THE MINISTERS OF ENGLAND Which are called, the Ministers of the Gospel, Weighed in the Balance of Equity: By way of Consideration, whereby it plainly appears, whether they be the Ministers of Christ, or of Antichrist. And also, Whether to bear a Testimony against a settled Maintenance, either by Tyths or any other way which may be invented to uphold that Ministry, be any way dangerous to destroy the Gospel of Christ; Resolved. With a Serious Meditation upon the deal of God with England, and the State thereof in general.  Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them: for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them, but transgressors shall fall therein, Hos. 14.9. 
Published for the satisfaction of such as desire to prove all things, and are willing to hold that fast which is good; By a Friend unto the faithful Ministers of the Gospel of Christ, John Braithwait.  
LONDON, Printed for Robert Wilson, at the Sign of the Black-spread Eagle and Windmill, in martin's Le grand, 1660.   

THE MINISTERS OF ENGLAND Which are called Ministers of the Gospel, weighed in the balance of Equity.  
WHen I began to consider of these things, and weighed them in the balance of Equity and Truth; my soul within me was troubled, to hear the cry amongst the People concerning the Ministers, and the Gospel; some crying this is a Minister of the Gospel, another that; and while I was meditating on these things, the Lord God, that made Heaven and Earth, by his Spirit said unto me, Weigh them in my balance of Equity, compare them with my Servants and Ministers in former ages, and see whether they be in their Call, Practice, and Doctrine, agreeable to my Servants; which if they be not, let the People understand and know thereof, that so many as desires after the way of life, and salvation, may be deceived no longer, and the rest may be left without excuse.  
Then I began to consider how the Ministers and Servants of the Lord, were sent forth in former ages, whether they were sent to the Schools to learn, that they might be fitted to do the Lords work, or be his Ministers; 
Amos 1.1.  and I could not find in all the Scriptures of Truth, that the Ministers of Christ were sent to the Schools of Learning, with an intention thereby to be made Ministers of the Gospel, 
Mark. 1.16 17.  but they were called forth from their labours and employments, and were endued with power from on high, by him that sent them, to perform the service they went about.  
But they who are commonly called the Ministers of the Gospel in England, are sent to the Schools to learn the Tongues, and Languages, and that they say fits them to be Ministers of Christ; which many Tongues and Languages came in since transgression, 
Gen 11.7, 8, 9  and the justice of God was executed upon them, who thought to make themselves a Name, and build a Tower whose top might reach unto heaven; and now those men called Ministers, glory in their Tongues and Languages. Do they not glory when they say he is an able Minister, he hath the Tongues? here the Tongues makes them able, (as they say) here they take the glory from Christ, and ascribes it to the Tongues, which Tongues Christ redeems out of, 
Rev. 5.9.  and so they glory in that which Christ redeems out of, which glory the Lord God of Heaven and Earth will slain, and shame and confusion shall come upon them.  
Object. But says the People, they may be Ministers of Christ, though they learn the Tongues; was not Paul a Minister of Christ, and was not he brought up at the feet of Gamaliel? and had not the Apostles the gift of Tongues?  
Answ. Yea, Paul was a Minister of Christ, but the bringing up at the feet of Gamaliel, 
Acts 22.3. to the 22.  did not make him a Minister of Christ is apparent, for after that he persecuted the Church of God, until such time as the Lord met with him, and called him by his grace, to be a Minister and a Witness for his Name. Then if it be the Lords work, to call and make Ministers, than those men who believe or think, that Tongues or Languages can make Ministers of Christ, are in an error, and are ignorant of the power of God; and ascribe that to the Tongues and Languages (which at the best are but a gift) which is only due to God; though we do not forbid to speak with Tongues.  
Object. But then they say, you mistake us, we do not ascribe the glory to the Tongues, we use them but as a means.  
Ans. But if you use that as a means, after such a manner as God never ordained (to wit) that none without it can be made Ministers of Christ, than you ascribe that to the means which properly belongs to God: and so would limit the holy one of Israel to your means, and helps, your tongues and languages, 
Which tongues the Beast had power over, Reve. 13.17.  that so none might be called Ministers of Christ, but such as you approve of, who at the least will give some honour to your tongues and languages; which makes the people idolise you, and wonder after you, but now you are weighed & found too light, your glory will the Lord God of Heaven and Earth lay in the dust, and he will call forth Servants and Ministers by his Spirit, as in former ages, whom he will endue with his power from on high, that will glorify him for ever.  
