AN ANSWER UNTO M R. WILLIAM del THE RIGHT REFORMER His Epistle Dedicatory TO THE PARLIAMENT.  
SIR, your Epistle, Janus-like, hath two faces, one looks toward the Parliament, to make them yours, the other toward yourselves to make yours theirs; in your Sermon you break their heads, in your Epistle you bind them up: You flatter them with a seeming voluntary acknowledgement of their power, and your free submission thereunto; in your assertion of the power of the Gospel, you utterly enfeeble it: how comes it I pray to pass, that the just power of Magistracy is not consistent with the Kingdom of Christ? and why may not the one support the other? seeing that both aught to be held of Divine Right and institution, Touch not mine anointed, by all the expositions of the best that ever exposited, is meant of both.  
But Mr. del, qùo over, with what face durst, you term the Presbyterian Government (not only here established by Authority of the High Court of Parliament, but made choice of, erected, constituted, embraced, maintained and submitted unto, from the very dawning of the Gospel, and departure from Rome's Idolatry, by all the Reformed Churches of Christendom, as, That of France, Germany, Scotland, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweadland, Geneva, etc. who all una voce, have approved of this Discipline and Government as the most consonant to the word, and most opposite to the Romish Hierarchy (in that none but Priests ruling the Roast, this consisting of a mixed temper, of Ministers and Lay-Elders, one poising and balancing the too much powerful influence of the other.) How durst you, I say, give the reigns so fare unto your anarchical passion, or rather fury, as to call the said Government, The last prop of Antichrist in this Kingdom? yea, and that to the very face of those that were by their power, not only the promoters, but only erectors of it: Hath the Parliament, Mr. del, no better credit with you, than to be esteemed the Erectors of the last prop of Popery in this Kingdom, for these six years' space? Tantum sudavit & alsit, in the pulling down of Popery, and of late, in lieu of recompense have they given it new props?  
Truly Sir, I fear me, very few of that honourable House, like no better of your Epistle than they did of your Sermon: if any do, I must needs confess that I fear it the more: and whether a man may more wonder at Mr. Dells impudence or ignorance, I cannot say, who indevoureth to endear the Parliament unto him, by scandalising and disparaging the Government now generally throughout the whole Kingdom established by them, and not that temerè & ex improviso, but after long demurring, serious consultation, deliberate debate, neither without the advice and counsel of the best and choicest Divines throughout the Reformed Churches, and especially of the Kirk of Scotland, our united Brethren; and the better to gain credit unto his design, Mr. del doth his utmost to increase the dislike, that some perhaps in the Parliament might have against this already settled Government, he sticks not to write that it threatens even the Parliament to dispute its superiority with them, and to make the supreme Magistracy of the Kingdom to stoop under their lore.  
Who would have thought that after so much talk in the Sermon Of the enlargement of Christ's Kingdom, of the exaltation of the Gospel of Christ; the Word of Faith, Truth, and many the like good things; he should fall to such a malicious falsehood, in the Epistle Dedicatory? charging it with an aim at a power Paramount and predominant over the first Constitutors and Voters of it; which how fare swarving from truth, let all men judge who have either known or observed the behaviour of such, that by election have been interessed in the Presbytery, whether Ministers or Laics, let their deportment, I say, be duly considered, in what dutiful respective manners it ever hath been toward this High Assembly, not leaving excepted the Venerable Assembly of Divines, who never yet concluded any thing to be published concerning Reformation either in Church matters, or in manners, but in all humility they first presented it to the view of the Honourable House, attending usually at the House of Commons door, and in their Theses submitting themselves sometimes to alteration, and limitation, always unto approbation of the Honourable Houses: which I dare affirm Mr. del, will not avouch that his Independent, and the rest rabble of Sects that crowd themselves under that name, either have done, or are about to do, for than I think we should hardly have such diversity of Conventicles and diversities of Faiths broached in them by approvement of Parliament, as at this day we have, so notoriously known unto all: That in one street in London every Child shall lead you to three; And where you shall have such stuff commended to you, by way of Divine inspiration, to be believed and taken up as dogmatical points of Faith, and with a tantum non (none of God's children, not comprehended in the Buttery scroll of election in case of refusal) That a man which hath only the usual knowledge of the ordinary principles of Christian Religion, if not out of mockage, yet out of a feeling compassion, must needs say, having heard them; Surely the blind leads the blind into the ditch.  
