Anabaptism and Other Errors, Preface

Anabaptism and Other Errors · Preface

The PREFACE.

IT is a matter of griefe and regrate,Slothfulneſſe is fatall when moſt unſeaſonable. that moſt people are never more careleſſe of duty, then when the neglect of it is moſt unſeaſonable and dangerous; When leaks within, and ſtorms without, have brought the Veſſell to a preſent hazard to be ſwallowed up of the waves; it is then, that the Pilot has greateſt difficulty to ſet himſelf and his Mariners, upon the performance, with any chearfulneſſe of thoſe ſervices, which are neceſſary for the Ships ſafety: The too lively apprehenſion of the imminent danger doth ſo diſtract the heart with grief, fear, and deſpair, that confuſion dazleth the eyes, and binds up the hands of them who otherwiſe are not void either of skill, or courage, or diligence to act for the common preſervation. When an Army is once brangled, ſhattered, and put in ſuch miſorder as it begins to run, many men, though at other times ſtout enough, cannot then be moved to ſtay, albeit they know ſtanding to be the beſt remedy, to preſerve their life and liberty, or at leaſt to ſell them at ſome conſiderable rate; which by flight are ordinarily betrayed, loſt, and ſold to the Enemy for no price at all. When the foundations of a State and Kingdome begin ſo faſt to ſhake, as a preſent ruine is threatned to the building, there be few then that have courage to ſet under their ſhoulder; But the moſt, to ſave their own head (become of the Publick what may) are glad to goe out and turn their back on a ruinous and falling aedifice.

Men moſt careleſſe when their dangers greateſt.The very ſame is the condition of the Church of Chriſt; in its greateſt dangers, the dulneſſe, the ſtupidity, the feneantiſe of her ſervants are very oft too palpable: the chief of the Apoſtles when their Maſter was to be taken from off their head, when the Shepheard was to be ſmitten and the ſheep to be ſcattered, through very grief and feare, did fall into ſo deep a ſleep, that with much adoe Chriſt himſelf got them rouſed up, though Judas the Traitor was at hand. Towards the conſummation of all things, when the end of the world is neer; when the Lord Chriſt ſhall be upon his return, and even at the doors; when beſt it beſeems his ſervants to have their lamps burning, and their loyns girded, to be ready upon every call to goe out and meet their Maſter; when the expectation of the laſt Trumpet; when the noiſe of wars, and rumours of more and worſe wars; when the ſound of hereſies and errours grow louder then ever before; when ſuch things as theſe, in reaſon ought to keepe the watchmen on foot upon their watch Towers: yet behold the unhappineſſe of theſe very times, even then, the wiſeſt Virgins, the faithfulleſt ſervants ſlumber and ſleeep, till the generall cry of the Bridegrooms comming make them all awake.

We dare not make ſo bold as ſome, with the determinations of the times and ſeaſons, which the Lord keeps ſecret from the very Angels in the hollow of his own hand; yet, it will not be preſumption to conjecture the propinquity and neerneſſe of the laſt times, by the evidence of ſome, at leaſt, of their ſymptomes and pr…vious ſigns, which at the preſent are viſible to any who have the ſmallest meaſure of ſpirituall underſtanding. I ſhall ſpeak but of the two in hand, the preſent danger, and yet the preſent negligence of the people of God.

The Proteſtant Churches have not of a long time been ſo to be devoured by the teeth of the Beaſt as at this day:The preſent danger of the Proteſtant Churches. Of France. What keeps all the faithfull in France, Geneva, Sedan, out of the mouth of the Romiſh wolf? have the Suppoſts of Rome (think we) loſt all their wonted ſtomach towards Proteſtant blood? The Iriſh Maſſacres may free us of that fancy: ſtay till the French King get out of his childhood, or before in the intervall of ſome peace or truce from forain war, a little leiſure be given to that Court to bring home their Armies; whenſoever that unhappy day ſhal dawn, there is no more expectation of quietneſſe, yea, no more poſſibility of ſubſiſting to any of thoſe Churches, but in the mercy of God, who now doth divert, and then can avert and bridle the rage of that powerfull State; againſt which theſe weak lambs have no humane force to oppoſe. How many thouſands there are panting for a morning when once they may re-celebrate S. Bartholomews Matins, and bring the old Maſſacres again in faſhion, which now may be execute with a great deal of more ſafety and eaſe then ever.

The condition of Holland ſeems not at all ſafe to thoſe who know the inſide of their States;Of Holland. it's like the predominant motive of their reconciliation now in hand, with their hereditary enemies of Spain, is no other then fear: if their prepotent neighbour of France can but re-inveſt his Crown with his ancient fees of Flanders and Brabant, as he hath done with Artois and Lorrain, with Catalaunia and Alſas, and divers more Provinces; Holland fals next to be dealt with, for nothing doth then ſtand betwixt it and the French Arms.

The Proteſtants of Zuitſerland cannot be free of danger ſo long as the moſt of the Cantons are bigotly popiſh,Of Zuits. and very ſtrictly allyed with the popiſh States that lie round about them.

