the joy of the whole earth? ſorrowe is the ioy that wee the poore wineſſes of Chriſt have in you for our partes, as you ſhall further heare: do p. 23the people that are ſaved walke in the light of you? and ſhall the nation, and kingdome that will not ſerve you periſh? God forbid: be content and glade to have this Citie your joy, and to be Citizens of this Citie, and to walke in the light of it, and to ſerve it or els you ſhall periſh and be deſtroyed. But this Citie cannot periſh nor be deſtroyed, but you may be, and therefore you are not this Ieruſalem: and the world knowes that you are not the earthly Ieruſalem, wincke not with your eies but ſee, and ſt…pp not your eares but heare how the word of God doth convince you in this your error.

And now wee beſeech the vpright harted amongſt you to be willing to heare what Thappoſtle Paule doth ſhewe Ieruſalem to be, and followe not your owne inventions herein. Th'appoſtle to the Gal. 4.22-26. ſheweth, that Abraham had two ſonnes, and two wives, one ſonne by a ſervant, and one by a free woman, he wch was borne of the ſervant was borne after the fleſh, and he that was of the freewoman was borne by promiſſe. By the which thinges, another thinge is ment (ſaith Th'appoſtle) for theſe mothers are the two teſtamentes, The one which is Hagar or Syna is a mountaine in Arabia, and it aunſwereth to Ieruſalem which now is, and ſhe is in bondage with hir children. But Ieruſalem which is above, is free which is the mother of us all. Thus doth Th'appoſtle ſo plainely as is poſſible (for the vnderſtanding of all) teach, that by Hagar the bond woman, is mente the old Ieruſalem which is the old Teſtament, with all the carnal ordinances there of. And by Sarah the free woman, is ment the new Ieruſa. the new Teſtament, with all the ſpirituall ordinances thereof. And this ſpirituall mother, which is Sarah the free woman, the new Ieruſalem, the new Teſtament, is mother of all that are borne after the ſpirit: and they are hir childrē, as Th'appoſtle ſaith of himſel… & others▪ verſ. 31 p. 24Now will you be this Ieruſalem, the mother of all the faith full? will it not ſuffice you to be children, but you muſt be the mother of all? Do but ſee how herein you agree with that Antichriſt of Rome that wil be the mother of all Churches. How farr contrary is this to all the reſt of your profeſſion, who profeſſe ſuch humblenes of mynd in all thinges, and yet hereyn to ſeeke thus highly to advice yours ſelves above the poore ſervants of God, that through his grace and merciemercy by the power of his word and ſpirit, are borne children of the free woman: and though weak childrē, yet borne as free as you or anie: what great evill is this (in ſoo maine of you as would to ſeeke to bring vsus in bondage vntounto you when you cannot (by aine warrant of Gods word) have anie more freedome in anie holy thinge, or to anie holy thinge, then wee, if wee be all the Children of one mother, for then are wee brethren. Synne not thus againſt God, and wronge not vsus, by ſeeking to tread vsus vnderunder your feet, which you do, in advanceing your ſelves over vsus to bring vsus in ſubiection, who are borne as free as you.

This being by the word of God made cleare that neither you, nor anie Church, congregation, or people, are Ieruſalem, it will eaſily follow, that nether you nor anie Church congregation or people are the kingdome of heaven for the heavenly Ieruſalem, and the kingdome of heaven are all one, as all that have anie vnderſtanding agree and knowe. Therefore it ſhall not be needfull to vſe … w…rds mo in this cauſe, lett vsus inſhort therefore ſhewe what the ſcriptures ſpeaketh of the kingdome of heaven. Our Saviour Chriſt Luc. 4.34. Saith thus. Surely I muſt alſo preach the kingdome of God to other Cities for therefore am I ſent. This kingdome cannot in anie vnderſtandinge be ment of anie people, for it muſt be preached to a people and this agrees with p. 25that before ſpoken of Ieruſalem which is, that it is the new Teſtament. And thus ſpeaketh our Saviour Chriſt Ioh. 3.5. except a man be borne of water and of the ſpirit, he cannot … into the kingdome of God, whereby it is ſo plaine as anie thinge can be that no people are the kingdome of God, but that people ought to enter into the kingdome of God, and when they are entred, then are of the kingdome of God and children of the kingdome Mat. 13.38. And therefore wee pray the Godly reader to conſider, that there is a difference betwix the kingdome, and the people otherwiſe where was the kingdom before your …irſt begininge? was there no kingdome, for your firſt beginners to enter into? did they make a kingdome and enter into it and all of themſelves? then ſure it was not the kingdome of God, and it ſtands you vponupon to looke it be for if they ſet vp a new kingdome, they entred not into Chriſts kingdome, for Chriſts kingdome was and is an everlaſting kingdome, and cannot be ſhaken, as the Author to the Hebrewes ſheweth Heb. 12.22. ſpeaking of mount Syon, the Cittie of the liveing God, the Celeſtiall Ieruſalem Verſ. 28. Seeing wee receive a kingdome that cannot be ſhaken, let vsus have grace, whereby wee may ſo ſerve God, that wee may pleaſe him with reverence and feare.

VVee have endeavoured with our beſt abilities (wch you may ſee are ſmale) to ſpeake the larger of this point becauſe wee our ſelves have bene formerly miſledd with this error, that the Church is the kingdome of heaven, and monut Syon, and becauſe wee knowe ſome others are ſtrongly poſſeſſed therewith, which not with ſtanding hold not Succeſſion, but indeed it is the ground of all Succeſſion for if the Church be Ieruſalem, then muſt there needs be Succeſſion, for there muſ… needs be adue proportion of all thinges betwene the p. 26Tipe & the truth, betwene the old Ieru: & the new Ieru: betwēe the ſhadow & the ſubſtāce. And there being therfore Succeſſiō in the old Teſtamēt, there muſt of neceſſitie be Succeſsion in the new. If therefore you can prove your ſelves Ieruſalem, wee yeild you all the Prerogatiue of Ieruſalem. Then muſt all people & nations come to you, and receive all the holy ordināces from you. Then muſt all ſacrifices be offered vp in you. And then they that are not in you, are not in Chriſt. And all that are borne of water & of the ſpirit, muſt enter into you, and all that are ſaved muſt walke in the light of you. And then are you the ioy of the whole earth. Thē muſt you be perached to other Cities, and then can you not be ſhaken, for Chriſtes kingdome is an everlaſting Kingdome, which ſhall never be taken away nor be deſtroyed Dan. 7.14. But you may be ſhaken, & taken away, and deſtroyed though you were as excelent a Church as Corinth. Epheſus, Phillippi, Theſſa: Smyrna, Philadelphia, for all they are ſhaken, taken away, & deſtroyed, which were much more excellent Churches then you, euen ſo may you much more be. Therefore you are not the kingdome of heaven: nor that heavenly Ieruſalem, and ſo thoſe previleges belong not to you, which you challenge, and ſome wretched men have given you (whoſe condemnation ſleepeth not) and all vnderunder that culler of your being Ieruſalem.

And let vsus now bring to trial your other ground concerning this cauſe, which is. That the ordinances of Chriſt being (as you call it) once raiſed vp againe they are not to be raiſed anie more, but all men muſt fetch thē from thoſe that raiſed them vp, or from them that have received them at their handes by Succeſſion Firſt wee ſay vntounto you that, which ſome of you could not. p. 27nor you all ſhall ever be able to annſwere whilſt the world endureth.

