A most sad and serious LAMENTATION OVERDO THE HERDSMEN of the Flock and People of GOD. Written in Germany in the year 1631. And Printed there in the beginning of 1639. Cum facultate ejus, qui erat & est & erit. EXOD. 3. REV. I. EZEK. 19 1, 2. But make a Lamentation over the Princes, and Prelates of Israel. and thou shalt say: What? thy mother the lioness hath laid among the Lions, in the midst of the young Lions she hath multiplied her whelps etc. Now Published in English, that all true-hearted-Christians in Great Britain and Ireland, to whose hands it shall come, may take the same into their Consideration. LONDON, Printed for G. Thompson, and are to be sold at his Shop, over against Lincoln's Inn. 1642. [jer. 50. Vers. 6, 7.] Mr People have been lost sheep, a forlorn heard, their Herdsmen, or Pastors have caused them to errc, they have wandered from the Mountains, they have gone from the Mountain to the Hill, they have forgotten their resting place. All that found them have devoured them, and their enemies said, we have done none unrighteousness, because that they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of Righteousness, and against the Lord the Hope of their Fathers. Wis. 6. Elay 28. Deut. 17. Hearken ye Herdsmen and Stewards, ye that Lord-it over the People; attend and listen to the message which the LORD GOD doth send unto you ye that lift up yourselves above your brethren. Gen. 3 19 A Certain great and mighty KING, having appointed Herdsmen and overseers-over the Flocks, and Herds of all his Foulds and Pastures, men that with all faithful diligence, and in the sweat of their brows night and day, should tend, and tender their Charge, seek what is lost, heal and comfort the sick and seeble, keep the fat from harm, that they become not a prey to the claws or jaws of Wolves; and other wild beasts, but rather that they might grow fat and well liking, increase and prosper, and bring forth much fruit, and gain unto their King and master. And this same King, having likewise given a liberal and plentiful allowance unto the said Herdsmen, of food and raiment, and other sustance; so that they had no reason at all to seize on the sheep, their slecce, milk, flesh, or bones; or to estrange any thing from their Master; but rather to feed and keep the Flock with all faithfulness, both in the heat by day, and in the cold by night, like jacob. Gen 31. 40. Howbeit also these hearders had vowed and promised in exquisite terms, how tenderly they affected the sheep, what care and pains they would take to guard and keep the fame; yet they performed and held nothing, neverthlesse they would seem, and be reputed faithful shepherds: they were so well instructed by their Teachers, in the Art of simulation, and dissimulation, and dissimulation, and practised in falsehood and hypocrisy; and when they said white or light, they meant black, Esay 5. and dark. But when as they began to grow wanton, in the enjoying of that plenteous entertainment, which the bounty of their great, and gracious Master had bestowed on them; going about to hoard up glory and Treasure for themselves, they chose Vnder-keepers, and Vice-leaders, and put off the pains of watching and feeding the Flock, from themselves upon others. Zeph: 1. 9 These under-keepers likewise sought their own, skipping over their Master's threshold, bragging only of their Master's Interests, struggling and striving to fill their own, and Masters houses, with subtleties, lies and deceit; with Robberies, Rapine, and ransaks; glozing all such practices of theirs with a specious Title, which they call the shepherd's right and prerogative; and showing no pity 1 Sam. 8. or tenderness at all towards the poor sheep, but distressed, flayed, tore and devoured them greedily, grievously, utterly: As for the Amos 5. Herdsmen or Shepherds themselves, they gave themselves over to their own carnal pleasures, continually and fully to satisfy the wilfulness of their own corrupt, and inveigled reason. They began to advance still the seat of violence in their Governments, and all according to their own greedy lusts, and appetites, and not to conform Amos 6. Wis. 2. and frame their practice to the order of the great Monarch, the LORD of Lords, in keeping and feeding the Flock, committed to their charge. They did eat early day by day, and heated themselves Esav 5. Amos 6. with Wine, drinking the same in Gilt, and Silver, and Crystal Bowls; they slept on