The Bishop of London, Tract 3 – Title page 4
Apocrypha. The Epistle of Paul to the Church of Laodicea, the Church of England.
Dearly beloved Brethren,
GRace, mercy, and peace be multiplyed unto you, who have need of it more then any, there being nothing among you, but war, wrath, and want of grace, Rev. 3.17. Because thou saist, thou art rich, and encreased with Goods, &c.though goeds enough, and enough of the world is with you: but when God in wrath shall remember mercy, as light was brought forth out of darkness, and love out of division; so from all our wars and wranglings, God will bring perfect peace and truth unto all his people at last. Zach. 8.10, 19. compared.
Why Paul should be call'd a Welshman, is no disparagement to the English, though the Welsh be the better Gentlemen, being pure Britaines, but the English are of kin to the Dutch, that dull and muddy people, designed to destruction or subjection, as Esau was to his younger brother.
Besides 'tis the opinion of some, that the Britaines are of the Iewes, but the old Dutch and Germanes are meer Gentiles, and so are the English still, as in their linage and language like unto them, so in their love to the earth, Matth. 6.32. Revel. 17.1.that's pure Gentilisme; and in love to the waters also, as the purest Churches in England and Wales.
But as the Lord is turning the earth, so is he tossing the waters; Psal. 107.26.and though they mount up to heaven, yet they go downe againe to the depths: there we shall find both Christians and Churches, Welsh and English also.
This is the Earth turned upside down: for the Church was once the Heaven, and Heavenly being, now but Earth, and the Earthly power, in their Ordinances, Designes, Desires, and Delights; but God is now turning mens upside down, their inside out, Isai 32.6.their very Hypocrisie shall appear to all men, and the Heathen dwelling in the hearts of Christians, Eph. 4.17.
We think of converting the Heathens, and the Heathens are at hand to convert us Christians and Churches, from our forms of Religion to the power of righteousness.
Therefore leaving the Churches, let us Go to the Heathens to propagate the Gospel among us, to tell the world that all men are in God, God in them, Aratus the Peet, whom the Apostle ownes as an Orthodox divine, Act. 17.28. foreign. Epimenedes the Poet, whom the Apostle calls a Prophet, not onelyonly that he was so to the Greeks, who gave him divine honour after death, for his knowledge in mystical things; but his words were a prophetick speech to the Churches, being lyers then inpart, and now altogether; who are neither Iews (a true Church) nor (true Ministers) as they say, Rev. 2.2. Rev. 3.9. therefore lyers, and slow-belliestoe, as the Poet calls them, Tit. 1.12. foreign The Cretian, whom Paul points at, were Churches, and Elders also, Tit. 1.5.and they his off-spring: that the Cretians (or Churches) are alwaies lyers, evil beasts, slow-bellies; that to think evil of no man, is the best religion, to do good to all, and do to every one, as we would that men do to us; that sooner the Sun should be turned from his course, then an honest man or Magistrate from the way of Justice, or works of Mercy; that God is the soul of the world, that the soul in Man (or Spirit) is nothing but God dwelling in the humane body. This and many more that is Gospel and glad tydings to all, every Scholar will tell you, that Heathens can teach.
But Church-pastors, Teachers, and Preachers of the Gospel now, know not the glad tydings, they know neither God nor Man, nor the mystery of either, nor the mystery of the God-man Christ Jesus; how God is in Christ, and Christ in Man: for Paul could present every man in Christ; so Plantins edition reads, though our Greek Testaments and English speak every? man perfect in Christ, as if it was onelyonly for the Church, whereas 't was spoken of the world, to whom the Gospel was preached by Paul, warning every man, teaching every man, that we might present every man in Christ, Col. 1.28.
Although tis true in a sense, that in Christ every man in the world is perfect, Christ being the Saviour of the world, taking away the sin of the world, a propitiation for the sins of the world, giving himself a ransome for all, and tasting death for every man.
This indeed, some baptized Teachers Preach, Christ dying for all; but they know not the ground of this, nor will acknowledge it, that Christ is in every man; because every man is in God, and so in Christ.
