Anabaptism and Other Errors, Chapter 3

Anabaptism and Other Errors · Chapter 3

p. 47CHAP. III. The modern Tenets of the Anabaptiſts in ENGLAND.

WHAT is ſet down in the former Chapters of the old Anabaptiſts over Sea,The ſpirit of Anabaptiſme clearly devilliſh was in relation to their preſent off-ſpring in England: with them chiefly it is that I intend to deal, deſiring if poſſible to draw ſome of them from their evill way, or at leaſt to hold off others who yet are free, from running too raſhly into their errour, before they have a little conſidered it. I hope I have made it ſo clear that no ingenuous knowing reader will hereafter call it in queſtion, that the ſpirit which was the author of Anabaptiſme in Germany, and carried on all its principall leaders along their whole courſe, could be no better Angel then Satan, who under the colour of a more then ordinary zeal to the ſmalleſt truths, and of a vehement affection to the higheſt degrees of all holineſſe, was palpably found to set on foot the moſt groſſe and damnable Errours, the moſt abominable obſcenities, cruelties, robberies, that ever the Sun from its firſt creation to this day did ſhine upon in any part of the earth.

How much of his nature that ſpirit has laid down ſince his late appearance in England, it cannot yet with confidence be pronounced: He was an Angel of light in Germany for a longer time then yet he has dwelt among us in any conſiderable viſibility; for till of late he did but lurk it this Land in the habit of an Incognito. Since the time he began to appear in publick there is nothing which he would more gladly diſclaim then theſe crimes, and that face wherewith he did walk over Sea, when he took the boldneſſe to lay aſide his mask, and to ſhew his true viſage as it was without any diſguiſe.

Tell the Engliſh Anabaptiſts now of the Doctrine and practiſes of their fathers in Munſter and elſwhere,The fair profeſſion of many Engliſh Anabaptiſts not to be truſted. they are ready with paſſion to deny all affinity all conſanguinity with ſuch monſtrous Hereticks: They will be nothing leſſe then Anabaptiſts, the furtheſt they will profeſſe to maintain is but a ſimple Antipaedobaptiſme. How ever this will be found a very groſſe and dangerous errour, yet we wiſh that all our queſtions with that generation of men were come to ſo narrow an iſſue; we are loth to force upon p. 48any man the errours which he is willing to diſallow; the fewer the differences be, a full agreeance is the more eaſie and near, the multiplication of controverſies makes peace the more difficult and deſperate: yet for many reaſons I conceive it very convenient, in all ſolid debates to have before the eye all the reall and materiall points in controverſie, without the concealment of any.

I did ever eſteem the right underſtanding of the parties true and full ſenſe worth the half of the whole diſpute. I hope therefore it will not be evill taken that I lay together what I finde lately printed here by them who carry the name of Anabaptiſts, or what by grave and religious Divines is in print laid upon them, and is not as yet by any rationall anſwer ſo farre as I know taken off.

What errors may be charged upon all, what only upon ſome of them.It is true, it fares with them as with divers of their name over Sea, all of them are not of one minde, the opinions of ſome may not be charged upon all: yet it ſeems but juſtice to impute to them all ſuch Tenets of their fellows as they are not pleaſed to refuſe, when they are told over and over publickly in print, that ſuch is the Doctrine of ſome prime members of their Congregation, and after thoſe publick admonitions they are neither pleaſed to call the men to an account, nor to declare againſt the Doctrine. What other conſtruction can the world make of this connivence and ſilence, but that either they joyn all in the challenged errours, or elſe that they count them of ſo ſmall an importance that no man needs to contradict them, but that ſafely they may be entertained by any of their Church who are pleaſed to embrace them? Such indeed has been the ingenuity of the Tranſmarin Anabaptiſts to this day, that what ever they conceived to be wrong in any of their Brethren, they were ever as ready to diſclaim and contradict it, as if it had come from their greateſt adverſaries. It were much to be wiſhed that ſuch honeſt ſimplicity were ſo familiar to their brethren among us this day.

The Confeſſion of the ſeven Churches, is a very imperfect ambiguous declaration of their judgmentHow ever the tenets which the moſt of them are likely to acknowledge, be theſe which ſeven of their beſt Churches did offer in print to the Parliament, as their common ſenſe: We wiſh that all theſe who go under the name of Anabaptiſts in England, were reſolved to ſtand to the articles of that confeſſion without any further progreſſe in errour: but how farre the very prime Subſcribers are from any ſuch reſolution, it will appear anon. As for the p. 49Members whether of theſe ſeven, or of their other thirty nine Congregations (for before the penning of that Confeſſion, this ſect was ſaid to be grown unto no leſſe then forty ſixe Churches (A), and that as I take it within and about London) the moſt of them are exceeding farre from making theſe Articles the rule of their belief; if we truſt M. Marſhall (B), and M. Black (C), two very faithfull Divines who have had more dealing with the Anabaptiſts then any other on this ſide the Sea.Let no error be charged upon any man, which he truly diſclaims.

They are a people very zealous of Liberty, and moſt unwilling to be under the bondage of the judgement of any other: This ſelfiſh ſingularity makes them much to differ, not only from others, but among themſelves alſo: It is hard therefore to faſten any tenets upon them more then they pleaſe to accept; But in this, my dealing with them ſhall be fair, what I aſcribe to them I ſhall bring along my authority for i…; if I know the unwillingneſſe of any of them to concurre with my Author, I ſhall be loth to diſſemble it, and if through unacquaintance with the minde of the moſt I ſhall happen to make the particular Tenets of ſome to be generall to all, whenſoever any of them ſhall declare againſt the Tenet of their fellows, for my part I ſhall wiſh all ſuch true and ingenuous declarations whether from few or more, to be accepted with thankfulneſſe: for I profeſſe my gladneſſe to ſee any who are ſuppoſed erroneous to clear themſelves, were it but in ſome part from any of the faults which uſually are charged upon them.

For a more diſtinct proceeding we do referre their Tenets to three heads; firſt, rigid Browniſm; ſecondly, Antipaedobaptiſm;A brief ſumme of all the Anabaptiſts errors. thirdly, Arminianiſm, Antinomianiſm, Arianiſm, Familiſm, and other groſſe hereſies towards which too many of them are now declined.

For the firſt,Every Anabaptiſt is at leaſt a rigid Separatiſt. the ſobereſt Anabaptiſts do embrace the whole way of the rigid ſeparation. The Browniſh did borrow all their Tenets from the Anabaptiſts of old, it is but equall that the Anabaptiſts this day ſhould ſeek back again their Fathers debt from the Browniſts. The chief ſingularities of Browniſm are about the conſtitution and government of the Church, they ſay the Church is made up only of members who are really and convincingly holy, of ſuch who do evidence the truth of their regeneration to the ſatisfaction of the whole or the greater part of the Church. p. 50Hereupon do they ground their ſeparation from all the reſt of the reformed. It is true, they did ſeparate from the Church of England upon another ground alſo, complaining not only of her mixing a prophane multitude with the gracious profeſſors, but alſo for her entertaining a great many Popiſh reliques in diſcipline and worſhip, for theſe like ways did they un-church her and pronounce her an Antichriſtian Synagogue (D). But their ſeparation from other reformed Churches was grounded on the firſt conſideration only: for they did not cry down the truth of other Churches, as of the Engliſh; yea when a fit of benignity came upon them they did not ſtick to give to the Engliſh it ſelf, the honour of a true Church (E); but from the Engliſh and all other of the world they did ſeparate for the impurity and mixture of their members.Though the Independents offer to collude with the Anabaptiſts, yet they ſeparate from the Independents no leſſe then from the Browniſts as Antichriſtian.

The firſt of theſe pleas the Independents hold faſt with both their hands, and upon it are as rigid. Separatiſts as any we know (F): but the Anabaptiſts take poſſeſſion of both the grounds, that the walls of their ſeparation may the more firmly be eſtabliſhed. They will have all their members to be reall Saints, and they ſeparate from all other Churches who neglect to preſſe the neceſſity of ſuch a qualification (G), but to ſtrengthen the right of their ſeparation, they go on to pronounce all theſe Churches from whom they ſeparate Antichriſtian; and this their charity they extend to their otherways very dear friends the Independents and Browniſts, for all even of them are ſuch who by their doctrine and practiſe of paedobaptiſme, deny that Chriſt is yet come in the fleſh (H). The Browniſts in their honeſt ſimplicity are loth to be long in the Anabaptiſts debt, they quickly un-Church and excommunicate them alſo for denying baptiſm to infants (I); but the Independents will be wiſer then their Fathers, Anabaptiſm no there is ſo ſmall a pe…c…di… that it deſerves no cenſure at all (K), they are moſt willing to retain the Anabaptiſm in their boſome (L), but here the p…y, no careſſes can keep the moſt of Anabaptiſm in the Independent Congregations, ſo … as they begin to weigh their own principles they …in…e their infant baptiſm a …, and ſo a … upon th… to be … (M); The Independent … to … this Sacrament, they cannot chooſe … go … … Anabaptiſm, … by the … in their p. 51Churches, where alone they can partake of baptiſm… for as yet I never heard that either Independent or Browniſt was willing to rebaptize any who in their infancy had received that Sacrament of initiation.

But for the more clear and diſtinct demonſtration of theſe things; conſider yet further,They avow all their members to be holy and elect, and ſome of them are for their perfection firſt that in the qualification of members, the Anabaptiſts go as farre as either the Independents or Browniſts: the Confeſſion of the ſeven Churches do clearly bear this much (N), but others go further, avowing with their Fathers the Dutch perfectiſts that all of their ſociety are ſo perfectly holy as they may not pray for the remiſſion of any the leaſt ſinne (O).

That thoſe of them who are for groſſe Antinomy and Familiſm ſhould maintain ſo great a perfection on earth in their Society as can be obtained in heaven (P), and that M. Saltmurſh after his renunciation of all baptiſm as well as of infants (Q), ſhould be permitted by Divine Juſtice thus far to wander (R), I do not ſo much wonder, as when I behold the Confeſſioniſts the moſt modeſt and orthodox of all in this way to ſtumble upon the conceit of perfection (S), though after deliberation they become ſo well adviſed, as in the ſecond Edition to …eſt content with the true hollineſſe of their fellows, ſcraping out what before they had put in of their perfection (T).

As for the ſecond, the naturall reſult of the former,After they have ſeparate from all other Churches, they run next away from them their own ſelves. a ſeparation from all other reformed Churches an impure, it is clear by their conſtant uniform practiſe which M. Kiffen one of their prime Confeſſioniſts does juſtifie at length againſt his oppoſite M. Ricraft (V). In this ſeparation they run on ſo raſhly that themſelves know not where to ſtop it, for firſt with the Separatiſts they divide from all other Proteſtants, thereafter they ſhake off the Separatiſts: for the moſt intelligent and zealous among them refuſe to remain in any Congregation either of the Independents or Browniſts (X); Laſtly, they break among themſelves in many pieces.

However their way as yet lies much in the dark, yet ſo much of it does appear to the world as d…monſtrates their ſmall concord amongſt themſelves; what elſe was the cauſe that to the very ſecond Edition of their Confeſſion no more hands could be obtained then of ſeven Churches, when of that way there are p. 52ſome hundreds of Congregations, for of all the Sects they are incomparably the moſt numerous? why does M. Spilbery complain in Print of the unſtableneſſe of many their dear friends who ſeparate from theſe ſeven Churches as Antichriſtian (Y)? Alſo my charity permits me not to beleeve that many of them can keep communion with the profeſſors of ſo groſſe Hereſies and horrible blaſphemies as divers of thoſe who impugne the baptiſm of infants are guilty of.

They charge one another with Antichriſtianiſme.For the third, their laying of Antichriſtianiſm to the charge of all other Churches we need not doubt of it, though it did not appear in their writs: ſince they impute that crime not only to all paedobaptiſts, without exception either of Browniſts or Independents, but alſo to the beſt of their own number, the flower of their own flock, the Confeſſioniſts themſelves, as M. Spilbery the firſt of the Subſcribers informs us (Z).

