Some New Blazing Stars Styling Themselves New Lights, Dedication
TO The High and Honourable Court of PARLIAMENT.
MOſt Religious and Judicious SENATORS, I here preſent to your ſaddest thoughts and ſerious deliberations, an abſtract of ſundry moſt ſcurrilous, ſcandalous, ſeditious railing Libels, lately publiſhed to the world in Print, by ſome Anabaptisticall Independent Sectaries, and New-lighted FIRE-BRANDS; wherein the undoubted Priviledges, Ordinances, juſt Proceedings of Parliament; the Reverend Aſſembly of Divines; our Brethren of Scotland; the Church of England, with her Government, Miniſters, Worſhip; the Nationall Covenant, Directory, Presbytery; profeſſed Defenders of the Parliaments Priviledges, Ordinances againſt their Licentious Schiſmaticall Practiſes, (according to their Solemn Vow and Covenant) are ſo audaciouſly affronted, oppugned, ſlandered, railed againſt; and the Common people ſo earneſtly excited to mutiny againſt the Parliament Aſſembly, Presbytery, Government and Miniſters of our Church of England, that I am confident no former Age did ever produce ſuch Monſtrous Inſolencies, ſuch deteſtable virulent Libels, which neither the Honour, Justice, nor Wiſdome of that Soveraigne Court of Justice wherein you are Aſſeſſors, nor the Peace and Safety of our Religion, Church, State, nor your own perſonall ſecurity, nor the Nationall Vow and Covenant, (engaging both your Honours and all others who have taken it againſt theſe pernitious Mutiniers) can any longer ſuffer you patiently to tollerate (as hitherto you have done) without exemplary proceedings againſt, and puniſhments upon the Authors, Printers, Publiſhers, Diſperſers of theſe moſt ſcurrilous and mutinous Pamphlets. Wherein they moſt injuriouſly and falſly revile, traduce all ſuch for Perſecutors, Fighters againſt Chriſt and his Kingdome, Enemies to the wayes of Christ, pulling his royall Crown from off his head, his kingly Scepter out of his hand, Oppugners of the moſt religious, conſcientious, Godly, beſt-affected Party (as they Phariſaically and falſly terme themſelves) dividers betweene the Parliament and their beſt, their faithfulleſt Freinds; Prophane Apoſtates, Popiſh Jeſuiticall Incendiaries, haters of Gods people, and the like; who out of conſcience, ſolid Judgment and cordiall affection to the ſafety, tranquility of Religion, Parliament, Church, Kingdome, dare openly by word or writing, maintain the undoubted Juriſdiction of Parliaments, Synods, Magiſtrates in Eccleſiaſticall affaires, or oppoſe their factions, ſchiſmaticall Independent wayes and Innovations, deſtructive both to Magiſtracy, Miniſtery, Vnity, Parliaments, and that bleſſed Reformation ſo much deſired.
For my owne particular, I have with much Patience and Contempt endured, without any Reply at all, their falſe unchriſtian Invectives againſt my ſelf, only for Writing in Vindication of the undoubted Eccleſiaſticall juriſdiction, directive and coercive power of Chriſtian Emperours, Kings, Magiſtrates, Parliaments, in matters of Religion and Church-government, in my, Truth triumphing over Falſehood, Antiquity over Novelty, publiſhed with Your ſpeciall approbation; and my Independency Examined, (which have much incenſed this waſpiſh Generation, unable to give any ſatisfactory anſwers to them) and I ſhould have continued ſilence ſtill, had my own private intereſt only been concerned. But when I diſcerned them to be ſo audaciouſly licentious, preſumptuous, as To aPſal. 73. 9.ſet their mouth against the Heavens, to bExod, 22. 28. Acts 23. 5.revile the very Gods themſelves, and curſe the Rulers of the people; c2 Pet. 2. 10.to deſpiſe Government and ſpeak evill of Dignities, to bring railing accuſations against, and d2 Theſ. 2. 4.reſist the Higher Powers, publiſhing Libell after Libell, againſt the Proceedings, Ordinances, and Juriſdiction of the preſent Parliament and Aſſembly, yea with Antichriſtian pride, to e2 Pet. 2. 11. Rom. 13.oppoſe and exalt themſelves above all that is called God, or that is werſhipped (as they have lately done, in the Pamphlets hereafter mentioned, and in the Nativity of Sir Iohn Presbyter, &c. freſhly publiſhed ſince the reſt; every of theſe latter Libels being more ſeditious and pernitious then the former) andfMar. 15. 7. Barrabas like, to ſtirre up ſedition and inſurrection among the people, againſt the Ordinances, Votes of Parliament, and that Eccleſiaſticall reformation and Pre-byteriall government You have reſolved to eſtabliſh;gJer. 4. 19. My bowels; my bowels were pained within me at my very heart, ſo that I could not hold my peace, nor keepe ſilence any longer, becauſe thou haſt heard, O my ſoul, the ſound of theſe ſeditious Trumpets, and the alarme of this Schiſmaticall Anti-Parliamentary war: Yea ſhould I now refraine from writing, the very ſtones themſelves would immediately cry out againſt their moſt infamous Libels and mutino…s preſumptuous Practiſes, oppoſite to all publike Order, Government, Authority.
