A new and true Description of the WORLD As it is now divided In four parts. Heathens, Jews, Turks & Christians. Woo unto the World because Mat. 18. 7▪ of offences, (saith Christ to his Disciples) Because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the world, John. 1●. 19 therefore the world hateth you. By the World, here is meant the peo▪ of the World, which the Scripture calleth the evil World, The Number of ungodly men, and not the people of God: for none are God's peculiar people, but such as obey his voice and keep his Covenant, Exo. 19, 5. And the Apostle John saith, We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness: john 5. 19 And as the world hath increased, sin hath abounded, and its a great question whether when the Son of man cometh he Luk. 18. 8. shall find faith on the earth. AFter the old Creation. In the year of the world, one thousand six hundred fifty and six, The old World, 2 Pet. 2. 5. which the Apostle Peter calleth the world of the ungodly, That world utterly perished by the Flood, In which time of destruction, the Church of God (which then consisted but of few, even eight persons) was preserved, remaining 1 Pet. 3. 20. about three hundred seventy and five days in Noah's Ark. Then when the flood was gone, and the earth was dried they went out, and (by God's blessing) increased and multiplied upon the earth, But most of them fell away from the truth; And there began another world of ungodly men, and have continued in a way of succession unto this day, the children inhetiting their father's sins, and approving of their evil say. Psal. 49. 13 This is the world, but not the world whichi was before the Flood, nor the world to come, but this present evil world, described in this Treatise. BEfore the decease of Noah, even in the days of Peleg, the earth was divided: For at the building of Babel Gen. 10. 25 11. God confounded the language of all the people of the earth, for their pride, vain glory, and infidelity, and scattered them abroad throughout all the earth. And did set the Bounds of the people of each language, that they should seek the Act. 17, 26. Lord. But in stead of seeking the Eternal God that made them they fell to making and worshipping Idols, according to their own fancies. And Babylon was the principal seat of Idolatry, and abounded in Zech. 5. 6, 11. Tyranny, yet it was called the glory of Isa. 13, 19 Kingdoms, and the beauty of the Chaldeans excellency, and continued above thirty generations, until the seventy years of the Captivity of Judah ended. And since that golden Kingdom ceased, all the other three, (Persian, Grecian, and Roman,) successive worldly Monarches, have been inferior in worldly Dan. 2. 38, 39, 40. dignity, (as Silver is inferior to Gold, and Brass to Silver, and Iron to Brass) although they were never so successful in their victorious conquests, the later against the former. Yet notwithstanding the Lord of hosts hath in the times before of old (as well as since) punished the Kingdoms and Nations for their sins, especially for their Idolatry; Nation risen up against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom, and made great wars against each other; particularly (before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone) Amraphel King of Shynar, Arioch King of Alasar, Cheodarlaomer King of Elam, and Tydall King of Nations. These made war against five Kings, and their Subjects, (which rebelled against them) and subdued them, and smote the Rephaims, and the Zuzims, and the Emims, and the Horites and Amorites, and victoriously conquered those Giants, whose height was as Cedars, and their strength as Deut, 2. ●0. 11. 12. 20. Oaks, and they took the spoil with those they led captive. But those Conquering Kings, taking just Lot captive (who was no Idolater, but a true worshipper of the living God) it was their ruin, for God who had raised up Abram from Ur of the Chaldeans, Neh, 9 7, Isa, 41, 1, 2, 3. and after called him from Charan of Mesopotamia into the land of Canaan, and gave the Nations before him, and made him rule over Kings, he gave them as dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow; he pursued them, and passed safely, by the way that he had not gone. For that Story in Genesis (14) saith, That when Abram heard that his brother Lot was taken captive, he, with his trained servants three hundred and eighteen pursued those Armies, and recovered all, and slew Chedarlaomer King of Elam, and the Kings that were with him, and brought back the Captives with the spoil which wonderful and victorious Conquest did put the world in a maze, and filled their hearts with fear and terror. (for they were all Idolaters) And Abram, and his fellows were contrary unto them in Religion as light is to darkness Then upon this mighty and wonderful Conquest. The Isles feared, The ends of the earth were afraid, drew near and came, and fell to making more Idols, in stead of turning to the Lord. They helped every one his Neighbour, and every one said to his brother, be of good courage: So the Carpenter encouraged the Goldsmith, and he that smoothed with the hammer, him that smote the Anvil, saying, It is ready for sodering, and he fastened it with Isa. 41. 