SIR, your Epistle, Janus-like, hath two faces, one looks to­ward the Parliament, to make them yours, the other to­ward your selves to make yours theirs; in your Sermon you break their heads, in your Epistle you binde them up: You flatter them with a seeming voluntary acknowledge­ment of their power, and your free submission thereunto; in your assertion of the power of the Gospel, you utterly enfeeble it: how [Page 2]comes it I pray to passe, that the just power of Magistracy is not consist­ent with the Kingdome of Christ? and why may not the one support the other? seeing that both ought to be held of Divine Right and institution, Touch not mine anointed, by all the expositions of the best that ever exposi­ted, is meant of both.

But Mr. Dell, qùo ore, with what face durst, you terme the Presbyterian Government (not onely here establisht by Authority of the High Court of Parliament, but made choyce of, erected, constituted, embraced, main­tained and submitted unto, from the very dawning of the Gospel, and departure from Romes Idolatry, by all the Reformed Churches of Chri­stendome, as, That of France, Germany, Scotland, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweadland, Geneva, &c. who all Ʋna voce, have approved of this Disci­pline and Government as the most consonant to the word, and most op­posite to the Romish Hierarchie (in that none but Priests ruling the Rost, this consisting of a mixed temper, of Ministers and Lay-Elders, one poy­sing and balancing the too much powerfull influence of the other.) How durst you, I say, give the reignes so farre unto your Anarchicall passion, or rather fury, as to call the said Government, The last prop of Antichrist in this Kingdome? yea, and that to the very face of those that were by their power, not onely the promoters, but onely erectors of it: Hath the Par­liament, Mr. Dell, no better credit with you, than to be esteemed the E­rectors of the last prop of Poperie in this Kingdome, for these six years space? Tantum sudavit & alsit, in the pulling down of Popery, and of late, in lieu of recompence have they given it new props?

Truely Sir, I fear me, very few of that honourable House, like no bet­ter of your Epistle then they did of your Sermon: if any doe, I must needs confesse that I feare it the more: and whether a man may more wonder at Mr. Dells impudence or ignorance, I cannot say, who indevoureth to indeare the Parliament unto him, by scandalizing and disparaging the Go­vernment now generally thorough-out the whole Kingdome established by them, and not that temerè & ex improviso, but after long demurring, serious consultation, deliberate debate, neither without the advice and counsell of the best and choycest Divines throughout the Reformed Chur­ches, and especially of the Kirk of Scotland, our united Brethren; and the better to gaine credit unto his designe, Mr. Dell doth his utmost to increase the dislike, that some perhaps in the Parliament might have against this al­ready setled Government, he sticks not to write that it threatens even the Parliament to dispute its superiority with them, and to make the supreme [Page 3]Magistracy of the Kingdome to stoop under their lore.

Who would have thought that after so much talk in the Sermon Of the enlargement of Christs Kingdome, of the exaltation of the Gospel of Christ; the Word of Faith, Truth, and many the like good things; he should fall to such a malicious falsehood, in the Epistle Dedicatory? charging it with an aime at a power Paramount and predominant over the first Constitutors and Voters of it; which how farre swarving from truth, let all men judge who have either known or observed the behaviour of such, that by electi­on have been interessed in the Presbyterie, whether Ministers or Laicks, let their deportment, I say, be duly considered, in what dutifull respective manners it ever hath been toward this High Assembly, not leaving ex­cepted the Venerable Assembly of Divines, who never yet concluded any thing to be published concerning Reformation either in Church matters, or in manners, but in all humility they first presented it to the view of the Honourable House, attending usually at the House of Commons doore, and in their Theses submitting themselves sometimes to alteration, and li­mitation, alwayes unto approbation of the Honourable Houses: which I dare affirm Mr. Dell, will not avouch that his Independent, and the rest rabble of Sects that crowd themselves under that name, either have done, or are about to doe, for then I think we should hardly have such diversity of Conventicles and diversities of Faiths broached in them by approve­ment of Parliament, as at this day we have, so notoriously known unto all: That in one street in London every Childe shall lead you to three; And where you shall have such stuffe commended to you, by way of Divine inspiration, to be beleeved and taken up as dogmatical points of Faith, and with a tantum non (none of Gods children, not comprehended in the But­tery scrowle of election in case of refusall) That a man which hath onely the usuall knowledge of the ordinary principles of Christian Religion, if not out of mockage, yet out of a feeling compassion, must needs say, having heard them; Surely the blinde leads the blinde into the ditch.

