THE PARLIAMENTS dreams interpnted.  
OR, The House of Commons spiritual Imaginations, digested into eight Queeries, to their Dissembly of Diviners,( or Synod of babylonish gainsayer, April 22. 1646.) by a plain man answered.  
showing 

1. Their great injustice, in choosing rather to follow and respect those blind guides, who could not answer so needful queries, for which( and the like) ends, they were called together from all parts, then to punish and dissolve them, for their ignorance or contempt, like the magicians of babel.  
2. Their intolerable oppression, in urging the Scots Covenant and Religion, more upon those their cursed Priests word, then the blessed word of God, besides innumerable other grievances, by means of corrupt Parliamentmen, Committeemen, Judges Justices, and Lawyers.    Jer. 5. 30. 31. A horrible and filthy thing is committed in the Land, the Prophets prophecy lies, and the Priests receive gifts in their hands, and my people love to have it so: but what will ye do in the end thereof. Eccles. 5. 8. If in a country thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the defrauding of Judgement and Justice, be not astonied at the matter; for he that is higher then the highest regardeth it, and there be higher then they. 
LONDON, Printed in the Year. 1648.   

Intolerable oppression both in presbyterial Government, and the Common-wealth: allowed by the Parliament, & presented to the Army, with these particulars:  


1. A plain mans answer to the eight Queres, which were proposed by the House of Commons to the Assembly of Divines,( April 22, 1646.) because they themselves could never be able to answer them.  
2. The Parliaments great injustice and double-dealing, both in maintaining those gainsayer, contrary to the practise of the very Heathen,( when they perceived such kind of men could not interpret their dreams, like Daniel) and also in following their wicked counsels, by setting up a golden Image of human Religion, and a painted Altar of pretended Reformation.  
3. If any should go forth against that renowned and victoririous ARMY, it cannot( in any equity) be the sober sort of young men nor Apprentices of London, nor yet their parents, friends, nor Masters, because many thousands of them have spent their blood and states in the late Warres already; but it must needs be, that black tribe of English Priests, because it is only their turn, they being too easily, safely, and idly kept all these heavy times, to act mischief at home.  
4. If the city will foolishly try at the dice of warres, their millions with the Armies shillings, even whether they shall have the Armies horses, buffe-coats, scarves and armor, or the Army enjoy all their treasures, riches, apparel, and other both unspeakable and unvaluable plunder, once to make them wise and sober,( if not, their daintic wives and daughters also before their eyes,) yea and endanger the burning of the city to ashes, for their heinous sins; let them even run their courses.    Dan. 2. 9, 11, 12, 46, 47. &c. 1 Cor. 1. 19, 20. 27, 28, 29. joh. 10. jer. 5. 26, &c. 
BEfore the beginning of this Parliament, many were in hopeful expectation of a worthy model of the Church of Christ, to have brought from his glorious gospel, which was first taught at Jerusalmem, and not to have had any other pattern, like the Altar, which was been brought from Damascus; but as it was by many others also feared, now it hath in the own colours appeared, as both by the copy of a Warrant from a parish Church from Lancashire, and divers instances and circumstances hereafter following may be perceived.  
We looked to have been freed from all prelatical oppression, but behold, far greater, under the Presbyterian notion, besides hundreds of strange and bitter novelties, which I intend not here to express; for not onely doth every Parish Priest, and his Lay-Elders( as he is pleased to call them) warn in all persons of whatsoever estate or degree, without any kind of exception, either of King or Kaser, Lord, Knight, Queen, countess, Lady or other, above twelve yeares of age, not onely to his preaching and prayer, but to his several examinations, when they are not frequently there, yea, and to stand up publicly in their pews, and be examined so often as it pleaseth him every year, or else to issue forth such a Warrant for their appearance, as is hereafter mentioned.  
What is this, I pray you, but a dreg or a relic of gross Popery,( though a little fined and sugared by the presbytery) even proceefrom auricular confession? yea, it is far worse in this respect, seeing this examination is public before all neighbours, and others, who are in the public Assembly, both to hear, see, and carry away the news: but the other is only privately spoken( or rather whispered) in the ear, and that not in many men, women, nor childrens ears, but in the Priests alone; onely he may( if he will, or at least have licence or pardon from the Pope) declare and divulge it to whom he pleaseth, if the parties benevolence, who are so abused and misled, be not powerful enough to stop his mouth.  