24, 29. nails, that it should not be moved. But they were worse than nothing, an abomination, and their Images wind and confusion. Yet the world continued still in wickedness, and would not be persuaded from their false worship, by all God's chastisements of them, and the remarkable examples of God's judgements, against Sodom and Egypt, and his wonderful miracles, which appeared afterwards Iosh. 2. 9, 10, 11. Exo. 15. 14 15, 16. and were famous to the world, but their hearts were hardened, to their own destruction, for one and thirty Kings and their kingdoms were destroyed by Iosh. 12. ●4. Joshua, and none made their peace save only the Gibeonites, who became hewers Iosh. 9 of wood, and drawers of water, for the sanctuary of the Lord. After God had settled his peculiar people Act. 1●. 20. (the Israelites) in their land, dividing it to them by lot, he gave them Judges until Samuel the Prophet. And afterwards they desired a King, before the time: And God gave them v. 21. King Saul, whom he anointed. who reigned forty years. v. 22. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David, to be their King, who reigned forty years. Afterwards Solomon reigned over all Israel, the space of forty years, without war, Judah and Israel were many as 2 Chr. 9 ●0. 1 Kin. 11. 12, 4●. 2 Chr. 9 26. 1 Kin. 12. 24. 2 Chr. 11. 4. the sand, which is by the Sea, for multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. But afterwards for Solomon's Apostasy and Idolatry, God did rend ten parts of his Kingdom from his son Rehoboam, and made Jeroboam the son of Nebat King of Israel, even over ten Tribes, without wars, which King fell to Idolatry, and made Golden calves for gods, and builded high places for his false worship against the laws of God, and set up 1 Kin, 12, 24 base fellows to be priests of those high places, and made other alterations in matters of God's worship, by his evil counsel which he took, which the multitude 1 Kin, 12, 28, 31. & 13, 33, & 13, ●5, 16, 2 Kin, 13, 3, ●7, followed, for which God punished them with war and other calamities: for five hundred thousand chosen men out of 800000 valiant men of King Jeroboams Army were slain in one battle. And afterwards they were greatly diminished by several judgements unto the time of Jeoahaz King of Israel, in the time of whose reign God delivered them into the hand of the King of Syria, who made them low, as the dust by threshing, so that he did not leave of the people to Jehoahaz, but fifty horsemen, and 2 Kin. 13, 7, ten Chariots, and ten thousand footmen. And in the reign of Hoshea their last and best King, all the remnant of Israel were carried away captive by Shalmenazar King of Assiria. 2 Kin, 17, 2, And the Tribe of Judah also with Benjamin, fell to Idolatry, Therefore God diminished them by thousands and hundreds of thousands, (by many sore judgements, as the sword, famine, and pestilence.) And so great was the Lord's wrath Ier, 15, 2, against them, that he would not hear their cry, nor any prayer for them, for he said to his Prophet Jeremiah, when they fast, I will not hear their cry, and pray not for this people, But appointed him to take forth the precious from the vile, and said, Let them return unto thee, jer. 15, 19, but return not thou unto them. And in the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah they also were carried away & 52, captive into Babylon. But in Captivity and affliction, God's people did bethink themselves, and repent, and their uncircumcised hearts were humbled, and they returned to the Lord their God with their whole heart, Therefore God comforted them by his promises, and Providence, and delivered Ester.— them from the bloody plots of their malignant enemies, and caused them to find favour in the sight of them that led them captive. And when the seventy years of Judah's captivity were accomplished, Ezra.—. God's people (the Jews) were delivered out of captivity, and returned again into their own Land, and there they renewed their covenant with God, and were settled, and increased, and multiplied, under the power and protect Nehemiah. chapter. 9 36, 37, 38 Dan. 10. 13 20, 21. & 8. 5, 7, 21. on of the King of Persia (That silver Monarch,) until the Prince of Persia withstood them. Then God fought against that persecuting Prince, and raised up the King of Greece, who subdued the Persian power, and did bear rule over all the earth, and God's people had liberty of conscience under the Greeks (that Brazen Monarch,) but at last the Saints suffered great persecution for conscience sake, Dan. 11. 16 2 M●●. 7. Heb. 11. 