Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity — Thomas Helwys

Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity · Thomas Helwys

THe next falſe profeſſion off Chriſt, and falſe Prophets amongſt you, that wee will (by Gods aſſiſtance) ſpeake of, is that falſe profeſſion, and thoſe falſe Prophets which are vſually called Browniſts, you are they that ſay you are Iewes: but are none: and have made your ſelves a name to bee the Seperation, and are falſly ſo called, but are not, as through the helpe of our God, we ſhal make it plaine by the Word of the Lord, both to your owne conſciences: (if you wil not alwaies reſiſt the truth,) and alſo to the conſciences of al others. And this we will do by thoſe grounds of truth which you acknowledg, which you muſt be forced either to forſake, or els be cō vinced by them.

And the firſt ground is this, in your Booke called the Apologies, the firſt part of your third poſition ſtands thus ſet downe.

A true viſible Church is a Companie of people called and ſeperated from the world by the word of God, and ioyned together by voluntary profeſſion of the faith of Chriſt in the fellowship of the Goſpel. And by this meanes, that is by the word of God: and by thus doeing, that is, ſeperating themſelves from the world and ioyning together, (ſay you) they are become a true viſible Church. Now to come to a full diſcoverie off your falſe profeſſion off Chriſt. Let it be obſerved, that you confeſſe you were off the World, before you ſeperated: Which when you were, then were you Enimies vntounto Chriſt, for Chriſt teſtifieth the World hates him, Iohn 7.7. Then were you none off Chriſts, for thoſe that are Chriſts, or off Chriſt, are not of the world. Ioh. 17.1…. and now to be come Chriſts, you ſay you are called and ſeperated from the World by the word of God, and ioined together by voluntarie profeſſion of the faith of Chriſt, in the fellowſhip of the Goſpel: This is your conſtitution, wherein you have erred as may plainlie appeare, for when you were called, and (as you ſay) ſeperated you ſhould have ioined to Chriſt, and have entred into his Kingdome, which ſeing you have not done, you are not ſeperated from the world: nor have no fellowſhip in the Goſpel. Wee confeſſe the Lord hath called vntounto you, and you have ioined your ſelves together in a voluntarie profeſſion, but you have not ioyned your ſelves to Chriſt: ād therefore is your profeſſion a falſe profeſſion, and you have a falſe Chriſt that is no Chriſt, as ſhalbee hereafter plainlie proved. And to ſhew you that you are not ioyned to Chriſt you being of the world before you conſtituted or ſet vp your Church, by your owne confeſſions, the word off the Lord doth evidentlie declare, that there is no way for them that are of the world, who are not in Chriſt, but enimies to Chriſt, as all that are of the world are, there is no other way to ioyne and come to Chriſt, but onelie to. Amend their lives, & bee Baptized. Act. 2.38. and Gal. 3.27. Al ye that are Baptized into Chriſt have put on Chriſt. Let vsus now intreat you on Gods dehalf that you wil no longer be feighters againſt God in contending againſt his truth, from the which wee truſt through the merciemercy of God, you ſhal not bee able anie longer to hide your ſelves: For if al men that knowe God, and his Sonne Chriſt Ieſus, will not confeſſe that infidels and vnbeleevers have no other way to come, and be ioyned to Chriſt, but onelyonly by beleeving and being baptized, then you that confeſſe you were of the world before you ſet vp your Church, muſt needs confeſſe alſo that you were infidels and vnbeleevers: for you ſhalbee aſhamed to ſay that there are anie beleevers of the world, ſeeing our Saviour Chriſt ſaith: Iohn. 14.17. The World cannot receive the Spirit of truth: and Iohn. 16.8.9. The Comforter shall reprove the world of ſinne, becauſe they beleeved not in me. and Iohn. 17.25. O righteous Father the World hath not knowne thee. and Iohn, in his firſt Epiſt. Chap. 5.18.19 ſpeakes thus, We knowe that were are of God, & this whole World lieth in wickednes. And this being the condition of thē that are of the world. 1 That they cannot receive the Spirit of truth. 2. That they beleeve not in Chriſt. 3. That they knowe not God. 4. That they lye all in wickednes. You confeſſing your ſelves to be of the world before you ioined your ſelves together in your voluntarie profeſſion, by a Covenant of your owne deviſings (you being of the world) your Condition was the ſame: Then were you without the Spirit of truth: vnbelevers, not knowing God: Lying al in wickednes, and ſo are you all infidels, ād their was, nor is, no way for you to ioyne vntounto Chriſt, but to amend your lives, & be Baptized, and by Baptiſme to put on Chriſt. Which ſeeing you have not done, you are ſtil of the world: the ſpirit of truth is not in you: you are infidels and vnbeleevers: you knowe not God: and you remaine in your wickednes and ſo is your profeſſion a falſe profeſſion of Chriſt, and you have not the true Chriſt, but a falſe Chriſt, and ſo is your Baptiſme a worldly baptiſme brought out of the world, an Ordinance of the world, and not the baptiſme and Ordinance of Chriſt, whoſe baptiſme is not of the world, as he is not of the world.

Shal wee need to lay downe anie other ground to convince you, and ſtop al your moueths? is not this eaſie, plaine and evident enough. What can bee more plaine. You confeſſe (your ſelves) you were of the world before you made your ſeperation from England: and our Saviour Chriſt ſaith, that they which are of the world beleeve not in him: and who wil not grant that they that beleeve not in Chriſt are infidells or vnbeleevers, then you being of the world, were infidells or vnbeleevers, and the Holy Ghoſt teacheth that infidels or vnbeleevers, muſt Amend their lives & be baptized, & by Baptiſme put on Chriſt. And our Saviour Chriſt Mark. 16.16. giveing a generall direction to his diſciples to preach the Goſpel to al, gives likewiſe a general direction, what al vnbeleevers muſt do, iff they wilbee ſaved. They muſt beleeve and be Baptized. This ſtrait are you now driven vntounto, either to confeſſe that before your ſeperation you were infidells or vnbeleevers, and then you muſt beleeve and be baptized, or els that you were beleevers and faithful: and then have you Seperated from a faithfull and beleeving People, and not from the World, and you muſt returne to your vomit with that falſe prophet your firſt and cheife Shepherd, that hath miſled you vp on theſe falſe grounds, who not being able (through his infidelitie) to kepe his face towards Ieruſalem, and the Land of Canaan, hath fainted in the way, and rebelled in the wildernes, and is returned to his ſo much formerlie deteſted Babilon and Egipt.

And next let vsus ſhewe vntounto you that your Prophets are al falſe Prophets, and although it bee a full ſufficient proofe that they are falſe Prophets becauſe they are Elected and ordeined to their Office, by a cō gregatiō of infidels or vnbelevers that are not ioyned to Chriſt, and have not put on Chriſt by baptiſme, yet wee wil further ſhewe them to bee falſe Prophets, becauſe they Propheſies lies, and by their lying wonders would if it were poſſible deceive the verie Elect, theſe are deceiptful workers, & tranſforme themſelves into the Prophets of Chriſt, as though they were the Miniſters off righteouſnes, whoſe end (ſaith Thapoſtle) shalbee according to their workes. 2. Cor. 11.13.15. yet they doeing it ignorantly through vnbeleife, if they repent, may be received to mercy. 1. Tim. 1.13. but they muſt repent as Paul did, who left of being a perſecutor, a blaſphemer, and an oppreſſor, els he could never have bene ſaved: ſo muſt they leave of being falſe Prophets, ſeducers, and deceivers, or els they ſhall all bee damned: Revel. 19.20.

And firſt to ſhew how your falſe prophets do trāſforme themſelves, whereby they are moſt dangerous deceivers and tempters they in the forefront of their crie, come with a maine ground of truth, ād this they vtter with a lowd voice. It is fallen, it is fallen, Babilon that great Citie. Go out of hir my people &c. and ſeperate your ſelves, and come out, this is al their crie to bring the people from the aſſemblies of England, ād then they runne vponupon England and prove it Babel, and Babilon, we confeſſe with proofe enough which when they have done, working a iuſt diſtaiſt in the harts of ſome people, of the ſpiritual abhominatiōs in thoſe aſſemblies, ſo far as they themſelves diſlike, but being loath to caſt Babilon cleane to the ground, and vtterlie to make hir naked and deſolate, and to lay all hir honor in the duſt, and not being willing, through hardnes of hart, and want of true zeale and holines to runne the rate to the end, and to ſeperate thēſelves from al vncleanes, they teach you ſtil to reteine your firſt and cheife badg or marke of Babilon, which is your baptiſme, wherein you receive the ſeale of the covenant of grace as they ſay, ād teach you, ād this you may not part withal vponupon anie condition. Is there anie falſe Prophetts, like theſe Prophets? that wil teach you to ſeperate and Come out from Babilon▪ and to touch no vncleane thinge. And when they have done, teach you to reteine the Baptiſme received there, which they teach, and you profeſſe to bee the ſeale of the Covenant of Grace: ſo are you ſealed vntounto the Covenant of grace by Babilon: ſo are you made Chriſtians and members of Chriſt by Babilō, for without this baptiſme you are no Chriſtians. Oh how you crie out againſt the ſweetnes of the ſtollen waters of Babilon, and yet your ſelves cānot beware thereof, but are bewitched therewith, the which you retaine with as little vnderſtanding as when you received it, and were waſhed or Baptized therewith.

But your falſe Prophets to make good the reteining of your Babiloniſh baptiſme, like deepe deceivers with turning of devices, plead that your baptiſme muſt be reteined, and is not to be repeated, no more then Iſraels circumciſion, when they came to the paſſover, in Hezechias time. Oh that al men would ſee your deceiveablenes of vnrighteouſnes herin: that to draw ſimple people after you, and to build your ſelves vp a kingdome, you crie againſt the aſſemblies of England, they are Babilon, Egypt, and Sodom, ſeperate your ſelves, bee not vnequally yocked with infidels. What fellowship hath light with darknes? What concord hath Chriſt with Belial? &c. Therefore a… muſt bee caſt away: no comunion is to bee kept: But when you are vrged or called on for the reteyning off your baptiſme you received in Babilon, then Iſraels circumciſion is your hold: ſo make you England Iſrael, and your ſelves Iudah, pretending hereby as though you came out of Iſrael, what deceitfull deceiving is this? What turning of devices? to crie, Come out off Babilon, and touch no vncleane thinge, and to ſhew and declare in al words and writings, that if anie man worſhip the beaſt and his image, and receive his marke in his forehead or in his hand, he ſhall drinke of the Cup of Gods wrath, applying this perticulerly to England: and when you have done come farth ſealed in the forehead with the ſeale of baptiſme (as you cal…i.) haveing no other ſeale for your whole Chriſtianitie, for wee hope you wil not ſay that there may bee a Church of vnbaptized Chriſtians, and all this you prove good, becauſe Iſraels circumciſiō was good vnderunder Ieroboam, ſo make you a ſhew in this perticuler as though you came but from Iſrael: but if your firſt crie had beene come out from Iſrael, and ſeperate your ſelves from Iſraell, You might have cried long enough before anie that had feared God, or had anie vnderſtanding of his truth, would have followed you to have built new Churches, and ſet vp an Hyrarchie of Ruleing Elders, as they and you, (brethren in evil therein alſo) have done. To draw to an end in this point: if you be come from Iſrael, then were you true Iſraelites before, then al that you have left behind you, are true Iſraelites as wel as you: for al the Ten Tribes vnderunder Ieroborm were true Iſralites: and you and the aſſemblies of England from whence you came / were all in one eſtate and conditiō off profeſſion before you ſeperated, and they ſtil remaine as you left them, ād as you daylie leave them, they are not become Samaritanes if they were non before: if you like therefore to ſtand vponupon this ground that you have brought your Baptiſme fro rebellious Iſrael, then you Iudah muſt needs acknowledg Iſrael to bee your ſiſter, for the Lord teſtifieth that Iſrael was Iudaes ſiſter: Neither did Iudah ever denie Iſrael to be hir ſiſter: therefore may not you vtterlie caſt off England that is your ſiſter Iſrael.

And whereas you acknowledg in your booke called the Apologie, Pag. 113. Through ignorant diſſimulation and flatterie, that you never doubted, but there are thouſands in the Romish Apoſtacie in England which receive not the Beaſts marke in their forehead or hand, but bee careful to kepe the Commaundements of God and faith of Ieſus, muſt you not acknowledg, except you bee deſtitute of al vnderſtanding, that theſe thouſands that are baptized with the ſame baptiſme that you are, and that receive not the marke off the Beaſt: and bee carefull to keepe the comaundements off God, and faith of Ieſus, muſt you not acknowledg that theſe thouſands are a true Church, or true Churches as wel as you? Dare you ſay more of your ſelves? whereby to challeng anie preheminence: are you anie more (if you were ſo much) then truelie baptized, free from the marke of the Beaſt, carefull to kepe the Commaundements of God and faith of Ieſus? What darke blindnes is this, and palpable words of flatterie? To confeſſe in words, there are thouſands in Englands Apoſtacie in as holie and bleſſed eſtate as anie people of God can bee, and when you have ſo done, both by practice, writing, and teaching, denie all ſpirituall comunion with anie one of them, and not to ſuffer anie one of them, to have comunion with you, except they make and ſubmitt to a new Covenant with you, which covenant you have made according to the deviſings off your owne harts. What Syon have you built that wil not open hir gates to men (as you confeſſe) truelie baptized, haveing no marke off the Beaſt, kepeing the comaundements of God and faith of Ieſus: how woefullie are you overtaken in theſe things, how cā we thinke leſſe of this, thē that it is ignorant diſſimulation and flatterie, with ſuch faire words to ſtopp the mouthes, and blind the eies of Mr. Bilſon, and the Oxford Doctors, and when you had walled vp that breach, and dawbed it with morier of deceitfull temper, then to profeſſe and practice the contrarie. Thus do you when it wil ſerve your turne, make England Iſrael, and when you pleaſe it is Babilon, Sodom, Egipt: and hereby have you a long time, and ſtil do, like moſt ſubtile charmers, charme the ſimple and ignorant, ſo that they receive not the love of the truth, that they might bee ſaved, building and holding vp hereby your kingdome and throne: ād if anie incline to returne from you to England againe, then is England Sodom, Egipt, Babilon, and worſe iff worſe could bee: and if anie make queſtion of caſting away that Baptiſme or waſhing received there, then England is but rebellious Iſrael, and let hir take away hir fornications out of hir ſight, and hir adulteries from betwene hir breſts, and ſhe may ſtill bee a wife. What can bee ſaid to this your deceitfull duble dealing? wee muſt bee forced to leave a ſimple duble anſwere thus: If you were Babilonians, and have Babilonns baptiſme vponupon you, then have you no rule nor example, that the Babilonians circumciſion could bee accepted and admitted to the paſſover: and if you were true Iſraelites before you ſeperated, and have Iſraels Baptiſme vponupon you, and ſo become to Iudah, then muſt you acknowledg Iſrael from whence you are come, (which is England) your ſiſter and ſo may you againe go follow the voice of that old deceiver, that hath ſo long bewitched you, who lies in wait for you, knowing that you cannot ſtand vponupon theſe grounds, but you muſt bee forced either to caſt away your baptiſme: or els, returne from whence you had it, except you wilbee the moſt wilful blind people vponupon the whole Earth that have anie knowledg off Chriſt, of the which you give iuſt cauſe off iealouſie. Therefore in Gods feare take heed and periſh not in your ſtifnecked perverſnes.

To ſhew yet further, that you are falſe Prophets, and propheſie lies: wee produce out of your Booke ſubſcribed with general ſubſcription, your Apology Pag. 110. Where you gainſay Mr. Bilſon, for ſaying you affirme by conſequence, their Sacraments no Sacraments, & Church no Church. To cleare your ſelves of this imputation, you teach that wee muſt bee careful in al ſuch cauſes alwaies to diſcerne and diſtinguish betwene a true Church, a falſe Church, and no church: Betwene true Sacraments, falſe Sacraments: and no Sacraments. Your proofe and example is. Iudah a true Church: The Ten Tribes of Iſrael a falſe Church: The Philiſtimes and others the like, no Church. and ſo at this day, the Turks and Pagans may be reputed no Churches: The Romish Synagogue and al hir daughters falſe Churches: The Chriſtians which bee ſet in the true faith and order true Churches. Thus you ſay the difference may bee put, but you are al falſe Prophetts herein and teach lies, theſe are but the devices of your owne harts, theſe are your ſchoole diſtinctions where by you pervert the holie word of truth, and we exhort all the people of God, to take heed of you when you diſtinguiſh, and when you bring your matters about with, in a reſpect, and in a duble reſpect, not but that we hold it lawful to vſe diſtinctions, and to ſhew reſpects, but becauſe you vſually deceive thereby: there is no truth off God ſo evident, but with your diſtinctions and reſpects, and twofold reſpects, you wil pervert it, and when you are not able with evidence off truth to mainteyne your falſe waies, then your diſtinctions and reſpects muſt make it good, whereby you inſnare the ſimple, and compaſſe them about as with a thick miſt, wherein they cannot ſee which way to go, but are faine through hardnes of hart and infidelitie (which are the cauſes, of their ignorance and blindnes) to give their harts to you to be led, and you like deceiptful blind guides lead them into the pit, as in this pecticuler in hand, wherein if you bee overthrowne and diſcovered your whole cauſe is thus far deſtroyed, as you are al yet once againe proved infidels and vnbeleevers. And wee doubt not but by the gracious aid and helpe of our God, we ſhalbee able by his word to convince you al herein, without whoſe great helpe and aid, wee in humilitie confeſſe, we are not able to withſtand ſuch ſtronge and wiſe adverſaries of his truth as you are, who do exerciſe your ſelves to deceive, our owne experiences and knowledg of you cauſeth vsus thus to ſpeake: wee hope you do it ignorantlie, or els there were no hope of your repentance and ſalvation.

To the point in hand wee ſay and prove by the word off God that you can in no ordinance of God diſtinguiſh or put difference by the warrant of Gods word, betwixt falſe and none, and your vaine diſtinction will hold onelie in worldlie things, and you are carnall herein and ſold vnderunder ſinne, blame vsus not though wee reprove you ſharplie for this, becauſe you have deceived your ſelves and the whole World hereby ſo far as your voices have ſounded, and you have and do daylie deſtroy the faith of manie.

