Gangrena Part 1 and 2, Corollaries – Errata

Gangrena Part 1 and 2 · Corollaries – Errata

p. 145Certain Corallaries and Consectaries drawn from the Errours, Heresies, Blasphemies, Practices, and Stories of the Sectaries laid down in this present Book.

CORALL. I.

HEnce then from all these Errours, Heresies, Blasphemies, Practices, &c. laid downe both in the first and second part of Gangraena, we may see how far the Sectaries of our times have proceeded, and how high they have risen: In a word, to summe up in one page what more at large is expressed in many sheets, the Sectaries are gone verie farre, both in damnable doctrines and wicked practices, in holding principles and positions destructive to Church and State, against all Government, both p. 146Civill as well as Ecclesiasticall, and that not only for the matter, but in the … and way of propagation and … of them. They have questioned and denyed all the Articles of faith, and have justified and pleaded for all kind of errours and abominations: They have denyed the Scriptures, Trinitie, the God-head of the Son, and Holy Ghost, Justification by Christ, the Gospel, Law, holy duties, Church, Ministerie, Sacraments and all Ordinances: They hold there are no Devils, no sin, no Hell, no Heaven, no Resurrection, no Immortalitie of the Soule: And together with these, they are against all Kingly government, the King▪ Lords, the House of Commons, as to have any thing to do in matters of Religion, or in Civill matters any longer than the people who chose them think fit, and to be chosen yeerly, or of…ner, according as they carrie themselves; yea, against all kind of Civill government and Magistraticall power whatsoever, as appeares by denying the power of imposition of taxes and assessments, in denying the power of Magistrates over Church-members in cases of murther, treason, &c. And as they have denyed all these, so on the contrarie they have maintained and pleaded for all kind of blasphemous and hereticall opinions, and loose ungodly practices; yea, they have publikely in print justified there should be an open Toleration for all these: and if any man should so far degenerate, as to beleeve there is no aaPamph e…it. Tolora… justified.God; nay, come to bl…spheme God and the Scriptures, yet hee should not be troubled nor molested, but enjoy the libertie of his conscience: And they have not only pleaded thus, but some of them have actually blasphemed God, Christ, the Spirit, the Scriptures, Ministers, Sacraments, and all holy Ordinances; besides committing of horrible uncleannesses, forsaking of husbands and wives as Antichristian, being guiltie of thefts, defraudings, &c. being partakers also of that horrid Rebellion of Ireland, in justifying the Rebels,Vide pag. 27▪ of this book Mr. VValvvyns speech. that they did no more than what wee would have done our selves, &c. All these with many others, as the pleading for stage-playes to be set up againe, some or other of the Sectaries have been guiltie of: and unto all these have added this moreover, to canonize and cry up for Saints, faithfull servants of God, &c. Antiscripturists, Antitrinitarians, Arrians, Perfectists, yea, Blasphemers and Atheist, …o they be but for Independencie, and against Presbyterie: and particularly, how is Paul B…st, that fearfull Blasphemer, now he is in question by the House of Commons, pleaded for by many Sectaries of our times, and bitter speeches spoken against the House of Commons for medling with him? yea, and in **Vide Pamph entit. Letter of advice to the Assembly. In case Paul Best continue in his opinion, his heresie through ignorance, whether is it not possible that God may yet have merciemercy on him, as hee had on Paul the Apostle, and in his due time bring him to the knowledge of his truth, as hee did the Apostle Paul? VVhether it can be demonstrated beforehand▪ but that Paul Best (what ever his heresie be) may possibly in Gods secret will be ordained to conversion hereafter, as well as Paul the Apostle … he was a blasphemer.print too hee is p. 147pleaded for, and compared in a sort with Paul the Apostle. Certainly, neither we, nor our Fathers before us ever heard or saw such evils of blasphemie, heresie, &c. in this Kingdome, as wee have done within these two or three last yeeres: The worst of the Bishops and their Chaplains, when they were at worst, were Saints in comparison of many of the Sectaries of our times, and would have abhorred (as bad as they were) such opinions and practices which some of the Sectaries magnifie, cry up, and pretend to do by vertue of new light, the Spirit, and as a matter of great perfection, as for instance; A mans or womans forsaking their owne husbands and wives, and taking others at their pleasure, out of pretence of casting off Antichristian yokes, the pleading for a general Toleration of all Religions, yea Blasphemies, & denying a Deitie, out of pretence of libertie of conscience. But what speak I of the Bishops and their Chaplains? I am perswaded all the stories and relations of the Anabaptists and Schwenkfeldians in Luthers time, of the **Baleu… de Roman Pontificum Actis…vita Leon. decim. & Iul. teri. Quantum nobis ae nostro coetui pro…uerit ea de Christo fabula, satis est saeculis omnibus notum.Popes and Papists blasphemies, of many Heathens and scoffers of the Scriptures & Christian Religion, as Galen, Porphirius, Lucian, Iulian the Apostate, &c. do fall short of the blasphemies & waies of our Sectaries: Which of all these ever so blasphemed as Boggis? or what storie is there since the creation of the world that mentions a more horrid & wicked blasphemy than that of Boggis, Tum Iulius: Si voluit Deus usque adeo propterunum pomum irasci, ut ejiceritprimos parentes ex Paradiso: curnon liteat mihi, qui sum ejus Vicarius, irasci propte… pavonem, cùm multò major res sit pavo quàm pomum?a great Sectarie, pag. 133, 134, 135? Or where is there a blasphemy to be found beyond that spoken of in pag. 116 of this Book? In a word, to conclude this first Corollatie, The Sectaries of our times have in many respects (as in regard of breach of Covenant, ingratitude, falsnesse, &c.) gone beyond the Sectaries of other ages and Kingdomes, and done worse than their fathers, justifying them in all their abominations which they committed; and have vented and spread so many poysonous and dangerous principles and positions, as are enough to corrupt and infect all the Christian world, if the Lord in merciemercy do not prevent it.

p. 148CORALL. II.

HEnce then from all that I have laid down of the Sectaries of our times, of their errours, heresies, blasphemies, strange practices, and their wayes of managing them, we may learne what is like to become of them and their way, and what their end will be; namely, confusion, desolation, and being brought to nought suddenly, as in a moment, and if ever God spake by me, I am confident he will curse this Faction of Sectaries in England, and cast them out as an abominable branch: Me thinks I see their day a coming and drawing neere;Schismatici non sunt longaevi. Heretikes and Schismatikes do not use to be long-lived: no heresie (as Luther speaks) uses to overcome at the last.Nulla haeresis unquam, &c. What is become of the Arrians, Donatists, Novatians, Pelagians, &c? though they were like a mightie floud, over-running and drowning all for a time, yet like a floud they were quickly dried up; and so will the Sects now: and we may expect it so much the sooner, because the visible symptomes and fore-runners of destruction are upon them. And therefore I shall now toll the great Bell for the Sectaries, the Anabaptists, Antinomians, Independents, Seekers, &c. and hope shortly to ring it out, and to preach their Funerall Sermon, or rather keep a day of publike Thanksgiving and rejoycing, for the bringing downe of the Sectaries, and the breaking up of their Conventicles, as well as for the downfall of the Popish and Prelaticall partie. And that they shall shortly fall and be dried up as a floud; and though they have been in great power, and spreading themselves like a green Bay-tree, yet that they shall passe away, and not be; that they shall be sought for, and not found, I shall give these Symptomes.

1. Their horrible pride, insolencie, and arrogancie, extolling themselves and their partie to the Heavens, with the scorning vilifying, trampling upon, and despising of all others; and that in such unparallel'd wayes, as no age c…n shew the like; and that not only against particular persons of all ranks, Nobles, Gentrie, Ministers; but great bodies and Societies, as the Parliament of England, the Kingdome of Scotland, the Common Councell of the Citie of London, Assembly, &c. The Luciferian pride, high spirit, and haughtinesse of the Sectaries of all sorts, in all places and businesses, and towards all persons they have to do with, in their writings, speeches, gestures, actions, is seen and spoken of thorowout the Kingdome, and breaks out daily in their impatiencie of being contradicted, or having any thing said against their way; in their endervouring to break and crush all that will not dance after their pipe; in their not caring to hazzard and ruine all Religion, both Kingdomes, p. 149but they will have their wills; and so in manie other things. Now God assures us in the Scripture that **Vide car…w. in locum, quamobrem illud statuamus, eos, qui se effe… unt, dejectos iri, & decasuros, etiamsi vertice coelum atrigerint: unde nostro proverbio jactatur; Pride will have a fall.Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall: Prov. 16. 18. that A mans pride shall bring him low: Prov. 29 23. that When pride cometh, then cometh shame: Prov. 11.2. and God threatens by his Prophets, he will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtinesse of the terrible, Isa. 13.11. Dan. 5.20. and indeed pride hardens mens hearts, and when their hearts are lifted up, and their minds hardned in pride, then God throwes them downe.

2. The Sectaries in promoting of their wayes and cause are grown extream violent, desperate, and unreasonable, knowing no rules of moderation nor forbearance; they go violent ways, and like Iehn, d…ive furiously; they do those things daily which wise, staid considerate men would never have done, nor anie but mad men; and which anie man who hath his eies in his head may see, must needs destroy them: God hath hid wisdome from them, and befooled them, leaving them to do manie things against sense and reason. God hath left them, yea given them up to those courses and waies (of which I could give divers instances) which no wise men would ever have taken, and which makes them abhorred of all good and moderate men. Now the befooling of men, hiding wisdom from them, leaving them to rashnesse and violence, are presages of ruine, according to that saying, quos Deus vult perdere hos dementat, and according to that of the Prophet, I will hide wisdom from them: Nullum violentum est perpetuum, is seen in daily experience, and we may remember that the violence and furie of the Prelaticall partie did undoe them; and according to all humane reason, without that, it had been impossible to have c…st them out, being so deeply rooted in the lawes and customes of this Kingdome; and therefore the Sectaries before they are rooted and setled, being so violent, furious, and daring far above the Bishops, what can we expect but their speedy downfall? give them but rope enough and they will hang themselves; they run so fast, and …ide so fiercely that they cannot but fall and break their necks, they drive so furiously and madly, that they cannot but overthrow all.

