●●●ETICKS, SECTARIES, and schismatics, ●…vered to be the Antichrist yet ●…ining, and the great Enemies of the Peace of this kingdom.  
●… Question rightly stated and debated. ●…paration to the great day of Humili●…ation on March 10. next ensuing.  
●… a Hint about Ordination, and the Covenant.  
●… them that call evil good, and good evil, that ●…esse for light, and light for darkness,  isaiah ●… 
●…e good, but if the Salt hath left its Savour, where●…e salted, it is good for nothing but to be cas●…●…oden underfoot of men.  Matth. 5. 13. with●…4. 34. 
LONDON, Printed in the year, 1647.   

To the right Honourable the High Court of Parliament.  
NOble Princes and Patriots, remember in all your laws and Ordinances, that as Jesus Christ 
Rev. 1. 5.  (who is the faithful witness, and will be one day for his truth and People) is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, and hath▪ made the Saints who are his Anointed ones (1 John 2▪ 27.) Kings and Priest to God and his Father, so is he the one only Law giver, who is able 
Rev 1. 6. Iam. 4▪  to ●ee● and destroy, and hath commanded the Kings of the Earth, i 〈…〉 ch his Anointed, nor do his prophet's harm, for he reproveth 
Psal. 105. 14▪ 15.  even Kings for their sak●●▪ If he have made them first and Prophets, who shall hinder them to offer up spiritual Sacrifices to God▪ ● Pet. 2. 5▪ And as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God to minister the gift one to another▪ as every w 〈…〉 e received it: 1 Pet. 4. 10. For every Scribe who is in 〈…〉 ted unto the kingdom of Heaven, bringeth out of his treasury things new and old, Matth. 13. 52. If the Saints as bottles be filled with new ●ine of the Spirit, they cannot but pour it forth 〈…〉 e their friends, that which they have seen and heard, and in 〈…〉 ns souls have tasted of the word of life they cannot but declare and speak, 1 John 1. 2. 3. compared with Acts 4. 20. John 7. 38.  
Have an eye therefore I beseech you, to the designs of such men who would engage you to cast up banks, that you might stop the 〈…〉ng of these waters, for these floods will carry all before him, and who ever persuades you to it, I tell you even weeping▪ 〈…〉 of the Lord 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 to give 〈…〉 to Antichrist, and the Image of the 〈…〉 that as many as will not worship the Image of the Beast 〈…〉 killed notwithstanding the dreadful do●m● 〈…〉 himself▪ Revel. 14 9 10 11. If any man do 〈…〉 Beast and his Image, and receive his mark in his for the 〈…〉 his hand, the same shall drink of the wrath of God, and they shall have ●o rest day nor night &c. Be wise now therefore, Oy●● Princes, be instructed ye jude's of our Earth, kiss the son lest he be angry and ●ee perish in the way, though ye have already steered our weather beaten ship, through many angry waves, and billows, and think you are come near to the fair Havens of peace and happiness as yet if instead of honouring Jesus Christ, and submitting to his royal 〈…〉 you shall be either flattered or threatened to set your 〈…〉 under any ●otin● or pretence whatsoever against the Saints, and to kick against the pricks, you will yet miscarry and split upon this Rock, and in all your debates and consultations shall be dashed in p●ices like a potter's Vessel, for whosoever shall full on that Stone shall be broken Grave Senators, consider the Holy Spirit. Zach. 12. 3. hath foretold that in the day of the Gospel, the Lord will make Jerusalem, (viz. the Saints) a burden some stone to all people, all that burden themselves with it shall be out it pieces though all the people of the Earth be gathered together against it●: Those men who stickle most against the Saints under the name of heretics and schismatics shall be discovered to be such themselves, but as our Saviour said, they are wise in their Generations, and they dealt with you herein as the crafty and ingenious Horse Courser, with his untaimed and 〈…〉 lie pranser, speaks ●●ire, streak●● and scratches him, whilst he be mounted into the saddle, and then he strikes, and spurs, and gallops, till he have broken him to his will: They be speak you as having a great power in the worship of God, over the consciences, of men, but I beseech you receive no honour from these men who thus cry up your power and authority that they may be honoured by you, and derive power and authority, from you again to be unrighteous judges both ●ver yourselves and other men, as their Reverend Fathers the Bishops were, they seek their own things and not the thing of Jesus Christ, but it concerne● their interest, by this craft they have their livings: and they know that if permission be once given to the Saints freely to make known the 〈…〉 of the Spirit, which hath wrought so mightily in them, their 〈…〉 of natural reason, though decked and ad●rned with systems 〈…〉 Philosophy, and school divinity, will not be able to 〈…〉 in competion with it, greater is he that is in the Saints, than 〈…〉 that is in the world, the teachings of the spirit, shall be more 〈…〉 full and effectual to take h●ld of the hearts of men, then all 〈…〉 works and writings of their▪ Postillers and Commentators can ●● these cannot speak so to the consciences of poor Christians as the Spirit 〈…〉 And the feet of such as can bring glad tidings of 〈…〉 to such poor souls are exceeding beautiful, and will be, 〈…〉 the opposition of these men.  
Most honoured worthies, pray observe with me, how Babylon the Mother of Harlots, Fornications, and Abominations of the 〈…〉 (which are chiefly spiritual and do concern our worship) 〈…〉 this name written in her fore head MYSTERY, her workings are and have been still MYSTERIOUS, hardly to ●● found out and traced, But I have endeavoured as a blood▪ hound to pursue her, for by those Characters of bloodiness you shall be 〈…〉 to know her, the beast whereon she sits is bloody coloured, her garments are died in blood, Revel. 17. 5. 3. 4 6. in her habitation is found the blood of Prophets and of Saints. cap. 18 24. her drink where with she makes herself drunk, is blood of the Saints, and the Kings, and Inhabitants of the Earth, have been 〈…〉 drunks with her wine; England, Oh England hath for●●●ly pl●id the beast with her, if not the beast under her on which hath sitten, and for this cause we have had of late, blood given ●● to drink, for we were worthy; let it, oh let it be so no more let not England again make war with the lamb, for 〈…〉 the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, Revel. 17 14. Suppose grave Senators those men so much miscalled were indeed such as they are represented to be, and their Presbyterian adversaries 〈…〉 their Churches without crime or Error (which is most 〈…〉) and so might justly cast them out t● yet since our Saviour Christ hath commanded, that the tares and the wheat should grow together till the barvest, what cruelty is this toward such men, 〈…〉 live peaceably among men, unblameable in their conversation, pay you tax and tribute, and in a word, do in all things which the Apostle Paul exercise themselves to keep faith and a good conscience towards God and men, what cruelty I say is it, that the Cit●… Magistrate should be incensed against them & should by all ways be solicited, not to give them a toleration that it, not to suffer them when they have so faithfully engaged for them: The field in the Parable must have some interpretation, it must have reference to Church or State, Christ would have them suffered somewhere, but their adversaries who pretend so much for Christ, are indeed in this particular as in many other things Antichrist, i. e. against Christ, he saith let them grow together, these men say nay, let them be pulled up, lamentable will the condition of many people in this kingdom, and other places be, if many choice young men and others, who are ordained by Jesus Christ to eternal life and glory, and have received a large portion of the spirit of Jesus Christ (the only teacher of his people) whereby they may edify and build others up in the most holy faith, if the mouths of these must be stopped for want of that empty and fruitless (as is conceived) Ceremony of Ordination, which the doctrine (peradventure) of the presbytery of Scotland hath taught, their consciences to startle at and deny: for in the I. book of the discipline of the kirk of Scotland commanded to be practised in the same Kirks. Anno Dom. 1641. under the head of Admission, this they teach. pag. 31. Other Ceremony than the public Approbation of the people, and Declaration of the chief Minister, that the person there presented is appointed to serve the Church. We cannot approve, son all be it, the Apostles used Imposition of Hands, yet seeing the miracle is ceased, the using of the Ceremony, we judge not necessary.  
