Animadversions Upon a Sheet Printed for Francis Smith, Title page – Preface

Animadversions Upon a Sheet Printed for Francis Smith · Title page – Preface

ANIMADVERSIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS UPON A Sheet, Printed for Francis Smith, CONTAINING A Confeſſion of the Faith of ſeveral Catapaedobaptiſts, whoſe Names are thereunto ſubſcribed. As alſo the Abſurdities of the Doctrine of Arminianiſm, Free-will, and General Redemption; and that it is a Popiſh Doctrine; and their Objections briefly anſwered.

By J. H.

Tolle, Lege, Judica.

LONDON: Printed for W. Marſhal, at the Bible in Newgate-ſtreet. 1679.

THE PREFACE.

TO all true Proteſtant and Chriſtian Readers, into whoſe hands this little piece may come; I deſire to let the World know that it is not for the ſake of any Intereſt I have in the World, or in any Sect or Party of People, this day in the preſent Age, that engages me to this preſent Affair: No, let the World know, that I knew long ſince, upon whom I have cast the infinite weight of both my Soul and Body, viz. upon Jeſus; that is, upon him, as fulfilling, and having fulfilled in his mediatory perſon, the whole Law of Works; and for juſtification of Faith and Love, for me, and for all his Elect that were given to him by the Father before the world was. The Truths once delivered to the Saints, declared in the Scriptures of truth, witneſſed by the Fathers and Sons of the true Proteſtant Church, ſince the Apostles days, before the Supremacy of the Pope of Rome to the five or ſix Centuaries, though then oppoſed by the Arrians, Neſtorians, Sabellians, Manichees, and others, and ſince by the Papiſts, the Head of Antichriſt; and by the Kenites, and pretending Reconcilers of Proteſtants and Papiſts: I mean the Bridge-makers for a paſſable way for Papiſts o're to us, or we o're to them; viz. the Grotians, Armenians, and all that hang that way, ſince thoſe unhappy names, as well as perſons, received their Being in the World, are the alone and only Motive that carries me into this Affair at this juncture of time: And particularly, by providence, hearing this man, for whom this Sheet was printed, by name Mr. Francis Smith, a Stationer in London, preaching up at the Field Town, in the County of Oxford, this Novel, Papiſtical Doctrine of Arminianiſm, Free-will, and General Redemption, and Conditional Election in time, under the notion of an Anabaptiſt, or Catapaedobaptiſt, if you rather pleaſe; and having then oppoſed him, as to his Doctrine, and finding him and his Adherents ſtubborn and Heretical, and withal ſcattering the Poiſon of their Doctrine in this Sheet, under the notion of a Confeſſion of their Faith, to the ſubverſion of the unſetled and ignorant people, I, as a Servant to the royal truths of my Soveraign Lord Chriſt, and for the better information of his Elect, have, according to my poor abillity, caſt in this Mite into the Corban, as my Teſtimony to him and his truth, in this lowring yet Evening Tide of Antichriſt. The Apoſtle Paul is my Preſident, Gal. 2.5, 6. who would not give place for an hour to the Enemies of the Goſpel, neither did he reſpect any mans perſon; though they ſeemed by their external deportment and manners to be ſome body in the peoples Eyes. My Judge is Chriſt my Soveraign; my Jury, the twelve Apoſtles, at that great and approaching Seſſions, when he ſhall again deſcend the pregnant clouds to judge the World, Acts 1. Heb. 9. ult. and crown his Saints and witneſſes. If any ſhall think my Language too harſh, or Ʋnchriſtian, let them know 'tis not the Sword of the Fleſh, but that of the Spirit I fight with. The Prophet Iſay call'd them in his days dumb Dogs; the Apoſtle of the Gentiles, Hereticks; and I call but all ſuch as come forth in any of the VVhores Trinckets but barking Dogs, who are far worſe than thoſe dumb Dogs and Hereticks were, becauſe they are ſtubborn Promoters of the Papal Doctrines, though not of Popiſh Ceremonies, according to that ancient definition of Hereſic; by that ancient witneſs of truth Biſhop Groſthead, once of Lincoln: Hereſis eſt ſententia contraria ſacrae ſcripturae palam docta pertinaciter defenſa. And as it was ſaid by the Proteſtant Divines of Germany concerning Grotius, Quod Hugo Grotius papizat; ſo ſay I of all theſe who promote the ſame Doctrines as he did: who inſtead of flying out of Babylon, as the Holy Ghoſt exhorts, Rev. 18.4, 5, 6. they hover under her inchanting skirts; to whoſe charge, if they repent not, all the Blood of the Martyrs will be laid, as well as to the direct Papiſts, when the Lords time ſhall be accompliſhed. And till they have anſwer'd Jewel, White, Willet, againſt the Papiſts in the very ſame points, they ſay nothing againſt me or my Animadverſions, though they attempt a Reply. And ſo Reader Farewel. Thine in what I may, as to theſe truths herein defended, while I am

Joh. Humphrys.

p. 1ANIMADVERSIONS and CONSIDERATIONS upon an Heretical, Catabaptiſtical, Pelagian, Arminian, Papiſtical Sheet, lately publiſhed, entituled, A Confeſſion or Declaration of Faith; lately preſented to King Charles the Second: Printed for one Francis Smith; which, becauſe the Doctrine therein contain'd is partly Papiſtical, and partly mixed with the Ingredients of of Quakeriſm; as Free-will, General Redemption, and falling away from Chriſt, and ſuch like Traſh, againſt the Doctrine of the Goſpel, primarily taught by Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and ſecondarily witneſſed to by the Proteſtant Chriſtian Divines of all Ages, and by the Martyrs in the paſt times of Popery; I think fit to declare to the World, for the ſake of Gods Elect, choſen in Chriſt, by the good will and pleaſure of God alone, from before the foundation of the World, to Eternal Salvation p. 2by the Tranſaction of their ſins by the Father on Jeſus, and the free imputation of the Righteouſneſs of the Law, fulfilled in him to them, which they do in his time, when he gives them Faith, receive it by Faith alone.

LET me tell you, you Arminian, Pelagian, Papiſtical Baptiſts, are not built on the Foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles, Epheſ. 3. but upon the Foundation of the Papiſts, and Antichriſt; for the Papiſts are true in nothing, but in the Doctrine of the Trinity, as ſaid Mr. Philpot, Martyr; and dying men, eſpecially Martyrs, ſhould be believ'd. You peep your Heads out to ſhew your Antichriſtian Horns, becauſe you are in hope, that ſome lately honoured at the Sturn, may countenance your Sect, as being inclinable to the ſame Opinions, as being newly whaſted (by Divine Providence) from the Tranſmarine Territories of Papiſtry, upon the Chriſtian Proteſtant Shores; who yet, it is yet to p. 3be doubted hath too much of the Pelagian duſt of S. Omers cleaving to his feet, or ſhooes: But this will fail you in the day of the Lord, when the true Jeſus, Son of God, and Son of Mary, High-Prieſt, Prophet, and King, in one Perſon, will plead his own Truths, that you, and ſuch as you, have moſt abominably abuſed and belied.

Your firſt Article profeſſes Faith in one God, and the Father, of whom are all things; which the Turk and Mahometans do acknowledge as much as you, or more. See the Alchoran, Chap. 17. entitled, Of the Voyage by Night; and Chap. 18. called, the Chapter of the Cave, 27, 28, 29, 30 lines.