Wee proceed to prove that you cannot by Gods word diſtinguiſh, nor put difference betwixt falſe and nons, in Gods ordinances, and this the eternall word of truth doth ſhew. Revel. 2.2. Where the holie ghoſt ſpeaking of falſe Appoſtles comends the Church off Epheſus, for examining them which ſaid they were Apoſtles, but were none, and were found lyars. And verſ. 9. I knowe the blaſphemy of them which ſay they are Iewes but are none, but are the Synagogue off Sathan. And Revel. 3.9. The ſame words are vttered by the holie Ghoſt. Thus doth the ſpirit of God teach vsus, that a falſe Church is no Church, but a Synagogue of Sathan: and falſe Appoſtles are no Appoſtles, ſo then are falſe Sacraments no Sacraments, and ſo falſe and none in Gods ordināces are al one, and you cannot diſtinguiſh nor put difference betwixt them. And for further manifeſtation of the truth hereof, let vsus referr the thinges that are of God, to God, and ſo ſhall it appeare to all but thoſe that will not ſee, that there is no difference nor diſtinction to bee made in Gods ordinances betwixt falſe and none, as thus: A true Church of Chriſt: a falſe Church: and no Church of Chriſt, if now a falſe Church bee not no Church of Chriſt, then it is a falſe Church of Chriſt, ſo is there two ſorts or kinds of Churches off Chriſt, and ſo ſhould Chriſt have two bodies, a true bodie, and a falſe bodie, what blaſphemie is this? when thapoſtle ſaith: there is but one bodie: ſo likewiſe iff you ſay, there is a true faith of Chriſt, a falſe faith, and no faith of Chriſt, if a falſe faith, and no faith, bee not all one, then there are two faiths of Chriſts, a true faith, and a falſe faith of Chriſt, but Thapoſtle ſaith. There is but one faith, In like manner, if you wil ſay, as you doe, that there is a true baptiſme, a falſe baptiſme, and no baptiſme, if a falſe baptiſme, and no Baptiſme bee not al one, then is there two baptiſmes, but Thappoſtle ſaith, there is but one baptiſme, and of all theſe there is but one, as there is but one God and Father off al, which is above all, and rhrough all. Epheſ. 4.4.5.6. Who if he were in you all, you would ſubmitt to this his truth, and never open your mouthes more againſt it. Caſt away theſe your logical diſtinctions, which are fit to diſtinguiſh betwixt a falſe houreglaſſe and no houre glaſſe, and a falſe looking glaſſe and no looking glaſſe, and not fitt to diſtinguiſh betwixt a falſe Baptiſme and no Baptiſme, a falſe Church, and no Church, betwixt which the holie ghoſt admits of no diſtinction nor difference. Wee conclude therefore with the word of truth againſt al theſe your deceitful diſtinctions and lying propheſies, that a falſe Church is no Church of Chriſt at all, for Chriſt ha…h no falſe Church: Therefore you holding Englād a falſe Church, it is no Church of Chriſt, and ſo your falſe Baptiſme is no Bapti…me off Chriſt, and ſo are you all infidels vnbelevers, and falſe Chriſtians, that is no Chriſtians, and you are they that ſay, you are Iewes and are not, but are the Synagogues off Sathan. And lett this ſuffice for the overthrowe of your moſt falſe and deceitfull diſtinction.

And whereas you bring for your proofe of a true Church, a falſe Church, and no Church, and ſay: Iudah was a true Church, Iſraell a falſe Church, and the Philiſtimes no Church, theſe are but your owne ſayings ād deviſings without proofe, whereby you have and doe mightilie deceive, although your words bee without all vnderſtanding, for Iſraell was a true Church as Iudah was, for the Iſraelites were the true ſeed off Abraham, ſeperated from the world vnderunder the Covenant off God, which was the Covenant off Circumriſion, Gen. 17.7-15 as well as Iudah in Hezechiahs time, when they ſame to the paſſover: And if they had beene the falſe ſeed off Abraham, then had they beene falſe Iſraelites, then had their circumciſion beene falſe, and they had beene a falſe Church: So had they beene no ſeed off Abraham, no Iſraelites, their Circumciſion no Circumciſion, and ſo no Church. For a full concluſion, and a certen rule off drection from the Word off God, whereby the People off God may try all your deceitfil diſtinctions off this kind: when you put difference betwixt True, Falſe, and none, in, or off anie Ordinance off God, Lett all obſerve, and would to God you your ſelves would bee informed, that God and his lawes and Ordinances are one. Iohn. 14.6 Off equal power, authoritie, and truth, and therefore you can no more ſay, a true Church, a falſe Church, and no Church, a true Baptiſme, a falſe Baptiſme, and no Baptiſme, which are holie ordinances of God, then you can ſay a true God. a falſe God, and no God: and your diſtinction wil hold no more betwixt a falſe Church, and no Church a falſe baptiſme, and no baptiſme, then betwixt a falſe God, and no God: and iff a falſe God be no God, then a falſe Church is no Church of God, and a falſe baptiſme is no baptiſme of Chriſt. Your falſe Church then being as is ſhewed and proved no Church of God, then it is the Synagogue of Satan, and your falſe baptiſme being no baptiſme of Chriſt, then it is the baptiſme of Sathan. The Lord give you to conſider of your eſtates and ſtandings herein, that although your contempt of ve is, and hath beene great, yet you may not ſtil con…emne Chriſt and his truth the meanes of your ſalvation, though witneſſed by vsus, that are ſo much deſpiſed in your eies.

Haveing thus ſhewed you by evidence off truth, that you bringing your falſe baptiſme out of a Falſe church (both which yourſelves confeſſe) your baptiſme is no baptiſme, and that falſe Church is no Church, this being made plaine, as the indifferent may iudg wee will trie Mr. Robinſons ground for this reteined baptiſme, who wilbee found to make haiſt to deceive with as manie windings and turnings as anie, an… he not altogether truſting to bring his baptiſme fro… Iſrael, he ſtrives withal deceitful ſkill to prove that their baptiſme is true in one reſpect, though brought from Babilon. And this matter he vndertakes af… this manner, in his booke off iuſtification of ſeperition. Pag. 184 185. He Commends vntounto the Reader a diſtinction off a twofold reſpect: Baptiſme ſaith Mr. R. is to be conſidered firſt nakedlie, and in the eſſentiall cauſes, the matter water. The forme washing with water into the name off the Father &c. Theſe are the eſſential cauſes of Mr. R. naked Baptiſme, in this reſpect he confeſſeth true baptiſme both in England and Rome. Mr. R. ſhal wee ſpeake angerlie to you and mourne for the hardnes off your hart, and great blindnes and ignorance? Have you loſt the beginings of knowledg in the, miſterie of Godlines? is all light ſhut from your eies, and al truth debarred from your vnderſtanding, that you ſhould write thus? That water, and waſhing, and words are the eſſential cauſes or matter of Baptiſme: if you had knowne Chriſt, of whoſe Baptiſme you pretend to ſpeake, you would never have written thus, do you knowe that Chriſts Kingdome is a ſpiritual Kingdome? his Ordinances ſpiritual Ordinances: and wil you confeſſe this with your tongue, and with your tongue and deeds denie it? Which that it may appeare plainelie you do, conſider with your ſelfe, and let all that ſeeke the Lord in ſpirit and truth conſider, with what vnderſtanding you can ſay, that naked Water, washing, & words are the eſſential cauſes of a ſpiritual Baptiſme, thus doe you ſpoile men through Philoſophie and vaine deceit in which iniquitie you abound: away with your naked reſpect, and bee counſelled to buy whit rayment that you may bee clothed, that your vile nakednes do not appeare. Knowe you not that al they that are baptized into Chriſt have put on Chriſt. And do you come with your Philoſophie to teach ſimple ſoules a naked baptiſme, and make it good with reſpects? The Lord give you grace to ſee your great evil herein, and the Lord deliver his poore people from theſe your deceitful waies, and the lord give them to learne to knowe from the word of God that there is but one Baptiſme of Chriſt. Epheſ 4.5. And that whoſoever is baptized into Chriſt, hath put on, or is clothed with Chriſt. Gal. 3.27. and therefore whoſoever ſhal walke with your naked baptiſme ſhalbee found naked at the day off Chriſts appearing, though you peece it and patch it with greene leaves: and for your eſſential cauſes, lay downe plainlie what baptiſme you ſpeake of, and you ſhalbe convinced in your ſelfe, as thus: if you ſay off Chriſts baptiſme which is ſpiritual, that the eſſential matter thereof is earthlie water, would not your ignorance eaſilie appeare? the like of your forme, if you ſhould ſay that the forme of ſpiritual baptiſme is bodilie waſhing onelie with bare words, your owne vnderſtanding would reprove you. It were to be wiſhed, and you have often bene required to lay away your ſchoole tearmes in the cauſes of God, whereby you do for the moſt part but hide the truth, and blind the eies of the ſimple. How do you thinke the ſimple ſhould vnderſtand you in the eſſentiall cauſes and matter, and forme of baptiſme? do the Scriptures ſhew that anie of the holie men of God did ever thus diſtinguiſh? if your Art had bene good or profitable, could not our Saviour Chriſt have vſed it for the manifeſtation of his truth? ād would he not have endued his Apoſtles with that gift? Yea the Lord endued them with the moſt excellent gifts, for the evident declaration of his truth, whereof Lodgick, and Philoſophie was none: which vaine ſciences if you had not vſed, you could never have forged ſo manie deceits as you have in your booke. And now wee diſire you to knowe that the Scriptures teach not anie Baptiſme that is in one reſpect true, and in other reſpect falſe: there is no ſuch thinge in the whole word of God: theſe are but your owne devices, wherein you devide Chriſt, to ſerve your owne turnes to deceive, perſwading men that they are in one reſpect truelie baptized, and in another reſpect falſlie baptized, and if they wil come and walke in your waie, and ioyne to your ſocieties, you can make that part which was falſe, true: What Poperie is this to take vponupon you to diſpence with the falſe adminiſtrations in the ordinances of Chriſt? thus do you runne into darke places whilſt you forſake the lanterne that ſhould light your pathes, which light of truth teacheth you, and all men that the baptiſme of Chriſt, is the Baptiſme of amendement of life, for the remiſſion off ſinnes. Mark. 1.4. And our Saviour Chriſt ſaith: Except a man bee borne off water and off the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God. Iohn. 3. and Heb. 10.22. Let vsus draw neare with a true hart in aſſurance of faith, our harts being pure from an evill conſcience, and washed in our bodies with pure water.

Here is the true Baptiſme ſet downe, which is the Baptiſme off amendement off life for the remiſſion off ſinnes: And here is the true matter where with men muſt bee waſhed, which is water, and the Holie Ghoſt, that is pure from an evill conſcience, and waſhed with water: Therefore can you not devide the water, and the ſpirit in this Baptiſme, Chriſt hath ioyned them together, and he that denies waſhing, or is not waſhed with the ſpirit is not baptized, and hee that denies waſhing, or is not waſhed with water, is not Baptized, becauſe wee ſee the Baptiſme of Chriſt, is to bee waſhed with water and the Holie Ghoſt. And to take away a ſubtile exception, if a man bee in priſon, or anie place, and bee cōverted to the lord, ād would be baptized with water but cannot, he is accepted with God, who accepts the will for the deed. 2. Cor. 8.12. and herein is the Lords merciemercy equal with his iuſtice, for if a mans hart conſent to evil, he is gi…ie before the Lord, although he do it not Mat. 5.27.28.

Thus much to diſcover the great deceitfullnes off your waie in the firſt reſpect of your falſe diſtinction, wherein you would prove, onelie, the eſſential matter water, and waſhing with water, and words, he eſſential forme: Wee paſſe by your forme of words, becauſe wee thinke you wil not ſtand vponupon it, in that you ſee there is no certen forme of words held. Act. 10 48. and 19.5, And take this with you to conſider of, that if there were anie truth in your diſtinction and reſpect, then were anie waſhing with water, with thoſe words, the true matter and forme of Chriſts Baptiſme: and ſo if one Child baptized another with water and thoſe words, it is true baptiſme in that reſpect, and let that Child come ād ioyne to you, ad you can make it good in al reſpects. Paſſe not theſe things over as you have done, for you are not able to anſwere them with anie true vnderſtanding from Gods word and ſo wee come to your ſecond reſpect.

Secondly you ſay, baptiſme is to be conſidered, clothed with ſuch appurtenances as wherewith the Lord hath appointed it to bee adminiſtred: as for example, a lawful perſon by whome, a right ſubiect vponupon which, a true Comunion wherein it is to bee adminiſtred & diſpenced, in which regard, you ſay, you do not approve it to bee true Baptiſme either in Rome, or England. If darkeſt error did not poſſeſſe your hart, you could never have written ſuch thinges, but that wee knowe your ſtifnes in your falſe waies wee ſhould pittie to point out your palpable ignorance in theſe thinges: did ever man of anie vnderſtanding in religion write thus? You are lighter then vanitie herein: Will anie man that hath anie knowledg of God bee ſo blind as not to ſee, how the ſpirit of error doth lead you to iuſtifie that a baptiſme, where there is neither the ſpirit off God, lawful miniſter, right ſubiect, nor true comuniō is the true baptiſme and ordinance of Chriſt in the eſſential parts thereof.

Hath the like ignorance appeared in theſe daies? eſſpecially amongſt men that will …rie out for proofe by Scripture in all things. If this your ground were true, then a Turk baptizing a Turk with water and thoſe words in anie aſſemblie whatſoever, is the true Baptiſme of Chriſt in the eſſential parts thereof: ſee what rocks you runne vponupon, whilſt you forſake the waie of truth: it may now appeare no marvil, though you would have baptiſme to bee nakedlie conſidered, you have made a moſt naked baptiſme and ordinance of Chriſt of it. Firſt, where there is no ſpirit of God, no lawful miniſter, no right partie, to bee baptized, no true comunion it may wil be called a naked baptiſme, and you a naked man of al grace and godlie vnderſtanding to maintaine it for a true baptiſme and ordinance of Chriſt, in anie reſpect. If al this wil not ſerve to convince you, wee will yet ſmite you with the rod of frō, ād breake you like the potters veſſel in this point. You profeſſe and acknowledg, that Baptiſme comes in the f…ead off Circumciſion, then let all men iudg, whether if Circumciſion being adminiſtred by an vnlawfull perſon, vponupon no right ſubiect, and in no true Comunion, could ever have beene approved for the true ordinance of God in the eſſential cauſes thereoff: and whether one ſo Circumciſed could vponupon anie conditiōs have bene admitted to the paſſover? you wil (we hope) be deſtitute of al devices to āſwere this: al thoſe that are anie waie indifferent betwixt you and vsus, wil ſee your great error herein, that iff a Babilonian had circumciſed a Babilonian in their babiloniſh aſſemblies, that Circumciſion had not bene in anie reſpect the Ordinance of God, and ſuch a one could vponupon no condition have bene admitted to the paſſover by that Circumciſion. Now to ſhew that you hold England Babilon in your booke throughout it appeares, but wee eſpeciallie hold you to theſe. Pag. 277. and 338. where you affirme that Rome and England were never within the covenant of God, as Iudah was: So have you debarred your ſelff from bringing your circumciſion, and ſo your baptiſme from Apoſtate Iſrael, and therefore you muſt hold your ſelfe to this, to prove circumciſion adminiſtred in Babilō by an vnlawful perſon, vponupon a wronge ſubiect, and in no true Comunion, you muſt prove ſuch a circumciſion the Ordinance of God in anie reſpect, ād that one ſo circumciſed might bee admitted to the paſſover, prove this, and wee will confeſſe that your ſkill is above all mens herein, and Ezra, and Nehemiah ſhallbee reproved off you, for cauſing the people to put away the Children that were borne off the ſtraing Wives in Babilon. Ezra 10.3. Nehem. 13.23.24.25. Off whome if you make queſtion whether they were circumciſed you cavell without cullor, for then had the Iſraelites bene giltie of the breach of the Lords covenant, whereby they were commaunded to circumciſe all their males in their houſhould. But wee will leave you to prove your Babilonian Circumciſion to bee in anie reſpect the Ordinance off God, and prove it by Scripture, and by ſound reaſoning from the ground off Scripture, and not by Lodgick and Naturall Philoſophie, ſhewing things in nature to bee true, which will not in Spirit bee proved true: And thus do you deceive naturall men, and your ſelfe, as in this point in hand, becauſe with your carnall eies and eares you ſee and heare water, and waſhing, with ſuch words to bee vſed in the adminiſtration off the Lords Baptiſme, therefore you according to your naturall vnderſtanding iudg theſe thinges to bee the eſſentiall cauſes of ſpirituall Baptiſme, and teach ſimple ſoules that theſe things being once truely done they are not to bee repeated or done againe, when they are whollie natural actions, and prophanelie done, as you confeſſe, and therefore can in no reſpect be ſaid to be the Baptiſme off Chriſt, which is whollie a ſpirituall action, ād ought holilie to be performed and done. Thus do you make the ignorant beleeve that you can put the ſpirit off grace into naturall actions formerlie prophanelie done, and make the ſame actions Spirituall and acceptable to God.

Thus do you make Mid-wives baptiſme good, and the holie ordinance of God in the eſſential cauſes: ſo can you make al the prophane praiers and ſermons in playes, (which are vſuall) holie, and good actions, and the Ordinances of God. This then is your rule (denie it if you can) everie waſhing with water into the name off the Father, etc. is the true Baptiſme and Ordinance of Chriſt, in the eſſential cauſes thereof, by whome ſoever adminiſtred, and vpō what perſon, or thinge, ſoever: This may bee good in lodgick and Philoſophie, but this is blaſphemous curſed doctrine in divinitie: and woe are wee for you, that ever ſuch abhominations ſhould bee vttered by you: wee are a ſhamed to follow you in the perticuler application of theſe things, which if they ſhould be vrged to the ful, it would make everie hart that had anie grace, and knowes you, tremble, and greive for you, This hath your Lodgick and Philoſophie brought you to, whereby you have confounded manie a ſimple hart, and weake vnderſtanding, and whereby (you thinke) you have a Privilege to vnderſtand the meaning off God, in the Scriptures, before them that are ignorant of theſe Arts: But now hath the Lord confounded you in them, glorie to be his Name, and the Lord give you a hart to acknowledg it, and to repent, and denie your ſelfe and give glorie to God. Wee will omit to ſpeake off your vnproper ſpeach, ſaying, that Baptiſme muſt be clothed with a right perſon vponupon whome it muſt be adminiſtred: Thus to make your ma…ters to agree, you ſpeake prepoſterous things, for the party muſt put on and bee clothed with baptiſme, and not baptiſme bee clothed with the partie.

