The Perpetuity of a Regenerate Mans Estate, Author to the reader
TO ALL THOSE OF THE Church of England who falsly and malitiously traduce, calumniate, and slaunder, the Patrons, of the totall and finall perseuerance of the Saints in grace, and thereupon labour to suppresse their workes, because they know not how to answer, or resell them.
IT is recorded of (aActs 6. 9. to 13.) certaine of the Synagogue of the Libertines and …, who disputed with that holy Martir, Saint Steuen, that when as they Were not able to resist the wisdome, and Spirit by which hee spake: they suborned false witnesses against him, which said; wee hauehave heard him speake blasphemous words against this holy place, against Moses, and against God: and vponupon these false accusations, they stirred vp the people, the Elders and the Scribes against him, and caught him, and brought him before the Councell: thinking to carry away the cause, and to confute that which they were not able to gainsay, by calumniating, traducing and condemning the innocent person who defended it. Thus did the Iewes confute and answer, Saint Paul: when as they had nothing to reply vntounto his doctrine, they presently fly vponupon his person: accusing him, (bActs 17. 3. to 15 cap 21. 27. 28 and cap. 24. 5. 6.) for a pestilent and seditious fellow: for a ringleader of sects: for a mouer of sedition through out the World, and one that did contrary to … decrees of Caesar. And thus did the Gentiles in former ages confute the Christians, if (cApolog. 1. pro ….) Iustin Martyr, (dApolog aduersGentes.) Tertullian, (eAduers. … lib. 1. 3.) Arnobius or (fDe …. lib. cap. 1. 9.) Lactantius may be credited. You (my Breahtren) who oppose and bend your selues against the Doctrine, of the totall and … perseuerauce of the Saints in grace, which hath beene so long setled and established in our Church; reflect and cast your eyes on these examples, which are such liuely Emblems, and representations of your selues. These Libertines, Iewes and Gentiles, when as they could finde nothing to reply against that truth, the which they did oppose, they leaue the matter, and the points in question, and fly vponupon the persons of such as did defend them. So you since you hauehave nothing to reply vntounto the ar… of those who do defend the totall & final perseuerance of the Saints in grace, doe waiue the Controuersie, and fall foule vponupon their persons; thinking to carry away the cause by calumnies, and scandalous accusations, because you cannot do it by force and truth of argument. For first you accuse and taxe all such who patronize this orthodox and ancient truth, for Puritans. Secondly, for pestilent, seditious and factious persons. And thirdly, for such as doe contrary to the decrees of Caesar: such as violate and transgresse his Maiesties most pious Proclamation: and vponupon these false and scandalous grounds you labour to suppresse the workes, and prosecute the persons, of all such as doe defend this truth. A worthy and a learned confutation; which sauoreth of nothing but of pure malice, and venomous rancor against all grace & goodnesse, and such as doe defend them. Now that all the world may know how false your accusations are, and so, how ill your cause; I will a little … them and discusse them.
Your first accusation and objection, against our present assertion is this. That there are none but Puritants who … it. Surely, if you so confidently affirme, that there are none but … that defend it. I may with greater confidence and truth … it, that there are none but Pelagians, Papists, and Arminians, nay … who oppose it: if any of you thinke I speake to harsh in this, I hauehave the warrant of our late and learned Soueraigne King Iames, to justifie mee, who hath stiled them (gDeclaration against Vortius.) Heretickes, and Atheisticall Sectaries vponupon record. But are there none but Puritans who defend it? Sure I am (and I hope I hauehave sufficiently proued it) that Christ himselfe, his Prophets and Apostles: that all the ancient Fathers, and some Councells: that-all Protestant Churches, and sound orthodox writers in forraine parts: that the Synod of …: (at which there were the choice Diuines of most Protestant & reformed Churches:) that the Church of England, and all her chiefest worthies: and that King lames of blessed memorie, hauehave from time to time deliuered, published, defended, propagated and resolued this our present assertion as sound and orthodox: and yet are there none but Puritans, or are they all Puritans who defend it? Was Christ, his Prophets & Apostels Puritans? were all the Fathers and the Primitiue Church, Puritans? are all the Protestant and reformed Churches beyond the seas, and all their sound and orthodox writers Puritans? was thè famous Synod of Dort, but a meere packe of Puritans? are the Church of England, and all her chiefest