To the ſecond, that all the miſery, and death, and condemnation of the World, brought in by the fall of the firſt Adam, is but temporal, corporeal, and only as to this life, is a Lye againſt Scripture, Reaſon, and the Authority of good and approved Authors. This Opinion was held by Jacobus Faber, and many other p. 4Papiſts, but not by Bellarmine, Gen. 2. In the day thou eateſt, thou ſhalt die the death; is a Hebrew phraſe, ſignifying, eternal and temporal death, moriendo morieris, Eph. 2.23. Rom. 8.6, 7, 8. Rom. 5.6.8. Rom. 6.23. Rom. 7.14.17.20.23. Rom. 5, 14. to 21. Ezek. 16.3. to 9, 10. Mat. 25.41. Gal. 3.1. the wages of all. ſin is death in that kind, that the gift of God is life: But the gift of God is life eternal to all Abraham's Seed; ergo, the wages of all ſin is eternal death, by the Rule of compar. contrar. My Authorities are Calvin Inſtit. lib. 2. cap. 1, 2, 3. the Aſſemblies Catechiſm, Queſt. 19. and Anſwer to it: Dr. Willet againſt Papiſts in his eighteenth general Controverſie read at large, beſides Luther, Zuinglius, Melancthon; and more Ancient, Auguſtine, Hierom, Chryſoſtom, Ambroſe, Tertul. Juſtin Martyr.

The third Article profeſſes General Redemption; that the Father gave Chriſt out of his love to the whole world, and a Ranſom for all univerſally: wherein 1. The Fathers p. 5gift is diminiſhed; and 2. The Sons Ranſom belied; for the Father gave him to be a Propitiation for the ſins of the world of the Elect, and none elſe; that is, to all the Elect of Jew and Gentile: ſo is all taken, 2 Cor. 5. definitely; and John 17.6, 7. and 10. he gave him to the Sheep only, whoſe ſins he laid on him, Iſai. 53.6.11.1 Pet. 2.24, 25. 2. Cor. 5.21. and to whom only he gave and imputed his Righteouſneſs, 2 Tim. 1.9, 10. Gal. 1.15, 16. The Elect Jews were his Sheep; and other Sheep I have, that is the Elect of the Gentiles; and the Reprobates he called Dogs, Wolves, Lyons, &c. which he ranſomed not, neither was given to ranſom; ſo he did more for his Elect than you acknowledge, viz. tranſacted and bore their ſins on his own body. 2. He did it not for all, but only for them whom the Father gave to him, and him to them, Joh. 17.2.6.8.9.11.29. Joh. 6.44.39.37. Joh. 10.3.11.15, 16, 26, 27, 28, 29. Theſe only by his Blood hath he cleanſed in his ſight, not by p. 6Water-Baptiſm, but by his Blood, 1 Joh. 1.7.9. and Chap. 5. and of this is the Water of Baptiſm a Figure; and by his Blood hath ſatiſfied Juſtice for all their ſins, paſt, to come, and preſent, and redeemed them; and of this is the Supper a Symbol or Sign, 1 Cor. 11. &c.

The fourth Article ſings the ſame Song, wreſting the word All to a falſe ſenſe; that God is willing that all ſhould come to repentance, and none ſhould periſh; and that the pardon of ſins ſhould be preached to every Creature, that none might ſuffer in Hell: The Word of God is belied, making it ſpeak what it intends not, and the Goſpel ſophiſticated: For firſt, the Goſpel is miniſterlally offered to all, Mark 16.15. but by recommunication of the Spirit only to the Elect; Rom. 9.11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20. with 1 Pet. 3.17. Mat. 13.11. To the Elect it is given to know the Goſpel, but not to the Reprobate, Joh. 12.40. Rom. 11.7, 8, 9, 10. And Piſcator a Proteſtant Divine ſaith, Gratia affertur p. 7à deo, animo communicandi eam folis Electis hand quaque ſingulis.

To the fifth; I ſay, degrees of Chriſtianity abſtractively adapt not to the Miniſtry; beſide, I deny you to be a Church of Chriſt: Ergo, have no power to give your approbation in Ordination: Beſide, the Church alone, though true, cannot by Divine Authority ordain Miniſters, or Commiſſionate them to go forth to Preach.

The ſixth Article is ambiguous as moſt of your Preachments are, to deceive the ſimple, and obtain Proſelites, Rom. 16.17, 18, 19. Submelli Hybleo venenum latet: Faith don't juſtifie, as an Act; nor is it the Root of Juſtification, as Papiſts ſay; it is Chriſt, and his Perſonal Righteouſneſs, that juſtifies the ungodly, being Elected, Rom. 4 Rom. 8.33. Pſal. 32.1, 2, 3. and they by Faith, when God gives it them, Epheſ. 2. apprehend and receive this Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, wrote in his Perſon for their juſtification, Rom. 8.2.3. Joh. 1.12. where you p. 8ſay, Believers commit themſelves to his Grace: I boldly aſſirm, you Arminians, Grotians, and Pelagians don't mean, by Grace, to the imputation of his Righteouſneſs, wrought in his Individual Perſon for all his Sheep, and given to them for their juſtification, and received by Faith of them. Thus all true Proteſtants but you, with Bellarmine, and all the Papiſts, mean, that the Act of Faith, in this your Opinion and new-fangled Goſpel, and Chriſt, with repentance and obedience to your holy Baptiſm, this is your juſtification, and the Papiſts, for which you will be aſhamed in the day of the Lord Jeſus, when the Thrones of the Kingdoms of the World ſhall bow before him, Phil. 2. and all that own and receive not his imputed Righteouſneſs ſhall be ſlain, and caſt in the Lake, Rev. 21.8. and 22.15.

The ſeventh Article tells a loud Lye, like his Fellows; for God gives his Spirit to his Elect Sons, before you do believe, or can believe, repent, or obey; for all theſe p. 9are done by the Spirit, or ſome Power elſe; but no Power elſe but the Spirit can work theſe: Ergo, the Spirit is given firſt, not before their Redemption, Reconciliation, and Juſtification, but before the Application of this Grace; by the Office of the holy Spirit, this Grace is revealed, received, and applied to the Elect only, Gal. 4.6. Col. 2.10, 11, 12. Joh. 14.15, 16. Chap. 1 Cor. 2.10, 11, 12. Rom. 8.15, 16. Epheſ. 1.13.18, 19, 20.

The eighth Article is ſwoln big with the poyſon of Sophiſtication and Contradiction; and that becauſe you hide your Errours under a diſguiſe, like a hitter Pill wrapt up in a little Sugar, or Wormwoodſeeds in Plumbs, to deceive the ſimple, and Children; for you would make us believe you own the Decrees of God, while indeed you deny them. 2. Acontradiction, becauſe if they be Elected for foreſeen Faith, works, or repentance, then it is not of meer mercy, and good will, and nothing in the Creature p. 10but ſin: So that the ſecond part of your Article contradicts the firſt, and the firſt is ſophiſticated: You ſay, God Elects from the Foundation of the world ſuch as believe; that is, when they believe he Elects them, that is, he hath decreed to Elect all that believe; but he Elects them as meer ſinners, and becauſe he Elects them they believe, and not that he Elects them becauſe they believe.

The ninth is like his Fellows, full of falſhood, for they were ordained to Condemnation before they were ungodly men, and becauſe of their Reprobation became ungodly men, becauſe they were afore ordained to deſtruction; foreign before decreed, or afore written for deſtruction; and therefore became ungodly.

