The clearing of Master Cranford's Text, 2 Tim. Chap. 2. vers. 17. from that imputation of cruelty and ungospel bloodiness, which the said Mr. Cranford (being the * See the title page of Mr. Cranfords Sermon, he may feed B. la Bridewell, Nich. la Newgate, &c. If the flesh of Christ's Disciples may be meat, and their blood tears, and groans drink, for such places and instruments of cruelty. Instruments of Simeon and Levi brethren in iniquity, in whose habitations were and are instruments of cruelty; let not the souls of the Lords and Commons come into their secret, unto their assembly let not▪ my Lord Major, and Aldermen, and Citizens be united Cursed be their anger for it is fierce, and their wrath for it is cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel, Genes. 49. 5, 6, 7. feeder of Christopher le Stocks, and minding it should seem to fatten his charge) endeavoured to fasten thereon, in a Sermon at Paul's, before the Lord Major, Aldermen, and citizens of London, contrary to the intent of the whole New Testament, though not without the suffrages of those Fathers of his persecuting spirit, the Greek and Latin prelates (no better Fathers, nor of better authority to expound, much less to pervert Scripture; the * Dr. Andrews Bishop of Winchester, Dr. Hall B. of Exeter and Norwich, Dr. Vsher B. of Armagh, &c. men of great reading and eloquence, as Mr. Cranfords Fathers were, and tainted with an unchristian spirit of prelatical persecution like them and him, he is their very son; successive hands have not been laid upon him and his brethren like minded, by their spiritual Fathers in vain. I speak not against the persons or parts of him or them. They, I hope, are saved through fire burning that straw and stubble, and whatever painted pageantry they built upon the foundation Christ and him crucified. The like I wish to Mr. Cranford. It is the spirit of old Father Abaddon, that old Hebrew Father, and old Father Apollyon that most ancient Greek Father (Rev. 9 11.) that I resist▪ from whose net I pray Mr. Cranford may be delivered, if perhaps, the thoughts of his heart may be forgiven him, the bloody thoughts, and he as Saul a persecutor may become Paul a persecuted professor of that way which he now subtly opposes under the name of heresy. P. Lancelotus Wintoniensis, P. Josephus Exoniensis, P. Jacobus Armacensis. These names in the Ages following may be as much abused, and as reverently handled to cheat withal, and to introduce Prelacy, as any Greek or Latin) together with those anciently venerable Greek and Hebrew Grandsires, P. Abaddon, P. Satan, P Apollyon, P. Diabolus. That Text 2 Tim. 2. 17. is cleared from the said false aspersion by a jury of its peers, viz. twelve texts, three antecedent, and nine consequent in the same Chapter, faithful witnesses and true, proclaiming aloud that ver. 17. is abused and falsely charged, as many otherways, so chiefly in that the comparison of heretical opinions to a Gangrene or Canker intended only in point of spreading, is untruly urged in point of deading and cutting off by the Magistrates sword▪ is falsely and wickedly, propounded as the mind of Christ, in stead of awaking by the word of the Minister. The jury is 2 Tim. 2. chap. vers. 14, 15, 16. 18, 19, 20, 21 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. just twelve faithful expositors of the purpose of vers. 17. falsely accused by Mr. Cranford. OF these, things put (Faithful a See verse. 1. This is writ from a Pastor of Christ's flock to a Teacher thereof, and so is Mr. Cranfords Text which is ill applied by the Pastor of Christopher le Stocks, to the Magistrates of a great City and mixed multitude thereof. men who shall be able to teach others also) in remembrance, charging before the b Not the Lord Major, but Christ Jesus, the sword that proceeds out of his mouth, not that which comes out of my Lord major's velvet scabbard, must keep Teachers in awe. Lord, that they strive not about c As the Pastor of Christopher le Stocks whiles he perverts the term Gangrene used by Paul to intimate the spreading, not killing nature of erroneous opinions, as by the context evidently appears. words to no profit, to the subverting of the hearers. 2 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a d Such workmen as Mr. Cranford may justly blush that cannot do the work of God with his Instruments, (2 Cor. 10. 4. & 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17.) nor fight his battles with his weapons, but when they should be saving my Lord major's soul, are tampering to draw his sword to destroy the precious lives of all that are not of the Presbyterian Sect, v. 17. is not conscious of such wickedness. workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. 