They are Independents.Concerning the government of the Church, what ever their Fathers of old did teach the Browniſts, they are perfect diſciples therein to the Browniſts this day: for they acknowledge no Nationall Church, nor any Church viſible, but a Congregationall (AA), which they make abſolutely Independent and uncontrollable by any ſuperiour Synod (BB). Though they ſhould break out in never ſo many the groſſeſt hereſies and ſchiſms, yet they have no remedy againſt them, none on earth muſt pretend any Juriſdiction, any power to inflict the leaſt Eccleſiaſtick cenſure upon their Congregation or any member thereof, though guilty of all imaginable blaſphemies.

They put all Church power in the hand of the people.But the worſt of it is, that this ſupreme, abſolute and Independent Juriſdiction of every one of their Congregations, muſt be placed not in the officers nor any company of them, but in the whole multitude (CC); they are for an abſolute Ochlocracy and popular Government, giving to every member of their Congregation a deciſive voyce in all Eccleſiaſtick cauſes, and a power as to elect,They give the power of preaching and celebrating the Sacraments to any of their gifted members out of all office. ſo to ordain, and when they finde cauſe, to depoſe, exauctorate, and excommunicate their Paſtor and all their Officers together.

With the power of cenſure they joyn the power of preaching, all their members who finde themſelves gifted are permitted to prophecy in the face of the Congregation (DD): this priviledge of men out of office is by them ſo highly eſteemed, that they proclaim p. 53the want of it to be a juſt ground of ſeparation (EE): but herewith they reſt not content, for unto their members out of office they aſcribe not only the power of cenſure and of preaching the word, but alſo of celebrating the Sacraments: this is clear of baptiſm, for they require in a baptizer not only no office, but not ſo much as baptiſm it ſelf, all of them avowing the lawfulneſſe for a perſon not baptized to baptize (FF), and as it ſeems to celebrate the Lords Supper; for theſe two Sacraments ordinarily they conjoyn, admitting all upon their baptiſm immediately to the Lords Supper (GG); and ſome of their greateſt Doctors hold it no wiſe incongruous to admit perſons to the Lords Table before they be baptized (HH). However all of them do place the power of all the ordinances in the whole multitude, and the exerciſe of that power in any to whom the people thinks meet to give their commiſſion (II), and ſomtimes they do give their commiſſion to exerciſe any of the ordinances unto perſons whom they think not fit afterwards to elect or ordain for Officers (KK).

Only in this they are more diſtinct then the Browniſts,Even unto women. many more of their women do venture to preach then of the other; Attaway the Miſtreſſe of all the She-preachers in Colemanſtreet was a diſciple in Lambs Congregation, and made Antipaedobaptiſm oftentimes a part of her publick exerciſes (LL): the other feminine Preachers in Kent, Norfolk, and the reſt of the Shires had their breeding, as I take it, in the ſame or the like ſchool.

The moſt of all the particulars which in our firſt Part we aſcribed either to the Independents or Browniſts,They muſt not preach in a Steeple-houſe. the Anabaptiſts do practiſe: they are ſo averſe from all that the Church in the time of Popery did uſe, that they can keep very little of it; all Churches muſt be demoliſhed: they are glad of ſo large and publick a preaching place as they can purchace, but of a Steeple: houſe they muſt not hear (MM).All tythes, and all ſet ſtipends are unlawfull, their preachers muſt work with their owne hands, and may not go in black clothes.

All tythes to them are an abomination (NN), they will allow to their Paſtors no ſet ſtipend at all (OO); they admit of an cleemoſynary contribution, but it muſt be a ſmall one; for they will have their Preachers to provide for the moſt of their own neceſſities by their handy labour (PP). They are ſo averſe from all that has been, that their Preachers for their ſatisfaction muſt change the very colour of their habit: a blackcoat to them is no ſmall reproach.

p. 54They celebrate the Lords Supper in any common Innes after another feaſt. All the new light of the Independents and Browniſts is borrowed from the Anabaptiſts.The Lords Supper is brought by them almoſt to a civill Table, in any Innes when they have made a publick feaſt, in the end of their banquet they fall in a very homely way to the Lords Supper (QQ).

In their ordinary practiſes we behold the fountain almoſt of all the ſingularities of the Independents and Browniſts, theſe men are no wiſe ſo good at invention as the vulgar eſteems them, the moſt of all the light which they hold out as new, did ſhine long ago in the lamps of their fathers and brethren our Anabaptiſts in hand.

The anoynting of the ſick with oyl, the rejecting of the Lords Prayer, of all ſet Pſalms, of Univerſities, and humane learning, are the Anabaptiſts inventions.The half miraculous cure of their ſick members by the prayer of the Elders, and their anoynting with oyl, is the Anabaptiſts practiſe (RR), the caſting away of the Lords Prayer (SS), and of all ſet Pſalms (TT), the exibilating of all ſongs out of the congregation (VV) is their invention; the bitter invectives againſt humane learning, Arts, Sciences, Univerſities, are all from them (XX); but leaving theſe we will touch only one point more of their Browniſm, to wit, their Tenets about the Magiſtrate, and ſo proceed.

M. Brown did take from the Magiſtrate all power about matters of Religion, theſe he did remit abſolutely to the conſcience of every particular perſon, declaring himſelf while he ſtood in his infamous way for a full liberty of conſcience uncontrollable by the Laws of any mortall man (YY): but in this all the diſciples till of late did leave the Maſter. The elder Browniſts and Independents of New England do make it a chief duty of the Chriſtian Magiſtrate to reſtrain and puniſh falſe Teachers and enemies to the truth of God (ZZ); in ſo much that Antipaedobaptiſts have no toleration among them (ZZ 2).The Independent Apologiſts are for liberty to moſt of the Sects.

The Authors of the Apologetick narration do boaſt of giving to the Magiſtrate more then any other Proteſtants by their principles can do (AAA), yet now it ſeems they have changed this note and are returning to M. Browns firſt profeſſion of liberty from the Magiſtrates ſword in all matters of conſcience, for they tell us that no Magiſtrate may puniſh for what the Church may not cenſure (BBB), and they aſſume that the Church may not cenſure for any error which is not fundamentall, and wherein the erroneous perſon is not obſtinate and ſelf-condemned (CCC): Such at leaſt muſt be all Browniſts, all Antipaedobaptiſts, p. 55moſt Antinomians and Arminians, many Papiſts who imbrace not all the errours of the Church of Rome, and in theſe errours which they do maintain have never had the means of ſelf-conviction: againſt none of all theſe, or any the like may the Parliament make any Law, but to all ſuch they are obliged, if they will not tranſgreſſe the limits of power which God and right reaſon have ſet unto them, to proclaim a full liberty without the leaſt reſtraint.And ſome of their prime friends for a generall liberty to all.

This will conclude the power of the Magiſtrate in matters of Religion in a prety narrow compaſſe, yet it leaves him ſome power to puniſh for fundamentall errours and groſſe blaſphemies. Therefore the Independents, at leaſt ſome of their prime Teachers, without any publick reproof from their fellows, (ſo farre as we know) are gone a ſtep further, to cut off here all idle and curious debates concerning fundamentals, the diſputes about praeter, ſuper and contra fundamentalia are exceeding ſubtill and intricate, yea unextricable, they are more wiſe then to involve themſelves and others therein, ſo once for all they jump over that ditch and avow, that for Magiſtrates to controll any man in his groſſeſt errors, for them to make or execute any Law to reſtrain any mans conſcience and practiſe according to conſcience, is but to ſight againſt God and to commit the monſtrous practiſe of the old Gyants againſt the heavens which they call a Theomachy (DDD).

All this Independent Doctrine is brought from the Anabaptiſts ſchools,The Anabaptiſts deny all power to Magiſtrates in any thing that concerns Religion. it is one of the articles of their faith offered to the preſent Parliament, that no Laws ought to be made by any men upon earth about any things which concern the worſhip of God; That who ever makes any rules for the ſervice of God does charge Chriſt with want of wiſdom or faithfulneſſe, or both, in not making Laws anew for his own houſe (EEE); That the great Law for matters of Religion is this, Let every man be fully perſwaded in his own minde of the truth of what he beleeves without any controll from any upon earth (FFF); That it is the Magiſtrates duty to protect every man in his juſt liberty of conſcience,Turciſme, Popery, Atheiſms, the greateſt blaſphemies they would not have puniſhed with ſo much as a diſcountenance without which all other liberties are unworthy the naming (GGG).

Now to put us out of all doubt what kinde of conſciences they deſire to be protected by the Magiſtrate in their liberty, they are content to come down to ſpecifications. At the beginning they p. 56had not the courage to require a generall liberty for all erroneous conſciences; as divers of the Independents to this day profeſſe their averſeneſſe fom an unlimited toleration of all errours; ſo M. Blackwood who firſt came out to ſtorm the Antichriſtian baptizers of children, does ſtick a little at Papiſts, and more at blaſphemers and Atheiſts: and their great Patrons in their debates for liberty, except errours againſt the light of nature, albeit none which never ſo evidently croſſe the holy Scriptures (HHH): but M. Williams an Anabaptiſt long before Blackwood makes it a bloudy Tenet (III); and others of them proclaim it an unjuſt perſecution to deny a full liberty not only to Turks, Jews, and moſt of hereticks, but to idolatrous Papiſts and any others that can be named (KKK). They will not only have all theſe free from any conſiderable puniſhments, but alſo from the leaſt diſcountenance (LLL), or reſentment of their wickedneſſe; and left the groſſeſt blaſphemies might have been conceived capable of any civill cenſure, behold, they name Atheiſm it ſelf, and exempt it expreſly from the hazard of all pain or ſhame (MMM).

They preſſe a liberty for preaching and propagating openly all errors imaginableThis liberty they extend not only to errours lockt up in the breaſt, but alſo when they are openly by word and writ profeſſed, yea ſolemnly preached; for they tell us that the neceſſary and juſt liberty of conſcience is violate, and a perſecution is brought in, if a Jeſuit, or a Turk, or a Jew, or a blaſphemous Atheiſt be hindred to go to the moſt ſolemne places, where the greateſt multitudes of weak and eaſily ſeduced ſpirits do converſe, and there to proclaim what ever in conſcience they think convenient for the propagation of that errour which they conceive to be truth (NNN).

Yet they grant that error is a ſoule murder, and a greater crime then the deſtruction of a King, of a Parliament, of a whole Nation.For all this the ſame men do fully and freely grant unto us, that errour is a greater wickedneſſe then any man can eaſily conceive, That a falſe Teacher by ſeducing of one ſoul, doth more reall hurt, then if he ſhould murther a King, blow up a Parliament, deſtroy the lives of a whole Nation, yea of the whole world (OOO). Yet do they plead for ſo great a liberty to all errours as poſſibly can be, for they ſpoyl the Magiſtrate of all power in any thing which concerns Religion, that he may not with a look of his eye diſcourage, much leſſe with his hand reſtrain the moſt horrible blaſphemer, the moſt ravenous wolf, to deſtroy the ſouls of all his Subjects (PPP).

p. 57This immoderate love of licentiouſneſſe,They hate the Covenant. of a liberty to deſtroy their own ſouls by what ever errour they pleaſe to imbrace, puts them upon a high degree of hatred and indignation againſt the ſolemne league and Covenant, againſt the Scotiſh Nation whence it came; as two great impediments to their quiet enjoying of that ſelf-deſtroying and God-provoking liberty, which ſo paſſionately they luſt after; though for fear and other baſe reſpects many of them have ſwallowed down the Covenant in ſuch equivocall ſenſes, as are evidently contrary both to the expreſſe words and known intentions of the States which enjoyn it: yet ſince the time their ſtrength and hopes are encreaſed, theſe of them who pretend to ingenuity and courage, do not only with bitterneſſe reject it, but it is now become the object of their publick invectives, as the moſt unhappy plague that did ever come into England, which they preſſe the State to recall, as an act much to be repented of (PPP 2).

The Scots they were wont to account as Demi-gods,They are injurious to the Scots. embracing them as their very Saviours upon earth, ſo long as the Epiſcopall party kept them in any fear: that terrour now being paſt, and the Scots beginning to urge, though with all meekneſſe and curteſie, ſome performance of Covenants and Treaties; they cry out upon them with all bitterneſſe and ſpleen: they cenſure the Parliament for ever calling them in, they load them with injurious calumnies for their very firſt conteſts in Scotland with the malignant and Epiſcopall party there, the defenſive arms of their Parliament and Nation, they defame; as an inſurrection againſt the King, of a few malecontents for the obtaining of their private ambitious deſignes; neither do they make any better conſtruction of the preſent Armes of the Engliſh Parliament (PPP 3).