But further, when I began to consider the life and practice of those men, whether it might not be agreeable to the life and practice of the Ministers of Christ; and when I had considered the life of the Prophets of the Lord, and Ministers of Christ, they were holy men, and meek men, just and sober, 
Tit. 1.7.8. Mat. 10: Mark. 12. 38, 39, 40.  and were not to be called of men Master, nor have the chiefest place in the Assemblies, nor stand praying in the Synagogues; for the Scribes and Pharisees did so, which was against Christ, which Christ cried woe against; and when I had diligently considered this matter, I found them (to wit) those pretended Ministers of the Gospel, in the steps and practice of the false Prophets, preaching for hire, and divining for money, and more unjust than ever I read that the false Prophets were in former ages, 
Mich. 3.11.  in hailing men to prison, and spoiling their goods, and in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees which is afore mentioned; and when I saw them so clean contrary in their call, life, and practise, to the holy men of God, my heart began to pity the people, whereupon it came presently into my mind. But nevertheless though it be thus with them in life and practice, for all this may not their Doctrine be good? 
Mat. 5.48.  and than I began to consider their Doctrine and compare some few of them with the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles; Christ said, 
Cor. 2.6.  be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect; and the Apostle said, 
Rom 8.2.  we preach wisdom among them that are perfect; mark that, (are perfect) was not that in this life? but do not these learned men say that none can be perfect in this life? the Apostle said, the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death: Hath made me free, mark that, was not that in this life, or while the Apostle was in the body? 
John 1.9: & 8: 12:  but do not they say, none can be made free from sin in this life? John said, that was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World; was not Christ that true light? who said, I am come a light into the World, that whosoever followeth me should not abide in darkness, but should have the light of life; but do not they say that every man is not lighted, 
Tit: 2: 11:  except it be with a natural & a created light; the Apostle said, the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men; but is not their Doctrine, that it hath appeared but to some men?  
And when I began to weigh these Doctrines of theirs, in the equal balance, I found them very unsound and contrary to the Scriptures, 
Matt 7: 16:  and then came into my mind that saying of Christ, By their fruits ye shall know them, or, every tree is known by its fruits; men do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles; and when I had thus considered the state of the tolerated Ministers, or pretended Ministers of the Gospel in England, and found them clear contrary to Christ & his Apostles, in these and many more things which I might mention, than I saw it was the Lords righteous judgements upon them to strip them naked and bare, and slain their glory; for as much as they have sought honour to themselves, and have dishonoured the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, who is now risen in his power, which they have denied, and in effect they have said, his arm is shortened that it cannot save (as in former ages) and revelations is ceased, and is to be expected no more, and so the day hath been dark over them, 
Prov. 29: 18.  and there hath been no vision, and where there is no vision the people perish: and for this cause will the Lord God let them know the revelation of his righteous judgements, which shall shortly come upon them, though they would put it far away, and though they cry peace, peace, yet shall sudden destruction come, both upon them, & all that willingly do uphold them.  
And then I began to consider upon the settled or rather forced maintenance, which as it appears doth uphold them, whether to bear a testimony against it, be any way dangerous to destroy the Gospel of Christ yea or nay? and when I had considered well upon this matter, I could not see nor find, that Christ had laid a settled, or forced maintenance for the foundation of the Gospel; but did send forth his Ministers freely; Freely they had received, 
Mat. 10.8.  freely they were to give; and he that preacheth the Gospel may live of the Gospel; here the Gospel was to maintain them, and not a forced maintenance to maintain it; 
1 Cor. 9.14.18.  for the Gospel is the power of God to Salvation, saith the Apostle; whose care was not to make the Gospel chargeable; but as it doth appear those men which are called Ministers of the Gospel now in England, strive to make that which they call Gospel chargeable, and that not only to them, who receive their doctrine; but also to them who deny it; which is a most unrighteous thing; what can be more unrighteous than that one Congregation, or Assembly of people, should be forced by a law to maintain the Minister and meeting place of another Church, or Assembly, which are clean contrary the one to the other in their Judgement, in things appertaining to the worship of God? and if it may be unrighteousness in the one, is it not so in the other? Seeing they both believe, or at least they say, the way which they walk in, is the way of God.  
Object. But if it could be certainly judged which of them is in the right way, might not they that are in the right way, compel and force them that are not, to maintain them?  
