A SHORT DECLARATION of the mystery of iniquity.  jer. 51.6. 
Flee out of the midst of Babel, and deliver every man his soul, be not destroyed in her iniquity, for this is the time of the lords vengeance, he will render unto her a recompense.  Hosea 10.12. 
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap after the measure of mercy, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the lord, till he come & rain righteousness upon you.  
Anno 1612.   

To the Reader.  
THE fear of the almighty (through the work of his grace) having now at last over weighed in us the fear of men, we have thus far by the direction of God's word and spirit strecthed out our hearts and hands with boldness to confess the name of Christ before men, and to declare to Prince and People plainly their transgressions, that all might hear, & see their fearful estate and standing, and repent, and turn unto the lord before the decree come forth, and before the day of their visitation be past, and that the things that belong to their peace be altogether hid from their eyes: and whereas in this writing we have with all humble boldness spoken unto our lord the King, our defence for this is, that we are taught of God especially to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and give thanks for our lord the King: and we are taught that the gracious God of heaven (by whom the King reigns) would, that the King should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, and therefore we the King's servants are bound especially by all the godly endeavours of our souls and bodies to seek the salvation of the K. although it were with the danger of our lives: for if we saw our lord the Ks. person in danger either by privy conspiracy or open assault we were bound to seek the Ks. preservation & deliurance, though it wherewith the laying down of our lives, which if we did not, we should readily and most worthily be condemned for traitors; how much more are we bound to seek the preservation and deliurance of the soul and body of our lord the King seeing we see him in such great spiritual danger as we do. And if any shallbe offended at us for so doing, they therein love not the King: and if our lord the King should be offended at us his servants for so doing, the King therein loves not himself: and if all men, and the King should for this be offended with us (which God forbidden) yet herein we are sure our God willbe well pleased with us, in that we have with our best strength and faithfulness obeyed him, who commands and teacheth us, to admonish all men every where to repent, and this is our sure warrant, and our assured hope and comfort. Now as we have, (according as we hold ourselves bound) thus far confessed Christ's name before men by writing, so we shall (the lord assisting us) be ready, as we hold ourselves bound to confess Christ before men by word of mouth, not fearing (through God's grace) them that kill the body and after that are not able to do any more. In this duty to God and his people, we must needs confess we have hitherto greatly failed, but we will now be ready the lord strengthening us rather to be sacrificed for the publishing, of the Gospel of jesus Christ, and for the service of your faith, then to fail as we have done both in our duties to God and you. This we readily vow to God and promiss to you and to will to do this good is present with us, but we find no means in us to perform this duty and service, & we see a la in our flesh strongly rebelling against the la of our minds but our assured trust & confidence is, that God's grace alone is sufficient for us to make us every way able unto these things, unto the which of ourselves we are no way able, yet we will say with the holy Apostle Paul, If God be on our side, who can prevail against us? & who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or anguish, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword? no the lord we trust in these things will make us conquerors: and though our outward man should perish, or suffer many afflictions, (which we were most foolish if we should not wait for) yet let the people of God look unto the truth we witness, & consider with holy and wise hearts whether we have not good warrant, yea direct commandment to do that we do, though we be unfit and unworthy for such a service. Shall we hear the lord say, Come out of her my people: and shall the Spirit of God command him, that heareth: say Come: and shall not we say Come? Shall the word of the lord command to Call up Archars against Babel, and all that bend the bow to beseig it round about, and let none escape, & to recompense her the dubls, jer. 50.29. Revel. 18. And shall we spare our arrows though they be weak? and shall the Spirit of God say, All ye that are mindful of the lord keep not silence Esa. 62.16. And shall we hold our peace because we are not eloquent? No, no, we have too long neglected our duties herein, and now through God's grace we dare no longer do so: and therefore do we thus cry unto you the people of God, saying Babylon is fallen, she is fallen, Come out of her, Come out of her, for if you still partake with her in her sins, you shall certainly be partakers of her plagues: and therefore also we say. Let him that is a thirst, Come: and let whosoever will, take of the water of life freely: and we call unto all valiant Archers that bend the bow, to come to the siege against this great Citié: and we pray all that are mindful of the lord not to keep silence, nor to give the lord rest, till he repair, and until he set up jerusalem the praise of the world. And our continewall prayers unto the lord are, and shallbe that the lord will enlighten your understandings, and raise up all the affections of your souls and spirits, that you may apply yourselves unto these things, so far as his word and spirit doth direct you, and that you may no longer be deceived and seduced by those false prophets who prophesy peace unto you, when war and destruction is at the door, which the lord give both you and them to see, that you may all fly unto the lord for your deliurance and salvation. Amen.  
Tho: Helwys.   

The principal matters handled in the Book.  
A Declaration with proof, that these are the days, of greatest tribulation, spoken of by Christ. Mat. 24. wherein the abomination, of desolation is seen to be set in the holy place.  
That there hath been a general departing from the faith, and an utter desolation of all true Religion.  
That the prophesy of the first Beast. Revel. 13. is fulfilled under the Romish spiritual power and Government.  
That the prophesy of the Second Beast is fulfilled under the spiritual power & Government of archbishops & lord Bishops.  
How Kings shall hate the whore, & make her desolate.  
What Great Power and authority: what honour, names & titles God hath given to the King.  
That God hath given unto the K. an earthly kingdom with all earthly power against the which, none may resist but must in all things obey, willingly, either to do, or suffer.  
That Christ alone is K. of Israel, & sits upon David's Throne, & that the K. ought to be a subject of his Kingdom.  
That none ought to be punished either with death or bonds for transgressing against the spiritual ordinances of the new Testament, and that such Offences ought to be punished only with spiritual sword and censures.  
That as the Romish hierarchy say in words they cannot ere: so the hierarchy of Arch-Bs. & lord Bs. show by their deeds, they hold they cannot ere: & herein they agree in one.  
The false profession of Puritanism (so called) & the false Prophet is thereof discovered.  
Their two deceitful excuses for their undergoeing of all those things, they cry out against, made manifest.  
The false profession of Brownisme (so called) plainly laid open with their false prophets, and with their false supposed separation from the world.  
The vanity of their most deceitful distinction betwixt a false Church, and no Church (whereupon their whole false building stands) made evident.  
Some particular errors in Mr. Robinson's book of justification of Separation, laid open.  
That no man justifying any false way, or any one error, though of ignorance, can be saved.  
The perverting of those words of our Saviour Christ Mat. 10. when they persecute you in one City, flee into another, contrary to all the meaning of Christ plainly showed.   

What Godly Reader can without mourning affections, read the great destruction and overthrow of jerusalem, ● with the house and people of God, Prophesied of by the Prophett jeremyah. And what heart is not much affected to see the exceeding great sorrow of the Prophett, when he uttereth the prophesy thereof, and declareth the sins of the people. jer. 9 And when all these things were come to pass, (according to the word of the Lord), and that the Prophet saw it with his eyes: who could not yet sit down and lament, to hear the most grievous lamentations that he pours out, for that so great desolation and destruction, wherewith the Lord had destroyed, and made desolate that his own City, House, and people. Lam. 1.2.3. chap. Nay, they that gave no regard to the words of the Lord, spoken by the Prophet concerning these things jer. 37.2. Yet when they saw the prophesy accomplished, them deep sorrow took hold upon them: then, the Elders of the Daughter Zion, sat upon the ground, & kept silence, & cast dust upon their heads, & girded themselves with sackcloth, & the virgins of jerusalem hanged down their heads to the ground, Lam. 2.10. And who so readeth cannot deny, but their was just cause of all this sorrow: and therefore well might the Prophet say. Behold & see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, Lam. 1. 1●. And if it cannot be denied, but that the hearing and seeing of this prophesy of so great desolation fulfilled, was just cause of this so great sorrow: Where are then the eyes, and ears of men, that might hear and see far greater tribulations and desolations than these, prophesied of, by a greater Prophet than jeremiah, and even now fulfilled in the fierce wrath of judgement by the most Highest, and that in the sight of all men: and yet who considers of it? Or who takes up a lamentation for it? are men's hearts utterly void of mourning affections? or are they destitute of understanding in the cause off sorrow? or do men think the danger is past. Surely one of these must needs be the cause, or else men's hearts would abound with sorrow, and their eyes would pour out floods of tears, and they would utter with their tongues and pens, lamentations of great woe.  
Now if it can be showed by the word of truth, that deep error of darkness doth possess the two last, that is, those which through ignorance think in themselves there is no such cause of sorrow: and those that through ignorance do think that the danger is already past: then the first that cannot mourn, must needs fall under the sharp censure of great hardness off heart, and insensible deadness of all affections.  
We in the humility off our souls confess that this work is too great for our abilities, but our strength is off the Lord, who is able to make us sufficient for these things, iff we by faith in Christ depend upon him, the which our faith being so full off infidelity, it must needs follow that our strength is full of all weakness, which would beat us to the ground for undertakeing this or any such work off the Lord, but that the Word off God compels us. which commands us strictly to show ourselves faithful in a little: Mat. 25. 19-30. From which ground (by the grace off God:) we have been drawn to do that little we have formerly done, and undertake (through the Lords gracious assistance) now to do that we shall do, beseeching, and trusting off his mercy towards us herein, that all the praise may be given only to the glory of his name.  
First then to show unto them their error that through ignorance do not see there is great cause off lamentation and woe, we require them to turn their ears to the prophesy of that great Prophett Christ Jesus. Mat. 24. 4-28. and Luke 21. 8-31, Where he foretelleth that when men shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet set in the Holy places, than shallbe great tribulation such as was not from the beginning off the Creation to this time, nor shallbe. And except those days should be shortened, there should no Flesh be saved. Hath the like prophesy ever been heard off? Or can there be any desolation like unto this desolation? Wherein no Flesh shallbe saved; No, from the beginning off the World there hath not been the like, nor shallbe saith our Saviour Christ. Who can remain ignorant off these days and times and what ignorance is it, not to know that these are even the days and times here Prophesied off: Have not wars and rumours of wars been heard off? Hath not Nation risen against Nation, and Realm against Realm? Hath there not been famines, and pestilence, and earthquakes in diverse places? And have not many been offended and betrayed one an other, and hated one another? And have not many false Prophets arisen? Doth not our Saviour Christ say, these are the beginnings of sorrow? Now all these things being come to pass, which are the beginnings of sorrow; it must needs be that the days of the height of sorrow are now come. And do not men now see the abomination of desolation set up in the high places? Is it not deep error off ignorance then for men not to see that there is now the greatest cause of sorrow and lamentation that ever was. And next to show in few words the error of them that think the danger of the days is past. Let them look upon the words of our Saviour Christ, when he speaketh off the shorting of those days, he saith in Mat. Then if any shall say, Lo here is Christ, or lo there is Christ, believe it not. And in Luke. Take heed, be not deceived, for many will come in my name, etc. Is not this instant these days? was there ever so many saying, Lo here is Christ, lo there is Christ? And was there ever so many false professions of Christ, and false Prophets? showing great signs and wonders, if it were possible to deceive he very elect, who can then deny, but that these are deepest days of danger, whereof Christ gives such warning to take heed. Therefore easily may they hear see their error into whose hearts that imagination hath once entered to think that these dangers here prophesied of are past. Why then if the end of these sorrows be not past, and the beginnings be past, as is showed, then must it needs be confessed that the days of greatest tribulation are present. But who considers these things? Or who regardeth the words of this great Prophet? If men did consider and carefully behold these things, what heart could conceive sorrow enough, and what head could contain tears, or tongue have sufficient words to express and utter, the sorrows fitting these days. If jeremiah complained for want of tears, and could not be satisfied with sorrowing, for the slain of the daughter of Zion, that perished by the sword▪ and famine, (which was but bodily death) how much more cause have men now to sorrow, to see men poisoned with bitter waters killed with fire, and smoke and brimstone, stung with scorpions, hurt with Servents. Revel. 9.5. and 8.11. And cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God, rev. 19.20 which is the everlasting destruction of soul and body in Hell, to suffer all the plagues, torments, and judgements off wrath for ever. Was the famine of bread, and the sword of Nabuchad-nezzar, and the seventy years captivity, a full sufficient cause, to make jeremiahes eyes fail with tears, his bowels swell, his heart turn within him, & his liver to be powered upon the earth: And are not all the woes uttered by the seven Angels from the sound of seven trumpets, whereof an Angel flying through the midst of Heaven, said with a loud voice, woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth, from the sounds remaining of the trumpets of the three angels, which yet must blow their trumpets: And have not these three last Angels blown their trumpets? and doth not the sound thereof yet sound in our ears? and are not all the woes thereof yet in the sight of our eyes? are not all these woes (which are woes of everlasting death and destruction) sufficient to break men's hearts all into pieces? What stony hardness of heart possesseth men in these days, that their hearts do not melt for these woes.  
A main and general reason of all this is, because this prophesy is of spiritual desolations, destructions and woes, and cannot be understood but with spiritual hearts, nor seen but with spiritual eyes, and the hearts and eyes off men are natural and carnal, and therefore these things cannot affect them. 1. Cor. 2.14.  
Another special reason is, because men do not consider how far these things concern themselves, but every Nation, and every people, and every Man puts these days far from them, as no way appertaining to them. If we therefore could prevail (Oh that we might prevail) by all the fear and love off God to persuade men: and by the compassionate pity of the salvation of their own souls move them, with deepest consideration to consider how nearly those things concern them, lest they be under these woes, and be not aware thereof, which men may easily be by reason of the great ignorance: that is in all men particularly in the understanding of the prophesy of this book off the Revelation: Which most men (though otherwise accounted mighty in the Scriptures) do pass by, seldom or never touching them in their Teachings, or writings, being tainted (we doubt not) with their own insufficiency therein, which if they would acknowledge it were commendable (their acknowledgement we mean, not their ignorance): But yet their ●ourse is much more commendable, then all theirs that have busied themselves, to bring forth so many ymaginarie expositions of that holy writ, we say ymaginarie expositions, because they are for the most part but according to the vain imaginations and fancies of men's minds, without the warrant of the word and spirit.  
We confess in humility to our own shame, we are better able to reprove this, then to correct it, acknowledging unfeignedly, and groaning daily under the burden of our own great ignorance and blindness in the understanding off the prophesy off that book. All this may further provoke us with you, and you with us to take heed, lest we be under any part of this desolation and woe, under which whosoever is, and remains, he must perish, as by the grace of God, we shall make evidently appear from the Scriptures, therefore let all People, and nations, and Tongues take heed and beware.  
And first to proceed in this cause, we will endeavour to prove by the witness of the undoubted word of truth that all Nations and Peoples upon the earth, that have, or do profess Christ (for of them only is this prophesy) have been under this abomination of desolation. The words of the prophesy thereof by Daniel, makes is most plain, where he saith. In the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice & oblation to cease, & for the overspreading of the abomination, he shall make it desolate. Daniel. 9.27. agreeable to this prophesy, is that Revel. 11. Where it is said. That the two witnesses off God (which are the spirit of truth, and the word of truth in the testimony of th'apostles joh. 15.26.27. act 5.32) Which are two Olive trees, & two candlesticks standing before the God of the Earth, having power to shut heaven that it rain not, & to turn the waters into blood, and sinyt the earth with all manner of plagues as often as they will. Their Corpses shall lie in the streets off the great City, spiritually called Sodom & Egypt. Three days & an half, & after three days & a half, the Spirit of life from God shall enter into them, & they shall stand up on their feet. And with these two prophecies agrees also the prophesy Revel 12.14. Of the woman flying into the wilderness into her place, where she is nourished for a time, & times, & half a time. Let us compare these prophecies together. Daniel saith the sacrifices and oblations cease in the midst of the week, which are three days and a half. john saith: Revela. 11. The two witnesses (the Word and Spirit off Truth) lie killed in the streets, three days and a half. And Reve. 12. The Woman (which is the Kingdom of Christ the heavenly jerusalem, the mother of all the faithful, Gal. 4.) fleies into the wilderness for a time, times and half a time, which may with good warrant according to these prophecies be expounded to a day, two days, and a half. Thus than we conclude. The true sacrifices, and oblations of the people of God. The word and spirit. And the Heavenly jerusalem, the spouse of Christ, Ceasing, speing dead in the streets, and being fleed into the wilderness, it must needs follow that there was an utter desolation off all the holy things, and of all the means of salvation.  
For further confirmation of this, see the words of Thapostle 2. Thes. 2.3. speaking of the last day, where he saith: That day shall not come except there come a departing first. It were much weakness in any to think that this is not spoken of a general departing, in that there were many particular departings in Thapostle times. But here he speaks of a departing from the truth, and an exalting of an adversary the man of sin, to sit in the Temple of God, as God, showing himself that he is God, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, & abolish with the brightness of his coming: These words show to the understanding of the most simple, that there is an utter departing, in that there must be a coming again, for the abolishing of this wicked man. And here may be discovered by the way, the damnable heresy of those men, which are twice dead, and plucked up by the roots, and those are they which are fallen from grace, which were once dead, and have been quickened by the word and Spirit of God, and are dead again, which now hold and say that the man of sin sits and rules in the Church off Christ. In this place it is showed that the spirit of the Lords mouth consumes the man of sin, and the brightness of Christ's coming abolisheth him. Now we confess, if there can be a Church of Christ, where the spirit of the Lords mouth is not, and where his brightness shineth not, in such a church the man of sin may sit and rule as God, and these men are only fit subjects for such a Kingdom: but let the children off God learn to know and profess that in the Church of Christ, there is the spirit of the Lords moveth, and his shining brightness, which consumes and utterly abolisheth the man of sin, and therefore they cannot both cule in one house. Now for the bare words about which they contend, thus much we say (not to them, but to such as may be in danger to be seduced by them) These are the words. Thapostle (speaking of the man of sin, who exalteth himself against all that is called God, or that is worshipped) saith thus. So that he doth sit as God in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Now as it is said, he sits as God showing himself that he is God, even so doth he sit as in the Temple of God, showing it to be the Temple of God, This exposition is agreeable to the ground of the scriptures, and according to the proportion of faith, for the scriptures teach us every where, and we believe. that Christ is the head of his Church, And he walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: & he sits in his church being God, and the man of sin cannot sit with God, as God, in the temple of God. Therefore we say unto these men, as our saviour Christ said unto Satan, hence from us. It is written 2. Cor. 9.15.16. What concord hath Christ with Belial. And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols, etc. and 1. Cor. 10.21. Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord, and the Cup of Devils, ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and the table of Devils. But seeing these men can find no better a pretence to follow, and to help to heal the deadly wound of the head of the Beast, then by pret●ding that they have found him sitting in the Temple off God, they looking with the same eye, may find also in the same place, that he showeth himself, that he is God, and if they will abide by the letter of the Scripture herein likewise, then have they found a new temple. and a new God most fitting for them: because that their Temple, and God, and they shall all perish together: we mean those only that have been enlightened, with this truth, that Christ, and the man of sin, cannot rule and reign, or dwell together in one house. and now have they found (as they most blasphemously affirm) Christ, and the man of sin, exalted both in one Temple.  
In all this we have not digressed from the matter in hand, in that we have showed that by the departing, the man of sin was exalted, and therefore the departing was general, and the man of sin his exaltation general, as doth further appear by the words of Daniel. 9.27. where he saith (speaking of the sacrifices:) & for the overspreading of the abominations, he shall make it desolate. Answerable to this prophesy, is that prophesy in the book of the Revel. 13.7. where it is written. & it was given unto him (speaking of the Beast, that had 7. heads, and 10. horns) to make war with the Sa●cts, & to overcome them: & power was given him, over every kindred, & tongue, & nation. Who can deny but this is general? even a general desolation/ when the Saints are overcome. And when all that dwell upon the earth (as followeth vers. 8. Shall worship the Beast. All our particular knowledge of the fulfilling of this prophesy will make it more evident. And who doth not know and see/ that this prophesy is fulfilled in that Romish mystery of iniquity, who yet sits upon many waters, with whom have committed fornication the Kings of the Earth, & the inhabitants of the earth are dranken with the Wine of her fornication. Revel. 17.2. We doubt not but many will agree with us in this understanding: and we that wish unfeignedly the salvation of all, and that they would come to the knowledge of the truth, do earnestly desire, that those that are overwhelmed in this mystery of iniquity, and under the power of this deceivableness of unrighteousness, would but consider, which way it can be avoided, but that this prophesy is fulfilled, in that great exaltation of the man of sin in that Romish profession: and if they would come out to the Scriptures, and particularly unto this book of the Revel. they should be forced either to deny the prophecies of this book to be true, or else they must needs yield that they are fulfiled in that their profession: for how shall they be able to point our upon the face of the whole earth, any one part of this prophesy fulfilled, but it shallbe found in and from them: For which way should they go about to show the man of sin, being the mystery off iniquity (in the deceivableness of unrighteousness) to be exalted sitting as God, and as in the Temple off God, Sitting upon ●eaven Kings: & ten Kings, giving their power thereunto. if these prophecies be not fulfilled in that their Romish profession, then is it not nor ever was it begun, nor fulfilled in any false profession of Christ upon the earth, which cannot be because we see here th'apostle to the Thes. saith. The mystery of iniquity doth already work. And in that this prophesy of Christ also is come to pass, Mat. 24. where he saith: Many will come in my name saying: lo here is Christ etc. this proves that the abomination of defolation is set up already in the high places. The prophesy then being fulfilled, it must needs be fulfilled, according to the due proportion thereof, in exaltation and power, which must of necessity be in that Romish Church: as if they were not altogether blind they might see, by looking upon that Church at Rome, which Thapostle Paul writ unto: And by compareing that Church in Rome, and this Church of Rome together, they shall see a straying exaltation of power and pomp, such as there is no prophesy of Scripture for to be in the Church of Christ. A spiritual power setting up a Pope or Bishop, by virtue of his Office with a Triple Crown, Kings and Princes bowing to him, and serveing him, and (by virtue off his Office) carrieing a bloody sword, and his hands full of blood: this is part of his outward pomp and power. Also bearing spiritual names of blasphemy, as to be head of the Church, and Bishop of the universal flock: taking upon him to have power to cast soul and body to hell, and to send to heaven whom he will: to make spiritual laws and decrees what he will, and to bind men's Consciences to the obedience thereof.  
If this be not he that sits as God, showing himself to be God. If this be not the abhommation of desolation set up, where it ought not to be, where should it befound? Can the earth afford a greater exaltation of the man of sin then this? and doth it not reach from hell to heaven? what heart would not tremble, to see and hear of such high blasphemy and sin, against God: If it were not the Lord of hosts that shall judge these things. there could not judgements great enough he found: but these sins of highest pride towards God, and greatest cruelty towards his Saints, shall go up into heaven, and God shall remember all these iniquities, and reward the double: whereat although the spirit of God, bids the heavens rejoice, & the holy Apostles, & Prophets, because God hath punished & revenged for their sakes. Revel. 18.20 Yet who can but with compassionate hearts, lament to see so many souls perish daily and continually under this destruction: For all the souls upon the earth that exalt, give power, and submit themselves to this Man of sin, and so die, they perish to everlasting destruction▪ although they do it ignorantly: A hard doctrine will this seem to the most: But the moveth of the Lord hath spoken it: Thapostle in this place of: 2. Thes. 2. proves it without all contradiction, where it is said vers. 10. That the man of sin his coming is, in all deceivableness of unrighteousness among them that perish: First then here is proved that the mystery of iniquity prevails by deceivableness, now men are deceived by being ignorant of the deceit: and they that are thus deceived through ignorance, are they that perish, for (saith Thapostle) this deceiveableness is effectual or prevails among them that perish, and vers. 12. That all they might be damned which believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, speaking of this deceiveableness of unrighteousness by the man of sin. For further proof thereof take the voice from heaven. Revel. 18.4. which saith. Go out of her my people that ye be not parraker of her sins, & that ye receive not of her plagues. Here is no exception; ignorant, or not ignorant, if they come not forth at the voice of the Lords call, but still remain and abide there, they shall surely be partaker of her plagues: & her plagues come at one day, & they are death & sorrow, & famine, & burning with fire: & in one hour shall she be made desolate, vers. 8. and 19 Whose soul would not mourn to hear of so many great Princes, & States, and people abroad, and to see Nobility, Gentry, and people at home perish, and ready to perish daily under this so great and swift destruction, it were to be wished, that all good and holy means were used for their information and instruction herein, with love and meekness by the sword of the spirit, which sword only is to be used to compel men's consciences to submit to the truth that is the spirit of the Lords moveth, whereby he will consume the man of sin.  
Off by this we have said we can neither persuade them to be careful of their own estates (which is fearful) nor persuade any other to be more careful of them, and more compassionate of their estates, yet thus much have we gained towards the cause in hand, that it being proved that the mystery of iniquity, and the abomination of desolation is exalted to the highest in that Romish profession, than we doubt not but it willbe yielded, that all Nations (acknowledging Christ) have been overspread, and under the power of that Romish profession, and so are all these prophecies fulfilled in our eyes, which have been produced to prove that there hath been an utter desolation of Christ's power and authority: and the power and authority of the man of sin exalted: and it hath also been proved, that all that submit themselves to that power of the man of sin, do, and must perish, except they repent. Therefore according to our first words we exhort all peoples and nations, and tongues to take heed and beware, lest they be under the woes of everlasting destruction prophesied of in this book of the Revel. and they themselves be not aware thereof.  
And seeing it is proved that all peoples, and nations and tongues have been under it, let them that think they are come forth, look how they are come forth, lest they be deceived: or lest coming forth they have booked back again, to whom our Saviour Christ saith Luk. 17.32. Remember Lot's wife. We doubt not but we shall have the ready consent of diverse nations, and peoples, to approve of our understandings, and application of this prophesy, of the exaltation of the man of sin to be fulfilled in the Sea of Rome: and we need to make no question, but therein we are of one judgement in the truth: for it is unpossible that the hare of man should device a mystery of iniquity, or deceivableness of unrighteousness above it, in that there is in it the height and power of all pride and cruelty, reigning and ruling over men's consciences as God, under a most glorious show of godliness, where by all Nations have been made drunk, with the wine of that Cup of fornication, and whereby the whole power of Christ (in his laws, statutes, and ordinances) hath been and ye● is abolished utterly: and in the streets of this great City (we mean n● particular place, but the whole mystery of iniquity, spiritually called Sodom and Egypt) hath the corpses of the two witnesses of the Lord (his word and spirit, in the doctrine of the Apostles) eye dead: For who doth not know that they have altogether taken the word of God from the people that they might not have it ●o much as in their own language: neither may they meddle with the spirit of knowledge and understanding of it, but from th●●, as they thought (and yet do think) good to deliver it unto them: and that must stand for the Word and spirit of God without trying. And this may suffice for a plain and general discovery of that Babylon, Sodom, & Egypt, (spiritually so called) and of that Beast wi●h ●eaven heads and ten horns, and the rather, seeing there are so many excellent discoveries written thereof,  
And shall we now sit down as though our danger were passed in finding out the first Beast, and so make the prophesy of God. Rev. 1●. 11. of no effect, which so plainly sets fur●h and describes a second beast, off no less danger than the first? shall we so betray the cause of God, and the souls of thousands and ten thousands of men? God forbidden: and will any of you that freely approve of all the findings out and discoveries of the first Beast, not with willingness consent to the finding out off the second? far be it from you to have so little love to God's truth, and the salvation of men. Well, we will do our endeavours to discover the second beast, leaving it to the consciences of whomsoever it may most concern to judge whether we deal faithfully or no, and we will forejudg ourselves to deal most weakly. Revel. 13. Fron the, 1. vers. to the 18. It is written. I saw another Beast coming up out of the earth, which had two horns like the lamb, but he spoke like the dragon & doth exercise the power of the first Beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image of the first Beast, & causeth as many as would not worship the image of the Beast should be killed: & made all to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their fore heads. & that no man might buy or sell, save he that hath the mark or the name of the Beast, or the number of his name.  
Which way now (in finding out the second Beast) shall we be able to look beside that great hierarchy of archbishops, and Lordbishops? are not you they that pretend (in meekness and humility) the word and power of the Lamb, who saith: Learn of me that I am meek & lowly, etc. But exercise the power of the beast, and speak like the dragon: have you not made and set up the image of the Beast? is not your pomp and power like his? and hath there not been much like cruelty used by that power? Doth not the blood of the dead cry? and have not the imprisoned groaned under that cruelty? and do not the silenced at home, and the banished abroad daily complain? may not all these cry. How long Lord, how long, when wilt thou revenge? Are not your Canons and Consistories, and all the power that belongs unto them, with all the rest of your Courts, Offices, and Officers are not these parts of the image? are they not like the Beast? will you say they are like the lamb, or like his Apostles, it cannot be that you should say they are, the fear of the Almighty would astonish you. And if you cannot possibly prove that power, that Pomp, that cruelty, those Canons and Courts with the belongings and belongers thereunto to be like the lamb Then let the terror of the Almighty possess you, and make you afraid to use and possess all those things under the pretence of the power of the Lamb. Have you not souls to save? pity yourselves and perish not there is mercy with the Lord if you will fear him: What will it profit you to enjoy these things for a little while (as many of your predecessors have done before you) even a little while, and then be condemned and fall under the fierce wrath of God? had you not much better, a thousand times better, yea ten thousand times better, and more too, be ministers of Christ abounding in labours in weariness & painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger & thirst, in fastings often, in cold & in nakedness, that you might say (at your last ends) not as Apostles, but as th'apostle saith. We have fought a good fight, & have finished out course: & we have kept the faith. henceforth is laid up for us the Crown off righteousness: But if this be your fight (as it hath been the fight of diverse of your predecessors) to cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast (your hierarchy) should be killed: and to make all both small and great rich and pooer, bond and free, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their forehead, and that no man may buy or sell, save he that hath the mark of the beast, or the number off his name, if this be your fight it is evidently the fight of the second Beast, and not the fight of Thapostle Paul. And there is no Crown off righteousness laid up for such a fight.  
And do you not all these things, when you force and compel men to submit to your whole conformity which is the perfect image of the beast? Not to speak of your surplice, and Cross, and Church, and Burials, and Coops, and Chaunting, and Organs in your Cathedrales, and how many more such abominations we cannot reckon up, neither need we seeing so many writings are full off them: but whosoever shall look upon them, with an eye of less than half uprightness shall easily see them to come out off the bowels of the beast, and to be the deformed image of his ugly shape.  
To let all these pass, (the least whereof shallbe called to account in the day of the Lord) we come to your Common Book, not meddling with every particular of it, but with the most general. By what power do you make prayers, and bind men to them, and appoint the order of them in time and place? Whereof two, you appoint to be read every evening without alteration, some prayers to be said after the Curate be paid his due, some on the North side the Table, some in one place, some in another: Will you see a special ground of these four abominations, in appointing your Priests what to pray, when to pray, and where to pray, and what to put on when they pray: Because you made ●o many Priests, and have so many yet among you, as neither know what to pray, where, nor when to pray, nor what to put on when they pray: in so much as if you did not allow them a sum of made prayers, they had been, and yet would be, altogether without prayers, and this doth the mystery of iniquity with the deceiveableness of unrighteousness, hide from the simple, and from the great and wise, by your made order of prayers: For take your Common book from them, and then would the impudent be ashamed of such a ministry. Oh that ten of the best and chiefest off a thousand of those your Priests might be debarred from you book, and be set in a Congregation off very partial hearers of their side, to show their best abilities for the Office of the ministry. Baal's Priests were not more discovered (1. King. 18.) Then they would be, for the fault was in their God in that he had no care to hear: But your Priests fault would be found in themselves in that they would have no one word to speak to God's glory, nor to edification. How can you but know this as well as you know your right hand from your left? How will you answer this when you come before the righteous judge: shall you be able to stand in his presence? the Lord give you hearts to repent, otherwise how shall you think to escape the fierce wrath of the Lord. Did the Lord bring evil upon the house of jeroboam, & swept it away, as a man sweeps away dung till all be gone, and did: The dogs eat him of jeroboams house that died in the City, & the fowls of the aite eat him that died in the field. Because he set up Calves to worship, and make Priests of the meanest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 1. King. 14.10.11. and 12.31. And do you think to escape with less judgements that set up the image of the Beast; and such a blind priesthood to support it? For you know that it is blind ignorance that supports the mystery of iniquity: And therefore shall the Lord by the brightness of his coming abolish it. What shall we say of your bareheaded and barefooted white sheet penance, whereunto (to mock the Almighty) is joined a written repentance.  
Thus do you device men's prayers, and device men's repentances, and they must pray, and repent as you by your power appoint them. Have you power also to appoint the Lord to accept these prayers and repentances? Or do you not care whether the Lord accept them or no, so that you be submitted unto therein, then do you seek your own Worship and not the Lords. judge yourselves, and let all judge. betwixt the most Holy Lamb, and the most polluted Beast, and confess and testify, whether these things be of the Lamb, or off the image of the Beast.  
The like off these things are without our numbering, and there would be no end made if we should follow them. But we will draw to an end, hoping that they that see these, will see al.  
Yet let us speak some thing of your excommunication by the power whereof are cast out those that most seek to serve God in sincerity, and if the most wicked fall under it, ●hey may be remitted (submitting to the power) by paying large fees, especially if they be rich, and simple or mean off degree. And whosoever withstands the power off this, forty days, then upon a writ off signification he is to be cast into prison, without bale, or mainprize. Is this learned off the Lamb or off any off his Apostles? We read that Thappostles suffered such violences and tiranies, but the word off God teacheth not the Disciples off Christ any such administrations, and this is not the meekness off the Lamb, but the image off the cruel power off the Beast.  
The power off this excommunication is off another especial use off profit, in that by the power thereof are brought in all duties, Tithes and Court fees. What horrible profanation off the holy ordinance of Christ is this, to make it an instrument to compel men to bring in exacted fees and duties, and tithes. We read 1. Cor. 16. That Paul appointed in the Church's gatherings for the Saints, and 1. Tim. 5. giving direction for the relief off widows, he also gives a special charge for providing for the Elders and especially for those that labour most. The Elders saith Thapostle: that lead, go before, or rule well let them be had in double honour, especially they that labour in the word & doctrine. First here is showed the power whereby they must lead, go before, or rule, that is by the word and doctrine. Then th'apostle proves by two reasons from the scriptures, that such Elders are worthy off double honour, because the Scriptures say: 1. Thou shalt not mousell the mouth off the Ox that treadeth out the corn. 2. The labourer is worthy of his wages. And here is showed what th'apostle means by honour, that is mainteynance: But all this is from a voluntary liberal distribution as is showed▪ 2. Cor. 9.13. How unlike is this ●o your ruling power, and to your double honour and maintenance. Here is no imprisoning by power, nor excommunication for fee●, tithes and duties. We confess our Lord the King may give you what his pleasure is, but it were to be wished, that all those goodly Palaces and possessions with all the previleges and prerogatives belonging to them, were preserved for the maintenance of the King's State and dignity, and they were much more be fitting for the King and his posterity/ to support them in their due pomp and Royalty, then to support the pride and pomp of such as pretend to be ministers of the Gospel. Thapostle Paul was better worthy off double mainteynance than you, and all the Priests in all your Provinces and dioceses, and yet he laboured with his hands, although he had the care of more and more worthy churces than are now upon the earth, that would willingly have administered unto him, but he would make the Gospel free. Oh that we might live to see all them that preach the gospel (if they stand in need) to live off the gospel, that is of the free liberality off the Saints: those Pastors would not devour the flock, but feed it. And we pray that the Lord would put into the heart of the King to take into his own hands all those possessions, and tithes, wherewith those devouring shepherds (that destroy the flock) feed themselves: That day shallbe the most happiest day to the whole Land, that ever was since it was a Land, and that in these 4. things. First it would overthrow that high pride and cruelty off the image of the beast and mystery of iniquity. Secondly it would make a way for the advancement of the Kingdom of jesus Christ in the sincere and humble profession thereof. Thirdly it would in-ruch the Crown and fill the King's coffers upheaped, with such a yearly revenewe as no peace nor war should ever be able to make them half empty, and all this may be done by a holy, good, just and lawful means. Fourthly it would inritch the whole land above measure, and that in disburdening the land, of all those Courts with all the suits, and services, that belong unto them, the taxations, fees and penalties whereof are without number. And the King would stand no need of taxes and subsidies, although we would not wish the King's people to with draw the showing off their loyal love to our Lord and King in those things.  
Oh what a full and ready consent would there be in the king's people to these things, how profitable would it be unto them: the Lord persuade his heart to it, seeing it would be for God's glory, his own benefit, and the so great good of his whole land: and it would be the greatest and chiefest benefit of all to them, to whom it may seem the greatest loss: for they should be disburdened of those things, which although they he pleasant for a season, yet they willbe most bitter in the day of account, which will come let them be sure, and it would make them live moderately of that they have, and use good and honest endeavours to support themselves, and there would be true comfort in such gain. Lastly to make it appear plainly enough, that this hierarchy of Arch Bishops and Lord Bishops is the image of the Beast, let all behold the names off blasphemy which it bears, and they are these, so far as we know the number of them.  

archbishops.  
Prym●ts.  
metropolitans.  
Lords Spiritual.  
Reverend-fathers'  
Lords Grace.   