How knowe you of faith, that he or they from whome you received your begininges were the firſt? This can you never prove to anie mans conſcience that hath anie conſcience, except you can ſhewe Prophecie of ſcripture perticulerly that ſuch a man ſhould firſt raiſe up (to ſpeake your owne vvord) the ordināces of Chriſt, and that he hath done it, and that you hauehave it from him: All theſe muſt you prove by ſcripture, if your rule be true, and that men muſt have faith in it: but not anie one of theſe can you prove by ſcripture, …nd therefore your rule is not true, and no mā can have faith in it and then not to be hold and practiced by anie that wait for ſalvation by Ieſus Chriſt, vvho muſt have faith in all that they hold, profeſſe, & practice, or els they ſinne: ffor vvithout faith it is vnpoſſible to pleaſe God. Rom. 11.6. Let us by the mercies of God intreat all you that profeſſe the name of Ieſus, not to ſtand vponupon ſuch vncertaine and vnfound groundes: For wch vvay ſhall you ever be able to prove, that he or they from vvhome you (by Succeſſion) have your begining vvere the firſt? No man can ever prove it, the vvorld is too vvide for man to comprehend or knowe all that is done in it. It is avaine invention, caſt it away, ſeeing there is no vvarrant in Gods vvord to vvarrant it vntounto you, that he or they vvere the firſt.

And if he, or they vvere, vvhat then? Muſt all the vvorld come to them? By vvhat rule of Gods word? There muſt be a ſpeciall commaund for him, or them to beginne: And a reſtraint or forbiddinge comaund to all men for doeing the ltie after: ffor God is as mercifull to his people now as ever he vvas, and he hath not left them without rule of direction, that they ſhould ſinne p. 28and fall was the lord ſo carefull for his people Iſraell (for whome he had wrought ſo great wonders, and yet they were continually rebellious againſt him) as to give Moſes twice warning at one time Ex. 19.21. and 21. Goe downe charge the people that they breake not to the lord to gaze, leaſt manie of them periſh And againe lett not the Preiſts, and the people breake to come vpto the lord leaſt they be deſtroyed. And did the lord moſt carefully appoint Aaron and his ſonnes, their ſeverall Offices and ſervices about the Tabernacle as is ſhewed Numb. 4. where the lord chargeth Moſes and Aaron that they ſhould not cutt of the Tribe of the famili… of the Kohathites: But this do vntounto them, ſaith the lord that they may live and not dye, let Aaron & his ſonnes come and appoint them every one to his charge, leaſt they touch or ſee thoſe holy thinges, they ought not to touch and ſee, and dye, was the lord out of his great grace, merciemercy, and love ſo carefull for his people then, to give ſuch ſtrait rules of direction to them, leaſt they ſhould come neare, handle, or ſee thoſe thinges which apperteyned not to them to handle or ſee and ſo ſinne, and dye. And hath the lord left to beg … now, in leaveing his people no directions, nor directors to appoint them to their …ffice, and ſhewe them what i… comaunded and what is for bidden▪ Surely you will not ſay, but the lord is as mercifull to rebellious Iſraell as ever he was, then wee require you to ſhew, where the lord hath now comaunded ſome eſpecially to beginne and meddle with the holy thinges, and for bidden all others except by their appointment they be permittd & appointed therevnto. If you will thus ſett vp a ſpeciall Temple and Preiſt hood of your owne, ſhewe your warrant from the word of truth which ſeeing poſſiblie you cannot do, let God have the glorie, and ſee your owne ſhame, and humble your ſelves, & p. 29repent of this error. VVill you now with patience ſuffer vsus a little to declare and try your beſt ground f…r theſe thinges, wich wee have received from ſome that are greateſt amongſt you wee could repeat divers of your arguments and reaſons, but wee ſpare you, & wee will take your ſtrongeſt ground, which if wee can by the ground of truth ſhewe to be moſt vnſound, wee will hope that they amongſt you, that ſeeke the lord in ſinglenes of hart will forſake it: firſt knowe this and let all knowe that you have never bene able at anie time, to produce anie one ſcripture and mainteyne it, for your Succeſſion, although wee have had divers conferences with the cheifeſt amongſt you but you reaſon by ſimelies and proportions of your owne deviſings for the moſt part.

To come to your ground, this is the ſome of that you ſaie. That baptiſme being once raiſed vp by one vnbaptized, after, none did, neither was it lawfull for anie vnbaptized to baptize, but all muſt have it from him, & ſo you follow on with your proportion from baptiſme, to the church and miniſtry. And this is the waie you runne, not knowing whether it leads jou, wee praie you marke what the wiſeman ſaith. Pro. 4.19. The wa…e of the vngodlie is as the darknes, they knowe not vvherin they ſhall fall: even ſo little do you knovve into vvhat pitt you ſhall fall, or vponupon what rock you do caſt your ſelves & others in this your way firſt whereas you ſay, that when baptiſme was once (by one vnbaptized raiſed vponupon …, none after being vnbaptized did or might. This John never taught you, nor … of Th…appoſtles, where els you have learned it wee know not, but you … in it, and ſay it is the courſe & order of the ſcriptures. But wee require you with godly conſideration to conſider that heerein vnderunder a … of binding to the due … courſe of p. 30the matter & manner of the ſcriptures (which all oug… to follow) you bring men to a due perticuler courſe… perſōs, vvhichwhich none are bound to follow except anie da…ie ſay of themſelves, as that excellent & vvorthy Appoſtle Paul. ſaid. Phil. 2.17. Brethren, be followers of me In ſhort ſee, if you would not be blynd, vvhether you rule leades you, if you wil tye the vvord & ordinance of God vntounto men: Priſt for baptiſme, you muſt bring▪ man prophecied of, as Iohn vvas, that ſhalle able, t… annſvvere as Iohn did to them that asked him, vvha… art thou that vvee may giuegive aunſwere to them tha… ſent us, vvhat ſaieſt thou of thy ſelf? vvhy baptize… thou? Iohn aunſweres. I am hee that the Prophet Eſaia… prophecied of &c. I am the voice of him that crieth i… the vvildernes, make ſtraight the vvay of the lord Thus doth Io: prove his office & miniſtration to be lawfull, and therefore might Ieruſalem & all Iudea of faith come faith to him to be baptized: And this man vvas ſent in the power of the ſpirit of Elias. Therefore vvhatſoever he did in his miniſtry vvas true and vvarrantable ſo that men might ſafely joyne themſelves to his baptiſme: Neither could men learne baptiſme & the maner thereof but of Iohn, & of them that received it from him, vvil you now in the behalf of your firſt beginner, aunſwere us that aske vvho art thou that baptizeſt? And ſaieſt all men muſt have their baptiſme from thee, VVhat ſaieſt thou of thy ſelf? VVhere is thy vvarrant? VVil you aunſwere vsus as you have done, that Io: his example is your vvarrant? VVee vvil aunſwere you (as vvee have often done) wee alſo do the like by the ſame example. And wee ſay farther, that Iohns example, and al the examples & rules in the ſcriptures to be followed are generall, and there is no one perticuler example or rule in all the new Teſtament, wch is onelyonly to be ymmitated & obſerved, by anie one man, anie two.

p. 31Tenn twenty or a hundreth: but what ſoeuer example in the ſcriptures, anie one Man may followe, and what ſoever rule or commaundmēt anie one man may obſerve & kepe, even ſo another man may followe the ſame example & keepe the ſame comādmēt, & ſo of two men ten, twenty, or an hundreth. And the like may be ſaid of time, & place: for there is no example or rule in the new Teſtament, that is onelyonly proper or appirteyning to anie one perſon, or perſons time, or times, place or places for the new teſtament is the Covenant of Grace which Chriſt hath purchaſed with his blood, and there is no part of it can be aboliſhed till he come to iudgment: But if anie part of it, anie example, or rule in it be tyed to anie particuler perſon or perſons, time, or times, place or places theſe al may be aboliſhed before Chriſtes coming, and therefore no part of the new teſtament, can be particulerly tyed to anie one of them.