To every one of those persons onely whom he judgeth fit both by their public answering his questions, to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and by other tokens also to win his favour and commendation, he ordereth his Elders( which formerly were called Church-Wardens) to give a token, made either of stamped led or sealed paper, with some letters of his name therein, to signify his assent of their admission to the Sacrament, which they must either very carefully keep, or else buy or procure, and deliver at the Church-door, with their oblation too, before they enter in, or at least have access to to the Table.  
But such as cannot readily, speedily, and pertinently answer him in public, before two, three, four, or five hundred people, or either more or fewer, as he pleaseth to call before him at any time, or at least if they do not often enough invite him to their houses,( with his wife and children also, if he hath any) yea and sometimes bestow upon him or his, some gifts or presents also, if they be able, and all to be so familiar with him, that they may once win his favour and approbation, and then neither look red book, speak; nor act in any respect, which may any wise eclipse it, he will be ready to chide and upbraid them publicly for their ignorance and negligence, in not getting by heart, or at least by root, some hard task of such a catechism, as he pleaseth to urge upon each one of his Parishioners, and at what rate he pleaseth.  
And in case any, who are even prepared to answer sufficiently at home or in private, be subject to blushy, because they are not so ready to speak in public as others,( yea as those perhaps who are neither so able nor of so holy a life, but either ignorant or scandalous, if not both,) do at any time absent themselves,( except for very urgent causes as they must prove, yea and supply also either at another time, or by showing who is Melchizedeks father, by some kind of ointment in the hand) he will both begin to rail on them the next first day of the week and so continue every Sermon-day, feast-day, and fast-day from his Tub or Pulpit, until he sufficiently blaze and shane them out of all his conformable society.  
And if this were all, it were not so great matter, but yet he proceedeth both further and further, to bring them to repentance for this their heinous sin, even in absenting themselves from the true Church of God,( as he oftensayeth, and which therefore they also must believe, as others do) he and his Lay-Elders, being authorised by both Houses of Parliament, do issue forth their Warrants for such Delinquent parties to appear before them at their Church, on some prefixed day, even to answer publicly to such things as are or shall bee objected against them, and thereof they must not fail, as doth appear by the aforesaid Warrant.  
If the parties do appear, and humble themselves with very low submission, and above all things, not forget either to go themselves, or sand some special friend a day or two before to each of their houses, whose names are subscribed to the Warrant, but chiefly the Priests house, and both solicit themselves and their wives, and anoint their hands too, they had better leave all their business, and go a hundred miles penance on their bare feet, then to endure such hard censures as will be prepared for them, chiefly if they be not thus prepared, I say, before they come.  
And at the best, though they do all those aforementioned things, to avoid these mens cruel and bitter censure, and do humble themselves on their bare knees before them, and weep and cry, and do all that might seem to serve a true Church indeed, because the heart( as all other secret things do) belongeth to God, they must not go yet so scotfree for what is past, but be taught better manners for the time to come, and that to terrify both them and all others from disobeying the proud Tythe-monging clergy, and Orders both of Parliament and Church,( as they call it,) they must stand, if they be able, or otherwise sit in sackcloth; or in a pair of white sheets over their apparel( that they may incur the more worldly shane, & so have the more sorrow for their heinous sin) for three first dayes of the week, during both preaching and prayer time, in a stall of a story high, set in the most public view of all the people, a little distant from the Pulpit, which they both colour over with black in sign of mourning, entitle and writ in great letters on it, The place appointed for public repentance, that the Priest may have the more sight, audience and attendance of all the people, to rail at his pleasure on those Delinquents and Enemies to his and his Antichristian brethrens State, and that both generally in his Sermon( usually from a Text chosen for that purpose) and particularto the parties one or more, each one by Thou, and his, or her infamous name and odious fact after Sermon, before he command them to sit on their knees.  
