Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Part 1 · Chapter 35 · Letter – Abjuration
To the Kings most Excellent Majesty James the first, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c.
The Family of love. an. 1604.
MOst Gracious Sovereigne aThere is nothing in this Petition the smels of Christs ointments, nothing that looks with any face, like the anointing that teacheth all things, nothing to heighten Christ, much to flatter K Iames, all to lift that abominable impostor H. Nicho…as up above Christ, the stile and words full of gall against Puritans, and the truly godly in England, th…e words base, earthly, low, devilish, hereticall, temporizing▪ &.Lord, where there is published, in a booke written by your Highnesse, as an instruction aBasilicon Doron w…itten to Prince Henry.to your most noble Sonne (whom Almighty God blesse with much honour, happinesse and long life) of a people that are of a vile sect bTheir fleshly and abominable doctrine, as especially that the Familists may wallow in adulteries, blood, rebellion, perjury, and if the Spirit helpe them not against these sinnes, they are as innocent, as the maid forced in the field, who did cry and there was none to helpe, and so by no Law can be guilty. See their tenets, as H. Nicholas taught.among the Anabaptists called the Family of love, who doe hold and maintaine many proud, uncharitable, unchristian, and most bTheir foule opinions may here be read in this Treatise, and in H. Nicholas writings.absurd opinions, unto whom your Highnesse doth also give the name of cKing Iames was misinformed in that, for Familists and the godly unjustly called Puritans, are as contrary as light and darknesse.Puritanes, affirming in the said booke that divers of them (as dThe unjustly so called Puritans, did never owne Browne, nor Penry, who set on foot the old doctrine of the Anabapt…sts in England, and Enthusiasticall revelations beside the word of GodBrowne, Penry, and others) doe accord with them in their foule errours, heady and phantasticall opinions, which are there set downe at large by your Majesty, advising your royall Sonne (as is most meet) eIt is not unlike that such fleshly teachers who crave Libert… of con…cience to themselves, will petition the Prince that the tyrannous laws of Prelates, be executed against the truely godly, and that liberty be denied to all save to themselves only, a proper character of Hereticks and Schismaticks.to punish them, if they refuse to obey the Law,eThe Familists and Antinomians, because Purirans are esteemed the godly party, now call themselves, but most unjustly, the true successors of the Puritans, and all the godly opposite … their way, who strive to walke with God, they call Legalists, Pharis…es, literall Doctors; but because they change all colours, with the court and wind oft times, they are enemies to old non-conformists cal…ed sometime Puritans, in that 1. against Puritans they make all externalls indifferent. 2. They reject Scripture and imbrace revelations. 3. They contemne close walking with God as pharaisme and law-living. and will not cease to stir up rebellion.
Now most gracious Sovereigne, because it is meet that your Highnesse should understand by their supplication and declaration of the truth herein by themselves (of whom your Majesty hath been thus informed) prostrate at your Princely feet, as true fBut I noted before that Familists will have no Magistrates over them, and we may see it to be their practise this day.faithfull, loyall and obedient Subjects to all your Laws and Ordinances, civill, politique, gThe Familists subjection of their consciences to the spirituall Popish lawes of Prelates prove them to bee men of more wide consciences then Puritans, they need not feare to bee called Puritans.spirituall and temporall, they with humble hearts doe beseech your Princely Majesty to understand that the people of the family of love, or of gDeceivers as Simon Magus and others take godly titles to themselves, for H. N. saith, fidelitas docl. c. 4. sect. 11. beside Gods service of love there is not another in heaven or in earth: here they call themselves the family of God.God, doe utterly disclaime and detest all the said absurd and hThey knew well that Prelates imbittered the mind of K. James against Puritans his faithfullest subjects.selfe-conceited opinions and disobedient and erroneous sorts of the iThey say it to the praise of their Mr. Henry Nicholas that he names no mans name, but here they name both sects and names.Anabaptists, Browne, Penry, kProtestants know Puritans to be godly, and sound in the faith. Familists turne their backe then on the Protestants and the soundest of them.Puritans, and all other proud minded sects and heresies whatsoever, protesting upon paine of our lives, that wee are not consenting nor agreeing with any such lReader iudge how the Familists and Antinomians now in England shall deale with Puritans and the truly godly, what a bloody heart they beare toward them, since their fathers the old Familists do persecute them with so bloody a tongue before their Prince.brainesicke preachers, nor their rebellious and disobedient sects whatsoever, but have been and ever will be truly obedient to your Highnesse, and your Laws to the effusion of our blood mObedience to the Kings laws to the effusion of their blood, can have no orher sense, but they will raise bloody wars against Puritans if the K (which I hope shall not be) command them, I pray God it be not fulfilled in their children this day in England: they promise they have been, and ever will be obedient to the Kings laws which respecteth the time to com…, so as if the King and Parliament should againe establish Popery they say for all time to come they shall be ever truly obedient, and adde no limitation, condition of obedience in the Lord. You may see the consciences of Familists that (as after ye shall heare) they prostitute themselves to avouch or deny, take or leave all Religions, as the times and mens lawes shall … prove them or not.and expences of our goods and lands in your Majesties service, highly lauding Almighty God, who hath so graciously and peaceably appointed unto us such a vertuous, wise, religious and noble King, and so carefull and unpartiall a Justitiar to governe over us, beseeching him daily to blesse your Highnesse with his godly wisdome and holy understanding to the furtherance of his truth and godlinesse, and with all honour, happinesse, peace and long life, and to judge rightly between falsehood and truth.