35 36, 37, 38, under that power, and were cruelly used, and exposed to much hardship, hunger, cold and nakedness, in saving their lives, they wandered about in Sheepskins and in Goatskins, and were destitute, afflicted and tormented, and although they were such of whom the world was not worthy, for they were the sons of God yet they wandered in deserts, & in Mountains & in dens & in caves of the earth. Then the Church of God consisting of precious Sains, whose conversation was in heaven, was as a woman crying, travelling, in birth, pained to be delivered, and longing for the coming of Christ Jesus the Son of God, to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, that they might serve him, without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him Luk, 1. 74, 75 all the days of their lives. In time (before our Saviour's birth) God raised up the Sons of Zion, against Zac. 9 13. the sons of Greece, and made them fight valiantly, and do exploits, and they Dan. 11. 32 were victorious, at several times, against their cruel bloody persecutors, yet the remainder of their enemies were many and lively, and oft times molested them, so that the Saints could not be quiet to serve the Lord, but were still in fear. But God did in process of time, put down the Grecian power, and did set up the Romans, who did bear dominion over all the world, under whose Luk, 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 1. power God's people the Jews lived, and had liberty to practise their Religion publicly in their own land, but had no Authority to put any man to death, but were subject to the Roman power, joh. 18. 31, Mat. 22. 19 21. Mat. 17. 25 Ro. 23. 6. 7. 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. Dan. 9 25, 26. unto whom they paid taxes, and Tribute, in Christ's time, which Christ himself submitted unto, as his parents before him, (and his Apostles after) and in the four hundred thirty and fourth year after the building of the wall of Jerusalem by Nehemiah, Christ Jesus our Lord was crucified, and died under that Roman power. But God the father raised up his son 1 Cor, 15. 4, Mat. 28, 18, 19 Christ, on the the third day after his crucifying, And gave him all power both in heaven and in earth, therefore Christ gave commission to his Apostles to preach the gospel to all nations for their salvation, which wrought powerfully and effectually, throughout the Gal, ●. 7. 8, Act, 22. 18. Rev, 6. & 9, 20. & 13. & 16. 11, 13, 14. & 18. ●. Acts world amongst Jews and Gentiles: But to this day the greater part of them (have and do and will) stand out against it, to their own destruction, and although multitudes both of Jews and Gentiles, have been converted to the faith, yet since those primative times, there hath been a great falling away, and a general departure from the faith and Order of the 2 Thes, 2. 3. 2 Pet, 2. 2. Gospel and men have given heed, and still give heed to seducing spitits and 1 Tim, 4. 2. 3 doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscienses seared with an hot Iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats, against God's commands. And these days are the last days perilous times, wherein men are lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to Parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, and yet these miscreants, 2 Tim, 3. 1, 5. have a form (but not the very form or power) of Godliness, for they deny the same in their conversations, from such (saith the Apostle) turn away, although they profess that they know God yet in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. These are not as Virgins; but defiled, profane, open, wicked persons, polluted in their lips and in their lives, though Tit, 1. 16. they call themselves christians, they are Christ's greatest enemies, and make the times more evil and perilous, and are worse than Heathens, Jews and Turks, whose conversion they hinder, by their devilish doctrines, ridiculous forms of worship, and odious carriages, hardheartedness and impennetencie. So that now at this time, in matters of Religious and spiritual worship,. The world in general, consisteth of four parts. 1 Heathens. 2. Jews. 3. Turks. and 4. Christians. The last of which (even Christians) are the least part of the world, (but the 6th part say some writers) yet these christians amongst themselves are greatly divided in matters of Religion, but they all conclude against the heathens, Jews and Turks, and renounce and disclaim their communion, esteeming them that they be the Church of the devil, the Synagogue of Satan, and Luther saith the Turk is the Body— of Antichrist, yet are they innumerable Rev. 9 16. Rev. 20. 