And at the Church-dissolving on the third day, if either the fault be not so extraordinary odious or scandalous to the people, as the Priest will endeavour to make it, or that the thus wronged or enslaved party or parties be destitute both of friends and means, they are permitted to come down from that black-stoole,( so devised by the Black-coats) and take off their sackcloth or sheets, that they may be received to mercy and favour again, and in sign thereof, the Priest and Lay-Elders in the behalf of the Congregation, do take them by the hand, and pronounce the sentence of remission to bee according to their repentance, for their so heinous and odious offence against God and his holy Church.  
But if the party or parties do not thus humble themselves, both in body purse, or estate, to those high Presbyterian taskmasters, so clothed with Parliamentary authority( as the Bishops, and these men their underlings were) with real Prerogative, then ipso facto, they will be excommnicated and delivered to Satan: yea, and though Satan would be pleased to stay a little on their leisure, and grant them some kind of favour, yet those his wicked instruments( if it bee possible) are so much worse then himself, that they will scarce grant one hour but give them over also into the hands of the civill Magistrate, who will either( after the Scottish form, denounce them to the horn, that is, blow a horn at some public Market-Crosse, or some other the like way, and proclaim them the Kings Rebells, and so) proceed against them as his, or at least the Parliaments Rebells, confiscate their estates, and either imprison or banish their persons, if they do not very speedily before they are made misers and beggars, most humbly submit and make their slavish peace.  
Now having given you a little view and taste, before you have a full show and proof, of the tyranny in Presbyterian Government, proceeding both from that ensnaring Covenant of the three kingdoms, and that illegal Ordinance of tithes; because all estates from the highest to the lowest, are by-taking that forced Covenant, sworn to abolish popery, and also in obeying that unjust Ordinance( by paying of tithes) to establish popery: which is a manifest, sinful and shameful contradiction one to another; so that every one who is forced to take the Covenant, and also forced to break it, is in that resect perjured, not only by paying Popish or Jewish tithes, but thereby both submitting to a Popish or jewish Priesthood, and maintaining them in their unlawful offices, contrary both to the intent of the Word of God, and pretence of the Covenant.  
For as the Covenant establisheth the Priests, so doth the Ordinance their maintenance, which if it were once taken away, either by just Ordinance or resistance, they would not long continue: howsoever faithful Ministers dare trust God, for such maintenance and daily bread, as he alloweth them in his Word, yet Ministers of Antichrist and hirelings, will before they want enough of stinted yearly allowance, they will have it established by the sword, yea, and two many of them had rather have seven years warres in three the kingdoms, then one years want of their base tithes: though otherwise then by that Ordinance there is no Law of God nor man, whereby to exact the same, as is evident in the defence of M. brown against the Person of Stepney, who failing of equitable law, is forced so to corrupt the Judges of the Exchequer, as to procure them to discharge the Defendants counsellors from further pleading, yea and a Warrant also co arrest him, so that now he complaineth on the Iudges to the Parliament, who( according to their usual manner) if they either deny or delay justice, he will have recourse to the Army.  
And whence cometh all these cruel wars in these sad dayes, but merely by means of those Black-coats, as usually in all ages and Nations they do, by such ravening wolves in sheeps clothing? For, began they not in Scotland through their ambition and covetousness? And have they not gone through all England and Ireland, by those Diviners, enchanters, and gainsayer means? And wee need not yet expect any peace, tranquillity or safety, whiles they sit together and daily device wicked Decrees,( both at the Synod and Sion college) and all to deceive both King, Parliament, City, and country; yea, and the Army itself,( for as well as it is purged) more then King Pharoah's Bed-chamber, can hardly be free of those frogs and vermin, that came out of that bottomless pit, whose cruel venom and bitterness Edwards, Byfields, Wards, and Loves, both Books and Sermons, will abundantly witness: but a hundred times more of this subject hereafter.  
Lancashire, April 1. 1647.   

The true copy of the Warrant.  
John Ogden.  
WE the Eldership of the Congregation of Prestwich, upon information and notice of some scandal, that you have given whereof we are to take notice, do hereby as officers of the Church of the Lord Iesus Christ, and being hereunto authorised by both Houses of Parliament, require you to appear before us at restwich-Church, on Thursday being the eight day of this present april, Anno Dom. 1647. to answer such things as are or shall be objected against you; hereof you may not fail.  