And because your Majesty should have a perfect view or an assured perswasion of the truth, of the same our protestation, if therefore there be any indifferent man of the Kingdome that can justly nWhat Pharisees bee these? doth not Paul judge himselfe the chiefe of sinners? is not Elias a man compassed with infirmities? No wonder it bee h…rd to prove any wick…d doct…ine or practise, for H. Nicho…as in his Epistle to the two daughters of Warwicke would prove men may bely and dissemble, and deny their Religion and Christ before men, so the heart be good.touch us with any such disobedient and wicked handling of our selves, as seemeth by your Majesties booke, it hath been informed unto your Highnesse, unlesse they be such our oShall wee then beleeve that Familists now in England will not be deadly persecuters of Puritans?mortall enemies the disobedient Puritans, and those of their heady humours, before named, who are much more zealous, religious and precise in the tything of mint, annis and cummin, pPuritans are against all religious ceremonies of mens devisings, so that tything of mint, is unjustly ascribed to to them.and in the preferring of such like pharisaicall and selfe chosen qTo Familists all outward worship and ordinances are traditions, they live only upon love within, and are swine, without, and yet sinne not.outward traditions and grounds, or hypocriticall righteousnesse, then in the performing of judgement, mercy and faith, and such like true and qThere is to Familists no judgement and mercy, but that which is inward; let men, as touching the outward man, be swine for filthinesse, Lions for blood and rapine, they may have inward righteousnesse, and that is all and enough.inward righteousnesse which God doth most chiefly require and regard (Matth. 15.15. &c.) and whose malice hath for twenty five years past and upwards, rThen Puritans only none or few of the prelaticall way or other Sectaries refuted Familists.& ever since, with very many untrue suggestions, and most foule errors and odious crimes, the which we could shew if need were, sought our utter overthrow and destruction, but that we have behaved our selves in all orderlinesse and peaceablenesse of life, where we dwell, and with whom we had to deale; sFamilists count all Religions, popery or any thing, as they come out to the view of men neither up nor downe.or if we do vary or swerve from the tBut the Saints of love (say Familists) are above and beyond all laws and Rulers, Magistracie is but for fleshly men.established Religion in this land either in service, ceremonies, Sermons, or Sacracraments, or have publickly spoken tFamilists by their principles may professe or deny any Religion, as the Market goes.or inveighed either by word or writing against our late Sovereigne Princesse government in cases spirituall or temporall, …hen let us be rejected for Sectaries, and never receive the benefits of Subjects.
Only right gracious Sovereigne, tThis is no little exception in which they swerve from the Religion of England, in that they are Famili…ts, and of a sect destructive to all Christian religion, to Ch…ist, his person, office, righteousnesse imputed, faith, repentance, Scriptures, heaven, hell, judgement, resurrection, &c.we have read certaine bookes brought forth by a Germane Author under the characters wHe that doth evill hates the light, H.N. was once thought to be homo novus. But H. Nicholas was a fleshly abominable seducer and false prophet, a Mercer in Amsterdam.of H.N. who affirmeth therein that hee is prepared, chosen and sent of God to minister and set forth the most holy service of the love of God and Christ or of the …oly Ghost unto the children of xNeith…r Calvin nor Luther knew any thing of God, but only H Nicholas is the Catholick Apostle of the world, and cannot erre.men upon the unive…all earth, out of which s…rvice or writings we bee taught all dutifull obedience towards God and Magistrates, and to live a godly and honest life, and to love God above all things and our neighbours as our selves yNothing here of Christ by whose name only we are saved Act. 4.11.12. dutifull obedience to God and Magistrates, and to love …ur neighbour, are such Law-…ighteousnesse, as pagans doe diefie, as highest devotion; in all this petition, nothing smelleth of Christ his Spirit, eternity, noth…ng of Scripturall or spirituall communion with God in Christ Jesus.agreeing therein with all the holy Scriptures, as zAll hereticks make the Scripture their rule and only judge, but not simply, but as they understand them, which is to make their owne understanding only umpire and judge in the matters of God.wee understand them. Against which Author and his books we never yet heard nor knew any Law established in this Realme by our late gracious Sovereigne. But that wee might read them without offence, whose writings wee suppose under your Highnesse correction your Majesty hath yet never seen aThey afterward tempt the King to forsake the Protestant Religion, and to turne Familist.or perused, heard of by any indifferent nor true information: for the said H. N. in all his doctrine and writings (being as we are credibly informed as much matter in volumne, if they were all compiled together as the whole bIts a pure commendation that H Nicholas wrote much, the more the worse, since he writeth against the Prophets and Ap…stles.Bible containeth) doth neither take part with, nor write against any particular party or company cChrist and his Apostles name false teachers Saduces, Hymeneus, Philetus, Simon Magus, Elimas, &c. but though hee name neither Calvin nor Luther, yet their