What names of blasphemy are here? they are the titles and names of our God, and of our Christ. What words of detestation were sufficient to be uttered against such blasphemous abomination? who is able to keep silence? If men (professing Christ) will not speak, the stones shall speak, rather than the lord willbe without witnesses. Shall men be afraid to speak for fear of loss of goods, of Lands, or for fear of imprisonment, banishment, or death? No, no, let them take all, life and all. Let them shed blood until they have enough: and let the servants of God rejoice in the saying of the Angel of the waters. Revel. 16.5.6. Lord thou art just, which art, & which waist, & which shall be because thou hast judged these things, for they shed the blood of the Saints & Prophets, And therefore hast thou given them blood to drink, for they are worthy. This hath the Lord fulfilled upon all those that are dead, and have not repent of this abomination, and this will the Lord fulfil upon all that are alive, if they repent not. Is it not sufficient to despoil and rob Christ of all his power, but you will also take from him the rules of honour due unto his name? To pass by your derived Grecian names, which we (to speak the truth) are not able to our own satisfaction to declare the interpretation of: and that no way lesseneth the iniquity of them, but rather shows it more, that you should get you names of such hidden blasphemy, that simple men cannot understand without an interpreter:) let us speak with fearfulness off that name, which you might all tremble to hear off: and that is Lords spiritual. The very artribute of the God of all spirits, for he only is the Lord spiritual and the spiritual Lord. And give us leave to show you how you are hedged in, that all subtle sophistry shall not help you out. Bear you not this title by reason off your spiritual power and authority? and do you not by this your spiritual power and authority make spiritual Canons and decrees: and are not all your Courts spiritual Courts? and do you not require spiritual obedience in all these things? is not your title and power a differing title and power from all other Lords? see how the style doth hedge you in, which goes thus. All the Lords Spiritual, & Temporal. So that you cannot say, you are spiritual Lords, becanuse of your profession, for you will not deny but the temporal Lords are spiritual Lords in profession as well as you: Therefore must it needs be that you are spiritual Lords because off your spiritual power, and spiritual power is over the spirits off men: so then as Temporal Lords have power over men's bodies, so must spiritual lords have power over men's spirits, but there is only one spiriritual Lord, which is the Father of spirits: and therefore whosoever taketh this title and this power upon themselves, they take upon them the name, title, and power of God: and this is the man of sin that sits as God, showing himself to be God, which herein the second Beast doth according to, or in the image of the first.  
Do you think that God hath forgotten to be just? and are his judgements gone for ever? Can you see and condemn in your words and writings, the exaltation off the man of sin in the Romish profession: and can you not see and condemn it in your own? to such saith th'apostle Paul Rom. 2.3. O thou man that condennest them that do such things, & dost the same, thinkest thou that thou shalt escape the judgement of God  
And for that double degree of Reverend-fatherhood which you take to yourselves, some of you being most Reverend, and some Right Reverend Fathers, how might we find out under what condition you bear this name: It is plain that you bear not that name because you have begotten all that people in Christ, for most commonly you are their Reverend Fathers in God, before they ever heard your voices: then must it needs be in you a name by inspiration, seeing it is not by operation or work. So are you inspired with a Reverend Fatherhood upon the instant time of your entrance before you have wrought any work among that people. When you shall meet Christ in his coming, what will you answer him for the breach of his straight commandment herein, where he saith. Call no man your Father upon the earth, for there is but one, your Father which is in Heaven: Are you not exalted above your brethren by this name? then you are they of whom Christ speaks of in this place, and whom he will bring follow. Mat. 23.9.10.11. For thus taking upon you the name of God, and exalting yourselves above the brethren. And if you have not sold yourselves to work wickedness (which God forbidden) and if you think it robbery to make yourselves equal with God, let your hearts tremble, and your hands shake to subscribe to such names of blasphemy: and let your ears tingle when you hear them uttered and read in your presence: and observe but what magnificency is upon you when you sit upon your high places, and hear yourselves thus entitled, and remember that he sits over you that will tread you under foot, for thus robbing him of his honour though by repencance, You maaes not your peace with him.  
Now for the next name of blasphemy (that is within our capacity to speak of) it is the title of Lords Grace, and this is your household title, we mean it is a title that may not be omitted in all ordinary occasions: doth not this attribute belong only to the lord off grace? and will you have this prerogative with him: Now although this title be used (in what sense we know not) in the styles off some civil Magistrates, where with we meddle not, yet we know all your titles off degree, you bear by a spiritual prerogative, and therein consists the mystery of iniquity, and therefore are all your names of honour and prerogative (where by you challenge superiority) names of blasphemy, and directly against the express comaundment of Christ, who by his comaundment (that were worthy to be obeyed) charged his Disciples, that they should in no wise seek superiority in his Kingdom, neither in name nor power.  
The Lords of the Gentiles bear rule one over an other, & are called gracious Lords, or bear names off honour▪ but it shall not be so among you, he that willbe greatest shallbe least in my Kingdom, that is he that willbe exalted in name or power by being a Disciple of my Kingdom, he shallbe the least. Luk. 22.25.26.  
But the words of our Saviour Christ are not at all regarded herein, the man of sin will have a Kingdom where there shallbe mighty power and authority one over another's conscience, appointing and compelling men, how they shall worship their God, and to imprison, to banish, and to cause to die them that resist: and the man of sin will have in his kingdom names of most high honour, yea even the names, titles and attributes off God, and thus doth he sit as God both in name, title, and power. And this prophesy is now fulfiled, as he that hath an eye may see and he that hath an ear may hear: For let any man but hear the prophesy of this book of the Revel. and he may see it fulfilled in the first and second Beast as evidently as if Christ should send one from the dead and declare it unto him, and say this is the first Beast, and this is the second: and they that will not believe him in his word, neither would they believe him if he should send one from the dead. Luk. 16.31. And now all that do agree with us in judgement concerning the first Beast, that it is plainly to be seen in that Romish profession, and that it is unpossible that the man of sin should be exalted in a higher measure of exaltation, we call you all forth, for witnesses before God and Men, whether it be not as plainly to be seen, that the second Beast that hath the two horns like the Lamb, pretending, or making show of the word and power off the Lamb in humbleness and meekness, but speaking like the dragon, and exercising the power of the first beast: And making the image off the first Beast. We call you all to witness whether the second Beast be not as plainly to be seen in the hierarchy of ArchBishops and Lordbishops: and whether it be possible that there should be made so lively an image of the first Beast as is in this hierarchy in all titles and names of blasphemy, in all Pomp, and in all power throughout, beginning at their Book-worship, with all the conformity belonging to it, and so going through all their Offices, and Officers, Courts, Canons and decrees, if all these be not the image of the first Beast, conceived in his bowels, and brought out off his bosom, let Heaven and Earth witness, and let all the men upon Earth deny though they can, and show any other image of the first Beast. And therefore all you whom this may most may most concern, either deny this prophesy of God, and wipe it out (which if you do, God will deny you, and wipe you out of the book of life) or eye confess it, to be fulfilled in and among you, and give glory to God, and cast away your abominations, and take heed off hardness, & hearts that can not repent, which heap up as a treasure unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath. Oh why should you for the pleasure of unrighteousness (for a very few days, little do you know how few) utterly destroy your own souls and perish, yea and destroy the souls of all that submit unto you in the least of these things except they repent.  
And if you will yet justify yourselves in these things and make show of yourselves to be the servants off the Lamb, and not the servants of the Beast, then stand forth and defend your Kingdom and cause, with the spiritual sword of the Lamb, which is the word of God, and convince your gainsayers, and stop their mouths therewith, and so shall you approve yourselves Bishops in deed. And if you can prove by God's word, that we ought to say prayers, as you command us, we will both sing and say, as you bid us: and if you can prove your names of blasphemy, and titles of degree, your Pomp: and all your cruel spiritual pouwer, good, by that warrant, we will yield it you all, and not diminish you of the least tittle there of. What need you fear to bring it to trial? You have learning enough, you have partakers enough, iff you had but half a good cause: which battle if you will fight, we say unto you as Michaiah said unto Ahab, when he would go up to Ramoth Gilead: Take it in hand go up and prosper: But we will tell you also with the same Prophet, that if you stand in this cause The Lord hath determined evil against you. 2. Chro. 18.16.22.  
But in all this let us persuade you in fear to God and shame to men to cast away all these courses, we shall now mention. Do not, when a poor soul by violence it brought before you, to speak his conscience in the profession of his Religion to his God, do not first impose the, Oath Ex Officio. Oh most wicked course: and if he will not yield to that, then imprison. him close. Oh horrible severity: if he will not be forced by imprisonment, then examine him upon diverse articles without oath, to see though he may be entrapped any way. Ogrevious impietic: and if any piece of advantage (either in word or writing, or by witness) can be gotten, turn the Magistrates sword upon him and take his life, Oh bloody cruelcie: if no advantage can be found, get him banished out of his natural country, and from his Father's house, let him live or starve, it matters not. Oh unnatural compassionatnes without pity. Let these courses be far from you: For there is no show off grace, Religion, nor humanity in these courses, this is to lie in wait for blood, & to lay snares secretly to take the simple to slay him. And to conclude this point in hand, let it be truly observed, whether those that are off the Romish profession (servants of the first beast, coming in question before this hierarchy) have not found much more favour, than those that have stood most for reformation: and hath there not been gnashing of teeth, and gnawing off tongues, with all extreme perverseness and contempt against the one, when there hath been good, mild, and even carriage towards the other? Which good carriage towards them, we disaprove not, nor envy not, but could wish, that the wholesome word of doctrine withal the cords off love were applied and used unto them, for their information and drawing them from their blind errors: But we mention it to this end, to show, what uprightness there can be to God or the King in this: For first: it is not possible but this whole hierarchy will confess, that those which seek reformation, have much more light of truth, and gifts of knowledge, for the building up of a people unto God than the other: and that the first, and they are all of one judgement, concerning the doctrines off the Scriptures in the foundamental points of Religion: (as they speak) and yet there is no comparison betwixt their patient enduring them of the Romish profession, and there impatient not enduring of the other: is this uprightness to God? Secondly touching the King and State, the Children in the streets, know the treachery and infidelity that hath been found in diverse of the one profession: and they themselves know the ever untouched fidelity of the other: what uprightness is this to the King and State? the evident reason of this may appear unto the wise, and may not this appear to be● it? That the Romish profession is but chiefly an enemy to the Kingdom of Christ, and but dangerous in some of them to the Kingdom of the King, approving of ArchBishops, and Lord Bishops, and could wi●h they were Cardinals: But those of all sorts, that seek reformation, are most chiefest enemies to the Kingdom off ArchBishops and LordBishops, and would have them humble and faithful Pastors to feed the f●oth, and therefore in no wise are to be suffered how true soever they be to God, and their King. And doth not all this show the affinity and nearnes betwixt the first and second Beast?  
But least any should stumble at this part of the prophesy, Revel. 13. vers. 12. Where it is spoken, that the second Beast causeth the Earth, and them that dwell therein to worship the first Beast, and therefore the Romish Beast being the first, this Hy●archy cannot be the second, in that it do●h not cause men to worship the Pope off Rome: We pray it may be observed how that it is showed 2. Thess. 2.7.9.10. That the mystery of iniquity is a working power of sathan which working power (according to the degrees there of) is set forth unto us in the book of the Revel. after diverse manners, and described unto us in diverse shapes or similitudes, and named unto us after diverse names and in the height off the exaltation thereof, this power is set forth and described unto us, under the two names and similitudes of the first, and second Beast, both which exercising one power, (though in diverse likenesses) do bring all, both small and great, under the subjection of that one power, both their hearts being set to do mischief, & talking of deceit at one table Dan. 11.27. And so doth the second beast, cause all to worship the first, in that it is all one power building up one kingdom. And the Pope's person is not the mystery of iniquity, for then, (when the Pope were dead) the mystery off iniquity, and the Beast were dead, until another Pope were set up: and if the Pope's person were the man off sin, than the Lord (by the spirit off his moveth) should abolish and consume the Pope's person, but there is no such prophesy of scripture. And then should the prophecies of the fall off Babylon be understood off the overthrow and consumeing of the earthen or stone walls, and timber houses off a City: But this were too carnal an understanding, to conceive that the spirit off God's mouth (which shall consume the man off sin, spoken off 2. Thes. 2. and shall shake in sunder the City, which spiritually is called Sodom & Egypt. It were to carnal to understand this to be of earthly houses and Cities, and fleshly persons, they are not the matter and substance, that shallbe abolished by the brigtnes of this his coming, here spoken off, as we doubt not but will easily appear to the wise though some have been, and are, much mistaken herein.  
And that we may come to the true understanding of this part of the prophesy: Chap. 13. vers. 13. And he did great wonders (speaking of the second Beast) so that he made fire come down from heaven in the sight off men. And to see how it is fulfilled in the second Beast, we must remember (as we have formerly said) that this is a spiritual prophesy of a spiritual mystery of iniquity, which none may deny, and then doth it appear that these wonders wrought (by making fire come down from heaven) are lying spiritual wonders, and the fire is a false spiritual fire: The which (even as the true spiritual fire, which is the holy Ghost,) doth truly work wondered powerfully, upon the hearts and affections of them that believe the truth, even so this false fire (which is the spirit and power off Satan) doth work effectually upon the hearts and affections off those that receive not the love off the truth and that after a wonderful manner off deceivableness off unrighteousness: so that men are strongly persuaded and believe, that it is the true Fire from heaven, even the spirit off God. And this Fire hath the hierarchy off ArchBishops and Lordbishops made come down from heaven, especially in their former times when men had their word and power, with their prayer book, and all their Cathedral abominations in such admiration: and with such zeal were affected unto them: and as yet some are to this day, zealously persuaded off the holiness and goodly order off these things, all which (in the Beast that hath two horns like the Lamb) made such a glorious show being compared to the former things, as men were ravished in their spirits, and thought (and yet some few do think) that their hearts and affections were kindled with fire from heaven. By this false fire (which is by an effectual working power in all deceivableness of unrighteousness) even hereby hath, and doth the first, and second Beast work all their signs and lying wonders: and whilst men (through great ignorance) have, and do look for some straying seights from heaven, to know the two Beasts by, their hearts have been, & are with the pleasures of unrighteousness) stolen away. This can all (that are of any understanding) who now remain under the power of the second Beast, easily discern, how by a wonderful fiery blind zeal, all those that are under the power of the first Beast are misledd: but they cannot discern their own estates, which are one and the same under the second Beast, who is more deceivable, because of his two horns like the lamb, and therefore men had need more carefully to look unto themselves, lest they be still deceived, except men will rest in security and perish to destruction, which all must do, that obey the power, either of the first or second Beast, as is withal evident plainness showed Revel. 14.9.10.11. where it is written. If any man worship the Beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, and whosoever receiveth the print of his name, he shall drink (saith the spirit of the lord) of the wine of the wrath of God, which is powered into the cup of his wrath, and shallbe tormented with fire & brimstone, & they shall have no rest day no● night.  
What will prevail with men, if neither the fore warning prophecies, nor threatening judgements of the lord, will move them, to consider and flee the fierce vengeance that is already come: Doth our Saviour Christ tell that the abomination of desolation shallbe set up in the holy places? and doth Thapostle Paul show that the man of sin, exalts himself and sits as God in the Temple of God? and doth the prophesy of the Revel. so duly set down and declare the manner of the working of the mystery of iniquity according to the several degree thereof, until it come to that hight of exaltation before spoken of by Christ, & by Thappostle in the similitude of the first and second Beast, who bears the names of blasphemy, in taking upon them the names and attributes of God, as is before showed, causing all that dwell upon the earth, to worship the Beast and his image, and so sits as God, in the high places, and in the Temple of God, which is in the hearts of men 1. Cor. 3.16. and 2. Cor. 6.19. and do we see all these things fulfilled before our eyes, and will not he that readeth consider? And doth our Saviour Christ show the greatest judgements of the lord to be upon men in those days, in so much as no flesh shallbe saved, and except those days should be shortened no flesh should ever be saved, & doth thappostle Paul show, that because men will not receive the love of the truth, the lord shall send them strange delusions that they should believe lies, that all might be damned which believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness? And doth the spirit of God, in the Revel. by john say, that all who worship the Beast, or bear the least mark of the Beast and his image, shall drink even of the mere wine of God's wrath out of the cup of his wrath? And will not all this move the hardened hearts of men to look about and carefully to search out the prophecies of scripture concerning these things, & compare them with these times, and seek and find out, how they are fulfilled, which (through the grace of God) every faithful heart, seeking, shall now easily discern, seeing the first Angel revel. 16. hath powered out his vial, so that noisome & grievous sores do appear upon the men which have the mark of the Beast and upon them that worship his image: yea, (Glory and honour, and praise be given to our God) the fifth Angel hath also powered out his vial upon the throne of the Beast, and his Kingdom doth already wax dark, who doth not see this, that looks but with any seeing eye after religion? Doth not now (more than ever) the noisome botches of many gross absurdities appear in the bewitched understanding of those men, that bear the mark, and worship the Beast and his image? and is not the palpable darkness of blind ignorance openly discovered upon the throne of the Beast? And doth not the beauty of his image fade? Is not the baptizing by midwives quit vanished? And doth not Bishoping of young and old much decay? Doth not the duly reading of Injunctions and homilies grow to forgetfulness? and are not profane perambulations well laid aside? and do not holy evens and days, and ember weeks almost pass out of mind? and is not the book itself become much out of use? Hath not whole conformity received a blow? and, will not any halting subscription serve the turn? Oh that the spiritual Lords of this spiritual Kingdom could see that the smoke of the burning there of is already deeply begun and doth highly ascend, that they themselves might help to heap coals upon the throne thereof, and flee from the burning therewith.  
Let them not forecast to preserve it, nor seek to deliver it out of the hand of the Almighty, they may more easily pull the pray out of the lions mouth, or draw out leviathan with an hook, then prevent the mighty one that hath judged these things Revel. 18. who is clothed with a garment dip● in blood, and his name is called The. word of God. And who hath upon his garment, and upon his thigh a name written. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revel. 19.12.16.  
Thus have we (according as we foretold of ourselves) set down these things with great jnability, but yet with all fidelity according to our consciences in the best measure of understanding concerning the second Beast, who hath caused to make the image of the first. And we desire the Godly wise that seek salvation by the Lamb, that they will compare the Beast (which we all agree to be the Romish hierarchy) and his image (which how can it be imagined, but the hierarchy of Arch. Bishops and lord B. must needs be) compare them together in their spiritual Pomp, spiritual names of blasphemy, spiritual power, and Cruelty, and cast but a partly indifferent eye upon their administrations in their Offices, Officers Courts, Canons, and decrees, and then let the word and spirit of God direct the to judge righteously of the Beast and his image; to know them that thou mayst not submit to the spiritual power of the Beast and his image, neither receive his mark in thy forehead nor in thine hand, or the least print of his name, for if thou dost, thy portion is to drink of the Cup and wine of God's wrath, and to be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and in the sight of the Lamb. The word of the lord hath spoken it, and his word is true and not lying.  

But shall we now think we have fully discharged ourselves to God and men in speaking generally unto all, and shall we not in humility, particularly call upon those servants of the lord, of whom he hath especially prophesied, that they shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked, & shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire; & this shallbe done (saith the lord) by the Kings of the earth. Revel. 17.16. of whom we could be content not once to speak for fear of offending, but therein is infirmity in us, and no faithfulness to God, nor them. The wise King, (that knew right well the power and authority of a King) adviseth not to stand in an evil thing before the King for he will do what soever pleaseth him Eccle. 8.3. But in a good cause, why should we fear to stand before Kings, seeing their thrones are established by justice Pro. 16.12. Our cause then being good, for it is the cause of God, as all shall confess. Thus much is it, that we do in all reverend humility beseech of all Kings & Princes, that they will perform this service unto the lord according to this prophesy prophesied of them, in the performance whereof the lord requires their fervent zeal, which they ought to show by their perfect hatred & detestation of the whore: by which zealous hate they are to be provoaked to make her desolate & naked, & to eat her nesh & burn her with fire: & after this manner & with these great & fervent affections shall these Kings that obey the lord in this work serve him. In all this we beseech that we may not be understood as though we meant, that Kings should do this by their temporal sword of justice, no, nothing less: the lord requires no such means in this business, for he hath testified by prophesy, as we have formerly showed, 2. Thes. .2. that he will abolish & consume the man of sin, the mystery of iniquity, which is this Beast, and whore, and city, by the spirit of his mouth, & by the brightness of his coming: and therefore this prophesy may not be understood, that Kings ought to do this by their temporal power, but by the word and spirit of the lord in their testimony, withal holy zeal, and this cannot be done except they first take all their power and authority from the Beast, for no man can serve two Masters, but he shall please the one, and displease, the other: Kings cannot serve the lamb and the Beast, but they must needs hate the one and love the other, and this is most plainly set down in this prophesy. Revel. 17. for in the 13. and 17. vers. it is said of Kings, that they shall have all one mind, & be of one consent with the Beast, & shall give their power & authority unto the Beast, & shall fight with the lamb until the words of God be fulfilled. And in the 16. verse. They shall hate the whore & make her desolate, for God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his decree. Thus we see these Kings propresied of by the spirit of the lord, to do this great work of God, when they shall take it in hand, they shall not halt betwixt two opinions, they shall not be, neither hot nor cold, but they shall be most zealonis for the glory of God, and shall no longer retain any friendship with the Beast (always our meaning is spiritually): now ●●en those Kings and Princes that will in this service obey the most high God, and advance his glory, that hath so greatly advanced them to high honour and dignity, let them take all their power and authority from the Beast, and with draw all the affections of their hearts and souls, and turn them to hatred and to an utter abhorring of the Beast and whore, and so shall they make it manifest unto all the world, that they are true lovers of the lamb, and perfect haters of the Beast: and that they, are they in whom this prophesy is fulfilled. Oh, that Kings and Princes would strive to go one before an other in giving honour to God herein.  
And amongst all the rest of the great and mighty Kings and Princes of the earth, loyalty, nature, and grace doth bind us, with disires of exceeding dutiful and reverend affections, to wish and desire that our lord and K. might be with the foremost in this great and acceptable service of the King of Kings, and lord of lords, which were a worthy service, most well beseeming our lord the King for whom the King of heaven hath done so great things: and if our lord the King will do this service for his God, then must he not by his power, support the Beast nor his image, which are one and the same power. And seeing our lord the King hath seen the deep iniquity of the peremptory ruling Presbytery, let him much more see the high iniquity, of the proud, ambitious, cruel, ruling Prelacy, which is a power set up in the place of God, bearing the names of high blasphemy. Oh let it be far from our lord the K., to give his power which God hath given him to punish evil doers, and to reward them that do well, 1. Pet. 2.14. Let it be far from our lord the King, to give this power to the Beast or his image, for that advanceth the mystery of iniquity, and smiteth down the mystery of godliness. God hath not comunicated his own power to Kings and Princes for this end.  
And seeing we have begun to speak to our lord the King, let us declare what power and authority God hath given to him, whereunto his subjects ought of conscience to obey.  
Our lord the King hath power to take our sons & our daughters to do all his services of ware, and of peace, yea all his servile service what soever, and he hath power to take our lands & our goods of what sort or kind soever, or the tenth thereof to use at his will: and he hath power to take our men servants, and maid servants, and the chief of our young men, and Cattle, and put them to his work: and we are to be his servants 1. Sam. 8.11.18. in all these things our lord the King is to be submitted unto, and obeyed.  
Also he hath power to make all manner governors laws and ordinances of man 1. Het. 2.13.14. Thus doth God give our lord the King power to demand and take what he will of his subjects, & it is to be yielded him and to command what ordinance of man he will, and we are to obey it. And in all these things we acknowledge before God & men we ought to be subject; not for fear only, but also for conscience sake. ●o●n. 13.5. We meddle not with any conditions or contracts, made betwixt the King and his people, whereby our lord the King (in favour) may, or doth abridge himself of his prerogative, and so make himself subject to his own covenants or conditions, which our lord the King ought to keep though it be to his disadvantage, if they be not merely unlawful: but we speak only of that power, which God hath given to the King, all which our lord the King ought to use lawfully; but if he should do otherwise (which God forbidden) he is in these things to be submitted unto Eccl. 8.3.4. and 1. Pet. 2. 18.-24. & who soever resisteth, resisteth the ordinance of God & shall receive to themselves condemnation Rom. 13.2. Thus hath God given our lord the King, all worldly power, which extendeth to all the goods and bodies of his servants. And doth our lord the King require any more? we know he doth not: then let not our lord the King now be angry that we his servants speak the second time unto him. Doth not the King know that the God, or Gods, and lord of ●ords, hath under him made our lord the King an earthly King, and given him all earthly power: and that he hath reserved to himself a heavenly Kingdom, a kingdom that is not of this world joh. 18.36.37. neither are, the subjects of his kingdom of this world, joh. 17.14. and yet this King was in this world and his subjects are in the world. Vers. 12.: & that with this kingdom, our lord the King hath nothing to do, (by his Kingly, power) but as a subject himself: and that Christ is King alone, only high Priest and chief Bishop: and there is no King, no Primate, Metropolitan, ArchBishop, lord spiritual, but Christ only, nor may be, either in name or power to exercise authority one over another Luk. 22.25.26. Mat. 23.11.12. And will our lord the King not withstanding all that Christ hath done for him, in giving him such a kingdom, with such great dignity and power therein, will the King not withstanding, enter upon Christ's kingdom, and appoint (or by his power suffer to be appointed) Laws, Lords, Law makers over or in this kingdom of Christ, who, (we may be bold to say with warrant) if he were upon earth in the flesh, he would be subject to our lord the King in his earthly kingdom, for so was he to Cesar Mat. 17. he paid him tribute, and he commanded to give unto Cesar, things that were Caesar's. Yea he would not meddle with any thing that belonged to the King, not so muchas to command the two beethrens to divide the inheritance: nor to judge the woman taken in adultery. Far be it them from the heart of our lord the King, to give his earthly power to any to rule as lords over the Kingdom and heritage of Christ, which he hath reserved to himself, to rule and govern only by his word and spirit, where no earthly power may be admitted, in that it is no earthly kingdom.  
Behold now we have begun to speak unto our lord the King, and we are but dust and ashes, and our lord the King is but dust and ashes aswell as we, therefore let not our lord the King be angry that his servants speak the third time unto him, we know our lord the King may do what soever pleaseth him, and who shall say unto him, what dost thou? Eccles. 8.3.4. Yet though he should kill us we will speak the truth to him. It is the King's honour to search out a thing. Prov. 25.1. And we know the King is a wise man and a man of understanding: thus than we speak unto him. Will the King challenge to himself to sit upon the throne of David, and to judge Israel? we (the King's servants) mean, will the K. have the same power now over the church & house of God, that the Kings of Israel had under the law? who sat upon David's throne, will and ought the King to make a covenant and cause all to stand to it? and must all stand to it? and will & ought the King to compel all that are found in his dominions to serve the lord as the King commands? 2. Chro. 34.32.33. and will and ought the King to slay all that come not to the passover? Num. 9.13. If our lord the King have this power then he ought duly to execute it, and then he sits upon David's throne: and then the King of Spain hath the like power to compel all in his dominions to serve God as he commands, & so every king sits upon David's throne, and all Kings are herein to be obeyed: for will not our lord the King that is a man of understanding, yield, that Queen Marie the King's noble predecessor had the same power and authority by her sword of justice over her subjects, that our lord the King hath, and that her subjects were bound to obey her in all things, and submit to hi● sword of justice, as well as our lord the King's subjects are to obey him, and submit to his sword of justice: for all earthly Kings, have but one manner of power and sword. Rom. 13. Chap. If our lord the King by his deserving judgement see this, than our lord the King will easily see that as Queen Mary by her sword of justice had no power over her subjects consciences (for then had she power to make them all Papists, and all that resisted her therein suffered justly as evil doers) neither hath our lord the King by that sword of justice power over his subjects consciences: for all earthly powers are one and the same in their several dominions. And if our lord the King will have any other power it must be a spiritual power, and then that must be with an other sword, even a spiritual sword, for an earthly sword is ordained of God only for an earthly power: and a spiritual sword for a spiritual power: and Offences against the earthly power must be puinshed with the earthly sword, and offences against the spiritual power with the spiritual sword, and with this sword/ the King of Kings make our lord the King mighty through him/ to cast down holds, casting down the imaginations, & every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2. Cor. 10.4.5. Who is the fruit of David's loins, concerning the flesh, and only, sits upon David's throne for ever. Act. 230. Luke. 1.32.33. & Esa. 9.7. And upon his kingdom to order it, & to 'stablish it with judgement & with justice. The rod of whose power is sent out of Zion, who is ruler in the midst of his enemies, whose people shall come willingly. Psal. 110.2.3. and requires not any earthly power to build up his Church, as he showeth, when he declareth, that all power was given him in heaven and in earth, he bids his Disciples. Go therefore and teach all nations Baptizing them in the name of the father, etc. he that shall believe and be baptized shallbe saved, But he that will not believe shallbe damned Mat. 28.19. Mark. 16.16. who when he ascended upon high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men, he gave some to be Apostles etc. for the repairing or gathereing together of the Saint's Ephes. 4.5.12. Here is showed unto our lord the King, that which we know he is not ignorant of, that Christ only sits upon David's throne to order it and we the King's servants show it, that the King might not be deceived by deceivers, who would persuade the K. that he hath the same power over the Church of Christ that the Kings of Israel had over the Church of the old Testament, to this end, that they might use the K. earthly power, to rule over and build up (as they pretend) the spiritual Tabernacle, Temple, and Church of Christ, which if the King shall suffer them to do, he shall sin against God in entering upon the kingdom of Christ, who only is King of Israel joh. 12.15. whose power and sword are spiritual, whose Tabernacle, Temple, and house is holy, made with out hands. 2. Cor. 3.17.1. Pet. 2.5. Heb. 9.11. and therefore hath given spiritual gifts unto men, for the gathering together of the Saints for the work of the mystery, and for the building up of his body which is his Church; and doth not will nor require to have people commanded and compelled, by an earthly sword or power as in the days of Hezekiah, and josiah Kings of Israel: for that was an earthly or carnal commandment. Heb. 7.16. and they had a worldly Tabernacle made with hands, and worldly ordinances, and Carnal rites. Heb. 9.1.2.10 and therefore were the Ordinances or law commanded to be kept by a worldly power, and the Tabernacle to be built by hands: but now we have a Tabernacle which the lord pight, and not man Heb. 8.2. and that carnal commandment is changed Heb. 7.12. and we have a commandment after the power of endless life vers. 16. unto the obedience of which law, no earthly King's power, can cause or bring any one man to obey, in any one thing: and the which Tabernacle not made with hands, no earthly power, which consists only of the strength of hands, can cause to be built in any one part thereof: but all this is to be done only by the K. of Israel's power, who hath all power given him in heaven and in earth, whose power is all sufficient to bring under obedience all his subjects, where unto no earthly power can be helpful, whose sword is his word, which is lively and mighty in operation, and sharper than any two edged sword Heb. 4.12. and therefore needs not the help of any King's sword. If his sword will not prevail to bring men under obedience to his own laws, what can our lord the King's sword do? it is spiritual obedience that the lord requires, & the K. sword cannot smite the spirits of men: & if our lord the K. shall force & compel men to worship, & eat the lords supper, against their consciences, so shall he make his poor subjects, to worship and eat unworthily, whereby he shall compel them to sin against God, and increase their own judgements.  
On let not our lord the K. suffer such evil to be done by his power; little doth our lord the King know how many thousands of his people, have been compelled through trouble, and for fear of trouble, to worship and to eat the lords supper unworthily, and so to worship and to eat and drink to there own damnation: who, although they perish in their own sins yet their blood willbe required at their hands, that have compelled them so to sin against their consciences, and the lord in mercy give the K. a heart to look unto it, that it be not laid to our lord the K. charge, if he shall suffer them to exercise such power by his authority.  
And we bow ourselves to the earth before our lord the K. in greatest humbleness, beseeching the K. to judge righteous judgement herein, whether there be so unjust a thing, and of so great cruel tyranny, under the sun, as to force men's consciences in their religion to God, seeing that if they ere, they must pay the price of their transgression with the loss of their souls. Oh let the K. judge, is it not most equal, that men should choose their religion themselves seeing they only must stand themselves before the judgement seat of God to answer for themselves, when it shallbe no excuse for them to say, we were commanded or compelled to be of this religion, by the King, or by them that had authority from him. And let our lord the K. that is a man of knowledge, yet further consider, that if the K. should by his power bring his people to the truth, and they walk in the truth and die in the profession of it, in obedience to the King's power, either for fear, or love, shall they be saved? The K. knows they shall not but they that obey the truth in love, whom the love of God constraineth, their obedience only shallbe acceptable to God. 1. Cor. 13. Thus may our lord the K. see, that by his Kingly power, he cannot cause or make men bring an acceptable sacrifice to God, and will the King make men, (whether they will or no) bring an unacceptable sacrifice to God? and shall the King herein think he doth please God? God forbidden. If the King will please God in such service, then must he seek to convert sinners from going astray jam. 5.20. & turn men to righteousness Dan. 12.3. not with his sword of justice, but by the foolishness of preaching, for that is the means whereby God hath appointed to save them that believe 1. Cor. 1.21. and 27. for God hath chosen & appointed the foolish things, of the world, the weak things: the vile things: the things that are despised: and things which are not, to confound and bring to nought things that are: and these things hath God chosen to set forth Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Here is not the absolute authentical word of command, nor the mighty powerful punishing sword of our lord the King required to this work of the publishing of the Gospel of jesus-christ. And let the King call to mind, that which (no doubt) the King hath often red in the gospel, according to Luk. Chap. 9.52.56. That when the Samaritans would not receive Christ, and that his disciples said, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them. jesus rebuked them, and said, ●ye know not of what spirit ye are, the son of man is not come to destroy men's lives but to save them: whereby the King doth see, that Christ will have no man's life touched for his cause, if the Samaritans will not receive him, he passeth by them: if the Gadarens pray him to departed he leaves them: if any refuse to receive his disciples, he only bids them shake of the dust of their feet for a witness against them.  
Here is no sword of justice at all required or permitted to smite any for refusing Christ. Then let not our lord the King suffer his swore of justice, which God hath given him with power from himself, to defend and rule with authority, & keep in all obedience, his own people, & people of God, unto the Ks. own laws & statutes, which appertaineth to the well governing and ruling of the King's state & kingdom, which is worldly and must fade away. Let not our lord the K. suffer this sword to be used to rule and keep in obedience the people of God and of the K. to the laws, statutes, and ordinances of Christ which appertain to the well governing and ruling of the kingdom of Christ, which is heavenly and endureth for ever: the sword of whose kingdom is spiritual, by the power of which sword only, Christ's subjects are to be ruled, and kept in obedience to him: by the which sword our lord the K. must be kept in obedience himself, if he be a disciple of Christ, & a subject of Christ's kingdom. And this takes away (with out gainsaying) all the Kingly power & authority of our Lord the K. in the kingdom of Christ, for he cannot be both a King & a subject, in one and the same kingdom: the King's understanding heart, will easily deserve this.  
Then let our lord the K. in all happiness & prosperity sit in his own Princely throne of that mighty Kingdom of Great Britanne. Which God hath given to the King and to his posterity, and the lord give the K. a most wise heart to rule & judge his people: and the lord give all his people faithful hearts to love & obey him: and let all those the K. enemies that would not that he should reign over them, bestayne before him.  
And let our lord jesus-christ in power and Majesty sit upon David's throne, the throne of the Kingdom of Israel/ which his father hath given unto him, & let Christ according to his own wisdom judge his people Israel, and let our the K. be his subject, the which our lord the King yielding himself to be, the K. must needs grant that as he is an earthly King he can have no power to rule in this spiritual Kingdom of Christ, nor can compel any to be subjects thereof (as a King) whilst the K. is but a subject himself for there may be but one King in Israel.  
And let not our lord the King be now angry, and his servants will speak but this once. Will our lord the K. being himself but a subject of Christ's Kingdom, take upon him by his Kingly power to make primates, Metropolitans, Arch. Bishops, and lord Bishops to be lords in the Kingdom of Christ, and over the heritage of God? And will our lord the K. do this against the whole rule of God's word? wherein there is no one tittle to warrant our lord the K. thereunto. Will not our lord the K. be supplicated by the humble petition of his servants to examine his power & authority herein? far is it from the hearts of us the King's servants, to move the King to departed from the least tittle of his right that belongs to his Royal Crown & dignity: and far be it from the King to take from Christ jesus any one part of that power & honour which belongs to Christ in his Kingdom. Let our lord the King pardon his servants for meddling in this matter: for we profess ourselves bound (upon the peril of our souls) to be faithful subjects both to jesus Christ our K. & to our lord & K. & there fore it stands us upon, to know what belongs unto Christ our heavenly K. and unto our earthly K. and Christ our spiritual K. hath freely spoken unto us, & commanded us to give unto our K. that which is our Ks. & will not our lord the K. say as freely unto us, give unto God, that which is Gods? We doubt not but our lord the King will say so, why then we appeal unto our lord the K. that is our earthly K. & let the K. speak according to the true judgement, of his heart, will the K. say, that it belongs to him to make spiritual Lords over the house of God? And will the K. warrant his saying to be Good? And if the King warrant it only by his Princely prerogative, may we therepon give unto the King this power in submitting ourselves to such spiritual Lords, and to their power? were not this to take from our Spiritual Lord and King, that which is even his own name, title, and power, and give it to another? what greater evil can be committed against Christ, then to take his honour and power from him and give it to earthly men, who should fear & tremble before him, in giving to him glory & honour, and not taking from him. Let not our lord the King be partaker in such great evil to suffer, a power and name of blasphemy to be set up so directly against the express commandment of Christ, who forbids all Lordly titles and ruling power one over another in his Kingdom: we dare not but think it is done ignorantly, both by our lord the K. who suffers this, and by them that administer in this greatest evil, we the King's servants say, this greatest evil, in that it is the abomination of desolation set up in the high places, which are the days of greatest tribulation, that ever was or shallbe, the which days except they should be shortened no flesh should be saved.  
