The Utter Routing of the Whole Army of All the Independents and Sectaries, Pages 500-610 (3 of 3)

The Utter Routing of the Whole Army of All the Independents and Sectaries · Pages 500-610 (3 of 3)

p. 574We ſee likewiſe what Ioſhua did according to the commandment of God, who ought to be a pattern to all Chriſtians, and all Chriſtian Magiſtrates, chap. 24. verſe 14, 15, 16. Now therefore (ſaith he) fear the Lord and ſerve him in ſincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers ſerved on the other ſide of the flood and in Aegypt, and ſerve ye the Lord; and if it ſeem evill unto you to ſerve the Lord, chooſe you this day whom ye will ſerve, whether the gods which your fathers ſerved that were on the other ſide of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whoſe land ye dwell; but for me and my houſe, we will ſerve the Lord: And the people anſwered and ſaid, God forbid that we ſhould forſake the Lord and ſerve other gods; for the Lord our God is he that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Aegypt, out of the houſe of bondage, &c.

Here we may obſerve firſt, that Ioſhua injoynes them to ſerve the Lord in ſincerity and in truth, and that they might do that, to put away all their idols; he gives no toleration of all Religions: and the like may be ſaid of Ioſhua, Ioſhua 24. 15. and that they might with the more alacrity yeeld obedience to God's command, he ſets his own example before their eyes, with his reſolution, which was, that both he and his houſhold would ſerve the Lord onelyonly and ſet up his worſhip, and all the people likewiſe aſſented to do the ſame, and gave their reaſon why they would ſerve the Lord, and tolerate no other Religion, becauſe ſay they, the Lord hath brought us up out of the land of Aegypt and out of the houſe of bondage and made us his peculiar people, and therefore they reſolved to ſerve him onelyonly, and tolerate no other ſervice amongſt them but that which God himſelf had commanded and appointed: And this example of Ioſhua and the people of Iſrael is left to all the people of God, to all ages for p. 575imitation, whoſe duty it is to ſet up the true worſhip of God only amongſt them, and none but that which Chriſt their Redeemer, King and Law-giver hath injoyned them; and therefore all ſuch as would have all Religions tolerated, do exceedingly forget themſelves, and are highly unthankfull to Chriſt their King and Redeemer.

And if we look into the ſtory of the Judges, the book following that of Ioſhua, when this generation was dead, and that they had forgot their covenant, and began to tolerate all Religions amongſt them, they brought down all thoſe plagues upon themſelves by it, that were written in the law of Moſes; and for no other cauſe, ſaith the holy Scripture, but for that they ſet up thoſe Religions the heathens had ſerved their gods by, as is manifeſt from the ſixth chapter; for when the people cryed unto the Lord becauſe of the Midianites; the Lord ſent a Prophet unto them firſt, who told them that the cauſe of all the judgements was, becauſe they had not obeyed the voyce of the Lord, but had ſerved the gods of the nations which he had forbidden them: and afterwards he ſent an Angel unto Gideon, and commanded him to break down the Altar of Baal which his father had made, and to cut down the Grove that was by it, and to ſet up an Altar to the Lord: In the firſt place Gideon was enjoyned to root out idolatry, and then to ſet up Gods true worſhip onelyonly; here we finde no toleration of any Religion but the true Religion; when they ſet upon the work of reformation, and when the men of the City made inquiry after him that had broken down the Altar and cut down the Grove, and would have put him to death, it is related, that Ioaſh the Father of Gideon ſaid to all thoſe that ſtood againſt him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye ſave him? he that will plead for him let him be put to death whiles it is yet morning, if he be a god let him plead for himſelfe, becauſe one hath caſt down his Altar: Here we finde no toleration of Baal's Religion, but that they that would plead for him ſhould be put to death; and ſurely, thoſe that will plead for a toleration of all Religions, do no leſſe than fight againſt God.

But now let us ſee what Elias did, 1 King. 18. ver. 21. (who was counted as the Chariots and Horſe-men of Iſrael) with Baals Prieſts, and what he ſaid to all thoſe of his times, How long (ſaith he to the people) will ye halt between two Religions? if the Lord p. 576be God follow him, but if Baal be God then follow him. The holy Prophet would not admit of a toleration of all Religions, but when God had miraculouſly manifeſted from Heaven that Elias his Religion was the true Religion, and which God in his holy Word had eſtabliſhed, all Baals Prieſts were put to death, and that by Elias his command, who ſaid, Take the Prophets of Baal, let none of them eſcape; and they took them, and Elias took them and brought them down to the Brook Kiſhon and ſlew them there. And ſo upon all reformations, all other Religions were caſt out but the true Religion, as we may ſee through the whole Scripture, as in the ſtories of the Kings and Chronicles, and thoſe of Nehemiah and Ezra and through all the Prophets; and the Lord in the ſecond of Ieremiah complaineth againſt his people, That they had forſaken the fountain of living water, that is, they had forſaken the true God and ſerved other gods, and forſaken their maker, and had been more unconſtant than the very Heathen, who had not forſaken their idoll gods; and therefore for this their Rebellion and ingratitude, the Prophet denounces all thoſe plagues that were written in the Law againſt them, as all the other Prophe…s did: for there is not any ſinne in all the old Teſtament that the Lord more complaines of than that of Idolatry, and the toleration of many Religions amongſt them, as is moſt abundantly ſet down both in Iſaiah, Ieremiah and Ezechiel, Daniel, and in all the other Prophets, all which were written for our learning; ſo that if the people of God ſhall imitate them in their ſinnes, they muſt look to partake with them in their plagues; for the tolerating of all Religions would be a juſt provoking of the Lord our God to anger now, as it was then. And we have ſad experience already, what the tolerating of the idolatry of the Maſſe, that Dagon of Ginger-bread, hath brought upon us; for God will not be mocked; if God be God, and the Chriſtian Religion of the reformed Churches, and which we finde in the holy Scriptures, and which was confirmed by ſo many ſignes and wonders, and miracles, be the true religion, then let that and that onelyonly be ſ…t up amongſt Chriſtians, and no other tolerated; for if they be, they will ſpeedily bring the plagues of God upon the Kingdome, and confuſion upon us all; as we may well perceive by the ſuffering of them but a few yeers, what good effects they will produce: for toleration of all Religions cannot be pleaſing unto p. 577God no more in our times, than it was amongſt his ancient people the Jewes, and in the Primitive Churches; and therefore all thoſe that plead for a toleration of all Religions are no friends of Chriſt nor Lovers of Religion, pretend what they will; for neither Abraham, Jſaac, nor Iacob, nor any of the Prophets nor holy men of God would ſuffer it, neither would the Apoſtles ever endureit, but in all their writings they give eſpeciall charg to all the people to take heed of all the falſe Teachers of their time, and forewarne them to take heed of them in all ſucceeding ages, ever deſcribing them by their crafty dealings, that they ſhould come in ſheeps cloathing, and in all ſeeming holineſſe and fained ſimplicity, and therefore that they are the more to be avoyded: And Paul writing to the Galatians, in the fifth Chapter, wiſht and deſired that the falſe Teachers were cut off; ſo farre were the holy Apoſtles from tolerating all Religions, as in all their Epiſtles they inveigh againſt them, and that continually as falſe Apoſtles and Deceivers, and command all Chriſtians to receive no other Religion but that which they had taught them, Gal. 1. and bids the people come out of Babylon; and tels them there is no fellowſhip with light and darkeneſſe; and ſurely if all the Prophets and Apoſtles …id command all the people of God to come out of Babylon, they never gave leave to any Chriſtians to ſet up Babylon amongſt them, and to tolerate the confuſion and mingling together of all Religions; for this would be a thing not onelyonly againſt the Scripture and revealed will of God, but againſt all ſolid reaſon and ſound judgement.

Nay wee ſee that Chriſt himſelfe in writing to the ſeven Churches in Aſia, and in them to all Chriſtians in the world, hee blames the Angel of the Church of Pergamus, and that of Thyatira, in the ſecond chapter, in theſe words, To the Angel in the Church of Pergamus, write theſe things, ſaith hee that hath the ſharpe ſword with two edges, I know thy workes and where thou dwelleſt, even where Satans ſeate is, and thou holdeſt faſt my Name, and haſt not denyed my faith, even in thoſe dayes wherein Antipas my faithfull Martyr, was ſlaine among you, where Satan dwelleth: but I have a few things againſt thee, becauſe thou haſt them there that hold the doctrine of B…alam, who taught Balak to caſt a ſtumbling▪blocke before the children of Iſrael, and to eat things ſacrificed unto Idols, and to commit Fornication: ſo haſt thou them alſo p. 578that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate: repent, or elſe I come unto thee quickly, and will fight againſt thee with the ſword of my mouth. And unto the Angel of the Church of Thyatira write, theſe things ſaith the Sonne of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feete like fine braſſe, I know thy workes and charity, and ſervice, and faith, and thy patience, and thy workes, and the laſt to be more than the firſt; notwithſtanding I have a few things againſt thee, becauſe thou ſuffereſt that woman Iezabel which calleth her ſelfe a Propheteſſe to teach and ſeduce my ſervants, to commit Fornication, and to eat things ſacrificed unto Jdols, &c. and in the 3. chap. ver. 14. VntoUnto the Angel of the Church of Laodicea write theſe things, ſaith the Amen, the faithfull and true Witneſſe…c; the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy workes that thou art neither cold nor hot, J would thou wert cold or hot; ſo then becauſe thou art lukewarme, and neither cold nor hot, J will ſpue thee out of my mouth, &c.