doctrine he calleth often, carnall, fleshly, false, ceremoniall wisdome, the letter, the flesh, the devill, hypocrisie.whatsoever as naming them by their names, nor yet praise nor dispraise any of them by name; but doth only shew in particular in his said writings (as saith he) the unpartiall service of love, requireth what is good or evill for every one, wherein the man hath right or wrong in any point, dTh…se men that cry out a…gainst Scripture-wisdome as carna…l, ceremoniall, …evilish, selfie, as H. Nicholas and his, cannot speake h…nourably of the perfection of Scriptu…e.whether it be in the state of his soule towards God or in the state of his body toward the dThe family of love have no heads or Kings that are borne o… the flesh and bl…od, of sin, spirit, lau… c 4. sect. 8. they themselves reigne as only Kings on earth everlastingly, fide…it…s decl. c. 4. sect 18.Magistrates of the world, and towards one another; to the end that all people (when they heare or read his writings, and doe thereby perceive their sinnes, and estranging from God and Christ) might endeavour them to bring f…r…h) eOf all the meanes by which men are saved through Christ, they speake only of the works of the Law, of inherent righteousnesse and repentance, not one word of free grace, faith in Christ, and the impu…ed righteousnesse of Christ. Familists then are the legall Pelagians, not we: no reformation is knowne to Familists but inward, & that of the heart.the due fruits of repentance, which is reformation and newnesse of life, according as all the holy Scriptures doth likewise require the same of every one. And that fNot more said then truth can beare, for H Nicholas his doctrine is a se…tina, a pumpe dunghill, and a sea of many fleshly errors and heresies.they might in that sort become saved through Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of all the world.
Notwithstanding, deare Sovereigne, yet hath the said Author and his doctrine a long time, and still is, most shamefully and falsely slandered by our foresaid adversaries both in this land and in divers others, as to bee replenished with all manner fThe due fruits of repentance, and newnesse of life, are here made antecedent meanes and wayes going before our saving in Christ, or our free redemption that is in Christ Jesus, so as we must be justified by workes, otherwise let any man make sense of these words.of damnable errors and filthy liberty of the flesh.
And we his wel-willers and favourers in the upright drift of his doctrine (as aforesaid) have also beene of them complained on, and accused unto our late gracious Sovereigne. gOur Saviour saith yee shall know th…m by their workes.And the Magistrates of this land, both long time past, and now lately againe as to be a people so infected and stained with all manner of detestable wickednesse and errors, that are not worthy to live upon the earth, but yet would never present any of his books unto his Majesty hThe foulest of the bookes of H. Nicholas containing the mystery of Familisme and fleshly loosenesse, are only to be seene by the wise and experienced Elde…s who can digest them. …. It is hard to prove any thing against them who prof…sse it lawfull to deny their Religion before men▪ H.N. Epist▪ to the daughters of Warwicke.to peruse, nor yet set them forth hIt is not lik… but Q. Elizabeth heard of these bookes and saw them, since many of her and K James his Court favoured them.in any indifferent or true manner to the view of the world lest their malicious and slanderous reports and accusations against the same and us, should thereby bee revealed and disproved to their great iIoh. Knewstu…. M Microni…s, H. Amsw…rth wrote against th…se filthy errors, and set downe their own words to the world.shame. Through which their most odious and false complaints against us, the Magistrates did then, and also have now lately cast kThe Prelates, the Popish Magistrates never troubled these licentious men, because they tooke part with them ag…i…st the Puritans, only some godly Magistrates nick-named Pu…itans, cast some of them in prison.divers of us into prison to our great hindrance and discredit, but yet have never proved against us, by sufficient and true testimony, any one of their many foule accusations, as the records in such cases and the lNeither by oath or any other way could they be brought to make confession of the secrets of unpure Familisme.Magistrates that have dealt therein can testifie, but are so utterly void of due and lawfull proofe thereof, that they have framed divers subtle articles lThey say they will take or leave their Religion of love as the Laws thinke fit, but they lie, f…r here being cast in prison by the inferiour Magistrate, they persist; then the infe…iou… Magistra…e to them is no Mag…strate, the Law is no Law.for us, being plaine and unlearned men, to answer upon our oath, whereby to urge and gather somethings from our selves, so to approve their false and unchristian accusations to be true, or else will force us to renounce, recant, and condemne that which we doe not mAll heretickes and impure sectar…es say they d…e wilfully maintaine no heresie, and therefore plead for liberty of conscience, and a toleration of all religionswilfully maintaine nor justifie, (much like as it was practised in the Primitive Church against the The Familists defame the doctrine of the Apostl…s and Scriptures, and have nothing to doe with the martyrs of the primitive Church, for H. N. as I observe, taught that Christ never had any man lay down his life for him, or his truth, his meaning was only allegorically to renounce his lusts