The next thinge, that (by the helpe of our God) wee will endeavor to diſcover you to bee a falſe Prophet, and a deceaver in, is in a ſtronge ground you have, wherevpon you much relie and often repeat it in your booke, and that is this: You ſay: Baptiſme is the veſſel off the Lord, & as when the houſe of the Lord was deſtroyed, & the veſſels thereof, together with the people were caried into Babilon, they remained ſtil the veſſels off the Lords houſe in nature, & right, though prophaned by Belshazzar. and made quaffing bowles, & being brought againe out of Babilon to the houſe of the lord were not to bee new caſt, but (being purified) might againe be vſed to holie vſe: So this holie veſſel Baptiſme though prophaned in Babilon being brought againe to the houſe of the Lord, remaines ſtil the holie veſſell off the Lord. This is a ſtrong doctrine from example both with you, and al the reſt of the falſe Prophets off your profeſſion, and no marvil though you deceive greatlie hereby, becauſe the doctrine and example is good, but moſt deceitfullie miſaplyed of you, for you pretēd hereby as though your baptiſme were brought from the houſe of the Lord, as the holie veſſels were: will you, iff there bee anie vprightnes in you ſhew how, and from what houſe of the Lord, your holie veſſel of baptiſme was brought? you ſhew vsus plainlie from whence you have brought it againe out of Babilon, that is England: But out of what houſe of God came it, before it came into Babilon (that is England) that is not ſhewed: how deceitfully do you faine theſe things: Theſe are the imaginations off your owne vaine harts, far have anie of you brought your Baptiſme from the houſe of the Lord into England? have you anie other roote or foundation for your baptiſme then England: do not all men knowe that your veſſel off Baptiſme was compoſed, formed, framed and made there? How ſhal anie man bee able to open his mouth to denie this? Why then your holie veſſel (falflie ſo called) was made in Babilon: Thus are you found falſe diſſemblers to ſay and faine that your baptiſme is a veſſel brought out of the houſe of the Lord into Babilon: as the veſſels of the Temple were, whē it is moſt evident that it was molded and made in the Church of England, which you confeſſe is Babilon. Mr. Rob. had not you and al your Congregation the true matter (as you cal it) and true forme of your baptiſme in England? and was it not adminiſtred vponupon you al in the aſſemblies of England? then was your veſſel off baptiſme made there: ſee your deceit herein, if there bee anie grace or vnderſtanding in you: How have you blinded the eies of the ſimple herein, and how hath Sathan ſeduced you, and your owne hart deceived you? Now the Lord Ieſus give you a hart to repent, and in the name of the Lord, wee beſeech you repent, for you have bene and are a malicious adverſarie of Gods truth, and you lead manie ſoules in the way to deſtructiō. The lord for his Chriſts ſake deliver you out of theſe and all the ſnares …f Sathan, and the Lord deliver his people out of the net, wherein you have like a cuning fowler taken thē and overthrowne them. And wee pray you that you wil with patience ſuffer vsus to ſhew you, how you are al deceived in this point, in ſaying, baptiſme is the veſſel off the Lords houſe, and brought from thence, and ſo applie it to your owne baptiſme, which you may ſee, iff you do not both winck and cover your eies never came out of the houſe of the Lord, except you wil ſay: The Church of England is the houſe of the Lord, which wee hope the Lords word hath convinced to al your conſciences that it is not therefore your baptiſme; can not be the veſſel of the Ls. houſe, but it is the true doctrine or Ordinance of baptiſme, that may bee ſaid or called by way of compariſon the veſſel of the Lords houſe: and this we and al muſt needs confeſſe is the veſſel of the Lords houſe whether ſoever it is carried, either to Rome, or England, and though it be polluted and prophaned there, as both it, and manie other doctrines and ordinances of the Lord are, yet being purged from thoſe errors ād abuſes, wherewith both they and you have and do pollute thē, they may, ād ought to bee brought into the houſe of the Lord againe, and remaine holie veſſels vntounto the Lord for ever: but the corrupt pollutions and adminiſtrations in this holie veſſel or ordināce of baptiſme, wherewith it hath bene defiled and prophaned, theſe may no more be brought into the houſe of God, then Belshazzars quaffings, or anie other prophane adminiſtrations wherewith he did abuſe and pollute thoſe holy veſſels, yea although he had vſed them to the ſame vſes vntounto the which they had bene vſed in the houſe of the Lord, as if he had ſet ſhew-bread vponupon the veſſels, and had kindled and made the ſame lights for the candleſticks, al muſt bee caſt away as abhominable, withall the vſes that hee had vſed them vntounto, and the veſſels muſt bee purified and brought againe into the houſe of the Lord onelie as they were carried furth: therefore even ſo muſt this holie veſſel the true doctrine or ordinance of baptiſme he brought againe into the houſe of the Lord onelyonly as it was carried furth, ād al the corrupt vſes ād abuſes wherevnto it hath bene vſed, and al the prophane adminiſtratiōs in this holie ordināce, muſt be caſt away as being al abhominable before the lord: and none off thoſe vſes and prophane, ād falſe adminiſtratiōs may be admitted into the houſe of the Lord. This now is the ſome of al that we have ſpokē of this ground: the veſſels of the Lords houſe are carried into Babilon, and Belshazzar and his Princes, his wives and Concubines drinck in thē ād prophane thē, the veſſels off the Lord are brought againe to the houſe of the lord, and are ſanctified, but Belshazzars drinckings in them, and prophaning of thē, is caſt away as abhominable

So the like may be ſaid, following your owne exā ple of compariſon: The veſſel of the Lords houſe the holie ordinance of baptiſme, is carried into Babilon, and the Babilonians they waſh or baptize in this ordinance, and prophane it: this veſſel of the lord the holie ordinance of baptiſme is brought againe to the houſe of the Lord, but the Babilonians waſhing, or baptizing, ād prophaning it muſt be caſt away as abhominable, ād thus muſt your baptizing be caſt away and may not be permitted in the houſe of the Lord, you confeſſing England to be Babilon where you received it, except you wil alſo admit Belshazzars drinckings and quaffings. Do not ſtil deceive your ſelfe ād delude others, in ſaying baptiſme is the veſſel off the lord, makeing a deceitfull ſhew, as though therefore your Baptiſme were the veſſel of the Lord, ād by an example of the veſſels of the lord that were brought furth of the houſe of the lord, and carried into Babilon and polluted there in vſe onelie, and being ſanctified from that polluted vſe, were brought againe into the houſe of the Lord: by this example to bring in an ymagination, as though your Baptiſme were brought out of the houſe off the Lord, when it is brought furth off the aſſemblies off England with whome you iuſtifie, God never made Covenant and that they never were his people, nor God their God. pag 338. You er not knowing the ſcriptures, or els wil fullie miſaplie them for your purpoſe (which God forbid) for it is the Ordinance of Baptiſme; that is the veſſel of the Lords houſe which hath bene, ād is carried into Babilon, and hath bene polluted in vſe in Baptizing of you and al of your profeſſion, which veſſel or Ordinance of the Lord, is to bee brought againe into the houſe of the Lord, and to bee ſanctified from that polluted vſe of your Baptizing, which it cannot bee if it bring that polluted vſe which is your baptizing into the houſe of the Lord with it, no more then the veſſels of the Lord could have bene ſanctified if Belshazzars quaffings had bene brought into the houſe of the Lord with them, and this is a due proportion according to your owne example of compariſon.

Wee will paſſe by manie things in your booke wherein their is great falſhood and deceit, becauſe it were an endleſſe worke to follow you, you are ſo intricate, tedious; and ful of turnings, and windings, looſing your ſelfe and looſing ſuch ſimple Readers as we are, and that is one hope we have of your booke, that the ſimple wil not read it, becauſe they are not capable of vnderſtanding you: and amongſt them that are as ful of art as your ſelfe wee thinke it wil do ſmale hurt. Wee cannot denie but there are manie worthie truths in it, but mixed with ſo much falſhood, as the reader had need to bee wiſe harted, and in that you and all the falſe Prophetts of your profeſſion do mixe your falſhood with divers truths, all Gods people had need to beware of you, for that is but your Sheepes clothing, by the faire ſhew whereof you in ſnare, and worke your lying wonders, as when you ſmite mens harts to the ground with laying out the deformities off Babilon, and ca…ſir their affections with the diſcriptions of your Syon (falſlie ſo called) declaring the bewtie and ſuppoſed comelie order thereof: and ſetting furth the comunion of Saincts, as with the tongue of an Angel of light. Thus do you deck your bed with ornaments, Carpets, and laces, & perfume it with mirrhe, aloes, and Cinamon, and ſo with your great craft cauſe men to yeild, and with flattering lips you entice, manie ſtraight following you as an Oxe that goeth to th… ſlaughter, & as a foole to the ſtocks for correction, and they are ſtricken thorow as a bird that haſteth to the ſnare, not knowing he is in danger, of ſuch hath the wiſeman by the wiſedome of the ſpirit forwarned vsus. Prov, 7.

Wee have endeavored to ſhew you your halting betwixt Babilon and Iſrael, wee exhort you to tread ſtraight ſtepps before the Lord, and that men may ſee your pathes to bee right: ſhew vsus the writing of your Genealogie, that wee may ſee certenlye from whence you are come: if you bee come from Iſrael, and bee Iudah, then warr not againſt England as againſt Babilonians, but remember they are the Ten Tribes your brethren, 1. King. 12. 24. Which Ten Tribes were no: falfe Iſralites / but the true ſeed of Abraham and ſo true Iſralites, for the two Calves ſet vp at Dan and Bethel, did no more make them falſe Iſraelites, then the Calfe which they made in Horeb: and this wickednes of Ieroboam did no more make Iſraell a falſe Church, the Solomon his wickednes made Iudah a falſe Church, when he followed Ashtaroth the God of the Zidonians, and Milcom the abhomination of the Amorites, and builded high places for Chemosh the abhomination of Moab, and to Molech the abhomination of Ammon in the mountaine over againſt Ieruſalem, And who knowes not that reades the ſcriptures that Iudah abounded in abhominations, in ſo much as the Lord by the Prophet Ezekiel 16. ſaith of Iudah, Samaria hath not comitted halfe they ſinnes, but thou haiſt exceeded them in all their abhominatiōs and verſ. 35. The Lord by the Prophet called Iudah an Harlot, becauſe of the greatnes of hir fornications: and yet al this made not Iudah a falfe Church. Iff therefore you hold or account England as Iſraell, then muſt you hold ād account England a true Chur. for it is but your deviſings to ſay Iſraell was a falſe Church: and iff England bee as Iſrael a true Chur. then are al your ſinnes exceeding great, who have made ſuch a ſeperation as you have. And if you bee come from Babilon, then looke the whole booke off God throughout, and you ſhal find that no Babilonian circumciſion could be admitted into the houſe of the Lord. And let all behold in the booke of the Revelation what the eſtate and condition off Babilon is, and of al them that are in hir: and how the voice off the Lord is come out of hir my people: and if any shal worship the Beaſt & his image, & receive his marke in his forehead, or in his hand, or receiveth the print of his name, he shal drinke of the wine of the wrath of God. Therefore there may nothinge bee reteyned that is brought from Babilon, no marke, nor print off name: And will you bring the Print, ſeale, and name of your Chriſtianitie from thence? what vaile of darknes overſpreads your harts herein? you are deceived through the vaine ymaginations of your owne harts ſuppoſing that although you come out of Babilon, yet you were not Babilonians, but if you hold the aſſemblies of England Babilon, (as you declare you doe) then, except you can ſhew your genealogie, that you, with your veſſel of baptiſme (which is your baptizing) were brought from Ieruſalem, and out of the houſe of the Lord, iff you cannot prove this, (which were duble follie to go about) …hen muſt you be con…ent to knowe your ſelves that you were Babilonians, ād yet are, in that your ſeale of Chriſtianity is the ſeale of Babilon, and ſo are you but Babilonian Chriſtians, and ſervants of the Beaſt bearing the beaſts marke, title, and name in your foreheads. And whereas you and all the reſt of the falſe Prophets of your profeſſiō do in flatterie ād diſſimulation, not knowing the miſterie of Godlines, affirme and acknowledg of the aſſemblies in England, that there are thouſands amōg them that truelie feare God, alluding to the ſeaven thouſand in Iſraell, you make them beleeve thereby, that they ſtand in the eſtate of grace and ſalvation, ſo do you propheſie peace and ſalva…ion, where the lord propheſieth deſtruction: for the Lord propheſieth that al that come not furth of Babilon, shalbe partakers of hir plagues: and that whoſoever yeilds anie obedience or braces anie marke of the Beaſt, shalbee tormented with fire & brimſtone. Reve. 14. but you propheſie that there are thouſands in England (which you acknowledg to be Babilō) who receives not the beaſts marke and that are careful to keepe the comaundements off God, and faith of Ieſus: and that truelie feare God, if ſuch bee not in the eſtate of ſalvation then no fleſh is, or can bee, but this cannot be the eſtate of anie one in Babilon, which (if you vnderſtood the miſterie off Godlines) you might eaſilie ſee, for the bondage of Babilon is ſpiritual bondage, and all that are in Babilon, are in ſpiritual bondage, ād none that are in ſpiritual bondage can bee in the eſtate of grace and ſalvation: For all that are in the eſtate of grace and ſalvation muſt ſtand fa… in the libertie wherewith Chriſt hath made them free, and may not bee intangled with the yock of bondage. Gal. 5.1. And where the ſpirit of the Lord is there is libertie. 2. Cor. 3.17. Add vntounto this that which is formerlie ſhewed, that al that come not furth of Babilon, muſt periſh with Babilon. Deceive not your ſelves therefore, and flatter not them off England, for there is no one perſon either of them or you (we ſpeake off perſons of vnderſtanding) that are in the eſtate of grace or ſalvation, or ſhal ever bee ſaved, if you come not furth of Babilon, and caſt away the marke of the Beaſt, wherewith you are al marked. Revel 19.20.21. Wee exhort you all therefore that by grace in Chriſt you worke out your ſalvations with feare and trembling: or els you periſh from the higheſt to the loweſt. The King off Kings, the Lord of Lords, hath ſaid it, that Babilon ſhalbee deſtroyed, withall that are found in hir. Ier. 51.6 Revel. 18.4.

Wee wil now conclude with you, putting you in remembrance, that ſeeing no diſtinction, nor differēce can be made betwixt a falſe Church and no Church, but they are both one: For a falſe Church are they that ſay and make ſhewe, they are a true Church but are not: as falſe Apoſtles are they that ſay and make ſhewe they are Apoſtles, and are not. 2. Cor. 11.13. and falſe Iewes are they that ſay and make ſhewe they are jewes, ād are not. Re. 2 This your diſtinction being vtterlie overthrowne, ſo as you ſhal never bee able to open your your mouthes to maintaine it: But the ſimpleſt ſoule amongſt you ſhalbee able to diſcover your deceit: Your whole falſe building is at once fallen to the ground, for a falſe Church being no Church, then England being by you all adiudged to bee a falſe Church, is no Church: ſo is your baptiſme brought out of no Church: ād your falſe Baptiſme is no Baptiſme: and thus ſhal the ſimpleſt amongſt you bee able to ſay to you, is our baptipſme that wee had in England a falſe baptiſme? then is it no baptiſme, then are we not Baptized, and to this you ſhal never bee able to anſwere them, although you ſhould ſet your ſelves to vercaie Gods truth, and their ſoules: ſo likewiſe if you tell them that England is a falſe Church, they ſhal ſay vntounto you then is it no Church: and you ſhal not knowe which way to contradict thē in that the ſcriptures do teach that a falſe Church is no Church, as a falſe God is no God, a falſe Chriſt no Chriſt, a falſe Appoſtle no Appoſtle, ſo is a falſe Ordinance no Ordinance off Chriſt, a falſe Baptiſme no Baptiſme off Chriſt. Thus wee doubt not but (through the grace of God) wee ſhall ſee by the brightnes of Chriſts coming, that your darke deceitful waies wilbe diſcovered to the ſimpleſt, and you ſhalbee aſhamed to ſpeake of a falſe baptiſme, and to ſay, it is partlie the true baptiſme of Chriſt, and partlie the baptiſme of the Devil, and ſo ioine Chriſt and Beelzebub together, and make them partners in one baptiſme. Wee hope the feare off God wil teach you better wiſedome …hen thus ſtill to blaſpheme, for the ſupporting of your kingdome off darknes. And if you were not a ſtifnecked people, ād of vncircūciſed harts and races, you would not thus long with contempt and violence have reſiſted the truth of God, as you have done and do, perſecuting it with bitter envyings and raylings, for the which the Lord may iuſtlie give you vp to hardnes of hart: but the Lord in great merciemercy, ſhew merciemercy vponupon you al, that do it ignoratlie: we haveing from the word of the Lord ſhewed you with all the evidence of truth that wee are for the preſent able to do, that your diſtinction betwixt a falſe Church and no Church, is vaine and fained, ād that the word of God admits of no ſuch diſtinction in the Lords Ordinances, but that which is a falſe Ordinance, is no Ordinance off God, for God hath no falſe Ordinances: You muſt therefore now be forced to hold and ſay off the aſſemblies off England, that they are either true Churches of Chriſt, or no Churches of Chriſt: and if you hold them no Churches of Chriſt, then can you not with anie manner of ſhew, of truth ſay, that you may retaine your baptiſme which you have received in no church of Chriſt, but in a church or congregation of infidels and vnbeleevers, which you muſt needs account them, if they be no Church of Chriſt: for now al people in the world, are either of the world or choſen out of the world, and thoſe are Chriſts diſciples Ioh. 15.19. And al people are either with Chriſt, or againſt Chriſt. He that is not with me, is againſt me, ſaith Chr. Mat. 12-30. It is now high time to leave of halting betweene opinions and …a…ering one another in our ſinnes: It is time now to leave of talking of Seperation, and to ſeperate indeed, and to tel the people of God their ſinnes, and ſhewe them their tranſgreſſions: and not to account them Chriſtians that by the hearing of the word doe become almoſt Chriſtians as King Agrippa did, but to ſhew thē that if they do not become altogether Chriſtians they muſt bee content to be accounted infidels as Agrippa was, for al the world are either beleevers or infidels. If there be anie knowledg of God in men, they wil grāt thus: and who will not grant that all that beleeve in Chriſt Ieſus, are holy and Elect, and ſhalbe ſaved, if they continew to the end. Concerning England therefore, you muſt either make the tree good, and the fruit good, or the tree evil, and the fruit evil. If the faith off the Church of England be a true faith, then is the Church of England a true Church: and if the faith bee a falſe faith, then it is a falſe Church, that is, no faith of Chriſt, and no Church of Chriſt: and if their faith be no faith of Chriſt, thē are they al infidels and vnbeleevers, of whome, although you have ſo accounted by your walking towards thē, yet by your words you declare them to bee otherwiſe, whē you are vrged to ſpeake plainelie, though in your writings you ſhew them to bee infidels, when you affirme that God never made Covenant with them: But you have too long walked deceitfullie in this point, therefore wee preſſe you to it, if you profeſſe vprightnes either to God or men, to manifeſt in all plainenes, whether you hold the aſſemblies off England, beleevers in Chriſt? Let vsus have no reſpects, no duble reſpects, nor no putting off difference off perſons: for all the Church off England are one body, ſeeing they all drink of one Cup, 1. Cor. 12 And if you hold them beleevers in Chriſt, and truelie baptized into his name, then are they your brethren, ād you may not account them as enimies, but admonish them as brethren. 2. Theſſ. 3.14.15. Then is your ſeperation moſt wicked, and your building of new Churches contrarie to all rule of Scripture, and you have falſlie appi…ed the voice of the Angel. Crieing againſt England, Babilon is fallen, she is fallen. Come out of hir. If they bee beleevers in Chriſt Ieſus, the voice of this Angel can not bee applied vntounto them, you muſt walke towards them by an other rule, even by that rule which Chriſt hath appointed, that all ſhould walke by towards their brethren, iff they ſinne Mat. 18. and not ſeperate from them and build Churches vponupon new foundations. If in this our writing concerning you called Browniſts wee bee iudged to convince ſharplie, wee hold it lawfullie done, becauſe you are a froward generation, and great deceivers of mynds: makeing a glorious vaine ſhaw to come out of Babilon: but do not: and notwithſtanding that we have written in ſome thinges ſharplie, we could deſire to be fe…ed from froward ſuſpects, which you might free vsus from, the rather becauſe there are divers off you both neare and deare vntounto vsus, whome we require in love (as wee do all) to applie the ſharpeſt reproofes to themſelves, for they had need. And touching you Mr. Ro. remember that you have a letter of moſt loveing reſpect in your hands concerning theſe thinges, to which you have not made anſwere, whereby to prevent the publiſhing of this that eſpeciallie concerne you.

Now as we have ſaid vntounto you called Browniſts in this point, ſo ſay wee to England, and to the Presbitary. If the Pope and they off that profeſſion bee beleevers in Chriſt Ieſus, and bee truelie baptized into his name, then have you of England and all the Nations off the Earth ſinned greatlie to ſeperate from Rome in that you were al off one bodie, and members one of another, and being beleevers in Chriſt Ieſus, they are your brethren, and you ought to walke towards them as brethren, and ought not to ſeperate from Rome as you have done, and do, and build new Churches everie one vponupon ſeveral foundations. Iff you of England, and the Presbitary, and you called Browniſts did make anie conſcience to walke by the rules of Chriſt herein, you would not walke towards Rome as you doe, Iff you hold them beleevers in Chriſt Ieſus, and truelie baptized into his name, which if they bee, then are al the ſcriptures that are applied againſt Rome to prove hir Babilon, and that Great whore that ſits vponupon manie waters, and vponupon the ſcarlet cullored Beaſt, and Antichriſt, al theſe ſcriptures are miſapplied to Rome, theſe cannot bee applied to, anie Perſons or People that are beleevers in Chriſt Ieſus, and have put on Chriſt by baptiſme. And there is no voice of the Lord that cals to come out from beleevers in Chriſt Ieſus, the ſcriptures teach no ſuch thinge: Therefore Browniſts muſt returne to the Church of England, and the Church of England and the Presbitary muſt returne to Rome, and bee al Sheepe of one ſheepfold, and repent of your vniuſt ſeperation from the bodie whereoff you were, and are all members, wee ſay, are all members becauſe by one ſpirit you are all Baptized into one bodie, and though you ſay you are not off the bodie with the Church of Rome, are you therefore not of the bodie? 1. Cor. 12.13.15. You have and do al by one baptiſme put on Chriſt, ād you al have brought that your baptiſme from Rome, and ſo are you all Chriſtians and beleevers by ſucceſſion from Rome, and you al account Rome beleevers in Chriſt: Therefore though you ſay you are not off one bodie with Rome, yet you are all members of one bodie with Rome.