If any gift were conveyed who would deny, nay, who would not rejoice to be partaker of it but whilst men see that this is but a vain Imitation of that primitive Apostolical Presbytety, who had received from Jesus Christ and could convey to others such gifts of the Spirit for the Ministry of the Gospel as have been lost whilst we have been under the power of Antichrist, and such as none of the Sons of men have received at this day, and therefore cannot bestow on others, they are exceedingly troubled in their Spirits, & can judge the ceremony at the least but a taking of God's name in vain: Let my counsel then (wise Counsellors) be acceptable touching these men, that as in all your Declarations whilst you had any need of them either in their Persons or Estates, 〈…〉 have engaged to be tender towards them; which tenderness they could conceive to be no less than a continued liberty in 〈…〉 several ways of worship, which they then enjoyed, and not after the less of many of their lives, and a parting with a good part of their lively. hoods for your preservation, an imprisoning of their persons, and a wasting of the remainder, by Attendance, suits, Fees, Fines, and such other charges as necessarily attend such a condition.  
And all this for the practice of those very things you seemed then to allow in them, when you thus time after time declared tenderness towards them, oh do not, do not thus keep promise with them, let not this ●e the recompense you give them for all the labour of love they have showed unto you, do not for the gratification of a few men, who from Zion college either vent their considerations contrary to your Ordinances, when they like them not, or send you Votes, Orders and Ordinances (though Sub●illy and mediately by the Assembly) at their pleasures, which you must confirm or be railed at in every Pulpit in the City, and have the 〈…〉 against you▪ and se●t crying 〈…〉 you for 〈…〉 such things, as I dare say not one of a thousand of them knows or understands, having a strong influence also by their Emissaries upon the adjacent Counties that they may concur with them in their destructive ways and actions, if these men can 〈…〉 you thus already, before they have any power in their hands, consider I pray what they would do, if power should be given them according to their desire, we have too lately bought repentance from their predecessors the Bishops at too dear arate all which I lay before you, and if you please to peruse this tract, you shall see these men proved the greatest heretics and schismatics in the kingdom at this day: And as touching these men who are so much reproached by them, you shall find them to be according to what they understand, pure in religion, having not the form, but the power of godliness in their public and private meetings, daily praying the Lord for you, innocent in their lives, inoffensive in their conversations, peaceable in the places where they live, and obedient to your just power. Our Lord Jesus Christ in all his goings out with them in th●se few last years, not only opening their purses, butts their very bowels and hearts, making them ready and willing to spend & to be spent for you, hath given both to yourselves & all the world in all ages to come, a sufficient demonstration of their harmlesseness, integrity & faithfulness unto you, and if you will not believe these speaking out on their behalf, neither would ye, if an Angel from heaven should come and witness for them. Now the God of wisdom give you to dis●erne betwixt truth, and error betwixt good and evil, friends and enemies, Saints and heretics: and to harken to the wise counsel of Gameliel, a great Statist concerning the Sectaries of those times: Acts 5. 35. 38. 39 with which I shall conclude, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do at touching these men, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or work be of men it will come to nought, but if it be of God; ye cannot overthrow it, least happily ye be even found fighters against God.  
I verily thought I ought to do many things against the name of 
Acts 26. 9 10. 11.  Jesus.  
And many of the Saints did I shut up in prison, I punished them oft, and compelled them to blaspheme, and I persecuted them even to strange Cities.   

To every Reader.  
I Have endeavoured in this discourse so far as the present opportunity and time would give me leave to undeceive thee: however to hint out Truth and a way to others, who have more leisure for prosecution: the stile is without quaintness, plain and familiar, that I might not speak to the meanest (for whom I mainly did intend it) as a Barbarian: If you please to cast your eye upon this word of distinction following, it may give you some light for the better understanding of the whole discourse, and being kept in memory will in some measure enable thee (if thou have any knowledge of the things of Christ) to judge of truth and error in reference to the several parties it makes mention of.  

A Church or an Assembly may be said to be true or false in respect  
1. Of their Foundation.  
2. Of their Members.  
4. Of their Ministry.  
4 of their Doctrine.  
5. of their Institutions or Ordinances.  
6. of their placing and exercise of power.   
Such Assemblies or Churches who have not God in Christ for the foundation or object of their worship, can in no sense be called true or Christian Churches, as the Turks who worship Mahomet, &c. And such as do lay this foundation may, in some sense be called true or Christian Churches.  
But then as they depart from the truth of Scripture either in their members, ministry, doctrines, institutions or Ordinances, right placing or exercise of power or Administration of Discipline, (if you please so to call it in any, some or all of those, so may they be) said to be more or less false or Antichristian, which is a building wood, hay, and stubble upon the foundation, as by the book of the Revelation, it appears Antichrist hath done in all Ages; all which must be destroyed with fire, I shall make no farther application: consider what is said, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.   