The Churches of higher Germany have long lien inOf Germany. the duſt, and in our days oftner then once, have been very near to be devoured by the bill of the Auſtrian Eagle, and the paw of the Bavarian Lion: and though that ravenous bird and cruell beaſt were both diſabled from preying any more upon their harmleſſe neighbours, whereof the appearance this day is but ſmall; yet there is a more ſtrong and wicked beaſt then either of the former, ſtill ramping at their doors; the Grand Signior is daily upon the German borders, too ready to fal upon that poor Country, when the Princes and Cities by mutuall wounds have now diſabled themſelves more then in any by gone age, to reſiſt ſo terrible a power.

Of Bri…in by the M…l…gna…ts.Britain was wont to be taken for the head and heart, for the ſtrongeſt Bulwark of the Proteſtant ſtrength; how are the preſent dangers thereof, and in in it, of the whole Protestant Churches, it's eaſie to judge. How much of late the leaders of the Court and Clergy of both Kingdomes had advanced the deſign of bringing in well-near the whole body of Popery, at leaſt a full reconciliation with Rome; And when their counſels were diſcovered, and begun to be oppoſed, how near oft of late they have been to force upon the neck of the whole Iſle by violence the yoak of what ever tyranny in State, or errours in Religion they pleaſed; the world hath ſeen, and many thouſands have felt, to their utter undoing; whereof long agoe we gave ſome account in the Canterburian Self-conviction, and parallel of the Service Book with the Miſſall.

By the Sect… ries.But behold while we are wreſtling to the bloud and extream hazard of all that is dear, with that tyrannous, ſuperſtitious, and profane party: There is now ſtart up at our back, another enemy, little leſſe dangerous then the former: A ſwarm of hereſies and ſects darkens the ſun of truth, fils the air with noxious vapours, is ready upon a little more encreaſe to fall down on the earth, for the overwhelming of of the State as well as the Church: betwixt theſe two milſtones the Orthodoxe Churches of this whole Iſle, if the hand of the Lord prevent it not, are in hazard to be ground to duſt and aſhes.

It is true,Our dangers from the Malignants are not yet paſt. the Malignants by the miraculous power of God are brought ſo low, that in the eyes of the moſt, their force ſeems now contemptible; yet wiſer men doe ſee too great cauſe to be affraid of them this day little leſſe then ever. Their numbers over all the Iſle are yet very great, their hearts are nothing changed, though ſome bands for the time be put upon their hands.The unexcuſable obſtinacy of the Epiſcopall Divines. I have often marvailed and much regrated, that many reverend and very learned Divines of that ſide, have been to this houre ſo ſilent, as to give no glory to God, nor any aſsiſtance at all to the ſetling of the State and Church: though it be clear as the noon-day that the ways of their party did really tend to the corrupting and enſlaving both of State and Church; that the Parliaments of both Kingdomes were put to an abſolute neceſsity of defence againſt their force, to preſerve their own and the poſterities necks from an iron yoak both of Eccleſiaſtick and Civill bondage; that the continuance of this war has brought the Kingdomes oft to the border, and the King this day to the very doors of ruine; that the Church is overflowed with a floud of evils; all which by their timous and cordiall conjunction with their brethren, might …ppily in ſome good meaſure have been prevented. Shall Epiſcopacy and a read Service be ſo neceſſary in a Church, that rather then England ſhould joyn with all the reſt of the reformed, to lay them aſide, the King, the Parliament, the State of the Kingdomes and Churches of the whole Iſle, muſt periſh for any help that any of them will make with the leaſt of their fingers? Poſterity cannot take well at their hands ſo pervicacious an obſtinacy. Suppoſe ſo many provocations and ſcandals caſt in their way by the hand of others, as may be; yet for men of parts and fame to be touched with no compaſsion towards the Churches of God and their deare Countrey, but to adhere ſo ſtifly to theſe things, w^th the beſt of their friends in all other Proteſtant Churches did eſteem ever to be but needleſſe and changeable, and which now the better part of the whole Iſle doth beleeve to be dangerous corruptions, and neceſſary to be removed: for them to be ſo wedded to thoſe toys, that rather then they will adviſe to lay them aſide, they can be content to behold the whole royall Family, both the Houſes of Parliament, the City, the Countrey, and all to be deſtroyed; ſuch prodigious pertinacy cannot want great guiltineſſe.

Its great folly to miſprize the danger from France.However, that our dangers from the Malignant party doth yet continue, will not be doubted when th…ir number and quality, and great obſtinacy yet over all England is conſidered; In Scotland their caſe is not much unlike; Ireland is well-near wholly their own; their correſpondence with the neighbour States is great; their hopes from France ſeem to be but too well grounded. If the peace of Munſter come quickly to an end, as the appearances are great enough, France, Sueden, and Bavaria being ſure of all their deſires at the charge of the Auſtrians, and our beſt friends the reformed Electors Palatine and Brandeburg, what elſe has the French adoe with their great Armies and Navies? Their peace with Spain is not ſo impoſsible as ſome would m…e it, they will be glad to give over their intereſt in Catalonia and Portugall, for the fair and nearly adjoining Territories of Weſt-Flanders: In ſuch a bargain they would make the diſhoneſty to be but ſmall, for the Catalans ſhall not be deſerted when reconciled to their own King in ſuch tearms as themſelves ſhall like; for the performance whereof, France will oblige: their alliance with Portugall is not ſo ſtrict, but a leſſe bud then the half of Weſt-Flanders will eaſily break it in pieces, and that without much hazard to Portugall: for it is eaſie to France to ſend them under-hand as many men and money, and to ſee to their ſubſiſtence as well as when the confederacy was open and avowed. It is the ridiculous blindneſſe of ſome to contemn the poſture of all the world abroad, as if England were ſituated ſo far above the moon and ſtars, that the moſt malign aſpects of all neighbour Nations could have no influence upon it: Be it ſo, that vigoro…s and healthfull bodies are little ſenſible of planetary operations, yet very ſmall changes of the heavens and air are able to vex much a crazy and valetudinary perſon.