And the rather am I neceſſitated to this ungratefull worke, becauſe their very Libels, actions, ſpeeches proclaime a plotted avowed Confederacy among ſome furious Ringleaders of theſe Independent Sectaries (though I preſume the more moderate are not guilty of it) againſt the Parliament, Aſſembly, and all their Reſolves in matters of Religion or Church-Government, yea, againſt our very Church, Miniſters, and Tithes the meanes of their ſupport; as their Libellous Paſſages againſt the Eccleſiaſticall Power, proceedings of the Parliament and Aſſembly; their publike oppoſitions againſt the Nationall Covenant, Directory, the Ordinances prohibiting diſorderly & unlicenſed Printing of Libellous Sciſmaticall Pamphlets; againſt Lay-mens preaching in the Army or elſe-where; for due Payment of Tythes, &c. recited in the enſuing Sections, will at large declare.
And that which further confirmes me in this opinion, is: Firſt, the New Seditious Covenants which the Members of ſome Independent Congregations enter into; To adhere, defend, maintain, to the utmoſt of their powers, and contend for, even unto blood, the eſtabliſhment of that Independent form of Church Government which themſelves have ſet up and ſubmitted to, and oppoſe the Presbyterian, in contempt of the Parliaments Authority: in truth meere Anti-covenants of the Nationall League and Covenant, which they utterly refuſe to take, and rayle againſt.
2. Their menacing predictions to the Aſſembly and Presbytery in their two laſtkMartins Eccho. p. 5. 6. The Nativity of Sir Iohn Presbyter, p. 5. 9. 10. 1…. Libels; wherin they print, That the time haſtens the people will call them to an Account, and repell and confound them by the ſword; That the life of Sir Iohn Presbyter is like to be neither long nor good; That he wilbe brought to a ſudden untimely end, Perhaps HANGING. That Presbytry ſhall live but a ſhort time to do miſcheife, and then, THE COMMON PEOPLE will beg in to ſing, Her Toſſe, The Devil's dead; Presbytery will quickly dye, the Synod be diſſolved, the divell chained up: and therefore follow the adviſe of old Cat…; Spem retine. Rejoyce O heavens, ſing aloud O earth, clap thy hands for Joy, O England-poſt nubula ſoles; thou ſhalt have a time of Quietneſſe, of pence, of content, for Presbytery will have never a Child to vexe thee, to Impriſon thy free Denizens, to ſucke up thy fatte, devoure thy good things and eat up thy bread out of thy Childrens mouthes, and himſelfe is not long lived, as I ſhewed before; and then farewell perſecution for conſcience, farewell Ordinance for Tithes, farewell Eccleſiaſticall Supremacy, farewell Pontifical Revenue, farewel Aſſembly of Divines diſſembled at Weſtminſter, you ſhall conſult together no more, farewell Sr. Simon Synod, and his ſon Presbyter Iacke.
Gens antiquaruit, multos dominata perannos, &c.
Which paſſages, preſage and intimate nought elſe, but a plain conſpiracy, confederacy, againſt the Aſſembly, Presbytery and presbyterian party.
