THE Antichristian Presbyter: OR, ANTICHRIST TRANSFORMED; ASSUMING THE NEW SHAPE OF A Reformed Presbyter, as his last and subtlest Disguise to deceive the NATIONS.  REVEL. 13.11, 13. 
And he had two horns like a Lamb, and he spoke as a Dragon, and he doth great wonders; so that he maketh fire to come down from Heaven on the Earth, in the sight of men. And he deceiveth them that dwell upon the Earth, by reason of those miracles.  
By RICHARD LAURENCE, Marshal-Generall.  
Printed for the Timly information of the People, 1647.   

The Epistle to the READER.  
CHRISTIAN READER,  
I Would not have thee flatter thy expectation, by thinking to meet with something in this Discourse, that should tend to the setting up, or casting down any one practice or opinion now received or held forth by the Believers (of several judgements) in this Kingdom, which are but as so many Bubbles risen upon the water: And when a strong gale of that Spirit, which bloweth where it listeth, shall breathe upon them, they shall all break and fall, and shall become a pure River of living water, clear as Crystal proceeding out of the Throne of GOD, and of the Lamb: But that which I do here endeavour to hold forth to thee, is only a discovery of that Mystery of Iniquity, which assumes shapes and forms of Religion, for no other end, but to destroy both Moral and Divine Rights and Privileges. And having had occasion, by reason of my employments in the Army, to ride through most parts of this Kingdom very lately; I have observed these things which I here represent to thee: hoping, that not only Thou, but those whom England hath chosen to be their Overseers, and God hath used to be their Deliverers, will observe what Vipers they have in their Bosom, such as hold forth an Apple in their mouth, but have stings in their hearts, such as only kissed with an intent to betray. That which moved me to pen it, was out of conscience to that Covenant, which many of these Deceivers have swallowed down: it would be well for the Kingdom, if there were more Covenant-Keepers, though fewer Covenant-takers. I shall direct thee to what followeth, & rest thine in that everlasting Covenant, which doth not only bind us, but affect us in truth, and faithfulness one to each other.  
R. L.   

A brief Discovery of old Antichrist in the new shape of Presbytery.  
EXperience teacheth us, that it hath ever been the way and practice of that man of Sin, that mystery of Iniquity, that enemy to all peace and righteousness, [commonly called by us, Antichrist, and known to us only by the names of Pope, Jesuit, and Papist, etc.] too transform himself into that shape or likeness, which he conceived would he most advantageous to his designs.  
For, before the time of this Parliament, we thought he had only dwelled at Rome, and Spain, etc. among the Papists, and that the hanging of those halfscore men for the Gunpowder Plot, had frighted him clear out of England. [But while we cried, Peace, Peace, behold trouble.] And when he thought the time of our desolation d●ew nigh, than the time of our deliverance was at hand.  
For when he saw there was no remedy, he was very forward to have a Parliament, thinking they would have done as some had done before them; to have given all the people's rights and privileges to the King, to purchase to themselves great estates in Court.  
But God gave us men of public spirits, which resolved to offer up themselves, and a●l that was dear to them, to maintain the people's rights and privileges, so much invaded by the great-Ones of this Kingdom, and their Ha●…ers.  
And before they were well warmed in their seats, there came petition after petition, and complaint after complaint, they could not tell which to hear first; many of them wondering the pe●ple should lie under such heavy oppressions, and yet be so silent. And when they began to inquire into the business, they found the people were like a Horse in a quagmire, the more they strove, the deeper they sunk: For though they had appealed from Court to Court; the higher they went, the worse they were.  
This seemed strange to them, that in such a place as England was (where there were so many grave and learned Divines, such a powerful Ministry, the whole Kingdom being looked at as a Church of Jesus Christ;) there should be such unheard of oppression and tyranny.  
