Freedom of RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, OR, The jubilee of ORDINANCES. Now all set free from their long Bondage under the Paenall Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances of Men.  
Wherein is held forth, That Worldly Governments( Parliamentary or Military) have nothing to do in the Churches of Christ, neither ought to impose upon any, in any matters of Faith or Worship; and that the Churches have nothing to do with the Governments of the world, but onely to submit to them, Rom. 13. 1. though in the hands of wicked men, and unbelievers.  
Contrary to the Opinion of the Papists, Praelats, Erastians, and others: who confounding the Powers of the Church and commonwealth( which are distinct) form an ecclesiastical Persecuting magistracy, and a thirdly carnal politic ministry.  Oportet esse Haereses, 1 Cor. 11. 19. Haeretici exercent Ecclesiae sapientiaem. Tyranni paetientiam. Prosper. Lactant. justi lib. 5. cap. 20. 
Religio cogi non debet, verbis potius quam verberibus res agenda est, ut sit voluntas. Nemo a nobis colit in vitus, inutilu enim est Deo, qui devotione& side caret.  
Defendenda religio est, non occidendo, said moriendo. non saevitia said patientia. Non torments, said hortamentis no●s age●… s. Si sanguine, si torments, religionem defendere velis, jam non defenditur illa, said violabitur, nihil enim est tam voluntarium quam religio. long diversa sunt carnificina& pietas, nec potest aut veritas cum vi, aut religio cum crudelitate conjungi.  Micha 4. 5. 
All People will walk every one in the Name of his God, and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.  Joshua 24. 15. 
And if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your Fathers served, &c. but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord  
Printed in the year since the Incarnation of our Lord God, Jesus Christ, blessed for ever, 1654.   

 map of England 
A TYPE OF ENGLAND.    

freedom of Religious Worship, OR The Jubilee of Ordinances, Now all set free from their long Bondage under the Paenall laws, Statutes and Ordinances of Men, &c.  
GReat and marvelous have been the workings of God in England( a Nation saved mightily by the Lord) such as deserve the highest praises, admirations, and hallelujahs of Saints. Such a Scene of Providences hath been acted in the midst of these three Nations, England, Scotland, and Ireland,( as upon a high The●tre of Glory) as hath put all the World in an amaze, the famed whereof hath been transported into all Lands, so far as the Sea hath any waves; for both Sea and Land hath seen the dreadful glory of the Lord, the wonders of God, the works of his right hand, such as have not been seen in the World, since Jehovah did wondrous works in the Land of Ham, and terrible things by the read Sea, when he brought his People out of the Egyptian bondage. By weak and contemptible instruments( the Parliament, the new model) God hath broken to p●eces all the opposition of the mighty people at home and abroad( for all Nations round about have been( and yet may be) against England) and laid in the dust the pride of the terrible ones, discovered all their plots contrived with the greatest policy and secrefie. Who would have thought England could have stood to this day, considering the variety of plots abroad, of divisions, contentions among ourselves at home? yet now, scarce the least print of war to be seen any where, such plenty and abundance every where, which is admirable. No Nation upon Earth can compare with England, in which Christ hath so many Churches, his Palaces of delights, his Houses of State and Honour) for mercies, for Victories for privileges for providences; God hath gloriously arisen in dread and Majesty, most magnificently he hath been displaying the banners of his power and greatness: in his mighty contendings for us by Sea and Land, against Enemies of all sorts professed, disguised. Can such a structure of glory as this is be laid in the dust? If God should cast it all down, yet would he out of the dust and ashes of it ere●t one more glorious? should be destroy us( so whom he hath dane so great things) yet would he out of our blood cause to spring up another generation more fitted to his great designs( even as out of the slaving the Witnesses, Rev. 11. shall spring up the greatest glory that ever the world saw.) But as yet, nothing hath been able to stay his Chariot wheels, or hinder him in this Circuit of his glory, which he is to go on in to the ends of the Earth, rejoicing as a giant to run his race; and Rome, France, spain, and all Nations guilty of the blood of persecution, shall sooner or later frele this day of his power. The mountains( the powers of the Word) shall all m●l before his glorious presence, and the nearer the coming of Christ is; the more shall the Earth tremble and be as the chaff of the mountain before the wind, and as a rolling thing before the whirlwind, Isay 17. 13. But the mountain of the house of the Lord, shall be in the last dayes upon the top of the mountains. Isay 2. 2, and the nearer the sun of righteousness approaches, the greater shall be the glory of holinesse upon the Sain●● and Churches. Let not us of this generation admire our attainments, but be humble; the glory of the ne●● will shane us, and put it all down, and in comparison of the● we shall be but dwarses.  
What is yet in the womb of Time( whether an Es●y of persecution may not come forth) we know not; Secret things belongs to God. We can but speak of things as they are brought forth. The wisest men in these dayes have been non plust, the deepest politicians confounded, not knowing what to think or say, We should be unbelieving, and think too low of Christs designs in the world; if we imagine we are come up to the Top of the glory of them. We should be unthankful, if we should not aclowledge with all praises, what God hath been doing in England, Scotland, Ireland, against the Anti-christian, persecuting State. It is no ordinary piece of business that God hath been doing in England, but a matter of very rare importance, and which holds proportion with the great esfusion and expense of blood that hath been  shed. But all comes short of what Christ intends yet further to do( and not one jot of any promise shall be left undone) in the world; for all that hath been done in England, is nothing to what Christ hath to do in the world, though he may make England his threshing Instrument to thrash the Nations for their oppressions and persecutions. For here first he hath begun to break the Bow, and the spear of war; here he hath crushed the great Leviathan, and saved us from the Lyous mouth, from the horns of the unicorns, Psal. 22. 21. and he will not ungirt his sword from off him( let him choose Instruments, whom, and where he pleaseth) till he hath taken full vengeance of all the bloody, persecuting, oppressing powers of the world, Popish, Protestant, or Turkish.  
We are now dividing the spoil of those Prayers long since put up, and which have seemed long to lie registered in Heaven for many Ages. We may say, Christ hath given us not to the one half( as Herod offered his Herodias) of what we asked, but beyond all we put down in our Petitions. And whatsoever it is that the Saints are now praying for at this day in order to Christs kingdom, shall most certainly be accomplished, let it seem never so improbable, unpossible to worldly wise and rational men. Onely let us not be mistaken in the time of Christs great designs in the world, and the nature of them, calling those times the kingdom of Christ, which are scarce worthy to be called glympses of that glory. For this work in England may be compared to some Pictures that have a donble Face; look upon one side of them, and that represents the Face of a beautiful Virgin; one the other side, an ugly owl: So look on the one side of this work, the Face of Providences is very glorious and beautiful; on the other side may be seen such abundance of self Interest, selfe-Advancement, as seems to deform all the glory and lustre of Providences.  
Our work now, is to be praising for pa●● providen●●s, to submit to present Governments, to prepare for future trials, which yet may attach us.  
Let us look back, and compare our prayings, contendings ●ese fifteen yeares last past, with the series of providences, and 〈◇〉 God hath gone on in many strange and various methods 〈◇〉 〈◇〉( such as none can trace him in, and which have 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 men) yet we shall find a sweet harmony and 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 between our Prayers and Gods providences. What 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 have we seen with in the compass of one year, 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 a drop of blood spilled) such as ●arnall reason 〈◇〉 given 〈◇〉 for lost? and yet in them all, we see the pill 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 of cloud( which hath gone along with our 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 and Armies all this while, when weakest and low 〈◇〉 appearing, going before us, and conducting us; and 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 change until now, Anti-Christs power hath been on 〈◇〉 hand. The great Parliament pulled down, the high 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 of Babylon in this Nation, whose foundations were very ancient, whose structures were compacted with the 〈◇〉 power, policy, learning, pretences to Religion that 〈◇〉 of man could device. The last Parliament also( though lock●d on as an abortive) struck down one of her highest pinnacles, viz. Marriaged by the Clergy; a mere Popish device, not having the least warrant in Scripture, being onely a civill thing, not Religious, Ruth, 4, 9.( and so belonging onely to the ●●sagistrates Office) which yet the Pope( the head of Babylon who confounds all things Civill and Religious) hath 〈◇〉 made to be an ecclesiastical business, and so Baptized it with the name of one of his Seven Sacraments. And probable it is, succeeding Parliaments may still pluck some Feather or other out of the Whores power and pomp, until they leave her bare and naked. In the same methods and degrees that her risings were( for that Beast rose out of the Earth, Rev. 13. out of earthly, temporal, magistratical power) shall her fallings be, but more violent and quick. Every Age will discover somewhat new of her whoredoms, and it may be the holy Ghost in the number 666. Rev. 13. 18. doth point at the year 1666. wherein some notable and clear discovery of her false worships( of the mark and name of the Beast) may be made, than ever was before, and then many things may appear to be of her, which now we little think to be so, but go for currant worship. Let who will put their shoulder under( as some, even godly men, in every Age have done) to keep up some piece of Anti-Christ, yet every stick of the glory and order of her stately Throne shall tumble down, and not a ston left upon a ston of all that faire and admired edisice. What a terrible hot vial already hath been powring out( and so long as the vials are powring out, nothing will be, but strange confusions and alterations in the world, until the seventh vial, which shall be the coming and appearing of Christ) upon ecclesiastical revenues as Bishops, dean and Chapters Lands, tithes, &c. also upon Kingly and magistratical power, so sar● as any way subservient to the Clergicall pontifical power, which Bullinger ranks under the sixth vial powred out upon the River Euphrates, Rev. 16. Quia Euphrates Babylonem m●nieb●●, commoditates afferebat. Significatur ergo hic per Euphratem opes, munitiones, commoditates,& vectigalia( quae sacra vocant) Roman● Ecclesiae. But a late worthy Author( who hath made a holy and humble Essay upon the Exposition of the seven vials, in a book entitled, Generation-worke) more truly shows the force of that vial to light upon the great and va●● Turkish Empire. However those things may not yet be so clear, yet certain it is, the powring out of the vials will produce such strange, and unexpected effects, such a shaking of all the Interests of men, as will much trouble many great pretenders to Christs Day, such as the Scribes and Pharisees were who seemed with greatest earnestness to long for the coming of the messiah in the Flesh, of whom they were the greatest opposers.  
God hath now extraordinarily raised up a Government, in which is fully summed up and comprehended( as may be 〈◇〉 in the model itself) all the old principles of Liberty and propriety( in opposition to Tyranny, Praelacy, and persecution) that we have been so long contending for in blood. Nothing is left out of those Interests that are so dear to us. But the first born of them all, and that which Crownes all the rest, is Liberty of Conscience( now a fundamental of Government) in the things of Gods Worship, all paenall laws, Statutes, and Ordinances being made null and void, and so all persecution for differences in Religion( the rock upon which so many Monarchies have been shipwrecked) wholly taken away, and removed. What more can be desired in any Government? if blind zealots, fawning and persecuting spirits do not supplant it, by engaging afresh the powers to impose in matters of Religious concernments. Its blessed to see powers inviting, and exhorting people to attend Ordinances public and private,( as in the late sweet Declaration, March 20. 1653. and as it is prophesied it shall be in the last dayes, Micha 4. 2.) but force and compel, they cannot, without offering a sacrilegious violence to holy things.  
And how can any, not somewhat Popishly and Praelatically affencted, be discontented at a Government, so every way tender, and that affords its shadow of protection equally to all living in subjection to its Civill laws. Needs must it be the spirit of Pharaoh( pursuing escaped Israel) some of the old malignant Praelaticall designers,( seeking by new plots to bring us back to the old house of bondage under Tyranny, Praelacy, and persecution) who conspire against, and labour to corrupt the principles of such a Government.  
Let us look about us to other Nations, groaning under heavy persecutions; or look back upon our own condition under the late prelates, and how should all the hearts and souls of the Saints, all the Churches of Christ, ring with praises to Jehovah, to enjoy such a liberty of worship in England, to see such a day of Jubilee to all Ordinances of God, now all redeemed from the laws and Ordinances of men, under which they have these many hundred years prophefied, as it were in sackcloth, and been as the vessels of the Sanctuary in Babylon?  
Two things have made some( especially of the Clergicall stamp) so much formerly to cry up regal Power, viz. The more effectual suppression of heresies; and the advance of the carnal Power and Interest of the Clergy, who in all Nations almost have such powerful influences upon the souls and consciences of men, that they Rule all, Church and Commonwealth, souls and bodies of men, and whatsoever state( for those deep students of Machia●ill, by their correspondencies, easily p●y into the humors, constitutions, Interests, tempers, inclimations of all Civil Governments) doth not comply with their politic and worldly interests, they pronounce dreadful excommunications against them, or sand forth some Ravali●● w●th the Popes benediction to stab, or plot some Gunpowder treason, or execute some Irish Massacre for the propagation of the catholic Cause, or suggest some Scottish Invasion in behalf of kirk and Covanant.  