Answ. Nay, he that is in the right way, must do as he would be done unto, and that is just and right, and that is the royal law, 
Jam. 2.8.  the Law of Christ; now if thou wouldst not willingly maintain the Minister of an assembly that differeth from theein judgement, than thou must not desire, much less force a mantenance from them; but if thou keep a flock eat the milk of the flock, 
Cor. 9.7  if thou plant a Vinyard, eat the fruit thereof; mark, he that plants a vineyard, may eat of the fruit thereof; he doth not say, thou may eat of that thou hast not planted; for how could that convince men, or convert them unto God. To eat them, and to devour them, would rather set men's hearts against thee, and that way which thou dost profess; and therefore as in this respect to bear a Testimony against Tithes, or any other forced maintenance, to maintain Ministers, is no way dangerous to destroy the Gospel of Christ.  
Object. But if there be not a law to compel men to pay to the Ministers, People are so hard hearted and Covetous, they will not pay toward their maintenance; and then preaching will go down, and people will become heathens.  
Answ. It seems then, that for all the Preaching that hath been in England, people are yet hard hearted, and Covetous; what reason is there then, that those that are yet hard hearted, & covetous, should pay or maintain those men, that they have not profited by; when I consider this thing, it appeareth to me, to be greater covetousness in those men called Ministers, to desire to have a maintenance from those people, that have not profited by them; than it is for the other to detain it; And as for Preaching going down, and people becoming Heathens; this I say, that Preaching which is grounded upon covetousness, let it go down, let their Preaching go down, for they rather keep people in heathenism, then bring any to the true knowledge of God, who themselves dare not trust God for their maintenance; after which things the Gentiles seek.  
Object. But though those learned men have been Covetous and proud, and made an evil use of their maintenance, nevertheless is it not convenient, that the law remain which compelleth men to pay to the Ministers, for peradventure God may raise better men in their places, as gifted men, and such like.  
Answ. Let the Law of Christ remain, let him that preacheth the Gospel live of it, but let not any law remain which compelleth men, 
Was not the first Law for payment of Tithes since Christ came in the flesh, made in the time of Pope Innocent the 3d. In the year 1215. and was not that in the time of Apostasy and night of darkness? and is not that a bad foundation for the Ministers of the Gospel to stand upon and an uncomfortable Maintenance for them to live on?  contrary to their freedom, to maintain a Ministry, for while any such Law doth remain, it drawerh covetous men to be Ministers; is not the hope of a good maintenance, as it it is called 100 l, or 200 l, Per annum; that moveth the Father to set his Son to the University to be made a Minister? cannot many in England tell this by experience; and is not this Covetousness, the root of all evil? and is not this maintenance that which causeth the Jesuits, and Papists, desire to be in this land again? hoping that the law, which their Father the Pope made will maintain them, which law if it were once made null, & void, their hopes would be frustrated; for if the people be once clearly freed from that yoke of bondage, they would not easily be brought under it again: and as for these gifted men (so called) hath it not been a snare unto them, and the love to the money, or maintenance, hath enticed them to receive (orders) the Pope's orders? and have not many of them become as Cruel in prosecuting the Pope's law, for a forced maintenance, as the learned. Well this I must say from the Lord God, unto you who say you are gifted men; and have thus betrayed your Testimony; God's hand is stretched out against you above all other men; for as much as you have professed to have the gift of his Spirit, and that freely, and now go to sell it, and compel people to buy it; O wicked abomination! Was not the time once that you cried against oppression, and are you become oppressors? are you so quickly gone in the way of Balaam for gifts, and rewards, the wages of unrighteousness, and would have this burden always to remain upon the people, O grievous wickedness! the Lord's anger is kindled against you, and it will be more tolerable in the day of judgement, for the Pope and his company (I mean the university men) than for you; because the Lord hath showed more of his loving kindness unto you, than he hath done unto them, and yet you have not prized it.  