Out of the which places, it is ſufficiently manifeſt, that it is … thing highly diſpleaſing unto God, that his people ſhould give a tolerátion of any Religion but that hee hath eſtabliſhed; and thoſe that labour for a toleration of all Religions muſt needs be lukewarme, neither hot nor cold, which is an evill the Lord is ſo much diſpleaſed with, as he tels them that hee will ſpue them out of his mouth; and ſurely there is nothing that favours more of licentiouſneſſe and careleſneſſe in Religion, and want of zeale to Gods glory in any men, then when they would bring in a toleration of all Religions: And many of them can report, that there is no Religion in Holland, where there is a toleration of all Religions, though it is well knowne that there are men in that Countrey of the native Dutch people, that are as zealous for the true Religion as any of them, and are as much deſirous that tolerations of all religions amongſt them were not there permitted, as they now wiſh a toleration of all Religions were ſuffered here amongſt us; for they find by experience that it is an occaſion of all prophaneſſe, and if they ſhould have there the like occaſions of civill combuſtions as wee have, through Gods diſpleaſure for our ſinnes and ingratitude towards him here in England, I am afraid they would find the toleration of all thoſe religions amongſt them, would prove an intolerable thing to p. 579them, if not the cauſe of the ruine of their whole Countrey. The Lord divert his judgements from them, and grant that they may never taſte of the miſeries that wee now are acquainted with, but for tolerating of Popery and Arminianiſme, and the prelaticall faction; and without doubt if the ſuffering but of theſe three has ſo diſpleaſed God, the tolerating of all would give him a juſt cauſe of his more hot indignation.

But now to anſwer to their Objections in order; the Heathens ſay the Independents, ſuffered Abraham, Iſaac and Iacob, and all the Patriarchs and the people of Iſrael where ever they came to exerciſe their owne religion, and tolerated all religions amongſt them. For anſwer, let them take notice, that no thanke is due to the Heathens for it (as we may ſee in Geneſis the 12. chap. and the 20. chap. and chap. 26.) but onelyonly the glory of that is to bee aſcribed to God, who reſtrained them when they intended evill againſt them; for hee appeared to ſome of them in viſions, and commanded them not to touch his anoynted people, and forbad them to doe his Prophets any harme, and by the ſpeciall bleſſings that hee rained downe upon his people, and by his miraculous preſerving of them in fiery furnaces and in Lyons dens, from the fury of Savage-beaſts, & delivering them ſo often out of the hands of all their enemies, he ſtruck ſuch a terror into the heathen nations, that they durſt not oppreſſe his people, ſo that the ſingular providence of God, who watcheth over them alwayes for good, was their ſhield and Buckler; ſo that what they did in tolerating them and their Religion, was not of their good nature, but it was Gods ſpeciall favour towards his own peculiar people, and for the maintenance of his owne cauſe, and that Religion which they had learned from him; and therefore thoſe heatheniſh examples are not for Chriſtians imitation to tolerate all Religions, who are bound to obey Gods commandements, and to follow the example of Abraham▪ Iſaac and Iacob, and all the holy Prophets and Apoſtles, who all of them have condemned the toleration of all Religions amongſt his people, and have denounced Gods judgements againſt them for ſo doing.

Againe, wee muſt conſider the principles of the heathen Philoſophers, and the practice of all wicked godleſſe Politicians in all ages; for the Philoſophers, though they were ſufficiently convinced by their naturall reaſon, that there was a God, and that p. 580this God was the Author of all good, and the puniſher of all evill, and therefore that he ought to be feared and ſerved of all nations and people, yet becauſe they by that naturall light of underſtanding (which was but darkeneſſe in them) could not comprehend what that infinite Majeſty and divine being and God-head was, and were not in themſelves able to ſet downe a deſcription of him, nor how to conceive of that inviſible Deity, nor what worſhip would be moſt pleaſing unto him (which they could never doe without God himſelfe had revealed himſelfe unto them as hee did to his owne people) they ſerved him after ſome traditions they had received from their Fathers, and left all nations, cities and families to ſerve God as they thought beſt, and according to their owne vaine imaginations; and for the Atheiſticall Politicians of all ages, all Religions are one to them, who never regard any one more than another, and therefore tolerate all for their owne baſe ends, and thinke it beſt for the enriching of all their countries (as the experience of all ages and hiſtor es can ſufficiently witneſſe) and many of them doe not refraine to ſay, that Religion was onelyonly brought into the world out of policy, and to keepe people in awe; ſo that God of his infinite goodneſſe having the ordering of all mens hearts in his hands, did ſo diſpoſe of all things, that by their owne principles they ſhould give toleration of all Religions in their ſeverall countries and juriſdictions, ſo that his people being ſcattered here and there through other nations by their ſinnes, yet found this favour, that they alſo for the moſt part enjoyed the liberty of their Religion (though they met ſometimes with moſt hot perſecutions) but all this is ever to be aſcribed to God alone (as I ſaid before) and to his overſwaying providence and guidance, who ever preſerved thoſe that truſt in him, and ſerved him according to his revealed will, though it be in Babylon it ſelfe, and therefore it is not to be attributed to the good nature of the Heathen, neither would that toleration now be tolerable in Chriſtians, who have learned Chriſt otherwiſe than to ſet up any Religion but that which he the King and Prophet of his Church hath taught them.

But now I will brieſly anſwer to what they pretend out of Scripture, and runne through the ſeverall Objections drawne from thence.

And firſt to begin with that of Ioſhua 21. where hee faith, p. 581chooſe you this day whom you will ſerve, &c. In theſe words, by their favour, there is no toleration of many Religions, for he was to follow the Law of God, and not to decline from it, either to the right hand or to the left, Ioſhua 1. and by that Law hee was forbid to ſuffer or tolerate any Religion but that which Moſes had taught them; and therefore thoſe words were a meere ſcrutiny, and to find out thoſe that were idolaters to puniſh them, as any wiſe governour may at any time make uſe of the like Querie, to find out men not well affected to Religion, or to their Countrey, that by this meanes they may be brought to condigne puniſhment: As if now any Officer or Commander under the Parliament ſhould ſay to a company of men that hee was jealous of, being deſirous to diſcover them and find them out, chooſe you this day who you will ſerve, whether the King or the Parliament, but for my ſelfe and my houſe wee will ſerve the Parliament: would not any by and by gather that hee ſpake this onelyonly to find out Malignants to puniſh them? Even ſo Joſhua a wiſe and religious governour did the ſame, not that hee ever intended to give them a toleration of all religions, for that had beene againſt the Law of God, and againſt their owne example; for in the 22. of Ioſhua, we reade that becauſe the people had built but an Altar on the other ſide of Iordan, they intended forthwith to make warre upon them (a preſident to teach Chriſtians that they may fight for their religion) and they had gone out to battell againſt them and had deſtroyed them, had they not given a ſatisfactory anſwer that they had no intent to bring in any innovation in Religion; and therefo…e this is but a poore cavill: Now for that they pretend out of Gamali…ls ſpeech, Acts 5. verſe 38, 39. where hee ſaith, Refraine from theſe men (ſpeaking of the Apoſtles) and let them alone, for if this counſell or this worke be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, leſt happily ye be found fighters againſt God: Ergo, all Religions are to be tolerated.

This Objection doth ſufficiently ſhew that our brethren the Independents that thus argue, may well be made fellowes of Gotham Colledge, as knowing not as yet their Primer in politicks, nor their Catechiſme in divinity: For who knowes not that it is as eaſie with God who is of infinite wiſedome, out of mens fooliſhneſſe to procure ſafety for his owne people, as it was for p. 582him, out of Achitophels wiſdome to bring deſtruction upon himſelfe, and to turne his wiſdome into fooliſhneſſe; for that which Gamaliel ſpake was neither as a wiſe man, nor as a Chriſtian; for he would never be thought a wiſe man that hearing of any commotion in the Kingdome, and had the power in his hands to ſuppreſſe it, ſhould ſay, if it be of men it will come to naught, but if it be of God, if we ſhal oppoſe it, we ſhall be found fighters againſt God, and therefore let us let them alone; would not all the world think this man a Ninny, that ſhould thus ſpeak, and a man unworthy to ſit in counſell in any State? whereas a wiſe man if he hears of any inſurrection, he will forthwith uſe the weapons of his right hand, and firſt ſeek God by prayer and in his Ordinances, and then betake himſelfe to the weapons of the left hand and uſe the ſword to ſuppreſſe them; and this man would be thought a wiſe man that ſhould ſo do; and not he that with Gamaliel ſhould ſay, if it be of men it will come to nought, and ſo let them go on to do miſchiefe: Neither did he anſwer as a Chriſtian; for what Chriſtian that ſhould hear of any new monſtrous Religion newly printed and newly come forth (as there are many at this day to be ſold about Town and Country for pence a piece) and ſhould underſtand that ſome of thoſe ancient hereſies were againe revived, as that of the Arians, Pelagians, or Neſtorians, ſhould ſay let them alone, for if they be of men they will come to nought, but if they be of God ye cannot overthrow them, leſt you will be found fighters againſt God, and ſo let the ſeducers go on without queſtioning them, or ſuppreſſing their hereſies; would not every man that hath any fear of God in him ſay, ſurely that man that ſhould thus anſwer, did not ſpeak like a Chriſtian? for a good Chriſtian like the good Bereans would ſay come let us ſit down and examine theſe new doctrines newly brought into the world by the holy Scriptures, and let us follow the example of the Apoſtles, Acts 15. in that aſſembly and ſearch the Scriptures, and if we finde them not to be grounded on the Word of God, nor to be of God, let us forthwith as God himſelfe hath commanded, ſuppreſſe them, and not ſay, without examining of them, as wiſe Gamaliel, let them alone; that was not God's method; for God ſent his people to the law and to the teſtimony, Iſaiah 8. and proclames that all that ſpeak not according to them, it is becauſe there is no light in them, and that all opinions not p. 583grounded on the Word, are but darkneſſe and error, and therefore they are not to be tolerated or ſuffered; ſo that for any man to gather a toleration of all Religions from Gamaliels ſpeech, is but to prove himſelfe a mee… groll; and as little to the purpoſe is that they urge out of the words of our Saviour, Matthew 22. where anſwering the Sadduces hee ſaith, Ye do erre not knowing the Scripture nor the power of God, verſe 29, From whence the Independent brethren conclude a toleration of all Religions; for our Saviour, ſay they, onelyonly convinced them of their error, and yet tolerated them and ſuffered them to enjoy the liberty of their conſcience.