For many ages Britain has not been in ſo great a diſtemper, as this day it is:Antichriſt may be near to ſwallow down the whole reformed Churches. the people ſo broken and exhauſted by a heavy war, the land full of open diviſions and heart-burnings, the beſt and greateſt part groaning under heavy grievances both of Church and State, whereof there is little appearance of any poſsibility of redreſſe in haſte; the Sectaries growing in numbers, and inſolencies of all kinds, and openly inclining to join with the Malignants, rather then to miſſe of their hopes and very unreaſonable deſires. Fools are blind and unable to comprehend the grounds of juſt fear, and ſo they go on in their raſhneſſe till they be plunged in the ditch of remedileſſe calamity; and then onelyonly doe they begin to complain of their former inconſideration. What long has been the opinion and fear of ſome not unconſiderable Divines, that Antichriſt before his abolition, ſhall once again overflow the whole face of the Weſt, and ſuppreſſe the whole Proteſtant Churches, I pray God to avert.

If frō the Malignant hand there appear not miſchief enough to hang this day over the head of the Churches of Britain,The flood of Errours and Hereſies like to overflow the Church▪ let us divert a little our eye to the other ſide, the n…w generation of Sectaries▪ from this quarter ſo much ſmoak doth ariſe, as alone is abundantly able to darken our skie. It is long ſince all, at leaſt the principall Articles of Chriſtian Religion, without exception of any that I remember, have been oppugned; The holy Scriptures, both the Godhead and Manhood of Jeſus Chriſt, the holy Ghoſt, the Divinity it ſelf, is now exploded with high and baſphemous ſcorn: all Churches, all Sacraments, all publick Worſhip and Ordinances, are made unneceſſary,A liberty for all Errours the great aim. yea unlawfull. And if any point of Religion hath had the fortune to eſcape the blaſphemous tongues and pens of theſe erroneous men, leſt it ſhould ſtill go free from oppoſition, the moſt of that party have n…w ſet up their reſt upon a principle, which makes them ſure to gather up their gleanings when ever their leiſure may ſerve them to make a review of their omiſsions: A liberty to beleeve, to profeſſe, to propagate in matter of Religion, whatever any the moſt deſperately erroneous ſoul may conceive to be truth. All theſe are but things of the mind and matters of opinion, a toleration in them is miſerable and deſpicable, but a free and abſolute liberty in every ſuch thing, is the due and naturall right of every humane creature in all places of the whole earth. This monſtrous imagination of liberty is not only generally put in practiſe without any conſiderable control now for ſome years in the midſt, and all the corners of England, but men of prime place, have courage to write the juſtice of it under their hand to the High Court of Parliament, yet without any repentance we hear of.