soft and precious beds, and besides this voluptuous fare, they had their Psalteris, and Musical instruments, their Trumpets, shouts, hollow, and jollities. They disported themselves with the fowls and birds of the Air, and exercised a cruel Barue 3. and butcherly pastime with the beasts of the field, with much care and painfulness, as if the great King and Monarch had appointed this for their only employment: They sought out and entertained cunning Masters of pleasures, that studied nothing else, but to find out new variety still of pleasures and delights for the Herdsmen, in statoly, sumptuous, and far fetched seasts and banquet; in gay, strange, and wonderful habits, and accoutrements; in dancing and sporting, and other the like worldly and carnal wantonnesses, and vanities: so that they went continually but from one pleasure to another, and nothing was more to be seen with these Herdsmen, but a continued course, and interchange of luxury, and bravery; all pleasure, delight, and gloriousness, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the Amos 6. 1 john 2. flesh, and the pride of life. Nay they grew to that pass of proud conceit and arrogant insolence, in their revolted hearts, that they did scornfully disdain, and set at nought; the sheep and Flock of their Lord and Master, never regarding nor looking after them, unless it were to see them fleeced, and flayed with the sharpest Razers, even unto blood, if not life and all: yet condoling them out of a false and Mic. 3. Za. 11. hypocritical heart, how loath they were to proceed in this manner, but they could no way remedy the same, their estate and condition required and enforced it so. Thus they went on still, and multiplied their pride and luxury, roabing and arraying themselves, their wives, Children and Servants, with the gory wool of the sheep, in costly garments, with Gold, Silver, precious stohes, without either scope or measure of all their riotous and chargeable profusions: thus their perverseness still increased, advancing from one iniquity to another, continually coveting to have it yet more glorious, more galat, more sumptuous; and were not at all troubled for the affliction, and distress of the sheep: further more they hired also sundry wise men for themselves, filling their hands, and seeding them largely with the Milk, Wool, 1 King. 12. 31. 2 Tim. 4. and Blood of the Sheep, to preach lies unto them, and together with this Luxury, to please and tickle their vain ears with a curious, artificial, sweet, and comfortable babbling. These were a commending and magnifying the Herdsmen, how they were entrusted with their staff by so great a KING, how worthily they did wield the same; they were indeed the Crown and Glory of the Sheep. What a deal of toil and pains they took, to lead and govern the Sheep, by the same, comforting and promising them instead, and in the Name of that great KING (though they neither knew, nor were sent by him) how the same KING was ready abundantly to reward their great painstaking, in his Royal Palaces; for as for those daily refreshments, which they now enjoyed, according to their hearts desires during the attendance of their so weighty charge; that was but a small trifling matter, the best and true reward should follow them hereafter. By this means, namely the soothing of such Babblers, these Herdsmen were mightily encouraged in all their wicked and licentious courses, that they regarded neither the Will, Charge, and Order of the great KING, nor the good of the Sheep. But now, when as by all the waste of this excessive Pride and insolency, the liberal Allowance of the great KING fell short of their expenses; then the Herdsmen began to forget that they were but Herdsmen and Servants in trust, and not Lords and owners of the flock of the Sheep, and that they must be accountable unto the great KING their Master, that Wis 6. Iob 24. Matth 18. 1 Sam. 8. entrusted them with this office, of keeping and feeding the Sheep; and in these their blind-foulded hearts, they wickedly perverted their original instalment into their place and function, even as the unrighteous Steward dealt with the Bills; and pretended both Sheep Luk 16. Ezek. 29. 