Another passage in Mr. Dells Epistle Dedicatorie is this:

He likes not the spirituall power supporting by the temporall; it is An­ti-Christian he saith and Papisticall; Mr Dels assertion smels not much of antiquity, (as neither his Sect) for he may read in the Annals of the Christian Primitive Church, long before any point of Popery was hatched, that men notable for sanctity in those times did passionately implore the aid and intermise of the sword temporall toward the defence of the true Christian verity, and the depressing, yea, extirpating of known Heresies, as [Page 4]in the businesse of that Arch-Heretick Arius (and some that are of the Independent crue hold the same damnable tenents, or else they have much wrong) all men know that Constantine the great interposed his authority more then in any thing else, and not onely his authority but his Paines, in the extinguishing and condemning of that Heresie, or otherwise it had spread its contagion farther, and with a more peremptory Vogue: and moreover if there had beene nothing worse found among the late Bishops, then that saying, no Bishop no King, nor more displeasing to God, or im­peaching the progresse of the Gospell, for ought I know they might have stood still, although master Dell may be pleased to be put in minde that he whose familiar speech it was, (no Bishop no King) was no Bishop but a King, and a King the very Paragon for learning and wisedome of all those this Island ever saw: a Prince that was of opinion, that the licenti­ous liberty of Sectaries would produce as much danger to temporall Mo­narchy and State Government, as ever could or would the Pontificiall Ty­rannie, both agreeing in the pulling downe of civill Magistracie, though differing about the manner: and let Master Dell be told that the interpo­sition of the civill power, or the requesting the assistance of the same, in the maintenance of the undoubted faith of Christ, or an externall Eccle­siasticke discipline, consonant to the same (without which it is imposible for the Orthodox doctrine long to consist, discipline being the nerves and sinnews by which a Church stands, as the doctrine, the food by which it is fed and nourished) is neither the head nor the toe of Popery.

And let me be bold to ask Master Dell one question, to what purpose tends his large invective against the Presbyteriall Government now ere­cted? what, to have none? I could not be so ill perswaded of the man: whether then? marry to withdraw the Parliaments countenancing pro­tection from the Presbytery, and to place it upon them, that is the en­larging of the power of Christs Kingdome, the exaltation of the Gospell of Christ, the propagation of the elect people, which I suppose the good man meanes: loe then see all well. May it please the Parliament to Vote down the Presbytery, as the last prop of Popery in this Kingdome, for interlacing it selfe with the temporall power, and craving its aid and succours against those that would bring in anarchicall confusion, first into the Church, then into the state, and eadem opera, let them be pleased to Vote Master Dels chosen flocke the onely Christians, and his Government of Gods Church, (if he knew first himselfe what it were or should bee) let the Honourable Houses, I say, but be pleased to doe thus, and behold, omnia [Page 5]bene, the power of Christs Kingdome mightily enlarged, the exaltation of the Gospel wonderfully furthered, &c. hinc illa lacrymae, now I perceive what makes the world flocke so fast unto Independency; what power or autho­rity soever supports them, stands for the enlargement of the power of Christs Kingdome, the exaltation of the Gospell, the Priviledges of Christs chosen people, for the beauty of Saints, and what not? but let them beware that seek for supportation, not onely against them, but even by them, they are at least, but the last prop of Anti-Christ in this Kingdome: who would wonder if all the world now turne Independent? feeing that one that depends on them may better steale a horse, then a man of another minde looke over the hedge: but to be more serious, the baddest actions have ever made shew of the best pretensions, the foulest Heresies have sti­led themselves by the most specious titles; the Arians would be called by no other name but Catholick, although their cursed Blasphemie, impug­ned the mainest point in all Christianity; it is an old saying, the Devill doth never shew his Cloven foot at first; Schisme is like the Panther, whose skin being of a sweet sent, and beautifull spotted colour, whereby he draws many other beasts toward him, which approaching neare, are forthwith affrighted with the uglinesse of his head; wherefore the better to be master of his prey, he discovers not that till he have them in his power; it is a truth infallible, that Schismes and Faction evermore in their first rising put on the face of woman, but in their growth that of a lyon: the behaviour of the Anabaptists at Magdeburg in Germany, though long since, yet by reason of other Sects in these our dayes, not much different in opinions, and lesse in practice, is a fresh revived in our memo­ries; good God, what Sanctity, piety, humility, simplicity did those Jug­lers shew at first? what charity and contempt of worldly mucke? so that they drew the whole Generality of the City after them, with the self same saying in their mouths which sometime the Samaritans used toward Si­mon Magus, surely these men are the great power of God; at length when their poore deceived proselites began to grow numerous, they pos­sest them that the power of the civill magistrate was Heathenish and Anti-Christian; that Christs true Disciples must be all equall; neither were they defective in alleadging Scripture for this their project, ill under­stood and worse applyed. Christs Kingdome is not of this world say they, he that will be the greatest amongst you, let him be as your servant; the Kings and Princes of the earth beare rule, and exercise power over them, but with you not so. Doe not rich men trouble you, bringing you into judgement saith St. James. [Page 6]What conclusions draw they from these texts? why surely that all civill Magistracy is Anti-Christian, (though those that bare it at that time in that towne were known to be zealous maintainers of the Gospell) it must have nothing to do with Gods chosen; they that did desire to be sup­ported by it in matter of faith, or for their better strengthning did re­quest the countenance of the same toward the bearing up of the Church discipline established in that famous City: from these infusions what fol­lows? The Comminalty riseth against their lawfull Magistrates, not onely degrades them, but butchers them; next the Ministers drinke of the same cup, for no other fault, but that fearing the storme approaching, and ad­vertising the civill Magistracy of its growth and proceeding, they besought them for the suppressing of this swelling faction, and upholding of the anciently setled Government in that Church; but because they sought the maintenance of the lawfull Ecclesiastick Government by the civill sword (which then was a toe or a singer of Anti-Christ, as it is now) therefore they tasted of the same sawce with them: but what did the good Ant­baptists after this? what did they not? but to particularise what the Hi­story mentioneth, they fell afterwards upon their owne proselites, cut the throates of them, seized not onely the goods of all Citizens, but the state it selfe, brought a text of Scripture to warrant it, though themselves would be thereof the expositors, The meek shall inherit the Earth: This story wants no application. Men must not look so much upon the words and shews as the practices of raisers of factions; and as touching Master Dell, although thorough the whole course of his Sermon there is great talke of the spirit of meeknesse, the spirit of humility, obedience, and the like; and in the close of his Epistle Dedicatory, much assurance offe­red unto the Parliament of his utmost endeavours, in relation to obedi­ence to their authority; yet see how Master Dell hath thwarted both, in his practice; he virulently lasheth Master Love, twits him in the teeth, with his discerning people, chargeth him with menacing of the Parliament in case of desertion from them, puts him in the number of the fingers and toes of Anti Christ: this action of Master Dell naming expresly the party rather rescents of nature then grace, of gall then meeknesse, of malice then charity; nay, rather then Master Dell will misse to lash him, he will hazard the reputation of the close to his Epistle, and venters the questio­ning of his obedience to the Parliament so vehemently and seriously by him protested: for doth Mr Dell print his sermon in obedience to the Ho­nourable House? I am given to understand the contrary; that the House [Page 7]ordered him neither thankes nor order to print it, but forbid both: yet Mr. Dell out of an humble obedience, if not to them, yet to Christ, will print it, and with an Epistle Dedicatory to the House also: to speak bona si­de and sublata larva, I think three were the causes that prevailed with Mr. Dell to print his Sermon, though misliked, though forbidden.