for Christ, otherwise Christ rejoyceth not (said he) in our death or blood.Christians) yea they are not ashamed to lay their owne and all other mens oThe Pu…itans refusing the Popish ceremonies, and the Romish denomination of Prelates are branded by those men as disobedient to Magistrates.disobedient and wicked acts (of what profession soever they be) upon our backs, to the end cunningly to purchase favour and credit to themselves, and to make us seeme mon…trous and detestable before the Magistrates and the common people every where, for that we and the doctrine of H.N. might without any indifferent triall and lawfull or orderly proceeding, as heretofore hath beene used in the pThey desire the Popish Laws against hereticks to be used against them by which any man, that denies his heresie and …ai…h, he beleeveth as the Church beleeveth, is absolved which Familists do.Christian Church in such cases, for confuting and condemning of heresie, be utterly rooted out of the land: with divers other most cruell practises proceeding out of their bitter and envious hearts towards us, tending to the same unchristian and mercilesse purpose, the which we will here omit to speake of, because we have already been over tedious to your highnesse, and most humbly craves your most gracious pardon and patience therein, in respect that we speake to cleare our selves of such matters as may touch our lives and liberties (which are two of the chiefest jewells qFaith and a good conscience then are not the two chiefest jewells that God hath g…ven to men.that God hath given to mankinde in this world) and also for that rThe Prelates and prophane courtie…s, and the multitude were their friends, as they are to all licentious religions.we have few friends or any other meanes then this to acquaint your highnesse with the truth and state of our cause, whereof we thinke your Majesty is altogether ignorant, but have very many tDivers of the court of Queen Elizabeth and of K. James, and some nobles were Familists, I would these who now rule all, by violence and force, were not of that abominable way, for enemies they had few or none, except Puritans they lived under the shadow of Prelacie and court, when many thousands of pretious Christians for n…n-conformity were silenced, banished, prisoned, wasted.enemies whom we do greatly suspect will not be slacke to prosecute their false and malitious purpose against us unto your highnesse, even like as they have accustomed to doe in times past unto our late sovereigne Queene, through which prevailing in their slanderous defacing of us and our cause, divers of us for want of friends to make it rightly known unto her Majesty have sundry times been constrained to endure their injurious dealing toward us, to our great vexation and hindrance.
Wherefore, most gracious Sovereigne, this is now our humble suit unto your highnesse wIf the way of H. Nicholas be… th… only true way of salvation, as here they say fidelitas decl. c. 4 sect. 11. the King should bee petitioned without delay to take it to his consideration as a matter to be preferred to all his most important Kingly affaires, but they petition for a delaying triall, because every one that doth evill, hateth the light.that when your Kingly affaires of importance, which your Majesty hath now in hand shall be well overpast (for the prosperous performance whereof we wil (as duty bindeth us) daily pray unto Almighty God) that then your highnesse will be pleased (because we have alwayes taken the same Authors worke aforesaid to proceed out of the great grace and love of God and Christs xThen they allow a share of the grace of Christ on all rulers, (for they except none) though heathens and persecuters, and on all mankinde on the universall earth.extended toward all Kings, Princes, Rulers and people, upon the universall earth (as he in many of his workes doth witnesse no lesse) to their salvation, unity, peace and concord, in the same godly love) to grant us that favour, at your Majesties fit and convenient time to peruse the bookes your selfe with an unpartiall eye, conferring them with the holy Scriptures, wherein it seemeth by the books xGrosse flattery.that are set forth under your hignesses name, that you have had great travell, yThen they can settle upon no Religion till K. Iames find leasure to try and read the hereticall and fleshly writings of H. Nicholas.and are therefore the better able to judge between truth and falsehood. And we will whensoever it shall please your Highnesse to appoint the time, and to command and licence us thereunto, doe our best endeavours aIn this they professe their z…ale to have K. Iames an illuminated Elder of the family of love, as it would be their joy this day to have K. Charles of their way, that so hee might compell all others to that way, for they talke much of liberty of conscience to themselves, but we finde, when they have the sword, they straine and squeeze to the blood, the consciences of all contrary to their way.to procure so many of the bookes as we can out of Germany (where they be printed) to bThey conceive King Iames and all not of their way, that are but Scripture-learned with the fleshly wisdome (as they speak) of the letter to be the very Antichrist, and all lyes that the ungodded or unilluminated men out of the imagination or riches of their owne knowledge, and of the learnednesse of the Scriptures bring forth, Institute, preach or teach, See Evan. ch 32. ch. 33.34. and H.N. Exhor. c. 14. Sect. 9.be delivered unto your Majesty, or such godly, learned and indifferent men, as it shall please your Majesty to appoint.