3 and pasture, fold and flock, both Earth and the Rivers, were all their own, they were the true proprietors and Lords of all: securing themselves of force and violence, according to their own pleasure and fancies, and not according to the Order and Rule of the great KING, to govern with rigour, and severity, not to the great KINGS or Sheep's, but all to their own Glory, Profit, and advantage. Zeph. 3. Esay 46. And thus the Herdsmen, were turned into Lions, Wolves, Thiefs, and Murderers, building their Shepherd's houses with sin and unrighteousness; feeding and pampering themselves, all their aims and endeavours being set upon Covetousness and Rapine, and to make prey and havoc of the Sheep, none daring to control or demand them, what are ye doing? Amos 5. jer. 12. jam. 5. 1 King. 21. But by the wiles and plots of jesabel, Naboth was put to silence, nay to death, rather than that he should maintain the Right of the LORD, and of his Sheep; pretending he had blasphemed GOD and the KING. For their conceited, self-willed Ratio Status, or State Policy, and arrogated greatness, could not other wise endure it: what were Sovereignty and Royalty else, and what would become of the Reputation, if they should not have an absolute and arbitrary Power to rule and command as they listed. Mic. 2. Thus than they fell upon the poor Sheep, with all the fierceness and cruelties they could devise, not contenting themselves with the Wool and Milk, which they had alienated from the great LORD, but flayed off both skin and flesh together, and devoured it; nay they broke their very bones, and chope them in pieces as for the pot, Mic. 3. and held it no sin, for they would not know of any other Lord and Master: and the Vnder-keepers followed the same practice, so that the poor dismayed Sheep were fleeced and torn and devoured on all hands. At all this the lucre-tyed and belly-hired Babblers, not only winked, but they approved of it, saying, the Herdsmen might do it lawfully, none ought to gainsay it, but be ready at all times to yield and offer both Wool and Milk, nay body, life and all. They were the Herdsmen appointed by the great Monarch, to whom they would be responsible well enough; the same was a rich and gracious Lord; that would not deal so strictly with the Herdsmen, but easily pass by and pardon, what they had done either too much or too little; for he being a tender and merciful Master, and they also (the Babbless themselves) had absolute power and authority to astoile and absolve the Herdsmen of all such exorbitances, in the name and stead of the great KING himself. Therefore none should undertake to reprove or tax them, although they went not in the right paths, and were somewhat harsh and froward; they could not be so edict and precise under the weighty burden of leading and governing all the flock; and it were their duty also to entertain their State, Pomp and Magnificence, for the honour and renown of their great Master. Thus presumptuously they reposed themselves in all their wickedness, Mic. 3. Zach. 11. greediness and cruelties, upon the LORD GOD, holding themselves no ways guilty, or liable to judgement. These vanities and wilful courses, having prevailed thus fare, the Herdsmen that were appointed here and there, began to grudge and envy one another, and it vexed them still in their soul, when ever any saw another have a greater share of Honour, Treasure, Power, or larger folds and fatter pasture; then they sought to provoke one another to Warn, and every one to subdue and subjugate the other, either by cunning Plots, and practices, or by open force and violence. ●●●el. 16. And this was caused and advanced chief, by those hired and squeaking-frogs and babblers, who did likewise exercise their peculiar enmities, about their self-conceits, and the manifold Idols of their fond opinions, enticing and irritating their Masters, to Emulation, jealousies, Wrath, and implacableness; that every one must maintain his selfe-chosen Babblers and Idols and defend them to the utmost. Yet the Herdsmen were loath to hazard their own heads, to 2 King. 13. 