THE wisest of mere men hath said it, That there 
Eccle. 1. 9  is no new thing under the Sun, but that which hath been is at this day, and what is now shall be afterwards, if God prevent not: under base and odious names, Persecution hath in all Ages been the Saints portion. The Scribes and 
Mat. 23.  Pharisees in our saviour's time, boasted, that had they lived in the days of their fathers they would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets; yet these very men cruelly persecuted (and put to death some of) the Apostles, and Crucified Jesus Christ, who was the Lord, not only of the Prophets, but of life and glory too; though he himself did forewarn them of it, and so brought upon their own heads all the bloodshed upon earth, from righteous Abel to Zacharias: And I fear that all these things are coming upon this Generation; else, what may be the reason, that whilst those that are called, and faithful, and chosen in the 
Ier. 17. 14.  land, who have been with the Lamb, and who have through the power of the Lamb overcome that part of the Beast, (viz.) that Antichristian and Malignant power, that hath risen up against them at this time, in this Nation; whilst these I say, after all their travel and sorrow, in expense of blood and estate, are thinking upon the sweet fruit of their long endured hardships, and hazards, and peace, others have whet their tongues sharper than any two edged sword, and have dipped their Pens in the blackness, yea, and darkness of Hell itself, continually sending forth most railing and bitter speeches, and are thus afresh preparing war against them: If new troubles be not creating for these men; what mean those daily invective Alarms, (by such who are called the Ministers of Jesus Christ too) which from press and Pulpit, are rattled in the ears of our most worthy Senators, and other subordinate Magistrates in the Kingdom, incensing, and provoking them, contrary to their own judgements and reason, against such, who by Gods even miraculous blessing upon their weak endeavours, have been theirs, and the Kingdoms Saviours: Sometimes dashing Hell fire in the faces of their consciences to fright them (if possible) into the same persecution and condemnation with themselves; and then otherwhile, beseeching them, as they tender the Blessings, Peace, and prosperity of the Nation, that they would rise up in indignation against these heretics, Sectaries, and schismatics (for so they call them) the Seducers, and deceivers of the people to their utter extirpation; the old way of Satan, the great Seducer of the Nations, and all such who cleave to this present world, to besmear the faithful and godly of the land in all ages with names of ignominy and reproach, and so to fall upon them to their ruin and destruction: Witnesses of which Truth, have the prophets been in all Ages, yea, Christ himself and his Apostles, with all the faithful Martyrs to this yery day; whose accusations still were, these men are pestilent fellows, movers of sedition, ring leaders of Sects, broachers of strange Doctrines, teaching things contrary to the Law, Seducers, stirrers up of the people, drawing disciples after them, speaking against Caesar, troublers of the State, and the like; but the Saints are in expectation, that these men who thus resist the people of God, as sometimes Jannes & Jambres withstood Moses, shall not proceed much farther, & that their folly shall be made manifest to all: For this wicked one, and all such as act from him and for him, shall the Lord consume shortly by the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming, as hath in some measure been fulfilled already in our days, and shall be more and more, till Babylon be 
Revel. 18. 20.  wholly fallen, as a millstone to the bottom of the Sea, never to rise again any more, and till the Beast be taken, and with him the false Prophets, and be cast alive into the Lake of fire 
Revel. 19 20.  burning with Brimston. If new Gives and Fetters be not contriving for the Saints; why are the poor, misled, and ungrateful Citizens, so constantly hurried on with most troublesome and unwearied pains to remonstrate, Petition upon Petition, and act contrary to the privileges of Parliament, their own interests, and the kingdoms; little dreaming what a foundation they are laying for their own destruction, if affairs be transacted after their desires, numerously, and tumultuously, and now formally attending day after day at Westminster, as if they intended to force the Parliament to some unjust Laws or Ordinances against other men, for satisfaction of their own carnal lusts, and others who continually instigate and solicit them to this service: Saying in their hearts, we will not have this man to reign over us, Come let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours: Let us traduce these men, Petition against them, and every way make them vile and odious to the Magistrates and the People: That now they have subdued the Enemy for us, we may divide the places of Honour and Profit amongst ourselves; passionately, and with uncivil language, everywhere complaining of them, as heretics, Sectaries and schismatics, and such, who though they have ventured lives and estates for their preservations, yet because they differ, but (it may be) in some petty circumstance, or opinion from them, must be thought unfit to breath in the same common air with them, and to enjoy the common privileges and liberties of Native Subjects; though if any, they have most right unto them, as by birth claiming the same interests with others, and having redeemed them well nigh lost, by their own prowess and valour in the field.  
But to stop the rage of these unstable waters; For the waters upon which the Whore sits, are multitudes and people; and to still this out cry (if possible) let us consider who these people are, and whether or no indeed & truth, any such persons may be found amongst us, who are so called?  
We will first then inquire after the Names themselves, and see what they hold forth unto us, and what may be concluded thence.  
Secondly, We shall prove, that though the Presbyteriah Churches were truly constituted, and ordered according to the rule of the Word (as indeed they are not) yet maintaining any error either in judgement or practice, that the rest of the Christians in the kingdom, who join not themselves to them, cannot truly and properly be termed schismatics for this.  
Thirdly, we shall clear it (we hope) to every reasonable understanding that in case these names of heretics, Sectaries and schismatics be truly to be applied to any persons in this Nation, that themselves & no others do so properly deserve that name, and that they only make the rent and division that is amongst us: For these names we shall speak of them according to the Scriptures only, that foundation, upon which if we build, we shall stand fast like to mount Zion, which cannot be removed, and from which if we turn aside, we cannot but be shaken into dust, being built upon the quicksand of every unstable man's fancy, of whom the holy Ghost hath said, Psal. 30. 5. Verily man, yea, every man at his estate, his best estate is vanity, nay altogether vanity, and that to be laid in the balance, he is lighter than vanity; nay plainly, he is a lie: Beware then of men, especially such men (Woe be to them) who shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men, Who love the uppermost seats at feasts, who tithe Mint, and Anise, and cumin, and pass over judgement, mercy, faith and the love 
Mat. 24. Juke 11.  of God; our too much doting upon men hath forced this expression: to return then,  
Heresy is a Greek word, having its derivation from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which signifies to choose, so that it holds forth in the general no more than the choice of any opinion, either good or bad: So it was used amongst the Heathens, Vt non sum in eadem 
Tu●●ie.  tecum haresi, i. e. opinione, I am not in the same opinion with thee: Learned Passor saith, it's used in a good sense, Act. 24. 14. After the way which men call heresy, so worship I the God of my Fathers: the Religion of the Apostles appointed by our Lord Jesus Christ, was then called by those who were the strictest professors of that time, the great rabbis, and Doctors of the People, (but blind leaders of the blind) heresy, or a Sect; I wish that now, that which comes nearest to Christ's Institution, and his Apostles, were not so judged by the most of men, and those who think themselves the wisest too: but the world by wisdom knows not God, and this wisdom is no better than foolishness with God: You see briefly, what the name heretic Imports; the choice of an opinion not generally received; Though sometimes it falls out to be the truth, even the truth itself, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, even Christ himself.  
The next word, which is Sect, whence comes the common name Sectaries, a word now so much in use; and this is no other, than the Latin of the former Greek word, made into English, as you may see, Acts 5. 17. Chap. 15. 5. And elsewhere, where you find mention made of the Sects of the Saduces and Pharisees; and the original word is still {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the heresy of the Saduces and Pharisees, and so in the place fore quoted, Acts 24 14. the choice of Christ, and the true christian Religion is called a heresy; so that these two words signify but one and the same thing, only one is the Greek Word, and the other is the Latin of it, as you may see further in the 1 Cor. 11. 18, 19 Which place I allege, that we may find out fully the meaning of the last word which is schism, & hath its etymology from the Greek word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, Findo, to cleave, or rent asunder, as you may find it used in Matth. 9 16. Chap. 27. 51. Luke 5. 26. and many other places, so that schism is properly a separation or division in a body, whose parts were before united, and in Scripture signification holds forth a division, or dissension in Judgement, or opinion from others in what was before received and maintained together with them; there must be a union or Conjunction before this parting and division, according to the true and proper sense of the word, or else it cannot be a schism; the full understanding of the word you may have in John 7 43. and 10. 19 compared with 1 Cor. 11. 18 19 the two first texts tells us there was a division among the people: and in the last the terms heresy, Sect, and schism, are used promiscuously, and seem to signify but the same thing, as in ver. 18. I hear there are schisms among you▪ and I partly believe it; and in the 19 the Apostle renders the reason of this belief; for there must be Heresies, or Sects; or it must be so, for this cause, that those that are approved may be made manifest: So here you have all together, and hold out but the very same to us, or at most, that one is the cause, and the other the effect; because the choice of an opinion differing from others, is oft, and hath been an occasion to those that entertain that opinion, to diude from others in their practice: also thus, heresy hath usually in the ordinary sense of men, referred to the judgement, and schism to the practice.  