Another passage in Mr. Dells Epistle Dedicatory is this:  
He likes not the spiritual power supporting by the temporal; it is Antichristian he saith and Papistical; Mr Dells assertion smells not much of antiquity, (as neither his Sect) for he may read in the Annals of the Christian Primitive Church, long before any point of Popery was hatched, that men notable for sanctity in those times did passionately implore the aid and intermise of the sword temporal toward the defence of the true Christian verity, and the depressing, yea, extirpating of known Heresies, as in the business of that Arch-Heretick Arius (and some that are of the Independent crew hold the same damnable tenants, or else they have much wrong) all men know that Constantine the great interposed his authority more than in any thing else, and not only his authority but his Pains, in the extinguishing and condemning of that Heresy, or otherwise it had spread its contagion farther, and with a more peremptory Vogue: and moreover if there had been nothing worse found among the late Bishops, than that saying, no Bishop no King, nor more displeasing to God, or impeaching the progress of the Gospel, for aught I know they might have stood still, although master del may be pleased to be put in mind that he whose familiar speech it was, (no Bishop no King) was no Bishop but a King, and a King the very Paragon for learning and wisdom of all those this Island ever saw: a Prince that was of opinion, that the licentious liberty of Sectaries would produce as much danger to temporal Monarchy and State Government, as ever could or would the Pontificial Tyranny, both agreeing in the pulling down of civil Magistracy, though differing about the manner: and let Master del be told that the interposition of the civil power, or the requesting the assistance of the same, in the maintenance of the undoubted faith of Christ, or an external Ecclesiastic discipline, consonant to the same (without which it is impossible for the Orthodox doctrine long to consist, discipline being the nerves and sinews by which a Church stands, as the doctrine, the food by which it is fed and nourished) is neither the head nor the toe of Popery.  
And let me be bold to ask Master del one question, to what purpose tends his large invective against the Presbyterial Government now erected? what, to have none? I could not be so ill persuaded of the man: whether then? marry to withdraw the Parliaments countenancing protection from the Presbytery, and to place it upon them, that is the enlarging of the power of Christ's Kingdom, the exaltation of the Gospel of Christ, the propagation of the elect people, which I suppose the good man means: lo then see all well. May it please the Parliament to Vote down the Presbytery, as the last prop of Popery in this Kingdom, for interlacing itself with the temporal power, and craving its aid and succours against those that would bring in anarchical confusion, first into the Church, then into the state, and eadem opera, let them be pleased to Vote Master Dells chosen flock the only Christians, and his Government of God's Church, (if he knew first himself what it were or should be) let the Honourable Houses, I say, but be pleased to do thus, and behold, omnia bene, the power of Christ's Kingdom mightily enlarged, the exaltation of the Gospel wonderfully furthered, etc. hinc illa lacrymae, now I perceive what makes the world flock so fast unto Independency; what power or authority soever supports them, stands for the enlargement of the power of Christ's Kingdom, the exaltation of the Gospel, the Privileges of Christ's chosen people, for the beauty of Saints, and what not? but let them beware that seek for supportation, not only against them, but even by them, they are at least, but the last prop of Antichrist in this Kingdom: who would wonder if all the world now turn Independent? seeing that one that depends on them may better steal a horse, than a man of another mind look over the hedge: but to be more serious, the badst actions have ever made show of the best pretensions, the foulest Heresies have styled themselves by the most specious titles; the Arians would be called by no other name but Catholic, although their cursed Blasphemy, impugned the mainest point in all Christianity; it is an old saying, the Devil doth never show his Cloven foot at first; Schism is like the Panther, whose skin being of a sweet sent, and beautiful spotted colour, whereby he draws many other beasts toward him, which approaching near, are forthwith affrighted with the ugliness of his head; wherefore the better to be master of his prey, he discovers not that till he have them in his power; it is a truth infallible, that Schisms and Faction evermore in their first rising put on the face of woman, but in their growth that of a lion: the behaviour of the Anabaptists at Magdeburg in Germany, though long since, yet by reason of other Sects in these our days, not much different in opinions, and less in practice, is a fresh revived in our memories; good God, what Sanctity, piety, humility, simplicity did those Juggler's show at first? what charity and contempt of worldly muck? so that they drew the whole Generality of the City after them, with the self same saying in their mouths which sometime the Samaritans used toward Simon Magus, surely these men are the great power of God; at length when their poor deceived proselytes began to grow numerous, they possessed them that the power of the civil magistrate was Heathenish and Antichristian; that Christ's true Disciples must be all equal; neither were they defective in alleging Scripture for this their project, ill understood