WOe unto the World because Mat. 18. 7▪ of offences, (saith Christ to his Disciples) Because ye are not of the World [Page 2] but I have chosen you out of the world, John. 1 [...]. 19 therefore the world hateth you.

By the World, here is meant the peo▪ of the World, which the Scripture call­eth the evil World, The Number of un­godly men, and not the people of God: for none are Gods peculiar people, but such as obey his voice and keep his Covenant, Exo. 19, 5.

And the Apostle John saith, We know that we are of God, and the whole world lyeth in wickednesse: Iohn 5. 19.

And as the world hath encreased, sin hath abounded, and its a great question whether when the Son of man cometh he Luk. 18. 8. shall find faith on the earth.

AFter the old Creation. In the year of the world, one thousand six hundred fifty and six, The old World, 2 Pet. 2. 5. which the Apostle Peter calleth the world of the ungodly, That world ut­terly perished by the Flood, In which time of destruction, the Church of God (which then consisted but of few, even eight persons) was preserved, remaining 1 Pet. 3. 20. about three hundred seventy and five dayes in Noah's Arke. Then when the flood was gone, and the earth was dryed [Page 3] they went out, and (by Gods blessing) encreased and multiplyed upon the earth, But most of them fell away from the truth; And there began another world of ungodly men, and have continued in a way of succession unto this day, the children inhetiting their fathers sins, and approving of their evil sayings. Psal. 49. 13 This is the world, but not the world whichi was before the Flood, nor the world to come, but this present evil world, described in this Treatise.

BEfore the decease of Noah, even in the dayes of Peleg, the earth was divided: For at the building of Babel Gen. 10. 25 11. God confounded the language of all the people of the earth, for their pride, vain glory, and infidelitie, and scatter­ed them abroad throughout all the earth. And did set the Bounds of the people of each language, that they should seek the Act. 17, 26. Lord.

But in stead of seeking the Eternal God that made them they fell to making and worshiping Idols, according to their own fancies. And Babilon was the prin­cipal seat of Idolatry, and abounded in Zech. 5. 6, 11. Tyrany, yet it was called the glory of Isa. 13, 19. [Page 4] Kingdomes, and the beauty of the Chal­deans Excelencie, and continued above thirty generations, until the seventy years of the Captivity of Judah ended.

And since that golden Kingdom ceas­ed, all the other three, (Persian, Gre­cian, and Roman,) successive worldly Monarchs, have been inferior in world­ly Dan. 2. 38, 39, 40. dignity, (as Silver is inferior to Gold, and Brass to Silver, and Iron to Brass) although they were never soe successful in their victorious conquests, the later against the former.

Yet notwithstanding the Lord of hosts hath in the times before of old (as well as since) punished the Kingdoms and Nations for their sins, especially for their Idolatry; Nation rose up against Nation, and Kingdome against King­dome, and made great warrs against each other; particularly (before the de­struction of Sodome and Gomora with fire and brimstone) Amraphel King of Shy­nar, Arioch King of Alasar, Cheodarlao­mer King of Elam, and Tydall King of Nations. These made warre against five Kings, and their Subjects, (which rebelled against them) and subdued them, and smote the Rephaims, and the [Page 5] Zuzims, and the Emims, and the Ho­rites and Amorites, and victoriously conquered those Giants, whose height was as Cedars, and their strength as Deut, 2. [...]0. 11. 12. 20. Oakes, and they took the spoil with those they led captive.

But those Conquering Kings, taking just Lot captive (who was no Idolater, but a true worshiper of the living God) it was their ruine, for God who had raised up Abram from Ur of the Chal­deans, Neh, 9. 7, Isa, 41, 1, 2, 3. and after called him from Charan of Mesopotamia into the land of Canaan, and gave the Nations before him, and made him rule over Kings, he gave them as dust to his sword, and as driven stub­ble to his bow; he pursued them, and passed safely, by the way that he had not gone.