29. go see one another, but they gathered together a great rabble of daring bloody Mastiffs, whom they had entertained before hand with the milk and flesh of the Sheep, together with a number of other fierce and cruel Hounds and ravening Wolves, and other wild beasts. These were not only to feed themselves together with and of the Sheep, to fleece and flay them at pleasure, that they might grow strong, and gay, and lusty by it, but besides they were to lead and hale on the Sheep in mighty droves-unto the shambles, or butcheries where they were barbarously set upon, hewed, hacked, and massiened, defeated, chased, disperied. And there was appointed players and Minstrels, Drums and Trumpets, that all the while the rage of this worrying and slaughter lasted, must fill the air with strong and cheerful noyles, that the horrid and woeful cry of the miserable Sheep might not be heard nor pitied? And the cunning perverse Babblers did not at all control or check this manifest and open thieving, robbing, murdering, but still endeavoured to maintain their own, and that Wars and jars had always been in the world. Ezek. 13. Now the Sheep had deserved no better; it was necessary these troubles should involve them, for as much as they (the Babblers) had been contemned, and not honoured as they deserved, nor rewarded sufficiently Mic. 3. with the Wool and Milk, and Flesh of the Sheep; the Herdsmen their Masters being so much straitened and abridged, of reaping their own fill from them. Now although these Herdsmen found, that by all this fleecing, sleying, worrying and slaughtering, their assumed state and condition, rather impaired than improved; yet did these wild natured beasts persuade them, they were but Dogs, Hogs and vermin, they ventured, and it little mattered for sheep to be shorn unto blood, discomfited, torn, scattered, lost, destroyed: Might the Herdsmen but remain Lords and Possessors of the fold and pastures, and by their blood hounds, and ravening Wolves, but maintain their liberties, to do and dispose of all things at their own pleasure, to their own glory, advantage and delight, they should no doubt get sheep enough again from other parts; though the Sow should run away and perish, no matter, as long as the sty & draught remained, others would come and be glad of the purchase: Better all the Sheep be lost and destroyed, than that the Shepherds suffer hazard, and forfeit their prerogative: for without such flaying and worrying, they would never be able to maintain their greatness, and self-willed rule and Dominion. The great KING now advertised, how his appointed Herdsmen abused their charge, and the Sheep likewise mightily groaning unto him for reliese, he forthwith sent his messengers unto them, and caused that great and woeful cry of the Sheep against their perverle and violent administration, to beset before their eyes, and the eyes likewise of their Babblers, flatterers and Idols, saying and upbraiding them, is not the earth mine, and neither yours, nor the Devils are Psal. 24. not the Sheep and flocks all mine, and none of your own? have not I set you to be Shepherds over my Sheep, that with all integrity of Psal. 50. Ier 27. Psal. 18. 71 72, 73. heart and faithfulness, you should lead and seed the same, as did my servant David, that the Sheep might grow fat and strong, and might reap much fruit by them, wherefore have ye laid my earth thus waste, and why have you so utterly forgotten the duty of your charge entrenching upon the Sheep's Propriety, and performing nothing of Dan. 7. Leu. 16: Wil 6. Rom. 13. Ezek. 34. all I have ordered and commanded you? Ought not the Shepherd's seed the Flock? why then do ye eat the fat and wear the Wool, but yet refuse to seed the Sheep, the weak ye tend not, the strayed ye gather not, the lost ye seek not, but with force and cruelty ye bear rule over them, and my Sheep are scattered as those that have no Shepherd, they go straying in the mountains, and are become a prey to the wild beasts, and none regard them. Why have you thus sucked up the blood of my Sheep, spilt their Ezek. 13. blood and lifted up your eyes to your Idols, whom ye do feed and entertain with the sweat and blood of my sheep: Why do ye thus go on still with flaying, murdering and devouring, and practise one oppression upon another, promising yourselves thus to make your possession firm? Know then that since ye did not seed my Sheep, but slaughtered & devoured them, and held it no transgression at all, thus to dispossess Mic. 2. them of what I had bestowed upon them; nay, joyed and gloryed in your hearts, that amongst you, ye sound out devices, how to enlarge your Treasure, and to increase your power and greatness by the destruction, and ruin of the sheep of my Fould. Therefore ye can henceforth be my Stewards or shepherds no jer. 23. longer, but I will visit you for your evil courses, and my sheep whom ye devoured, and abandoned to become the prey and food, both of your own, and other wild ranging beasts, whom you let in upon them, all these