And we will also (under your Highnesse lawfull licence and commandement in that behalfe) doe our like endeavour to procure some of the learned men in that Country (if there be any yet cThey doubt if there be any of their way and family in Germany which evidenceth that it is a noto…ions lie that H.N. saith, Evan ch. 34. that he is godded to publish the joyful mess…ge in all the world. And H.N. Exhor. 12. sect. 40. and Exhor. 14. sect. 9. that all the Kingdomes of the world should assemble them to this one Kingdome of peace and love: and this same love service shall breake in among all Nations and let it selfe be heard over all lands; but here they doubt if in one corner of Germany one man of this way can be had.remaining alive that were well acquainted with the Author and his workes in his life time, and which likewise have exercised his workes ever since) to come over and attend upon your Majesty at your appointed time convenient, who can much more sufficiently instruct and resolve your Highnesse in any cAll heretickes, as Calvin noted of libertines, delight to speake in uncouth language, beside the Scripture, that they may be the only spirituall men, whom none can understand but spiritualists of their owne way.unusuall words, phrase or matter that may happily seem darke and dou…tfull to your Majesty that any of us in this your land are able to doe.
And so upon such your Highnesse advised consultation and censure thereupon (finding the same workes hereticall or seditious and not agreeable to Gods holy word and testimonies of all the Scriptures) to leave them, to take them as your Majesties dThey clearly professe they will not suffer for familisme, nor that which to them is the only true Religion, and make K Iames the absolute and peremptory judge, that if he find them hereticall, they shall submit, faith, conscience and salvation to the King, to leave or take the writings of Henry Nicholas as his Majesties Laws shall appoint them, this is a Religion for the times and the flesh. This well agreeth with the Familists of our time Del, Saltmarsh, B…con, R…ndel, and others, to whom profession of truth and of Christ before men is an externall and a forme in Religion, and who cry out against formes and uniformity, and teach that we should please one another in love in all these externalls, we may doe or leave undone, Sabba…h, preaching, hearing, Sacraments, let them be inrolled in the Kallender of the late indifferent ceremonies, since they are Jewish, c…nall, literall, fleshly, and perish with the using, and let the Service-booke, bowing to altars, the name of Jesus, Episcopacy, Socinianisme, professed Acianisme be recalled, these belong nothing (say …hey) to Refo…mation or Religion. Reformation is only in the heart, Religion is … of the minde. The Kingdome of Christ is neither promoved nor hindered by these, Familisticall love in the heart is all, then surely, the Nicodemites in Calvin… time, these that buy a religion with every new-moon, erre notLawes, shall therein appoint us, having no intent nor meaning to contend or resist there-against, however it be, but dutifully to obey thereunto according to the counsell of Scriptures eThen the Scriptures and H. Nicho. bids us follow the Kings religion, what ever it be; and denying of obedience to the King and his Lawes, if they forbid a Religion that is the holy service of the love of God (as they say) is resisting and undutifull disobedience to the Law; so must we obey men rather then God.and also of the said Authors workes.
And our further humble suit unto your Highnesse is that of your gracious favour and clemency you will grant and give order unto your Majesties officers in that behalfe that all of us your faithfull loving subjects which are now in prison in any part of this your Realme, for the same cause, may be released upon such baile or bond fThey seek not the truth and cause of Christ to be cleared for the present, but only present ease to the flesh and inlargement under ba…le.as we are able to give, and that neither we nor any of that company (behaving our selves orderly and obediently under your Highnesse Lawes) may be any further persecuted or troubled therein untill such time as your Majesty and such godly learned and indifferent men of your gThey are willing to submit their c…u…e to the C…ergy, that is to the godly Prel…es who would be … to … them, because they take the Puritans off from thinking upon their lordly domination and will-worship, and the more enemies and persecuters the Puritans have▪ the more ease and lesse contradicting of the Prelaticall cause, as this day the Prelaticall party declare themselves willing to comp…und wi…h Arrians, Socinians, Fam…lists, Antinomians, Anabaptists, Seekers, Separatists and all, so the Presbyterians that stand for the Covenant of God and reformation may fall.Clergy, as your Highnesse shall appoint thereto, shall have advisedly consulted and determined of the matter whereby that we may not be utterly wasted, by the great charge of imprisonment hIn all …ges … and Sectaries have called punishing of seducers, or not receiving them in our house as being evil doers, 2 Ioh. 10▪ and so …ustly punishable, Rom. 13▪4, 5. with the name of persecution.and persecution, and by the hard dealing of our adversaries; for we are a people but few in iYet they p…stered twelve Coun…ies in England, and would God they were few in number this day.number, and yet most of us very poore in worldly wealth.
