Truth's Return: In answer to a MALIGNANT PAMPHLET, PRETENDED To be written by a most Orthodox, Moderate, and judicious Divine, a banished Minister of this miserable Kingdom; TO A Virtuous Lady, who (for the exercise of her Devotion) built a Closet, wherein to secure the most sacred Book of COMMON-PRAYER, from the view and violence of the enemies thereof, Sectaries and Schismatics of this KINGDOM. Being printed together; that thereby the great difference may appear, between Prayer real, and pretended: a form of Godliness, and the power thereof. By THEO: JENNINGS, Gent. Pray Without ceasing, quench not the spirit, Thes. 5.17, 19 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; neither can be know them, because they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. 2.14. Prove all things, hold fast that which is good, 1 Thes. 5.21. LONDON, Printed by J. C. 1646. To a virtuous and judicious Lady, who (for the exercise of her devotion) built a Closet, wherein to secure the most Sacred Book of COMMON PRAYER, from the view and violence of the enemies thereof, the Sectaries and Schismatics of this Kingdom. Written by a most Orthodox, Moderate, and Judicious Divine, A banished Minister of this miserable Kingdom. SInce it hath pleased our wise and newborn State The Common-Prayer-Book t' excommunicate: To turn it out of all, as if it were Some grand Malignant, or some Cavalier: Since in our Churches it's by them forbid To say such Prayers, as our Fathers did: So that God's House must now be called no more The House or Prayer, so ever called before: As if those Christians were resolved to use That House, as bad, as ever did the Jews: Since that of Christ, may now of Prayer be said, It wants a place Whereon to lay its head; I cannot choose but think, it was your care, To build your Closet for distressed PRAYER; Which here in mourning clad, presents itself, Begging some little corner on your shelf: For since it is banished from all public view, There be none dare it entertain, but you. How times and men are changed! who would have thought seen the Service-Book thus set at naught? A Book worth Gold, if rightly understood; Composed by Martyrs, sealed with their blood. Once burned by Papists, merely for this cause, It was repugnant to their Popish Laws. Now by our Zelots it is condemned to die, Because (forsooth) it is full of Popery. And thus we see the Golden means defied, And how ('twixt two extremes) it is crucified. But it is no matter, we see stranger things, Kings must be Subjects now, and Subjects, Kings. The meaner sort of men have all the power; The upper end is now beneath the lower: The head below the feet; they'll wear the Crown: Who would not think the world's turned upsidedown? Learning must now give place to Ignorance, So must a Statute to an Ordinance; Religion; to Profaneness, and vainglory; The Common Prayer-Book; to the Directory. All things are out of order, and I fear, Are like to be, till we are as we were: Till Bishops do return to end the stir Twixt th' Independent and the Presbyter: Till Kings be Kings, and till we (wished) see The Church enjoy her ancient liturgy: Till Loyalty be had in more regard: And till Rebellion hath its just reward. And that these things may be, we'll not despair: All this, and more, may be obtained by Prayer. THou grand Malignant Priest who seem'st to dare That Precious trueborn State, whom God did spare. When your strong forces felt his wrath and hate Whilst he up raised this Kingdom, in our State. And made them glorious, to reform those things Our Fathers did amiss, as did our Kings. When injudicious, Arrogant, Divines In orthodox, and proud, did rule those times. But now, the Clouds dispeld; 2 Cor. 4.2, 3, 4. the Gospel's light Discovers truths, and makes them shine so bright. That purblind eyes, are made stark blind, while some Have gained their sight, and now to light are come. What truth more clear, can any Saint inherit, Zack. 12.10.13.14. When God doth promise for to powers his spirit Of grace and supplications on them all That mourn, and pray, and on God's name do call? In bitterness, than each relations heart In all the land shall mourn for sin apart: King, Prophet, people, (all that grace attain) Their wives, and Families, that do remain. Thus God removes all tottering forms, Heb. 12.27.28. and he A Kingdom gives, that moved cannot be. Believe but Jesus, forms of Prayer are none But in the Spirit, to worship God alone. joh. 4.21.23.24. God is a Spirit, true worshippers and just In spirit and truth, the Father, worship must. The manner how, and what to ask, Mat. 6.9. Lnk. 11.2. alone Is only, in the Lord's Prayer clearly shown. That form of words none used but Christ as ye Thence to the end, o'th' Revelations see. 2 Tim. 3.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 A form, the vil'st of men, do only use: The power of godliness they do refuse: Led others Captive: Reprobate are they (God us commands from such to turn away.) Idnnes and jambres like, they truth resist Unmasked to all, Ro. 8.26.27. these fools, shall not persist. Byth' Spirit of Christ, 1 Pet. 2.5. our Spirits framed are An Habitation: Gal. 1.22.23. We; his House of Prayer. Saints are the Churches, joh 4.20. which true Christian's use, Your Churches are a fragment of the Jews. Luke 13.32. You Foxes are, C. 9.5.8. as Christ of Herod said Your holes, Luke 14.46. afford no room, to rest his head. You, nor your Fathers never took the care To get your hearts, Mat. 15.8.9. to be Christ's House of Prayer. Dead forms in books you Idolise alone; 1 Pet. 2.4. To Christ you come not as a living Stone. You, and your Churches, are alike bestead: Your hearts as stony, Heb. 12.13.14. hard, key cold, and dead. Your Common-Service Book if, 1 Pet. 4.19. once a crute; The lame once healed, would never more it touch. That faith in prayer, 1 Sam. 13.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. C. 22.16.18.19. C. 15.9.18.19, 20, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33. the Martyr's tongues expressed Flowed only from God's Spirit, in their breast. Their paths made strait; their feet went not astray: In Peace, and Holiness they kept that way. You lame; out of the way are turned quite Your disobedience hat full in God's sight. Like Saul, you force such service on the Lord, As makes your Prayers and Persons both abhorred. Your grand rebellions hateful in God's sight Ye slew the Saints, spated for Amalekite. God gave our State, his wisdom, and a call And power to hue your hopes, in pieces small. Your golden Book, the people dejfied If Papists, (Koran like) could not abide. Much less, could our just State endure such things As hurt themselves, our Kingdom, and our Kings. 2 Kin. 18.4. Therefore they Covenant, wholly to reduce All to God's word, even the primary use. And now no wonder, we see such strange things As Kings God's Subjects, Subjects made God's Kings. Rev. 1.6. C. 2.26, 27, 28. C. 21.24.26. Esa. 60.3. 2 Tim. 4.8. 2 Pet. 3.16, 17, 18. 1 Cor. 14.22, 23, 24, 25. C. 2.4.5.6. 1 Cor. 14.33. Heb. 8.10.11. jer. 31.33.34. 1 Kin. 2.44, 45, 46. Dan. 7.16. Such men have all, the power of Christ we know In Heaven above, and on the earth below. Thus all degrees, below enjoy a Crown The world to Heaven, is turned upside down. God's Learning, must take place of Ignorance The Gospel of each; Law, and Ordinance. Religion, of Profaneness, and vain glory: And precious faith, looks to God's directory. God's order in all things shall thus appear God's truth, all enemies, shall quite cashier. Kings, Pastors, People, all on God depend And ●ayling Shime's justly brought to end. The Churches shall enjoy their Liberty Received from Christ, without Malignity. Rebellion, it shall have the just reward: And Loyalty, be had in due regard. But ask in faith, of Christ, Mat. 21.22: john 16.23.24. jam. 5.15.16. and do not fear To gain all needful things, by hearty Prayer. November the 3. 1646. Theodore jenning's. FINIS.