RELIGIONS lottery, OR THE church's Amazement. Wherein is declared how many sorts of Religions there is crept into the very bowels of this kingdom, striving to shake the whole foundation and to destroy both Church and Kingdom. Namely these 16. hereafter mentioned. 1 Papists 2 Arians 3 Arminians 4 Canonists 5 atheists 6 Adamites 7 Familists 8 Anabaptists 9 Lutherans 10 Separatists 11 Brownists 12 Puritans 13 novelists 14 Time-servers 15 Rattle-heads 16 roundheads. Whereunto is annexed each of their several opinions, with sufficient Arguments to confute each opinion, and to prove them Enemies to the peace of the Church and kingdom. London, Printed by T. F. for F. S. July 20, 1642. Religion's Lottery, OR, The church's Amazement. THe first that I shall begin with in this discourse is the atheist, he being indeed the worst of all creatures, as in this his definition may plainly appear. Atheist. An atheist is one that believes that there is no God, only ascribes all things to the power of chance and fortune, he looks only upon the natural things of the world, not dreaming of any other Deity. Answ.. To confute this Argument, I will use but only this one Testimony, The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament showeth the work of his hands, psalm 19 verse 1. Papist. The Papists among us are a people who would have a Church consisting of Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Deacons, Jesuits, friars, &c. independent to the Crown or civil Magistrate, he will acknowledge no High Priest but the Pope, from whom he expects remission of fins and absolution. Answ. To confute this opinion of the Papists, I shall only use this Argument to prove that there is no High Priest but Christ Jesus, you may read in the 7. chap. of the Hebrews, at the 17. 23, 24, 25. verses, &c. The Lord testifies of Christ's saying, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchesideck. Likewise they have many Popes and many High Priests, because they are not suffered to continue by reason of death, but our High Priest, because he continueth for over hath an unchangeable priesthood. Arians. The Arians among us are people that would maintain the mosaical Law, with the same levitical Ceremonies. Protestants Answer. The Old Law was abolished by the new Testament, Even as by the first man Adam, all men was made sinners, so by the second man Christ Jesus, all men becamè heirs unto Salvation. Arminians. The Arminians among us are a people which would have the Church governed by archbishops, Bishops, they are half Papists and half Protestants, they would have Altars, Cushions, Wax-Candles, with the first and latter Service, one at the desk, the other at the Altar, with many other superfluous Ceremonies. Protestants Answer. Either that these Ceremonies may be lawful or no i will not question, but i am sure they are not effectual to Salvation, but rather a rock of offence at which may stumble; Therefore they ought to be abandoned, for whosoever so sinneth against his Brother and woundeth his weak conscience, sinneth against Christ, Cor. 1. 12. Adamites. The Adamites are a people which would live under no command of Magistrate or Church, they would be mere Libertines and live as they list, following that place of Scripture, Increase and multiply, and in their society they are so overcome with the flesh that they cannot pray. Protestants Answer. That this opinion is grounded on a vain and fruitless foundation may be easily discerned, for St. Paul tells us in his Epistle to the Galatians, chap. 5. ver. 13. this Lesson; For Brethren though you have been called unto liberty, yet use not your liberty for an occasion to the Flesh, but by love serve one another. Familists. The Familists would have no Bishops nor governors in the Church, but all things common, as wife, children, goods, &c. and that no punishment should be inflicted on offenders, but only to pray for them and leave them to God's mercy. Protestants Answer. To confute these, I will use no other Argument but the word in the Commination, Cursed is he that lies with his neighbour's Wife. Anabaptiss. The Anabaptist would have no Government at all in the Church, neither would they have any baptised, but such as are of age, and they pray more for such a Church then for grace or faith. Protestants Answer. You may read that Christ rebuked his Disciples, saying; Suffer little Children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God, and if Children be Saints in the Church triumphant, it cannot be denied, but that it is lawful by baptism to be made Members of the Church Militant. Novelists. novelists are those that change in their opinions oftener than the fashion, sometime they are Papists, sometime Puritans, they are never constant in one thing, but always wavering like a Read shaken with the wind. Protestants Answer. To these I will only give a Christian like admonition, Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith prove your own selves, know you not that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates, Cor. 13. 5. Time-servers. time-servers are always of the strongest side, they commend no description but what they are like to have, they are like Virgins wax capable of any impression, Bishops or no Bishops, what the Parliament shall please to ordain that they will follow, and till then they are of all Religions, or as I may justly say of no Religion. The Protestants Answ.. To these I will likewise bestow a friendly admonition, make your Election sure, beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain receipt after the tradition of men and not after Christ, for in him dwelleth all fullness of grace, Colosians, 2. 8. Ca●onists. The Canonists desire the government of Bishops still to abide, because they stand upon Canon Law, likewise they stand for all canonical Ceremonies. Answ. I need quote no Scripture to prove this opinion unlawful, the Report strikes terror through the whose kingdom, only I desire that all the Canons betwixt this and Canterbury, may be sent to the Tower, where they shall meet with a little Canonere that will make them fly with a powder. Lutherans. The Lutheran would have no Bishops, but a Church government under the King, they would have all Ordinances agreeable to the Ordinances of the Primitive Church. Protestants Answer. That there was in the time of the Apostles Bishops, and that some of them were Bishops is apparently manifest, and that the Office of a Bishop is allowed of by St. Paul, you may find in the third of Tim, ver. the 1. This is a true saying, 〈◊〉 a man desire the Office of a Bishop he desireth a good work. Separatists. The Separatists are men that would have no Bishops but Elders, ecclesiastical and Layicke. Prot. Answ.. That the government of the Church especially in teaching do no way belong to laymen, is made apparent in these words; Having then gifts, differing, according to the grace that is given as, whether prophecy let us prophesy according to our proportion of faith, that is, every one must labour diligently in the calling in which he is placed, Rom. 12. 6. Brownists. The Brownist would have no commonprayer, only extemporary Prayer, by the motion of the Spirit. Answ. Their opinion is not much different from the Separatists, and may easily be confuted by the same Argument. Puritans. The Puritan is the most commendable of all the rest, for he would have a Religion for which he hath a precedent, to wit, the kirk of Scotland. Prot. Answer, To which opinion I can say little, only I conceive, that the difference in the Ordinance altars not the effect, since in the fundamentáls we do perfectly agree, Rattle-heads. The Rattle heads are a company of shallow-pate hare-brained shittle witted coxcombs, that neither regard Law not Religion, they regard nothing but to make mischief, build Castles in the air, hatch Stratagems, invent Projects, and do mischief with dexterity, and after fly for it. Answ. To thief I have little to say, only I wish that they had more grace, so leaving them to the prick of conscience▪ and the lash of a Beadles whip▪ I rest. Roundheads. The roundheads are people that would have the Church and Service orderly performed, but yet they are the chief ringleaders to all tùmultuous disorders, they call the Common Prayer Porridge, and they will allow no Doctrine for good, nor no Minister a quiet audience, without he preach absolute damnation. Protestants Answer. To these men that are disturbers of the Church I say with St. Paul, Corinthians, 13, 17. If any man d●stroy the Temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the Temple of God is Holy. Thus having finished my intended course I rest. Praying to God the Author of true peace, That truth may flourish and dissension cease. FINIS.