For that Story in Genesis (14) saith, That when Abram heard that his bro­ther Lot was taken captive, he, with his trained servants three hundred and eighteen pursued those Armies, and re­covered all, and slew Chedarlaomer King of Elam, and the Kings that were with him, and brought back the Captives with the spoyle which wonderful and victori­ous Conquest did put the world in a maze, [Page 6] and filled their hearts with fear and terror. (for they were all Idolaters) And Abram, and his fellowes were con­trary unto them in Religion as light is to darknesse

Then upon this mighty and wonder­ful Conquest. The Isles feared, The ends of the earth were afraid, drew near and came, and fell to making more Idols, in stead of turning to the Lord. They helped every one his Neighbour, and every one said to his brother, be of good courage: So the Carpenter en­couraged the Goldsmith, and he that smoothed with the hammer, him that smote the Anvill, saying, It is ready for sodering, and he fastened it with Isa. 41. 24, 29. nayles, that it should not be moved. But they were worse then nothing, an abomination, and their Images wind and confusion.

Yet the world continued still in wic­kednes, and would not be perswaded from their false worship, by all Gods chastisements of them, and the remark­able examples of Gods judgments, a­gainst Sodom and Egypt, and his wonder­full miracles, which appeared afterwards Iosh. 2. 9, 10, 11. Exo. 15. 14 15, 16. and were famous to the world, but their [Page 7] hearts were hardened, to their own de­struction, for one and thirty Kings and their kingdomes were destroyed by Iosh. 12. [...]4. Joshua, and none made their peace save only the Gibeonites, who became hewers Iosh. 9. of wood, and drawers of water, for the sanctuary of the Lord.

After God had setled his peculiar peo­ple Act. 1 [...]. 20. (the Israelites) in their land, divid­ing it to them by lot, he gave them Judges until Samuel the Prophet.

And afterwards they desired a King, before the time: And God gave them v. 21. King Saul, whom he anoynted. who reigned forty years. v. 22.

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David, to be their King, who reigned forty years.

Afterwards Solomon reigned over all Israel, the space of forty years, without warre, Judah and Israel were many as 2 Chr. 9. [...]0. 1 Kin. 11. 12, 4 [...]. 2 Chr. 9. 26. 1 Kin. 12. 24. 2 Chr. 11. 4. the sand, which is by the Sea, for mul­titude, eating and drinking, and mak­ing merry.

But afterwards for Solomons Apostacy and Idolatry, God did rend ten parts of his Kingdome from his son Rehoboam, and made Jeroboam the son of Nebat King of Israel, even over ten Tribes, [Page 8] without warrs, which King fell to Ido­latry, and made Golden calves for gods, and builded high places for his false wor­ship against the lawes of God, and set up 1 Kin, 12, 24 base fellowes to be priests of those high places, and made other alterations in matters of Gods worship, by his evil counsel which he took, which the mul­titude 1 Kin, 12, 28, 31. & 13, 33, & 13, [...]5, 16, 2 Kin, 13, 3, [...]7, followed, for which God punished them with warre and other calamities: for five hundred thousand chosen men out of 800000 valliant men of King Je­roboams Armie were slain in one battail. And afterwards they were greatly dimi­nished by several judgments unto the time of Jeoahaz King of Israel, in the time of whose reign God delivered them into the hand of the King of Siria, who made them low, as the dust by thresh­ing, so that he did not leave of the peo­ple to Jehoahaz, but fifty horsmen, and 2 Kin. 13, 7, ten Chariots, and ten thousand footmen. And in the reign of Hoshea their last and best King, all the remnant of Israel were carried away captive by Shalme­nazar King of Assiria. 2 Kin, 17, 2,

And the Tribe of Judah also with Benjamin, fell to Idolatry, Therefore God diminished them by thousands and [Page 9] hundreds of thousands, (by many sore judg­ments, as the sword, famine, and pesti­lence.) And so great was the Lords wrath Ier, 15, 2, against them, that he would not hear their cry, nor any prayer for them, for he said to his Prophet Jeremiah, when they fast, I will not hear their cry, and pray not for this people, But appointed him to take forth the precious from the vile, and said, Let them return unto thee, Ier. 15, 19, but return not thou unto them. And in the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah they also were carried away & 52, captive into Babilon.