I will demand of your own hands, and make an utter end of you, taking the care of my Flock, upon myself; and I will seek them, as a true and faithful shepherd doth seek his own sheep, and will deliver them, and bring them bacl again, from all the places, where by your wilful, violent, and wicked courses they are scattered, but upon your right arm, and upon your right eye shall come the Sword; your arm shall be clean dried up, and your right eye Zac. 11. utterly darkened; and down ye must into the everlasting darkness until ye shall have paid the uttermost farthing, of all your Robberies and Worrying. Now therefore howl ye shepherds, cry out, and welter yourselves in dust and ashes, ye mighty of the Flock; for the time is jer. 25. jam. 5. come and at hand, that ye shall be slaughtered and scattered, and broken into shivers, like unto a precious vessel, and the shepherds shall not be able to escape, and the mighty ones over the Flock, shall not be able to save themselves; then they shall cry and howl, that the LORD hath laid waste their goodly pastures, and that their pleasant fields are made desolate before the fierce anger of the LORD GOD, he hath forsaken his Tabernacles like a young Lion, and thus their land is destroyed before the wrath of the Tyrant, and before his fiery indignation. He that hath ears to hear let him hear? A sound warning to all Temporal or Civil Govereours, and Officers in Christendom, HE that desireth to be a true and sincere Christian in this visible and transitory world, where the Kingdom of GOD or Gal. 1. & 4 1 joh. 5. 26 Eph 6. 10. TWO etc. Mat. 10 15. CHRIST, and that of the Devil are in continual combat one against another, the same doth mightily endanger his soul, and lays himself open to very strong temptations, if he be in any place or charge of temporal command or government. For the Devil, as the Prince and GOD of this world in darkness and vanity, doth continually shoot the spirit of Pride into joh. 14. 30. Eph. 1. 2, 3 Psal 73. Luk 22 31. man's heart and mind, enticing and drawing him on to haughtiness, covetousness, sensualities, and other works of darkness, and is so busy and restless about such charges and offices, that he giveth not over, till he hath grasped and seized on the governing, and governors of it; to the end, that as a GOD of this world he may by such Ministers and proper instruments of his, whose sense and reason are blinded by him, go on still to maintain and enlarge his kingdom 2 Cor. 4: jam. 4. of sin and darkness, and every way to weaken as much as in him lies, the Kingdom of GOD or Christ. And hence it is, that in his like-affected rule-itching Creatures, Psal. 55. 10. Io. 15. 18 19, 20. Phil. 3. 20. Psal. 101. he cannot endure any true and sincere Christian, in any offices together with him; knowing well that such a one hath the mind of Christ, and his conversation is in Heaven, and that in such a place and government, he is disposed and resolved to seek nothing but the Glory of GOD, together with the Temporal and Eternal weal and welfare of the subjects and underlings in trust, for whose sake and good, GOD hath ordained government. The Devil desireth and Wis. 6. Syr. 19 Mic. 7. 2, 3, 4. Ezek. 22. requireth no other, but such as are full of craft, worldly with and subtlety; such as in the greedy pursuit of their own glory, profit and preferment, are ready and dextrous to find out ways and means, how under a gay and glorious show and pretext, they may draw and squeeze out the sweat and blood of the poor, so to maintain their pride, glory, and Luxury: in all which courses, he dresseth and trimmeth them with the glozing garb of outward hypocrisy, Elay 5. Amos 1. 22 jer. 11. Compliments, and ceremonies; and in all their villainies, violences, cruelties, and oppressions of the poor, and other Sodomitical practices, he covereth them over with the Purple-robe of CHRIST'S most precious merit and satisfaction, that 2 Pet. 2. those Devills-clawes of theirs, may lie hid and undiscovered underneath. Therefore now, if it happen, that a true Christian do sit in any office or government together with such worldly wise, and wilelyones, Psal. 26. 4, 5, 9 10, 11, 12 Eph. 5. and if according to the power of the true living faith, and according to the testimony of his conscience, he doth not assent to, and side with unrighteousness, deceit, and other such like works of the flesh and darkness; neither is pleased with such violent and pernicious courses of government, nor will any way further or advance the same; but desireth and endeavoureth to do the Will of God in Christ, according to the Law and Testimony. The same is most sure, that the 1Cor, 1. 