To ſhewe for example the queſtion in hand. If Iohns example of Baptizing, being vnbaptized (or rather not being of anie other firſt baptized) If his example be a particuler exāple for one man onelyonly (as you ſay) thē p. 32jt follovveth.was it aboliſhed when your predeceſſor had once begun to Baptize, and ſo is that example now of no vſe, and it may be for anje thinge you knowe or ever can knowe that he was not the firſt, and then if your rule be true how wretched is your caſe, that challeng apreregative, that by your owne rule apperteynes not vntounto you, and your beſt advantage is, that you can but jmagine that you are the firſt and you would have vsus jmaigine ſo with you.

VVell, wee beſeech you conſider throughly this one point eſpecially. That the new teſtament, nor anie part of it neither rule nor example, doth perticulerly apperteyne to anie one perſon, or ſerve onelyonly for anie one perſon, or ſerve onelyonly for aine one time, or place, wch if you deny, you aboliſh …, and the Teſtament purchaſed with his blood, and makes it a carnall covenant, for no ſpirituall covenant can eve… be aboliſhed. And if you confence that the new Teſtament, and all the rules & examples therein, are generall to all: Then may all men, in all places, whome the lord by his word and ſpirit ſhall ſtirr vp, and indue with gifts and grace preach the go… and men being converted, baptize them, & ſo is your Succeſſion fallen to the groūd. And therein have you no …, if you love the lord, & his holy truth, for thereby ſhall the holy ordinances of Chriſt be ſett at …, which you have kept in bond…, to the great … of God, and to the … divers ſoules whoſe blood wilbe required … your hands (though they be periſhed in their owne ſinnes) if you repent not.

Moreover as wee have ſhewed before. Iohn came in the power and ſpirit of Elias, therefore what ſoever he did … office and miniſtrie was warrantable and according to truth, and he could not … therein. This no man that knovves anie truth vvill denie, and vvee p. 33ſpeake to men of vnderſtanding. And came your firſt beginner in the power of the ſpirit in this meaſure▪ and was all warantable and according to the truth that he did in his miniſtery? will anie affirme that all was warrantable that he did? or can anie affirme it? and that he could not err-God forbid that anie fearing God ſhould be ſo fooliſh: nay was he not a man coming furth in ſome ſmale meaſure of the deepe miſt of the miſtery of iniquitie, being then in much error and ignorance yea even in that adminiſtration of baptiſme orels you hauehave bene vnprofitable diſciples of his. And would you tye all the world from the Eaſt to the weſt to come fetch the holy ordinances of Chriſt from him, & you, his ſucceſſors, through all your errors ignorances, and grevious corruptions, where of wee knowe ſo manie, and have cauſe to be jealous of you for maine moe. VVhat truth, pietie, or godlines is there in this? that you ſhould ſeeke to make men either preſently ſwallowe vp all your errors ignorantly, to be waſhed of you with water, or els ſtay vntill they have learned them, otherwiſe they muſt not be baptized at all. And further that men muſt be forced to learne your language, and ſo vntill the poore diſciples of Chriſt that would followe him, (Engliſh men or aine other nation) can ſpeake dutch, they are debarred from the holy ordinances of God the meanes of their ſalvation by this your rule, a fearefull miſtery of iniquitie.

Hereby you have wrought ſuch wickednes amongſt vsus, and brought ſuch deſolation vponupon vsus the poore people of God, as wee have cauſe to wiſh that in our heades were floodes of water, and our eies were fontaines of teares, that wee might power out a complainte againſt you, for this your abhomination, wich you have ſet vp, whereby you have wrought ſuch deſtruction and ruine in the Church of God, ſeeking to pull it downe, to build vp your ſelves. Hereby have you glorified your Church, & ſett hir vp to ſitt as a Queene, takeing vntounto your ſelves p. 34all power & authoritie, yea even to ſhutt the gates of the holie Cittie, the heavenly Ieruſalem, ſaieing that none may enter but by your authoritie. Oh that you could ſee your great ſinne herein, & the lamentable evill that you have wrought. Firſt againſt God in deſtroying his Temple, which is built truely (though exceeding weakely) vponupon the foundation the word of God. And you have cauſed the enimies of God to blaſpheme, & to make a mock at the profeſsion of Ieſus Chriſt. And you have cauſed them that were more indifferently mynded, to doble their doubtings, and rather ſtepp backward, then come forward. Thus have you ſinned with an high hand againſt the God of heaven, who is able and will fill you the duble for this your iniquitie, if you repent not. And for vsus you have brought much ſorrow, greife & vexation of ſoule & ſpirit vponupon vsus. The Lord doth knowe wee ſpeake truely and great hath bene our cauſe of greife to ſee the Church of Chriſt, which is his body, whereof wee are (though vnworthie members) thus rent and torne in pecces, and our profeſsion and wee made a ſcorne of men, who have wiſhed and wayted for our overthrow, and have taken vponupon them to foretell, of theſe evills that have come vponupon vsus, which being come to paſſe according to their foretelling, they have triumphed againſt vsus & bleſſed themſelves, as though their foreſa…eings muſt needs come to paſſe. Thus have our enimies reioyced at our miſeries, but the Lord hath wounded them vponupon their right eie, and made them a reioyceing to their enimies.

VVere this all our woe, it were at full, enough, but you have by this your great ſinne brought a further evill vponupon vsus, then to make our enimies reioyce over vsus, ſaying there, there, ſo would wee have it, for you have made our frends our enimies, yea our familier frends, with whome wee tooke ſweet counſell, & went together to the houſe of God. And ſuch is the enmitie betwixt vsus and them p. 35(whereof you have bene cheife inſtruments) as it can neuer have end, whilſt anie of vsus live, for it is that enmitie, which the Lord put betwene the ſeed or the woman, and the ſeed of the ſerpent, which can have no end in them except wee fall into the ſame deſtruction, for there is no p…ace to repentance to be found for their trangreſſion. For they were once enlightned, and had truſted of the heavenly gift, and were made part…s of the holy ghoſt. And had taſtied of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to come: and are fallen away: it is impoſſible they ſhould be renewed againe by repentance: ſeeing they crucifie againe to themſelves the ſonne of God and make a mock of him Heb. 6.4.5.6. Now to ſhewe how they were once enlightned. Firſt Mr. Iohn Smy…h … vponupon whoſe head the blood of all this people ſhalbe) hath by his profeſſion in all his practice, and by word, and in his ſundrie writings, with ſuch force of argument, and ſtrength of proteſtation with ground of truth, (as his writings ſhewe) manifeſted himſelf to be enlightned with this truth of God.

