Law-Power, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
ANd now we thinke we have the hardeſt worke behind to make a ſweet and cordiall cloſe with the Truth, and one with the other, and all in Chriſt; yet why ſhould this be an hard thing, if we can approove our ſelves; (we take the boldnes to ranke our ſelves with you, ſo inferiour though we be) lovers of peace, and truth, and Friends to Righteouſneſſe, how can we be Adverſaries? not to ſay, enemies unto one another? We would have our Lord Chriſt call us Friends, and deale tenderly with us, we muſt then more than ſhew our ſelves friends, and accordingly deale one with another; we muſt deale faithfully. So deale with us, we pray you, as you may ſee cauſe; Reproove us, rebuke us, we ſhall take it as a great favour, as an excellent oyle from you, which ſhall not breake the Head, as a fruit of your love cheifly, as the caſe may be, ſhewen in Rebukes, though yet we thinke it not comely to returne love for love, conſidering the lownes, and meanneſſe of our perſons; yet we ſhould faile in our Duties, and Chriſtian offices we owe to each other, if we ſhould not tell you our feare at leaſt, that the Lord our God hath a quarrell with you; give us leave Deare, and Honoured Sirs to tell-out our feare, and what makes us to feare.
SECT. I.
WE thinke Heldegardis her propheſie lookes very wiſtly towards you, as bended againſt you. The Maſters likewiſe, and Prelates doe ſleepe, deſpiſing juſtice, and laying it aſide. A little after, in a certaine viſion, the Church appeared to her in the ſhape of a woman complaining, That the Prieſts had bewrayed her face with duſt, and rent her coate, and that they did not ſhine over the people, neither in Doctrine, neither in example of life; And for theſe horrible crimes and impieties, ſhe threatneth and propheſieth unto them Gods moſt heavy wrath, and dolefull puniſhments.
This propheſie ſhall be to them that hate the Lord, and the interpretation thereof to His, and our enemies; That ye may not be found in the Number of theſe, nor be dealt with according to their meaſures, as theſe ſhall be dealt withall, we take the boldnes to Commend unto you certaine heads of Conſideration.
Firſt, That the day is haſtning when your worke ſhall be made manifeſt, and tryed as by fire; Ye ſhould feare at the thoughts of the judgements, which is written, and ſhall certainly fall upon thoſe, who have polluted His Sanctuary, done violence to the law of His Houſe, That none that were uncleane in any thing ſhould enter in there. Ye have ſuffered perſons not ſeparated from their filthines to eate and drinke in His holy place▪ Ye will not bring ſwine into your Hall, yet you will bring them into your Lords chiefeſt roome, He hath viſible upon this earth. Ye may beare rule for a time by theſe meanes, the people loving to have it ſo, To have their Naſty perſons and uncleane courſes dawbed, palliated, and covered over with plauſible names, and glorious titles; But what A…ius ſub … …a…cti p…feſſione peccat. S…v:will ye, and they doe in the end thereof, when He ſhall be very jealous for His Name-ſake, and the Houſe of His Glory?
Secondly, Be pleaſed to Conſider, and ſhew your ſelves men, The Lord God of Hoſts, beholding the Seas of blood, and rivers of Teares, and hearing the cryes, ſighes, and groanes of all His deſtitute, poore, and needy ones in the three Nations, and all over the world hath rode upon the heavens to the Helpe of His Church, and in His Excellency on the skie, that is, He hath helped His Church ſpeedily, and ſhewed His ſtate, and magnificence, when He came ſo to helpe her, making His Arme bare of fleſh, bringing His people hitherto out of their Egypt: made His mighty ones tread upon the waters, paſſe over mighty floods; leape over walls; skip over mountaines; breake bowes of ſteele, and barres of Iron; ſet their feete upon the neckes of their Enemies; Bind, deſtroy them, whoſe height was like the height of the Cedars, and were as ſtrong, and as well rooted, as the Oakes; yet, deſtroy their fruite from above, and their roote from beneath; and it was done; The Lord gave His ſervants Dominion over the mighty, ſo as His Warriours might ſay, O my ſoule, thou haſt trode downe ſtrength. And all this in order to an Imperious Reformation anon, which will not leave an hoofe behind: and can onelyonly anſwer the deſires of the faithfull (who cannot be content with an halfe reformation, no more than with an halfe Chriſt) And ſhall certainly be, even full-up to their deſire, ſo ſoone as He hath by His Spirit, and Word prepared them for it, who hath ſaid, He will give them an expected end. But now ſee what all is come to, if the people of God ſhould be at your allowance? They ſhould have a Reformation, which is a very deformation, Beareing onelyonly upon the Principles of Infant Baptiſme. From this Reformation, though ye make the beſt of it, the Lord deliver us, ſay all the godly people all over the Land. It may ſerve your Church well enough: But is as contrary to the Church of Chriſt, as darknes is to light, hell is to heaven. And to A reſt your thoughts here, we will offer this more to your Conſideration.