And when I had diligently considered upon these things, I saw it no way dangerous to destroy the Gospel of Christ, To bear a Testimony against Tithes; or to bear a Testimony against any other maintenance, which may be settled upon Ministers by a Law, which compels men to maintain a Minister, which they believe is not a Minister of Christ; But rather to bear such a Testimony, and to take away the Law, that compels men to maintain those men, 
Do not they make a settled Maintenance the foundation of their Ministry and Gospel? & is not the greatest striving by them about the greatest Benefices? and the most preaching where their is the greatest gifts?  which they do not believe are the Ministers of Christ, is dangerous to destroy the ministry of Antichrist, if the matter be considered well; for have they not from one age to another, from time, to time, throughout the dark night of Apostasy, made this (to wit) a settled maintenance, the foundation of their Ministry? and where there was not settled Maintenance, no Minister, no Preaching: may not England experience this? But the Ministers of Christ, that are so in deed & truth, will be contented with what Christ hath allotted to them: for a necessity is laid upon them, and they must preach the Gospel, or else woe unto them: and he that preaches the Gospel, let him live of it; and let every Church (so called) maintain, their own Minister, or Ministers, so long as they think or believe him, or them to be Ministers of Christ; but if any man in the said Church, or Assembly, be not willing, let him not be compelled any otherwise than by love; Let people do as they would be done unto, and show themselves to be Christians indeed; throughout all Christendom, Let their be no compelling of men to believe, seeing Faith is the gift of God; and let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind, for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin; and let there be good Laws to punish Wickedness, as murder, stealling, whoredom, drunkenness, cozening, false witness, 
1 Tim. 17, 8, 9 ver.  or any other thing which deserveth punishment by the Law of God, and let it be done without partiality or respect of persons, or of the Religion they profess, and let not God's Spirit be stopped by a Law, in neither male, nor female, but let that have freedom in all, for God's righteous Judgements will fall upon them, that seek to hinder or stop that; and therefore let there be liberty for one Society of people to dispute or discourse with another (though different in their judgements,) concerning the things of God; provided, there be no violence used by one party to another, with their hands, or with weapons, or with any other thing, that may do hurt to the body, or life of man or woman, old or young, and let there be moderation; and if any pretend to be led by the Spirit of God, and yet do wickedly, let them be punished, as their transgession doth deserve; but let not that be called wickedness, which is not so indeed, but let every thing be weighed in the Balance of Equity, that judgement and Justice may be set up, and righteousness, and peace may run down, that violence be no more heard in the Land.  
For the day of God's everlasting love is come, and he is visiting the people in his tender mercy, 
Luke 1.78.  in causing his light to spring from on high, and his day to dawn, and he is discovering the skirts of the Whore, and the hour of her judgement is come; and all that do, or seek to uphold her, a day of woe, and desolation is coming upon them, a day of Sorrow and misery; and therefore all people be advised, to prise the loving kindness of the Lord, who by his light doth, and will let you see your states and conditions, and the intents of your hearts are known to the Lord; Is it not he that searcheth the heart, and tryeth the reins, 
Amos 4.18.  and declareth unto man what is his thoughts? Is not this Testimoony true, that Light is come unto you? and if it become to you, why will ye not walk in it? what can you expect if you prise not this loving kindness of God in Christ? who comes a light unto you, and letteth you see how it standeth between God, and your own souls.  
And therefore all people consider of your ways and your do, and while you have a time and a day of visitation from the Lord, prise it, and weigh things in the Balance of equity, and see whether these things be not so: consider, if the pretended Ministers of the Gospel in England have not been Antichristian? what was the Bishops who received their Ordination from the Pope, or at the least did derive their succession from him? If the root be unholy, what can the branches be? If the Pope be Antichristian, what were the Bishops? And if the Bishops were Antichristian, what can the pretended Presbytery be? do not they derive their succession from the Bishops? would not they be heirs of their Inheritance? would not they rule over the Conscience? what is the meaning of all this covetousness and pride amongst them? what's the meaning of this envy and stirring up the Magistrates to cast men into prison, and spoil their goods? what do they think this is the way to convert people unto God? or convince people that they are Ministers of Christ? surely nay, people may rather by all these things, judge that they are Antichristian Ministers; and so this doth but discover their folly and madness unto all men, who have understanding; But what is the matter they cry up the Gospel so much? do they that out of the integrity of their hearts? or is it not rather out of the deceit of their hearts? is it not because of their hire? would not those which are called Independants turn to the name of Presbyters, rather than deny their wages? and the Presbyters turn to Episcopacy, rather than deny theirs? nay, would not the greatest part of all those men, if the Magistrate so commanded, and they have that liberty granted them, turn to say, or sing mass, and call that Gospel, and cry it up too, rather than deny their hire, the Pope's wages? so that of all that may be said, or seen concerning them; 
1 Tim 6.10.  the love of money (which is the root of all evil) is the foundation upon which they stand; and that is the main thing they cry up in effect; for say they, take away the maintenance, and the Gospel will down; and as one of them said, (being asked if he preached for hire) This is the great quarrel of all, they have against us, to pull down the Ministry of the Word. What is this but to make it the Foundation? yea, and the chief thing that doth uphold them: But the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is risen, who will not only discover, but also shake their Foundation, and dread and terror, and amazement shall come upon them from the Lord God, who searcheth the heart, and tryeth the reins.  