Toleration i● indeed much cried out against by rigid spirits, who would have every mans conscience brought to their statelast, whereas they themselves can easily conform to any Religion the State is of, and be for a Ma●e book to day, and a Common-Prayer-book tomorrow, and a Directory the third day, &c. like Paulet, marquis of Winchester, who served K●ng Henry the eight, Edward the sixth, queen Mary, and queen Elizabeth, and was of the Religion of them all; and being asked, how he could stand in so many changes answered, Ortus sum ex Salice, non ex Quercu, I am made of a Willow not of an oak. A godly man will be most rigid against his own personal errors and evils, the wickednesses of his own heart, which he will be daily persecuting to Death. by the constant renewed actings of repentance, and Faith in the blood and merits of Christ; bu h● carries such a spirit of gentleness and meekness towards all others,( therein resembling Christ) that he seeks to reduce those that are out of the day of Truth, by holy instruction pure and heaven'y conversation onely, no rule he finds to ve●, molest, fine, imprison others for any dissent whatsoever, from the Christian Faith; yea, though it amount to the rejection of Christ, or the blasphemy against the holy Ghost. If men would but look upon Toleration( as it is opposed to persecution) in the glass of Scripture, it would appear no such ugly thing as men have imagined but to be most consistent with all the rules of Government both in the Church and in the World.  
Let any Christian sober minded man weigh and ponder these Co●fiderations.  
1. Such as pretend to a coercive power in matters of Religious worship, what would they compel men unto? It must be either to false worship, as Turkes, Papists, Praelats, &c. do; or to true worship. They ought not to false worship; they cannot to true; for God will have none, but such as worship him in Spirit and Truth, John 4. Such enforcers to worship must be godly men or wicked. For one godly man to impose upon another, is great pride: is against love and forbearance. For a godly man to impose upon a wicked man, is unchristian. For a wicked man to impose upon a godly man, is Tyrannicall. Men may pretend the good of others, so the Idolatrous Heathens did pretend the good of Christians, in forcing them to worship their Idols. Lactantius, lib. 5. cap. 20. answers, Illi in persequendis nobis fingunt se nob●● consulere, nos ad bonam mentem vel●e revocare, non est beneficium quod ing●ritur recusantibus. Forced Religion is no Religion. Christ cares not for multitude of seeming worshippers, but for sincere worshippers, though few, but two or three, Mat. 18. His worshippers must not be compelled by laws, but by Love. again, who are they that Magistrates should compel? It must be either those of the Church, or those of the world. Those of the Church need not be compelled; those of the world ought not to be compelled to Prayer, baptism, Sabbath, &c. Christ abominates hypocrites of all others, and will men force such to holy things, whose incense is abomination? Compulsion makes a world of hypocrites; Liberty discovers them. Paenall laws may keep up a hypocritical uniformity; but they will never change mens hearts: Hypocrites will still be Hypocrites, and Saints will be Saints still.  
2. No Basis of worldly Government can be more honourably, rationally, justly, firmly, safely laid, than upon Liberty of Conscience. Where that is taken in as a fundamental, hardly can ever that Government miscarry or prove tyrannicall. The common Opinion of the world is, Suffer toleration, and Government cannot stand; Just so the Jews, Suffer this man, Christ, and the Romans will come and take away our Nation. That very course they thought to save their Nation by, they lost it. So forcing all to one and the same Religion to politicians seems safest, but it hath been the breake-neck of the strongest Governments. All Governments are alike lawful, by Gods Words but that Government is most complying with the Word of God, and so of the best and strongest constitution, that is least forcing, or persecuting, and which yields the most universal influence of Justice, and protection to the persons, estates, liberties of all men, who keep within the bounds of Civill Peace, and Order. The more forcing any Government is, the less Christian it is. No Religion is dangerous to a State, but that which forceth. The Amorites, who were Heathen, suffered Abraham( one of a different Religion from them) to dwell peaceably in their Country, Gen. 14. 13. The wise and Potent States of Holland— by long experience, have found no danger, but much increase of wealth and Trade, to accrue by the permission of all Religions. The Jews, that were once the most Persecuting Nation, are now become as vagabonds in all Nations. The Religion which the Gospel teaches, is consistent with all kinds and forms of Governments whatsoever; for it praetends to no outward force and compulsion, but principles men to render due subjection to all higher powers.  
3. Idolatry, false-Worship, heresy, doth not deprive men of their common Birth right to the privileges of the world. God hath given the Earth to the children of men, Psal. 115. 16. to wicked men, to unbelievers, and false worshippers, and a right they have( a civill right, though not a covenant-right) unto the good things of it( as well as the godly) of which nothing can dispossess any of them, but onely such acts as are against the light of nature, as disobedience to Parents, murder, buggery; or such as are destructive to the good of human Society as Thefts, Adulteries, Rapes, Felonies Burglaries, Oppressions: or such as strike at the order and peace of civil Governments, as Treason, Sedition, Rebellion. The Jews indeed had a Law to cut off Blasphemers, false worshippers,( and yet that nation was most addicted to Idolatry, but such commands do reach the Nations of the Gentiles, no more then those commands of making no league with the Nations. Deut. 7. 3. Iudges 2. 2. for the Gentile-Nations may make war or peace with any Nation, according as their national and common Interests do most require. Neither may one Nation of the Gentiles make war against another Nation upon the account of Religion solely. What was the issue of the Popes holy wars against the turk? of the Spanish Armado sent to reduce England to the obedience of the See of Rome? of the Bishops war to set up the Common prayer-book in Scotland? of the Scots war against England, to set up their Covenant-reformation and suppress Sectaries, schismatics, heretics. How sharply did God rebuk those high pretenders( the Scots) and break their Bow in the day of battle, even to astonishment.  
4. It is not in the power of any man to convince another mans Conscience. One mans Conscience is for a seventh dayes Sabbath,( which was constantly observed by the Church at jerusalem, forty years after the Death of Christ, even till the destruction of that City; for the Jews converted, and unconverted at jerusalem, observed all one Sabbath.) Another mans Conscience is for a first dayes Sabbath( which they call, The Lords Day, because of Christs Resurrection upon that day; whereas there is not the least command in Scripture( which holds out onely one Sabbath under Old and New Testament) to keep a Sabbath with any respect to Christs Resurrection. more than to his Crucifixion and Ascension; and from this mistake, came up the old Easter-superstition.) One mans conscience is for Baptizing the Children of a whole Parish, and Nation; another mans, of believers children onely: Another mans, of confessing believers onely, who makes out their being in the Covenant of Grace by a work of grace upon their hearts, and so professing Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet all these are Brethren, agreeing in the famed saving principles of the Gospel, the Father, the son, and the holy Ghost, Sacraments, Faith, Repentance, justification, Resurrection of the body &c. again, one is a mahometan, another a jew, another a Papist( who all agree in persecution;) one denies Christ ●o be true God, another to be true man( affirming his very fresh, once Crucified, to be upon a thousand Altars at once) whereas no Faith is saving and sanctifying, but that that eyes Christ at God-Man, the eternal son of God, ye● born of the Virgin Mary, which Faith to work in any, none can challenge power, no more then to command the Seas, and the Wind, for the spirit blows where he listeth, and works this wonderful belief where he pleaseth. As for the common Faith of those things, its thinking onely, not believing; fancy, not Faith; and the same persons that talk of Christ, would believe Mohomet as much, had they been educated under his wicked, Ceremonies. For what, alas; is most of the Religion of the world, but Force, custom, and Education? Some again blasphemously, question whether Scripture be the Word of God( though miserable deluded souls they are, that cannot see the transcendent glory that shines in holy Scripture( the power of God, and the wisdom of God to our salvation) above all the writings of men whatsoever, which are no more worthy to be compared to scripture, then a glow-worm is to the sun) but who( notwithstanding the infinite Truth, and excellency of it) can persuade a mans Conscience, and make him subscribe to the truth of it, which Faith onely acknowledgeth, and is belonging onely to the sovereignty of Christ to work. Now to persecnte, kill and slay such unbelievers( who are reserved to blackness of darkness, without repentance) what rule of Christ for it?  
5. Whatsoever threatens force and violence, is not of the lamb, but an appurtenance of the Beast and the Dragon. Christs Commission is, go and Teach; Anti-christs, go and Force. Christs ambassadors are not sent out with Whips and Pillories, racks, fines, and Imprisonment, &c. fitter all for the Religion Mahomet, and the Pope, than the sweet Doctrine of Christ, who will have no forced worshippers, no imposed Orninances. The weapons of the Gospel, are wooings, beseechings, entreaties to accept of Christ, and to be reconciled, and they are mighty, through God, to pull down strong holds of blasphemy and unbelief. But never did Christ or the Apostles incense and provoke Magistrates against any sort of rejecters of their blessed Doctrine.  
6. Forcing men against their consciences what doleful effects hath it brought forth, as we may see in Francis Sp●ra,( who after his recantation, and subscription, for a long time together, endured a very Tophet in his conscience, and was a picture of one in hell) and in Dr. Knaus( whom Luther mentioneth) who miserable cried out, that he had denied Christ, and saw him pleading with the Father against him( though that was a most Satannicall delusion, contradictory to the Gospel, misrepresenting Christ, whose proper office, and onely business in Heaven, is to be a Mediator and Advocate to plead the cause of poor guilty sinners with the Father) and so at last, after many lamentable and dreadful outcries that he was damned, he became his own Executioner. Cranmer also was forced to subscribe, but the Lord was merciful to him, and recovered him, so as he witnessed to the Truth with his blood, making that hand first feel the fire, that had so unworthily subscribed. Many more examples of that kind there are, of men who through fear have gone against the light of conscience, which if it once be set on fire, no fiery furnace, no racks, torments in the world like it; nothing but the infinite satisfying blood of Christ dropped on it, can quench and put out that fire.  
7. How unsuitable to the holy and spiritual method of the Gospel, are fines, Banishments, Beatings, Imprisonments, &c. Those usually harden men, procure credit and authority to their H●reticall Doctrines, and multiply Disciples and Followers to their persecuted Opinions, make them more obstinate, rather then convince them, which is the design of the Gospel. Persecution doth but raise and heighten sturdy and generous sperits as King James wisely ob●erves in his Book to the Prince. To persecute error, is to put the livery of Truth upon it. The Bonds of Paul were as famous as his Preaching. As much of the glory of Truth hath shined out of Prisons, as out of Pulpits; people are apt to inquire after, and examine what they hear others fuffer for, which else they would be regardless of. Its Satans policy to raise up persecution, even against Error, that so he may spread it, and bring it into request. Never did persecution extinguish any Error, for it is no way of the Gospel. The Gospel reaches to consume Heresies by the fire of the Word, not to make laws, De comburendis Haereticis, as the Pope doth. The Gospel will not have mens lives, estates, liberties, exposed to ruin, because of mens unbelief, or disobedience to those ways of worship it enjoineth. The Gospels work, is not to meddle with men money, and coffers,( in case of non-submission to its blessed Ordinances) but to deal with mens minds and consciences, sweetly to insinuate, persuade, 'allure mens hearts. The Gospel doth not set up any Inquisition-house, stocks, Pillories for despicing its commands, but as it offers Christ freely upon the easiest, reasonablest terms to all poor sinners, so it denouneeth the hottest wrath to all rejecters of Christ, or unbelievers,( that trample his blood and merits under their feet) the blackest doom to all that worship the Beast and his Image, warning men upon pain of eternal damnation, of being cast into the lake of fire for ever, 2 Thes. 1. 8. 9. Rev. 19. 20. The very dust of the feet of the poor despised Apostles, shaken off against Christ rejecters, Mat. 10. 14. was more terrible then all the ●ortures of the Hellish Inquisition house, which the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus have gloriously triumphed over, through Faith, and the hope of glory in them.  
8. Liberty of Conscience, is the most Gospel expedient for uniting of Saints, a thing so desirable to all the godly. Experience shows the sad and doleful divisions which uniformity hath bread. All the learned Treatises, subtle Arguments that have been writ pro and con, about Episcopacy, Ceremonies, common-prayer-book, parochial and national Churches, Ordination, &c. could never convince either party to this day. What heart-burnings, animosities, seditions in inferiors? what pride, disdain contempt, undervaluing in superiors, and others of the State way did such Paenall enforcements to uniformity beget and nourish? How did the episcopal man in his time. slight the Presbyterian; and the Presbyterian the Independent? How bitter was one way against another, Brethren contending against Brethren( and that oft for very panctilio's) and so insulting, domineering one over another, labouring one to overturn another, as each had the favour of the Civil Sword. Now all may be brought at least to put on more amiciblenesse and sweetness to each other, if not to a nearer close.  