The tenth lies like the father the ſecond Article. For Adam's fall brought in Eternal deaths as well as Temporal, I ſaid afore; and if all are under that Condemation, Rom. 5.16, 17, 18, 19. Ex. 16. Rom. 6.21. p. 11then Infants for Infants are part of all. Beſide, all that are fallen into Condemation, which all are, cannot be ſaved till they are born again of Water and the Spirit, or baptized with Fire and the Holy Ghoſt, Mat. 4. Jo. 3.3, 5. 1 Jo. 5. Heb. 10. Ez. 36. Water, in all which places, is not your Baptiſm, but the cleanſing of Chriſt's Blood, applied by the Spirit to the Elect in their Converſion and Regeneration; of which Baptiſm is but a meer figure to Abraham and his believing Seed, as Circumciſion was before the actual payment of the Debts of the Elect, by Chriſt on the Croſs at Jeruſalem, Heb. 13.11, 12, 13. Heb. 9.26. Heb. 1.3. Heb. 10.54.10, 14. ſee 18 Q. of the Aſſemblies Catechiſm, and Anſwer: Four things iſſue to all Adam's poſterity by his fall. Firſt, The guilt of Adam's firſt ſin. Secondly, The privation of Original Righteouſneſs. Thirdly, A depravation of the whole nature of Body and Soul, by Hereditary deſcent. And fourthly, All actual Sins flowing p. 12from it, Ro. 5.12, 19. and 10. Epheſ. 1.1, 2, 3. James 1.14, 15. Mark 15.29. Ro. 7. See Doctor Willet's 81 Gen. Controverſie againſt Papiſts; the Elect have their Sins tranſacted on Chriſt, and his imputed Righteouſneſs covering them, and the Spirit of Chriſt in his time converting them to it, and the reſt, great and ſmall, are blinded and damned, Ro. 11. The whole Law broken by Adam, and his Poſterity in him, comprehends both Faith, and perfect, and ſinleſs obedience; which Covenant being broke, he brought both himſelf and poſterity under Condemnation Rom. 5.18, 19. temporal and Eternal; for ſuch is the Wages of Sin, Ro. 6.21. and lying under the breach of the whole Law of God, are eternally condemn'd, except they be elected, called, juſtified and ſanctified freely by his Grace, Rom. 8.29, 30, 31.

Chriſt did not come into the World to ſave men if they would, Epheſ. 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. for then none would be ſaved; but he p. 13came poſitively and abſolutely to ſave them that were eternally given to him to ſave, Jo. 17. and Jo. 10.26. to 29. Chriſt's death and paſſions were not Temporal and Bodily only, Mat. 27.46. and Chap. 26.36, 37, 38, 42. Mark 14.3, 4. Luke 22.42, 44. Joh. 18.11. but Spiritual and Infernal paſſions, Acts 2.31. Pſ. 16.10. Lament. 1.12. And if Chriſt's Sufferings were ſuch, then Adaw's fall muſt procure ſuch: But this Helliſh Doctrine denyeth both: By this Doctrine the Covenant of Grace was made ſince the fall of Adam, and not from Eternity, as the Scripture inculcates, Titus 1.1, 2, 3. Pſ. 89. and Zach. 6.13. 2 Sam. 23.5. and then the Covenant of Grace is but a new Covenant of Works, viz. Faith and Obedience; as if Faith was not included in the Covenant of Innocency, and fulfilling the conditions of the pardon of Sin in the Goſpel, upon pain of Eternal Damnation; ſo that by this Doctrine the new Covenant of Grace is a thouſand times more bondaged, ſervile, p. 14and legal than the Covenant of Innocency: For the forfeitures of that, ſay they, was but bodily and temporal, and ſo was Chriſt's death that ſatisfied for it: But the forfeitures of this new Covenant of Grace, according to their Doctrine, is Spiritual and Eternal Damnation, and no help or ſatisfaction neither: in the Covenant of Innocency Chriſt made up the breaches, but the breaches of this Covenant of Grace we our ſelves muſt make up by our Free-will, Faith, Repentance, and Obedience, or elſe periſh eternally: And from the Pelagion, Arminian, Papiſtical new Covenant of Grace, wherein Chriſt is only or chiefly an example, only by his Kingly and Prophetical Offices in Heaven, he prays for me, my Faith, Victory, and Repentance; but if I do it not, or cannot, his Prayer is in vain. And as for his Prieſtly Office, as Dr. Hammand ſaith, it dyed with him: For it was only to remove the Covenant of Works, which was by a temporal death p. 15eaſily removed, its forfeitures being but a temporal death; from ſuch a New Covenant, Lord deliver me, and his Elect, and from the Promulgators of it. Another Juggle they have is, that Election is not in the Covenant of Works, or from Eternity, but in Chriſt ſince; that is, they that do believe the Doctrine they preach, believe, repent, obey, and be baptized, are Elected; and this God foreſaw, and knew, and willed: And to uphold this Babel, and Whores Doctrine of Babylon, they turn upſide-down the very Heart and Entrails of the whole Scriptures, to the laſt of the tenth Article: I ſay the Jews were under a Covenant of Grace, and by the ſign thereof, Gen. 17. brought by Divine Command their Children into the viſible Church. We are under the ſame Covenant of Grace, and the matter and manner of the ſign was changed under the New Teſtament, or Adminiſtration of Grace, but not the Subjects; for then it had been neceſſary that Chriſt ſhould p. 16have forbidden Infants Baptiſm, or John Baptiſt his Meſſenger, for Chriſt knew it was once commanded as the New Covenant ſign; but he never repealed the Subject, nor his Meſſenger that came before him, or the Miniſters that followed after him; Ergo, what is not repealed by Divine Inſtitution, abides ſtedfaſt, as a Nail faſtened by the Maſters of the Aſſembly, given by one Shepherd, Chriſt Jeſus: Therefore till the Catabaptiſts prove by Scripture, that Chriſt, or his Predeceſſor John Bapt. or his Succeſſors, the Apoſtles, forbid the Subjects in Gen. 17. licenſed, till then you do all of you ſhamefully beg the Queſtion; and you ſhall be with your Antichriſtian Spirit famiſhed for me, before you ſhall have a Morſel from me to feed your Hereſie: wherefore leave that unlawful Trade of Begging, and work for your livings; that is, prove out of the New Teſtament, by Gods Word, that Infants are commanded not to be Baptized, or that Circumciſion was not a Sign p. 25and Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith. Or, that Baptiſm did not come in the room of Circumciſion; do one of theſe or be ſilent before the Lord for ever: For, becauſe you have rent the Seal of his Covenant, God will rend you and your Sect into a thouſand pieces: This will be the end of you, to periſh in your own Dung, Phil. 3. Except the Elect among you, and true Converts, they only ſhall be preſerved, and in due time come out of your Babylon, as well as Rome's or England's Babylon.