3. The great prosperitie, strange successe, and marvailous prevailing of the Sectaries in their waies & opinions, their devices and designs for the most part taking eff…ct and succeeding, so as they are mightily increased, many fallen unto them, and … wind, almost, favouring them; whereas on the other hand the Presbyterian partie, both our Brethren of Scotland, and the Godly Ministers and People in England have beene sorely afflicted, p. 150much crossed and troubled to to see things as they are; The Scots have beene sorely visited with Sword, Pestilence in their own Land, obstructed, reproached, evill intreated by many in this Land: the Assembly, the godly Ministers and people of the Kingdome, despised, scorned and abused severall wayes, yea, deserted, and looked upon with an evill eye, as if the troublers of Israel, and worse then Malignants, so that they have beene forced manie a time to cry out to God, Heare O our God, for we are reproached; Now great prosperitie, successe in a bad way, and in the use of bad meanes, as lyes, scandalous reports, under-minings, plottings, false-dealings, &c. is a great Symptome of destruction both to particular persons, and to a partie: whom God intends certainely to destroy, he fattens before, and lets them bee verie happie, thereby to prepare them for the day of slaughter: whom hee meanes to doe good unto in the latter end and deliver, he afflicts and laies them low before, laies the Foundation deep that he may build high, and for this let the Reader consult with these foure places of Scripture, Ier. 12. 1, 2, 3. Psal. 37.7, and 10.35, 36. Psal. 73.3, 4, 5. and 18, 19, 20. Psal. 92. 7. the sum of all which places is to teach us, that the more men prosper in a bad way, and flourish more then ordinarie, having what their hearts can wish, bringing all their devices to passe, the more sure they are of being puld out as sheep for the slaughter, and prepared for the day of slaughter, and that within a little while, they shall not bee, nor their place found, but brought to desolation as in a moment, and utterly consumed; and then when they are at their height of flourishing, then is it that they shall be destroyed for ever; great prosperitie is but a lightening before death, and as a great calm which presages the more dreadfull storme and tempest.

4. The great plotting of the Sectaries, laying their counsells deep, contriving and working continually night and day by all kinde of waies and means, and all kind of instruments to effect their worke, and to carrie on their way; I do not think this manie hundred yeares there hath been a more cunning, plotting, undermining generation in the Church of God then our Sectaries, or more plots and devices of all sorts on foot, more irons in the fire within so few years, as hath been, and is among them: there's nothing they doe but they have a design in it, they conceive many plots at once to effect it, they have plot upon plot, and lay snare upon snare: Machiavel and the Jesuits are but punies and fresh men to them. I am confident they had so laid their plots, cut out their way, removed the rubs, prepared all things, so as that they had set their time, by which they should effect their ends, and speak out what they would have: Now God delights to bring to naught plots, to disappoint the devices of mens hearts, to blast and blow upon tricks and under-boord p. 151workings, to take the wise in their own craftinesse, and wherein men deale proudly to be above them: the ripening, growing big of plots, is commonly the fore-runner of the downfall of the plotters, and the miscarriage of their plots: for the further clearing of which the Reader shall doe well to consider what God speakes in Iob. 5.12, 13, 14. Psal. 37.12, 13, Isa. 29.15.16. Isa. 30.1, 2. and indeed God is such an enemy to plots, devices, tricks, that he will crosse and disappoint his owne children in their workings, devisings, and contrivances even for good, when they are too plotting, anxious, or delight and please themselves too much in them; and this he does often, lest they should attribute the events of things to their counsell, care, &c. and that the worke may appeare to be of himselfe, and not of men, that God may be knowne to be Deiu activus & non passivus, as Luther expresses it upon a like occasion, and that God doth not use to call Martin Luther or anie of his Saints to be his councellor, but that he doth all things according to his own counsell; hence we are commanded to be carefull for nothing, or thoughtfull, but in everie thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let our requests be made knowne to God: Now if God will go quite crosse and contrary, to the counsells, workings, of his servants for the maintaining his Church and truth, and bring about all quite another way, then he will much more carrie the counsells of the froward headlong and make them meet with darknesse in the day time, and grope in the noone day, as in the night.

5. Sympt. of the certaine destruction of the Sectaries is this, That Independencie and Sectarisme in England is a meer Faction, a partie grown to this height upon particular interests, nourished and favoured all upon politike grounds and ends: Independencie now is no religious conscientious businesse, but a politike State Faction, severing and dividing it selfe upon other private interests from the publike interests of this Church and State, and the interest of both Kingdoms, united by Covenant: In a word 'tis just such anoanother Faction as the Arminians was in the Netherlands. I believe that seven or eight years ago Independencie and the Church way had somwhat of Religion and conscience in it, manie then falling to it much upon those grounds (though even then there were other ends in it also,Antapol p. 21, 28. as I have showne in my Antapologie.) But now since these times of troubles and difference betwixt King and Parliament, these foure years last past, wherein men have seen some probabilitie and possibilitie, in these times of warre and unsettlement of things, to bring about and effect those things they could not hope for before, it hath been and is matter of faction, particular aimes and ends, and not of conscience and pietie, as all wise men may see, and is apparent by these particulars:

p. 152First 'tis not carried on as a way of God, as a matter of Religion and Conscience, in Gods way, and with Gods means; but carried on altogether with policie, art, plots, trickes, equivocations, mentall reservations, lies, falsenesle, doing anie thing though never so unjust and unrighteous, if it will further and advantage, that way, and hinder its opposite, viz. Presbyterie, and the settlement of the Church; yea, declining and forsaking the profest principles that way, and going contrary threunto, in razing the verie fundations of Independencie, and the Church way.

Secondly, There are multitudes of persons in all places, who doe not so much as know or understand anie of the principles of Independency and thé Church way; yea that hate most of those principles if they were tied to live according to them, that yet are great sticklers for Independencie, and the Sectaries, yea, are the heads and patrons of it in all places, and upon all occasions, and this is observed by manie wise men, that take those who now are friends for it, and stand for it upon all occasions, among them all there is not one in ten that conscientiously and in his judgement holds that way to bee of God, or is an Independent, which cleerly showes 'tis a Faction.

Thirdly, All other errours and opinions, Sectaries of all sorts (as well as Independents) are encouraged, nourished, favoured, and the worst of them though being so abominable, 'tis not anie policie to appeare for them; yet one way or other, under one notion or other, are pleaded for, dealt gently with, either delayed and put off, or brought off by one meanes or other, and are freely suffered to grow and increase, and no way taken to suppresse or discourage them, which cleerly showes Independency is a Faction, and hath other designes then that of Conscience, in furthering the growth of all sorts of Sectaries, holding tenets against their principles as well as ours, by Licensing their Books, &c. and upon all occasions, shelters and protects all sorts of them.

Fourthly that Independencie is a Faction, and not matter of Conscience, appeares because all these following sorts and ranks of men come in unto it; 1. Needie, broken, decaied men, who know not how to live, and hope to get somthing, turn Independents and sticklers for i…. 2. Gail…ie, suspicious and obnoxious men, who have been or are in the lurc…, and in feare and danger of being questioned, or have bin questioned, they turn Independents to escape questioning, or if questioned, that so they may come off the better, Independency being a Sanctuarie and the horns of the Altar where many obnoxious persons fly and are safe; and many of these guilty persons that they may merit the more prove fiercer Independents and Sectaries then manie others. 3. Some who have businesses, causes, and matters depending, strike in with the Independent Sectaries, pleading for them, that so they may finde Friends, be sooner dispatcht, p. 153fare better in their causes, &c. 4. Ambitious, proud, covetous men, who have a mind to Offices, places of profit, about the Army, Excise, &c. turn about to the Independents, and are great zealots for them. 5. Libertines and loose persons, who have a desire to live in pleasures, and enjoy their lusts, and to be under no government, they are fierce and earnest for Independents, and against Presbytery. 6. All wanton-witted, unstable, erroneous spirits of all sorts, all Hereticks and Sectaries strike in with Independency, and plead they are Independents. 7. Such who have no minde to peace, nor to the settlement of things, either out of hope, whilest things remain unsetled, Bishops and former times may come in again; or that love to fish in troubled waters, or are afraid to lose Offices and Places that may fall with the ending of these troubles, these persons strike in with Independents, and side with them. 8. Many who in our Churches are discontented at the faithfull preaching of their Ministers close to their consciences, at their Admonitions and Suspensions from the Sacrament, because loose, scandalous, or because of some difference upon their Tithes, or such like, forsake our Assemblies, and betake themselves so Independents and Sectaries, of which I could give divers instances; all which showes the Church-way and Independency to be nothing else but a Faction: Now Factions and Parties in Kingdomes and Commonwealths, though they may prevaile to a great height, and grow for a time, especially in troublous unsetled States, in the Springs and Falls of Kingdoms and Commonwealths; yet when they come to be discovered, laid open, and come to some head and ripenesse, they use to fall and be cast out: If we consult with the Scriptures, or with the Histories and Chronicles of Kingdomes, as the French and English, &c. wee shall finde the strongest, powerfullest Factions and Parties both in Churches and States, who have had divided interests from the Publike, have come downe and miserably perished: and we may see this fully made good in the Anabaptists of Germany, the Arminian Faction in the Netherlands, and our late Prelaticall Faction, who though they were all growne so high, as they hazzarded the ruine of the Countreyes and Commonwealths wherein they arose, yet they all fell and were brought downe, and so shall it be with this Sectarian Faction; can they think that either God, or these Kingdoms will suffer these men long, or that the people will be alwaies bewitched with them? no, the eyes of men will be open, and they will be discovered every day more, and we shall see them falling down like lightning.