That whereſoever two, or three, are gathered to gether into Chriſts name, there Chriſt hath promiſſed to be in the midſt of them Mat. 18.20. and therefore they are the people of god and Church of Chriſt, haveing right to Chriſt, and all his ordinances, and need not ſeeke to men to be admitted to the holie thinges, but may freely walke together in the waies of god, and enioy all the holie thinges. From this truth of god wherewith he was enlightned is he fallen, denying the words of our Saviour Chriſt. That ſaith whereſoever two or three are gathered togither &c. And holdeth that the firſt two or three that are gathered togither have onelyonly right to Chriſt, p. 36and all his ordinances, and that after, all men muſt come to them, reſtraning the wordes of Chriſt wch are generall ſo anie two or three, onelyonly to the firſt two or three, and ſo hath ſett vp a Succeſsiō againſt the wch he hath formerly by all wordes, writinges, & practice ſett himſelf with all deteſtation. And this man like Balaam hath conſulted with you, and hath putt a ſtumbling blocke before the people of God, who were alſo enlightned, and ſo are manie as you knowe fallen with him to the ſame ſinne, and vnderunder the ſame condemnation. And M. Iarvaſe Nevile haveing witnſſed not onelyonly this but divers other truths for the which he hath bene long impriſoned and condemned to perpetuall impriſoment yea expecting death for the ame, yet notwithſtanding all his former fidelity and conſtancie whereby his bondes were famous through the whole land, falling with M. Smyth vponupon this your blind Succeſsion (forſakeing the rock whereon he ſtood) is now returned beyond his vomytt, exclayming againſt your Succeſsion, and ſtrives to build vp the Succeſsion o… Rome, which he hath formerly, with all zeale and holines pulled downe, & ſo is become a hiſſinge of men, and a reproach vntounto all the godly, and is made a ſcorne of the wicked a iuſt reward for all that fall away.

More over this wicked man Mr. Smyth hath profeſſed and maintened with all manifeſtation of faith and confidence that Chriſt tooke his fleſh of Mary, affirming that all the world was not able to aunſwere that place to the Hebr. 2.14. where it is ſaid: foraſmuch, as the childeren are partakers of fleſh and blood, he alſo himſelf likewiſe tooke part with them, as alſo that place Gen. 3.15. The ſeed of the woman ſhall breake the ſerpents head, but now he is fallen from this, following a device of ſome of you. He cannot find in all the ſcriptures where Chriſt had the firſt matter of his fleſh: but the ſecond matter which is his nouriſhment, that he had of Mary, p. 37ſaieing further that if he had the ſtrength of many men, he would labor to caſt the contrary out of the Church for being ā article of faith, & he hath taught that Chriſtes myracles, ſufferinges, and death, yea his hanging vponupon the croſſe were all typicall and Carnall, Comparing Chriſt fleſh to his garments, and therefore not to be ſtriven about. So like wiſe is he fallen from the faith of juſtification by Chriſts righteouſnes onelyonly, to inherent righteouſnes in himſelf, ſo wi…l he be juſtified partly by his owne righteouſnes, either not ſtanding need of all Chriſts righteouſnes, orels not holding his righteouſnes ſufficient for him. And he is alſo fallen from the faith in the point of Magiſtracie, profeſſing he knew not that he differed from you in anie thinge.

Further more this wicked man Mr. Smyth hath profeſſed and taught, and his confederates had learned. That God is a ſpirit, and that he wilbe worſhipped wholly in ſpirit and truth. And he and they knewe that the Appoſtle 1. Cor. 14.14.15.16. ſaith. If I pray in a ſtrainge tōgue my ſpirit praieth, but myne vnderſtanding is without fruit. I will pray therefore with the ſpirit, but I will pray with the vnderſtanding alſo. I will ſinge with the ſpirit, but I will ſinge with the vnderſtanding alſo. Els how ſhall they that vnderſtand not, ſay Amen. and verſ. 11. Except I knowe the power of the voice, I ſhalbe vntounto him that ſpeaketh a Barbarian. This man not with ſtanding, when he had himſelf but a little vnderſtanding of your language, and the reſt of his confedracie, when ſome of them had not anie vnderſtanding to be ſpoken of, and divers none at all, neither yet have: have, and do come to worſhipp with you, being barbarians vntounto you and ſay Amen (els what do they there) not knowing whether you bleſſe or curſe.

The ignorant Papiſts ſhall ſtand vp in judgment againſt theſe men, yea the Idolatrous Heathens who have not knowne & heard the thinges that theſe men have knowne p. 40and hard. Of ſuch men as this and they that are fallen with him, ſpeakes Th-appoſtle Iude. VVoe be vntounto them: for they have followed the way of …ayne, and are caſt away by the deceipt of … in the gaine ſaying of …ore. … your perſons in admiration becauſe of advantage, which you might all right well ſee, & …ee doubt not but ſome of you do ſee, for you knowe then vnderſtanding in your language, and for what cauſe can you ymagine that they ſhould …unne to gaze at you. Th-appoſtle 1. Cor. 14.19. ſaith. I had rather ſpeake to the Church or congregation, fyve words with myne vnderſtanding that I might alſo inſtruct others, then Ten thouſand words in a …a…nge tongue. And doth not The-appoſtle reach heere that it is better to heare fyve words in the Church or congregation with vnderſtanding, then Ten-thouſand words in a ſtrai…g tongue? But theſe men, with a ſort of ween on that are void of vnderſtanding had rather heare in your Church or congregation fyve words without anie vnderſtanding, then Ten thouſand with vnderſtanding in a congregation or Church gathered together by the preaching of the goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, and baptized into his name vponupon the confeſsion of their faith and ſinnes.

This they knewe was our begininge: but your begining they knewe not neither can knowe, and if you had anie other begining it is not according to gods word: but that is all one to them, they have not regarded how you began in the faith, nor how you ſtand in the faith, which (if they had not forſaken all religion) they would have had regard of: but religion was not, nor is not theire marke that they aymed at▪ as you may eaſilie deſcerne by theſe their wilfull b…ind courſes, where into you have ledd them by your blind Succeſsion.

p. 41Now you, and betwixt you and vsus, and let all the godly on ear…n conſider, whether you have walked vprightly herein or no, and whether you have not ſought your ſelves▪ and not the glorie of god, nor our building vp in the faith. And thus wee leave the Succeſſion of your baptiſme, putting you in remembrance that vvee have ſhewed you, that by this your opinion you make Iohn baptiſt his example a perticuler example for one man, for what man you cannot tell, but whoſe ever can firſt light of it he hath the pre heminence, and this you ymagine was your firſt beginner, which you ſhall never be able to prove except you can knowe all thinges that are done vnderunder the ſunne, but all this in you is vanitie of vanities as wee truſt manie of you will eaſilie ſee, and wee wiſh all may. And for this people who have …unne after your inventions, of whome wee would not once have made mention, but the better to bring you to the ſight of the greatnes of your ſinne, and to ſett them out for an example that others might be warned thereby, which vvee deſire that they may be, vvhen they ſhall heare of ſuch a people, vvhoſe knovvled, gifts, and graces vvere great, and vvho vvalked, & preferred to vvalke, ſtrictly by the rules of Chriſt, & vnderunder his …k, and now are they Behall, walking by no rule of Chriſt, not being vnderunder his yock, haveing diſclaymed themſelves for haveing anie power to the ho…e thinges, and have given all to you, all their religion being onelyonly to come and gaze at you, vvho ſpeake to them in a ſt…aing tongue, vvhichwhich is given for a ſigne n…t vntounto them that beleeve but vntounto them that beleeve not 1. Cor. 14.22. And in that they are thus left in confuſion not knovveing nor careing vvhether to go, vvee have cru…e to magnifie the name of god in that he hath confounded them in their vvaies that vvould have confounded … vvay of truth: and vvee have cruſe to bleſſe god that hath prevented you and kept you from makeing them to be one with you, whereby you had ſtrengthned thē in their evill, & enlarged your owne ſinne excedingly.