The Eleventh Article builds up your Idol Baptiſm, and ſets it on your ſandy Foundation; for there is not one word of Teach before Baptiſe; but contrary, after Baptiſm to Teach, Mat. 28. latter end: For the firſt word rendered to Teach, is, in the Greek, Matheteuſate, that is, Diſciple all Nations. But the Queſtion may be asked, How ſhall we Diſciple them? the Anſwer is, Baptizeing them, &c. then teach them to obſerve all things, &c. the Jews p. 26did ſo Diſciple their Children; and Children Acts 15. are called Diſciples; and doubtleſs the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and the Kingdom of Heaven, is given to the Elect of them, Mat. 18.4, 5, 6. 1 Cor. 14 20. Mark 9.42. Luke 17.1, 2. and belongs to them; and therefore the Sign of the Covenant belongs to them, which is the Water of Baptiſm, and the very rantizing or ſprinckling in the Figure is ſufficient, becauſe the Sprinckling the Blood in the Subſtance is ſufficient, 1 Pet. 1.2. The ſame way that Abraham was Diſcipled are all aged ones in all times; that being ignorant of God's Covenant never knew it, or received the Figure before: and this by teaching them the Covenant of God, as God taught Abraham, and then ſet the Sign on them. But the way to Diſciple Infants, as in that day by Circumciſion, ſo in this day by Baptiſm, Acts 15.10. 1 Cor. 12.13. Their Children were called Diſciples, and ſo are ours Diſciples of right, if the Subſtance of the Covenant p. 27of Grace be the ſame, as it is, for there is no new thing ſub Coelis; and our Baptiſm now doth Baptize into the whole Body or Church Univerſal, 1 Cor. 12.13. that is, into the number of the Elect, and not into particular, viſible Congregations, and when they do actually believe, then are they Members of the viſible, particular Church, actual Members; and then, as Baptiſm, ſhadowed out their cleanſing by Chriſt's Blood, and the Application of it to them in the Womb by God. So doth the Supper, when they believe, figure out Chriſt's Redemption and Satisfaction to them by his Blood, Joh. 6. ult. 1 Cor. 11. ult. And though the Sacraments be diſtant in Adminiſtration and Reſpect of time, yet Satisfaction, Redemption, and Cleanſing, was actually done at once for all the Elect by Chriſt, John 18.34, 35. with 1 Jo. 5.6, 7, 8. and yet, I ſay, the Elect have their cleanſing ſealed and ſigned Externally, (for the Internal Seal is the Spirit, Epheſ. 1.13. Rom. 4.) p. 28moſtly in their Infancy, becauſe God imputes Chriſts Righteouſneſs to them in their Infancy, Rom. 9.10, 3. Gal. 1.16. Mat. 19.14. And becauſe Baptiſm is not a Communion Sacrament, as the Supper is, 1 Cor. 11. hence they did not eat the Paſcal Lamb, till they were able to ſtand on their Feet, eat bitter Herbs, and walk, Exod. 12. for the Paſcal Lamb, under the old Adminiſtration of Grace, was the Sign of Chriſt's Death for the Elect, as the Supper is now, both figuring out the ſame thing; to wit, the pardon of Sins by Chriſts bearing them, as the Lamb taking them away, John 1.29. only that figur'd out the actual time of diſcharge of the Elect to come, but the Supper that the actual time is paſt, Heb. 9.29. and ch. 10.14. Neither is Baptiſm the way of making viſible Churches, but Profeſſion of the true Faith of Chriſt, Rom. 10.11.10.12. Gal. 3.26. By Faith, and not by Baptiſm; you make Baptiſm your Chriſt, and ſo ſlight the Lords Blood, by placing life in the Figures. p. 29But the Apoſtle, when ſome in his time, ſee 1 Cor. 1. did too much magnifie it, he thanked God that he he had not Baptized but a few Families, and tells them, His Miſſion was to preach the Goſpel: A more weighty Affair than adminiſtring Baptiſm, though both belonged to him. The Apoſtles never preached up Baptiſm, as the Catabaptiſts do: And though Circumciſion did make Diſciples of right, yet it did not make them viſible and actual Diſciples, but Faith in God's Covenant, and the eating the Paſcal Lamb was a, or the, viſible Communion, as the Supper is now to profeſſed Believers. You belie the word of God to prove your own Hereſie. For this you muſt anſwer one day; mark it, Generation was not the way of the Jews, intromiting Church-Members, or making them. It was the knowledge of God's gracious Covenant, Gen. 15.6. Faith in Chriſt, as now. Chriſts Prieſtly Office took away the Sins of the Elect under the old Adminiſtration or Teſtament, p. 30as well as now under the new. The Covenant was and is ſubſtantially and formally the ſame, only differs diathetically, and by way of Adminiſtration, Heb. 8. Jer. 31.31, 32, 33. 1 Joh. 2.1, 2, 3. Why do you lye againſt the Scriptures? and ſay, That Ʋnſcriptural Sprinckling, for, 1 Pet. 1.2. as the Blood of ſprinckling purges away the Sins of the Elect, ſo will the Water of ſprinckling ſufficiently figure it out. A little Wax will ſeal a great Leaſe when the Covenants therein are firmly agreed. do you know what you prate of, the Bond-woman and her Son? You your ſelves are Children of the Bond-woman, Gal. 4, The Seed of the Adulterer and Whore, Iſay 57.34, 10. and 12. You truſt in the life of your hand, in your Faith, Repentance, and Obedience for your formal juſtification, as all Papiſts do; and as the carnal Jews did ſuppoſe that the Law of works was given for them to fulfill in their own perſons, and what they failed of it was p. 31to be ſupplyed by the Sacrifices and Ceremonies. Thus miſtaking the whole Order and End of the Law, which was to carry them to Chriſt the Mediator, who was ordained in his perſon to fulfill all the Law of God, and that Righteouſneſs of his to be imputed to the Elect for their juſtification, and received by Faith, when God gave it them to believe: And ſo the Law at Sina, given in Thunder and Tempeſt, was to ſhew them their Sinfulneſs, Rom. 3.19, 20, 21, 22. and God's Wrath boyling againſt Sinners, Rom. 1. and 2. ch. who all in Adam have violated Gods holy Law, Rom. 3. and come ſhort of the Glory of God by it; and to break the Rock of their Carnal Confidence and ſecurity, 2 Cor. 3. Exod. 19. and 20. To bring the Elect thereby humbly to ſubmit to Chriſt, the Everlaſting Mediator, on whom the Lord laid all the Sins of the Elect, Iſay 53.6, 11. 1 Pet. 2.24, 25. Mica 7.18, 19. Pſal. 89. and Pſal. 80. ult. and imputes his Perſonal Righteouſneſs to them for their juſtification, p. 322 Cor. 5.21. Gal. 3.13. Now as they corrupted their Adminiſtration of Grace under the Old Teſtament, ſo do you and your Generation, Pelagians, Arminians, and Papiſts, under the New Teſtament: For, the Apoſtle in that Text, Gal. 4. oppoſes the Covenant of Grace to the Covenant of Works, or to the Law, made by the Jews, as a Covenant of Works, as aforeſaid; and not the New Teſtament or Adminiſtration of Grace againſt the Old; for as they did take the Law for a Covenant of Works, ſo do you the Goſpel; calling Faith, Repentance, and Obedience, the Conditions of it; which are freely given to them as Fruits of the pardon of Sins, not procurers; and rejecting the imputed Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, as Papiſts do, and make the Acts of your Faith to juſtifie you, which is full of Sin, yea full of Errour and Hereſie; and therefore your Righteouſneſs ſhall not profit you in the day of Chriſt, becauſe you are not wholly freed by Chriſt, but Sons of the Bond-woman.

