An Antidote against the Contagious Air of INDEPENDENCY.
For this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul, And I of Apollo, And I of Cephas, And I of Christ.
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? &c.
IT was not without cause, that Solomon the wisest King that ever breathed upon earth, cryed out in the beginning of the book of his Recantation, Eccles. 1.2. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, &c. For surely, if any that have seen the former happinesse of this Kingdom, should behold the miseries of it at this present, they might with Solomon, bewail the vicietude of all temporall things; if they took into consideration the sudden change that is befallen to this Kingdom in so short a time; for it is fallen from the highest flood of prosperity, to the lowest ebbe of desolation; and not by the incursions of foraign Nations, but by its own children, that have (like yong Vipers) ripp'd up the womb of their Mother, to imbrue their hands in their own blood, with lesse remorse and humanity, then barbarous heathen; for Tacitus, lib. 2. chap. 8 Tacitus records, that one Brother [Page 4] having slain his Brother unawares in the Battell of Bedriac (that was fought between the Commanders of the Emperor Otho, and the Commanders of the Emperor Vitellius) killed himself upon his Brothers body, for grief that he had been so unfortunate, as to slay him, that he was bound by nature to love dearly. And Guichardin records, That Robert Earl de la Marke loved so dearly his two sons the Barons of Floranges and Jamets, that having broken through the Battell of See Guichardin History, in the Battell of Novare. Novare, and made a worthy retreat with his own Regiment, in despight of the victorious Enemy; hearing (when he was past all danger) that his two sons lay among the dead in the midst of the field, returned, and in despite of all opposition, recovered their bodies, and brought them away upon his horse, and by this extraordinary valour saved both their lives, notwithstanding they were then speechlesse, and mortally wounded, But alas, we are so desperately wicked, and void of all humanity and naturall affection, in this Intestine War of ours, that divers Gentlemen, of both parties, have looked upon their nearest Kinsmen that were wallowing in their own blood, in the Battell of Keynton, without offering them their ayd, nor casting a sigh of compassion for them: Nay, some have been so cruell, and deprived of all naturall affection, that they and their Abettors have ridden twenty miles in a dark night to surprise their Father, Uncle, or Brother, for to carry them away to their own Garrison, to wring out of their hands some considerable Ransom, which being refused, they have, like Iob 1.17. Caldeans, deprived them in another night, of all their cattell and means, and reduced them (that were Knights fellows) into Jobs case, without any [Page 5] compassiō or reluctation. Its no wonder therfore, if our miseries do rather increase, then draw neer to a period, since our cruelties, inhumanities, and oppressions, are not to be paraleld in any History. But that which doth most of all increase the wrath of God against us, is, that some of our Clergy-men, that should, like Exo. 32.10, 11, 12. Moses, stand in the gap to appease the Lords anger, are they, that inflame the same, by the contentions and Schisms they foment in the Church of God, about the establishing of a new way of Church-Government, which they have brought from Holland or America, (where they were constrained to flye, by the over-rigorous courses of the Prelacy;) having been infected with this contagious air, by sojourning in those parts among Sectaries; so that, thinking by flight to avoid a Rock, they have cast themselves upon a quick-sand, that may if God in his mercy prevent it not, conduce their Souls to greater danger then their Bodies were, during the persecution of the Archbishop Land. It is therefore necessary that Christians should be very circumspect where they flie, because the contagious Air of a perverse generation is apt to be infused insensibly into their hearts; for the sojourning of righteous Lot among the Sodomites, did in some sort taint his noble disposition, otherwise he had not proffered his two daughters to the desperate lust of the Sodomites, to preserve the two Angels from Gen. 19.8. violence, that the Rites of Hospitality might not be wronged; And the aboad of his two daughters amongst that impious Generation, taught them to drown the Gen. 19.32. continency of their Father in the Wine of Drunkennesse, that hee might not abhor their incestuous imbracements, which he had undoubtedly detested, if the light [Page 