3. Some late ſeditious ſpeeches of two preaching Captaines of this Schiſmaticall Confederacy; who being apprehended and queſtioned by Sr. Samuell Lukes Officers for preaching in Newport-Pannell, and other places neare adjoyning, in contempt of an Ordinance of Parliament made the 26. of April 1645. which ordaines, That no perſon be permitted to preach who is not ordained a Miniſter▪ threatning condigne puniſhment to the offenders againſt it for their contempts; enjoyning Sr. Thomas Fairfax, the Lord Major, the Committee of Militia for London; the Governours, Commanders, and Magiſtrates of all Garriſons, Caſtles, Places of ſtrength, Citties, Townes, Forts, Ports, and the reſpective Committees of each County, To ſee the ſame duly obſerved in the Army and places aforeſaid, and make ſpeedy repreſentation to both Houſes, of ſuch as ſhall offend therein. Theſe Captaine preachers; (far wiſer then that devout Centurian Cornelius, who feared God with all his houſe, and prayed to God alwaies; yet never turned Preacher to his owne Band, for ought we read, but by Gods own direction from heaven, ſent for the Apoſtle Peter to inſtruct him and his family, Acts 10.) among other ſpeeches averred; That they were illegally uſed by Sr Samuel in being apprehended (for their contempt againſt this Ordinance;) moſt faſly and ſeditiouſly affirming, That the Generall & all the Colonels in the Army were deeply engaged. IN THEIR DESIGNE: That they would acquaint their FRIENDS IN THE HOVSE OF COMMONS of their bad uſage, that they had done nothing but taught the Word of God; (among other things, that wee had no true Church not Miniſtry, and that the children of Beleevers had no more right to Baptiſme then thoſe of Infidels, &c.) which they would juſtifie, and thoſe friends likewiſe: That they had Commiſſion from the Parliament for what they did, &c. Whereupon one Capt. Oxford anſwering them; That he was confident there were few or none in the Houſe would uphold them (againſt an expreſſe Ordinance of both houſes) and that the Generall and Collonels would not ſide with them in this caſe: The ſaid Pedicant Captains replyed; That ſhould be tryed ſpeedily: For they were reſolved to make this buſineſſe THE LEADING CASE OF THE KINGDOME FOR ALL THE GODLY PARTY: Note.adding; That if the godly and wel-affected party were thus perſecuted, they ſhould be forced TO MAKE A WORSE BREACH THEN WHAT WAS YET, WHEN THEY HAD DONE WITH THE KINGS PARTY: and telling Enſign Ratford and his Souldiers, that they were worſe then Cavaliers; and that when they had made an end of the war with the Cavaliers, THEY SHOVLD BE FORCT TO RAISE A NEW ARMY TO FIGHT WITH THEM.
Certainly theſe ſeditious privy Covenants, Libels, Speeches, compared with the enſuing Sections, Letters, diſcover and portend no leſſe then a ſtrong conſpiracy among ſome Anabaptisticall Sectaries to oppoſe the Power, Ordinances and Proceedings of Parliament, to extirpate all other Governments but their own, and to ſet it up by the ſword, or popular commotions in deſpight of your Authority. And is it not then high time for your Honours, with all other well-affected Perſons to look about you? to Vindicate your own Power, Honour, Juſtice, againſt theſe moſt ſeditious, audatious, contemptuous libellers againſt your Soveraign Authority, your moſt Religious Ordinances, proceedings in the deſired waies of Reformation; and to make ſome of them Exemplary Monuments of your Impartiall ſeverity, to deter others from the like unparalleld Inſolencies, not read nor heard of in any preceding Age, nor practiſed by any Generation of men, but theſe New furious Sectaries: who to engage all ſorts of people in their Quarrell, proclaim a free Toleration and Liberty of Conſcience, to all Sects, all Religions whatſoever, be it Judaiſ…e, Paganiſme, Turciſme, Arianiſme, Popery; (as all their Pamphlets manifeſt) And to intereſt the female Sex, and draw them to their party, they (contrary to the n1 Cor. 14. 34. 35. 1 Tim. 2. 11, 12.Apoſtles precept) allow them not only deciſive Votes, but Liberty of Preaching Propheſying, ſpeaking in their Congregations; yea, power to meet in their*Which they uſed in New port Pa…ell, (contrary to the Governours Command. Nocturnall Conventicles, without their Husbands, Parents, Ministers Privitie, the better to propagate Chriſts Kingdome, and multiply the Godly party: Which, what confuſion and Ataxy it will ſoon▪ produce in Church and State, if not prevented by your Honours extraordinary ſpeedy Diligence, Wiſdome, Power, I humbly ſubmit to your deepeſt Judgements.
