The Great Mysteries of Godliness and Ungodliness, Title page 1 – Dedication
THE GREAT MYSTERIES OF GODLINESSE AND UNGODLINESSE.
The one opened from that eternall truth of the un-erring Scripture of the ever-bleſſed JESUS.
The other diſcovered from the writings and ſpeakings of a generation of deceivers, called QƲAKRRS.
Wherein their Sathanicall depths, and Diabolicall deluſions, not hitherto ſo fully known, are laid open. And that which (as they often ſay) they have to deliver to the world, which it is not yet able to receive, is moſt probably manifeſted, a little before their time. To the rendring them and their way abhorred to all true Chriſtians.
Unfolding alſo, the deluſive manner of their arguings, anſwerings, and diſcourſings. In all which their chief endevour is, to conceale themſelves and their opinions from being known and diſcovered.
Publiſhed for the reduching of ſuch as are ſeduced: And the eſtabliſhing ſuch as yet ſtand, from being ſeduced by them:
By RA: FARMER, a Servant of that Jeſus Chriſt that was crucified at Jeruſalem above ſixteen hundred years ago.
2 Pet. 21. 2.
But there were falſe prophets alſo among the people even as there ſhall be falſe teachers among you, who privily ſhall bring in damnable hereſies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themſelves, ſwift deſtruction. And many ſhall follow their pernicious waies, by reaſon of whom the way of truth ſhall be evill ſpoken of.
2 Tim. 3. 8, 9.
Now as Janues and Jambres withſtood Moſes, ſo do theſe alſo reſiſt the truth; men of corrupt mindes, reprobate concerning the faith. But they ſhall proceed further: For their folly ſhall be manifeſt unto all men, as theirs alſo was
London, Printed by S. G. for William Ballara, Book-ſeller in Cornſtreet, at the Sign of the Bible in Briſtoll: and Joſhua Kirton in Pauls Church-yard. 1655.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, John Thurloe, Eſquire, SECRET ARIE OF STATE.
Honourable and Honoured,
ALthough I dare not preſume to reach ſo high as his Highneſſe; yet I can come very near under your ſhadow; which to me, is very ſubſtantial. And I may ſpeak ſo loud, that if you pleaſe, he may hear. Awhile agoe there came to this City of Briſtol, certain Morice-dancers from the North. By two and two, two and two, with an intent here to exerciſe ſome ſpiritual cheats; or (as may well be ſuſpected) to carry on ſome levelling deſign. And our ſouldiers here, having nothing elſe to do (unleſſe work of their own making, that they might ſeem to be neceſſary) ſtruck in with them in their quaking. And my ſelfe, with ſome other of my brethren in the Miniſtry here, being (by the Magiſtrates call'd to conference with them) ingaged to inquire into their opinions. I found it a harder matter to diſcover then to confute them. They being the moſt egregious prevaricators that ever men met with. Upon this account, my Geni is led me on that way, to pull off their vizor, which is the principal intent of theſe following papers: wherein is diſcovered their Myſtery of ungodlineſſe (as to ſpiritual matters. And my thoughts having been a little before upon the Great Myſtery of Godlineſse. In a publick diſcourſe, I ſpake ſomething to both, which gave ſome ſatisfaction, and was perſwaded, might be uſeful, if made publick. Both which is here done, under the Title of the Myſtery of Godlineſſe, and of ungodlineſse. And when I had done, I needed no long time to deliberate to whoſe name to inſcribe it. My heart readily told me, whom I honoured. And I had a deſire, the world ſhould know it. For, beſides our old and familiar acquaintance: The obſervation of your ingenuity (when I was laſt with you) whereby I perceived that your Honours and high imployments have not tranſported you, hath laid ſtrong ingagments upon me. And I gladly took the very firſt opportunity, to bear teſtimony to it. Sir, I was coming to you with a ſupplicatory Epiſtle. But his Highneſſe (by breath from his mouth) hath driven away theſe Northern locuſts from us. And given a command for the remove of their abetters & favorites. And now my ſupplicatory is (by this good hand of providence) turned into a gratulatory Epiſtle; And I beſeech you, let the thanks be beſtowed where you know 'tis due; for I am ſure you know. And ſurely Sir, his Highneſſe hath gained much upon the hearts of our Citizens, by this act of grace and duty. We were made believe, theſe men had countenance from him: which (upon my knowledge) made our Magiſtrates here ſo backward to be quick with them, and to deal ſo ſeverely (and juſtly) with them, as they have been dealt with in other places. And therefore I rejoyce that you breath ſo good an ayre at Court. And oh that the ſame ſalutiferous ayre might blow, (and continue to blow) through all the quarters of our Engliſh Elements. But Sir, will you give me leave to ſpeak my mind this once? (and we were wont to ſpeak freely one to another.) And i'le ſpeak for his Highneſſe, 'tis not for his honour nor ſaftety, that every petty Captain ſhould dally with his Commands, and ride away from their obedience to them. Some men know not how to bear an even ſail to that condition which theſe late troublous times have rais'd them. They could live in warre; but now know not how to live in peace, if it make not for their profit. Hence many places and perſons are rendered malignant, by thoſe, who in themſelves are not better, no (and I am ſure of it) nor ſo well affected. And I beſeech you, let not ſelfiſh inſinuates finde too much countenance to the publick grievance.