And if it shall not yet appear unto our lord the that this hierarchy of archbishops, and lord Bs. is this abomination of desolation set in the high places, than we beseech the K. upon our knees, by his highest honour and renown, by his truest justice & most righteous judgement, by his most Godly Princ-like care of the salvation of all his subjects, and lastly & above all by his chiefest love unto God & to his holy truth. That our lord the King will with his Royal consent give way that this cause may come to an equal trial, but thus far: that the K. will but take & hold his sword of justice from this hierarchy, that they may not smite the faith full true, & loyal subjects of the K. therewith, neither to death, nor to imprisoment, nor to banishment, for speaking or writing only against their Kingdom. And let our lord the King (by the humble supplication of us his servants) be entreated, to leave them to defend their spiritual power and names by the sword of the spirit, (which ought only to be the weapon of their warfare, if they be spiritual Lords as they pretend, and then shall ●ur lord the K. see this cause truly decided, to the Ks. honour and great comfort: for the K. knows that this hierarchy, withal their learned dependency, if their cause be good, they cannot lose it for want of learning, in that they have wisdom & learning if it be according to godliness, sufficient to convince the whole earth, and if they can with all that mass of learning, maintain their Primacy, and Prelacy, Arch-Bishopry and spiritual Lordships, then may our lord the King let them enjoy it with comfort; but if they cannot with all the spiritual weapons and armour they have, uphold it, then let it fall and go into the bottomless pit, from whence it is come. Revel. 9.2. and whether it must go, though all the Kings on the earth should strive to uphold it. Revel. 20.1.2.10. Let not our lord the K. therefore give the least support thereunto, by the power of his sword. The lord grant that we may find favour in the King's eyes, in this so just and equal a cause, which is, that we may but try the power of these (called) Spiritual Lords: and that by earthly power they may not force men to yield unto their spiritual authority. How can it but seem equal in the King's sight, that spiritual lords should have no more spiritual authority, than they can get and maintain by spiritual power. And if the hierarchy themselves think it unequal that the doctrine of their power should be tried, & be not most willing & ready thereunto, but shall by policy & secret intimations shift it of, then shall our lord the K. that is wise easily deserve that their deeds are evil, and they hate the light neither cometh to the light lest their deeds should be reproved joh. 3.20. But they that do truth, come to the light, that their deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought according to God. Thus shall our lord the King & all the world, have a full trial of them, whether their deeds are wrought according to God, or no, for if they will now come to the light of God's word in the sight of all men, and manifest their deeds to be wrought according to God, then have they approved themselves: but if they do not, then hath our Saviour Christ here condemned them with his own mouth, and let our lord the King also condemn them in his own wisdom. Shall we need to be importunate with our lord the King in this cause of his poor people which concerns the condemnation of all their souls? what need we, seeing our lord the King knows, that a King that judgeth the cause of the poor rightly, his throne shallbe established for ever. Pro. 20.14. Then let our lord the King here the cause of the poor: and the rather in that the Kings most noble Predecessor, hath before justly adjudged the same cause, and freed his people so far of the bondage wherein they were. King Henry the 8. that Prince of great renown, freed his people from the bondage of the first Beast, especially in these two great and main particulars, in causing the scriptures to be set over and printed for the people in their own language, that so they might hear the word with their own ears: and also that their worship should be in their own tongue, that they might speak to God with their own tongue, and not in a straying tongue, as they did.  
Let heaven and earth judge, and let our lord the K. judge, & let all the King's people judge, whether this was not the depth of all darkness, when men might not know what God speak unto them, nor know in their public worship what they speak unto God. Let our lord the K. judge whether ever there was such spiritual cruelty upon the earth, when the poor people of God for whom Christ died, were debarred from the presence of God, in their public worship, & might neither hear god, nor speak to God, with their own outward cares & tongues, but as the Ministers of the man of sin appointed and in astraing tongue, as they taught them. We know our lord the K. doth see that here the abomination of desolation was set up in the high places: as also that the Corpses of the two witnesses of God prophesed of Revel. 11.8. (which are the word and spirit of God) lay dead in the streets of that great City, there being no true use at all of them, and the people being deprived of the life of them, for the word was a dead letter unto them, and the spirit a dead spirit.  
The King's predecessor of famous renown, thus freed his people from that bondage of the first Beast: but there is risen up a second Beast, which exerciseth the power of the first Beast, and now our lord he King's people cry unto the King with the sighs and groans of their spirits (and would cry also with a loud voice, but for fear of the Beast) and humbly beseech the King that he would put too his helping hand to free his people from the bondage of the second Beast, that their souls may not perish to everlasting perdition, which all must do which are under the bondage of the same, and so continue. And now let the King hear with an ear of compassion, and see with an eye of pity, the cruel spiritual bondage that his poor people are kept under by the second Beast in these particulars.  
The King's people have the word in their own language and may pray in their own tongue: But they must not understand the word, but as the Lord Bishops will have it understood, and they must not pray nor administer in the holy things but as they appoint. Now let the King with a godly wise heart consider in what woeful Spiritual bondage, God's people, and the Kings, are kept by this hierarchy. Now plainly would our lord the King see the cruel Spiritual tyranny hereof, if the King would make it but his own cause. Would not the King think it a must cruel tyranny, if the King should be by force compelled to understand and believe the scriptures as the hierarchy of Rome would have him? And to worship God and administer in the holy things as that hierarchy would appoint? And if the King would not so do, that then that hierarchy should have power to put the King in prison, and if that would not serve the turn, to procure or cause the King's life to be taken from him, or at least to banish the King from his Kingdom, & nation would not our lord the K. think this great tyranny & cruel bondage? We know the King would: for which cause the K. and his predecessors have cast of this bondage. Then let the King see that the King's people are under this same bondage: for if they will not understand the scriptures, and worship God, as the hierarchy of Arch. Bs. and lord Bs. command & appoint, they strait send a pursuivant, apprehended them by violence and force, imprison them, sometimes diverse years, many times not suffering so much as their wives to come at them, and if their lives cannot be gotten, then procure their exile or banishment. The lord give the King a heart to pity his people herein, the King is ignorant of these dealings, and none dare tell the King thereof, the Prelacy have been so mighty and so cruel.  
And will it please the King to view the cause of his people, (being true and faithful subjects) yet further: what doth it profit the King's people to have the word of God to hear, and read it, seeing they are debarred of the spirit of God to understand it, but according to private interpretation, by the the lord B. as though they had the spirit and could not ere. Oh that our lord the King that is a man of excellent wisdom, would but bend his wisdom to behold, how that herein (wherein the whole power of the Beast consists) this hierarchy of Arch-Bs. & lord Bs. doth nothing differ, from the first Beast: for the first Beast keeps both the word and spirit from the people: and they keep the spirit of God in bondage, & then is the word of God of no effect, debarring the people of God thereof, tying them to their spirits in the understanding of the scriptures which none may try whether they be of God or no, but must believe and obey, or else go to prison, and if they will not yield either he hanged or banished.  
judge? O King is this a rule of direction, and ordinance of the Lamb? That command Bishops to be gentle, towards all men, apt to teach, suffering the evil men patiently; instructing them with meekness that are contrary minded, proveing if God at any time will give them repentance, that they may acknowledge the truth, and come to amendment, etc. 2. Tim. 2.24.25.26. By these fruits may our lord the King & his people know the Bishops of the lamb, that is lowly and meek, and bids, learn so to be of him. Mat. 11.29. but to pull men (that are contrary minded) out of their houses by Pursuivants, to cast them into prison, and cause them to lie there at excessive charges, utterly undoing them, their wives, and children, and bringing them to all out ward misery: and causing them to be banished, from under their natural Prince, (to whom they are most true subjects) forth of their native country, and from their father's houses, and all their friends and familiars. Will not our lord the King say that these are the Bishops of the Beast, who is like a leopard, and his feet like a Bears, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion Revel. 13. of whom they learn, to be proud and cruel. And all these eviles and many more, have come upon the King's people because they will not understand the scriptures by the spirit of the lord Bs. and pray in their worship to God by the direction of their spirit.  
Will our lord the K. hear the earnest complaint of his people herein: and grant redress that as the Ks. people, by the means of the Kings most noble predecessor enjoy that blessed liberty to read and hear the word of God in their own language and to pray in their public worship in their own tongue: that so by our lord the King's means the King's people may enjoy this blessed liberty, to understand the scriptures with their own understandings, & pray in their public worship with their own spirits, and then if men ere, their sin shallbe upon their own heads, & the King's hand shallbe innocent & clear from their transgression, which it cannot be, if the K. shall willingly suffer his power to be used to compel men to pray, and understand by the direction of the Lord Bs. spirit: and if the King shall give his power to the Lord Bs. but to compel men to eat meats which through our lord jesus Christ are all clean, yet to him that judgeth them unclean to them they are uncleame. Rom. 14.14. in which case if a man freely of his own accord, do eat and doubt, he is condemned, because he eateth not of faith; why then, if a man in this case be forced by the King's power, (whether he will or no) to eat when he doubteth, and so he be condemned vers. 24. is not this to wound the weak conscience, and to sin against Christ? 1. Cor. 8.12. and can our lord the King's hand be innocent herein? When by the King's power men shallbe compelled to sin. Oh that the King would then see, that if he may not give his power to rule men's consciences in the least things, that are indifferent, much less hath the King power to command men's consciences in the greatest things between God and man.  
This being so, we the King's servants (with all the humility & reverence that can or may be given to any earthly Prince) do out of the true Loyalty, obedience, & faithfulness of our hearts, thus speak unto the King: Let it suffice our lord the King and let it not seem a small thing, that the God of Gods hath made our lord the King a mighty earthly K. over diverse nations: and hath given our lord the King an earthly power, to make laws, & ordinances (such as the King in his own wisdom, shall think best, and to change & alter them at his pleasure) to rule, and govern his people by: and to appoint Governors & Officers to execute the Kings will, and all the Ks. people are bound of conscience to God, and duty to the King to obey the King herein, with their goods, bodies, & lives in all service, of peace & war: and who soever shall resist the King herein, they resist the Ordinance of God, and shall receive judgement from God, besides the punishment with the sword of justice, which God hath given to the K. to punish evil doers that transgress the K. laws. And God hath also honoured the K. with titles and names of Majesty that are due unto himself. Psal. 82.16. Dan. 5.18. & hath commanded honour to be given unto the K. 1. Pet. 2. ●7. And God hath commanded all his people specially to pray for the K. 1. Ti. 2.2. Let this Kingdom power & honour fully satisfy our lord the Ks. heart, & let it suffice the K. to have all rule over his people's bodies & goods; & let not our lord the K. give his power to be exercised over the spirits of his people, for they belong to another Kingdom which can not be shaken Heb. 12.22.23.28. differing from all earthly Kingdoms: for our lord the K. knows, that the chief of earthly Kingdoms are compared to gold, silver, brass, iron, Dan. 7.37.46. But this is the Kingdom which the God of heaven hath set up, which shall never be destroyed; & this Kingdom shall not be given to another people, but to the holy people of the most nigh God; & all powers shall serve & obey him. dan. 2.44. & 7.27. Therefore in this Kingdom, let our lord the K. give us his servants leave, again to tell the K. that he must be a subject, & that our lord the K. hath no power nor prerogative (as a King) to make laws, for in this Kingdom, there is but one lawgiver, who is able to save & to destroy. jam. 4.12. neither hath our lord the King power to appoint Officers in this Kingdom and much less to make spiritual lords over this Kingdom to bring all men's spirits in subjection to their spirits in the understanding of the scriptures and worshipping God.  
Wherein least we may seem to speak untruly to the K. we humbly beseech our lord the K. that it may be law full for his servants, with his Princely favour to show the K. some few particulars out of a multitude. And first we show the K. that whereas our Saviour Christ Mat. 18.15. ●0. gives a rule of direction to admonish a brother, if he sin, not speaking particularly of some sins, but generally of all or any one sin, as we the K. servants understand with all the understanding that God hath given us. The lord Bs. say, this is not to be understood generally of every sin against God but particularly of some, and herein must we be subject to the spirit of their understanding and that rule of Christ must be made no sure nor perfect rule. Next let us show the K. that if there be such a sin committed, as the Bs. do iugd to be a sin, according to their rule, (which let the K. give his servants leave to suppose to be adultery & that it proceeds or comes to this degree that it must be told unto the Church, which we understand to be the whole congregation, more, or less: The lord Bs. by their spirit of understanding, say, tell the Church: That is to be understood, tell the Ordinary, which is either the Bishop's chancellor, or the Archdeacon's Official, they are they, that have power to bind in earth, & it shallbe bound in heaven, & their fees being, paid them, they have power to lose on earth, & it shallbe loosed in heaven. Oh that the Ks. ear would but hear half the depth of this iniquity, & the Ks. servants know the Ks. heart would never endure it that his people's consciences should be thus wounded and their souls destroyed, by being compelled to submit to such spirits of understanding. Furthermore let our lord the King know that whereas the Holy ghost testifieth Act. 14.23. saying that they had ordained Elders by Election in every Church, and prayed and fasted: this we understand, was the whole Congregations fasting and praying, and Election; and that the Church hath power to appoint some to ordain or lay on hands, if there be no Elders as they did Act. 13.2.3. but all this (say the Lord B. by the spirit of our understandings) doth belong unto us, and the Patron: and the people have nothing to do, but must be content to have such a Pastor, as we appoint, though they never heard him, knew him, nor saw him: and although the congregation after, ward should like never so well of him; yet the Lord Bishops they have power to take him away from them, & to deprive him, and silence him, & punish them if they hear him, although he be never so well approved amongst them. Thus must the King's peoples be compelled to understand the scriptures, for the advancement of their power of Ordination, and deprivation. And whereas we the King's servants understand, according to the best understanding that God hath given us that Thappostle Paul, giving a rule of direction for the people of God, how to worship God, when they come together 1. Cor. 14.26.33. That every one as he hath a Psalm, or a doctrine, or a tongue, may speak to edification, and if any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, the first is to hold his peace, for all (that have gifts) may prophesy one by one: and in all this, God is no the God of confusion, but of Order. Thus do we hold the disciples of Christ, aught to come together, to worship God and edify one another, in the liberty of the spirit, according to the gifts and graces that are given to every one Rom. 12.6. And that every man as he hath received the gift, may administer the same one to another 1. Pet. 4.10. The lord Bs. utterly deny the substance of all this understanding, and their spirit of understanding directs, that when the Congregation, is come together, the Priest, or Curate, that is licenced by them, only must perform the worship, and must begin their worship with their book, strictly tying them to such sentences: and then to that which is written after: then a Confession: then an absolution, with virsickles and answers, and Psalms, and lessons, and Te Deum, and the Latany. 3. days a week, and at other times, when the Ordinary shall command.  
Thus may our lord the King see, how his people's spirits are in bondage to the lord Bs. spirit in the understanding of the scriptures: and they must of force against their consciences, understand them as they command, or else go to prison.  
And our lord the King may also see that whereas neither Christ, nor his Apostles, ever commanded, or practised any set form of worship, whose spirit had been most fit to have ordained such an order, yet the Lord Bs. (in the perfect image of the first Beast) have composed a proportion, and framed an order of prayers and readings for the worship of God, commanding absolutely the observation thereof, forcing the spirits of the King's people to be subject to their limitations herein: and so deliver God's people their bread by weight, and their water by measaure, not suffering the hungry to be satisfied with the bread of life: nor the thirsty to be quenched from the rivers of waters: but forcing the unwilling to drink stolen waters out of their Cesexons, and eat hidden bread out of their storehouses: but the simple that eat and drink thereof, know not that the dead are there, & that their guests are in the depths of hell. Pro. 9.17.18. Let not our lord the K. be despleased, seeing his servants speak but the words of sobriety: and if the K. shall think we misap●y them, that is the thing which we so humbly & earnestly beseech the K. may come to trial; by the Ks. free consent, and that the King's hand of power may not be against the just and due trial thereof.  
Now when we the King's servants do sue for a trial, we desire our lord the King not to conceive that his servants mean a day of dispute, and so to handle the cause of the lord, as men that contend for prizes, who submit their cause to private censure, for that it is private and concerns but themselves: but our humble and most equal suit to our lord the K. is, that seeing this hierarchy of Arch. Bs. & lord Bs. do challenge such power & prerogative over our consciences, that all who cannot of consciente yield it unto them, may walk according to their consciences, and publish their defence against them: & that these that bear the names of spiritual lords, may by spiritual power only, convince their gainsayers: and not pretend to be spiritual Bishops, and use only the King's temporal sword to rule and convince men with: And that our lord the King would suffer us his servants to demand of them (that take upon them to be lord Bs. of whom they have learned to rule by such power, and who hath taught them to put the contrary minded in prison; & how they willbe able to answer him (that will bring the greatest of them to answer) who taught all his disciples, to 〈◊〉 not the contrary minded with meekness, proveing if at any time God will give them repentance, and hath taught them to be gentle suffering the evil 2. Tim. 2.24.25. And let our lord the King give us his servants leave to ask these Lord Bs. whether they think that God hath forgotten this his commandment? or that he will quite forget to put it in their account, because they have all together forgotten to keep it?  
Oh that our lord the King would but take his sword out of these lord Bs. hands, to whose Officie it doth in no sort appertain, if they were Christ's Bishops and that the K. would let them only use that sword which is sharper than any two edged sword, which only belongs to Christ's Bishops in their Office, let the King turn them out, and let them (if there be any manner of uprightness in them) come forth with that sword and armour only, which the holy ghost hath appointed them if they be Christ disciples Ephes. 6.11.17. And we will come to them through God's grace in the spirit of love and meekness: but when they smite us with the Ks. sword of justice, & maintain their authority only by that power, and yet willbe spiritual lord how can we with faithfulness to the cause of God, but shoot them thorough with the arrows of the Almighty, & filling them the double. Revel. 18.6. Discover by the word of truth the height of their iniquity: for if it may please our lord the K. to consider there is no other way to try, and discover them whether they be spiritual or no, but to apply the word of God unto them, examine, & compare them by it, as the Church of Ephesus did them which said they were Apostles but were not, & found them liars. Revel. 2.2. & if this hierarchy of Arch-Bs. & lord Bs. will not nor may not be tried by the word of God but will still cause, (by all the means they can) as many as will not worship it, should be killed, so that none may speak, or write against it, but they shallbe by death, by imprisoment, or by banishment destroyed, them our lord the K. can judge, that knows the practice of the first Beast in all these things, that where the first Beast hath full power, none may write, nor speak, nor look amiss, but they die, the King can judge, whether this hierarchy of Arch B. and Lord B. be not the second Beast, who hath thus caused to be made the image of the first Beast. And if the King's people may not thus say and write, and by the word of God, prove this hierarchy so to be; but must without gainsaying, believe the scriptures & worship God, as they command, then are they Lords over our faith, and the people of God have no power from God to understand the scriptures, but all power is given to them: and then must we believe they cannot ere.  
And we beseech our lord the King (that is a man of wisdom) to give righteous judgement herein, whether the Lord Bs. do not challenge only to themselves all power to understand the scriptures and not to eer, when they will by force and violence of imprisoment, banishment, or death Compel the King's people to yield obedience to their understanding only: for if the King's people must not believe, that they only have the power of the spirit, and cannot eer, how comes it that the King's people must be compelled only to obey them in all their understandings and practices? Except the King's people must obey them though they do ere. And if our lord the King will not altogether turn his ear from the deep complaints, of his servants, then let the King hear his servants in this point, which is so hateful to the King, and is of all estates (that have any understanding in the mystery of godliness) so much detested; yea the Lord B. themselves do in words profess great detestation thereof: and that is; that presumptuous sin of blasphemy of that Romish Beast, who holds, he cannot ere, and therefore thinks that he may change times and laws, as is prophesied of him. Dan. 7.25. and this he doth, as our lord the King well knows, appointing or commanding, laws, days, and times, & forcing obedience, and saying he cannot ere: so that what soever he doth it must be obeyed, as holy, and good. Oh that our lord the King & all his people, would see that the hierarchy of Arch-Bs. and Lord Bs. do no less, although in word they deny it, yet in deeds they practice and hold the same thing, that they cannot ere. And this can never be denied, neither shall they ever be able to open their mouth to deny it, if they might but be brought ta answer: for shall they ever be able to anniswere it, that they should expound the scriptures, & make spiritual laws Canons, and decrees, & command absolute obedience: and in diverse of their Canons, decreeing excommunication ipso facto, but that they shallbe forced to show by their deeds that they cannot ere: & men must obey them upon that ground, because they cannot ere, or else upon this ground, that they must be obeyed although they do ere: for they must be obeyed: upon which last ground, thausends do obey them. But we beseech our lord the King that it may be lawful without offence unto the King to try the hierarchy upon the first ground, which is, that as the hierarchy of Rome say in words, they cannot ere: that so in their deeds this hierarchy do absolutely profess they cannot ere. We with our best ability make it plain to our lord the King and to every eye and ear thus.  
The hierarchy of Rome, expounds the scriptures: makes laws, Canons, and decrees, and binds all men's consciences to obey, forcing them thereunto by excommunication, imprisoment, banishment, death, & none may examine the power, authority, or warrant thereof by the scriptures, but all must be received for holy and good, because the hierarchy of Rome, say in words they cannot ere. And we beseech our lord the K. to see that the hierarchy of Arch-Bs. and Lord Bs. do all the same things; they expound the scriptures, make laws, Canons, & decrees, & binds all men's consciences to the obedience thereof, forcing the Ks. true & obedient subjects thereunto, by excommunication, imprisoment, banishment, (the K. in mercy & justice's restraning them of blood) & none may examine the power & authority of any of their decrees by the scriptures, but all must be received for holy, & good. Doth not the K. in the wisdom of his heart see, & may not all the K. people see, that this hierarchy of Arch-Bs. and lord Bs. in all their deeds, do show, they challenge to have the same power not to ere, which the hierarchy of Rome do say in words they have? & thus do they absolutely in deeds profess they cannot ere, which the hierarchy of Rome profess in words, and herein the High: of Arch-Bs. & lord Bs. are the more deceit full deceiveableness of unrighteousness.  
And now we beseech the Creator of hearts to give our lord the King a new heart to consider of all the exalted abomination of desolation executed & practised by this hierarchy of Arch Bs. and Lord Bs. and let our lord the K. know, that it concerns the King highly on to consider of it, in that it is set up, and supported, and all the cruelty thereof executed by the Ks. power, whereby they make our lord the K. guilty, of all the imprisoment, banishment & persecution, which by the King's power, they impose upon all the faithful subjects of the King who with stand their abominations But above all, let our the King (for the glory of God, and for the salvation of the Kings own soul) suffer us the King's servants, thus far to prevail with the King that our Lord the King would but search the scriptures (whereby the K. knows he must be directed, if he willbe saved) and let the King see with his own eye, what show of warrant can be found, that the King should take unto himself power to Elect Bishops. Oh we beseech the King that the successive possession, and the goodly appearance of this power may nothing sway with our lord the King herein: but let the King set before his eyes, the worthy recorded remembrance (by the spirit of God) of Cyrus' King of Persia, who brought forth, the vessels of the house of the lord, which Nabuchadnezzer had taken out of jerusalem, & had put them in the house of his God Ezra. 1.7.11. Not regarding the monuments of his predecessors great conquest, nor the despoiling of his Gods of such beautiful ornaments: nor the departing with treasure of so great value. All these respects could not hinder this King for restoring the vessels of the house of the Lord. Let our lord the K. be no less minded to the house & Church of God: but let our lord the King freely restore at once, to the Church and house of God the whole glorious power of Christ the only King thereof, and particularly that most beautiful ornament of Election and ordination of the Bishops and deacons thereof, who ought to be elected & ordained according to the rule of the holy ghost Act. 14.23. & 6.3. and who ought to be qualified withal and every one of those gifts and graces set down up Thappostle 1. Tim. 3. & Tit. 1. yea & their wives & children also, or else it is grievous iniquity to choose them. And who must only by their Office bear those names & titles which the holy ghost hath given them: and lead or rule by that power which Christ hath appointed, and by those laws, and ordinances: and live by those maintenances, if they stand need. And will our lord the King change all these and many more laws, statutes, and ordinances, which Christ jesus the mediator and King of the new Testament, hath appointed and ordained in his Church? Will the King take this power to himself to Elect in such manner, and such men, as the King thinks good? And give names, titles, and power such as best pleaseth the King? Hath jesus-christ with his blood purchased to himself this honour to be the head of his Church? Ephes. 5. And hath he showed himself a faithfilll Mediator? And hath he been accounted worthy of more glory than Moses? And hath he builded his own house himself? Heb. 3. And shall he be despoiled of all his honour? And will our lord the King be enticed by evil men to enter upon the inheritance of the Son of God, in appointing and (by the King's power) suffering to be appointed Lords and laws in and over the house of God which are not according to the pattern? Which lords, because Christ is not their buckler, nor faith their shield: nor the sword of the spirit the weapon of their warfare, they have deceitfully seduced our lord the King bringing themselves under his protection for their defence, and getting the Ks. sword into their hands to destroy all that speak or write against them, preferring their own Kingdom before either Christ's Kingdom, or the kingdom & State of our lord the King as we have already showed unto the King in that they with such loving patience suffer and permit so many thousands of Romists, who by their profession, and the practices of some of them are dangerously opposite to the Kingdom of Christ, and to the King and State: But these Lords Bs. Cannot in any wise endure one, that doth faithfully seek for reformation, because such are only adversaries to their kingdom. We still pray our lord the King that we may be free from suspect, for having any thoughts of provoking evil against them of the Romish religion, in regard of their profession, if they be true & faithful subjects to the King for we do freely profess, that our lord the King hath no more power over their consciences then over ours, and that is none at all: for our lord the King is but an earthly King, and he hath no authority as a King but in earthly causes, and if the King's people be obedient & true subjects, obeying all human laws made by the King, our lord the King can require no more: for men's religion to God, is betwixt God and themselves; the King shall not answer for it, neither may the King be iugd between God and man. Let them be heretics, Turcks, jews, or what soever it appertaineth not to the earthly power to punish them in the least measure. This is made evident to our lord the King by the scriptures. When Paul was brought before Gallio deputy of Achaia, and accused of the jews for persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. Gallio said unto the jews, if it were a matter of wrong or an evil deed, o ye jews, I would according to right maintain you, & he drove them from the judgement seat Act. 18.12.17. showing them that matters of wrong and evil deeds, which were betwixt man & man appertained only to the judgement seat, and not questions of religion. The like is showed by the Twne clerk of Ephesus in Act. 19.38.39. And further Paul being in like case accused of many things Act. 24. in the 25. chap. he appeals to Caesar's judgement seat, where he saith he ought to be judged approveing and justifying thereby, that Caesar's power & judgement seat was the holy Ordinance of God: and our Saviour Christ is himself obedient thereunto, & commands & teacheth his Disciples obedience: but this judgement seat, & power which was of God, had nothing to do in the causes of the Religion of God, as our lord the King may see: for if it had, then could not our Saviour Christ have commanded obedience thereunto, but he must have utterly overthrown his own kingdom and power: Neither could Th'apostle Paul, have said he ought to be judged at Caesar's judgement seat if Cesar had, or might have judged in causes of Religion to God, for than had he utterly overthrown the Office of his Appostleship, and then had he submitted his Appostleship wholly to the judgement of Cesar, and so had the power and authority of it, been altogether destroyed, & made of no effect, which might in no wise be.  
Now let our lord the K. (whose honour it is wisely to judge in things that differ) judge, whether there be in these days, any other earthly power or any other spiritual power, but the same that was in Christ and his Apostles times, in which times, all earthly power, was in the hands of earthly Kings and Princes, and them that were in authority under them, and Christ and his Apostles diminished not Kings and Princes of the least tittle thereof. And all spiritual power was in the hands of Christ and his Apostles, that were in authority under him, of which spiritual power & authority, Christ nor his Apostles would suffer no earthly K. to diminish them of the least tittle thereof, but rather gave them their lives: if then our lord the K. do deserve that earthly Kings and Princes, had the same power then that Kings and Princes have now, and that Kings & Princes had no power then over men's religion, which was spiritual and belonged to Christ: men were then to give unto God, that which was Gods: and unto Cesar, and so unto all earthly Princes, only that which appertained to them. Then let our lord the King judge by what warrant of God's word the King can now, take to himself a spiritual power, and set up an hierarchy of Arch Bishop & Lord B. and give authority to them to make laws and Canons of Religion, and to give them power to compel men unto the obedience there of; by such seveer courses as they have done. Let our lord the King consider (and the Lord give the K. wisdom therein) that if no King nor Prince could have set up such an hierarchy, with such power and titles then, but they had utterly trodden under foot all the dignity and power of Christ and his Apostles (for Christ, and his Apostles must have been subject thereunto) neither may any King set up such an hierarchy now, because it doth utterly tread under foot, all the dignity and power of Christ and his Apostles, as well now, as it had done then: for we have now Christ and his Apostles in all their power & dignity as well as they had in those days according to that saying of our Saviour Christ in the parable. They have Moses and the prophets.  
And we humble beseech our lord the K. a little to suffer the foolishness of his servants, although we may seem as fools unto the king herein. If there had been such a steaing hierarchy set up in Christ and Thappostles days, would the hierarchy have suffered us (that are thousands of the K. of great Britain's subjects) to have gone to Christ & his Apostles to have asked them, whether we should have obeyed them or no, in all their Canons and ordinances? And whether we should have given them those titles of superiority, and all that ruling power which they challenge over us the King's subjects? sureby they will say, they would not have denied us that liberty to have gone, in so weighty a cause, and being so many, to have asked Counsel of Christ, and his Apostles, what we should have done: 20. thousands being ignorant, and 10. thousands being doubtful whether any such power might be submitted too or no; and thousands being out of all doubt, that it might not be submitted unto; they will say they would not have denied us: but we know what their Canons would have made of it, and we may suspect justly, that they would have informed the King that it were very dangerous to suffer so many to go unto Christ, and his Apostles for counsel and that it were not fit to suffer such giddy heads to have that liberty, for making rents and divisions: and that it were much more safety, for the King to suffer them, to make all whole by their power, and to subdue such busy refractory spirits. Let the King with favour suffer his servants, thus to speak by the way, lest peradventure any such things come in the way. And we the King's servants now taking it for granted that the Arch Bs. and lord Bs. (that profess such great holiness) would not have deneyd us to have gone to jesus Christ and his Apostles to be directed. And if Christ and his Apostles, had, (in the hearing of all our own ears, being so ma witnesses) commanded us absolutely not to yield the Arch-Bs. and lord Bs. any such power or names, could we yield it them? Although the Arch-Bs. and Lord Bs. should (with 20. thousands of witnesses) affirm, that Christ and his Apostles spoke otherwise, to their hearing. Would our lord the King think it equal, that we should be forced to believe their hearing, because they are lord Bs. contrary to the hearing of our own ears, & being so many witnesses of one Nation and tongue, besides hundredth thousands of witnesses of other Nations & tongues? We know our lord the K. would think it no more equal (if the case were so) that we should be forced to believe the lord Bs. hearing, then that they should be forced to believe our hearing.  
Then iugd O King, for the case is all one and the same: for we have Christ and his Apostles in their writings, and they do absolutely speak to our understandings, that in no wise there ought to be any such hierarchy of Arch Bs. and Lord Bs. in Christ's Church. And the Lord Bs. say, that Christ and his Apostles, speaks to their understandings, that there power and names are not contrary to Christ's words. Can our lord the King (that is accounted a most wise and just Prince in his judgement) judge, that we are all bound to cast away our own understandings of Christ's speaking, and are to be compelled to believe and understand Christ to speak, as the lord Bs. understand Christ's speaking? Oh let our lord the King with compassion, consider, whether ever since the heavens and earth were created, there was a more unequal extreme cruelty than this, that the King's people should be compelled (in a cause that concerns the everlasting condemnation of their souls & bodies to Hell) of force to submit their souls and bodies to the understanding of the Lord Bs. that are not able to direct themselves from the ways of death, but are perished every man, that ever bare that Office with those names and power, if they repent not thereof, although they had no other sin: and they also that do now bear that Office with those titles & power shall likewise all perish to everlasting destruction, if they do not repent thereof, and cast it away: the spirit of the lord hath spoken it Revel. 19.20. the Beast was taken, and with him that false Prophet that wrought miracles before him, whereby he deceived them that received the Beasts mark, and them that worshipped his image, these both were cast alive into a lake of fire, burning with brimstone. And thus manifesting to our lord the K. that jesus Christ is only K. of Israel, that sits upon David's throne, & therefore only hath the power of the King of Israel, and none may partake with him in that kingdom and power, who had the Spirit without measure: and yet neither he, nor his Apostles that had the Spirit without error to deliver the Counsels of God, did ever by example, practice, nor by rule command nor give power that any should be compelled by any bodily punishment to obey their laws and Ordinances, which were infallibly true holy, and good: How much less ought our lord the King to command, or give a power to Arch-Bs. & lord Bs. (men full of the spirit of error) to make laws & Canons with authority from the King to compel by imprisoment & sharp persecutions, the King's true subjects, and people of God unto the obedient thereof: who for their religion to God (although they be contrary minded to the K. therein) ought not (seeing they deserve not) to be punished either with death or bonds: & this is confirmed to the K. by the testimony of King Agrippa and noble Festus the governor, who adiuged Paul to have done nothing worthy of death or bonds, but that he might have been loosed, if he had not appealed to Cesar: & yet Paul was contrary minded to Cesar & to the jews in his religion to God: But they judged him by the law of Nations: by the power of which law, the Kings of the nations are to rule & judge, according to their own several laws, against which law, Paul had not transgressed for his cause was concerning the faith of jesus Christ which could not be judged by that law.  
And let our lord the King give his servants leave to commend this to the King's best observation, which is worthy to be observed: that, where soever in the new testament throughout, the professors of the faith of jesus, were adjudged by earthly rulers & Governors, for any thing that they did or held of conscience, to God, & of faith to jesus Christ, if earthly Rulers and Governors took the cause in hand by their power, the judgement was alwaes wicked and abominable. And if our lord the King will but begin his observation at the forerunner of Christ, john Baptist, whom Herod put in prison and beheaded. And then let the King come to jesus Christ, whom they judged and crucified, finding no evil he had done. And so if it please the K. to look throughout the whole book of the Act. there the King knows how the disciples of Christ, were imprisoned, threatened, beaten, stoned: The made Saul havoc with his letters of Commission, and entered into every house and drew out both men, & women and put them in prison. Then Herod stretched forth his hand and vexed certain of the Church, and Killed james the brother of john with the sword, and Caught Peter and put him in prison. Then were Paul and Sylas taken at Philippi, by the Governors and people, and were sore beaten & cast into prison, and the jailer commanded to keep them surey, being charged to preach Ordinances which were not lawful for the Romans to receive nor observe.  
Here may our lord the King see a true pattern, how the people of God are persecuted, when the Civil power doth judge their cause of their faith, and profession in their religion to God. Thus have worldly Governors dealt with the Church of Christ, when the disciples fell under their censure for their faith to God. And all these sentences of death, bonds, and persecutions the King can iugd to be unjust and vnlaw full, in that these Rulers and Governors had no lawful power nor authority to judge Christ, nor his disciples for matters of faith, they being in all other things obedient to their laws. But men will say all this is answered in one word. They were heathen Rulers. Now if our lord the K. will challenge a Prerogative or power, because. he professeth Christ, then let it be lawful for the King servants, to tell the King that it he will profess to be a disciple of Christ, that gives the King no power to do any of all these things to imprison, to banish, to put to death, that belongs only to his earthly Kingdom: for Christ and apostles had no such power given them: neither taught they the disciples to take upon them any such power, and to execute it upon the contrary minded, but taught them the contrary to instruct them with meekness, and by preaching the word seek their conversion, with all long suffering, and not to destroy them by severe punishments: yea the disciples of Christ must wait and labour for the grafting in again of the jews, according to the prophecies of the scriptures. Rom. 11.24.27. and therefore the King knows they may not be destroyed, although they be the greatest enemies of Christ that are upon the earth, and have, and yet do cast the greatest reproach and contempt upon Christ, with such words, as are most fearful to utter: yet must the disciples of Christ wait for their conversion, and not work their destruction. And let our lord the King call to mind, how the Apostle Paul teacheth all the disciples of Christ to be minded towards all infidels Rom. 1. 14.15. where he saith. jam debtor both to the Grecian and to the Barbarian both to the wise and to the un wise. And the same Apostle 1. Cor. 9.20.21.22. saith, To the jews I become as a jew: to them that are under the law, as though I were under the law: to them that are without the law as though I were without the law: to the weak I become as weak, that I may winne the weak, I am made (saith Thappostle) all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. All these instructions and directions, are for our lord the King to direct the King how he should go in and out with holiness & all meekness before his people to win them to Christ: and not to set up a Cruel hierarchy to make havoc of the K. people, (as. Saul did) pulling them out of their houses both men and women: casting them into prisons: forcing them to flee the land, and persecuting them with all cruelty. May the King suffer all this to be done by his power, upon this ground of being a Christian King? the King's servants show the King yet once again in all humility, that Christ the King did not so himself: he never appointed to be punished any one man for desobeing his Gospel, with the least bodily punishment. And therefore we instantly exhort our lord the King that the King would be no longer seduced by those most dangerous deceivers, that have gotten the King's power to punish those, that Christ, the King of Israel would not punish: & that persuade the King that the King hath the same power in the Kingdom and over the house and people of Christ, that the Kings of Israel had in that Kingdom, and over that house, and people of God, as it was the Church of God.  