But in Captivitie and affliction, Gods people did bethink themselves, and re­pented, and their uncircumcised hearts were humbled, and they returned to the Lord their God with their whole heart, Therefore God comforted them by his promises, and Providence, and deliver­ed Ester.— them from the bloody plots of their malignant enemies, and caused them to find favour in the sight of them that led them captive. And when the seventy years of Judahs captivity were accom­plished, Ezra.—. Gods people (the Jewes) were delivered out of captivity, and returned again into their own Land, and there [Page 10] they renewed their covenant with God, and were setled, and encreased, and multiplyed, under the power and pro­tect Nehemiah. chapter. 9. 36, 37, 38 Dan. 10. 13 20, 21. & 8. 5, 7, 21. on of the King of Persia (That silver Monarch,) until the Prince of Persia withstood them.

Then God fought against that perse­cuting Prince, and raised up the King of Greece, who subdued the Persian pow­er, and did bear rule over all the earth, and Gods people had liberty of con­science under the Greeks (that Brazen Monarch,) but at last the Saints suffered great persecution for conscience sake, Dan. 11. 16 2 M [...]. 7. Heb. 11. 35 36, 37, 38, under that power, and were cruely used, and exposed to much hardship, hunger, cold and nakednesse, in saving their lives, they wandred about in Sheepskins and in Goatskins, and were destitute, afflicted and tormented, and although they were such of whom the world was not worthy, for they were the sons of God yet they wandred in deserts, & in Moun­tains & in dens & in caves of the earth.

Then the Church of God consisting of precious Sains, whose conversation was in heaven, was as a woman crying, tra­velling, in birth, pained to be deliver­ed, and longing for the coming of Christ [Page 11] Jesus the Son of God, to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, that they might serve him, without fear, in holynesse and righteousnesse before him Luk, 1. 74, 75 all the dayes of their lives.

In time (before our Saviours birth) God raised up the Sons of Syon, against Zac. 9. 13. the sons of Greece, and made them fight valliantly, and do exploits, and they Dan. 11. 32 were victorious, at several times, against their cruel bloody persecutors, yet the remainder of their enemies were many and lively, and oft times molested them, so that the Saints could not be quiet to serve the Lord, but were still in fear.

But God did in process of time, put down the Grecian power, and did set up the Romans, who did bear dominion over all the world, under whose Luk, 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 1. power Gods people the Jewes lived, and had liberty to practice their Religion publiquely in their own land, but had no Authority to put any man to death, but were subject to the Roman power, Ioh. 18. 31, Mat. 22. 19. 21. Mat. 17. 25 Ro. 23. 6. 7. 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14. Dan. 9. 25, 26. unto whom they paid taxes, and Tri­bute, in Christs time, which Christ himself submitted unto, as his parents before him, (and his Apostles after) and in the four hundred thirty and fourth year after the building of the wall of Jerusalem [Page 12] by Nehemiah, Christ Jesus our Lord was crucified, and dyed under that Roman power.

But God the father raised up his son 1 Cor, 15. 4, Mat. 28, 18, 19. Christ, on the the third day after his crucifying, And gave him all power both in heaven and in earth, therefore Christ gave commission to his Apostles to preach the gospel to all nations for their salvation, which wrought power­fully and effectually, throughout the Gal, [...]. 7. 8, Act, 22. 18. Rev, 6. & 9, 20. & 13. & 16. 11, 13, 14. & 18. [...]. Acts world amongst Jews and Gentiles: But to this day the greater part of them (have and do and will) stand out against it, to their own destruction, and although mul­titudes both of Jews and Gentiles, have been converted to the faith, yet since those primative times, there hath been a great falling away, and a general departure from the faith and Order of the 2 Thes, 2. 3. 2 Pet, 2. 2. Gospel and men have given heed, and still give heed to seducing spitits and 1 Tim, 4. 2. 3 doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hi­pocrisie, having their conscienses sear­ed with an hot Iron, forbiding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats, against Gods commands.