And because the Churches of the New Testament were every way true and sound, both in respect of their Foundation, Members, Ministry, Doctrines, Institutions, and Censures, in their primitive apostolical planting, therefore those that were once joined to them, and then chose out any opinion to themselves, differing from them, and upon that opinion made a division and separation in their practice, were in the true genuine signification of the words, truly and properly heretics and schismatics so called▪ but because the Churches of Jesus Christ straight after, & even in the Apostles time, begun to decline from their first purity, & every way, & to wax worse and worse, till the man of sin, mentioned, 2 Thess. 2. 3. 6. came fully to be revealed, which hath now been for many hundred of years, therefore such could not be heretics and schismatics: who after the Apostles time, and in succeeding ages took up opinions, which were contrary both to the Doctrine and practice of those declining Churches; which were now no longer the true Churches of Jesus Christ, according to their original Institution and Plantation, but the false and feigned Churches of Antichrist, which were to succeed and come in the room and stead of the true ones, as is clear by the whole book of the Revelations, which is mainly a prophetical History, and Narrative of the Rise, Reign, and ruin of Antichrist; where you may see how large his Territories are, & how far his power reacheth, especially in that I ext of Rev. 13. where it it said ver. 3. that all the world wondered after the Beast; and ver. 8. All that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the lamb's book of life. And behold these names are the men who in all ages have been accounted the heretics, Sectaries, and schismatics of the times; And these names are they, who are so esteemed at this very day; as is most evident to such; whose eyes are anointed with the eye salve of the spirit of God, to discern of things that differ, in reference to the present age wherein they live, which is confirmed every day by those who do come after them; so were the Waldenses reckoned in their times; the Wicklevites, our own country men in their generation; the Hussites, and the Jerman Lutherans in theirs, all esteemed, and Nicknamed heretics and schismatics by the people of that age in which they lived, but have been even ever Justified by the succeeding generations more and more; as being such who have been enlightened to depart from the errors of those times, and have revived, and uncovered some remnants and sparks of divine Light and truth, which had been raked up in the Ashes of the filthy Abominations, Superstitions, and Traditions of that Antichrist, the Church of Rome: and here by the way observe who they are, and whose poison it is▪ even of the devil and Antichrist, that men blasphemers, truly so called, spit out daily against New Light, not that it is indeed New, but the old Light and Truth newly discovered again, and cleared from those fogs and mists, which arose out of the bottomless Pit; happy is it for those 
Rev. 9 2.  men, if they sin of weakness, it may be forgiven; but if of Malice or wilfulness; let them remember, that all sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven, but the blasphemy against the Spirit (the Spirit of Light and Truth, by which Christ enlighteneth every one that comes into the world) shall never be forgiven neither in this life, nor that to come: i. e. not at all: Dear countrymen, consider that the Mystery of iniquity was not at his full height presently, nor did the man of sin grow up to his full age in a little time: neither was material nor Antichristian Rome built in one day (as it is in the Proverb.)  
It was the work of many generations to establish the throne of Antichrist; and it will require no small time to unthrone him again; the stones of this Babel must be pulled down, not all together, but one after another there are 7. several Angels who have their 7. several vials to pour out for the destruction of the Beast Rev. 16. and these all have their several times wherein to effect their works: and as divers ages before us, have had their Chair in this service; we also in our generation must have ours, and that not the least, though probably it may be the last, else most (if not all) who have laboured to unfold this mystery, have been deceived, though very much of it be yet undiscovered to the most: now if we look at the manner of his destruction, the Apostle tells us, 2 Thess 2. It shall be by the spirit of the mouth of Christ, and the brightness of his coming: the Spirit and the Light are all together Instruments in the hand of Christ, to bring to pass this great destruction; and whoever speaks against the one must blaspheme the other: Let those men then, who boast of the Spirit, beware how they reproach the Light, lest they grieve the holy spirit of God in others, and quench it in themselves; which is believed to be done in some of them already, their abilities being blasted, in regard of what they have been heretofore: I have insisted awhile in opening of these Names, that men may see how improbable (if not impossible) it is, that those men who were but a few years since the greatest Champions, against Bishops, cross, surplice, and Altar-worship, and such things as are now generally sworn against, as Antichristian, and after this day the highest opposers of Antichrist in this kingdom, in the remainders of him, those that were formerly looked on as the great Puritans, and non Conformists, the terms of reproach then in use; how unlikely I say is it, that these very men should be now turned heretics, Sectaries, and schismatics, any other than what they then were, after they have so faithfully served the Parliament in this great cause of Religion and Liberty, with the loss of blood and estate: they are indeed such heretics &c. as they before mentioned, who have in all ages▪ opposed the ways of the man of sin in his Erroneous Doctrines and practices of Idolatry, and Superstitions, and no other, which shall be further manifested in the ensuing discourse; yet before I pass to the second thing▪ give me leave to answer an Objection, which may be framed thus:  
Object. If those that are called heretics, &c. be no other than such as have opposed Antichrist in all ages than you seem to confound our Churches, with that of the Church of Rome, and how weak this assertion is, who sees not, when we are so long since departed from her, and are therefore hated by her, and are ourselves deemed to be heretics and schismatics for this, in her account.  
Answ. True it is, there hath been in many things a departure from the Church of Rome, wherein she is erroneous, and amongst them England hath had a share, but there are yet many things wherein she agrees with her, the extirpation of some of which hath too lately cost her dear; and she will be sooner or later at farther expense, and charge in the same kind; for the casting out of those other things that remain amongst us, if Jesus Christ by the wisdom and tenderness of this Parliament, or otherwise find not out some expedient for prevention.  
Quest. But you will say, these are but words, if there be such things indeed, discover them; we are upon a Reformation and have engaged ourselves by Solemn Covenant, each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation, in all duties we owe to God and man.  
Answ. If it be so, Solomen tells you its better not to vow, than (having vowed) not to perform▪ remember the invocations and attestations of the great God, as the searcher of all hearts for your performance, and for your help herein; and for Answer of this Question, I shall insist only in one particular, which as a fountain, if you will follow, will run out into many streams, and doth in a manner contain in it all the rest; and it is this, a Spirit and principle of persecution, contrary to the great command of Jesus Christ, which he calls the royal Law of love, and to the great duty of Christians, love, which is termed the fulfilling of the Law, by this saith Christ, shall men know ye are my disciples: i. e. real Christians, if ye love one another, this is the duty which in Scripture is everywhere pressed, and was slighted and neglected generally by all before our troubles and sorrows came upon us; the want of this was the true cause of that bitter and cruel persecution of the godly, in regard of their consciences, by the Bishops and their adherents in their Popish and Antichristian Courts of High Commission, Commissaries, and Chancellors; and the want of this love, was the cause too of our oppressions in our estates in the other Courts of the Kingdom, (both legal and illegal) so that all these were turned into gall and wormwood, and our Laws by wresting of them, were instead of remedies, no better than nets and snares unto us, and the further men went this way commonly, the more were they ensnared, and entangled.  
But you will say, these Courts are now removed with their judges, there is now no more fear of these, these yokes are taken from off our necks, wherefore do you yet complain?  