12 1 Cor. 6. 14 Psal. 35. 64 Amos 5. 10 jer. 20. 10. Psal. 78. 71 72. Devil, whose Kingdom suffers by this practice, will raise enemies & adversaries against him, and do his utmost still by slandering reports, and other snake-snbtle devises to entrap and sell and ruin him. It behooveth then a true Christian, to use great care and diligence in the discharge of such offices, and with most hearty and instant prayer, and a sincere and upright Christian conversation to strive and fight against the Devil, that setteth still so fiercely 2 Cor. 10: Psal. 140. Matth. 4. Heb 12. Eph. 6. upon him both without, by the grudges and enmities of his venomous fiends and instruments, and within by his restless temtations: so as never and no manner of ways to consent and yield unto any unrighteousness; fraud, deceit, destruction, or oppression of the poor, upon what pretext and show of reason whatsoever, yea, rather to quit and abandon the place and office, nay life itself, that he may keep his soul safe, and not engage and enslave the 1 Tim. 2. 25 same to Satan. But and if any such do find and discern in his heart and conscience and confess it also freely, that the affairs or actions which he is about, Rom. 2. 15. 1 Tim. 4. Eze 16 49 job. 24. or commanded to perform, do thwant and overthrow the glory of GOD, and the foundation of the true Faith, and of the love of our NEIGHBOUR; the poor being thereby grinded, distressed, and oppressed soul and body, and even forced likewise to stretch our their hands to unrighteousness, and overreaching Psal. 125. of their brethren; insomuch that being convinced of the heinousness thereof, by his own conscience, and the Word of GOD, is in a straight and perplexity about it: yet not withstanding all this, Rom. 2. 15. Mic. 7. 2, 3. 4. he goeth on to perform and execute the same things, for fear of offending those GOD-contrary, self will, mighty Grandees; or to maintain themselves in their grace and favour, and to avoid and shelter themselves from eminent danger, the same hath not the mind Tit. 1. 16. Num. 15. 30 of Christ, but is altogether worldly minded, denyeth the Faith, dishonoureth GOD in the power of his word and in his members, and walketh in the common and well beaten road, and high way of this world which leadeth into Perdition, for as much as he doth fear and Psal 58. Esay 5. Matth 7. Acts. 2. Cham 5. 19 Psal. 9 17. Rom. 6. john. 8. 34. Rom. 2. 23. Esa. 11. 15. Iud. 14. 2 Pet. 2. Rom 14 12 honour the Devil, in those his haughty and self mighty vassals more than GOD: forgetteth GOD and his Word in his heart and conscience, and by the practice of such works doth make himself a bondslave of Satan, and GOD the searcher of the heart takes no excuse here, admits of no subtle evasion, or putting it off on this or that, strait command, tyrannical threats or the like; much less will the outward ceremonial hypocrisy, in going to Church, confession, communion, avail or bail him: but in the day of judgement he must himself give account unto GOD, of whatsoever he hath presumptously done, and perpetrated against the Dictates and warning of his own conscience. And there is no Prince nor Potentate whatsoever shall dare, or will be able to shield or protect him, against the severe and heavy justice and judgement of GOD, Psal. 49. Psal. 146. For every one both higher and under-governor shall be judged according to the bottom of their hearts, and according to the works 2 Cor. 15. 10. Rom. 14 12 Col 5. 24. Rev. 2. 23. issued and streamed forth from thence, which are written and engraven upon their souls, and follow them for ever: for having not served God and his neighbour, according as the office of the ordinance of God required it, but the Devil, who is unrighteousness itself; therefore also have his servants, himself for their reward; as on the contrary jer. 17. 1. Rev. 14 those faithful servants of GOD, that for truth righteousness like, and for the love of their neighbour resisted the Kingdom of the Devil in deed and in truth, to the hazard and loss of Liberty, estate, and life itself, shall have GOD himself for their great Reward and Praise, and Glory, and they shall see how the wicked shall be recompensed, and their violence returned and poured out with vengeance upon their own heads. Psal. 68 Syr. 14. 