9. What Law or Statute had the Doctrine and baptism of John Baptist, and Christ,( which was accounted but a Sect●●y the Scribes and Pharisees, as pure worship is now accounted by the world) all the time of the Apostles and Primitive Churches? If Christ had so liked of human laws, he could have caused his commands to have been entered and recorded in all the statute-books of Kings and Princes, but that had been a disparagement to the high authority of the supreme Law-giver. Mahomets, the Popes Doctrine, need these poor shifts. Supersiition, Tradition, will-worship, needs Laws to preserve their esteem in the world; not the commands of Christ which are powerful and mighty of themselves, 2 Car. 10. 4. 5. Valet vi suâ Evangelium. The subject of human laws is onely matters of wrong and wicked lewdness. Acts 18. 14. Laws of Princes may state all matters of meum& tuum, and declare what Treason, what Rape, what Burglary, what Felony is, &c. not what Haeri●ies, what schisms, what True and false worship; what one thinks is heresy, another thinks is Truth, Acts 24. 14 What one Age condemns as heresy, another we see cries up for Truth. Grant it be a Truth, or a true Ordinance that is by Law imposed,( though I know none ever was) yet such imposition makes it look like an Ordinance of Anti-Christ. If it be an Error, heresy, the Law punishes, such punishments make onely Martyrs for Satan to boast of. Never were laws made about Religion, but they occasioned Persecution at one time or other; and made the powers dash against the Church to their own ruin, as we may see in Queen Elizabeths Laws, which ensnared the best Saints; others can conform to any Religion.  
10. Imposing upon, and compelling others, must presuppose a spirit of Infallibility, such as was in the Apostles, Acts 15. 28. but that none( at least) pretends unto but the Pope and the Quakers. Councells, Churches, &c. have all erred to this day. The Scripture is an absolute perfect, infallible rule in all points concerning Faith and worship; but no man is absolutely infallible in his interpretation of every Text of Scripture For we know but in part, and prophesy in part, 1 Cor. 13. Men that have been most confident in confuting other mens Errors, have oft committed greater than they have confuted. Humble Saints, find so much darkness and weakness in themselves, that they dare not be so confident and bold in imposing upon others. They are proud spirits, that dare so Lord it and usurp Dominion over the Faith of others. And it is to be observed, that such rigid severe imposers upon others, have been the men guilty of the greatest disobedience and disloyalty to Civill Powers. So the Jews, a severe zealous People in their Traditions, but most refractory and treacherous to Governments, as to the Babylonians and Romans who conquered them. There might be added instances in Papists and prelates, &c.  
11. What blood, confusions, strises and contentions, hath compulsion brought forth? All wars, tumults, almost every where, have arisen from this spirit of violence and compulsion. Hence the Papist persecutes the Protestant, and the Protestant the Papist. Hence the Turkes opposeth the Christian, the Christian the turk. The un-Christian Russian, forceth his captive turk; and the barbarous Spaniard the poor Indian to their baptism with the sword point at their breast. What savage inhumanity do men clothe Christian Religion withall, and make Turkes and Indians loath it? Hence Husbands oft unnaturally asslict Wives; Parents Children; Masters servants, for differences and dissents in Religion merely, contrary to that 1 Cor. 7. where the Apostle commands, the believing Husband to love and tender the unbelieving Wife and the believing Wife to obey the unbelieving Husband. Christs Gospel is not a Gospel of compulsion, cruelty, but of peace and love; Therefore believing Husbands, Parents, Masters, are no way to force any relations under them; but with all meekness and gentleness to exhort and instruct, and to do to others, as they would have others do to them. Where force and compulsion rules, all the reasonableness of mens services is lost, Rom. 12. 1. So as they offer the Sacrifice of fools, Prov. 5. 1.  
12. Whatsoever hath had but any tendency to force and persecution, or putting any yokes upon the Saints necks in these times, though never so speciously guilded over with the name of Church, unity, uniformity, &c. how wonderfully hath God appeared against it? The Covenant( a mere brat of policy, though at first framed by godly Presbyterians, and independents) the Assembly of Divines the K●rke of Sco●land, in what strange ways and methods have th●y been all crushed and blasted?  
13. Christ was m●●k and gentle, M●t. 11. 29 he professeth, he came to save ●ens lives not to destr●y them; He w●uld not consu●e with fi●e fr●m Heaven( as the Disciples would have had him) th●e that effered him the greatest ●●dignity. Luke 9 53. 54. 55. 56. He was zealous, and whip●●e ●uye sand sell●rs out of the Temple the house of Prayer and 〈◇〉, John 2 14. but Anti-Christ whips them into the Temp●●, ●orce h●he● to ordinances with fines, &c Christs Di●●ples are Shee, and Lambs. Mat. 10 16. they will not fly upon wolves. as all heretics, Blasphemers, seducers, propha●e wretches a●e but 〈◇〉 from them, tu●n away, and withd awe from th●m. The mark of Christs Sheep is to suffer persecution not to pe●●●cute. Its the nature of Wo●ves to tear and rent the poor La●●s of Christ, which are but very few, and inconsiderable in the world, in comparison of the multitude of hypocrices, false p●ofessors, carnal profane Christians. Alas there is little Religion among much profession, little gold among much oar. Consider but the poor, ordinary sl●ighty, dead, formal, lazy, fruitless customary hearing and praying that reigns among professors; how few are the same in secret in their closerts between God and their own souls, that they appear to be in public before others? how few have the real experience of those things in their own hearts, which they Preach and hold forth to others? Many sp●rituall talkers there are, few spiritual walkers. Few, few will be ●ound to be Saints one day Christ● flock is but a little litt●e ●ne.  
The Objections that rise up against this freedom of Religious Wo●sh●p, and not imposing any of Gods Ordinances by fines, &c. may be such as these.  
Object. 1. Than Blaspheme●s, ●● th●ists, Idol●ters must be a● suffered.  
Sol 1. The Scribes and Pha●is●es, high Frie●s. were 〈◇〉 B●a●phemers. called 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 many of 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 ●ed the highest blas●hen● th● 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 which sha●● neve● be 〈◇〉, Mat. 12. ●●. 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 not have them ●ut off by the Magistrates Sword, which he might have had done, if he pleased.  
2. Its probable, Laws for blasphemy would be made use of against the most p●etious Saints, as the Scribes and Pharisees( a people of a high and strict profession) made use of their Law of the Sabbath, and of Blasphemy against Christ, John 5. 18. and indeed, it was necessary such a Law should be among the Jews; how else should Christ have dyed for our Redemption, who suffered onely as a blasphemer, Mat. 26 65. mark 2. 7. John 19 7.& 10. 3●? the Jews mistaking both the Law and the Person condemned that Holy and lust One; but all such jewish Paenall Laws about b●●sphemy, expired with the Death of Christ. though the jews still pressed those Laws against the Apostles, Acts 6. 11. 13. When the Iezebell of Rome( who pretends great zeal against blasphemy, but intends persecution of Saints) makes Laws for p●nishing blasphemy( which is her proper name, Rev. 13. 1.) Nab●●h shall be s●●e to go to it, and his Vineyard to be forfeited, 1 Kings 21. 10. Better it is to let many tares of Error and Blasphemy to grow up and to suffer many heretics and Blasphemers to live in the world, than to have the least head or ear of Truth touched or to contract the guilt of the blood of the meanest Saint, Mat. 13. 29. How much wheat hath been plucked up in stead of Tares by the zealous blind world?  
3. Blasphemy, in that gross sense it is commonly taken in, cursing, reviling Christ. as julian the Apostate, the S●●bes and Pharisees did is hardly to be found in a whole Country. At how small game w●ll Satan play, so he may have any finger in persecution?  
4. If all Idolaters Blasphemers, Atheists must be cut off, the most of the wo●ld woul● suffer; nay even the most of those we commonly call Christians. For all cove●ous persons are as gross Ido●aters before God as any others. Ephes 5. 5. Col. 3. 5. Fa●se wors●ippers are Idolaters; so are the Pa●●sts that worship the Breaden god, Images, Saints, Angels 1 John 5 21. &c. Alas what are the most in towns and Parishes b●● Blasphemers. Every unbeliever is a Blasphemer, 1 John 5: 10. Acts 13. 45. Every oppressor, persecutor, is a Blasphemer, Iam. 2. 6. 7. Isay 52. 5. False worshippers are Blasphemers, Isay 65. 7. great Blasphemers, Rev. 16. 9. 11. 21. As for Atheists, they swarm up and down in every street, poor souls, to be wept over, that are without hope, without God, without Christ, Ephe. 2. 12. Men may easily profess a forced state way of Religion( which is most of the Religion of the world every where) and yet be the most vile, desperate Blasphemers. Atheists, Idolaters, that can be, scorning and rejecting Christ, and his righteousness, and trampling the saving sanctifying blood under their feet. The blasphemie●, Atheismes, Idolatries of the Times, should be mourned for with tears of blood. The horrid blasphemy of the Quakers( which strikes at the fundamentals of Religion, the Scripture, the Flesh of Christ, the righteousness● of Christ, the Ordinances of Christ) should be dealt with as the jews blasphemy against Christ, refeled with the Word of Truth. Their disturbing of public Congregations, during the time of their worship, may be punished with fines and Imprisonments. Their impudent going naked, deserves public whipping; but that beast like, unnatural practise follows from their conceited perfection, the great Idol of that profession; if they are perfect as Adam, they may go naked as Adam did in that state and throw away their clothes, as they do ordinances: Clothes were gi●en us for a covering of our nakedness, the fruit of sin which the daily putting on of our Clothes mindes us of. As therefore we ought not to go naked, so neither be proud of our apparel. The damnable Doctrines that are up in the world( and we must expect more of them, to darken and oppress rising Truths) should be bitterly lamented before the Lord in secret, and witnessed against by the word of righteousness, by the light of a holy and pure conversation.  
Object. 2. This latitude of Liberty will set up Popery and Pralacy again in England.  
Sol. 1. Popery, Praelacy, are both excepted out of the public Toleration, and just cause there is for it, they have both been found by the experience of many Generations to be the old persecutors of mens Consciences,( and therefore deserve no toleration) guilty of abundance of precious blood in England, France, spain, &c. whatsoever Government is guilty of Saints blood, shall down at one time or other, Rev. 13. 10.  
2. Nothing is more opposite to Popery and Praelacy than toleration. Anti-Christs throne stands upon two main Pillars, or supporters,( as the house of the Philistines did, Iudges 16. 26) vid. ecclesiastical revenues, and compulsion of the Magistrates sword, both these shall be pulled down by the sword of the soldier,( as we have seen in a great measure accomplished by the Scottish and English Armies) though it must not have any the least hand in rearing up of any part of the spiritual building of Christs house, the Church. Take away Anti-Christs ecclesiastical revenues, what would become of his beastly rabble of holy Orders, lodged in M●●asteries, colleges, abbeys, Nunneries, Frierles, those filthy dens of unclean spirits. Take away his compulsion by the civill sword, than he fears the Anabaptist will rise up and consound all the excellent politiq●● O●der of his Church; profane his holinesse( that wicked blasphamous one, who hath corrupted all the Ordinances of God Sabbath, baptism Prayer &c.) and Preach down his Triple crown. Hence he is so careful to keep up his bloody Inquisition-honse in all his Dominions,( the main supporter of his bloody Religion) which shall be likewise destroyed by the souldiers sword. Oh how hateful to Rome is the very name of Toleration; the Pope will tolerate any wickedness( the filthyest stews, who bring him in great gain) rather than heresy, schism, &c. Its truly said of Rome, Omnia quum liceant, non licet esse pium. just it is, he that will not tolerate, should not be tolerated in any Free-state. Those Emissaries of Rome. Priests and jesuits are many of them trained up in blood, instructed in Inquisition-Houses how to poison pistol stab Princes blow up Parliaments, England, France, Ho●and, &c. hath had experience of their bloody craft. Those are the professed Enemies of Protestants, of civill Liberties in all Countries, of free Governments: Their Tenets are, No Faith to be kept with Haretiques. no Haeretique ought to bear rule, that the Pope may dispose of Crownes, that Princes are the Popes Vassals, and owe him subjection; and some of them h● hath caused hold his stirrope, some of them be whipped, &c. Are such fit to be entertained in England( I speak not of the silly, harmless, devout Papist, that minds onely his beads) such I say as are gai●ty of the blood of the poor Protes●ants beyond the Seas and come over to propagate their Religion by murders and massacres; witness the bloody reign of Queen Mary; the horrible Gunpowder Treason, the late barbarous massacre in Ireland, all promoted carried on, assisted, by the councils and Prayers of Priests and Jesuits.  
Obj. 3. This liberty will ecl●pse the power of the Christian Magistrate, and make it useless.  
Sol. 1. It will rather restore it to his primitive lustre. What have Magistrates been these many hundred years, but the Popes, and his Clergies bailiffs and Bu●chers, to take up his Rents, and murder the Saints. Ever since Constant●nes time almost, the Mitre hath commanded the sceptre, and filled the world with blood The glory of Magistrates, is to be the shields of the Earth,( of the poor, low, common sort of people) protecting all indifferently, that live peaceably under, and obediently to them.  