I have heard many magnifie our Independent brethren for their great learning, ſome affirming that they were ſcholers from their mothers wombe, and for my part I beleeve it; for ignorance of God and of his holy Word came with all men from their mothers wombe, and if ſuch interpretations of Scripture and ſuch illations from them, as theſe be, proceed not from the ignorance of God and of the Scripture, never any did; for what learned man that knows what Chriſts office was in taking humane nature upon him, when he became a Mediator and the high Prieſt of our redemption, would argue as theſe men do? eſpecially when Chriſt hath ſo often in holy Scripture profeſſed of himſelfe that he came then to ſave thoſe th t were loſt, and not to judge the world; for he hath left that imployment till his next comming, when I am moſt aſſured theſe men will have a great deale to anſwer for, for ſo abuſing the holy Scriptures to maintaine their own baggatellies: Beſides, Chriſt came to keep the law for us which he himſelfe had given unto his people and took no way the office of a Judge upon him, but in ſcourging out the buyers and ſellers out of the Temple, that I remember, and ſaith, that he came not to break the bruiſed reed, or quench the ſmoking ſlax, onelyonly he had declared his laws unto his people, Malachy the fourth, by his ſervant Moſes, and the execution of theſe laws was put into the hands of the Elders of Iſrael, whoſe place it was to puniſh all ſeducers, and who ſhould have performed that work of juſtice which our Saviour declaring doth not give liberty for the tolerating of all Religions, which was againſt the revealed will of God; and therefore they that will out of this place argue a toleration of all Religions, may as well p. 584conclude, that Chriſt tolerated adultery and injuſtice, and all manner of wickedneſſe, becauſe our Saviour Chriſt ſaid unto thoſe that brought the Woman to him, that was found in the act of uncleanneſſe, he that is without ſinne amongſt you, let him caſt the firſt ſtone, and when her accuſers were gone, ſaid unto the Woman, Woman where are thy accuſers, goe thy way and ſinne no more. Ergo, Chriſt gave a toleration for all Adulterers: and when the young man in the 16. of Luke came to our Saviour and complayning of unjuſtice done unto him by his brother, and deſiring him to ſpeake unto his brother that he would divide the inheritance with him, to whom our Saviour anſwered, man, who made me a Judge or a Divider among you? ergo, Chriſt gave toleration of all injuſtice. And becauſe our Saviour Chriſt ſaid in that Parable of the good ſeed that was ſowne and of the tares that ſprung up, that they ſhould let them alone till the harveſt, an argument which they much depend on: Ergo, all wicked men are to be tolerated, and no juſtice to be done upon them till Dooms-day, and they are to live without moleſtation, and the Magiſtrate ought not to meddle with them, becauſe Chriſt ſaid, let the good corne and the tares grow together till the harveſt; who would not admire to heare any man thus to argue, that there ſhould be ſuch either folly or wickedneſſe in the heart of man, to abuſe the holy Scriptures for their owne ends? And who knowes not, that it is concluded amongſt all learned men, that Symbolica Theologia non eſt argumentutiva; and that the Parable inferres no more, but that it is not for any private man to take upon him the Magiſtrates office, or raſhly to intrude himſelfe into the place of Rulers and Governours: But truly all ſuch conſequences may as well be gathered from every one of the above ſpecified Scriptures, as they gather from our Saviours words to the Sadduces, and from the Parable of Chriſt for the tolerating of all Religions; and therefore all ſuch argumentations as theſe are but poore props to uphold their Tenent: for God hath given us that are chriſtians both the Law and the Goſpel, by which we ought to be guided in the ſerving of him, and by the which all Chriſtians are directed what courſe to take in the puniſhing of vice, and for the ſuppreſſing of errors and offenders, whether they be delinquents in doctrine or manners: And although Chriſtians by the Goſpel are freed from the ceremoniall Law, yet wee are not freed from the p. 585ſubſtance of it; for he that ſaid to the Iſraelites, be ye holy as I am holy, ſaith alſo to all Chriſtians, be ye holy as I am holy, 1 Pet. 1. ſo that although the ceremony be aboliſhed, yet the ſubſtance remaineth ſtill in force; and although the rigor of the judiciall law be taken away, and Chriſtians are not tyed to that manner of adminiſtration of juſtice, yet the equity of that law doth ſtill continue, and righteous judgements is every where amongſt all Chriſtians to be executed, and ſatisfaction to be made to all ſuch as have been unjuſtly damnified; and although we are freed from the curſe, malediction and coaction of the morall law, yet we are not freed from the obedience of it; ſo that whatſoever was commanded in it to the Iſraelites, or forbidden them, the ſame is both commanded and forbidden to all Chriſtians to the ends of the world, and whatſoever was death by the law of God and nature then, for ought I know ought to be puniſhed with death now amongſt Chriſtians, as blaſphemors, wizards, witches, idolaters, and all ſuch as deſpiſe Moſes law; under the mouth of two or three witneſſes, if they be people within the pale of the Church, and make profeſſion of the Chriſtian Religion, for Chriſtians have nothing to do with thoſe that are without to judge them except they offend againſt the civill and municipall laws of the Country and againſt the laws of nations and nature when they live amongſt them: for Chriſt came not to change the morall law, but to ratifie it in all things. And although the Sabbath be changed in reſpect of the day, yet for the holineſſe of the firſt day of the week (which is the Chriſtians Sabbath) and which is in place of it, I am confident it ought moſt carefully to be obſerved, and that the whole day ought in all ſanctity and holineſſe to be kept; and beſides the fourth Commandment for the ſanctification of a ſeventh day, we have the example of the Primitive Chriſtians and bleſſed Apoſtles, who alwayes had their meetings on the firſt day of the week, and ſpent the whole day in the duties of piety and charity; for in the 20, of the Acts we read, that on the firſt day of the week the Diſciples came together to break bread; that was for the hearing of the Word, and for the adminiſtration of the Sacraments, and for the exerciſing of all holy duties; and that Paul preached there untill midnight, and that when Eutichus was fallen downe with ſleepe, Paul reſtored him to life againe to all their comforts; ſo that here we have one preſident, that the whole p. 586Lords day wasſpent by all thoſe Chriſtians in the workes of piety and charity. Againe, in the firſt of the Revelations Saint John ſaith, that hee was in the Spirit on the Lords day, that is, the firſt day of the weeke, called by Saint Iohn the Lords day, and there the Angel preached unto him that day, and commanded Saint Iohn to take ſo much of his Sermon by writing, as God in his wiſedome thought fit to reveale unto his Church; and hee that ſhall diligently reade what is there written, will gather that the whole day was taken up by Saint Iohn, and ſpent in hearing, and writing and meditating of what hee had heard; for without doubt Saint Iohn made it his whole dayes worke to be ſpiritually imployed; and as the holy Communion is called the Lords Supper, and all the time of that action is holily to be imployed, as being ordained by Chriſt himſelfe to that end; even ſo the Lords day being a day dedicated unro Chriſt, and ordained by him for holy duties, and for the hearing of the Word, and for the adminiſtration of the Sacraments and prayer, the whole day ought both privately and publikely to bee taken up in the imployments and workes of piety and charity, as hearing, reading, meditating, prayer, repetition of Sermons in their Families, and catechizing and inſtructing their children and ſervants, ſinging of Pſalmes, in viſiting the ſicke and them that are in priſon; relieving the poore and neceſſitated, &c.