The great ſufferings of the Scots at home from the Iriſh Rebels and their own apoſtate brethren, they proclaim to be the juſt deſervings of their labours in England (PPP 4): which they are pleaſed to vilifie and diſgrace with the baſeſt and moſt falſe ſlanders which the father of lies and malice is able to invent (PPP 5): wherein they reſt not till they have made the Scots open enemies and Traytors to England, proclaiming a great deal of deſire to have the next expedition of their glorious and invincible Army to kill, deſtroy and ſubjugate thoſe baſe Traytors p. 58(PPP 6), that ſo they may be altogether free for their other much higher deſigns, were it as in Sober-Sadneſſe it was profeſſed in a very ſolemne audience, to go to the wals of Conſtantinople for the pulling of the grand Seignior out of his Seraglio; to this height of dangerous fancy has their luſt of Liberty already ariſen.All puniſhing of errour with them is perſecution.

It is not a toleration, a forbearance, a diſpenſation which is ſought for; all this imports ſome power in the Magiſtrate about the object in the which the forbearance and toleration is craved: but a juſt liberty to think, ſpeak, and do in all matters of Religion whatever conſcience, howſoever informed, dictates to be expedient; the leaſt reſtraint of ſo plenary a liberty they count the ſin and injury of perſecution.

The reaſons whereby the Independents themſelves in their very laſt papers do plead for this liberty, to my ear ſounds but harſhly: they tell us that thoſe things which are cried out upon for errors, are in matters obſcure and diſputable: inſtancing expreſly in the Trinity, the union of Chriſts two natures, the fruits of Chriſts death, the power of free-will, the ſtate of the ſoul after death (QQQ), and leſt any error ſhould ſtand without the compaſſe of their liberty, they tell us farther that no error is in any juſtice puniſhable, becauſe now there is not on earth any Apoſtle or Prophet or infallible Judge who can determine any queſtion without poſſibility of erring (RRR).

It may be ſcrupled whether meer conſcience does enforce the Anabaptiſts and others to ſcrue up the point of their conſcience-liberty to ſo high a pin:They preſſe liberty of conſcience much out of policy. whether in their inmoſt ſenſe they can maintain ſo catholick a liberty to all perſons in matters of Religion; or if haply ſome piece of policy may not induce them to ſtrike ſo much upon this ſtring at the preſent, when they have but ſmall hopes of attaining a liberty for themſelves without the aſſiſtance of many others, from whom they differ in many particulars of Religion. It may be juſtly doubted if once they were come to be poſſeſſed of their own deſires, whether then they would be ſo carefull as now they profeſſe, for the freedom of all others: for it has been ſeen when ever the ſword of power has fallen into their hands, that they have been as ſevere and cruell oppreſſors of all who did not abſolutely without exception ſubmit to their Laws, as any Tyrants who yet have appeared upon the p. 59earth (SSS). But preſupponing that their old principles b… now altered, and their preſent Tenets about liberty of conſcience be moſt conſcientious and ſincere which they upon no occaſion will any more change, the Magiſtrate had need to know whether the granting of all this liberty, whereof we have been ſpeaking, willfully content them.

When the State hath denuded it ſelf of the care and cogniſance of the matters of the ſoul,The granting of all this liberty will not aſſure the Magiſtrate of the Sectaries civill obedience. and put theſe abſolutely in the power of every mans own free will, may it then expect obedience to its other Laws in things civill and temporall? The Confeſſioniſts in this ſeem to be clear, and freely to grant to the Magiſtrate in things civill, all due obedience: but that this is the generall ſenſe of all the reſt of that ſect, M. Marſhall permits us not to believe: for he tels us that the moſt of the Anabaptiſts are in their conſcience againſt all Magiſtracy, as well in matters civill as Eccleſiaſtick (TTT). In the time of their weakneſſe, for fear of trouble they can be ſilent and g…ve obedience to their commands, without any queſtion; but when the days of their power ſhall come, when the righteous ſhall inherit the Land, which they long have been looking for and believes to be now at the doors; the Magiſtrate muſt then lay down his rule, give up his Government, and be content to be ruled by the two-edged ſword of their Saints, which Germany did feel to be very ſharp, and ready to ſhed much innocent bloud.The Tenets & practiſe of the Sectaries deſtroy Magiſtracy.

The troublers of New England did not only plead for a freedom and immunity from all civill Laws, the reaſons whereof did not convince their conſciences both of their lawfulneſſe and expediency (TTT 2), but were alſo ready if they had not been prevented by force of Arms, in a very unjuſt and ſeditious manner to have riſen againſt the State, and to have cut the throats of their oppoſites (VVV): when after their baniſhment, they were ſet down by themſelves, they could not indure Magiſtracy; but put it down as a condition unlawfull for a Chriſtian to undergo (XXX).

But that which concerns this State now moſt to take heed of,They profeſſe their deſign to overturn from the ground the government of our State as now it ſtands. is that growing Tenet of all the Sects among us, wherein divers Anabaptiſts are with the firſt; a declared averſeneſſe from all obedience to the preſent Magiſtrates and Laws, and frequent motions to have the very fundamentals of the State government new p. 60moulded to their own fancies: they do no more diſſemble their deteſtation of Monarchy; the King and all of his blood muſt be deſtroyed, King Charles for his miſ-government muſt loſe his life; this execution does not ſatisfie Juſtice (YYY): But for no time to come, either the name, or the King of royalty muſt be more heard of in England (ZZZ).

Kings & Lords are no more tolerable.When thus far we have gratified the new moulders of our State, will they then be content to be under the government of a Parliament without a King? they aſſure us this is far from their purpoſe.

The Parliament as it ſtands is as rotten a body as the King an head: at the firſt bout they pull down one of the two Houſes, and ſmother all the Lords: the Peers are a peſtiferous excrement of Kings, and with them they muſt go packing (AAAA). The ground of all their dignity is wickedneſſe (BBBB); Their perſonall carriage has been corrupt (CCCC); The beſt of them are falſe Traytors (DDDD).

Neither is the Houſe of Commons any longer to be endured.When that Paganiſh invention (EEEE) of King and Lords is aboliſhed, can we have aſſurance to get the Houſe of Commons for our Governors? if ſo, our caſe were ſomewhat ſafe and comfortable; but the new framers of our State tell us, that the Houſe of Commons when they are deprived of the ſociety of their very ancient companions, their old fellow Governours the King and Lords, and themſelves alone are become the whole and full Parliament of England, they muſt not then expect to be rulers: for they alſo have exceedingly abuſed their truſt, they have many ways abuſed the people. Upon divers of their moſt eminent Members they cry out as Traytors (FFFF), upon the moſt as covetous ſelf-ſeeking men (GGGG), upon all the Lawyers as peſtiferous Members, no leſſe then the Biſhops were in the Houſe of Lords (GGGG 2); upon many other of the Members as a faction adhering to the Lords in all their wicked deſigns (GGGG 3); upon the whole Houſe as the authors of greater evil to the people then either King, or Lords, or Biſhops, or any former oppreſſors did ever bring upon England (HHHH).

They inſiſt eſpecially upon one of their ordinary Acts of inſupportable Tyranny: they have for many ages bound taxes by Law upon the back of the free-born people of England, this is no longer to be endured (IIII): what the people thinks meet voluntarily p. 61to offer, it may be received; but to lay a neceſſity upon any, to give for any uſe, private or publick, any more of his goods, then himſelf the juſt owner is willing, is an oppreſſion too long connived at (KKKK). Of this great grievance the Houſe of Commons has been the great inſtrument, wherefore they alſo muſt be taught to know their place, and to remember their condition, that they hereafter may be content to be humble ſervants to their Soveraign Lords and Maſters the free-born people of England (LLLL), to them they muſt be accountable, and by them puniſhable, toties quoties theſe their new Maſters find them delinquents (MMMM).

Our Maſters are not here ſpeaking what in ſome extraordinary caſes,The pooreſt begger in the Land has a ſhare of the Soveraignty above the King and Parliament. an intolerably oppreſſed people by the Laws of an unavoidable neceſſity are forced to do before they periſh; but of that which they affirm ought to be the ordinary perpetuall juſt and neceſſary caſe of England: Kings and Lords muſt for ever be aboliſhed, a Parliament of Commons muſt for ever ſit at the feet of their ſupream and abſolute Lords, the multitude of the people; this preſent Houſe of Commons muſt be diſſolved (NNNN), and another preſently put in its place which may ſit no longer then one year (OOOO). A Trienniall Parliament is worth nothing (PPPP); A perpetuall Parliament, a Parliament of longer continuance then one year is unſupportable (QQQQ). As in the Church, all and every one of the Officers are to be under the juriſdiction and cenſure of the whole and every one of the members of a Congregation, ſo the whole Houſe of Commons, and every Member thereof, are puniſhable in their life, limbs, and eſtate, by the whole people, and every free-born man in England (RRRR), even the pooreſt begger; for as I take it, there is not, nor has not for many ages any perſon been born a ſlave in any part of Chriſtendome.

I will not here interrogate where or how theſe Soveraign Lords, the people, can meet to hear an account,All former Laws and Acts of Parliament muſt be aboliſhed. and to give out judgement upon their faulty ſervants, the new Parliament of Commons; only I would be reſolved, by what Law this very grand Jury of the whole people are like to proceed; Shall the King and Lords, and the ancient way of Parliaments take away with themſelves all former Laws which have been their creatures? we thought it might have been loſſe enough to have deſtroyed with p. 62the King and Lords ſuch Laws as did concern their two aboliſhed States in particular; but we are taught a more deep leſſon, all the Laws which theſe ſix hundred years have produced, muſt be caſt into the bottom of the Sea for ever: for ſince the Norman Conqueſt, the great work of all Parliaments hath been how to contrive evill Laws for the oppreſſion of the people (SSSS). Now I doubt if there be any authentick regiſters of Engliſh Laws before the Conqueſt this day extant, or if any ſuch be, whether it ſhall be found expedient to keep them on foot when all the other are caſſed and annulled.

The will of the multitude muſt ſtand for the Soveraign Law hereafter.It ſeems our new Soveraigns, the people, the ſole creators of all Kings and Parliaments, when once they are eſtabliſhed in their Supremacy, will be loth to have their hands bound by the fetters of any humane Laws; much leſſe of thoſe old forgotten worm-eaten Statutes, which the Daniſh, Saxon, or Britiſh Tyrants in the time of their domination did obtrude: as in Religion there muſt be no Law, but what every man in his conſcience thinks to be the ſenſe of the word of God, that is the ſupream rule to him, ſo it muſt be in the State (TTTT).

We know who has printed the unlawfulneſſe to make any Laws for the State, Scripture being alike well furniſhed in Laws for the State as for the Church (VVVV). But I conceive it will be a great deal more eaſie for a few perſons in the generall Court of New England to agree in their applications of the word of God to every civill emergent, then for that many headed Soveraign, the whole people of old England: the one may much more ſafely be troubled to rule according to their gift of Government without any written, inſtitute, and humane Law (XXXX), then the other: for I believe if the whole free-born people of England were ſet on the Bench to judge of all cauſes according as every one did conceive, without any written Law, all by-paſt conſtitutions being cancelled, the government of our State would quickly become more arbitrary and confuſed then long could be endured; and thoſe inconveniences which they profeſſe to be the only cauſe, why as yet they do not totally aboliſh both the name and thing of a very Houſe of Commons (YYYY), by a little experience ſhould be found to be more and greater then now are imaginable.

But that we may proceed, I do propone one only ſcruple more p. 63about the point in hand: By what means ſo great changes in Church and State are like to be compaſſed, for not only King Charles and all our living Lords, but alſo Royalty and Lordſhip it ſelf muſt be caſt down: The preſent Houſe of Commons for their manifold miſdemeanors muſt be diſſolved, and ſo the whole fabrick of our old corrupted State totally aboliſhed, and a frame wholly new put in its place, wherein no footſtep either of Monarchy or of Ariſtocracy may appear (ZZZZ), but the Soveraignty muſt reſt in each individuall of the people as they ſpeak (AAAAA): the moſt poor, baſe, weak, fooliſh creatures, poſſeſſing a like ſhare of the Supremacy, both civill and Eccleſiaſtick, the Kinghood and the Prieſthood, as they call it (BBBBB); with the moſt noble, wiſe, able, wealthy of the land (CCCCC): having it at their option to execute the Soveraign power by themſelves, or when they find it for their eaſe to nominate ſo many Deputies (DDDDD), every November (EEEEE) to be a Parliament of Commons, to cognoſce upon extraordinary incidents as their Soveraign the people ſhall preſcribe them rules; though in ordinary caſes they declare their purpoſe to ſet up twelve men with a Preſident in every Hundred, who upon their oath of fidelity ſhall be intruſted to determine abſolutely all cauſes belonging to that Hundred, without appeale to any Judge except the Aniverſary meeting of the whole peoples deputies (FFFFF).