And enquiring into the cause of these things, they began first to inquire whether that old enemy of mankind, which was always a deceiver of the people (Antichrist) was not crept in among us again. Which made Henry the eighth spill so much innocent blood in this kingdom, hanging to day a Papist for his Religion, and the next day a Protestant for his Religion; Having his reign in burning and destroying religious people in this Kingdom, until the end of Queen Mary, and was wholly cast out of Church and State, as we thought, by the Parliament in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.  
After which we grew secure, we thought Antichrist had been but of one religion.  
Then they began to inquire what Papists were about the King; thinking they might be the cause of all this mischief: for they had not heard that this deceiver had been any thing but a Pope, or Jesuit, or Papist at least.  
But when they had found out the truth of the business; this cunning Sophister had turned Protestant, a zealous Common-prayer-book man, and would go to Church twice a day at least.  
And after they found it was Antichrist indeed only changed his shape, they began to search further, to see how large his dominion was.  
And well knowing he doth not use to trouble poor folk much, they began first at the Court; and going with the King to the Church, there they found him as busy as could be, bowing to the Altar, and reading Common-prayer, and singing the Litany, with a great deal more such stuff.  
And when he had done that; up start he into the Pulpit in the likeness of the King's Chaplain, and there he tells them the King was accountable to none but God for his actions; and, that all his subjects enjoyed, was wholly at his disposing, whether liberties, privileges, or estates, etc. and those that would not say so, were traitors.  
And after further enquiry, they found him in all the chief Offices about the Court; and for fear he should not be near enough to the King, he was crept into bed to him.  
A little after they found he was not only about the King's person, but was gotten into most of the chief places of Judicature in the kingdom.  
They found he had been a great Privy-Counsellor for many years, and had been acting many wicked designs tending to the enslaving of the people, and destroying Religion.  
He had been the only means of procuring Ceremonies, and a Book of Common-prayer to be imposed upon the Church of Scotland. And because they would not submit, they being imposed by the King's authority, he persuaded the King to raise an Army to force it upon them; and had not our God (which never was a friend to imposers of forms) stood for them and us by them, we had been all enslaved at that time.  
After further enquiry, they found he had been in the likeness of a learned Judge, and had road most of the circuits in England, and had sold the poor for a piece of bread. And where ever you find him, you may observe he loves money well: for he did not use the Law to judge by, but judged for men as they were able to pay him. And from thence it was, you had so little protection by the Law.  
He could persuade the Judges, and most of the Lawyers in the Kingdom, that it were lawful for the King to raise money of the freeborn people of England, whether they were willing or no, and bids them call it Ship-money.  
He could make it lawful for the great men in the kingdom to take away all the poor Countrymen's Commons, though they had never so strong Charters to show for them, only tell them it was the King's pleasure.  
If any well-minded Countryman which thought his own Birthwright and his Country's privilege worth the standing for did but stand up in his Country's behalf, he presently must be made an example, (and was befriended if he escaped with his life though he lost all he had besides) for fear some others should play such tricks.  
Nay, he had almost persuaded the Lords of the Copy●hold-M●●●●r, that their ●●nes which were never known to be but set sums to be at their wills: And thereby would have dispossessed many thousands of the Commons of England of their Inheritance their Fathers left them.  
Thus my honest Countrymen, what ever you were born too, ye may see what you were near brought to. If I should instance in all particulars of this nature, I should fill a Volume, as big as your Church Bible: If you be forgetful, or have a bad memory, I shall commend the Star-Chamber to you for a study, which is a very convenient place for that purpose.  
After they had discovered what work he had made in the State, they began to inquire, whether he was not crept into the Church or no, and when the truth came to be known he was Archbishop of Canterbury. And after further enquiry, it appeared, there was not a Diocese in the Kingdom but he was the Bishop of it, and not a Living worth a hundred pounds a year, but he had the disposing of it. Nay, because he understood the people would not restore him all those great Live, which Henry the 8. took from him, under the same terms and names; he than held them, rather than he would be without, he new christened them too, And some he calls Church-livings or Spiritual means, or the Church's Inheritance. And I believe it is all the Inheritance he desire his Churches should have: for he can make a whole County of Temporal means all Spiritual in half an hour, and make you believe its Blasphemy to say to the contrary, and Sacrilege to take it away again.  