Furthermore if Rome bee beleevers in Chriſt Ieſus then are theſe Propheſies of ſcripture no where to be found fulfilled vponupon the whole earth: Firſt the propheſie off Chriſt. Mat 24. Off the Abhomination of deſolation ſet in the holie place, is not to bee ſeene: the days of ſuch great tribulation, as was not from the begining of the world, in which daies no flesh shalbee ſaved, & except they should bee shortned, al flesh should bee condemned, theſe daies are not yet heard of: And the Propheſie off Daniel the Prophet 9.27. and 12.11 Who propheſied, that the Sacrifices and the oblations shal ceaſe, and the daylie ſacrifices shalbee taken away: this Prophiſie cannot yet bee come to paſſe, if Rome bee beleevers in Chriſt, and that their ſacrifices and oblations bee the true ſacrifices and oblations, for Romes ſacrifices ād oblations have never ceaſed: and the Prophiſie of thapoſtle 2. Theſ. 2. Who Propheſieth that there shal come a departing, this propheſy is in no part fulfilled, if Rome bee beleevers, except it be fullfilled in them that have departed from Rome, and then the Church off England, and all the Preſbitarie had need to looke to it who firſt departed: But iff Rome and England and the Preſbitarie, and the Browniſts bee al beleevers, and of the faith of Ieſus, then hath there bene yet no departing from the faith, but a great increaſing far beyond the primitive times in that the ſcriptures no where ſhewe, of whole Nations, Kingdomes, and Countries, to bee of the faith off Ieſus as now there is, yea a great whole part of the world, the like was never heard off, nor Propheſied of iff all you bee beleevers as you either are all beleevers or al infidels, for you are al of one faith ād baptiſme: But iff you bee beleevers, there is no departing yet heard off, neither is the man off ſinne yet diſcloſed or reveiled, nor exalted, nor ſits or hath ſitten as God in the Temple of God, shewing himſelf that he is God: there is no ſuch propheſie yet come to paſſe. And iff Rome bee al beleevers in Chriſt, that propheſie Revel. 11. Where it is propheſied that the people and kindreds, and tongues, and Gentils shall ſee the Corpes of the two witneſſes of the Lord, killed and lye in the ſtreets of the great Citie which ſpiritually is called Sodome, & Egypt, and that the inhabitants of the earth shal reioyce over them: this propheſie cannot yet bee accompliſhed nor begun. And if Rome bee beleevers, then that propheſie of the firſt beaſt to whome is given a mouth to ſpeake great thinges and blaſphemies, and to make war with the Saints, and to overcome them: and to whome power is given over every kindred and tongue and Nation, ſo that all that dwell vponupon the earth shal worship him. And that Propheſie of the where that ſits vponupon many waters, with whome have comitted fornication the Kings of the earth, & all the inhabitants of the earth are made drunck with the wyne of hir fornication. All theſe propheſies ād manie moe cannot in anie meaſure bee fulfilled, or begun, iff the Church of Rome be beleevers and of the faith off Ieſus.

And if theſe propheſies be not fulfilled nor begun, then hath the miſterie of iniquitie that began to worke in Thapoſtles daies, to the exaltacion of the man off ſinne, givē ever working, which were contrarie to the propheſie of Scripture, and that may not bee. Let Rome therefore and al that profeſſion ſee and conſider that al theſe propheſies of exaltations are fulfilled in that profeſſion, ād thus is their glorie their ſhame: for they glorie in nothinge more then in their exaltation, and great power, aucthoritie and magnificencie of their Church, and al that is true, and thereby is this alſo true, that all theſe propheſies are fulfilled in that their exaltation: the which you of the Church of England, and the whole Preſbitarie confeſſing, and proteſting againſt them for the ſame, you muſt needs hold them al infidels and vnbeleevers, except you wil fal into great blaſphemie and ſay, that they are beleevers who execute the power of the man of ſinne, and cauſe the ſacrifices and oblations to ceaſe, and to be taken away from the alter of the Lord, ſo as there are no ſacrifices offered vntounto him. Wil anie ſay that theſe are beleevers that take from the Lords alter his daylie ſacrifices? cauſing that none ſhalbe offered vntounto him, if theſe be beleevers that vtterlie overthrowe the worſhip of the lord, then can there be no infidels.

Further, you cannot ſay the church of Rome are belevers except you wil ſay they are belevers that depart away frō the faith, and are the miniſters of the man ſinne exalting a power, above the power of God, and ſetting vp this power (the miniſters whereof they are) to ſit as God in the Temple of God, makeing ſhewe of that power that it is the power of God, when it is the effectual working of Satā with al his power and ſignes ād lying wonders, and they that are ſubiect in this power are ſuch, as the holy ghoſt teſtifieth, receive not the love of the truth, & which beleve not the truth. Cā you of the church of Englād: ād you of the Preſbitarie: and you that are called Browniſts that hold this Propheſie is fulfilled in that exaltation of the Romish profeſſion, can you hold theſe to be beleevers in Chriſt? of whome the Lord ſaith they receive not the truth, nor beleeve nor the truth, but have pleaſure in vnrighteouſnes, and exalted a power againſt God, to bee worſhipped as God, wha… wickednes and blaſphemie is this to ſay, theſe are Chriſtians and beleevers in Chriſt.

Moreover you cannot ſay that the Romish Profeſſors are beleevers, except you wil ſay they are beleevers that ſet vp the firſt Beaſt, and are the miniſters off that power or Beaſt, which Beaſt or Power, hath 7. heads and 10. hornes, and vpō his hornes 10. crownes and he is like a Leopard, and his feet like a Beare, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon, to whome the dragon gives his power, throne & authoritie, all this doe they of that profeſſion, and not this onelie, but they alſo worship the dragon which giveth power to the Beaſt, & they worship the Beaſt, ſaying who is like the Beaſt, who is able to feight with him: and they being the miniſters off this Beaſt or Power do in their miniſtration, opē their mouthes to blaſphemie againſt God, to blaſpheme his name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwel therein: and by this Power, they have made warr with the Saincts and overcome them. Can you without great blaſphemie againſt the holie one off Iſrael, the moſt high God, ſay, that theſe are belevers in Chriſt Ieſus, and Chriſtians? That do theſe fearfull thinges, ſeeking to deſtroy God, and the faith of Ieſus, and all his Saincts that hold the faith of Ieſus, if you cannot ſay, that they which do ſuch thinges are beleevers and Chriſtians, then cannot you ſay, that they of the Romish profeſſion are beleevers or Chriſtians, but that they are infidels and vnbelevers ſeeing you confeſſe this Propheſie is fulfilled in the Romish profeſſion, ſo are al theſe thinges done by thē. And moreover to theſe the propheſie. Revel. 17. of the woman, and the Beaſt, and the Ten Kings, that give their power and authoritie to the Beaſt, theſe feight with the Lambe: Can you ſay that anie of the…e are beleevers and Chriſtians? that feight againſt the lambe: No, the Spirit off God teſtifieth in this place, that they which are called, and choſen, & faithful are on the lambes ſide, They then that feight againſt the lambe are thoſe that are not called, nor choſen, nor faithfull: therefore muſt they needs bee infidels ād vnbelevers. Al theſe propheſies being confeſſed of you to be already accompliſh by, and vnderunder that Romish profeſſion, how ſhal you of the church of England and the Preſbitarie bee able to ſay that they of the church of Rome are beleevers and Chriſtians: and if they bee not beleevers and Chriſtians, then are they infidels and vnbeleevers, and ſo is your baptiſme and miniſt…rie off England, and the Baptiſme off the Preſbitarie, and al the ordinances that you have received from Rome to be caſt away, as the markes of the Beaſt, and moſt abhom…nable to the Lord.

But it ſhal not bee a miſſe ſeeing there ariſeth ſo iuſt an occaſion to ſhewe, (the Lord directing vsus) the ground and roote of all this evill and ſinne, againſt the maieſtie and holines of God, againſt all which you off England, and the Preſbitarie, ſinne, in accounting Rome and all them of that profeſſion Chriſtians, although all theſe abhominations which wee have ſhewed in al theſe propheſies, (and might be ſhewed in manie moe) bee committed, and to this day maintained by them, to the higheſt diſhonor of God, in exalting the man of ſinne to ſit as God in the Temple of God, and to the vtter polluting of al the holie ordinances of God, in aboliſhing the witneſſe of the Lord his word and Spirit, and killing the Saincts, feighting againſt the Lambe, makeing all the Nations of the earth to worship the Beaſt, and to drincke of the wine of hir fornications that ſits vponupon many waters, notwithſtanding al this, theſe you account Chriſtians, vponupon this ground and from this roote becauſe when they are infants, they are waſhed with water in the name off the Father, ere, and you approve that they are Baptized when they are infants becauſe they are the ſeed of Chriſtians and of the faithful.

What words might we take to our ſelves to make your madnes, and the madnes of al the world, herein to appeare, who pretend that al the ſeed of Chriſtians and of the faithful are to bee Baptized onelyonly, ād vnderunder this pretēce baptize, ād approve of the baptizing of the ſeed of al the wicked and vngodly in theſe parts of the World, yea thoſe that have beene wicked to the third and fowrth generation, and to the tenth generation enimies of God, and bloody perſecutors of his truth, deſtroying the faith of Ieſus, and advanceing the man of ſinne: The ſeed of all theſe are baptized, and by reaſon of this Baptiſme they are all held and accounted Chriſtians by you, although they walke in the ſtepps off their fore-Fathers. Is there anie knowledg of God in theſe thinges? Or do men thinke that now vnderunder the Goſpel they may doe and approve off what they wil? will men neither walke by the Law of God, nor by the law they propound vntounto themſelves? Do you ſet downe a Law to your ſelves that the infants off the faithfull are to bee Baptized, and do you approve off the Baptizing of the infants of the enimies of God, that feight againſt the lambe and the infants of ſome alſo, that have not ſo much faith as the Devils, who beleeve and tremble: In the word of vnſpeakable wiſedome hath the holy Ghoſt ſaid that the Nations shallbee drunck with the Wine of hir Fornications: Who may not ſee this Propheſie fullfilled▪ For if men were not druncke ſo as they can neither ſee their way, nor tell what they ſay, they would not walke thus, and ſpeake thus, like druncken men.

The Church of England and the Preſbitarie doe allowe of the Baptizing of al the Infants of Rome, whoſe Pope ād Cardinals ād al their whole miniſtery that adminiſter the baptiſme, and the parents of the infants that are baptized, and thoſe infants being alreadie come to be men of yeres, would deſtroy their Kings, and Princes, and Countries, and al them, for profeſſing Chriſt as they do: are theſe the ſeed of the faithful? and is this to baptize and allowe of the baptiſme of the ſeed of the faithful? Wey wi…h your ſelves what truth their is in this? And the Browniſts they approve of the baptiſme and baptizing of thē, whoſe parents perſecute their owne children for walking in their way: are theſe the ſeed of the faithful? What blindnes and invprightnes is this, to profeſſe a ground, and walke by no ground. You muſt agree (iff you can) among your ſelves, ād make a new law, this (you ſe) wil not ſerve your turne, for if you allowe none to bee baptized but the ſeed of the faithful, you wil not have whole Countries and Nations all Chriſtians, as you have: It is apparant therefore whatſoever you ſay, that you hold that al infants whether their parents bee faithful or vnbeleevers ſhalbe baptized: your rule then is, that both the ſeed of the faithful and vnfaithful ſhalbee Baptized, and that is your practice: what warrant cā be found for this? or it is no matter whether there be warrant or no? You alledge circumciſiō for your ground, that becauſe infāts were circumciſed, therefore infants muſt be Baptized, but yet you cannot find that the infants off anie people were to bee circumciſed, and if anie were circumciſed but thoſe that God commaunded, he Lord, nor his faithful ſervants never approved off it: And wil you now, approve of anie Baptiſme, and make it good? ād yet make circumciſion your example? The Lord perſwade your harts and the harts of all men to begin while it is day, to examine the grou…d of your p…actice herein, that you may ſtand before the Lord in the laſt day, and through Chriſt be able to approve that you have walked by the ſtrict rule off Gods word, and not by the vaine inventions of men which God hates, and let al Gods people hate, but his law let them love, which is a perfit Law, and converteth the ſoule, and it is pure and giveth light to the eies. Pſal. 19. But by this your practice, it is made a moſt inperfect law when you ſay, that the infants of the faithful are to bee Baptized onelie, and when you have laid that downe for your law, you both Baptize, and approve for good the Baptiſme off the infants of he vnfaithful and vnbeleevers, and enimies off God, and his truth: this is neither perfect nor pure law, therefore it is not the law of God. You ther that wait for ſalvation by Chriſt Ieſus may not walke by that imperfect and impure lawe, but muſt ſeeke diligentlie with your whole harts, the law and ſtatutes off the Lord, that you may keepe them: which lov… when you ſhal diligentlie ād faithfully ſearch into through out, you ſhal no where find it once mentioned that anie infants are to be Baptized, and therefore it is but the meere vaine invention and tradition of men, which who ſo followeth can never have favour nor acceptance with God, becauſe they make the Law off God, of no authority. Mark. 7.13. In this great and waighty cauſe, wee wil not (through the grace of God burden you with manie grounds, or arguments, but lay downe before you ſome few things withall the plainnes and evidence of truth wherwith God ſhall make vsus able.

And firſt, wee pray al thoſe whoſe harts God hath inclined to ſeeke his truth, and who deſire in vprightnes to walke in the light, that they wil duelie conſider what the Covenāt of the Goſpel is, and with whome it is made: and thus hath the Lord ſet it downe. This is the Covenant ſaith the Lord, that I wil make with the houſe of Iſrael, I wil put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their …a…ts and I wilbee their God, and they shalbee my people. Iere. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. And our Saviour Chriſt declares this more fullie. Mark. 16.16. Where he ſaith. Go ye into al the World and preach the Goſpel to everie Creature, he that shal beleeve and be baptized shalbee ſaved. Thus doth the Lord by his ſpirit, in the preaching of the Goſpel, put and write his law in the harts of men, according to the Parrable of the ſower. Mat 13.23. And they ſhal beleeve in him and bee Baptized: Thus they ſhal be his people: and he wil ſave them, and ſo is he their God. Here is the new Covenant ſet downe by the Holie ghoſt, both on Gods behalf, and on their behalf with whome it is made, and here is it plainlie declared and expounded by Chriſt himſelf. The Lord on his behalfe doth Covenant that he wil put and write his law in mens h…res, by the power of his ſpirit in the preaching of the Goſpel, and he wilbee their God and ſave them: and the Covenant on his peopls behalf which they are to keepe and performe is, to beleeve the Goſpel and bee Baptized. Let al men now that have anie willingnes of hart to bee enformed by the word of God, and whoſe harts are not wilfullie ſet, to go on in their igno… … …old waies, without trying their waies whether they bee of God or no: let them wee ſay ſearch, examine, and try by what ſhewe of truth, it can poſſibly bee conceived, that vnderunder, or by this Covenant of the new Teſtament, infants ſhould be baptized where the Lord requires no ſuch thinge in this Covenant of men to baptize their infants: and if you wil but ſee and conſider with wiſe and gracious harts, how the Lord doth ſet downe the Covenant which he made with Abraham. Gen. 17. You ſhal ſee with what evidence the Lord in merciemercy doth ſet it downe. Thus ſaith the Lord to Abraham I wil eſtablish my Covenant betweene thee and me, & thy ſeed after thee in their generation for an everlaſting Covenant to bee God vntounto thee and thy ſeed after the, and I wil give to thee and to thy ſeed after thee, all the Land of Canaan for an everlaſting poſſeſſion, and I wilbee their God: this is on the Lords behalf: and ſaith the Lord, This is the Covenant that thou and thy ſeed after thee ſhal kepe. Let every man-child amonge you bee circumciſed, yee shal circumciſe the foreskinne of your Flesh, and every man-Child at eight days old, aſwel he that is borne in the houſe as he that is bought with monie. this is the Covenant on Abrahams behalf▪ and his ſeed. Thus doth the lord declare in every perticuler, his Covenant with his people, aſwel what he wil do for them, as alſo what he requireth them to do in obedience to him: ād here wee ſee God hath comaunded Abra, ād his ſeed to circūciſe al the males in their houſe. And now this Covenant is diſanulled, and all the Ordinances thereof, as is ſhewed. Heb. 7.18. And the Lord ſaith he wil make a new Covenant with the houſe of Iſrael, not like the old, teaching vsus that wee ſhould not forme and frame it according to the old, but that wee ſhould receive it, according to the new forme and frame wherein he delivers it: vnderunder which Covenant the Lord doth not commaund or require of his people that they ſhould Baptize all their houſhold, and infants, both borne in their houſe and bought with monie, according as vnderunder the old Covenant, he commaunded that they ſhould circumciſe them. How dare you then thus contend againſt the Lord: and whereas he ſaith he wil make a new Covenant not according to the old, you wil ſay, and have it according to the old, for you wil have it that according as infants were circumciſed vnderunder the old Covenant, ſo you will hauehave infants Baptized vnderunder the new, is not this to ſet yourſelves againſt the lord and to change his Covenant: which he hath ſealed with his blood, and after your owne wils in what you thinke good, to make it according to the old Covenant, directly contrary to the Lords owne word ād ſaying, and you have no way to mainteyne the baptizing of infants, but by ſaying the new Covenant is according to the old, and this is to ſay directly contrary to the ſaying of the Lord, who is the Covenant maker, and who ſaith, in plaine words, the new Covenant which I wil make with Iſraell ſhal not bee according to the old. Here it is made evident to al that wil not reſiſt the truth, that your baptizing of infants is contrary to the new Covenant of the Lord. Thus do you to make your owne tradition good, make the new Covenant like the old, which the Lord ſaith is not like the old: how can you poſſibly oppoſe the word of the lord more directly? Furthermore the holy ghoſt by the Author vntounto the Heb. Chap. 9. endeavoring by al evidence to prove that the new Covenant is not like the old ſheweth that the old Teſtament or Covenant had a worldly Sanctuary, and that the ſervice of that Tabernacle onelyonly ſtood in meates and drincks and divers washings, and Carnall rites, which purified the Flesh, but purged not the Conſcience: and the holie Ghoſt ſheweth there, that the new Teſtament or Covenant hath not a worldlie Sanctuarie, and that the ſervice of that Tabernacle ſtands not in carnal rites, which purge not the conſcience, but … is a perfect Tabernacle, the ſacrifice where of doth purge the conſcience from dead workes to ſerve the ljveing God. Thus doth the ſcripture ſhew that the ordinances of the new, are not according to the ordinances of the old, and for this cauſe ſaith the holy ghoſt, Chriſt is the Mediator of the new Teſtament, that is: becauſe the new Teſtament or Covenant and Cabernacle, and ordinances are not carnal but ſpiritual: But if you wil have infants Baptized, that is waſhed with water, and certen words, then you bring in a carnal rite, which purgeth not the con…cience, (for you do not hold that the Infants conſciences are purged thereby) and ſo doe you make the new Covenant, and ordinances, carnal, like vntounto the old, which may not bee, except you wil directlie oppoſe the evident word of the Lord, as you have long herein done, to your vtter deſtruction except you repent. Wee diſire moreover the people off God whoſe harts are ſect to ſeeke his face that they wil ſearch the Scriptures to ſee what the baptiſme of the new Teſtament is declared to bee, which being faithfullie ſearched into ſhall convince vntounto all the Earth, that it cannot apperteyne vntounto infants.