worthies, Puritans? or was King lames a Puritan, that none but Puritans should maintaine this truth? If you will condemne all these for Puritans, (as you must doe, if your accusation goe for currant truth,) and so make Puritans to be nothing else, (as they are in truth) but the true Church and Saints of God, who professe, propagate and maintaine the truth and puritie of the Gospell, and will not bee withdrawne or seduced from it: then we willingly acknowledge the accusation to be true, and account it, not a blemish, but a grace and honour to our cause: but if you will hauehave none of these to be the Puritans which you accuse: your accusation then: That none but Puritans defend this assertion, must needes be false: vnlesse you know to make a difference between those who … maintained it in former times, & such as doe defend it now. Now that I may giuegive a further answer vntounto this false, scandalous, and malitious accusation, I will a little inquire what kinde of creature this Puritan should be, which makes such a stirre and businesse in the world, and is so much accused, condemned, hated, persecuted, inueighed at and spoken against; that so the odiousnesse and … of the very name, may not impeach the worth the credit, the qualitie, or condition of the person on whom it is …. Certainely, the onelyonly Puritan that is now aymed at, and so commonly accused and spoken against, is nothing else in veritie and truth, (if you will but lay aside the name that so you may behold him as he is). But a godly and syncere Christian, who stickes close vntounto the word of God both in his iudgement and his practise, being more abstemious from all kinde of sinue, more diligent and frequent in all holy duties, and more industrious to serue and please the Lord in all things, then those who doe condemne, reproach and censure him. Hee that now sticks fast and close vntounto the word of truth, and will not be withdrawne from it: hee that shewes forth the power and efficacy of grace in the constant holinesse of his life: hee that is diligent and frequent in Gods seruice, and squares his life and actions according to his word: hee that makes a conscience of all his waies and workes, and will not be so vitious and licentious, so riotous and deboist: so prophane dissolute and desperately wicked as other men: hee, and hee onelyonly, is the Puritan which is now so much condemned: hee onelyonly is the Puritan who now is made the very But and obiect of all mens hatred, malice, enuy, scorne and disdaine: hee onelyonly is the Puritan whom you doe here accuse. Take but away the vgly, horrid and mishapen name and visard of a Puritan, (which doth now wholly ouercloud, the persons on whom it is imposed, and present them in a strange and different forme from what they are in truth) and consider but the persons, the liues, the graces, and the inside of those men who are reputed sor the greatest Puritans, disrobed and vncased of the name it selfe; and then the greatest and fierceest Ante-puritan of you all, (if his conscience be not strangly cauterized) must bee forced to confesse, that as it was with the Christians among the Gentiles, so now it is with Puritans, among such as seeme to be Christians: (hTertul. Apol. aduers. Gentes. cap. 4.) Non scelus aliquod in causa est, sed nomen: et solius nominis crimen est: that Puritans are hated, contemned, reproached, accused, and condemned, not for any offence, for any euill or wickednesse that is in them, but onelyonly for their name; which is imposed on them onelyonly for this end, that men might the more freely persecute, oppose, dispise, condemne and hate them for their holy liues. And if that this seeme strange vntounto you, that men should be condemned, hated, reproached, persecuted, and accused for their graces and their holy liues: consider then, that euen from the beginning, and from that time that God (i…. 3. 15.) put enmitie betweene the seede of the woman and the seede of the serpent, it hath beene so. Take but the two first borne of the world Caine and Abell for an example. Caine hee doth not only hate, but slay his brother Abell: and wherefore slew he him? not for any iniury that hee did vntounto him: (k1 Iohn 3. 12.) but because his owne workes were euill, and his brothers righteous. Doth not holy Iob complaine, that he was (lIob. 30. 9. 10.) hated, and made the very song and byword of the people? Doth not holy Dauid complaine almost in eueryevery Psalme, that the (mPsal. 22. 6.) drunkards Ps. 35. 15 to 10.made songs vponupon him: that hee was derided, persecuted, hated, Ps. 69. 11. Psal. 71. 7. 10.slaundered, reuiled and laughed to scorne, and all because hee followed the things that were good and pleasing vntounto God? Doe not all the Prophets complaine, that they themselues, (nIsay. 30. 10.) were hated, persecuted, reuiled, accused, slaundered and condemned, euen cap. 50. 