Thirdly, Be pleaſed to Conſider, That the Lord hath done for His people in theſe dayes, as once He did; He gave Egypt for Iſa. 43. 3.their Ranſome, Ethiopia, and Seba for them; So hath He done now; He hath given men for His Church, and people for her life; may we not conclude of theſe things in the language of the Prophet, who hath heard ſuch a thing? who hath ſeene ſuch a thing? Iſa. 66. 8. Surely we may ſay, as Moſes to Iſrael; ▪Hath God aſſayed to g…e, D…u 4 …and take Him a nation by Temptations, by ſignes, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a ſtretched A…me, and by great terrours according to all that the Lord our God doth for us in England before our eyes; To take a Nation out of the midſt of a Nation is our caſe: A Church out of a Church we …ad almoſt ſaid, but there ſome would be angry. If England, finding (as now it doth) her children ſtrugling in her wombe, ſhould goe and enquire of the Lord, as Rebecca did, Gen. 25. 22. Why is it thus? The Lord may anſwer, as He did to her, Two Nations are in thy wombe, and two manner of people ſhall be ſeparated from thee; A Nation fearing God, and a Nation Blaſpheming God: a Nation ſeeking Reformation, and a Nation oppoſing Reformation, And then.
Fourthly, Conſider in the next place, whether ye have not, and ſtill doe mingle theſe Nations together? an holy Nation, and an unholy together? a Royall people, and a baſe ſlaviſh people, (ſlaves to their owne luſts) whether ye doe not mingle theſe together? (if they will be mingled) at the Lords Table? between whom the Lord hath marvailouſly ſeparated; ſetting a Selah-Hammat…koth, a Rocke of diviſions betwixt them; But we need not make a Queſtion here; ye have joyned theſe, making them to ſodder together, if they, the godly we meane, will take your liberty, and be drawne out to meete at the Lords Table.
And doe not charge us here we pray you, nor let the Reader ſo doe, That we in any of this have charged any of the Presbyteriall Churches, no not yours, provided, ye come off clearely from the way, and judgement M… Humph: ſtands in, as ye would from a quag-myre, wherein ye are ſinking over head and eares: Preſbyterian Churches, we hope, are for the moſt part of them, faithfully adminiſtred and therefore cannot admitt of a mixt prophane multitude to the Lords Table.
Fifthly, Be pleaſed to Conſider, and aske your ſelves what ye have been doing all theſe bleſſed times all along while the Lord wonderfull in Counſell, and excellent in worke, hath been doing ſuch glorious things in all the peoples ſight, that are not blinded with light. Certainly the voyce of rejoycing and ſalvation is ſtill, as it hath been, in the Tabernacles of the righteous.
And they are working together with God in His owne ſtrength, (who doth all) to helpe-on the glorious worke of the Lord, and carry it on to an expected end: ſo ſerving glorious providences, their God inſtructing, and enabling them ſo to doe: Nor are they diſcouraged at all, but rather the more animated, and ſpirited to their worke in the power of His might, ſeeing the contrary workings (which muſt be looked for in ſuch times) of the Devill, and Satan together with all his curſed Children. He hath great wrath now; (why ſo angry?) becauſe he knoweth his time is but ſhort. We crave leave to put it to the Queſtion againe; What are ye doing now, about the worke we call Reformation, to the Midwyfring, or bringing it forth into the world? doe ye a ſweate at thisNeh. 3. 20. a Neſcit tarda molimina ſpiritus ſanctus. Qui non zelat, non a…a…. We doe not love reformation, if we have not zeale for it Satan endures no mediocrity nor will God; you muſt be wholy and … …ely His▪ or lot at all; your ove muſt be much, elſe He will account it no little …atred; Not to love God and work for H… in the ſame degree, hea…, and height of love, as we …ought, is a degree of hat…ed o… Him. worke? doe ye build earneſtly? as they at Jeruſalems wall, he was fyery hot at his worke, flagrante animo, as Junius tranſlateth it; This worke will not be done elſe; As the Lord God hath a zeale at this worke, ſo have all His ſervants, they worke for God now, as the Devill and his ſervants worke againſt Him. The Devill knowes he hath but a little time, he will doe as much worke, as poſſibly he can, and he will doe it earneſtly, and preſently, he will not delay a Minutes time, he ſees all will ſcape out of his hands elſe; ſee what preſent work he makes by the Ranters hands, and Quakers hands, and by the hands of the corrupt Miniſtry in the Land, that filth, garbage, and common ſinke all over the earth: ſee what worke he makes by them, in their Churches and Chappells; And among the reſt ſee what worke he hath made by two at the leaſt, and indeed by all the carnall Miniſtery over the Nation. Verily, Deare, and Honoured Sirs, ye muſt worke, as earneſtly for the Lord, and Chriſt, as the Devill doth now with all his fellow-helpers in this iniquity doe worke againſt Him.