We (according to our great weakness) have showed to our lord, the King before, that the King cannot challenge that power, meaning only in respect of Religion. And we will by the King's favour repeat the substance, of the whole ground in few words: and we beseech the King that we may the rather do it, in that the whole cause depends thereon. And we repeat it unto the King in these few words, which shall never be disannulled or made void, whilst the heavens and earth endure: not because they are our words, God forbidden, any such arrogancy should possess our hearts: but they shall never be made void, neither shall any ever be able to gainsay them with any show of truth, because they are the words of the everlasting God of truth, whereby we show unto the King, that the King cannot have that power (in respect of Religion to God) in the kingdom and over the house and Israel or people of Christ now, that the Kings of Israel had in the old Testament, or in the tune of the law. The ground we repeat unto the King is this. That the kingdom of Israel was an earthly or worldly kingdom: an earthly or worldly Temple, Tabernacle, or house: an earthly or worldly people: and the King an earthly King, who in and over all that kingdom, Temple, and people could require only earthly obedience. But the kingdom of Christ now, is an heavenly kingdom not of this world: his Temple, Tabernacle, or house an heavenly Temple, Tabernacle, or house, his people, a heavenly, or spiritual people, not of this world: and the King Christ jesus a heavenly spiritual King. requiring spiritual obedience.  
Therefore our lord the King can not as a King have any power over this kingdom, Temple Tabernacle, house and People of God in respect of the Religion of God: because our lord the King his kingdom is an earthly kingdom: and to our lord the King belongs only all earthly obedience service, and duty, which ought to suffice any earthly man. And the God of all Grace, give our lord the King a gracious heart fully, to be satisfied and contented with that great honour power and dignity that belongs unto the King and to give glory and honour to God for it, that it may go well with the King and his posterity for ever. And the God of heaven deliver the King from all such enchanters of Egypt, as shall persuade the King to take upon him the power of the Kings of Israel, over the Church of Christ, only for the setting up, and supporting of their High Priest hood with urim, and Thummim, with Pomp, and power: and the levitical revenues of Israel, which they challenge and hold as appertaining thereunto forcing the King's people by cruelty to obey them, as though with them only remained, the oracles of God.  
And now if they will show any manner of uprightness unto God, or faithfulness to the King or any regard to God's people, let them not maintain their kingdom, which they have obtained of the King by deceit and flatteries, as is prophesied Dan. 11.21. Let them not maintain it by the King's sword and power: but let them come forth with that sword and power, whereof they glory so much, and use so little, and maintain their names power & cruelty with it, and we profess before God, & the whole host of heaven: & before our Lord the King and all his people, that if they can prove evidently to our consciences by the holy word of God, that we may obey them in all their Canons and decrees, and give them those names and titles, without the everlasting destruction of our souls and bodies in hell: yea if they can but prove that we ought to rest or depend upon their iugdments & understandings in the exposition of any one part of God's word: or that they have power to ordain and appoint any one Ordinance, or the manner of administering any one Ordinance in the worship of God and Church of Christ, we profess. unto our lord the King we will yield them all the obedience they require. But if they will prove these things only by Convocation Canons, how can our lord the King require that the King's servants should dishonour God, by casting his holy truth away, and with it the salvation of our souls, and depend upon their Canons, and yield them obedience, and perish both in souls and bodies. We have rather chosen thus to say down our lives at the feet of our lord the King in presenting the cause into the King's presence. Saying with Ester. If, we perish, we perish for coming thus boldly uncalled into the King's presence: but we will wait with hope and expectation, that through the gracious work of the lord, the King will hold forth his golden rod, that we may live: and not so only but also that by the King's means comfort and deliurance shall appear unto Israel. And that our lord the King will say, as that great King of Persia said, Ezra. 1.2. The lord God of heaven hath given me many Kingdoms of the earth, and hath commanded me to build him an house in jerusalem, who is he amongst you of all his people, with whom his God is, let him go to jerusalem & build the house of the lord God of Israel. And as King Darius said, Ezra. 6.7.16. Suffer the work of the house of God, that the Israelites may build this house of God in his place, that they may offer sweet odours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the King's life and for his sons. And as Artahshashte King of Persia said Ezra. 7.23. what soever is by the commandment of the God of heaven; let it be done speedily for the house of the God of heaven, for why should he be wrath against the Realm of the King, and his children.  
Thus beseeching the director of all hearts to direct the King's heart in these things, we continue praying for the King and his Son, and the King's Realms and children. That the King and his seed, to God's glory, may sit upon the throne of Great Britain whilst the earth endures, possessing from God, wisdom and Riches, and Honour befitting the dignity of their high Renown: & that they may walk in the ways of god that god according to his promiss may prolong their days. And the Lord give all the King's people faithful, upright, and honest hearts, that they may all with one heart as one man. Fear God: and Honour and obey the King, with all the honour and obedience that hath, or can be due to any earthly King or Prince, which is, all earthly and worldly obedience with lands goods, body, and life.  
And we most humbly supplicate our Lord the King and all the honourable and worthy Governors under the King that they will not suffer themselves to be miss in judgement in condemning us as movers of Sedition, and our books for seditions books, because we differ from the receive profession of Religion in the land, but that they will according to that great gravity and wisdom that is upon them, weigh what Sedition is, and they will easily find that to profess and teach a differing judgement in Religion to the State, cannot be proved Sedition: for than had our Saviour Christ, and all his Disciples been found seditious persons, which never could be proved against them: neither could Tertullus with all his Oratory prove Paul a mover of Sedition to Felix the Governor who was willing to pleasure the jews in this matter Act. 24. if he could have found any advantage against Paul: but under all that excellent and mighty Government of Cesar, under whom there was so many wise Kings and noble Governors, difference in Religion could never be proved Sedition against the S●ate. Neither could it ever be proved Sedition in all or any of those that differed from the profession of Religion established in Q. Mary's days although they taught and professed the same as even the Lord B. themselves will confess.  
And it is neither accounted nor found Sedition, in diverse excellent well Governed Nations round about, to profess and teach a differing judgement in Religion from the profession generally established, as our Lord the King and all his worthy Governors see and know. It is but the false surmise and accusation of the Scribes and Phariseiss, who feared their own kingdom: and of Demetrius the Silver-smith with the Craftsmen, whose Craft was in danger, whereby they got their goods Act. 19 they themselves raised tumults and moved Sedition, and ever laid the blame upon the Disciples: even so is it now and ever willbe, that such as fear their own kingdom and private gain, do, and will falsely accuse the Disciples of Christ as movers of Sedition against the State. And if the lord Bs. will not be found false accusers herein, as their predecessors have been, them let them (if they can) forbear to accuse before they have cause.  
But let them take heed least when they shall see five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three, the father divided against the son, and the son against the father ect. let them take heed, they call not that Sedetion, if they do, they shall call Christ a sour of Sedetion, for what was his desire, but that the fire of such Sedetion should be kindled Luk. 12.49.52.53. And may it please our Lord the King and all that are in authority of Government under the King, with their wise judgement to consider that it willbe a straying thing to condemn men for Sedetion, who profess and teach that in all earthly things, the King's power is to be submitted unto: and in heavenly or spiritual things, if the King or any in authority under him shall exercise their power against any, they are not to resist, by any way or means although it were in their power, but rather submit to give their lives, as Christ & his Disciples did, and yet keep their consciences to God: and they that teach any other Doctrine, let them be held accursed.   

WE being yet (through the help of our God) most disirous to a waken all you of our own Nation out of that dead securiy, and spiritual slumber, wherein as in the Sea, you are all over whelmed, and finding no better nor any so fit portion of God's word to effect these our unfeigned disires, as this prophesy of our Saviour Christ Mat. 24.15. which prophesieth of days of so great tribulation: and it is repeated Mark. 13. and Luk. 17. and Luk. 21. all which places of the Evangelists must be most carefully and diligently compared together, because the wise reader shall find (by good observation) that there are 4. Prophecies of our Saviour Christ's, by the Evangelists set down together, which are, 1. the destruction of jerusalem 2. lie the days of the exaltation of the man of sin, seen and discovered 3.ly the days of the Son of Man, in the brightness of his coming for the consuming and abolishing of the Mystery of Iniquity; the abomination of desolation, the Man of sin. And lastly the day of Christ's coming to judgement.  
Every one of these Prophecies must be diversely considered of, with their proper appertainings, for the true and holy understanding thereof, and not confounded together. Two whereof, we have, and shall (by the grace of God) speak of, as God shall enable us 1. the exaltation seen and discovered, and the dangers of those days 2. ly of the days of the Son of Man in the brightness of his coming, for the consuming of the Man of sin, as being most fit Scriptures to stir you up, to the consideration of your spiritual estates and standings, and to direct you therein (the Scriptures we mean, not we) if you will not harden your necks and perish in the ways of death and sin.  
And as we have endeavoured to proboake you to look up, that you might see the abomination of desolation set up in the holy place, & how the kingdom of the Man of sin is even within you all that submit yourselves in any obedience to the power of the first, or second Beast, bearing the Beasts mark, or the print of his name: so shall we also be willing, with the help of our God, to stir you up to consider of the great danger that our saviour Christ hath foreshowed shallbe in these days, when men see the abomination of desolation set up, and according to our Saviour's exhortation begin to flee, as all that have eyes may see, men now begin to do. The danger that Christ foretold of, is: that in those days (which are these days) many shall come (who now are come) in Christ's name, and say: Lo here is Christ, Lo there is Christ: and many false Christ shall arise, and many false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders so as if were possible, they should deceive the very elect. Way then with yourselves whether you had not need to consider, when the days are so dangerous & perilous, as if it were possible the very elect should be deceived: such is the danger of these days, by reason of the false professions of Christ, and false prophets that do arise. And seeing the false prophets are the Teachers and maintainers of the false professions, we shall endeavour to discover them both under one, and will only speak of such false prophets, and professions as are amongst you, and known to you, not burdening you with the multitude of straying and foreign false prophets and false professions that are in the world; whereof we generally admonish you to beware of; but it is full time that you took to those false professions and false prophets that are among you, if you have any regard at all of God's glory, or the salvation of your own souls.  
And seeing we cannot speak of the false Christ's, or false professions of Christ that are amongst you, but we must name them, we pray it may not be offensive that we term them by such names and titles, as men distinguish them.  
The first where of is, that great, and so much applauded profession of Puritanisme. The which profession to prove it is a false profession, yea and such a false profession, as we know not the like upon the earth, we shall not need to produce any testimony but your own: for whereas in your so many books, you cry out of the things that are amiss among you, and sue, and supplicate, and yet still continue in your former ways, you testify hereby against yourselves, that you are unreformed, and that there is a way of reformation, wherein you would be, if you might have leave or licence to enter thereinto: which seeing you cannot obtain, you justify it lawful to walk in an unreformed profession of Religion, upon this ground because you may not have leave by act of Parliament to reform. What falser profession can be found upon the earth than this of yours, who profess that you know a way of much truth where in you would walk, but you do not, because you cannot by the superior power be permitted.  
Let this suffice in this place to prove that you walk in a false profession of Christ, by your own acknowledgement, calling daily for liberty that you might reform yourselves, but seeing it will not be granted; you go on in the false way you disaprove of. Your grounds and reasons we shall hereafter (by God's assistance) try: but in the mean time let God's people know, that there will never warrant be found, to give men liberty for any time, to defer to eschew evil, and to refrain to do good, for fear of men, or in obedience unto men, or under any pretence what soever. Most wicked and false is that profession; and most false prophets are all those that profess and teeth such a doctrine that men are not bound without any delay, all respects laid aside, with all speed to eschew evil and do good, as that true Prophett, David did, and taught who saith, Psal. 119.60. I made haste and delayed not, to keep thy commandments. And so we proceed to show that all your Puritan prophets (so called) are false prophets, and such as our Saviour Christ foretells of, who say, Lo Here is Christ, but commands, believe them not.  
And although we might prove you all false prophets because you teach many false doctrines, yet we hold it the most easy and plain way, for the understanding of all to show you to be false prophets, because you are not sent, nor called of God, & herein shall you have the least deceaveable show for yourselves.  
But before we speak of your not being called & sent of God (which must appear by your Election and ordination unto the Office or work of a Bishop or Pastor, for other prophets we know none amongst you) we will set down the gifts and graces, wherewith they are to be qualified, that are to be elected and ordained, and undertake that Office: as also how their wives & children are to be qualified And these are the words of him that said, Let there be light, and there was light. And of him that said thou shalt have no other Gods before my face, and of the Lawgiver, all whose laws are perfect laws.  
These are his words, and this is his law. Let a Bishop or Pastor be the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harbourous, apt to teach, and able to exhort with wholesome doctrine, and to convince them that say against it, nor given to wine; no striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter not covetous, one that can rule his own house honestly, having children under obedience withal reverence. Let him not be a young Disciple, or newly planted in. Let him be well reported of, even of them that are without. Let his wife be honest, no evil speaker, sober, faithful in all things. This is the law of God 1. Tim. 3. Tit. 1. according to this law, in every particular, must a Bishop or Pastor, and his wife, and children be qualified for it is the law of the perfect lawgiver. And thou shall have no other Bishop or Pastor before his face. This we set down to put you and the people of God in mind to look first, that you their Bishops or Pastors be thus qualified, for all that are not so both in themselves, and their wives and children are not sent of God to be Pastors of his flock, but are false prophets in the first degree, for God sendeth none but those that are according to his own rule: and hereby may you see that every holy man and excellent preacher may not be a Bishop and Pastor over the house of God.  
And now Election and Ordination, which is the door and way, whereby the true Bishops and Pastors of the flock do enter. The holy ghost doth teach. Act. 14.23. that election and Ordination were performed in and by the Church or Congregation with fasting and prayer: this is the door & way, and all that have entered by any other way, are thiefs and robbers, as our Saviour Christ testifieth joh. 10. Are you not all now at once convinced? and must you not all be forced to confess that you have no such Election nor Ordination? is your purchased Election of Patrons either particular men, or of deane and Echapter, or some College▪ or the private Election of some friend like unto this holy order of Election, which Christ hath appointed in his Church, to be made with the gracious free & full consent of every heart & tongue in the whole congregation? how woeful and wretched is the estate of you all (if you repent not) that join in this great wickedness to deprive the Church of Christ of such a blessed and comfortable ordinance of Christ, how blessed and comfortable a thing were it, for a holy people so to Elect their Pastors that should lead them, and feed them with the wholesome word of doctrine and Exhortation, and watch over their souls in the lord.  
And what a blessed comfort were it for a holy man to be so elected of a holy people: so should a Godly people have holy Pastors over them, whom they would all love and reverence: and so should Godly Pastors have a holy people to follow them whom they would carefully feed and cherish, and this is the Ordinance of God, and law of Election: but to get an Election for money either of a man's own, or of his friends, or by private favour or friendship or beholdinges to men, and so corruptly to become a Pastor over a flock of people diversely affected, and many openly profane and wicked, here is an unholy Election of an unholy Pastor, over a corrupt and unholy flock, this is not to enter in by the door but to climb up another way, which seeing you all do, not any one of you entering by that holy Election which Christ hath appointed, Christ himself hath adjudged you all, not to be the shepherds of the sheep, but to be thieves and robbers.  
And thus are you all false prophets: how shall you be able to stand before the lord in this matter? or how can you justify yourselves before men? will you make the word of the lord of no effect, and bless yourselves in your own ways, if you shall still do so, as you have long done, yet shall you not be blessed of the lord, in that you do herein violate and utterly abolish that holy law of Election, which Christ hath ordained in his Church for the choosing of the true shepherds of his sheep, and for the keeping of thieves and robbers out of his sheepfold.  
Next in order to be spoken of is Ordination, a holy ordinance of God, commanded by the holy ghost Tit. 1.5. and the example of the administration thereof, given us by thappostles in the church of Christ Act. 6.6. & practised by the disciples Act. 13.1.3 And taught us to be a doctrine of the beginnings of Christ, and of the foundation Heb. 6.1.2. being called the Doctrine of laying on of hands. And this Ordinance was performed and done in the presence of the Church or congregation by fasting and prayer and laying on of hands, ordaining, and appointing, and separating thereby those that were Elected and chosen to Office Act. 6.6. and 13.2.3. and 14.23. And all this was performed and done by, and in that Congregation whereof they were chosen Officers, the Church or Congregation being in this holy manner assembled together to perform this 〈◊〉 ordinance all fasting and praying to the lord with one heart and soul to give a blessing unto that his own Ordinance.  
Is your Ordination like unto this? which the best of you all are fain to get by suit and service, by riding and running, by attending and waiting, by Capping and curtseing, and at last by prostrating yourselves on your knees at the feet of an Archbishop or lord Bishop receiving your Ordination from him, who herein exaltes himself above God, exercising the power of the beast, despoiling Christ and his Church of this holy Ordinance taking it wholly into their own power, and disposing of it only to such as promiss faith full obedience unto the hierarchy of Archbishop, and lord Bishop which is the second Beast, and which yourselves say, both in words and writings is an Antichristian hierarchy. The lord give you eyes to see how you have broken the Covenant of the lord in polluting and abolishing this his holy Ordinance, and be ashamed to remember the Covenant you have made with this hierarchy, by which Covenant of obedience you have gotten your Ordination, and so are the prophets of the Beast: for to whom soever you give yourselves to obey, his servant you are to whom you obey.  
Rom. 6.6. although you deny him in words as you do. Have you gotten an Office of the hierarchy, and under the hierarchy, and will you in words and writings protest against the hierarchy, and yet retain your Office, which you have gotten by promising obedience thereunto? and think you to serve Christ with this your stolen Office? Halt not so between Christ and the Man of sin: but if you will deny your lords that have preferred you to Office, deny their Office also, in both which you shall do well, but if you will retain your Office retain your Lords also that have preferred you, in both which you shall do evil. What conscionable answer will you make to these things? dare any affirm that Christ hath appointed such an Ordination, either in the manner of administration, or in the means of coming by it? hath Christ appointed you to sue, and make means to a Prelate and ride many miles with letters of commendations, & pay all fees that are due (we speak within our compass) to get Ordination? Did Thappostles ever ordain Pastor but before, or in the presence of the flock? did any ever go and sue or seek to Thappostles to be ordained? and when any were ordained did they kneel down at Thappostles feet? and did Thappostles bid them receive the holy ghost? is this the manner and means set down in the scriptures of coming by Ordination? and if it be not, how dare you seek and submit yourselves to it. Will you say that Christ hath appointed no certain due order and means of Ordination? then do you blaspheme in saying the rules and examples of the new Testament are uncertain rules of direction, and so make you Christ not so faithful as Moses. Is the holy Ordinance of laying on of hands one of the doctrines of the foundation Heb. 6.1.2. and may it be come by, by any means, or from any persons yea even from the Pope? and you approve of it as you do, seeing you have no Ministry but from Rome, it is the root from whence all your Ministry is sprung, and the Wild Olive wherein you are all by your Ordination engrafted: and therefore as the root is, such are the branches: and the root you all confess is most unholy, and so doth the lord judge you, you evil servants out of your own months, you are all most unholy, and false prophets, the prophets of the Beast, and not of Christ in that you are not Elected, and Ordained by the rules of Christ and have not the word of God nor testimony of your flocks for your true entrance.  
What can you now have to say for this your Office thus unjustly come by? except you will plead possession (how unjustly soever it be come by) for a good title, and so justify Ahabs' possession of Naboths' vineyard, when jezabel had slain the right owner thereof. As the lord liveth, no less, but much more is the wickedness of your possession, in that the Beast hath trodden under foot and crucified the Son of God Revel. 11.8. and sits as God in the Temple of God, and hath appointed you his Priests to serve at the Altar, and thus have you consented together in evil, and trample under foot the Testament which Christ hath purchased with his blood, and have broken into the sheepfold of the lord like thieves and robbers and do nothing but steal, kill, and destroy: for you destroy all the people that submit to your Ministry, in that you bring them thereby under the power of the Beast, you having fallen down on your knees and worshipped the Beast, receiving your spirit and Office from the Beast, and the people are all partakers of this sin in that they admit of you in your Office, and thereby yield that power which Christ hath reserved, in his own body, (which is his Church) unto the Beast: so are you all despisers of the law of God, and have given away his holy Ordinance of Election and Ordination, which he hath by his own word and Spirit appointed in his Church you have given Christ's honour herein unto the Beast: and so are all both Priests and people worshippers of the Beast and his image, and have received his mark, and therefore shall you all drink of the mere wine of the wrath of God, if you repent not Revel. 14.9.10.  
And thus much to the ministry of the Puritan profession, to prove them all false prophets, as those that run and God hath not sent them, their Election and Ordination to their Office, and their possession of their Office being most unholy and unjust, not being according to the exact rule of the law of Christ jesus distinctly and most perfectly set down in the new Testament, which he hath purchased & sealed unto us, with his blood, to stand for a law of Election and Ordination for ever: unto which who soever addeth or taketh away either in word or action, by Doctrine or example, the Lord will add unto them. all his judgements, and take away all his mercies Revel. 22.18.19.  
You being thus by the word of truth all declared and proved to be false prophets, not having entered into the sheepfold by the door, it must needs follow according to the words of the Lord, that all the great signs and wonders that you show in this your false ministry are lying signs and wonders.  
Let it not be grievous unto you to hear of these things whereby to provoke you to wrath, but let it be grievous to you, that you thus sin, and so be provoaked to indignation against yourselves, that you may come to repentance.  
Here is all your Zeal of wonder, and signs of so great fervency, whereby you work upon the blind consciences and ignorant affections of the simple deceived souls, proved to be false and deceaveable: all your fire wherewith you kindle the hearts of men, and seduce simple women, making them believe you have brought it from heaven, all this is but the false enlightening and heat of a false spirit, even of that spirit which your spiritual Lord breathed upon you, when you kneeled on your knees before him, and he laid his hands upon you, and most blasphemously, even in the high dishonour of the spirit of grace, bade you receive the holy ghost, by and in the power of this spirit do you preach and pray, and do all your great wonders, and other spirit have you none, for this is the spirit to which you have submitted, and by this spirit only are you sent, and therefore are you all false Propheets, and you have not the spirit of God abiding in you, ye are gone out of the way, ye have caused many to fall, ye have broken the Covenant of levi, in that you are admitted to the Order of Priesthood by the Man of sin who is an adversary against God, to whose blasphemous consecrating of Priests directly contrary and opposite to the holy established ordinance of jesus Christ in the Gospel ● the spirit of God can give no approbation 〈◊〉, neither admit of such to be the prophets of God (that have not entered by Christ the true door and way, but have entered by him that sits as God in the Temple of God) but adjudgeth you all to be false prophets.  
Leave of therefore your great days of humiliation by fasting and prayer, wherein sometimes you make the people to Cover the Altar with tears, and whereby some of you have taken upon you to cast out many Devils, going on to the height in showing signs and lying wonders, to deceive if it were possible the very Elect according to the prophesy of Christ which is thus fulfilled in you. Kindle fire upon the altar of the Lord no more in vain, the Lord hath no pleasure in you. neither will accept an Offering at your hand, but will curse you as deceavers, who vow a holy Offering, but bring a Corrupt Sacrifice unto the Lord Mala. 1.14. and all this you do, and shall do, so long as you serve in your Office and Ministry, received by the power and authority of the Man of sin, contrary to the holy Ordinance of Election and ordination appointed by Christ in the new Testament.  
And now all these things we dare not but think you have done, and do through ignorance. Amend your lives therefore and turn, that these your great and grievous sins may be put away, when the time off refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And take heed both you, and all the people that do with such admiration run after you, as we ourselves have done (we speak it to our own shame) take heed lest that now your ignorant zeal and fiery spirits of error wherewith you have inflamed the hearts off the simple, being discovered, take heed lest you boil in great heat, & gnaw your tongues for sorrow, & blaspheme the God of heaven for your pains, & for your sores, & repent not of your works, as is prophesied men shall do, Revel. 16. 9-11. From which highest measure off sin the Lord for his Christ's sake deliver you, and through God's grace we will hope better things off you, which the Lord grant we may find in you, for the Lord knows our unfeigned heart's desire is, that you might all be saved. And we exhort the people off God no longer to hearken to the voice off strangers, but that they flee from them, according to the Counsel of our Saviour jesus Christ. joh. 10.5. And let the people see with their own eyes, how you have all showed yourselves to be hirelings, which are not the Shepherds, neither the sheep are your own, in that seeing the wolf coming, you have fled, and left the sheep, nay many of you even of those that are accounted most faithful and holy, have, and do go yourselves and lead Your flocks to hear the voice of strangers that are set up, and stand up in that Office, and public place, which you challenge for your own, and are glad yourselves to preach in corners: Others of you make a secret composition with the hierarchy (which you profess to abhor) and then heir some wretched man under you, to surplice and cross, and sin for you. Oh how hateful and abominable are the works off darkness of this kind, which are done off you in the light, and all this under a great seeming show off holiness, but is mere hypocrisy and dissimulation because you are hirelings and not good shepherds, who would lay down their lives for their sheep, rather than lead them into the hand of the destroyer: and if you deny them to be thieves and robbers that come into your places, and are made pastors over your flocks, against your wills, and against the mind off the flock: then must you needs acknowledge them true shepherds over the flock, and that they have come in by the door, and acknowledge yourselves justly thrust out, seeing you in your judgements hold but one Pastor over a flock.  
We will not follow you in these particulars, except further occasion be offered. But remember how you compare your fellow Priests to Circumcellions or Friars, going up and down with the bishop's bulls like beggars, to see where they can get entertainment and see not all this while yourselves, yea some of your chief spirits for working lying wonders, stand in the market place to be hired from the East to the west, and to be transported from North to South, wheresoever you can get a good Town pulpit, or a privileged Chapel a great Chamber or dining parlour to administer in, how profane soever the Town or household be, you will not let to make them all partakers of the holy things at first, before you know your sheep, or your sheep know you, contrary to Christ's own works. joh. 10.14. And all the power you have to administer is, by the authority of the Bishop's bull, which you have in so great contempt, and yet it is all the seal of your admittance to your ministery, and warrant for your administration therein, a most sit warrant for such administrations. Oh that you could see these things, if you have any, the least love of God in you cast of all these abominations, and become the disciples of Christ, and preach Christ in his own ordinance as his disciples did. Act. 11.19. which if you will not do, bu● run on in the heat of your blind zeal in this your false ministery, them shall you be found to be those false prophets that come in sheep's clothing, of whom our Saviour Christ hath foretold, Mat. 7.22. that shall say, Lord, Lord, have we not by thy name prophesied? & by thy name cast out Devils? & by thy name done many great works? To whom he will answer: I never knew you. departed from me ye that work iniquity. Let this suffice to have proved by God's word, that your Election and Ordination to the Office off your ministery is not off God: and that you have not entered in by the door, but have climbed up another way, and therefore are thieves & robbers, false Prophets, hirelings, strangers, whose voices Christ's sheep know not, but they flee from you and will not follow you. joh. 10.5. And by this are all they that hear you, and follow you, most plainly proved up the most evident words off Christ, that they are no one of them his sheep: for he saith: His Sheep know his voice, & follow him, & they will not follow a stranger, for they know not his voice. And this is all the comfort that God's word doth afford any one of you in your flocks that follow you, they are not Christ's Sheep. And this is all the comfort that the people can have off you. You are not Christ's Shepherds: so are you like people like Priest, like Shepherds like Sheep. And you shall perish every Man for teaching and drawing them after you, because you are false prophets and are not sent of God: and the People shall perish every one off them, for hearing and following you because you are strangers and hirelings▪ iff you and they repent not Luk. 13.3. This is the word off the Lord, the which you shall neither all nor any one off you be able to gainsay, for you shall never be able whilst heaven and Earth endureth to make any show from God's word for your entrance into your Office off ministry, and then are you utterly confounded in all your ways, and all the people that follow you.  
We have spoken sharply unto you as it may be thought, and if we have not we had need, seeing you have been so often spoken unto, off this your false ministry, and that with excellent words, and yet you have not regardss, which might discomfort us in you and discourage us in our own simple plainness: But the love of God's glory which (through his grace) we hold most precious, and the longing desire off our souls after your salvation: and the salvation of this whole land which is so dear unto us, and we so much wish and pray for: And the hope and assurance we have of God's mercy and power to prevail by weak means, these causes have stirred us up, driven us on, and encouraged us to speak thus unto you. And we pray you by the name off jesus, that as there is any purpose off heart in you to fear God, and walkein his ways, or any love in you to this people, whom you are bound so much to regard, with all faithful carefulness, make haste to reform your own ways, and to inform this people in the way to life, and salvation, according to the strict rule off God's word, and do not still lead them on in the way to death and condemnation, according to the new inventions off your own hearts, and old traditions off other men.  
We will now return to speak a few words off your ground, and reasons (or rather excuses) that cause you to undergo these things whereof you cry out so much for reformation. One 〈◊〉: because it is under a Christian King. We demand off you, how if the King should bid you truly inform him, whether it were more lawful for a Christian King to restrain the Church off some off the Ordinances which Christ hath appointed, then for a Heathen King? It can not be that you would tell the King that a Christian King might more Lawfully do such evil, than a Heathen King, iff you should, you would make Christianity a liberty ●o sin, which may not be: why then if a Christian King may not more lawfully do such evil (evil sure you hold it to be, else why cry you out so much for reformation) neither may you more lawfully obey him in such evil, than a heathen King. Leave off such deceitful pretences and vain imaginations for the which though you should be required warrant out off God's Word, you would easily see that it is but an excuse off a false show. The Disciples off Christ, who were most obedient subjects, and taught you and us all obedience unto our King, yet they would not be restrained in the causes off God, but chose rather to obey God then men, and rather to suffer imprisonment and beating, then to be restrained either of preaching or practising any off the ways off God although they were commanded, imprisoned & beaten by the High Priest, the Counsel, and all the Elders off Israel that were no heathen Governors. Act. 5. Those were faithful disciples and were content to obey in all sufferings And such obedience should you have submitted unto, iff your hearts had been upright to God and the King herein: but you have all been found deceitful upon the weights and lighter than vanity itself in these things when you came to trial, and have daubed with untempered mortar, and no marvil though you fell, because the lord was not your strength in that you sought not the right way, but would have established a Presbitary hierarchy, and a decreing Synod, which would have been no more pleasing to God than an hierarchy off Arch Bishops and Lord Bishops, and a Canonical Convocation house: for they have both one mind with the Beast, and give the right hand off fellowship one to another, seeking and exercising one power, which is, to rule over men's consciences by their own laws and decrees. Therefore strive no more for that your way. the Lord will ever be against you in it: For if a Ruling Presbitary by their Synodal decrees and ordinances be lawful, then why not a Ruling Prelacy by Convocation Canons lawful? and then why not a Ruling Pope? These are all off one Condition in their degrees, and not any one of them more pleasing to God than another, although they be every one more sinful in their degrees then other, yet they all abolish Christ's ruling power: but if they repent not, Christ will crush them with a sceptre of iron, & break them in pieces like a potter's vessel. and will rule his people with his Sceptre of righteousness.  
Your next ground and cause off undergoing these things, you so much dislike, is, because you are loath to break the peace of the Church. Where you have learned to undergo sin for peace sake we know not but sure we are of God you have not learned it. Paul and Barnabas had not learned your lesson therein, for if they had, they would not have made such great dissension in the Church at Antiochia as they did about the doctrine of circumcision: If Paul had been of your peaceable minds, he would (seeing he had suffered Tymothy to be circumcised for peace sake) also have suffered a little the doctrine of circumcision, but he would not. Furthermore Thapostle commands the Church. Rom. 16.17. To avoid, or have no fellowship with those that cause division & offences contrary to the doctrine which they had learned. And the same Apostle warns the Thes. (2. Thes. 3.6) In the name of the Lord jesus Christ that they withdraw themselves from every brother that walketh inordinately ' & not after the instruction which they had received. Now if there be in you any conscience of the Religion of God, see how corruptly you walk in these things, making a show of godliness but denying the power thereof. Do not your brethren the Archbishops and Lordbishops with Archdeacon's, Chacellors, and the rest, cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned? and do they not walk inordinately and worse too, and not after the instructions that both you, and they have received of Thapostles? how then is it, that you will not (according to the Apostles comaundment, exhortation, and so straight warning) avoid them, and have no fellowship with them, and with draw yourselves from them? is this your peace a Godly peace? which is so contrary to the whole word of God. Besides this we must tell you (bear it patiently) that it is but ignorant dissimulation in you to say, you undergo all these things because you would not break the peace off the Church, for if you did so much tender the peace off the Church as you pretend, and that you would not have your beloved stirred up, nor wakened before she please, why then have you written so many books off open contempt? Why have you sought so much, and made challenge for disputations, why do you make so many loud outcries and daily complaints and tedious Parliament suits? How can you possibly device more unpeaceable courses, except you should raise tumults contrary to the law of God and of the King (which we know is not in your thoughts) you can no way device to be more unpeaceable: Had it not been a much more peaceable course quietly to have separated with love and humility; then to have stirred up so much bitter strife in the bosom off the Church whose peace you pretend so much is regard. Oh that you could see that it is your own peace that you respect in all this. For what breach off peace had it been in the Church, iff you all had peaceably withdrawn yourselves, and loveingly admonished the Church holding it a true Church as you do, had it not been much more peace, and much less trouble for the Church iff you had so done? There is no question it had: but whether your peace and profit would have followed, is the question, and take heed that be not the cause of your (for peace as you call it) undergoing off these things. We could speak largely of this point, but we spare you, only wishing you not to persuade yourselves, nor to make the people think that you have suffered great things, whilst you eat the fat of the Land, but know this, all you that eat any bread from whose hands soever, by, or in respect of your Office of ministry, that you feed off the portion of his meat, whom you seek to destroy, fulfilling the prophesy of Dan. 11.26. Where he prophesieth of the destruction of the Man of sin, saying They that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him. And may not the simple understand, that you getting your bread by that Office, which Office (as is proved) you have and execute by the power and under the authority of the man of sin, you feed of the portion of his meat, serving at his altar, and so eat you of the things that appertain to that Altar, you gaining them by that Office. And let all the people know of all Estates and degrees whatsoever that give you any maintenance or entertainment in respect of that Office, entertaning you as Prophets, they shall never receive a Prophet's reward, but sin against God, in maintening and entertaning false Prophets, although they be as full off good meanings as the Papists are in entertaning their priests. We have not the least intent herein of dissuading any from doing good unto you, but that they should not receive you, nor give you a Cup of cold water in the name of Prophets, for all their liberality bestowed upon you in that regard shall never receive recompense of reward at God's hands, seeing you are all false Prophets, and so adjudged by Christ himself in that you have not entered by Christ into the sheepfold. And if you shall any of you open your movethes to defend yourselves herein, the word of the Lord shall convince you, and stop your mouths, that you shall not be able to speak with any understanding. And now we advise you to be ashamed, to plead that you do undergo these things for the peace off the Church, except you will hold your peace: For you are wise enough to know that there is no other way to break the inward peace of the Church, which peace you must needs mean, for it is not in your powers nor hearts, to break the outward peace of the Church, and there is no other way to break the inward peace of the Church, but by words and writings of opposition and contention, and making division, all which you have practised to the uttermost of your powers, and when for fear of your own peace you durst go no further, then have you set out your books of unknown Authors (which therein are no better than Libels) wherein you have no regard what troubles and dissensions you make in the Church so you can preserve your own peace. And thus do you maintain by all force and violence of contention a most troublesome civil war, which of all is most dangerous in Church and Common wealth, and yet you profess you suffer and undergo all these evils you complain of, because you tender the peace of the Church, and so through ignorance you fall into great dissimulation and hypocrisy, it being (if you could see) only your own peace you seek, and therefore it is you undergo these things that you disaprove off: For would you not if you might (without danger or loss) reform yourselves and as many as you could? according to that reformation you sue for: your own consciences can tell you, you would If the King at first had made a law, that all should have been in subjection to the Bishop's power and Government in the Church, but he would have no man punished by imprisonment nor put out of their livings that should refuse, would you not all that make any conscience off your ways have reform? If you would not then the reformation you plead for, is not needful except the King will approve of it, and so have you striven all this while about needle's things, if the King's comaundment may disannul the necessity of them, then are they needful, if the King will permit, if not your reformation may be spared, and so ought you not to have gainsaied it, as you have done.  