O Sacred Prince, we humbly pray, that the Almighty will move your Princely heart with true judgement, to di…cerne between the right and wrong of our cause, according to that most certaine and Christian rule set down by our Saviour Christ unto his Disciples, Matth. 7.12. Yee kYet may Familists live in all sort of fleshlinesse and Idolatry, murthers, lying, whoring, &c and if the Spirit help them not, they are no more guilty then the maid forced in the field that did cry, and there was none to helpe, and so by Law she was innocent, Document. sent. 6. c. 10. they cannot bring forth any thing but all good and love, Document. sent. c. 2. sect. 1. in many places H.N. extolls his disciples as Gods habitation, the seale of Gods Majesty, the holy City of peace, the new Ierusalem, one with God, God one with them, &c. And whereas John maketh the love of the brethren a marke of these that are translated from death to life, 1 Ioh 3.14. Yee may know Familists by their workes, they are malitious haters (as is evident in this petition) of the truly godly in England whom they call their enemies these twenty five yeares.shall know the tree by his fruits, and in our obedience peaceable and honest lives and conversation to protect us, and in our disobedience and misdemeanour to punish us as resisters of Gods ordinance, of the Kingly authority and most high office of justice committed to your Majesty to that purpose toward your subjects, Rom. 13.
And gracious Sovereigne, we humbly beseech your Highnesse with Princely regard in equity and favour to ponder and grant the humble suit contained in this most lowly supplication of your loyall true-hearted faithfull subjects, and to remember that your Majesty in your booke of Princely, grave and fatherly advice, to the happy Prince, your royall son doth conclude lThe Puritanes are the proud ones that King James is to subdue, all others the Antichristian sect, and the Familists only the house of God, of love, of the godly being, &c.Principis est parcere subjectis & debellare superbos, and then no doubt, God will blesse your Highnesse with all your noble off-spring with mTwice they pray God for the King and his son, that they may have long life, honour, happinesse, a long reigne, but not one word of life eternall and the blessings of the life to come; we know the doctrine of H. N. is that the resurrection, the last judgement, all the happinesse of Saints is closed with in this life, the day of judgement, of resurrection, is even now in this present day, H.N. Evang. c. 1. sent. 9 ch. 33. c 34. s…nt. 1, 2, 3. the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, heaven, hell, or judgement beyond this life there is none.peace, long life, and all honours and happinesse, long to continue over us; for which we will ever pray with incessant prayers to the Almighty.
Most gracious Prince, here followeth the briefe rehearsall and confession of the Christian beleefe and Religion of the company nThis confession was seene by few, it is said to be Printed an▪ 1575. It cannot be known that ever either this petition or that confession was offered to the eye and view of King Iames, how ever that confession was not theirs, for the word of God to them is the only internall word in the minde, the word as they expone it, but not the Scriptures of the old or new Testament. But it were good that the Familists and Antinomians now in England would publish to the world a confession of their faith. But I expect it not this yeare, they that doe evill, hate the light.that are named the Family of love, which (for the causes therein specified) was by them set out in Print about the time when they were first persecuted and imprisoned in this Realme for the same profession by their aforesaid adversaries, and by meanes of their false accusations and complaints unto the Magistrates against them; the which we have thought necessary to present here unto your Majesty: for that you may thereby the better understand of our innocent intent and profession whatsoever you shall heare reported to the contrary by our enemies or by any that be ignorant thereof. Humbly beseeching your Highnesse to vouchsafe to read the same, and with your unpartiall and godly wisdome to consider and judge of us and our cause in equity and favour accordingly, till your Majesty, shall have further true intelligence thereof.
Here followeth also the true copy of an Abjuration tendered to the Familists an. 1580. octob. 10. of Elizabeth by ten Lords of the Privy Councell. Because there were divers Courteours and Nobles familists, the Prelates that respected ever the persons of men, would not publickly accuse them by name, because they were eminent men, as they are now, and because also they were friends to Bishops, and enemies to non-conformists then called Puritans.
The Abjuration.
WHosoever teacheth that the dead which are fallen asleep in the Lord, rise up in this day of his judgement, and appeare unto us in godly glory, which shall henceforth live in us everlastingly with Christ, and reign upon the earth is a detestabl hereticke. aThe Antinomians and Familists now in England, especially, Randel, Saltmarsh, Del, Eaton, …, disseminate in printed books and Sermons, the same very doctrine.But H.N. teacheth so, Evangel. c 37. sect. 9.
Whosoever teacheth that to bee borne of the Virgin Mary out of the seed of David after the flesh is to bee exponed of the pure doctrine out of the seed of love is a detestable hereticke. But H.N. teacheth so, Document. sent. c. 3. sect. 5.
Whosoever teacheth that Jesus Christ is come againe unto us according to his promise to the end that they all which love God, and his righteousnesse and Christ and perfect being, might presently enter into the true rest, which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect, and inherit the everlasting life is a detestable hereticke. But H.N. Evan. c. 1. sect. 1. teacheth so, &c. Having examined these reasons with the books of H.N. we doe finde that in truth he holdeth these heresies, and we think in our hearts, and of our own knowledge affirm that H.N. is in these heresies a detestable heretick, promising faithfully befor God and your honours never hereafter to have any dealing with his bookes and doctrin, nor to go about to bring any to the love, liking, or reading of them, and that we now speak is the true meaning of our heart, as we look for mercy at his hands which searcheth the heart.