p. 33There were never but two Covenants, for Matter and Form, that of Works, and that of Grace, directly oppoſite one to the other. The Covenant of Works was never by Divine Inſtitution eſtabliſhed to men ſince Adam's fall; but immediately taken up by Chriſt, the Elects Surety, and laid on his Shoulders, Iſay 9. Being freely wrought in and by him for them, is a Covenant of Grace to them, but of Works to Chriſt; who obtained all by his Works for them. This Covenant of Grace hath two Adminiſtrations; one under the Old Teſtament, before the Law at Horeb, and after the Law to Chriſt's time in the Fleſh: Then began the New Teſtament and Adminiſtration of Grace to the Elect; more glorious by far than the other for Adminiſtration; though in reſpect of the very Subſtance of the Covenants, the Stipulator and Mediator Chriſt, who undertook it for them, the Father gave him from Eternity, Titus 1.1, 2. 2 Tim. 1.9, 10. Rom. 8.29, 30, 31. Pſ. 89. Iſay 53.6. p. 34Zac. 9.11. and 6.14. In that of Works in Paradiſe, there was Faith and perfect Obedience, but no Repentance, Confeſſion, or Sorrow of Sin, or new Obedience was admitted in that; but in that of Grace, there is Faith, but different from that Faith in the Covenant of Works, and new Obedience and Repentance, Confeſſion and Sorrow for ſin admitted of none of theſe, but to formally juſtifie, only Faith in Chriſt receives juſtification, and Repentance, and New Obedience follows as fruits of Faith, and of the pardon of ſin, which ſundamentally hangs on Chriſt's bearing ſin away, and ſatisfying for it once for all. Neither doth our Faith, or Repentance, or new Obedience, make us Righteous, but Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, fulfilling the Covenant of Works in his own perſon, and imputed to us, and received by Faith, as given of God for that purpoſe, Epheſ. 2.5, 6, 7. Neither is our Repentance, or Confeſſion, or New Obedience, or ſorrow for ſins committed p. 35any part of our Righteouſneſs before God, (but as to man) being wrought by the Spirit of Chriſt in us; follow the pardon of our ſins, and our being made Righteous; and follow Faith alſo in this adminiſtration of Grace publickly, Gal. 3. and are not the Grounds or Cauſes of pardon or Receivers, but the abſolute Fruits and Effects in the Elect believing. Beſides: The Law at Horeb was to the Jews a conditional Covenant for Temporal Bleſſings, and being broke, incurred Temporal Curſings; which, as ſuch a Covenant, expired when Chriſt came, and the Paedagogy of the Jews ceaſed; only the Law, as in the Spiritual Power, of it, as a demonſtrative Law in the hand of Chriſt and the Spirit, to humble the Elect, and make them ſenſible of their condition and miſery, by the fall from the Covenant of Works in innocency, as in Adam, the only Hole at which all Curſe, Wrath and Miſery, Spiritual and Temporal entred, Rom. 5. That they may fall on Chriſt, and at p. 36his Feet for all Redemption and Help, out of themſelves; thus the Law continues ſtill, and for want of this Spiritual Ax, Mal. 4. to cut down and humble you, that you may appear as nothing but Firebrands for Hell, it is that you and all your proud Generations have perverted Chriſt's Goſpel, and eſtabliſhed a new one, Gal. 1.8, 9. the which makes your caſe worſe, you are inſenſible of it, but glory and triumph in your curſed Bondage, Gal. 4. Your juſtification is full of ſin, and you make Chriſt to purchaſe a ſinful juſtification, Gal. 2. and ſo the Miniſter of ſin you make him, while you prate that he removed the Covenant of Works, and ſatisfyed that, and procured a Lex remediens, a milder Law; that is, that by Faith, Repentance, and Obedience, we may be juſtified; and ſo you make ſin to juſtifie; for all our Faith, and Repentance, and Obedience is but filthy Rags, Iſay 64.6. Phil. 3. and full of ſin: And Chriſt faith, That when they have done p. 37all that's their duty, that is to believe, to repent, and obey, Luke 17. then are they unprofitable Servants. Ergo you make ſin to juſtifie when you make Faith actually to juſtifie. 2ly you make Chriſt the upholder of ſin, when you, with the Papiſts your Brethren, make Chriſts Blood to purchaſe a ſinfull juſtification; that is, that our Faith, and Repentance ſhall juſtifie. Do you ſee the Pelagian, Arminian, Papiſtical Crew! upon what Rocks and ſholes you ſplit your ſelves, and all to bring in a new and another Goſpel to damn you, and to exclude Chriſt's everlaſting Righteouſneſs, or the Law of works perfectly fulſilled in his perſon, to be imputed to poor, ſinful, undone, ruined Worms, for their free and real juſtification.

Now all theſe Imperfections are covered to true Believers with the ſame Righteouſneſs that covers their perſons, Tit. 1.15. And ſo both they and all their Performances and Righteouſneſs, though in it ſelf faulty, is accepted and ſanctified, and all the p. 38ſinfulneſs of it and them covered, Pſ. 32. Rom. 4.5, 6, 7. This is a benefit peculiar to the Elect, who truly believe and receive the imputation of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, and not to you that cannot cry foreign, but foreign, whoſe Ruine, Damnation lingers not, except in infinite Mercy he give you humility and poverty of Spirit; Faith in that truth of the true Jeſus, and everlaſting Covenant, and Repentance for your Blaſphemies and Errours, as a Fruit of the pardon of your ſins by their tranſaction on him, and the Evidence of your Faith in receiving his Righteouſneſs, &c. So unleſs you are freed by Jeſus from all ſin and miſery in eſſe or poſſe coming on you in Gods ſight from Adam's fall, or by your own actual and daily Tranſgreſſions, and from all the ſin and ſpottedneſs of all your moſt holy Duties, your Faith, Prayers, Repentance, and new Obedience, though wrought puerly in you by Chriſt's Spirit as true Believers, and freed from allſin, paſt, preſent, p. 39and to come, by the tranſaction of them on Chriſt by the Father, Iſa. 53.6. and the imputation of his pure Righteouſneſs to your perſons, received by Faith alone, you are not free indeed by the Son, Jo. 8.31, 32. but in Bondage under the Law and Curſe thereof, Deut. 27. ult. with your Children.

Your twelfth Article is ſwollen big with an abſolute Errour drawn from the practice of the Apoſtles, laying on of hands, not miniſterially, as a ſign of the approbation of Elders, but as an Apoſtolical practice, which did with them ceaſe, as being fruitleſs and uneffectual, beyond their time, and unpractiſed in the ordinary Churches, nor at all upon any Record of Command — more than James anointing with Oyl, which Papiſts make a Sacrament; or Chriſt's waſhing his Diſciples Feet: But becauſe it is ſufficiently confuted by Colonel Danvers, a Brother of yours in the water, but I hope in the Spirit built on better Principles, I deſiſt to proſecute further; only I p. 40obſerve this by the way, That your Tribe and Fraternity, having ſinned moſt againſt the Covenant of God's Grace in Chriſt, in founding your ſelves upon Popiſh, Pelagian, and Arminian Principles, he hath hardened your hearts, and left you to more Horrible Errours than others.

Your thirteenth Article is double tongued—runs with the Hare and holds with the Hound; for Communion, Prayers, and uſe of Sacraments, are the duty of Believers —but not the immediate duty of damnable Hereticks. For firſt repent, and believe the Goſpel, if you can, according to its primitive Inſtitution, then thoſe follow in order.