Oh what a snare hath this Settled or rather forced Maintenance been! it hath not only enticed the Independants and Presbyterians, but the Baptists also have been partakers thereof; it is even but a remnant that have escaped drinking of this Cup of Abomination; and these few are set even as a mark for all the rest to shoot their arrows of envy and malice against: And when I considered, whether the People were clear and innocent as touching this matter; Alas nay, the People love to have it so; and therefore they cry for Laws to compel (themselves) to pay to their Ministers; and my heart pitied them that they should be so blind and ignorant, and I said, were it not better for them if they have a mind to maintain their own Ministers, that they did it freely, and of their own accord? Alas, what foolish people be those, who call for a Chain to be bound in, and a Rod to whip themselves, that so him whom they call their Minister may bind them, and whip them, and hail them to Courts and to Prison, and spoil their Goods when he pleaseth; But alas the ground of all this is Ignorance, 
2 Cor. 4.6.  for the People have been kept from the light, which should give unto them the knowledge of the glory of God; and who hath kept them from it but these Merchants of Babylon? have not they called it natural? have not they said, that that which reproveth for sin is a natural Conscience? and the Scriptures doth say, 
John 16, 7, 8.  it is the Spirit of truth; and so the People have been so foolish to give their money to be made blind, and to be led into the ditch, and so perish; But when I considered, that those Priests were in a great measure the cause of all these Abominations, and Wickedness (I mean those that go in Balaams' way) Then I began to admire the long-suffering and forbearance of God, who hath spared them thus long, and given them so many warnings, and visits by his Servants, that so they might return from their wickedness, and the evil of their do, that he might have mercy upon them, and do them good; but yet for all this, they will not return, but will do despite unto the Spirit of grace, and will cleave unto their Idols; it is not long ere the Lord will say, 
Gen. 6.3.  (as he once said concerning a People) My Spirit shall not always strive with man; and then Woe and desolation shall come upon them, & all that partake with them; Wherefore you Rulers, and all People, take heed that ye do not uphold them, after you see this their abomination, If you do ye shall not prosper, nor escape the judgements of God; and also take heed that you do not stop your ears against that which would let you understand and see their wickedness; for if you do stop your ears, ignorance shall not excuse you in the day of the Lord God.  
Object. But saith the People, our Ministers they christian our Children, and doth not that make them Christians? and it is possible if we do not hire them, they will not Cristen our Children, and will they not then be Heathens?  
Answ Then it seems your Ministers do that which the Ministers of Jesus Christ did not do (to wit) Sprinkle Infants, and call it Cristening or Baptism, an Ordinance of the Pope's making, and for which all the great sums of Money is given to the Pope and his Ministers, that you may have the name of Christians, which name as it appears to me, is derived from Sprinkling with Water, which some People call Cristening; and indeed it is possible if the Pope's Wages be taken away, than they will cease to Sprinkle the Children; but however this is my Testimony, that they have no right in equity and conscience to demand, (much less to force) a maintenance from those that do not hire them, nor approve of their Doctrine, as their Cristening, and such like things, which is not at all necessary to Salvation; but this is the thing that is necessary to Salvation, that Children be informed to the Light, God's Covenant, which is given for Salvation to the ends of the earth, which if they walk in it; 
Isa. 42.6. & 49.6.  they will come to know God, and Jesus Christ, which is life eternal, (though they never be christened) and if they be christened and know not him, they are in the state of Heathens, for the Heathen know not God.  
Object. But if every man may do as he will in those things, will not this bring all into confusion? do not we see that the granting the liberty of Conscience, hath brought much distraction in this Nation of England? and therefore we judge it best that all People be brought into a Conformity again, at the least let there be limits, and Laws, that no man may question our Ministers.  