8, 9 as the sand of the Sea, but they are all out of the way, and not so good as one mortal Saint. For the Heathens worship many gods, which by nature are no gods. The Jews in express words deny that Christ is come in the flesh. The Turks, and almost all others, do deny him, in their works, for although the Turks do acknowledge and worship the true God, after a manner, yet do they serve Mahomet. And although they protest against the worshippers of Images, (as Prote stants against Papists) yet they worship God by a devised ridiculous stinted Service Book, of their own invention. contrary to God's institutions. Christian;, though divided greatly in opinion and affection, yet most of them in humane traditions and divine (or rather divised) Services, are not untied, but entangled in each others principles and practices, Church ministry, worship and discipline, like to like, Mother & daughter jumping together, in the seeming circumstances of times and places, and many other matters; O how heathenish are they in their common talk, and carnal Songs: Their speeches and practices show, as if they had the Heathen gods and goddesses and their Temples in great esteem. Where the graves tombs and Monuments of the dead be, there are their Temples for their Religious Isa. 65. 4. worship. For their hearts remaineth there among the graves, and lodge in the Monuments, (like the men possessed with devils, who came out of the Tombs exceeding fierce, [their tips,] for there was their dwelling, being driven of the Mat. 8. ●8. Mar. 5. 3. Devil,) which dolesom and Idolatrous places, in this land were, and in other lands are, places of refuge and protection for wilful murderers. And these miserable sinners, are strongly possessed with strange opinions, that there are degrees of holiness in those Idolatrous Temples which were built for heathenish and Popish services. Yet these Christians (or rather Antichristians) are in continual variance amongst themselves, Persecuting one another extremely, to the death, as they have power and opportunity, censuring one another as schismatics, and condemning one another as Heretics, often Writing, Preaching, Praying, & fight against one another as mortal Enemies, (witness Spain, France, Germany, & other places in Europe) living in hatred & hating one another, for peace is taken from the earth, and the way thereof the world knoweth not, therefore the Angel with his sharp Sickle is reaping them, and Rev, 14. 14 Rev, 14. 18 19, 20. the Vine of the earth (even the false Church) with the clusters thereof shall be cut down, and cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God. For their vine is the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorra, their grapes are the grapes of gall, and their clusters are Deut, 32. 32 33, 34, 35. bittet, Their wine is the poison of Dragons, and the cruel venom of Asps, the day of their calamity is at hand, and the evil things that shall come upon them make haft. Yet the Roman Catholics say that they are the true Church, So saith the Prelatical Church for themselves, and so say other churches for themselves, But there is but one way of holiness in which all Christians ought to walk as they hope for salvation, and that is the way of Separation, for the Scripture saith. What fellowship hath righteousness 2 Cor. 6. with unrighteousness? What communion hath light with darkness? what concord hath Christ with Belial? what part hath the believer with the infidels? what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? For the Church of God is the Temple of God: wherein God hath promised to dwell and walk, Therefore God's people must come out from amongst the Antichristian assemblies, and be separate, and not touch the unclean thing. For the Church of Christ is set forth by the Apostle Peter to consist of lively stones, built up a 1 Pet, 2. 5. Spiritual house, they are Gods peculiar people, separated from the world, in matters of Spiritual Worship. But the churches of Antichrist, consist of mixed swarms of sinners, unrighteous persons, 1 Cor. 6. 9 1 Pet. 4. 17, 18. and the Scripture saith the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, Be not deceived neither fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thiefs, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God. I know Antichrists Churches will labour to justify themselves by the infirmities of others, The incestuous person say they was suffered by the Church of Corinth, but they should observe that that church upon admonition did put 2 Cor. 7. 11, away from amongst them that wicked person, They sorrowed after a godly sort, it wrought in them carefulness, clearing of themselves, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal, revenge, in all things they approved themselves to be clear of this matter. Now the churches of Antichrist consist of a mixed multitude of sinners, such as are before mentioned, swarms of Fornicatos, Liars, Sabbath breakers, and and Idolaters, eating and drinking and dancing about Dame Flora's pillars, Swearing and cursing is common amongst them, yea swearing by the Mass (as Israel did by the sin of Samaria) much used in the countries, yea the names of the Idol gods are frequent in their mouths, not in contempt of them, but in praise, they are the foretops and frontispieces of their Triumphals: It's a common thing for them not only to revile one another in jest, and in earnest, but those who reprove or convict them of sin, they maliciously reproach