And in this doth your iniquity greatly abound in that you make so small a matter off those things, wherein you in judgement differ from the Lord Bishops, seeing the difference is no less than for the whole Government off Christ in his Church. And the Lord give you and all his people Grace duly to consider off it, how greatly you dishonour Christ, and make a mock off him, when you profess him to be your King, and yet say his Government is not of absolute necessity, so do you hold it of absolute necessity, to give him the name off a King, but not to give him the power of a King, what great impiety off high contempt is this? What earthly King would endure this at his subjects hands? if you should do so by our Lord the King off Great Brittanne, acknowledge him to be your Lord and King, and call him by that name and title, and bend and bow to him with words of all reverence, but wholly submit yourselves to be Governed by the laws and Officers off a foreign power, and that by Rebellious subjects who ought to be obedient unto the King, and yet are set up as Kings, and take the King's power from him, were you not all worthy to be accounted traitors and Rebels? and would not the King cast you all out off his Kingdom, or destroy you all in it? would the king be satisfied withal your words off flattery that you could use in acknowledging him, and calling him by the name off your King, when he should see he had no power to Govern you by his laws and Officers but that you did submit to be ruled by the Laws and Officers off his Rebellious subjects and enemies: Would our Lord the King endure this? Having power in his hand to avenge himself off you: would he not after his often proclamations made and his many messengers sent unto you, to command you to come from under those Governors, and that Government, lest ye be destroyed with them: and to submit yourselves to him, and he will be your King and your defence: if for all this you would not hearken and obey, would not the King come with his power according to his word, and destroy you all together that would not suffer him to rule over you. Certainly the King would do it in justice, and for his own honour, and having protested it with his word. Even so be you sure will Christ jesus your king do by you all, if you stand still in rebellion against him, submitting yourselves to that rebellious hierarchy of arch B. and lord B. who ought to be his subjects, but are his enemies, and exalt themselves above him, governing you by aforteyne power and Government, and not by Christ's power and government, and the king's proclamations are come unto you, commanding you to Come out from among them, and separate yourselves, and be his Children and people: And he will receive you. and be your God and Father. 2. Cor. 6. And Go out of her my people that ye be not partakers of his sins, & that you receive not of her plagues. Revel. 18. Thus doth Christ jesus your King call unto you, and if you will not yet hearken to his voice, but flatter with your tongues and say, you acknowledge him to be your King, but submit not to be governed by his power, he will certainly in his justice for his honour, having protested it by the word of his mouth, come against you all, and give you the Cup off the Wine of the feircnes of his wrath. Revel. 16.19. Oh people destitute of understanding, Oh Nation not worthy to be loved: Can you think in your minds that God hath given all earthly Kings, power to make good laws, to rule and govern their people by, and commanded their subjects to be obedient thereunto. And hath he not given Christ jesus his beloved Son, (whom he hath set upon David's throne for ever, and made King over his people Israel) power to make true laws and good ordinances to govern and rule his people by? and hath he not commanded all his subjects to be obedient thereunto? will no king of power suffer his subjects to submit themselves to be governed by the government of any other, and so to be deprived of that government which God hath given them over their subjects: and can you be so unwise to think that Christ jesus who is a King of greatest power, will suffer it in his subjects? Can you not see that a King is no King if his Government over his people be taken away, and can you think that Christ may be a King without his government? What vanity doth possess your minds whilst you make so small a matter off Christ's government, saying you differ with the Bishops in no fundamental point, but only in matter of Government. See (if there be any sight in you) if the Lord Bishop's power of government were taken away, where were their kingdom? their names and titles would not support their kingdom, and this they see, and you find by their Can. 7. Anno 1603. which they have made for the firm establishing off their Government, knowing it to be fundamental, without the which, their kingdom would presently come to nought even in one hour, even so have they brought Christ's Kingdom to nought amongst you, by taking his government from him. Who hath be witched you thus to say and teach, and seduce the simple as though government were no fundamental point: know you not what Government is? Can you divide Christ's government (as he is a King) from his power, or his power from this government? Will you make him a king without government? Wherein then is he a King otherwise then in name? If the Lordbishops should compel you to deny Christ off the name of a king, in, or over his Church, would you not then say, they overthrew a fundamental point off faith? And have you not understanding to deferne, that the power or Government of a King is off far greater authority than the name of a king, and were it not a much less matter for a king to be deprived of the name and title of a king, then of the power and government of a king. Let the simple judge whether is greater, a king of great power and government, or a king of great name and title. Let them contend, and see who shall get the victory. All this we set down to show, how greatly you do er through ignorance that cannot deserve that power and government in earthly kings is much greater than name and title, and therefore you ere in Common judgement: But you do ere much more in spiritual judgement in that you cannot deserve Christ's name, and power off government to be of equal estimation, for if you do not hold all things in Christ, and all things of Christ, to be equal, and of like condition or proportion, you overthrew the nature and property off God: as thus: All the Graces of Christ in himself are equal a like: and all his works are equal a like. It was all one with God to make Behemoth spoken of, job. 40. and the Pismices Pro. 30. and God esteemeth them both a like: so all the word of God is a like and of like power and authority, as Christ himself showeth, when an expounder of the law asked him, which is the first and great commandment? jesus answered. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and mind, this is the first and the great commandment▪ & the second is like to this. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. And th'apostle james makes it most plain that the commandments of God are all of like power and authority, and all of like necessity to be obeyed: and the holy ghost doth show an evident reason, wherefore every commandment is a like to be obeyed, and why the breaking of one is the breaking of all, because (saith the holy Ghost by Thapostle) he that commanded one commanded al. jam. 2.10.11. From which ground of truth we thus speak unto you in the words of the holy ghost: He that hath commanded in the Church, the true preaching of the word, true baptism, and true administration of the Lords supper: The same God hath commanded also true government in the Church: therefore although you should have the word of God truly preached, and baptism and the supper of the Lord truly administered, yet if you have a false Government▪ you are transgressors of the whole law of God, and guilty of al.  
Thus doth the word of God disaprove and utterly condemn that blasphemous doctrine of pous whereby you fearfully deceive yourselves, and the people of God, whilst you hold and teach that Christ's government in his Church is not fundamental And besides the word of God we have endeavoured to show you that in all human sense and understanding, a king that hath not the power of government over his subjects, but they submit to the government of strange lords, they are disobedient and rebellious, and give their king only the name of King: and such subjects are you, giving Christ only the name of a king, but give his power of government to strange lords, your lord Archb. and Bishops, who enlarge you by their spirit, and you are enlarged, and who restrains you by their power, and you are restrained, who sets you up for shepherds, when you please them, and puts you down like hirelings when you offend them: who if they destroy your flock before your faces, and you stand by you dare not aid them, but give Council for peace, to submit to their cruelty, although they should condemn your most innocent, and justify the most guilty: and all this evil and much more you justly bring upon yourselves, and the people, in teaching and professing, that you differ not from the Lord Bs. in any fundamental point, making and accounting there by the government which Christ hath appointed in his Church not to be fundamental, wherein you sin against God with an high hand, making Christ jesus a vain Lawgiver whilst by your practice and profession both in deeds and words you declare that the Ordinances of Christ, which he hath appointed for the whole government of his Church, are not of absolute necessity, and fundamental. If the jews had so said and practised against the ordinances which they received for the government of the Temple and Tabernacle, and appointing the officers by the mouth of Moses, it had made an utter confusion of all, and they must have died. And behold a greater than Moses is here, giving ordinances for the government of his Temple and Tabernacle, and for the ordaining of Officers, against which though you resist, and admit of any other you must die, except you repent Heb. 10.28.29. and 12.25. for you make an utter confusion of al. Oh that you would but look with your eyes and see, what a confusion it would have brought into the Temple and Tabernacle, if any other Officers, and any other government had been brought in, than Moses appointed, had not all their sacrifices and services been polluted and most abominable to the Lord? would Moses ever have endured it, and would Aaron have consented there unto? They would not: and if all the people had, they all had been destroyed with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who would have overthrown the government and Officers of the temple, for the Lord would have been as just in his judgement upon all, as upon s●me. Oh that you would consider this, and forget not God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none that can deliver you. Are the Laws and Ordinances given by jesus Christ for the government of his Temple and Tabernacle, and appointing of his Officers, not so perfect, as those that was given by Moses? and will not the bringing in of any other Officers and government into the Church of Christ than he hath appointed, cause as great as confu●ion, as it would have done in the Temple? and shall not all the sacrifices and services be polluted, and most abominable? as theirs would have been: will Christ jesus the Mediator, and high Priest endure it, or consent unto it, any more than Moses and Aaron would have done? if you say he would then you make Christ less faithful than Moses, and make his Church, less holy than the Temple was, and his laws and Ordinances not to perfect, as those that were given by Moses, and so shall the transgression against them deserve less punishment: but but all the Prophets, and Apostles, and Christ jesus himself testifieth the contrary to this, as you know right well, and most especially the Author to the Hebrews handleth these things at large, showing that the Temple, Tabernacle, and all the Officers, and offices, and ordinances off administration for Government and service, given by Moses, were but a pattern, shadow, and similitude of the Heavenly Temple and Ordinances established and given by Christ, who is the Mediator of a better Testament, established upon better promises, and is the High Priest of a more perfect Tabernacle: and hath purified all the ordinances with a better blood, & he is faithful as Moses, & is worthy off more glory & honour. Heb. 8.5.6. and 9.11.23. and 3.2.3. and he will punish with much sorer punishment, those that despise his Law, than Moses could. Heb. 10.28.29. Therefore take heed to yourselves for you have brought an utter confusion upon the house of God, by submitting unto another government and other Officers then Christ hath appointed in his Church, and so are all your sacrifices and services polluted, as theirs would have been in the Temple, iff they had permitted any such thing: and if the Government of the Temple was fundamental, how much more the government of the Church of Christ. Be wise in spiritual wisdom, and then you will yield, that true government is of as absolute necessity in the Church of Christ under the Gospel as it was in the Temple under the Law. And if you will be of understanding according to all the understanding off men, you will confess that a kings own government, by his own laws and Ordinances is fundamental and of absolute necessity in his own kingdom, and over his own subjects, or else he is a king but only in name, and not in power: then must you needs confess that Christ's Government is of absolute necessity and fundamental in his Kingdom, or else you make him but a king in name: and how can you in all true judgement, but acknowledge that it is much better, to have the power and government of a King, without the name of King, then to have the name of a King, and not the power and government of a King. And therefore you might as well submit to the Lord Bishops to take away Christ's name of a King, as submit to take away from him the power and government of a King: but therein lies the depth of the mystery of iniquity in the man of sin, in taking wholly from him his power, and yet professing his name: and here by are all the Nations of the Earth deceived, and this it is that blinds you all, because you have the profession off Christ's name amongst you, saying he is your king, this makes you rest satisfied, although you yield unto him no one thing else that appertaineth to his Kingly Office, but only the name and title off a King. That we may make this plain unto you (for you see it not) that you give Christ only the name off a King in your Church, we show it unto you thus: all that can be given to a King off his subjects, is to give unto him all the titles off honour due unto his name, and to submit in obedience unto his power: This is all that God requireth to himself in the 1.2.3. and 4. Commandments. And this must every King have, their name, and power, and especially Christ our King: Now the name of a King you give unto Christ, but no power of a King: The which that it may appear evidently unto the simple we pray you to consider that all the power of a king consists in punishing the evil doers, & rewarding the well doers, as is proved Rom. 13. 14. where Thapostle shows, that all the powers that are, they are of God, and they are to this end only, to punish the evil, & reward the good. Speak now uprightly before God and men, hath Christ this power in your Church? and are his Officers and people permitted to execute it? are the good by Christ's kingly power cherished, comforted, and rewarded, and are the evil by the power of Christ corrected and punished? hath Christ power by his own ordinances, laws, and officers, to receive and keep in the good, and to cast out, and keep the bad out off the Church? if you should say, Christ hath his power in your Church, you all (called Puritans) are condemned at once, for the most evil doers in the whole Church, because you above all are most evil spoken of, mocked, contemned, hated, Cited, silenced, excommunicated, and imprisoned: is all this done by the holy kingly power of Christ? then are you the most evil doers, and then are all the proud boasters, cursed speakers, malicious, covetous, and flatterers, that have peace and preferment in the church, weldoers, is this the power of Christ? if it be not as we know you will all confess it is not, them must you needs confess that Christ hath not the power off a King in the Church: For if he have no power to punish the evil doers, and reward the weldoers then hath he no manner of power by his Kingly Office among you, and then do you give him but only the name of a King, and so do you give him no more than Pilate gave him, when he wrote a title and put it on the Cross. This is jesus the King off the jews. But in all this you think to excuse yourselves in that you are innocent in these things, and protest and seek much to have it otherwise: even so was Pilate, he washed his hands, and would be innocent from the Blood off that just Man: He protested he saw no evil in him: And he sought to lose him, but when he saw he availed not, he delivered him to the high Priests and Elders to be Crucified: And thus do you the best of you all, that when you cannot prevail that Christ might have his power set up, (as you pretend,) you deliver it into their hands that destroy it, and submit yourselves unto them also. Will you yet say, Christ is your King? When it is thus evident that he hath no power to rule over you, will Christ be such a King: be not deceived, God is not mocked, he will command, you his enemies which would not that he should reign over you to be slain before him, if you repent not, no pretence of excuse shallbe admitted for committing of evil, neither excuse of fear, nor of ignorance, the Lord doth teach all men every where to repent, & they that believe & obey shallbe saved, & they that do not believe shallbe damned, which you shall all be every one of you that submit to any other government, than that most holy and blessed government which Christ hath established in his Church, whereof he is the Head & King. And therefore the Church of Christ is in subjection in every thing, Ephes. 5.24. And our Saviour Christ will no more be the head nor savioux of such a Church that submits itself unto the power of a stranger, his enemy, than any Godly wise husband willbe the head of a wife that submits her body unto the power of another man, although she make never so many fair pretences of excuses: and for this end and to show all other love and duties, hath the H. ghost aptly here by Thapostle compared, Christ and his Church, and a husband and a wife together, to teach thereby all the love and duties of Husband and Wife one to another, and to declare all Christ's love to his Church, and the duties of his Church to him again: how can the holy Ghost by more fit and plain comparisons to the capacity of man show, and declare the power and love of Christ, over and to his church, and the subjection that the Church is to yield to him in every thing, which subjection seeing your church, will not yield to Christ, but denies him the whole power off Government over it. Christ cannot be head off such a Church, neither can your Church be his body, for every body is guided and Governed by it own head, and none of a● you that are members off that body, are members of the body of Christ: But the spiritual lord Arch Bishop and Lord Bishop are head of your Church, in that it is in subjection to them in every thing, as you well know, and therefore is it their body, for every head hath it own body, and you all are members of their body, whereof Christ is not the Saviour, but he is the Saviour of his own body, which is his Church, whereof he is head. Ephes. 5.23. The God of grace give you grace to consider your fearful estates and standings herein, and deliver you from that dangerous delightful security wherewith your hearts are so overipred, all your senses and affections being bewitched and ravished by that ware of Gold, & Silver, & all excellent mettales of pearls, & all precious stones, of silk, & scarlet, & all costly vestures of vessels of ivory, and of all most precious wood, & off Cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, & frankincense, and Wine, and Oil, and fine flower, and wheat, and Beasts, and Sheep, and Horses, and Charetts, and Servants, and Souls of Men, and Apples that your Souls lust after. All these things hath the Holy Ghost set down most largely Revel. 18. to discover the deceiveableness of unrighteousness, in all the precious delightful sweet, and pleasant spiritual baits and snares that are in that your glorious profession of Puritanisme whereby your souls are bewitched and ravished as also in all other professions, amongst those people that are the waters, whereupon the woman arrayed in purple and Scarlet doth sit. Revel. 17. Of which people you are in that you are in subjection unto the power of the Beast and his image, and therefore are all your sacrifices oblations and incense in vain, your Prophesieings or preachings, your prayers and praisings of God are an abomination unto the Lord, your silver is become dross, your wine is mixed with water. The Lord hath covered you with a spirit of flumber, and hath shut up your eyes. Your Prophets and your chief Seers hath he covered, because you come near unto him with your mouth, and honour him with your lips, in calling Christ your King, but you have taken Government from his shoulder, who is called wonderful, Councillor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the increase of whose government & peace shall have no end. Esa. 9.6.7. and here doth the Prophet show likewise, that he sits upon David's throne, & upon his Kingdom to order it: but all this power you give unto your strange Lords, and yet you cry and say, that Christ is your King. Thus do you flatter with your lips, & dissemble with your tongues, and your ways are not upright before the Lord.  
What might we say to provoke you, to set your hearts to seek the lord, and to turn your feet to walk in his paths, and your ears to hearken to his voice, which seeing you will all with earnestness profess to do, do it with faithfulness, and cast away all ignorant hypocrisy, and now that the abomination of desolation is set up before your eyes, hear this voice of the lord. flee into the mountains: and Come out of her my people and turn not back to that which is left behind. Remeber Lots wife. Math. 24.15.16. Revel. 18.4. Luk. 17.31.32. We will use no more reasons to prove you are not come out of Babylon, but you own confession shall witness against you, in that you daily complain of your bondage, therefore you may see you are in the house of bondage, but there is no bondage in the house off God, where the Children off the free Woman standfast in the liberty, wherewith Christ hath made them free. Galat. 4.31. and 5.1. Why are you then still in bondage, under all those Ceremonial Traditions, (which you say your souls abhor) iff you be off those that Christ hath made free? Shall we entreat you with Godly advisedness, to consider what the bondage is, and see how you look to be delivered, is not your bondage you complain off a spiritual bondage? in that you are restrained of spiritual liberty in the holy things: Having Ceremonies and Ecclesiastical Laws and Canons pressed upon you, which of Conscience you cannot obey, so is it plain your bondage is spiritual. And how would you be delivered from your spiritual bondage, and who should be your deliverer? Can you be delivered but by a spiritual power? and can you have any deliverer but a spiritual Lord? if you seek to and depend upon any other Lord to be delivered from spiritual bondage, you take unto yourselves another God, and set up a spiritual power against the power of God. And whereas you should put on the whole armour of God, and wrestle against principalities and powers, and spiritual wickednesses, which are in the high places, and stand fast, you have shrunk in the day of bat●le, and have not faithfully contented for the maintenance off the faith given to the Saints. But have, and do yield to the Spiritual wickednesses, which are under the power of those spiritual Lords, the Arch Bishops and Lordbishops, and have cast of the armour, and sword off the Spirit, wherewith you should resist and overcome, and whereby these spiritual wickednesses shallbe consumed and abolished, and you have taken unto yourselves a direction after the device off your own hearts, seeking and sueing, by petitions not to God, but to men, that you might have leave (as you pretend) to set up Christ for your King and Governor: and if you could get leave, you make show, as though you would reform matters that are greatly amiss: but seeing you cannot, you are content to let them alone, and groan under them (for so you speak) and not to be too busy, lest you should make matters worse. Of this same condition were the people of Israel, when Moses was sent to bring them out of Egypt, for when they saw that leave would not be granted, but that more work was laid upon them, and that there was danger and trouble, they would have made their peace, and have groaned still under their burdens as they had done, and so have continued in that their bondage, as you do in your spiritual bondage, but the Lord was merciful unto them according to his own promiss, and brought them out by a mighty hand, and with great signs and wonders: and even so hath the Lord promised to bring his Elect (which are those that hearken to the voice of his Call) out of this spiritual bondage of Babylon, Egypt, and Sodom, (wherein you are) by great and marvelous signs and wonders, as the spirit of God hath declared. Revel. 15. and 16. Chap. by the seven Angels, which power out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the Earth: But you must know that this is a spiritual Prophesy, and all these are spiritual signs and wonders, which the lord hath graciously promised to show upon Babylon, Egypt and Sodom, (spiritually so called) to the destruction and everlasting overthrow of the Scarlet cullored Beast, and the Woman that sits upon him, which woman is that great City Babylon: and upon all the people that come not forth at the call of his voice. Revel. 17.18. Chap. But take heed you be not deceived by looking for their things with carnal eyes as the jews did, who looked for an earthly King to deliver them, so that when their spiritual king came they knew him not, but hated him, despised him, persecuted him, killed him, and cast him out, and so remain in transgression and under condemnation unto this day, by the just judgement of God. Take heed lest you do so in sueing after and seeking by earthly means to be delivered out of your spiritual bondage, and when the spiritual means and way is showed you, you contemn it, despise it, hate it, persecute it, speak all manner of evil against it, oppose it, reject it, and condemn it, and so remain still in your transgression, and under the condemnation of the just judgement of God, which the Lord hath pronounced against all those that come not forth of Babylon, partaking thereby with her in her sins, and so shallbe made partakers of her plagues, which plague's you cannot escape if you come not forth, but believe those false Prophets that prophesy lies unto you. Be not deceived by your good intents, and meanings, and good desires whereof you are full: Nor by your great affections of zeal wherewith you abound, above all people that we know or have heard of, that have any knowledge of the Gospel: we speak not of the ignorant zealous Papists that go before you and all the earth (that know the name of jesus) in these things, which makes them think their estates most happy. Take you heed lest you be also still hereby deceived: We confess these are excellent things, if knowledge and faith go with them. Furthermore your obedience unto the second and great commandment, which is, Love thy neighbour as thyself, and all the particular duties thereof, as Honour Parents, do not commit adultery: Kill, steal, bear false witness, Covet nothing that is thy neighbours. In these excellent duties very many of you greatly abound, and we cannot but with great affections look upon you, and love you for them, yet know that many Papists are nothing behind you in these things: Therefore let not these things deceive you as though you had all things, because you have these. You see it testified by our Saviour Christ: that a man may have, or do all these things, and yet not follow Christ, as is showed in the example of that excellent Ruler whom Christ looked upon and loved for those excellent things in him Mark. 10.21. And therefore please not yourselves so much in those things, although we acknowledge they are worthy of great commendations in you, and our souls are much affected to you for them: But iff you follow not Christ in the regeneration, that is, if you be not borne again of water & of the Spirit, & so enter into the Kingdom off Heaven, all is nothing, as you see by the example of this Ruler. And Cornelius Act. 10. If he had not been baptised with the holy ghost and with Water, for all his prayers and alms he had not, nor could not have entered into the Kingdom off Heaven.  
Thus entered all the people off God of whose entrance the Scriptures give testimony, either by rule or example, and therefore if there be any other entrance found out, it is not, nor cannot be of God: this only is the door which jesus Christ hath set open for all to enter in at, that enter into his Kingdom john. 3.5. and the Lord sanctify all your hearts with grace, that you may enter in thereby: For no other way off salvation hath Christ appointed but that men first believe and be baptized. Mark. 16.16.  
Thus have we freely spoken the truth unto you from our hearts, suspect us not of the least contempt or despite, iff we seen sharp: There are multitudes of you of that Puritan profession (so called) that know our love is most true and unfeigned to you all, and that we cannot but love and reverence you, and therefore we cannot but the more seek your reformation wish it, and pray for it, and we will not give the Lord rest therein until he hear us, that we may see your salvation accomplished.   

THe next false profession off Christ, and false Prophets amongst you, that we will (by God's assistance) speak of, is that false profession, and those false Prophets which are usually called Brownists, you are they that say you are jews: but are none: and have made yourselves a name to be the Separation, and are falsely so called, but are not, as through the help of our God, we shall make it plain by the Word of the Lord, both to your own consciences: (if you will not always resist the truth,) and also to the consciences of all others. And this we will do by those grounds of truth which you acknowledge, which you must be forced either to forsake, or else be convinced by them.  
And the first ground is this, in your Book called the Apologies, the first part of your third position stands thus set down.  
A true visible Church is a Company of people called and separated from the world by the word of God, and joined together by voluntary profession of the faith of Christ in the fellowship of the Gospel. And by this means, that is by the word of God: and by thus doing, that is, separating themselves from the world and joining together, (say you) they are become a true visible Church. Now to come to a full discovery off your false profession off Christ. Let it be observed, that you confess you were off the World, before you separated: Which when you were, than were you Enemies unto Christ, for Christ testifieth the World hates him, john 7.7. Then were you none off Christ's, for those that are Christ's, or off Christ, are not of the world. joh. 17. 1●. and now to be come Christ's, you say you are called and separated from the World by the word of God, and joined together by voluntary profession of the faith of Christ, in the fellowship of the Gospel: This is your constitution, wherein you have erred as may plainly appear, for when you were called, and (as you say) separated you should have joined to Christ, and have entered into his Kingdom, which seeing you have not done, you are not separated from the world: nor have no fellowship in the Gospel. We confess the Lord hath called unto you, and you have joined yourselves together in a voluntary profession, but you have not joined yourselves to Christ: and therefore is your profession a false profession, and you have a false Christ that is no Christ, as shallbe hereafter plainly proved. And to show you that you are not joined to Christ you being of the world before you constituted or set up your Church, by your own confessions, the word off the Lord doth evidently declare, that there is no way for them that are of the world, who are not in Christ, but enemies to Christ, as all that are of the world are, there is no other way to join and come to Christ, but only to. Amend their lives, & be baptized. Act. 2.38. and Gal. 3.27. Al ye that are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Let us now entreat you on God's dehalf that you will no longer be feighters against God in contending against his truth, from the which we trust through the mercy of God, you shall not be able any longer to hide yourselves: For if all men that know God, and his Son Christ jesus, will not confess that infidels and unbelievers have no other way to come, and be joined to Christ, but only by believing and being baptised, than you that confess you were of the world before you set up your Church, must needs confess also that you were infidels and unbelievers: for you shallbe ashamed to say that there are any believers of the world, seeing our Saviour Christ saith: john. 14.17. The World cannot receive the Spirit of truth: and john. 16.8.9. The Comforter shall reprove the world of sin, because they believed not in me. and john. 17.25. O righteous Father the World hath not known thee. and john, in his first Epist. Chap. 5.18.19 speaks thus, We know that were are of God, & this whole World lieth in wickedness. And this being the condition of them that are of the world. 1 That they cannot receive the Spirit of truth. 2. That they believe not in Christ. 3. That they know not God. 4. That they lie all in wickedness. You confessing yourselves to be of the world before you joined yourselves together in your voluntary profession, by a Covenant of your own devisings (you being of the world) your Condition was the same: Then were you without the Spirit of truth: unbelevers, not knowing God: Lying all in wickedness, and so are you all infidels, and their was, nor is, no way for you to join unto Christ, but to amend your lives, & be baptized, and by Baptism to put on Christ. Which seeing you have not done, you are still of the world: the spirit of truth is not in you: you are infidels and unbelievers: you know not God: and you remain in your wickedness and so is your profession a false profession of Christ, and you have not the true Christ, but a false Christ, and so is your Baptism a worldly baptism brought out of the world, an Ordinance of the world, and not the baptism and Ordinance of Christ, whose baptism is not of the world, as he is not of the world.  
Shall we need to lay down any other ground to convince you, and stop all your mouths? is not this easy, plain and evident enough. What can be more plain. You confess (your selves) you were of the world before you made your separation from England: and our Saviour Christ saith, that they which are of the world believe not in him: and who will not grant that they that believe not in Christ are infidels or unbelievers, than you being of the world, were infidels or unbelievers, and the Holy Ghost teacheth that infidels or unbelievers, must Amend their lives & be baptised, & by Baptism put on Christ. And our Saviour Christ Mark. 16.16. giving a general direction to his disciples to preach the Gospel to all, gives likewise a general direction, what all unbelievers must do, iff they willbe saved. They must believe and be baptized. This straight are you now driven unto, either to confess that before your separation you were infidels or unbelievers, and then you must believe and be baptised, or else that you were believers and faithful: and then have you Separated from a faithful and believing People, and not from the World, and you must return to your vomit with that false prophet your first and chief Shepherd, that hath misled you up on these false grounds, who not being able (through his infidelity) to keep his face towards jerusalem, and the Land of Canaan, hath fainted in the way, and rebelled in the wilderness, and is returned to his so much formerly detested Babylon and Egypt.  
And next let us show unto you that your Prophets are all false Prophets, and although it be a full sufficient proof that they are false Prophets because they are Elected and ordained to their Office, by a congregation of infidels or unbelevers that are not joined to Christ, and have not put on Christ by baptism, yet we will further show them to be false Prophets, because they Prophecies lies, and by their lying wonders would if it were possible deceive the very Elect, these are deceitful workers, & transform themselves into the Prophets of Christ, as though they were the Ministers off righteousness, whose end (saith Thapostle) shallbe according to their works. 2. Cor. 11.13.15. yet they doing it ignorantly through unbelief, if they repent, may be received to mercy. 1. Tim. 1.13. but they must repent as Paul did, who left of being a persecutor, a blasphemer, and an oppressor, else he could never have been saved: so must they leave of being false Prophets, seducers, and deceivers, or else they shall all be damned: Revel. 19.20.  
And first to show how your false prophets do transform themselves, whereby they are most dangerous deceivers and tempters they in the forefront of their cry, come with a main ground of truth, and this they utter with a loud voice. It is fallen, it is fallen, Babylon that great City. Go out of her my people etc. and separate yourselves, and come out, this is all their cry to bring the people from the assemblies of England, and then they run upon England and prove it Babel, and Babylon, we confess with proof enough which when they have done, working a just distaist in the hearts of some people, of the spiritual abominations in those assemblies, so far as they themselves dislike, but being loath to cast Babylon clean to the ground, and utterly to make her naked and desolate, and to lay all her honour in the dust, and not being willing, through hardness of heart, and want of true zeal and holiness to run the rate to the end, and to separate themselves from all uncleanness, they teach you still to retain your first and chief badge or mark of Babylon, which is your baptism, wherein you receive the seal of the covenant of grace as they say, and teach you, and this you may not part withal upon any condition. Is there any false prophets, like these Prophets? that will teach you to separate and Come out from Babylon▪ and to touch no unclean thing. And when they have done, teach you to retain the Baptism received there, which they teach, and you profess to be the seal of the Covenant of Grace: so are you sealed unto the Covenant of grace by Babylon: so are you made Christians and members of Christ by Babylon, for without this baptism you are no Christians. Oh how you cry out against the sweetness of the stolen waters of Babylon, and yet yourselves cannot beware thereof, but are bewitched therewith, the which you retain with as little understanding as when you received it, and were washed or baptized therewith.  
But your false Prophets to make good the retaining of your Babylonish baptism, like deep deceivers with turning of devices, plead that your baptism must be retained, and is not to be repeated, no more than Israel's circumcision, when they came to the passover, in Hezechias time. Oh that all men would see your deceiveableness of unrighteousness herein: that to draw simple people after you, and to build yourselves up a kingdom, you cry against the assemblies of England, they are Babylon, Egypt, and Sodom, separate yourselves, be not unequally yocked with infidels. What fellowship hath light with darkness? What concord hath Christ with Belial? etc. Therefore a● must be cast away: no communion is to be kept: But when you are urged or called on for the retaining off your baptism you received in Babylon, than Israel's circumcision is your hold: so make you England Israel, and yourselves judah, pretending hereby as though you came out of Israel, what deceitful deceiving is this? What turning of devices? to cry, Come out off Babylon, and touch no unclean thing, and to show and declare in all words and writings, that if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, he shall drink of the Cup of God's wrath, applying this particularly to England: and when you have done come forth sealed in the forehead with the seal of baptism (as you cal●i.) having no other seal for your whole Christianity, for we hope you will not say that there may be a Church of unbaptized Christians, and all this you prove good, because Israel's circumcision was good under jeroboam, so make you a show in this particular as though you came but from Israel: but if your first cry had been come out from Israel, and separate yourselves from Israel, You might have cried long enough before any that had feared God, or had any understanding of his truth, would have followed you to have built new Churches, and set up an hierarchy of ruling Elders, as they and you, (brethren in evil therein also) have done. To draw to an end in this point: if you be come from Israel, then were you true Israelites before, than all that you have left behind you, are true Israelites as well as you: for all the Ten Tribes under jeroborm were true Isralites: and you and the assemblies of England from whence you came/ were all in one estate and condition off profession before you separated, and they still remain as you left them, and as you daily leave them, they are not become Samaritans if they were none before: if you like therefore to stand upon this ground that you have brought your Baptism fro rebellious Israel, than you judah must needs acknowledge Israel to be your sister, for the Lord testifieth that Israel was juda's sister: Neither did judah ever deny Israel to be her sister: therefore may not you utterly cast off England that is your sister Israel.  
And whereas you acknowledge in your book called the Apology, Pag. 113. Through ignorant dissimulation and flattery, that you never doubted, but there are thousands in the Romish Apostasy in England which receive not the Beasts mark in their forehead or hand, but be careful to keep the Commandments of God and faith of jesus, must you not acknowledge, except you be destitute of all understanding, that these thousands that are baptised with the same baptism that you are, and that receive not the mark off the Beast: and be careful to keep the commandments off God, and faith of jesus, must you not acknowledge that these thousands are a true Church, or true Churches as well as you? Dare you say more of yourselves? whereby to challenge any pre-eminence: are you any more (if you were so much) then truly baptised, free from the mark of the Beast, careful to keep the Commandments of God and faith of jesus? What dark blindness is this, and palpable words of flattery? To confess in words, there are thousands in England's Apostasy in as holy and blessed estate as any people of God can be, and when you have so done, both by practice, writing, and teaching, deny all spiritual communion with any one of them, and not to suffer any one of them, to have communion with you, except they make and submit to a new Covenant with you, which covenant you have made according to the devisings off your own hearts. What Zion have you built that will not open her gates to men (as you confess) truly baptised, having no mark off the Beast, kepeing the commandments of God and faith of jesus: how woefully are you overtaken in these things, how can we think less of this, than that it is ignorant dissimulation and flattery, with such fair words to stop the mouths, and blind the eyes of Mr. Bilson, and the Oxford Doctors, and when you had walled up that breach, and daubed it with morier of deceitful temper, then to profess and practise the contrary. Thus do you when it will serve your turn, make England Israel, and when you please it is Babylon, Sodom, Egypt: and hereby have you a long time, and still do, like most subtle charmers, charm the simple and ignorant, so that they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, building and holding up hereby your kingdom and throne: and if any incline to return from you to England again, then is England Sodom, Egypt, Babylon, and worse though worse could be: and if any make question of casting away that Baptism or washing received there, then England is but rebellious Israel, and let her take away her fornications out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts, and she may still be a wife. What can be said to this your deceitful double dealing? we must be forced to leave a simple double answer thus: If you were Babylonians, and have Babilonns baptism upon you, then have you no rule nor example, that the Babylonians circumcision could be accepted and admitted to the passover: and if you were true Israelites before you separated, and have Israel's Baptism upon you, and so become to judah, then must you acknowledge Israel from whence you are come, (which is England) your sister and so may you again go follow the voice of that old deceiver, that hath so long bewitched you, who lies in wait for you, knowing that you cannot stand upon these grounds, but you must be forced either to cast away your baptism: or else, return from whence you had it, except you willbe the most wilful blind people upon the whole Earth that have any knowledge off Christ, of the which you give just cause off jealousy. Therefore in Gods fear take heed and perish not in your stiff-necked perverseness.  
To show yet further, that you are false Prophets, and prophesy lies: we produce out of your Book subscribed with general subscription, your Apology Pag. 110. Where you gainsay Mr. Bilson, for saying you affirm by consequence, their Sacraments no Sacraments, & Church no Church. To clear yourselves of this imputation, you teach that we must be careful in all such causes always to discern and distinguish between a true Church, a false Church, and no church: Between true Sacraments, false Sacraments: and no Sacraments. Your proof and example is. judah a true Church: The Ten Tribes of Israel a false Church: The Philistimes and others the like, no Church. and so at this day, the Turks and Pagans may be reputed no Churches: The Romish Synagogue and all her daughters false Churches: The Christians which be set in the true faith and order true Churches. Thus you say the difference may be put, but you are all false prophets herein and teach lies, these are but the devices of your own hearts, these are your school distinctions where by you pervert the holy word of truth, and we exhort all the people of God, to take heed of you when you distinguish, and when you bring your matters about with, in a respect, and in a double respect, not but that we hold it lawful to use distinctions, and to show respects, but because you usually deceive thereby: there is no truth off God so evident, but with your distinctions and respects, and twofold respects, you will pervert it, and when you are not able with evidence off truth to maintain your false ways, than your distinctions and respects must make it good, whereby you ensnare the simple, and compass them about as with a thick mist, wherein they cannot see which way to go, but are feign through hardness of heart and infidelity (which are the causes, of their ignorance and blindness) to give their hearts to you to be led, and you like deceitful blind guides lead them into the pit, as in this pecticuler in hand, wherein if you be overthrown and discovered your whole cause is thus far destroyed, as you are all yet once again proved infidels and unbelievers. And we doubt not but by the gracious aid and help of our God, we shallbe able by his word to convince you all herein, without whose great help and aid, we in humility confess, we are not able to withstand such strong and wise adversaries of his truth as you are, who do exercise your selves to deceive, our own experiences and knowledge of you causeth us thus to speak: we hope you do it ignorantly, or else there were no hope of your repentance and salvation.  
