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 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 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 expoſſions of the beſt that ever expoſited, is meant of both.

But Mr. Dell, q ••• ore, with what •• ce 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, Geneua, &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 Properie 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 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 avouth 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 breached 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 dogniatical points of Faith, and with a 〈…〉 (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 Prinitive Church, long before any point of Popery was hatched, that men notable for ſanctity in thoſe times did paſſionately implore the aid and inte • miſe of the ſword temporall toward the defence of the true Chriſtian verity, and the depreſſing, yea, extirpating of known Hereſies, as 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 Pontiſiciall 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 tho man: whether then? marry to withdraw the Parliaments countenancing prorection 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 Papory in this Kingdome, for interlacing it ſelfe with the temporall power, and craving its aid and ſuccours againſt thoſe that would bring in aparchicall 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 bene, the power of Chriſts Kingdome mightily enlarged, the exaltation of the Goſpel wonderfully furthered, &c. hinc illa lacryma, 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? ſeeing 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 ſelfſame 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. 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 finger of Anti-Chriſt, as it is now) therefore they taſted of the ſame ſawee with them: but what did the good Anabaptiſts 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 menaciny 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 daming 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 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 bonaſide 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 then there was no King in Iſrael, what follows? Ʋnusquiſque fecit qued fibi 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 danger 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 wortem & ſanguinem uſ que I find in all ages that all Innovators are of Bruce his temper, quicquia volunt valdè volunt; rather then they will want their wills, Coelum terra miſcendum.

MAfter Dell Prologues in butter and honie, puts Maſter Love in great hopes of his conſcientious dealing: He will not wrong him (forſooth) in any meaſure, in what he ſaid, and to th'end he might not, he ſpares not to ſet downe the warrantable courſe he tooke, he would not truſt his owne memorie (that might have bin as weake as his wits) therefore he repaires to one who tooke Maſter Loves notes in ſhort hand, Honeſtaratio, tis faire hetherto: But will Maſter Dell ſay and hold? doth he wrong Maſter Love in no manner of way throughout his reply? no, not in the very paring of his nailes; not in a little vinegar language? No ſure; they may beleeve that will: but they that ſhall obſerve divers paſſages in his ſtrong Polymickes, muſt needs confeſſe that Maſter Dell falls three farthings in a penny: but ad rem. Maſter Love ſaith (and he ſaith true) that the begun reformation is cryed down with confidence by ſome that would have neither that nor any other ſetled and firmely eſtabliſhed to which the whole nationall Church ſhould ſubmit: to this Maſter Dell, being Lupus in fabula, and convinc'd by the verdict of his own Conſcience, as thoſe that are told of in the Goſpel man by man til the woman was left alone knowing himſelfe not only one, but the Maſter one of thoſe Maſter Love meant (as of purpoſe he would make it knowne to all the world, in his late worthy Sermon) Enters the liſt, takes up the bucklers, and replies in this manner. That the Kingdome of Chriſt is Spirituall, the Reformation of it anſwerable: That Maſter Love hath bin ſo blind or worſe as to affirme that the Preaching of the Spirituall and glorious Reformation is to preach againſt all Reformation. Is Maſter Dell ſo madiſh, fooliſh, knaviſh or worſe, as to charge Maſter Love with ſuch a notorious falſehood? Is not Maſter Love knowne to be as Jealous, painefull, laborious and active in th'advancing the kingdome Spirituall of Chriſt as he? Hath he not preſſed the glorious Reformation as farre as hee? Is Maſter Dell either ſo maſiciouſly ignorant or ignorantly malicious that he ſhould not bluſh to write that Maſter Love affirmes, That the Reformation which Jeſus Chriſt works in the faithfull by his Spirit is no Reformation at all? Is your ſottiſhnes ſo braſend that it durſt commit ſuch a Signall ſcandall to the Preſſe touching a brother and fellow Miniſter in the Goſpell? When Maſter Love preacht for outward Reformation and a ſetled decent viſible Government in the Church did he preach againſt the inward? Or in the judgement of all underſtanding, learnd, honeſt and pious men is it not inordine to the Inward? When Maſter Love deſervedly ſpake againſt your Chymericall whimſes, puſht he at the gracious operation of Chriſt in the heart of any particular man, thinke yee? Sir, Maſter Love averreth that you (as all that know you, know you doe) oppoſe at outward civill diſcipline in the Church: thats his aime, your reply hath nothing unto this, quitting you of this imputation: (Yow know it ſits to faſt to you to be ſhaken off) but inſtead of clearing your ſelfe of this, you clap a falſe aſperſion upon Maſter Love, and which is Nihil ad Rombum, as wide as Yorke from London, from a reply ad oppoſitum, That he forſooth denies Spirituall Reformation; well replide Maſter Dell, to what Maſter Love contradicteth not, you have returned a very able reply (Let able men judge of it) but to what Maſter Love contradicteth indeede, you reply nothing at all. Maſter Love contradictes your chalke, you would choake him with your reply in cheeſe; Maſter Dell you ſhall be no replier for me. Maſter Love informed that Honorable Audience no more then the world knowes, that you not only ſnarle and barke at, but would bite and reare in peeces all Chriſtian Civill Diſcipline and Church Regiment if you could; Maſter Love proceeds, and tells you as if all were comprehended within the narrow heart of man: and very well truly, for if every mans heart may paſſe for his owne acquittance, and none ſhould judge and controule our outward converſation and behaviour but our ſelves, men would quickly have the title of the play in their mouthes, A mad world my Maſters; But to this Maſter Dell replies. When the heart is reformed all is reformed (from top to toe, no ſuch matter, Maſter Dell, though the heart be reformed, yet all may not be reformed. Maſter Love accuſeth you rightly enough yet: Maſter Dell, men may obſerve in theſe times as bad beleevers and good men (namely many Religious and Votaries as they call them in the Church of Roome, both men and women, divers of them leading moſt innocent and harmeleſſe lives, and which if the roote from which they ſpring were right, might juſtly be tearmed holy.) So on the contrary, true beleevers, and none of the beſt livers. Some wonderfully I dare ſay enlightned yea and inſpired with the Spirit of God, who I will be bold to ſay had from God a large ſhare of ſaving Graces, I and in whole hearts (I write it with confidence) the Spirituall kingdome of Chriſt was certainly by himſelfe erected: Yet of their living very looſe that I may not ſay ſcandalous: as theſe men paſſe downe the ſtreames of this life and in the ſtearing of their courſe approach too neare the Anchors or Sands of offence: whereby they are in danger to be either ſplit by the one, or Swallowed up by the other; would not the publicke and viſible Boye of diſcipline eſtabliſhed in the Church point unto theſe men the true Chanell of a righter, and ſafer converſation? and ſhall we bring a Text or two of Scripture to confirme this? Our Saviour in the Goſpell, as touching an obſtinate and refractorie brother, ſaid to us expreſly dic Eccleſiae, and in caſe of refuſall to ſubmit in all dutifull obedience unto it, whether for admonition or cenſure, (according to the nature of the failing) Sit tibi tanquam Ethnicus et Publicanus. What is this Church but the choſen and ſelected members, the heads of the Tribes (as I may ſo call them) men Eminent for pietie, and Signall abilities of government and diſcretion, which are conſtituted and ſet up by the whole Chriſtian Congregation and Aſſemblie, whether Nationall or Provinciall, Ad cauſas cognoſcendas, to judge of order, direct, reforme, yea, & cenſure too if need ſo require, the exorbitant ſwarvings of their inferior and younger brethren? and what meanes (Dic, tell) but complaine? if no other remedy, if private admonition will not ſuffice, ſi longius Serpit malum, if he proceedes in detrimentum totius, if by his ſtife-neckedneſſe others alſo may or do fall into careleſneſſe, Why, Dic Eccleſiae ut Curet illa ne res-publica Chriſtiana inde damno afficiatur; that the ſinnews of the Churches body be not thereby looſen'd.