17, 18. Every one therefore search his own conscience, and forsake the Kingdom of Satan, lest his soul be ensnared with everlasting darkness, for the time of judgement is near at hand, 1 Cor. 13. 5. Wis 6 O LORD! who shall d well in the Hill of thy Holiness? He that doth no evil to his neighbour; in whose eyes a vile person is contemned; He that honoureth them that fear the LORD. Psal. 15. A discovery how Christ is driven out of his Temple, and he abomination of desolation set up in the holy pl●ce, both by the old and new Popes, written in the year, 1629. DAN 9 ver. 27. BY the wings there shall stand abomination of desolation, and it is determined, that it shall distil down over the desolation unto the end. CHRIST, The light of life and Throne of mercy, is ever present 1 john 1. Rom: 3. Matth. 28: Ephes. 4. with his People unto the end of the world, and hath power both in Heaven and on earth as a KING and head of his Church. But when by the works of darkness and unrighteousness, he is driven out of his spiritual Temple, viz. out of the Soul of man; and an abomination of desolation set up there by the deceit of the false Prophets, than Antichrist prevaileth, and is powerful in the same. Of this Abomination Custerus the Papist writeth his Enchiridium in manner as followeth. O what a great mercy of God is it upon the Christians, worthy to be compared with his greatest benefits, that here on earth there is one The man of sin. 2 Thes. 2. sinful man like unto ourselus, whom God for our sakes hath ordained to be the witness of his truth, the interpreter of his mind, and the teacher of the Christian people; Whose tongue he so moveth that it deceives not; whose speech he so guideth, that it teacheth no error, whose pen he so governeth that it destroyeth heresies. And all this not indeed for that Man's; or Persons sake; who may happen to be wicked, vicious, and altogether unworthy, but for the Elects sake, to whom GOD doth vouchsafe his mercy, for all things, saith the Apostle, are to be done for the Elects sake. 2 Tim. 2. 10. We grant indeed that it may come to pass, an Heir and successors of Peter's Chair to be a worshipper of Idols, to have no sound esteem or opinion of the Faith; nay to give himself over to Diabolical Arts altogether. But as these are that man's own peculiar or personal vices, so they clearly testify unto us, the goodness of God, who doth convey his gifts and graces unto us by such stinking rotten conduits, having no other aim, but that we may receive good by it, let the conduit otherwise (whereby we receive it) be affected and disposed, as it will. Thus far Costerus the Papist. And do not the new Popelings and young Antechrists vaunt the 2 Tim. 3. self same thing of themselves, and their pretended office and Authority? for albeit they know nothing inwardly in their hearts, of Christ the covenant of the new Testament, that living Law in his members 1 john. 4. Heb. 10. Col 1. 4. Eph. 2. according to which the true believers are united togetherin the spirit by the bond of peace; But do rather according to the course of this world and according to the Prince of the Power of the Air, viz. according to the spirit that now hath his work in the children of unbelief, lead their conversation in the lusts of the flesh and carnal reason, freely acknowledging that they do not prove examples to the Flock, and not being able to say with Paul, be ye followers of me, even 1 Pet. 5. 3, 1 Cor. 11. Phil. 3. 2 Pet 2. 2 Thes. 2. as I also am of Christ; yet nevertheless, they cease not to brag with swelling words, and cunning terms, how they do and perform all things in the name and stead of Christ, by whom they were sent and appointed as Angels and Messengers; what they speak and propound must be the Word of God, and be esteemed as Oracles from heaven; that by them, though never so sinful men, and unclean vessels, Psal. 12. God is pleased to teach and feed the souls, to pardon their sins, & to impart the holy Ghost, and all manner of spiritual blessings: pretending God deals no more now, as in former times: the heavens are shut up now, since Christ's ascending to heaven, and God doth instruct and govern and assoil them now by them, and that therefore we ought to repair and address ourselves to them, making men believe; that as the next and principal offices and attendants of a Prince are able to prefer a poor