And these dayes are the last dayes pe­rillous times, wherein men are lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, [Page 13] proud, blasphemers, disobedient to Pa­rents, unthankful, unholy, without na­tural affection, truce breakers, false ac­cusers, incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good, Traytors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God, and yet these mis­creants, 2 Tim, 3. 1, 5. have a form (but not the very form or power) of Godlinesse, for they deny the same in their conversations, from such (saith the Apostle) turn away, although they professe that they know God yet in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to e­very good work reprobate. These are not as Virgins; but defiled, pro­phane, open, wicked persons, poluted in their lips and in their lives, though Tit, 1. 16. they call themselves christians, they are Christs greatest enemies, and make the times more evil and perilous, and are worse then Heathens, Jewes and Turks, whose conversion they hinder, by their devilish doctrines, rediculous forms of worship, and odious carriages, hard-heartednesse and impennetencie. So that now at this time, in matters of Re­ligious and spiritual worship,. The world in general, consisteth of four parts. 1 Heathens. 2. Jewes. 3. Turks. [Page 14] and 4. Christians. The last of which (even Christians) are the least part of the world, (but the 6th part say some writers) yet these christians amongst themselves are greatly divided in matters of Religion, but they all conclude a­gainst the heathens, Jewes and Turks, and renounce and disclaim their commu­nion, esteeming them that they be the Church of the devil, the Synagogue of Sathan, and Luther saith the Turk is the Body—of Antichrist, yet are they innumerable Rev. 9. 16. Rev. 20. 8, 9. as the sand of the Sea, but they are all out of the way, and not so good as one mortal Saint.

For the Heathens worship many gods, which by nature are no gods. The Jews in expresse words deny that Christ is come in the flesh. The Turks, and al­most all others, do deny him, in their works, for although the Turks do ac­knowledge and worship the true God, af­ter a manner, yet do they serve Maho­met. And although they protest against the worshipers of Images, (as Prote stants against Papists) yet they worship God by a divised rediculous stinted Service Book, of their own invention. contrary to Gods institutions.

[Page 15] Christian;, though divided greatly in opinion and affection, yet most of them in humane traditions and divine (or ra­ther divised) Services, are not untyed, but entangled in each others principles and practices, Church ministry, worship and discipline, like to like, Mother & daugh­ter jumping together, in the seeming circumstances of times and places, and many other matters; O how heathenish are they in their common talke, and carnal Songs: Their speeches and prac­tices shew, as if they had the Heathen gods and godesses and their Temples in great esteem. Where the graves tombs and Monuments of the dead be, there are their Temples for their Religious Isa. 65. 4. worship. For their hearts remaineth there among the graves, and lodge in the Monuments, (like the men possessed with devils, who came out of the Tombs exceeding fierce, [their tipes,] for there was their dwelling, being driven of the Mat. 8. [...]8. Mar. 5. 3. Devil,) which dolesom and Idolatrous places, in this land were, and in other lands are, places of refuge and protection for wilful murderers. And these miser­able sinners, are strongly possessed with strange opinions, that there are degrees [Page 16] of holinesse in those Idolatrous Temples which were built for heathenish and Po­pish services.