I am certain your Honours have read theaSl…idan, Com. l. 5. 10. Gaſtius, de Anabaptiſt: Erroribus. Bullinger adverſ. Anabaptiſt. Guil. de Bres C…ntr. Les Anabap…ſtes. D. Featlies Dippers Dipt, p. 199. 200, &c The Hiſtory of the Anabaptiſts. Hiſtories of the Tragicall Wars and Commotions of the Anabaptiſts in Germany; whoſe Opinions where-ever they predominate, are fatall to the Government, Magiſtracy, Miniſtery of all States, Churches, and bring in popular Tyranny, and licentiouſneſſe, the worſt of evils. O then let not your Honours Patience or Indulgence to ſuch Anabaptiſticall Libellers involve both you, us, our Realm, in like German popular Sedicions, Devastations, and bloody Maſſacres, which they threaten: but if theſe New ſeditious Lights and Fire-brands, will needs ſet up New Churches, Hereſies, Church-governments, and vent their new errors or opinions againſt your Power and Authority, let them doe it onelyonly in NEW-ENGLAND, or other NEW-FOVNDLANDS, ſince OLD ENGLAND needes them not, unleſſe it be to ſet her all on fire.
As for thoſe furious Champions and Emiſſaries of theirs who have moſt preſumptuouſly oppoſed your religious Ordinances, by word, deed, and preſuming on the ſtrength of their Freinds within your Wals, (the opinion wherof, with your former Lenity towards them hath much increaſed their ſpreading Leproſy] intend now at laſt to try this iſſue with your Honours; whether your juſt Ordinances, or their willfull Contempts againſt them ſhall take place; It is preſumed you will ſo proceed gainſt them, and the Authors, Printers, Publiſhers of the execrable Libells h…re preſented to your veiw, that they and all the world ſhal know, You a…e a Soveraigne Court of Parliament; whoſe priviledges, Honour, you have all joyntly Covenanted to mantain with your Lives, Power, Fortunes; and to proceed againſt all ſuch ſecret Underminers or open Impugners of them, as Capital Delinquents: and theſe Mutineers experimentally know, that no one Member of your Honorable Aſſembly, will ſo far diſhonour himſelf, or violate his publike truſt & Covenant, as to countenance ſuch audacious willfull offenders in the leaſt degree; nor yet for Fear or Favour of any Faction, any Perſon how great ſoever, decline one hairs-bredth from that ſtraite path of Truth and publike Juſtice, [the greateſt Security and ſupport of Parliaments, Kingdoms] eſpecially in theſe Leading-caſes, wherein you are moſt concerned, and as much obleiged to maintain your own Priviledges, Power, Reputations, Ordinances, againſt Seditious Sectaries, as againſt Rebellious C…valeers: or elſe diſſolve, give over your intended almoſt-accompliſhed Reformation; and ſo render your ſelves, with your Proceedings contemptible to all the world: which God forbid.
If any ſhould Object;Object. that the Puniſhment of theſe groſſe Libellers & Ring-leaders of ſedition would diſcontent and diſengage the Independents, with all other Sectaries of their opinion, who are a conſiderable party now; which might prove dangerous to the ſtate in this juncture of our publike Affaires.