And firſt in the goſpel according to Mark. 1.4. It is preached by Iohn to bee Baptiſme of amendement of life, for the remiſsion of ſinnes: And Thapoſtle Rom. 6.4. ſaith. Baptiſme is a burieing into the death of Chriſt, that wee should walke in newnes of life: and Gal. 3.26, 27. Thapoſtle ſaith: Baptiſme is the putting on of Chriſt by faith. How ſhould this Baptiſme belong vntounto infants: can there be amendemēt off life, for the remiſſion of ſinnes in Infants? and can Infants bee buried into the death of Chriſt to walke in newnes of life? and can infants put on Chriſt by faith? if they can do none of al theſe thinges, which is moſt plaine they cannot, then may they not bee Baptized. What were ſufficient to give ſatiſfaction in this long conceived error of baptizing infants You may ſee, by the ordinance it ſelfe they are not capeable of it: and you may ſee that the lord by the covenant doth not commaund nor require anie ſuch thinge at the hands of parents to Baptize their Infants and all their houſhould. The Covenant is that men ſhould beleeve and bee Baptized, but their is no one word to comaund them to baptiſe their infants, and all their houſ hould. Oh that you would bee wearie of this your great ignorance, to ſay that baptiſme is the ſeale of the Covenant, and yet you wil ſeale them, that cannot receive the ſeale, and them that are not once mentioned in the Covenant, bringing in vnderunder the Covenant whome you wil, without the wil and mynd of the Lord: and although the Covenant ſhall ſtill overthrowe you, that there can none bee vnderunder the Covenant, but they which beleeve and are Baptized, for the Lord wil admit of no other then he hath mentioned in his Covenant, though you ſeale never ſo manie with water and words: although this might ſuffice yet wee will endeavor by the Lords aſſiſtance to convince you by your owne ground.

You cannot denie, but that there is neither rule nor example in al the new Teſtament for the Baptizing off infants, whereby you confeſſe that the Mediator off the new Teſtament hath not appointed it, therefore you are drivē to prove it by conſequence makeing your ſelves and the ſimple beleeve, that it muſt needs follow by a neceſſarie conſequence: that as infants were circumciſed, ſo muſt they bee baptized. Iff you will have a neceſſary conſequence of this, then muſt you make it off the whole matter and not of part, as you thinke good, as thus: Hee that wil bee a Proſelite muſt bee circumciſed, and all the males in his houſhould: ſo then if your conſequence from this ground be neceſſary, he that wilbe a Diſciple of Chriſt muſt be baptized and al his houſhold, it followeth▪ he vponupon your conſequence that no man can be admitted a Diſciple except al his houſhold wilbee baptized: for no man could be admitted a Proſelite except all his males were circumciſed. If then a Iew that hath a wyfe and divers Children and bondmen (as they have) come to the faith of Ieſus, iff his Wyfe or anie of his Children or bondmen will not bee Baptized, then cannot he bee admitted to bee a diſciple of Chriſt, except you will allowe him by his authoritie to cauſe them to bee Baptized whether they beleeve or no, as they did by their authoritie circumciſe their houſ hold. Thus muſt your conſequence ſtand iff you will not bee willing to deceive your ſelves in the meanes off your ſalvation. Deale Faithfully therefore with God and his truth, and his people, you that take vponupon you to bee guids, and lead not Gods people to deſtruction by ſuch deceits as this, that when you have neither rule, nor example, to prove that infants muſt be baptized, yea and when the Covenant of the Lord doth evidently debarr them: and the Ordinance off Baptiſme conſidered in it ſelfe alſo, yet you will to bring in and mainteyne, he tradition off your Elders prove it by a conſequence from the Covenant of the old Teſtament, and make the new, like the old: When the Lord ſaith it is not like, nor ſhallbee according to the old. And if the people off God would but with vpright harts read diligently, the whole Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, they ſhould (through the grace off God) find to their ful ſatiſfaction the difference betwixt the old Covenant and the new: and the Preiſthood, and the Tabernacle, ād the Ordinances, Services, and Sacrifices ſet downe ſo plainly as it would make an end of this controverſie, and manie moe, to the advancement of Gods truth, and the ſalvatiō of the ſoules of his people, that ſhall follow him in the regeneration or new birth, which is to bee borne againe of water and of the ſpirit: In which regeneration or new birth who ſo followeth him not, cannot enter into the kingdome off Heaven. In that Epiſtle to the Heb. they that read ſhall find (as wee have formerly ſhewed) that the old Covenant was a carnall Covenant and commaundement. Heb. 7.16. and as the Lord ſpeaketh to Abraham. Gen. 17.13. ſpeakeing of the Covenant off circumciſion, ſaith: my Covenant shalbe in your flesh for an everlaſting Covenant, and as the Covenant was, ſo was the Preiſthood, and the Tabernacle, ād the ſacrifices / and ſervice, al carnal and worldly, … is withal evidence and plaines in that Epiſtle ſet downe: but the new Covē. is not a Cove. in the fleſh, but is a Coveē. in the ſpirit, a ſpiritual Covē. written in the harts & mynds of Gods people, eſtablished vponupon better promiſſes then the firſt Covenant, and all this is evident by the words off the Covenant, which are: They that beleeve and are Baptized shallbee ſaved: And as this Covenant is ſpiritual, ſo is the Preiſthood, ſo is the Tabernacle, and all the Ordinances, Sacrifices and ſervices there off, and al this is moſt plainly ſet downe in that Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, Which difference betwixt the old and the new Covenant if it were carefully ſearched vntounto, and found out, it would overthrowe your deceitfull conſequence which …yo… drawe from Covenāts that are diſlike, or not a like in ſubſtance, contrary to al vnderſtanding: and it would make you caſt away your carnal baptizing of infants and to Baptize no infants, but ſuch infants as were Babes in Chriſt, ſuch as are begotten by the imortall ſeed of the word: and it would diſcover vntounto you your carnal ignorance and blindnes in holding that Iſralites beget Iſralit snow, as vnderunder the law, or that Chriſtians beget Chriſtians by generation, which hath brought in ſuch madnes amongſt men, as the Browniſts hold ād profeſſe, …hat no infants that dye are vnderunder the Covenant of grace and ſalvation, but ſuch as they beget. Thus do they onelie beget infants that are heires off ſalvation, and al this, and much more evil comes vponupon makeing the new Covenant like the old, and ſo make them both carnal, which you doe herein, in holding that parents begett Children to bee vnderunder the Spirituall Covenant by carnal generation.

But becauſe ſome through the great weaknes off their judgment and vnderſtanding cannot ſee the old Covenant to bee a carnal Covenant, wee wil in ſhort yet further endeavour to ſhewe how it is a carnall or worldlie Covenant. Firſt it was a carnal Covenāt in that al the promiſſes that God made to Abraham in that Covenant of Circumciſion were of worldlie thinges, as wee may ſee Gen. 17.5.6.7. where the Lord ſaith, I will make thee exceeding fruitful, I wil make Nations of thee, yea Kings, shal proceed off the…e: and I wil give thee and thy ſeed after the all the Land off Canaan for an everlaſting poſſeſsion. Here is this wh…le Covenant of circumciſion which God makes, wherein there is no promiſſe but of worldlie thinges. Secondlie in this Covenant of circumciſion the lord requires, a carnal obedience, that is: Let every man Child bee circumciſed in the foreſkinne of the Flesh. Thirdlie the judgment for the breatch of this Covenant is a worldlie iudgment verſ. 14. The vncircumciſed man-child in whoſe Fleſh the fore-skinne is not circumciſed that perſon shalbee cut of from his People, becauſe he hath broken my Covenant. Add moreover verſ. 13. Where the Lord ſaith: This is my Covenant in your Flesh. Who wilbee ſo blind as not to ſee, that this is a carnal Covenant: Wi… men bee ſo void off all vnderſtanding, as to ſay that God makes a Spirituall Covenant with a people in their Fleſh? though men have bene ſo ignorant, let them not be ſo ignorante ſtil.

After the like manner as hath bene ſpoken off the Covenant, may bee ſpoken of the Tabernacle, Preiſthood, and al thoſe ſervices and carnall rites, in all which Covenant and worldlie ordinances, their is no promiſſe of ſalvation for the keeping of them, nor cannot be, becauſe they make not holie concerning the conſcience. Heb. 9.9. Neither ſanctifie they the commers therevnto. Chap. 10.1. Nor there is no judgment of condemnation pronounced againſt anie, although they ſhould preſumpteouſlie breake thine, but bodilie death Num. 15.30. Heb. 13.28. etc. yet through repentance ſuch might bee ſaved: But now vnderunder the new Covenant, which is ſpiritual, there is promiſſe of ſalvation to them that keepe it: For he that beleeves and is Baptiſed shalbee ſaved. And there is condemnatiō pronounced againſt them that kepe it not: he that wil not beleeve shalbee damned: and he tha… ſinneth preſumpteouſlie or willinglie of knowledg againſt this Covenant, or anie of the ordinances thereof ſhal never bee forgiven. Heb. 20.19. Thus may all ſee that wil not winck with their eies, that the new Covenant is not likt the old: But is a Covenant eſtabliſhed vponupon better promiſſes, and that the firſt Covenant is eſtabliſhed vponupon Worldlie or Earthlie promiſſes: But the new Covenant is eſtabliſhed vponupon ſpiritual or heavenlie promiſſes even of life and ſalſalvation. The difference of theſe two Covenants being with a ſpiritual eie diſcerned, it wil eaſilie overthrowe that moſt falſe and vnproper conſequence which is drawne from the old Covenant to the new, for the Baptizing of infants, which conſequence iff it were rightlie laid downe, the darknes of it would eaſilie appeare as thus: VnderUnder the old Covenant infants were circumciſed in the fleſh: ſo vnderunder the new Covenant, infants muſt be Baptized in the fleſh: what ignorance is this? What wine of Fornication? That hath made drunck al Nations: there is no ſuch Baptiſme in the new Teſtament, as Baptiſme in the Fleſh. God forbid that men ſhould remaine ſtill ſo ignorant as to thinke that Chriſt Ieſus in his heavenlie Kingdome and new Covenant hath eſtabliſhed anie carnal rite, or Ceremonial Ordinance the handwriting whereoff he hath put out and aboliſhed, Col. 2.14. And therefore the Baptiſme of the new Teſtament muſt needs be a ſpiritual baptiſme of water & the ſpirit, Ioh. 3.5. with which baptiſme infants cannot be Baptized: ſo is it great wickednes and a prop…anation of the holie and divine ordinance off God to vſe ſuch adminiſtration vponupon infants, makeing hereby the ordinance of God of no effect, there being no benifit or advantage, end, or vſe of it, for you wil al confeſſe that al infants muſt be regenerate and borne againe, or els they cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven: and our Saviour Chriſt the Saviour of vsus al ſaith, that they that are borne againe muſt be borne of water and the Spirit. To what end then is the Baptizing of infants? they not being regenerate thereby.

Furthermore you frame your conſequence with theſe words, as infants were ſealed with the ſeale of the Covenant vnderunder the law, ſo they muſt bee ſealed with the ſeale of the Covenant vnderunder the Goſpel: Wee demaund of you, is waſhing with water a ſeale? If it bee a ſeale, it is a ſeale in the Fleſh, where then is the print, or impreſſion thereof? It hath none, therefore it can bee no ſeale: Oh how blindlie are the wiſemen of the world carried away in theſe thinges, contrary to al vnderſtanding, to bee brought to ymagine that waſhing an infant with water is a ſeale: are not theſe vaine inventions? without ground of Scripture, reaſon, or common ſence? Can you walke thus and thinke to pleaſe God? Will God bee pleaſed with you when you walke in thoſe waies that beſt pleaſe your owne mynds? Bee not deceived, God will not hold you gilties for thus vſing his name and Ordinance in vaine. If you will examine the new Teſtament throughout, you ſhall find no ſeale, nor none ſealed, but they that beleeve, who are ſealed with the Holy Spirit of promiſſe. Epheſ. 1.13. By which Holy Spirit wee are all Baptized into one body. 1. Cor. 12.13. And there is but one Spirit, one Baptiſme, and one body. Epheſ. 4.4.5. Which holy ſeale of the Spirit ſeeing infants cannot have, they cannot bee Baptized with that one Baptiſme, into that one body: ſo is your conſequēce for the baptizing of infants directly contrary to the Covenāt and ordinance of God: the Covenant of the lord being that they which beleeve & are baptized shalbe ſaved, and the ordinance being the baptiſme of repentance for the remiſſion of ſinnes.

To conclude this point with a ground that al who have anie knowledg of the word of God will confeſſe which is this: the Covenant of the new Teſtament is a Covenant of life and ſalvation onelyonly to all that beleeve and are baptized. Mark. 16.16. The ſeale off the Covenāt muſt needs be aunſwereable to that holy Covenant: a ſeale of life and ſalvation onelie to them that beleeve and are Baptized Epheſ. 1.13.14. Revel. 2.17. and 28. Thappoſtle here to the Epheſ. doth ſhewe that after they beleeved they were ſealed with the holie Spirit of promiſſe. Let all then confeſſe with whome there is anie vprightnes that infants who cannot beleeve, (for Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. 10.17.) cannot bee ſealed with the ſeale of this Covenant: it is not in the power of parents to ſet this ſeale vponupon their infants, as it was in their power to ſet the ſigne of Circumciſion vponupon their Fleſh: Therefore is it not required of them by the Lord: and it is altogether impietie and wickednes, and a prophaning of the holie ordinance of God to take in hand to adminiſter it vponupon infants and the Lord will revenge himſelfe for ſuch wickednes if it bee not repented of. But againſt this ground of truth that the Covenant of life and ſalvation is made onelie with them that beleeve and are Baptized, it is obiected, that the Covenant is made with them and their ſeed, and though manie writers write thus, and moſt men affirme it, yet Mr. Robinſon, being next hand, wee will produce his warrant for this ground being as good as anie others, and he as vnadviſedlie overſeene in the ſetting it downe: Thus ſpeakes he in his Booke Pag. 282. The Scriptures everie where teach that parents by their faith bring their Children into the Covenant off the Church, & intitle them to the promiſſes, litle doth Mr. Rob thinke how ſuddenlie in his accuſtomed haiſt he hath brought in a meritorious faith, it were to b… wiſhed, that he and al mē did ſee, and feele that their faith is little enough to bring themſelves vnderunder the Covenant of God, if it were not for the gracious and moſt mercifull acceptance off God in Chriſt: But God hath not promiſſed anie where, to accept to ſalvation, of the parents faith, for their Children, nor to condemne them for their parents infidelity, this is but one among manie of Mr. Ro. doctrines of Devils which he hath heaped vp in his tedious booke: his proofe for his doctrine is. Gen. 17. And wee prove his doctrine moſt falſe by Gen. 17. where Abrahā his faith, and earneſt praier to God could not bring Iſmael his Child, of 13. yere old vnderunder that Covenant, verſ. 18-21.

Thus is Mr. Ro. altogether overſeene in the ſcripture that he himſelf allegeth: Add moreover to this Gen. 25.23. Where Izhaks faith, could not bring Eſau vnderunder the Covenant. Thus may all ſee that Mr. Ro. doth but quote ſcripture for his proofe, and not ſhewe how it proves his ground. The next proofe for this ground is Act. 2.39. Where Thappoſtle ſpeaking, to, and of al the vnbeleeving Iewes and Gentils ſaith, the promiſſe is made to you and to your Children, even as manie as the Lord our God shall call. How Mr. Ro. will apply this to his purpoſe we knowe not, but wee confeſſe that this promiſſe, (They that beleeve and are Baptized shalbee ſaved) is made to al the vnbeleeving Iewes and Gentils, and their Children, to this day: but this doth no way prove that the faith of the parents in titles children to the promiſſes, nor that the promiſſe of ſalvation is made to the vnbeleeving Iewes and Gentils, or to their Children, except they and their children amend their lives and be baptized. And whereas Mr. Rob. as it ſhould ſeeme vnderſtands, children in this place, to bee infants, wee wil firſt leave that to him to prove, that thappoſtle ſpeakes heare concerning infants, and then wee will require of him how he proves, that the inheritance off the Kingdome of heaven goes by ſucceſſion of generation, as the land of Canaan did.

For the ſecond part of his vniuſt and vngodly affirmation that God takes occaſion by the ſinnes off the parents, to execute his iuſtice to condemnatiō vponupon the children: herein Mr. Ro. dubles his ſinne, in that as he hath before made the parents faith the cauſe of bleſſing to ſalvation, which (he ſaith) is every where to be found in the ſcriptures, but ſhewes no where: ſo now he affirmes, that parents infidelity, is the cauſe of Gods iudgment to condemnation vponupon their children. Mr. Ro. propounds his doctrine and rule for a general rule and doctrine. To prove him a falfe Prophet in this alſo wee refer the Godly reader to the 1. King. 14. where it is ſhewed, that Abyah the ſonne off moſt wicked Ieroboam being but yong, was not curſed for his Fathers ſinnes, and Ioſiah being but eight yere old when his Father died, the Lord bleſſed him aboundantly in his infancy, notwithſtanding al the grevious tranſgreſſions of his Father Ammon. 2. Chro. 33. and 34. Chap. Neither did the Lord puniſh the people of Iſraels children for that their great tranſgreſſion Num. 14.27-39. when they murmured becauſe of the ſpies, by which ſinne, although they ſo provoked the Lord to wrath, as he cauſed al their carcaſies to fal, to bee waiſted and conſumed in the wildernes, not ſuffering anie one of them to go into the Land of Canaan, ſave Ioshua, and Caleb, yet evē then in his anger, he declared his merciemercy to al their Children, promiſſing to bring them into the Land. Now wee confeſſe with Mr. Ro. that wee are al by nature the Children of wrath: conceived and borne in ſinne, but wee diſire to knowe of Mr. Ro. whether he hold not that al Children are alike the Children of wrath? and alike begotten in ſinne? or that ſome parents confer grace by generation more then others: and if they do not (as wee aſſure our ſelves you wil confeſſe) but that all Infants are alike in themſelves the Children off wrath, then let vsus ſee, not after a ſort, but directly, by what evidēce of ſcripture it can be proved (their ſinnes being al alike in themſelves) that God ſhould execute his juſtice to condemnation vponupon ſome children, for the ſinnes of their pa…ents, and ſhew merciemercy to ſalvation vponupon others for the faith of their parents, ſeeing the iuſt God hath ſaid, that every one shal receive ſalvation, or condemnation, according to that which hee hath done in the flesh, and not acording to that which his parents hath done. And let al ſe Mr. Ro. great iniquity in this his affirmatiō, in that he blāſphemouſly chargeth the moſt holy and iuſt God to puniſh infāts to condemnation, for the actual ſinnes of their parēts when they themſelves have not ſinned, after the ſame manner of tranſgreſsion Rom. 5.14. and we pray M.R and al men to conſider the words of the lord. Exo. 20. who ſaith, he wil viſite the ſinnes of the Fathers vponupon the childrē of thē that hate him which hatred is ſhewed by the breach of his comaundemēts: but do infāts hate God and breake his comaundemēts? you al confeſſe with the Prophet Eze. 18.14.17. (notwithſtāding theſe words in Exo. 20. That if a wicked man begett a ſonne that ſeeth al his Fathers ſinnes, which he hath done, & feareth, neither doth ſuch like, he shal ſurely live: then muſt you grant that the infants of wicked parents that do not ſuch like ſinne as their parēts do, ſhal not dye. Thus much to ſtop M. Ro. for the preſēt in his ſpeedy courſes who runnes his race as though he were ſtronge and none could ſtay him, but the lord and his word wil overthrowe him in theſe his waies if he repent not, whoſe repentance we much diſire to Gods glory, and for his owne good.