Yet these Christians (or rather Anti­christians) are in continual variance amongst themselves, Persecuting one a­nother extreamly, to the death, as they have power and oppertunity, censuring one another as Scismaticks, and condemn­ing one another as Hereticks, often Writing, Preaching, Praying, & fighting against one another as mortal Enemies, (witnesse Spain, France, Germany, & other places in Europe) living in hatred & ha­ting one another, for peace is taken from the earth, and the way thereof the world knoweth not, therefore the Angel with his sharpe Sickle is reaping them, and Rev, 14. 14 Rev, 14. 18 19, 20. the Vine of the earth (even the false Church) with the clusters thereof shall be cut down, and cast into the great winepresse of the wrath of God. For their vine is the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorra, their grapes are the grapes of gall, and their clusters are Deut, 32. 32 33, 34, 35. bittet, Their wine is the poyson of Dra­gons, and the cruel venim of Aspes, the day of their calamitie is at hand, and the evil things that shall come upon them [Page 17] make haft. Yet the Roman Catholicks say that they are the true Church, So saith the Prelaticall Church for them­selves, and so say other churches for them­selves, But there is but one way of ho­lyness in which all Christians ought to walk as they hope for salvation, and that is the way of Separation, for the Scrip­ture saith. What fellowship hath righ­teousness 2 Cor. 6. with unrighteousness? What communion hath light with darkness? what concord hath Christ with Belial? what part hath the believer with the infidels? what agreement hath the Tem­ple of God with Idols? For the Church of God is the Temple of God: wherein God hath promised to dwell and walk, Therefore Gods people must come out from amongst the Antichristian assem­blies, and be seperate, and not touch the unclean thing. For the Church of Christ is set forth by the Apostle Peter to consist of lively stones, built up a 1 Pet, 2. 5. Spiritual house, they are Gods peculiar people, seperated from the world, in matters of Spiritual Worship. But the churches of Antichrist, consist of mixed swarms of sinners, unrighteous persons, 1 Cor. 6. 9. 1 Pet. 4. 17, 18. and the Scripture saith the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God, [Page 18] Be not deceived neither fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effemi­nate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor theeves, nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extor­tioners, shall inherit the Kingdome of God.

I know Antichrists Churches will la­bour to justifie themselves by the infir­mities of others, The incestious person say they was suffered by the Church of Corinth, but they should observe that that church upon admonition did put 2 Cor. 7. 11, away from amongst them that wicked person, They sorrowed after a godly sort, it wrought in them carefulness, clearing of themselves, indignation, fear, ve­hement desire, zeal, revenge, in all things they approved themselves to be clear of this matter.

Now the churches of Antichrist con­sist of a mixed multitude of sinners, such as are before mentioned, swarms of For­nicatos, Lyars, Sabbath breakers, and and Idolaters, eating and drinking and dancing about Dame Flora's pillars, Swearing and cursing is common amongst them, yea swearing by the Mass (as Israel did by the sin of Samaria) much used [Page 19] in the countryes, yea the names of the Idol gods are frequent in their mouthes, not in contempt of them, but in praise, they are the foretops and frontis-peeces of their Triumphals: Its a common thing for them not only to revile one another in jest, and in earnest, but those who reprove or convict them of sin, they malitiously reproach and slander, as the heathens vilified the christians, in the time of the ten persecutions, which doth greatly aggravate these obstinate sin­ners sin, and manifesteth them to be vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction.

The abominable sin of Pride, the deadly sin of flothfulnesse, the detestible sins of drunkenesse and whoredom, o­pression and cruelty, doth exceedingly abound, and execrations of damnation and drinking healths directly and indi­rectly against the Kings command, fre­quently used by Capital offenders, the worst of men.

And yet all these call themselves christians, and say they believe in the Catholick Church, and have forms of Worship answerable to their profession, but their worship is in vain, as good never a wait as never the better, and [Page 20] the nearer their Church the further from God, For he cares neither for them, nor their worship, but hates such combusta­ble stuff, and so do I, O Lord gather not my soul with sinners, for I hate the Church of evil doers. Psal. 26,

And if there by any (as I hope there are many) in their Church which hate these iniquities and enormities, yet they are unclean while they partake with such sinners in their Spiritual worship publiquely or privately, for the preci­ous ought to separate from the vile, and must be holy in all manner of con­versation.