This is for John Ogden, a servant at Edward Hoawoods of Heaton.  


Toby furnace.  
Peter Sergent.  
James wrooe.  
John Scoules.  
james Talier.  
james Smethurst.  
Adam Caskell.     

To his worthy Friend, M. John Kushworth, Secretary to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax.  
SIR,  
BEing not yet recovered of the hurt, I received during the siege of Chester, and having languished through the extremity of my pain for a long season, which being lately assuaged, I have altogether employed myself in observation of the present condition of this County of Chester, which is very deplorable, considering how that formerly it hath been the Seat of War, and now is of Tyranny oppression, and arbitrary government, occasioned partly by the multitudes of Committees for Sequestrations, there being one placed in every Hundred within the said Gounty, with all Receivers, solicitors, Agents and other Officers thereunto appertaining, who like so many cruel Harpies and Cormorantss, devour the country, no man being free from their snares and 'gins, if the meanest Agent have the least malice towards any, or intend revenge in any of their friends causes: but many times lucre of money is the prime adamant.  
These Committees being before their first institution into this Body Poliique, a generation of hypocritical and beggarly zealots, making Religion the cloak for their oppression, and being constituted by virtue of an Ordinance made this present Parliament( as the Gentry say) enabling Sir William Brereton with two of the Deputy-Lievtenants and Committees, being of the prime Gentry, to supply the defect of active men to be Seques●rators.  
Whereupon a fraternity of these state-devouring fellowes, some of infamous condition, were created in a tacite manner, by the said Sir William Brereton's means, who have since so glutted themselves with the rapines and ruins of poor people as well as rich, and contrary( I suppose) to the sense of the Parliament, have extorted Compositions from those who have not been worth a cow, or ten pounds in their whole substance, many times compounding with them for their Delinquency for 13. s. 4. d. and sometimes more or less, according to their estates: but Quowarranto, I know not, not so much as sparing those who have been under the power of the enemy, at the time of their acting against the Parliament.  
So that most of these Committees, who were very poor and much indebted, have paid their debts, and are ready to make great purchases, unless it bee such, who through their prodigality daily consume their Aurum Tholosanum, in riotousness, adultery, fornication, and drunkenness: such kind of licentiousness as this, the Army desireth not, as appeareth by their Propositions.  
These upstart fellowes are by tract of time, so versed in their art, and grown so insolent and arrogant, that they daily affront all the ancient Gentry of the County, who for their integrity, ingenuity, and antiquity, are inferior to none,( activity is onely wanting) which engendereth the sufferings of the country under this spoiling generation of vipers, the Pests of the Common-wealth, wherein they reside. No County( I ever yet could hear of) suffereth the like calamities and miseries by such fellowes, notwithstanding the manifold compositions of Delinquents, they will find work enough whilst there is any wealth.  
I cannot omit here, a late president of theirs; a poor man that had been in arms, came in, took the solemn League and Covenant, with the Negative Oath, and returned home above a year and a half since, who being warned to appear before one of the Committees, attended them almost three quarters of a year, and in the end understanding that he was very poor, yet a suitor to a widow, who was conceived to have a good estate, after his long attendance he was dismissed, the Charge-man telling him, they had nothing to say to him. But so soon as they had notice of his marriage, his wives coffers( by their Agents and Officers) were preached, and 140. l. in ready money seized upon.  
Many are the presidents of their exorbitant and cruel dealings, which I could relate, if I had either time or opportunity: yet I have observed here some other passages, concerning a Court called the Exchequer at Chester, not long sithence erected upon an old foundation, which is found to bee very rotten. I have conversed with some of the prime Officers thereof, who are very ignorant and simplo, not discerning right from wrong, yet they can claim an unlimited Prerogative, and are not to bee controlled by any Court whatsoever: An unheard of Court, and their proceedings not to be parallelled, sitting every day, exercising their arbitrary laws, and making illegal and extrajudicial Orders, De Die in Diem, and those coram non judice.  