This new Ochlocratorick republick where every individuall participates of the Soveraignty,The three fundamental Laws of our new Utopian Republick. not as in Democracies where the better ſort only of the people have voyce in Government; whether they will be pleaſed to make to themſelves a body of new Laws, they have not, ſo far as I obſerve, as yet declared; only they ſeem to ſet up three fundamentall rules; Firſt, that in matter of Religion every man muſt be abſolutely at his own diſpoſition, to believe, ſpeak, write, do, what ever he thinks ſit (GGGGG). Secondly, that men in publick place, either of Church or State, muſt ſerve freely if they have any means of their own, or otherwiſe if they be poor, their greateſt gages in the moſt eminent places ſhall not exceed the ſumme of 50 or at moſt 60 pounds a year (HHHHH). Thirdly, that all men …n all places ſhall be accountable and puniſhable in their life and eſtate, by their Soveraign Lords the individuals of the people, without all controll, or appeal (IIIII).

p. 64According to reaſon and experience the preſent diſtemper of the Sectaries is poſting on faſt to a Dictatorſhip & abſolute Tyranny in the hand of one.Since all theſe things muſt be, as our new Statiſts give the world aſſurance of their reſolution to have them; is it not like that before ſo great changes can be brought, about much reſiſtance will be made? a ſtrange confuſion and bloodſhed, multitudes of difficulties cannot but fall in the way: ſhall it not therefore be abſolutely neceſſary, that ſome men of known valour and courage, whoſe wiſdome, faithfulneſſe, and ſucceſſe, long experience makes unqueſtionable; be ſet up to command in name of the people for ſome time, till theſe high and mighty deſigns may be gotten accompliſhed, and the people once be ſet down in peace upon the high places, whence the King, Lords and Commons wont to pronounce theſe unjuſt Laws which now with their authours muſt be laid aſide?

In ſuch caſes of extraordinary difficulty, the wiſe people of Rome did oftentimes name a Dictator, in whoſe hand for a certain time they placed all their power: the Senate, the Armies, the Magiſtrates both of the City & Provinces, the whole Common-wealth was abſolutely at his diſpoſition: only for his own aſſiſtance in the diſcharge of ſo incomparable a truſt, he did name for a helper and a ſecond, almoſt an equall, a Maſter of Horſe.

If we ſhould come to this excellent expedient it were not hard for the people of the Sectarian party to fall without much deliberation, upon a Dictator; to whoſe valour and untainted fidelity they might without fear or the leaſt ſuſpicion commit the common ſafety: and if merit may be regarded, if boldneſſe and diligence in pulling down old Tyrants, whether Kings or Lords or Commons, for the advancement of the people to their due place may be valued, a Lievtenant, a Maſter of Horſe without difficulty might preſently be found.

This much of their mind already they have declared, that all good people of their own accord without any authority may ariſe in Arms as one man, and when they are up, they may chooſe for their Governor whom they pleaſe (LLLLL), and mould the State in what faſhion they conceive to be moſt for their own good (MMMMM), and thereafter put the Militia during their pleaſure in the hands of theſe to whom they dare truſt the common ſafety, providing they be known to be firm for abſolute liberty of conſcience (NNNNN): And among theſe he who runs may reade in their Books one glorious name, in whoſe boſome p. 65the Dictatorian patent could not but fall: only here is the hazard; when Caeſar was once poſſeſſed of the Dictators place, he had the skill and the will alſo to keep in his own hand that higheſt command for ever. And although the perpetuall Dictatorſhip was a little interrupted by his violent death in the midſt of the Senate, yet never did the command return any more to the people, but in place of their expected liberty their government was changed into a moſt Tyrannick Empire.

As in nature, ſo in State there is a conſtant viciſſitude, the corruption of one is the generation of another, and that which ariſeth doth poſt to its fall and corruption, that a new plant may come in its ſtead. The raſh and heady overturners of States pull down the poſſeſſors that themſelves may ſit in their rooms, but they are not well hot in their new places, till the judgement of God and the unavoidable circulation which is and ever has been in all ſublunary affairs, caſts them likewiſe out that their ſeats may be void to their preſſing ſucceſſors.

I confeſſe at my firſt ſight of this Anabaptiſtick root,The State in danger by the Sectaries principles. the peoples ſupremacy, at its firſt appearance above ground, I was more afraid for it then for any other errour of the time: for I apprehended, if it did grow, it might overturn the whole State from the very foundation, and bring upon all the Land ſuch a confuſion as was unexpreſſible. This apprehenſion as yet ſeems to me not altogether groundleſſe, for if this principle be driven on but a little further, if the unwiſe and unjuſt multitude be flattered into a Supremacy of power, and perſwaded of a neceſſity, were it but of a conveniency, or of a meer lawfulneſſe to put down Kings, Lords, and Commons, and to ſet up what ever other Government they think meeteſt for their own ſafety and welfare, I am in the opinion that ſome very mean born Gentlemen (if they have but the skill and conſtancy for ſome little time to play the Cards right that now are in their hands) are in as fair a poſſibility to attain the Dictatorſhip of England, as Julius Caeſar was to attain that of Rome ſome few years before the civill Warre. But though they ſhould attain all and much more then for the time themſelves do intend or dare as yet deſire,The greateſt purchace which the overturners of States uſually make, is a late repentance. their reward may prove unworthy their labour. It had been much better for Caeſar and his Army that they had permitted the Senate to govern according to the former Laws: the change indeed which he made in the p. 66State did advance him for a time to the higheſt degree of command, and his friends to the moſt of their private deſires: yet ere long it brought upon him an untimous and cruell death, and upon all the Romans a perpetuall ſlavery. When the whole account is caſt up, the changers of State uſe not to be ſo great gainers; but had they fore-ſeen the end and taken it into their reckoning, they could eaſily have been content never to have begun their enterpriſe.

The Teſtimonies of the third Chapter.

(A) Fratlies Dipper Dipped in the Epiſtle to Downame; theſe above all others have beſtirred themſelves, ſince the waters were troubled, and they boaſt in ſecret of their great draughts of fiſh, the Papiſts of 20000 proſelytes, the Anabaptiſts of 47 Churches.

(B) M. Marſhals Defence p. 76. The Confeſſion is ſuch a one as I beleeve thouſands of our new Anabaptiſts will be far from owning, at any man may be able to ſay without a ſpirit of divination, knowing that their received and uſuall doctrines do much more agree with the Anabaptiſts in Germany, then with this handfull who made this Confeſſion here in London.

(C) M. Black againſt Tombs Apology p. 14. I doubt leſt that the community of theſe of that opinion in London will not be concluded by the ſubſcription of theſe 15 perſons; many witneſſes will affirm, that ſuch Doctrines are frequently broached in their congregations, which ſtand in full contradiction to ſeverall articles in that confeſſion which you mention.

(D) Barrows Diſcovery p. 26. What communion is to be held with the Church of England? can the name of a Church without blaſphemy unto Chriſt be given unto them in theſe ſins? I have often wondred how any man of ſound judgement could give them the name of a Church. Ibid. in the Preface. Let them ſave their ſoul out of this accurſed falſe Church.

(E) Robinſons Apology p. 78. Convenit nobis quatenus reformatis Eccleſiia Belgicis, & aliis cum Eccleſia Anglicana in Articulis fidei hujus Eccleſiae nomine ſcriptis. Vide Diſſwaſive, firſt Part, p. 20, 21.

(F) Vide Diſſwaſive firſt Part. p. 103, 104.

(G) William Kiffins Anſwer in Ricrafts Looking glaſſe for the p. 67Anabaptiſts p. 9. So long as you deny to follow the rule of Chriſt for the ſeparation of the wicked from the godly, and ſeparating the precious from the vile, we are bound in obedience to Jeſus Chriſt to leave you whilſt you remain obſtinate to him; England hath at this time in her as hatefull birds as any Nation whatſoever: when theſe things do ſo appear, is it not high time to hearken to the voyce of the Apoſtle Acts 2.40. to ſave your ſelf from ſuch a generation, and to come out from them, Rev. 18.4?

(H) Declaration concerning the publick diſpute by Benjamin Cocks, &c. p. 13. The baptiſm of Infants does deny Chriſt to be come in the fleſh. Cornwels Vindication of the Royall Commiſsion, p. 13. I am aſſured if I whoſe eyes God hath opened to diſcern this Popiſh corruption, if I ſhould hold my peace, and ſo juſtly periſh with the Antichriſtian Synagogue that denieth Jeſus is the Chriſt.

(I) Turners heavenly Conference, p. 41. Queſtion. What if any deny children of beleevers in a Church eſtate, baptiſm of water? Anſwer; They make void the promiſe of God (made to children of beleevers) by that their Tradition. Q. May ſuch as deny children baptiſm be permitted members of a true Church? A. No, they ought to be cut off from all Chriſts congregations.

(K) Apologeticall Narration, p. 9. Excommunication ſhould be put in execution for no other kinde of ſins then may evidently be preſumed to be perpetrated againſt the parties known light; as whether it be a ſin in manners and converſation, ſuch as is committed againſt the light of nature, or the common received practiſes of Chriſtianity profeſſed in all the Churches of Chriſt; or if in opinions, then ſuch, as are likewiſe contrary to the received principles of Chriſtianity, and the power of godlineſſe profeſſed by the party himſelf, and univerſally acknowledged in all the reſt of the Churches; and no other ſins to be the ſubject of that dreadfull ſentence.

(L) Gangrena part 2. p. 13. For the preſent the beſt Independent Churches are mixed aſſemblies conſiſting of perſons, whereof ſome are Anabaptiſts, ſome Antinomians, ſome Libertines, others hold Arminian and Socinian Tenets. M. Symonds Independent Church at Roterdam is overgrown with Anabaptiſme, and he hath written into England that he is ſo poſtered with Anabaptiſts, that he know not what to do.

(M) Tombs Apology p. 66. I confeſſe they that hold that members are added to the Church by Baptiſm and not otherwiſe, and hold p. 68a nullity of paedobaptiſm, muſt needs ſay the Churches that have no other then infant Baptiſm are no true Churches, nor their members Church members. Cornwels Vindication p. 15. They who enter not into their Church fellowſhip by teaching the Goſpel and dipping as Jeſus and his Diſciples entered, are thieves and robbers.

(N) The confeſſion of faith, Artic. 29. All beleevers are a holy and ſanctified people, the beleever is in truth and really ſeparate both in ſoul and body from all ſin and dead works, whereby he alſo preſſeth after a heavenly and Evangelicall perfection in obedience to all the commands. Storming of Antichriſt pag. 3. There hath been a miſtake in the matter of the Church for many hundred years, men taking mixt multitudes for the matter thereof, when the Scripture makes Saints in profeſſion the matter thereof. Alſo p. 8. Beleeve it, we are beholden for the recovery of this truth to our Brethren (nick-named Independents) which is as precious a truth about Church order as ever was recovered from the ſpoyls of Antichriſt, for if the matter of Churches be wrong, let the wiſeſt and holieſt do what they can, they ſhall never bring things into a comfortable order.

(O) Gangrena ſecond Part p. 126. Being urged in point of prayer for forgiveneſſe of ſins, with the Lords Prayer, the Lievtenant ſaid that the Lords prayer when Chriſt gave it to his Diſciples was ſpirituall unto them, but is not ſo to us. The ſame Lievtenant being urged with Davids practiſe of bewailing ſin, and craving pardon, anſwered, David was under a double Covenant, of the Law, and of grace, we only under that of grace: and though a beleever ſhould commit as great ſins as David, murther, and adultery, there was no need for him to repent, and that ſin was no ſin to him, but a failing. Alſo p. 120. One of the followers of M. Sympſon the Antinomian ſaid it in the hearing and preſence of divers (M. Sympſon being then alſo preſent) that if a child of God ſhould commit murder he ought not to repent of it, and M. Sympſon never reproved him for it, though by one preſent in the company he was ſpoken unto to do it.