Let vsus now proceed to the Succeſſion of your Church and miniſtry, for wee cannot conceive which way you wilbe able ever to make anie ſhewe or cullor, that this vnbaptized man ſhould have commiſſion to do all thinges, if your rule of particuler proportion be good, there is no ſuch courſe nor proportion in the ſcriptures. Iohn his example will not ſerve your turne, for Iohn planted no Churches. If you will have planters of Churches, and that all men muſt come to them, then muſt they needs be endued with like gifts as the firſt …lanters were, ſpeake all languages as Th-appoſtles did, worke miracles, and not err in doctrine, for the Lords hand is not ſhortned, nor his grace and merciemercy leſſned to his Church and people. But if he ſend men with the ſame office and aucthoritie, that he ſent his Appoſtles, he will for the honor of his owne name, the advancement of his truth, and good of his people, give them the ſame gifts, and not bring his truth and people in bondage to men full of errors, ignorances, and blindnes, as you and all men are: therefore be content to be biulders vpō the foundation layd, and forbid not others to build thereon, but let every man take heed how he buildeth vponupon it. 1. Cor. 3.10. This may ſuffice for this point and ſo wee come to that, to the which the beſt approved amōgſt you, have had no word of annſwere hetherto, & wee knowe you cā ſay nothinge for it, holding your rule of Succeſsiō according to your courſe and proportion except you wilbe ſo very vnadviſed, as to hold proportion in one thinge, & no proportiō in another, and this that wee intend to ſpeake of, is your miniſtry.

How come you to raiſe a miniſtry? where is your particuler example, your rule is that Elders muſt make Elders, and none but Elders muſt adminiſter in the holie thinges. You raiſe baptiſme after Iohns examples: but how will you do to ordeyne Elders? ſeeing you have no ſuch exāple, & when you have done, what device will you have to keepe this auctoritie to your ſelves? This is your ground for your Succeſsion, as all had baptiſme from Iohn the firſt baptizer, ſo all muſt have baptiſme from your firſt baptizer, As all Churches proceeded from the firſt Church at Ieruſalem, ſo all Churches muſt proceeded from Ieruſalem your firſt Church. As Elders proceeded by ordination from the firſt Elders, ſo all Elders muſt proceed by ordination from your firſt Elders; heere is your proportion. But how came your Elders by their ordination? did they ordeyne themſelves? where is your example and proportion for that? Did the Church ordeyne them▪ then your proportion is gone, for the firſt Elders were not ſo ordeyned. Thus are you overtaken in your ground not ſeeing whether it ledd you. Forſake it, it ſhalbe no diſgrace for you to forſake error, you ſhall therein ſhewe the true grace of God to be in you, in denying your ſelves and your owne waies, and advancing the way of the Lord. Hold you to the perfect rule, that all gaynſaiers are not able to withſtand, which was given by the law giver, and that is. VVhere two, or three are gathered together into my name, there am I in the midſt of them and whatſoever they bind on earth, ſhalbe bound in heaven: and what ſoever they looſe on earth, ſhalbe looſed in heaven. Mat. 18.20.18. And 1. Cor. 3.16.21.22. Knowe you not that yee are the Temple of god. Lett no mā reioyce in men, for all thinges are yours and 2. Cor. 6.15.16.17.18. what Cōcord hath Chriſt with Be…all; or what part hath the beleever with the infidell: and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols: wherefore come out from amongſt them and ſeperate yourſelves ſaith the Lord, & touch none vncleane thinge, & I will receive you, & I wilbe a father vntounto you, and you ſhalbe my ſonnes, and daughters ſaith the Lord almightie. Theſe three places of ſcripture proves thus much. Firſt, that whereſoever two, or three are gathered p. 44together in Chriſts name, Chriſt is in the midſt of them, and they have power to bind and looſe, which is to receive in & caſt out, to appoint Officers and to diſcharge, and to adminiſter in all the holy thinges, for haveing Chriſt they have wi…h him all thinges alſo Rom. 8.32. Chriſts power cannot be devided from him, therefore where he is, his power muſt needs be, & he is a kinge, & where he is, he gives power to his ſervants to ſerve him in all his ordinances.

The ſecond place alleged confirmes this, where it is ſaid. Let no man reioyce in men, for all thinges are yours, and in the 5. verſ. of this. 1. Co…. 3. ſaith The Appoſtle, who is Paul? and who is Appollos? but the miniſters by whome ye beleeved, ſheweing that the Cornithians were not the Temple of God, neither had intereſt vntounto all thinges, becauſe of their perſons, but becauſe they beleeved their doctrine. And whereſoever a compaine of men now, ſhall beleeve their doctrine, even they are the Temple of god, and all thinges are theirs, aſwell as all thinges were the Corinthians.

The third place …ore alleged, proves, who they are that Chriſt hath promiſſed to be in the midſt of, & that is, thoſe that ſeperate themſelves from Behall (which are men without a yock) from vnbeleevers, from Idolls, and which touch no vncleane thinge, theſe are they that God will receive, and amonge whome he will dwell & walke and he wilbe their God and father, & they ſhalbe his people & children, & they ſhall not need to reſpect the perſons of men as hath bene ſhewed, for by the free gift of Gods grace, & through their faith in Chriſt, all thinges are thens. Will anie men not withſtanding all this ſay, that anie people or congregation ſeperated from all vncleannes, may not enioy Chriſt and all the holy ordinances without they be admitted there vntounto by other p. 45…en? Did Th-appoſtle Paule diſclayme both for himſelf, and Cephas, & Appollos from all previlige vntounto their perſons, & teach the corinthians that their perſons gave not them intereſt vntounto the holie things but their doctrine through their owne faith; and dare anie challenge previlege vntounto their perſons, & ſo take away the the aucthoritie of Th-appoſtles doctrine & miniſterie, that is ſtill in as good force & aucthoritie as ever, in the ſcriptures. And by whoſe miniſterie & doctrine what people ſoever beleeves at this day, all thinges are therin, by faith in the ſcriptures not by Succeſsion from men.

Heere wee deſire that all men that have anie vprightnes of …art, would enter into a due conſideration of the depth of … error of Succeſsion, from, or by the perſons of men. And through gods aſsiſtance wee will endeavour to ſpeake what wee are able for the diſcoverie of this error, which is ſo great & dangerous, of the ſharpe bitter fruites whereof, wee have deepely taiſted, & our vvounds are yet freſh & greene: but not vvithſtanding by the grace of God, vvee vvill not be provoked to ſpeake beyond the bounds of ſobriet…e herein: and to proceed herein by the moſt eaſie, plaine, and evident vvay to our beſt vnderſtandings.