6. Symps. Their reaching after, and medling with all kind of persons and things, grasping of all at once, labouring to ingrosse all Offices, places, p. 154power into their hands, and those of their party, st…ighting, abusing, & trampling on one way or other, all that stand in their way, & are their opposites, there being nothing Military, Civil, Ecclesiasticall, but they have an eye upon, and do endeavour to have a hand in, not caring in the least when it furthers their designes, to discontent all sorts and ranks of persons, King, Parliament, our Brethren of Scotland, the City of London, reformed Churches, Assembly, the godly Ministery of the Kingdome, particular worthy persons in the Armies, among the Gentry, &c. they make account to carrie all before them, to get all to be for them by one means or other, and in time to breake all that shall dare to appeare against them, or crosse their wayes. Now in all States and Kingdoms Polupragmaticalnesse in some persons, greedinesse and over-hastinesse to have all, and thereupon offending and provoking many, hath been a fore-runner of their fall: I shall onelyonly instance in this Kingdome, and of the late times, which all remember. What it was that ruined the Bishops and their party, but their grasping and medling with all at once, Church and Commonwealth together, England and Scotland both, provoking also all sorts of persons against them, Nobility, Gentry, City, Ministers, common people? whereas (as many wise men would often say, and comforted themselves in the worst of those times) if the Bishops and that party had dealt but with a part at once, one Kingdome onelyonly, as England, or or the Church alone, or Commonwealth alone, letting the other Kingdome be quiet to enjoy their Lawes, and suffering men to enjoy Religion and their Ministers, though they had some pressures upon them in Commonwealth, yet in all probability in time they might have had their wills: but now the Bishops and that party oppressing both Church and Commonwealth at once, grasping to have all, they will lose all; and we see what is befallen the Bishops and that party: so our Sectaries medling with both Kingdoms at once, with Church and Common-wealth together; and having provoked all sorts of men, Nobility, Gentry, Ministers, City, People, our Brethren of Scotland: will not be able to stand long, but King, Parliament, Scotland, City, Ministery, Countrey, will be so against them, as they must fall, let who will or can hold them up.

7. Sympt. of the downfall of the Sectaries, is the great sinnes and wickednesse of that party, who are even now ripe for judgment, and their iniquities almost full; and I am confident, that for this many hundred years there hath not been a party that hath pretended to so much holinesse, strietnesse, power of godlinesse, tendernesse of conscience above all other men, as this party hath done, that hath been guilty of so great sinnes, horrible wickednesse, p. 155provoking abominations as they are. The Sectaries are full of Ephra… gray haires (though they will not know it) and these following sinnes and courses presage their ruine, viz. their deep hypocrisies and pretences of Religion and Conscience meerly to serve their lusts, and to bring about their own ends, their perjuries and breach of solemne Covenant with God, making nothing at all of it, their great unthankfulnesse and ill use of Gods mercies and deliverances, their great ingratitude and unkindnesse to men, particularly to … Brethren of Scotland, their blood guiltinesse in destroying the lives of many by dipping weakly and ancient persons in rivers in cold seasons, and in the destroying of so manie soules by Errours and Heresies and drawing them from their faithfull Pastours, their horrible uncleannesses and lusts, their fearefull despising and mocking of all Gods faithfull Ministers, and Ordinances, their oppressions, injustice, and unrighteous dealings with manie they have had to doe with and where they have anie power, their base self-seekings, seeking their owne things, their honour, profit, advancement of their Faction under pretences of selfe-denyall, and the publike good, their holding of damnable Heresies and all kinde of abominable Errours, their horrid blasphemies against God, Christ, the Scriptures and all his Ordinances, their Machiavillian policies, Jesuiticall equivocations, falsnesse and treacherousnesse, their underminings and laying snares for men, their countenancing standing for the unworthiest vilest of men, so they will be for their faction, their justifying and pleading for a Toleration of all religions, and consciences, even to blasphemies against God and his Word, their inventing of lies and raising scandalls upon the worthiest and innocentest men, as Ministers and others to blast them with the people, their prophanenesse and loosenesse of life in making nothing of the Lords day, daies of Fast and Thanksgiving, nor of holy duties, as praying, &c. their carnall confidence and trusting in arms of flesh, their using of wicked and unjust waies, and means to compasse their ends, not standing upon any rules, or keeping to any principles, so it may advantage them, violating bonds of friendship, going against the lawes of Nations, joyning with the worst of men against good men, labouring to sow divisions among brethren, raising evill reports, fomenting jealousies, and using all waies in their power to ingage the two Nations in a war one against the other, not caring to hazzard the ruine of all for the upholding of their faction. Many of the Sectaries have forfeited all principles of ingenuity and conscience, and will not stand upon any thing that may probably doe their worke for them: they will take counsell of Baalzebub the God of Ekron whether they shall recover, use the Devills meanes, as lying, breach of promises, joyning with wicked men, &c. for pretended libertie of Conscience and upholding their way. p. 156In a word, they are like that Judge spoken of in the 18. of Luke, which feared not God, neither regarded men; all they regard is the effecting of their designes, and other things in order to that. And …s many Sectaries are in these too faulty and guilty, so the verie best of them that I know, their Ministers, and others who are leaders, and have been anie long time of the way,Vide Independ. razing their owne foundation pag. 314, 5. and unsterstand the state of things, they are extreamly faulty in patronizing all kind of Sectaries, and being against all the waies of suppressing them, in using all subtill politike waies and devices to hinder and delay the Reformation, in joyning with bad men against what they acknowledge good, in going against their owne principles, razing their owne foundation; besides, they are verie proud, lofty, touchy, full of equivocations, reservations, pretences, pretending one thing, and doing quite otherwise; so that I may say of them with the Prophet Micah, The best of them is a brier, the most upright is sharper then a thorne-hedge; and therefore the day of their visitation cometh, now shall be their perplexity. And certainly, these fearfull sinnes and strange wayes (especially in men who have pretended to more sanctitie and holinesse then other men, having also, upon those pretences of greater puritie, &c. g…ounded their great Separation and Division from all the reformed Churches) must needs provoke God to visit and to punish them severely; and because of his great Name which they have taken upon them and so prophaned, God will be sanctified (unlesse g…eat and speedy repentance prevent it) in punishing them sooner and more remarka…ly then the Prelates and their partie: And therefore in the close of this Symptome of the downefall of the Sects, I shall, in the name of the Presbyterian party, and of all those who are for the solemne League and Covenant in both Kingdomes, make use of those words to and against the Sectaries, which both Kingdomes (upon the coming in of our Brethren of Scotland) used in their joynt Declaration to and against the Popish, Prelaticall and malignant party: **The Declaration of the Kingdom: of England and Scotland, by the honourable Houses of the Parliament of England and the honourable Convention of Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland, in the year 1643. page 3, ….It is his own Truth and Cause, which we maintaine, with all the Reformed Churches, and which hath been witnessed and sealed by the testimonie▪ sufferings and blood of so many Confessours, and Martyrs, against the heresie, superstition and tyranny of Antichrist. The glorie of his own Name, the exaltation of the Kingdom of his Son, and the preservation of his Church, and of this Iland from utter ruine and devasta…ion is our aime, and the end which we have before our …ies. His Covenant have we in both Nations solemnly sworn and subscribed, which he would not have put in our hearts to do, i… he p. 157had been minded to destroy us. The many prayers and supplications which these many yeares last past, but especially of late have been offered up with fasting and humiliation, and with strong crying and tears unto him that is able to deliver and save us, are a seed which promise unto us a plentifull harvest of comfort and happinesse: and the Apostasie, Atheisme, Idolatrie, Blasphemie, Prosanenesse, Crueltie, Excesse, and open mocking of all godlinesse and honestie have filled up the cup of our adversaries to the brim, and threaten their speedy and fearfull d…struction, unl…sse it be prevented by such extraordinarie repentance, as seemeth not yet to have entred into their hearts.