and slander, as the heathens vilified the christians, in the time of the ten persecutions, which doth greatly aggravate these obstinate sinner's sin, and manifesteth them to be vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction. The abominable sin of Pride, the deadly sin of flothfulnesse, the detestible sins of drunkenness and whoredom, opression and cruelty, doth exceedingly abound, and execrations of damnation and drinking healths directly and indirectly against the King's command, frequently used by Capital offenders, the worst of men. And yet all these call themselves christians, and say they believe in the Catholic Church, and have forms of Worship answerable to their profession, but their worship is in vain, as good never a wait as never the better, and the nearer their Church the further from God, For he cares neither for them, nor their worship, but hates such combustible stuff, and so do I, O Lord gather not my soul with sinners, for I hate the Church of evil doers. Psal. 26, And if there by any (as I hope there are many) in their Church which hate these iniquities and enormities, yet they are unclean while they partake with such sinners in their Spiritual worship publicly or privately, for the precious aught to separate from the vile, and must be holy in all manner of conversation. And although many of their Church members are Civil in their deal about common affairs, courteous, loving, kind natured, free hearted, true and trusty in matters of account betwixt man and man; What of this? Do not the heathens the same? And cannot the Turks say as much for themselves? Yet it doth not prove them to be the people of God, no more are these, They are of the world, and therefore not of the Church. But the Papists set down marks, (as unity, universaltity, and constancy,) to prove that their church, is the true Church, but alas, This their plea is not sufficient, It may serve as well for Turks and Heathens, who exceed them in number, and are unanimous, and prosperous, constant, and conceited in their ways. But let the Roman Catholic church have her due, she saith she is the mother Church, And indeed she is the mother Church of false Churches, Mystery Babylon the great, the Mother of harlots. And the working of the man of sin, in the mystery of iniquity, is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders: So the Apostle describeth Antichrist. Therefore Miracles are not the marks of a true Deut. 13, 1, 5. Church, nor of a true Prophet. And the throne of iniquity may have outward Rev. 13. 7, Dan. 7. 21, 24. prosoeritie, and wear out the Saints of the most high, and continue as appeareth by the Scriptures. But the Papists will not prove their Church to be true, by the Scriptures [contemned and condemned by their general Counsels] but labour to prove se Ainsworth against Ainsworth their Church by their Church! The same by the same! So the false Apostles measured themselves by themselves, which practice the Apostle Paul condemned as irrational, and rational men count it ridiculous. ● Cor. 10. 12, But they have an exceeding high estimation of their Sacrament of their Altar, They say it is a Sacrifice, and the bread, they say is the real body of Christ, after that is done which they call consecration, but it is execration, for they kneel down before it, and worship it, and then eat it up. And because they hold the Mass to be a Sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead, they have of their own divising erected an Office of Priesthood, here on earth to offer it up. And the Priests of the Church of England, as well as of Rome, (a number of sinful, mortal, infirm, and imperfect men neither of the Tribe of Levi● nor of Judah) are Ordained Priests by office, [without Oath] and so void, utterly void by the Law, and by the Gospel. As appeareth in the Heb. 9 24. & 12, Epistle to the Hebrews Heb: 7. 12, 16, 18, 21, 23. 28. and 9 10. &. 10 1. But the proper Office of Priesthood is in the heaven itself, wh●●e the Lord Jesus Christ the only high Priest executeth that Office at the right hand of God, not on earth, for the Scripture saith if Christ were here on earth he should not be a Priest. Heb: 8. 4. But when Christ ascended up on high he gave gifts unto men, some Apostles Eph. 4. 