VVee intreat you, and all men vvith all holy adviſednes to conſider, vvhat vvas the ſeperation vvall, betvvixt the Ievve & the gentill, & Th-appoſtle Rom. 3.1.2. declares plainely what is vvas in theſe vvords. The preferment of the Ievve & the profitt of circumciſion is much everie manner of vvay, for cheiflie becauſe vntounto them were of creditt cōmitted the oracles of god, this was the diviſiō vvall, vvhichwhich the Lord had ſet vp betvvixt the Iewe & the gentill in that he gave his ſtatutes & ordināces to Iſraell to keep…, not debarring the gētills at all frō ēioying the benefitt of his ſtatutes & ordināces as the lord ſheweth Exo. 12.49. One lavv ſhalbe to him that is p. 44borne in the land, and to the ſtrainger that dwelleth amongſt you. This then was the preferment and the deviſion wall, that the Iewes kept the oracles, and the Gentills muſt have them at their hands: for if the gentills had themſelves poſſeſſed the land of Canaan. And the holie Citie, and the Temple; and all the holie thinges they had bene all polluted in their hands; but when the Iewes had the poſſeſſion of all the holy thinges, and communicated them vntounto the gētills they were holy to them. Thus could the gentills have no benifitt of the holy thinges, except they came to the Iewes and receyved them from them, and ſo enioyed them vnderunder them. This then is ſo plaine as anie thinge can be, that the partition wall betwixt the Iewe and the gentill, was in reſpect of the previlige that belonged to the perſon of the Iewe, in that, to the perſon of the Iewes, the oracles were committed to be kept, for as wee have ſhewed there was the ſame law of ordinances for the gentill as for the Iewe, but the gentill muſt receive them from the Iewes, and they muſt come vp to Ieruſalem to worſhip with the jewes Act 8.27. and joh. 4.20. This ſtopp of the partition wall hath Chriſt broken downe. That he might reconcile both vntounto God in one body, by his croſſe and ſlay hatred thereby, & makeing peace Eph. 2.16.15. Thus hath the Lord of himſelf made peace both with jewe & gētill, now not preferring anie one people above another in giveing his oracles to thē to keepe, but hath made his convenant with all, both jewe, & gētill, they that are a farr of, & they that are neare Act. 2.39. Eph. 2.17. To everie mā that doth good ſhalbe glorie and honor and peace, to the jew firſt, and alſo to the grecian. For there is no reſpect of perſons with god Rom. 2.10.11. There are now by gods appointment no more ſtraingers and forreyners, but through Chriſt, all both jew and gentile, have an entrance vntounto the father by one ſpirit Epheſ. 2.19.18. not ſtanding in need of admittance by men. And what people ſoever, either jew, or p. 45gentile, are biult vponupon the foundation of Th-appoſtles and Prophetts Ieſus Chriſt himſelf being the ch…te corner ſtone, in whome all the building cuppled together, groweth vntounto an holie Temple in the Lord, they are built together to be the habitation of god by the ſpiri… Epheſ. 2.20.21.22. And therefore no people are bound to ſeeke to men to be built a habitatiō of god: But the doctrine of Th-appoſtles by the worke of the ſpirit is ſufficient. All this proves the partition wall is broken downe, which is, that the oracles are not now commited to anie people of creditt to keepe that all ſhould be forced to come to them as the gentills were of neceſsitie conſtrayned to come to the jewes, Chriſt hath ſlayne that hatred ſaith Th-appoſtle, and hath reconciled the gentills to god, and ſo god is equally favourable to them both, that is to all men (for all were either jewes or gentils) God doth not favour anie one in reſpect of committing his orracles to be kept, they are now left free to all that come, according to that prophecie of ſcripture Pſai. 55.1. Hoe every one that thirſteth come ye to the waters, and ye that have no ſilver come buy and eate. Come I ſay buy wine and mylke without ſilver and without monie.

This then being confeſſed of al (that have anie knowledg in the religion of God) that the ſeperation wall is broken downe, and being rightly vnderſtood alſo that the ſeperation wall was a perſonall previlige vntounto the peculiar nation of the jewes by genealogie, which was to keepe the oracles of God by Succeſſion amongſt them ſelves, from generation to generatiō, and the gentiles that were without could not be admitted to the holy thinges but by them, this being the c…viſion vvall, and this being broken dovvne, and the gentiles let in, & the doore ſett open for all, & freedome & libertie proclaymed. That by the blood of jeſus chriſt vvee may be bold to enter into the holy place, by the nevv and liveing vvay, which he hath prepared for vsus through the vaile, that is his fleſh Heb. 10.1….20. Hereby all Succeſſion is aboliſhed, all previlige and pr…l…ment to perticuler perſons in keeping the holy oracles is taken away, and they are free for all men, (that beleeve to …, for wee are all the ſonnes of God by faith in Chriſt Ieſus, There is neither Iewe, nor Grecian: there is neither bond, nor free …e is neither male nor feemale: or we are all one in Chriſt Ieſus Gal. 3.26.8. Now they then that will ſet vp Succeſsion, and … have all the orac…es of God committed to them, and that all … receive the ordinances of Chriſt from them they herein build vp the per… wall againe they challenge to themſelves the prefermēt of the Iewe they ſtopp the entrance into the holie place by the new and liveing way, which Chriſt hath made by his blood: they deny that any people built vpō the foundatiō of Th…appoſtles & Prophetts by the ſpirit, can be the …on of God they will not permitt mē to be the ſonnes of god by faith: all theſe thinges are nothinge available without mē come to thē, & be admitted by them: & men cannot have Chriſt except they have thē, nor be joyned to chriſt, except they be ioyned to them: nor putt on christ except they putt on thē. Lett all the godly but equally iudg betwixt you and vsus, whether this be not to ſett vp the … wall againe, W…h is to give a ſpeciall previlege …d prefermēt to the people more then another and that none may enioy the holy thinges but from their perſons, which wee de…e may yet better be obſerved, & well vnderstood, that you, or what people ſoever manteyne Succeſsion o… will have a previlege or preferment, in the poſſeſſion of the holie things it doth apperteyne & is tyed to your perſons & the power and auctoritie you challenge it is in your perſons, for it is not in your gifts ād doctrine for ſet… by your perſones & tye vsus not to them, and then wee will preferr the gifts & doctrine of Th-appoſtles before yours, and wee wilbe directed p. 45by thē. And the aucthoritie and preferment you challēge is not in your office, for ſett by your perſons and perſonall preſence, and ſend precepts & rules, by the aucthoritie of your Office and wee, and all that …eare god will caſt away your aucthoritie and office and the aucthoritie and office of all others heerein, with the precepts and rules made by the power thereof, and wee will onelyonly ſubmitt our ſelves to the office and aucthoritie of Th-appoſtles, and to the precepts and rules, which they have ſett downe by the power of their office, wch power ād office they received frō god, not from men, nor by man gal. …. 1. Thus may you and all men ſee, that what people chu…ch, or congregation ſoever do challenge vntounto thē ſelves anie previlige or prefermēt in keeping the holy thinges, & that they onelyonly are to diſpoſe of the to others, ſuch previlige, ād prefermēt muſt needs be proper to their perſōs onelyonly and frō all ſuch previlige to their perſōs, as wee have before ſhewed Paul, and …phas, and Appollos diſclaymes, although they were the miniſters by whome the corinthians beleeved. And will you, or anie people or church challēge privilege and prefermēt to your perſons over al men, although by your miniſtrie they beleeve not: and all your warrant for this is becauſe you ſay, you are the firſt.