There are two other little stipends, which like a Careful Father, he hath procured for his youngest Sons; and those he calls Globe-land and Tithes: So rather than any of his Tribe should not have an office in the Priesthood, he will have them levitical Priests.  
But if they were not fit for Priests, he had other employments for them: for he was nor only a Courtier himself, but he kept a Court too.  
And this he called a Spiritual Court: it had other names, as sometimes the Chancellors Court, or the Commissaries Court: but they that gave it the right name, called it the Bawdy Court: What the Revenue of this Court was yearly, I cannot inform you: but I am sure, they maintained a great and ungodly company.  
And set but apart the Crown-Land and the Inheritance of the Nobility in the Kingdom: and though his Tribe did not amount to the five hundred part of the people; yet he had engrossed into his hands the fourth part of the Commons Inheritance.  
And if you please to mind what work he made in the State, and how well he throve in the Church, if he had not been discovered & stopped by the Parliament, he would have made as many go barefoot, and bare-leg in England, as doth in Scotland, in a very short time.  
After they found how rich and mighty he was grown in the Kingdom, they began to inquire into his actions, and there they found he had been doing the very same things in this shape he used to do in the other.  
There were all the godly Ministers in the Kingdom either banished or silenced; except some few which were able to make good friends, or could dispense with most of his Popish Ceremonies, with many thousands of godly people scattered all over the world, as they were at Jerusalem; witness, New-England, Virginia, with many of the remote Islands, Holland is not exempted.  
If you would have further satisfaction, I shall refer you to the four Champions of these times, viz. Mr. Prynne, Dr. Bastwick, Mr. Burton, and Lieu. Col. Lilburn: I wish them to remember the loss of their ears, their branding in the face, their pillory, their whipping-Cart, their exile and imprisonment. Ask them, if Antichrist cannot persecute as well in the shape of a Protestant as a Papist.  
Know of them whether the enjoyment of this Parliament be not the greatest outward mercy that ever God gave England, and themselves in particular. Ask them again, if Antichrist be not a persecuter in all the shapes he assumes? and whether the spirit of persecution be not the spirit of Antichrist, or no.  
Thus (my honest and soon-deceived Countrymen) you may see by these few hints, among the many thousands you may remember of the same nature, what condition you were in when God raised you up this Parliament to be your deliverers, and what a work they had to undertake in your behalf: They had only of these two things to choose one; either to give you and your posterity up to slavery, or run the hazard of the utter ruining themselves and families.  
I need not tell you which it was they chose; but where they begun, will be worth your observation.  
They did not begin to lop off the branches, but to hue down the main body of the tree: the first men they called in question, being the two greatest Subjects in the Kingdom, viz. the Lord Deputy of Ireland, and the Bishop of Canterbury: if they had questioned more of them, than we had been quietter since.  
But as soon as this wise Observer of Times, saw what would befall him, he presently would change his shape again, and would be in the likeness of a blessed Reformation, as he called it in the days of Queen Elizabeth.  
When that trick would not serve, he knew there was no other means left now, but his last shift, which was to see if he could stir up the people, to rise with the King, to cut the Parliaments throats, and by destroying them wholly, to enslave and vassalage the people for ever.  
Thus you see what ever he faith, you never know what he means, till the last.  
What he did in this kind, I shall not need to rehearse to you: woeful experience I hope hath convinced you; though I am able to particalarize as many of his wicked cruel, and barbarous actions, as any one man in England.  
But for further satisfaction, I shall refer you to Faringdon in Berkeshire, to Prince Maurice his march, through Somerset and Dorsetshire; to goring Horse in Devonshire and Cornwall; to Prince rupert's march through Lancashire; to Layton-Buzzar▪ and Wooburn in Bedfordshire: the Queens shriving of Burton upon Trent.  