6] of his reason had not been over-clouded with the vapours of the Vine. And the Gen. 42.15, 16 long aboad of the most continent of men, chaste Joseph, amongst the Egyptians, bred in him that vicious habit, to swear by the lift of Pharaoh, &c. Even so, they having been infected with this contagious Air of Independency, oppose as much as in them lyeth, the Presbyteriall-Government; notwithstanding it is approved of by the Word of God, the practice of the Apostles, and of all the Primitive Churches, And endeavour to bring in this new revealed way, that hath no president but the practice of some private Congregations of Separatists that are in Holland and America, which is as good as nothing at all; as it shall appear in the Reasons following. Now because I conceive these Schisms and Spirituall Divisions do as much, or rather more retard the true Reformation in hand, then our Civil Divisions; I conceive my self obliged by the rule of Christian Charity, to exhort in the name of God, and for CHRIST JESUS sake, all such Independents, that have rent in pieces the Mysticall body of our Saviour; by gathering to themselves private Congregations, and by a kinde of Mercenary way, robbed divers of their brethren of the Ministery, of some of the fattest sheep of their flocks; to give over this destructive way; for did they know the irrepairable breaches, they make by it in the Church of God, I am perswaded they would suddenly forsake the same, for the advancement of Gods glory, and their own safety (which ought to be dearer to them then their lives, and all other respects whatsoever) which is much impaired and indangered, by this their separation from the Church; intreating all those [Page 7] to whom this Antidote shall come to hand, to excuse; if I write freely what I conceive of their way, and relate what I heare other men say of it, since the Lord is my witnesse, that it is not out of spleen or malice that I bear against any of them; but meerly out of zeal to advance Gods glory, and for their own safety, that is much impaired by it, as I have said before; that such gifts that the Lord hath bestowed upon divers of them (which their disciples would have men to esteem rare and extraordinary) may be imployed to increase the Kingdom of Christ, and not Satans, nor to foment Divisions between them that should remember, that Unity is their duty, as saith I. P. very judiciously, of whose opinion I am in this first case, that in controversies men are to be milde in expressions; but whether he be of my opinion in this second case I know not; viz. that men are bound to speake ingeniously what they know, and conceive to be true and profitable for the advancement of Gods glory, and our brethrens good; whether it be pleasanr or distastfull unto them: And as I say, so will I write in the following Reasons.
I.
THeir new way must needs by all ingenious spirits be Reas. 1 acknowledged in this time of war, and civil dissentions, inconvenient to be pressed or required; for these reasons, 1. Because an intestine war is a breeder of contention; and their new way is rather a fomentor, then a pacifier of divisions; for none will deny that one body with an absolute head, will more easily be kept in unity and concord, then many [Page 8] thousand bodies that have every one of them ahead that is absolute, and hath neither reference, nor Dependency with any other authority, but of his own body: 2. Because we should by it, be divided from that union that we have contracted; and have taken a Solemn Oath to maintain with our brethren the Scots; which would divide us and them into so many small channels, that the River of our Forces would be fordable every where; and these two Kingdoms exposed to the cruell mercy of our enemies: 3. Because we should as the French Proverb saith, Fall from a Quotidian to a burning Feaver; and for our Hierarchy of Prelates, that hath with much ado been supported; we should establish 9324. that would like so many Caterpillars devour the substance or every green thing of the Land, Exo. 10.5. and suck more blood of the Common people in one year, then the Star-Chamber, the High-Commission Court, the Arches, or all the Bishops Courts could do in six; although their hunger was insatiable.
II.
Reas. 2 NO man, except he be blinded, or over-swayd with partiality, will deny, that this new way is altogether incompatible, and the greatest Antagonist that can be to the Royall, to the Parliamentall, and their subordinate Authority: But because this point hath been so clearly proved by Master Pryn, I will passe it over, for it would seem presumption in mee, to adde any thing to that he hath already delivered concerning the same.
III.