11, 12. and some Prophets, and some Evangelists and some Pasters and Teachers, No Offices of Popes, Cardinals, Abotts, Monks, Arch-Bishops, Lord Bishops, Parsons, Vicars, Curates, and such like [false Priests, false Christ's] who hold an Office of Priesthood among themselves by a succession, to offer up at their Altars the supposed flesh and blood of Christ. And they have made seven orders of Priesthood, and the Priesthood belonging thereunto, are the seven heads of their monstruous Beast, having the names of blasphemy upon them, and they are called seven Mountains, for bigness, for they are many, upon which the great whore of Rome (even the great City) sitteth, Reigning over the Kings of the earth, And one of his heads was as it Rev. 13. ●. were wounded 〈◊〉 death, saith the Revelation, and his deadly wound was healed, but their end shall be eternal destruction, for that Beast and the false Prophet that worketh miracles before him, shall be both together, cast alive into hell. And there is likewise an Image of Rev. 19 20 that beast, the particular National Prelatical convocations, as Wilkinson makes it out, in his learned Exposition upon the 13th chapter of the Revelations, But they say they have the marks of a true Church of Christ, The Word truly Preached. To which I answer: That Balam the the false Prophet Preached God's Word truly, in Balaks Assembly, but that could never prove them to be a true Church, nor did the people of God go to hear him, but slew him. Josh: 13. ●2. And they say that they have also the Sacraments duly administered. And so the Papists say for themselves, But these are but their bare words at the best, and its better disprove them then believe them. But the common Protestants say their Church of England is true, because they hold justification by faith only, and seem to blame the Parents, and disprove their Church, for h●●●ing justification by their own works; and yet they hold the like, (if not the same,) erroneous opinion, of saving virtue, in their own works, as if they conferred grace, as appeareth in the second answer in their Common Catechism, concerning Baptism, an inferior work, which they prefer above the the Lords Supper, although the Apostle Paul held (and hath showed) Baptism to be so inferior, that he thanks God that he baptised none of the Christians but Crispas and Gayus, and the household of Stephanus, and remembered not that he baptised any more, and saith, Christ sent him not to baptise, but to preach the Gospel. But indeed the Papists have an exceeding high opinion of outward Baptism, that it washeth away Original sin, and saveth them from being damned. They cross their children on their foreheads, and have Godfathers and Godmothers, So have the Prelatical Party, but they do not spit in their mouths, as the Popish Priests do, (as King James saith, in his Book to all Christian Kings and Princes) But they are conceited, (if not more grossly deluded) as if their Baptism made them members of Christ the children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, And this Doctrine they prescribe, for all their members to believe and profess, before they come to their confirmation. vizt. That in that Baptism, (by which they were baptised with Godfathers and Godmothers) they were made members of Christ, the children of God and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, which I have good ground to deny, and they can never prove it, the Scripture is clear against this their vain conceit. For the Apostle Peter saith, It is not the outward baptism, (or washing away of the filth of the flesh) which saveth, but the answer of a good Conscience. 1 Pet: 3. 21. And the way of the Gospel is to baptise such only as are the children of God and members of Christ before. And the Apostle Paul saith not, that they are the children of God, by outward baptism, but by faith in Christ Jesus, And faith doth not come by baptism, Gal. 3. 26. but by the word of God. And their baptism which they receive afterward is no more but an outward seal administered upon them, of the righteousness of the faith which they had before baptism, as Circumcision was to Abraham and Rom. 4. 11, Isaac, as the Scriptures testify, and none ought to be baptised, but such as give sufficient testimony before, of their holiness, Or that the Lord testifieth for them. So he testified of St. Paul, and St. Act, ●. 15, 17, 18. & 10. 47, Cornelius was baptised upon this ground, that he had received the Holy Ghost before. And whosoever hath not the spirit of Rom. 3. 9, 2 Cor. 13, 5, Christ is none of his. Therefore the common Protestants are in a great error in this point of Baptism also. For they should know that the Infants 1 Cor. 7. 14. Rom. 11. Ezek. 18. 4 Luk. 19 9, of holy Parents are holy as their Parents. They are as blameless as their Parents in their whole Spirit Soul and body. The same grace, gracious promises, Act. 2. 39 Deut. 29. 11 2 Cor. ●0. 3, and spiritual privileges belongeth unto them, as well as to their Parents, Yea, The kingdom of heaven itself, And Mat. 19 14. if the greater than the lesser. For as touching eternal Election, they are beloved Rom. 11. 2● for the fathers; That is, peculiarly chosen of God for the love that he Deut. 4. 37. Ezek. 18. 4. 20. had to their fathers, and shall not die eternally for the sins of their fathers, Rom, 2. 11. & 8. which they never committed, for herein God is no respecteer of persons, merely as they are persons, and who can lay any thing to their charge, sin remitted shall not be imputed unless irritterated, and their parent's righteousness, is theirs by imputation, as it was with Abraham and 2 Tim. 1. 5. Heb. 7. 