8. Sympt. is this, When God hath at some times testified against them, and spit in their faces, as by laying open their nakednesse, and fully discovering their ways, by some books written, by some Sermons preached by godly Ministers, by casting some rubs in their way, in stirring up the Citie of London to appeare against them, or in disappointing some of their purposes by strange and unexpected passages of his providence from Heaven, yet upon none of these occasions have they repented of their deeds to give God glorie, or humbled themselves before his Ministers speaking to them from the mouth of the Lord, or abated of their spirits; but contrariwise, have gnawed their tongues for pain, blasphemed the more because of their pains and sores, and stirred up themselves with so much the more industrie and subtiltie, to plot and work by all kind of wayes and meanes to heale their wounds: and I could give many instances, how upon such books coming forth, and upon such acts of providence, which a man would have thought should have made them give over, they have been more resolved, active, desperate, betaking themselves to evill wayes and strange courses for the saving of themselves, as aspersing and raising scandals and false reports upon the persons whom they think have wounded them, as in the weekly Pamphleters venting some desperate passages, and putting forth strange books upon the nick of things, with many other wayes, all which wise men cannot but observe; in which courses they have been like Balaam, Numb. 22. going on their way resolvedly, though the Angell of the Lord have stood in their way with a sword drawn, and their feet have been crushed against the wall. Now it is a great symptome of destruction and ruine to a partie, or to particular persons, when the hand of God is lifted up against them, that they will not see; and that when God wounds them, instead of falling down before him, they seek to cure their wounds by unlawfull means; and that when he powrs our vials upon them, and scorches them with great heat, they blaspheme, and do not repent, that when hee stops them, they will drive more furiously, and that when hee makes mens pride testi…e p. 158to their faces, they do not return nor seek him for all this: This is the fore-runner of destruction in the Antichristian partie, Revel. 16.8, 9, 10, 11. And this was a fore-runner of destruction in the Prelates and that partie; that after their great and long prosperitie and successe, when God did by writing, preaching, raising up of witnesses testifie against them, and did by other acts of his providence crosse them, in raising up the Kingdome of Scotland against them, yet they would not give in, nor abate; and when a peace was concluded with Scotland upon the Kings first going into the North, and they might have enjoyed their honours, greatnesse, for all that, they wrought so upon the Kings returne, as to procure those Articles to be burnt by the hand of the common Hang-man, and the war to go on, which proved their ruine and fatall destruction. And for a conclusion of this Symptome, I will end it with those words of the Prophet Isaiah, Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see; but they sh… see, and be ashamed for their envie towards thy people: yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devoure them. Lord, thou wilt ordaine peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works for us. And though it be a sad thing, that men holding forth a profession of Religion should fall to those wayes, and grow to such an height as I have laid open; yet I am perswaded it is a good hand of God, and his speciall providence and merciemercy to his Church in these Kingdomes, to leave the Sectaries to fall into so many evils, to take such strange wayes thus to discover themselves, and to proceed so far, that so the Kingdomes knowing them well, they might in the issue be more effectually cured, and perfectly delivered from them: for, had these men kept themselves within the compasse of a few of their opinions, and carried things faire, and not broke out as they have done, we should have thought them good holy men, been much taken with them, and many would have been deceived by them; yea, in time they might have got such an interest, and had such an influence, as to have corrupted all; but now having thus early discovered themselves, both in matters of Church and State, in opinions and practices, this hath so opened the eyes of this Kingdome, yea of both, that it will cause them to abhor and abominate them as a wicked Faction, whose principles would bring in an universall Anarchy, both upon Church and State, overthrowing all Ministerie, setled Government, and order in the Church; being against Kingly Government, the House of Peeres, House of Commons (unlesse ad placitum, and so long as the common people like them;) and all power of Magistrates (in capitall matters over Church members) in the Commonwealth; and who cared not to have sacrificed the Religion, peace, happinesse of these Kingdomes, upon the ambition, furie, pride, lust, opinions of Anabaptists, Libertines, Seekers, p. 159Brownists, Independents: And therefore, however the Sectaries may flatter themselves in the encrease of their partie, in the power they have in some places, in the favour they find among some great men; yet let them know, notwithstanding their policies, all their arms of flesh, all their friends in the Armies, in the aaMr. Prins Discoverie of prodigious nevv lights, shewes some Sectaries boasting of their friends in the House of Commons.House of Commons, and in bbSome Sectaries have said it to some who have told it me, that there is never a Committee about London, but they have some friend or other in it, that as soone as any of them is in question, gives them notice of it, and of the Articles against them, and acquaints them with the state of things.Committees which they so boast of, yet God will overthrow them; and these eight particulars are certaine symptomes of their ruine; and let who will do what they can to uphold them, yet God will bring them downe; for, when they spring as the grasse, and as the Workers of iniquitie flourish, then is it that they shall be destroyed for ever: And therefore let us be couragious and faithfull to the cause of God, contending earnestly for the faith which was once at livered to the Saints; and let us be in nothing terrified by the Sectaries. And to all the Symptomes I have given already (being so many fore-runners of their fall) let the Reader consider this, That they have their deaths wound already, the fatall arrow sticks in their sides, and having begun to fall, they shall surely fall: and that (besides the Citie of London, and other instruments) God will honour our Brethren of Scotland, to make them a great means of their falling; and they shall fall before the Scots (whom they have so vilified and unworthily dealt with) as the Prelaticall and Popish partie did: and, me thinks, the way of Gods proceedings all along this way of Reformation, and many passages of his providence hint & point it out to us; for the Sectaries are a Faction alike opposite to our Brethren of Scotland, viz. the other extreme; and all along, from first to last, God hath made the Scots instrumentall for the good of this Kingdome, and bringing things thus far. And that God will honour the Kingdome of Scotland, and the Church-reformation according to their way, to bring down the Sectaries, let the Reader consult with M. Brightman (a man of a propheticall spirit) in his Exposition on the Church of Philadelphia, Rev. 3. 8, 9, 10. where he shews, that Church to whom so many promises are made, to be the reformed Churches of Geneva, France, Scotland, and those who are according to that way of Reformation in Doctrine and Church Government; and among many things observed by M. Brightman on that place, I shall only point at two.

1. That Philadelphia (the type of Geneva, Scotland, and the Churches of that Reformation) is most famous for truth of Doctrine: As for truth of Doctrine, where is there any place in the whole world chaster and sounder? p. 160Here the whole Papacie is destroyed;Quod autem ad veritatem Doctrinae spectat, ubi castior & integrior, vel in universo terrarum orbe▪ Totus Papatus hic jugulatur: Anabaptistae, Antitrinitarii, Arriani, & hujusmodi monstra, excitata rursum ab inferis, partim in Germania, partim in Transylvania, nusquam ac…orem hostem invenerunt: quid etiam non tentaverit ut Germanicis Eccles…is errores suos evelleret? Brightman. In Apocalyp. pag. 53. In Antitypo, Iudaeisunt quotquot ertoribus implica…i, sibi unis veritatem, fidem, salutem, promissiones Dei arrogant, nihil nisi Templum, Templum crepantes; quales fuerunt Arriani Episcopi sub Constantino, Constantio, & Valente. Vide plura, Brighton. pag. 5…. Anabaptists, Antitrinitarians, Arrians, and such monsters raised again from Hell, partly in Germany, partly in Transylvania, never found a sharper enemy.

2. By those who say they are Jewes, and are not, vers. 9. in the Antitype are all those who holding errours, do arrogate alone to themselves truth, faith, salvation, the promises of God, boasting nothing else but the Temple: such were the Arrians under Constantine, Constantius, Valens ▪ and such are at this day the Papists, glorying in Peters Chaire: these will be accounted the only Catholikes, and their Church the only Church of Christ, &c.

Now if wee consider well of these two things, 1. We shall find no Church sounder for Doctrine than the Church of Scotland, nor greater enemies, not only against Papacie and Prelacie, but against Anabaptists, Seekers, and all kind of Sectaries, than they are. 2. Wee shall not among all Heretikes and Sectaries that have been since the writing of this Epistle, find any that have more resembled the Jewes, in boasting themselves to be the only people of God, than the Sectaries of our times, the Anabaptists, Independents, who extoll themselves for the only Saints, calling themselves the Saints, the people of God, the Church; and their way is called by them the Church-way, Church-fellowship, Christs way, and that all who are not of their way are without, &c. so that these words do most fully agree to them, who say they are Iewes, and are not, but do lye; and therefore to conclude this Corallarie, all the promises made to Philadelphia, do belong in a speciall manner to our Brethren of Scotland: as,

First, That God will make them come (viz. those who are the Antitype to those Jews, the Sectaries, Anabaptists, Independents, that whole Faction) and worship before their feet, and to know that God hath loved them; that is, they shall overcome and triumph over these Sectaries: and however they have been hitherto abused and scorned by them, neither have these unthankfull men acknowledged my love from that singular gift of zeale, pietie, which I bestowed upon thee; yet I will adorn thee with those things which are in great account in the world: thou shalt have victories over these p. 161enemies, and thou shalt enrich thy self with their spoiles; so that no man but shall be compelled to acknowledg thee deerly beloved, whom, above all hope, they shall see so wonderfully encreased. O Church of Scotland, and all yee that are for Reformation Presbyteriall against the Sectaries, nourish your hopes by these things, neither let your hearts be troubled whatsoever the w…ld speaks against you.

Secondly,Vide Bright…n, in loc. pag. 56. Because they have kept the word of Gods patience, God will keep them from the houre of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth: That is because they stood for my Doctrine and truth with a great deale of danger, and yet with a great deale of patience have constantly continued in their duty; I will therefore deliver them out of their dangers, I will not suffer them to sinck and perish in their trialls, but I will give them strength whereby they shall not only strongly beare their calamity, but they shall also over-come and be conquerors; not that the houre of temptation shall not at all touch these Philadelphians, (for it can hardly be in the common calamity of the whole world, that they should be wholly free) but to keep them from the houre of temptation, is to deliver them as God saved them from the hands of their enemies that is, deliver them, 2. Iudg. 18.

3. Him that over-commeth God will make a Pillar in his Temple, he shall go no more ou…, &c. that is, God promises to make that Church over-comming, being an Hebraisme nominativi absoluti and the reward is, that that Church shall be like a Pillar in the Temple of God, that is, shall remain firm and lasting in the Church, neither shall that Church feare any ruine or destruction, however the raine falls, the flouds beat, the winds blow, and all things with a joynt force break in upon them.Vide Brightman…um in Apocalyp. pag. 57. The spirit of God alludes to the two Brasen Pillars placed by Solomon in the Temple of God, which set forth the stability of the sonnes of God. And so by the grace of God is this Church not tainted nor corrupted with Schisme and base defection as the Church of Sardis was, which having no care of a full Reformation, by the just judgement of God lost the most of the people.

CORALL. III.