And if you please to make each of these a Bishop, I shall furnish you with as many Rapes, Murders, Robberies, and unheard of Cruelties, as shall make them a sufficient Diocesan Priesthood.  
Thus have I endeavoured to trace Antichrist in his own steps to describe his habits, discover his practices, and have given thee some hint of his actions; to this end, that if ever thou seest him or hear of him again, thou mayest know him.  
For be you sure, as long as there is so many great and spiritual Live in the Kingdom; so much Glebeland, and other good things called Tithes: He will not out, he will assume some other shape: he cares not what it is, so he may but do his work, and receive his wages; which is▪ as you have heard, to rob, kill, and destroy you, and will make you pay him well for it too.  
Now let me entreat thee by the way, to take notice, what a wonderful deliverance God hath wrought for thee, by the hands of those men, which this Monster would have turned thy hand against; that if ever Nation or People owed themselves to a Parliament; this Nation doth.  
And though there be many Sons of Belial, which had rather see the Kingdom ruined, so they might have the destroying of it: by fight against them, then to have it settled in truth and peace by them: yet let them know, with all the enemies they have in the world, that if that God which hitherto hath been their wisdom and strength, do keep them close to the work they have begun, viz. to lose the bands of wickedness, to take off heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke: though all the power of Hell and Earth should set up themselves against them; The Lord of Hosts is our strength, why should we fear? the God of Battle is our salvation, why should we be afraid?  
But now my honest Countrymen, after all this care taken and hazards run, and blood spilt: when the Parliament with all the rest of their faithful friends, scattered abroad from their own horns in the Kingdom's service, had thought their work had been done, and nothing remained, but to receive the fruit of their former labours, which is an equal participation, with the rest of the freeborn people of England, of their liberties and privileges due to them in their several places and callings; yet, even while they were all crying peace, peace, behold war.  
There appears another Generation of Earth and Hell, like that Beast in the 13. of the Revel. vers. 11. Whose appearance is like a Lamb, and yet speaks like a Dragon, his voice being nothing but of war and bloodshed.  
Many thousands of such, as the Parliament had at their mercy, and hath given them their liberties and estates upon easier terms, than some thousands of their own friends have preserved theirs by taking their parts.  
And yet all the practice of these men is in speaking evil of the Parliament, endeavouring to render them odious to the People; saying, they are all Independent, and will have no King, with a thousand such false aspersions and lies, making their boasts, they are confident of another day, and that the war is not yet begun, & that they hope to see the Tide turned ere long, with many such expressions.  
That while the Parliament is disbanding their Armies, slighting their Garrisons, endeavouring by all possible means to ease the people of their burdens they have so long groaned under, by reason of the war;  
These servants of that wicked One are sowing a new seed, fomenting a new war.  
And because their old Names of Papists, Malignants, Cavaliers, etc. are grown so odious to the people;  
Therefore this cunning High Priest of theirs, Antichrist, teacheth them to call themselves Presbyterians.  
For, saith he, by so doing, with some other tricks I have, we shall gain the Scottish Nation, with a considerable Party in the City to those we have there already, and set it ●ard to make a division in the House, by being in th● likeness of P●esbyterians till such time as we have gotten the King into his power, and a considerable Army of French, and our Catholic Brethren in Ireland about him.  
And then we will put the Scots in mind, that they were the Beginners of all our troubles, and that they have been twice proclaimed Rebels for fight against this King. We will then tell them of the old saying, It is no deceit to deceive the Deceiver.  
We will then put London in mind of their former Zeal to the Parliaments Cause, and let them know, our good King hath often times called them the Rebellious City, and had long ago given them us for our Arrears.  
We will then tell our Presbyterian Brethren, of their infirmities, our faithful Brother Bishop Maxwell reckons up in his Book, entitled issachar's Burden.  
We will then convince them, as they would have convinced the Independents with an Ordinance against Heresy and Blasphemy etc.  
Thus friends, if ye have not resolved, to say its dark, when the Sun shines, if ever your parsons tell you so, you may see this Spirit of Malignanc●e and Antichrist in all parts of the Kingdom, in the shape or likeness of Presbyters.  