First, that he might be before-hand with Mr. Love in the Presse, though he had had the precedency of him in the Pulpit, and to forestall mens judgements, both toward him and his Sermon, a thing much practised in this clashing Age, to cry whore first. The second reason of the Printing of his Sermon was his zeale, to shew his dislike in the Presse, as he had of­ten done before in the Pulpit of the Presbyterian form and Rule, as a prop of popery, and obstacle to the inlargement of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ: desiring rather then that (or any other should stand) there might be none at all, and so the peculiar people may doe and live as they list, who should controll them that have the spirit of illumination and inspiration ad nutum? yet this puts me in minde of what I read in one place of Samuel, And th [...]n there was no King in Israel, what follows? Ʋnusquisque fecit quod sibi visum fuerit, Every one did what was right in his own eyes, and that was wrong enough I beleeve. The third respect, for which Mr. Dell pub­lished this Sermon, was, I beleeve, because he was not licensed by the House to publish it, Nor no thanks returned him for it, Mr. Dell follow­ing the Trade-wind of his Faction, must needs doe it the readier for that; and reason enough he had to put him forward, for his party hath never gained more credit than by crossing Authority: And had Mr. Dells dis­course been such that might have been thought worthy to have been Li­censed by the House, it would never have purchased him that repute a­mongst his as now it hath; for nothing is cryed up amongst them, Nisi quod nititur in vetitum.

But what meanes Mr. Dell, by that pathetick Latine Theme in the foot of the frontispiece to his book? Theologum me crede in regno veritatis natum, ero itaque, &c. What reason had Mr. Dell, tam gravem proferre sententiam in materia tam levi; Mr. Dell gives the Alarm here, tanquam Annibal ad portas, as if all were in denger to be lost, true piety trampled under foot, true Religion banished, Christs Kingdome vanquished, unlesse all strike sale unto Independency, whereof he professeth himself an asserter ad mor­tem & sanguinem us (que) I find in all ages that all Innovators are of Bruce his temper, quicquid volunt valdè volunt; rather then they will want their wills, Coelum terra miscendum.