THis new way hath no warrant out of the word of God; for we are not to seperate our selves from the Church, but upon palpable errors, that are crept, or wilfully maintained (as they are in the Church of Rome) against the Analogie of Faith, and the true Orthodox Doctrine of the best Reformed Churches of Christendom: But for men to gather secret congregations, and rent in pieces, as some Independants do, the Mysticall Body of Christ; I say some, for they do not all seperate themselves from the Church, nor fall into that sin of offence, Matth. 18.6. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones, which beleeveth in me, it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea. Vnder colour, that their consciences are so tender, that they cannot receive the Communion in a mixt congregation without offence: But these men can stumble at a straw, and lep over a block; for in this case their consciences are offended without cause; and when they commit a great sin, and tear in pieces the Mysticall body of our blessed Saviour; they are not offended at all, so this seems a Paradox to me, are one of the equivocations they have learned from the Roman Jesuits; that is rather a signe of a seared conscience, then of a tender conscience: Because it is impossible for them to obtain (should they seperate every mouth) and change their private congregations; one so pure as to be free from all Hypocrites, Profane, or ill prepared receivers; for of four men that entred into the Ark, by the Commandment of God, one of them was an Atheist, and See Gen. 7.7 & 9.22. Ham the son of Noah. wicked hypocrite: And amongst our blessed Redeemers [Page 10] twelve Apostles; Mat. 26.20, 26, 27.28. Judas, the son of perdition was one of the twelve: what probability is there then that the private Congregations of the Independants can be free from all unworthy Communicants; for if we grant they may be freed from notorious sinners; yet they dare not affirme they are free of hypocrites, that are more odious to God and men then open sinners: Now if they conceive that the sin of an impenitent receiver is transferred to them, if they receive the Communion with him; they are of necessity as much polluted by the company of Hypocrites, as by the company of known sinners: But it is certain that the guilt of an impenitent receiver is not transferred upon the well prepared receiver, Ezek. 18.19, 20. for if it were, Gods promises were in vaine, and to think so were blasphemy: Notwithstanding whatsoever I have said, or shall say concerning this point, it is not to excuse the carelesnesse of the Pastors or Elders that admit notorious sinners to so blessed a Sacrament, for they cannot be too precise to examine such as they suspect to be of scandalous life, or to refuse them the admittance, untill they give to the world clear evidence of their conversion, and amendment of life: But it is to shew that such are to blame, that doth seperate themselves from their Parish Congregations, because some few known sinners are admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper by the carelesnesse of the Pastors, Church-Wardens, or Elders of their Parish, and specially now the honourable Houses have taken order that this abuse should be redressed, and diligently amended; for as I have said before, they have no warrant out of the word of God to seperate themselves upon such sandy grounds; because [Page 11] Christ the fountain of all wisdom and purity, had not admitted to his own table, that very night that he instituted that blessed Sacrament to his disciples, Judas, that he knew then to be a thiefe, and was to be presently after the most perfidious Traitor that ever breathed upon earth, if separation had been so necessary to be observed. Moreover, although the Church of the Corinthians was polluted with such an incestuous person, as was not so much as named among the Gentiles, yet we do not read that the Saints of that Church did seperate their selves, but only excommunicated him for a time, according to Saint Pauls direction; that the Spirit might be 1 Cor. 5.1.5. saved in the day of the Lord Jesus, &c. Neither do we read of any separation of the Saints in the seven primitive Churches of Asia, although there were divers among them infected with the erronious opinions of the Balaamites and of the Rev. 2.14.15. Nicholaitans, &c. I do not deny but the true children of God are to seperate themselves from the company, frequentation, and familiarity of all profane men, and notorious sinners, because they are as the Prophet Jeremiah saith, to take forth the precious from the vile, Ier. 15.19. that they may be as the mouth of God, &c. But this separation is a peculiar separation, and not a Publike or a generall separation of the Church; this confirmes the first point that I have spoken of, that there is nothing more dangerous for a Christian to inhabit, or to be familliarly acquainted or conversant with Sectaries, profane, Licentious, and impious men; for as it is impossible for us to handle pitch, without our hands be stained and besmeared with it; even so it is impossible to converse with the wicked, without we be in time accessary [Page 12] to some one or other of their wicked actions; and the like to converse familiarly, or to go constantly to bear the Independants Sermons, without one be tainted with the contagious air of their Positions.
IV.
THis New-way, and the Separation of Independants from their Parish-Churches, is an incouragement to all the Separatists, Brownists, Anabaptists, Antinomians, Socinians and Libertines, that are in and about the City; for they shelter themselves under their name; and when they are taken in their Conventicles, by some of the publique Officers, and inforced to answer for themselves, they affirm to be Independants, to cover their Heresies, it being an ordinary thing among the wicked, to disguise themselves under the name of such, that are reputed to bee more sincere then themselves; for although the Independants gather congregations, and separate themselves from their Parish congregations, as the Sectaries do; yet they ar [...] for the greater part sound in Doctrine, and dissent from us onely in Discipline; but the Sectaries are Erroneous both in Doctrine and Discipline, and draw daily upon our heads, the just judgement of God, because we connive at their Errors, and suffer them to infect the simple people with their contagious Tenents. Now these disguisements and fallacies of the Sectaries, should in my opinion induce the Independants to a holy indignation, and detest to be any longer the harbour of such Vermine, or the President or Patron of their Separation from the Church of God; for if they are demanded why they dismember themselves; their answer is, That [Page 13] the greatest Precisians in the Kingdom have taught them the way. And surely, if it were unlawfull (say they) such Learned and Religious Men as they are, would not be example of offence and of evil to others; and by this means are a stumbling block to them, and the cause that the wicked are hardened in the wayes of Errour and Impiety.
