>, TWIT AW COULfiCI Secfcfou S^3 '""ff.^num ##########^- :> ### / k T T E S TAS TO THE Teftimony of our reverend Brethren of the Province of L ON'DO N TotheTruthofJ E S U S G H R I S T, and to ^Solemn Leagus WCovsnant: as ALSO, Againft the Errours 5 Herefies, and Blafphcmics of theic Times, and the Toleration ot them. Refolvcd on by the Minifters of Chejbire, at their meeting May 2. and fubfcribed at their next Meeting, June 6. 1 648. Now I beftechyou Brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jefus Chrift , that ye allffeah^ the fame things; and that there be no divifions amcngyoujmt that ye beperjeBly jeyned together in the fame tninde, and in the fame judgment, 1 Cor.i . io» Sunt qui quod fentiant etiamfi optimum fit, tamenn invi- diam metu non audent dicere, Cicer. de offic. l.i.f<$62. edit.Lutet. 1 5 54. Patiemurne igitur extingui aut opprimi veritatem ego ve.16 libentius, vel ftjjp hoc onerc defecerim, Laff.de OpificioDei, c.n. ^^oS. edit.Lugdun. 1594. London, Printed by R.Cotej for Cbriftofber Meredith, at the Crane in Pauls-church-yard, 1648. «&k cb fit? ci» i4? «ft» ate «fe sto sea s2b2fe*ii*Wil23kfiIes3i?afc set 3I2 S& ^» 4* <§♦ h.i »^ nr - <* .V 3. AN ATTESTATION Ofthe Ministers of CHESHIRE To the fESTlMONT of the Reve- read Brethren ofthe Province oiLondon, TO THE. truth of fESVS CHRIST, And to our Solemn League and Covenant, tsfs alfo) Againft ERROVRS&c, Sect. I. Reverend and f^ell-beloved Bretbnn y EE cannot but apprehend it us an efpeciali providence of God, that fo many godly and faithfull Minifters of Chrift in the Countrey, ( partly drawn together by authority ofPar- liament 3 to make up the Aflembly of- Divines at IVeftminfter 5 and partly driven to London^ as to a City of refuge, for fafety and fuccour from the violence and outrageof theadverfe party) have been lawfully allowed,and have frequently injoyed,many opportuni-. tiesfor&mrnmicationof cemftUs^ and conitibutien oiindtavnfrs 9 A 2 to An Atteftmonof the Mintjters of Cheihirc. to carry on the Covenanted Reformation towards an happy conclnfion; which are like to be fruftrateof much of the fruit and good erTett defired by them,uttlefie there be a confeiencious con- currence of your other brethreti, who upon the fame prin- ciples and intereftsftand deeply ingaged with you earneiilyto contend for th faith which rvat ohte delivered to the Saints^ as juft oc- caiioijr is offered, to fhe-w thernfelves not only refolure Vroifiants forir 3 but religious D ete ft *nt s aga'mtt all errors , hereuesj and blafphemies which are contrary to it. Wherein though you hiwepncedmy before m^ and advantage above us (both for intelligence and accommodation of conve- ning, andconfequently for confutation, confent and publi- cation of what you refolve en) we meant fat Ieailfome of us, from' the fir ft view e)f your printed Tnjbimony to the T/tfh ef Jejttf Chrift) you fhould not tbtrtiribH fingMr vihbbth nr. And now all of us whofe names are fubferibed , doe freely and publickly pro feffe, both how far y and upon what grounds and reafonj, we give our Atteftation to the contents of your booke forementioned: andfirft 6 viz, (gjtkat it cannot be known* in thfffe times who is an Heretick} but they are the lefle to be beleeved becaufe of more light in latter times, for the difcovery of truth and error 3 then in the ages more remote. Yet is there great difficulties and (by rea- fon thereof ) there may bee much deceit and errour, inan inconsiderate application of tfce word, Heretic^ though to a man of erroneous opinion, yea though grofleiy erroneous. This difficultie was the caufe that fome of the Antient? 