2. Let Magistrates mind their proper work. pun●shing evil do●rs, Rom. 13. 3. matters of wrong and wicked lewdness, Acts 18. 14.( not differences and dissents in Religious pra●●ises) such as be disobedient to Parents, lying, false witness bearing, drunkenness, adultery, murthe● oppression of all sorts, &c. pleading the cause of the Widow, the f●the●l●sse and poor, against the mighty ones, Job 29. 12. to 18. previding as Fathers of the Common-wealth for the blind maynted, and aged; correcting the Vagabonds, foreing the Idle to work; suppressing Alehouses,( the moths of mens Estates, nurseries of idleness, and all wickedness) which so swarm in all towns: punishing Forestallers, regretters, engrossers, these cankerworms of the Common-wealth &c. and they will find work enough to do. These are the great things of Magistracy, though not so minded oft, as they ought to be by men the most busy and zealous enforcers of Religious observances upon the world These are the things that would secure and honour their Authority. As for matters of worship, False or True, they have no more to do with them, than Uzzah to stay the ark, 2 Sam. 6. for which he smarted. Neither is it any denying of Magistracy( as hath been suggested) to deny Magistrates any power to command in th●ngs meer'y Religious. Mag●stracy is the Ordinance of God, and we are b●und to honour all Magistrates( according to Gods command, Honour thy Father and thy Mother, &c.) let their Persons be what they will, be their Religion what it will. As for the distinction of Christian Magistrate, it is unscripturall. One Magistrate( as a Magistrate considered) is as much Christian as another. So was Queen Mary as much as Queen Eliz●b●th &c. the power of all Magistrates is the same; If one Magistrate may force his way of Religion, than every Magistrate, as a Magistrate, may do it; then a Turkish Magistrate may force as well as a Popish. and a Popish as an Epis opall, and an Episco●all as well as a Presbyteria● and a Presbyterian Magistrate, as well as an Independent; for Magistrates are all alike Ordinanes of God, Rom. 13. 1. Jer. 27. 5. 6 7 8 to be obeied, honoured by all persons, of all degrees, living under their jurisdiction; but command worship they ought not, whatsoever worship is performed( as to be feared most is) with respect to the Magistrates command is carnal and hypocritical. F●i●h, sincerity eyes always the Authority of the Lord Jesus enjoining and true worship is onely grounded upon the command of God.  
Ob● 4. ' Did not the Kings of Israel and Iudaeh exerciso power over the Priests and Levits, a●d in other Religion appointments and punish blasphemers, &c.  
Sol. Hence arose the gross opinion of Erastus, who would bring the Jewish polity into the Christian Church, and make the chief Magistrate( as being the Custos utriusque Tabulae) to be the chief Officer of the Church, and so to have the prime Governing Power both in the State and Church, which is to set up another King in the Church, besides the Lord) Jesus, her onely King and Law-Giver. The Kings of Israel and judah( who were for the most part great Idolaters and persecutors, and lead that dolatrous people with them, which we may see in ●●roboam, Solomon, and others. 2 Chron. 12. 1& 11. 14. 15. 1 Kings 12. 28( as our Kings and Parliaments of England were wont to carry the people about to any Religion) were Kings over the Church, as well as over the Common-wealth; for the jewish Church and Common-wealth was both one, so as their K●ngs had power over the Church, their Priests over the Commonwealth, as we may see in Nehemiah and Ezras; and 2 Chron. 8. 9. their admission into the Church and Common wealth was at one, and the same time, vid. by natural birth; their Excommunication out of the Church, was their cuttiag off all from the Common-wealth by Death; but that Polity expired at the Death of Christ, and was totally dissolved by Titus and Vespaesian, when jerusalem and the Temple was destroyed. We have no such Church-Common-wealth( our admission into Gospel-Churches, being by personal profession of repentance towards God, and of Faith towards our Lord Iesus Christ, our Excommunication being a dreadful cutting off from the communication of the Church, not from our Interests in the common-wealth, unless the party Excommunicate, be also guilty of some capital offence against the common-wealth, as Felony, Treason, Rebellion, &c.) and therefore we have no such Kingly and magistratical power; for all governments now are worldly powers, and without the Church, and have nothing to do with the least pin of the sanctuary, the least of Ordinance of Christ, to impose it by fines, Imprisonments; &c. the power of Magistrates doth not respect the Church( called the kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 25. 1. &c.) but onely the world, and are ordained for the Order and Government of the world, by whom those powers are elected, and to whom they are responcible. Neither hath the Church any thing to do with any the least transactions of the Common-wealth; no work is to be done in her, but what is spiritual; what concerns the worship of God the mutual consolation and edification of each other; Therefore the Church is called, The house of Prayer,( id est, of all worship, she is the great Ordinance of worship) not a house of policy, and modeling State-Governments. Were the rules of Christian subjection, and protection observed; what an universal Peace would dwell on the Face of the Earth? How would the mountains bring forth Peace, an● the little hills righteousness?  
Obj. 5. It is not Prophesied, Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers, Isay 49.& ●.  
Sol. 1. By nursing Fuhers, the old Clergy understood such Magistraces as did humour and serve their carnal Interests, though never so great oppressors a●d persecutors otherwise; and so the Church of Ro●●e( the Strumpet) may boast that she hath had that prophesy fulfi●led in her, for all Kings have done her homage, and served her and drunk of the oup of her Fornications; and she hath writ. Defender of the Faith upon the Swords of Princes that have been most embrued in the blood of Saints. 2. This prophesy respects the time of the Jews conversion, and the kingdom of Christ; then Kings shall bring their honour and glory to the new Jerusalem, Isay 60. 16. whose Citizen, shall be all Kings and Priests, Rev. 21. 24.& 5. 10. As for Kings of this constitution. they have all of them had their Robes dipped in the blood of Saints, more or less. 3. They may in some sense be called Nursing Fathers, when they proclaim Liberty( as Cyrus did) to build the house of God, which must be all built of free ston, of pure materials, of sapphires and carbuncles and that at Christs o ●ne proper costs and charges( the gifts and g●aces of his own spirit) without having the least ston of the power, policy interest of the world laid at the bottom 4. From the supereminent Epithires, the high and glorious titles given to the Church by Iesus Christ, it may be concluded, that she is ab●er to nurse and protect the powers of ●he world, then they her. She is called The city of the Lord the mountain of the Lord Psal. 46. 4. chest body, his Spouse. Ephes. 1. 23.& 5. 32. the pi●ar of truth, 1 Tim 3. 15. the kingdom of Heaven. Mat. 25 1 &c. All in he is holy spiritual, and heavenly; her members, her officers, her ordinances. Christ dwells in her, walks in the midst of her. What use can th●●e be for the carnal Laws world●y powers of Princes, in the Church, in things appertaining to her glory and order. As well may Princes presume to prescribe Laws to the winds. and give rules to the stars, as to the church, a heavenly and spiritual body, in which no sceptre is fit to rule or order any thing but the sceptre of Christ, her a one King, Protector and Law-Giver. For the Church to make fawning addresses to the powers of the world, is not becoming her state, its an undervaluing of her noble and divine extractio●. Let poor weak erior cry out to the Powers of the world to help her( as the Scribes and Pharisees did to Pontius Pilate against Christ) the Church is kept in the arme● of Christ. She holds all her spiritual power and greatness, Majesty and state, upon none, but Christ, her head and husband. She is no orphan, entrusted to the powers of the world to be her Guardians, but the great queen of Heaven and Earth, who hath Regiments of blessed Angels for her daily attendance; the protection of her, is one of the gloriousest jewels in Christs crown; a Flower of Prerogative royal that he will not part withall to any of the Princes of the Earth. Christs breasts alone are sufficient to nourish and sustain her, she can be carried in no other arms. Churches ming●ing Interests with the world, would make them carnal and worldly and to alter with states and governments, on which they have dep●ndance. That Church that calls for the sword of the civill Magistrate to decide her controversies( which must onely be decided by the sword of the spirit, the word of God) doth so far partake of a mark of the Ha●lot. Religion and worship are not to be held out on the swords point of Princes; Christ hath no way commissionated them as to those thing, but hath entrusted all his Ordinances wholly into the hands of the Churches. By introducing a civill power into the Churches Anti-christ with his two swords came up; for after he had a while fixed ecclesiastical power to the Emperors sword he came at length to challenge the civill sword as due to his chair and wrested it out of the hands of the Emperor, having acted first the part of the Fox, then of the lion.  
All that the Churches can expect of worldly powers, is freedom of Worship, that so saints may live a peaceable and quiet life under them in all godliness and honesty. What a singular mercy and privilege would we have accounted it in the prelates time, to have had but one place in a City free for the pure worship of God? This made the free air of Holland( where all Religions are permitted, and which was once the harbour and shelter of the English persecuted Saints and Churches, where they had many blessed sweet dayes, &c. for which, that Land may receive a blessing, though God hath given a cheek to their pride) sweeter then that of England, where such a strict and catholic uniformity was set up.  
And we see it oft fall out in Governments, that magistrates pretending to be Nursing Fathers, and engaging their civill power in Religious concernments as their affections leads them, breed divisions and distractions in Government, whilst one magistrate will have his way advanced, and another that succeeds, his way; hence saction, distastes, animosities, seditions ariseth secretly. Christs Gospel is not a Gospel of tumult and strife; but of peace, love, concord, and obedience.  
Obj. 6. But shall wicked pr●fane men be suffered to abuse and trample under foot Gods holy Ordinances?  
Sol. 1. To disturb any in the time of their worship, as the Quakers now do, is justly punishable; never any of the Apostles did practise it in the Jewish Synagogues, or Heathen Temples. 2. They that cast holy things before swine, and impose the practise of holy Ordinances upon carnal hearts,( that can do nothing else but tread upon them) they abuse and profane holy things. Sancta sanctis, holy things are onely for holy hearts. 3. The Church, as having the power of Christ delegated to her, is able, without the magistrates sword, to maintain the splendour and glory of all ordinances. Men may pretend ●aire, as Uzzah might, for staying the ark, least it should d●op into the mire, and the enemies blaspheme; but what command had he to put forth his hand to bear up the Ar●e? The ark and Ordinances of God, need not carnal helps to support them from falling; to think so, is to dishonour them and the power of God. What men do without a command, shall one day have a check, with a Quis requisivit haee?  
Some may perhaps Quaere; Whether were not the Warres of England for Religion, and to place godly men in power and authority, such as might propagate the Gospel, and suppress heresies?  
To the first it s answered. The wars in England were not to set up any form of Religion to cause all others to bow unto; but rather to suppress persecution for forms, whereby we wete deprived of our civill liberties, and could not be permitted peaceably to live, unless we did submit to the state-forme, contrary to our consciences.  
2. No war undertaken for Religion is lawful. Christians as Christians must onely suffer for Religion; as men they may engage in a national quarrel against a common enemy, foreign or domestic,( that endeavour to destroy national Laws or Liberties) so they have the national, supreme legislative power to warrant their taking up of Arms, as we in England had, and without which, our flying to A●mes had been Rebellion.  
3. Its true, the fire of war in E●gla●d, was first kindled( as ever almost hath been wont) by the national Episcopacy, or Clergy( whose proper genius where ever i● is set up in any power, is to over master, and rule, or ruin all) imposing the common-prayer-book and its superstitions upon the Scottish Nation; who upon their just refusal of it, are declared Enemies to the King Rebells, prosecuted with arms, and thereby are compelled to take up defensive arms, and at length, for the safety of their Nation( the ground of their war) to march into England; whereupon a Parliament is called and by it the Scots( though in a posture of war) lovingly owned as our dear Brethren. That people being afterwards invited to come and help us, as Conquerors, they first lay illegal Taxes upon all the northern Counties, and then challenge an Interest in the Government of England; yet are sent home in peace. After all forgetting the English kindnesses, and their own profession of it( after our routing of the Hamilton Army in England, and our pursuing them into Scotland) their national Clergy sound the Trumpet of war,( our Enemy being Proclaimed King there) upon pretence o● the Covenant,( as the Bishops did against them upon pretence of the common-prayer-book) declare against our Parliament as savourers of Sectaries and heretics so as their Army once under our pay) is headed with our declared Enemy. Whereupon our Army was necessitated( by the Law and reason of war) to march into Scotland( Prayers appeal●s being put up to Heaven on both sides) which was subdued and brought under by the arms of those whose consciences they though to have brought under their Covenant, and kirk Canons. And thus did both the national persecuting Clergies draw upon themselves the war to their own destruction and ruin.  