V.
THis revealed Discipline i [...] inferior to the Presbyteriall-Government; in this point, That the effects of the Issue is uncertain; whereas the Presbyteriall is approved, by the happy successe it hath had for many yeers in Switzerland, France, Holland and Scotland. But this is a meer Novelty, that may be compared to the projects of some yong Mathematician drawn upon paper, that promise much, but when they are to be put in practise, are ordinarily of no use at all. Or like to some of our Engineer Models, that seem to promise in a small form, divers rare effects; As for the elevation of Water above her naturall spring; which seems a thing impossible, according to humane reason: Or to raise a piece of Timber, or a great stone of a thousand weight from the ground to the top of a structure, with a small Engine that may be carryed in a mans hand. But when by the proofs of these small Modells, they have with much ado induced an undertaker to have them made in great, with extraordinary charges, there is not one among a hundred, when they are set up, that prove to be successfull, because some Spring, Wheel, or Counterpoise, is either too weake, too small, or too light to indure [Page 14] the violent motion of it, whereby it is presently rent in pieces, and the charges of the credulous undertaker cast away: even so it would fall out with this new revealed way, if our supreame Magistrates were so credulous, as to trie the operation of it: (the which the Lord prevent,) for although it might be effectuall in some small congregations, in Holland, or some small Boroughs in America; yet it would certainly be destructive to this populous Kingdom, and would prove like Platos Common-weale, beautifull in conceits and imaginations; but altogether unusefull, and as impossible to be put in practise among us, as that was among the Athenians.
VI.
THis new way would rather increase our divisions and miseries, then lessen them; for of all sorts of governments: whether they be civill or Ecclesiasticall, a Democraticall forme is most apt to foment and breed divisions and contentions, witnesse the Democraticall Common-weales of the Athenians, Aetolians, and Achaians, that were of small continuance, and alwayes tossed up and down with Civill contentions, Thusides History. as the rowling billows of a tempestuous sea, and fell sundry times under the yoke of Tyrants. Now if this new way should take place, and every Pastor with his Elders to be absolute over their congregation, we should (as the French proverb saith) fall from a Quotidian to a burning Feaver; and for one Hierarchy of Prelates, raise 9324. of Independants (as I said before) for there are so many Parishes in this Kingdom; and they cannot conveniently be reduced in a lesser number of congregations. [Page 15] Now what Unity can be expected among so many Law-lesse men; whose actions and doctrine are not to be controuled by any civill or Ecclesiasticall Authority: I leave it to the consideration of the Reader; for if great Princes that are of a more noble education, and of a more ingenious inclination, are subject to become Tyrants, when they feare neither Lawes nor men, as Tacitus the great Politician Records of the Emperor Tiberius, and of the Emperour Nero; what may be expected of meaner men; Tacitus. Tiberius saith he, kept himself in a kinde of moderation as long as Livia his mother lived, and so did Nero all the life time of his mother Agrippina, but as soon as Livia died of her, naturall death; and that Agrippina was made away by her impious son: they both give themselves over to commit before the sun all manner impiety; which they committed before secretly, for feare to displease, or grieve their mothers: It is therefore the Lawes, and the respect of Magistrates, that curbeth the pernitious inclination of men: But if this new way should take place; what Impiety would not be committed, or what Heresies would not be invented, to please the palat of their Auditors, for to increase the number of their congregations, and the revenew of their contributions, or out of ambition, to be reputed more precise and singular then their brethren or neighbor Iud. 17.5. Pastors, upō which would insue unheard of divisions, contentions, and confusions, as it fell out in the time of Micah, when there was no King in Israel.