The prime Officer is a Baron or clerk, whose place( as is said) is in the nature of a Register in the Chancery, and a Cursitor to make original Writs. He who now beareth the name of the place, was neither bread a Lawyer, nor Clerk, but procured one to come from London, out of the duchy Office, who when the Raven there had nothing to prey upon, was sent thither to prevent the rats, from eating of the Records, not to red them or understand them.  
So that he being made Deputy Baron, both Baron and Deputy, appearing equally ignorant, the old Malignant Clerkes to the former Baron( being a Delinquent) must be assistants, & execute the place. The office of the Baron( it seemeth) was a Delinquent as great as the Baron, but the petty office of a clerk or Substitute not so. There is equity pretended, yet nothing but iniquity acted.  
Orders for stay of all suits above, daily made by the attorneys and Clerks, as if the Lord Keeper sate every day. There is no Common-Law there, for albeit they have had no Assizes, and so have not the benefit of the Law, yet the Officers are so impudent and ignorant, that they will not suffer any Inhabitant to sue one another in any of the Courts at Westminster, but presently Attachments and I know not what threatenings of Finings, answering upon Interrogatories, and impeaching them for the breach of their Liberties of that County, as if it were high treason to seek for justice elsewhere, there being none to be had there.  
Besides all these fore-mentioned grievances, I hear much complaint of pluralities of offices, one being the Constable of the Castle,( the office of a Knight formerly) Steward of Haughton-Fee, Steward of the County-Court, an attorney in the Exchequer, and Clerk to the Committee for the County, cum multis aliis, every one of which being well managed, would take up the whole man.  
When this Parliament begun and depressed the Star-Chamber, the high Commission and consistory Court, I never conceived that( Sedente Parliamento) any such arbitrary Court and proceedings would have been tolerated, the more rational here say, it had been too soon to have set it up, after the Common-Law had had its course, if not better regulated then formerly, Quia equitas sequitur, non praecedit legem. But here is nothing but a preposterous Order, ut vulgo aiunt, the cart going before the wheels.  
Here is likewise great talk and expectation of a chief Justice of Chester coming down, he is a mere stranger unto me, yet some say, he was my Lawyer, he will do me justice, another he is my kinsman, a third, his wife is my kinswoman, a fourth, he is Sir William Breretons creature, and will move him on my behalf; so that by his practise and alliance, he is generally acquainted, he being born and bread, and having a numerous kindred in the County, the least of which heretofore had been a sufficient cause of exception against his admission, and therefore not a settled judge in his native country.  
Truly Sir, though I am a stranger here, yet am very sorry for the County, and by some of the most judicious, was desired to present their grievances to you, in regard they may be made known to the Army, and so to the Parliament, that they living in one kingdom may live under one Law, and one Government, and not bee enslaved.  
They have given as ample testimonies of their zeal to the Parliament, as any other people of any other County in the kingdom whatsoever, and therefore deserve the Liberties and privileges of Commons, being that which they principally have hazarded their lives and fortunes for, and not now to suffer themselves to be ensnared and flattered, like no other County.  
Such like( as before-mentioned) proceedings have so alienated the hearts of the Commons here, that unless there be such speedy relief, that justice may be done, and the exorbitant power of the extrajudicial and arbitrary Court of the Exchequer, and of the Committees here, be not regulated or suppressed, a parliamentary party will not be found. I doubt not but you will in this seasonable opportunity, communicate these grievances, to the end the oppressed may bee relieved; which is the onely end aimed at by him, who is  
Sir, Your Friend and humble Servant, N. W. Chester, July 28. 1647.  
Notwithstanding your late news out of Ireland( as I perceived by the Post) I have received lately intelligence, that the kingdom was never in a worse condition, and likely to be lost, if there be not a speedy settlement of the affairs of this kingdom, and a supply of men and Ammunition sent over very speedily, and that a very considerable number and quantity. The sickness increaseth very much in Chester, the Souldiers have released the Committee, being of the Gentry, who had received no moneys, but they intend to take their opportunity, and to seize upon the proling Committees of the Hundreds within the County, who are full of their illegal extorted moneys, as also their Solicitors Agents and Officers.  

Wednesday 22 April 1646.  