HEnce then from all these Errours, Heresies, Blasphemies, and Practises of the Sectaries, we may see what a great evill and sin separation is from the communion of the Reformed Churches, and how highly displeasing to God for men to make a Schisme and Rent in the Church of God in a time of Reformation, God punishing the Schisme and Separation of our times with so many Heresies, Blasphemies, wicked practises, &c. as I have laid down in this and my p. 162former Book, wherein God witnesses from Heaven against the present separation in giving men up to great spirituall judgements and evills; and indeed God testifies more against the Sectaries of our times, then against the old Brownists and Separatists, leaving the Sectaries of these dayes to fall into greater Errours, Heresies Blasphemies, and more pernicious Practises then the former, few of them in comparison falling either to those Opinions or Practises which generally the Separatists do now, but held to their first principles more; a great reason whereof I conceive to be this, the old Separatists having greater scandals, and more just occasion of separating then the new the old Separatists being like men stealing upon need, or some want, the new like those who steale upon wantonnesse, and for their pleasure, the onelike wives and children going away and leaving harsh, bitter, hard, unkind husbands and parents, the other forsaking loving and kind husbands and Parents allowing them all things siting, and that can reasonably be desired) their sinne was not so great then as now, and so the punishment not so great: There are two wayes to judge of the greatnesse of sinnes, and of Gods displeasure against them, either by the nature and kind of them, viewing them formaliter in their formality, or in the effects and fruits of them effective: Now this Corallary leads me to judge and speak of Schisme and Separation in the latter, and among all punishments the effects and fruits, which declare the greatnesse of any sinne, spirituall judgements and punishments are the sorest and sadest. The punishment upon the Heathen, (Rom. 1.21.24 &c.) when they knew God, for not glorifying him as God, and for their idolatry, is giving them up to uncleanenesse and vile affections, to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient, suffering them to be fild with all unrighteousnesse, wickednesse, covetousnesse, malitiousnesse, deceit, malignity, debate, to be proud, inventers of evill things, without naturall affection, Covenant-breakers, implacable, &c. (2. Thes. 2.11.) The judgement of God upon the Antichristian world as a fruit of their sin in not receiving the truth in love, is Gods sending them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye; 2. Tim. 13. and the punishment of God upon Seducers is, that they shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, that they who are filthy shall be filthy still; Revel. 22 11. Now the judgements of God upon the Heathen Idolaters, upon the Antichristian Faction, upon Seducers and filthy persons, are upon the Schismaticks and Separatists of our times: God hath given them up to feareful Opinions, to damnable Heresies, blasphemies, God hath sent strong delusions to beleeve lyes, strange conceits, and God hath left them to all kind of filthynesse, unrighteousnesse, uncleannesse, unnaturalnesse, &c. Whosoever doth but read and consider the First and Second Part of Gangraena, must needs say that God hates Schisme and Separation, in leaving those who are guilty of it, to do those things they do daily: I may p. 163truly say God hath set markes and brands upon this way of Separation, not only burning them in their hands, but branding them in their foreheads, Schisme hath Coins mark and brand upon it of a Fugitive and Vagabond upon the earth: How do we see in daily experience our Sectaries have no rest, but wander and go from one Errour and way to another till they quite lose themselves? being Saint Iudes raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame, wandring Stars to whom is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever? The punishment of Schisme and Separation from the Church, is Separation from God, Heresie, Blasphemy, Atheism, uncleannesse, unrighteousnesse, Schisme doth most easily draw into Heresie, and we hardly ever knew or read of any **Hieron. in Epist. ad Titum cap. 3. Vi… esse Schisma ullum quod non aliquam confingat haeresim ut ab Ecclesia meritó recessisse videatur. Quicunque enim labit…r in Errorem aliquem, & ab unitate Ecclesiae se divelli nunquam patitur, ille Error in eo esse poterit hoeresis materialiter, non formaliter; non enim in eo est pertinacia, qui Ecclesiailli adhaeret, a… qua para…us est docerl. M. Antonius De Dominis de Republ. Eccles. l. 7. c. 10. August coatralit. Petil. lib. 1. Schisma omnia scelera s…pergreditur.Sir 50:7Schisme in the Curch which did not make a Heresie that it might deservedly seem to forsake the Church: The ancient Fathers, as Irenaeus, Cyprian, do excellently shew that those who forsake the Church do necessarily fall into most foule Errours against the truth of faith, and some of them show that Schisme is a worse and more pernicious evill in the Church of God then Heresie, and no Errour will be a compleat and formed Heresie in any faithfull man, if Schisme be not joyned, and so consequently it will not much hurt the Church of God: But Schisme of it self, even with sound Doctrine in every point, is a most greivous wickednesse which exceeds all other wickednesse. I might out of the Fathers enlarge and show the great evill of Schisme both in it self and the effects of it, how 'tis a greater evill to rend the Church, then to worship Idols; yea, that Martyrdome it self cannot profit a Schismatick, that 'tis so great an evill that the bloud of Martyrdome cannot blot it out, so Cypr. and Chrysost. and that God hath more severely punished it then mur…her and other great crimes. Corah, Dathan, and Abiram for their Schism were punished more severely, with the earth opening and swallowing them up quick, then Cain, and then those who made an Idoll; so **Optatu… lib. 1. Distantiam esse delictorum, aut remissio testatur, aut paena, & quod in sacrilegos & parr…cidam non secerat, in s…ismaticos …ect. August. Epist. 142. Qui fecerun… idolum usitata gladii morte perempti sunt, qui vero schisma facero volnerunt, Matu terra principes devorati, & turba consentien… igne consumpta est: Diversitate paenarum, diversitas agnoscitur meritorum.Optatus and Augustine; but I shall leave the enlarging of these, and the adding of more to a Tractate I intend of the nature of Schisme; only by this and all the dreadfull examples laid down in the First and Second part of Gangraena, as Wrighter, Clarkson, Hicb, Webb, Boggis, Oats, Ienney, Mistris Attaway, Ni…bols, Denne, &c. we may learn to see that Schism and Separation are great evills highly displeasing to God, and that we have great reason to shun and p. 164flye from them, as from a Serpent, lest wee become Monsters of men, and God give us up to a reprobate sense and a spirit of Errour. In a word, to conclude this Corallarie, what the Apostle speaks to the Corinthians of Idolaters, &c. long before their time, that these things happened unto them for examples, and these things were their examples, to the intent they should not be Idolaters, &c. that I may say of our times, that all these spirituall punishments on Schismaticks in our dayes and times are our examples to the intent that wee should not separate from this Church, and set up other Churches, lest God let us fall from Independency to Anabaptism, and Antinomianism, and from Anabaptisme to be Seekers, and from Seekers to be Antiscripturists, and Sceptiks, yea, Blasphemers and Atheists.

CORALL. IV.

HEnce then we see from all these Errours, Heresies, Blasphemies, proceedings of the Sectaries, That Magistrates, Ministers, and other Christians, Masters of families, Parents, &c. have been asleep, and too carelesse, that so many tares have been both sowed, and are grown up to such an head: If the Magistrates, Ministers, and Christians every one in their places and callings had been awake and watchfull, improving their power, authority, gifts, for purity of Doctrine and Unity, the field of this Kingdome could not have been so sowen with tares, nor the garden of this Church so overgrown with weeds, yea, briers and thorns. Christ tels us in the Parable, Matth. 13.25. While men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat; that is, the Divell takes occasion by the negligence and slothfulnesse of those that have the charge of others,Vide New Annotations on Matt. 13…25.Matt 13:25 to doe mischiefe in Gods Church. The Prophet Isaiah showes, Isa. 56.9, 10. that All the beasts of the field, yea, the beasts of the forrest come to devoure: viz. Hereticks and Schismaticks (resembled to wolves, foxes, &c.) enter in, not sparing the Flock: and the reason is, The watchmen are blinde, dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber; that is, their Rulers, both Ecclesiasticall and Civill that should watch the approach of the enemy, and be as watchfull mastives to give warning of theeves approaching to the house, or wolves to the flock, are either dumb, or drunk, or fast asleep. And truely, we may thank the connivance and winking of Magistrates, the silence and forbearance of Ministers, the want of zeal in Masters and Parents, that spirit of slumber and sleepines that hath fallen upon the Kingdom, for all the tares, wilde oats, and weeds that are grown and sprung up among us: And to all the sorts of Sects in this Kingdome which I have named, as Seekers, &c. I may add this of Sleepers and Dreamers, which I p. 165am afraid are the most generall of any other, there being too many Sleepers in all places, and among all ranks, in Citie, Countrey, among the Magistrates, Ministers, and private Christians; and would to God this were the worst in this Kingdome, that many both in Magistracy and Ministery were onelyonly sleepy and heavie, and that they were not in a dead sleep, in a lethargie that nothing can awake them: but 'tis too apparent that God hath powred out upon many the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed their eyes, even Rulers and Seers hath hee covered, and all the Sermons, Books, Speeches (which one would think would awaken men) are as the word of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one, saying, Read this; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed: nay, not onelyonly so, but this is the condition of this Church and State, that many who are dead asleep as in reference to prevent or suppresse the sowing of Heresies and Schisms, are awake and alive, yea, watchfull at midnight, and waiting upon all opportunities to promote and further Heresie, Schism, and to hinder, crosse all means for the suppressing of them; witnesse the many Emissaries sent forth into most parts of this Kingdome, witnesse the many books written, sermons preached for them; witnesse those who stand up for, and use all means to bring off Sectaries when in question, &c. witnesse many (who professe to be against Independency, and for Presbytery, to be with us) that upon all occasions, even before the Parliament, and in other places, heal the hurt of this Kingdome slightly, and dawb with untempered morter, preaching that our errours are not so many, that there are them who make them to be more then they are, and call Truths of God Errours; and they say, that in other times, as in the Primitive Church, &c. there were greater errours, and therefore wee need not be so troubled. But (for my part) I look upon this luke-warm temper, remissenesse in reference to the faith once delivered to the Saints, which hath possessed so many in this Kingdome, Magistrates, Ministers and people, as that which may hazzard all, and may once more provoke God to spue out of his mouth the luke-warm Angel that is neither cold nor hot. And to draw towards a conclusion of this, I shall speak to those in authority in the words of the Prophet David, Psal. 2.10, 11, 12, Be wise now therefore O yee Kings, be instructed ye Iudges of the earth: Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kisse the Son, lest hee be angry, and yee perish from the way. The summe of which Scripture is an exhortation to Kings, Parliaments, and all sorts of Governours in high place, 1. To lay aside pride, and self-conceit of their own carnall wisdomes, and with meeknesse to receive the yoke and Government of Christ laid down in his word, and by their Lawes and Ordinances to serve Christ, in establishing the true worship of God, and to suppresse all false worship and doctrine. 2. Hee calls upon Kings and Judges to be wise; implying, p. 166First, That the **Calv. in Psal. 2.10 Adde quòd inanis sapientiae f…ltus q…o turgent eos quid re…on sit dis…ere non patitur. Quum eos jubet intelligentiá esse praeditor; oblique fals…m prudentia confidentium in ipsis persiringit. Ergo quansumuis sibi placeant mundi Principes in suo ocumine, sciamus eos pla…e desipere, dene… fiant humiles Christi discipuli.Ps 2:10conceit of their owne wisdome (by which they are puf…ed up) hinders them from learning that which is their duty, and truely right. Secondly, implying, Magistrates of all sorts, both Kings and Judges, are subject to want spirituall wisdome, and to be fooles, to goe by crooked rules of carnall policie, as Ieroboam, fearing to lose parties, to part with any State-interest, &c. rather then to keep close to the word of God, to doe their duties, and to trust him. 3. The Psalmist teaches Kings and Judges wherein true wisdome and understanding consists, viz. in serving the Lord with fear, and kissing the Son; not onelyonly in their own persons serving God, and subjecting to him with the kisse of honour and reverence as ordinary private men, but quatenus tales, as Kings and Magistrates, to submit their Scepters to Christ, to serve him, and to convert the power they have received from God, to the propagation and defence of his Kingdome. Then indeed (as learned **Gerb. de Magistratu politico, Sect. 5. Tuncuerò Christo serviunt, ipsamque osculantur, si non ipsi soluin doctrinam Christi recipiunt, ac fide amplectuntur, sed etiam potestate divinitùs sibi data hoc efficiunt, ut puritos doctrinae in Ecclesia conservetur, idololatriae & falsi cultus aboleantur, lupt ab ovisi Dominico arceantur, Ministri Ecclesiae comm…de alantur, &c.Gerhard speaks) Kings and States serve Christ, and kisse him, if themselves doe not only receive the doctrine of Christ, and imbrace it by faith; but also with the power given them of God, see to this, that purity of doctrine shall be preserved in the Church, Idolatrie and false worships shall be abolished, wolves shall be driven from the fold of Christ, the Ministers of the Church shall be competently provided for &c. And**Aug. Epist. 166. Et quibus dictum est, Servite Domino in timore; &c.? Nonne Regibus? At quonam modo serviunt Dominy Reges in timore, nisi ea quae contra Domini jussa fiunt, religiosa seueritate prohipendo? Aliter enim eorum quisque servit quia … quia Rex est: uam … s…rvit vivendo fideliter; quia verò Rex est, servit Leges pracipientes, & connaria prehibentes conven…enti rigore sanciendo. Austin (speaking upon these verses of the Psalmist in one of his Epistles) saith, To whom is it spoken [Serve the Lord with fear, &c.]? Is it not to Kings? But how do Kings serve the Lord with fear, unlesse it be by a religious severity forbidding those things which are against the commands of the Lord? For every one of them serves him after one manner as hee is a man, after another manner as hee is a King: for as hee is a man, hee serves him in living faithfully; but as hee is a King, hee serves him in making Lawes commanding just things, and prohibiting the contrary: like as Ezechias served him in destroying idols, groves, and high-places; like as Josias served him, &c. … …4. God by the Prophet here threatens Kings and Judges, that if they doe not serve him with fear, and kisse the Sonne, hee will be angry with them, and they shall perish from the way: that is, the sudden fury of God shall surprize and intercept them whilest they are in the midst of p. 167their way; so **Cal…in in Psal. 2.12. Pe…i…e de vi… quidem exponunt propter viam perversam, vol s…eleratam vivendi rationem. Ahi resolvunt, … via vestra percat. Mihi magis anida diversus sensu…, quod David fere denuntiet, ut …os intercipiat subitus Dei furer, dum se putabant adhue, esse in medio sladio: Scimus enim ut Dei contempteres sibi in secunda fortun… Llandi…i seleant, & quasi in la… campo se …. Non a…s re … minatur Propheta, quum dixerin…; …ax & securitas, se procul … siue suo putantes, repentino interitu ….Ps 2:12Calvin. To perish or be lost in the way imports sudden destruction whilest they are in doing their actions; so Ainsworth upon the place.