3 But e Shun the babbling. He saith not strike the babbler accuse the babbler, provoke the Magistrate against the babbler, much less against the Disciples of Christ under a colour, as those that spoke of Paul, What will the babbler say? shun profane and vain babbling, for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their words will f This is the text that is upon purgation, this is the passage that Mr. Edward's and Mr. Cranford have manifestly perverted, as the whole scope of the Chapter proclaims, will eat, says the text, and no more, they from the evil treasure of ●heir evil heart add, will dead, kill, render past recovery as a canker, so that no way but the sword to cut off, the sword of the Magistrate. eat as doth a canker, of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus. 4 Who concerning the Truth have g Humanum est errare, is the old proverb, It is an infirmity common to mankind to err, he that is free from the sickness let him cast the first stone. See Mr. Ioh. Goodw. Cretensis; They have erred, says the Spirit of Christ; They are dead and must be cut off, says the spirit of the ancient Fathers by the mouth of the Past of Christopher le Stocks. erred, saying h Few of those Mr. Cranford would have buried out of his sight think so grossly, if they did in Paul's language they do but err, and may turn to the right way▪ if Christopher le Stocks and his brethren will permit them to enjoy that life and opportunity God hath afforded to that end. While there is life there is hope. that the Resurrection is Past already, and overthrow the faith of some. 5 nevertheless the Foundation of God i Mr. Cranford need not fear that the spiritual house of Christ will fall if it be not propped by fire & faggot. standeth sure having the seal, the k The providence of the Lord Christ Jesus the good Shepherd that will not lose one of his sheep (though he will try them by such deceivers, that the very Elect shall scarcely be untainted) is the foundation of his Church, it needs not my Lord major's sword to sustain it. Lord knoweth them that are his; and let every one that nameth the Name of Christ l The Disciples of Christ, the sectaries of that Sect which was and is everywhere spoken against (Act. 28. 22.) must depart from the spiritual iniquities spoken of, viz. errors in doctrine they must not endeavour that persons erring be punished with civil punishment. depart from iniquity. 6 But in a great House there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of m In God's great house, the World, it is his pleasure to reserve vessels of ignoble and base, though necessary use, all that he requires is that the vessels of gold and silver may stand by themselves upon the cupboard in the parlour, &c. and vessels of wood, and tin, and iron in the kitchen, office-house, &c. Mr. Cranford and his brethren much wiser, would have all the wooden vessels tinned, gilded and trimmed, and stand among the vessels of honour, and employed to the same use; or if any will not take colour, it must be broken and cast out of the door. If they cannot make every man in Great Br●tain and woman a vessel of honour, or appear to be so, they will dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel; they must be vessels of honour, or the great house must not hold them. Where is that wise steward whom the Lord will set over his house? wood and of earth; and some to honour and some to dishonour. 7 If a man therefore o Every man's care must be to purge himself that he may indeed be a vessel of honour, not to gild and adorn himself or others like such a vessel, much less to put vessels of dishonour out of the house, where they have their proper and convenient use; if a man purge himself from these says Paul, if the Magistrate purge these out of the Land of the living says Mr. Cranford, speaking by the mouth of all his ancient Fathers from the beginning of the world, concerning all those his enemies of the Independent way, that will not have him and those of his spirit to reign over them. purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 8 Fly also p youthful lusts of envy, wrath, bloodshed. youthful lusts: but follow * Do as you would be done to, put your souls into the anti-compulsory-Presbyterians souls stead, and theirs in your stead. righteousness, 69 believe that he which hears the young Ravens when they cry, that clothes the lily, that paints the wings of the Butterfly, will not let your wife and children want necessaries, though men be suffered to live by you, that err so far as to think and teach that Ministers of Christ ought not to have maintenance by tithes. faith, charity, peace, q Have peace with all men, says the Apostle elsewhere; follow peace as they do, in their company that call upon the Lord, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. with them that call on the Lord with a pure heart. 9 But r Foolish and unlearned questions are multitudes of those the schoolmen start, with whom did not Master Cranford more consult then with the plain Word of God, he would not so far wander from the evident scope of his text. foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strife. 10 And the servant of the Lord s Whose servant is Master Cranford the while. must not strive; but be gentle unto t None are excepted, if the P. of Chr. le Stocks be gentle to such as draw in the same pontifician yoke with him, what wonder, what thanks? how gentle he is to all differing from him, let this crafty sermon speak. all men, u He that comes to teach a man with a cudgel in his hand, is in a very unapt posture to teach, apt to strike he may be, and apt to take tithes. His arguments lose their force. Our Lord therefore used acts of love and compassion, and meekness towards all he taught, and therefore the people willingly heard him, and many became disciples. Such are the acts of those the man secretly darts his bitter words at, and they may say as he, for which of our good acts for the City, Parliament, Kingdom, would you stone us? would you have the State fine, imprison, banish us. apt to teach, forbearing. 