(P) Benjamin Bourns deſcription and confutation p. 53. The ſeventh errour is divided into two branches, the firſt handled in this chapter by way of queſtion, whether perfection in the higheſt degree both of grace and glory be attainable in this life, yea or no.

(Q) Saltmarſh Smoke, p. 15, 16, 17, 18. Theſe places commonly taken for the commiſſion for Chriſts Baptiſm, as Matth. 28.18. have no ſuch thing in them, baptizing in Mat. 28. cannot properly be underſtood p. 69of baptizing by water, but farre more probably of the Spirits Baptiſm, or Baptiſm of the holy Ghoſt. Chriſts inſtitution of water as his own Baptiſm in his own perſon cannot be made appear out of all the New Teſtament; none ought to give Baptiſm now, becauſe there is none can give the gift of the holy Ghoſt with it: Baptiſm by water and by the holy Ghoſt, being joyned together both in inſtitution, doctrine and practiſe, are not to be ſeparated nor given in ſuch a time wherein that of the holy Ghoſt is not given, for what God hath joyned together let no man put aſunder; That the fulneſſe of time is not yet come for ordinances, for as there were ſeverall ſeaſons for the givings out of truths before, ſo now.

(R) Saltmarſh Free grace, p. 140. A beleevers glorious freedome; the Spirit of Chriſt ſets a beleever as free from hell, the Law and bondage here on earth, as if he were in heaven, nor wants he any thing to make him ſo, but to make him beleeve that he is ſo.

(S) The Confeſſion. Vide ſupra N.

(T) Confeſſion, ſecond Edition Artic. 29. The beleever preſſeth after a heavenly and Evangelicall obedience.

(V) Kiffins Anſwer to Ricraft, p. 18. If your eyes were opened to peruſe your own ways, you would than ſee that we could better free our ſelves from the guilt of ſchiſme from theſe reformed Churches, then you your ſelves from the notorious guilt of ſchiſming from Rome.

(X) Tombs Apology. Vide ſupra M.

(Y) Spilsberry in his Preface to the Saints intereſt. I intended not the title of adverſaries to all that do not fully cloſe with us in judgement, but to thoſe that ſo oppoſe us as that they deny us to preach any Goſpel, to hold forth any true faith, or to adminiſter any true Baptiſme, who have openly called us the gates of hell, their open enemy, &c.

(Z) Vide ſupra Y.

(AA) The Confeſſion Artic. 47. And although the particular congregations be diſtinct and ſeverall bodies, every one as a compact and knit City in it ſelf, yet are they all to walk by one and the ſame rule, and by all means convenient to have the counſell and help one of another.

(BB) Declaration concerning the publick diſpute, p. 12. We dare affirm that the Presbyters have nothing elſe whereby to perſwade the people to ſubject their conſciences unto their Synodicall and Claſſicall authority, &c.

p. 70(CC) Confeſſion Artic. 42, 43. Chriſt has alſo given power to his (whole) Church to receive in and caſt out by way of excommunication any member, and this power is given to every particular Congregation, and not one particular perſon, either member or officer, but the (whole,) and every particular member of each Church, how excellent great or learned ſoever, ought to be ſubject to this cenſure. Alſo Saltmarſh Smoke in the Temple, p. 14. The Anabaptiſts hold that the Church though but of two or three, yet may enjoy the word and ordinances by way of an adminiſtrator or one deputed to adminiſter though no Paſtor: that theſe commonly called Church Officers, as Paſtors, &c. are ſuch as the Church or body may be without.

(DD) Confeſſion Artic. 45. Such to whom God hath given gifts being tried in the Church, may and ought by the appointment of the Congregation to Prophecy according to the proportion of faith, and ſo teach publickly the word of God for the edification, exhortation and comfort of the Church.

(EE) Kiffins anſwer to Ricraft. Among the cauſes of their ſeparation he ſets down this as one, The quenching of the Spirit, and deſpiſing prophecy, that no man may ſpeak in our publick exerciſes but one.

(FF) Confeſſion Artic. 41. The perſons deſigned by Chriſt to diſpenſe this ordinance, the Scriptures hold forth to be a Preaching Diſciple, it being no where tied to a particular Church officer or perſon extraordinarily ſent, the commiſſion enjoyning the adminiſtration being given to them under no other conſideration but as Diſciples. Alſo the Treatiſe of Baptiſme, p. 407. It cannot reaſonably be objected, that he that baptizeth ſhould neceſſarily be himſelf a baptized perſon, though ordinarily it will be ſo, yet it is not neceſſary to the Ordinance no more then it is ſimply neceſſary to a Church State that the members be baptized: for not the perſonall baptiſm of him that adminiſters, but the due commiſſion he hath for baptizing, is alone conſiderable to make him a true Miniſter of Baptiſme.

(GG) Gangren ſecond Part p. 3. Oats hath dipped many in Bocking River, and when that is done he hath a feaſt in the night, and at the end thereof, the Lords Supper. Alſo Gangrena the firſt part, p. 44. The 12. of November laſt there met the matter of 80 Anabaptiſts in a great houſe, and had a Love-feaſt, their Supper was dreſſed for them by a Cook; when Supper was ended, before the cloth p. 71was taken away, they adminiſtred the Lords Supper.

(HH) Tombs Apology p. 54. Nor do I think the thing either ſuch a new opinion or practiſe, for beſides that it may be doubted whether all the Apoſtles were baptized, as ſuppoſe Matthew, (which is as probable for the negative as the affirmative) yet were they all admitted to the Lords Supper by Chriſt himſelf. When Conſtantine the great and others did deferre their Baptiſme ſo long, it is not likely they never received the Lords Supper afore their Baptiſm.

(II) Storming of Antichriſt p. 6. Suppoſe the power of all ordinances and the keys in a time of univerſall defection ſhould reſolve it ſelf radically in the Church, yet there being no Church right for the matter which is part of the eſſence, this power could not reſolve it ſelf into a Church, and therefore if it be any where on earth, as doubtleſſe it is, it muſt be in beleevers, who joyning themſelves together in Aſſemblies may ſtirre up and take again that power which was committed to the Churches, and after cheated away by Antichriſt. The Treatiſe of Baptiſm p. 389. The power of the keys originarily and primarily is given to the Church, where the power of admitting, receiving, and caſting out is, there is the power of adminiſtring and communicating all ordinances to the edification of the ſame body, and they which have power of adminiſtring the Kingly office of Chriſt, conſiſting in caſting out and receiving in, have alſo power of adminiſtring his Propheticall office, of which the Sacraments are a part, and therefore to the Chriſtian Churches as to the Jews of old pertaineth the publick diſpenſations and ſervices of God, Rom. 9.

(KK) Confeſſion Article 41. The diſpenſation of Baptiſme is no where tied to a particular officer, the commiſſion to adminiſter it being given to them under no other conſideration but conſidered as Diſciples. Treatiſe of Baptiſm p. 391. A man becomes a Prophet by vertue of a gift, but no gift renders a Baptizer but a call, as being a thing of publick commiſſion: teaching out of a gift hath its foundation in nature, which ariſeth from a perſonall gift and grace of the ſpirit, but Baptiſm, Cenſures, Ordination, and the like, depend not upon a ſpeciall gift, but are acts of power conferred authoritatively upon a ſpeciall perſon.

(LL) Gangren firſt Part, p. 32. Miſtreſſe Attaway gave an anſwer to the men preſent, who brought an argument for Infants Baptiſme.

(MM) Confeſſion ſecond Edition in the preface to the Reader. p. 72Some are offended at us for meeting in houſes to preach: So we are blamed becauſe we frequent not their Temples. Kiffens Anſwer to Ricraft p. 10. You are enraged againſt theſe who worſhip any where ſave in your high places.

(NN) Ibid. You continue tithes and offerings of people, as if Chriſt were not yet come in the fleſh.

(OO) John the Baptiſt p. 1. The claiming tithes, or any thing in ſtead thereof, appears to be contrary to the Goſpel; through the whole Goſpel there is not one word to countenance a forcing of the people to contribute unto the poor, or unto the Miniſter any thing, but what they pleaſe themſelves.

(PP) The vanity of childiſh Baptiſm ſecond Part, p. 27. There is no more hope to ſee that Tribe ſtoop ſo low as to bear witneſſe to this truth, then there is to ſee them allow the doctrine and practiſe of bleſſed Saint Paul working with his own hands, Acts 20.34. to be now of uſe and imitation in our times. John the Baptiſt pag. 7. It were farre more Apoſtolick and Chriſtian-like for Miniſters to work with their own hands then to force or require a ſubſiſtence in ſuch a manner.

(PP 2) The power and office of the Miniſtery by which it is there adminiſtred is received from the Biſhops who received their power from the Antichriſt. The vanity of childiſh Baptiſm p. 12. Ib. p. 15. The unlawfulneſſe of the calling of the Miniſtery of the Church of England is acknowledged by many of themſelves, who have therfore forſaken and caſt off their Miniſtery they received of the Biſhops and departed the Land, and became as Lay-men untill they were authorized anew by the election and appointment of ſuch a Congregation as they conceived to be a true Church. Ibid. p. 31. The worth or honeſty of a man in a falſe office cannot make the office any truer or lawfuller then it is in it ſelfe; the better the man the worſe the Biſhop: the very ſame is the caſe of the Miniſtery and Prieſthood here.

(QQ) Vide ſupra GG.

(RR) Gangren firſt Part p. 6. I had it from eye and ear-witneſſes who were preſent at Kiffen and Patience Viſitation of one of their Members whoſe name is Palmer living in Smithfield, who layed hands upon her and anointed her with oyle; the woman recovering came unto their Coventicle houſe, and there before many people ſaid that Brother Kiffen and Patience anoynting her ſhe ſuddenly recovered.

p. 73(SS) Vide ſupra O.

(TT) Gangren firſt Part p. 27. That all ſinging of Pſalmes, as Davids or any other holy ſongs of Scripture, is unlawfull and not to be joyned with: that the ſinging which Chriſtians ſhould uſe, is that of hymnes and ſpirituall ſongs, framed by themſelves, compoſed by their own gifts, and that upon ſpeciall occaſions, as deliverances, &c. ſung in the Congregation by one of the aſſembly, all the reſt being ſilent.

(VV) Gangren firſt Part, p. 23. This Den preacheth much againſt tythes, he hath put down all ſinging of Pſalmes in his Church.

(XX) The compaſſionate Samaritane p. 31, 33. And hereby is maintained the neceſſity and excellency of Learning and the Languages, and ſo of Vniverſities, and a ſuppoſall that the Arts likewiſe are neceſſary to a Divine. As Diana was, ſo is learning the crafts-mens living and the peoples Goddeſſe, the people may if they pleaſe dote upon that which hath been their deſtruction, they ought to account better of them that having no by-ends or reſpects have ſtudied the Scriptures for their own and others information, and do impart the ſame to the people out of a deſire of their good, for nothing, as the Anabaptiſts doe to their Congregations. See alſo Bloudy Tenet p. 173.

(YY) Vide Diſſwaſive p. 48. Browns life and manners of all true Chriſtians p. 8. Know ye not that they which have their full and ſufficient authority and calling, are not to care for a further authority? Hath not every lawfull Paſtor his full authority? Ibid. p. 8. The Lord did not only ſhew them the Tabernacle, but bade them make it: but theſe men will not make it at all, becauſe they will tarry for the Magiſtrate. Ibid. pag. 10. They could not force Religion, as you would have the Magiſtrate to do: and it was forbidden to the Apoſtles to preach to the unworthy, or to force a planting or government in the Church: the Lords kingdome is not by force, neither durſt Moſes, or any of the Kings of Judah force the people by Law or by power, to receive the Church government; but after they received it, if then they fell away and ſought not the Lord, they might put them to death. They do cry Diſcipline, diſcipline, that is, for a civill forcing to impriſon the people, or otherwiſe by violence to handle and beat them, if they would not obey them. Ibid. p. 11. The Lords people is of the willing ſort, they ſhall come unto Sion, and enquire the way unto p. 74Jeruſalem, not by force, nor compulſion, but with their faces thitherward. And p. 12. Becauſe the Church is in a Common-wealth, it is of the Magiſtrates charge, that is, concerning the outward proviſion, and outward juſtice they are to look, but to compell Religion, to plant Churches by power, and to force a ſubmiſſion to Eccleſiaſticall government by Laws and penalties, belongeth not to them neither yet to the Church.

