A LAMENTATION against the Professing Priest and People of OXFORD; And to all in the Cages of unclean birds, called Colleges.
WOE be to the Deceived and Deceivers, that will not Enter, nor suffer others, through your lies and traditions. Woe be to you that speak evill of that you know not, and of the Servants of the most high God, which he hath sent to visit you, whom you say are bewitched and deluded of the Devill: Is separation from sin, pride, and deceit, (in which you live) a delusion? Nay, we feel it to be freedome, that have believed and obeyed him that is made manifest for that very end, to destroy the works of the Devill; we set to our seal that God is true, but they that believe not make God a Lyar. You plead for sin while you live, when I have been wounded for sin: some of your Priests have told me, I could not be freed from sin in this life, but that I should be cleansed after death by the blood of Christ; I then answered you, My conscience condemned me, and God is greater and would also condemn me, and that I find in the Scripture, that as the tree falls so it lies, and as Death leaves man judgement finds him, yet you told me I should be washed and made spotlesse in Christ, but since the Lord hath opened my eye to behold your abominable deceit, and false doctrines of Devills, by which his Kingdome is upheld; and in this you as much as in you is, frustrate the End of Christs being manifest in flesh, which was to destroy the works of the Devill, and all that are born againe will witnesse against your Doctrine, for he that is born of God sins not, neither can he because the Seed remaines in him.
Oh abominable Doctrin! that denies Christ to be a compleat redeemer, to you that are pleading for sin, and live in pride, coveteousnesse, and deceit, indeed you are not redeemed, you will not come to him that you might have life. And so the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world you know not, nor the Grace that hath appeared to all, and brings salvation to them which obey, you know not, but in my measure I witnes him, and denie you and your Doctrin.
Woe be to you that are pleading for sin, it is for sin that the Lord will have a controversie with you, professing Priest and People of Oxford, plead no longer for sin, but turn into that of God in you, which shews sin and evill, and waite in it for strength to be delivered from sin. Oh that you saw what an enemy. sin is to your soules! then you could not sit at ease in your wealth and vaine glory: Oh that you were sensible of the dreadfull day that is coming on you for sin, wherein that which now checks you will roar like a Lyon, therefore tremble you beasts of the field.
Oh abominable Priests! the worst of all men, deceivers that will not enter your selves nor suffer such as would; will your Preaching and long prayers plead for you, in that day which the Lord will plead with all flesh? Give over deceiving, boast not in other mens words, saying, Thus saith the Lord, when he hath not spoken to you, for that the true Prophet of the Lord hath cryed woe against, and against all that steal words from their neighbours; and till you know the word of the Lord, and are commanded by it, for ever let your mouths be stopped, for what is the chaf to the wheat, turn into the light of Christ with which he hath lighted you and all men, and that if you heed it will teach you to stand in Gods counsell, the want of which hath been the cause of so little profit amongst your hearers, which have been long learning, and are not able to come to the knowledge of the truth, but are deceived by your empty words, which are but as husks to feed swine, but the Fathers house is not known by you nor them, where there is bread enough. Therefore, I say, give over your deceiving, and holding the truth in unrighteousnesse, for against such is the wrath of God revealing, because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God hath shewn it unto them, Rom. 1.19. The word of God is near, even in the mouth and in the heart, and that was t [...]e word of Faith which Paul preached, Rom. 10.8. And blessed are all they that know it, hear it, believe it, and obey it, they come to hear the true Shepheard, and a stranger they will not hear: Now you are warned to give over deceiving, by a friend to your soules, but a hater of all your pride and deceit, known to the world by the Name,