I answer, Though we have fought, and sworn down Archbishops, Bishops, with all their rabble and dependants, and so are likely to receive no further damage by them, and these yokes which they created for us are castaway; yet if the same Spirit and principle remain within us and amongst us, it will act the same things, though in another form and shape, and Persecutions, Fines, and Imprisonments, to the utter ruin of Families, shall yet be the portion of the Saints in this Kingdom, the beginnings whereof, as they are felt by some already, so are they feared almost by all, and are too visible to every discerning eye: And if you yet further demand of me what this Spirit and Principle is, which will thus manifest itself to the persecution and destruction of the innocent and faithful in this Kingdom;  
I answer, It is that very spirit of Satan and Antichrist most contrary to the Gospel spirit of love, which is described by the Apostle in 2. Thes. 2.4. which is yet remaining amongst us, even this, that some of the sons of men, sit as God in the Temple of God, exalting themselves above all that is called God, or is worshipped: Every Saint is a Temple of the living God, 2 Cor. 6.10. Whoever then, whether a particular person, or a collective body in this temple exalts himself above God, or that which is worshipped, which is nothing else but God, for God only is to be worshipped; this is the Antichrist: the meaning is, when God hath given Commands, Rules, and Directions in his word to those that are his in Jesus Christ for his worship and service, and Jesus Christ hath sent his spirit into their hearts to persuade them of the force of these commands, and of the manner of this worship, (For his sheep 
Ioh. 10. 45.  hear his voice, and will not follow a stranger;) if there be any man, sort, or rank of men whatever, that take upon them to judge of these commands, and to interpret these rules for others, so as to enforce obedience from others to their interpretations: this I conceive is the Antichrist, who sits as God in the Temple of God, (the Spirits and consciences of men) 
2 Thes. 24.  and so exalts himself above all that is called God, or worshipped, i. e. will be obeyed in the place, and stead of God, and above him, God commanding one thing to the conscience, and He another. This is Popery, and the very top of all Popery, the very life, blood, and spirit, that runs through the whole body of it: for what makes the Pope but this, that he takes upon himself, to be the infallible Interpreter, and judge of the Scriptures, and all the Papists that do not acknowledge him so to be, yet place this infallibility somewhere, either in the Church, or in a general counsel, and when that cannot be had, the Pope with his Consistory, are in the place of it, so that the Papists do all of them, profess an infallibility of judgement, and interpretation of the Scriptures, and this makes them to impose upon men according to their own pleasure, yet with some show of truth and reason.  
But for other men amongst us, who do in their own words deny this infallibility of interpretation, and yet to impose upon others what they do interpret, as if they were infallible; as it is in itself ridiculous, so is it in my thoughts an aggravation of the crime, and makes it more Antichristian in them, then in the Pope himself; who peradventure acts in this according to what he holds, but these, just contrary to what themselves believe, and profess.  
I could tell you of a people, who deny themselves infallible, yet use to determine all their ecclesiastical controversies, and they are very large (for In Ordine ad Spiritualia, i. e. in reference to the Church they can take in much) by a national Assembly, and in a vacancy of that, by a Committee or Commissioners chosen from amongst them, with a chairman, or a Consistory rather, answering that of the Cardinals with the Pope, to whom if obedience be not yielded, process is made to Excommunication, and after that to confiscation, banishment, and death; whether this copy do not answer the original pattern at Rome, you that know, judge, and tell me, if it be not as like it, as ovum ovo, and one apple to another: Now if this be that Reformation which men so earnestly pursue, that which is the very spirit, life, & soul of Popery, which hath given denomination and being to it, by which it hath grown up, and come to his full height & strength, by which it is upheld to this very day, whereby it brought into the world all its heretical & hellish doctrines, all its damnable & Paganish idolatries, all its apish & childish Fopperies, Ceremonies, & Superstitions, and from which it acted all its cruel burnings, hangings imprisonings, murders, massacres, Rebellions, Treasons, Powder-plots, and what ever men can call detestable and Devilish. If I say this spirit must yet be kept amongst us, put it into what form or beautiful shape you please, call it by what name you will, let it act out under what notion of Religion, or Reformation you can imagine, it is the same Antichrist still, & no other: And now fellow Covenanters, I think it is time for us to lay our hands upon our hearts, and consider where we are, what we are doing and whether we are going, if instead of having our faces Zion ward, we be not posting back again to Rome, though not in the old road. If it be so (as alas, it is too true) be not deceived, God is not mocked; it's not crying, the 
Ier. 7.4.  Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, Reformation, Government, suppressing Sects and Heresies, these vain words will not save us, whilst we foment this spirit of Antichrist, this principle of hatred, persecution, & division in one another, that some of us must judge for ourselves, and others too in the things of Christ, that we must interpret the Word, as if we were infallible, (when we acknowledge we are not so) and must impose our own fullible senses, and interpretations upon others; and in case of nonconformity, must force obedience from them: whilst we thus bite, and devour one another, let us take heed that we be not devoured one of another, this Reformation is not after the Gospel; God is love, and he that dwells in love, dwells in God, and God in him; and Christ so loved us, as to lay down his life for us, leaving us an example, that we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren, and not to take away the lives of the brethren because they differ from us; our Lord Jesus Christ and his Ministers are of another mind all the New Testament over; the weapons of our 
2 Cor. 10. 4  warfare, saith St. Paul are not carnal, but mighty through God, and not through the arm of flesh: So 2 Tim. 2. 24, 25. the servants of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men, patient, with meekness instructing them that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance: And Tit. 3. 2. showing all meekness to all men; look also into the 14. chap. of the Romans; and you shall see of what different judgement and practices the Saints were there, as they held contradictions, so did they practise them too, one would eat, another would not eat; one would regard a day, and he did this to the Lord, i. e. Because he was persuaded the Lord had so Commanded, another would not regard a day, and he did this to the Lord too, being persuaded the Lord required no such observations; friends here were contradictions amongst Saints, in things of the highest nature in point of Worship; most of the old Puritans, and Nonconformists of this Kingdom, know well what it is to keep or regard a day; they can tell you that the most spiritual worship, and the highest and chiefest service of Jesus Christ, was concerned in it, and was meant by it; It was surely no indifferent thing, as we have been persuaded to believe, matters of religious cognisance were contained in it, the Apostle speaking of it, as done unto the Lord, men observing, or not observing, as conscious of that duty, which the Lord had enjoined them, or of that liberty wherewith Jesus Christ had made them free; Now what is the Apostles council in this controversy, doth he advise to censuring, condemning, fining, Imprisoning, or killing one another; no such thing, but the contrary: let not the weak Judge the strong, and let not the strong despise the weak, Chap 14. ver. 3. which he confirms with several reasons, every man stands or falls to his own master, ver. 4. according to that of our Saviour Christ, Math 23. 8. call no man Rabbi, for one is your master, and all ye are brethren; and ver. 10. we shall all stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ; and then ver. 12. every one shall give an account of himself to God; and Chap. 15. 1. The strong aught to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please themselves; and ver. 2. let every one please his neighbour, for good to edification, which he backs with this enforcing reason, ver. 3. for even Christ pleased not himself, and the conclusion of the whole matter is this, ver. 7. Wherefore receive you one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of his Father; if Christ love, receive, and embrace you, although of differing Judgements and practices; go ye and do likewise, do ye love, receive, and embrace each other. These Scriptures are full, and if opened, would spin the thread of my discourse longer than I intended; but there is very much in them, if the Lord would give us an understanding that we might believe them● Friends, they are our gospel, and I shall leave them with you; as those which shall one day rise up in Judgement against such as have embraced them, and yet walk contrary to what they report unto us. Undoubtedly the means that Christ hath appointed to propagate his gospel, and to advance his kingdom, is the sword of the Spirit, and not the sword of St●●le; by this it is that Antichrist hath so enlarged his dominions, as you may see, Revel. 13. 7. and therefore hear his Doom, which shall surely be accomplished on him, and all such too, as in this kind take part with him, ver. 10. that leads into Captivity, must go into Captivity; and he that kills with the sword, must be killed with the sword; here is the patience and faith of the Saints, according to that of our Saviour, Matth. 26. 52. they that take the sword, shall perish by the sword; and before I shall pass from this, I beseech you, as you tender the coming of Jesus Christ his Kingdom, which you daily pray for; and the peace and welfare of this your own native kingdom where you live, that you would seriously consider with yourselves, whether this usurpation of power over the bodies of the Saints, in respect of spiritual things, (as Antichrist himself hath done in all ages) may not be the true and adequate cause, why the Lord hath suffered the sword to bathe itself in blood, and to make itself drunk with the blood of the slain in these parts for divers past, and for many more in the parts beyond the seas; so Rev. 16. 6. They have shed the blood of Saints and Prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy: and what improbability is there of Peace amongst us, whilst this devilish spirit of hatred and persecution (for the devil was a murderer from the beginning) which hath given Antichrist his denomination, life, and being, doth yet abide, 
Rev. 9 2  is nourished and maintained by us?  