And although many of their Church members are Civil in their dealings a­bout common affairs, courteous, loving, kind natured, free hearted, true and trusty in matters of accompt betwixt man and man; What of this? Do not the heathens the same? And cannot the Turks say as much for themselves? Yet it doth not prove them to be the people of God, no more are these, They are of the world, and therefore not of the Church.

But the Papists set down marks, (as unitie, universaltity, and constancy,) [Page 21] to prove that their church, is the true Church, but alas, This their plea is not sufficient, It may serve as well for Turks and Heathens, who exceed them in number, and are unanimous, and pro­sperous, constant, and conceited in their wayes.

But let the Roman Catholick church have her due, she saith she is the mother Church, And indeed she is the mother Church of false Churches, Misterie Ba­bilon the great, the Mother of harlots.

And the working of the man of sin, in the misterie of iniquitie, is after the working of Sathan, with all power and signes and lying wonders: So the Apostle describeth Antichrist. There­fore Miracles are not the marks of a true Deut. 13, 1, 5. Church, nor of a true Prophet. And the throne of iniquitie may have out­ward Rev. 13. 7, Dan. 7. 21, 24. prosoeritie, and wear out the Saints of the most high, and continue as ap­peareth by the Scriptures.

But the Papists will not prove their Church to be true, by the Scriptures [contemned and condemned by their general Counsells] but labour to prove se Ainsworth against Ainsworth their Church by their Church! The same by the same!

[Page 22] So the false Apostles measur'd them­selves by themselves, which practice the Apostle Paul condemned as irrational, and rational men count it rediculous. [...] Cor. 10. 12,

But they have an exceeding high estimation of their Sacrament of their Altar, They say it is a Sacrifice, and the bread, they say is the real body of Christ, after that is done which they call consecration, but it is execration, for they kneel down before it, and wor­ship it, and then eat it up. And be­cause they hold the Mass to be a Sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead, they have of their own divising erected an Office of Priesthood, here on earth to offer it up. And the Priests of the Church of England, as well as of Rome, (a number of sinfull, mortal, infirm, and imperfect men neither of the Tribe of Levi [...] nor of Judah) are Ordained Priests by office, [without Oath] and so void, utterly void by the Law, and by the Gospel. As appeareth in the Heb. 9. 24. & 12, Epistle to the Hebrewes Heb: 7. 12, 16, 18, 21, 23. 28. and 9. 10. &. 10 1.

But the proper Office of Priesthood is in the heaven it selfe, wh [...]e the Lord Jesus [Page 23] Christ the only high Priest executeth that Office at the right hand of God, not on earth, for the Scripture saith if Christ were here on earth he should not be a Priest. Heb: 8. 4.

But when Christ ascended up on high he gave gifts unto men, some Apostles Eph. 4. 11, 12. and some Prophets, and some Evange­lists and some Pasters and Teachers, No Offices of Popes, Cardinals, Abotts, Monks, Arch-Bishops, Lord Bishops, Parsons, Vicars, Curates, and such like [false Priests, false Christs] who hold an Office of Priesthood among themselves by a succession, to offer up at their Altars the supposed flesh and blood of Christ.

And they have made seven orders of Priesthood, and the Priesthood belong­ing thereunto, are the seven heads of their monstruous Beast, having the names of blasphemie upon them, and they are cal­led seven Mountaines, for bigness, for they are many, upon which the great whore of Rome (even the great City) sit­teth, Reigning over the Kings of the earth, And one of his heads was as it Rev. 13. [...]. were wounded [...] death, saith the Reve­lation, and his deadly wound was healed, but their end shall be eternal destruction, [Page 24] for that Beast and the false Prophet that worketh miracles before him, shall be both together, cast alive into hell.