6. c. 54. 17. Ier. 6. 20. 28 c. 15. 10. c. 17. 15, 18. c 18. 18. to 23. c. 20. c. 26. c. 27. & 38.for their grace and holinesse of life, and for their prophecying of the truth? Doe not they all complaine, that in their times, the righteous, and the vpright Saints of God, were pointed and hissed at, and made a (oWisdo. 5. 3.) very prouerbe of disdaine and scorne? that they were (pIsay 8. 18.) as signes and wonders in Israell? and that (qIsay 59. 15.) such as did depart from euill did but make themselues a Amos 5. 10 c. 7. 10. Zech 3. 8. Isay 54. 17.prey? was not Iesus Christ himselfe the very spring and fountaine of all grace and holinesse, though he were guilty of no crime at all, though he went about doing good to all, and hurt to none, though he came to seeke and saue the lost and perishing soules of men, hated, persecuted, slaundered and derided for his grace, his goodnesse, and his holinesse? was he not reported to be (rLuke 7. 34.) a glutton and a wine bibber, a (sIohn 9. 16.) deceiuer and impostor, a (tMath. 27. 63.) sinner and not of God; a (vIohn 7. 20.) man possessed with a deuill, and one (wMath. 9. 34.) casting out diuills through Belzebub the Prince of the diuills? were not all his glorious and holy Apostles, condemned, hated, persecuted, and (xAct. 28. 22.) eueryevery where spoken against? were they not accused, for turbulent, (yActs. 17. 3. to 15. c. 21. 27 28 c. 24. 5. 6.) factious and seditious persons, for ringleaders of sects and heresies: for incendiaries and disturbers of the whole world; for (z2 Cor. 6. 8. hypocrites and deceiues: for (aActs 6 …. 13.) blasphemous persons and (b… …. 7.) … to Caesar? were they (c… … 4. 9. to 14. 2 Cor. 4. 8. to 12 c. 6. 3. to 11 c 11. 23. to 28.) not made a spectacle vntounto the world, vntounto Angells and men? were they not dispised, buffeted, defamed and reuiled? were they not made as the very filth of the world, and as the dreggs and of scouring of all things? Was not this the case of all the Christians in the primitine Church? were not they (d… Alex. Or. … ad Genres. Tertul Apol. alu. Gentes. Arnob. lib. 1. …. … Lactant. de …. … c. 1. 9. Iustin Mart. Apol. 1. & 2 pro Christianis Euse. …. Histo lib. 4 c. 15. 16. lib. 5. c. 1. & Heb. 11. 33. to 40.) all accused, hated, persecuted, slaundered and condemned, as factious and seditious persons? as a false, idle, treacherous and hurtfull kinde of people? as enemies to the Gods and to the States and Countries where they liued? as vncleane, vnchast and adulterous persons, as murtherers of infants, and the causes of all the mischiefes which did befall the world, and that for no other cause at all but this, because that they were Christians? Was not that holy Father (e…. Sehol. Ec. Hist. lib. 6. cap 4. 5. 16.) Saint Chrysostome, hated persecuted and reuiled by the Cleargie of Constantinople, and were not his followers scoffed at by the name of Iohannites, and all for their austerity & holinesse of life? Doth not Saint Cyprian complaine thus of his times? (fEpist. lib 2 Epist. 2. Donato.) Esse iam inter nocentes innoxium crimen est: malos quisquis non imitatur offendit: that it was accounted a greeuous crime not to be vitious: and that men grew angry with such as would not bee as wicked as themselues? Doth not Saluian say of his times? Si honoratior quispiam religioni se applicuerit, illicò g De Gubernat. …. lib. 4.honoratus esse desistit: vbi enim quis mutauerit vestem, mutauit protinus dignitatem. Si fuerit sublimis, sit despicabilis, Sifuerit splendidissimus, fit …. Si fuerit totus honoris, sit totus iniuriae. Peruersa enimsunt, et in diuer sum cuncta mutata. Si be nus est qui quam, quasi malus …. St malus est, quasi bonus honoratur Statim vt quis melior esse tentauerit, deterioris abiectione calcatur: ac per hoc omnes quodammodo mali esse coguntur, ne viles habeantur? A true Embleme, and patterne of our times. HaueHave not all the other Fathers and Saints of God, complained of this very thing from time to time, that they hauehave beene hated, slandered, reproached, accused, persecuted and contemned (though vnderunder other pretences) yet onelyonly for this very thing, that they made a conscience of their waies, and would not rush so boldly into sin as others did? and is it any wonder that it is so now? Doth not St. Paul informe vsus, that (h2 Tim. 3. ….) all as will liue godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution? & doth not Christ himselfe foretell all such as are his true and faithfull members, (iMat. 10. 16. to 36. c. 24. 9.) that they shall be hated of all men and nations for his sake? that (kMath. 5. 11. 12) men Iohn 16. 2. 33shall … and persecute them? that they shall separate them from their company, cast out their name as …, and say all manner of Luke 6. 