The chief business that day was about reasons in relation to the Ministers Petition, and a motion being made concerning the great question stated, of their power pleaded to be Jure Divino, they came at last to resolution, and pitched upon questions of that exceeding consequence, that it is hoped, it will settle all private jars, and make us all friends at home, to prevent all new breakings out, and to the great satisfaction of all honest men.  
Whereas it is resolved by the House of Commons, that all persons guilty of notorious and scandalous offences, shall be suspended from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, the House of Commons desired to bee satisfied by the Assembly of Divines, in these particulars:  
1. Whether the parochial and Congregation Elderships, appointed by Ordinance of Parliament, are Jure Divino by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ?  
2. Whether all the Members of the said Elderships are Members thereof, or which of them are jure Divino, by the Will and appointment of Jesus Christ?  
3. Whether the supreme Assemblies or Elderships, viz. the classical, provincial, and national, whether all or any of them, or which of them are jure Divino, and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ?  
4. Whether appeals from congregational Elderships to the classical, provincial, and national Assemblies, or to any of them, or which of them are Jure Divino, and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ?  
5 Whether ecumenical Assemblies are jure Divino, and whether there be Appeals from any of the former Assemblies to the said ecumenical Assemblies, are jure Divino, by the will and appointment of Christ?  
6. Whether by the Word of God, the power of judging and declaring what are such notorious and scandalous offences as aforesaid, and of conventing before them, trying and actual suspending from the Sacrament such offenders accordingly, either in the congregational Eldership or presbytery, or in any other Eldership of Presbytery, presented to the Houses, as the advice of the Assembly, and whether such powers are in them onely, or any of them, and in which of them jure Divino, and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ?  
7. Whether there be any certain and particular rules expressed in the Word of God, to direct the said Elderships or Presbyteries, or any of them, in the exercise and execution of the powers aforesaid, and which are those Rules?  
8. Is there any thing contained in the Word of God, that the supreme magistracy in a Christian State, may not judge and determine what are the aforesaid notorious and scandalous offences, and the manner of suspension from the same, and in what particulars concerning the premises, is the said supreme Magistracy by the Word of God excluded?  
In answer of these particulars, the House of Commons desires of the assembly of Divines, their proofs from Scripture, and to set down the several texts in the express words of the same.  
Ordered that every particular Minister of the assembly of Divines, that is, or shal be present at the debate of any of these questions, do upon every resolution which shall be presented to this House concerning the same, subscribe his respective name, either with the Affirmative or Negative, as he giveth his Vote: And that those that do dissent from the mayor part, shall set down their positive opinions, with the express Texts of Scripture, upon which their opinion is grounded.   

A plain mans Answer to the former eight Queres, because the Divines themselves could not give any satisfaction to the Parliament therein, though the Parliament pretended to call them together onely for good advice, in these and the like matters of great importance: but they have neither answered these Queres,( now after a year and three months both of the kingdom and Parliaments attendance,) nor given any good advice at all, but both exhausted the Commonwealths substance, and given all the evil counsel which they and hell can device, for setting all the three kingdoms by the ears, and each kingdom among themselves, and yet still they sit peaceably, easily, and richly together, contriving and plotting a new war.  
The answer to the first particular, or Quere.  
THis question takes for granted, that which yet is to be proved: For parochial Assemblies be not Churches of Christ, as not consisting of beloved of God, called to be Saints, Rom. 1. 7. sanctified in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 1, 2. by faith in him, Act. 26. 18. such as among whom, some were sometimes ungodly, but are now washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, 1 Cor. 6. 11. and are therefore the Church of God, 2 Cor. 1. 1. being Saints and faithful in Christ Jesus, Ephes. 1. 1. and so a brotherhood, 1 Cor. 5. 11. 1 Pet. 2, 9. a chosen Generation, a royal Priesthood, an holy Nation, a people whom God hath owned to show forth his grace, who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light, unto whom he hath only given of divine right by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ, all spiritual Officers requisite to govern them in that gracious state of heaven upon earth. Ephe. 4. 11.  