To the point in hand we say and prove by the word off God that you can in no ordinance of God distinguish or put difference by the warrant of God's word, betwixt false and none, and your vain distinction will hold only in worldly things, and you are carnal herein and sold under sin, blame us not though we reprove you sharply for this, because you have deceived yourselves and the whole World hereby so far as your voices have sounded, and you have and do daily destroy the faith of many.  
We proceed to prove that you cannot by Gods word distinguish, nor put difference betwixt false and none, in God's ordinances, and this the eternal word of truth doth show. Revel. 2.2. Where the holy ghost speaking of false Apostles commends the Church off Ephesus, for examining them which said they were Apostles, but were none, and were found liars. And vers. 9 I know the blasphemy of them which say they are jews but are none, but are the Synagogue off Satan. And Revel. 3.9. The same words are uttered by the holy Ghost. Thus doth the spirit of God teach us, that a false Church is no Church, but a Synagogue of Satan: and false Apostles are no Apostles, so then are false Sacraments no Sacraments, and so false and none in God's ordinances are all one, and you cannot distinguish nor put difference betwixt them. And for further manifestation of the truth hereof, let us refer the things that are of God, to God, and so shall it appear to all but those that will not see, that there is no difference nor distinction to be made in God's ordinances betwixt false and none, as thus: A true Church of Christ: a false Church: and no Church of Christ, if now a false Church be not no Church of Christ, than it is a false Church of Christ, so is there two sorts or kinds of Churches off Christ, and so should Christ have two bodies, a true body, and a false body, what blasphemy is this? when th'apostle saith: there is but one body: so likewise iff you say, there is a true faith of Christ, a false faith, and no faith of Christ, if a false faith, and no faith, be not all one, than there are two faiths of Christ's, a true faith, and a false faith of Christ, but Thapostle saith. There is but one faith, In like manner, if you will say, as you do, that there is a true baptism, a false baptism, and no baptism, if a false baptism, and no Baptism be not all one, then is there two baptisms, but Thapostle saith, there is but one baptism, and of all these there is but one, as there is but one God and Father off all, which is above all, and rhrough all. Ephes. 4.4.5.6. Who if he were in you all, you would submit to this his truth, and never open your mouths more against it. Cast away these your logical distinctions, which are fit to distinguish betwixt a false hourglass and no hour glass, and a false looking glass and no looking glass, and not fit to distinguish betwixt a false Baptism and no Baptism, a false Church, and no Church, betwixt which the holy ghost admits of no distinction nor difference. We conclude therefore with the word of truth against all these your deceitful distinctions and lying prophecies, that a false Church is no Church of Christ at all, for Christ ha●h no false Church: Therefore you holding England a false Church, it is no Church of Christ, and so your false Baptism is no Baptism off Christ, and so are you all infidels unbelevers, and false Christians, that is no Christians, and you are they that say, you are jews and are not, but are the Synagogues off Satan. And let this suffice for the overthrow of your most false and deceitful distinction.  
And whereas you bring for your proof of a true Church, a false Church, and no Church, and say: judah was a true Church, Israel a false Church, and the Philistimes no Church, these are but your own sayings and devisings without proof, whereby you have and do mightily deceive, although your words be without all understanding, for Israel was a true Church as judah was, for the Israelites were the true seed off Abraham, separated from the world under the Covenant off God, which was the Covenant off Circumrision, Gen. 17. 7-15 as well as judah in Hezechiah's time, when they same to the passover: And if they had been the false seed off Abraham, then had they been false Israelites, than had their circumcision been false, and they had been a false Church: So had they been no seed off Abraham, no Israelites, their Circumcision no Circumcision, and so no Church. For a full conclusion, and a certain rule off drection from the Word off God, whereby the People off God may try all your deceitfil distinctions off this kind: when you put difference betwixt True, False, and none, in, or off any Ordinance off God, Let all observe, and would to God you yourselves would be informed, that God and his laws and Ordinances are one. john. 14.6 Off equal power, authority, and truth, and therefore you can no more say, a true Church, a false Church, and no Church, a true Baptism, a false Baptism, and no Baptism, which are holy ordinances of God, than you can say a true God. a false God, and no God: and your distinction will hold no more betwixt a false Church, and no Church a false baptism, and no baptism, then betwixt a false God, and no God: and if a false God be no God, than a false Church is no Church of God, and a false baptism is no baptism of Christ. Your false Church then being as is showed and proved no Church of God, than it is the Synagogue of Satan, and your false baptism being no baptism of Christ, than it is the baptism of Satan. The Lord give you to consider of your estates and standings herein, that although your contempt of ve is, and hath been great, yet you may not still con●emne Christ and his truth the means of your salvation, though witnessed by us, that are so much despised in your eyes.  
Having thus showed you by evidence off truth, that you bringing your false baptism out of a False church (both which yourselves confess) your baptism is no baptism, and that false Church is no Church, this being made plain, as the indifferent may judge we will try Mr. Robinson's ground for this retained baptism, who willbe found to make haste to deceive with as many windings and turnings as any, an● he not altogether trusting to bring his baptism fro● Israel, he strives withal deceitful skill to prove that their baptism is true in one respect, though brought from Babylon. And this matter he undertakes af●● this manner, in his book off justification of seperition. Pag. 184 185. He Commends unto the Reader a distinction off a twofold respect: Baptism saith Mr. R. is to be considered first nakedly, and in the essential causes, the matter water. The form washing with water into the name off the Father etc. These are the essential causes of Mr. R. naked Baptism, in this respect he confesseth true baptism both in England and Rome. Mr. R. shall we speak angerly to you and mourn for the hardness off your heart, and great blindness and ignorance? Have you lost the beginnings of knowledge in the, mystery of Godliness? is all light shut from your eyes, and all truth debarred from your understanding, that you should write thus? That water, and washing, and words are the essential causes or matter of Baptism: if you had known Christ, of whose Baptism you pretend to speak, you would never have written thus, do you know that Christ's Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom? his Ordinances spiritual Ordinances: and will you confess this with your tongue, and with your tongue and deeds deny it? Which that it may appear plainly you do, consider with yourself, and let all that seek the Lord in spirit and truth consider, with what understanding you can say, that naked Water, washing, & words are the essential causes of a spiritual Baptism, thus do you spoil men through Philosophy and vain deceit in which iniquity you abound: away with your naked respect, and be counseled to buy whit raiment that you may be clothed, that your vile nakedness do not appear. Know you not that all they that are baptised into Christ have put on Christ. And do you come with your Philosophy to teach simple souls a naked baptism, and make it good with respects? The Lord give you grace to see your great evil herein, and the Lord deliver his poor people from these your deceitful ways, and the lord give them to learn to know from the word of God that there is but one Baptism of Christ. Ephes 4.5. And that whosoever is baptised into Christ, hath put on, or is clothed with Christ. Gal. 3.27. and therefore whosoever shall walk with your naked baptism shallbe found naked at the day off Christ's appearing, though you piece it and patch it with green leaves: and for your essential causes, lay down plainly what baptism you speak of, and you shallbe convinced in yourself, as thus: if you say off Christ's baptism which is spiritual, that the essential matter thereof is earthly water, would not your ignorance easily appear? the like of your form, if you should say that the form of spiritual baptism is bodily washing only with bare words, your own understanding would reprove you. It were to be wished, and you have often been required to lay away your school terms in the causes of God, whereby you do for the most part but hide the truth, and blind the eyes of the simple. How do you think the simple should understand you in the essential causes and matter, and form of baptism? do the Scriptures show that any of the holy men of God did ever thus distinguish? if your Art had been good or profitable, could not our Saviour Christ have used it for the manifestation of his truth? and would he not have endued his Apostles with that gift? Yea the Lord endued them with the most excellent gifts, for the evident declaration of his truth, whereof Lodgick, and Philosophy was none: which vain sciences if you had not used, you could never have forged so many deceits as you have in your book. And now we desire you to know that the Scriptures teach not any Baptism that is in one respect true, and in other respect false: there is no such thing in the whole word of God: these are but your own devices, wherein you divide Christ, to serve your own turns to deceive, persuading men that they are in one respect truly baptised, and in another respect falsely baptised, and if they will come and walk in your way, and join to your societies, you can make that part which was false, true: What Popery is this to take upon you to dispense with the false administrations in the ordinances of Christ? thus do you run into dark places whilst you forsake the lantern that should light your paths, which light of truth teacheth you, and all men that the baptism of Christ, is the Baptism of amendment of life, for the remission off sins. Mark. 1.4. And our Saviour Christ saith: Except a man be borne off water and off the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. john. 3. and Heb. 10.22. Let us draw near with a true heart in assurance of faith, our hearts being pure from an evil conscience, and washed in our bodies with pure water.  
Here is the true Baptism set down, which is the Baptism off amendment off life for the remission off sins: And here is the true matter where with men must be washed, which is water, and the Holy Ghost, that is pure from an evil conscience, and washed with water: Therefore can you not divide the water, and the spirit in this Baptism, Christ hath joined them together, and he that denies washing, or is not washed with the spirit is not baptised, and he that denies washing, or is not washed with water, is not baptized, because we see the Baptism of Christ, is to be washed with water and the Holy Ghost. And to take away a subtle exception, if a man be in prison, or any place, and be converted to the lord, and would be baptised with water but cannot, he is accepted with God, who accepts the will for the deed. 2. Cor. 8.12. and herein is the Lords mercy equal with his justice, for if a man's heart consent to evil, he is gi●●ie before the Lord, although he do it not Mat. 5.27.28.  
Thus much to discover the great deceitfulness off your way in the first respect of your false distinction, wherein you would prove, only, the essential matter water, and washing with water, and words, he essential form: We pass by your form of words, because we think you will not stand upon it, in that you see there is no certain form of words held. Act. 10 48. and 19.5, And take this with you to consider of, that if there were any truth in your distinction and respect, than were any washing with water, with those words, the true matter and form of Christ's Baptism: and so if one Child baptised another with water and those words, it is true baptism in that respect, and let that Child come and join to you, add you can make it good in all respects. Pass not these things over as you have done, for you are not able to answer them with any true understanding from God's word and so we come to your second respect.  
Secondly you say, baptism is to be considered, clothed with such appurtenances as wherewith the Lord hath appointed it to be administered: as for example, a lawful person by whom, a right subject upon which, a true communion wherein it is to be administered & dispensed, in which regard, you say, you do not approve it to be true Baptism either in Rome, or England. If darkest error did not possess your heart, you could never have written such things, but that we know your stiffness in your false ways we should pity to point out your palpable ignorance in these things: did ever man of any understanding in religion write thus? You are lighter than vanity herein: Will any man that hath any knowledge of God be so blind as not to see, how the spirit of error doth lead you to justify that a baptism, where there is neither the spirit off God, lawful minister, right subject, nor true communion is the true baptism and ordinance of Christ in the essential parts thereof.  
Hath the like ignorance appeared in these days? esspecially amongst men that will ●rie out for proof by Scripture in all things. If this your ground were true, than a Turk baptizing a Turk with water and those words in any assembly whatsoever, is the true Baptism of Christ in the essential parts thereof: see what rocks you run upon, whilst you forsake the way of truth: it may now appear no marvil, though you would have baptism to be nakedly considered, you have made a most naked baptism and ordinance of Christ of it. First, where there is no spirit of God, no lawful minister, no right party, to be baptised, no true communion it may will be called a naked baptism, and you a naked man of all grace and godly understanding to maintain it for a true baptism and ordinance of Christ, in any respect. If all this will not serve to convince you, we will yet smite you with the rod of from, and break you like the potter's vessel in this point. You profess and acknowledge, that Baptism comes in the flayed off Circumcision, then let all men judge, whether if Circumcision being administered by an unlawful person, upon no right subject, and in no true communion, could ever have been approved for the true ordinance of God in the essential causes thereof: and whether one so Circumcised could upon any conditions have been admitted to the passover? you will (we hope) be destitute of all devices to answer this: all those that are any way indifferent betwixt you and us, will see your great error herein, that though a Babylonian had circumcised a Babylonian in their Babylonish assemblies, that Circumcision had not been in any respect the Ordinance of God, and such a one could upon no condition have been admitted to the passover by that Circumcision. Now to show that you hold England Babylon in your book throughout it appears, but we especially hold you to these. Pag. 277. and 338. where you affirm that Rome and England were never within the covenant of God, as judah was: So have you debarred yourself from bringing your circumcision, and so your baptism from Apostate Israel, and therefore you must hold yourself to this, to prove circumcision administered in Babylon by an unlawful person, upon a wrong subject, and in no true communion, you must prove such a circumcision the Ordinance of God in any respect, and that one so circumcised might be admitted to the passover, prove this, and we will confess that your skill is above all men's herein, and Ezra, and Nehemiah shallbe reproved off you, for causing the people to put away the Children that were borne off the straying Wives in Babylon. Ezra 10.3. Nehem. 13.23.24.25. Off whom if you make question whether they were circumcised you cavil without colour, for than had the Israelites been guilty of the breach of the Lords covenant, whereby they were commanded to circumcise all their males in their household. But we will leave you to prove your Babylonian Circumcision to be in any respect the Ordinance off God, and prove it by Scripture, and by sound reasoning from the ground off Scripture, and not by Lodgick and Natural Philosophy, showing things in nature to be true, which will not in Spirit be proved true: And thus do you deceive natural men, and yourself, as in this point in hand, because with your carnal eyes and ears you see and hear water, and washing, with such words to be used in the administration off the Lord's Baptism, therefore you according to your natural understanding judge these things to be the essential causes of spiritual Baptism, and teach simple souls that these things being once truly done they are not to be repeated or done again, when they are wholly natural actions, and profanely done, as you confess, and therefore can in no respect be said to be the Baptism off Christ, which is wholly a spiritual action, and ought holily to be performed and done. Thus do you make the ignorant believe that you can put the spirit off grace into natural actions formerly profanely done, and make the same actions Spiritual and acceptable to God.  
Thus do you make midwives baptism good, and the holy ordinance of God in the essential causes: so can you make all the profane prayers and sermons in plays, (which are usual) holy, and good actions, and the Ordinances of God. This then is your rule (deny it if you can) every washing with water into the name off the Father, etc. is the true Baptism and Ordinance of Christ, in the essential causes thereof, by whom soever administered, and upon what person, or thing, soever: This may be good in lodgick and Philosophy, but this is blasphemous cursed doctrine in divinity: and woe are we for you, that ever such abominations should be uttered by you: we are a shamed to follow you in the particular application of these things, which if they should be urged to the full, it would make every heart that had any grace, and knows you, tremble, and grieve for you, This hath your Lodgick and Philosophy brought you to, whereby you have confounded many a simple heart, and weak understanding, and whereby (you think) you have a Privilege to understand the meaning off God, in the Scriptures, before them that are ignorant of these Arts: But now hath the Lord confounded you in them, glory to be his Name, and the Lord give you a heart to acknowledge it, and to repent, and deny yourself and give glory to God. We will omit to speak off your unproper speech, saying, that Baptism must be clothed with a right person upon whom it must be administered: Thus to make your ma●ters to agree, you speak preposterous things, for the party must put on and be clothed with baptism, and not baptism be clothed with the party.  
The next thing, that (by the help of our God) we will endeavour to discover you to be a false Prophet, and a deceaver in, is in a strong ground you have, whereupon you much rely and often repeat it in your book, and that is this: You say: Baptism is the vessel off the Lord, & as when the house of the Lord was destroyed, & the vessels thereof, together with the people were carried into Babylon, they remained still the vessels off the Lord's house in nature, & right, though profaned by Belshazzar. and made quaffing bowls, & being brought again out of Babylon to the house of the lord were not to be new cast, but (being purified) might again be used to holy use: So this holy vessel Baptism though profaned in Babylon being brought again to the house of the Lord, remains still the holy vessel off the Lord. This is a strong doctrine from example both with you, and all the rest of the false Prophets off your profession, and no marvil though you deceive greatly hereby, because the doctrine and example is good, but most deceitfully misaplyed of you, for you pretend hereby as though your baptism were brought from the house of the Lord, as the holy vessels were: will you, iff there be any uprightness in you show how, and from what house of the Lord, your holy vessel of baptism was brought? you show us plainly from whence you have brought it again out of Babylon, that is England: But out of what house of God came it, before it came into Babylon (that is England) that is not showed: how deceitfully do you feign these things: These are the imaginations off your own vain hearts, far have any of you brought your Baptism from the house of the Lord into England? have you any other root or foundation for your baptism then England: do not all men know that your vessel off Baptism was composed, form, framed and made there? How shall any man be able to open his mouth to deny this? Why then your holy vessel (falflie so called) was made in Babylon: Thus are you found false dissemblers to say and feign that your baptism is a vessel brought out of the house of the Lord into Babylon: as the vessels of the Temple were, when it is most evident that it was moulded and made in the Church of England, which you confess is Babylon. Mr. Rob. had not you and all your Congregation the true matter (as you call it) and true form of your baptism in England? and was it not administered upon you all in the assemblies of England? then was your vessel off baptism made there: see your deceit herein, if there be any grace or understanding in you: How have you blinded the eyes of the simple herein, and how hath Satan seduced you, and your own heart deceived you? Now the Lord jesus give you a heart to repent, and in the name of the Lord, we beseech you repent, for you have been and are a malicious adversary of God's truth, and you lead many souls in the way to destruction. The lord for his Christ's sake deliver you out of these and all the snares ●f Satan, and the Lord deliver his people out of the net, wherein you have like a cunning fowler taken them and overthrown them. And we pray you that you will with patience suffer us to show you, how you are all deceived in this point, in saying, baptism is the vessel off the Lord's house, and brought from thence, and so apply it to your own baptism, which you may see, iff you do not both wink and cover your eyes never came out of the house of the Lord, except you will say: The Church of England is the house of the Lord, which we hope the Lords word hath convinced to all your consciences that it is not therefore your baptism; can not be the vessel of the Ls. house, but it is the true doctrine or Ordinance of baptism, that may be said or called by way of comparison the vessel of the Lords house: and this we and all must needs confess is the vessel of the Lords house whether soever it is carried, either to Rome, or England, and though it be polluted and profaned there, as both it, and many other doctrines and ordinances of the Lord are, yet being purged from those errors and abuses, wherewith both they and you have and do pollute them, they may, and aught to be brought into the house of the Lord again, and remain holy vessels unto the Lord for ever: but the corrupt pollutions and administrations in this holy vessel or ordinance of baptism, wherewith it hath been defiled and profaned, these may no more be brought into the house of God, than Belshazzars' quaffings, or any other profane administrations wherewith he did abuse and pollute those holy vessels, yea although he had used them to the same uses unto the which they had been used in the house of the Lord, as if he had set showbread upon the vessels, and had kindled and made the same lights for the candlesticks, all must be cast away as abominable, withal the uses that he had used them unto, and the vessels must be purified and brought again into the house of the Lord only as they were carried forth: therefore even so must this holy vessel the true doctrine or ordinance of baptism he brought again into the house of the Lord only as it was carried forth, and all the corrupt uses and abuses whereunto it hath been used, and all the profane administrations in this holy ordinance, must be cast away as being all abominable before the lord: and none off those uses and profane, and false administrations may be admitted into the house of the Lord. This now is the some of all that we have spoken of this ground: the vessels of the Lords house are carried into Babylon, and Belshazzar and his Princes, his wives and Concubines drink in them and profane them, the vessels off the Lord are brought again to the house of the lord, and are sanctified, but Belshazzars' drinckings in them, and profaning of them, is cast away as abominable  
So the like may be said, following your own example of comparison: The vessel of the Lords house the holy ordinance of baptism, is carried into Babylon, and the Babylonians they wash or baptise in this ordinance, and profane it: this vessel of the lord the holy ordinance of baptism is brought again to the house of the Lord, but the Babylonians washing, or baptizing, and profaning it must be cast away as abominable, and thus must your baptizing be cast away and may not be permitted in the house of the Lord, you confessing England to be Babylon where you received it, except you will also admit Belshazzars' drinckings and quaffings. Do not still deceive yourself and delude others, in saying baptism is the vessel off the lord, making a deceitful show, as though therefore your Baptism were the vessel of the Lord, and by an example of the vessels of the lord that were brought forth of the house of the lord, and carried into Babylon and polluted there in use only, and being sanctified from that polluted use, were brought again into the house of the Lord: by this example to bring in an imagination, as though your Baptism were brought out of the house off the Lord, when it is brought forth off the assemblies off England with whom you justify, God never made Covenant and that they never were his people, nor God their God. pag 338. You er not knowing the scriptures, or else will fully misaplie them for your purpose (which God forbidden) for it is the Ordinance of Baptism; that is the vessel of the Lords house which hath been, and is carried into Babylon, and hath been polluted in use in Baptizing of you and all of your profession, which vessel or Ordinance of the Lord, is to be brought again into the house of the Lord, and to be sanctified from that polluted use of your Baptizing, which it cannot be if it bring that polluted use which is your baptizing into the house of the Lord with it, no more than the vessels of the Lord could have been sanctified if Belshazzars' quaffings had been brought into the house of the Lord with them, and this is a due proportion according to your own example of comparison.  
We will pass by many things in your book wherein their is great falsehood and deceit, because it were an endless work to follow you, you are so intricate, tedious; and full of turnings, and windings, losing yourself and losing such simple Readers as we are, and that is one hope we have of your book, that the simple will not read it, because they are not capable of understanding you: and amongst them that are as full of art as yourself we think it will do small hurt. We cannot deny but there are many worthy truths in it, but mixed with so much falsehood, as the reader had need to be wise hearted, and in that you and all the false prophets of your profession do mix your falsehood with diverse truths, all God's people had need to beware of you, for that is but your sheeps clothing, by the fair show whereof you in snare, and work your lying wonders, as when you smite men's hearts to the ground with laying out the deformities off Babylon, and ca●●sir their affections with the descriptions of your Zion (falsely so called) declaring the beauty and supposed comely order thereof: and setting forth the communion of Saints, as with the tongue of an Angel of light. Thus do you deck your bed with ornaments, Carpets, and laces, & perfume it with myrrh, aloes, and Cinnamon, and so with your great craft cause men to yield, and with flattering lips you entice, many strait following you as an Ox that goeth to th● slaughter, & as a fool to the stocks for correction, and they are stricken thorough as a bird that hasteth to the snare, not knowing he is in danger, of such hath the wiseman by the wisdom of the spirit forewarned us. Prov, 7.  
We have endeavoured to show you your halting betwixt Babylon and Israel, we exhort you to tread strait steps before the Lord, and that men may see your paths to be right: show us the writing of your Genealogy, that we may see certain from whence you are come: if you be come from Israel, and be judah, than war not against England as against Babylonians, but remember they are the Ten Tribes your brethren, 1. King. 12. 24. Which Ten Tribes were no: false Isralites/ but the true seed of Abraham and so true Isralites, for the two Calves set up at Dan and Bethel, did no more make them false Israelites, than the Calf which they made in Horeb: and this wickedness of jeroboam did no more make Israel a false Church, the Solomon his wickedness made judah a false Church, when he followed Ashtaroth the God of the Zidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Amorites, and builded high places for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and to Molech the abomination of Ammon in the mountain over against jerusalem, And who knows not that reads the scriptures that judah abounded in abominations, in so much as the Lord by the Prophet Ezekiel 16. saith of judah, Samaria hath not committed half they sins, but thou hast exceeded them in all their abominations and vers. 35. The Lord by the Prophet called judah an Harlot, because of the greatness of her fornications: and yet all this made not judah a false Church. Iff therefore you hold or account England as Israel, then must you hold and account England a true Chur. for it is but your devisings to say Israel was a false Church: and though England be as Israel a true Chur. then are all your sins exceeding great, who have made such a separation as you have. And if you be come from Babylon, then look the whole book off God throughout, and you shall find that no Babylonian circumcision could be admitted into the house of the Lord. And let all behold in the book of the Revelation what the estate and condition off Babylon is, and of all them that are in her: and how the voice off the Lord is come out of her my people: and if any shall worship the Beast & his image, & receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, or receiveth the print of his name, he shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. Therefore there may nothing be retained that is brought from Babylon, no mark, nor print off name: And will you bring the Print, seal, and name of your Christianity from thence? what vail of darkness overspreads your hearts herein? you are deceived through the vain imaginations of your own hearts supposing that although you come out of Babylon, yet you were not Babylonians, but if you hold the assemblies of England Babylon, (as you declare you do) then, except you can show your genealogy, that you, with your vessel of baptism (which is your baptizing) were brought from jerusalem, and out of the house of the Lord, iff you cannot prove this, (which were double folly to go about) ●hen must you be con●ent to know yourselves that you were Babylonians, and yet are, in that your seal of Christianity is the seal of Babylon, and so are you but Babylonian Christians, and servants of the Beast bearing the beasts mark, title, and name in your foreheads. And whereas you and all the rest of the false Prophets of your profession do in flattery and dissimulation, not knowing the mystery of Godliness, affirm and acknowledge of the assemblies in England, that there are thousands among them that truly fear God, alluding to the seven thousand in Israel, you make them believe thereby, that they stand in the estate of grace and salvation, so do you prophesy peace and salvation, where the lord prophesieth destruction: for the Lord prophesieth that all that come not forth of Babylon, shallbe partakers of her plagues: and that whosoever yields any obedience or braces any mark of the Beast, shallbe tormented with fire & brimstone. Reve. 14. but you prophesy that there are thousands in England (which you acknowledge to be Babylon) who receives not the beasts mark and that are careful to keep the commandments off God, and faith of jesus: and that truly fear God, if such be not in the estate of salvation than no flesh is, or can be, but this cannot be the estate of any one in Babylon, which (if you understood the mystery off Godliness) you might easily see, for the bondage of Babylon is spiritual bondage, and all that are in Babylon, are in spiritual bondage, and none that are in spiritual bondage can be in the estate of grace and salvation: For all that are in the estate of grace and salvation must stand fa● in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free, and may not be entangled with the yoke of bondage. Gal. 5.1. And where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. 2. Cor. 3.17. Add unto this that which is formerly showed, that all that come not forth of Babylon, must perish with Babylon. Deceive not yourselves therefore, and flatter not them off England, for there is no one person either of them or you (we speak off persons of understanding) that are in the estate of grace or salvation, or shall ever be saved, if you come not forth of Babylon, and cast away the mark of the Beast, wherewith you are all marked. Revel 19.20.21. We exhort you all therefore that by grace in Christ you work out your salvations with fear and trembling: or else you perish from the highest to the lowest. The King off Kings, the Lord of Lords, hath said it, that Babylon shallbe destroyed, withal that are found in her. jer. 51.6 Revel. 18.4.  
We will now conclude with you, putting you in remembrance, that seeing no distinction, nor difference can be made betwixt a false Church and no Church, but they are both one: For a false Church are they that say and make show, they are a true Church but are not: as false Apostles are they that say and make show they are Apostles, and are not. 2. Cor. 11.13. and false jews are they that say and make show they are jews, and are not. Re. 2 This your distinction being utterly overthrown, so as you shall never be able to open your your mouths to maintain it: But the simplest soul amongst you shallbe able to discover your deceit: Your whole false building is at once fallen to the ground, for a false Church being no Church, than England being by you all adjudged to be a false Church, is no Church: so is your baptism brought out of no Church: and your false Baptism is no Baptism: and thus shall the simplest amongst you be able to say to you, is our baptipsme that we had in England a false baptism? then is it no baptism, then are we not baptized, and to this you shall never be able to answer them, although you should set yourselves to vercaie God's truth, and their souls: so likewise if you tell them that England is a false Church, they shall say unto you then is it no Church: and you shall not know which way to contradict them in that the scriptures do teach that a false Church is no Church, as a false God is no God, a false Christ no Christ, a false Apostle no Apostle, so is a false Ordinance no Ordinance off Christ, a false Baptism no Baptism off Christ. Thus we doubt not but (through the grace of God) we shall see by the brightness of Christ's coming, that your dark deceitful ways willbe discovered to the simplest, and you shallbe ashamed to speak of a false baptism, and to say, it is partly the true baptism of Christ, and partly the baptism of the Devil, and so join Christ and Beelzebub together, and make them partners in one baptism. We hope the fear off God will teach you better wisdom ●hen thus still to blaspheme, for the supporting of your kingdom off darkness. And if you were not a stiff-necked people, and of uncircumcised hearts and races, you would not thus long with contempt and violence have resisted the truth of God, as you have done and do, persecuting it with bitter envyings and railings, for the which the Lord may justly give you up to hardness of heart: but the Lord in great mercy, show mercy upon you all, that do it ignoratlie: we having from the word of the Lord showed you with all the evidence of truth that we are for the present able to do, that your distinction betwixt a false Church and no Church, is vain and feigned, and that the word of God admits of no such distinction in the Lords Ordinances, but that which is a false Ordinance, is no Ordinance off God, for God hath no false Ordinances: You must therefore now be forced to hold and say off the assemblies off England, that they are either true Churches of Christ, or no Churches of Christ: and if you hold them no Churches of Christ, then can you not with any manner of show, of truth say, that you may retain your baptism which you have received in no church of Christ, but in a church or congregation of infidels and unbelievers, which you must needs account them, if they be no Church of Christ: for now all people in the world, are either of the world or chosen out of the world, and those are Christ's disciples joh. 15.19. And all people are either with Christ, or against Christ. He that is not with me, is against me, saith Chr. Mat. 12-30. It is now high time to leave of halting between opinions and ●a●●ering one another in our sins: It is time now to leave of talking of Separation, and to separate indeed, and to tell the people of God their sins, and show them their transgressions: and not to account them Christians that by the hearing of the word do become almost Christians as King Agrippa did, but to show them that if they do not become altogether Christians they must be content to be accounted infidels as Agrippa was, for all the world are either believers or infidels. If there be any knowledge of God in men, they will grant thus: and who will not grant that all that believe in Christ jesus, are holy and Elect, and shallbe saved, if they continue to the end. Concerning England therefore, you must either make the tree good, and the fruit good, or the tree evil, and the fruit evil. If the faith off the Church of England be a true faith, then is the Church of England a true Church: and if the faith be a false faith, than it is a false Church, that is, no faith of Christ, and no Church of Christ: and if their faith be no faith of Christ, them are they all infidels and unbelievers, of whom, although you have so accounted by your walking towards them, yet by your words you declare them to be otherwise, when you are urged to speak plainly, though in your writings you show them to be infidels, when you affirm that God never made Covenant with them: But you have too long walked deceitfully in this point, therefore we press you to it, if you profess uprightness either to God or men, to manifest in all plainness, whether you hold the assemblies off England, believers in Christ? Let us have no respects, no double respects, nor no putting off difference off persons: for all the Church off England are one body, seeing they all drink of one Cup, 1. Cor. 12 And if you hold them believers in Christ, and truly baptised into his name, then are they your brethren, and you may not account them as enemies, but admonish them as brethren. 2. Thess. 3.14.15. Then is your separation most wicked, and your building of new Churches contrary to all rule of Scripture, and you have falsely appi●ed the voice of the Angel. Crying against England, Babylon is fallen, she is fallen. Come out of her. If they be believers in Christ jesus, the voice of this Angel can not be applied unto them, you must walk towards them by an other rule, even by that rule which Christ hath appointed, that all should walk by towards their brethren, iff they sin Mat. 18. and not separate from them and build Churches upon new foundations. If in this our writing concerning you called Brownists we be judged to convince sharply, we hold it lawfully done, because you are a froward generation, and great deceivers of minds: making a glorious vain shaw to come out of Babylon: but do not: and notwithstanding that we have written in some things sharply, we could desire to be fe●ed from froward suspects, which you might free us from, the rather because there are diverse off you both near and dear unto us, whom we require in love (as we do all) to apply the sharpest reproofs to themselves, for they had need. And touching you Mr. Ro. remember that you have a letter of most loving respect in your hands concerning these things, to which you have not made answer, whereby to prevent the publishing of this that especially concern you.  
Now as we have said unto you called Brownists in this point, so say we to England, and to the Presbitary. If the Pope and they off that profession be believers in Christ jesus, and be truly baptised into his name, then have you of England and all the Nations off the Earth sinned greatly to separate from Rome in that you were all off one body, and members one of another, and being believers in Christ jesus, they are your brethren, and you ought to walk towards them as brethren, and ought not to separate from Rome as you have done, and do, and build new Churches every one upon several foundations. if you of England, and the Presbitary, and you called Brownists did make any conscience to walk by the rules of Christ herein, you would not walk towards Rome as you do, Iff you hold them believers in Christ jesus, and truly baptised into his name, which if they be, then are all the scriptures that are applied against Rome to prove her Babylon, and that Great whore that sits upon many waters, and upon the scarlet cullored Beast, and Antichrist, all these scriptures are misapplied to Rome, these cannot be applied to, any Persons or People that are believers in Christ jesus, and have put on Christ by baptism. And there is no voice of the Lord that calls to come out from believers in Christ jesus, the scriptures teach no such thing: Therefore Brownists must return to the Church of England, and the Church of England and the Presbitary must return to Rome, and be all Sheep of one sheepfold, and repent of your unjust separation from the body whereof you were, and are all members, we say, are all members because by one spirit you are all baptized into one body, and though you say you are not off the body with the Church of Rome, are you therefore not of the body? 1. Cor. 12.13.15. You have and do all by one baptism put on Christ, and you all have brought that your baptism from Rome, and so are you all Christians and believers by succession from Rome, and you all account Rome believers in Christ: Therefore though you say you are not off one body with Rome, yet you are all members of one body with Rome.  
Furthermore if Rome be believers in Christ jesus then are these Prophecies of scripture no where to be found fulfilled upon the whole earth: First the prophesy off Christ. Mat 24. Off the Abomination of desolation set in the holy place, is not to be seen: the days of such great tribulation, as was not from the beginning of the world, in which days no flesh shallbe saved, & except they should be shortened, all flesh should be condemned, these days are not yet heard of: And the prophesy off Daniel the Prophet 9.27. and 12.11 Who prophesied, that the Sacrifices and the oblations shall cease, and the daily sacrifices shallbe taken away: this Prophesy cannot yet be come to pass, if Rome be believers in Christ, and that their sacrifices and oblations be the true sacrifices and oblations, for Rome's sacrifices and oblations have never ceased: and the Prophesy of th'apostle 2. Thes. 2. Who Prophesieth that there shall come a departing, this prophecy is in no part fulfilled, if Rome be believers, except it be fulfiled in them that have departed from Rome, and then the Church off England, and all the presbytery had need to look to it who first departed: But iff Rome and England and the presbytery, and the Brownists be all believers, and of the faith of jesus, then hath there been yet no departing from the faith, but a great increasing far beyond the primitive times in that the scriptures no where show, of whole Nations, Kingdoms, and Countries, to be of the faith off jesus as now there is, yea a great whole part of the world, the like was never heard off, nor Prophesied of though all you be believers as you either are all believers or all infidels, for you are all of one faith and baptism: But iff you be believers, there is no departing yet heard off, neither is the man off sin yet disclosed or revealed, nor exalted, nor sits or hath sitten as God in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God: there is no such prophesy yet come to pass. And though Rome be all believers in Christ, that prophesy Revel. 11. Where it is prophesied that the people and kindreds, and tongues, and Gentiles shall see the Corpses of the two witnesses of the Lord, killed and lie in the streets of the great City which spiritually is called Sodom, & Egypt, and that the inhabitants of the earth shall rejoice over them: this prophesy cannot yet be accomplished nor begun. And if Rome be believers, than that prophesy of the first beast to whom is given a mouth to speak great things and blasphemies, and to make war with the Saints, and to overcome them: and to whom power is given over every kindred and tongue and Nation, so that all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him. And that Prophesy of the where that sits upon many waters, with whom have committed fornication the Kings of the earth, & all the inhabitants of the earth are made drunk with the wine of her fornication. All these prophecies and many more cannot in any measure be fulfilled, or begun, if the Church of Rome be believers and of the faith off jesus.  
And if these prophecies be not fulfilled nor begun, then hath the mystery of iniquity that began to work in Thapostles days, to the exaltation of the man off sin, given ever working, which were contrary to the prophesy of Scripture, and that may not be. Let Rome therefore and all that profession see and consider that all these prophecies of exaltations are fulfilled in that profession, and thus is their glory their shame: for they glory in nothing more than in their exaltation, and great power, authority and magnificency of their Church, and all that is true, and thereby is this also true, that all these prophecies are fulfilled in that their exaltation: the which you of the Church of England, and the whole presbytery confessing, and protesting against them for the same, you must needs hold them all infidels and unbelievers, except you will fall into great blasphemy and say, that they are believers who execute the power of the man of sin, and cause the sacrifices and oblations to cease, and to be taken away from the altar of the Lord, so as there are no sacrifices offered unto him. Will any say that these are believers that take from the Lords alter his daily sacrifices? causing that none shallbe offered unto him, if these be believers that utterly overthrow the worship of the lord, then can there be no infidels.  