Sixthly, In the next place be pleaſed to Conſider, what ye have been praying for all theſe times? ye love Jeruſalem, as ye have mourned for her; ye ſeeke for peace, and proſperity heartily, your peace here, and hereafter being involved therein; ye are fellow-Commoners with her; joynt-adventurers in the ſame Ship, on the ſame bottome, conſider againe, and againe what ye have been praying for all theſe tempeſt…ous times? when this Ship hath been in ſo much danger; ſometimes covered over with waves, toſſed with Tempeſts, and not comforted; What? were ye ſleeping all that time, or were ye praying? We will take the boldnes to anſwer for you here, ſo be ye will make full proofe, that ye are the Lords Remembrancers, and then you can never hold your peace, day nor night; ye have enquired after the Accompliſhment of thoſe glorious things the Lord hath cauſed to be propheſied off, and His people to pray for grounding themſelves upon His promiſe, and His Oath; The calling of the Jewes; The utter downfall Dr. G: returne of prayers. Pag. 13.of all Gods Enemies; The flouriſhing of the Goſpel; The full parity, and liberty of Gods Ordinances; The particular flouriſhing, and good of the Society, and place ye live-in; all they whoſe hearts are right, have, and doe treaſure-up many ſuch prayers, as theſe, and ſow much of ſuch pretious ſeed, which they muſt be content to have the Church (it may be) in after ages to reape; We would adde to theſe Holy, and Learned Mans words, thoſe we read ſome leaves after, pag. 43. That which was the Spirit of ſupplication in a man, when he prayed, Reſts upon him, as the Spirit of obedience in his courſe; ſo as that Dependance he hath upon God for the merciemercy he ſeekes for, is a ſpeciall motive, & meanes to keepe him fearefull of offending, and diligent in Duty to looke to his paths, to walke, and behave himſelfe, as becomes a ſuitour, as well as to come and pray, as a ſuitor.
To apply theſe momentous and weighty words to our purpoſe. Ye pray for the calling of the Jewes. Then muſt ye pray for the remooving of that, which hath let…ed hitherto, and will let till it be remooved. Surely the earth muſt be ſhaken firſt, all thoſe Crownes ſhattered to pieces, that will not be laid downe at the feete of Chriſt; The Heavens muſt be ſhaken too, elſe we are much miſtaken, all falſe Religions in the world, how ſpecious ſoever in mans eye; Gods houſe muſt be ſwept too, and His floore purged, from, you ſhould know what, becauſe theſe out-ſweepings, which muſt be, are your owne doings; Then, Is your mind intent upon all this? as your mind is, ſuch your Prayers are, as to that matter. Ye pray for the downfall of Anti-chriſt; Take heed, ye doe not in whole, or in part, hold that-up, you profeſſe to pray downe. Ye pray for the flouriſhing of the Goſpel, and that your labours therein in ſpeciall may be taking and prevailing with your people, that thereby life, and immortalitie may be brought to light unto their ſoules. Ye muſt not now practiſe croſſe to your prayers, ye muſt not obſtruct your owne way to the bleſſing ye ſeeke for: ye muſt not then give that to Baptiſme, which the Lord Himſelfe gives to the preaching of His Word. So much hath been ſpoken to this before, that we will adde little to it now, only this; Your Leaarned Brother feares not to tell us, we owe our Religion to Infant Baptiſme. Truly we owe it, and give unto it as much honour, we thinke; as he doth, or ought to doe, being an Ordinance of Chriſt, and to be adminiſtred according to due order, as He hath preſcribed in His word (which is we conceive to give due honour to it; yet we feare to ſay, we owe our Religion to it; ) no more than we owe our lives to that Maſter, who hath given us to weare his badge, or livery, we owe him all the ſervice that is due from a Creature to a Creature, but we owe our lives to God, our beſt ſervice, and all: ſo we owe not, as we conceive, our Religion to Infant Baptiſme; but to the glorious worke of the Spirit, together with the Miniſtry of the word; thereby, as an Inſtrument in the Spirits hand, He Rivi…s Chriſtian Religion into the body of a Nation, and into the hearts of His people, growne up to the yeares of underſtanding; ▪Let the Covenant be opened firſt, the abundant riches of grace therein, through Jeſus Chriſt; whereunto we owe our ſelves, and all, and the ſeales will follow of courſe; We take leave to tell our perſwaſion: A godly Miniſter looſeth more by giving ſo much to Infant Baptiſme, than he will gaine by his praying for the ſucceſſe of the Goſpell, his God hath intruſted him with.