22.euill against them falsly? and what is the cause? what any sin, or wickednesse that is in them, or any injury or wrong, that they doe to God or man? No such matter: but because they honour (lMat. 5. 11.) and professe his name: because (mIohn 15. 19.) they are chosen out of the world, and made men of another world: because (nWisdō: 2. 15.) their Luke 6. 22.Math. 10. 22.liues are not like other mens, and their wayes are of another fashien: cap. 14. 9.because (oWisd: 2. 12. 14. 15.) their holy and religious liues doe reproue and secretly condemne, the finfull and vngodly courses, of carnall, wicked, cap. 17. 14.and vngodly men, and proue them to bee euill: and (p1 Pet. 4. 3, 4.) because they will … runne into the same excesse of sinne and riot that others … and shall we thinke it strange that men are hated, persecuted,Iohn 3. 20. slandered, and condemned for the selfe-same causesLactant. de Iustitia. lib cap. 9. now? Doe not the Apostles prophecie, that in the latter times and ages of the world, there shall be (q2 Pet. 2. 3.) scoffers, walking after their owne lusts? That there shall (r2 Tim. 3. 2. to 7. 2.) be false accusers, fierce, despiser's of those that are good, speaking euill of the things they know and vnderstand not, and corrupting themselues in those things Pet. 2. 12.which naturally they know; hauing an outward forme of godlinesse, Iude 10.but … the power thereof? And may it not then sinke into your thoughts, that you are such as hate, …, accuse, condemne and censure the Saints of God, who doe defend this truth (because they finde the very sense and feeling of it in their soules) vnderunder the name of Puritans, (which you are pleased to impose vponupon them) because that you hauehave nothing else which you can truly object against them? Consider a little with your selues, that the diuell is a cunning and ambiguous sophister, that playes on both hands: that he cloathes sinne with glorious, rich, and goodly robes to make it louely, but grace with base and vgly rags, with odious and loathsome names to make it odious and contemptible. Consider likewise, that no man is or can bee so impudently and desperately wicked, as openly and directly to condemne, abhorre, contemne, oppose, and persecute grace in any of the Saints, and therefore to auoide the infamy and shame of men, and to restraine and blinde his owne conscience, which else would flie into his face, hee vseth some pretence or other, that so he may with lesse suspicion, and with greater boldnesse disgorge his malice and his spight against it. Againe, consider that there is nothing so crosse and contrary, so odious and hatefull to vnregenerate and carnall men, as the very power and truth of grace and holinesse: nothing is there in the world that carnall men abhorre and loathe so much, nothing is there that they hate with such a bitter, exorbitant, vnlimited, and implacable detestation, as that power of grace, and that image of holinesse which shines so glorious and resplendent in the liues and actions of the Saints: this makes them fret and fume, and mads them to the heart. And lastly, consider seriously and in good earnest with your selues (because it is a matter which concernes your soules) that there alwaies hauehave been, are, all shall be, a genera…ion of men vponupon the earth, which shall be hated, scorned, persecuted, reproched, reuiled, accused, slandered, and condemned euen of all sorts of men for no crime, no cause, or sinne at all, bur only for their new, their gratious, godly, and their holy liues, and for their hatred and detestation of all kinde of sinne. Now lay all these together, and s…e what men there are in all the world, who are generally hated, reproched, condemned, scorned, persecuted, disdained, …euiled, falsly accused; see what manner of men they are, whose names are cast out as euill, and who hauehave all manner of euill spoken against them falsely, by all sorts and kindes of men; and tha… only for the syncere profession of the name of Christ, for the vprightnesse and synceritie of their hearts, for the puritie and holinesse of their liues, and for the auoyding of all kinde of sinne; and then you shall finde that these, and these onelyonly, whom you accuse, censure, and condemne for Puritans are the men: for they onelyonly are hated of all sorts, and kindes of men: Papists, Protestants, Arminians, ciuill and morrall men, prophane and loose persons, young and old, rich and poore, Clergie and Laitie, they all doe band and set against them, they all reuile, reproch, accuse, condemne, deride, persecute, slander, and abhorre them: they all auoide and shun them more or lesse, and separate them from their companie: they all distaste them in their hearts, they all cast out their names as euill, and prosecute them euen with virulent and bitter hatred, as farre as oportunitie, law, or power will giuegive them leaue; yea, many men are so rauing mad against them, that they could wish as (sSuetoni…. Calig: sect. 30.) Caligula did of the Romans, that they had all but one neck, that so they might cut them of at a blow: and all this is for no other cause at all, but because they are too pure and precise, to holy and religious; because they are too frequent in hearing and reading of Gods word; in prayer and such like holy duties: because they will reproue men for their euill courses, and will not beare them company in their sinnes: because they will not sweare, whore, drinke, dice, game inordinately, mispend their time, haunt Playes and Tauernes, and play the good fellowes as others doe; because they speake against Pluralities, Nonresidents, and lazie, or good-fellow Pastors, who either starue and quite neglect, or else mislead their flockes. If all men would be prophane and wicked, and make no bones of sinne, there would not be a …uritan in the world: If therefore Puritans are such men as these; if they are the best the dearest and holiest Saints of God (as there is no doubt or question but they are, if you will but giuegive your owne consciences libertie …or to determine it) your accusation then, that none but Puritans doe defend …his Doctrine, will be so farre from disparaging of it, that it doth highly grace and honour it: and proue you who doe oppose and contradict it, to be but prophaue, licentious, carnall and gracelesse persons, and vtter enemies to all grace and goodnesse. And now since I hauehave made it manifest vntounto your vnderstandings (at least vntounto your consciences) that Puritans are not the men you take them, (or rather such men as you would hauehave them) for to be: forbeare from hence-forth to hate, to scorne, to disdaine, reproach, accuse, deride, condemne, oppose and slander them without a cause, as formerly you hauehave done; for feare lest whiles you bend your tongues, your hearts, your malice and your force against them, for standing close vntounto the truth, and for manifesting the very power and truth of grace and holinesse in their liues: you take vp armes against the Lord of Hoasts, and King of heauen, and wrecke your soules vponupon that rocke, and sinne against the holy Ghost, which shall neuer be forgiuen. But admit now that none but Puritans maintaine our present assertion, that is, (as you in part intend it) that none but Caluinists, o… men infected with Geneuanisme doe defend it: must it therefore be a Puritan doctrine, must it therefore be a false position? doth the qualitie or condition of the Patrons, make truth to be no truth? consider I pray a little of it, and then reflect vponupon your selues, perchance it may be some disparagement to your cause. But say that the qualitie of the Patrons doth change and alter the very nature of the truth, are Caluin and his followers, so vndeseruing of the Church of God; or is the Church of Geneua, or the Belgicke Churches so subiect vntounto Errors in their doctrine, that this should not be truth, because that these defend it? Surely, though I will …ot wholly pinne my faith on Caluins sleeue, nor canonize him for a Saint, stiling him St. Caluin, (as some of you hauehave done it in disdaine and scorne) though I make no doubt, but he is now a Saint with God in heauen; yet this I will say vntounto the best, the proudest, and the learnedest of you; that the name of Caluin shall be remembred and renowned in the Church of God, when as your names shall rotte and be forgotten. And as for the Church of Geneua, and the Belgick Churches, though they differ from vsus in their discipline, yet none but Papists or Arminians can cauell at their Doctrine: if you are such (as you must be such, if you continue to oppose our present assertion) goe on and cauell at them whiles you will: your cauells will but honour them, not disgrace them: and this our cause shall neuer fare the worse, because it hath these Patrons to defend it. Since therefore the quality of the Patrons of this truth, can neuer change the nature of it, and make it not to be a truth: since Puritans appearing in their proper colours, are men of greater grace and holinesse than the best of those who slander them and stile them so; and are not such in truth, as they are commonly taken and reported for to be: since Christ, his Prophets and Apostles, and the whole Church of God from time to time hauehave propagated, embraced, resolued, and defended this our present assertion as sound, and there were neuer none as yet, but Pelagians, Papists, and Arminians, nay, Atheists that opposed it: then this your accusation, that none but Puritans doe defend it, must needs be false and forged: at least it must bee idle and impertinent; because it is but a meere euasion and waiuing of the Controuersie, a meere Calumnie and reproach, and a falling foule vponupon the persons of syncere and vpright Christians who defend it, for want of truth or learning to answer to their workes.