The Apoſtle Saint Paul, in the cloſe of one of his Epiſtles gives expreſſe order to marke ſuch as walked diſorderly. What meant he by thoſe words (marke ſuch?) Surely, ſome Emphaſis, ſome reſtraining coercive power was in them. But doth Maſter Dell, and his Peripatetick (Comrade, that (walking) I doe not ſay (Wandering light) Maſter Hugh Peters, the miraculous new Goſpeller, That famous Centaure or Horſebacke Preacher, do theſe two great Pillars of this late forged building (the new peculiar people of God) preſume to ſay and preach likewiſe that they have no need of any outward Government they? Theſe men have no durt, no, not upon their clothes they, much leſſe in their skin: Gods choſen amongſt whom can be found neither blur nor blot they, and then I pray what need of any Church Government on them, I mean theſe Darlings and Favorites of God, who have as great an impoſſibility from erring as the Pope: They are ſo farre in Gods bookes that they can hardly get out: Homines omni exceptione Majores, they; I remember that ſometime the Lacedemomans boaſted, that they had not any Whores amongſt them: no by no meanes they: yet by the Lawes of their State they were permitted Concubitum promiſcuum, every man to hold his Neighbours wife as deare as his owne, and ſo in honeſt plaines they were all Whores: I will forbeare application at this time.

Mr. Love infers the racing our the firſt Article of the Covenant from Mr. Dells poſitions, if they took place: and well he might make ſuch an inference: for that Article obligeth me, beſides other things, to maintain a Diſcipline in our Church, conformable unto the Diſcipline of the beſt Reformed Churches of Chriſtendome, and namely, to that of Scotland.

Mr. Dell to this Replies, That he had rather the whole Covenant were raced out, then the leaſt truth contained in the word of God. Mr. Dell by theſe words, ſeems to have a minde to ſet Gods word and the Covenant together by the ears; as if they were oppoſita at the leaſt, if not contraria, that they could not both well cotten, and were Mr. Dells power as good as his will, I ſhould be loath to truſt him (foenum enim portat in cornu) but God ſends hungeing cattle ſhort hornes: this game is too ſtrong for Mr. Dell, he will give it over, (there may be danger in it) the Fox loves no Grapes, not he.