man's petition, and procure a gracious and fruitful hearing; wherefore they are deservedly honoured and rewarded; so they are the next and mightiest Ministers, nay Means with God, able to prefer and redress the cause of poor sinners: to the therefore they should have their recourse for help and assistance; and by reason thereof yield unto them all honour & deserved recompense But these new Popelings do complain, where are the men nowadays, Mic. 3. Luther in his Postill over the Epistle on the 2 Sunday after Epiphany fol. 70. that seek unto, honour and reward us for all this? There is none comes any more to show himself to the Priests, as Christ commanded. But we are rather despised, therefore also are the times so bad, and all these WARS are come upon us. Behold, dear friends, these are the new papistical Idol-Intercessors, and Saviour's, which men did burden themselves withal, like unto Micha, Jeroboam, and others, which do not enter into the Fould by Christ, but justify themselves before men, & are eminent among them 2 Tim. 4. Luk. 16. Phil. 3. as standing in God's stead, though indeed abominable in his sight being altogether earthly minded, serving their Bellies, and being lead away captive, like unto the Children of this world under the power of darkness, to perform the will of the flesh and carnal Reason. john. 10. Acts. 10. Now although Christ the Archshepheard never sent such withered branches and members of Satan into his Church, they being indeed but Wolves; and coming only to rob and worry souls, yet the world doth love and dote on them, as their Idols, and the children of this world are grown wrath for their sakes, and to defend and maintain these Idols of theirs, thereby destroying the land and butchering the poor and guiltless sheep without remorse or pity. Revel. 11. Zac. 11 Ezek. 13. Let them, I pray, go now, make themselves a wall and stand in the gap, that God proceed no further with his judgements, but draw back his wrath and smarting rod over Germany, that so it may appear, whether they do know God and be sent by him indeed. Ah Germany! thy Prophets are like Foxes, they go not up into the Gaps, they do not make themselves a fence about the house of Israel, they stand not in the battle in the day of the Lord; they brag much indeed, and take great pains to maintain their own; comfort the people in their adversity, by saying peace, peace, here is Christ, here he is in the Church; such evils will not betid us. But alas poor Germany Esay 3. Col. 2. 1 john ● thy Comforters have beguiled thee, and confounded the way, wherein thou shouldest walk. They have persuaded thee, to banish Christ the light of life, wherein thou shouldst have walked, out of the Temple of thy heart, & to entertain there those Antichristian abominations, which thou dost cleave unto. Thus they have brought thee jer. 38. unto the mire, and there they leave thee helpless, and hopeless. But now, in what account these daubbers and pillow-makers are Ezek. 15. with GOD; how they have taken Bribes, cleared and absolved all Thiefs, and swearers according to the long and large roll of their Zac. 5. constitutions, conclusions, and Idol-writings; strengthened the hands of the wicked, and gathered the Kings of the earth together into Rev. 16. the Battle, adjudging thereby to death the souls that should have lived: and profaning GOD in his People, only for their bellies sake, Esay 48. 11 all this God now brings forth to light, and suffers it to light on the house of him that stealeth, and on the house of him that swears falsely by his name, and boasts of Christ. Ezek. 13. For a stormy wind of GOD'S fury draweth on upon them, and overflowing showers of his anger, and great hailstones in fury, bring it down to the ground, that the very foundations therefore discovered. Lo these are thy Prophets that preach peace unto thee, when there is no peace, comforting the people in their carnal courses, to entrap the souls both of old and young, and promising life and Salvation unto them, that so they may hang and depend on such Idols, and Mediators, and forsake Christ the living spring of the water of life. Ezek. 34. Therefore now, God will take himself the care of his Floeks, and deliver his People from such Idols and their shepherds, that the Glory of his name shall no longer be polluted, and that the poor fully sheep may be rescued from the dangers they are in thralled with all, both in soul and body. FINIS.