As long as Iehojada lived, Joash King of Judah feared the Lord, but as soon as he was dead, he gave himself over to Idolatry, and Impiety, for he caused [Page 16] Zacharias 2 Chr. 24.20. the Son of Iehoiada, that had raised him to the Crown, most cruelly and ingratefully to be stoned to death, because he admonished him to returne unto the Lord. And shall we hope better of men of lower degree, that are risen from nothing to ride on Eccl [...]s. 1 [...].7. Horse-back, when their Master walkes a foot, have we forgotten rhe Proverb, Set a begger on horseback and he will, &c. No surely, but rather worse; for there never was two such insulting Prelates in the Christian world, as Card: Woolsey, and William Laud Arch Bishop of Canterbury; and yet the first was but a Butchers Son, and the second a poore Cloathworkers Son; the first durst presume to name himselfe before his King, and the second to controul his Prince; reforme the Royall Oath, and insult over the supream Court of this Kingdom. Even so, if this new way should take place, we should have many thousand petty Tyrants, domineering over their Congregations, as the last Arch-bishop did in the Star-chamber, and the High Commission Court, and as many Religions as Pastors; for every one of them would frame a Religion after their owne Idea. But the Presbyterian Discipline is a medium way between Hierarchy, and a Democraticall Government; much like to the Civill Government of the Venetians, that hath continued this twelve hundred yeare, and so may this continue to the last day, because it is free from all extreames, which in all Discipline are dangerous. But the Kingdome being divided into twelve Classis, and every Classis having six Reverend Divines, appointed to call twice a yeare all the Pastors that shall be under their Iurisdiction before them, and to examine and determine [Page 17] of all Cases as well for Doctrine, Discipline, and misdemeanour in life and conversation; And these twelve Classis to be called once a yeare to a Nationall Synod, for to judge of the Appeals, and of the greater affaires of the Church. This medium way I say, is able to suppresse all Schismes and Divisions, and to keepe the Clergy in that purity of Doctrine and Discipline, as is beseeming the true Ministers of God. These Reasons then should in my opinion induce the Independants to re-unite themselves with the Church of God, to abhorre all separation, and to disdaine to shelter any longer the Sectaries that live in and about this City; but rather to endeavour to convince them of their errours by the sword of the Spirit: But if they will desperately remaine obstinate, then to lend their helping hand to their Brethren of the Ministery, to remove them from hence, that they may not draw any longer the Iudgements of God upon this Nation, as they have done for conniving at them, which kind of halting between two opinions is most odious to God; for it is impossible to serve God and Mammon: And in so doing, they will vindicate themselves of these six imputations following, which are daily cast upon them, which otherwise will confirme this opinion in the common people, that there is seldome any smoake without fire.
I.
THat they are as like the Roman Jesuits in their Principles, Method, Insinuations, 6. Paralells. Equivocations and Fallacies; as two Paralell-lines are like one another.
II.
As the Jesuits will not charge themselves with any parish cures, but desire rather to instruct Schollers in the liberall Arts; preach Funerall Sermons all the Lent long: even so our Independents shun all parish cures, and endeavour to obtain as many Legative Lectures as they can, for to avoid the extraordinary pains that parish cures require, and in lieu of Schollers, they gather to themselves as many Disciples as they can, and of them they frame privat congregations, of which they require a Covenant, for to contribute to the necessities of their Pastors; and an oath or promise to follow him wheresoever he is inforced to flee; whether it be in Holland or in America; and so by these Lectures, that are the most certain rents to men and punctually paid of any; and the contributions of their private congregations, their yeerly revenew doth excell the yeerly coming in of the best parish Cures.
III.
The Jesuits intice all the ingenious spirits of a County to their Schools, and allure thither the eldest sons of the richest Families living about them; whereby they insinuate themselves [Page 19] in the affections of their Parents, which leave them great Legacies at their decease; so that in few yeers, they get the greatest part of the free-land, seated neer unto their Colledges; and if the Magistrates in Romayne and in the state of the Venetians had not by an Edict prevented their wiles, they had in a short time incroached the greater part of their demains; But they have now made an Edict, That if any leave any land by his last Will to the Jesuits, they are upon pain of forfeiture to sel the same within the yeer, to Lay-men, that they may no more incroach upon their Territories: But the Jesuits finding means notwithstanding this Edict, by supposed names to hold these Legacies: The state of Venice for this and another of their Wiles, viz. About the Oriculary confession, have been constrained to banish them out of their State; for as long as they remained in Venice, the most secret Councels and Resolutions of the Senate was revealed to the Pope and the King of Spain, by the insinuations used in the Oriculary-confession of the Venetian Ladies: Even so the Independants intice and allure to their side the most accute [Page 20] spirits, and insinuate themselves cunningly with the richest and most eminent persons where they live, and allure the best and richest families to their private congregations, whereby they increase their Revenew; and obtain the best Legative Lectures about the City; and had they the use of the Oriculary confession as well as the Jesuits, that they might use their insinuative faculty to dying men and women, they would undoubtedly excell the Jesuits in riches and demaines.