Answ. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind, 
Read Rom 14. Ephes. 4.13.  for whatsoever is not of faith is sin; and the unity is in the faith; and whatsoever is out of the faith, is in the Confusion; and it is not the compelling of men, that brings into unity and fellowship, but the love of God doth, whose arm and power is stretched over this Nation, through whose love, Liberty of Conscience hath been proclaimed, which was long waited for; and this hath done no hurt to any but the Whore, and the Merchants of Babylon; and distraction and desolation is coming upon her from the Lord God, 
Read Rev. 18.  for strong is he that judgeth her. And so you that would have People brought into a Conformity again, and have Laws to limit the holy one again; this I say, you are such as have drunken of the Whore's Cup of abomination, and must drink of the Cup of the indignation of God, poured out without mixture: What have you forgotten since you yourselves desired Freedom, you that are called Presbyters? would you not have been from under the yoke of Episcopacy? and would you desire that yourselves, which you are not willing to grant to others? O ye hypocrites! how can you judge and speak against the Whore of Rome, 
Rom 2.21, 22.  and you yourselves guilty of the same thing; who would rule over the Consciences, 
Psal 78.41, 42.  and conform People to your faith, limit the holy one, that none may speak or question your Ministers; what doth the Whore of Rome more? she may laugh to see your folly and madness; what are you and your Ministers afraid of? that they may not be questioned: what have they done, that they are ashamed of? if they have done evil, is it not just that they should be confounded? and if they have done well, they need not be afraid; 
Isa. 33.14.  but fear surpriseth the hypocrites; and the sinners in Zion are afraid, for the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his jealousy burns like fire, and the torment of the Whore is begun, and her Merchants have cried, Alas, that great City, etc. and both they that help, 
Isa. 31.3.  and they that are helped, shall fall together; for the Lords Decree is sealed against Babylon and her Merchants, and his purpose is to exalt his own Name in righteousness, and break the peace of the wicked.  

Resol.  And having thus viewed and compared the Ministers of England, (I mean the Parish Teachers) with the true Ministers of Christ, in their Call, Practice, Doctrine, and Maintenance; and finding them clean contrary in all those things to the holy men of God; Therefore in the fear and dread, and presence of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, I bear my Testimony, they be Antichristian Ministers, & their forced Maintenance is Antichristian, for if it was such a great sin, in the Sons of Eli in the time of the Law, to force Maintenance, much more now in the time of the Gospel; And it is said concerning them, 
1 Sam. 2.16, 17.  because of this thing, (to wit) because they said nay, but thou shalt give it me now, and if not I will take it by force; wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord; and besides Christ is come, who is the end of that Priesthood, who had a Commandment to receive Tithes, and the Priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity also a change of the Law; 
Heb. 7.12.  and therefore this forced Maintenance by Tithes is not to be upheld, but testified against by the true Christians, who worship God in the Spirit and in truth; And to take away this forced Maintenance, is no way dangerous to destroy the Preaching of the Gospel of Christ, because he unto whom the Gospel of God is committed to Preach, must Preach it, 
1 Cor. 9: 16:  or else woe unto him, (it is not then, I will Preach unto you, if you will give me such a price by the Year) for a necessity is laid upon him, and he must Preach, or give in his Testimony, whether People will hear or forbear, he must not then confer with flesh and blood, but as Paul said, (so the Ministers of Christ should do) when it pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb, 
Gal. 1.15.16.  and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me, that I might Preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.  
And therefore all People upon the Earth, who understand and knows those Parish Teachers in England, are Antichristian Ministers, and their Cristening, and many such like things are of no necessity as to the Salvation of the Soul, but are inventions and institutions of the Pope in the dark night of Apostasy: 
2 Cor. 6.17  Come out from amongst them, and be you separated, wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread, 
Isa. 55.1, 2, 3.  and your labour for that which doth not satisfy? Come buy wine and milk without money, and without price, harken diligently that your Souls may live, eat that which is good, and let your Souls delight in fatness; mind the Testimony of God's Spirit, whether that be for you or against you, and weigh all things in the just Balance which God loveth, and slight not the day of your visitation, 
Prov. 11. i & 16.11.  wherein God proffereth his love unto you, to draw you unto himself with his loving kindness, who is come to gather his sheep together with his everlasting Arm, 
Ezek 34.  and to stretch out his hand against those Shepherds that have fed themselves and not the Sheep; his Indignation is kindled against them, because they have ruled over the Sheep of his Pasture with force and cruelty; therefore will he deliver his flock out of their hands, and they shall be a prey to them no longer, he himself will gather them together as a Shepherd doth his Sheep, and lead them into good Pastures, and feed them upon the Mountains of Israel by the rivers; and he will make all the places round about them a blessing, and they shall rejoice in his goodness for evermore: Many shall run too and fro, 
Dan. 4.12 Isa. 15. ●. J●. 3.23.  and knowledge shall be increased, and it shall even be fulfilled that is written, the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the Earth, as the waters cover the Sea, and Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting Salvation: and then shall people say, Salvation is not in the Hills or Mountains, but Salvation cometh from the Lord, and upon him will we wait; & then shall righteousness run down like a mighty stream, 
jer. 25.5, 6  and judgement and justice be established in the Earth; and Christ shall reign as King, and in his days shall Judah be saved, 
Isa: 25: 8, 9  and Israel shall dwell safely: and the name whereby he shall be called, is the Lord our righteousness, and he will destroy death for ever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the rebuke of his people will he take away out of all the earth; and in that day shall men say, lo this is our God, 
Isa: 35: 7, 8, 9, 10.  we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his Salvation for evermore: and then the dry ground shall be as a pool, and the thirsty as springs of water; in the habitations of Dragons where each lay, shall be a place for reeds and rushes; and the redeemed of the Lord shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; and they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall fly away: and then shall salvation, honour, and wisdom be ascribed, and given to the Lord our God, and to the Lamb, who alone is worthy, both now and for ever, Amen.  