Further, you cannot say the church of Rome are believers except you will say they are believers that depart away from the faith, and are the ministers of the man sin exalting a power, above the power of God, and setting up this power (the ministers whereof they are) to sit as God in the Temple of God, making show of that power that it is the power of God, when it is the effectual working of Satan with all his power and signs and lying wonders, and they that are subject in this power are such, as the holy ghost testifieth, receive not the love of the truth, & which believe not the truth. Can you of the church of England: and you of the presbytery: and you that are called Brownists that hold this prophesy is fulfilled in that exaltation of the Romish profession, can you hold these to be believers in Christ? of whom the Lord saith they receive not the truth, nor believe nor the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness, and exalted a power against God, to be worshipped as God, wha● wickedness and blasphemy is this to say, these are Christians and believers in Christ.  
Moreover you cannot say that the Romish Professors are believers, except you will say they are believers that set up the first Beast, and are the ministers off that power or Beast, which Beast or Power, hath 7. heads and 10. horns, and upon his horns 10. crowns and he is like a Leopard, and his feet like a Bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion, to whom the dragon gives his power, throne & authority, all this do they of that profession, and not this only, but they also worship the dragon which giveth power to the Beast, & they worship the Beast, saying who is like the Beast, who is able to fight with him: and they being the ministers off this Beast or Power do in their ministration, open their mouths to blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwell therein: and by this Power, they have made war with the Saints and overcome them. Can you without great blasphemy against the holy one off Israel, the most high God, say, that these are believers in Christ jesus, and Christians? That do these fearful things, seeking to destroy God, and the faith of jesus, and all his Saints that hold the faith of jesus, if you cannot say, that they which do such things are believers and Christians, then cannot you say, that they of the Romish profession are believers or Christians, but that they are infidels and unbelevers seeing you confess this prophesy is fulfilled in the Romish profession, so are all these things done by them. And moreover to these the prophesy. Revel. 17. of the woman, and the Beast, and the Ten Kings, that give their power and authority to the Beast, these fight with the Lamb: Can you say that any of the●e are believers and Christians? that fight against the lamb: No, the Spirit off God testifieth in this place, that they which are called, and chosen, & faithful are on the lambs side, They than that fight against the lamb are those that are not called, nor chosen, nor faithful: therefore must they needs be infidels and unbelevers. All these prophecies being confessed of you to be already accomplish by, and under that Romish profession, how shall you of the church of England and the presbytery be able to say that they of the church of Rome are believers and Christians: and if they be not believers and Christians, then are they infidels and unbelievers, and so is your baptism and ministry off England, and the Baptism off the presbytery, and all the ordinances that you have received from Rome to be cast away, as the marks of the Beast, and most abominable to the Lord.  
But it shall not be a miss seeing there ariseth so just an occasion to show, (the Lord directing us) the ground and root of all this evil and sin, against the majesty and holiness of God, against all which you off England, and the presbytery, sin, in accounting Rome and all them of that profession Christians, although all these abominations which we have showed in all these prophecies, (and might be showed in many more) be committed, and to this day maintained by them, to the highest dishonour of God, in exalting the man of sin to sit as God in the Temple of God, and to the utter polluting of all the holy ordinances of God, in abolishing the witness of the Lord his word and Spirit, and killing the Saints, fighting against the Lamb, making all the Nations of the earth to worship the Beast, and to drink of the wine of her fornications that sits upon many waters, notwithstanding all this, these you account Christians, upon this ground and from this root because when they are infants, they are washed with water in the name off the Father, ere, and you approve that they are baptized when they are infants because they are the seed of Christians and of the faithful.  
What words might we take to ourselves to make your madness, and the madness of all the world, herein to appear, who pretend that all the seed of Christians and of the faithful are to be baptized only, and under this pretence baptise, and approve of the baptizing of the seed of all the wicked and ungodly in these parts of the World, yea those that have been wicked to the third and fourth generation, and to the tenth generation enemies of God, and bloody persecutors of his truth, destroying the faith of jesus, and advancing the man of sin: The seed of all these are baptised, and by reason of this Baptism they are all held and accounted Christians by you, although they walk in the steps off their forefathers. Is there any knowledge of God in these things? Or do men think that now under the Gospel they may do and approve off what they will? will men neither walk by the Law of God, nor by the law they propound unto themselves? Do you set down a Law to yourselves that the infants off the faithful are to be baptized, and do you approve off the Baptizing of the infants of the enemies of God, that fight against the lamb and the infants of some also, that have not so much faith as the Devils, who believe and tremble: In the word of unspeakable wisdom hath the holy Ghost said that the Nations shallbe drunk with the Wine of her Fornications: Who may not see this prophesy fulfiled▪ For if men were not drunk so as they can neither see their way, nor tell what they say, they would not walk thus, and speak thus, like drunken men.  
The Church of England and the presbytery do allow of the Baptizing of all the Infants of Rome, whose Pope and Cardinals and all their whole ministry that administer the baptism, and the parents of the infants that are baptised, and those infants being already come to be men of years, would destroy their Kings, and Princes, and Countries, and all them, for professing Christ as they do: are these the seed of the faithful? and is this to baptise and allow of the baptism of the seed of the faithful? Wey wi●h yourselves what truth their is in this? And the Brownists they approve of the baptism and baptizing of them, whose parents persecute their own children for walking in their way: are these the seed of the faithful? What blindness and inuprightnes is this, to profess a ground, and walk by no ground. You must agree (iff you can) among yourselves, and make a new law, this (you see) will not serve your turn, for if you allow none to be baptised but the seed of the faithful, you will not have whole Countries and Nations all Christians, as you have: It is apparent therefore whatsoever you say, that you hold that all infants whether their parents be faithful or unbelievers shallbe baptised: your rule then is, that both the seed of the faithful and unfaithful shallbe baptized, and that is your practice: what warrant can be found for this? or it is no matter whether there be warrant or no? You allege circumcision for your ground, that because infants were circumcised, therefore infants must be baptized, but yet you cannot find that the infants off any people were to be circumcised, and if any were circumcised but those that God commanded, he Lord, nor his faithful servants never approved off it: And will you now, approve of any Baptism, and make it good? and yet make circumcision your example? The Lord persuade your hearts and the hearts of all men to begin while it is day, to examine the ground of your practise herein, that you may stand before the Lord in the last day, and through Christ be able to approve that you have walked by the strict rule off God's word, and not by the vain inventions of men which God hates, and let all God's people hate, but his law let them love, which is a perfect Law, and converteth the soul, and it is pure and giveth light to the eyes. Psal. 19 But by this your practice, it is made a most inperfect law when you say, that the infants of the faithful are to be baptized only, and when you have laid that down for your law, you both Baptize, and approve for good the Baptism off the infants of he unfaithful and unbelievers, and enemies off God, and his truth: this is neither perfect nor pure law, therefore it is not the law of God. You there that wait for salvation by Christ jesus may not walk by that imperfect and impure law, but must seek diligently with your whole hearts, the law and statutes off the Lord, that you may keep them: which lov● when you shall diligently and faithfully search into through out, you shall no where find it once mentioned that any infants are to be baptized, and therefore it is but the mere vain invention and tradition of men, which who so followeth can never have favour nor acceptance with God, because they make the Law off God, of no authority. Mark. 7.13. In this great and weighty cause, we will not (through the grace of God burden you with many grounds, or arguments, but lay down before you some few things withal the plainness and evidence of truth wherewith God shall make us able.  
And first, we pray all those whose hearts God hath inclined to seek his truth, and who desire in uprightness to walk in the light, that they will duly consider what the Covenant of the Gospel is, and with whom it is made: and thus hath the Lord set it down. This is the Covenant saith the Lord, that I will make with the house of Israel, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their ●a●ts and I willbe their God, and they shallbe my people. jere. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. And our Saviour Christ declares this more fully. Mark. 16.16. Where he saith. Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature, he that shall believe and be baptised shallbe saved. Thus doth the Lord by his spirit, in the preaching of the Gospel, put and write his law in the hearts of men, according to the Parrable of the sour. Mat 13.23. And they shall believe in him and be baptized: Thus they shall be his people: and he will save them, and so is he their God. Here is the new Covenant set down by the Holy ghost, both on God's behalf, and on their behalf with whom it is made, and here is it plainly declared and expounded by Christ himself. The Lord on his behalf doth Covenant that he will put and write his law in men's h●res, by the power of his spirit in the preaching of the Gospel, and he willbe their God and save them: and the Covenant on his people's behalf which they are to keep and perform is, to believe the Gospel and be baptized. Let all men now that have any willingness of heart to be informed by the word of God, and whose hearts are not wilfully set, to go on in their igno● 〈◊〉 ●old ways, without trying their ways whether they be of God or no: let them we say search, examine, and try by what show of truth, it can possibly be conceived, that under, or by this Covenant of the new Testament, infants should be baptised where the Lord requires no such thing in this Covenant of men to baptise their infants: and if you will but see and consider with wise and gracious hearts, how the Lord doth set down the Covenant which he made with Abraham. Gen. 17. You shall see with what evidence the Lord in mercy doth set it down. Thus saith the Lord to Abraham I will establish my Covenant between thee and me, & thy seed after thee in their generation for an everlasting Covenant to be God unto thee and thy seed after the, and I will give to thee and to thy seed after thee, all the Land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and I willbe their God: this is on the Lord's behalf: and saith the Lord, This is the Covenant that thou and thy seed after thee shall keep. Let every man-child among you be circumcised, ye shall circumcise the foreskin of your Flesh, and every man-Child at eight days old, aswell he that is borne in the house as he that is bought with money. this is the Covenant on Abraham's behalf▪ and his seed. Thus doth the lord declare in every particular, his Covenant with his people, aswell what he will do for them, as also what he requireth them to do in obedience to him: and here we see God hath commanded Abra, and his seed to circumcise all the males in their house. And now this Covenant is disannulled, and all the Ordinances thereof, as is showed. Heb. 7.18. And the Lord saith he will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel, not like the old, teaching us that we should not form and frame it according to the old, but that we should receive it, according to the new form and frame wherein he delivers it: under which Covenant the Lord doth not command or require of his people that they should Baptize all their household, and infants, both borne in their house and bought with money, according as under the old Covenant, he commanded that they should circumcise them. How dare you then thus contend against the Lord: and whereas he saith he will make a new Covenant not according to the old, you will say, and have it according to the old, for you will have it that according as infants were circumcised under the old Covenant, so you will have infants baptized under the new, is not this to set yourselves against the lord and to change his Covenant: which he hath sealed with his blood, and after your own wills in what you think good, to make it according to the old Covenant, directly contrary to the Lords own word and saying, and you have no way to maintain the baptizing of infants, but by saying the new Covenant is according to the old, and this is to say directly contrary to the saying of the Lord, who is the Covenant maker, and who saith, in plain words, the new Covenant which I will make with Israel shall not be according to the old. Here it is made evident to all that will not resist the truth, that your baptizing of infants is contrary to the new Covenant of the Lord. Thus do you to make your own tradition good, make the new Covenant like the old, which the Lord saith is not like the old: how can you possibly oppose the word of the lord more directly? Furthermore the holy ghost by the Author unto the Heb. Chap. 9 endeavouring by all evidence to prove that the new Covenant is not like the old showeth that the old Testament or Covenant had a worldly Sanctuary, and that the service of that Tabernacle only stood in meats and drink and diverse washings, and Carnal rites, which purified the Flesh, but purged not the Conscience: and the holy Ghost showeth there, that the new Testament or Covenant hath not a worldly Sanctuary, and that the service of that Tabernacle stands not in carnal rites, which purge not the conscience, but 〈◊〉 is a perfect Tabernacle, the sacrifice where of doth purge the conscience from dead works to serve the ljveing God. Thus doth the scripture show that the ordinances of the new, are not according to the ordinances of the old, and for this cause saith the holy ghost, Christ is the Mediator of the new Testament, that is: because the new Testament or Covenant and Tabernacle, and ordinances are not carnal but spiritual: But if you will have infants baptized, that is washed with water, and certain words, than you bring in a carnal rite, which purgeth not the conscience, (for you do not hold that the Infant's consciences are purged thereby) and so do you make the new Covenant, and ordinances, carnal, like unto the old, which may not be, except you will directly oppose the evident word of the Lord, as you have long herein done, to your utter destruction except you repent. We desire moreover the people off God whose hearts are sect to seek his face that they will search the Scriptures to see what the baptism of the new Testament is declared to be, which being faithfully searched into shall convince unto all the Earth, that it cannot appertain unto infants.  
And first in the gospel according to Mark. 1.4. It is preached by john to be Baptism of amendment of life, for the remission of sins: And Thapostle Rom. 6.4. saith. Baptism is a burieing into the death of Christ, that we should walk in newness of life: and Gal. 3.26, 27. Thapostle saith: Baptism is the putting on of Christ by faith. How should this Baptism belong unto infants: can there be amendment off life, for the remission of sins in Infants? and can Infants be buried into the death of Christ to walk in newness of life? and can infants put on Christ by faith? if they can do none of all these things, which is most plain they cannot, then may they not be baptized. What were sufficient to give satisfaction in this long conceived error of baptizing infants You may see, by the ordinance itself they are not capable of it: and you may see that the lord by the covenant doth not command nor require any such thing at the hands of parents to Baptize their Infants and all their household. The Covenant is that men should believe and be baptized, but their is no one word to command them to baptize their infants, and all their house hold. Oh that you would be weary of this your great ignorance, to say that baptism is the seal of the Covenant, and yet you will seal them, that cannot receive the seal, and them that are not once mentioned in the Covenant, bringing in under the Covenant whom you will, without the will and mind of the Lord: and although the Covenant shall still overthrow you, that there can none be under the Covenant, but they which believe and are baptized, for the Lord will admit of no other than he hath mentioned in his Covenant, though you seal never so many with water and words: although this might suffice yet we will endeavour by the Lord's assistance to convince you by your own ground.  
You cannot deny, but that there is neither rule nor example in all the new Testament for the Baptizing off infants, whereby you confess that the Mediator off the new Testament hath not appointed it, therefore you are driven to prove it by consequence making yourselves and the simple believe, that it must needs follow by a necessary consequence: that as infants were circumcised, so must they be baptised. if you will have a necessary consequence of this, then must you make it off the whole matter and not of part, as you think good, as thus: He that will be a Proselyte must be circumcised, and all the males in his household: so than if your consequence from this ground be necessary, he that willbe a Disciple of Christ must be baptised and all his household, it followeth▪ he upon your consequence that no man can be admitted a Disciple except all his household willbe baptised: for no man could be admitted a Proselyte except all his males were circumcised. If then a jew that hath a wife and diverse Children and bondmen (as they have) come to the faith of jesus, iff his Wife or any of his Children or bondmen will not be baptized, then cannot he be admitted to be a disciple of Christ, except you will allow him by his authority to cause them to be baptized whether they believe or no, as they did by their authority circumcise their house hold. Thus must your consequence stand if you will not be willing to deceive yourselves in the means off your salvation. Deal Faithfully therefore with God and his truth, and his people, you that take upon you to be guides, and lead not God's people to destruction by such deceits as this, that when you have neither rule, nor example, to prove that infants must be baptised, yea and when the Covenant of the Lord doth evidently debar them: and the Ordinance off Baptism considered in itself also, yet you will to bring in and maintain, he tradition off your Elders prove it by a consequence from the Covenant of the old Testament, and make the new, like the old: When the Lord saith it is not like, nor shallbe according to the old. And if the people off God would but with upright hearts read diligently, the whole Epistle to the Hebrews, they should (through the grace off God) find to their full satisfaction the difference betwixt the old Covenant and the new: and the priesthood, and the Tabernacle, and the Ordinances, Services, and Sacrifices set down so plainly as it would make an end of this controversy, and many more, to the advancement of God's truth, and the salvation of the souls of his people, that shall follow him in the regeneration or new birth, which is to be borne again of water and of the spirit: In which regeneration or new birth who so followeth him not, cannot enter into the kingdom off Heaven. In that Epistle to the Heb. they that read shall find (as we have formerly showed) that the old Covenant was a carnal Covenant and commandment. Heb. 7.16. and as the Lord speaketh to Abraham. Gen. 17.13. speakeing of the Covenant off circumcision, saith: my Covenant shallbe in your flesh for an everlasting Covenant, and as the Covenant was, so was the priesthood, and the Tabernacle, and the sacrifices/ and service, all carnal and worldly, 〈◊〉 is withal evidence and plains in that Epistle set down: but the new Coven. is not a Cove. in the flesh, but is a Coveme. in the spirit, a spiritual Coven. written in the hearts & minds of God's people, established upon better promises than the first Covenant, and all this is evident by the words off the Covenant, which are: They that believe and are baptized shallbe saved: And as this Covenant is spiritual, so is the priesthood, so is the Tabernacle, and all the Ordinances, Sacrifices and services there off, and all this is most plainly set down in that Epistle to the Hebrews, Which difference betwixt the old and the new Covenant if it were carefully searched unto, and found out, it would overthrow your deceitful consequence which ●yo● draw from Covenants that are dislike, or not a like in substance, contrary to all understanding: and it would make you cast away your carnal baptizing of infants and to Baptize no infants, but such infants as were Babes in Christ, such as are begotten by the immortal seed of the word: and it would discover unto you your carnal ignorance and blindness in holding that Isralites beget Isralit snow, as under the law, or that Christians beget Christians by generation, which hath brought in such madness amongst men, as the Brownists hold and profess, ●hat no infants that die are under the Covenant of grace and salvation, but such as they beget. Thus do they only beget infants that are heirs off salvation, and all this, and much more evil comes upon making the new Covenant like the old, and so make them both carnal, which you do herein, in holding that parents beget Children to be under the Spiritual Covenant by carnal generation.  
But because some through the great weakness off their judgement and understanding cannot see the old Covenant to be a carnal Covenant, we will in short yet further endeavour to show how it is a carnal or worldly Covenant. First it was a carnal Covenant in that all the promises that God made to Abraham in that Covenant of Circumcision were of worldly things, as we may see Gen. 17.5.6.7. where the Lord saith, I will make thee exceeding fruitful, I will make Nations of thee, yea Kings, shall proceed off the●e: and I will give thee and thy seed after the all the Land off Canaan for an everlasting possession. Here is this wh●le Covenant of circumcision which God makes, wherein there is no promiss but of worldly things. secondly in this Covenant of circumcision the lord requires, a carnal obedience, that is: Let every man Child be circumcised in the foreskin of the Flesh. thirdly the judgement for the breach of this Covenant is a worldly judgement vers. 14. The uncircumcised man-child in whose Flesh the foreskin is not circumcised that person shallbe cut of from his People, because he hath broken my Covenant. Add moreover vers. 13. Where the Lord saith: This is my Covenant in your Flesh. Who willbe so blind as not to see, that this is a carnal Covenant: Wi● men be so void off all understanding, as to say that God makes a Spiritual Covenant with a people in their Flesh? though men have been so ignorant, let them not be so ignorant still.  
After the like manner as hath been spoken off the Covenant, may be spoken of the Tabernacle, priesthood, and all those services and carnal rites, in all which Covenant and worldly ordinances, their is no promiss of salvation for the keeping of them, nor cannot be, because they make not holy concerning the conscience. Heb. 9.9. Neither sanctify they the comers thereunto. Chap. 10.1. Nor there is no judgement of condemnation pronounced against any, although they should presumptuously break thine, but bodily death Num. 15.30. Heb. 13.28. etc. yet through repentance such might be saved: But now under the new Covenant, which is spiritual, there is promiss of salvation to them that keep it: For he that believes and is baptized shallbe saved. And there is condemnation pronounced against them that keep it not: he that will not believe shallbe damned: and he tha● sinneth presumptuously or willingly of knowledge against this Covenant, or any of the ordinances thereof shall never be forgiven. Heb. 20.19. Thus may all see that will not wink with their eyes, that the new Covenant is not liked the old: But is a Covenant established upon better promises, and that the first Covenant is established upon Worldly or Earthly promises: But the new Covenant is established upon spiritual or heavenly promises even of life and salsalvation. The difference of these two Covenants being with a spiritual eye discerned, it will easily overthrow that most false and unproper consequence which is drawn from the old Covenant to the new, for the Baptizing of infants, which consequence though it were rightly laid down, the darkness of it would easily appear as thus: Under the old Covenant infants were circumcised in the flesh: so under the new Covenant, infants must be baptized in the flesh: what ignorance is this? What wine of Fornication? That hath made drunk all Nations: there is no such Baptism in the new Testament, as Baptism in the Flesh. God forbidden that men should remain still so ignorant as to think that Christ jesus in his heavenly Kingdom and new Covenant hath established any carnal rite, or Ceremonial Ordinance the handwriting whereof he hath put out and abolished, Col. 2.14. And therefore the Baptism of the new Testament must needs be a spiritual baptism of water & the spirit, joh. 3.5. with which baptism infants cannot be baptized: so is it great wickedness and a profanation of the holy and divine ordinance off God to use such administration upon infants, making hereby the ordinance of God of no effect, there being no benefit or advantage, end, or use of it, for you will all confess that all infants must be regenerate and borne again, or else they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: and our Saviour Christ the Saviour of us all saith, that they that are borne again must be borne of water and the Spirit. To what end then is the Baptizing of infants? they not being regenerate thereby.  
Furthermore you frame your consequence with these words, as infants were sealed with the seal of the Covenant under the law, so they must be sealed with the seal of the Covenant under the Gospel: We demand of you, is washing with water a seal? If it be a seal, it is a seal in the Flesh, where then is the print, or impression thereof? It hath none, therefore it can be no seal: Oh how blindly are the wisemen of the world carried away in these things, contrary to all understanding, to be brought to imagine that washing an infant with water is a seal: are not these vain inventions? without ground of Scripture, reason, or common sense? Can you walk thus and think to please God? Will God be pleased with you when you walk in those ways that best please your own minds? Be not deceived, God will not hold you guiltless for thus using his name and Ordinance in vain. If you will examine the new Testament throughout, you shall find no seal, nor none sealed, but they that believe, who are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promiss. Ephes. 1.13. By which Holy Spirit we are all baptized into one body. 1. Cor. 12.13. And there is but one Spirit, one Baptism, and one body. Ephes. 4.4.5. Which holy seal of the Spirit seeing infants cannot have, they cannot be baptized with that one Baptism, into that one body: so is your consequence for the baptizing of infants directly contrary to the Covenant and ordinance of God: the Covenant of the lord being that they which believe & are baptised shallbe saved, and the ordinance being the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  
To conclude this point with a ground that all who have any knowledge of the word of God will confess which is this: the Covenant of the new Testament is a Covenant of life and salvation only to all that believe and are baptised. Mark. 16.16. The seal off the Covenant must needs be answerable to that holy Covenant: a seal of life and salvation only to them that believe and are baptized Ephes. 1.13.14. Revel. 2.17. and 28. Thappostle here to the Ephes. doth show that after they believed they were sealed with the holy Spirit of promiss. Let all then confess with whom there is any uprightness that infants who cannot believe, (for Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. 10.17.) cannot be sealed with the seal of this Covenant: it is not in the power of parents to set this seal upon their infants, as it was in their power to set the sign of Circumcision upon their Flesh: Therefore is it not required of them by the Lord: and it is altogether impiety and wickedness, and a profaning of the holy ordinance of God to take in hand to administer it upon infants and the Lord will revenge himself for such wickedness if it be not repent of. But against this ground of truth that the Covenant of life and salvation is made only with them that believe and are baptized, it is objected, that the Covenant is made with them and their seed, and though many writers writ thus, and most men affirm it, yet Mr. Robinson, being next hand, we will produce his warrant for this ground being as good as any others, and he as unadvisedly overseen in the setting it down: Thus speaks he in his Book Pag. 282. The Scriptures every where teach that parents by their faith bring their Children into the Covenant off the Church, & entitle them to the promises, little doth Mr. Rob think how suddenly in his accustomed haste he hath brought in a meritorious faith, it were to b● wished, that he and all men did see, and feel that their faith is little enough to bring themselves under the Covenant of God, if it were not for the gracious and most merciful acceptance off God in Christ: But God hath not promised any where, to accept to salvation, of the parents faith, for their Children, nor to condemn them for their parent's infidelity, this is but one among many of Mr. Ro. doctrines of Devils which he hath heaped up in his tedious book: his proof for his doctrine is. Gen. 17. And we prove his doctrine most false by Gen. 17. where Abraham his faith, and earnest prayer to God could not bring Ishmael his Child, of 13. year old under that Covenant, vers. 18-21.  
Thus is Mr. Ro. altogether overseen in the scripture that he himself allegeth: Add moreover to this Gen. 25.23. Where Izhaks faith, could not bring Esau under the Covenant. Thus may all see that Mr. Ro. doth but quote scripture for his proof, and not show how it proves his ground. The next proof for this ground is Act. 2.39. Where Thapostle speaking, to, and of all the unbelieving jews and Gentiles saith, the promiss is made to you and to your Children, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. How Mr. Ro. will apply this to his purpose we know not, but we confess that this promiss, (They that believe and are baptized shallbe saved) is made to all the unbelieving jews and Gentiles, and their Children, to this day: but this doth no way prove that the faith of the parents in titles children to the promises, nor that the promiss of salvation is made to the unbelieving jews and Gentiles, or to their Children, except they and their children amend their lives and be baptised. And whereas Mr. Rob. as it should seem understands, children in this place, to be infants, we will first leave that to him to prove, that th'apostle speaks hear concerning infants, and then we will require of him how he proves, that the inheritance off the Kingdom of heaven goes by succession of generation, as the land of Canaan did.  
For the second part of his unjust and ungodly affirmation that God takes occasion by the sins off the parents, to execute his justice to condemnation upon the children: herein Mr. Ro. dubles his sin, in that as he hath before made the parent's faith the cause of blessing to salvation, which (he saith) is every where to be found in the scriptures, but shows no where: so now he affirms, that parents infidelity, is the cause of God's judgement to condemnation upon their children. Mr. Ro. propounds his doctrine and rule for a general rule and doctrine. To prove him a false Prophet in this also we refer the Godly reader to the 1. King. 14. where it is showed, that Abyah the son off most wicked jeroboam being but young, was not cursed for his Father's sins, and josiah being but eight year old when his Father died, the Lord blessed him abundantly in his infancy, notwithstanding all the grievous transgressions of his Father Ammon. 2. Chro. 33. and 34. Chap. Neither did the Lord punish the people of Israel's children for that their great transgression Num. 14. 27-39. when they murmured because of the spies, by which sin, although they so provoked the Lord to wrath, as he caused all their carcasies to fall, to be wasted and consumed in the wilderness, not suffering any one of them to go into the Land of Canaan, save joshua, and Caleb, yet even then in his anger, he declared his mercy to all their Children, promising to bring them into the Land. Now we confess with Mr. Ro. that we are all by nature the Children of wrath: conceived and borne in sin, but we desire to know of Mr. Ro. whether he hold not that all Children are alike the Children of wrath? and alike begotten in sin? or that some parents confer grace by generation more than others: and if they do not (as we assure ourselves you will confess) but that all Infants are alike in themselves the Children off wrath, then let us see, not after a sort, but directly, by what evidence of scripture it can be proved (their sins being all alike in themselves) that God should execute his justice to condemnation upon some children, for the sins of their pa●ents, and show mercy to salvation upon others for the faith of their parents, seeing the just God hath said, that every one shall receive salvation, or condemnation, according to that which he hath done in the flesh, and not according to that which his parents hath done. And let all se Mr. Ro. great iniquity in this his affirmation, in that he blansphemously chargeth the most holy and just God to punish infants to condemnation, for the actual sins of their parents when they themselves have not sinned, after the same manner of transgression Rom. 5.14. and we pray M. R and all men to consider the words of the lord. Exo. 20. who saith, he will visit the sins of the Fathers upon the children of them that hate him which hatred is showed by the breach of his commandments: but do infants hate God and break his commandments? you all confess with the Prophet Eze. 18.14.17. (notwithstanding these words in Exo. 20. That if a wicked man beget a son that seethe all his Father's sins, which he hath done, & feareth, neither doth such like, he shall surely live: then must you grant that the infants of wicked parents that do not such like sin as their parents do, shall not die. Thus much to stop M. Ro. for the present in his speedy courses who runs his race as though he were strong and none could stay him, but the lord and his word will overthrow him in these his ways if he repent not, whose repentance we much desire to God's glory, and for his own good.  
And now let the covenant of the lord stand firm and good against all the adversaries thereof, which Covenant is, they which believe & are baptised, shallbe saved. the words whereof being spoken by him that made it, do with authority convince to the Consciences of all that will hear them, that this Covenant is made only with them that are believe and are baptised, which is with them that of the faith of Abraham. Rom. 4. 12-16. And not they that are of the Flesh of Abraham: there are (saith th'apostle) Children of the Flesh, and Children off the promiss. but the Children of the promiss are counted for the seed. Rom. 9.8. How ignorant and obstinate are men become, whom no word of God can persuade, but they will have the Children off the Flesh, to be the Children off the promiss, and the seed: for they will have the seed of the faithful that is, all the Children begotten off their bodies, to be the Children of the promiss, and the seed with whom the Covenant is made, saying: the Covenant is made with the faithful and their seed, meaning all the Children begotten of the Flesh, yet ●happostle faith, the Children of the flesh are not the seed, but th'apostles testimony will not serve the turn, the Pope saith it is not so: and the Bishops and Presbitary (having learned it of the Pope) say it is not so: And th● Brownists (having learned it of the Bishops) say it is not so: Here are many witnesses, and they have long and ancient custom, and the fcuyt is fair to look upon, and pleasant to the eye and mind, that infants are begotten and borne Christians: the most wicked and profane parents that are, like this well, that they may be accounted to beget Christians, and that their Children may be made members off the body off Christ, when they are new borne: the best men like this well: and the worst like it well: This pleaseth all Flesh in these parts of the world, there was never any one doctrine of Christ, nor of thapostles, that ever was so acceptable to all men: it must needs be acceptable, because so good a thing is so easily come by. what a geevious thing would it be if one might not be a Christian, and member of Christ's body, before they had learned Christ, and to believe in him: this would trouble Children if they should be forced to learn to know Christ before they could be admitted to be his Disciples, and to be baptized: and this would be a great trouble to parents that there Children should not be baptised before they had carefully brought them up in the instruction and information of the Lord: and this would be a great burden to Bishops and Priests, if they should have none admitted members of heir Church, until by their diligent and faithful preaching of the gospel, they were brought to knowledge, faith, and repentance, and to amend their lives and be baptized. If these old doctrines of Christ and his Apostles should now be put in practice it would trouble and offend all the world, being so contrary to all custom, and Counsels, and affections off men. O crooked and foolish generation, how long shall the Lord bear with you, how long shall he suffer you, will you make the way broad and wide which he hath made straight and narrow? will you still walk in the traditions of men after the lusts of your own hearts and tread his statutes under your feet? shall the long evil custom, and false testimony of men, agreeable to your own affections, overthrow the divine, and true witness of our Lord Christ and his Apostles? Doth our Saviour Christ say, that those with whom he hath made the new covenant are they in whose minds and hearts he hath written his Law, whom he declares to be those, that believe and are baptised? and will you add unto the Covenant of the Lord, and say, it is made with the faithful, and their seed before they can believe? and doth Thappostle say, that the seed to whom the promiss is made are they which are off the faith of Abra? and not they that are of the flesh of Abraham and will you say, that they that are of the flesh of the faithful, are the seed with whom the Covenant is made? can you device in your hearts more directly to oppose the Lord, and falsify his truth, them you do herein? Will you thus contend against the lord and despite the Spirit of grace, and trample under foot the blood of the new Testament, and think that you shall escape, much more punishment, than they that despised Moses law? deceive not yourselves, and do not think that God careth not for these things, and that he regardeth not the breach of his holy ordinances, because he seems to hold his peace, in that he strikes you not with bodily judgements: but except you repent, he will reprove you, and set all these things in order before you, and tear you in pieces; when there shallbe none that can deliver you. Oh consider this and forget not God: what shall it profit you to have your infants washed with water, and a few words, whereby the name of the Lord is blasphemed, and you perish for so profaning his Ordinance? the infant is never the better, it shall not be saved thereby: and there is no such obedience required at your hands, let the word off the Lord be your guide in these things, and not the word of man nor long custom, although it be in a thing that is most pleasing to your carnal minds.  
Thus leaving to your remembrance that Abraham's faith could not bring his Children under the Covenant in that it did not bring Ishmael, nor any one of his six sons that he had by Keturah his Wife, under the Covenant, Gen. 25. and therefore that is a most deceitful and false ground to say, that they were circumcised, because they were under the Covenant, and that they are under the Covenant by Abraham's faith, for than had all Abraham's bondmen and household been under the Covenant, and Ishmael whom the Lord denies to be under the Covenant, and yet he, and they all were commanded to be circumcised.  
This then is the ground of truth, which cannot be gainsaied, that all the males free, and bond, that were borne in Abraham's house, or bought with his money, which were not of his seed, were all to be circumcised because it was the Covenant that God commanded Abraham to keep, to circumcise all his males: and not because they were all under the Covenant of circumcision by Abraham's faith, this is but a vain invention of the man of sin, and a mystery of iniquity to deceive them that have pleasure in unrighteousness, having no show, nor warrant of scripture, to say they were circumcised, because they were under the Covenant by Abraham's faith: all evidence of Scripture is against it, in that the lord doth plainly declare in his word, that they were to be circumcised that were no● under the Covenant, even all Abraham's household, whereof there was no one under the Covenant but himself, when the commandment was given: Now then you having no colour show nor warrant, from the scriptures for the baptizing of infants, but a deceitful consequence from the example off circumcision, we beseech all that hope for salvation by jesus Christ, to see the deceit of your consequence: thus you say, and this is all your hold: that as the seed off the faithful were circumcised, so the seed of the faithful must be baptised, proof for this your ground you have none, but your strong persuasions and long custom, wherein no one of you have faith: but to show yet again the deceit of your consequence.  
First: it is not drawn by due proportion, which is a most deceitful way to deceive the simple for thus ought your consequence to be drawn: as Abraham beleving was circumcised and all the males of his household both men, and children of eight days old, bond and free, so now any man beleving must be baptised withal his household both men and children of eight days old, bond and free. Secondly the deceit of your consequence is, because it is not a necessary consequence; for you must prove nothing by consequence; but that which must off necessity follow: but this doth not off necessity follow, nei●her can it follow, that because infants were circumcised with circumcision in the Flesh under the Law, therefore infants must of necessity be baptised with the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins under the Gospel, with which baptism, they cannot be baptised, as all of any understanding must needs confess, and there is but one baptism: and therefore most blindly, ignorantly, and deceitfully is this consequence drawn, being neither drawn by due proportion, neither can the rule possibly follow by true consequence: neither shall you be able to tell what to say, when you shallbe required, to prove it a necessary consequence. If therefore you will not wilfully go on in the ways of everlasting destruction, forsake this root off error which overthrows the Covenant, of the Gospel of jesus Christ, in the first foundation thereof, bringing in the seed off the flesh off the faithful, by carnal generation, for the seed of the promiss, in steed of the seed of the faith of Abraham by spiritual regeneration, making the infants that are begotten of the faithful after the flesh, members of the body of Christ, and heirs of the Covenant of the new Testament (which is the Covenant of faith and repentance) through the faith of their parents: and by this means you have and do daily bring all the wicked and ungodly in these parts of the World to be members off Christ's body, and heirs off the Covenant, by natural birth, which our Saviour Christ saith joh. 3. Can no way be, but by new birth that is by being borne again of water and the Spirit, which is by believing and being baptized. Thus do you utterly destroy and overthrow the holy Covenant of the Lord, the holy baptism, and the body off Christ, making them Common to all young and old wicked and profane, blasphemers, persecutors, murderers, adulterers, and witches, and all their Children: but let all know this, such as the members are, such is the body, and such is the baptism, and such is their Covenant, the Covenant of death and condemnation unto all that are under it, and not the Covenant of life and salvation, which is only made with them that believe and are baptised: and the Lord persuade every honest heart to ground their faith upon this rock, that as under the Law, none were circumcised but those that were expressly commanded by rule or example, so under the Gospel, none may be baptised, but those that are expressly commanded by rule or example: and keeping to this true ground no simple soul shallbe deceived, and so we leave this point, with Godly care to be considered of, beseeching the Lord to give you understanding hearts.  
Thus have we with our most willing (though most feeble) endeavours, manifested unto you, these two  professions of Christ, and the false Prophets that maintain them amongst you, with diverse particular errors and strong delusions whereby they deceive you, transforming themselves as though they were the Prophets off God, but they are all deep deceivers, and prophesy lies, as we have proved, wherein they shall never be able to justify themselves, neither before God nor his people: and we much rather desire their repentance, then that they should go about to approve themselves in their evil, whereby they shall heap sin upon their own heads, and bring shame to their own faces, seeing the time is come, that the lord will reprove the foolishness of such false Prophets who make show off Godliness, but deny the power thereof, who lead captive simple women, which are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge off the truth: These are they that Thapostle foretold of 2. Tim. 3. Who like jannes' & jambres resist the truth, who are proud boasters in exalting themselves, and challenging to themselves, special power to know and understand the counsels of God, when they are men of corrupt knowledge and minds, and to be reproved concerning the faith: but (saith Thapostle) they shall prevail no longer for their madness shall be evident unto all men, and we exhort you with the words of th'apostle, turn away therefore from such.  