Theſe examples of the Primitive Chriſtians are for our imitation, for ſo Saint Paul in the third of the Philippians in the 17. verſe ſaith; Brethren, bee followers together of mee, and marke them which walke ſo, as ye have us for an example; for our converſation is in Heaven. And in the 4. chapter, verſe 8. hee ſaith, Finally brethren, whatſoever things are true, whatſoever things are honeſt, whatſoever things are juſt, whatſoever things are pure, whatſoever things are lovely, whatſoever things are of good report; if there be any vertue, if there be any prayſe, thinke on theſe things: Thoſe things which ye have both learned and received, and heard, and ſeene in me▪ doe, and the God of peace ſhall bee with you. By the which teſtimonies to omit many more, we are tyed to follow the examples of the Apoſtles, and to imitate them in all that is holy and good, and of good report; now it is prayſe worthy and of good report to ſpend the whole Lords day in holy imployments, and wee have the Apoſtles examples, and the Primitive p. 587Chriſtians for ſo doing, and therefore wee ought to ſpend the whole Lords day in the workes of piety and charity; and by this the ſanctifying of the Chriſtian Sabbath, (which is every ſeventh day) is ratified; the prophanation of the which in the reformed Churches, and in many places through theſe three Kingdomes has beene one of the cauſes of all thoſe heavie judgements the whole Chriſtian world now groanes under, and ſo much more would the Lord bee provoked by the toleration of all Religions amongſt us, which would give juſt occaſion of violating of all the Commandements of God, and of diſobedience both to God and man; for it is moſt ſure, that the Morall Law is not altered in any thing for ſubſtance, and that God that by it injoyned but one Religion to the Iſraelites, and commanded them to keepe that pure and undefiled, and to puniſh all Idolaters, Blaſphemers and Seducers, hath injoyned the ſame to all Chriſtians, and hath not ſuffered or permitted them to tolerate all Religions or any ſects or hereſies, which by the Apoſtle in the fifth of the Galatians are called the workes of the devill, who declareth there alſo that they that do them ſhall not enter into the Kingdom of God. So that thoſe that would bring in a toleration of all Religions have a deſire to ſend men to the devill; which is one of the greateſt impieties and wickedneſſes that can bee perpetrated by the ſonnes of men. Truly if God had ſuch a care for the preſerving of the very natural life of man, that chariſſimum animal, as hee made a Law that it ſhould be death in any to tolerate or ſuffer any beaſt to goe at liberty and range abroad, if he killed a man, after he had beene told and forewarned of it that it was a dangerous creature, as wee may ſee Exod. 21. 28, 29. where the Lord thus ſpeaketh; If an Oxe gore a man, or a woman, that they dye, then the Oxe ſhall be ſurely ſtoned, and his fleſh ſhall not be eaten: but the Owner of the Oxe ſhall bee quit. But if the Oxe were wont to puſh with his horne in time paſt, and it hath beene testified unto his owner, and hee hath not kept him in but that hee hath killed a man or a woman; the Oxe ſhall bee ſtoned, and his Owner alſo ſhall bee put to death. I ſay if the wilfull tolerating of but a miſchievous creature to goe looſe after his owner was informed of the dangerouſneſſe of it, and that the owner himſelfe was to be put to death if hee killed either a man or a woman after it; how much more may wee thinke the Lord will ſeverely puniſh thoſe men that will ſuffer hereſies, and p. 588moſt dangerous and blaſphemous opinions and idolatries to goe at liberty, which with their hornes puſh men into hell it ſelfe to the deſtroying both of the ſoules and bodies of the poore people: for in the fifth of the Galatians it is ſaid, that he…eſies and idolatrie, &c. are amongſt thoſe ſinnes that ſend men to perdition. And we are informed by the Law of God of the deadlineſſe of all ſinnes, but eſpecially of thoſe there named; and God hath often taught us in his holy Law how much hee deteſteth all falſe religions, and falſe worſhips, and by a ſpeciall edict, Exod. 22. verſe 20. hath informed us ſaying, He that ſacrificeth unto any God ſave the Lord ſhall bee put to death, ſo that wee cannot pretend ignorance; and here is no exceptions of either perſons or ſexes; and the ſame Law is reiterated in many more places of holy Writ, and eſpecially Deuter 13. where the whole Chapter is ſpent about the puniſhment of Idolaters, and ſuch as ſet up a falſe way of worſhipping God: and for the Morall Law many of the Independents themſelves as I can out of ſeverall of their writings prove, hold that it is not alterable, but it is of the ſame force now it was then; and if they grant this as they doe, they muſt likewiſe acknowledge that all the ſanctions of it and penalties are alſo in force, and that whatſoever was death by the Law of God then, is by the ſame Law death n…w; or elſe either God is changeable, or the Law is altered, both which I have yet ſo good opinion of ſome of them as I am confident they will not aſſert: and therefore they muſt neceſſarily yeeld unto this, if God and his Morall worſhip or Law bee the ſame and unalterable, they muſt I ſay then alſo accord unto this, that whatſoever was not then to be tolerated in Religion, is not now to be ſuffered, but ſeverely be proceeded againſt. Ye…, Chriſt himſelfe in his Epiſtles to the Church of Pergamos and Thyatiria and Laodic…a, Rev. 2. and 3. as I proved before, ſhews by threatning ſuch heavie judgements upon thoſe Churches for but conniving at and tolerating of Idolatry, and thoſe other filthy abominations there, and by threatning with all their deſtruction, and the killing of them and their children with the ſword, and the removing from them the Candleſtick, that is the Goſpel, the greateſt puniſhment that can happen to people to be left in darkeneſſe and blindneſſe, and in the ſhaddow of death, and in the power of Satan, and to be puniſhed moreover with temporall miſeries; I ſay all theſe comminations and threats ſufficiently declare unto all p. 589adviſed Chriſtians that Chriſt the Lord and King of his Church hath not altered his mind, but that that Law is ſtill in force that was made by him to his people of old; yea, hee hath farther declared unto hi… people, Matth. 5. 17. 19. that hee came not to change the Law but to fulfill it, and that whoſoever ſhould teach the breaking of the leaſt of his holy Lawes ſhould be the leaſt in the Kingdome of Heaven

Now by all thoſe his holy Lawes made unto his people of old, and by the practiſe of all his holy ſervants and Prophets hee hath declared how much hee deteſteth and abhorreth the toleration of all Religions, and not onelyonly by his words often reiterated, but hee hath alſo declared his diſpleaſure by the puniſhment and immediat judgements hee laid upon Idolaters, as that before mentioned in the two and thirtieth of Exodus, where Moſes from the Lord, verſe 32. ſaid, Who is on the Lords ſide? let him come unto mee▪ and the ſonnes of Levi gathered themſelves together unto him, and hee ſaith unto them, thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael, put every man his ſword by his ſide, and goe out from gate to gate through the Campe, and ſlay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour: here wee find according to that of Deut. the thirteenth, that in Gods quarrell, and for the vindicating of his honour wee may neither ſpare brother, companion or nigheſt alyes. So that if God would not then tolerate all Religions, hee will now much leſſe indure it amongſt us, eſpecially when hee hath ſo often manifeſt his diſpleaſure againſt us, as wee may ſee alſo Number the …5. where it is recorded how much hee was angery with his people for going into the ſacrifices of the gods of the Moabites, and for their eating and bowing downe to their gods, and for joyning themſelves with Baalpeor: for it is ſaid there, that the anger of the Lord was kindled againſt Iſrael, and hee ſaid unto Moſes, take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord againſt the ſunne, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Iſrael; and Moſes ſaid unto the Iudges of Iſrael, ſ…ay y… every one his men that were joyned unto Baalpeor, verſe 2. 3, 4 5. This preſident alſo wee have of Gods diſpleaſure againſt a toleration of any falſe Religion, or falſe way of worſhip. So that all ſuch as ple…d for a toleration of all Religions ſhew that they have either no Religion at all, or very little zeale for God. Yea, certainely they ſhew themſelves all enemies p. 590of Chriſts Kingdome, that thus violate his Lawes, and trample them under their feet, and that would have the Kingdome of the Devill ſet up every where, and all Religions whatſoever tolerated amongſt them, which muſt needs provoke the Lord to anger and diſpleaſure againſt that nation that doth ſo provoke him.

But how unſufferable a thing then is it in any that have the name of Chriſtians, that when they ſhould with all their power and might oppoſe all innovations in Religion, much more a toleration of all Religions, as ſome of them with the hazard of their lives and liberties in former times oppoſed the innovations and the novelties of the Prelates, and inveighed againſt the Booke for toleration of ſports and recreations on the Lords day, and cryed out againſt it as an intolerable violating of Gods Law, and aſſerted that it was enough to provoke the Lord to anger againſt the whole Land, and write bookes and divine Tragedies upon Sabbathbreakers, and Profaners of the Lords day, and thoſe that permitted the profanation of it, which with the godly of thoſe times was reputed their immortall honour: how unſufferable a thing therefore is it I ſay now in theſe very men to pleade for a toleration of all Religions that could not then tolerate ſports on the Lords day, by which not onelyonly the fourth commandement would be brake, but all the commandements of both of the firſt and ſecond Table? without doubt they have a great deale to anſwer for before God; for by the doctrine wee have learned from our Law giver and King the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, (who is not changeable though they be) they that breake the leaſt ef Gods commandements, and teach men ſo to doe (whatſoever they eſteeme of themſelves, that they ſet up Chriſt upon his Throne, and whatſoever opinion men have of them) they are the leaſt in the Kingdome of Heaven, and have much to anſwer for before his Tribunall, for theſe their wicked dealings; and truly it exceedingly ſaddeth my heart when I think of them how fearefully they are fallen, and what a ſcandall and blemiſh they are to their holy profeſſion that thus Chamelion like change their forme upon every occaſion.