This is a mystery, and 'tis more to manifest it clearly to men. But Paul (as all Gospel-Preachers) had the power from on high, wherein he did labour, striving according to his working, which wrought in me mightily, 1 Pet. 1.12. Col. 1.29.saith he; so no man nor Minister can say this day; therefore no more preach the Gospel, then I.
For my part, I am wholly silent; for though I speak sometimes unto men in the flesh, yet my Spirit is silent unto God; thus I am wholly silent, waiting as one of the dry bones in the dust, Ezek. 37.22.when the Lord will raise me with all his people out of our Graves, by revealing his glory in us.
This glory Paul (with all the Creation) waited for, not a glory without, Rom. 8.18, 19, 21.(as Christians dream of God) but a glory to be revealed in us, and that in this life: for, 'tis in us, not about us, as men think the glory of heaven to be; besides, the whole creation of mankind waits for it also, not to the Saints onelyonly, verse 21. but in themselves, to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, to the glorious liberty of the sons of God.
This glorious liberty is hinted and held forth in the Armes of the Commonwealth of England, but 'twill first arise in the Christians and Churches in Wales; Where Paul also will first appear, not in a Pulpit, as Saint Augustine wisht to see him, and Rome in her Glory; no, both shall be ruined, and the glory shall first arise, and be revealed in Wales, or (to take away all envies and animosities from the English) in great Britain, in the British Isles.
I will not repeat what that Seraphick man Mr. Sterry, has taught in a Sermon, of the Northern Presbytery; which I pray the Independant Churches to read, with the Spirit of judgement and burning.
But as all the Prophets tell us of the Multitude of the Isles wherein Christ should come and raigne; Psal. 97.1. Or great Isles, as Britain is.and of the Isles that should wait for his Law, Isa. 42.4. (as if we should have other Lawes, and Lawyers also:) So the everlasting Gospel and glad tydings to all men, shall first be made known to our British Isle: They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the Majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the Sea.
Glorifie the Lord in the fires, the Name of the Lord of Israel in the Isles of the Sea, Isa. 24.14, 15. verses.
This Scripture and Chapter, as some Hebrew Rabbies tell us, is for the great Island of Britain; which God will turn upside down, verse 1. to 22. Dan. 7, 9, 10. Isa. 33.14.and punish the host of the high Ones that are on high, and the Kings of the earth upon the earth, verse 22. as God has done, and will do more upon our mighty Kings, and Military also, even the host of the high ones, and that are on high, &c.
Therefore I wish'd you to read this with the Spirit of judgement and burning, because as the Lord will be glorified in the fires, Isa. 24.15. so God will appear now in fire, or as a consuming Fire our God will appear in these last times, yea as everlasting burnings, continually consuming all flesh within us, that nothing but pure Spirit may appear among us.
Oh what a day of wrath will this be to the flesh! when God shall come forth as a whirlwind, Nah. 1.3.turning it round as the dust, and taking it up to the Clouds: so the whirlwind will do, and so our God will appear as a Chariot of fire to take us up to himself. This whirlwind comes out of the North, 2 King. 2.11. Mal. 4.1, 5. compare.and a great cloud, and a fire infolding it self, &c. Ezek. 1.4. that is, the glory of God, and the appearing of a man above the throne, verse 26, 28. that is, Christ in us, God in our flesh will be fully manifest.
But this will be first in the North; for these Northern Isles were the first that acknowledged Christ; here the first King and Kingdom was.
Lucius the first Christian King, was a Britain; and Contanstine the great, the first Christian Emperour in the world, was a Britain or Welshman.
And as Britain was the first National Church, An. Dom. 135. Reg. Lucio.the mother of Christendom: so her old heathenish Priests, the Flamines and Arch-Flamines were, then converted into Arch-Bishops and Bishops: for as formerly there were three Arch-Flamines here; so three Arch-Bishops with us at first; at London, York, and the third at Gaerleon in Wales. Sir H. Spelman's Antiq. Brit.