To your fourteenth Article I anſwer that you have neither the true Form or Power; and if you had the Form and not the Power, it's enough for us to depart your Tents, becauſe they are Tents of Darkneſs. You have not the true Faith, ergo not the true Spirit; ergo not p. 41the true Love, ergo not the true Power. And for your Form it is not Apoſtolical or truly Scriptural. Antichriſt's Foundation, ever ſince the falſe Apoſtles ſeduced the Galatians, is that you are built on.

Your fifteenth Article is a Beggar too, and preſuppoſes that which we cannot grant you, That you are the true Church and Miniſters of Chriſt; 'Tis true, the true Miniſters of Chriſt are to be free, and Hoſpitable, not like your ltnierants, who trade it in the World, and prate of what you know not, and have not obſerved the Apoſtles Rule, 2 Tim. 2.4. and 15.16. verſ. for you do not Orthotomounta rightly cut down in twain the Law and the Goſpel; preaching one to the proud, ſelfconceited Hypocrites, and the other the humbled Sinners; and as for Hoſpitality, when God ſhall give us Goſel-wages, 1 Cor. 9.12, 13, 14. 2 Cor. 11.7, 8. I truſt we ſhall by his help do our duty in that. You preach not the true Jeſus, nor p. 42the true Goſpel, as Paul did, 1 Cor. 15.3.17. 2 Cor. 11.4.

The ſixteenth Article oppoſes his Fellow afore-going, and gives him the Lye to his face, where Miniſters are to be hoſpitable—But here you take the means of hoſpitality from them, and tell them, they muſt preach freely. You forbid Tythes, that ſticks in your throats— though Chriſts Covenant daſhed in pieces you can ſwallow down like the Phariſees Camel, ex ungue Leonem: But pray, where are Tythes forbid (jure Humano) as a Goſpel Maintenance, if not jure Divina. I would Goſpel Miniſters had the Tythes by the godly Magiſtrates Anthority, it would be no ſin againſt Chriſt.

I ask you a Queſtion, Did Conſtantine ſin, or not ſin, in giving the Tythes to the Clergy; which thing was done by him: 1. Before the Roman Antichriſt aroſe. 2. In love to Chriſt, notwithſtanding that Voice that is ſaid to tell him, that he had by ſo doing ruined the p. 43Church. If you ſay it was a ſin, then prove againſt what Law he ſinned? for where there is no Law, there is no Tranſgreſſion. Is it not lawful for Goſpel Magiſtrates to provide for Goſpel Miniſters? if they may not, by what Law may they not? if they may, by what Law may they not give them the Tenths? 1. You'l ſay, perhaps, becauſe the Tenths are the Huſbandmans own; it may be when Chriſt hath taken the Kingdoms in his own Power, he will give it up to them; but till then 'tis in the power of Kings to diſpoſe it as they will, and your duty to be ſubject to them, Rom. 13. And it is a cuſtom, è memoria hominum, and therefore not ours, but the Princes; and may not he give it to whom he will? 2. You'l ſay, 'twas an Antichriſtian Maintenance, brought in by the Pope: This Reaſon is of moſt prevalency, could you prove it. For firſt, 'tis apparent that Tythes were given to the Paſtors of Churches, before the Roman Antichriſt roſe p. 44up.—So, you make Baptiſm of Infants Antichriſtian, as brought in by the Pope, which was practiſed from the Apoſtles days, and never queſtioned till about the fifth Cent. and then by the Inſurrection of Catabaptiſts. See Calv. Inſtit. 4. lib. 15, 16. Chapters. But to cloſe all, pray why do you bring in, and eſtabliſh the capital Errours of Antichriſt and Papiſts; as Free Will, General Redemption, falling from Grace, &c. which were eſtabliſhed by Huberus, Phygius, Hemingius, Bellarmine, and many other Papiſts: Yet wipe your mouths, like the Whore in the Proverbs; Come, let's take our fill of love, I have offered Burnt-offerings and Peace-offerings to day: So you, Come, let's build on their Foundation, for we are baptized with Believers Baptiſm, and have gathered Churches, and ſeparated from the Church of England. Don't you know that Separation is not a mark of the Spirit ſufficient to carry you out, Jude Ep. 19. No, nor giving your goods or bodies to the fire neither, p. 451 Cor. 13, no, nor the multitude of your Party, 1 Kings 18.22. and Chap. 23.20.21, 23, 24. For your pretended holineſs, prayers, and zeal, Mat. 6.5, 7, 8. Phil. 3.6.— Now ſeeing you build upon the Foundation of Antichriſt, the very Doctrines of the Whore, and cloath your ſelves with his Scarlet Coverings, hating all that are not of your Sect, eſpecially of the Element of Water, and with her Whores Righteouſneſs, viz. that of Works, for Faith and Repentance are our Works for Juſtification; and yet rail ſo egregiouſly againſt others for holding ſome of her Ceremonies and Figures,—which at worſt can't be ſo bad as her Doctrine is; therefore ſweep your own doors, and pluck the Beam out of your own eyes, ye Hypocrites, Luke 6.42.

The ſeventeenth Article cuts its own Throat, for none are more notorious Hereticks than you Pelagians, Arminians, that have drunk down the Poyſon of Antichriſt in theſe damnable Principles, which p. 46never no true Proteſtant held, ſince the Reformation, till Arminius and Grotius in Germany, and the Socinians in Muſcovia, till King James his days, who gave a breathing time to the Promulgators of it, and permitted it liberty, to the rooting it ſelf in the Brittiſh Soyls. All the Martyrs died profeſſed Enemies againſt it, and charged it upon the Papiſts, who ever owned it as the Foundation of all their Doctrine. See Foxes Martyrol.

— O! monſtrum horrendum ingens —

Auguſtine oppoſed it in the fifth Cent. wherein Pelagius firſt broached it in the Weſtern World; and being baniſhed from Rome, brought it into Britain. Not a word of it in the firſt four hundred years after Chriſt, though the Arrians, Neſtorians, Eutychians, and Manechees ſwarmed with damnable Hereſies, yet not a word of this new Goſpel; though I believe the Baſis of it was laid by Cerinthus and Cerbion, in Primitive times, and by the falſe Apoſtles before the Apoſtles death, p. 47as the Apoſtle demonſtrates in his Epiſtles to the Galatians, Romans, and Hebrews. Therefore we muſt leave to do with you after the firſt and ſecond Admonition, and reject you, as the poyſon of the Church, and the greateſt Enemies to Chriſt, his imputed Righteouſneſs, and our precious Souls.