I anſwer:Anſw. 1. That I doubt not all moderate and juditious perſons of that party wil willingly diſclaime, if not excomunicate, baniſh them their Congregations, and yeeld them up to publike Juſtice, as perſons worthy the ſevereſt Cenſures; elſe all the world will cry ſhame upon them. Secondly, Admit your executing Juſtice on them ſhould diſcontent their party; yet thankes be to God (for all their vapouring] they are not ſo potent, ſo conſiderable as to over-aw a Parliament from doing Juſtice on ſuch of their party, who Libel againſt, or affront their power & proceedings; in which caſe, our whole three Kingdomes are ſolemnly engaged by publike Covenant to aſſiſt you to the utmoſt, with their very lives and fortunes. Thirdly, The greatnes of the Kings Power, party, hath not retarded you from executing Juſtice upon Strafford, Canterbury, Tompkins, & ſundry other delinquents: Shall then the leſſe conſiderable Faction of Anahaptiſts and other Sectaries hinder you from proceeding againſt a few ſeditious Libellers and Delinquents of their party? Fourthly, Either you muſt permit them to go on to libel and affront your Authority, Orders, proceedings ſtill, without exemplary puniſhments, to your great diſhonour, infamy: or elſe proceed againſt them now, whiles your Ordinances, and their contempts againſt them are freſh, their party ſmall: elſe they will plead preſcription, and you will be leſſe engaged, leſſe able to puniſh them hereafter, in caſe they ſhould grow ſtronger and more numerous. Principiis obſtandum; is ever the beſt policy. Fiftly, Let their party be as conſiderable, as potent as is falſely ſurmiſed by themſelves, yet I humbly conceive, it ſtands neither with the Majeſty, Honour, Power, nor Wiſdome of a Parliament, to be afraid of doing Juſtice (eſpecially in maintenance of their own Ordinances, Priviledges whoever they diſcontent: In ſuch a caſe, Fiat Juſtitia, ruet Caelum; is the ſafeſt Reſolution.
Majestrates and inferiour Judges (much more then ſupreameſt Courts of Judicature) muſt not *Pſal. 56. 4. Iſa. 7. 4. Jer. …. …. 17▪fear the faces nor Frowns of any Mortalls in diſcharging their duties, but execute Juſtice and Judgement, what ever comes of it, and truſt God with the Event.
Sixtly, The not doing Exemplary Juſtice in ſuch leading caſes of publike Concernment, will render your Parliamentary Authority, Ordinances, Proceedings more contemptible to your own party, then ever they were unto the Kings: yea, animate the Country Club-men and every inconſiderable Sectary, not only to Jeat, contemn, diſobey your Ordinances and Commands, but at laſt to preſcribe Laws unto you, [as*See 31. H. 6. c. 1. Iack Cade and his Confederates did to the Parliament in the 29. of Hen. 6.] Which will by conſequence bring Parliaments into contempt, and ſo ſpeedy deſolation upon all our Dominions, after ſo many ſucceſſefull proceedings. Up therefore and be doing Juſtice upon ſome few chiefe offenders of this kinde for the preſent, to prevent execution upon many others, if not ruin on us all, for the future, and God himſelfe will no doubt be with you;*Pſal. 56. 4. You neede not fear what fleſh can do unto you, or Sectaries ſpeake or write againſt you: whoſe enſuing ſcurrilous Libellous Seditious paſſages will ſo publikely diſcover their uncharitable, unchriſtian, Libellous, ſlandering, tumultuous diſpoſitions, and hypocriticall, falſe, froward, licentious tempers, to all the world, as will render them odious to all ſober minded, peaceable, conſciencious, modeſt Chriſtians, if not to themſelves, and all ingenious perſons of their own Sects; and ſo, through Gods bleſſing, reduce many of them to the boſome of our Church, from which they have formerly revolted.