11 In w Not in choler with an argument in the mouth, war in the heart, and a sword in the hand, such an instructor will never succeed in his work, v. 17. is not guilty of any such crime. Such doctrine is from the ancient Fathers of prelatical supremacy. meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God x The Apostle says, If God peradventure will give them repentance, Mr. Cranford says they are dead and so past repentance, and to be put past peradventure by the Magistrates sword, if he were no better advised then to handle his arms at every word of command from the Mouth of the Past. of Chr. le Stocks, or the brethren of his spirit. Such instigations, vers. 17. was never acquainted with, and are to be found in old writings of Abaddon and Father Apollyon, Tom. 1. part. 1. Sect. ●0. peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth. 12 And that they may y Mr. Cr. hatchet would put them past waking, the instruments of his charge would but put them out of the sleep of error into the sleep of death, never to awake but by the blast of the trump of the archangel. The spirit of Christ says, errors cast men into a sleep out of which they may be waked; the spirit of Apollyon, and Mr. Cran▪ other Fathers say, that they kill the soul past hope, and there is no way but death and bonds: thus does the evil spirit speak in the mouth of Mr. Edwards and the Past▪ of Chr. le Stocks, ver. 17. is not acquainted with such wickedness, but cries out of the violence offered unto it, by drawing the similitude of a Gangrene beyond the quality of spreading, in which sense and no other the spirit of love useth it. See here the silliness of that witty speech, that if such as kill the body, much more such as poison and kill the soul must die. What mends shall be made that man that is put to death for casting his neighbour into a dead sleep, when his neighbour shall awake safe and sound. The Spirit of Christ accounts persons seduced by erroneous opinions no otherwise dead, then by a dead sleep, a heavy drowsy distemper, with scales covering the eyes of the mind. Yet from your weak ground of a comparison of such opinions to a canker for spreading, and no otherwise have Mr. Cr. and Mr. Edward's reared their Treatises and Sermons, swelling with the venom of a persecuting spirit: from which I pray God deliver them and all. awake themselves out of the snare of the z That ancient Father Episcopus Macrocosmensis See his diocese, Job 1. 7. where he rides circuit in Visitation: {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is this father's Greek name, in English Accuser of the Brethren: A right reverend father of great Antiquity, him the Prelates of all ages and generations have imitated since the Foundations of the World. He from the beginning liked not his charge, and therefore abode not in his station, but desirous of more dignity than God allotted to serve his ends, became a murderer and impostor. devil, who are taken “ They are taken alive, and must be recovered alive, if they be ever recovered, by meekness instructing, if peradventure &c. they must not be exasperated & made uncapable of instruction by Fines, Imprisonments, &c. much less put past all hopes by banishment or possibility of recovery by death. This is the language of the followers of the lamb, that had the mouth of a Dragon, and nothing but horns of a lamb, unless it might be black-wool-clothing, Revel. 13. 11. alive by him at his will. Behold my Servant in whom my soul delighteth, shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street, a bruised reed shall he not break, isaiah 42. 1, 2. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. My kingdom is not of this world, if my Kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight. Dr. Christ. John 18. 36. Put up again thy sword into its place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Dr. Jesus, Matth. 26. 52. ye know not of what manner of spirit ye are of, for the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Dr. Emmanuel, Luke 9 25, 26. If ye were Abraham's children ye would do the works of Abraham, but now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. ye are of your father the false accuser, and the longings of your father you will accomplish; he was a manslayer from the beginning Dr. Christ. John 8. 44. We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, nor walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully handling [adulterating as Hucksters their commodities, and Vintners their wine] the Word of God, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake. Paul, 2 Cor. 4. 2. 5. Be not ye called Rabbi, one is your Teacher, Christ, and all ye are his Brethren. And call no man your Father upon earth, for one is your Father who is in Heaven. Neither be ye called Expounders [{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}] for one is your expositor, Expounder, Teacher, Christ, Matth. 23. 8, 9, 10. Christian Reader; Seeing how deceitfully the Word of God is handled by those that will needs be our rabbis; obey the command of our Lord in the Scriptures next above; Put on the noble resolution of the Bereans, who searched daily the Scriptures whether those things were so which Paul himself preached, Acts 17. 11, 12. This Discovery of abuse of Scripture, is humbly presented for serious consideration to the Parliament, Lord Major, Aldermen and Citizens of London, by a Lover of Peace and Truth, and an hater of all errors, with a just Christian and perfect▪ not an unjust, politic, unchristian, unapostolicall and pretended zeal. The Map of prelatical Imposture is good to drive away evil spirits, being hung over the thresholds of houses, and pasted or hung up on the walls of Halls and parlours, and all haunted places. London Printed by Tho. Pain, for John Sweeting in Popes-head Alley.