But how much more is it intolerable then in thoſe men that have the name of Rabbies amongſt thoſe of the congregationall way, and that would make the world beleeve they are the onelyonly Saints; for thoſe to make themſelves merry when the godly and faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpell out of ſorrow p. 591and griefe of ſoul ſpread before the Lord the blaſphemies of the times as good Hezekiah did the blaſphemies of Rahſhekah, that it may move the people to mourning and ſackcloth, and to humble themſelves under the mighty hand of God for the diver…ing of his Judgements that do for theſe their blaſphemous tenents hang over the land; I ſay how intolerable a thing is it in ſuch men to make a ſport at it, and as Solomon ſpeaks of the wicked in his time, (whom he calls fools to make a mock at ſin? Yet ſuch there are, as Cretenſis by name amongſt the reſt is one of them who makes himſelfe merry at theſe blaſphemies and writes books in juſtification of thoſe wicked and ungodly men, and calls their damnable practices the infirmities of the Saints, accoūting of them as Saints and holy men; whereas the good and zealous Prophet Ieremiah, ch. 9. cryeth out at the beholding the abominations of his times, far inferio to thoſe of our dayes, ſaying, Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of teares, that I might weep day and night for the ſlain of the Daughters of my people. Oh that I had in the wilderneſſe a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people and go from them, for they be all adulterers, an aſſembly of treacherous men: And they bend their tongue like their bow for lyes: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth, and they know not me ſaith the Lord. Here we ſee the poſture of the holy Prophet, we find him armed and clad with mourning to behold the profanation of the truth, and we have here alſo his great complaint, that at that time there were not any valian for it upon the earth If now this glorious Prophet were in the world, and amongſt us here in England, and ſhould behold thoſe damnable blaſphemies that are every where ven…ed by the ſons of Belial in theſe times & ſhould ſee how few upon the earth are valiant for the truth, yea how they labour for a toleration of all Religions how would his ſpirit be moved & how would his ſoul be perplexed within him to ſee it? and what fountains of tears would he pou e out to the Lord quenching of the fire of his wrath and indignation againſt them? but how much more would it perplex and trouble h…s ſoul to ſee any that ſhould write, yea publiſh books wherein they do not onelyonly make themſelves merry at thoſe blaſpnemies and count them the infirmities of the Saints, but proclame them Saints that perpet…ate all theſe wickedneſſes, and write moſt ſcurrilous …ailing and vilifying books and Pamphlets p. 592againſt his holy ſervants that are valiant for the truth, counting them (ſpeaking diſgracefully and contemptibly of them) but thimbles full of duſt? without all controverſie it would ſad his ſoul to the very death, and ſo indeed it ſhould trouble the ſouls of thoſe that are truly godly to behold ſuch lawleſſe wickedneſſe not only to go unpuniſhed, but to find favor and applauſe even of thoſe that are Maſters of the Aſſemblies! Truly howſoever out of the infinite patience of God theſe men are yet ſuffered, yet I am moſt confident he that wil come, wil come and not tarry to reveng his own quarrel & the quarrel of his ſervants that are valiant for the Truth. And I wil take the liberty to ſay thus much to St Cretenſis, that reverend learned and ever to be honoured Maſter Thomas Edwards who he ſo much vilipendeth and ſlighteth, calling him a thimble full of duſt, will walk like a noble lyon, when he like a Curr or Bandogg ſhall go bawling by him; and withall I would adviſe him to take heed of that thimble: For two or three fillips more of it upon his great noddle may ſo ſtagger him as he may happily never recover again; and for ought I know or can diſcerne God may make halfe a thimble full of that duſt to put out his eyes, and the eyes of half the Independents and Sectaries in England; For moſt aſſured I am that all ſuch as in the name of the Lord, (as he doth) come out againſt ſuch notorious enemies of God and his Truth as Cretenſis and his aſſociates are, will be able to confound them all and by the power of his might be ever ſtrong enough to deal with the whole Army of them, and with all thoſe grolls and …ynnies that take their part and appeare in their wicked cauſe: I will therefore rather adviſe Cretenſis not gyant like to fight any longer againſt the Truth, but to humble himſelfe for what he hath already done under the mighty hand of God, whom he with his complices & abetters have ſo highly provoked to wrath and anger againſt this poor tottering Kingdome. It is not Cretenſis with all his foul language ſhall ever be able to beſpatter the immaculate reputation of learned and godly Maſter Edwards who hath in Gods cauſe ever ſhewed himſelfe valiant for the truth and ſtood in the gap againſt the errors of the times, and hath lift up his voice like a trumpet, which will be for his immortall praiſes, when too too many of his brethren (which will not be for their honour) were ſilent. We finde it Matthew 13. ver. 24, 25. When the man had ſowed good ſeed in his field, that whiles the men ſlept, his enemy p. 593came and ſowed Tares among the Wheat and went his way; which place is worthy to be taken notice of: For in terminis it is ſaid, that whiles the men ſlept, this, I ſay, is to be taken notice of for their diſhonour, that is to ſay, after they had ſo wen the good ſeed and publiſhed the truth, the Miniſters and Preachers grew careleſſe and like the people of Laiſh, Judges 18. ver. 7. and 10. Where they lived ſecure and the Magiſtrates were negligent in their place, putting no man to ſhame for any evill they did, which was the cauſe of their overthrow as it is there recorded, and will be of ours and the ruine of the whole Kingdome, if not timely prevented, as being guilty of the ſame crime. This indeed through the craft of the enemies hath bin one of the principalleſt occaſions of the overſpreading of this leproſie of all the hereſies that now ſwarm through the whole Kingdome, that the Miniſters have not been ſo zealous and ſervent againſt them as they ſhould have been, and ſo valiant for the truth, in the which guiltineſſe Maſter Edwards is not involved: for he hath all this time ſtood valiantly to the truth and ſhew'd himſelfe a man of …ourage, and that againſt all oppoſition, for which he deſerveth eſpecially to be honoured, and all thoſe likewiſe that have ſeconded him, in diſcovering the danger of thoſe devilliſh and damnable doctrines which have ſo poyſoned the people every where, that if the Lord of his infinite goodneſſe do not ſpeedily ſend helpe and put into the hearts both of Magiſtrates, Miniſters and all the people now at laſt to rouſe up themſelves and ſhew themſelves valiant for the truth once delivered to the Saints which they are commanded to contend for, Jude 3. they will but the more provoke the Lord to indignation againſt the Nation. And in this good work they ſhould ſet before their eyes the good example of all thoſe worthy Kings and Governours whoſe names are recorded in holy writ to their everlaſting honour for their diligence and care in ſuppreſſing of Errors and Idolatries; withall they ſhould lay to heart and conſider that it highly concernes them, if they deſire the good of themſelves and the welfare of their poſterity and the peace of the whole land, all which they will be deprived of if they ſpeedily labour not to prevent them; which a toleration of all Religions can never do; for that muſt needs provoke the Lord to jealouſie againſt us all: for if we but duly weigh what the holy Ghoſt hath made known unto us in many places, then that I now ſay will be out of doubt: but omitting p. 594many places I will pitch upon one or two, Judges 5, and 8. it is ſaid there, They choſe new gods, then was warr in the gates. Here we ſee when all Religions came to be tolerated, then was war in the gates. And in the ſecond of the Chronicles, chap. 15. ver. 3. 5, 6. Now for a long ſeaſon (ſaith the holy Ghoſt) Iſrael hath been without a true God, and without a teaching Prieſt, and without Law. And in thoſe times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Country. And Nation was deſtroyed of Nation, and City of City, for God did vex them with all adverſity.

Now the cauſe of all theſe miſeries and calamities that did come upon all theſe people was for their corrupting of their Religion. And this we ſhall find through the whole Scripture to be the cauſe of the wrath of God upon the Nations for the corrupting of their wayes and for the tolerating of Idolatry, and the adulterating of the true Religion amongſt them, as is ſufficiently manifeſt both from the places above ſpecified, and from the ſecond and third of the Revelations where the Lord denounceth Judgements againſt the Church of Pergamos and Thyatira, &c. for but conniving at and tolerating of the falſe doctrines amongſt them; in the which places as the Lord ſheweth, he is the ſame in the time of the New Teſtament, not changeable, ſo it ſhould leſſon both people and Miniſters, but eſpecially the Magiſtrates now to add their helping hand for the ſuppreſſing of theſe damnable and wicked doctrines that are now every where too much divulged and publiſhed. They ſhould alſo conſider what the Lord ſaith, Zachariah 13. ver. 3. And it ſhall come to paſſe (ſaith the Prophet) that when any ſhall yet propheſie, then his father and his mother that bare him, ſhall ſay unto him, Thou ſhalt not live: for thou speakſt lyes in the Name of the Lord: and his father and mother, that begat him, ſhall thrust him through when he propheſieth. Here we may take notice that the nigheſt alyes and kindred of any falſe Prophet are not to ſpare him; and there is moſt excellent reaſon for it; for if the taking away of the naturall life of any wan or woman deſerveth death by the law of God and Nations; how much more is that puniſhable in any man that ſhall labour to deſtroy and poyſon the ſoules of the people, which all falſe teachers do when they ſpread hereſies and damnable doctrines amongſt them? And for this place out of Zachariah, it is acknowledged by the very Independents p. 595themſelves that it is a Prophecy pertaining to thoſe that are under the Goſpell and belongeth unto all Chriſtians, as inſtructing them in their duty what they ſhould do for the ſuppreſſing of falſe Prophets; and they alſo do acknowledg that the eſtabliſhing of pure Religion, and the Reformation of corruptions in Religion, do much concerne the civill peace, confeſſing if Religion be corrupted there will be war in the gates, and where Religion rejoyceth, the civill ſtate flouriſheth; all this I ſay the Independents themſelves accord unto. But they referre it and that truly unto the civill Magiſtrate partly by commanding and by ſtirring up the Churches and Miniſters thereof to go about it, in their ſpirituall way: partly alſo, by civill puniſhments upon the wilfull oppoſers and diſturbers of the ſame. Yea they apply that place out of Zachariah quoted by me to the times of the New Teſtament (as I ſaid before) and confeſſe that it is propheſied there that in ſome caſes capitall puniſhment ſhall proceed againſt falſe Prophets, and that by procurement of their neereſt kindred. And moreover they ſay that the execution thereof is deſcribed Revel. 16. v. 4, to the 7. Where the Rivers and Fountains of waters (that is the Preiſts and Jeſuites that convey the Religion of the Sea of Rome throughout the Countries) are turned to blood, that is have blood given them to drink by the Civill Magiſtrate. Theſe are the very expreſſions of the Independents themſelves.

Now if this in their opinion doe hold true againſt the Prieſts and Ieſuits? whether it doth not alſo hold true againſt all the erroneous and blaſphemous Sectaries and hereticall Teachers, that by murthering the ſoules of many thouſand innocent people, ſend them to the Devill, that I leave to the grave conſideration of all thoſe that are zealous for the glory of God, and valiant for the truth, and to all ſuch as deſire to contend for the truth: who ought ever to ſet before their eyes the example of all thoſe godly Princes and Magiſtrates, the names of which are recorded in holy Writ; and in ſpeciall it will be good to conſider what Aſa and the people of his time did, whoſe prayſes are ſet downe, and what good followed upon it to the whole Land, 2 Chron. 15. verſe 12, 13. it is ſaid there, That they entered into a Covenant to ſeeke the Lord God of their Fathers, with all their heart, and with all their ſoule, that whoſoever would not ſeeke the Lord God of Iſrael, ſhould be put to death, whether ſmall or great, whether man or woman; p. 596and they ſwore unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with ſhouting, and with Trumpets, and with Cornets, and all Judah rejoyced at the oath; for they had ſworne with all their heart, and ſought him with their whole deſire, and hee was found of them: and the Lord gave them reſt round about. Here wee may take notice of theſe two things eſpecially.

The firſt, that this their covenanting againſt all ſuch as ſhould goe about to corrupt Religion, for the puniſhing of them with death, is left not onelyonly for their eternall honour and praiſe, and for our imitation, but that it did ſo pleaſe the Lord that he was found of them.