(ZZ) Diſſwaſive p. 49. EEEEE. FFFFF. Alſo the modell of Church and civill power compoſed by M. Cotton in the bloudy Tenet p. 156. The Magiſtrate hath power to forbid all idolatrous and corrupt aſsemblies, who offer to put themſelves under their patronage, and ſhall attempt to joyn themſelves into a Church eſtate, and if they ſhall not hearken, to force them therefrom by the power of the ſword. Ib. 101. Tolerating many Religions in a State, in ſeverall Churches, beſide the provoking of God, may in time not only corrupt, leaven, divide, and ſo deſtroy the peace of the Churches, but alſo diſſolve the Continuity of the State, eſpecially ours whoſe wals are made of the ſtones of the Churches. He hath alſo power to compell all men within his grant to hear the Word.

(ZZ 2) Tombs Apology p. 13. Being acquainted with a Law made in New England, and proceedings againſt thoſe that denied baptizing of Infants, I yeelded to the ſending of my examen thither, and therewith I ſent this ſhort Epiſtle; Reverend Brethren, underſtanding that there is ſome diſquiet in your Churches about paedobaptiſm, &c.

(AAA) Apologetick narration p. 19. To the Magiſtrates power we give as much, and as we think more, then the principles of the Presbyteriall government will ſuffer them to yeeld.

(BBB) Burrows Irenicon at length.

(CCC) Apologeticall narration p. 9. We judge that excommunication ſhould be put in execution for no other kinde of ſinnes then may evidently be preſumed to be perpetrated againſt the parties known light, as whether it be a ſin in manners and converſation, ſuch as is committed againſt the light of nature, or the common received practiſes of Chriſtianity profeſſed in all the Churches of Chriſt; or if an opinions, then ſuch as are likewiſe contrary to the received principles of Chriſtianity and the power of godlineſſe profeſſed by the party himſelf, and univerſally acknowledged in all the reſt of the Churches, and no other ſins to be the ſubject of that moſt dreadfull ſentence.

p. 75(DDD) John Goodwins Theomachia p. 37. Concerning other civill means for the ſuppreſſion and reſtraint of theſe ſpirituall evils, errours, hereſies, &c. as impriſonment, baniſhment, interdictions, finings, &c. both reaſon and experience concurre in this demonſtration, that ſuch fetters as theſe put upon the feet of errours and hereſies to ſecure and keep them under, ſtill have proved wings whereby they raiſe themſelves the higher in the thoughts and mindes of men, and gain an opportunity of farther propagation.

Ibid. To hold that the perſons ſo elected (the Members of the Houſe of Commons choſen by men unworthy, and ſtrangers to the power of godlineſs) have a power by vertue of ſuch nomination or election to enact Laws and Statutes in matters of Religion, and to order under mulcts and penalties, how men ſhall worſhip and ſerve God, as it is a means to awaken the eye of jealouſie upon them, and ſo is ſeven times more deſtructive unto the undermining not only of their power, but of their honour, peace, and ſafety alſo, then any thing that is found in the way ſo ill entreated, ſo is it the ſetling upon the electors of ſuch perſons, I mean upon the promiſcuous multitude of the Land, a greater power then ever Jeſus Chriſt himſelf had, at leaſt then ever he exerciſed.

(EEE) Anabaptiſts Confeſſion, Edition ſecond, Article 48. in the margin. Concerning the worſhip of God there is but one Lawgiver Jeſus Chriſt, who hath given Laws and rules ſufficient in his word for his worſhip, and for any to make more, were to charge Chriſt for want of wiſdome, or faithfulneſſe, or both, in not making Laws enough, or not good enough for his houſe. Surely it is our wiſdome, duty and priviledge to obſerve Chriſts Laws only.

(FFF) Ibid. It is our duty to do, and we believe it is our expreſſe duty, eſpecially in matters of Religion, to be fully perſwaded in our mindes of the lawfulneſſe of what we do, for whatſoever is not of faith is ſin; and as we cannot do any thing contrary to our underſtandings and conſciences, ſo neither can we forbear the doing of that, which our underſtandings and conſciences bind us to do.

(GGG) Ibid. It is the Magiſtrates duty to tender the liberty of mens conſciences, which is the tendereſt thing unto all conſcientious men, and moſt dear unto them, and without which all other liberties will not be worth the naming, much leſſe enjoying, and to protect all under them from all wrong, injury, oppreſſion, and moleſtation.

(HHH) Blackwoods Storming of Antichriſt p. 23. Evill works p. 76committed againſt the light of nature and reaſon, as the ſetting up of Mahomet or any other God beſide the Creator of heaven and earth: Atheiſm, when any man ſhall boldly affirm there is no God: Polytheiſm, when men affirm many Gods; blaſphemy, murder, theſe and ſuch like, the Magiſtrate whether Heathen or Chriſtian, is to be a terror unto. 2. Theſe evill works which are againſt the light of Nations, there is no Nation in the world but in it the Magiſtrate will puniſh thoſe that ſpeak againſt the God that they profeſſe, and againſt that which they think is Scripture; ſo if any rail againſt Chriſt, or deny the Scriptures to be his Word or no rule for us, and ſo unſettle our faith, this as I take it, may be puniſhed by the Magiſtrate.

(III) Williams Bloody Tenet of perſecution for the cauſe of Conſcience in the Preface to the Parliament p. 2. It is the will and command of God, that ſince the comming of his Son the Lord Jeſus, a permiſſion of the moſt Paganiſh, Jewiſh, Turkiſh, or Antichriſtian conſciences and worſhips be granted to all men in all Nations and Countries.

(KKK) Ibid. p. 19. I acknowledge that to moleſt any perſon, Jew or Gentile, for either profeſſing Doctrine, or practiſing worſhip, meerly religious or ſpirituall, it is to perſecute him, and ſuch a perſon (what ever his doctrine or practiſe be, true or falſe) ſuffereth perſecution for conſcience. The compaſſionate Samaritane p. 16. The Anabaptiſts or Browniſts or whatever Sect there is or may be.

(LLL) Liberty of Conſcience p. 22. Such fines, impriſonments, or leſſer puniſhments whatſoever, are juſtly to be accounted force, and that in the higheſt nature. Ibid. p. 17. How incongruous and dangerous a way of proceeding it is, to joyn profit or preferment, hopes or fears, threats or force, to work upon the conſcience. Ibid. p. 23. In ſuch Countries where the Inquiſition ruleth, or people are forced to go to Church upon penalties how ſmall ſoever. Compaſſionate Samaritane p. 5. Little can be done in their behalf, unleſſe liberty of conſcience be allowed for every man, or ſort of men to worſhip God in that way, and perform Chriſts ordinances in that manner as ſhall appear to them moſt agreeable to Gods word, and no man puniſhed or diſcountenanced by authority for his opinion, unleſſe it be dangerous to the State.

(MMM) Toleration juſtified p. 8, 9. All Sectaries, whether Preſbyters, Independents, Browniſts, Antinomians, Anabaptiſts, &c. have a like title and right to freedome or a toleration, the title thereof being p. 77not of any particular opinion, but the equity of every mans being free in the State he lives in, and is obedient to matters of opinion being not properly to be taken into cogniſance any further, then they break out into ſome diſturbance or diſquiet to the State. But you will ſay, that by ſuch a toleration blaſphemy will be broached, and ſuch ſtrange and horrid opinions, as would make the ears of every godly man to tingle; what muſt this alſo be tolerated? I anſwer, it cannot be juſt to ſet bounds or limitations to toleration, any further then the ſafety of the people requires, the more horrid and blaſphemous the opinion is, the eaſier it will be ſuppreſt by reaſon and argument.

(NNN) Liberty of Conſcience p. 16. And what command finde we in the word of God which warrants us to impriſon, fine, baniſh, or put to death any one, eſpecially amongſt Chriſtians for difference of opinion in Religion? many I know are ſo indulgent as to be contented that every man might enjoy his own conſcience quietly, but would not ſuffer them to have the free exerciſe of it, to diſcourſe or publiſh their opinions unto others, but hereof I finde no ground in Scripture, Saint Paul ſays 1 Cor. 9.16. A command is laid upon me, and wo is me if I preach not the Goſpel; and our Saviour ſaid unto S. Peter, Acts 22.32. When thou art converted ſtrengthen thy brethren; ſo that the ſame God which commands me to try the ſpirits, requires of me alſo that when I have found the truth I ſhould not with-hold it, like a candle under a Buſhel. Yea, but ſome will ſay, God requires you to teach the truth, but you teach hereſie in ſtead thereof, and therefore you ought to be perſecuted; My anſwer is, that I apprehend it to be the truth, and do but diſcharge my conſcience, though it be erroneous, deſiring to ſee the warrant for perſecuting ſuch as teach or publiſh erroneous Doctrines, which they in their own opinion thought had been ſound.

(OOO) Bloody Tenet p. 56, 57. Of theſe that fall into this dreadfull ditch, both Leader and followers, how deplorable in more eſpeciall manner is the Leaders caſe, upon whoſe neck the followers tumble, the ruine not only of his own ſoul being horrible, but alſo the ruine of the followers ſouls eternally galling and tormenting? Soul-killing is the chiefeſt murder; it is a truth, the miſchief of a blinde Phariſees blinde guidance, is greater then if he acted Treaſons, murders, &c. and the loſſe of one ſoul by his ſeduction, is a greater miſchief then if he blew up Parliaments, and cut the throats of Kings and Emperours: ſo precious is that invaluable jewell of a ſoule above all p. 78the preſent lives and bodies of all the men in the world.

(PPP) Vide ſupra III. KKK. LLL. Alſo Bloody Tenet p. 54. Civill Magiſtrates were never appointed by God, defenders of the faith of Jeſus.

(PPP 2) Innocency and truth juſtified p. 46. I told him I could not take the Covenant. Englands Birthright p. 12. The Covenant was firſt ordained to beget unity between the Nations, but as ſad experience teacheth in its effects, it produceth nothing leſſe amongſt us, ſetting us at as bitter a Warre and conteſtation amongſt our ſelves almoſt as we have with our profeſſed Enemies, who before this unhappy make-bate came amongſt us, were knit together in love. Ibid. p. 29, 30. O that the Parliament would give leave to ſome of their honeſt fellow-Commoners to remonſtrate the inconveniency and miſchievouſneſſe of this Covenant, and I am confident it would eaſily and clearly be made appear to themſelves ſo vile, that they would never enforce it any more, but rather recall it. The laſt Warning p. 5, 6. Such as only perſonate Religion to bring their ends about, whoſe Religion indeed is prudentially and zealouſly to diſſemble, theſe are they that frame oathes and Covenants for you in ſuch ambiguous expreſſions like Delphian Oracles, you will finde that all their zeal and Covenanting with the high God, is for no other end then to bring this eaſily deluded Nation under bondage to Presbyteriall Lords and Taskmaſters. The intereſt of England p. 16. Quaere 6. Whether the ſolemne League and Covenant may not prove the greateſt miſchief and ſnare unto the Kingdome in caſe its interpretation be wreſted from the Parliament to the Presbyters new proſelyte and his confederates, that ever yet was invented ſince the Warres. See alſo Dels ſcruples againſt the Covenant through the whole.

(PPP 3) Remonſtrance of many thouſands p. 8, 10, 13, 14, 18. Alſo the intereſt of England p. 13.

(PPP 4) I ſpare to name the worſhipfull and reverend inſtruments of this high contumely moſt unworthy of them.

(PPP 5) Conſcience cautioned p. 5. If the Scots ſtay and keep our Towns and Garriſons after voted out, is it not Invaſion? Is it not the ſame to enter in hoſtility, or in confluent numbers after voted out, if they deliver not up the King when demanded without capitulation? for they are our Army, our ſervants, and is not the king our States, Priſoner? Ibid. p. 12. All this is but to King the Scots under the colour of the Kings name to make them Kings of England, and the Engliſh p. 79their ſlaves. Quaeries. Who is it that holds out, &c? p. 1. Alſo black cloud in the North, through it all.