The eighteenth Article proclaims loudly falling away from Grace, and ſo ſpeakes perfectly the Language of Rome. See Dr. Willet againſt Papiſts, in his Fifth Abſurdity of General Redemption and Univerſal Grace, pag. 912 of his Sinopſis. This Errour was deteſted by the Fathers of the Primitive Times; as firſt Dionyſius the Areopagita, in his Eleventh Epiſtle to Apollophanus, who as he ſays of himſelf, was 25 years of Age at Chriſt's death. Next Juſtin Martyr, 163 years after Chriſt, in his Explic. Queſt. a Gentibus Chriſt. poſitaram, Queſt. 23. and Queſt. 98. he declares againſt it, That the Saints cannot fall away, being once in Chriſt. Then Ireneus, about 182 p. 48years poſt Chriſt lib. 5. Cont. Hereſ. pag. 550. to 558. and pag. 564. accordingto the Edition at Baſil, 571. — And Clemens Alexandrinus, a learned man, Anno Chriſti 200— Then Tertullian, about the ſame time, in his Book Adverſus Hereticos. cap. 2. Editio Beati Rhenati Pariſus, 1566. Tom. 1. par. 161.162. — Nemo ſapiens, nemo fidelis, nemo major eſt, niſi Chriſtianus. Nemo autem Chriſtianus, niſi qui ad finem uſ que perſeveraverit. And Origen— And Cyprian, Anno 270. poſt Chriſtum. Arnobius, Hilarie, and Baſil, 370. Ambroſe 400 Epiphanius and Chryſoſtom, Anno Chriſti 230. and Anguſtine in cent. 5. Cyril, proſper, and Gregory the Great, 600. and Bede 700. Anſelme, 1093. ſince the Conqueſt; and Bernard, Anno 1140. As in a Sermon on Can. 7.9. and Can. 3.4. I held him, and would not let him go, untill I had brought him into my Mothers houſe. He deſcants thus. Venerunt flumina flaverunt venti & impegerunt in eam & non cccidit, co quod fundata eſſet ſupra petram, petra autem eſt Chriſtus, p. 49Anno Chriſti, 1616. And Luther, and Calvin, Melancthon, Zuinglius, and Zanchy, and all the Councils, as Milivitan. Can. 3.4. Jo. Huſ. and all the Proteſtants beyond the Seas, have wrote againſt the Papiſts, and defended the impoſſibility of a Believers falling finally. And to ſhut up all, take Chriſts own words, Joh. 10.26, 27, 28, 29. And laſtly, take Auguſt. once more, lib. de cor. rep. & grat. Chap. 7. Eorum qui Electi ſunt, ſi quiſpiam perit fallitur Deus, ſed nemo eorum perit quia non fallitur Deus, 2 Tim. 2.19. Rev. 3.3. Heb. 6.4.5. are, with other ſuch places, ſpoken of Hypocrites; as Mat. 13.5, 6, 7. which were never elected, or truly converted and called. Where are you now? can you ſubvert Chriſts words, Joh. 10.26. Ye believe not, becauſe ye are not my Sheep; And Rom. 8. latter end; My Sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and they ſhall never periſh, and none ſhall pluck them out of my hand. And then for that Text, Joh. 15. you pervert it, p. 50as you do other Texts, to your own deſtruction, 2 Pet. 3. For every Plant or Branch in Chriſt the Vine, by external profeſſion, that brings not forth the fruit of true Faith, for Faith is the fruit of the Spirit, ſhall be taken away from that profeſſion, to ſome damnable Hereſie or Atheiſme: And that Scripture is verified in you, and hundreds more of you Baptiſts, who ſince you have forſaken your Baptiſm, and the Covenant of the Grace of God, are given up to damnable Hereſies, to Arminianiſm, Pelagianiſm, a Popiſh Principle, and ſome to Quakeriſm, and flat Atheiſm: And therefore this day is that Doctrine of Chriſt fulfilled upon you. O! that God would grant you repentance, 2 Tim. 2.25. it is God that gives repentance; and it is to be feared, becauſe you have ſtoln that Prerogative from God, and placed it in your ſelves, that God will harden your hearts, as he did Pharaoh's, Rom. 9. and give you up to believe a lye, that you may be damned, 2 Theſ. 2.10, 11, 12. p. 51and Joh. 12.40. blind your eyes, and harden your hearts, leſt you ſhould be converted: For to him is all Power, and Glory, and Freedom, to do what he will in Heaven and Earth, for ever and ever, Rom. 11. laſt.

The nineteenth Article makes proviſion for the poor, and belongs to the Church-wardens and Overſeers of the Poor, and to the Kings Juſtices of the Peace at the Quarter Seſſions, and Monthly Meetings: Nevertheleſs, I deſire to give of my Morſel to every one that wants, and a Cup of Water to a Diſciple in the name of a Diſciple.

This is the Mode of all Sects and Hereſies, this day in the World, to call all their own Brood Saints: ſo do the Papiſts, Arrians, Arminians, Socinians, Quakers, and Baptiſts. This is that Chriſt propheſied of, Mat. 2.11. Loe here is Chriſt, loe there is Chriſt; but you are all deceived, for Chriſt is not confined to your ſecret Chambers, to your Societies, or to your Wilderneſs: he is whereever p. 52the Faith of Chriſt is, which you deny, having brought another Goſpel, Gal. 1. and are therefore accurſed.

The twentieth Article profeſſes the Reſurrection from the Dead, which the Quakers do ſeem to deny; that is, that the Bodies of the Saints that died, ſhall riſe again, and together with Chriſt their Head be glorified; and the Bodies of the Unbelievers be raiſed, and their Spirits and Souls be re-conjoyned, and ſuffer together with the Devils to all Eternity. But ſome of you Baptiſtical Arminians do hold, that the Soul is mortal, and dies with the Body, till the Reſurrection,— contrary to the true Churches confeſſion in all Ages, and to the Scriptures, Phil. 1.21, 22, 23. ver. If Paul's Soul had died with his Body till the Reſurrection, it had been no gain to him to die; for then there had been more gain to have lived, though in a wicked World, becauſe here he by Faith enjoyed Chriſt, and his Soul lived with his Body; but p. 53when dead, his Soul alſo ſlept at leaſt, and then he could enjoy no Communion of Chriſt, till the time of the Reſurrection: But to die is gain; Ergo, his Soul did live and enjoy Chriſt immediately after his diſſolution, as verſ. 23. Again, Heb. 9. after Death comes Judgment, yea a particular Judgment of the particular Soul: but if the Soul die with the body, though but for a time, then no particular Judgment, which the Scripture allows: if the Soul dies with the Body till the Reſurrection, what need then is there that Chriſt ſhould intercede, Heb. 9.24. and appear there before God for the Saints, Heb. 6.20. What does he appear for the dead? then he need not intercede till they live, that is, till the Reſurrection: Beſide, Chriſts Argument to the Sadduces, your half Brethren, may ſerve to confute you, God is not the God of the dead, but of the living; Ergo, the Souls of Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, and all do live, though their Bodies be dead, and Chriſt, in reſpect p. 54of his Body, is the Fore-runner, becauſe the Bodies of the Saints ſhall alſo (their Souls being reconjoyned) enter with him, Joh. 17.24. 1 Joh. 3.2. Phil. 3.21. and the Souls of the damned are now in Hell, Jude Epiſt. verſ. 7.2 Pet. 2.7. Ergo, the Souls of Saints are now in glory with Chriſt the Lord. And laſtly, the old Whores Purgatory is better than your mortality, for a live Dog is better than a dead Lyon, Eccleſ. 9.4.

The one and twentieth Article acknowledgeth a general Judgment, but tacitly denieth the particular Judgment, becauſe the Authors of the Article deny the Immortality of the Soul, from the time of the death of the Body, to the general Reſurrection, as I ſaid before: It is, ſaith Paul, appointed once for every man to die, and after that death, to Judgment; that is, every particular man; for the Premiſes is particular, therefore the Aſſumption muſt be particular: the death he ſpeaks of is a particular death; Ergo, the Judgment p. 55that follows is a particular Judgment; which, I ſay, theſe good Gentlemen tacitly deny: It is abſurd, that the Soul ſhould not live a moment; for if the Soul be immortal, à parte poſt, that is, from the inſtant of its infuſion into the Body, it may not deſiſt from life a moment, for then it would loſe its Immortality. If we grant you Mortality of the Soul for a time, they may as well beg its Mortality for ever; for to unreaſonable perſons that have not the true Faith of Chriſt, grant an Inch, and they will crave an Ell.