The ſecond thing obſervable, is, that hee did in a peculiar manner bleſſe them, and gave them reſt round about: ſo that from thence wee learne, that if Magiſtrates who are Gods Miniſters, and whoſe place it is, will execute judgement againſt all Seducers and blaſphemous Teachers, by this they ſhall bring glory to God, and procure peace and welfare to their Countries, and ſafety to their dwellings. And truly Magiſtrates ſhould conſider their places who are called gods, and therefore as God hath ſet them an example both in Exod. 32. and Numb. the 25. the places above cited, in puniſhing Idolators, ſo they alſo ſhould follow him and the example of good King Aſa in ſo doing. They may remember alſo they are called nurſing Fathers, and nurſing Mothers: and therefore as nurſing and tender Fathers and Mothers will not ſuffer corrupt and poyſonous food be given to their children, but kill Serpents and Scorpions, and ſuch venemous creatures, and deſtroy them that may hurt them; ſo they likewiſe ſhould labour in their particular places to root out all that Generation of Vipers that poyſon the people with their hereticall and blaſphemous doctrine. The Magiſtrates ſhould remember alſo, that they are called Paſtors; now no godly and carefull Paſtors will ſuffer Wolves to come into their folds to worry and deſtroy their ſheep; how diligent ought they likewiſe to be to keep out thoſe ravenous wolves, though they come in ſheeps clothing, out of their ſeverall Paſtures, that would deſtroy the ſoules of all their ſheepe? all theſe things I ſay all Magiſtrates ſhould lay to heart and duly conſider; for their place it is to whom God hath committed the ſword, and who ought to watch over the people for good, and whoſe neglecting of their duty will be laid to their charge, and who are to p. 597anſwer for it before God, if through their con nivence or negligence any evill happen to the people. But if they ſhould wilfully ſuffer the corruption of the true Religion, and allow of a toleration of all Religions, how much would this provoke the Lord to anger againſt the nation? Wee may ſee how zealous good Nehemiah was in his time, and how undauntedly hee ſtood to the cauſe of God, ſaying, ſhould ſuch a man as I am fly? he was reſolved to maintaine Gods truth, which was his Honour to Eternity, and for all Magiſtrates imitation, Nehemiah the 13. verſe 23, 24, 25. who but ſeeing that the Iewes had married wives of Aſhdod, of Ammon, and of Moab, and but hearing their children speake halfe …in the ſpeech of Aſhdod, and could not ſpeake in the Iewes language, but according to the language of each people, it is related there that hee contented with them, and reviled or curſed them, and ſmote certaine of them, and pluckt off their haire, and made them ſware by God, ſaying▪ ye ſhal not give your daughters unto their ſonnes, nor take their daughters unto your ſonnes, or for your ſelves; did not Solomon King of Iſrael ſinne by theſe things, who was beloved of God? nevertheleſſe, even him did out-landiſh women cauſe to ſinne. Shall we then hearken unto you (ſaith he) to doe all this great evill, to tranſgreſs againſt our God in marrying of ſtrange wives?

Here wee have an example and patterne for all Chriſtian Magiſtrates, and ſuch as are in authority to follow. For this was pend for our inſtruction, upon whom the ends of the world are come. This example of Nehemiah was wont greatly to be urged upon Chriſtians for imitation, and that by thoſe of the congregationall way, and therefore I hope they will not now be diſpleaſed, that I make uſe of it upon the like occaſion, and Magiſtrates were called upon by them to follow the patterne of noble and glorious Nehemiah, in making a through Reformation in all things, and for ſuppreſſing of all errors and innovations in Religion, and in that hee would not ſuffer or tolerate any ſtrange Religion amongſt them; for hee but hearing they ſpeake the language of Aſhdod, curſed them and reviled them, and ſmote them, and beate them alſo for it, and tore off the very haire of their faces, ſo that hee laid ſevere corporall puniſhment upon them for it. Now if hee would not ſuffer them in his ſight and hearing to ſpeake the language of Aſhdod, hee would never have granted them a toleration of all Religions; for hee was another Ioſhua, fully reſolved p. 598that hee and his houſhold, and all that were under his command ſhould ſerve the Lord, and him onelyonly, and that after his way; and hee ſufficiently there declareth his deteſtation againſt a toleration of all Religions, or of giving the people an indulgence to ſerve God which way they thought beſt, and to uſe the liberty of their conſciences, for hee made them all to imbrace the true Religion, and to worſhip God according as hee had commanded in his holy word, which is meant by that hee made them ſweare by God, which as all the learned know, is ever in the holy Scripture to be underſtood of the true worſhip of God. Now we ſee godly Nehemiah not onelyonly urges them to imbrace the true Religion, and to ſerve God according as hee himſelfe hath appointed, by Arguments and Reaſons, ſetting before them the miſeries and calamities that came upon the whole land by Solomons tolerating of all Religions amongſt them: but gallant Nehemiah reviled them, as if hee ſaid, you rogues, doe you ſpeake in the language of Aſhdod, and then cudgels them into the true Religion, and forces them by ſtripes, and corporall puniſhments to imbrace it, which is recorded to his immortall praiſe, and for all Chriſtian Magiſtrates imitation; ſo that he abhorred the toleration of all Rel gions: and as David would not ſuffer a Lyar in his houſe, ſo good Nehemiah would not ſuffer any of a contrary Religion to be under his government; hee had learned this Leſſon from God himſelfe, Deut. 4. and Deut. 6▪ and Deut. 11. & Deut. 13. &c. This renowned Governour and Magiſtrate was not affraid to conſtraine them to doe that which was for the glory of God, and according to his will, and for the good of their owne ſoules, and for the good of the whole Land, and the ſafety and peace of them all: and yet I beleeve Nehemiah knew as well what belonged unto tender conſciences as any Independents now living, and hee underſtanding that the heart of man was deceitfull above all things, and desperately wicked, Jer. 17. v. 9. & that conſcience being but a branch ſpringing from that deceitfull and deſperately wicked root, knew alſo that there could be nothing in it but evill, & that continually, and therefore tooke that liberty upon him to conſtraine their wicked conſciences to conforme to the commandements of God, and to ſubmit themſelves to his moſt holy Lawes and Statutes, and to that way of worſhip God had injoyned his people, which is the duty of all Parents and Magiſtrates, who by Gods command and p. 599this example of good Nehemiah's may at any time uſe the rod of correction, and by it make rebellious and ſtubborne children and people conforme themſelves to the commandements of the Lord, and to his true worſhip, and this duty they are bound unto by the Law of God if they urge them to nothing but what God hath declared to be his will in his bleſſed Word. And truly it is not to be paſſed over without ſerious taking notice of it, how zealous this good Nehemiah was againſt all ſinne and falſe worſhip, and how adverſe hee was to a toleration of all religions under his government; for hearing them ſpeake but the language of Aſhdod, hee by and by reviled them, and fell about their eares, and forthwith conſtrained them, and that by ſtripes to embrace the true worſhip of God. But if this good Nehemiah were now living here amongſt us, and ſhould heare not onelyonly the language of Aſhdod, but the language of hell out of every mouth, and ſee the abominable practiſes of the Sectaries of our times, and ſhould heare their helliſh and blaſphemous and hereticall doctrines of denying the Trinity, and the Deity of Chriſt, and ſlighting the holy Scriptures, and many ſuch deſperate doctrines, how may wee thinke would his righteous ſoule be troubled with it? and how would hee beſtirre him in cudgelling theſe fellowes into the true Religion, and making of them ſerve God according to his own appointment, and not after their own fantaſies as they all now doe? without all controverſie good Nehemiah would baſte them to the purpoſe, and all ſuch as ſhould ſide with them, and eſpecially hee would belabour all ſuch well as ſhould write bookes in defence of ſuch, and ſhould call them Saints, and their damnable blaſphemies the infirmities of the Saints. I ſay I am moſt confident that were good Nehemiah in our times, and had hee that authority hee had then in Ieruſalem, hee would baſte them all to ſome purpoſe, and make, and force them by cudgelling of them to be conformable to wholeſome words; and I am moſt aſſured, he would pull off Cretenſis his blew beard, qui ne pilum boni viri habet, and knock him ſoundly about his hairy ſcalp; And St. Quarter-man alſo he would have ſome good ſlaps as he deſervs over his great pate, & all the reſt of theſe hereticall & dangerous Sectaries would by him be conſtrained with beatings to yeeld obedience to the authority of Gods word, and hee would make them know themſelves; and this indeed is the duty and place of all Magiſtrates and Parents, and p. 600Maſters of Families, neither to ſuffer or tolerate ſuch fellows in their houſes nor Countries; for this would but bring judgements upon the land, much more ought every man to deteſt all ſuch as ſhould labour to bring in a toleration of all Religions, when we ſee what miſery came upon all Iſrael by Solomons toleration of them there.

But the Independents ſay there is no preſidents of any corporall puniſhment layd upon any under the New Teſtament for matter of Religion that Magiſtrates ſhould follow: but I conceive the example of our Saviour may ſuffice for their imitation, Who Joh. 2. whipped the buyers and ſellers out of the Temple for merchandizing there; and therefore laid corporall puniſhments upon them. And truly if the Magiſtrates now ſhould whip all the buyers and ſellers of their new and blaſphemous doctrines out of their ſeverall new Temples and Churches, I am confident it would be very pleaſing unto God, and Chriſts example would juſtifie and hold them out in this their ſo doing: for who can they better imitate then the King of his Church? Yea we ſee corporall puniſhment threatned againſt the Church of Pergamos and Thyatira, &c. and afterwards inflicted upon them by God himſelf for ſuffering thoſe falſe Prophets and Teachers amongſt them. Yea we ſee Act. 13. that Barieſus for but labouring to hinder the Proconſull from hearing the Goſpell, was by Paul ſtrucken with blindneſſe for it by God himſelfe, to teach all Magiſtrates that thoſe deſerve puniſhment that hinder the preaching of the faith; but much more thoſe that corrupt it ought to be puniſhed. And we have another example of corporall puniſhment; for when there was no Magiſtrate to puniſh thoſe exorciſts, thoſe ſonns of Sceva, the Lord ſuffered the devill which could not enter into a ſwine without his permiſſion, to be his executioner and to lay corporall puniſhment upon them for abuſing his name and his authority: All which may teach all men how much God is diſpleaſed with all ſuch as corrupt his worſhip and ſervice, and would bring in a toleratiou of all Religions, and may ſerve to inſtruct all Magiſtrates in their duty for the puniſhing of all falſe and herericall Teachers and Seducers.