3 who wrote againit Heretfcks were numbred with Hereticks them- • f c Ives 5 a$ (h) Itrtullian , ( i ) and Qtigen, and h Belt armine in effel ciUi Term! that fome of thofe who wrote of hereiies fince them have ( ^)fas Alpbonfw a Caftro writeth of Bernard Lutzsnburg) bten mifrrably mifiahpn in taking tbofe fr heretic^ who wen not , and fo came (fyAmw to be lifted in the black-bill of heretickes for denying the diftitt&ion betmixt a Bijhop and a Ytesbyttr . And for the larae opi- nion( in kind^hough differing in degree)was Qm)Hieram taken for an Aerian Hereticke by Michael Medina, but fooliftily and ignorantly faith the ( n) Arch-bifhop of Spalau And for Aerm himfelfe( though hee denied not only the Divine right of Epifcopall prelation, which Hierom did ) but ail right of preemi- nence of Biftops over Presbyters in the Church, (which Hierom did not )he is cleared alfofrom that contumelious title by the lear- ned author of the book called(0^« Varna, fecnum* A 3 /wjhcrerickjwhenhe frith Te/tul- liamm inter Cathelica non nwnera* mui.Bellarm. depcenit.Lx.c I.Tom* i Epiphan*H*refn64& in a Synod of Alexandrin.dn.^^^x/ide Fran* Long.fwn. coneil.p* 324. and 32.5. k Bernard Lunenburg mjfeieevaf* fe qui jCata!cgnmJ{<£retico r um defcri- tens aliquos recenfit qui mnquam "in fidecatho(rcafuernnt.Alpbtn.a caftro Adverfw tw eflibtic.9f.2i *?> 6 • VEpipha*. kdref. 7ama^c.p.i75. 277,27^ Our 4 An Attention of the Minijlers of Cheshire. Thirdly, Our judgements and defires concur withyours^con- -cerning the humble- advice of the Aflembly of Divines 5 now by authoricyof Parliament iitting at ^t^wi^^concerhing a con- fcifion of f aith 5 whereof we conceive it needleflc^to fay any rrfore, or otherwife, then you have done. 4. Fourthly, We profeffe we are filled with griefefor theprefent cvills upon us 5 and with fear of worfe(which feem eminent over ius^for want of that Church Government,which is mod agreea- ble to the word of God,and to the example of the bed reformed Churches, and we are ib much the more afflicted with the ap- prehenfionof botb,becaufe the Ordinance of Parliament (for the eftablifhment of it in a regular fubordination of Congregation 7iill, Cljfficall^ndJ?ravinciallPresbytzrU's) prevaileth fo little in molt places- which we muft impute partly to the mifreprefenta- tions of it 3 to thoft that mould fubmituntoit; (fortofomeitis rendred formidable) as if ic were more oppreffive then ever the Prelacie was ; to others defpicablejov want of a competent power to proceed to effe&uall reformation of offenders; and to mod (whatfoever it be in it felf)itis the more unwelcome,becaufethey have bin fo long wonted to live without rule,that now as ions of nor to nave fo niuckrefpeft unto them.r Luther was memfpiritua- once fo far eartyed with a pleonafm of zealous emulation of the emfaftpienti- honor & utility oftheWordof God(above the writings of men) m UkmEccle. t ^ at fc € yfijjfy n j $ own Books were burn't,for fear they (hould be \tmmdoi£M- an hinderance to men's more profitable employment in read- umjegrftid ingthe holy Scriptures 5 though otherwife hee was wife c- Dei&juJlitU nough to know how ferviceable handmaids to Divinity they fidei intelHgend. ma y ^ jf defcreetly ufed; and for his own workes (/) whereof kh^S <* re ? re f erre d before many Volumes TnEp.AdQiUt. of tbe Father j,hee (hewed himfeife fo addifted to them, that when qnam