If you wil yet ſtād for privilege by your beeing fi… as you Ymagine) heare what our ſaviour chriſt ſaith vntounto you for your inſtruction Mat. 2….1.14. …rend I do thee no wronge, take that which is thyne owne, and go thy way. I will give … much as vntounto thee: theſe men thought becauſe they came firſt into the veinya…d they ſhould have had more wage them they that came laſt, although there wages were agreed vponupon, ſo you thinke you are worthie of more aucthoritie, them the laſt becauſe you ſuppoſe you were the firſt: but our Saviour chriſt teacheth you in th… place that the honor & reward in all one to the laſt, as to the firſt. And take heed, leaſt by this your ſinne, if you had no other) the lord paſſe p. 48this ſentence againſt you, and ſay vntounto you. The firſt ſhalbe laſt.

To dravve to an end in this point, that the goſpell is come vntounto all the vvorld alike coll. 1.6. to god is no accepter of perſons: And therefore all the world ought to receive it, beleeve it, & obey it a like: & ſo doeing, all have free libertie to enioy and adminiſter in all the holy ordinances a like: for of vvhomeſoever the Lord requires obedience of all his ordinances, they obeying, he giveth to them the privilege & benifitt of all his ordinances. Then vvhat ſoever people receives, beleeves, & obeyes the goſpell, as truely as another people do, they have as much privilege & libertie to einoy the goſpel & all the ordinances thereof as anie other people: For god is no accepter of perſons, but in every Nation, he that feareth him & vvorketh righteouſnes is accepted vvith him Act. 10.34.35. And if anie ſhall novv feare god, & faſt & pray as Cornelius did, their praiers & almes ſhall come vp in remembrance before god & the ſpirit of god ſhall direct them to heare vvhat Peter ſaith, & to be directed by Peter, & the reſt of Th…appoſtles, & not bid them ſend for you, or go to you, or anie people to make them perfect, for the word of God is all ſufficient to teath them & inſtruct them & make them perfect to everie good vvorke, as is ſhevved. 2. tim. 3.16.17. The vvhole ſcriptures as given by inſpiration of god, & is profitable to teath to convine, to correct, & to inſtruct in righteouſnes, that the man of god may be abſolute, being made perfect vntounto all good workes. Heere may you & all learne & vnderſtand, that the vvord of god is all ſufficient of it ſelf, to make the people of god abſolute & perfect vntounto every good worke, to pray, to preach, to Baptize, to breake bread, to adminiſter in all the holy thinges & to vvalke in all the vvaies of god, vvithout the helpe of of anie man or men. And if anie ſhould be ſo vnvviſe, as thinke that the meaning of the holy ghoſt heere is onelyonly p. 49to make a man perfect vntounto everie good worke in himſelf, it were great weaknes, ſeeing that the holy ghoſt teſtifieth, That the mainfeſtation of the ſpirit is geven to every man to profit withall. 1. Cor, 12.7. & 1. Pet. 4.10. Lett everie man as he hath received the gift Miniſter the ſame to another, as good diſpoſers of the manifold graces of god. To make this plaine that he that runnes may read it & vnderſtād it that Chriſt and al things are geven to every faithfull people, although they be but two or three according to Chriſtes owne wordes Mat. 18.20. Chriſt is there king Luk. 1.33. he is there Mediator Heb. 9.15. by whoſe blood they may be bould to enter into the holy place. He is their high Prieſt, who with one offering hath conſecrated for ever thē that are ſanctified Heb. 10.21.14. And made them kings, And Preiſts vntounto God Reuel. 1.6. They are come vntounto Mount Syon. And to the citie of the liveing God the celeſtiall Ieruſalem Heb. 12.22. whoſe gates are not ſhutt by day, and there is no night there Reuel. 21.25. wee conclude therefore with thoſe heavenly wordes of comfort ſpoken by the holy ghoſt, vntounto everie faithfull man, and men though but two or three. Reuel. 22.17. Both the ſpirit & the Bride ſay come. And let him that heareth, ſay, come, and let him that is a thirſt, come, and let who ſoever will, take of the water of life freely.

VVe… with your ſelves now, and let all mē conſider, whether this be not al ſufficiēt. Heere is the King: & the Mediator: and the high Prieſt: and the citie Ieruſalem with hir gates open: and the ſpirit of God bidding all come freely: and all the faithfull made kings, & Preiſtes vntounto God, what ſhould let the faithfull for entring in, & offering Sacrifices, & adminiſtring in all the holy thinges before the lord, ſeeing they onelyonly are appointed there vntounto of God. 1. Pet. 2.5. & 4.10.

If the jewes cominge out of captivitie, had had Salomon p. 50their kinge, Moſes their mediator, Aaron their high Prieſt, Ieruſalem their citie with hir gates open & their god bidding thē come, who ſhould have for bidden thē for bringing their ſacrifices and adminiſtring before the lord freely. If Pharoh ſhould hinder thē all the plagues of Egipt ſhould fall vpō him. And though Tobiah ſhould deſpiſe thē, & Sāballett cōſpire againſt them, yet they praying to their god their enimies ſhame ſhould be turned vponupon their owne heads, and the lord ſhould bring their counſells to nought Nehe. 4. And God hath promiſſed to do no leſſe for his people now againſt his and their enimie the miſtery of iniquitie, the man of ſinne for he will conſume him with the ſpirit of his mouth, & aboliſh him with the brightnes of his coming 2. Theſ. 2.8. And he will ſmyte the earth with the …od of his mouth and with the breath of his lipps ſhall he ſlay the wicked Eſa. 11.4.

Now therefore take you heed, and let al people take ficed, how they go about to hinder the people of god that have freedome and libertie to adminiſter before him, being a holy Preiſthood to offer vp ſpirituall ſacrifices acceptable to God by Ieſus Chriſt 1. Pet. 2.5. take heed wee ſay how you go about to hinder them, by ſetting vp your owne inventions and abhominations, and bring ſwiſt iudgment vponupon your ſelves. And ſo wee leave this point praying you not lightly to paſſe by it though wee have handled it weakly But let all that diſire vnfainedly in the truth of their ſoules to ſee the profeſſion of Ieſus Chriſt florriſh in puritie and ſincerity, and in the light of all truth, ſett their owne harts and teach others to ſeeke Chriſt in his word: And to followe him in all worſhipp and ſervice according to the examples, rules & precepts in the Striptures, which are written for vsus to that end. For, what ſoever …inges are writtē aforetime are written for our lea…ing Rom. 15.1.