IV.
WHeresoever the Jesuits set footing, they drive away, or impoverish all the rest of the Ecclesiastive Orders of the Roman Church; be they Priests, Monks, or Friers, and are generally hated of them all for their extream ambition, and griping coveteousnesse; Even so wheresoever the Independants are admitted, they impover shall their Brethren of the Ministry; for they draw from them, after a mercinary way, the fattest and the best wooll'd sheep they have in their flock, to increase the contributions of their private congregations: Moreover, they are generally hated of their [Page 21] neighbours for their vain ostentation and avarice; for although they would be accounted to be humble, yet they will not give way to the best, but will have their own opinion to be reputed as a law; and their arguments, although they are sometime weak & ridiculous, to be infallible; and for their Avarice, it is apparent, for their revenew exceeds the best Parish Cures.
V.
THe Jesuits, wheresoever they come, foment divisions, and contentions both in Church and in Common-wealth because they love to fish in muddy waters; even so the Independants wheresoever they come, they foment discord in Church and Common-wealth; for proof of it, we need no other, then our own experience, for since they are come from Holland and America, they have increased our divisions, and retarded by the one moity of the time, the establishing of the Directory of the Discipline of the Church, and of the true Reformation; And their separation, and their gathering of private congregations, hath incouraged the Sectaries in their erronious wayes; that [Page 22] for one Anabaptist or Antinomian, that was among us, when they came over, there is now ten.
VI.
AS the Jesuits have an extraordinary opinion of themselves; even so have the Independants, a certain immovable self-conceitednesse Witnes [...]. W. concerning his name. of their own sufficiency, and Sanctity; was it not a self-conceitednesse of them to disassent to the Presbyteriall Government, when all their Arguments, and Reasons to maintain their new way, have been confuted and sufficiently answered; Or is it not rather an unheard of obstinacy, that six of them should oppose and controul the Judgement and opinion of threescore and ten, as Learned and Religious Ministers as themselves? And is it not a dangerous conceit of their Sanctity, to separate themselves from their Parish congregations, because a few of unworthy receivers are admitted by the ignorance, or the carelesnesse of the Church officers; surely these proceedings of theirs do bear evidence against them, that they are as well conceited of themselves as the Pharisee, Luk. 18.11. The Pharisee stood and prayed [Page 23] thus with him self, God I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this Publicane, &c. Because they consider not, that humility & self-deniall, are the two fairest flowers of the Christian Garland, and a most certain signe of a true hearted Nathaniel. These are the aspersions that are daily cast upon the Independants, that should induce them for the time to come, to be more circumspect of their wayes, then they have been heretofore (for men begin to take notice of their Carriage) and to abstain from renting in pieces, as they have done formerly, the Mysticall Body of Christ; but rather to endeavour with all humility, and with the spirit of meeknesse, Acts, all chap. 2. to be with one accord and assent, assistant and yoak-fellows with their brethren of the Ministery, to establish the Presbyteriall Discipline in the Church; that is, in all probability the way to advance Gods glory, the good of his Church, and the Peace and the Unity of these three Kingdoms, and to increase his sacred Majesties honor, and to lay a sure foundation for his gracious Posterity to be the Monarchs of Albion, as long as the Sun and Moon shall endure; whereas if [Page 24] they continue in their wilfulnesse and obstinacy; God, notwithstanding their traversing, endeavors, will bring this great worke of Reformation to a blessed period in his due time, and they shall see it, but as the Prophet Elisha said to the lord on whose hand the King leaned, Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, 2 Kings 7.2. but shalt not eat thereof; so except they repent from their former wayes, and endeavour with their brethren of the Ministry, to root out of this Kingdom these numerous swarmes of Sectaries, that infest the Aire of the Land with their erroneous and blasphemous opinions, they may see this Reformation effected in their dayes, but shall never reap or eat of the fruits of it, but shall be enforced to return in exile from whence they came, except they return, as I have said, unto the Lord, and prefer the advance of his glory, before their own ends.