If there were but a Garrison slighted, or Soldiers disbanded, where the Parliament conceives them useless to the Kingdom, they are told it is, because they are Presbyterians.  
If there be but an Officer cashiered in the Army for the most vild misdemeanour that can be committed, be it Drunkenness of Swearing, or Whoring, or plundering, etc. be cries out, it is because he is a Presbyterian.  
And thus I could instance in many particulars, but I reserve them for future occasion.  
And if this trick be but a little better learned, the Parliament shall not call in a Malignant to pay his Composition, but he will presently cry out, he is sequestered for being a Presbyter. Nor punish a Priest for Faction in the Pulpit in endeavouring to render the Parliament odious to the People, but he will cry out, he is a Presbyterian.  
As if the being a Presbyterian were a toleration to commit all kind of wickedness without control.  
As if Faction and Sedition, with Drunkenness and Swearing, etc. in Presbytery, were as absolute Jure Divino as their Government.  
Nay further, if you ride through the whole Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, except some few Parishes, where the●e is a very good L●ving of 100 l. or 200. l. per annum.  
Who shall you find but some old-fashioned Common-prayer-book-Priest, and all he is able to observe out of the Directory, is, to read a Chapter, sing a Psalm, and say the peace of God, and away goes he to dinner, he hath most skill of that.  
If ye do now and then meet with a second sort of them; which, with a great deal of care, and painstaking, can write as much in a piece of paper in six-dayes, as he is able to read in half an hour on the seventh day, and add but thus much (ex tempore) to it.  
O these cursed schismatics, Sectaries, Heretics, Independents, etc.  
He is a mighty well-gifted man; he is fit to make one of the Classes, at least.  
Nay, a man may go into a thousand Parishes in this Kingdom, and demand but of the Parson, why he doth not wear the Surplice, and read Common-prayer, and bow to the Altar as he used to do;  
And all the answer he can give, is, the Parliament hath put them down.  
Ask them why they observe the Directory; why, the Parliament hath put it out. Or, some of them are so learned, as to say, they have imposed it, or established it.  
So that we want nothing but a Parliament to establish Popery: for we have Priests as ready to officiate, as any Kingdom in Christendom.  
These things considered, what manner of Church-goverment are we like to have, think ye, when we have like people, like Priests?  
And yet all the ablest Ministers of the Kingdom must be gathered together at London to teach one another, and the poor ignorant people in the Country, perish for want of knowledge.  
Do ye think it would not be a more Christian brotherly way for them, to go up and down the Country teaching the Gospel; then to be at London procuring punishment for the people for their not believing it before they have heard it?  
A man may ride twenty miles together in some parts of the Kingdom, and not find two men in a Parish, that know what a Presbyter, or Elder, or Deacon is, except ye mean Bishops and Arch-deacons, such as they use to have in another shape.  
All I would desire you to observe from these things is this: what small reason any honest people of this Kingdom have to b●ame the Parliament for not setting Church Government, when the tenth part of the Kingdom is not capable of receiving it, nor the tenth part of the ministry capable of officiating it.  
My honest Country men look about you, be no more deceived; for all the noise you hear in the Kingdom is not for Presbiter-Government: they do but put on the same Government to see if they can deceive him of his Birthright; for godly Presbyterians, and godly Independents must all drink of one Cupp, and they that have the last draught may come to have the dregs too for aught I know.  
And if not godly, ye may be Presbyters and Independents too, you are not the men they aim at.  
But now it is come to this pass, that if a man do but speak well of the Parliament, what ever his Judgement be, he must be an Independent.  
Nay I have observed it, having had occasion to ride through most parts of this Kingdom lately, that there are many godly conscientious people which have not a preaching Minister within five miles of them, and if there, hardly worth the going to, and some of these people for using means to procure a preaching Minister; for so doing are called Independents, and for such, hated and abused by their Malignant dumb Priest, and the rest of their Neighbours.  