And now let the covenāt of the lord ſtād firme and good againſt al the adverſaries thereof, which Covenant is, they which beleve & are baptized, shalbe ſaved. the words whereof being ſpokē by him that made it, do with authority convince to the Conſciences of all that will heare them, that this Covenant is made onelyonly with them that are beleeve and are baptized, which is with them that of the faith of Abraham. Rom. 4.12-16. And not they that are of the Fleſh of Abraham: there are (ſaith thappoſtle) Children of the Flesh, and Children off the promiſſe. but the Children of the promiſſe are counted for the ſeed. Rom. 9.8. How ignorant and obſtinate are men become, whome no word of God can perſwade, but they wil have the Children off the Fleſh, to bee the Children off the promiſſe, and the ſeed: for they wil have the ſeed of the faithful that is, al the Children begotten off their bodies, to bee the Children of the promiſſe, and the ſead with whome the Covenant is made, ſaying: the Covenant is made with the faithful and their ſeed, meaning all the Children begotten of the Fleſh, yet …happoſtle faith, the Children of the flesh are not the ſeed, but thapoſtles teſtimony wil not ſerve the turne, the Pope ſaith it is not ſo: and the Biſhops and Preſbitary (haveing learned it of the Pope) ſay it is not ſo: And th… Browniſts (haveing learned it of the Biſhops) ſay it is not ſo: Here are manie witneſſes, and they have long and ancient cuſtome, and the fcuyt is faire to looke vponupon, and pleaſant to the eie and mynd, that infants are begotten and borne Chriſtians: the moſt wicked and prophane parents that are, like this wel, that they may bee accounted to beget Chriſtians, and that their Children may bee made members off the body off Chriſt, when they are new borne: the beſt men like this wel: and the worſt like it wel: This pleaſeth al Fleſh in theſe parts of the world, there was never anie one doctrine of Chriſt, nor of thappoſtles, that ever was ſo acceptable to all men: it muſt needs be acceptable, becauſe ſo good a thinge is ſo eaſily come by. what a geevious thinge would it bee if one might not bee a Chriſtian, and member of Chriſts body, before they had learned Chriſt, and to beleeve in him: this would troble Children if they ſhould bee forced to learne to knowe Chriſt before they could be admitted to bee his Diſciples, and to be Baptized: and this would bee a great troble to parents that there Children ſhould not be baptized before they had carefully brought them vp in the inſtruction and information of the Lord: and this would bee a great burden to Biſhops and Preiſts, if they ſhould have none admitted members of heir Church, vntill by their diligent ād faichful preaching of the goſpel, they were brought to knowledg, faith, and repentāce, and to amend their lives and bee Baptized. If theſe old doctrines of Chriſt and his Appoſtles ſhould now bee put in practice it would troble and offend all the world, being ſo contrary to al cuſtome, and Counſels, and affections off men. O crooked and fooliſh generation, how long ſhal the Lord beare with you, how long ſhal he ſuffer you, wil you make the way broad and wide which he hath made ſtrait and narrow? wil you ſtil walke in the traditions of mē after the luſts of your owne harts and treade his ſtatutes vnderunder your feet? ſhal the long evil cuſtome, and falſe teſtimony of men, agreable to your owne affections, overthrowe the divine, and true witnes of our Lord Chriſt and his Apoſtles? Doth our Saviour Chriſt ſay, that thoſe with whome he hath made the new covenāt are they in whoſe mynds and harts he hath written his Law, whome hee declares to bee thoſe, that beleeve and are baptized? and wil you add vntounto the Covenant of the Lord, and ſay, it is made with the faithful, and their ſeed before they can beleeve? and doth Thappoſtle ſay, that the ſeed to whome the promiſſe is made are they which are off the faith of Abra? ād not they that are of the fleſh of Abrahā and wil you ſay, that they that are of the fleſh of the faithful, are the ſeed with whome the Covenant is made? can you device in your harts more directly to oppoſe the Lord, and falſefie his truth, thē you do herein? Wil you thus contend againſt the lord and diſpite the Spirit of grace, and trample vnderunder foote the blood of the new Teſtament, and thinke that you ſhal eſcape, much more puniſhmēt, thē they that diſpiſed Moſes law? deceive not your ſelves, ād do not thinke that God careth not for theſe things, and that he regardeth not the breach of his holy ordinances, becauſe he ſeemes to hold his peace, in that he ſtrikes you not with bodily iudgments: but except you repēt, he wil reprove you, and ſet al theſe thinges in order before you, and teare you in peeces; when there ſhalbe none that can deliver you. Oh conſider this ād forget not God: what ſhal it profit you to have your infants waſhed with water, and a few words, whereby the name of the Lord is blaſphemed, and you periſh for ſo prophaning his Ordinance? the infant is never the better, it ſhal not be ſaved thereby: ād there is no ſuch obedience required at your hands, let the word off the Lord be your guid in theſe thinges, and not the word of man nor long cuſtome, although it be in a thinge that is moſt pleaſing to your carnal mynds.

Thus leaving to your remembrance that Abrahās faith could not bring his Children vnderunder the Covenāt in that it did not bring Iſmael, nor anie one of his ſix ſonnes that he had by Keturah his Wife, vnderunder the Covenant, Gen. 25. and therefore that is a moſt deceitful and falſe ground to ſay, that they were circumciſed, becauſe they were vnderunder the Covenant, and that they are vnderunder the Covenant by Abrahams faith, for then had al Abrahams bondmen and houſhold bene vnderunder the Covenant, and Iſmael whome the Lord denyes to bee vnderunder the Covenant, and yet he, and they al were commaunded to bee circumciſed.

This then is the ground of truth, which cannot be gainſaied, that al the males free, and bond, that were borne in Abrahams houſe, or bought with his monie, which were not of his ſeed, were al to bee circumciſed becauſe it was the Covenant that God comaunded Abraham to kepe, to circumciſe al his males: and not becauſe they were al vnderunder the Covenant of circumciſion by Abrahams faith, this is but a vaine invention of the man of ſinne, and a miſtery of iniquity to deceive them that have pleaſure in vnrighteouſnes, haveing no ſhewe, nor warrant of ſcripture, to ſay they were circumciſed, becauſe they were vnderunder the Covenant by Abrahams faith: al evidence of Scripture is againſt it, in that the lord doth plainly declare in his word, that they were to be circumciſed that were no… vnderunder the Covenant, even all Abrahams houſhold, whereoff there was no one vnderunder the Covenant but himſelff, when the commaundement was given: Now thē you haveing no cullor ſhew nor warrant, from the ſcriptures for the baptizing of infants, but a deceitful conſequence from the example off circumciſion, we beſeech al that hope for ſalvatiō by Ieſus Chriſt, to ſee the deceit of your conſequēce: thus you ſay, and this is all your hold: that as the ſeed off the faithful were circumciſed, ſo the ſeed of the faithfull muſt be baptized, proofe for this your ground you have none, but your ſtrong perſwaſions and long cuſtome, wherein no one of you have faith: but to ſhew yet againe the deceit of your conſequence.

Firſt: it is not drawne by due proportion, which is a moſt deceitful way to deceive the ſimple for thus ougt your conſequence to be drawne: as Abraham beleving was circumciſed ād al the males of his houſhold both mē, and childrē of eight daies old, bond ād free, ſo now anie man beleving muſt be baptized withal his houſhold both men and childrē of eight daies old, bond ād free. Secondly the deceit of your conſequence is, becauſe it is not a neceſſary conſequence; for you muſt prove nothinge by conſequence; but that which muſt off neceſſity followe: but this doth not off neceſſity followe, nei…her can it followe, that becauſe infants were circumciſed with circumciſion in the Fleſh vnderunder the Law, therefore infants muſt of neceſſity bee baptized with the baptiſme of repentance for the remiſſion of ſinnes vnderunder the Goſpel, with which baptiſme, they cannot be baptized, as all of anie vnderſtanding muſt needs confeſſe, ād there is but one baptiſme: and therefore moſt blindly, ignorantly, and deceitfully is this conſequence drawne, being neither drawē by due proportion, neither can the rule poſſibly follow by true conſequence: neither ſhal you be able to tel what to ſay, when you ſhalbee required, to prove it a neceſſary conſequence. If therefore you will not wilfully go on in the waies of everlaſting deſtruction, forſake this roote off error which overthrowes the Covenant, of the Goſpel of Ieſus Chriſt, in the firſt foundation thereof, bringing in the ſeed off the fleſh off the faithful, by carnal generation, for the ſeed of the promiſſe, in ſteed of the ſeed of the faith of Abraham by ſpiritual regeneration, making the infants that are begotten of the faithful after the fleſh, members of the body of Chriſt, and heires of the Covenant of the new Teſtamēt (which is the Covenant of faith and repentance) through the faith of their parents: and by this meanes you have and do daylie bring all the wicked and vngodlie in theſe parts of the World to bee members off Chriſts bodie, and heires off the Covenant, by natural birth, which our Saviour Chriſt ſaith Ioh. 3. Can no way be, but by new birth that is by being borne againe of water and the Spirit, which is by beleeving and being Baptized. Thus do you vtterlie deſtroy and overthrowe the holie Covenant of the Lord, the holy baptiſme, and the body off Chriſt, makeing them Comon to all yong and old wicked and prophane, blaſphemers, perſecutors, murtherers, adulterers, and witches, and al their Childrē: but let all knowe this, ſuch as the members are, ſuch is the body, and ſuch is the baptiſme, ād ſuch is their Covenant, the Covenant of death and condemnation vntounto al that are vnderunder it, and not the Covenant of life and ſalvation, which is onelyonly made with them that beleeve and are baptized: and the Lord perſwade every honeſt hart to ground their faith vpō this rock, that as vnderunder the Law, none were circumciſed but thoſe that were expreſly commaunded by rule or exā ple, ſo vnderunder the Goſpel, none may bee baptized, but thoſe that are expreſly commaunded by rule or example: and keeping to this true ground no ſimple ſoule ſhalbee deceived, and ſo wee leave this point, with Godly care to be conſidered of, beſeeching the Lord to give you vnderſtanding harts.

Thus have we with our moſt willing (though moſt feeble) endeavors, manifeſted vntounto you, theſe two ſalſe profeſſions of Chriſt, and the falſe Prophets that mainteyne them amongſt you, with divers perticuler errors and ſtrong deluſions whereby they deceive you, tranſforming themſelves as though they were the Prophets off God, but they are all deepe deceivers, and Propheſie lyes, as wee have proved, wherein they ſhal never bee able to iuſtifie themſelves, neither before God nor his people: and wee much rather diſire their repentance, then that they ſhould go about to approve themſelves in their evil, whereby they ſhal heape ſinne vponupon their owne heads, and bring ſhame to their owne faces, ſeeing the time is come, that the lord wil reprove the fooliſhnes of ſuch falſe Prophets who make ſhewe off Godlines, but denie the power thereoff, who lead captive ſimple wemen, which are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledg off the truth: Theſe are they that Thappoſtle foretold of 2. Tim. 3. Who like Iannes & Iambres reſiſt the truth, who are proud boaſters in exalting themſelves, and challenging to themſelves, ſpeciall power to knowe and vnderſtand the counſels of God, when they are mē of corrupt knowledg ād mynds, and to be reproved concerning the faith: but (ſaith Thappoſtle) they shall prevaile no longer for their madnes shall bee evident vntounto al men, ād we exhort you with the words of thapoſtle, turne away therefore from ſuch.

It followeth, that we ſpeake ſome few words, of the ſecond propheſie, which is of the days of the Sonne of mā in the brightnes of his comeing for the conſuming of the man of ſinne ſpoken of 2. theſ, 2. the which days our ſaviour ſaith, shalbe as the lightning that cometh out of the Eaſt & is ſene into the weſt, mat, 24. wherein is ſet furth vntounto vsus, that the Lord ſhal make his truth to appeare with vnſpeakeable evidence of light, ſo as his people ſhal plainly ſee the way and light thereoff according as the Lord by the Prophet Eſa. ſpeaketh 42.16. I wil bring the blind by a way they knew not, & lead them by pathes they have not knowne, I wil make darknes, light before them, & crooked thinges ſtraight, and the lord wil not ſpeake in ſecret, neither in a place of darknes, in the earth, and Eſa. 30.26. the light off the Mone shal be as the light off the Sunne, & the light off the Sunn shalbe ſeaven fold, & like the light of ſeaven days, in the day that the lord wil bind vp the breach of his people, & heale the ſtrooke of their wound. And Eſa. 32.19. thou shalt not ſee a feirce people, a people of dark ſpeach, that thou canſt not perceive, & of a ſtraing tongue, that thou canſt not vnderſtand. Al this teacheth the people of God to looke for plaine pathes to walke in, which do ſhine with brightnes: as alſo that the witneſſes of the lord, ſhalbe a people, that ſhal ſpeake plainly to the vnderſtanding of the ſimple: therefore the Lords people muſt not walke in blind and ſecret wayes, nor deſert pathes which are not light and plaine, nor be ſeduced by falſe Prophets and deceitful people, that ſpeake in their feirce heate dark and obſcure thinges, who are ful of deceitfull diſtinctions, blind conſequences, and al turning of devices to deceive the ſimple, ſaying, loe here is Chriſt, loe there is Chriſt: of ſuch our Saviour forewarnes his people, that they beleeve them not, although they ſhal ſhewe great ſignes and wonders: but that they ſhal ſet their harts, ād turne their eies vntounto the cleare light of truth which is the everlaſting goſpel that the Angell flieing through the midſt of heaven, preached vntounto them that dwel on the earth, & to every nation, & kindred, & tongue, & people. Revel. 14.6. This is the ſpirit off the Lords mouth, wherewith he wil conſume the man of ſinne, and aboliſh him, by the brightnes of his comeing 2. Theſ. 2. By the miniſtery of the ſeaventh angel, who when he hath poured out his viall, their shallbee ſounds, & lightnings. & thunders, & a great earthquake ſuch as nevers was & the great Citie shalbe rent in three parts, & the Cities of the Nations shal fal, & that great Babilon shal come in remembrance before God, & hee shal give vntounto hir the Cup of the wine of the feirenes of his wrath. Rev. 16. Thus by the glorious light off the Goſpell ſhall the miſterye off iniquity be aboliſhed.

And whereas our Saviour Chriſt ſaith, that this his comeing ſhalbee as the lightning cometh out off the Eaſt, and is ſeene into the weſt, this makes it manifeſt vntounto vsus that the glorious overſpreading off the goſpel againe, ſhalbe as at the firſt, General over all, and that men ſhal ſeeke after. and reſort vntounto the light of the truth of God, as Eagles do to their pray, according to the propheſie of Eſa. 60.4. Lift vp thyne eies round about, and behold all theſe are gathered & come to thee, thy ſonnes shal come from farr, & Eſa. 66.18. The Lord ſaith it will come that I shal gather all Nations and Tongues, and they shal come and ſee my glory. And the Lord by the Prophet Amos. 9.11 12. ſaith: In that day wil I raiſe vp the Tabernacle of David that is fallen downe, and cloſe vp the breaches thereof, & will raiſe vp his ruins, and I wil build it as in the dais of old, and Eſa. 11.11.12. In the ſame day shal the lord ſtretch out his hand againe the ſecond time to poſſeſſe the remnant of his people, and he shal aſſemble the diſperſed of Iſrael, & gather the ſcatered of Iudah frō the fower corners of the world. And herevnto agreeth the Propheſie. Revel. 19.17. Where the Angel that ſtands in the ſunne cries with a lowd voice to al the foules that flye through the midſt of heaven, come & gather your ſelves together to the ſupper of the great God, and Revel. 21. The Holy Spirit ſpeaking of the glorious exaltation of the Holy Citie, after the deſtruction off Babilon, ſaith: The Kings of Earth shall bring their glory and honor vntounto it, & the glory and honor of the Gentils shalbee brought vntounto it. And this yet …s the hope & comfort of the Saincts of God, that it shal come to paſſe, that they which now come againſt Ieruſalem shal go vp from yere to yere to worship the King, the Lord of hoaſts, and to kepe the Feaſt of Tabernacles, Zach. 14.16. Therefore ſaith the voice out of the Throne, praiſe our God all yee his ſervants, and ye that feare him both ſmale and great, for the Lord, that almightie God doth now raigne, let vsus bee glade and reioyce, and give glory to him, for the marriage off the lambe is come, and his wife hath prepared hirſelf. Revel. 19.5.6.7. Theſe words are faithful ād true, which muſt ſhortly bee fulfilled, bleſſed is hee that obſerveth the Words of the propheſie off the booke. Revel. 22.6.7. But woe, woe, woe then bee vntounto all that doe not marke and obſerve them, and faithfully and carefully keepe, the Words off the Propheſie off this Booke.

But wee demaund, in all theſe daies of tribulation which are ſuch as never were, nor ever ſhalbe, where ſhal the ignorant appeare? iff in the daies of ſo great danger when there ſhalbee (as there now is) ſo manie falſe Prophets ſhewing ſuch ſignes and wonders, ſo as if it were poſſible they ſhould deceive the very elect, if in theſe daies, the ignorant bee ſeduced through their ignorance, ſhal they drinck of the Cup of the wine of Gods wrath? The word of the Lord is perfect and plaine they ſhal al periſh, that are ignorant and are deceived, becauſe they receive not the love of the truth therefore God shal ſend them ſtronge deluſions, that they should beleeve lyes, and bee damned. 2. Theſ. 2. And it is iuſt with the Lord, their ignorance being declared to be for want of the love of the truth. Thus then is this ground off truth moſt evident ād plaine: they that through grace in Chriſt receive the love off the truth, they are the Elect of God, and ſhal not bee deceived, but ſhal bee ſaved: But they that through the effectuall working of Sathan, withal his ſignes and lying wonders, receive not the love of truth, they ſhalbee deceived, and beleeve lyes, and bee damned. Moreover our Saviour Chriſt ſaith, if the ignorant lead the ignorant, they shal both fall into the pit. Mat. 15.14. let al therefore take heed, and learne to knowe the truth of God, and to love it, and to vnderſtand his word themſelves, ſeeing the Lord hath comaunded them, not to followe ſuch as ſay: Loe here is Chriſt loe there is Chriſt, but to looke vntounto the ſhyning light of truth, whereof, if they bee not able to iudg and deſerne of themſelves (by the direction of Gods ſpirit) they can never have faith nor aſſurance in the way they walke, ſo ſhal they runne blindfold to deſtruction, not knoweing whether they are ſedd: Falſe prophets, or true Prophets are al alike to them they being ignorant of the ſcriptures, whereby they ſhould examine them and find them out, and try their doctrine, ſuch muſt needs bee carried away with every blaſt off vaine doctrine, whē they are not able to try the ſpirits whether they be of God: theſe are the fruits of ignorance, not to knowe the voice of Chriſt, from the voice of falſe Prophets. and yet ſuch would have their ignorance excuſe them, although their ignorance be onelyonly for want of their love of the truth. And if they that through ignorance are led into falſe ways ſhalbee ſaved, then they that through ignorance lead men into falſe ways ſhal alſo be ſaved, and ſo ſhall (allmoſt) all fleſh bee ſaved, for who can not plead ignorance for al their tranſgreſſions, in al falſe worſhip, and all their falſe waies? But they that are ignorant, let them bee ignorant: and let all the diſciples of Chriſt covet ſpiritual gifts, that they may propheſie, and pray with vnderſtanding, and ſinge with vnderſtanding, and ſpeake with vnderſtanding, that they may inſtruct others, and in vnderſtanding be of a ripe age. 1, Cor. 14. this knowledg of ſalvation is required off all the Diſciples off Chriſt alike, there being but one law of obedience for all: and Chriſt hath not appointed anie one to bee more ignorant thē another, ād to every one that aſke alike, he gives alike ād they that ſeeke a like, ſhal find a like. Mat. 7.7. For there is no reſpect of perſons with God. Rom. 2.11.