4. But there were other accounts, upon which principally the Parliament took up arms; as 1. The Parliament must bring( according to their trust) all Incendiaries and Traytors to Justice, such as Strafford, Land,( whose ambition was to make the best lack Gentleman in England to vail to a canonical black coat) who both suffered, not for any matter of Religion, but Treason, conspiracy against Laws and Liberties &c. The King on the other hand, by his Prerogative contrary to his legal Intrustment from the people) will needs protect them. 2. Liberty, property,( the two main pillars of a 〈◇〉 wealth) were strangely shaken, highly invaded upon by 〈◇〉 Prerogative, all was made to be at the devotion of the King, and his will to be superior to all law; the Court Doctrine of those times. 3. The King onely, and by himself, without the Parliament, challengeth the power of the Militia( and consequently of our Laws, Lives, and Estates) the Parliament on the other hand, deny it to belong solely and absolutely to him, especially now being seduced by wicked and malignant council; for sure they were, it would have been wholly used against them, and all the good people of England, so desperate was the Kingly antipathy to the puritan fect( though most peaceable and loyal subjects) that he would never have endured any of them, Presbyterian, Independent, or Anabaptist, that they would all one as well as other, have found in time, the politic taking the Covenant( so much pressed on him) would never have altered his principles of persecution. Regnandi sausâ dissimulare fas est. 4. There had broken out the year before, upon the 23. of October 1641.( not without his privity and consent, as was strongly presumed, he being than in Scotland to settle all in peace) the rebellion of the Irish Papists, who acted that horrid, harbarous, and unparalleled Massacre of the poor Protestants,( which blood, how hath God since revenged upon the Author and Abettors of that design, giving them a full cup of wrath to drink?) against which, yet he see●ingly declared with greatest destestation, and offered to go in Person to chastise them, that he might bring them ever to chastise the Parliament. 5. He had wholly deserted the Parliament, the great council, and supreme power of the Nation, and raised many armed me●, under pretence of a guard; yet the Parliament continued petitioning, till he set up his Standa●d against them, then was it time to call to arms( which on the Parliaments side were onely defensive against the King, their first and last Enemy in the Field) and after many, the most solemn appeals that ever were made to Heaven on both sides, they came to the Field, and the Lord of H●asts by the sword determined and decided all those great controvers●es between the King and the Parliament( the peoples highest legislative power) and still by most signal victories owned the Parliaments cause, especially since that worthy and memorable Ordinance, 4 March, ●le Sabbati, 1647. declaring liberty of worship to all the dissenting Brethren, not one Battle of so many hundred hath been lost by their Armies( miraculously, in a manner, owned of God) as if Gods great design were out of the ashes of Kingly and episcopal Tyranny, to bring forth freedom of Worship, ●hough through a Sea of Blood. Thus God made the Earth( id est, Earthly powers, martiall and civill) to help the woman, id est, the Saints and Churches ready to be devoured by a flood of persecution.  
By the way, it may be considered, whether that blasphemous title( Desender of the Faith, and in all causes and over all persons, as well ecclesiastical( for the King made Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and they the inferior Clergy) as civill, within these his Majesties Dominions, supreme Head and governor) used commonly by the Praelaticall sort in their public Prayers, and either by custom or Law, given to the Kings of England( a title not fit for any crown, but Christs, the supreme head of the Church) did not help to fill the vial of that wrath, which hath been powred out upon that Family, with which who ever hath joined, hath been destroyed.  
Probable it is, Kingly and episcopal Government might have stood to this day, had they not persecuted, oppressed, which caused the tears and prayers of Saints for many yeares together, to be poured out to Heaven; and Saints prayers must be answered at one time or other, and that to the cost of all persecuting worldly powers, who yet will not be watned by all the judgements of God visible in the world. Would Pharaoh but have let the people of Israel go three dayes into the wilderness, and worship, Exod. 3. 18.( a very reasonable request, for they are but reasonable things the Saints desire of the powers of the world) its likely he might have saved himself and Egypt from those plagues. All the great Monarchies in the world have broken upon this rock of persecution. The three first Monarchies, that persecuted the national Church of the Jews( the onely Church that then God had in the world) were broken one of another. The national Church and Priesthood of the Jews, which persecuted Christ, and the Apostles, were broken to pieces by T●m and V●s●atian. Never did persecution go without a brand of Gods displeasure; what ever power strikes at any Ordinance of God, sh●ll whither like Jer●bo●ms arm, that w●s stretched out against the Prophet, 1 Kings 13. 4. The A●rian and other persecutions that arose amongst the Ch●i●●ians, were at length about the year of our Lord 600. severely punished by the rising of Mahomet, the seurge of Christians, in those Ea●●erne Churches. The fourth and last Monarchy, described Dan 2. 4●. 42 43.( which hath and shall most of all persecute the Saints) shall be broken to pieces by civill and intestine wars, God dashing one Nation, and one piece of a Nation against another.  
To the second part of the Q●ere. Wh●ther godly men, such as will propagate the Gospel, and suppress heresies, ought not onely to govern?  
Its answered. Government is a civill and carnal thing, and may be exercised by carnal persons, guifted for it. The end of ●ivill Government is onely to co●sult the public good, peace, order, and protection of those over whom they rule To propagate the Gospel had all the sword, civill or martiall is a carnal way. When the Gospel had all the swords of E●pero●s, and souldiers, and magistrates against it, yet i● 〈◇〉 and prevailed; and i● hath as much power now, as ever Powers should and ought to give liberty to the Preaching the gospel, freedom of worship. But if not, bonds, chai●●● i● prisonments, ●●onings, whippings, pillories, burnings, will prove most effectual ways of propagating the Gospel. The gospel is a spiritual thing( no carnal design, as trade and traffic is, which Governments advance) it cannot be propagated by a carnal power. To set any by commission from the state, to propaga●e the gospel, is a way the Go●pel knows not, a State-Engine onely for its proper onely to the Church( which is impowred by Christ for that end) to sand forth ambassadors for Christ, Acts 13. 3. who ought to be commissionated by the Prayers and Imposition of Hands of the Church, of which they are members. As the sending power is, such is the Minist●ry; though it is not denied, but even a carnal ministry, such as is in the Romish Church, such as was under the prelates, may convert souls. As for heresies, they were discovered, blassed by the sword of the spirit( the word of God) in the Apostles dayes, without the carnal sword. Never did the swords of magistrates or souldiers, suppress mens heresies; they might kill their bodies, things that lie in the judgement and understanding, are out of their reach; its the work of the Gospel to enlighten the understanding, bow the will, bring into subjection every imagination that exal●s it sel●e.  
Here it may first be alleged, Its the practise in New-England, to choose Church members onely for mag●●ra●es, and Church members onely to choose, as being one●y 〈◇〉.  
A●s. F●r be it from me to open my mouth to speak the least evil of the precious Churches of Christian exile. Oh that the beauty of the Lord 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 and order) may rest upon them 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 On that pr●de policy, ridgidnesle, carnal ●●●plyances, 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 may never eclipse their glory but that it may shine ou● to all the world. But for their mixed civill ecclesiastical kind of Government, time will discover. I bless God, I breath in the free air, and sieve under the Laws and Government of Old England. That civill Government that will suffer no way o● worship but onely what it favours( whether the Presbyterian, Independent, or Anabaptists way) is so far a horn of the beast requiring uniformity, the mother of persecution. They that would set up a Jewish polity in Common wealths now, would set up a polity, that would persecute, as that Jewish did, even the Prophets, Christ, the Apostles themselves.  
2. Its alleged, The New model requires such to be in supreme power as fear God, &c.  
Ans. Reason requireth, that those that have constantly adhaered to the Parliament and Army, in their greatest hazards and straites, be entrusied; for as they will be freest from imposing and persecution, so most real and cordial to the Peace and Interest of the Common-wealth. To put power into the hands of men that have been openly in the Field against the Parliament, and that God hath so eminently appeared against, or that have stood base neuter in the day of trial, were no way consistent with public safety; nay, would certainly expose us all to ruin: and so their councils should destroy us, whose swords could not.  
Its a blessed thing to see men in authority that are wise; and just and fearing God. But unbelievers may be Rulers of the world The Scripture is clear in it, and its always safer to judge of things by Scriptures, than by providen●●s, Scripture is a standing r●le for the saints in all ages, till the end of this wo●ld; Providences may, and will alter; but Scripture( Gods revealed mind will never alter, and it sufficiently warrants both Governments in the hands of wicked men and the saints subjection to them The Kings of Israel were usurpers, yet did the Prophets( and that apostate state had eminent ones, Eliah, Elisha Hosea &c) never speak against the Government( as being in their hands or ex●ite the people to return to the house of David) onely against their Id●latry. The great contest between the Prophet Jeremy, and the false Prophets, was about Nebuchadnezzars right to rule over the people of God, he being an Heath●n Monarch, whose right( from the will and appointment of God. the original of all powers) Jeremy justifies chap. ●7. 28. and in many places of that prophesy. Christ acknowledged Casars Government( a Heathen) and paid him tribute. Christ would come the first time under the fourth Monarchy( the cruelest of all the re●● under which he suffered, and by h●s practise he teaches the saints subjection unto worldly powers( which should all be tyrannica●l or opressing o●e way or other) until his second coming to 〈◇〉 which should destroy the same fo●rth Monarchy, Dan. 2 44.& 7 9. In the Apostles time, the powers were unbelievers; and the same rule they walked by, binds us. As they obeied unbelieving powers, so should we: as they did not stir up people any ways against powers, so neither ought we. Never will those men be subject and quiet under Governments, that would have them all to be of their Religion, and maintain their lenets with their swords. Than is the trial of our Christian subjection, when Magist●ates persecute us, cross our worldly Interests; and ye● we can own them honour them as Ordinances of God, though they be also the Ordinances of men 1 Pet. 2. 13 chosen, appointed, conslituted by men; and if they prove tyranny all any way, the Common-wealth( whose servants they are and to whom onely they are accountable) hath onely power to question them; but the Church hath none, all powers, Parliamentary and Military being without the Church.  
Its a glorious thing, I say, to see godly men sitting in places of Indicature. And providence seems to promise faire this way; yet let us cast an eye upon some cauticuary considerations.  
1. Men may have excellent parts and endowments for Government( as wisdom, fortitude, temperance justice; and how may some Heathen Magistrates shane those we call Christian, for clemency, common protection? &c. and rule very wisely and justly and yet before from 〈◇〉. Christ saith, Luke 16. 3. The children of the world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. The children of the world and of light are opposed. As they have for the most part, a greater share in the good things of this life then the children of light, so they have more wisdom and policy( necessary qualifications to all Government) than the children of light. Riches and wisdom sit for government which the children of this world have a just right unto, unlesle by acts of Rebel●●on and hostility against the Common wealth, they forteit that right.  
2. The scene of affairs of this world is apt to alter. After the best Governments have come the werst 〈◇〉. In 〈◇〉 after joseph. Israel; bendage. After Ieshuahs death, a wicked Generation 2 rose, Judges 16 to 11. After 〈◇〉 Soionon, Reboboam; after Hczekiah, M●nasses; after Iesiah, Iehorick m. After Constantines reign, what prids and division in the Church, till the Turkes came, and overrun all those Eastern Countries, where the Gospel first slourished? After King Edward the sixth followed bloody Queen Mary.  
3. Godly men( or so seeming) have oft laid the soundations of the greatest miseries and mischiefs to the Church. The first Bishops of Rome are reported to be godly men. Constantine a godly Emperor. The Composers of the book of Common-Prayer, and the covenant( both at first received with great joy) were Marryrs, and godly men; yet what mischief lay hide under them both, which they could not see into; the one firing England; the other Scotland. If after all, godly men will make use of their civill power to order Religion and Worship, let them take heed, they leave not behind them a spark of fire of persecution that will one day kindle and consume the coutrivers.  
4. The Jews had a command from God to appoint godly magistrates Exod. 18. 21. yet were their magistrates the most hideous-oppressors, as we sinned God complaining of them in all the Prephets. They had the best Laws, yet were the worst, and most persecuting people.  
5. Let us not thinks Churches cannot subsist, without the favour and interests of magistrates. carnal Church frames cannot stand without the carnal sword; but Churches built on the rock need no sword, but the sword of the word to cut off by Excommunication wicked persons within, and to convince and stop the mouths of gain-sayers without.  
6. How many have fallen by their rising to high places in these times, lost their servant love to saints, their former sweet communion with God, their old favour of spirit they had before those times? Many wracks of eminent ones that have split upon the rock of preferments are yet to be seen. High places, are slippery places, which men cannot walk in without much danger, and should with much fear. What misearriages in those men have had high expectations of?  
7. How hard is it to know a godly man, and one that sears God. He may cry up ministry maintenance, be a Churchmember, and yet be a very hypocrite. Men may take up forms of Religion to get into places of power; as that cardinal to show his humility would ye in a Fathers net( his Father being a Fither man) till he got the Potedome which he Eshed for. There are deeps of wickedness in the hearts of men. Its usual for the greatest Tyrants to pretend highlyest to Religion, to the Church, &c. ●elu was at first a zealous Reformer and punisher of Baals Priests, but would not touch that special piece of State-religion Ieroboams Calves, 2 Kings 10. The Scots at first zealous pretenders to reformation; how was their self-interest discovered at last? Tob●h, Sanballet, pretend to build the Temple, Ezra 4. Herod to worship Christ, Mat. 2. but who can see what lies at the betcome? Machi●veils principle takes with most Courts. To seem Religious, profitable; to be Religious hurts a Prince, it esseminates his spirit, ties up his conscience too straite to rules &c.  