The Parliament ſpoiled of all power to reform Religion.It was a matter of our grief to know men of parts aſſert, that the Reformation or defence of Religion, notwithſtanding all the Declarations, Proteſtations, and Covenants of the Parliament, might not be any part of our apology for our defenſive arms: It has lien heavy upon our ſpirits, that men of moſt corrupt minds ſhould be permitted to hinder year after year, the ſetling of the Church of England in any paſſable condition, when there appeared little difficulty of a quick, plenary, and ſatisfactory ſettlement, except what ſuch evill men did create, who make the retardment and fruſtration of every thing which may advance the truth of God, a matter of their moſt ſerious practiſes in private and in publick, of their daily ſport and drollery. But this was to us a cauſe of wonder, that the very other day the principall Chaplain of the Army ſhould be brought to proclaim with all confidence, in a moſt ſolemn audience of the Ho…ſe of Commons it ſelf; that all the Reformation of the Parliament was but Antichriſtianiſme; that the Reformation of the Church by any Chriſtian Magiſtrate before them, was no better; that God requireth all Magiſtrates to lay aſide all intentions of reforming the Church;aaAnd therefore Honourable & beloved, I ſay to you touching this work of Reformation of the ſpirituall Temple of the N…w Teſtamēt as God once ſaid to David touching the building of the materiall temple you did well in that it was in your heart to reform the Kingdome of God, nevertheleſſe you ſhal not reform it, for you have been men of war, and have ſhed much bloud, & therefore you ſhall not doe this work, for this is not a work of men of war, but of the Prince of peace. Dels Sermon to the Houſe of Commons, p. 13, 14. Ibid. Object. May not the ſpiritual Church of Chriſt be reformed with worldly and ſecular power? I anſ. by no means. Ib. p. 26. All theſe things ſhew that worldly power hath no place at all in the Reformation of the Goſpel. Ibid p. 26. They that would govern the faithfull, the members of Chriſts own body, make themſelves the head of theſe members, and ſo Antichriſt may as well be found in a combination of men as in one ſingle perfom that the onelyonly right Reformation was that of the heart, which was to be left to Chriſt alone, as he was pleaſed to work in the breaſt of every man; that the new Sectarian Preachers, which are run out without any call, either from God or man, into every Shire of the Kingdome, are ſent out by Chriſt to be instruments of this Reformation; that their Miniſtry is that of the SpiritbbIbid. p. 29. Gods anointed ones are the faithfull that are anointed with the Spirit, and theſe anointed ones are the Lords Prophets, and the Lord hath no Prophets but ſuch as are anointed with the Spirit; all his brethren are made Prophets, being fellows with him in his unction. Ib. When I ſee the generality of the people of all ſorts riſe up againſt the miniſtration of the Spirit which God hath now an theſe dayes of ours ſet up even in every County for ſalvation to his people, but for a ſtone of ſtumbling and a rock of offence to the reſt; it does grieve me to ſee how the City, Countrey, Countrey Towns, Villages, doe all riſe up for the moſt part againſt the miniſtration of the Spirit, for this is a certain ſign of the undoing of them all.; that their followers are the Saints, which ſhall prevail, maugre all oppoſitionccWhen you read what you have heard, you muſt needs acknowledge it to be the mind of God if you received the anointing of the ſpirit. In the Epiſtle, ib. this truth ſhall carry all oppoſition and oppoſers before it, and none ſhall be able to ſtand againſt it; and of this both your ſelves and this generation ſhall bee witneſſes.; that all the other Miniſters of England, who dance not after their pipe, eſpecially ſuch as M^• Love, who oppoſed this man immediately to his face, are but lims of Antichriſt, whom the Parliament is obliged to ſuppreſſe without any tolerationddIb. p. 41. Truly ſir, when God ſhall make you a new creature you will be glad of new light, the old light will ſerve the old man well enough, your Sermon ſavours as ill to the faithfull as mine to the world. In the Epiſtle, If the Aſſembly, which I hope they will not, ſhould condemn that doctrine of the Goſpel for the ſubſtance of it, delivered then by M. Dell, it will be no blaſphemy to ſay they are the enemies of the truth of Chriſt, and I hope the laſt prop of Antichriſt in the Kingdome. Ib. The Prelates ſucceſſors in the Kingdome of Antichriſt ſtill cry, No Miniſter, no Magiſtrate. Ib. To the Reader, This light was ſince obſcured by the new darkneſſe of Antichriſt, which theſe men love better then that old light, and will by no means exchange the one for the other, and theſe as well as their Fathers of the ſame race and lineage, in whoſe ſtead they are new riſen up, ſhall in due time become a reproach and a ſhame, and their name ſhall be for a curſe to all Gods choſen. In the Epiſtle, I ſhall deſire this in the behalf of the faithfull Gods peculiar portion in the land, that you would not ſuffer us to be oppreſſed by our adverſaries, neither would ſuffer them thus publickly and ſhameleſly to call as Sectaries and Hereticks. P. 38. The Magiſtrate may deterre you and the reſt of the Kingdome that are of the like minde, from reſiſting and hindering this work which hath its authority from heaven, that ſo the Saints my pray for the Magiſtrate..

Who now are the perſecuters.Hitherto are theſe men come already, notwithſtanding all their declamations againſt perſecution, though no man has moleſted them now for ſome years, nor laid in their way the leaſt impediment to think, ſpeak, write, act whatever they thought expedient for the propagation of any blaſphemy, they have been pleaſed to entertain, nor called them to any account, when by the force of arms, they have beaten out of their Pulpits and Houſes, the faithfull Miniſters of God, themſelves uſurping their places in very many parts where the Army has gone, and ſetting out to the people by all the skill they had, whatever hereſie the times hath produced. Yet now their fears to be perſecuted are come to this, that they dare preach the Houſe of Commons to their face, Antichriſtian oppreſſors, for aſſaying to reform the evident corruptions of the Church, within their own jurisdiction: And exhort them to lay aſide that ſinfull and impertinent work, permitting every man to follow in Religion, whatever his own heart dictates to be beſt. Yet by no means to tolerate any Preacher who ſhall oppoſe that their liberty. To this height of preſumptuous malice are thoſe declamers againſt perſecution publickly proceeded, and in all this are countenanced and pleaded for by too many, and too eminent Patrons.

If thoſe mens counſell might be followed,The monſter of Libertiniſm. what at once ſhould bee the condition of the Church of England? It could not but by and by become the moſt hideous and wofull monſter, that ever any pious eye did beheld: every two or three making up an Independent-Congregation, for the ſetting up of what ever tenets and worſhip themſelves pleaſe to invent, albeit for no longer a time then every ſingle perſon amongst them doe think fit. They ſtick not to profeſſe the lawfulneſſe to erect, at leaſt the unlawfulneſſe to diſturb when erected in the moſt publick places, Schools and Profeſsions, for the perſwading of all the idolatries and blaſphemies, which either of old or this day, have been among the Pagans, Turks, Jews, or the moſt infamous hereticall Chriſtians, that ſo from England as an open fountain the ſtreams of all thoſe, and if they be any more, imaginable errours may be ſent out to every other part of the Chriſtian world: adding, That whoever is againſt this happy liberty, is without all doubt a corrupt, fleſhly, and unregenerate man, ignorant of the grace of God, whom the Magiſtrate is obliged to puniſh, though by duty he is to protect all other in the free enjoyment and practiſe of all the dictates of their own minde.