And truly, if ever there were a time that called for an eſtabliſhment of one Religion and a ſetled Government with Uniformity in a Church and State, and a Suppreſſion of all Hereſies, Sects and p. 601Factions from the Magiſtrates hand and a puniſhing of all falſe Teachers, now it is, when by the ſad effects already of diviſions and variety of opinions, we may well perceive what ruine will come upon the three Kingdomes, if there be a toleration of all Religions granted: for diviſions and factions, eſpecially in Religion, have been fatall to Kingdomes and Commonwealth in all ages, as the holy Scriptures and all Hiſtories relate. The conſideration of which makes me take the liberty to recite a ſtory I heard of a great Nobleman in Queen Elizabeths dayes at her firſt comming to the Crown, when there was a mighty Popiſh faction in the Court and through the whole Realm as all men know, and when there was as great an indeavour for the bringing in of a toleration of that Religion, as now there is for the ſetting up a Pantheon of all manner of Sects. And ſuch reaſons there were then given for the eſtabliſhing of the Catholique Religion (as they called it,) as I beleeve (if they ſhould all be rehearſed) there is few of thoſe that now plead for a toleration of all, can give the like; but better I am moſt confident they cannon give. For if multitudes of a contrary opinion armed with ſtrength & power alſo, and they all furniſhed with malice and reſolution to put them upon the imployment of their ſtrength, had been able to create danger to the Kingdome if the liberty of their conſciences ſhould have been denyed unto them, then there was nothing wanting to terrifie a State to condeſcend to grant a toleration: but all this could not then prevail, nor all the art of perſwaſion they then uſed as that men of a contrary judgement were rather to be won with ſweetneſſe and lenity and loving perſwaſions and arguments and reaſons, then by any coercive way which often brought danger unto Kingdoms, & many arguments more with great worldly wiſdom were then produced, which with many that were reall Proteſtants and then in …ouncel ſeemed of ſome weight: but at that time there was a brave Nobleman preſent and a man of great underſtanding and as they uſually call ſuch a great Stateſman; but yet ſuch an one as was never taken notice of to be any great zealot for Religion on either ſide. Yet he demanding of the Councell that was then in debate about this buſineſſe (the greateſt part of which ſeemed to make profeſſion of the Proteſtant Religion and ſomething incline to yeeld unto a toleration) whether or no, they thought the Proteſtant Religion was the true Religion, and that way of ſerving God that he p. 602had appointed; and the moſt of them replyed, that they from their hearts and ſouls beleeved, that it was Gods Religion, and that which was taught in the holy Scriptures: Then ſaid this Nobleman, my Lords, ſet up and eſtabliſh that Religion only and no other, do you your duty and labour to authorize it; and your life for mine, God will help you to maintain his own honour and cauſe, againſt what power and policy ſoever ſhall come againſt you; for he can infatuate their counſell and enervate their ſtrength and blaſt all their attempts in a moment, who is all-ſufficient, and againſt whom no counſell nor underſtanding can prevail; for he ſitteth in Heaven and doth whatſoever he pleaſeth; for as there is no Lord or Maſter that can indure any ſervant, that ſhall comply with his enemies & give equall honour and ſervice to his adverſary that he doth to himſelf, or connive at any ſo doing; ſo God will never like of your ſervice when you worſhip him, if ye ſerve the devill alſo; which you muſt do if you ſet up any other Religion or any other Religion or any other way of Church Government in the Kingdome, then that you beleeve in your hearts God himſelfe hath appointed: for as two Religions ſo contrary one to another are incompitible with the glory and honour of God, who hath ſaid, No man can ſerve two Maſters; ſo they will be deſtructive to the ſafety of the Kingdome. And therefore my Lords, ſaith he, as we have but one God, ſo I beſeech your honours, let us have but one Religion in the Kingdome and one kinde of Church Government amongſt us, and that ratified and eſtabliſhed by authority: for if their be a liberty left for every man or every faction to do what they pleaſe, we ſhall ſpeedily bring down the judgements of God upon the Kingdome and a confuſion upon us all. And many reaſons more he gave to this purpoſe, by which he ſo prevailed with the Councell that they agreed to give no toleration for Popery or allow of any faction in Religion, but reſolved with all ſpeed to eſtabliſh the Proteſtant Religion. And truly the ſame argument may now be uſed for the eſtabliſhing of one Religion and one kinde of Govrnment. And as Elijah ſaid to Baals Prieſts and to the people, If God be God then follow him, &c. So if this way of worſhipping God that is held forth in the Proteſtant Churches and hath for ſome generations been taught in the Church of England, be that way, then it will be for the honour and glory of God and the ſafety of the Kingdome that that onelyonly be eſtabliſhed, which will p. 603bring peace to Church and State and take away all occaſions of offence and jarrs amongſt brethren.

For the examples of Poland, Tranſſylvania and Holland they are no preſidents to other Nations, their politique proceedings are no examples for other Chriſtian Countries and Kingdoms to follow; for Chriſtians are to live by the rule of GODS Word, and Chriſt's their Kings laws, and to follow the examples of his own people onelyonly in their wel-doing, and not in their failings; and therefore we are to follow the example of Abraham, Joſhua, Elias, and the other Patriarchs, Prophets, and holy Apoſtles, who never tolerated all Religions. Yea we are commanded in Romans 12. Not to conform our ſelves to this world, but that we ſhould be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what i… the good and the acceptable and perfect will of God.

This Will of God therefore muſt be the rule and ſquare that we muſt ever ſet before our eyes and hearts in matters of our God, and in points of Religion, and worſhip, and not the example ot Poland, and Tranſſilvania.

Now let us heare what is the good will and pleaſure of Chriſt our Law-giver concerning this point of toleration, who challengeth, and that of all due and right to be our Maſter, ſaying, Matth. 23. 8. Be not yee called Rabbi for one is your Maſter, even Chriſt; and againe verſe 10. neither be ye called Maſters (ſaith he) for one is your Master, even Chriſt; this reiterating of the ſame prohibition, and challenge to be our Maſter, ſhewes that wee are not to make either men or Angels, or whole Kingdomes or Countries our Maſters, but onelyonly Chriſt, we muſt alwayes therefore in matters of Religion, have recourſe unto his good word and will, and heare his voice, and therefore let us heare what the will of Chriſt is concerning this buſines of Toleration, who in in the 8. of Mark 15. ſpeaking there unto his Diſciples, and in them to all Chriſtians (for the Independent Maſters hold that the Diſciples repreſented the whole Chriſtian Church) he charged them ſaying, take heed and beware of the leven of the Phariſees, and of the leven of Herod, here wee find a treble caveat, a Charge, and a Take-heed, and a Beware, as if the Lord had ſaid I cannot uſe too many words to make them take heed, &c. and of what? even of a Toleration of any Religion, but the true Religion, and of that Religion Chriſt p. 604hath taught us, by what authority ſoever it comes ratified unto us, whether by Eccleſiaſticall or civill; yea, though it bee impoſed upon us by the command of Kings, and Rulers themſelves: for ſaith Chriſt our Maſter, I charge you all take heed, and beware of the leven of the Phariſees, and of the leven of Herod. Now by leven our Saviour underſtands all traditions and doctrines of men, and injoyns all his Diſciples to beware of them, and commands them to take heed of them, and not to tolerate them amongſt them, and that this is his good will and pleaſure he hath ratified it when hee was in heaven for writing unto the Church of Thyatira, Revel. 2. verſe 20. I have (ſaith hee) a few things againſt thee, becauſe thou ſuffereſt that woman Jezabel, which calleth her ſelfe a Propheteſſe, to teach and ſeduce my ſervants, &c. Here Chriſt hath declared his will and good pleaſure, and how much he displeaſed with that Church, that ſhee ſuffered thoſe falſe Teachers and Seducers amongſt them, and that they but connived at them, and pronounces fearfull judgements againſt both that Church, and the Church of Pergamos, and that of Laodicea for tolerating the Doctrine of Baalam, the Nicolaitans, and for ſuffering thoſe luke-warme Christians amongst them: ſo that there is nothing that Chriſt abhorreth more then a toleration of all Religions; but that wee may farther yet know what the good will and pleaſure of God is concerning this point, let us heare Paul, who made knowne the whole counſell of God to his Church, Act. 20.. Now hee in the 17. of the Acts declareth the will of God touching this matter; for after that hee had reproved the Athenians for their ſuperſtitions, ver. 22. and undertaken to teach them the knowledge of the true God, who they ignorantly worſhipped, and the right way of worſhipping and ſerving him, and informing them that hee is not worſhipped with mens hands, that is with any of their inventions, and with what way, or in what manner they thinke fit, God (ſaith hee) is not to bee worſhipped after any traditions of men, but according to his owne appointments: and this hee challenges by right from all men: as being the abſolute Lord of them all, for he made them; they are (ſaith the Apoſtle) the off-ſpring of God and his Generation, and they live in him, and move in him, and have their being in him, and their breath and life from him; yea, ſaith the Apoſtle hee hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation: Now God ſaith hee hath given you all p. 605theſe things, that yee ſhould ſeeke the Lord, that is, that ye ſhould worſhip him as hee is your Lord and King, and to whom all honour and ſervice of right is due; now then as wee are his off-ſpring, we muſt not thinke of God after our fantaſie, and ſet up ſuch a worſhip as pleaſeth our ſelves, or allow of any kind or way of worſhipping God that men pleaſe to follow, as you ſuperſtitiouſly doe at Athens; no (ſaith the Apoſtle) God will be worſhipped after his owne way, and after his owne appointment, and howſoever God winked at the times of this ignorance, yet now hee commands all men every where to repent, that is, to ſet up the true Religion, and to worſhip him after one way; for (ſaith hee) all the nations are now to ſet up one way of worſhip, and if they will not obey this Lord of the whole world, and imbrace that one, and onelyonly true Religion, that I teach and preach unto you, then I tell you plainely, that as God hath appointed a day wherein hee will judge the world in righteouſneſſe by Chriſt Ieſus, if you will not ſet up his true worſhip, and the true Religion, and the right way of ſerving him; but will tolerate all manner of Religions amongſt you ſtill, as formerly you have done, and give liberty to every man to ſerve God after his owne will and pleaſure, and not according to this good will and pleaſure of God you ſhall be eternally damned, for this is the meaning of the Apoſtle, ſo that the will of God muſt be our rule for worſhip, and not Poland and Tranſſylvania; the will of God (ſaith the Apoſtle) muſt be that wee muſt follow in worſhipping and ſerving him.