I could instance many particulars of this nature, I shall only name two.  
The one is at Charlbury in Oxfordshire, the Parish being great hath three Churches all in one simple fellows, ●ands, hardly fit to make a Clerk, one of the places having a competent means to maintain a Minister, hath endeavoured to procure one, and for so doing, are called Independents, and for such hated and despised.  
Another place is at East hendred in Bark-shire where there is a wicked Malignant Priest called Doctor Rogers, he was the King's Chaplin in Oxford, his parish preferred Articles against him to the General, the General referred them to the Committees, the Articles were these or to this purpose. That the said Doctor Rogers had several times delivered in the Pulpit before his parishioners, these or such like expressions.  
That the Parliament at Westminster were Rebels and Traitors.  
That he hoped to see their heads from their bodies, and their Limbs drying in the Sun.  
That it was Treason to call them a Parliament.  
In his prayer, praying for their confusion under the names of the King's enemies.  
Comparing them to Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and wishing the earth might open and swallow them up: frequently praying they might be like Oreb, and Zeeb, and that they might slay before the Lords anointed like Zeba, and Salmunna, with abundance more of this nature: For endeavouring to put him out, and to have another in his place, the poor men were called Independents, and for such hated, ●nd persecuted: some of the poor men being weary of their lives & homes, came to Oxford to entreat me to be their friend to the General professing they durst not go home to their wives and Children, the Malignant's wrath not being contented to persecute them himself with the rest of his complies in his parish; but procured troopers of Abington Horse, ●o fright, slander and abuse them under the name of Independents, and Tub-preachers.  
Thus my honest Country men, if the enemies of your peace have but so much wit as to call you Independents; according to these practices, its policy enough to destroy you all.  
It's cause of admiration, that so many rational godly men, as be in this Kingdom of the Presbyterian Judgement should be so blind as not to see in every part of his Kingdom, that the same spirit of Malignancy, and Anti Christ which hitherto hath opposed the Parliament in their proceed, hath already assumed the shape of a Presbyter, thereby to make a further rent and division in the Kingdom, to the end they may destroy both Parliament and people.  
Let me appeal to any that have not sold themselves to partiality, and have not wholly given up themselves to believe lies.  
What do ye think by that army of French so much feared and talked of?  
Will they be all Presbyters think you, have ye forgotten the bloody massacre in France?  
Were none murdered there but Independents think ye.  
Nay further, what kind of Presbyter-Government shall we have settled by the Irish Rebels think ye; for they must come to assist you in that precious work too.  
Have none of their unheard of inhuman cruelties been acted against any but Independents think ye.  
What do ye think of the Lord George Digby that is to command the Army for England from thence, is not there a reverend Presbyter.  
Nay further, what do you think of the gathering together of those kind of creatures in the North we used to call Cavaliers, are they all turned Presbyters think ye.  
Were they not within this twelve months firing of Towns, plundering of Houses, murdering of people, ravishing of women wherever they came in the Kingdom, and went under the name of dammee Cavaliers, and the Popish Army, and are they so suddenly converted, and altogether, its time we had a national Church Government settled then.  
Oh that ever men should thus delude themselves and be their own betrayers, and murderets, that at such a time as this, when there is such visible treachery, and wicked plotting, tending to the ruin of the whole Kingdom, that men should be silent which have so great an interest in it, and so much cause to defend the liberty of it.  
Have we not cause to fear that there is a lying spirit in the mouths of our Prophets, that at such time as this is can flatter these spiritual wickednesses in high places; if they were the Lords watchmen, they would not be stirring up Israel against Judah, and judah against Israel, but would tell judah of his sins, and Israel of his transgression.  
Oh that we may never see the day that those which England's Parliament hath chosen out of respect to their learning and piety to be their familiar friends, and take sweet Council together, should in the days of Absolom rising up against David, act the part of Achitophel. Is it possible those which could foresee things so long in the last plot, if not partial could be so blind in this, and if seeing it, if not deceitful could be so dumb in not declaring it.  