And as Christ, so Antichrist first appeared with power in Wales: for when Kings and Kingdoms became Christian, then Antichrist began to be great; and as the National Church was Babylon the great, so were their great Councels and Synods in Wales: yea about two hundred years after Christ, the Apostacie so prevailed, both in Doctrine and Worship there, as in the midst of Popery.
But here's the glory again; Babylons fall shall be from the North, Jer. 50.3. Other Heresies had a blow by the Greek and Latine writers, the Easterne and Western worthies, yea the Southern and and Affrican Fathers, as Augustine, &c. but the Popish Hierarchy in all its parts, from first to last, fell in these Northern Isles.
I will not speak of Popery, and the first reformers in Germany, England and Scotland; though our English Wickliff was long before Luther, Huss, or Jerome of Prague.
I say, Prelacy fell first by the Scots, Presbytery by the English, Independents and Anabaptists will by the Welsh at last.
And 'tis a wonder, how all formes stand fast and abide as they were from the begining in other Nations; but in this, one falls after another, as if nothing should stand on English earth, but pure Spirit, but the Lord himself.
Popery stands in Spain and France, Prelacy or Bishops among the Luthern Germans, Presbytery at Geneva, and Independency in New England and Holland; Anabaptisme for a time in England and Ireland, but very shortly all will fall, and first in Wales; unless our Scots, like Pharez, break forth out of the womb before us; for Zarah has a red or scarlet thred (too much blood) about his Arm, to be the Father of Christ, to bring forth God in the flesh, as Pharez did, Gen. 38.28, 29. Ruth 4.18, 22. compared.
For though separated Churches were before in England, yet the first Independent Church (according to the New-England pattern) was set up in Wales; where the Saints have out-lived their persecutors, as there they suffered and stood out all the times of persecution, when the proudest Pastors in England dared not to show their faces; but hid their heads in Holland.
Now publick liberty, and Peace, and Power, and Pomp attends the Churches, what a company of them appear and multiply in England, and Ireland, and Scotland too, as they say! but all will fall, and first, as I said, in Wales.
For as there the first Independent Church, so the Baptized Churches last were there, unless there may be some in Scotland since; 'tis onelyonly of late the Baptized Churches came and increased in Wales; and yet 'tis but the weakest of the Christians there are fallen into the waters.
For I will speak the truth without partiality; there were not more spiritual and suffering Saints in any part of English ground, as were in Wales; so self-denying, and dying to the world, yea so wisehearted and knowing Christians; let all the English Counties about them testifie, and will tell, how many Saints from Somerset, Gloucester-shire, Hereford-shire, Radnor, Glamorgan-shire came in multitudes with delight to Lanvaghes.
What light, and labour in the Spirit was then? how heavenly minded? what holy language among them? what watching? what prayers night and day, in the way they went, in the work they did at their plow; everywhere in private, that Spirit of prayer and pureness of heart appeared, nothing of Ordinances was then mentioned, but with fear in themselves, and forcing others by the Spirit, from living in them: all was Spirit and life, the Saints in Wales then lookt for.
And 'twould be so still, but that they are enbondaged to their Pastors and Teachers, and which is worse, to the world, in which they gaine much, by pleasing men.
Ah pity pitty poor Wales! how are thy mighty fallen? but they are rising againe. England is yet too high, too stately, too proud, too full of pomp, and profit, and pleasure, to come down in the flesh, and to rise in the Spirit; though they can speak fine words: but Wales is a poor oppressed people, and despised also: Gentlemen and all are down already; there's Frize, & Flannen; there's Bread and Cheese, and an Oaten cake, with runing water; Oh there's a place for Christ to come.
And if the dead in Christ shall rise first, there's some living there, who are dead in Christ, their flesh being crucified to God; though most for the present live in forms or the flesh of Christ; yea we have more there then in England, not a Prelate or Presbyter appeares with power in all South-Wales to preach or pray.
Behold, O English, Scots, and Irish Churches, yee shall shortly see what gallant Spirits, and noble hearts we have in VVales, a man going into the inward world, and walking up to the eternal Spirit, not in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth; as you shall shortly read in a Teacher of North Wales. Mr. Fl.And in South-Wales also, the chiefest of the Pastors there, forsakes not onelyonly his Tithes, but his forms of Prayer before and after Sermon; I mean, his Lords prayer before, and his Episcopal or Priestly benediction, and blessing after it; yea, what he told me himself in private, I must preach on the house top to the world, that there is Antichrist in all their Ordinances, and all their Churches shall fall.