A Serious Meditation upon the deal of God with England, and the state thereof in general.  
O England! thy day of visitation from the Lord, hath been exceeding large, and his deal with thee exceeding wonderful, when thou wast in distress and cried unto the Lord, he heard thee, and delivered thee from thy oppressors; but Oh how quickly hast thou forgotten the loving kindness of the Lord, and the deal of thy God Remember the days that are past when thou wast in bondage and slavery, and desired freedom to worship the Lord, and the Lord heard, and granted unto thee thy desire, and also made known the way of his worship within thy borders, in thy Towns, in thy streets in thy Assemblies hath the Lord proclaimed the way of life and Salvation, by his Children and Servants; but oh how hast thou requited the Lord for his loving kindness! how hast thou entreated his Servants with prisons, whippings, and revile! who bore their testimony against thy wickedness, against thy pride and covetousness, and Idolatry; but oh how hast thou rejected the counsel of the Lord! and hath chosen thine own ways, and followed thy own counsel, and hardened thy heart, and stiffened thy neck: even like a rebellious people, that would none of the Law of the Lord, and therefore thou must eat the fruit of thy own do, and confess that the Lord is just in all his ways, and righteous in all his judgements; for thou hast sinned against the Lord, in that thou hast not performed thy promises, which thou made in the day of thy distress; and therefore distress must come upon thee again, to bring thee to remember those things and repent, which if thou do the Lord will have mercy upon thee, and heal thy back-slidings, but if thou do not, but continue in thy rebellion, the Lord will continue his judgements upon thee; should not the long-suffering of the Lord lead thee to repentance, and his gentle deal with thee by correction, cause thee to understand that he loves thee? but if thou wilt not receive instruction, by all his gentle deal, but wilt go on in thy wickedness, what canst thou then expect, but the indignation of the Lord to fall upon thee? what dost thou think if thou continue in persecuting the Servants of the Lord, (to wit) those that tell thee of thy wickedness, thy pride and covetousness; dost thou think that that will turn the judgements of God from thee? surely nay, that will but hasten woe and misery upon thy own head; Oh what a day of visitation hast thou had! how many times hath the Lord delivered thee! and now it may be said by thee, as it was once concerning Israel of old; yea they turned back and tempted God, and limtted the holy one of Israel; they remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy: Is not this thy condition oh England? although indeed the Lord hath a remnant in thee, that do not bow their knees to Baal, nor pour out drink-offerings to the Queen of heaven; and this remnant are those which thou calls troublers of thy peace, which trouble thee much, like as Elia troubled Israel, and this remnant that woman Jessabel, (I mean thy false Church that paints herself) would have destroyed, that so her false Prophets which feeds at her Table, might not be troubled, but trouble must come upon them, and their peace must be broken; and although Jessabel cause a Fast to be proclaimed, yet God will execute his judgement in thee, and if thou say in thy heart, wherefore come these things upon me? for the greatness of thine iniquities are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare, for the Lord hath seen thy adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy Whoredoms, and thine abominations, on the hills, in the fields; Woe unto thee oh England, wilt thou not be made clean, when shall it once be?  