But I paſs to the two and twentieth Article, which is like a Jewel in a Swines Snout: What, the Kingdom of Chriſt ſet upon the Foundation of the Whore of Babylon, and Antichriſt? it loaths my Soul to ſee it. The Reign of Chriſt in the Kingdoms of the World in his Saints, in a reſtorative Apoſtolical manner, before the final diſſolution of the World, is and ever was the Judgment and Faith of Saints; p. 56and not only ſo, but at the general Judgment, when Chriſt ſhall again the ſecond time appear, Acts 1. in that glorified body of his, and deſcend from the Throne, in that fleſh he did aſcend with, the innumerable Societies of Saints and Angels, the then living Saints being changed, 1 Theſ. 4. ult. Phil. 3. ult. to meet the Lord in the Clouds of Heaven, and together with him, to return to take the Kingdoms of the World into his poſſeſſion, Dan. 7. Rev. 11. and ſo to judge the Earth, and give his beheaded and ſuffering Sons, Rev. 20. quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the new Heavens, and new Earth, Iſai. 63. and 2 Pet. 3. till the ſecond and laſt Trumpet, 1 Cor. 15. whether numerically for a thouſand years, or leſs, or more, may be diſputable by ſome; but for the ſum and ſubſtance, hath been owned from the very Apoſtles days by the Fathers; as Papias, Juſtin Martyr, and Irenaeus, and almoſt, if not all, except Auguſt. and Jerom, who yet ſpake very favourably fo the Chyleaſts, p. 57or fifth Monarchical Judgment. Licet non ſequamur, tamen damnare non poſſumus, quia mult… Eccleſiaſticorum virorum iſta dixerunt, Jer. 23. Ep. de regnand. ſecundo Chriſti. But to ſet up this glorious Truth and Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt upon a rotten Papiſtical, Pelagian, Arminian, Heretical, Antichriſtian Foundation, you will receive the reward of the Phariſees, Mat. 7. Lord, we have propheſied in thy Name, and caſt out Devils: but, ſaith Chriſt, depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for unbelievers.

The three and twentieth Article pleads for the holy Scriptures to be the Rule of Faith and Life; it is one thing to take the Letter of the Scripture, with the Doctrine and ſenſe of the Holy Ghoſt included, and another thing to accept for our Rule the humane gloſſes of mens natural or deluded ſpirits, the latter of which is equal with their Errour that deny the regular Authority of the Scriptures: The Letter of the Scriptures, and the Spirit of Jeſus, p. 58are both in Commiſſion from Chriſt our Prophet to teach his people: they that exclude the Spirit, and pretend the Letter, are as unfortunate as Arminians, Socinians, Pelagians, and other Carnal Hereticks: but they that reject the Letter, and pretend the Spirit, are ſwallowed up of Enthuſiaſtical Deluſions, as Quakers and ſuch like: For whom God hath joyned together, we muſt not dare to ſeparate aſunder, without incurring the Curſe of adding or diminiſhing.

The twenty fourth Article pleads for Liberty of Conſcience in ſpiritual matters: It is not to be doubtted but that the Saints of God ought to have their liberty to worſhip God; and to hinder them, is the greateſt ſin, next to the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt: but the queſtion is, who are the Saints? 2. Whether falſe worſhippers may have liberty from godly Magiſtrates? 1. Saints are either called to the Faith of Chriſt, and ſo to the profeſſion of it; and ſuch are viſible, though p. 59they may differ among themſelves in ſome circumſtances: 2. Saints that are Elect, but uncalled, may be among them that are falſe worſhippers, till called: the firſt only worſhip God truly; becauſe none can worſhip God truly, but ſuch as truly believe in the Son of God, according to the Declaration of God, and that Record he hath given in the Word of his Son; viz. that Chriſt was made Sin, and a Curſe; that he laid their ſins on Chriſt, and ſo freed them, and their Curſe; and ſo that Righteouſneſs of the Law fulfilled in his Perſon as God-man, is imputed to them for their whole Righteouſneſs, which they by Faith alone receiving, are viſible Saints, and do worſhip God truly: they that have not this Faith, though Angels in appearance, are but falſe worſhippers, becauſe the Law of Faith in Chriſt, is the fulfilling of the whole Law directly, the firſt Table towards God, Exod. 20. containing firſt four Commandments, that is fulfilled compleatly p. 60in a true Believer: and foraſmuch as Love flows from Faith, ſo is the ſecond Table fulfilled in a true believer; but this fulfilling the Law by Faith in a Believer, is not his Juſtification or Righteouſneſs before God, for that is Chriſts fulfilling it in his Perſon, Rom. 8.2, 3, 4. and Gods imputing it to the ſinner, Rom. 4.5, 6, 7. and Faith as an Inſtrument receives it, and applies it to its ſelf: So then the Act of Faith in us doth not juſtifie, for then our Works and the Law would juſtifie, but it is ſtill Chriſt alone that juſtifies, Rom. 8. To the ſecond queſtion; the Magiſtrate may reſtrain falſe worſhippers: See Rev. 2.20. and 2 Cor. 10.5. the Inſtruments of the Church for this purpoſe are ſpiritual, 1 Cor. 5. delivering the proud and contemptible to Satan; and the godly Magiſtrate is but a Ruling Elder, whether in a Congregation or Nation. Let the Tares grow with the Wheat—ſome ſay is meant of ſecret Hypocrites: but I ſuppoſe that blood-ſhed, conſiſcation, p. 61or any corporal perſecution in this day, is not to be in any wiſe inflicted on deluded Conſciences.

The twenty fifth and laſt Article, ſeems to contradict his Predeceſſor; for he allows the Magiſtrate to puniſh evil doers, and incourage the good, but his Predeceſſor flatly denies the Magiſtrate to have any thing to do with matters of Divine Worſhip. Now among the Pretenders to Spiritual Worſhip, three parts for one may be ſuppoſed to be erronious: Now, what is more cruel than falſe worſhip? Ergo, the Magiſtrate is to puniſh falſe Worſhippers, or elſe he muſt not puniſh all evil doers, foraſmuch as ſuch are the greateſt evil doers in quality, if not in quantity, or number. But here lies a Falacy occult to moſt mens judgments; falſe worſhip, ſay they, conſiſts in mode, or manner of worſhip, not conſidering that the greateſt evil in worſhip lies in the ſubſtance, not in the mode: For falſe worſhip conſiſts either in the ſubſtance, as in a falſe Faith, and p. 62falſe Principle, or elſe in falſe mode, or manner of worſhip: the laſt is bad, but the former worſt of all, becauſe it is the ground of the latter; the latter, though true, is but a form of godlineſs, if the former be wanting. Hence all Arrians, Socinians, and the greateſt part of Rattabaptiſts, Arminians, Free-willers, General Redemptioniſts, Conditional Decretiſts, and Quakers err in the former, though ſome of them may not in the latter; therefore, at beſt, have but a form of godlineſs, and from ſuch we are commanded to turn away; for the Power conſiſts in true Faith, and true Principles, and true love to God and Man, both ariſing from the diphthongued Union between the Soul, and the Man Chriſt Jeſus, by the Spirit of the Lord; and then mode, order, and diſciplinal method will be ſoon rectified, if the Premiſes be truly grounded, or elſe not.