What's the reason ye have such a noise in the pulpits against such things as could never be sufficiently proved evil, and the great crying sins of the nation hardly spoke of? as if one sin against the Clergy were more dangerous than a multitude of the sins of Sodom, which this Kingdom is full of against that God of Heaven and Earth, which destroyed Sodom for sin.  
By this ye may clearly see they preach themselves, and not Christ jesus the Lord.  
But considering it is rather their infirmities then their qualities: Let us earnestly desire, the Lord would open their mouth●, & they might show forth his praise, that seeklesse their own things and more the things of jesus Christ: that they may no longer call evil good, and good evil, but reprove the infirmities of their Brethren, as the Apostle did with the spirit of love and meekness: and when they are speaking against the profaneness, lewdness and wickedness of the Nation; to cry aloud and spare not: to lift up their voice like a Trumpet: to preach as those that have authority, and not as the Scribes. I shall for a conclusion desire your consideration on the 33. and 34. Chapters of the prophecy of Ezekiel.   

The Postscript.  
Christian Reader.  
I Shall desire thy Impartial Censure on these few things. Judge, but Judge not false Judgement. Though I have endeavoured to discover to thee that Antichrist is crept in amongst us in the shape of a Presbyter, yet do I not in the least here strive to persuade thee that Presbytery is Antichristian; for we have been too forwards to judge of men, and things as they have been represented to us under good or bad names. And from thence risen that true proverb among us, a jew would not have done such a thing. But the Apostle tells them, he is not a jew that is one outwardly, but he that is one inwardly. Rom. 2.28. and this was the, cause the Saints in the Apostles time differed so much by judging one another according to outward appearance as they were distinguished by their names, some of Paul, and some of Apoll. s, etc. 1. Cor. 1.12.  
And therefore when Christ is prophesied on to come a Judge, it is said he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, nor reprove after the hearing of his ears, but he shall judge with righteousness, and reprove with equity, and though our Judges be forwardest to judge for the rich, and speak in the proud men's Cause, Christ shall judge for the poor, and reprove for the meek, Esa. 11.31. Therefore take heed thou dost not by thy thus judging, condemn that which Christ shall justify, and justify that which Christ shall condemn, especially in things that concern Christ's Kingdom: and godly people, because Christ himself is thereby either justified or condemned by them. Luk● 10.16. Acts 9 4.  
Therefore that I would desire thee to observe in these few things is this, that Jesus is Christ though Crowned with thorns and in a robe of mockery. Mat. 27.29. that Jacob is not Esau though in his garment, Gen. 27.15. and that josephs' Coat is known to his Father though dipped in blood. Gen. 37.33. And again, that Antichrist is a Wolf, though in Sheep's Clothing, Mat. 7.15, as much that beast when he appeared like a Lamb with two horns, Rev. 13.11. as when he had the seven heads and ten horns, v. 1. as false an Apostle when he is transformed into an Angel of light or is like the Apostle of Christ, 2 Cor. 11.13.14. as when he is that great red Dragon standing before the woman ready to devour her seed. Rev. 12.4.  
If thou dost ask me how thou shalt then know him?  
I answer, by his works; for whatsoever his shape is, his business is all one.  
For there are some deceivers which are not Antichrist, such were Peter, Gal. 2.12. and the leaders of the Saints in the 1 Cor. 1. and several others through infirmity or mistake, and these the Apostle reproves as Brethren.  
But the end of this decever is on purpose to destroy. This is that roaring Lion which goeth about seeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5.8.  
Therefore of all decevers, beware of the devouring destroying decever, such as doth not only come with their mouths full of deeeit; but with their hands full of blood, who make it their business to root up, pull down, and destroy; for the business of Christ's Ministers is to plant, to build and set up. Therefore saith Christ, I come not to destroy men's lives but to save them. It was the work of the thief. john 10.10. to steal, to kill and destroy. But I am come that ye might have life saith Christ, and that ye might have it more abundantly.  