Oh! what a large profession hath been made in thee; what a talk of Godliness and Christianity, but alas what is found in thee? doth not pride and envy abound in thee? and hath not these things greatly displeased the Lord? and for this cause is the anger of the Lord kindled, which will devour the briers and thorns in one day, and in that day whither will you fly? and where will you leave your glory? you that have gloryed in professing the Gospel and Ordinances, and even made this a covering for your wickedness and abomination, who under a pretence of seeking the glory of God, have sought honour to yourselves, and to make your names great in the earth; is it not even thus oh England? and hath not thy Prophets that divine for money, and thy Priests that preach for hire, have not they flattered thee in thy iniquities? have not they cried, Peace to thy Rulers, even until the finger of the Lord hath broken forth against them, and they have been confounded; and wilt thou not for all this receive instruction nor correction, but still go on in thy wickedness and rebellion against the Lord? what wilt thou revolt more and more, and show more and more cruelty to the Servants of the Lord; surely than more and more of the indignation of the Lord thou must feel: what is it now become a trouble to thee to have sin reproved in thy gates? Dost thou make him an offender that speaks the truth? And do those men that testify against thy wickedness, break thy peace, the peace of thy Rulers and the peace of thy Priests? And do thy Prophets, that divine for money, & Priests that preach for hire, do they tell thee, that it would be a happiness to thee, if thou were rid of those men that reprove thee for thy wickedness? do not they even thus oh England? And do not many of thy People think and say the same? what would it be thy happiness to sin without reproof? surely, nay; for if once they whose souls are vexed with thy filthy conversation, were driven out of thee; then would thy misery come, & the Lord would make thee desolate, even like Sodom, & Gomorrah, which was overthrown, for an example of his righteous judgements unto all that would not receive instruction.  
Oh how is thy Silver become dross! And thy liberty become bondage! Oh how art thou gone backward, and not forward? even doting upon thy old Idols, and not content that they should worship them that have set their minds thereupon; but thou wouldst also, compel that remnant in thee, that are followers of the Lamb, for whose sake the Lord hath long spared thee, and yet thou art so foolish, and unwise, (as much as in thee lieth) to hasten on thy own destruction; what may wickedness be tolerated in thee, and not be reproved? Is this the liberty that thou now seeks after? wouldst thou have wickedness established by a Law, and the reprovers thereof to be condemned? Is it not even thus within thy borders, and yet for all this thou wilt lean upon the Lord, and say, is not he amongst us, no evil can come unto us? and cry peace, peace, even till destruction come upon thee from the Lord: Oh how often hath the Lord invited thee! and even with his love sought to draw thee unto himself; but thou hast refused his loving invitation, and grieved his holy Spirit from time to time: so that if the Lord say, as he once said, concerning Ephraim, it is but just; England is joined to Idols, let it alone; and then desolation and misery will come upon it; when I would comfort my heart against sorrow, it is even faint within me, to consider what warnings, from time to time hast thou had, and this thou hast, and dost account thy trouble; but greater trouble shall come upon thee from the Lord, except thou repent: Oh how hast thou chosen thy own ways and followed thy own Counsels, and would have Ministers of thy own making, and Prophets which would flatter thee in thy wickedness, and Prophecy smooth things unto thee, even the deceit of their own hearts, and this thou hast loved rather than plain and honest dealing, and now what shall the Lord do unto thee for those things? shall not he recompense thee according to thy ways, and do? and in that day thou shall confess to his righteous judgements. How have thy Priests stirred up thy Rulers against a harmless people! even like as Amazia the Priest of Bethel did, who complained against Amos the Prophet, saying, Amos hath conspired against the King, the Land is not able to bear his words; is it not even thus among thy Priests, Oh England! and alas what have this People done against thee, I mean the despised remnant which are called Quakers, what evil have they done, that thou art so mightily troubled? what do thy Priests say concerning them, do they say they are Heriticks, and such like? But how, when or where did they prove it against them, within thy borders? it is good for all thy Inhabitants, Oh England, to consider of this matter, and not imbrue their hands in the blood of the innocent; for of a truth the Lord hath raised this people up within thy borders, to make thee a happy and a blessed Nation, for even in him, in whom they have believed, the Nations comes to be blessed, even in Jesus Christ the Covenant, the light which is given for salvation to the ends of the earth, of whom they have born, and do bear their Testimony within thy borders, of which Testimony they need never be ashamed; which if thou shouldest always reject, and go on in thy Rebellion, thou wilt be most unhappy and miserable, even the worst of the Nations: and therefore it is my desire in the bowels of love, as being one of thy Inhabitants, who wisheth thy welfare, and happiness, that thou mayest seriously meditate upon the deal of God with thee, and upon his loving kindness which hath been, and yet is tendered unto thee; and that thou mayest return to the Lord, is the earnest desire of my soul lest it be said to thee, as Christ once said to Jerusalem; O England, England, thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy Children together, as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings, but you would not? Oh that thou hadst known in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes.   
The End.