And there is likewise an Image of Rev. 19. 20 that beast, the particular National Pre­latical convocations, as Wilkinson makes it out, in his learned Exposition upon the 13th chapter of the Revelations,

But they say they have the marks of a true Church of Christ, The Word truly Preached.

To which I answer: That Balam the the false Prophet Preached Gods Word truly, in Balaks Assembly, but that could never prove them to be a true Church, nor did the people of God go to hear him, but slew him. Josh: 13. [...]2. And they say that they have also the Sa­craments duly administred. And so the Papists say for themselves, But these are but their bare words at the best, and its better disprove them then believe them.

But the common Protestants say their Church of England is true, because they hold justification by faith only, and seem to blame the Parents, and disprove their Church, for h [...]ing justification by their own works; and yet they hold [Page 25] the like, (if not the same,) erroni­ous opinion, of saving vertue, in their own works, as if they conferred grace, as appeareth in the second answer in their Common Catechism, concerning Baptism, an inferior work, which they prefer above the the Lords Supper, al­though the Apostle Paul held (and hath shewed) Baptism to be so inferior, that he thankes God that he baptised none of the Christians but Crispas and Gayus, and the houshold of Stephanus, and remem­bred not that he baptised any more, and saith, Christ sent him not to baptise, but to preach the Gospel. But indeed the Papists have an exceeding high o­pinion of outward Baptism, that it wash­eth away Original sin, and saveth them from being damned. They cross their children on their foreheads, and have God-fathers and God-mothers, So have the Prelatical Party, but they do not spit in their mouths, as the Popish Priests do, (as King James saith, in his Book to all Christian Kings and Princes) But they are conceited, (if not more grosly deluded) as if their Baptism made them members of Christ the children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, [Page 26] And this Doctrine they prescribe, for all their members to believe and pro­fess, before they come to their confir­mation. vizt. That in that Baptism, (by which they were baptized with God-fathers and God-mothers) they were made members of Christ, the children of God and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, which I have good ground to deny, and they can never prove it, the Scripture is clear against this their vain conceit.

For the Apostle Peter saith, It is not the outward baptism, (or washing away of the filth of the flesh) which saveth, but the answer of a good Conscience. 1 Pet: 3. 21. And the way of the Gospel is to baptise such only as are the children of God and members of Christ before.

And the Apostle Paul saith not, that they are the children of God, by out­ward baptism, but by faith in Christ Je­sus, And faith doth not come by baptism, Gal. 3. 26. but by the word of God. And their baptism which they receive afterward is no more but an outward seal admini­stred upon them, of the righteousness of the faith which they had before baptism, as Circumcision was to Abraham and [Page 27] Rom. 4. 11, Isaac, as the Scriptures testifie, and none ought to be baptised, but such as give suffi­cient testimony before, of their holy­nesse, Or that the Lord testifieth for them.

So he testified of St. Paul, and St. Act, [...]. 15, 17, 18. & 10. 47, Cornelius was baptised upon this ground, that he had received the Holy Ghost before.

And whosoever hath not the spirit of Rom. 3. 9, 2 Cor. 13, 5, Christ is none of his. Therefore the common Protestants are in a great error in this point of Baptism also.

For they should know that the Infants 1 Cor. 7. 14. Rom. 11. Ezek. 18. 4 Luk. 19. 9, of holy Parents are holy as their Parents.

They are as blameless as their Parents in their whole Spirit Soul and body.