and worse applied. Christ's Kingdom is not of this world say they, he that will be the greatest amongst you, let him be as your servant; the Kings and Princes of the earth bear rule, and exercise power over them, but with you not so. Do not rich men trouble you, bringing you into judgement saith St. James. What conclusions draw they from these texts? why surely that all civil Magistracy is Antichristian, (though those that bore it at that time in that town were known to be zealous maintainers of the Gospel) it must have nothing to do with Gods chosen; they that did desire to be supported by it in matter of faith, or for their better strengthening did request the countenance of the same toward the bearing up of the Church discipline established in that famous City: from these infusions what follows? The Commonalty riseth against their lawful Magistrates, not only degrades them, but butchers them; next the Ministers drink of the same cup, for no other fault, but that fearing the storm approaching, and advertising the civil Magistracy of its growth and proceeding, they besought them for the suppressing of this swelling faction, and upholding of the anciently settled Government in that Church; but because they sought the maintenance of the lawful Ecclesiastic Government by the civil sword (which then was a toe or a singer of Antichrist, as it is now) therefore they tasted of the same sauce with them: but what did the good Antbaptists after this? what did they not? but to particularise what the History mentioneth, they fell afterwards upon their own proselytes, cut the throats of them, seized not only the goods of all Citizens, but the state itself, brought a text of Scripture to warrant it, though themselves would be thereof the expositors, The meek shall inherit the Earth: This story wants no application. Men must not look so much upon the words and shows as the practices of raisers of factions; and as touching Master Dell, although through the whole course of his Sermon there is great talk of the spirit of meekness, the spirit of humility, obedience, and the like; and in the close of his Epistle Dedicatory, much assurance offered unto the Parliament of his utmost endeavours, in relation to obedience to their authority; yet see how Master del hath thwarted both, in his practice; he virulently lasheth Master Love, twits him in the teeth, with his discerning people, chargeth him with menacing of the Parliament in case of desertion from them, puts him in the number of the fingers and toes of Anti Christ: this action of Master del naming expressly the party rather rescents of nature than grace, of gall then meekness, of malice then charity; nay, rather than Master del will miss to lash him, he will hazard the reputation of the close to his Epistle, and venter's the questioning of his obedience to the Parliament so vehemently and seriously by him protested: for doth Mr del print his sermon in obedience to the Honourable House? I am given to understand the contrary; that the House ordered him neither thanks nor order to print it, but forbidden both: yet Mr. del out of an humble obedience, if not to them, yet to Christ, will print it, and with an Epistle Dedicatory to the House also: to speak bona side and sublata larva, I think three were the causes that prevailed with Mr. del to print his Sermon, though misliked, though forbidden.  
First, that he might be beforehand with Mr. Love in the Press, though he had had the precedency of him in the Pulpit, and to forestall men's judgements, both toward him and his Sermon, a thing much practised in this clashing Age, to cry whore first. The second reason of the Printing of his Sermon was his zeal, to show his dislike in the Press, as he had often done before in the Pulpit of the Presbyterian form and Rule, as a prop of popery, and obstacle to the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ: desiring rather than that (or any other should stand) there might be none at all, and so the peculiar people may do and live as they list, who should control them that have the spirit of illumination and inspiration ad nutum? yet this puts me in mind of what I read in one place of Samuel, And th●n there was no King in Israel, what follows? Vnusquisque fecit quod sibi visum fuerit, Every one did what was right in his own eyes, and that was wrong enough I believe. The third respect, for which Mr. Dell published this Sermon, was, I believe, because he was not licenced by the House to publish it, Nor no thanks returned him for it, Mr. del following the Trade-wind of his Faction, must needs do it the readier for that; and reason enough he had to put him forward, for his party hath never gained more credit than by crossing Authority: And had Mr. Dells discourse been such that might have been thought worthy to have been Licenced by the House, it would never have purchased him that repute amongst his as now it hath; for nothing is cried up amongst them, Nisi quod nititur in vetitum.  
But what means Mr. del, by that pathetic Latin Theme in the foot of the frontispiece to his book? Theologum me crede in regno veritatis natum, ero itaque, etc. What reason had Mr. del, tam gravem proferre sententiam in materia tam levi; Mr. del gives the Alarm here, tanquam Annibal ad portas, as if all were in denger to be lost, true piety trampled under foot, true Religion banished, Christ's Kingdom vanquished, unless all strike sale unto Independency, whereof he professeth himself an asserter ad mortem & sanguinem usque I find in all ages that all Innovators are of Bruce his temper, quicquid volunt valdè volunt; rather than they will want their wills, Coelum terra miscendum.  
FINIS.