Therefore the parochial and congregational Elderships( taking Parishes for Congregaations) appointed by Ordinance of Parliament, are not Jure Divino, by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ, but a mere human device, which never came into his heart, and whereof there is nothing( so much as once mentioned) in the Scriptures,( they being Officers and Elders onely over wicked and ungodly Parishes, such as being unrighteous, Fornicators, idolaters, Adulterers, Effeminate, thieves, covetous, Drunkards, Revilers, Extortioners, shall not inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10, nor ought to declare Gods Statutes, or take his Covenant in their mouths, seeing they hate to be reformed, Psal. 50. 16, 17.) so that they are the vain persons, and dissemblers, the Congregation of evil doers, and the wicked, with whom none of the godly more then David, will go in company, but do altogether hate and forsake, so soon as they can discern them, Psal. 26. 4, 5. For they have come out from among them,( and do daily more and more as God comunicates light) leave touching the unclean thing, least they should partake of their sins, and so receive of their plagues, 2 Cor. 6. 17. Rev. 18. 4. by provoking the most jealous God to take vengeance of their inventions, Psal. 99. 8.  
To the second, the Parishes( being no Churches of Christ,) none of the members of the Elderships are at all jure Divino, by the appointment of Jesus Christ, but are base constitutions of men, arising out of the earth, Rev. 13. 11. and having but a show of wisdom in will worship and humility; Col. 2. 23.  
To the third, supreme Assemblies over Assemblies are as strange in Scripture, as supreme brethren over brethren: be not ye called Rabbi, nor Doctor, for one is your Master and Doctor even Christ, and all ye are brethren; and call no man your father upon the earth, for one is your father which is in heaven, Mat. 23. 8, 9, 10, and( saith James) my brethren be not many Masters, jer. 3. 1. It is therefore considerable, though Christ was often asked, and it was a great dispute among the Disciples, who should be the greatest: yet he always suppressed that question, never telling them of supreme Brethren, or supreme Assemblies, but said it shall not be so among you, Luk. 9. 46.  
Therefore supreme Assemblies are not jure Dizino, by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ, but by the same will, are cast out and forbidden. And as to classical, provincial and national Assemblies, they are all human inventions, not hard of in Scripture, and contrary to the freedoms which every Church of Christ have, no one Church being subject to another in the Primitive time, which pattern these times aim at, and will so continue until the Judgement of the great day.  
To the fourth, when neither the Parishes, nor congregational Elderships, nor any of the classical, provincial, nor national Assemblies can be proved to bee of divine right, but merely of human frame and constitution, the appeals to them, and from one to another, must needs be of the same vain mould, wicked and fond device.  
To the fifth, ecumenical Assemblies no more then the former, are of Gods appointing, but an invention of the Man of Sin, to make all the world wonder at the beast, who had the wound of a sword, and did live, Rev. 13. 3. For heathenism( the first Beast) being wounded by a sword, out of the mouth of Jesus Christ, healed itself again by pressing the Heathenish Uniformity, under the vizor of Popish conformity still imposed and kept up by Popish counsels; the pattern whereof these counsels now still follow, under the new title of Assemblies: And therefore all appeals to any of them, are merely human, hellish, and diabolical.  
To the sixth, the will and appointment of Jesus Christ hath settled this power onely upon his own Church, tell the Church( saith he) Mat. 18. 17. and not the Presbytery thereof, distinguished from the Church, and therefore these Presbyteries not being of the Church, and yet claiming such power, as distinguished from the Church, have nothing, but by Satan and mans appointment.  
To the seventh, there are no rules at all in the Word of God, to direct the said Elderships and Presbyteries in the execution of any power, seeing none of them are from God, nor have any power from him.  
To the eight, the Word of God makes no distinction between a Christian and a Heathen Magistrate, as a Magistrate, this distinction was made by the Pope, to take away the Magistracy of those who were not Christians in his sense, and whosoever holds up this distinction, have yet remaining in them that spirit of Popery: For Christ is the onely and alone Magistrate in the Church, Mat. 23. 8, 9, 10. bee ye not called Rabbi, for one is your Master, even christ, and all ye are brethren, 1 Cor. 8. 6. to us there is but one God, the father of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him; so as Christians in the Church are but brethren like other members, onely to give aid and assistance, but not Lords or Masters to command or control.  