And for a conclusion of this Corallary, O that any particular Members of Parliament who are for pretended liberty of conscience, a Toleration of Sects, favourers of Sectaries, and out of those principles hinder all they can the setling of Religion and Government by civill sanction, would often and sadly meditate upon this Scripture, and be wise now (whilest there's time) thus to serve the Lord, lest suddenly, when they least think of it, they perish from the way, and God make them examples, for adhering so pertinaciously to the Sectaries and that party. They may read in Ecclesiasticall Stories what hath befalle… Princes for not serving the Lord in fear, and kissing his Son; and they see before their eyes the many evils that have befallen the King, and the great straights to which hee hath been reduced for favouring too much the Popish and Prelaticall party against the minde and humble desires of both his Kingdomes: and can particular persons think (who are not Kings, but under that title of Judges) that they can prosper long in standing for a Sectarian faction against the minde of both Kingdomes, and that the Kingdomes will not see and desire to understand how it comes about? and by whose means 'tis, that wee having taken a Covenant for uniformity in Doctrine, Government, &c. and for extirpating of Heresie, Schism, and the Parliament having declared and made Ordinances for Presbyteriall Government, and declared in some Declarations and Remonstrances against Anabaptists, Brownists, preaching of men not ordained, and against leaving particular persons and Congregations to their own liberty; that yet all things should be done quite contrary with an high hand? For may not now whoever will both preach and gather separated Churches, print and act against Presbyteriall Government; and for all sorts of Sectaries? Yea, such persons are countenanced, preferr'd in all places, and to all kinds of Offices and imployments (which makes many turn Independents) and the most zealous cordiall men against Sectaries are displaced, or discountenanced, or obstructed, &c. These things doe seem strange and against all reason, that the Parliament, professing and declaring one thing, yet the quite contrary in all things of this nature should be done daily in Citie and Countrey. In the worst times, when the King was most mis-led by the Councels of Prelats and evill men about him, there were not actions more contrary in many Ministers of State and other persons to Proclamations and p. 168Declarations, then are now to Ordinances, Declarations and Votes of Parliament; and yet we hear of few censured or made examples. Now the people every-where say, These things could not be, persons durst not be thus bold to doe these things, but that they know they have some great ones to back them and stand by them; and the people enquire after, and speak who they be, and questionlesse will represent these things as unsufferable, and as most dishonourable to the Parliament, and they will humbly desire these things may be remedied by the power and wisdome of the Parliament: and therefore O that all such would be wise in time, be wise now, desert the Sectaries, further the work so much the more as before they have hindred it, for there is an emphasis and weight in that Adverb **Calv. n Psal 2 10. Per Adverbium nune, significat mature illis esse res…pèscendum, quia non semper eadem dabitur oppertunitas.Ps 2:10now, signifying they should do it speedily, because the same opportunity will not be alwayes given, and the Psalmist hints they may yet do it profitably if they make haste; but if any doe persist and goe on, working day and night, rolling every stone to uphold that party, he that strikes thorow Kings in the day of his wrath, will not spare them, and they shall finde by sad experience, when his wrath is kindled but a little, blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

CORALL. V.

HEnce then, from all the Errours, Heresies, Blasphemies, and wicked Practices that are to be found among the Sectaries in their Assemblies and Conclaves, let all such who have been deceived and drawn to them under pretences of greater purity, holinesse, &c. and have any fear and awe of God and his Word, be exhorted to leave and forsake them, and to return to the publick Assemblies, and communion of this and other Reformed Churches; and I shall bespeak them in those words, Cant. 6.13. Return, return, O Shulamite, return, return, that wee may look upon thee; in the exhortation of the Apostle Peter, Save your selves from this untoward generation; and in that call from Heaven, Come out of her my people, that yee be not partakers of her sinnes, and that yee receive not of her plagues: I know there are many in the way who are not of the way, that know not the depths of Satan, who are meerly deceived out of their high opinion of some of the men, and of the way, as a most holy people, and as a way wherein they should enjoy an heaven upon earth, a great deale of love, holinesse, sweetnesse, comfort, &c. Now I have good hopes that all such, upon the discovering to them the dangerous Errours, Heresies, pernicious practices that attend that way, will be recovered, and blesse God for delivering them from such a dangerous snare; and I am perswaded that all those who are fallen from us upon mistakes, that are not Dogmatists, nor engaged to the p. 169Sectarian partie upon points of credit, profit, interest of relations, &c. and shall in the feare of God, and in humilitie read my first and second Part of Gangraena, by the blessing and grace of God they will be a means to convert and bring them back to us; and I the rather insist upon this exhortation, because I find both in Histories, and in the experience of our owne times, that many Sectaries have been regained aaScult. Annal. Dec. …. Melch Adam. vit. Musculi, pag. 377. Musculi loci commun. de Haeresi, pag. 611. Iohannes Gaster. Anabaptistarū Doctor quem in còlloquio Ambiosins glaureus Eslingae in viam reduxit. Scultet. Annal. Dec. 2.: Iohannes Denkius an Anabaptist and a great Schollar, was converted by Oecolampadius, * Obbo Philippus a famous Anabaptist, yet recanted, and by an ingenuous and free confession laid open the impostures of his companions, and Theodor. Philippus. out of the perswasion of Obbo afterwards repented. Many Anabaptists were reclaimed by learned Musculus, and among the rest, one who was a Schollar, afterwards being made a Minister of the Church, spent a great deale of pains in converting the Anabaptists. And now in these times in mine owne and other Ministers experience, some who have been of that way told us, they thought the Anabaptists a most holy people, which made them to joyne with them, but now seeing their errours and their loose bbVide Letter pag. 70, 71. of the second part of Gangraena.practices, what a wicked people they are, that hath caused them to leave them. And among the Independents I know some **These persons have been with me and what I write, I had from their owne mouths and relations, as many others also have had.who have forsaken the Church-way, and are returned to our publike Assemblies. A Minister of that way, and a Pastour of an Independent Church for some years, upon re-examination of his former grounds, and holding them up to the light by the word of God, and the writings of some Presbyterians giving grounds out of the word of God, saw the Independent way to be a garment full of holes, and from the factions divisions hee saw in that way, and the strange opinions and errours that the members of his Church run into, hee is turned Presbyterian, a Minister of one of our Congregations in England, and hath publikely in his Parish Church given God glorie, recanted, professed his being humbled for being in the Independent way, and is a great Zealot for Presbyterie, and against Independencie. Another of that way, a good Schollar, Fellow of a Colledge, member of an Independent Church in London, upon reading some books against Independencie, and other things he found in that way, left his Church, and is a profest Presbyterian: I could tell also of a School-master, member of a Church in New-England, who is of our Churches now since his coming p. 170over; but I must hasten, and unto all these examples for to cause you to returne, consider these following particulars.

1. Stay no longer in the way of Schisme and Separation wherein thou art, but upon all these discoveries of the Errours, Heresies, Blasphemies, &c. of the Sectaries leave them left God be provoked to leave thee to go a great way further, then yet thou art, from Independency and Anabaptisme, to a Seeker, to Arrianisme, Antiscripturisme, yea, Blasphemy, and Atheisme.

2. The Independent Church-way, is a way of errour, confusion, division, a way that God never shined upon nor blessed spiritually with the blessing of edification, onenesse of heart, and peace in their Churches, but hath been a bitter root of division, contentions, errours in all places of the world where ever such Churches have been set up, as in New-England, Holland, Iland of Providence, the Summer Ilands, Old England.