And so I come to the second Point, wherein I shall be brief, which is:  
That though the Presbyterian Churches were truly constituted 
2. Point.  and ordered according to the rule of the word (as indeed they are not) yet maintaining any error either in judgement, or practise, that the rest of the Christians in the Kingdom, who join not themselves to them, cannot truly and properly be termed schismatics for this.  
I have told you formerly in this discourse, whilst I opened the several words, that according to the true nature of the word, schism signifies a disunion, division, or cleaving asunder of parts, which were before united in a solid body: Let us apply this to the business in hand, and schism is nothing else but a division▪ or separation in judgement and practice of persons from some Church or body, to which they were before united: and when I pray was it that those who are now called heretics, Sectaries, and schismatics, were joined together in a body with those who are termed Presbyterians, and who put these names upon them? Who can with any face affirm that ever these men were members of any Presbyterian Churches in this Kingdom of England, or ever had union or communion with them as such? how can they then be said to make a schism or separation, to part away, or divide asunder from them; who knows not, that they are but of yesterday, if so they may be said to have yet any being to this day, some few it may be shuffled together after a fashion here in this great City, but few or none else, throughout the Kingdom, and who knows not also, that many of these men, who are thus reproached by them, were such as they are in their opinion and practices long before there was any noise, hope, or expectation of any Presbyterian Government or Churches to be erected in this Kingdom.  
Object. Neither will it help them to say they were Members of the Church of England in the Bishop's times, and the Church consists of the same Members still.  
Ans. But it's notoriously known, that many of them were 
I.  not so, having long before discovered filthiness in her skirts, and if upon the common abjuration of those Officers, Offices, and ways, the same filthiness, Tyranny, Superstition, &c. being generally by Discourses, Conferences, Arguments, Debates, Laws, Ordinances, and Oaths made known to many more, ther have according to their Protestations, and Covenants forsaken those ways, and are come up farther in a Reformation than the common light of the State will yet reach to, who shall lay this as a crime unto their charge, when as 
☞  the higher powers, through a special hand of Providence engaging men in a solemn Covenant for Reformation, have necessarily forced them hereunto?  
I answer, if the Members be such (as indeed it is too true) this cannot but be a Just cause of breaking from them, though men for such a separation, ought not to be termed schismatics (for schism is always a causeless separation) whilst they depart rather from their corruptions, than their Communion; being ready to join with them in such acts of Piety, wherein they are not obliged to profess or practise, what they are persuaded is Eroneous; but I conclude this argument with this Assertion:  
That to leave the Church, and to leave the external Communion of a Presbyterian Church, is not one and the same, but two distinct things: the first is done by ceasing to be a Member of the Church, i. e. by ceasing to have those requisites which make & constitute a man a Member of it, (viz.) Faith and obedience: the second by refusing to communicate with such a Church in her public worship and service of God: I affirm this as a certain and undoubted truth▪ that there is no necessity of communicating with true Believers in evil actions; when men are Convinced, know, and believe they are so; nay, I assert farther, there is a necessity herein of separation from them: and men may without scruple, forsake and renounce the receiving and practice of some opinions and observances, the which your Churches hold, and in which they do communicate, but I maintain, that this is done without heresy or schism; because they have cause to do so, and no man can have cause to be a heretic or schismatic; and so I pass to the third Position, which is:  
That in case the name of Sectaries & schismatics be truly applicable 
3. Point.  to any persons in this Nation, that themselves and no others can so properly deserve that name; and that they only make the rent and division that is amongst us; my reason is, because these men endeavour to force and compel others to the opinion and practice of such tenants, as themselves maintain for true, when others are convinced they are false; a thing themselves did laetly much complain against, and which was hateful and detestable in the old Episcopacy, but is of a sudden grown very laudable, and lovely in our new presbytery; I shall hold forth this truth in these two Assertions, which I shall place as bulwarks, to defend these poor harmless Sectaries, from all the force the Presbyterian enemy can raise against them.  
1. That not every separation, but only a causeless or needless separation from the external Communion of any Church is the sin of schism.  
If this Position be not sound, there can be no justification of the Protestants separation from the Church of Rome, nor of those eminent Saints, who have in all Ages born witness against the errors of that Church.  
2. That Antichristian spirit and principle of persecution, which makes some men to impose on others, under penalties, a necessity of professing known errors, and practising known corruptions, is a sufficient, just, & necessary cause of separation, and that this is the cause which Protestants allege, to justify their separation from the Church of Rome: now that divers things practised by the Presbyterian Churches are errors, known so to be to those that depart from them: None without the highest breach of charity can deny, nor with less impudence affirm they endeavour not that others should believe the same, or suffer.  
All that men forsake in them is only the belief, practice, and profession of their errors: And for men not to forsake the belief of their errors, having discovered them so to be, is impossible, and not to forsake the practice and profession of them, is damnable hypocrisy. Let them free their Churches from requiring the belief, practice, or profession of any error, or whether they will or no, they must free such as depart from them, from being schismatics: for Schism there cannot be in leaving their communion: unless men were obliged to continue in it: And man cannot be obliged by man, but to what either formally or virtually he is obliged by God: For all just power is from God▪ God the eternal Truth, neither can nor will oblige us to believe the least, and the most innocent falsehood, to be a truth, that is, to erre● nor to profess a known error, which is to lie: Thus you see that whilst they require the belief, practice or profession of any error amongst the conditions of their Communion, the obligation of men's communicating with them ceaseth, and so the imputation of schism, and the names of Horsticks and Secta its vanish into nothing, but lie heavy upon themselves for making men's separation, just and necessary, by requiring unnecessary, and unlawful conditions of their Communion; either let them prove then, that they err not at all, or forbore those odious names, or at least apply them rightly (as they ought) to themselves.  