I come now vntounto the second accusation, that the Patrons of this assertion are nothing else, but a packe and company of pestilent, t Acts 17. 3. to 15. cap 24. 5. 6.factious, and seditious persons. Indeed St. Paul had this very accusation laid against him by the Iewes, because hee was so zealous to maintaine, propagate, and defend the Gospell and the word of God: and I am verily perswaded, if St. Paul were now vponupon the earth, as one vnknowne to you, that you would presently flie vponupon him, accusing and condemning him for an Arch-Puritan, for a Pestilent, factious, and seditious fellow; since you accuse his followers of the selfe-same crime, for defending this our Doctrine and assertion, which he himselfe hath commended and recorded to them, when as they are nothing like so hote and zealous for this truth as he. But are there none but pestilent, factious, and seditious persons, who maintaine our present assertion: then Christ himselfe, his Prophets and Apostles, then all the Fathers, and all the Churches of God from age to age were but a faction: and a packe of pestilent and seditious persons: then the Church of England, and the Reformed Churches in forraine parts, are but a faction: then the Synode of Dort, and our late Soueraigne King IAMES, who was the cause of assembling and calling of it, together with all the other Germaine States and Princes who were parties to it, were but a faction: for all these hauehave maintained, defended, and resolued this very assertion of ours as sound and orthodox. If these were not a faction, (as none but Heathens, Atheists, or Diuells dare to stile them) then surely those are not a faction who defend it now: and so this false and scandalous accusation, which you labour to fasten vponupon others that are guiltlesse, must truly light and rest vponupon your selues, who striue with all your might and maine, and lay your heads and force together, to question, vnsettle, and suppresse, this ancient and approued truth, which hath beene so long established, settled, and resolued in the Church of God, and in this our Mother Church. If one man should set an house on fire, and another shauld indeauour for to quench it: If one man should raise and stirre vp strif…, and another should take paines for to appease it: If one man should breake anothers head, and a third man should apply a salue to heale it. If one man should oppose, and labour to suppresse the truth, and another should set himselfe against him to defend it. I pray which of the two should be the pestilent, turbulent, factious, and seditious person? which of them is it who deserues the blame? he that puts out the fire, or hee that kindles it? hee that seekes for to appease the strife, or hee that stirres it vp? he that heales the wound, or hee that giues it? he that defends the truth, or he that doth oppose it? Now those whom you accuse for pestilent, factious, and seditious persons, they doe but labour to extinguish and put out the flame: it is you that kindle, nourish, and increase it: they doe but appease the strife: it is you only that stirre it vp: they doe but seeke to heale and to repaire, the wounds and breaches of our Church, it is you that giuegive and make them: they doe but shelter and defend the truth, it is you only that oppose it, and seeke to quell and roote it out: therefore you onelyonly are the Incendiaries and fire-brands, you only are the turbulent, factious, and seditious spirits, you only (and not these good Eliahs) are the (v1 King. 18, 17, 18.) Ahabs who trouble this our Israell, you only are the dangerous and preuayling Faction (who like so many vnnaturall vipers will eate out the very bowells of this your Mother Church, and of all true & sauing grace, if you are not preuented and withstood in time) and not the men whom you accuse, of purpose for to free and cleare your selues: wherefore you must needes take this second accusation and slaunder to your selues alone, to whom it doth truly and of right belong, till you can finde some better cause to place it vponupon those whom you doe here acuse.