3. Come out from these Sectaries, this Babell, lest being partakers of their sins, you be partakers of their plagues also; for these Sects (as I have shewed you in the second Corallary) must be destroyed and cast out: and not onelyonly out of this Church, but out of all the Christian world, and that either as the lesser Antichrists, the fore-runners of the great Antichrist, or together with him as a part of Antichrist, the tail of the Beast; and then all the friends and lovers of Sectaries, the merchants who were made rich, and traded in the commodities of the Sectaries, shall cast dust upon their heads, and weep and waile when they see all that is come upon them. And for a conclusion of this Corallary, I shall wind it up with that sad and patheticall exhortation of M. Brightman to the Separatists of his time, applying it to our Sectaries now: There is in the Church of England a twofold great good, the preaching of the Word, and the administration of the Sacraments, in either of which Christ imparts himselfe celebrating a mutuall feast with them; hee is first received of us by the hearing of the Word, then he doth againe receive us in the Supper of his body. O we most base and unworthy as often as we fly away from hearing the Word I for we refuse Christ our Ghuest. O we wicked despisers as often as in the Sacrament with our brethren wee with-d…aw our selves I for we despise Christ calling us to the Supper. But these things are added for the singular comfort of the godly. For who would not feare, and with all speed thinke of flying from this Church, when they should heare the condition of these Ministers to be so hatefull to Christ, as that in a shorte time, unlesse they repent, he would spue them out of his mou…h, unl…sse that in the words of Christ himselfe they had been assured of communion and fellowship with Christ in that Church? Praise therefore to thee, O most meeke Lamb, who finding the doores shut against thee, dost not, being stird up with fury, p. 171presently withdraw thy selfe, and deprive us (according to our deserts) of salvation; but still leavest a plentifull store of thy selfe to all them who open to the knocking by thy word, and do not contemn thy most gracious invitation by the Sacraments. Therefore it is a wicked and blasphemous errour of them who do so forsake our Church, Igitur scelestus & blasphemus est eorum Error, qui sic ab hac Ecclesia deficiunt, quasi hinc Christus exularet prorsus nec ulla spes salutis manentibus esse posset. Cogitent hic Christum convivantem cum suis. An pudebiteos illic discumbere, ubi vident Christum non pudere? An illo sanctiores & mundiores erunt? Sed quare se non convincunt suo ipsorum usu? non possunt inficiari quin prius in Christum crediderint, quam secerunt à nobis divortium; unde haec fides? Annon ex praedicatione in nostra Ecclesia? Nunquid autem praedicare quis potest nisi mittatur, Rom. 10, 13, &c. Quamobrem redire ad unitatem Ecclesiae, quae vos genuit & aluit. Si fugiatis hunc Christum, qui cum electis in nostris cae ibuscaenat, ac eos vicissim excipit, profecto nulquam invenietis. Sanitatis mentem precor illis ut ad veritatem redeant, quo fugiant sup, licium quod desertores manet.Rom 10:13as if Christ were wholly gone from hence, neither could there be any hope of salvation to them who staid in it. ☜ Let them think that Christ is here supping with his. Is it a shame for them to sit downe there where they see Christ is not ashamed? Are they holyer and purer than hee? But wherefore do they not convince themselves by their owne experience? They cannot deny but they first beleeved in Christ, before they made this separation from us: was not this from preaching in our Church? But can any man preach unlesse he be sent Rom. 10.13? Why do they therefore so perversly refuse the Word for some blemish of the externall calling, whose divine vertue they feele in their hearts? Although that fruit doth no more free our depravations from all fault, than a true issue of ones body doth adulterie: neither therefore must we rest contended in these corruptions, or they separate from us for some blemishes. Wherefore return yee to the unitie of the Church, which hath begotten and nourished you: If you flye this Christ, who sups with his Elect in our Assemblies, and likewise entertains them as they him, truly you shall find him no where else. And then speaking of those who forsake our Church, he wishes soundnesse of mind to them that they may return to the truth, whereby they may avoyd that punishment which abides deserters and revolters. Now if when the luke-warme Angell was in our Church, and so many corruptions of ceremonies, &c. that attended him, it was so unlawfull and dangerous to forsake this Church, and it was the dutie of those that deserted us, to return, lest the punishment of revolters should abide them: what then is the sin of those who now forsake our Assemblies, set up separated Churches, when the luke-warme Angell is cast out, and all his Attendants, and a godly zealous Ministerie is brought in, and the Ordinances administred free from ceremonies and the inventions of men, and p. 172Discipline of Censures and Excommunication a setting up? O let all such be exhorted to returne to the unity of the Church, that they may escape judgements both temporall, spirituall and eternall, and not be judged of the Lord as revolters.

CORAL. VI.

HEnce then from all I have laid downe in the first and second Part of Gangraena of the Practices, Proceedings, and ways of the Sectaries, we may see and observe the great difference between the carriage of the Independents, and our Brethren of Scotland: our Brethren of Scotland have been constant and true all along to their first Principles, to the ends they alwayes held out, to the grounds which they declared they went upon, to the Covenant they have taken, and that in every branch and part as well as some, in standing for the Kings honour and just greatnesse, &c. as well as standing for their own Liberties; in standing for uniformity in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government in the three Kingdomes, as for preservation of their own, &c. and neither all their sufferings, hardships, difficulties on the one hand, nor all the offers, temptations, flatteries on the other hand, have made them decline from their way, either in their owne Countrey, or since they have been in Covenant with us. I challenge any man in all this nine or ten yeares of their troubles, to charge them justly with falsnesse or breach of Covenant in pretending one thing, and intending another, in forsaking former Principles, and falling upon new, according to any advantages offered them; but now the Independents and Sectaries have been inconstant, uncertain, and unstable in all their wayes, crying up and extolling our Brethren of Scotland to the heavens, and afterwards as much casting them downe, pretending a regard to some branches of the Covenant, as extirpating Popery and Prelacy, but not minding others, as maintaining the Kings Honour, his just power and greatnesse, the extirpating of heresie, schism, the endeavouring the nearest conjunction and uniformity between the three Kingdoms in Government, Discipline, &c. not certain to any principles or ends they have propounded, except those of Anarchie, and pretended new light; not well knowing what they would have, but changing their minds, and framing their wayes according as they have seen their opportunities and advantages; And because I observe it hath been one great part of the designe of the Sectaries, yea and as the maine medium to effect their ends by, the aspersing and reproaching of the Scots (the Sectaries looking upon them as that which letteth, and will let untill it be taken out of the way) which hath been therefore with all industry, artifice and vigour prosecuted ever since the battell at Marston p. 173Moore, and more especially since the moulding or new modell of the Army: I shall therefore (to undeceive the people) as in the sight of God, out of pure conscience, speak a few things of our Brethren of Scotland, and show particularly some differences between them and the Sectaries.

1. The Scots still upon all occasions have improved and made use of all victories, successes, and advantages put into their hands (as the coming in of the King now to them) for the good of both Kingdomes, and for effecting the ends declared in the Covenant, not for anie particular ends, as to get possession of Newarke, or to be revenged for affronts offered them, or injuries done them by the Independent party, or to increase divisions, jealousies, discontents between the Nations: But now the Sectaries have made use of all advantages, and of all successes they have had, and of all events that are fallen out for the increase of their own partie, and effecting their particular ends divided from the interests of both Kingdomes, and the ends expressed in the Covenant; yea to increase and further jealousies, discontents, differences between the two Kingdomes, by blowing up and aggravating upon all occasions all things against the Scots, by railing against and speaking evill of the Scots in all companies and places, by aspersing them in manie printed bookes, (carefully spread and dispersed abroad by the Sectaries) and by many false reports and other dangerous insinuations against the Scots vented in weekely newes bookes (the Pensioners of the Independent party) and particularly since the Kings coming to the Scottish army, many things have beene related and spoken of by the weekly Pamphleters, which reflect upon our Brethren of Scotland, and some upon the Kings Majestie (which must needs seeme strange and be verie offensive to all good and wise men) and so much the more, the King being come in, and in the Parliaments Quarters. I cannot stand to name the particulars, nor to animadvert upon them now, but referre the Reader among others, to peruse Mercurius Britanicus, numb. 130. The Scotch Dove, num. 134. Moderate Intelligencer, num. 62, 63. neither shall I much need to doe it, for I doubt not but they will recant shortly, and being mercenarie fellowes, wee shall see them within a few weekes ring the changes.

2. Our Brethren of Scotland have borne with much patience and long-suffering, quietnesse of spirit and humili…ie, infinite reproaches, evill speakings against in City, Countrey, by all sorts of Sectaries, passed by also manie affronts, neglects, abuses offered them; and when manie things in this Kingdome have gone crosse to their desires, hopes, and the Reformation they expected, and divers things have succeded to the content and desire of the Sectaries, yet they have put up all, waiting upon God for a change, said little; p. 174neither the Commissioners for Scotland, nor anie particular person of their Nation having put forth intemperate books against those whom they conceived the Authours and chief Engines in these matters, but have borne to admiration (considering they left their peace, and incurred the displeasure of their native King to come in to our help, and lay under such great sufferings in their owne Countrey) all the evill surmisings, scandalls, reports, jealousies raised of them, disgraces and scorns, without anie breaking forth. But now the Sectaries, upon everie little occasion of being crossed in their way, as by Ordinances coming forth against anie of their principles and practices, (though God knowes they have been little put in execution) by calling in question any of their partie, though most deservedly and justly, by petitions put up against the Sectaries, how proud, how impatient have they beene? what strange words have they given out? what meetings have they had? and what railing Pamphlets have been written one upon another, against Parliament, Assembly, Citie.