Now when by the Word of God, that acceptable and perfect will of his wee are taught that hee was diſpleaſed with his people the Jewes, for tolerating of all religions amongſt them, and that he was highly offended with thoſe chriſtian Churches in Aſia for tolerating the doctrines of Balaam and Iezabel, we are ſufficiently taught and inſtructed, that Chriſtians ought not to tolerate any other Religion but that which Chriſt the only King and Law-giver of his Church hath taught us, and that whoſoever ſhould take that authority upon them to tolerate all Religions, would bee found fighters againſt God, and ſuch as deſervedly would bring downe his judgements upon the Land by it, for if but conniving at evill and conſenting to it be a thing diſpleaſing unto God, how would the tolerating of it by a Law be abominable unto his ſacred and divine Majeſty? for this were to eſtabliſh iniquity by a Law. We p. 606are taught in the holy Scriptures, that the conſenting with a thiefe makes a man as guilty before God as the acting of thievery, Pſal. 50 and that they that aſſented unto Jezabel in killing the Prophets, made themſelves all as guilty as Jezabel her ſelfe, and that the Heathen Romans, Rom. 1. verſe 32. who knowing the judgement of God (that they which commit ſuch things are worthy of death) not onelyonly doe the ſame but conſent with them that doe them; made themſelves as equally guilty as the Actors of them, as Paul in his bill and information put up in the Court of Heaven againſt them ſufficiently declareth; the ſame did Elias in his bill of information againſt the people in his time, accuſing them all as equally guilty of the blood of the Prophets, and deſtroying Religion as Jezabel, and onelyonly becauſe they conſented unto it; They (ſaith Elias) have killed thy Prophets, and have broken down thy Altars: Which they? all the people that aſſented unto her, as well as the Officers and Executioners: And ſo our Saviour in his time, accuſeth the people as well as Herod for ſlaying of Iohn the Baptiſt, ſaying, They have done to him whatſoever they pleaſed. They, which they? all the Nobles that ſate at Table with Herod, that did not diſſwade Herod from that bloody and tyrannicall act, and all the people that liked well of it: the ſinne of this Nation who aſſented unto the bloody Decrees and cenſures given in the High-commiſſion-Court, and in the Star-chamber, and in all other unjuſt Courts the people that aſſented unto all their cruell cenſu…es againſt Gods people and liked well of it, are as equally guilty, who would ordinarily ſay, that had they beene Judges they would have done the like, and that they were men worthy of death, which made them (I ſay) as equally guilty as their wicked Iudges and Executioners; as wee may ſee alſo in thoſe that aſſented unto the High-Prieſts, and to the Scribes and Phariſees in putting to death the Lord of Life, they made themſelves all guilty of his blood, and by that meanes brought the curſe of God upon them and their children by it to this day, as well as the High-Prieſts themſelves: a fearefull ſinne, though the world take no notice of it, and which all theſe Kingdomes have yet to repent of: Saint Paul alſo makes himſelfe as guilty of Stephens blood, as they that ſtoned him, ſaying, When thy holy Martyr Stephen was ſtoned, I ſtood by and aſſented unto it, and held the garments of thoſe that ſtoned him: By which hee acknowledgeth p. 607himſelfe equally guilty, and ſo all thoſe that aſſented to all the cruelty done to the people of God in theſe Kingdomes, and were approvers of their tyrannie, are as guilty as the actors of it, for conſenting unto any treaſon or conſpiracy, or with any malefactors, and all their complices, both by the Law of God, nature, and nations, makes them all guilty before God and men, and as liable to juſtice and puniſhment as thoſe that acted in thoſe malefices; and therefore thoſe that but aſſent unto a toleration of all Religions (a ſinne ſo highly diſpleaſing unto God) are as guilty as the Actors of it; and if but conſenting make them guilty, how guilty are they then that uſe Arguments to bring in a toleration of all Religions, and abuſe the Scriptures to this end, and plead for it, and would have it eſtabliſhed by a Law? ſurely they are offenders againſt divine Majeſty in an elevated nature, and have a great deale to anſwer for it before God eſpecially when they doe it in a moſt ſcurrilous and rayling manner, by which they manifeſt to all the world that they are more verſt and better acquainted with the doctrine of Billings-gate then with the language of Canaan.

But this may ſeeme a wonderfull thing to all judicious men, that that people which within theſe ſix yeers were afraid of a Surplice, and of the croſſe in Baptiſme, and of any popiſh ceremony, or of any of their vaine traditions and will-worſhip (which was their honour then) ſhould now plead for the toleration of the body and ſoule of Popery, and for all other both Iewiſh and heatheniſh Religions, and all manner of ſects, ſo deſtructive to that Religion, which the King of Saints and King of Kings, and the onelyonly King of his Church, the Lord Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe hath taught us, and to the peace and quietneſſe of the Land; this I ſay, muſt needs ſeeme a monſtrous thing to any moderate minded Chriſtian: Nay, how unreaſonably doe theſe men deale with their brethren? they plead for a toleration of all Religions here in England, and yet in New-England baniſh men into Ilands from amongſt them, for diſſenting from them in their new modell of Church-government, and for but diſſenting from them in their opinions about Religion; and h…re amongſt us what impious and rayling bookes doe they make againſt the Miniſters for endeavouring to eſtabliſh that Religion, and that Church-government that God himſelfe in his holy Word hath ſet downe? p. 608and what approbrious names doe they give the faithfull and painfull Preachers and Paſtors of the Church of England, calling them Baals Prieſts the profeſt enemies of Ieſus Chriſt and his Kingdome, the lims of Antichriſt, falſe Prophets, the brood of Babylon, terming ſome particular men of them Rabſhekes, others Bauds, others Black mouths, legall Preachers, and ſtiling all of them the curſed enemies of Ieſus Chriſt, and thinke of them as men not worthy to live, and in expreſſe words profeſſe it; and yet theſe men plead for a toleration of all Religions, when both by their words and deeds they manifeſt, if it were in their power, the firſt worke they would doe ſhould be to root us all out of the Kingdome: ſo that all men may ſee, they ſay one thing and mean another, that they would tolerate all Religions, but onelyonly that which is the true Religion, and ſo by that meanes have no Religion at all, but one of their owne making, which by their new lights they have of late found out, which they call the ſtraight way to Heaven, and the onelyonly way of ſetting up Chriſt upon his Throne, which is nothing elſe, to ſay the truth, but to diſ-throne him, and ſet up themſelves and their new modell, for who doth not ſee how already they lord it over all good Chriſtians, not admitting them to the Sacraments; but upon their owne termes, nor ſuffering their children to be baptized amongſt them, nor ſo much as ſuffering any they call Presbyterians to preach in their new congregated Aſſemblies: and if this be to give a toleration of any Religion but their owne, let all the world judge: but I ſay, and will ever by Gods aſſiſtance be able to make it good, in that they plead for a toleration of all Religions, they are guilty of hainous and foule ſinnes being complices, as well as they that are Actors.

Now then when the Presbyters of the Church of England ſeeke and endeavour in all their proceedings to eſtabliſh that Religion which Chriſt the King of his Church hath taught them and his bleſſed Apoſtles, and labour to ſet up that Government that was ordained in all Churches to be perpetuated to the end of the world; in their ſo doing, they imitate all the Patriarchs, Prophets and Apoſtles, and in that they doe more advance Chriſts Kingdome than the Independents, who under pretence of liberty of conſcience would bring in a toleration of all Religions and confuſion upon us all. Surely, if ever any Miniſters p. 609deſerved well from the people, the Miniſters of England now do, who by all their endeavours ſhew that they ſeek to bring them to the knowledge of God and of his Sonne Jeſus Chriſt, and to the knowledge of themſelves which is life eternall: For what could men do more than that which they have done, who have Petitioned the Houſe of Lords and Commons now ſitting in the great Councell of the Kingdome, that they might be armed with authority from them in their ſeverall charges, to have the examination of ſuch as ſhall be admitted to the Sacraments, that they may be rightly informed in the knowledge of thoſe holy Myſteries and that …one that are either ignorant or ſcandalous in their lives, may be ſuffered to communicate at the Lords Table, by which their endeavour, they ſhew the Chriſtian care they have of their eternall welfare (for which the people are ever bound unto them) and by the which alſo they take away all ſcandall and occaſion of offence to others, which formerly pretended that the cauſe of their ſeparating from our Congregations and Aſſemblies, was, in regard they could not communicate with doggs and ſwine, and with the tag ragge and bobtaile of all the Malignants; for in ſuch termes they uſually expreſſe themſelves.

Now when the occaſion of this ſcandall and offence is taken away by the care of the Miniſters, and all Superſtition and Popiſh Ceremonies, and all will▪worſhip is alſo rooted out, and when the Goſpell is truly and faithfully by them preached, both in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, and the Name of God truly invocated and the Sacraments duly and rightly adminiſtred, what juſt cauſe have the Independents now either of ſeparation or of traducing either Miniſters or people of being enemies of Chriſt and his Kingdome; when by all their indeavours they onelyonly ſeek the advancement of him and his Kingdome amongſt them? I have ſo good an opinion of all moderate minded Chriſtians, that when they ſhall ſeriouſly weigh and conſider what I have here writ, and truly and faithfully ſet down, that thoſe of them that have formerly been alienated from them, will again, being now undeceived, return every one of them to their own Paſtors, by whoſe Miniſtry they have been converted; and that all other underſtanding men will not only have more charitable thoughts both of the Miniſters and Beleevers of the Church of England, but will likewiſe look more p. 610narrowly into, and examine more diligently all thoſe new wayes, and by finding them out, to be indeed but new, will ſeek for the old way and walk in it: And truly it ſtands all men now in hand that deſire the welfare of the whole Kingdome, yea the ſafety, tranquillity and felicity of three Kingdomes and the peace of them all, and the quiet of the Church and the proſperity of Zion, and indeed the peace of their own families, and a good accord, harmony, love, and unity amongſt brethren, to ſeek for the old way which hath the promiſe of peace, which can never be preſerved where differences and diverſities of opinions with a toleration of all Religions are allowed of; for they tend to nothing but diſ-union and to a violation of all bonds of true and cordiall affection; for they can never love ſuch as they have a command to ſhun nor never really affect ſuch mens companies and acquaintance whom they are ever jealous of, that they will ſeduce their wives, children, and families; therefore I ſay that all people may not onelyonly ſeek for, but finde that old way of peace, ſhall ever be his prayer that wiſheth that all men may be ſaved and come to the knowledge of the Truth.