It is not my intention by any the premiſſes to ſoure or exaſperate your Honours in the leaſt degree againſt any peaceable, Conſciencious, Orthodox, or truly Religious Chriſtians, ſeduced by the Independent party; or to ſtir up any kind of perſecution againſt ſuch; whoſe conſciences will (I doubt not) in due time be fully ſatisfied, perſwaded to ſubmit to that Presbyteriall Church-Goverment and Diſcipline, which you have now reſolved to eſtabliſh in our Churches▪ there being nought there in repugnant to Gods word, or which any well-informed Conſcience, can have cauſe to ſcruple at. Towards ſuch as theſe, it is moſt juſt and reaſonable, all Chriſtian Charity, meekneſſe, long-ſuffering, brotherly love, and fitting liberty ſhould be Indulged for the preſent, till God ſhall further open their eyes and turn their hearts unto us. For whoſe better ſati…faction in the irregularities of their new concealed Independent way, I have here-unto ſubjoyned ſome Letters and other Papers lately ſent me from the Summer Iſlands; whereby they may diſcover, the faction; arrogance, pride and Cruelty of the Independent Miniſters there, and that the Liberty of conſcience they plead for, & pretend they grant to Presbyterians, others; and the peaceableneſſe of their way, is but a meere fiction, contradicted by their practiſe; and likewiſe diſcern, how they lead their followers by a meere implicite faith; impoſe upon them a Popiſh blind Obedience; exerciſe a meere Papall Authority and unlymited dangerous Arbytrary power over them and others; pretending an Vtopian Government after the mind of Chriſt, which is no where written in his word; nor in any claſsicall Authors, Ancient or Modern, but founded only in their own Fancies, not yet fully diſcover'd, nor ſet down in writing, nor agreed on among themſelves, nor publiſhed to others for their better ſatisfaction. The ſerious Conſideration whereof may happily reclaime our Independents here from the error of their ſeperating deſtructive ways, and eaſe the oppreſſed Planters of thoſe Iſlands from that Independent yoake of Bondage under which they ſo much groane, as to cry out to You for releife of their ſore oppreſſions in their Letters: which I ſhall beſeech your Honors in their behalfe (ſince they have made their addreſſes to your Tribunall by my mediation) ſeriouſly to lay to heart, and ſeaſonably to redreſſe.
Thus humbly craving Pardon from your Honorable Aſſembly for my true-hearted Zeale to do you faithfull ſervice, by this unburthening of my conſcience, and preſenting You with this Freſh diſcovery of thoſe New Wandring-ſtarres and Firebrands who revile, oppugne your Eccleſiaſticall Juriſdiction, Proceedings, Ordinances; diſturb the muchdeſired peace of Church, State, (which we ſhould all earneſtly endeavour in theſe diſtracted Times;) I humbly recommend all your faithfull undertakings for the ſecurity, tranquility of both, to Gods owne bleſſing with my devouteſt Oriſons to the throne of Grace, and ever remaine,
Your Honours, the Republikes, Churches, moſt devoted Servant, WILLIAM PRYNNE.
A freſh Diſcovery of prodigious New-Wandring-Blaſing-Stars and Fire-brands, ſtiling themſelves NEVV-LIGHTS: Firing our CHURCH and STATE into New Combuſtions.
THe Apoſtle Paul, led by a Propheticall Spirit, hath left us ſuch an exact Character of the laſt times, and of the exorbitant tempers of many Chriſtian Profeſſor living in them, as never ſuited with any age ſo fitly as this wherein we live, nor with any generation of people, ſo well, as thoſe New-Lights and Sectaries, ſprung up among us, who (being many of them Anabaptiſts) have all new-chriſtned themſelves of late, by the common name of Independents: This character we finde recorded, 2 Tim. 3. 1. to 10. This know alſo, that in the laſt dayes perillous times ſhall come: (and what times were ever more perillous then the preſent?) For men ſhall be lovers of themſelves, coveteous, boaſters, proud, blaſphemers, diſobedient to Parents (Naturall, Civill, Eccleſiaſticall) unthankefull, unholy; without naturall affection, trace-breakers, falſe accuſers, incontinent, fierce, diſpiſers of thoſe that are good; Traytors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleaſures (of their own bellies, luſts, wayes, opinions, fancies) more then lovers of God; having a form of Godlineſſe, but denying the power thereof: FROM SVCHTVRNE AWAY. But ſome might demand of him, by what diſtinguiſhing marke may we know who theſe perſons are? The Apoſtle therefore ſubjoynes ſuch a ſymptome, as ſuits moſt exactly with our new Separating Lights & Conventiclers, Gen. 3. 1, 2, 12. 1 Tim. 2. 