It shall never be well with England till the like abjuration of the doctrine of H.N. of Wil. Del, Joh. Saltmarsh, of Town, Eaton, Den, Crispe and the scandalous Antinomians be tendered to most of the Army of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and all the Sectaries in England; but the Arme of the Lord must still bee stretched out against the land in fury and indignation, till it be destroyed, and till he throughly avenge the quarrell of the Covenant; with so high a hand, and so presumptuously broken by the Kingdome of England.
A MODEST SVRVEY of the secrets of Antinomianisme; with a briefe refutation of them from the word of truth.
CHAP. I. Antinomians unjustly aceuse us.
IT cannot be judged, either a wounding of the weake, who side with Familists for a bastard love, with Antinomians for a dead and rotten faith, with Libertines, the enemies of holy walking with God, to a1 Pet. 3 1….answer those that aske a reason of our hope; especially when we are nick-named Legalists, Antifidians, Pharisees, Antichristian teachers, enemies to free Grace; because we stand for a rule of righteousnesse in the Law, repentance from dead workes, strict and close walking with God; against all which, that is to me a wall of brasse, b2 Cor. … ….As deceivers, and yet true; as unknowne, and yet well knowne. Yet I give a briefe account of those saving and innocent Doctrines of the hoast of Protestant Divines, if possibly truth may pierce through their eye-lids, who winke, because they will not see. Of old the Albigenses were called Hereticks; but (saith an indifferent man) genus haereseos nunquam nominant. So now neither the heresie nor the Protestant Divine can be named, that teach that the Law and Gospel are mixt in the matter of justifitation; or that teares of repentance wash us from our sinnes, that the covenant of grace is a covenant of works ▪ that we are to seeke righteousnesse in our selves.
CHAP. II. Antinomians are Pelagians.
WEe are farre from Pelagian grace, that an unconverted man …ltmarsh … 12 & 45 ….can leave sinne, because sinne, Pag. …6 17hath an earnest desire of soule-saving comfort, Pag. …6. … 13. There is a new birth und…r the covenant of works. The Scripture knoweth no such birthcannot speak nor doe, but in feare of sinne; that dTowne assert… of free grace, pag. 7.an hypocrite under the Law can in good earnest, and down-rightnesse of heart, yeeld himselfe wholly to the law of God, as a wife to her husband, to bee instructed and ordered in all things, inwardly, and outwardly, after the minde of God in the Law. So eSaltmarsh Free grace, pag 34.Saltmarsh telleth us of a Legally-Gospel-way of conversion, in which Christ, in truth, is received. Much like to that of Familists of New fRise, r…igne, rui…e of the Antinomians Familists, L… b…rtines of N. E. e…. 12. pag. …England, that a Legalist for truth may attaine, the same righteousnesse, that Adam had in innocency before the fall; and g…. Vnsavory speeches, er. 6. pag. 19.a living faith, that hath living fruits, may grow from the living law.
We judge that an unconvert is so farre from a conformity to the Law, that his conscience is burnt with a hot iron, and he never saw his keepers face, hee being under the law a captive in thick darkenesse; and therefore all his faire vertues are white sinnes. (2.) Hee is an ill tree that cannot bring forth good fruit. (3.) True mortification is wrought hRom. 6.13, 14, 15.by the Gospel-spirit. (4.) The law cannot give life iGal. 3.21. Rom. 7.8, 9, 10▪. 5. An hypocrites faith who is under the Law, is dead kJ…m. 2.…7..
CHAP. III. We hold no morall preparations with Pelagians, Papists, and Arminians going before conversion.