The devill had never a more clear and downright way, not onelyonly to evert all Churches, but to explode as a ridiculous ſcorn, whatever looks like truth, or has the leaſt ſavour of any Religion.

The Sectaries having done with the Church, proceed to the ov…rthrow of the State.For all this, there might be ſ…me hope of ſubſiſtence for Religion if thoſe men, when they have done their worſt againſt the Church, would be content to hold their hands off the State; for it cannot be, but where ever a truly Chriſtian State doth ſtand, it will ſhelter the Church, and by no art, no force, ſo long as it hath any beeing for its ſ…lf, will it exterminate the Lords inheritance: The ſpirit that leads the Sectaries, knowing this in all his long experience, letteth them not reſt in their deſignes againſt Religion, but preſſeth them on, for doing their endeavour to pull down the State likewiſe. Wee need not ſpeake of their declared rage againſt Vniverſities and all Societies of Learning, againſt the profeſſion and perſon of all Lawyers, againſt the Society of Merchant-adventurers, againſt the Common-Councell and Court of Aldermen in the City of London: all theſe things to them are corruptions, and grievances to be extirpate. But that which we are moſt affraid for, is, that with their whole ſtrength they attach the known foundation of the whole State, the High Court of Parliament.

The Parliament muſt be aboliſhed.It's not onelyonly the King who muſt bee cut in pieces with Agag, and for his faults the whole royall race, yea, the very ſtate and condition of Royalty and Monarchy muſt be razed and aboliſhed for ever: but alſo the Houſe of Lords and the whole Peerage of England muſt follow the fortune of the King, and with him fall under a perpetuall abolition: yea, the Houſe of Commons it ſelf, the onelyonly remainder of our hope, muſt walk in that ſame way, their Houſe likewiſe muſt be pulled down about their ears: The common people, every individuall of the whole multitude muſt be ſet on the Throne of Soveraignty, to mould themſelves in a new faſhion of State, and frame to themſelves a body of new laws, by the hands of ſuch perſons, as they may be pleaſed to ſet up for their Deputies in a new Houſe of Commons.

When ſuch dictates are put in print, and under the eye of Authority, daily in Pamphlet after Pamphlet, ſent out over the whole Land, to open the eyes of the blinde with this new glorious light of the Kinghood (as they call it) of every individuall of the people, as well beggers, fools, and rogues, as the moſt vertuous, wiſe, noble, and wealthy perſons; When ſuch maximes are ſweetly hugged in the arms not onelyonly of the multitude, but others of the beſt quality; when the authors and abettors of ſo good and wiſe Poſitions are careſſed, cryed up, rewarded with preferment in the State, in the Army, in the Countrey; When their oppoſers receive hard meaſure, are diſcountenanced, rebuked, deprived of favours by men in place, and ſometimes ſpoiled of their goods, and knocked down by the profeſſors, indeed, of a catholike liberty; but truly the practiſers of tyranny and perſecution: This being our known and felt condition, upon how weak and tottering props, the houſe of our Church and State doth ſtand, may eaſily be conceived.

What I have ſaid of our dangers needs no other proof then the ſenſe of that which the eye and ear brings daily before every obſerving minde; but the remedies of ſo eminent and imminent dangers, require a pate of a much larger ſize then mine, or any other ſuch of mean and vulgar capacity.

OnelyOnly for curing of the first very dangerous evill,The return of the King in equitable tearms is the beſt remedy of the one half of our fears. I wiſh the continuance of the prayers of all the godly, and of the endeavours of thoſe in place, to haſten the reconciliation of the King: For this, to my weak judgment ſeems the moſt hopefull remedy of all our fears, which flow from the former fountain: the reduction of his minde to our ſenſe (which I am not deſperate, but ſome more of our ſupplications to God, and endeavours with men, may bring to paſſe) would in a moment bring to us with him, the moſt conſiderable of that ſide: and if any thereafter ſhould delay to take from us what laws ſhould be given them, their obſtinate folly did then put in our hand a fair opportunity, to bring on their head the day of recompences, and of …uſt vengeance for all their former miſdemeanours. By the bleſſing of God the return of the King, upon equitable and juſt tearms, for no other muſt be imagined, might quickly ſheath the ſword in all the Dominions, might give us a ſetled peace, and put us in a fair way to repair in time the great vaſtations which this unhappy war has made in all the three Kingdomes; and to recover our reputation in the world abroad, which of a long time htah been buried through our domeſtick jealouſies and diſtractions. Our credit once ſet on foot, we might quickly become ſo conſiderable, as to attain to our wonted influence, in all the great affairs of Europe, for the reviving of our dead or dying friends, and the bounding of the late exceſsive overflowings of our very high and lofty neighbours.

I grant the Lord is not tyed to any one channell, when out of the fountain of his goodneſſe he is pleaſed to ſend out the ſtream of any bleſsing, whether to a Nation or a man onelyonly; Yet when I caſt mine eye upon the ordinary courſe of his carrying humane affairs, if you remove this mean, and make the reconciliation of the King with his Parliament impoſsible; I confeſſe I am caſt into ſo thick a miſt, that all appearance of peace, for a very long time, to any of the Kingdomes,The zealous diligence of Miniſters might doe much to remove the other h…lf. doth quite evaniſh and flee out of the reach of my weak apprehenſion.