9 10 his seed, before they were circumcised, so it is with the Christians and their seed before they are baptised. Yea, the children of holy Patents are perfect in their ways, before they are baptised, Ezek. 28. 15. even, from the day they are created, until iniquity is found in them; Such a perfection have they, which is oposed to iniquity, And the Scripture saith, Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose Spirit Psal. 32. 3, 5. there is no guile. Their nature of Creation is sanctified by the spirit of regeneration, which dwelleth in them so that they are not imputed sinners of the world, but clear, as the Scripture saith of the natural Jews, who were Christians: For although the children Gal. 2. 15. are partakers of flesh and blood, as well as their Parents, Christ himself also in like manner took part of the same, and died for them all, (not to free them from temporal, but) to save them from eternal death, though they should die before they are baptised with water. And therefore the Infants are not the Children of wrath more than their Parents, but the vessels of mercy, as Jeremiah and John the Baptist were, And so it becometh them to esteem of them all and to speak honourably of them, before, (as well as after) their outward baptism which Baptism maketh not for the Isa. 22. 24. being (but for the better being) of a Christian, Therefore I cannot find in my heart to say that they are the children of wrath, and therefore aught to be baptised, but because they are not under the wrath of God, nor under the curse of the Law, but under the promise and grace of Christ, who never sinned, and yet was baptised, by John the Baptist. Therefore they ought to be baptised, though they have never committed actual sin, but sinned in their Parents as Lvey paid tithes in Abraham. What though David declareth his Rom. 5. Heb. 7. ●, 10. Original sin (or sin of inclination) the ground of his actual sin (or sin of apprehension) as it is written, In sin hath my mother conceived me? yet, until he committed actual sin, he was no more guilty of sin, than his mother, nor was Isaac a child of wrath, more than faithful Abraham and Sarah. Original sin taketh no more hold of the Infants to damn them eternally, then of their parents. And touching actual sin, they are clear as their Parents, though their Parents are as righteous as Noah, Daniel and Job. And therefore they have as much right to Baptism, as their Parents. And in this blessed condition are they before they are baptised with water, And are not in the state of damnation, though they die in their Infancy before, but shall be eternally saved. And the contrary Doctrine is very unsound, eronious uncomfortable and destructive. But Antichrists Church professeth the contrary openly; And teach their children to say that they are made members of Christ in their baptism with Godfathers and Godmothers, So than it is remarkable, that they are their own judges that they baptise none but such as are not members of Christ before their baptism. It followeth then by their own words, that they are members of Antichrist, and in the state of damnation before (and until) outward baptism be administered upon them, which to affirm of the Infants of Godly Parents is an Antichristian error, destroying the foundation and hope of the faithful, and how can that Church be the true Church of God, who are so corrupt, and whose constitution (manifested by such their eronious profession is so destructive, openly to baptise such as are not members of Christ. To conclude, by their own ground, their Church members, are not members of Christ before their Baptism, and I have proved, that they are not made members of Christ by their Baptism after; Much less can any of them truly say, as each child of theirs is taught to say, that, In my Baptism I was made [the] child of God So James Nayler said, I am [the] Son of God. This dignity belongeth only to the holy child child Jesus Christ the Son of God. To whom be Glory and Dominion for ever. Amen. Here followeth A New and true Christian Creed, built upon the old foundation of the Holy Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone. I Believe in God the Father Gen. 1. joh. 1. 14. Luk. 1. 35. Mat. 1. 25. job. 19 33. 42. 1 Cor. 15. 3. 4, 5,— 20. joh. 20. 17, Mat. 2●. 26 Mar. 16. 19 Act. 1. 11. Joh. 5. 29. 1 Cor. 15. 51, 52. 1 Thes. 4. 15 Joh. 14. 16 17, 26. 1 Cor. 12, 3, Rom. 8. ●. 2 Tim. 3. 16. Act. 17. 11 Rom. 15. 4. Rev. 22. 18. 19 Mat. 18. 17.— 20. 1 Pet, 2. 9 Phil. 1, 5. Rev: 8, 3, 4 Mat: 12. 31▪ 32, 1 Cor: 15, 1 Thes: 4, 14 Joh: 3, 16, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, And in jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate. was crucified, dead and buried, The third day he risen again from the dead, he ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the holy Ghost. The holy Scriptures. The holy Church. The Communion of Saints. The forgiveness of sins. The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen. London Printed for the Author. S. C. 1673.