Religions Lottery, OR, The Churches Amazement.
THe first that I shall begin with in this discourse is the Athiest, he being indeed the worst of all creatures, as in this his difinition may plainly appeare.
Athiest.
An Athiest is one that believes that there is no God, onely ascribes all things to the power of chance and fortune, he lookes onely upon the naturall things of the world, not dreaming of any other Deity.
Answ. To confute this Argument, I will use but onely this one Testimony, The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament sheweth the worke of his hands, Psalme 19. verse 1.
Papist.
The Papists among us are a people who would have a Church consisting of Cardinals, Arch-bishops, Bishops, Deacons, Jesuits, Friers, &c. independent to the Crown or civill Magistrate, he will acknowledge no High Priest but the Pope, from whom he expects remission of finnes and absolution.
Answ. To confute this opinion of the Papists, I shall onely use this Argument to prove that there is no High Priest but Christ Iesus, you may read in the 7. chap. of the Hebrewes, at the 17. 23, 24, 25. verses, &c. The Lord testifies of Christs saying, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchesideck. [Page] 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 Priest-hood.
Arians.
The Arians among us are people that would maintain the Moysaicall Law, with the same Leviticall 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 Iesus, all men becamè Heires unto Salvation.
Arminians.
The Arminians among us are a people which would have the Church governed by Arch-Bishops, Bishops, they are halfe Papists and halfe Protestants, they would have Altars, Cushions, Wax-Candles, with the first and latter Service, one at the Deske, the other at the Altar, with many other superfluous Ceremonies.
Protestants Answer.
Either that these Ceremonies may be lawfull or no J will not question, but J am sure they are not effectuall to Salvation, but rather a Rocke of offence at which may stumble; Therefore they ought to be abandoned, for whosoever so sinneth against his Brother and woundeth his weake 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 meere 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 vaine and fruitlesse 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 beene 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 onely to pray for them and leave them to Gods 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 Neighbours Wife.
Anabaptists.
The Anabaptist would have no Government at all in the Church, neither would they have any Baptized, 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 Kingdome of God, and if Children be Saints in the Church Tryumphant, it cannot be denyed, but that it is lawfull by Baptisme to bee made Members of the Church Militant.
Novolists.
Novolists are those that change in their opinions oftner then the fashion, sometime they are Papists, sometime Puritanes, they are never constant in one thing, but alwayes wavering like a Read shaken with the wind.
Protestants Answer.
To these I will onely give a Christian like admonition, Examine your selves whether yee be in the faith prove your owne selves, know you not that Iesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates, Cor. 13. 5.
Time-servers.
Timeservers are alwayes of the strongest side, they commend no discription 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 ordaine 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 spoyle you through Philosophy and vain receipt after the tradition of men and not after Christ, for in him dwelleth all fulnesse 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 Canonicall Ceremonies.
Answ. I need quote no Scripture to prove this opinion unlawfull, the Report strikes terror through the whose Kingdome, onely 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 worke.
Seperatists.
The Separatists are men that would have no Bishops but Elders, Ecclesiasticall and Layicke.
Prot. Answ. That the government of the Church especially in teaching doe no way belong to Laymen, is made apparent in these words; Having then gifts, differing, according to the grace that is given as, whether prophesie let us prophesie 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 Common-Prayer, onely 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 Puritane is the most commendable of all the rest, for he would have a Religion for which he hath a president, to wit, the Kirke of Scotland.
Prot. Answer, To which opinion I can say little, onely I conceive, that the difference in the Ordinance alters not the effect, since in the fundamentáls wee doe perfectly agree,
Rattle-heads.
The Rattle heads are a company of shallow-pate haire-brain'd shittle witted Coxcombes, that neither regard Law not Religion, they regard nothing but to make mischiefe, build Castles in the Ayre, hatch Stratagems, invent Projects, and doe mischiefe with dexterity, and after fly for it.
Answ. To thefe I have little to say, onely I wish that they had more grace, so leaving them to the pricke of conscience▪ and the lash of a Beadles whip▪ I rest.
Round-Heads.
The Round-heads are people that would have the Church and Service orderly performed, but yet they are the chiefe Ring-leaders 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.