If men would be themselves, and would be content that others should be so in the choice of their Religion, the servants of God, and not of men; if they would allow that the way to Heaven is no narrower now, than Christ left it; if all men that believe the Scriptures, would free themselves from prejudice, and passion, and sincerely endeavour to find out the true sense of them, live according to them, and require no more of others, but to do so: who doth not see (sith all necessary truths are plainly and evidently set down in Scripture) there would of necessity be amongst all men, in all things necessary, unity of opinion, unity of love, and a spirit of mutual toleration: By which means all schism and heresy would be banished the world, and those wretched contentions, which now rend and tear in pieces, not the coat, but the Members and Bowels of Christ (which mutual Pride & Tyranny, cursing, killing, and damning, would fain make mortal) should speedily receive a most blessed conclusion: By this means indeed, should the Lord be one, and his name one in the Nations, which oneness is not meant of any outward form, but of the oneness of love, and affection in the spirit: doubtless, at this day, the most vehement Accusers, are the greatest schismatics, and those who talk of Uniformity, do drive at tyranny, and will have peace with none, but their slaves and vassals.  
By a late learned Antagonist of the Church of Rome, (and that whilst the Prelates were in their pride) it was truly said, Nothing is more against Religion, then to force Religion, human violence may make men counterfeit, but cannot make them believe, and is good for nothing, but to breed form without, and Atheism within. Besides if this means of bringing men to embrace any Religion, were generally used, as if it may be justly used in any place by those that have power, and think they have Truth: Certainly, it cannot with reason be denied, but that it may be used in every place, by those that have power as well as they, and think they have truth as well as they, what could follow but the maintenance perhaps of truth, but perhaps only of the profession of it in one place, and the oppression of it in a thousand; what will follow, but the preservation perhaps of unity, but perhaps only of uniformity in particular States, but the Imortalizing of the great and lamentable division of Christendom and the world. Therefore what can follow from it, but perhaps in the judgement of carnal policy, the temporal benefit and tranquillity of temporal States and Kingdoms, but certainly the infinite prejudice, if not the desolation of the Kingdom of Christ, and therefore it well becomes them who have their portions in this life, and serve no higher State than that of England, Scotland, or Ireland, (nor this neither no farther than they may serve themselves by its) to maintain by Worldly power and violence their State inframent Religion: But they that the indeed lovers of Christ, of Truth, of the Church. of mankinds, ought with all courage to oppose themselves against it as Antichristian, and a Common enemy to all these.  
They that know there is a King of Kings, by whose will and pleasure Kingdoms stand and fall, they know, that to no King, or State, any thing can be profitable, which is unjust: (our experiment is too near us at this day; The desolations of our State are witnesses hereof,) and that nothing can be more evidently unjust, then to force weak men by the profession of a Religion, which they believe not, to lose their own eternal happiness, lest they lose their temporal Estates and quietness, there being no danger to any state from any man's opinion: unless such, by which disobedience to authority, or impiety is taught: unless this bloody Doctrine be joined with it, that it is lawful for the Magistrate by human violence, to enforce men to his own Religion: Oh let not our Magistrates in this, take part with the scarlet Whore, who for these many Ages hath daily sacrificed thousands of poor innocent Christians, under the name of heretics, Sectaries, and schismatics: doubtless, if our Lord Jesus Christ himself would have submitted to the expositions and interpretations which the Priests and Doctors had at that time given out upon the Scriptures, they had never crucified him, and put him to such open shame: But because, that he and his apostles after him would according to that new light, which they had received, endeavour to set up a Reformation (all which was yet no other than a clearer, and fuller Declaration of what the Scriptures did hold forth) above and beyond the light and understanding of these men, who were no other, than the Divine presbytery of those times, therefore received they such hard measure from them, and suffered as Blasphemers and heretics under them, and by their censure; We have a law, and by this law, he ought to die, Joh. 14. 7. Pilate (though the supreme Magistrate) was no other but their Executioner then, as the civil powers have been in all Generations since to this sort of men, who under a pretence of holiness, have daily imbrued their hands in innocent-blood.  
Before I end, there are some Texts of Scriptures, which seem repugnant to what hath been asserted, and would be answered, as,  
Object. That in Tit. 3. 10. Him that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; this Text placeth a power somewhere, both of judging heretics, and proceeding against them.  
Answ. I answer, True it is in the Primitive and Apostolical Churches; amongst the rest of those gifts, which were poured forth by Jesus Christ upon the Saints, this was one, discerning of spirits, 1 Cor. 12. 10. but this gift amongst others in the apostasy, and falling away of the Churches (which was foretold by the Apostle, 2 Thes. 2. 3. and 1 Ioh. 4. 3. where the holy Ghost saith expressly, that instead of the Spirit of Christ, the spirit of Antichrist should come, and was already) was lost; and because of the want hereof, the Saints, whom God hath stirred up to bear witness to the truth in their several Ages, ever since have unrighteously suffered, been persecuted and put to death, under this notion and name of heretics.  
Secondly, In case some Heresies may be so gross, that even to this day, he that runs may read, and the Saints according to that small measure of the spirit, which they have received might judge them so to be; yet this text belongs to the Church as their portion, and not to the civil Magistrate, as a Magistrate; and what censure or punishment soever this rejection was, it was to be executed by the ecclesiastical, and not by the civil power; so that to apply such texts as this to the power of the Magistrate, is one of the most gross, and palpable wrestings of Scripture that can be, and yet is too common amongst the Gentlemen of the Jus Divinum Tribe in their discourses, printed, and unprinted, as I myself not long since (before the House of Commons at a public Fast) heard that of Rev. 2. 20. Because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel, &c. which was written to the Angel of the Church of Thyatira, either weakly or wilfully alleged, to justify their power (viz. the Magistrates) in spiritual things, by which you may take a scantling of that gift among them.  
Thirdly, Supposing Churches with this gift of discerning, and so this power among them, yet can it not be lawful for them to proceed against men who hold Heresies (nor indeed can they be properly so called) unless they have acknowledged, and professed the contrary thereunto before, and so have departed from that truth, which in their Communion they maintained; which appears from this next verse, to that we have in hand, Tit 3. 11. where the Apostle saith, that a heretic is self condemned; {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} i. e. that light which he had formerly received, doth now judge him & condemn him; as it was in Julian the apostate, who was forced to confess at last vicisti Galilee: I conceive men, who never made any more profession of Christian Religion, than what they have been passive in from their forced baptism, and education, having at no time attained to any thing, which hath been so much as like a New birth, or change in them, and so were never reckoned, or esteemed by Saints among the number of Saints, or admitted into their fellowship, or communion; such men (what Tenets, or errors soever they take up) are rather to be accounted profane persons, or Atheists, than heretics: As it were improper to call either a Jew, or Turk a heretic in Scripture-sense, though they deny Christ to be the Son of God: which I confirm from that place of 2 Pet. 2. 1. where the Apostle mentioning false Teachers, which should being in damnable Heresies; he saith, they were such as did deny the Lord that bought them, i. e. though their Consciences had received such Convictions from the spirit that Jesus Christ was the Lord and Saviour of the world, and so had given themselves up to him as such, yet they afterward brought in those Doctrines which denied this again.  