Now there is one ground that is moſt dangerouſly perverted to the deſtruction of manie ſoules, wherein wee pray the beſt adviſed Godly conſideratiō of every reader, and that is this: if men walke vprightly in the truth, according to that they knowe, and endeavor to attaine to better and more knowledg of Gods truth, that they may walke in it, ſuch men though they commit much ſinne through ignorance, yet repenting of al their ſinnes of ignorance, there is mercy with the lord for ſuch ſinnes and ſinners. We confeſſe this is a moſt true ground, or els no fleſh could be ſaved: if the Lord ſhould not accept of the willingnes of me…s mynds in the truth, according to that which they have. But this ground is moſt wickedly perverted and brought in to excuſe al vnwilling mynds to be enformed, who willingly reſiſt the truth, and have no willing mynds to be directed by Gods word, no furthee then ſtāds with their good likeing, and yet this ground muſt excuſe al their falſe worſhip, and al falſe waies, ād al falſe doctrine, and expoſition of the ſcriptures, and al the prophanation off the holy ordinances of God, which they do through ignorance, although they repent not there off, but iuſtifie themſelves to do wel therein. Can anie Godly hart thus conceive? that becauſe God in mercy doth pardon the ſinnes off ignorance, men repenting of their ignorances, that therefore God wil perdon men, that through ignorance comit ſinne, and iuſtifie thēſelves in thoſe their ſinnes, either by word or practice? Cannot men ſee the great difference which is betwixt repenting of their ſinnes of ignorance and iuſtifieing off their ſinnes committed through ignorance? but wil they make it al one, to confeſſe ſinne, and to juſtifie ſinne? Can the iuſt God, contrary to his owne word, and law, forgive anie one ſinne, that is not repented off? if we acknowledg our ſinnes, he is faithfull and iuſt to forgive vsus our ſinnes, and to clenſe vsus from al vnrighteouſnes: but if whē we have ſinned in anie perticuler thinge, we ſay, therein, wee have not ſinned, we make God a lyer, and his word is not in vsus. and wee cannot bee forgiven, nor clenſed. 1. Iohn. 1.9 10. Can the holy and iuſt God forgive ſuch ſinners and ſinnes? as when they have through ignorance ſinned, in divers thinges againſt the Word of God, they wil iuſtifie themſelves, that they are not ignorāt and that they have not therein ſinned, and ſo make the word of God a lye? the word of the Lord is plaine that they which are ignorant and ſinne, and ſay there in they are not ignorant, their ſinnes remaine vponupon them, they are the words of Chriſt Ioh. 9, 41. If you were blind, that is, iff you did …e and acknowledg your blindnes, ye should not have ſinne: but now ye ſay, wee ſee▪ therefore your ſinne remaineth. Thus doth our Saviour Chriſt ſhewe in as plaine words as the hart of man can diſire that all and every ſinne, men comit through ignorance, and ſay therein they do not ſinne, all thoſe ſinnes are not pardoned, but remaine vponupon them, and the iudgment of the Lord is againſt them that ſo ſinne, as the wiſeman further ſheweth. Prov. 28.13. Saying, he that doth not confeſſe and forſake his ſinne ſhall not have merciemercy at Gods hands, but he that confeſſeth and forſaketh them shal have merciemercy: How ſhal men yet vainely perſwade themſelves, that God wil pardon their ſinnes of ignorance which they neither confeſſe nor forſake, but iuſtifie themſelves in manie grevious ſinnes, and ſay they have not ſinned, and that they do not commit evill in doeing them, but that they do that, which is good, and iuſt in the ſight off God. what ſinne ſhalbe condemned? Iff this ſinne ſhalbee pardoned, ſhal not the adulterer that confeſſeth he doth evil, in comitting adultery: and the drunckard that confeſſeth he ſinnes in his drunckennes: and the blaſphemer that confeſſeth hee doth evil in blaſpheming, ſhal not al theſe bee much rather pardoned (although they forſake not their ſinnes, in that they confeſſe them) then they that neither confeſſe nor forſake their ſinnes but iuſtifie themſelves in their ſinnes? doth this cauſe God to pardon their ſinnes▪ becauſe they are fully perſwaded in their mynds, that they ſinne not? Why then if the adulterer, drunckard, blaſphemer, ydolater, and Covetous man, bee fully perſwaded in their mynds, that they ſinne not in doeing thoſe thinges, they ſhal alſo be pardoned. Thus muſt the Lord accept of ignorant ſtrong perſwaſions of mens mynds in error and diſobedience, for true knowledg, faith, and obedience: For iff they that through ignorance being fully perſwaded in their mynds or conſciēces obey vnrighteouſnes and iuſtifie error ſhalbee ſaved, and through Chriſt bee accepted with God, as they that of true knowledg and faith obey righteouſnes, and iuſtify the truth: ſo then is there ſalvacion by Chriſt, through ignorant perſwaſion off mynd and diſobedience aſwel as through true knowledg, faith, and obedience. What wil men make of God? how hath the miſtery of iniquity prevailed? Firſt to take from him his power and goverment in his kingdome, as we have ſhewed, and then to take from him his iuſtice and iudgment: for iff the Lord ſhal not in his iuſtice, iudg thoſe that ignorantly pervert his lawes, ſtatutes, and ordināces, who cal light darknes, and darknes light. ſower ſweet, & ſweet ſower. Eſa. 5.20. Speaking evil off that they knowe not: teaching for doctrines mens precepts, overthrowing the doctrines off the Foundation off the begining off Chriſt, following the ymaginations of their owne harts, and ſetting vp the traditions off men in ſtead of the holie ordinances of God, and becauſe in al theſe thinges, they are ignorant, and walke as far as they ſee, ād do as they are perſwaded in their mynds, thinking they do God good ſervice, therefore they ſhalbee accepted with God: if the Lord ſhal not in his iuſtice iudg theſe that thus ſinne and tranſgreſſe againſt him, then is the righteous iudgment off the Lord overthrowne, and the Ordinances of Chriſt vnderunder the Goſpel made of none effect: and if men knowe them, and do them, they ſhal doe wel: But if they bee ignorant, and walke in falſe waies, mainteyning divers errors, they being perſwaded in their conſciences that it is the truth, they alſo ſhalbe accepted: of what vſe thē are the ordinances of Chriſt? thē is truth and error al one, if men be aſwel perſwaded of the one, as off the other. This deſtroys al the religion of God; if every one may take liberty to thēſelves, to walke according to the perſwaſion of their mynds though it bee error; yet if they knowe no better, ſo long as they confeſſe the name of Ieſus, al is wel, if they be ſo perſwaded, they ſhalbe ſaved: then not onelyonly they that walke in the way of life, but they that are perſwaded they walke in the way of life, ſhal alſo be ſaved, though they walke in error.

Thus as you have ſet open the doore of the Kingdome of heaven, and let al in that confeſſe the name of Ieſus with their infants; makeing them (as you thinke) members of the body of Chriſt: ſo now you wil alſo ſet open the gates of the Kingdome of glorie, and let in al that cōfeſſe the name of Chr, though through ignorance they walke in much darknes, and make thē as you ymagine in your fooliſh mynds, fellow heires with Chriſt in his glorious inheritance, and yet the Holy ghoſt ſaith. If we walke in darknes, & ſay wee have fellowship with Chriſt, we lye & doe not truely. 1. Io. 1.6. Therefore you ſhal al be deceived with the fooliſh virgins, who were overtaken in their fooliſhnes, who though they hoped, ād were perſwaded they ſhould have bene let in, yet were ſhut out, and ſo ſhal al you be, that through ignorance iuſtifie falſe waies, although you ſhould begin to ſay: we have eaten and drunken in thy preſence, & thou haiſt taught in our ſtreets, and we thought we had done wel, ād we knew no better, yet the Lord ſhal ſay vntounto you. I tell you, I knowe you not, depart from me, yee workers of iniquity: then ſhal you ſee (if you wil not learne before) that though you ſhould plead, you had done it ignorantly wil not ſerve the turne, yea though you ſhould ſay you had ſought to enter in at the ſtrait gate, but through your ignorance you were not able; notwithſtanding your ſeeking to that you have not ſought aright, the doore ſhalbe ſhut vponupon you, and whē you ſhal knock and ſay: Lord, Lord, open to vsus, the lord ſhal anſwere and ſay, I knowe you not, whence you are. Luk. 13.27 Then ſhal you ſee that your deceitful harts have ſeduced you, and that your good meanings were not according to Godlines, but according to your owne mynds and perſwations: then ſhal you ſee that you caſting downe, deſtroying, and reiecting the holy ordinances of Chriſt, and ſetting vp the vaine inventiōs and traditions of your Elders (as you doe) thinking you do God good ſervice, you ſhal no more be excuſed therein then they that have reiected and killed the diſciples of Chriſt, & thinke they have done God good ſervice. Your ſinnes being much greater then theirs: for they ignorantly kil, deſtroy, and reiect the diſciples of Chriſt for keeping the ordinances of Chriſt, and you ignorantly deſtroy, ād reiect the ordinances of Chriſt, that none ſhould keepe them, and ſet vp other Ordinances aboliſhing Chriſt thereby. Wil the lord thinke you, hold you giltles for theſe things although you do them ignorantly? eſpecially you iuſtifying your ſelves and ſaying you do that which is good in Gods ſight, and that you ſinne not therein: heare what the Lord ſaith to his owne people, who iuſtified themſelves in their waies of wickednes, ſaying, they were giltles. Be hold ſaith the lord, I wil enter with thee into iudgment becauſe thou ſaieſt I have not ſinned. Ier. 2.35 evē ſo wil the L. enter into iudgmēt with every one of you that ſay you ſee, when yet you are blind, and continewe in the works of darknes, and ſay you ſinne not therein. heare vsus with patiēce ād cōſider what we ſay, the iudg al harts knowes that wee earneſtly diſire the ſalvatiō of your ſoules. Will the iuſt God forgive anie one ſinne vnrepented of? Or can he iuſtifie them that iuſtifie themſelves in anie one evil? Who ſo knowes God, knowes this cannot be, for he that is gilty of one ſinne, being gilty of al, Iam. 2.10. Ezec. 18.11-13. iff God ſhould forgive anie one ſinne vnrepented of, he muſt needs forgive all ſinnes vnrepented of: but there can no ſinne bee pardoned without repentance, ignorance ſhal not excuſe anie. For a furtherful proofe whereof take the words of our Saviour Chriſt, who ſaith. He that is ignorant and knowes not his maiſters wil, and ſinnes, or doth things worthy of ſtripes, shalbe beaten or receave puniſhment: Therefore let the ignorant never plead their ignorance more, the Lord hath iudged them, they ſhal al periſh except they repent, and come to the knowledg of the truth: and is it not iuſt with the Lord to condemne all the ignorant ſeing the Lord hath given them al meanes of knowledg, and they will not ſeeke for it, nor aſke after it, no further then they themſelves thinke good.

What thinke you with your ſelves: Iff a King make lawes iuſt and good, and bind himſelfe by oath that without reſpect of perſōs whoſoever ſhal breake anie one of thoſe lawes he ſhal certenly dye, except he acknowledg his fault and repent: and whoſoever ſhal keepe them ſhallbee advanced to great dignity and honor: and theſe lawes the King cauſeth to bee written ſo that al men may have them: And yet further the King in his great mercy, becauſe hee would have none of his ſubiects periſh for want of the right vnderſtanding off his lawes, the King to prevent thē of that danger appoints in every place ſuch a one as ſhal alwaies bee ready truely to enforme his people in the right vnderſtanding of every one of thoſe lawes and ſtatutes, and charging them to bee directed by no other, for the vnderſtanding thereof, if notwithſtanding the commaundement, and al this love and care off their Lord and King over them to perſerve them from falling vnderunder the iudgment off death, his people and ſubiects ſhal either carleſly neclect to bee enformed, or ſhal thinke thēſelves wiſe enough to enforme themſelves, or ſhall go to bee enformed for the vnderſtanding of thoſe lawes to anie other then the King hath appointed, and reſting vponupon their information, breake any one of thoſe lawes of the King and do not acknowledg their fault and repent, ſhall their ignorance excuſe them? When they had one ready at hand alwaies to enforme them, before they offended, and yet ready to enforme them that they might repēt iff they would, but aſke to bee enformed, but they would not bee informed before they breake the commaundement of the King, neither after they have offended wilbee enformed to repent thereoff, but iuſtifie themſelves that they have not offended: Can a iuſt King breake his Oath, and pardon and forgive the wilful ignorance of ſuch careles ſubiects? and advance them to the ſame honor wherevnto he advanceth his dutiful ſubiects? But he ſhal diſhonor himſelfe, ād make his oath and law of no effect: No wiſe and iuſt earthly King will ever ſo diſhonor himſelfe.

How ſhal then the moſt glorious King of Kings, who is moſt wiſe, iuſt, and Holy, haveing made moſt righteous, holy ād perfect lawes, ād to shewe the ſtabſenes off his counſel, hath bound himſelfe by Oath ād promiſſe. Heb. 6.18. Without reſpect of perſons, that whoſoever ſhal breake anie one of thoſe lawes he ſhal certenly bee damned except hee confeſſe his ſinne and repent. Mark. 16.16. Luk. 13.3. and whoſoever ſhall kepe them shal in herite glory, & honor, & imortallity: and theſe lawes hath he cauſed to be written by inſpiration that al men may have them: ād yet to make his merciemercy further to appeare that he would not anie off his people ſhould periſh for want of the right vnderunder ſtāding thereof, hath ſēt the cōforter, & giveth the holy ghoſt to every one that asketh him, to teach & lead thē into al true vnderſtanding Io. 14.26. Luk, 11.13. charging them to be directed by no other (Iam. 1.5.) for the vnderſtanding thereof. If notwithſtanding the commaundement and al this love and care of the King of heaven over his people, to preſerve them from falling vnderunder the iuſt iudgment of eternal death, his people ād ſubiects ſhal either carleſly neclect to be enformed or ſhal thinke they are wiſe enough to enforme them ſelves or ſhal go to anie other to be enformed off the vnderſtanding of thoſe lawes then the Lord hath appointed, and relying and truſting vponupon their information, breake anie one of the lawes of the King off heaven, and do not acknowledg their ſinne and repēt ſhal their ignorance excuſe them? when they might alwaies have had the holy Ghoſt for aſking to have enformed them before they offended, as alſo after they have offended, that they might repent: Can the moſt holy and iuſt God and King, contrary to his Oath, pardon and forgive the wilful ignorance of ſuch careles ſubiects as breake his lawes, and wil not acknowledg their ſinne and repent? and give them eternall glory and honor with his ſervants? (who though they have offended yet they have repented) but he ſhal diſhonor himſelfe and make his Oath and lawe of none effect. Oh that men would conſider that the moſt holy wiſe, and iuſt God cannot do ſo, againſt his Oath, and make himſelfe vniuſt and vntrue. If men would conſider what God is as he declares himſelfe to bee, that is, a Iealous God, not makeing the wicked inocent, viſiting iniquity to the third & fowrth generation of thē that breake his comaundements: A God of ſeverity againſt them which fal through vnbeleeife. Rom. 11.22 A God that wil certenly take away their part out of the booce of life that takes anie thinge away from his word: And that wil add all the plagues written in his word, vntounto them that add anie thinge vntounto his word. Revel. 22

If men would beleeve God to bee ſuch a one as he declares himſelff to bee, they could not bee ſo vaine as to perſwade themſelves that God would forgive them their ſinnes of ignorance, their ignorance being through their owne wi…full neclect, and when through ſuch their ignorance they overthrowe the ordinances off Chriſt, and aboliſh the Lawes off his Teſtament, and repent not, but iuſtifie themſelves in thoſe their ſinnes, ſaying they ſinne not therein.

What were ſufficient to ſay in this great deceiveablenes of vnrighteouſnes wherewith men are ſeduced to thinke, that if through ignorance they iuſtifie ſinne it ſhalbe forgiven them they knowing no better, although they repent not, which they cannot do, in any ſinne wherein they iuſtifie themſelves, for men cannot both iuſtifie and repent of one and theſame ſinne, at one inſtant. If men wilbe ſo far void of al grace and vnderſtanding, as to hold and thinke that anie ſinne comitted through ignorance, and through ignorance iuſtified, (becauſe they knowe no better) ſhallbee pardoned, then it cannot be denyed but that they that put Chriſt to death through ignorance, and through ignorance iuſtified they had not ſinned, but that they had done wel ād according to the word of God, in putting a blaſphemer to death, that ſaid hee was the Sonne off God, they ſhal alſo bee pardoned, for they did it ignorantly, and knewe no better, as our Saviour Chriſt teſtifieth, when he ſaith. Father forgive them, they knowe not what they doe: And Thappoſtle Peter acknowledgeth the ſame Act. 3.17. ſaying: Brethren I knowe you did it through ignorance, as alſo your Governors.

Now let vsus compare things together, ſo ſhall wee through the grace of God the better ſee the deceith of this ground, as it is miſapplyed: The ground wee are to remember is this. That if men walke conſcionablie as far as they knowe, and diſire better knowledg, yet through ignorance comit much ſinne, there is mercy with God, and they, ackowledging and repenting of their ignorāces, ſhalbe pardoned by grace through faith and repentance. Epheſ. 2.8. This ground is miſapplied as wee truſt wil eaſily appeare, being brought to prove that if men walke conſcionably as farr as they knowe and commit ſome ſinnes through ignorance and through ignorance iuſtifie the ſame, thinking they do wel, and knowing no better, their ſinne ſhalbee pardoned, which if they be, it muſt bee by grace through perſwaſion and ignorance, for their is no faith in ignorance, where is there anie warrant for ſuch a ground? Who is ſo blind that cannot ſee the grevious error off this ground thus miſapplyed? this is to excuſe ſinne by ſinne, that is, by ignorāce. We conclude this point by the word of truth that none can deny that have anie knowledg of the meanes of ſalvatiō: there is no ſalvatiō, but by grace in Chr, through faith & repētāce, ſo is there thē no pardō for any ſinne, but by grace in Chriſt, through faith & repentance. This being an vndenyable ground, none then can be ſaved, nor have their ſinne pardoned by grace in Chriſt through ignorance, iuſtifying any one ſinne: for there cannot be either faith or repentance in ignorant iuſtifying any ſinne, therefore no ſuch ſinne can be pardoned, but al ſuch ſinners muſt be cōdēned And for this end and purpoſe have we ſpoken al that wee have ſpoken in this point to ſhewe vntounto al men, that if they iuſtifie any one ſinne or evil though it bee of ignorance, they can never bee ſaved, but ſhal peri…h to everlaſting deſtruction, ſuch ſinnes cannot come within mens generall repentance of al their ignorā ces, ſeing they iuſtifie themſelves in them, and ſay they ſinne not, therefore their ſinne remaineth, and cannot bee taken away, by Chriſt: As for example: You all iuſtifie the baptizing of infants, now when you repent of all your ſinnes of ignorance, have you anie thoughts to repent of that? and if you were aſked, would you not with your laſt breath iuſtify that you have done wel therein, and that the baptizing off Infants is a holy ordinance of Chriſt? but if it be no ordinance of Chriſt, and that you ſinne therein, cā you be ſo ſimple as to imagine that this ſinne ſhall come within your general repentance? Wherein you bleſſe and iuſtifie your ſelves: You can no more bee forgiven at Gods hands then they that ignorātly ſet vp a falſe Chriſt, ād iuſtify him to be the true Chriſt: or thē they that put the true Chriſt to death, and iuſtify he is a falſe Chriſt. We know your anſwere in this willbee, that if you could ſee it to be your ſinne to baptize infants, and to mainteyne it to bee a holy ordinance off God, you would repent of it, but before you cannot: wil not God anſwere you? that when hee can ſee you repent he wil forgive you, but before he cannot. Ezek. 18.21.27.