For curing of the miſeries, and preventing of the dangers on the other hand: I could wiſh as I was ſpeaking at the beginning, that all whom God has called to any employment in his houſe, would ſhake off ſluggiſh negligence, and keep ſtricter watch in their ſtations, giving loud warning to the people of God of the dangers about them, being very carefull that neither fear, nor deſpair, nor any other ſiniſtrous affection keep them from the duties which the extreamly bad times doe cry for, from the hand of every child of God.

I have oft been witneſſe with much joy, to the abundant zeal of divers the Lords faithfull Miniſters, both in the Aſſembly and City, who in their Writings and Sermons, and private ſedulity, have endeavoured to their power the awakening of all about them, for the defence of that truth which Chriſt had committed to their truſt; So that I am ſure, that when ever they ſhall come to their accounts, their Maſter will accept and bleſſe their fidelity. I wiſh no more of them but to runne on as they have begun, without fainting, that no man take their crown; Nor of others, but to follow with the like zeal in their footſteps.

And for the encouraging of all towards this active diligence, we may call to remembrance but two vulgar motives,The ſedulous activity of the Sectaries doth ſhame our ſlothfulneſſe. example, and ſucceſſe; the one of our adverſaries, the other in our own and our brethrens experience: How many of the Sectaries make bold, without any fear, any fainting, any ceaſing, in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon, by preaching, printing, diſputing in all places, all companies, towards all relations, to propagate their erroneous ways? How ſhall their heat and activity in evill, ſtand up againſt us for our frigidity, for our unequall care and labour in good.

Alſo,Zealous diligence is ordinarily ſucceſſefull. our own experience of very great ſucceſſe from ſmall endeavours when cordially put on, may animate us to a greater diligence: How oft have the prayers and conſultations of a few gracious and wiſe brethren, ſet on foot, advanced, and brought to an iſſue, many happy purpoſes, the fruits whereof this age doe begin to enjoy, for which the poſterity ſhall bleſſe the authors, though they never heard of their names? How many moſt dangerous deſigns, which were in a readineſſe to have much encreaſed the miſeries both of Church and State, by the labours of a few unſeen men, have been timeouſly prevented, countermined, and totally defeated? How oft have the City, yea, both the Houſes of Parliament, upon the zealous and prudent motion of one only man, been ſtirred up to very notable performances? I doe not remember, when I have been witneſſe to any gracious Miniſters powerfull exhortation to the honourable Houſe of Commons, that has not preſently been bleſſed with ſome good fruit: Our grief for what yet lies behinde, muſt not caſt out of our memory the great things that are done already: I verily beleeve, that much more long before this had been done both in City and Countrey, both by Lords and Commons, if ſome Divines whom the Lord has anointed with grace, learning, wiſdome, eloquence, and credit above their fellows, had been more inſtant and induſtrious, about thoſe things which nearly concern Divines, wherewith Chriſt their Maſter has truſted them above all others, and which Church-men every where elſe, to very good purpoſe, uſe to mind, with all the care and induſtry they are able.

The caveats of zeal. The leaſt degree of true piety muſt be tenderly h…ndled.The zealous diligence of the Lords ſervants about their maſters work, can neither hurt nor juſtly offend any, if it be tempered with the mixture of three needfull ingredients, Piety, Charity, and a love to order. In all our combats againſt error, or whatever evill elſe of the time, we muſt be very attentive that we give not the leaſt diſcouragement to true Piety, for this is ſo ſweet and tender a plant of Gods own hand, that who ever is acquainted with it, will be extreamly loth to doe it the leaſt hurt, were it by their very breath, much leſſe by their words and actions: It muſt be a groſſe miſtake, or a grievous calumny, which the Sectaries ſo much inculcate, that Orthodoxe Miniſters in their zeal againſt errours, fall a beating and wounding the Saints of God, and troubling the godly party: the Lord forbid it were ſo. The ground of this miſ-aſſertion I take to be a twofold miſ-apprehenſion: 1. That all pretenders to piety, though they be found really impious hypocrites, yet for their ſ…ws of Religion ought not to be dealt with according to their viſible hypocriſie. 2. That thoſe who are truly pious and really the children of God, may not be compaſſed about with many ſinfull infirmities: It ought to offend none, when the mask is pulled off the face of thoſe who ſcorn God and the world, by the fair pretences of that, which their very rough hands, and the helliſh vapours of their mouth doe demonſtrate was never near their heart: When ſuch are hewen by the Prophets, when by the ſword of the Word they are ſlain, when the fire and ſalt of God is caſt upon ſuch, why ſhould any gracious ſoul take it ſelf to be touched? Again, when the moſt true Saints are rebuked moſt ſharply for their errours, or other ſins whereby they offend God, they become inſtruments of his diſ-ſervice, and of the advancement of Satans Kingdome, ſo much the more, as their known grace makes the readier paſſage for the communication and propagation to others, of their ungracious and ſinfull corruptions; if here a gracious Phyſitian endeavour to cut off from them their cancerous excreſcences, though it be with ſome pain; yet here there is not the leaſt intention of hurt to any of their ſound members.