Sir, I write not this to looſen the reigns of Government, either in it ſelf, or its neceſſary ſupports (my ſoul abhorrs ſuch thoughts.) But it pains me to the very heart, that a people that may eaſily be mannaged, ſhould be over-ridden, by ſuch, who ſeek not (what ever they pretend by their ſuggeſtions of ſome friends) the publick weale; ſo much as their own advantage. If people be refractory or ſtubborn, 'tis fit they ſhould know their Rider. But if they goe readily, why ſhould they be ſpur-gald? I know not where ever I ſhall have the like occaſion, becauſe I love and honour you, and would have you be truly (everlaſtingly) honourable: I'le beg one thing of you. Improve you the high advantage of ground you have gotten for God, his truth, and the common welfare. (I need not mention his Highneſſe, 'tis eminently included.) And to this end, let order and eſtabliſht Government have a high place in your thoughts. And that in Church as well as State. But why do I divide them? are they not Hippocrates twins? do they not live and die together? how true did that ſaying prove? No Biſhop, no King. And will it not hold? No Miniſter, no Magiſtrate. And every one a Miniſter, every one a Magiſtrate. I hate perſecution. 'Tis a judgement, and is not want of Government ſo too? When there was no King in Iſrael, every man did what ſeemed good in his own eyes. And then they made Prieſts (but yet they made them) of the baſeſt of the people. Let Miniſters be baſely accounted of, and the people (with a little help) will quickly learn to deſpiſe Magiſtrates. Beſides the judgement from the Lord, there is a natural tendency in the one to the other. It will be Honourable Sir, and becoming reforming times, that men learned, laborious and godly, (ſuch as are ſo, and can be content to approve themſelves ſo; to thoſe who are able and authorized to judge) that they find more countenance, then thoſe, who are not ſo qualified. Men ignorant are impetuouſly zealous to cry down learning, that their ſnuffs might ſeeme to give ſome light, which if countenanc'd, (and that ſuch and find equall favour) will bring the next age to a dark Miniſtry. & expoſe our children as a prey to the wolves of Rome. And as for theſe levelling Quakers, I muſt need ſay; The revilings and reproachings of our gifted brethren (who of late years, have made it much of their buſineſs, to render the Miniſters of this nation, Antichriſtian) have made way for them. And they (of all men) have leaſt cauſe to be offended with them (though they prevaile moſt with their Congregations.) For the call of the one is as good as the others, though there be ſome difference in their doctrines.
Truly Sir, I had almoſt forgot what I was about; ſe. writing a Dedicatory gratulatory Epiſtle? And to whom. One that is full of great and weighty imployments. Whither won't love carry a man? It made me overbold and tedious. Pardon I beſeech you my boldneſſe, and accept of my love. I conſecrate this firſt fruit of my labours (in this kind) to your name, that it may live in you; and that you might live in God, according to the Great Myſtery of Godlineſſe, through the grace and power of that Jeſus Chriſt which died at Jeruſalem, whom the Quakers vilifie. To him I heartily commend you, and all your great and high affairs: craving this farther favour, that I may ſtill continue to be, and have leave to ſubſcribe my ſelf, as I am
From my houſe in Briſtoll, the firſt day of January, 1654/5. Sir, Your Honours true, faithful, and moſt obſervant Servant in the Lord, RA: FFARMER.