Againe, ye pray for the full …, and liberty of Gods Ordinances, doe ye not? Take heed ye doe not … …ut the ſinewe of this your prayer, and quite weaken it, by granting a liberty, free Amiſſion to all, whileſt you ſet parity aſide, as a neglected thing, though it be the maine, even the all of the Duty. Remember ye ſhould ſtill, the one is to be as full as the other, full liberty, and as full purity. A liberty without purity will certainly bring us into ſtraightneſs of place (which we Engliſh anguiſh)Rom. 2. 9. ſuch as we cannot tell what to doe-in to get one minutes time of eaſe. If ye will give liberty, ſee it be ſtinted, and bounded within the bounds, and limits, which God hath ſet us; To keepe within the compaſſe of Gods Commands is the beſt liberty of all; Then ſhall I have liberty; when? when I keepe all thy Commandements. If wePſal. 119. 45. would have liberty out of God, and beyond His bounds, our liberty will proove our miſery, our undoing, and utter deſtruction. Looke ye to it, as ye looke God ſhould looke after you, and your prayers, That ye carve not forth ſo liberally in your Lords matters, granting to your people a full liberty without regard had at all to full purity—But having ſaid ſo much againſt your full liberty, and all thoſe impurities, which cleave as faſt to that liberty, as ever any did to their Idol, we will ſay no more here, onelyonly, as ye goe on praying, ye will goe on ſinning, and provokeing your Lord to His face in His owne Houſe, if ye doe not looke better to His Adminiſtrations there, than hitherto ye have done.
Seventhly, Be pleaſed to Conſider, That the Body, whereof our glorious Lord is the Head, and the Saviour; is as like Him, as likeneſſe can be, a very comely, and a glorious Body; and however little glory, or comelines may appeare from without, and none at all in the worlds eye, yet is ſhe all glorious within (partakeing of her Lords owne glory, though not in the ſame degree) and every one of this Mothers genuine Children are made Princes in all lands; where any one of them is, there is a Prince how poore, and meane ſoever the out-ſide be; for whatever the Lord-Chriſt is by Nature; he and ſhe are by Grace: Conſider, we pray you, this thing, then we know what will follow upon this Conſideration, ſo be, ye be much, if not wholy in it; That the fire will conſume all that is glorious in the world; yet a very little while, and there will be no excellencie but the excellencie of Chriſt, and His Church, and Children; we are bold to preſſe you unto this Conſideration againe, becauſe ye, and we know what muſt needs follow thereupon.
Firſt, Ye will give the Lord Chriſt the preheminence in your aſſemblies, and at His Table ſpecially, ye will ſet His deare Children, Beloved Friends, and faithfull ſervants next unto Him: And by no meanes will ye ſuffer that which may offend, or grieve them: And ye will ſtave off thoſe naſty filthy Creatures, two footed Dogs, and ſwine from comeing neare unto them, till they have bethought themſelves what they are, and of their uncleanneſſe; And
Secondly, As ye know, The firſt thing, the Spirit of grace doth within doores is to ſet God and Chriſt in His own place, the heart; ſo that perſon, that is acted by that Spirit will ſhew forth or proclaime Gods Juſtice in the world, and Chriſt His Righteouſneſſe in His Church, which is to ſet Him in His place, a King, and a Prophet, a Prince, and a Saviour, and perſwade an hearty obedience, and ſubjection to Him, to be directed by Him; for if a man be ſubject to Chriſts Kingly Office, His Propheticall office ſhall guide him, and cauſe him not to erre, in that he ſpeaks from God, or to God, or in what he is to doe for God, and His People.