Thus if thou art not one of those whom the God of this world hath blinded the eyes of, or that have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, thou canst not but confess that those decevers which are so much in blood that are all for imprisoning, hanging, and burning are of Antichrist what shape soever they are in.  
For the Churches of Saints in the Apostle; days, were among Heathens and Pagans, Turks and jews.  
Such as held strange opinions, such as worshipped the Host of Heaven, would have worshipped the Apostles as Gods. Acts 14.11. denied the resurrection. Acts 23.8. 1 Cor. 15.12. such as were so fare from calling the Apostles Rabbi or Master that they called Christ himself Belzebub and the Apostles deceevers and babblers, thought them unworthy to live upon the earth. Acts 17.18. Acts 22.22. such as had seducing spirits, taste doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy. 1 Tim. 4.2. Boasters, proud, Blasphemers, without natural affection, Truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce despisers of all good. 2 Tim. 2.3.4. such as held damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them. 2 Pet. 2.1.  
And yet no persecution, no imprisoning, hanging, nor burning.  
If thou or any that tells them it is lawful to destroy men for not believing, can but show me out of the word of God, where the time, place, or person, where, Christ or the Apostles, or any after them, we have ground to take example by did endeavour by any outward compulsion to force men to believe, or punish any further than excommunication, for not walking in the faith receised when they have done; if they can procure me letters, I will away to Damascus presently.  
But this was never the practice of Christ and his Church.  
But of Antichrist and his tribe, it is they that are guilty of all the blood spilt in this kind, from Abel to this present day.  
It is not the spouse of Christ that cometh up from the wilderness; leaning upon her beloved. Cant. 8.5.  
But that great Scarlet whore that comes riding upon the beast, with whom the Kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the Inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Rev. 17.12. which is the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus, vers. 6.  
Not the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world.  
But they which have been always slaying the Lamb.  
Not the Shepherd that have thus destroyed the Sheep.  
But the wolf whose nature it is to destroy, not from that God that so loved the world that he gave his Son, but from the Devil, which is come down into the earth with great wrath, having but a short time.  
Now reader if there be nothing here discovered, but what you knew before, consider, it was never intended for thee, but to inform the ignorant, and conform the weak, to be a light to such as are blinded with the smoke that ascends out of the bottomless pit, Rev. 9.2. from whence arose this High Priest, Antichrist, with all his tribe, verse 3. compared with the 11. who are scattered up and down this Kingdom endeavouring to deceive and destroy the people: whose way of deceiving you shall find to be after this manner, to persuade the people that the Parliament had no cause to wage war with the King at the first. In answer to which I have penned the first part of my discourse, and where that will not take, than they transform themselves into the shape or likeness of Presbyters, and then endeavour to persuade the people, the Parliament are most of them Sectaries, and that they with the rest of the Sectaries of the Kingdom, (in whom they conclude all the Parliament friends, whether Presbyters or Independents) will have no Church-Government, but put down all religion, as they call it: Which bait is not only taking with the scandalous and ignorant, but with many knowing people, because Church-Government is not, for the present, settled: In answer to which, I have endeavoured to show the unfitness of the generality of this Kingdom for Church-Government, with some brief discoveries of their Presbyterian practices, and some probabilities of their ends and designs. My end in penning of it, is only this, to let all Zion's friends, see that the enemies of their peace have no such way to destroy them, as to become some thing like unto them.  
And that however they are now separated one from another, by names of opinions;  
Yet if they be Christ's, then are they Abraham's Seed, and heirs according to promise.  
And though they be not all baptised into one Church fellowship or way of worship, yet they are all baptised into that one body of which Christ is the head, by that one eternal spirit, and so are Members one of another, 1 Cor. 12.13.  
And are thereby all embarked in one Ship, and must all sink or swim together.  
So desiring thee, what thou findest to be truth in it, it may not far the worse, for the rudeness of the style. I refer it to your consideration, and shall ever be yours in the Kingdom's Cause.  
R. L.  
FINIS.