I dare ſay in the name of my brethren,Presbyterians are far from ſuppreſſing the leaſt meaſure of piety. that when ever they are blowing away with the greateſt earneſtneſſe, the noiſome ſmoak that fils the houſe, to the offence of all within; they ſhall be as loth to put out the ſmalleſt ſpark of grace in the ſmoaking flaxe, as to choak the naturall heat of their own heart. I confidently avow, that no Presbyterian has any queſtion at all with any diſſenter, about any thing which in the leaſt degree toucheth upon piety and grace: for every part of this they take to proceed from the heart of God, and where ever they finde it, they are willing to embrace it, were it in the boſome of their greateſt enemies, as that which they profeſſe is their own greateſt aim to follow and ſtudy to attain. If at any time they are miſcarried to practice againſt this profeſsion, they acknowledge their errour, and duty to endeavour amendment and ſatisfaction: I wiſh all our controverſies were ſo near an end, as this quickly may be: I hope the Saints will not be ſo unreaſonable, as to make the beating of their unſanctified errours, reflect upon any part of their ſanctity, eſpecially when they who deal with them are ſo carefull as they can, when they break their ſhels, to remember what is within, that they ſpoil not their pearl: and for all which may offend in the cask and ſhard, that the jewell and treaſure which God has incloſed be not trod under foot.

Ch…rity and compaſſion to b… extended to our enemiesThis is almoſt all I have to ſay of the ſecond caution alſo, That in the greateſt pangs of our zeal we never forget charity. It's true, in this dead age, where zeal againſt error or vice is ſo rare, and where it is found, of ſo low a degree, that we need not draw it down by the mixture of any allaying adjunct; yet becauſe in ſome it has, and in more it may exceed, that charity which the Lord will have joyned with it, we ſhall be loth to ſeparate. When ever we have to doe, not only with them in whom we evidently ſee ſome rayes of the image of God, but with very hypocrites, whom we have but too good ground to ſuſpect of counterfaiting; yet, for charities ſake, let us give them (ſo far as evident verity will admit) a good conſtruction: leaving the full account and certain ſearch of them to the Lords f…rther diſcovery, whether here or in his own day. In the mean time, for the ſake of that grace and truth they carry in their face and mouth, let us deal ſo gently with them as may be; yea, when we have to do with the groſſeſt ſinners, let us never put off the bowels of pity and humanity to the worſt of them. Who hath made us of a better metall? What ſometimes have we been? What before all our tryals be over, may yet eſcape us, or our children, or our deareſt friends? Who knoweth how ſoon theſe wicked perſons may receive mercy, and be reſcued out of Satans bands? And though their wickedneſſe ſhould continue, yet they are not without abundant miſery: If it be not unhappineſſe enough to be ſlaves to errour, to vice, to the Devill while they live, to be inſtrumentall in the advancing of Satans Kingdome, and active in deſtroying the precious ſouls of men; yet their torments which abides them in hell are lamentable, and a matter of great compaſsion to all who beleeve them. What ever indignation we are obliged to carry againſt the ſin, yet we muſt pity the man; and if any cenſure ſpirituall or temporall, be inflicted upon him, this juſtice muſt flow from the fountain of love and deſire, by that ordinary means to recover the perſon, or elſe the execution will be no leſſe heavy to the inflicter, then to him on whom it is inflicted.

The clamours and invectives againſt the Presbyterians charity, may well be neglected, being ſo evidently cauſteſſe;Presbyteri…n… are far from perſecuting any. They are called perſecutors, when to this houre no power at all, ſo much as of admonition, is put in their hand, and for this fault are cryed out upon, by them who practiſe perſecution to their power, before the Sun; If moſt bitter and injurious contumelies in word and print, if cruſhing of a man in his credit and eſtate, if threatning and beating by ſwords and ſtaves onelyonly for righteouſneſſe ſake, may come within the lines of any perſecution. As for the Presbyterians elſewhere, why ſhould their faults be charged upon the Engliſh, before they be put in a condition to fall into them? And yet I pray you how highly doth this humour of perſecution raign in the worſt of Presbyterians any where? Doe they at all meddle with any mans goods, liberty, or life? This has often been objected, by ſome either ignorant or malicious men, but as oft it has been rejected, as a very injurious falſhood. Scotland, which uſeth moſt to be burthened with this charge, is ſufficiently cleared of it in the Hiſtoricall Vindication: All the Church cenſures there, are meerly ſpirituall: Excommunication in that Church is more rare, and when it muſt be exerciſed, is performed with much more leiſure & caution, then amongst any of the Sects, if ſo be they approve of any Diſcipline; I am ſure the principles either of the Independents, or Browniſts, or Anabaptiſts, permit them not to draw out ſo rarely, and when it muſt be drawn, to unſheath that ſword any thing ſo leiſurely and deliberately, as the principles of the Presbyterians force them to doe.

If the State and Kingdome where the Presbytery doth dwell, he pleaſed by the Acts of their Parliament to inflict any civill cenſure on excommunicate Papiſts, or ſuch, who for obſtinacy in a flagicious crime, ſuch as adultery, murther, or fornication, or ſomething worſe, what is that to the Church? But this p…ſsibly may be the matter, the Church exhorts the State to the making and execution of Laws, which may controul thoſe whom Satan hath inſpired to deſtroy themſelves, and all others they are able, by their deteſtable errors, for the puniſhment of them who make it their work to impugne, and mock all the truths of God: if this be the crime, we will confeſſe our guiltineſſe, but withall that we eſteem it a duty which the Parliaments of both Kingdomes have ſolemnly ſworn to perform to their power. If the chief framers and commenders of that Covenant at the beginning, have ſince either diſcovered their hypocriſie, or apoſtatized from their former ſenſe, or feigned a ſenſe of their own to that ſolemn Covenant, which is clearly deſtructive both to its plain words and known intention, we can but pity and deſire to be free of ſo grievous guiltineſſe.