14.who forſake the publike aſſemblies, and creep into private houſes, working principally (as the * Devill did at firſt) upon the weakeſt Sex: For of this ſort are they WHICH CREEP INTO HOVSES (thus interpreted by the Apoſtle: Heb. 10. 25. Not forſaking the aſſembling of our ſelves together, or the publike Aſſemblies, as the MANNER OF SOME IS, and of our Sectaries now) and lead Captive SILLY WOMEN, laden with ſinnes, led away with diverſe luſts: EVER LEARNING AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRVTH (as thoſe Independent Seekers are,Jude 23. who like * Wandring Stars, gad every day after New-Lights, New-faſhions of Church Government,James 2. wavering like empty Clouds without wa…er, or waves of the ſea, driven with the wind and toſſed; not knowing yet what Government they would have, or where to fix; Believing and practiſing all things, with a reſerve, to alter their opinions and practiſe every day upon diſcovery of further light, … the Independent Apologiſts profeſſe for themſelves, and adviſe all others to do. Now becauſe ſuch Houſe-creepers and New-lights, have uſually lofty conceits of their own opinions, judgements, wayes; as if the truth of God were monopolized unto them, and therefore all the World ſhould ſpeedily ſubmit to their fooliſh dictates, and erronious by-paths: the Apoſtle immediately paſſeth this cenſure of their perſons and proceedings. Now as Jannes and Jambres withſtood Moſes, ſo do theſe alſo reſiſt the truth: men of corrupt mindes, reprobate (or of no judgement) concerning the faith: but they ſhall proceed no further, for their folly ſhall be manifeſt unto all men, as theirs alſo was. The very detection of their abominable, ſeditious, ſeducing practiſes, ſhall put a ſtop to their proceedings, and fruſtrate all their expectation. Now if any man ſhould doubt whether this propheſie of the Apoſtle were really intended of Separatiſts and Sectaries; the Holy Ghoſt hath reſolved it in direct termes in the generall Epiſtle of Jude, v. 17, 18, 19. But beloved, remember that the words which were ſpoken before of the Apoſtles of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt (and among others of the Apoſtle Paul in the for ecited Text) How that they told them, there ſhould be mockers in the laſt time, who ſhould walk after their own ungodly luſts (not after the Spirit and Word of God which they moſt pretend to: and would you know who theſe are?) Theſe be they who SEPARATE THEMSELVES, ſenſuall, having not the Spirit. To which the Apoſtle Peter addes theſe further deſcriptions of them. 2 Pet, 2. 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19. That they despiſe government, are preſumptuous, felfe-willed, ſpeak evill of Dignities, bring railing accuſations againſt them, ſpeak evill of the things they underſtand not, beguile unſtable ſoules having hearts exerciſed with covetous practiſes, being clouds carried with a tempeſt, Wels without water, who when they ſpeak great ſwelling words of vanity, allure through the luſts of the fleſh, through much wantonnes (of ſpirit as well as fleſh) thoſe who are clean eſcaped from them who live in error: While they promiſe them liberty (the liberty of conſcience to profeſſe what Religion they liſt, to uſe what Church government they pleaſe, without controll of Parliament, Synod, or Magiſtrates) they themſelves are the ſervants of corruption; and as Iude, v. 13. prove Raging waves of the ſea, foaming out their own ſhame, wandring ſtarres, to whom the blackneſſe of darkneſſe is reſerved for ever. All which deſcriptions, how properly they ſuit with our NewIndependent-lights and Incendiaries, I ſhall clearly demonſtrate out of ſeverall clauſes in their late ſeditious Anti-Parliamentary Impreſſions, betraying the rottenneſſe of their hearts, the pride, ſedition, and rebellion of their ſpirits, which I ſhall reduce to theſe ten Sections.
1. Seditious, ſcandalous, libellous, and uncharitable paſſages againſt the authority and juriſdiction of Parliaments, Synods, and temporall Magiſtrates in generall, in Eccleſiaſticall affaires.
2. Againſt ſundry Ordinances and proceedings of this preſent Parliament in particular.
3. Againſt the Nationall Covenant preſcribed by Parliament.
4. Againſt the preſent Aſſembly of Divines, ſitting and acting by order of Parliament.
5. Againſt the Directory ratified by Ordinance of Parliament.
6. Againſt our Brethren of Scotland, whom of late they much applanded.
7. Againſt Presbyterians and Presbyterian government in generall.
8. Againſt the Church of England, her Worſhip, Miniſters, and Government in generall.
9. Againſt ſuch who have out of conſcience written or preached againſt their ſeditious wayes, and Libels.
10. Seditious Queres, Paſſages, and Practiſes, to excite mutinies and popular commotions againſt the Parliament, and diſobedience to its commands.