(PPP 6) Gangren third Part.

(QQQ) The modeſt Queries concerning a printed paper p. 6. Abſtruſe and diſputable points of Religion, as that of free-will, of the Trinity, of the Hypoſtaticall union, concerning the death of Chriſt, concerning the ſtate of the ſoul after death, &c.

(RRR) Ibid. p. 1. Whether it be agreeable to the minde of Chriſt for men to inflict the heavy cenſure of death upon their Brethren for holding forth ſuch Doctrines or opinions in Religion, ſuppoſe contrary to admonition, which for ought the ſaid inflicters know, except they make themſelves infallible, may be the ſacred truths of God.

(SSS) Vide ſupra in the Hiſtories of Becold and Muncer.

(TTT) M. Marſhals Defence p. 75. It is moſt apparent that their Books even to this day do conſtantly defend, that though Magiſtracy be an Ordinance of God, as to them who are not under the dominion and kingdome of Chriſt, yet Chriſt hath put an end to it among his own people, taken away all Magiſtracy from among them, that no Chriſtian can be a Magiſtrate with a good conſcience, and that if Chriſtians do live under any ſuch, they are to bear them but as other plagues and judgements are to be born.

(TTT 2) Diſſwaſive firſt Part p. 152. MMMMMM 3.

(VVV) Ibid. p. 72. VV.

(XXX) M. Williams informed me, that Miſtreſſe Hutchiſon in the firſt place ſhe ſetled with her company after her baniſhment, did perſwade her husband to lay down the office of the Magiſtrate, as that which was unlawfull for Chriſtians to bear.

(YYY) The juſt mans juſtification p. 10. That you would think upon the grand murderer of England: for by this impartiall Law of God there is no exemption of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Earles, Barons, Judges, or Gentlemen, more then of Fiſhermen, Coblers, Tinkers and Chimney-ſweepers, upon his ſhoulders all the innocent bloud that hath in ſuch abundance been ſhed in this Kingdom doth lie. Numb. 35.31. God ſaith plainly that there ſhall no ſatisfaction be taken for the life of a murtherer, but he ſhall ſurely be put to death, becauſe Saul (though a King) ſlew ſome Gibeonites contrary to the Covenant made with them, God ſent a famine upon all Iſrael for three years, for that very innocent bloudſhed by the King. And there was no expiation or ſatisfaction to be made therefore but by the bloud of him that p. 80had ſhed it; and therefore becauſe he himſelf was dead, and his bloud could not be had, ſeven of his ſons (of his own bloud) muſt and was hanged up to make ſatisfaction therefore, 2 Sam. 21.1, 2, 3, 4. to the 9. See alſo Arguments proving that we ought not to part with the Militia. Argument 10. According to proteſtations, oathes and Covenants, he ought to be brought to exemplary and condign puniſhment, he being the greateſt and moſt notorious delinquent in the whole Kingdome, yea the originall fountain and wel-ſpring of all the Delinquents in the Kingdom, giving Commiſſions to all the reſt to kill, murther, and ſlay the innocent people. Alſo Queries to finde out who it is that holds out in Arms againſt the State of England. How can it be properly ſaid that the Engliſh Creator, the State of England, can commit Treaſon againſt its own mee… creature the King, their rebellious ſervant who hath ſtood it out in open hoſtility as long as poſſibly he could againſt his earthly Soveraign, Lord, King and Creator, the State univerſall, whoſe legall and formall repreſentative the Parliament is.

(ZZZ) The Remonſtrance of many thouſands p. 6. Your Preachers muſt pray for him as if he had not deſerved to be excommunicated all Chriſtian ſociety, or as if ye or they thought God were a reſpecter of the perſons of Kings in judgement; we do expect according to reaſon that ye ſhould in the firſt place declare and ſet forth King Charles his wickedneſſe openly before the world, and withall to ſhew the intolerable inconveniences of having a Kingly Government from the conſtant evill practiſes of thoſe of this Nation, and ſo to declare King Charles an enemy, and to publiſh your reſolution never to have any more, but to acquit us of ſo great a charge and trouble for ever, and to convert the great revenue of the Crown to the publick Treaſure. The laſt Warning p. 1, & 2. None can ſhew one good Act that ever any King did voluntarily for the good of the people; If ye will examine Stories, or your own experience your ſelf may produce thouſands of oppreſſions, murders, and other Tyrannies, though no condition of mankinde ever did ſo many, ſo intolerable miſchiefs, though it cannot be ſaid to what uſe they ſerve, or that there is any uſe of them except to debauch and vex a people; you hate thoſe that would ſhew a more juſt and rationall way of Government then that of Kings. Remoſtrance p. 16. If ye would in many things follow the Hollanders good example, and make this Nation a State free from the oppreſſion of Kings, and the corruption of the Court, &c.

p. 81(AAAA) The juſt man in bonds p. 1. The Lords are but painted puppies and Dagons, that our ſuperſtition and ignorance, their own craft and impudence have erected; no naturall iſſues of Laws, but the extuberances and muſhromes of Prerogative; the wens of juſt government, putting the body of the people to pain, as well as occaſioning deformity: Sonnes of conqueſt they are and uſurpation, not of choyce and election; intruded upon us by power, not conſtituted by conſent, not made by the people from whom all power, place, and office that is juſt in this Kingdome ought onelyonly to ariſe.

(BBBB) Alarm to the Houſe of Lords p. 4. This is certain that moſt of you gained no part of it your ſelves: and the common ways your anceſtors gained it for you, was generally by adhering to Kings in ſubduing and oppreſſing the Commons, or by pleaſing their luſts, malice, revenge, or covetouſneſſe, for ſo Hiſtories manifeſt, and thoſe that have been made Lords in our times, have been advanced by the ſame occaſions.

(CCCC) Pearle in a Dunghill p. 3 Why preſume ye thus, oh yee Lords? ſet forth your merit before the people, and ſay for this good it is that we will reign over ye, remember your ſelves, or ſhall we remember ye? which of ye before this Parliament minded any thing ſo much as your pleaſures, plays, masks, feaſtings, huntings, gamings, dancings, with the appurtenances? for what other have they been but a meer clogge to the Houſe of Commons in all their proceedings? how many neceſſary things have they obſtructed? how many evill things promoted?

(DDDD) Englands Birthright p. 17. Lievtenant Generall Cromwell according to his duty long ſince revealed the Earle of Mancheſters treachery and baſeneſſe at Dennington Caſtle and other places, and proved it punctually by unqueſtionable witneſſes, before a Committee of the Houſe of Commons. Miſtreſſe Lilburns petition to the Houſe of Commons, without any regard to the Earl of Mancheſters Impeachment (in your Houſe) of Treachery to the Country by Lievtenant Generall Cromwell which is commonly reported to be punctually and fully proved, and a charge of a higher nature then the Earle of Straffords for which he loſt his head, and which alſo renders him (ſo long as he ſtands ſo impeached) uncapable in any ſenſe of being a Judge, and a great wrong and injuſtice it is unto the Kingdome to permit him, and to himſelf, if innocent, not to have had a legall triall ere this to his juſtification or condemnation.

Theſe are moſt baſe and calumnious ſlanders againſt a Noble p. 82Lord, whoſe equall in piety, meekneſſe, and innocence, England for many years has not enjoyed.

(EEEE) Alarum p. 1. We may be bold to ſtyle them marks of Gentiles, we have our Saviours own warrant for it, who ſaith, The Kings of the Gentiles exerciſe Lordſhip over them, &c. but it ſhall not be ſo among you; whoſoever will be chief among you (Chriſtians) let him be your ſervant, gracious Lords, or favourable Lords, titles that coald not be proper amongſt Chriſtians with whom there was no ruler nor government, but by common election and conſent, agreeable to our Houſe of Commons.

(FFFF) Birth-right p. 19. Some Gentlemen of the Biſhoprick of Durham long ſince complained to divers Parliament men of old Sir Harry Vanes wilfull loſing and betraying their Country, being their Lord Lievtenant, but by reaſon of his greatneſſe could never be heard. Ibid. p. 26. The Speaker turning himſelf to his brother ſaid, Sir John, if this be true, here is enough to hang you: Well Sir, ſaith Sir John, whereas he chargeth me of letting Violet goe twice to Oxford, during the time that he and Sir Bazil Brook were contriving their plot againſt the City, you know I never let him goe but once, and then I had your warrant for it. Ibid. p. 46. It is enacted to be death unto any whoſoever holdeth intelligence and correſpondency with the Enemy; all which Sir John Lenthall and the Speaker his Brother have done, and yet it muſt neither be proved againſt them, nor they tried nor arraigned, but altogether excuſed, cleared and freed, even by Vote of Parliament.

(GGGG) Lilburns Letter to a friend p. 16. Many of them take to themſelves 3 l. 10. s. a week, and ſome of them more, and others of them great places worth 500. l. 1000. l. 1500. l. 2000. l. and more per annum; and live in as great pomp, ſuperfluity, and bravery as ever they did in their days, by the ruines of the people. Ibid. p. 30. The Common-wealth has juſt cauſe to fear that they will make this preſent Parliament an everlaſting Parliament, and the Warre a never ending Warre, ſeeing it tends ſo much to the enriching of Parliament men and their Officers, who have already wiſely, as they think, fenced themſelves with an Ordinance made the 26 of June 1645. that they ſhall not be called to account for their M… the Commonwealths money nor plate that once commeth into their fingers.

(GGGG 2.) There is as little uſe of Lawyers to be in the Houſe of Commons, as there is of a plague or peſtilence, or of the Biſhops p. 83and Popiſh Lords in the honourable Houſe of Peers. Juſt mans juſtification p. 15. And then farewell jangling Lawyers, the wildfire deſtroyers and bane of all juſt, rationall, &c. right governed Commonwealths. Innocency and truth p. 35. Which way would rid the Kingdom of one of the unprofitable kinde of Cattle remaining in it, namely William Prinne and his jangling aſſociates, who at the beſt are but an uſeleſſe rabble, an appropriating, lying and milk-ſucking Generation.

(GGGG 3) Pearle in a Dunghill p. 4. It is eaſie to diſcern who are the Lords creatures in the Houſe of Commons, and how they were made theirs, conſtantly manifeſting themſelves by their evil and pernicious partakings againſt the freedome of the people by thoſe united endeavors, monopolies in trades of merchandize, oppreſſions of Committees, corruptions in Courts of Juſtice, groſſe abuſes in our Laws and Lawyers are maintained, and the reformation intended in all things, performed by halves, nay quite perverted, and a meer ſhadow given for a ſubſtance. Remonſtrance p. 18. Others there are, and thoſe a great number, that are newly choſen into your Houſe, and we truſt are ſuch as will exceedingly ſtrengthen the good part, that hitherto hath been too weak to ſteer an eaven courſe amidſt ſo many oppoſitions and croſſe ways.

(HHHH) Birthright p. 43. As the Watermen at Queen-hive do uſually cry Weſtward hough, hough, ſo according to the preſent current of the times moſt honeſt men have more then cauſe to cry in the Watermens language, Egypt hough, hough, the Houſe of bondage, ſlavery, oppreſſion, taxation, heavy and cruell; we cannot longer bear it, we cannot longer bear it, we are as much provoked and forced to caſt off all your yokes and croſſes from our ſhoulders, except onelyonly that of perſecution, as ever any people or Nation. Ibid. p. 44. Few of our great and mighty men do either work the clay or make the bricks, but they lay either all, or moſt part of the burden upon the poor, by heavy labour and ſweat of their brows in the heat of the day, not only in working of the clay and making of the bricks, but if they do complain to higher powers upon their cruell and tyrannous task-maſters, they are ſo farre from getting any kinde of Juſtice, that becauſe they moaned or complained, and groaned under ſuch heavy and grievous burdens that they were not able any longer to bear or endure, they are further ordained, even for their complaining, to gather ſtubble too, becauſe they are ſo idle. Lilburns Letter p. 2. Then truly I have been a long p. 84time miſtaken, and ſo indeed I have, for had I thought that the Parliament had had no rule but their own will, to have walked by, I ſhould never have drawn my ſword for them: and for my part I know no difference betwixt Tyranny and ſuch proceedings. Ib. p. 3. Since the firſt of May laſt, I have by authority from the Houſe of Commons been three times impriſoned, before ever I knew mine accuſer or my accuſation, or ever was ſuffered to ſpeak one word in mine own defence. Ib. p. 14. Hear O heavens, and give ear O earth, and thou righteous God that loveſt Juſtice, and judgement, and hateſt and abhorreſt oppreſſion and cruelty, which makeſt wiſe men mad, put forth thy hand and do juſtice thy ſelf upon the unjuſt and unrighteous Judges of this age, whom the people have ſet up for their good, namely to preſerve their lives, liberties and eſtates as their faithfull Stewards and ſervants, and yet deſtroy what they would ſeem to maintain. p. 17. Amongſt thoſe that would be thought their friends they are rob'd, plundered, ſpoiled, oppreſt, undone, and deſtroyed by all ſides, and no remedy left for redreſſe, but the little ones to be eaten up of the great ones in every place, which makes poor mens lives a burden to them, that they are ready to wiſh themſelves back again in Egypt in their bondage, and rather to have one Tyrant then many. Alarum p. 11. Theſe deceivable ſnares leading to worſe then Egyptian ſlavery, wherein we, our poor infants on their mothers breaſts, & others who know not the right hand from the left, yea, and our whole poſterity are moſt pitifully catched and involved, even as Gods own particular people the Jews were in the days of Haman, except there come ſuch a happy and ſpeedy remedy as it pleaſed him in mercy then to ſend beyond the expectation of man.