To your third forgerie and last accusation, That the Patrons of the totall and finall perseuerance of the Saints, are such as do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, and such as violate his Maiesties late and pious Proclamation. I answer, that you are much mistaken. For as most of their workes were published and printed, before the Proclamation was published or thought on (and so are not within the danger and compasse of it) so the only end of this his Maiesties pious Proclamation was to establish and settle the ancient, setled, receiued and approued Doctrine of the Church of England in peace and quiet, and to keepe backe you, and all other factions, scismaticall, nouellizing, Arminianizing, and Romanizing spirits from opposing or distrubing of it: it was only to defend, propagate and establish the truth of God & the doctrine of our Church, and not to qu…ll them and suppresse them. Who then are those who violate and transgresse this godly Proclamation? those who vnderunder pretence and coulor of it, doe labour to suppresse and quell the truth, and Doctrine o… our Church, contrary to his Maiesties good intent? or those who out of good and honest hearts indeauour to defend them, and to put them out of further doubt and question? Doubtlesse (if I, and many others are not much mistaken) not the defenders and establishers, but the treacherous and pernicious quellers of the truth, and of the Doctrine of our Church, are those who must incurre the blame and censure: and then this crime and accusation must fall off from others, and light heauiest on your selues, to whom it doth in truth belong. If any of you object, that the totall and finall Apostacie of the Saints, is the vndoubted truth, and the established and resolued Doctrine of the Church of England. I answer, that this is but an impudent and audatious forgerie; and I dare to justifie it against the greatest Gamaliells of you all, who dare to contradict me in it. Yea, more then this; if any of you will bona fide affirme, the totall and finall Apostacie of the Saints, to be the positiue and absolute truh, and the receiued doctrine of our Church; I dare aduenture for to challenge him, not only for a gracelesse and atheisticall person, and as one who neuer had as yet any truth of sauing grace within him; but likewise as a friend vntounto Arminians and the Church of Rome, and as an open and professed enemie to the grace of God, and to the Doctrine of our Church: if any of you will be so bold, as to take vp this challenge, this present Treatise (or if not this, another) shall make it good against him; so as the peace of this our Church bee not disturbed by it. But if that your assertion, be the positiue Doctrine of our Church, as perchance you doe pretend it for to be, how then doth it appeare to be so? Sure I am, our Articles; our reuerend and learned writers; our Religious professors; and our Diuinity Schooles: our reuerend Ministers throughout the Kingdome, hauehave alwaies cryed it downe till now, as blasphemous, Papisticall and heriticall; and there is not one approued writer of our English Church, that did euer dare as yet to publish it vntounto the world, as sound and orthodox, or as the Doctrine of our Church. And if it be the Doctrine of our Church, why do you not ioyne issue on it, and put it to the tryall? why do you not answer and refute, but only labour to suppresse, the workes of those who doe oppose it, and challenge it as vnsound? Indeede the truth is this: you know your cause is bad: you know that this your Doctrine is but false and counterfeite, and quite repugnant to the Doctrine of our Church: and therefore you dare not put it to the tryall, for feare it should be proued to be false: you dare not go about to proue our position to be vnsound, or to giuegive an answer vntounto such as hauehave defended it: all your labour is to quell it, and to suppresse, not to answer, the workes of such as hauehave defended it. And why is this? let (wD… Iustic … cap. 1) Lactantius relate the cause. Timeut ne à nobis reiucti manus dare aliquandò, clamante ipsâ veritate cogantur. Obstrepunt igitur, et intercedunt ne audiane, et oculos suos opprimunt, ne lumen videant quod offerimus, quum neque cognoscere, neque congredi audent, quià sciunt se facilè superari. Et idcircò disceptatione sublata: pellitur è medio sapientia, vi geritur res. You know you are not able for to answer, and therefore you labour to suppresse our workes: thinking to carry away the cause by force and pollicy, and to suppresse the truth, before it shall be able to come vntounto a just & legall tryall. But remember, that (xArnob. contr. Gentes. lib. 3 …4. 104.) Intercipere scripta, et publicatam velle submergere lectionem, non est Deos defendere, sed veritatis testificationem timere: this is not to confute, but to suppresse the truth: this it not to confirme and proue, but to condemne and marre your cause. That gold which dreads the touchstone is but counterfeite: that felon who refuseth his tryall, doth but confesse himselfe guilty: and that doctrine which (yIohn 3 20. 21.) hates the light, and will not come vntounto it: which would establish it selfe by force and policy, and not by truth and honest dealing; it doth but discouer it selfe to be euill, false and counterseite. Whiles therefore you labour to suport your haerisie, by force and pollicy, and by suppressing of the truth, you doe but (zEzech. 13. 10. to. 16.) daube with vntempered morter, and marre it, whiles you make it. Wherefore, giuegive ouer now for very shame, your sinester and disloyall practises (of which the world takes notice, though you thinke not of it:) peruert not any longer, the godly and religious intent of our gratious Soueraigne, to a wicked and irreligious end: and make not that an instrument, to suffocate & curbe the truth of God, and Doctrine of our Church: which hee intended should support, inlarge and …uccor them. How euer, take this instruction from an ancient Father: (aTatul. Apolog. aduers G…ntes. cap 4.) Nulla lex vetat discuti, quod prohibet admitti. Or if the saying of a Pope will please you better, let Leo, tell you thus much for your learning (bEpist decrit. Epist 78. cap …) Quae patefacta sunt quaerere; quae perfecta sunt retractare: et quae sunt definita co…ellore: quid aliud est, quam … adeptis gratiam non referre, et ad interdictae arboris cibum, … probos appetitus mortiferae cupiditatis extendere? I know not whether you will, I am sure you may apply it.