8. Great danger, when Religion comes into the hands of States. men and Politicians that it be choir lord, and made a State business, a mere carnal design. Lamentations might be writ of our times, what a world of hypocrites and fawning formalists have these times bread? much profession little 〈◇〉 Since Religion hath put on more pomp, how much hath she lost of the power, spiritual life, and glory, was wont to appear in her? Religio peperit divitiar,& filia de 〈◇〉 mairem The world hath done Religion more harm by her gifts devotions, and pensons, than by all her bloodiest persecutions, Queen Elizabeths Bishopprickes, spoyled many good Preachers. Constantines donations( after which, Anti-Christ advanced higher and higher every day) what pride, emulation covetousness, worldly mindedness did they beget among the Bishops? Should the old persecuted Puritans come out of their graves among professors, they would scarce know them from the world, or the world from them; such compliances are in the one such hypocrasies in the other: Professors are grown to such a height of the world, and the world of profession. The converting plainness, and powerful simplicity of the Gospel is almost lost with the pomp of words, subtle notions, distinctions, definitions of schoolmen and Jesuits, and no Preaching will go down with professors sqeezy stomackers in these dayes, but that which must be so larded with niceties, and novelties; whereas the Gospel is not for speculation, but for duty, obedience. He that will find Religion pure and sincere must go among the poor despised Saints( embracing a crucified Gospel) not among the 〈◇〉) pompous professors. I envy not the pomp of Religion, but I fear it more then persecution. Never so many hypocrites in any age; men can turn with all times, sail with all winds, metamorphese themselves into any ●orme that is most in favour and request with the state. Never was Religion more abused and made such a stalking-horse to mens particular designs, as in these late times; men have used it to trade and traffic with for places, benefice, preterments, &c. Scarce any Professor, but he hath some worldly Dalil●h or other, to wooe with his Religion, his parts and fine notions. We have got high names, and lost the things themselves. Love and charity, truth and righteousness, mercy and justice, where are they to be found? The Paint of Religion hath almost worn out the parity of it. Than Religion flourishes, when her followers are not honourable but holy; not great, but gracious; not many, but sincere. When hypocrites are discovered at first sight and dare not come nigh the glory and lustre of the Saints holiness● shining out in their conversations, and in all Ordinances, Act, 5. 13. Whether freedom or Persecution be best, God onely knows. Persecution may be safest for the Church,( she fares best when she hath least countenance of the world. whose frowns are not so dangerous as her smiles) but to grant freedom, is always safest for the powers of the world, which if they refuse, they shall break themselves but not hurt the Gospel, which will flourish prevail, in despite of them all.  
3. Its alleged( and hath been pleaded by lundry Pens) that the Witnesses are risen and the kingdom of Christ begun, therefore godly men onely ought to rule and govern.  
Ans. The Saints shall have their day about of judging. 1 Cor. 6. 2. 3. a day is coming, that Saints onely shall rule though for the most part they be as no bodies in this world, they shall be the men of the next world, but as yet their time is not come; they are heires of the world, Rem. 8. 17. and as they suffered with Christ, shall be glorified with Christ, but as yet they are at non age. Their filthy garments are yet upon them, they are 〈◇〉 with many weaknesses, infirmities, which makes the world mis●●k●n them, they are not fit for this world, nor this world for them; they can scarce touch this world, but they contract dirt and filth. Oh the terrible falls and scandals that happen to Saints from their employments in these times, scandals that may cause them go with sorrow and shane to their g●aves. But a day will come of their manifestation, when they shall look and act like themselves, Princes in all Lands, ●om. 8 19. 1 Io●n 3. 2. Psal. 45. 16. Could the world see, what g●orious persons the saints shall be, in stead of per●ecuting them, it would honour and adore them. Its manifest we are not yet come to the first ●e●urrection, Rev. 20. to the new Heaven, and new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness, 2 Pet. 3. none but righteous ●nes, Rev. 22. 15. The Church is yet in the wilderness, and hath a bloody jordan to go through, before she come t● Canaan. Well if we were near the borders of that glory. The most that can be made of the glorious providence of our times, is that they may be as praeludes, and praeparatories to the Churches glory, and it may be to their sufferings first. I shall briefly hint at things, that would require large discourses, and leave every man to abound in his own sense, and to think of those great mysteries, as God shall persuade him. All that have waded any thing far into them, will aclowledge their darkness( many particulars being not yet cleared out, though the things themselves in generali be fully owned) and be sensible of their weakness, and ignorance. The obscurity of those things made Erasmus and many other great scholars, in stead of being humbled, to throw away the Book of Revelations, as that they could make nothing of, and too much favouring the Chiliasts.  
That the Witnesses are not slain, seems probable for these Reasons.  
1. The Witnesses comprehend Saints of all sorts witnessing freedom, and purity of worship and passing under the measuring line, Rev. 11. 1. in opposition to Anti-christian forced and corrupt worship, noted by the Court without the Temple, ver. 2. who shall tread down the holy City two and forty Moneths. 2. Their slaying shall be universal, in all places and nations at once, Rev. 11. 9. 10. as their rising shall be universal in all nations, with which the seventh angel soundeth. The kingdoms of this World are become the Lords, &c. ver. 15. 3. Those slain Witnesses shall reign with Christ a thousand yeares, Rev. 20. 4 the very same bodies that were slain for the testimony of Jesus, shall rise again, and reign with Christ 4. The Children of that first resurrection, shall be as the Angels of God, shall die no more, sin, and sorrow no more, Luke ●. 36. Mat. 22. 30. but shall behold the Face of God, Mat. 18. 10. to this resurrection Paul seems to allude, Philip. 3. 11. 5. Before the slaying of the Witnesses, there must be the finishing the Testimony, which is not yet. Rev. 11. 7. There are yet some truths( as to worship especially) to be discovered, which will cost blood, as each truth of Christ( in that age wherein it hath been witnessed unto) hath done. 6. Before the slaying of the Witnesses be finished, there shall be more unity, clearness, universality in their witnessings then ever yet was; such a glory of holinesse, such a spirit of prophesy universally powred out upon the Saints, Rev. 19. 10. as shall enrage the world against then. 7 Before the slaying the Witnesses, there shall be a greater apostasy of those praetending to reformation, then ever was yet and professors under pure worship, shall multitudes of them fall off( like D●mas and Philetus, and others. 2 Tim. 1. 15) to the world to error to abominable practices; and professors under corrupt and forcing forms of worship, like the Scribes and Pharisees, shall cry out to,& join with Pontius Pilate, and Herod( the th●n enraged powers of the world) against the Saints. 8, The slaying of the Witnesses sha●l be the last Tragedy of this world.& shall be immediately before the coming and personal appearance of Christ. Mat. 24 29. 30. Rev. 1●. 7. 15 which shall be under the seventh Trumpet, the third and greatest woe that ever the world felt but a joyful day to the than oppressed Saints  
That we are not in the kingdom of Christ,( with which the day of judgement, which will be a long day begins) is manifest, if we consider the state of that kingdom, which shall differ as much from all other kingdoms and Governments that went before it, as day from night.  
1. The beginning of that kingdom shall be the personal appearance of Christ, Mat. 24. ●0. Rev. 1. 7. 2 ●im. 4. 1. 2 Thes. 2. 1. Zach 12. 10. he shall appear( to the world with great terror, glory, majesty; but to the Saints) as the bright morning star, Rev. 22. 16 and he himsel●e shall be the light and glory of that kingdom, Rev. 21. 3. 23. Ioel ●. 21. Ezek. 48. 35. Isay 60. 20. all the while, till the period of it, which shall end with Christs delivering up the Kingdom to God the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 24. after he hath put down all rule, and judged all wicked Angels and men, according to the blessed Scripture, 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. Rev. 20. 11. 12.  
2. That kingdom shall be made up of the jews( all the twelve Tribes, Isay 11. 11. jer. 3. 18.& 50. 4. Ezek. 37. 19.& 39. 25. who shall be converted as in one day by the ●●ght of Christ made to them first Isay 66. 7. 8. Zach. 12. 10.) and of the Gentiles together, Isay 2. 2. Rev. 21. 24. 26. which Prophesies were never yet ful●●lied.  
3. All the Inhabitants of that Kingdom shall be a holy, triumphant company. Rev. 21. 27. Isay 60 21.& 62. 12.& 45. 25. Rom. 11. 25. 26. 27. and Scripture points at jerusalem( the place of Christs sufferings) to be the place where the glory of this Kingdom( which shall spread itself over the whole earth) shall begin. Many promises in Scripture are made to the holy Land. That old Promi●e to Abraham. Gen. 17 8.( whereby that Land is entailed upon his Seed for an everlasting Possession) is yet in force and not fully executed. See these, besides many more, Scriptures, Rom. 9. 26. Zech. 2. 12. jer. 3. 17. 18. Isay 65. 18. 19. 20. jer. 33. 7. 8. Ezek. 37. 21. 22.& 39. 25 26. Ioel 3. 17.  
4. Glorious are the privileges of that Kingdom, such as no other Kingdom is capable of. Than there shall be no war, no more use for arms, Isay 2 4. Than there shall be no more sin, Isay 60. 21. Rev. 21. 27. No more sickness, no more sorrow, Isay 60. 20. Rev. 21. 4. no more oppression, or persecution, Isay 60. 17. Than there shall be no Anti-Christ, 2 Thes. 2. 8. Ioel 3. 19. Rev. 19. 19. 20. Than Satan shall be bound up, confined to his prison, Rev. 20. 2. 3. Rev. 21. 27. till he make his last and boldest attempt upon the saints( in all their glory) in which, he and his adherents, shall be all destroyed, and judged, Rev. 20. 7. 8 11. Than the saints shall be of one heart, and of one lip, till than, we shall differ in many things, that those precious graces of love and forbearance may be exercised, jer. 32. 39. Than we shall have no more need of Ordinances, the stars shall set after the undergone gets up, Isay 60. 19. 20. Ezek. 48. ult. Rev. 21. 22. 23. Than shall the Saints be Priests and Kings all, and shall reign on Earth, Rev. 5 10. Than shall be fulfilled that jer. 31. 34. till than, we must be under Teaching, baptism, Church-fellowship, &c. all blessed Ordinances. Than also shall be fulfilled that, Isay 60. 10. 16. 17. till than, we must be in subjection to worldly Governments, and expect persecutions and misusages, reproaches and abusings in this world.  
Many more things might be spoken of this kingdom of Christ; and to confirm each particular mentioned, there might be added a great number of clear Scriptures, which can be applied to other time but this time of Christs Kingdom, which is no novelty, but a truth as ancient as the Prophets and Apostles dayes. Those that read those places as fulfilled already, make a great part of the Bible useless, and miss much of the sweetness and comfort of Scripture. There are as many places of Scripture pointing to Christs second coming, as to his first, which none can tell what to do with, unless they r●ferr them to this time of Christs coming and Kingdom. Mens being so shy of this truth( which is a holy sanctifying, comforting one, pressed by all the holy Prophets and Apostles, for the consolation of the afflicted Saints and Churches in all ages.) have run into miserable absurdities, and put most incongruous interpretations upon many Scriptures, spiritualizing and allegorizing them in such manner that they have robbed them of their true, proper, genuine, literal sense and meaning, therein giving too great advantage to the Quakers, who ignorantly and ridiculously affirm that all the Scripture is fulfilled in them. Thus would Satan any way divert the minds of the saints from the expectation of this great glory of Christ to be revealed in the world. The next age shal be clear in th●… truth.  
Not worthy to be compared to the glory of Christs kingdom is all that we have seen, or shall see and enjoy till than. A vast difference shall be between this present evil world( which is Anti-christs world a base, hypocritical, unworthy world, it hath ever dealt basely with the saints, and will to the last moment of it) and that world which is to come, Heb. 2 5. which shall be Christs and the Saints world. Than this cursed wicked world, that now with the riches and honour of it, tempteth and deceiveth the Saints, and occasioneth sad falls and scandals oft, besides many variances and contentions among them, shall be changed, and it shall be decked and clothed with a new glory( such as was in paradise, therefore called the time of restitution of all things, Acts 3. 21.) a glory purposely put on it by Jesus Christ,( fit for his and the Saints royal state and magni●icence, as in great houses, upon solemn and festival dayes, all the best furniture is set out) not such as shall any way tempt to sin, but provoke the blessed Inhabitants of it than( the saints and martyrs of Jesus) to continual praises and Allelujahs.  
How sanctifying and comfortable to Saints, would be the study of this great point( or promise of the New Heaven and New Earth, 2 Pet 3. 13.) and would serve to provoke them to all duties of holinesse, to deaden them to this world, to prepare them for trials and sufferings, which are coming? What though they be as poor Lazarusses at Dives gates in this world? their good things are coming, the worlds good things are passing away every minute. God intends his saints the greatest height of glory, and he will bring them to it through several Chambers of glory, every one more stately than other Now they are in their worst and lowest Estate( an Estate of sin and misery) yet now they are heirs. Rom. 8. 17 now they are one with Christ. 1 Cor. 6 17. Their first step is into glory; the first moment of their conversion they are translated from Death to Life, 1 John 3. 14. Than they come to a better Estate than that, v. d. at the day of their death and dissolution, they shall be with Christ out of the body, Phil. 1. 23. an Estate that none can tell the glory of. Than they come to a better Estate than that, viz. in the Kingdom of Christ, after the Resurrection of their bodies( for they shall rise first, and every one in his own order, 1 Thes. 4. 16. 1 Cor 15 2●. Rev 20 5.) they shall reign with Christ upon Earth in their bodies, Rev. 5. 10. Dan. 12. 13. job. 19. 25. 26 27. Rev, 20, 4. Yet they shall come to a better Estate than that for after Christ( with all the Saints about him) shall have judged and sentenced all wicked men and Angels which will take a long time, Eccles 12. 14. Mat. 12. 36. 1 Cor. 6. ●. 3. Rom. 2. 16.) Acts 17 33. Rev. 20 13. and shall have put down all power and dominion, Heb. 2. 8.( and so shall have made open show of all his glory and state, and shall have ended all his Trophies in this world, as King of Kings, the onely Potentate, 1 Tim 6. 14. 15.) he will than carry them all up with him into the highest Heavens,( his Court above) where God shall be all in all for ever. Christs Mediatorship than ceasing, 1 Thes. 4. 17. 1 Car. 15. 28. That shall be the highest degree of their glory, the top of their happiness, the full and immediate vision and enjoyment of God himself, blessed for ever.  