WEe teach not that, which aSaltmarsh Free grace.Saltmarsh falsely chargeth us, that Vowes and undertakings never ascending to Christ, fit us for conversion, nor doe we too much burne, or bear the wine of Gospel-grace, with the Law-fire of workes and conditions b…For 1. we deny, against Antinomians and Arminians any such Gospel-promise; he that doth this and this, and is so, and so fitted with such conditions, quallifications, as money and hire in hand, shall be converted, as a reward of his worke. The question touching preparations is not, whether an humbled soule, because humbled, hath a good warrant to beleeve and receive Christ.…tate of the questi…n …ou…hing the … of conversion, with Antinomians. We conceive the bottome of no mans faith is within himselfe, but the common ground and Royall charter, warranting all to beleeve is the free and money lesse offer of a precious Saviour; who ever will have Christ, and pay not a penny of condition or law worke for him, take him freely. But the question is, of Christs order of bringing us to beleeve and close with Christ; and the question is, whether a damned Pharesee on his high horse of merits and law-righteousnesse, an undaunted Heifer, a Simon Magus, a despitefull Atheist, Elymas a Witch never broken, nor convinced by the law, must in that distance to Christ and the Gospel, be charged to beleeve an everlasting love of election toward himselfe, and without more adoe, be led into the Kings chamber of wine, to the slowings of soule-redeeming bloud; or must he first bee humbled, convinced of sinne, burdened with everlasting burning due to him, and so led to Christ. Antinomians cCrisp … ser. 7 p. …9…. While … thus sinnefull (with all sinfulnesse that can be imagined in a …) Christ may be your Christ. Ans. In Gods d…ar…e, its tr…e so the world was … laid, but Christ is never … yours, so lo…g as you have the Devil reigning as a Prince in your soule nay, never till you beleeve.say, Sinners as sinners belong to Christ, dSaltmarsh Free grace, p… 184.and have Christ offered to them as sinners, and ePag 98. C…ispe vol. … se…. 7.210.none can beleeve too hastily in Christ: but sure, they can beleeve, or presume, too misorderly, and arrogate Christ to themselves (as you teach them) while they know no sinne-sicknesse for Christ. For 1. some too hastily will bee Christs Disciples, before they make their reckoning what it will cost them. fLuke 14.28.29.30.31.32.33.2. The Lords order is to cast downe, and then convert; first he draweth away some of the ill bloud and rancke humours, and pricketh the heart, and then bringeth the sicke to the Physitian, the trembing Publicane to his Saviour; as the gActs 2.37. Acts 9▪ 6, 7. Acts 16.27.28.29. Zach. 12.…0. Jer. 18.19.word saith, 3. Christ converteth not sinners as sinners; so as their sinnefull condition should be the ratio formalis, the formall reason why they are converted; for then should Christ convert all sinners, all Pharisees, all Americans, Indians, Tartarians; hee healeth none but sicke sinners, but neither as sinners, nor as sicke sinners; a gracious Physitian who healeth the sicke without money, healeth none but such as are sicke, for that were a contradiction: Yet their sicknesse is not the formall …eason, why he healeth them, for so he should heale all. So Christ cureth sicke sinners, and these onelyonly; gLuk… 19 8. …. 3 7. …. 61.…. Acts … 6 7 8. …. 9.12, 13. … 15.…, 2, 3 4 5 6 7. & … Christ, as sinners nor as, or because repenting, or sick sinners, but as freely … grace to th… bl…ssed translation from death to life.but not because they are sinners, nor because they are sicke, but because, and as they are freely chosen of God, Joh. 17.6. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me; here the cause and the reduplication, for which he saith, they have kept thy word. But this suiteth with Familists, who will have no new creature at all, no grace inherent in a beleever, as we shall heare; and so no reall change made, but onelyonly a putative or relative change.
CHAP. IV. How we teach a desire of grace to be grace.
WEe never taught that a desire of the grace of conversion, in the unconverted, is conversion; or that a desire in them, to pray and beleeve, is prayer or beliefe; as Saltmarsh Free grace, 17 18, 19.Antinomians charge us. But in the converted, a reall unfaigned supernaturall desire of grace goeth for grace. 1. In that its virtually the seed, and of the very nature of grace; the same Spirit that worketh the will, worketh the deed. bD…nns conference betweene a sick man and a Minister. P…. ….3.2. Its grace in Gods acceptation. Abrahams aime to offer Isaak, is in the Lords bookes an offering of him. c…. ….3.Because thou hast done this thing, &c. 3. Where ever a desire of grace is, concomitantly there is grace. dGen. 22.16 …. 11.7. … Cor 8.12.With my soule I have desired thee in the night; this desire is blessed of God, eEsa…. 26.9. Neb. 1.1….as saving grace; judge then of Familists, fPower of …. p. 21.who say tis a vaine and delusive Doctrine, that God passeth by our dayly infirmities, acccepting our wils for our performances. But they contend for a perfection here in this life.
CHAP. V. How we are freed from the Law, how not.
THree things are to bee considered in the Law.The full commanding, …. the promising ▪ 3. the threatni…g power of the law. 1. The commanding, 2. The promising. 3. The threatning power of the Law. Now as for the mandatory power of the Law; we are to consider. 1. The motives, bands, and helps of obedience to this command of the Law. 2. The quantitie of it.
The Law as steeled, and clothed with constraining love, and a2 Cor. 5.…4. Rom. 12.1, 2.lovely authority of thankefulnes to God-Redeemer, and as due debt to the Lord-Ransomer Jesus Christ, (and this is a morall motive) and as it commeth from the grace of Christ, bindeth us to obedience, not onelyonly in regard of the matter, but also of the authority of the Law-giver, though bTowne asser. 3.Towne say, We are freed from the Law in its dominion, offices, and effects; and another, cTheo…o…. G…rmanica, cap. …8. pag. 70.71, 72.the sonnes of God are not subject to the Law, that is, they are not to be taught what they should doe, or leave undone, seeing the Spirit teacheth them: —they need looke for no Law, Command, or precept, but are above all ordinances, Reading, hearing, &c. as Christ was: and another, dSaltmarsh cap. 29. Free grace, pag. 140The Spirit of Christ setteth a beleever as free from hell, the law, and bondage here on earth, as if hee were in heaven, nor wants he any thing to make him so but to make him beleeve he is so.