You see now, how scandalous, how sleight, how false and forged all these your accusations are: you see they are but shifts for to euade, and colours to oppose the truth and such as doe professe it and defend it: they are but meere impostures and pretences, whereby the diuill and your owne deceitfull hearts. doe labour for to blinde your eyes, and to keepe you still in darkenesse, to stupifie your h…arts and consciences, and so to set you in opposition against all g…ace and goodnesse, that so they may depriue you of your soules at last. Consider therefore, these wiles and pollicies of Satan, and looke vntounto the end of all your actions. Consider who and what it is that sets you now on worke, to slaunder and traduce the Saints of God, and to oppose his truth: and know that it is not the God of peace and vnion, the God of grace, and truth: but the very Diuill himselfe the very spirit of Antechrist, and the enemy of all grace and goodnesse, who out of some carnall, wicked, sinister and by respects, hath put you on this seruice: aske but your owne brests, and the secret whisperings of your owne consciences, and they will tell you so. And therefore, though I hauehave spoken somewhat sharply to you before, to make you know your selues, (the want of which knowledge, if (cDe Falsa Relig lib. cap. 1.) Lactantius may bee credited, is the cause of all your Errors,) so now I doe euen beseech you by the mercies of God, and by the death of Iesus Christ your Sauiour, (d2 Cor. 5. 15.) who died for you, that you should no longer liue vntounto your selues but vntounto him, that now you would lay downe your armes of rebellion, and vomit vp your bitter hatred, malice, and dispite against all grace and goodnesse, and such as doe excell in piety and holinesse: that so you may with all meeknesse of spirit, and humility of heart and minde, submit, vntounto this comfortable and holy truth, which here I offer and expose vntounto you; which will be the onelyonly joy, the onelyonly comfort, and safety of your soules. If you will but seririously consider it, and ponder it in your hearts, and desire God to sanctifie and blesse it to you: if you will but reade it with meeke and quiet spirits, with indifferent and impartiall mindes, and with an earnest desire to finde out the truth: it may bee it may rectifie your judgements and reforme your liues, it may bee it may doe you good, and saue your soules. But if you will shut your eyes and will not see; if you will stoppe your eares, and will not heare, or if you will harden your hearts & not consider. If you will proceed for to oppose and persecute the Doctrine and the power of grace, in such as doe defend them. (eArnob. aduer Gentes. lib. 6. …. 193.) Si quod semel sine ratione fecistis, ne videamini aliquandò nescisse, defenditis: meliusque putatis non vinci, quam confessae cedere atque anuuere veritati: if you thinke it a disparagement vntounto you to recant your Errors, and would rather obstinately continue in them, then disclaime them, Go on and perish: your blood shall light vponupon your owne heads, not on mine. All I hauehave to say vntounto you then is this; that there is a day of account, a day of death, and iudgment comming (which now cannot be farre) (f2 Thes. 1. 6. to 11. Iude. 14. 15. Wisd. 5. 1. to 12.) wherein the Lord Iesus Christ shall be reuealed from heauen with his Angells, in flaming fire taking vengeance of you, and punnishing you with euerlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; for hating, slaundering, reuiling, persecuting, deriding, and traducing of his Saints, and not submitting to his word and truth. Consider therefore, and againe I say, consider, and thinke well of this, and of that great account which you must render vntounto God ere long, euen for your carriage and your actions in this particular Controuersie; (g2 Tim. …. 7. and the Lord giuegive you vnderstanding in all things; that so you may repent you of all the euill of your doings, and of all your damnable and pernitious Errors both in life and Doctrine; that so you may be saued, and not condemned in the day of Christ, which now drawes neere.
The earnest and hearty desirer of your true conuersion, both to the Doctrine and the life of Grace. WILLIAM PRYNNE.