The sum of all is,  
1. THat the Doctrine of Christ, is not like Mahomets Doctrine, that was founded by the Sword, and is maintained by the Sword; nor like the Popes Doctrine that was founded by policy and usurpation, and is maintained the same way; but must onely be taught, persuaded unto, not forced upon the World. 2. That Magistracies and Governments( whatsoever the Persons be by whom the Power is executed) must be obeied, and all their Laws, Edicts, and Statutes,( in all civill cases) must be highly reverenced, cheerfully submitted unto by all universally. 3. That Magistrates owe universal protection, ought indifferently to administer Justice to all, without respect of the person or Religion of any, for that they are Elected by the World, not by the Church; and in case of Tyranny or mis-government, are accountable unto the people who entrusted them: And we see how God often strangely stirs up the people( in whom the fundamentals of power resides) to chasti●e the exorbitancies of Kings and Princes. 4. That Magistrates and Powers have nothing to do to impose upon the Churches, or to punish any out of the Church, for the not subjecting to any Ordinance of Worship, the ecclesiastical power of the ●●wish Magistrate( which he had onely within that national Church, no● without) now ceasing; and therefore now to set up national Churches( as Anti-Christ doth) or association of Churches with the Power of the Magistrate interwoven, is to bring in persecution. 5. That the kingdom of Christ is not any temporal rule or domination of the Saints in this world but is to be in that world to come, when Magistracies and all other ordinances must be put down, which until than must all continue in full force.   

I shall now onely add a few Advertisements to Professors in these trying and dangerous times.  
Adver. 1. TO look to keep fast the word of God patience, and not curiously p●y 〈◇〉 the fulfilling of Prophesies, and into what things ●● 〈◇〉 which are not sit for us to know. God will na●●en 〈◇〉 〈◇〉, Isay 6●. 22. Rev. 11. 1●. and nothing shall his 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 have too far presumed to tell of times and years which God hath reserved among his Areana ●mperii. The failings of eminent men in such cases, as of holy Brightman( a dark man we now see in many particulars) may admonish us of sobriety. Many in our times too rashly have Prophesied of things beyond their line &c, There were many Prophesies of Christ in the Old Testament, as H●s. 11. 1. jer. 31. 15. which could not be understood, until Christs first coming, and th●n expounded, Mat. 2. 15 18. So many Prophesies are in the Book of God, which will not be fully understood until Christs second coming, and which will be far otherwise fulfilled than now they are interpnted, than the whole mystery of God shall be opened and made manifest to all Saints. All the providences that concerns those two different States, zion and Babylon, the lamb, and the B●ast, are wrapped up in Scripture Prophesies, and we may stady them; but they are unfolded and uns●aled to us not all at once, but by degrees, to keep us humble, watchful, observant of providences, the best Expositors of Prophesies.  
Advert. 2. To be mindful of the great things God hath done for us in England. What will be next we know not; the usual method of divine providence is to make the Enemies of Zion the authors of their own ruin, by letting out their lusts, and hardening them, as in Pharaoh, the Churches first Enemy; and in Gog and Magog, her last enemy, Rev. 20. 8. Encourage Faith from the consideration of the promises, and whatsoever Providences come, look still at the Promises. Christ must, and will on his way, and bear down all before him.  
Advert. 3. To look after pure worship and pure ordinances; old customs and traditions will not serve the turn now; and whatsoever hath sprung from the head or horns of the Beast, will whither. Dago● must fall one way or other before the Ark. Nothing will hold and endure the fire of this day of trial and discovery, but what is of pure Gospel-Institution, Scripture-proofe; and probably, great sufferings may yet come to clear up truths, that now the Saints will scarce hear of. account not any puctilio of obedience, of duty( either of first or second Table, of worship towards God, or of duty towards our relations, as Husbands, Wives, Masters, &c.) small, trivial, needless, indifferent, its a sign of a slighty vain spirit so to do.  
Advert. 4. To take heed of admiring the revelations, dreams, high expressions of men or women; we are sufficiently warned of false Prophets to arise in the last dayes. Lets admire the wisdom and love of God speaking to us in holy Scriptures, and keep close to it, as the onely perfect rule how God will be worshipped and served. One line of Scripture, one blessed notion of the Gospel( Christ born of a Virgin, laid in a Manger; Jesus the eternal son of God, the son of David, God-Man, Crucified Dead and butted, raised again, ascended, sitting at the right hand of God in Heaven, pleading interceding for poor sinners &c.) is more glorious and ravishing, and provoking the soul to highest admirations, than ten thousand of Revelations and high notions besides, that the most seraphical spirits praetend unto. After the Book of Revelations, lets expect, wait for no more Revelations of that kind. Measure all opinions, worships by the line of Scripture,( the infallible writings of the holy Prophets and Apostles, which contain expressly the mind and commands of our Lord Jesus Christ) and what way or practise soever( though never so cried up by godly men) is not sound found agreeing with, and( though never so praetending to antiquity) is not ●ound to be of the same date with the most holy writings of the Apostles, know it to be a mere human invention, a novelty, as Popery, and other opinions, under what names or titles soever they go, are. The great project of Satan in these dayes is,( by transforming himself into an Angel of light) to undermine the sovereign authority of the written Word. Hence he sends out new Emissaries, Waiters, Notionists, Quakers. Were it not but that God is inflicting upon men spiritual judgements for spiritual sins( and it may be afflicting Churches for their want of Love, want of Order; or pride, or disesteem of others, or unfruitfulness, and formality, gaudy attire, and fashionings to the world, &c. or else it may be purging Churches of hypocrites, and vain and light spirits.) it were impossible that ever men that had lived under the sound of the Gospel, should be so deluded, and given up to such a spirit of blasphemy. Because the way of those men is so taking and catching an evil, I will take liberty here to show some of their Principles, some ways how men come to fall into that great evil; some praeservatives against that deadly poison.  
1. Some of their Principles are these. 1. A slighting of the commands of Christ, as of Water-Baptisme( which binds to the observation of all other commands of Christ, and which once slighted, and renounced, all other commands fall with it;) of the Lords Supper, Church fellowship, Sabbath &c. and in stead of obeying these, they wayto for new immediate commands,( which they account of equal authority with Scripture) as to go naked at such a place; to go and speak in such a Parish Assembly, &c. contrary to the Apostles charge to Women, Tit. 2. 5. 1 Tim. 5. 13. 14. 15.  
2. They deny the Flesh or human Nature of Christ Iesus,( that great Ordinance in which the God head dwells) which was once Crucified, to be now taken up above all Heavens, and pretending onely to a Christ within, a Word within, a baptism within, 2 Sabbath within; dis-owne those without them. Also they deny the Resurrection of the same flesh of every man and woman at the last day. The main Doctrine the Apostles so vehemently Preached, and suffered for. Some of them are not come so high.  
3. Those men( who are themselves the true servants and bond slaves of sin, not seeing the vildenesse, hypocrisy, pride, &c. of their own hearts) promise their proselytes, perfect mortification and freedom from sin in this life. This is their great Diana, which if they have attained unto, it must be presumed they never have a vain, worldly, lustful, doubting, unbelieving thought.  
4. They say, The Scripture is all fulfilled in them, as jer. 31. 34. which hath relation principally to Christs Kingdom.  
5. They lay claim to five great points of Popery. Poverty, Infallibility, Unity, Revelations, Selfe-righteousnesse or Perfection. They incline also to a kind of Popish ignorance, for they care to know or believe no further, than what is immediately given in, and revealed to them( from that false light of natural reason and conscience within them) without the Scripture, accounting all that is so revealed to be infallible; they will not study, search into truth or falsehood, read and examine things that differ, according to that great Canon of the Apostle, 1 Thes. 5. 21. 1 John 4. 1. Prove all things. Try the Spirits; that is, lay them in the balance, hold them up in the sunbeams of Scripture, the onely touch-stone of Doctrine, Heb. 4. 12. 13. 1 John 4. 6. 2 John 10.  
2. The ways how men come to fall into this great evil. The devil lays his temptations to this apostasy in several methods, according to mens several tempers, inclinations and humors; but to all he comes with the monks cowl on him, pretending a state of perfect self-denial and mortification.  
They are subject to catch this infection. 1. That have itching ears, 2 Tim. 4 3. heaping to themselves Teachers after their own lusts disorderly running after gifts, &c. not content with the Doctrine of the Church, the bread of Gods house( in which is food sufficient) which is most nourishing, though it may seem but course.  
2. Such as study not, examine not, pray not over what they hear, but( too much magnifying men, thinking of them above what is meet) pin all their Faith on the Ministers sleeve, and take all upon trust, as if the Pulpit were the chair of infallibility.  
3. Such as have suddenly and rashly taken up Ordinances from custom, or from respects to mens persons, their gifts and parts, or other carnal ends, and not from sights of the authority of Christ stamped upon them, and from full convictions.  
4. Such as have great affections, and little judgement, must have their affections stirred in a duty, must have humblings, meltings, &c. else they throw all away.  
5. Proud spirits, that cannot bear the infirmities of saints, because they see not their own. They had great desires to come into a Church, and seeing so many infirmities( which will be in the best Churches) reject them; which is, as if a man that had married a woman, should cast her off for some infirmity he now sees. Christ doth not do so with his Churches and saints; the purest spirits have their spots and blemishes; and eminent graces may be mixed with great corruptions; and its better to be of a Church of the most infirm saints, than of a Church of Angels, where there were no need of exercising those precious graces of love and forbearance.  
6. Prejudiced spirits, prejudiced at the mean and low gifts of the Church; whereas if they be stronger, they may help to strengthen others; if weaker, they may be strengthened by others.  
7. dark fruitless spirits, that go from mountain to hill, from Ordinance to Ordinance to seek rest, and go not to Christ, and finding no present good in any Ordinance, cast off all.  
8. Discontented spirits, discontented with their spiritual conditions, whom nothing will serve but high and glorious manifestations, a most dangerous temptation. Its better to trust God upon a bare promise, and wait his leisure, than to have the gloriousest manifestations. Again, they find powerful stirrings of corruptions, notwithstanding all their duties, and so desiring a greater degree of mortification than God sees fit for them, fall into this snare of Satan. God could in a moment make us perfect, if he pleased, as he did Adam; but he suffers sin to be in us, and to act strongly, that we might admire pardoning love and grace. No greater perfection I know attainable in this life, than to be daily mourning, and shaming ones self before Christ for sin, and yet daily believing on Christ for pardon; and better it is to be striving, groaning, Praying under a corruption, than to have it( if possible) totally removed, 2 Cor. 12. 8. 9.  
3. The Preservatives against this apostasy. 1. To keep high prizings of all Ordinances,( especially of the holy and blessed Scriptures) which to carnal eyes seem poor low things, as Christs Person did to the Scribes and Pharisees, and to Herod, and his men of war, Luke 24. 11. but they are more precious then all the gold of Ophir, or then all revelations. Christ hath left them to his Churches; as memorials of his death, and tokens of his love, pledges of his presence with them, until his coming again in Person, Mat. 28. ult. 1 Cor. 11. 32. Alas, what is dipping in Water, eating a bit of Bread, drinking a sup of Wine; as Naaman said, 2 Kings 5. 11. Are not the Waters of Damascus better than jordan? To a mere rational man Aristotles Ethices, C●ceroes Orations, were better than Teaching and Preaching.  
The Papists therefore, to make Ordinances more taking to Flesh and Blood, clothe them with many pompous Ceremonies, which is to dishonour them. Its onely the Word and command of Christ that puts glory and lustre upon them. Faith eyes the command onely, and the promise annexed, not the meanness or excellency of the Administrator. Its the greatest self-denial to submit to such low things as Ordinances,( with respect to Christs command onely) which a proud heart is so ready to slight and ●ast off.  
2. To entertain truths not with respect to mens persons and gifts, but to their own native excellency and lustre, and seeing how they lie couched in the original and first copy of all truths, vid. The Scriptures, or Written Word. Truths, as Jewels, are, and should be, accounted precious, what hand soever reaches them out. They are not less precious( suppose) in a wooden hand; nor more precious if offered in a golden hand.  
3. To keep always a holy fear in the sense of our own weakness, and Satans wil●ss and artifices; he hath gone beyond stronger than we, as we see in Peter, &c.  
4. To beware of unholiness, and close sins, as slightinesse of spirit &c. they will pave the way to error. A slighty careless heart, will be a dead, fruitless heart, and that will be fit soil for the devil to sow his Cockie in.  