It followeth, that we speak some few words, of the second prophesy, which is of the days of the Son of man in the brightness of his coming for the consuming of the man of sin spoken of 2. thes, 2. the which days our saviour saith, shallbe as the lightning that cometh out of the East & is seen into the west, mat, 24. wherein is set forth unto us, that the Lord shall make his truth to appear with unspeakable evidence of light, so as his people shall plainly see the way and light thereof according as the Lord by the Prophet Esa. speaketh 42.16. I will bring the blind by a way they knew not, & lead them by paths they have not known, I will make darkness, light before them, & crooked things strait, and the lord will not speak in secret, neither in a place of darkness, in the earth, and Esa. 30.26. the light off the Moon shall be as the light off the Sun, & the light off the Sun shallbe seven fold, & like the light of seven days, in the day that the lord will bind up the breach of his people, & heal the struck of their wound. And Esa. 32.19. thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of dark speech, that thou canst not perceive, & of a straying tongue, that thou canst not understand. All this teacheth the people of God to look for plain paths to walk in, which do shine with brightness: as also that the witnesses of the lord, shallbe a people, that shall speak plainly to the understanding of the simple: therefore the Lords people must not walk in blind and secret ways, nor desert paths which are not light and plain, nor be seduced by false Prophets and deceitful people, that speak in their fierce heat dark and obscure things, who are full of deceitful distinctions, blind consequences, and all turning of devices to deceive the simple, saying, lo here is Christ, lo there is Christ: of such our Saviour forewarns his people, that they believe them not, although they shall show great signs and wonders: but that they shall set their hearts, and turn their eyes unto the clear light of truth which is the everlasting gospel that the Angel flying through the midst of heaven, preached unto them that dwell on the earth, & to every nation, & kindred, & tongue, & people. Revel. 14.6. This is the spirit off the Lord's mouth, wherewith he will consume the man of sin, and abolish him, by the brightness of his coming 2. Thes. 2. By the ministry of the seventh angel, who when he hath poured out his vial, their shallbe sounds, & lightnings. & thunders, & a great earthquake such as nevers was & the great City shallbe rend in three parts, & the Cities of the Nations shall fall, & that great Babylon shall come in remembrance before God, & he shall give unto her the Cup of the wine of the feirenes of his wrath. Rev. 16. Thus by the glorious light off the Gospel shall the mystery off iniquity be abolished.  
And whereas our Saviour Christ saith, that this his coming shallbe as the lightning cometh out off the East, and is seen into the west, this makes it manifest unto us that the glorious overspreading off the gospel again, shallbe as at the first, General over all, and that men shall seek after. and resort unto the light of the truth of God, as Eagles do to their prey, according to the prophesy of Esa. 60.4. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold all these are gathered & come to thee, thy sons shall come from far, & Esa. 66.18. The Lord saith it will come that I shall gather all Nations and Tongues, and they shall come and see my glory. And the Lord by the Prophet Amos. 9.11 12. saith: In that day will I raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen down, and close up the breaches thereof, & will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old, and Esa. 11.11.12. In the same day shall the lord stretch out his hand again the second time to possess the remnant of his people, and he shall assemble the dispersed of Israel, & gather the scattered of judah from the four corners of the world. And hereunto agreeth the prophesy. Revel. 19.17. Where the Angel that stands in the sun cries with a loud voice to all the fowls that fly through the midst of heaven, come & gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God, and Revel. 21. The Holy Spirit speaking of the glorious exaltation of the Holy City, after the destruction off Babylon, saith: The Kings of Earth shall bring their glory and honour unto it, & the glory and honour of the Gentiles shallbe brought unto it. And this yet ●s the hope & comfort of the Saints of God, that it shall come to pass, that they which now come against jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, Zach. 14.16. Therefore saith the voice out of the Throne, praise our God all ye his servants, and ye that fear him both small and great, for the Lord, that almighty God doth now reign, let us be glade and rejoice, and give glory to him, for the marriage off the lamb is come, and his wife hath prepared herself. Revel. 19.5.6.7. These words are faithful and true, which must shortly be fulfilled, blessed is he that observeth the Words of the prophesy off the book. Revel. 22.6.7. But woe, woe, woe then be unto all that do not mark and observe them, and faithfully and carefully keep, the Words off the prophesy off this Book.  
But we demand, in all these days of tribulation which are such as never were, nor ever shallbe, where shall the ignorant appear? if in the days of so great danger when there shallbe (as there now is) so many false Prophets showing such signs and wonders, so as if it were possible they should deceive the very elect, if in these days, the ignorant be seduced through their ignorance, shall they drink of the Cup of the wine of God's wrath? The word of the Lord is perfect and plain they shall all perish, that are ignorant and are deceived, because they receive not the love of the truth therefore God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe lies, and be damned. 2. Thes. 2. And it is just with the Lord, their ignorance being declared to be for want of the love of the truth. Thus then is this ground off truth most evident and plain: they that through grace in Christ receive the love off the truth, they are the Elect of God, and shall not be deceived, but shall be saved: But they that through the effectual working of Satan, withal his signs and lying wonders, receive not the love of truth, they shallbe deceived, and believe lies, and be damned. Moreover our Saviour Christ saith, if the ignorant lead the ignorant, they shall both fall into the pit. Mat. 15.14. let all therefore take heed, and learn to know the truth of God, and to love it, and to understand his word themselves, seeing the Lord hath commanded them, not to follow such as say: Lo here is Christ lo there is Christ, but to look unto the shining light of truth, whereof, if they be not able to judge and deserve of themselves (by the direction of God's spirit) they can never have faith nor assurance in the way they walk, so shall they run blindfold to destruction, not knowing whether they are said: False prophets, or true Prophets are all alike to them they being ignorant of the scriptures, whereby they should examine them and find them out, and try their doctrine, such must needs be carried away with every blast off vain doctrine, when they are not able to try the spirits whether they be of God: these are the fruits of ignorance, not to know the voice of Christ, from the voice of false Prophets. and yet such would have their ignorance excuse them, although their ignorance be only for want of their love of the truth. And if they that through ignorance are led into false ways shallbe saved, than they that through ignorance lead men into false ways shall also be saved, and so shall (almost) all flesh be saved, for who can not plead ignorance for all their transgressions, in all false worship, and all their false ways? But they that are ignorant, let them be ignorant: and let all the disciples of Christ covet spiritual gifts, that they may prophesy, and pray with understanding, and sing with understanding, and speak with understanding, that they may instruct others, and in understanding be of a ripe age. 1, Cor. 14. this knowledge of salvation is required off all the Disciples off Christ alike, there being but one law of obedience for all: and Christ hath not appointed any one to be more ignorant than another, and to every one that ask alike, he gives alike and they that seek a like, shall find a like. Mat. 7.7. For there is no respect of persons with God. Rom. 2.11.  
Now there is one ground that is most dangerously perverted to the destruction of many souls, wherein we pray the best advised Godly consideration of every reader, and that is this: if men walk uprightly in the truth, according to that they know, and endeavour to attain to better and more knowledge of God's truth, that they may walk in it, such men though they commit much sin through ignorance, yet repenting of all their sins of ignorance, there is mercy with the lord for such sins and sinners. We confess this is a most true ground, or else no flesh could be saved: if the Lord should not accept of the willingness of me●s minds in the truth, according to that which they have. But this ground is most wickedly perverted and brought in to excuse all unwilling minds to be informed, who willingly resist the truth, and have no willing minds to be directed by God's word, no further then stands with their good liking, and yet this ground must excuse all their false worship, and all false ways, and all false doctrine, and exposition of the scriptures, and all the profanation off the holy ordinances of God, which they do through ignorance, although they repent not there off, but justify themselves to do well therein. Can any Godly heart thus conceive? that because God in mercy doth pardon the sins off ignorance, men repenting of their ignorances, that therefore God will pardon men, that through ignorance commit sin, and justify themselves in those their sins, either by word or practice? Cannot men see the great difference which is betwixt repenting of their sins of ignorance and iustifieing off their sins committed through ignorance? but will they make it all one, to confess sin, and to justify sin? Can the just God, contrary to his own word, and law, forgive any one sin, that is not repent off? if we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness: but if when we have sinned in any particular thing, we say, therein, we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his word is not in us. and we cannot be forgiven, nor cleansed. 1. john. 1.9 10. Can the holy and just God forgive such sinners and sins? as when they have through ignorance sinned, in diverse things against the Word of God, they will justify themselves, that they are not ignorant and that they have not therein sinned, and so make the word of God a lie? the word of the Lord is plain that they which are ignorant and sin, and say there in they are not ignorant, their sins remain upon them, they are the words of Christ joh. 9, 41. If you were blind, that is, iff you did ●e and acknowledge your blindness, ye should not have sin: but now ye say, we see▪ therefore your sin remaineth. Thus doth our Saviour Christ show in as plain words as the heart of man can desire that all and every sin, men commit through ignorance, and say therein they do not sin, all those sins are not pardoned, but remain upon them, and the judgement of the Lord is against them that so sin, as the wiseman further showeth. Prov. 28.13. Saying, he that doth not confess and forsake his sin shall not have mercy at God's hands, but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy: How shall men yet vainly persuade themselves, that God will pardon their sins of ignorance which they neither confess nor forsake, but justify themselves in many grievous sins, and say they have not sinned, and that they do not commit evil in doing them, but that they do that, which is good, and just in the sight off God. what sin shallbe condemned? Iff this sin shallbe pardoned, shall not the adulterer that confesseth he doth evil, in committing adultery: and the drunkard that confesseth he sins in his drunkenness: and the blasphemer that confesseth he doth evil in blaspheming, shall not all these be much rather pardoned (although they forsake not their sins, in that they confess them) than they that neither confess nor forsake their sins but justify themselves in their sins? doth this cause God to pardon their sins▪ because they are fully persuaded in their minds, that they sin not? Why then if the adulterer, drunkard, blasphemer, idolater, and Covetous man, be fully persuaded in their minds, that they sin not in doing those things, they shall also be pardoned. Thus must the Lord accept of ignorant strong persuasions of men's minds in error and disobedience, for true knowledge, faith, and obedience: For if they that through ignorance being fully persuaded in their minds or consciences obey unrighteousness and justify error shallbe saved, and through Christ be accepted with God, as they that of true knowledge and faith obey righteousness, and justify the truth: so than is there salvation by Christ, through ignorant persuasion off mind and disobedience aswell as through true knowledge, faith, and obedience. What will men make of God? how hath the mystery of iniquity prevailed? First to take from him his power and government in his kingdom, as we have showed, and then to take from him his justice and judgement: for if the Lord shall not in his justice, judge those that ignorantly pervert his laws, statutes, and ordinances, who call light darkness, and darkness light. sour sweet, & sweet sower. Esa. 5.20. Speaking evil off that they know not: teaching for doctrines men's precepts, overthrowing the doctrines off the Foundation off the beginning off Christ, following the imaginations of their own hearts, and setting up the traditions off men in stead of the holy ordinances of God, and because in all these things, they are ignorant, and walk as far as they see, and do as they are persuaded in their minds, thinking they do God good service, therefore they shallbe accepted with God: if the Lord shall not in his justice judge these that thus sin and transgress against him, then is the righteous judgement off the Lord overthrown, and the Ordinances of Christ under the Gospel made of none effect: and if men know them, and do them, they shall do well: But if they be ignorant, and walk in false ways, maintaining diverse errors, they being persuaded in their consciences that it is the truth, they also shallbe accepted: of what use them are the ordinances of Christ? then is truth and error all one, if men be aswell persuaded of the one, as off the other. This destroys all the religion of God; if every one may take liberty to themselves, to walk according to the persuasion of their minds though it be error; yet if they know no better, so long as they confess the name of jesus, all is well, if they be so persuaded, they shallbe saved: than not only they that walk in the way of life, but they that are persuaded they walk in the way of life, shall also be saved, though they walk in error.  
Thus as you have set open the door of the Kingdom of heaven, and let all in that confess the name of jesus with their infants; making them (as you think) members of the body of Christ: so now you will also set open the gates of the Kingdom of glory, and let in all that confess the name of Chr, though through ignorance they walk in much darkness, and make them as you imagine in your foolish minds, fellow heirs with Christ in his glorious inheritance, and yet the Holy ghost saith. If we walk in darkness, & say we have fellowship with Christ, we lie & do not truly. 1. Io. 1.6. Therefore you shall all be deceived with the foolish virgins, who were overtaken in their foolishness, who though they hoped, and were persuaded they should have been let in, yet were shut out, and so shall all you be, that through ignorance justify false ways, although you should begin to say: we have eaten and drunken in thy presence, & thou hast taught in our streets, and we thought we had done well, and we knew no better, yet the Lord shall say unto you. I tell you, I know you not, depart from me, ye workers of iniquity: then shall you see (if you will not learn before) that though you should plead, you had done it ignorantly will not serve the turn, yea though you should say you had sought to enter in at the straight gate, but through your ignorance you were not able; notwithstanding your seeking to that you have not sought aright, the door shallbe shut upon you, and when you shall knock and say: Lord, Lord, open to us, the lord shall answer and say, I know you not, whence you are. Luk. 13.27 Then shall you see that your deceitful hearts have seduced you, and that your good meanings were not according to Godliness, but according to your own minds and persuasions: then shall you see that you casting down, destroying, and rejecting the holy ordinances of Christ, and setting up the vain inventions and traditions of your Elders (as you do) thinking you do God good service, you shall no more be excused therein then they that have rejected and killed the disciples of Christ, & think they have done God good service. Your sins being much greater than theirs: for they ignorantly kill, destroy, and reject the disciples of Christ for keeping the ordinances of Christ, and you ignorantly destroy, and reject the ordinances of Christ, that none should keep them, and set up other Ordinances abolishing Christ thereby. Will the lord think you, hold you guiltless for these things although you do them ignorantly? especially you justifying yourselves and saying you do that which is good in God's sight, and that you sin not therein: hear what the Lord saith to his own people, who justified themselves in their ways of wickedness, saying, they were guiltless. Behold saith the lord, I will enter with thee into judgement because thou sayest I have not sinned. jer. 2.35 even so will the L. enter into judgement with every one of you that say you see, when yet you are blind, and continue in the works of darkness, and say you sin not therein. hear us with patience and consider what we say, the judge all hearts knows that we earnestly desire the salvation of your souls. Will the just God forgive any one sin unrepented of? Or can he justify them that justify themselves in any one evil? Who so knows God, knows this cannot be, for he that is guilty of one sin, being guilty of all, jam. 2.10. Ezec. 18. 11-13. iff God should forgive any one sin unrepented of, he must needs forgive all sins unrepented of: but there can no sin be pardoned without repentance, ignorance shall not excuse any. For a furtherful proof whereof take the words of our Saviour Christ, who saith. He that is ignorant and knows not his masters will, and sins, or doth things worthy of stripes, shallbe beaten or receive punishment: Therefore let the ignorant never plead their ignorance more, the Lord hath judged them, they shall all perish except they repent, and come to the knowledge of the truth: and is it not just with the Lord to condemn all the ignorant seeing the Lord hath given them all means of knowledge, and they will not seek for it, nor ask after it, no further than they themselves think good.  
What think you with yourselves: Iff a King make laws just and good, and bind himself by oath that without respect of people whosoever shall break any one of those laws he shall certainly die, except he acknowledge his fault and repent: and whosoever shall keep them shallbe advanced to great dignity and honour: and these laws the King causeth to be written so that all men may have them: And yet further the King in his great mercy, because he would have none of his subjects perish for want of the right understanding off his laws, the King to prevent them of that danger appoints in every place such a one as shall always be ready truly to inform his people in the right understanding of every one of those laws and statutes, and charging them to be directed by no other, for the understanding thereof, if notwithstanding the commandment, and all this love and care off their Lord and King over them to preserve them from falling under the judgement off death, his people and subjects shall either carelessly neclect to be informed, or shall think themselves wise enough to inform themselves, or shall go to be informed for the understanding of those laws to any other than the King hath appointed, and resting upon their information, break any one of those laws of the King and do not acknowledge their fault and repent, shall their ignorance excuse them? When they had one ready at hand always to inform them, before they offended, and yet ready to inform them that they might repent if they would, but ask to be informed, but they would not be informed before they break the commandment of the King, neither after they have offended willbe informed to repent thereof, but justify themselves that they have not offended: Can a just King break his Oath, and pardon and forgive the wilful ignorance of such careless subjects? and advance them to the same honour whereunto he advanceth his dutiful subjects? But he shall dishonour himself, and make his oath and law of no effect: No wise and just earthly King will ever so dishonour himself.  
How shall then the most glorious King of Kings, who is most wise, just, and Holy, having made most righteous, holy and perfect laws, and to show the stabsenes off his counsel, hath bound himself by Oath and promiss. Heb. 6.18. Without respect of persons, that whosoever shall break any one of those laws he shall certainly be damned except he confess his sin and repent. Mark. 16.16. Luk. 13.3. and whosoever shall keep them shall in herite glory, & honour, & imortallity: and these laws hath he caused to be written by inspiration that all men may have them: and yet to make his mercy further to appear that he would not any off his people should perish for want of the right under standing thereof, hath sent the comforter, & giveth the holy ghost to every one that asketh him, to teach & lead them into all true understanding Io. 14.26. Luk, 11.13. charging them to be directed by no other (jam. 1.5.) for the understanding thereof. If notwithstanding the commandment and all this love and care of the King of heaven over his people, to preserve them from falling under the just judgement of eternal death, his people and subjects shall either carelessly neclect to be informed or shall think they are wise enough to inform themselves or shall go to any other to be informed off the understanding of those laws than the Lord hath appointed, and relying and trusting upon their information, break any one of the laws of the King off heaven, and do not acknowledge their sin and repent shall their ignorance excuse them? when they might always have had the holy Ghost for ask to have informed them before they offended, as also after they have offended, that they might repent: Can the most holy and just God and King, contrary to his Oath, pardon and forgive the wilful ignorance of such careless subjects as break his laws, and will not acknowledge their sin and repent? and give them eternal glory and honour with his servants? (who though they have offended yet they have repent) but he shall dishonour himself and make his Oath and law of none effect. Oh that men would consider that the most holy wise, and just God cannot do so, against his Oath, and make himself unjust and untrue. If men would consider what God is as he declares himself to be, that is, a jealous God, not making the wicked innocent, visiting iniquity to the third & fourth generation of them that break his commandments: A God of severity against them which fall through unbeleeife. Rom. 11.22 A God that will certainly take away their part out of the booce of life that takes any thing away from his word: And that will add all the plagues written in his word, unto them that add any thing unto his word. Revel. 22  
If men would believe God to be such a one as he declares himself to be, they could not be so vain as to persuade themselves that God would forgive them their sins of ignorance, their ignorance being through their own wi●full neclect, and when through such their ignorance they overthrow the ordinances off Christ, and abolish the Laws off his Testament, and repent not, but justify themselves in those their sins, saying they sin not therein.  
What were sufficient to say in this great deceiveableness of unrighteousness wherewith men are seduced to think, that if through ignorance they justify sin it shallbe forgiven them they knowing no better, although they repent not, which they cannot do, in any sin wherein they justify themselves, for men cannot both justify and repent of one and the same sin, at one instant. If men willbe so far void of all grace and understanding, as to hold and think that any sin committed through ignorance, and through ignorance justified, (because they know no better) shallbe pardoned, than it cannot be denied but that they that put Christ to death through ignorance, and through ignorance justified they had not sinned, but that they had done well and according to the word of God, in putting a blasphemer to death, that said he was the Son off God, they shall also be pardoned, for they did it ignorantly, and knew no better, as our Saviour Christ testifieth, when he saith. Father forgive them, they know not what they do: And Thapostle Peter acknowledgeth the same Act. 3.17. saying: Brethren I know you did it through ignorance, as also your Governors.  
Now let us compare things together, so shall we through the grace of God the better see the deceit of this ground, as it is misapplied: The ground we are to remember is this. That if men walk conscionably as far as they know, and desire better knowledge, yet through ignorance commit much sin, there is mercy with God, and they, acknowledging and repenting of their ignorances', shallbe pardoned by grace through faith and repentance. Ephes. 2.8. This ground is misapplied as we trust will easily appear, being brought to prove that if men walk conscionably as far as they know and commit some sins through ignorance and through ignorance justify the same, thinking they do well, and knowing no better, their sin shallbe pardoned, which if they be, it must be by grace through persuasion and ignorance, for their is no faith in ignorance, where is there any warrant for such a ground? Who is so blind that cannot see the grievous error off this ground thus misapplied? this is to excuse sin by sin, that is, by ignorance. We conclude this point by the word of truth that none can deny that have any knowledge of the means of salvation: there is no salvation, but by grace in Chr, through faith & repentance, so is there then no pardon for any sin, but by grace in Christ, through faith & repentance. This being an undeniable ground, none then can be saved, nor have their sin pardoned by grace in Christ through ignorance, justifying any one sin: for there cannot be either faith or repentance in ignorant justifying any sin, therefore no such sin can be pardoned, but all such sinners must be condemned And for this end and purpose have we spoken all that we have spoken in this point to show unto all men, that if they justify any one sin or evil though it be of ignorance, they can never be saved, but shall peri●h to everlasting destruction, such sins cannot come within men's general repentance of all their ignorances', seeing they justify themselves in them, and say they sin not, therefore their sin remaineth, and cannot be taken away, by Christ: As for example: You all justify the baptizing of infants, now when you repent of all your sins of ignorance, have you any thoughts to repent of that? and if you were asked, would you not with your last breath justify that you have done well therein, and that the baptizing off Infants is a holy ordinance of Christ? but if it be no ordinance of Christ, and that you sin therein, can you be so simple as to imagine that this sin shall come within your general repentance? Wherein you bless and justify yourselves: You can no more be forgiven at God's hands then they that ignorantly set up a false Christ, and justify him to be the true Christ: or them they that put the true Christ to death, and justify he is a false Christ. We know your answer in this will bee, that if you could see it to be your sin to baptise infants, and to maintain it to be a holy ordinance off God, you would repent of it, but before you cannot: will not God answer you? that when he can see you repent he will forgive you, but before he cannot. Ezek. 18.21.27.  
Will not the Pope make the same answer for all the bloody persecutions wherewith he hath, and doth persecute all Protestants: so called, Will not the lord Bishop make this answer for all their wicked and cruel persecutions against the Puritans and Brownists? (so called): but shall they be pardoned? they justifying themselves in all these wickednesses (wherein they think they do God service) because they repent of all their sins of ignorance, whereof they justify these to be none: will God pardon them in all this their wickedness? because they cannot see it to be their sin: You all will grant they cannot be pardoned of these sins, they justifying themselves therein: neither can any be pardoned of any sin, they justifying themselves therein.  
If this were duly considered it would make men take heed what they profess or practise in the profession of Christ, seeing if they profess or practise any thing that is not according to the word of God, and justify it for good, they must perish and cannot be saved: it stands therefore all men upon the peril of their souls to look to their ways, and to be upon a sure ground from God's word, what they condemn for evil or error: and what they maintain and justify for truth: for if they that justify the wicked, & they that condemn the just, be an abomination unto the Lord. Pro. 17.15. Then they that justify error and wickedness, and condemn truth and righteousness, calling light darkness, & darkness light, such must needs be an abomination to the Lord. If all the learned Scribes and pharisees and false Prophets, in the world had hearts to believe this, and confess it, it would make them take heed what they justified for truth, and what they condemned for error, and how they taught others to do so. If all the careless professors of Christ that profess him in word, would believe this word of the lord to be true, it would make them look more circumspectly to their ways, and not think that any profession of Christ is sufficient, and that they may profess Christ after that manner that is best pleasing to their own minds, making the way large that they may walk therein at liberty according to the vanity and excess of their own hearts. If the simple hearted, who in many things are weyved from the world and who have many zealous disires in them, did faithfully believe the Lord herein, that if they justify any false ways, untruth, or error, and condemn any way off light, and truth, their sin remaineth, & they are an abomination to the Lord, if they did believe God herein, it would make them take heed how they went on in their ignorant zeal, being led by their Teachers approving and justifying what they teach them, and disapproveing and condemning, what they reach them to disaprove and condemn: Forsakeing the teaching off God's Spirit, not thinking it possible for themselves to attain to the understanding off the Scriptures, but by the teaching of their learned and good men (as they falsely call them): but if they did believe this word off the Lord that they must perish, if they justify any one error or false way, and condemn any one truth, it would make them with fear and trembling to seek wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God, that they being taught off God might be able of themselves, by the help of the holy Spirit, (the only true Teacher and leader into all truth) to discern and judge betwixt good and evil, light and darkness, truth and error, lest they relying upon men, be seduced and led to justify false ways, and condemn the way of truth in any particular, and so fall under the just judgement off the Lord, even the judgement of eternal death and condemnation, a right recompense of reward for all that will of ignorant simplicity, out of their good meanings and zealous affections, (falsely so called) submit themselves to be led, and taught only of men, seeking for knowledge at their mouths, and not wholly depending upon the scriptures for instruction, and the spirit of God to teach them the understanding thereof, neglecting (of faith) the reading and searching and meditating of the scriptures day and night, and earnest praying without doubting, that the Lord would give them the spirit of wisdom to direct them to the true understanding and meaning of God in the Scriptures, that they might be able, if an Angel from heaven should come and teach them any other doctrine, than Christ and his Apostles hath taught, to judge him accursed: when this way shallbe once truly learned and faithfully practised of God's people, to attain to true knowledge: then shall all that seek after Christ, strive to enter into his kingdom by regeneration and new birth, being borne again of water & the Holy Ghost. then shall men learn to know the true baptism of Christ, which is the baptism of repentance for the remission off sins, and be therewith Baptized, and put on Christ, and not satisfy themselves with childish baptism, in which baptism they have not, nor could not put on Christ: and without which baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, they cannot put on Christ: and then shall the elect of God not be deceived by the multitude of false prophets, with all their lying wonders, that say, Lo here is Christ, lo there is Christ, but they shall take heed to the glorious brightness of his coming. which shallbe in the shining light of his truth, unto the which the chosen of God shall fly▪ and come from far, as Eagles to their prey. And to this clear light of truth the Lord that hath bought you all with his blood, raise up your hearts that you may seek his face, and be filled with the fullness of his presence.  
Amen.  
We hold ourselves bound, to acknowledge, and that others might be warned to manifest, how we have been (through our great weakness) miss by deceitful hearted leaders, who have and do seek to save their lives, and will make sure not to lose them for Christ, and therefore they flee into foreign Countries and free States, and draw people after them to support their kingdoms, first seeking their own safeties. and then publishing (as they pretend) the gospel, or seeking the Kingdom of heaven, as far as they may with their safety: and this they justify by perverting and misapplying the words of our saviour Christ, where he saith: when they persecute you, or drive, or thrust you out off one city flee into another. mat. 10.23. these words have they picked out for their purpose casting away or leaving forth, diverse rules of Christ going before, and following in the same scripture, which cannot permit of their exposition and practice, but we will only instance the reason why our saviour Christ bids them when they are persecuted in one City, go to another, and his reason is this: for verily I say unto you, ye shall not go over all the Cities of Israel till the Son of man come. This showeth that our Saviour Christ's meaning was, that when they were driven or expelled out of one City, they should go to another City in Israel to preach the gospel unto it: but these men flee to Cities to the which they cannot preach the gospel, being of a straying tongue, neither have they any intent or meaning to preach the gospel to those Cities, their fleeing is not to that end, but to save themselves for being as sheep in the midst of wolves, and for being delivered up to Counsels, and for being brought to Governors and Kings, for Christ's sake, in witness to them & to the Gentiles: these men need not this advice of our saviour Christ, who Counsels his Disciples to take no thought what they shall speak, or what they shall answer when they are brought before Princes and Governors, for they flee to such places (where they make sure they shall never come in question before them.  
The Disciples of Christ unto whom he speak these words (when they persecute you or drive you out of one City, flee into another,) did not understand our Saviour Christ as these men do: if they had, they would not have believed the Angel. (Act. 5.19.20.) that bade them, when he had delivered them out of prison. Go: and stand in the Temple, & speak to the people all the words of this life, they would have said, We have been imprisoned and persecuted, therefore we are to flee: our Lord taught us so: But they obeyed the voice of the Angel, knowing it did not contradict that rule of Christ, neither would they (if they had understood Christ, as these men do) after they had been beaten, & command to speak no more in the name off jesus, still have staped in that City, daily in the Temple & from house to house, teaching & preaching jesus Christ, Act. 5.40.42. but these men flee before they feel either strokes or bands, and teach men so. The whole scriptures are against them in this their understanding. The 8. of Thact. 1— 4. might suffice to satisfy them in this point, and to discover their error fully, where it is showed, that there was great persecution against the Church, at jerusalem, & they were all (except Thapostles) scattered abroad, through the Regions of judea & Samaria: & Act. 11.12. they that were scattered abroad, went throughout till they came to Phenice & Cyprus, & Antiochia, preaching the word. Here we may see that notwithstanding the great havoch Saul made of the Church, and entered into every house, and drew out both men and women, and put them in prison, yet thapost●es did not flee: and they that did flee, went to Cities to the which they could and did preach the gospel: but neither the example of Thapostles that did not flee, nor of them that were scattered, who went to Cities to which they preached the Gospel, will serve these men's turn, but they flee to Cities most commodious for their safety and profit, to which they cannot preach the Gospel. Furthermore Act. 14. although there was an assault made both of the jews & Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas, to do them violence at Iconium, and although Paul was stoned & left for dead at Listra, yet they returned again to Listra and Iconium, to confirm the disciples hearts, preferring that duty before the fear off persecution.  
For further overthrowing off this misunderstanding off these words off our Saviour Christ, when they persecute you in one City, flee into another. Let all Godly hearts consider, how Thapostle Paul commended and rejoiced in the Church of the Thessalonians, because off their patience and faith in all their persecutions and tribulations that they suffered. 2. Thess. 1.4. And in the first Epist. 2.14. in commendation off them he saith. Brethren, ye are become followers off the Churches off God, in judea, which are in Christ jesus, because you have also suffered the same things off your own Countrymen even as they have done of the jews. Thus doth Thapostle commend the Churches of judea, and off Thessalonica, for their constant suffering of persecution in their own Countries, not once advising or teaching them to flee out off their Countries, to avoid persecution: This is a new doctrine of devils brought in by men, that were never sound in the faith.  
Further, hear what the Spirit saith to the Church of Pergamus. I know thou dwellest where satans throneiss, & thou hast kept my name and hast not denied my faith, even in those days when Antipas my faithful martyr was slain among  
you, where Satan dwelleth: and to the Chur, of Smyrna the spirit saith: Fear none off those things which thou shalt suffer: behold it shall come to pass that the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried, & ye shall have tribulation ten days, be thou faithful unto the death, & I will give thee the Crown of life. Re. 2. Who will not be blind may see hear how the spirit of God commends the Saints for holding the faith, and dwelling where there was bloody persecution, and where Satan dwelled: and doth not exhort them to flee: but not to fear what they should do unto them. Let then the simple hatred be no more seduced by these men, who have rend the words of our Saviour Christ, (when they persecute you, or drive you out of one City, flee into another) from the true sense and meaning wherewith they stand compassed ●cund about in. Mat. 10. And whereas our saviour Christ in these words gave a rule off direction unto his disciples, how they should proceed in the publishing off the Gospel, appointing them, when they were expelled or persecuted in one City, that they should go to another to preach, because there was many Cities off Israel to go through: these men of corrupt minds, lovers off themselves, utterly pervert the meaning off our Saviour Christ in these words, and say, he gave it for a rule to his disciples, to teach them to flee to save themselves from persecution, and so by this their understanding, when the disciples of Christ had found a City of most safety, there they should hide themselves as these men do, and let the publishing of the gospel alone, except any would follow after them, or come to them where they might be in safety.  
How doth the ignorant blind, corrupt hearts and tongues of these men conceive and speak against God and his truth, and pervert it to their own destruction overthrowing the whole doctrine and meaning of Chr. in this place of Mat. 10. from 16. vers. to the 39 vers. where Christ withal the wisdom of the spirit, doth set himself to teach his disciples to suffer persecution, showing them what persecutions they should suffer, and what persecutors they should have, and how far they should suffer persecution even to the losing off their lives. Thus doth our saviour Christ teach his disciples to suffer persecution, exhorting them not to fear them that kill the body, and declareing unto them for their unspeakable comfort his providence and protection over them, telling them that all the hairs of their head are numbered in his sight. And these deceivers they teach their disciples to flee persecution and persecutors and to spare and save themselves that it may not come so unto them: but when the worthy disciple of Christ, Peter, advised his master so, Christ bade him, come behind me Satan thou art an offence unto me, and taught him saying: If any man will follow me let him forsake himself, & take up his cross & follow me ma●r. 16. judge then what Christ will say to these false prophets that are the disciples of the man of sin, supporting and preserving his Kingdom by this their doctrine, for the disciples of Christ cannot glorify God and advance his truth better, than by suffering all manner of persecution for it, and by witnessing it, against the man of sin, with the blood of their testimony. we must leave this point to Godly consideration (It had been much fit (we confess) to have been part off a book, than such an addition) and we leave these men withal their disciples (if they will not be informed here in) to be a reproach to all men, who shall say unto them where have you learned to i'll into foreign countries and not to suffer persecution for Christ of your own countrymen? where have you learned for fear of men to flee from your own country, and father's houses to whom you ought, and where you might best publish the gospel? and where have you learned to draw parents from children, and children from parents, to whom they are especially bound to witness God's truth? and to be as lights unto them. You have not learned it of Christ, who would not suffer him that had been possessed when he prayed him that he might be with him, but Christ said unto him. Go thy way home to thy friends, & show them what great things, the Lord hath done unto the, & he went & published them, Mark. 5 18 Yea all men shall say unto them, where have you learned to set up your light in secret places? and where have you learned to pull your shoulder from the yoke and to seek to save your lives? but therefore (saith Christ) surely you shall lose them except you repent.  
Furthermore if Christ gave this for a rule or precept to his disciples to flee persecution to save themselves, than was it an absolute commandment, and so did all th'apostles and disciples of Christ, break his commandment and sin, in that they did not flee to save themselves always when they were persecuted: and hereby do these men condemn all their brethren that flee not as they do, except they will add error to error, and affirm as some of them do, that it is indifferent to flee or not to flee, making hereby this precept of Christ, indifferent to be obeyed or not to be obeyed, which can not be affirmed of any one precept of Christ: for nothing can be both commanded and indifferent to be obeyed or done: and those words of Christ will no way permit such indifferenci, for they are an absolute precept for that end for the which they are given: which is not to flee to save themselves: but to flee or go to another City to preach the gospel. And we put these seducers in remembrance that our Saviour Christ gives this rule also unto his disciples, that if they shall enter into any house or City, that shall not receive them, nor hear his word, when they depart thence, they shall shake of the dust of their feet for a witness against that house or City: But when will these men according to this rule of Christ ●hake of the dust of their feet for a witness against Amsterdam and Leyden, which Cities, neither receive them nor the word they bring, otherwise than they receive Turks and jews, and all sorts, who come only to seek safety and profit. It should seem this rule of Christ, appertaineth not to these men, but let them, and all mense, that this rule appertaineth to whomsoever the other appertaineth, they being both given at one time and upon one and the same occasion, and to one and the same persons: and when these great deceivers have learned not to divide Christ they will learn also, not to divide his precepts and ordinances, taking what is agreeable to their corrupt minds, and forsakeing what is contrary to them.  
We will pass by the lamentable fruits and judgements that we have, and do see with our eyes follows this damnable error, when many, yea the most men that had in a great measure forsaken the love of the world, and began to be zealous of some good things, being drawn by this opinion and these seducers into foreign Countries, not knowing which way to support their outward estate, have turned again unto the world, and are fain to hunt too and fro, far and near after every occasion, and all is too little to satisfy most of their wants, and nothing will satisfy some of their disires: all these things and many more, these hirelings their shepherds, can welbeare withal, so that they return to the hive, that their portion may not be reproved. And those of best hares, and some of best quality that cannot run and rove, and set their hearts to seek the world, consume that they have and fall under hard conditions, and by little and little lose their first love also. It is the general judgement we aim at in all this, in that by these means, former zeal and the best first beginnings that were in these men do vanish, fade away, and come to nothing, to the unfeigned grief of our sonles to see it: how much better had it been that they had given their lives for that truth they profess, in their own Countries. Now as we through the grace of God, and by the warrant of his word, (as we have here manifested) cast away these perverters of the holy scriptures and their doctrines, so we wish all to do, that fear God and seek the glory of his name, and come and lay down their lives in their own Country for Christ and his truth. And let none think that we are altogether ignorant, what building, and war far we take in hand, and that we have not sit down and in some measure thoroughly considered what the cost and danger may be: and also let none think that we are without sense and feeling of our own inability to begin, and our weakness to endure to the end, the weight and danger of such a work: but in all these things we hope and wait for wisdom and strength, and help from the Lord, Who is able to establish us, that we may stand, and by weak means to confound mighty things, 1. Cor. 1. Let none therefore despise the day of small things. Zach. 4.10. Nor be grieved and say with that scorner, Nehem. 4.24. What will these weak jews do? Thus comending all our poor endeavours to the best acceptance of every well disposed reader, beseeching the Lord to make his grace to abound to you all, for the glory of his name, and the salvation of every one of your souls.   
Amen.