The third Caveat I ſpoke of, was a true love to order:The dignity and power of the Magiſtrate would be carefully preſerved. this is the ſeaſon when the Prince of miſ-rule, Satan, with all his power is building his Babell both in Church and State. If ever order was neceſſary in the Church, it is now more; when every perſon, man or woman, young or old, whoſe phanſie is up, muſt be at publick preaching; and if in this they would ſquare their words to any good rule, it were the leſſe evill: But the moſt of their doctrines are meer conceits contrary to the truth of God. Vnhappy Independents, who opened at firſt, and keep open to this day the door of the Church for theſe Satyres, and Vultures, theſe Iim, and Ziim, the great Owles and ſhriek Owls, the wild beaſts of the Deſert, and the wild beaſts of the Iſland, the Dragons, and all the dolefull creatures, to come in and defile, to make havock of all that is moſt precious in the Houſe of God.

But the order I mean here is chiefly in the State, it will not ſatisfie the Maſters of our miſ-order to keep the Church in confuſion: Since the State will take no notice of them, but lets them encreaſe at their pleaſure, and grow up above the ſtrength of any their Aunceſtors, they are making bold to goe viſit the State, and try their ſtrength upon her, if poſſibly they may find as great a facility, to ſet up the Trophee of their triumph upon her ruine, as of that of her weake ſiſter the Church. It is the certain, and now oft printed deſign of ſome, to overthrow from the very foundation the whole edifice of our Civill government; No King, no Lord, muſt be heard of hereafter; This Houſe of Commons muſt be caſt down, the Imperiall and abſolute Soveraignty muſt be put in the hands of the multitude of the baſeſt people. They are once every year to chooſe for their ſervants, a new Houſe of Commons, which all this time ſhall draw up a new frame of laws, and a new modell of government. Since this is the h mour that now beats higheſt in the veins of that people, we had ſo much the more need with all our ſtrength to fortifie the houſe of the State; for beleeve it, if that by any hand ſhould be undermined, its fall cannot fail to cruſh the moſt, if not all, who are under the roof thereof. So long as the State doth ſtand, there is always ſome hope of ſubſiſtence for every honeſt man, and of obtaining in time a great part, and poſsibly all their juſt deſires, were their Petition never ſo oft laid aſide: But if the State be overthrown, then all is deſperate and gone, every particular perſon with all his deſigns how gracious ſoever, is ready to be overwhelmed in the rubbiſh of the Common wealth. It would be remembred that members of the beſt ſtate are but men and not Angels; It's not to be expected but ſinfull infirmities will cleave to the back of the beſt reformed government; the perfect and ſpotleſſe Republick of Plato, may well have ſome place in Vtopia or in the Region of the Moon, but upon the earth it never yet did dwell, nor in haſte is like to doe. Let prayers to God, let petitions, Proteſtations, Remonſtrances, repreſentations to men, be uſed and repeated from time to time, without any fainting or giving over, till all be obtained that is neceſſary for the good of Church and State. But great caution muſt be uſed, that nothing be either done or ſaid, that may labefactate the juſt honour or power of them whom God and the Laws have entruſted with the Soveraignty; what ever toucheth that, cannot but touch the apple of the eye of every good and wiſe man: eſpecily at this time, when the project of the Devill is declared to lay Monarchy and both the Houſes of Parliament levell with the ground; and to ſet on the Throne the beaſt with many heads, the multitude, which with difficulty enough, could ever yet be ruled, but to this day was never found to have any skill or dexterity at all in the great art of ruling.

But to break off prefacing,The ſcope of the Treatiſe. my intention in the ſubſequent writ is, to proceed in my Diſſwaſive, and that with ſo great obſervance of the three mentioned Caveats, as I am able. The men whom I deal with in this part are Anabaptiſts, albeit they bring in with themſelves both Antinomians, Socinians, Familiſts, and the moſt of all the Heretiques of the time. I deſire no more from them, as a reward of all my labour for their weall, (for the leaſt hurt to any of their perſons I never minded) but in the fear of God, to conſider the beginning, progreſſe, and iſſue of their way, as I ſet it before them in a ſhort view out of their own Authors, or at leaſt from ſuch writs, as in that ſubject are of unqueſtionable faith. If I make it appear, that the ſpirit which from the beginning to this day, did reign in their leaders, cannot be that of grace and truth, ought they not in conſcience to make a ſerious review of their way, leſt ſecurely going on, the juſtice of God give them over to be miſcarried to ſuch opinions and practiſes which their ſoul for the preſent abhors; but as I demonſtrate, has exceeding oft been the iſſue of Anabaptiſme in many of its followers both of old and late? If this my ſervice be a means to reclaim ſome of them, and to deterre others from the evill of their doings, I have the deſired fruit of my labour. If I miſſe this, yet my teſtimony to the truth in ſo needfull a time, will, I hope, be acceptable to God, and the conſcience of it will eaſe and refreſh my ſpirit, remembring that the houres of my leiſure were not altogether miſ-ſpent, but many of them ſo diligently as I was able, employed for the ſervice of Him to whom I owe all, and the good of his people.