3. The Scots upon all occasions and opportunities have beene forward for peace, moving for peace and the settlement of the Church, desirous of Propositions to be sent to his Majestie: But now manie Sectaries could not endure to heare of peace, not of the Kings coming in, nor of the settlement of the Church, they have looked so much to their particular ends of profit, increase of their party while things were unsetled, that they have alwaies expressed themselves to the contrary, fearing their way could not thrive nor stand, if once things should come to be setled, and the Government and the peace concluded of. Manie more differences might be showne between them; but I must draw to an end, and the understanding Reader may by these easily hint at more, and it concernes the whole Kingdom now at this time wisely to consider and lay things together concerning the different carriage of our Brethren of Scotland and the Sectaries, that so a good understanding may be between the two Nations for the putting a speedy end to our troubles and distractions in Church and State, and that we may not by mis-understanding of things, nourishing jealousies, beleeving false reports, serve the designes of some particular men, to put us into a new warre, and occasion new differences now that (blessed be God) our worke is even done, and the ship richly laden come into the haven. And to stop the mouths of Sectaries and Malignants forever, and to possesse us of the reality, honesty, faithfulnesse of our Brethren of Scotland, consider but what we have found them all along experimentally from first to last, and let any man instance (if he can) in any one action, from the beginning of our troubles, wherein the State of Scotland hath broken with us, or beene unfaithfull: Their going out of this Kingdome to their own Countrey when p. 175they had been in England about the space of a yeare with their good carriage in the Land, and upon going home, is knowne unto all and confessed; and it was a reall confutation of many evill surmises against them in those times. When they were desired to come into this Kingdome, then they were a most worthy Nation, a Nation that God loved and honoured, and that in the judgment of **Let us now reach forth our hearts and hands unto our Brethren of Sea land, let us come up fully unto this our ingagement, and rejoyce in it, for certainly that Nation is a Nation that God doth love, a Nation that God doth honour, and by those many expressions of his love, sheweth that he doth intend to make them speciall instruments of the great things he hath to doe in this later age of the world. It is a Nation that is united the most firmly of any people under heaven: wee may truly call it a Philadelphia; And Brightman (that famous light in for…er times, 30, or 40 yeares since) did parallel the Church of Philadelphia with the Church of Scotland Philadelphia signifies br…therly love; VVhen was there ever a Nation, such a Church that joyned together in such firme Covenants as they have done? had we had that Reunion among us, O how great things had we done before this time! A Nation it is that hath ingaged it self to God in a higher way in a more extraordinarie way, then any Nation this day upon the face of the earth hath done; in the most solemne way covenanting with the eternal God, paw…ing sorth their prayers and their tears for joy together with their covenanting: A Nation that hath reformed their lives for so smalltime, more then ever any people that we know of in the world have done: And a people that have risen up against Antichrist more in another way then ever people have done, and that is the great worke of God in these times. And therefore God certainly hath a love into them, because they breake the ice, and begin the worke, and arise in such a way as they do, for the pulling downe of the man of sin. Mr. Burroughs Speech delivered at Guild-hall, pag. 28, 29. Vide plura.Mr. Burr…ug… an Independent, who in a Speech at Guild-Hall in the face of the Citie and Kingdome, proclaimed them so; and as they shewed themselves a faithfull people, in returning back to their Countrey, and are confessed a worthy people at the time of their coming in, so in their coming in in the depth of winter, wading up to the neck in waters, and leaping over the mountains of ice and snow, and so in all the time they have been in this Kingdome (having wrastled with many difficulties, a cruell prevailing enemy at home, and many sad discouragements in this Kingdome) yet they have been faithfull to the Cause of God and both Kingdomes, resolving when they were at lowest, in all respects, both in regard of the common Enemy and false Brethren, to stand to the Covenant in all the parts of it, and to see it kept though they all perished; and now lately, since God so strangely and unexpectedly moved the heart of the King to cast himselfe upon them, by their good and faithfull carriages in the bunsiesse, they have confuted and given the lye to all the evill surmizings, jealousies fomented, reports raised, false suggestions given out against them, as that they meant to possesse themselves of Newark, the Kings person being as the shadow, and p. 176Newark as the substance, as that the Kings partie should repaire to him, yea, that the Newark Army was joyned to the Scots, as that they would protect Delinquents and Malignants against the Parliament, that they would keep the King, and require a ransome for him, and make use of him for their own designes, and such like; whereas we see they would not meddle with Newark, but professed, if it were given into their hands one houre, the next hour they would surrender it to the English for the Parliament;Vide Scots late Declaration I saw some Letters written lately from Newcastle by English there, as one Mr. P. and others, who speak much of the integritie and faithfulnesse of the Scots, and that they suffer not a man ill affected to come to Court, no not so much as into the Towne. they have not suffered any who have been in Arms, or ill affected against the Parliament, to come to his Majestie, have taken order to discourage all Malignants, have commanded obedience to all Ordinances of Parliament, even at Newcastle where the Kings person is, and have made use of the Kings coming to them, to perswade w^th him for a speedy setling of Religion and Peace in both Kingdoms. God in his wonderfull providence gave the King to them for this end among others to shame their adversaries, and to stop the mouths of all gain-sayers, that he might bring forth their righteousnesse as the light, and their judgement as the noon-day, and might honour them before all the world: So that I may say of them in the words of Mr. Burroughs, pag. 29. of his speech at Guild-Hall, upon the coming in of our Brethren of Scotland. A Nation that God hath honoured, by giving as glorious successe unto, as ever he did unto any; whose low and mean beginnings he hath raised to as great a bright as ever low beginnings in any Countrey were. How hath God dissipated and blasted the counsels of their Adversaries? How hath he discovered all their treacheries? although they be in themselves (comparatively at least) a poore people and of little strength (as the Church of Philadelphia was) yet they have kept the word of Gods patience, and God hath kept them in the houre of temptation; God therfore is with them. Well, I say it is happie for England, that we are joyned with them in Covenant, for we needed them as much now as ever before, and we are as much beholding to them in regard of our divisions, many of us not knowing what we would have; and in regard of the many Sectaries among us, and the height they have risen unto, as ever we were before, for their help against the Popish, Prelaticall, and Malignant partie; and therefore happie England, both for the present and for the future, that now wee are coming to a Peace, we are so joyned and wrapped up in Covenant with Scotland, that the Peace and Vnion is not of England alone, but of both Kingdoms; p. 177and that this is our advantage I shall commend to the Readers consideration some particulars out of the Speeches of Mr. Solicitor, a prime able Member of the House of Commons, and Mr. Burroughs a chiefe man among the dissenting Brethren Mr. Solicitor speaking of the benefits that will redound to this Kingdome, and the advantage we shall have by a nearer Association with the Scots, and by their coming in to this purpose for our assistance, showeth that certainly they are many.

The third is this, that whosoever we doe come to a Peace, whom Gods time is come, that we shall have one, yet their coming in, in all probability it will cause us to have a better, a surer, and a better grounded Peace, then if they doe not come in. And likewise what peace soever we have, that it will be perpetuated, and be the securer for us and our posterity to reap the benefit of it. But how is it like to be, when there shall not onelyonly be our owne Kingdome, but a Brother Kingdome, an entire Kingdome, one of the same Religion with us, one that loves their liberties as well as we, when they shall bee ingaged in point of interest with us, when the same Law, the same Acts of Parliament that shall compose the differences, when if it be broken on our parts in any thing that concernes us, they cannot conceive but that it may be their case the next day, because it all depends upon one Law, one and the same title, and their interests is the same; So that if there were nothing else in it, but that we were like to have the better peace and on better termes, and whatever it be 'tis likely to bee kept the better to us and our posteritie, if nothing else were in it, that were much to our advantage: surely if by some considerable summe of money, wee might have brought in, and have them at the end of this Peace, and interested in it as well us our selves. Master Burroughs saith, how happy should wee be, if wee might have them in a neere union with us? And a people that have carried themselves with as great honour and faithfulnesse, with as great wisdome and order in the most difficult worke that ever a people did undertake in those by and intricate paths that were before untrodden. Certainely, that they undertooke at the beginning of their worke, but a few years since, it could not but bee looked upon with the eye of reason, as the most unlikely worke ever to have proceeded, a… any worke hath ever done, and yet how hath the Lord been with them, and with what wisdome and graciousnesse have they carried it. So that from the consideration of all I have said in this Corallary and from these passages in these speeches, tis good by all meanes to preserve the union of England and Scotland, and seeing we shall be so happy in a neere union, and God is so much with them, and carries them thorough with so much wisdome and graciousnesse, and that wee shall have the p. 178better Peace, and have it the better kept, by having them at the end of it, and interested in it as well as our selves; let's hearken to no Sectaries nor Independents false surmisings, evill reports, and scandalls, cast upon our Brethren of Scotland, but pray and seek by all means a more near union and communion betweene that Kingdome and this, for there is a blessing in them; and for my part I had a great deale rather fall and perish (if the will of God were so) with the Kingdome of Scotland, and the Presbyterian party in England, standing for the Covenant and the truth professed in all the Reformed Churches, then to grow and flourish for a while with the Sectaries standing for a Toleration of all Sects and Opinions, yea, then to be a King among them, as Iohn of Leyden was at Munster.

FINIS.

Errata.

First part Epist Dedicat. pag. 2. Parenthesis ends after your pleasure. Epist. Dedic. p. 8. l. 13. r. can you think. Preface p. 6. l. 2. r. eternall. p. 6. l. 16. r. rejected. p. 9. l. 22 dele and p. 11. l. 5. r. eternall. Gangraena second part in the Licence r. Dau…us. p. 66. l. 19. r. many. p. 27: l. 26. r. Cosens. p. 29. l. 4. r. formally. p. 30. l. 37. r. his. p. 34. l. 14. r. by snatches, p. 36. l. 13. r. shovve. p. 41. l. 22. after but dele a. p. 45. l. 101 r. aggravating. p. 45. l. 27. for and the proofs, r. and the persons upon proof. p. 45 l. 28. r. to the nature p. 46. l. 9. after Scotland add France. p. 46. l. 25. r. desired. p. 47. l. 17. after as dele yet. p. 47. l. 20. r. moneths. p. 48. l. 7. r. Sun. p. 51. l. 34. r. not. p. 54. r. Presbyterians. p. 55. l. 13. dele that, p. 56. l. 23. r. hovv. p. 57. l. 18. r. quum. p. 58. l. 22. r. undeniably, p. 58. l. 24. r. vvords. p. 58. l. 37. r. imputation p. 100. l. 14. r. of. p. 123. r. VVrighter. p. 127. l. 31. r. books. p. 114. l. 27. so to that purpose. p. 128. l. 12. r. are men. p. 132. l. 13. r. Sprat. p. 146. l. 2. r. propagating. p. 66. marg. note, r. sanctitate. p. 72, 73, &c. for M. Allen, r. M. Alley. p. 89. r. proved. p. 97. r. mendacia.