Howsoever Christian Magistrates as well as Heathen Magistrates, be styled Gods and Lords in the word of truth, yet they have no more power in the Church, as Magistrates, then the Heathen Magistrates have, yea and though they be also members of the Church, they have onely such power as the meanest members have, and yet most Magistrates do assume, usurp, or pretend to have more power then they, by attributing to themselves the title of Christians, whiles most of their practices are more repugnant to the course of christianity, then many practices of the very Heathen, like those of the Jews in the daies of King Mannasseth,( 2 Chron. 33.) whereof all who endeavour to live godly in Christ Jesus, where they can either command, prohibit, or persecute, have( yet still even now in Parliament-time, as our predecessors have had for hundreds of yeares) most grievous and woeful experience.   

Some of the sober sort of young men and Apprenticcs of Londons seasonable and reasonable advice, to all the plain men and youth both of the city and country, concerning the English Priests.  
IT is credibly reported by some of our trusty friends, being in Scotland, at the beginning of the late warres there, that a number of the plain men who had been forth in divers battles in the North, would not go to the South against the Kings first Army, until the Black-coats of that place went first, because it was onely their turn, which( after much debate and great threatening) was accordingly done, onely with this falacie, they procured leave secretly of the Magistrates to go under no Commanders, therefore they only show themselves on horse-back at the place, and looked a far off until the business was over, but the honest men went a foot, bure the heat of the day, and never saw those their blind guides, until they all returned home.  
Now all that we out of our affection to you, and all the Commons of England, both for your and their good, do infer from this commendable example of such plain men as ourselves in our neighbour Nation, tendeth to the very same effect; we even wish and advice that ye may do the like upon the first occasion, not only in a part of this Nation, but throughout all the Cities and Counties thereof, only with this difference and caution, that ye may make your bargain surer then the Scottish plain men did, even that ye be not deceived by the Magistrates double dealing, as they were, but pled( as they did very well) that it is not your turn, ye being so often forth already, and have spent both abundance of blood and treasure in the late warres, whereas the clergy have been at no charges, neither have they been forth at all to fight,( though the quarrel be their own) but as false Prophets to run unsent, and speak lies in the name of the Lord.  
Ye know, when the wise men of babel in the daies of King Nebuchad-nezar, could not both declare and interpret his dream, he commanded to put them to death, and so would have done with Daniel & his countrymen, if it had not pleased God to grant him wisdom beyond all these wise men, even to do what was required, that God might be glorified, and he advanced for the good of his people: and seing the brethren of those babylonish brats, and wicked brood of Antichristian priests( whose covenant they have both taken, and vexed all others therewith since) decreed in the sixth reason of that book, called the Scots lawfulness in coming into England, when they came with a powerful army, to force the calling of this Parliament( as one of the best acts that ever they did, if the Parliament itself had been good) that there should not be a Papist, a separatist nor sectary any more mentioned, so soon as their blessed and glorious reformation should be accomplshed: so they have sought by all possible means, that satan their Master or they could device ever since, to make good that wicked decree, and move all magistrates whom they can seduce, either to roote out, enslave, ruin or banish all who will not submit unto them, both in countenancing their humane worship, and paying their Popish tithes.  
And seeing it is so, were it not very agreeable to equity and reason, that magistrates would once be so just, as to pay them home with the same measure themselves, which they allot to others? And did not Nebuchad-nezar King of Babel kill all the wise men of Babel, only because they could neither declare nor interpret his dreams? but those English magicians are many degrees worse. 1. Because they profess far better things then ever the wise men of babel did, and therefore are the more inexcusable. 2. They continually contrive, plot and act misciefe, yea and stir up the people in all their preachments against all, who have any sparkle or dream of goodness, and will not both follow and maintain them in all their wicked ways. And 3. Seing those Babalonish wise men were put to a far harder task, upon penalty of their lives, then ever these English wise men were put unto, even to declare both the Kings dream, and the interpretation thereof; whereas our gainsayer had the dream,( or Parliament Querees,) not only shewed them, but have kept the same in writing almost 16 moneths beside them, yea and had nothing else to do( saving only their continual deviseing some new divinations,) but to declare the interpretation( or answer) thereof.   
FINIS.