5. To take heed of prejudice at the infirmities of the saints, at the meanness of the gifts or graces of the Church. To nourish a special frame of love towards the Church, and towards all saints, to esteem of others better than ourselves, 1 John 2. 10. Thou sees another carnal, proud. think, ●● but I have a more carnal, proud heart than he. think worst of thyself. If thou seest not worse things in thyself, than in any other in the world, thou art a proud spirit. Thou seest another that is low in gifts, do not dis-esteem him, he may have a more sincere heart than thou.  
6. Though thou find no good, no comfort in Ordinances, as thou thinkest; yet practise them because of Christs blessed command. Hypocrites will follow Christ for the Loaves Pure love will obey Christ, though it should have no in-comes. To do all duties merely from Christs command, as if one had all the highest enlargements and manifestations in the world, is true Gospel obedience.  
7. Know, whatsoever pretends to be a voice from God, and is not according to a New Testament dispensation, is from Satan. All Old Testament speakings by Angels, dreams, Revelations, are ceased, now that God hath spoken to us by his son Jesus, in his blessed Word, Heb. 1. 1. 2. whose voice we must onely hear, not Moses or Elias, mark 9. 8 not the false Oracles of our own hearts, which suggest naturally the most wicked, abominable things, which if others should know, would make the best of us blushy, and appear like Devills to others.  
8. look as well to the Ordinances of the Gospel, baptism, Lords Supper, as the graces of the Gospel, Repentance and Faith. God hath joined them together, Acts 2. 38. he that will cast off the one, will cast off the other also.  
9. To keep a daily sense of our sins, of our need of Christs blood, righteousness, intercession, advocateship, seeking our salvation out of ourselves in a crucified Christ onely.  
10. To practise Ordinances, not idolize them, such will soonest cast them off, as set them above their place. Especially to be much in closet-prayer; if that be sweet, it will keep the heart right in all other Ordinances; decline in that, and decline in all.  
11, To mind Christs charge, Mat. 24. 26. go not forth, keep within the fold of the Church. Take heed of Dinah-like gaddings and wanderings. Let the breasts of the church satisfy thee always, and neglect no opportunity of worship and communion with the church. The more thou art in Gods house, the more sweetness thou shalt find in it. I God is now clearing up Ordinances and truths of worship( which Anti-christ hath long corrupted) and Satan would pull down all. God is clearing up Scripture, and Satan would persuade to throw it away, and wait for immediate commands. Worldly preferments have undone many, and now Satan would cheat men by voluntary humility and poverty. He cannot reach us by persecution, and now he would undermine us by perfection, counterfeit self-denial, &c. He will cause men throw away their gaudy clothes, but keep their pride under another name; and spiritual pride is his darling sin, and will usher in all sin. Its confessed, those who thus cast off Churches, Ordinances, Scripture, are in very great danger of arriving at atheism by insensible degrees, and then of breaking out into Rantisme, and the grossest sort of profaneness( whereby they may justly fall under the Magistrates Sword) yet ought we to hope and judge charitably of such as are fallen, and pray for them. It was Novatus opinion, such as fell from the Church, could not be restored; but God is able to make them rise; yea, such as belong to Christ, shall not, cannot fall finally; nay, when they fall, they shall always rise with their graces more glorious and bright than before. I And lets not be praejudiced at truth, because some forsake it. Judas must come from among the Apostles, not the Scribes and Pharisees. The devil by these wil●ss and methods, doth not strike at Atheists, Papists, loose profane worshippers,( who are not better to be liked because they turn not Quakers) but at the strictest sort that profess mortification, heavenly mindedness, and at Churches, against whom his principal grudge is.  
But by all these errors, God will do his Saints and Churches good. 1 Cor. 11. there must be heresies. Errors shall help to clear up truths, as sin by divine wisdom( which brings the best things out of the worst) doth oft work to mortify sin. There is no error but hath some semblance of truth, and the greater semblance the more dangerous. Many false Christs were before Christ; many errors may praecede, as well as follow after the bringing forth of truth.  
Impute not these sad apostasies to the times; men were false in their profession, rotten at the heart before these times, and now these times do but onely discover them, not make them such. These are no new strange things, it was so in the very Apostles dayes, multitudes, swarms of Professors ●ell off, in Christs time, John 6. 66. in Pauls time, 2 Tim. 1. 15. afterward in Iohns time many false Prophets, Anti-christs, went out of Churches, 1 John 2. 18. 19. 1 John 4. 1.  
Advert. 5. To take heed of joining carnal Interests any way with Religion, they will make a carnal Religion. What formality, worldly-mindedness, what decay in holinesse and love is crept into Churches, by compliances with worldly powers? Those who wove carnal Interests with Christs Interest, will undo themselves in the end. Its dangerous and uncomely for men that praetend Christs Interest, to seek their own. He that thinks to get carnal advantages by his Religion, is not right in his Religion. Religion that hath any thing besides Christ( his love, his commands) at the bottom, will change and alter with the times, and fall at last, like the house built on the sand. Miserable to have any Interest in these times, but purely Christs which lies not in the things of this world, but in righteousness, holinesse, and joy in the holy Ghost.  
Advert. 6. To take heed of carnal policy. politicians will never see far into glorious providences, nor embrace poor truths that go in rags, and are commonly held forth at first by the weakest hands. Professors are grown such politic sticklers in the World, that either this Generation must be brought through a hotter furnace, or else we must to our graves; and God will raise up another Generation of more pure, refined Evangelicall Principles.  
Advert. 7. To take heed of carnal expectations; many have taken up profession, as the Sichemites did Circumcision, Gen. 34, 23. merely as an engine to hook in preferment. Sad to see men that talk big of Crownes of glory, greedy after those things, which are fitter for fawning Ziba●s to seek after, 2 Sam. 16. 1. &c. It had been happy for many professors, if they had never known the employments, preferments of these times; few have meddled, but they have lost by them, and been defiled one way or other. How many hath this tail of the Dragon cast down to the Earth? Error hath slain its thousands, but the world its ten thousands. No more dangerous and unsavoury man one can meet with, than a Professor that hath the world at the root of his heart.  
Advert. 8. To take heed of offences, at the falls of Professors, Mat. 18. 7 Glorious stars have fallen, and set in darkness. The world, the wedge of gold, hath undone more than the wars have: there may be yet greater falls of the highest Professors; and God may suffer such miscarryages to fall out. 1. To humble them more deeply, and to clear up their graces. 2. To warn others, to make others fear and tremble. 3. To wean Saints, and call them off from their worldly compliances, employments, &c. which they have too much sought after. 4. To enrage and harden the world against them. 5. To try true, and scar away false professors of truth. Satan is most busy to tempt Professors of the highest way, that he may dishonour Christ, and his truths. Its a Devill-like temper to rejoice at the falls of others, though of contrary judgements to us; we should be humble, knowing we have the very same corruptions in us. Aehans, Iudasses will be in the Church, and they are none of the meanest rank of Professors, but such as Demas a fellow labourer with the Apostles. Satans Kingdom shall lose much by the very falls of saints, and discovery of hypocrites.  
Advert. 9. Take heed of trusting too much on Instruments, they are broken bows, have deceived, and will deceive. Christ will break and use, lay aside, and raise up Instruments as he pleaseth. He hath used despised ones, and he may yet make choice of Instruments we least think of. He need not want Instruments, he can create them, fit them, make the weak strong, the strong weak.  
Advert. 10. To take heed of blind, furious, rash, selfe-ended zeal, censuring and persecuting all others not of our way and judgement. Some devout persons are subject to this frenzy, Acts 13. 5.& 7. 54. 57.& 26. 11. zeal is the hottest slaming out of love and affection to Christ, his saints and worship, of hatred and indignation against all sin, in ourselves first and principally. A most precious grace when it runs in its right channel; but otherwise, a most dangerous wild-fire, when it promps men to ways of force, violence, rage, cruelty and compulsion; the Gospel perfectly abhors all laws and practices of men tending to inflict the least punishment( much more to banish men& cast them into filthy dungeons to die and perish) for any merely religious dissents whatsoever. He that would shape a Common-wealth, or civill society of men to the rules and holy praeseriptions of the Gospel, would bring forth a most hideous monster of babylonish confusion and persecution.  
Advert. 11. To take heed of murmuring, as some of them murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer, 1 Cor. 10. Murmurers will never be wise observers, humble admirers, holy improvers, comfortable sharers in providences. Say not, Men exalt themselves, For promotion comes neither from the East nor from the West, nor from the South; but God is the judge, he is the Lord of Hosts, he puts down one, and sets up another, and no man can set up himself, Psal. 75. 6. 7. Such as walk in pride he will abase, Dan. 4. 37. for he that is higher than the highest regardeth, Eccles 5. 8.  
Advert. 12. To be more watchful than ever, to keep a holy, humble, pure frame of spirit disengaged from the world longing for the appearing of Christ, that we may every day walk in our Bridall-dresse of holinesse, sit to meet him, Rev. 21. 2. longing to see him.  
Advert. 13. To prepare for greater shakings, not thinking any thing sure that stands upon day. The nearer Christs coming, the greater Earth-quakes still. The nearer Babylons downfall, the greater confusions. But out of all, brighter glory shall break forth. The Church, like Noahs ark, may toss, it cannot sink This work will yet puzzle all the reason and wisdom of men. Out of confusion, God brings order. Our black-st hour, will be nearest the appearing of the bright morning star, Rev. 22  
Advert. 14. To be subject to all the Governments and Powers of this world. Rom. 13. 1. not to despise Dominions, or speak evil of Dignities that are over us, Iude 8. How ever they use us in this world, to let prayers and giving of thanks be made for them all 1 Tim. 3. 1. 2. Let worldly Governments alone to themselves, men will be men and act like poor weak creatures, they are to be pitied, not envied, not reviled. We that stand on low and sure ground, cannot imagine their dangers and temptations. Christ and the Apostles did not meddle with Governments. Christ did not strive, neither was his voice heard in the street. He would have nothing to do with Powers and Magistrates, but onely to submit to them, and to suffer by them, leaving us an example what we should do; he will have the saints to be put in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers, and to obey Magistrates, Tim. 3. 1. though wicked and persecuting.  
Advert. 15. To pray earnestly that we may see a day of Pentecost, as it were, upon all the Churches, such a powring out of the spirit, such a power and majesty of holinesse upon all the Saints and Churches, as may prophesy to the world( as the building of Noahs ark did, concerning the Flood) that Christ is coming, and at hand, and that may even hasten the coming of the day of God, 2 Pet. 3. 12. Oh that we may see the spirit of life entering into dying Religion( almost undone with formality, worldly policy, compliances, employments, preferments &c) and the witnesses standing upon their feet, witnessing to all the truths of the Gospel by subjecting to all Ordinances of worship, and by love, holinesse, heavenly-mindednesse in their communions, conversations and callings Profession is a poor thing in these dayes, and an easy thing; its easy for a man that hath a good wit and memory, to speak well and fluently; but to love Christ, and all the poor Saints to be crucified, and mortified to this world, to retain always a holy fear and shamefastness in the sense of our own vildenesse, before the infinite holinesse, majesty, dreadfulness o● God, to be subject to the will of God in all cross providences, love and praise him in all afflictions, rejoice in all conditions, converse much with him in secret and unseen duties, in fervent prayer, studious reading of the Scripture; strict self examination, &c. thats true Religion. Alas! we have onely the coats and garments of Religion to show, her ornaments,( gifts and parts) but the life and spirit of her is even gone we may weep over her relics. Were Christ now to come, how few of us professors would be found in peace, and having on our New jerusalem spirits; but rather grubbing, and delving deep in the Earth. Alas! how have we professors made Religion to stink by our pride, luxury, covetousness, seeking places, offices, and our own carnal interests, making gain of godliness, affecting greatness and seigneury in this world, so as it may be justly feared, the next storm will fall upon us? Oh when shall we see Zion arise out of the dust, and put on her beautiful garments, clothed with the sun; having the moon under her feet?  
The 16. and last Advert. To pray continually as Christ hath ●aught us, Thy kingdom come, that glorious kingdom, which shall be the fifth Monarchy, and shall break to pieces all other Governments and Kingdoms, Dan. 2. 44. and will not leave a crown, or a throne standing in all the world besides its self That day shall be the worlds glorious spring-time, and restit●tion, the Saints great Sabbath, and Jubilee; which this whos● present groaning creation longeth to see, Rom. 8. 21. 22. 23. I● the interim, this world shall be burr a Hell, a Dungeon, a plac● of torment to the Saints; for Christs Kingdom is not of thi● world, John 18. 36. Mat. 20. 25. Christ hath promised, trib●lation in it, John 16. 33. Let Nations set up what forms of government they please( whic● are all lawful, and must be submitted unto as Ordinances of God: For there is no powty ●● of God, Rom. 13. 1.) they will all be found afflicting( some more, some less) to ●● Saints, till Christ, the desire of all Nations, come: he onely shall judge the world in righteousness, he onely shall minister Iudgement to the people in uprightness, Psal. 8. 9.& ●8. 9.   
FINIS.