Object. The next place Objected, is Rom. 13. 4. where the Magistrate is said to be a Minister of God for wrath upon him that doth evil. Now if you add to this, Gal. 5. 10. it appears that heresy is an evil work, being there reckoned among the deeds of the flesh, and so punishable by the civil power.  
Answ. These places thus united, I suppose, do enforce the Objection, and make it stronger than I have yet anywhere met with it. But I answer, there are in the same, Gal. 5. 20, 21. several other works of the flesh numbered up together with Heresies, which yet I conceive, the civil power cannot possibly take cognifance of, as hatred, emulations, envyings, and the civil Magistrate can no more draw his sword against the One, then against the Other, no more against heresy, then against hatred, emulation, and envy.  
Secondly, for that place of the Romans, it was a Scripture written to the Christians, living under heathen Magistrates; th●se surely had no cognizance of the several controversies, or opinions, which might fall in amongst the Christians, in the profession of their Religion, which the Heathens so much hated, and therefore heresy cannot fall under the power of the sword, there mentioned; and if so, let all men judge, how truly and properly these men apply the word; and whether this be not a wring of the Scripture like a nose of wax and a perverting of it to their own, and other men's destruction: I should have spoken more fully to this point, but that I find myself prevented by Mr. John Goodwin, in his late book called Hag●●mastix, from pag. 58. to pa●. 66. A piece worthy the sight of such men, who inquire after Truth.  
One great question yet remains, to which I shall speak a word or two, and so end.  
Q. If heresy & Schism be of such a doubtful nature, and so hard to be found out; if heretics and schismatics prove to be such, whom we least suspected; if that gift of discerning, whereby they should be known, be lost in the apostasy of the Churches; if the imposing our own fallible thoughts, and expositions upon the consciences of other men be Antichristianism, and a setting up of the man of fin; what shall 
2 Thes. 2. 4.  be done in regard of our Solemn League and Covenant, whereby we are engaged to endeavour the extirpation of H●r●sta and schism, and to bring the Churches in the three kingdoms to a uniformity, & c.?  
Answ. I say concerning the Covenant, in reference to the Presbyterians, as they sometimes spoke of the Church, in reference 
Smect. Sect. 17.  to the Prelates, they dazzle the eyes, and astonish the senses of poor people, with the glorious name of the Covenant: This is the Gorgans' head, that hath enchanted them, and held them in bondage to their Presbyterian errors; All their speech is of the Covenant, the Covenant, neglecting in the mean time, God and the Scriptures. It matters not for other things in the Covenant, as you may see in the next answer, so as men will but walk according to the same (in their interpretation) in an outward uniformity of Religion, and in a visible form of Church Government, and worship, than which nothing can be more against the power of godliness, which consists in an invisible, and internal breathing, panting, working, and acting of the soul toward God, for God is a spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth: All 
Ioh. 4. 21.  outward Forms imposed, do but ordinarily, and commonly breed atheism and hypocrisy: It were well therefore that the civil powers would be careful, how they engage carnal men in Religious Covenants, and about spiritual things.  
I answer, we seem very zealous for extirpation of that which is neither in our cognizance nor power, and for profaneness, and such things as are against the power of godliness, which in the same clause we covenant against, and against which the laws of God and men are in force; and which are certainly and undoubtedly in the cognizance of the civil power, and for which he must give an account to God; how doth every one cry out upon the neglect of these? whose eyes, and ears are not full of the Reelings, Railings, Belchings, Vomitings, Swearings Cursings, Lyings, Stealings, Brawlings, and Fightings of Drunkards, Liars, Adulterers, Whoors, profane, graceless, godless persons? and yet these are altogether, or in a great measure unpunished, due execution of Laws against these were a right Reformation indeed, acceptable to God, and all good men: Sin, open, gross, palpable sin, doth so abound everywhere, that no just man can walk up and down, without vexing his righteous soul, for the unclean conversation of the wicked: Remember who those men are (reproved by our Saviour, Matth. 23. 24) that thus strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.  
I answer, That we are in our several places and callings, to endeavour against these, (in like manner Art. 2.) now God calls us out against these men, (in case we could discern them infallibly) not with a sword of steel, but the sword of the spirit, the word of God, which is mighty through God, to convince gainsayers, and the servant of the Lord must strive no otherwise then thus, as I showed before; If men will but truly and faithfully (as they have opportunity,) hold forth that light they have, to others, to turn them from their errors, and in other things walk as Christians; I dare say, they have done all that God requires of them in this case, so as they may boldly look God in the face, at the great day of appearing: and the Covenant (Sano sensu) can have no other interpretation than this.  
To shut up all, I doubt not, but I have at least wise opened 
Conclus.  a way to let in truth amongst us as concerning this particular, and to engage others, who may have a greater portion; both of time and strength to vindicate, & maintain what hath been asserted; and if these things which are written, be not yet convincingly satisfactory to each ingenuous, and non-pre-engaged Reader; Let there be for all parties, Independents, Brownists, Anabaptists, an equal liberty, of Debate, Conference, Discourse, and press with the Presbyterians, if each of them be not able to prove from Scripture, their own way and practise to come nearer to the pattern of Truth, than the Presbyterian, (though I suppose none of them to be exactly according to the Rule, for it's reserved for the glory of the new Jerusalem 
Rev. 21. 27  to have nothing that defiles, or is a lie to enter into it) I am confident they will desire no Toleration; and if they do, than you must necessarily conclude with me, it is most equal, & that the Presbyterians are the greatest heretics (as being in the choice of their opinions further off from the truth of Scripture than the rest) & the greatest schismatics (as practising according to those opinions) that are at this day in this Nation.  

A Question for a Kingdom to Answer.  
A Kingdom hath three parties into which it is divided, and these three are distinguished by three notions, prelatical, presbyterial, Independent, two of these grew into one, against the other one Party, which was more great and considerable than these two, and overcame it; And then these two, that (as one) overcame the third, resolve back into two again: And one of these two endeavour now to overcome the other: Upon this, let it be considered, whether that one party, which was at first, overcome by two in one: (Now since one of these two are dissolving, and suppressing the other, that made one with it) Be not likely to be the overcomer, and prevailing party over both these?   

A Question for a Church to Answer.  
A National Church was once Episcopal, and seeks for extirpation, and suppression of a few that were called heretics, and schismatics, and Nonconformists to it, by Imprisonments, Banishments, &c. and yet these few, and inconsiderable Party, increases, and prevails against all this power, and national Government.  
Upon this, let it be considered, Whether a new national Government, armed with a like power, and proceeding against a far more numerous party, called heretics, Schisma●icks, and Nonconformists to it; be able to extinguish these, upon the experience, of the insufficiency, & unsuccesfulness, and weakness of the same power, and force, exercised to the same end, and design as before.   
FINIS.  REVEL. 16. 
Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.  Verse 17. 
Thou sayest I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.