The same grace, gracious promises, Act. 2. 39 Deut. 29. 11 2 Cor. [...]0. 3, and spiritual priviledges belongeth un­to them, as well as to their Parents, Yea, The kingdome of heaven it selfe, And Mat. 19. 14. if the greater then the lesser. For as touching eternal Election, they are be­loved Rom. 11. 2 [...] for the fathers; That is, pecu­liarly chosen of God for the love that he Deut. 4. 37. Ezek. 18. 4. 20. had to their fathers, and shall not dye eternally for the sins of their fathers, Rom, 2. 11. & 8. which they never committed, for herein God is no respecteer of persons, meerly as they are persons, and who can lay any [Page 28] thing to their charge, sin remitted shall not be imputed unlesse irritterated, and their parents righteousness, is theirs by imputation, as it was with Abraham and 2 Tim. 1. 5. Heb. 7. 9. 10 his seed, before they were circumcised, so it is with the Christians and their seed before they are baptised. Yea, the children of holy Patents are perfect in their wayes, before they are baptised, Ezek. 28. 15. even, from the day they are created, un­till iniquity is found in them; Such a perfection have they, which is oposed to iniquity, And the Scripture saith, Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose Spirit Psal. 32. 3, 5. there is no guile. Their nature of Creation is sanctified by the spirit of regeneration, which dwelleth in them so that they are not imputed sinners of the world, but clear, as the Scripture saith of the natural Jewes, who were Christians: For although the children Gal. 2. 15. are partakers of flesh and blood, as well as their Parents, Christ himselfe also in like manner took part of the same, and died for them all, (not to free them from temporal, but) to save them from eternal death, though they should dye before they are baptised with water.

[Page 29] And therefore the Infants are not the Children of wrath more then their Pa­rents, but the vessels of mercy, as Jere­miah and John the Baptist were, And so it becometh them to esteem of them all and to speak honourably of them, be­fore, (as well as after) their outward bap­tism which Baptism maketh not for the Isa. 22. 24. being (but for the better being) of a Christian, Therefore I cannot find in my heart to say that they are the chil­dren of wrath, and therefore ought to be baptised, but because they are not under the wrath of God, nor under the curse of the Law, but under the promise and grace of Christ, who never sinned, and yet was baptized, by John the Baptist.

Therefore they ought to be baptised, though they have never committed actu­al sin, but sinned in their Parents as Lvey paid tythes in Abraham.

What though David declareth his Rom. 5. Heb. 7. [...], 10. Original sin (or sin of inclination) the ground of his actual sin (or sin of appre­hension) as it is written, In sin hath my mother conceived me? yet, until he committed actual sin, he was no more guilty of sin, then his mother, nor was Isaac a child of wrath, more then faith­full [Page 30] Abraham and Sarah.

Original sin taketh no more hold of the Infants to damne them eternally, then of their parents.

And touching actual sinne, they are clear as their Parents, though their Pa­rents are as righteous as Noah, Daniel and Job. And therefore they have as much right to Baptism, as their Parents. And in this blessed condition are they before they are baptised with water, And are not in the state of damnation, though they die in their Infancie before, but shall be eternally saved. And the con­trary Doctrine is very unsound, eronious uncomfortable and destructive.

But Antichrists Church professeth the contrary openly; And teach their chil­dren to say that they are made members of Christ in their baptism with God-fa­thers and God-mothers, So then it is re­markable, that they are their own judges that they baptise none but such as are not members of Christ before their bap­tism. It followeth then by their own words, that they are members of Anti­christ, and in the state of damnation be­fore (and until) outward baptism be ad­ministred upon them, which to affirm [Page 31] of the Infants of Godly Parents is an Antichristian error, destroying the foun­dation and hope of the faithful, and how can that Church be the true Church of God, who are so corrupt, and whose constitution (manifested by such their eronious profession is so destructive, openly to baptise such as are not members of Christ. To conclude, by their own ground, their Church members, are not members of Christ before their Baptism, and I have proved, that they are not made members of Christ by their Bap­tism after;

Much lesse can any of them truly say, as each child of theirs is taught to say, that, In my Baptism I was made [the] child of God

So James Nayler said, I am [the] Son of God.

This dignitie belongeth only to the holy child child Jesus Christ the Son of God. To whom be Glory and Domi­nion for ever. Amen.