p. 51Lett all men therefore that in vprightnes diſires to walke in the waies of god according to true direction, ſeeke to be taught of god by the Scriptures, and not to be ledd by the examples and precepts of men: For if a people though but two, or three, by reading and hearing the Scriptures, by the worke of the ſpirit, come to the faith of the goſpel, muſt be cōpelled to joyne to anie, or ſome people that formerly profeſſe Chriſt, then muſt they be forced, to profeſſe as they profeſſe, and walke in their ſtepps with them: and ſo to be brought in ſubiection to all their errors, and to be polluted by joyning with them in all their corruptions and ſo they cannot nor muſt not be ledd on for ward towards perfection as they ought to be Heb. 6.1. But they muſt be ledd forward or go backward, or out of the way, or ſtand ſtill, as that people to whome they joyne will lead them. This deſtroyes all pure profeſſion of the goſpell, and keepes men backe from walking in the cleare light thereof: ffor if two or three ſhall in the honeſtie of their harts diſire to walke holi…e with the lord, and keepe themſelves vnſpotted of error, this wofull rule of Succeſſion debarrs them that they may not ſo do, and conſtraines them to joyne to ſome people, denying them libertie to walke after the rules and examples in the Scriptures and ſo to followe Chriſt, and binds them to followe Chriſt with them, as they followe Chriſt. Hence it cometh that the Pope ſaith, loe heere is Chriſt, and ſeekes to force all to followe Chriſt with him. And the Biſhopps they ſay loe heere is Chriſt and they ſeeke to compell all to followe Chriſt with them. The Preſbitarie they ſay, loe heree is Chriſt, and they will conſtraine all to followe Chriſt with them, wee paſſe by the moſt vngodly & vnwiſe Familiſts and ſcattered flock, that ſay he is in the deſert, that is no where to be found in the profeſſiō of the goſpell according to the ordināces thereof p. 52vntill their extraordinarie men (they dreame of) come▪ which ſhall not be, vntil there come a new Chriſt, & a new goſpell. And you to whome wee eſpecially write you ſay loe heere is Chriſt, & you would have all to followe Chriſt with you. Now in theſe trobleſome dayes which our ſauiour Chriſt hath foretold of, and are now come to paſſe wherein if it were poſſible the very elect ſhould be deceaved, let all the godly ſtay them ſelves vponupon that bleſſed counſel of our Saviour Chriſt who ſaith vntounto al that will followe him, take yee heed, behold I have ſhewed you althinges before Mark. 13.23. which is by his word, and therefore thither onelyonly muſt wee go, and followe no men. And wee pray al you (that would have men followe Chriſt with you) to remember how our Saviour Chriſt reproved his Diſciples for their evill diſpoſition therin, who when they ſawe one caſting out deviles in Chriſtes name forbadd him becauſe he followed not Chriſt with them. Ieſus vtterly diſaproving them, ſaid, forbidd yee him not, he that is not againſt vsus is with vsus. Luk. 9.49.50 If thē our ſaviour Chriſt would not ſuffer theſe his Diſciples, to challēge to thēſelves this privilege, nor would not reſtraine that his Diſciple, for profeſſinge his name althoug he followed not with thē, why ſhould anie challēg to thēſelves, or why ſhould the people of god think them ſelves bound to give vntounto anie this prerogative.

Let all the people of God therefore every where knowe, that they have libertie to followe Chriſtly them ſelves, which if Gods people would practice with feare & reverence, relying onelyonly vponupon the direction of gods word & ſpirit, it would make them … wary & carefull of their waies, leaſt they ſhould run into error, & ſo be iuſtly reproved of all, whift all mens eies are vponupon them; whereas contrariwiſe, if of neceſſitie they be bound to go & joyne to another congregation, they walke ſecurely, becauſe that people… p. 53walking is their warrant and what ſoever they find amongſt them muſt be received as approved & good. And this makes divers, who often receives manie good motions of the ſpirit to quench thoſe provocations of the ſpirit, becauſe they thinke they muſt needes ioyne to ſome people, and can ſee none that walke ſo vprightly & nolilie, with whome they may have comfort to joyne: & this is a cheife cauſe of all this evill, in that manie are blinded with this error that you, & all the fore named people do ſtand ſo ſtiffly vponupon, that they muſt joyne to the Church. And ſo is this libertie hidden from their eies (you all that teach that doctrine being inſtrumentes there of) that they may joyne thē ſelves to gether in the covenant of the new Teſtament, & ſo be the church & Temple of God them ſelves as well as you or anie people: and through the gracions bleſſing of god, which he hath promiſſed ſhalbe vponupon them, they ſo doeing & walking in his waies, they may, & ſhall growe to be a moſt holy people, and a houſe for the moſt high god to dwel in, the word & ſpirit of god being fullie ſufficient to build them vp, & they edifieing one another in their moſt holy faith, according to the rules of the holy ghoſt in the new Teſtament: And all this without the authoritie or admittance of anie people profeſſing before them, but all this you hide from their eies.

O that the children of god were as wiſe in their generation in al thinges, & in this, as the Sonnes of men, then would they looſe no part of that libertie wherewith Chriſt hath made them free, then would every people called of god, runne of them ſelves, the rac… before them, and followe hard toward the marke, for the price of the high calling of god in Chriſt Ieſus Phil. 3.14. VntoUnto the which till the called of god by the word of his ſpirit, raiſe vp their hartes to do, ſtriveing withall zeale & holines to runne one before another p. 54in the profesſion of the truth, till theſe gracions affections and holie endeavours poſſeſſe the harts and ſpirits of men, there can be no hope to ſee the glorious light of Gods truth in the profesſion thereof to florriſh & growe: ffor whilſt ſome Church or congregation ſettled in the dreggs of error, and overtaken with a ſecure, cold, frozen profesſion of the goſpel, and ſome other church or congregatiō carried away with a head-ſtronge blind zeale into manie errors, will have all men come and followe Chriſt, or rather go out of the way, or be frozen vp with them, and while men thinke they are to give them this preferment, what hope is there of the groth of pure Religion. VVe therefore earneſtly beſeech all people, by the mercies of god (in whome there is anie faithfull love of gods truth) not to reſpect anie men, neither to followe Chriſt, as you have them for an example: but followe Chriſt as you are taught is his word, and as you have the holy mens examples, whoſe holines is approved in the Scriptures. And thus in all love, wee exhort you to be thus mynded by the name of Ieſus.

Although this that hath bene manifeſted from the Scriptures may give full ſatisfaction to every faithfull holie profeſſor of the goſpell (that Chriſt by his preſence giveth all power to every congregation, aſwell as to anie one people or congregatiō, gathered together into his name, though they be but two, or three, whether they be firſt gathered or laſt gathered: whether there be…lder, or no Elders amongſt thē, it is with god all one) wet becauſe amongſt all (almoſt) that profeſſe Chriſt, there is ſo much a doe about ordination, o… laying on of hands, as though olders hands were onelyonly ſanctified to that vſe, wee pray the godly reader to receive full ſatisfaction from Act. 13.1.2.3. where it doth evidently appeare that the church or cōgregatiō at Antiochia (where there were no Appoſtles nor elders) by p. 55the direction of the holy ghoſt, with faſting, & praying, & laying on of hands ſeperated Paull & Barnabas to the worke of their miniſterie, wherevnto the holy ghoſt had called them. And Paul went not to Ieruſalē to them that were Appoſtles before him, not ſo much as to conſult with them Gal. 1.17. but after they were ſeperated by the church, being ſent furth by the holy ghoſt they came downe to Seleucia. Act. 13.4. And frō this time did firſt begin to adminiſter in the Office of their Appoſtle ſhip: in all this let it obſerved, that it is here ſet downe expreſly in the ſcriptures; that they were called vntounto their office of god & ſet furth of god, & that the church did onelyonly ordeyne, or ſeparate thē to that worke: and therefore this doth nothinge contradict Gala. 1.1. where it is ſaid Paul an Appoſtle, not of men, neither by man: for he was called & ſent of god. Thus is it proved that the church or congregatiō, hath power (with faſting & praier) to lay on hands, and ſo to ſeparate & ordeyne mē choſen, to adminiſter. And this is the ordinatiō ſet downe in the ſcriptures, which moſt men make ſo g…eat an Idoll of. And wee hope wee ſhall not need to prove perticulerly that the church or congregatiō hath power to Elect or chuſe their officers ſeeing that is ſo plainely ſet downe Act. 14.23. & 6.3.5.