Again, he has left his singing of Psalmes, though he said once it was an Ordinance of Christ, the onelyonly Church-musick; but now the voice of Harpers in Babylon begin to cease, Rev. 18.22.the Pipers and Trumpeters toe (the Itinerant Preachers) yea the sound of a Milstone shall no more be heard in thee; Rev. 16.34.12. verses.for the waters fail, and the River Euphrates is drying up apace.
What will the Welsh Baptists do then, when there is no water to dip, to turn the Mill, nor to grind their Meal? yea where will be their breaking of bread, when no bread can be had? for the Milstones must go no more, saith Iohn, Rev. 18.22.
Againe, my Independent Brother and Pastor cannot Baptize children of Believers any more, though he be no more Anabaptist then I.
Yea, all the Baptized Churches now in Wales, are going from the Waters to the Air, yea to Fire, and the heavenly Spirit: for all speak high things, of the raign of Christ on earth, at hand.
When the Spirit shall come, it will shew them the truth, and teach them their present mistakes in this; that the Kings Daughter is all glorious within, and the Glory to be revealed in us, not that the Saints shall raigne as earthly Kings, in worldly power and plenty, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Spirit, joy unspeakable and full of glory; more glorious then ever was in the Apostles or Apostolick Churches, Zach. 9.15, 17. Zach. 10.7. compare.
Lastly, as New Ierusalem is coming downe from God out of Heaven: so it will first appear on this Nothern British Isle; Therefore I look for all the Nations of the earth to gather against it, Gog and Magog, Dutch and Danes, with the rest, to arise like the sands of the Sea, Rev. 20.8, 9.to compass the camp of the Saints, and the beloved City; 'tis neither Fleets nor Armies, nor strength of man on earth or waters, can defend us; Isa. 17.12, 13, 14.but fire shall come down from Heaven and destroy them; for 'tis not the King that is dead, but the King that lives among us, that makes the Nations about so angry with us, Rev. 11.17, 38.
This fire before, is the fulness of the Spirit, or power from on high, which shall first burn up our flesh, and then that force against us: yea, as God is the glory in the midst of the new Ierusalem, so he is the Wall of fire about it, Zach. 2.5.
Glorious things are spoken of thee, Oh thou City of God! and the great God will greatly be praysed in thee; beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole is (Jerusalem, Isa. 62.7.) mount Sion on the sides of the North, the City of the great King, Psal. 48.2. &c.
England is part of the Nothern British Isle; but Wales is the sides of the North, being just the wing of great Britain, the greatest Isle of the world, where will be the City of the great King.
FINIS.
THE General Epistle To the HEBREWS; That is, To the JEWS, the Ministers of LONDON-CHURCHES. SHEWING,
1. That the Gathered Churches are the Jews to be called: when they are scattered, they shall know it, Jer. 31.10. Hos. 5.9. and 9.7. compare.
2. That for these 1400 yeers, since the Apostacie, the state of the Church (fallen to a Jewish Constitution) has been far differing from spiritual Saints therein, who were the onelyonly blessed, when the Church was accursed, Isai. 56.5, 8. Isai. 43.21, 22, 28. compare. with Isa. 65.5, 8.
3. That spiritual Saints were ever hated and cast out of the Church, in which they were as signes and wonders, men wondered at, or monstrous men, as the Geneva-Translation reads, Zech. 3.8. Isai. 8.18. Isai. 66.5. compare.
4. That the Ministers of Churches have been in all Ages the onelyonly leaders of Churches and Christians from one form to another, from mountain to hill; but not to the holy mount of the Lord at Jerusalem, Isai. 65.7.11. Jer. 50.6. Isai. 9.16. compare with Isai. 27.12.13.
By WIL. ERBERY.
Jer. 12.10. Many Pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have troden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Printed at London, 1652.