(IIII) Gangren ſecond Part p. 117. They teach that the people of God are a free people, and what they do they ſhould do freely and voluntarily, and not to be aſſeſſed and rated by the Parliament, compelled to pay rate upon rate, aſſeſſement upon aſſeſſement.

(KKKK) Gangren ſecond Part p. 122. It was laid to M. Oats charge then, that he had preached againſt the aſſeſſements of Parliament, and the taxes laid upon the people, teaching them that the Saints were a free people, and ſhould do what they did voluntarily and not be compelled; but now contrary to this, they had aſſeſſement upon aſſeſſement, and rate upon rate.

(LLLL) Remonſtrance p. 1. Calling thoſe their Commiſſioners in Parliament to an account how they have diſcharged their duties to the p. 85univerſality of the people their Soveraign Lord from whom their power and ſtrength is derived, and by whom, ad bene placitum it is continued.

(MMMM) Ib. p. 3. We are your principals, and you our agents to preſerve the ſplendor and glory of that underived Majeſty and Kingſhip that inherently reſides in the people or the State univerſall, the repreſentation or derivation of which is formally and legally in the State elect or repreſentative, and none elſe, whoſe actions ought all to tend to that end, againſt encroachments, uſurpations, and violences of all its creatures, officers, and Miniſters, (in the number of which are Kings themſelves) from whom & for whom they have all their power and authority, as the execution of their will and minde for their good and benefit, to whom they are acountable for the faithfull diſcharge of that truſt repoſed in them.

(NNNN) Birthright p. 32, 33. Whether is it not agreeable to Law, juſtice, equity and conſcience, that there ſhould be a Parliament once every year, and more often if need require; that ſeeing this preſent Parliament (by reaſon of the extraordinary neceſſities of the Kingdom) have ſate four years, & many of the Members betrayed their truſt, and thoſe that remain ingroſſe Law-making, and alſo Law-executing into their own hands, contrary both to reaſon and to the meaning of the Law, by which manifeſt abuſing, negligent, and not true uſing the Laws; oppreſſions, miſchiefs, and grievances are no leſſe, (if not far more) increaſed then they were before the Parliament began, & many times by the powerfull intereſt of a faction in the Parliament, to ſave ſome one, two or three of their Members undeſerving credits, they ſo violate the known, unrepealed and declared Law of the Land, yea and their own Votes, Ordinances, Declarations, & Proteſtations, as if they had never made them: I ſay all theſe things conſidered, ought not the free men of England not only to chooſe new Members where they are wanting once every year, but alſo to renew and enquire once a year after the carriage and behaviour of thoſe they have choſen?

(OOOO) Vide ſupra NNN.

(PPPP) Remonſt. p. 20. Nor do we value a Trienniall Parl. before 3 years come to an end grievances & miſchiefs may be paſt remedy.

(QQQQ) Birthright p. 30. We have juſt cauſe to fear they will ſet up an intereſt of their own deſtructive to the common freedom, & ſo make this preſent Parl. an everlaſting Parl. & the War a never dying War, ſeeing it tends ſo much to the enriching of Parliament men & their Officers.

p. 86(RRRR) Vide ſupra, alſo Conſcience cautioned p. 12. If neither Law nor Lords will allow the people to be ſaved, then may they not be ſaved any way, and both Laws and Lords fall before their Soveraign the people, as Dagon did before the Ark, rather then the people periſh. Birthright p. 32. I have heard it reported that ſelf-denying Cromwel was about a deſign of getting a Committee ſet apart, & an order made & publiſhed to the whole Kingdom, that if any man were unjuſtly oppreſſed by any Member of Parl. Committee-man, or any other Officers or Miniſters, let him bring his complaint & he ſhall have a juſt and fair hearing, and juſtice done, not in words but in acti…ns, upon the tranſgreſſor. Intereſt p. 10. We know it is not Gods way to have reſpect of perſons in judgment, and that the doing thereof has frequently loſt Gods favour and made States miſerable. Englands lame…table ſlavery p. 6. What became of that common and thredbare doctrine that Kings were accountable only to God? what good effects did it produce? No, they are but corrupt and dangerous flatterers that maintain any ſuch fond opinions concerning either Kings or Parliaments.

(SSSS) The Conqueror rob'd England of Edward the Confeſſors Laws, and in ſtead of them ſet up the Dictates of his own will, whoſe Norman rules & practiſes to this day yet remain in the adminiſtrations of the Common-Law at Weſtminſter Hall. By reaſon of their tediouſneſſe, ambiguities, uncertainties, the entries in Latin as bad as the French, becauſe it is not our own tongue; their forcing men to plead by Lawyers, and not permitting themſelves to plead their own cauſe, their compelling of perſons to come from all places of the Kingdome to ſeek for juſtice at Weſtminſter, which is ſuch an iron Norman yoke, with fangs & teeth in it, that if we were free in every particular elſe, that our heart can think of, yet were we ſlaves by this alone: the burden of which ſingly, will pierce & gall our ſhoulders, & make us bow & ſtoop to the ground, ready to be made a prey not only by great men, but even by every cunning ſharking knave. Remonſt. p. 4. The Hiſtory of our fore-fathers, ſince they were conquered by the Normans, doth manifeſt, that this Nation hath been held in bondage all along ever ſince by the policies and force of the Officers of truſt in the Commonwealth. p. 15. Ye know the Laws of this Nation are unworthy a free people, & deſerve from firſt to laſt to be conſidered and ſeriouſly debated, & reduced to an agreement with common equity and right reaſon, which ought to be the form & life of every government. Magna Carta it ſelf being but a beggerly thing containing many marks of intolerable p. 87bondage; & the Laws that have been made ſince by Parliaments have in very many particulars made our government much more oppreſſive, & intolerable. Ib. He erected a trade of Judges and Lawyers to ſell juſtice and injuſtice at his own unconſcionable rate, & in what time he pleaſed, the corruption wherof is yet remaining upon us to our continuall empoveriſhing and moleſtation, from which we thought you ſhould have delivered us; ye know alſo, impriſonment for debt, is not from the beginning.

(TTTT) Modeſt Queries p. 10. (at leaſt in ſenſu compoſito) to believe the deepeſt or higheſt myſtery in Religion any further, or any otherwiſe, then as, and as far as he hath reaſon to judge it to be a truth.

(VVVV) Vide Diſſwaſive firſt Part, p. 127. & 152. alſo p. 31. & 49. IIIII. KKKKK.

(XXXX) I am credibly informed that this is the great and troubleſome controverſie for the time among the Governors of New England, whether it be their duty to rule according to their gifts of Government according to ſome written Laws, or without all humane Statutes. Vid. Gang. 3 Part.

(YYYY) Remonſt. p. 3. The free born people to their own Houſe of Commons, the cauſe of our chooſing you to be Parliament men was to deliver us from all kinde of bondage, we poſſeſſed you with the ſame power that was in our ſelves to have done the ſame, for we might juſtly have done it our ſelves without you if we had thought it convenient: chooſing you (as perſons whom we thought fitly qualified and faithfull) for avoiding ſome inconveniencies: but ye are to remember, this was only of us but a power of truſt (which is ever revocable and cannot be otherwiſe) and to be imployed to no other end then our own well-being.

(AAAAA) Vide ſupra. alſo Warning p 2. You hate and abhor thoſe that would purge this corrupt humor out of you & ſhew you a more juſt & rationall way of Government then that of Kings. Alſo Remonſt. p. 16. If ye would follow the good ex…mple of the Hollanders, & make this Nation a State free from the oppreſſion of Kings. Alſo p. 12. As if ye had diſcovered and digeſted that without a powerfull compulſive Presbytery in the Church, a compulſive Maſterſhip, or Ariſtocraticall government over the people in the State, could never long be maintained.

(BBBBB) Conſcience cautioned p. 9. Know ye not the State of the State? is it not the whole Kingdom, each individuall? I can prove it is; O heavens, will you Lord it over your Lords! I profeſſe if you make head againſt your heads any longer, I know what it is, and your ſelf ſhall know, for I ſay you deſerve beheading.

(CCCCC) Conſcience cautioned p. 6. Keep we humbly beſeech you our right of Kinghood and Prieſthood. Juſt mans juſtification p. 14. The p. 88ſplendor and glory of that undivided Majeſty and Kingſhip that inherently reſides in the people or in the State univerſall.

(DDDDD) Remonſt. p. 7. Let the Lords ſtand to be choſen for Knights & Burgeſſes by the people as other the freemen & Gentry of this nation do.

(EEEEE) Vide ſupra YYYY.

(FFFFF) Remonſt. p. 20. That a Parl. choſen in Novemb. ſucceeding year by year, may come in ſtead of the preceding Parliament.

(GGGGG) Juſt mans juſtifie. p. 15. Reduce us back to that part of the ancient frame of government in this Kingdom, before the Conquerors days, that we may have all cauſes & differences decided in the County or Hundred where they are committed or do ariſe without any appeal but to a Parl. & that they may m…nthly be judged by 12. men of free and honeſt condition c… ſen by themſelves with their Grave or chief Officer amongſt them, and that they may ſwear to judge every mans cauſe aright, without fear, favor or affection, & then farewell jangling Lawyers, the wildfire deſtroyers & ba…e of all juſt, rationall, and right governed Common-wealths.

(HHHHH) Remonſt. p. 12. Ye vex and moleſt honeſt men for matters of Religion and difference with you and your Synod, take upon you to determine of doctrine & diſcipline; approving this, & reproaching that, juſt like unto former, ignorant, politick, and ſuperſtitious Parliaments and Convocations: & therby have divided honeſt people among themſelves by countenancing only thoſe of the Presbytery & diſcountenancing all the ſeparation, Anabaptiſts & Independents. Ib. We are well aſſured that neither you nor none elſe can have any power at all to conclude the people in matters that concern the worſhip of God, for therein every one of us ought to be fully aſſured in our minds, & to be ſure to worſhip him according to our conſciences.

(IIIII) The Birthright p. 48, 49. in the Poſtſcript. It would be excellent and needfull if the Parl. would ordain that every free man of Eng. who is able, would beſtow his ſervice one year at leaſt, freely for the good of the civill State, in any place or office of truſt, whereof his skill & breeding a… fit him t… be moſt capable, according as they ſhall be choſen, & thoſe that are not able to ſerve freely for a year, to have competent maintenance allowed to them to the value of 50 or 60 l. a year according to their charge. If ſuch be choſen for their skill and diligence, though they want outward means, for which allowance thoſe that are conſcientious wil do as good ſervice at leaſt, as ſome others who have 1000 or 2000 a year. The like rule is no leſſe, but far more excellent & needful to be obſerved and eſtabliſhed i… matters concerning the Church ſtate, wherin her ſervants are to perform their duties freely, they being able to maintain themſelves & thoſe with them, whether by means obtained formerly or induſtry uſed daily, otherwiſe to have the like allowance of 50 or 60 l. a year acording to their charge.

(KKKKK) Vide ſupra.