Wil not the Pope make the ſame anſwere for al the bloody perſecutions wherewith he hath, and doth perſecute al Proteſtants: ſo called, Wil not the lord Biſhop make this anſwere for all their wicked and cruel perſecutions againſt the Puritanes ād Browniſts? (ſo caled): but ſhal they be pardoned? they iuſtifying thēſelves in al theſe wickedneſſes (wherein they think they doe God ſervice) becauſe they repent of al their ſinnes of ignorance, whereof they iuſtifie theſe to bee none: wil God pardon thē in al this their wickednes? becauſe they cannot ſee it to be their ſinne: You al wil grant they cannot be pardoned of theſe ſinnes, they iuſtifying themſelves therein: neither can anie be pardoned of anie ſinne, they iuſtifying themſelves therein.

If this were duely conſidered it would make men take heed what they profeſſe or practice in the profeſſion of Chriſt, ſeeing if they profeſſe or practice anie thinge that is not according to the word of God, and iuſtifie it for good, they muſt periſh and cannot be ſaved: it ſtands therefore al men vponupon the peril of their ſoules to looke to their waies, and to bee vponupon a ſure ground from Gods word, what they condemne for evil or error: ād what they mainteyne and iuſtifie for truth: for if they that iuſtifie the wicked, & they that condemne the iuſt, be an abhomination vntounto the Lord. Pro. 17.15. Then they that iuſtifie error and wickednes, and condemne truth and righteouſnes, calling light darknes, & darknes light, ſuch muſt needs bee an abhomination to the Lord. If al the learned Scribes and Phariſies and falſe Prophets, in the world had harts to beleeve this, and confeſſe it, it would make them take heed what they iuſtified for truth, ād what they condēned for error, and how they taught others to do ſo. If al the careles profeſſors of Chriſt that profeſſe him in word, would beleeve this word of the lord to bee true, it would make them looke more circumſpectly to their waies, and not thinke that anie profeſſion of Chriſt is ſufficient, and that they may profeſſe Chriſt after that manner that is beſt pleaſing to their owne mynds, makeing the way large that they may walke therein at liberty according to the vanity and exceſſe of their owne harts. If the ſimple harted, who in manie things are weyued from the world and who have manie zealous diſires in them, did faithfully beleeve the Lord herein, that if they iuſtifie anie falſe waies, vntruth, or error, and condemne anie way off light, and truth, their ſinne remaineth, & they are an abhomination to the Lord, if they did beleeve God herein, it would make them take heed how they went on in their ignorant zeale, being led by their Teachers approving and iuſtifying what they teach thē, and diſapproveing and condemning, what they reach them to diſaprove and condemne: Forſakeing the teaching off Gods Spirit, not thinking it poſſible for themſelves to attayne to the vnderſtanding off the Scriptures, but by the teaching of their learned and good men (as they falſely cal them): but if they did beleeve this word off the Lord that they muſt periſh, if they iuſtifie anie one error or falſe way, and condemne anie one truth, it would make them with feare and trembling to ſeeke wiſedome, knowledg, and vnderſtanding of God, that they being taught off God might bee able of themſelves, by the helpe of the holy Spirit, (the onelyonly true Teacher and leader into all truth) to diſcerne and iudg betwixt good and evil, light and darknes, truth and error, leaſt they relying vponupon men, be ſeduced and led to iuſtifie falſe waies, and condemne the way of truth in anie perticuler, and ſo fal vnderunder the iuſt iudgment off the Lord, evē the iudgment of eternal death and condemnation, a right recōpence of reward for al that wil of ignorant ſimplicity, out of their good meanings ād zealous affectiōs, (falſly ſo called) ſubmit themſelves to be led, ād taught onelyonly of men, ſeeking for knowledg at their mouthes, ād not wholly depēding vpō the ſcriptures for inſtruction, and the ſpirit of God to teach thē the vnderſtanding thereof, neclecting (of faith) the reading and ſearching and meditating of the ſcriptures day and night, and earneſt praying without doubting, that the Lord would give them the ſpirit of wiſedome to direct thē to the true vnderſtanding ād meaning of God in the Scriptures, that they might be able, if an Angell frō heaven ſhould come and teach them anie other doctrine, then Chriſt and his Apoſtles hath taught, to iudg him accurſed: when this way ſhalbe once truely learned ād faithfully practized of Gods people, to attayne to true knowledg: then ſhal all that ſeeke after Chriſt, ſtrive to enter into his kingdome by regeneration and new birth, being borne againe of water & the Holy Ghoſt. then ſhal men learne to knowe the true baptiſme of Chriſt, which is the baptiſme of repētāce for the remiſsion off ſinnes, and be therewith Baptized, and put on Chriſt, and not ſatiſfie themſelves with childiſh baptiſme, in which baptiſme they have not, nor could not put on Chriſt: and without which baptiſme of repentance for the remiſſiō of ſinnes, they cannot put on Chriſt: and then ſhal the elect of God not be deceived by the multitude of falſe Prophetts, with al their lying wonders, that ſay, Loe here is Chriſt, loe there is Chriſt, but they ſhal take heed to the glorious brightnes of his coming. which ſhalbe in the ſhining light of his truth, vntounto the which the choſen of God ſhal flie▪ ād come from far, as Eagles to their pray. And to this clere light of truth the Lord that hath bought you all with his blood, raiſe vp your harts that you may ſeeke his face, and be filled with the fulnes of his preſence.

Amen.

Wee hold our ſelves bound, to acknowledg, ād that others might be warned to manifeſt, how we have bene (through our great weaknes) miſſed by deceitfull harted leaders, who have and do ſeeke to ſave their lives, and wil make ſure not to looſe them for Chriſt, and therefore they flee into forraine Countries and free States, ād drawe people after thē to ſupport their kingdomes, firſt ſeeking their owne ſafeties. and then publiſhing (as they pretend) the goſpel, or ſeeking the Kingdome of heaven, as farr as they may with their ſafetie: and this they iuſtifie by perverting and miſapplying the words of our ſaviour Chriſt, where he ſaith: when they perſecute you, or drive, or thruſt you out off one city flee into another. mat. 10.23. theſe words have they picked out for their purpoſe caſting away or leaving furth, divers rules of Chriſt goeing before, and following in the ſame ſcripture, which cannot permit of their expoſition and practice, but wee wil onelyonly inſtance the reaſon why our ſaviour Chriſt bids them when they are perſecuted in one Citie, go to another, and his reaſon is this: for verily I ſay vntounto you, ye shal not go over al the Cities of Iſrael til the Sonne of man come. This ſheweth that our Saviour Chriſts meaning was, that when they were driven or expelled out of one Citie, they ſhould go to another City in Iſrael to preach the goſpel vntounto it: but theſe men flee to Cities to the which they cannot preach the goſpel, being of a ſtraing tongue, neither have they any intent or meaning to preach the goſpel to thoſe Cities, their fleeing is not to that end, but to ſave themſelves for being as shepe in the midſt of wolves, ād for being delivered vp to Counſels, and for being brought to Governors and Kings, for Chriſts ſake, in witnes to thē & to the Gētiles: theſe men need not this adviſe of our ſaviour Chriſt, who Counſels his Diſciples to take no thought what they shal ſpeake, or what they shal anſwere when they are brought before Princes and Governors, for they flee to ſuch places (where they make ſure they ſhal never come in queſtion before them.

The Diſciples of Chriſt vntounto whome he ſpeake theſe words (whē they perſecute you or drive you out of one Citie, flee into another,) did not vnderſtand our Saviour Chriſt as theſe men do: if they had, they would not have beleeved the Angel. (Act. 5.19.20.) that bad them, when he had delivered them out of priſon. Goe: and ſtand in the Temple, & ſpeake to the people al the words of this life, they would have ſaid, Wee have bene impriſoned ād perſecuted, therefore we are to flee: our Lord taught vsus ſo: But they obeyed the voice of the Angel, knowing it did not contradict that rule of Chriſt, neither would they (if they had vnderſtood Chriſt, as theſe men do) after they had bene beaten, & comaund to ſpeake no more in the name off Ieſus, ſtil have ſtaped in that Citie, daylie in the Temple & from houſe to houſe, teaching & preaching Ieſus Chriſt, Act. 5.40.42. but theſe mē flee before they feele either ſtroakes or bands, and teach mē ſo. The whole ſcriptures are againſt them in this their vnderſtanding. The 8. of Thact. 1 — 4. might ſuffice to ſatiſfie them in this point, and to diſcover their error fully, where it is ſhewed, that there was great perſecution againſt the Church, at Ieruſalem, & they were al (except Thapoſtles) ſcattered abroad, through the Regiōs of Iudea & Samaria: & Act. 11.12. they that were ſcattered abroad, went throughout til they came to Phenice & Ciprus, & Antiochia, preaching the word. Here wee may ſee that notwithſtanding the great havoch Saul made of the Church, and entred into every houſe, and drew out both men and wemen, and put them in priſon, yet thapoſt…es did not flee: and they that did flee, went to Cities to the which they could and did preach the goſpel: but neither the example of Thapoſtles that did not flee, nor of them that were ſcattered, who wēt to Cities to which they preached the Goſpel, wil ſerve theſe mens turne, but they flee to Cities moſt comodious for their ſafetie and profit, to which they cānot preach the Goſpel. Furthermore Act. 14. although there was an aſſault made both of the Iewes & Gentiles againſt Paul and Barnabas, to do them violence at Iconium, and although Paul was ſtoned & left for dead at Liſtra, yet they returned againe to Liſtra and Iconium, to confirme the diſciples harts, preferring that duty before the feare off perſecution.

For further overthrowing off this miſvnderſtanding off theſe words off our Saviour Chriſt, when they perſecute you in one Citie, flee into another. Lett all Godly harts conſider, how Thappoſtle Paul commended and reioyced in the Church of the Theſſalonians, becauſe off their patience and faith in all their perſecutions and tribulations that they ſuffered. 2. Theſſ. 1.4. And in the firſt Epiſt. 2.14. in commendation off them he ſaith. Brethren, yee are become followers off the Churches off God, in Iudea, which are in Chriſt Ieſus, becauſe you have alſo ſuffered the ſame thinges off your owne Countriemen even as they have done of the Iewes. Thus doth Thappoſtle commend the Churches of Iudea, and off Theſſalonica, for their conſtant ſuffering of perſecution in their owne Countries, not once adviſing or teaching them to flee out off their Countries, to avoid perſecution: This is a new doctrine of devils brought in by men, that were never ſound in the faith.

Further, heare what the Spirit ſaith to the Church of Pergamus. I knowe thou dwelleſt where ſathans throneis, & thou haiſt kept my name and haiſt not denyed my faith, even in thoſe days when Antipas my faithfull marter was ſlayne amonge

you, where Sathan dwelleth: and to the Chur, of Smyrna the ſpirit ſaith: Feare none off thoſe thinges which thou shalt ſuffer: behold it shal come to paſſe that the devil shal caſt ſome of you into priſon, that you may be tryed, & ye shal have tribulation ten dayes, bee thou faithful vntounto the death, & I wil give thee the Crowne of life. Re. 2. Who wil not be blind may ſe heare how the ſpirit of God commends the Saincts for holding the faith, and dwelling where there was bloody perſecution, and where Sathan dwelled: and doth not exhort them to flee: but not to feare what they ſhould do vntounto them. Let then the ſimple hatred be no more ſeduced by theſe men, who have rent the words of our Saviour Chriſt, (when they perſecute you, or drive you out of one Citie, flee into another) from the true ſence and meaning wherewith they ſtand compaſſed …cund about in. Mat. 10. And whereas our ſaviour Chriſt in theſe words gave a rule off direction vntounto his diſciples, how they ſhould proceed in the publiſhing off the Goſpel, appointing them, whē they were expelled or perſecuted in one Citie, that they ſhould go to another to preach, becauſe there was manie Cities off Iſrael to go through: theſe men of corrupt mynds, lovers off themſelves, vtterly pervert the meaning off our Saviour Chriſt in theſe words, and ſay, he gave it for a rule to his diſciples, to teach thē to flee to ſave themſelves from perſecution, and ſo by this their vnderſtanding, when the diſciples of Chriſt had found a Citie of moſt ſafetie, there they ſhould hide thēſelves as theſe men do, and let the publiſhing of the goſpell alone, except any would follow after them, or come to them where they might be in ſafetie.

How doth the ignorant blind, corrupt harts and tongues of theſe mē conceive and ſpeake againſt God and his truth, and pervert it to their owne deſtructiō overthrowing the whole doctrine ād meaning of Chr. in this place of Mat. 10. from 16. verſ. to the 39. verſ. where Chriſt withal the wiſedome of the ſpirit, doth ſet himſelfe to teach his diſciples to ſuffer perſecution, ſhewing them what perſecutions they ſhould ſuffer, and what perſecutors they ſhould have, and how far they ſhould ſuffer perſecution even to the looſing off their lives. Thus doth our ſaviour Chriſt teach his diſciples to ſuffer perſecution, exhorting them not to feare them that kil the body, and declareing vntounto them for their vnſpeakable comfort his providence and protection over them, telling thē that al the haires of their head are numbred in his ſight. And theſe deceivers they teach their diſciples to flee perſecutiō and perſecutors and to ſpare and ſave thēſelves that it may not come ſo vntounto them: but when the worthy diſciple of Chriſt, Peter, adviſed his maiſter ſo, Chriſt bad him, come behind mee Sathan thou art an offence vntounto me, and taught him ſaying: If any man will follow mee let him forſake himſelfe, & take vp his croſſe & follow me ma…r. 16. Iudg then what Chriſt wil ſay to theſe falſe prophets that are the diſciples of the man of ſinne, ſupporting and preſerving his Kingdome by this their doctrine, for the diſciples of Chriſt cannot glorify God and advance his truth better, thē by ſuffering al manner of perſecution for it, and by witneſſing it, againſt the man of ſinne, with the blood of their teſtimony. we muſt leave this point to Godly conſideration (It had bene much fitter (we confeſſe) to have bene part off a booke, then ſuch an addition) and wee leave theſe men withal their diſciples (if they wil not be enformed here in) to be a reproach to al men, who ſhal ſay vntounto them where have you learned to fle into forraine countries and not to ſuffer perſecution for Chriſt of your owne countriemen? where have you learned for feare of mē to flee from your owne countrie, ād fathers houſes to whome you ought, and where you might beſt publiſh the goſpel? and where have you learned to drawe parents from children, and children from parents, to whōe they are eſpecially bound to witnes Gods truth? and to be as lights vntounto thē. You have not learned it of Chriſt, who would not ſuffer him that had bene poſſeſſed when he prayed him that he might bee with him, but Chriſt ſaid vntounto him. Go thy way home to thy frends, & shewe them what great things, the Lord hath done vntounto the, & he went & published thē, Mark. 5 18 Yea all men ſhal ſay vntounto them, where have you learned to ſet vp your light in ſecret plaees? and where have you learned to pul your ſhoulder from the yock and to ſeeke to ſave your lives? but therefore (ſaith Chriſt) ſurely you ſhal looſe them except you repent.

Furthermore if Chriſt gave this for a rule or precept to his diſciples to flee perſecution to ſave themſelves, then was it an abſolute comaundement, and ſo did al thapoſtles and diſciples of Chriſt, breake his comaundement ād ſinne, in that they did not flee to ſave themſelves alwaies when they were perſecuted: and hereby do theſe men condemne all their brethren that flee not as they do, except they wil ad error to error, ād affirme as ſome of them do, that it is indifferent to flee or not to flee, makeing hereby this precept of Chriſt, indifferent to be obeyed or not to be obeyed, which can not be affirmed of anie one precept of Chriſt: for nothing can bee both comaunded and indifferent to bee obeyed or done: and thoſe words of Chriſt wil no way permit ſuch indifferēci, for they are an abſolute precept for that end for the which they are given: which is not to flee to ſave themſelves: but to flee or go to another Citie to preach the goſpel. And we put theſe ſeducers in remembrance that our Saviour Chriſt gives this rule alſo vntounto his diſciples, that if they shall enter into anie houſe or Citie, that shal not receive them, nor heare his word, whē they depart thence, they shal shake of the duſt of their feet for a witnes againſt that houſe or Citie: But when wil theſe men according to this rule of Chriſt …hake of the duſt of their feet for a witnes againſt Amſterdam and Leyden, which Cities, neither receive them nor the word they bring, otherwiſe then they receive Turks and Iewes, and all ſorts, who come onelyonly to ſeeke ſafety and profit. It ſhould ſeeme this rule of Chriſt, apperteynes not to theſe mē, but let them, and al menſe, that this rule apperteynes to whomeſoever the other apperteynes, they being both given at one time and vponupon one and the ſame occaſion, and to one and the ſame perſons: and when theſe great deceivers have learned not to devide Chriſt they wil learne alſo, not to devide his precepts and ordinances, takeing what is agreable to their corrupt mynds, and forſakeing what is contrary to them.

We wil paſſe by the lamentable fruits and iudgmēts that we have, and doe ſee with our eies followes this damnable error, when manie, yea the moſt men that had in a great meaſure forſakē the love of the world, and began to be zealous of ſome good thinges, being drawne by this opinion and theſe ſeducers into forreyne Countries, not knowing which way to ſupport their outward eſtate, have turned againe vntounto the world, ād are fayne to hunt too and froo, far ād neare after every occaſion, and al is too little to ſatiſfie moſt of their wants, and nothinge wil ſatiſfie ſome of their diſires: al theſe thinges and manie mo, theſe hirelings their ſhepherds, can welbeare withall, ſo that they returne to the hive, that their portion may not be reproved. And thoſe of beſt hares, and ſome of beſt quality that cannot runne ād rove, and ſet their harts to ſeeke the world, conſume that they have and fal vnderunder hard conditions, and by littel and littel looſe their firſt love alſo. It is the general iudgment we ayme at in al this, in that by theſe meanes, former zeale ād the beſt firſt beginings that were in theſe men do vaniſh, fade away, and come to nothinge, to the vnfained greife of our ſonles to ſee it: how much better had it beene that they had given their lives for that truth they profeſſe, in their owne Countries. Now as wee through the grace of God, and by the warrant of his word, (as we have here manifeſted) caſt away theſe perverters of the holy ſcriptures and their doctrines, ſo we wiſh al to do, that feare God and ſeeke the glory of his name, and come and lay downe their lives in their owne Countrie for Chriſt and his truth. And let none thinke that we are altogether ignorant, what building, and war fare we take in hand, and that wee have not ſitt downe and in ſome meaſure throughly conſidered what the coſt and danger may be: and alſo let none thinke that wee are without ſence and feeling of our owne inability to begin, and our weaknes to endure to the end, the weight and danger of ſuch a worke: but in al theſe thinges we hope and waite for wiſedome and ſtrength, and helpe from the Lord, Who is able to eſtablish vsus, that we may ſtand, and by weake meanes to confound mighty thinges, 1. Cor. 1. Lett none therefore deſpiſe the day of ſmale thinges. Zach. 4.10. Nor bee greived and ſay with that ſcorner, Nehem. 4.24. What wil theſe weake Iewes doe? Thus comending all our poore endeavors to the beſt acceptance of every wel diſpoſed reader, beſeeching the Lord to make his grace to abound to you al, for the glory of his name, and the ſalvation of every one of your ſoules.

Amen.

End of the text · Thomas Helwys, Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity (1612)

Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity, Treatise · Part 3