omnii. Hi- by the Popes decree his bookes were burnt,(Ohee in revenge there-' eronymi,Bafilii 9 c/folemnly burnt the Popes Lawes and that papall decree, CyriniQrigenH, U y Qn Wa j c hf feverea fentence, arid execution pafied upon Uiifo pleraq; them. patrum opera in From his high eftimation of theft facred Oracles how low mm colleSa. are they fallen in this wretched generation of our's, when fome ^ av J d f^l tr 1 M have not been aftiamed nor afraid, (which in the uttering, and fo'l 12 > e ° hearing , weejtbinke worthy to bee entertained with the trem- t Skid.Com.U bUngoftbe b*Uy and quivering of the lips of the Prophet Hab.%.16.} **P*i>}9- blafpncmoufly to compare tbm inpoint 0] hoiyneffetothe mop con- V.Nihloplus urnptible part ofthe meaneft creajure. efcScnptZ'u, ^ ee C0U ^ ( unc * cr ot her titles,) make remarkable additions yuamcaudtci- to your Catalogue of jfrrours, of our own times, ( as your nin*autfelin£. felves wee doubt not might eafily have done ) but that bundle See Mr.Vican Q f weeds is fufticient for the prefent( having occallon under a- led Colcmt- " other f k '? b u "?8 «'«>»^ot»«») t0 few how negligently ftrect conclave tne garden ot the Lord hath be*naceytt«, and howfubtilly and vfued,rhe re- fucceffcfuUy Satan hath proceeded iiriinis feducements of fimplc port and proof and finfull people. And tfaerefortifcs wee profefle we are deep- oUt,pa^sh \y affe&cdwith fear and forrow,for the prevailings of Satan fo farr a mong us : foin the next place wecannotbut Eealoufly avow our diflike of Toleration of them. SECT. A*Attcptio*of the Minifiers of ' Ghcihlrci j V r. Si CT, I L. .- lis BUt here we crave leave clcarfy^ to deliver what in Judgment and conlcience wee conceive and doedefire for- this par- ticular. Firft,We think it meet thataduediitin&ion be made betwixt errour and errour r becaufe Humanum eft err are ,. jand wi(h that (fince all men never were nor will bee of one and the fame opi- nion, no more then oftheiam: feature and complextion} it were diligently debated, and judicioufly refolved what is the latiradeofallowable differences by the Word of pod* and how farre the ftrpng ought to beare with the infirmities of the weakj Rom.JS'i' Gal. $$to Secondiy,That the lives of erroneous Dogmatifts(though civil or religious J fhould not gain fo much credit or countenance to . any dangerous or damnable tenet 5 as to procure it favour, or protecYioa, for their fakes. For a very erroneous Religion may have fome that profefle it fuch as may be commendable for their morall conversation. And thpugh CfABtUarmim out of hatred to, thofe hee Sunt .^idem in Ecclefia CAtbolict calls Hereticks ( and hee thinkes moft of jfiSfi* M* H'VrT^t Protectants when hee ufcth that name) 13, To w. />./>. 83* fay that among Catboliques (that is 3 Papifts, (x)Muln qni apenefrrkfimt nQt how good the Do&or is,but how found the doctrine %i d lbil he <*ivutg<*b> & if the one begood,the otherbad 3 in fuch a cafe, aViiigite'homi-tht faying c>f(V) Augufcine is feafonable and iutable to both, nesjnserfcite • deal in allrnildnefTe with the men 3 but (hew no mercy to their trrtrti>AH* errour. p n *D* Thirdly, For the errors of men if they be fuch as be not one- propefin. * * ty Contrary to the Scripture,but inconfntent with falvarion,both 7.104.74/717. Mihifters and Magiftratefe (we ranke them thus, hot in order of pvt.i. dignity but of duty) may and ought according to their railings and places to oppofe -them n fo that they may fuppreffe them : 1. Minirtersby difcovering^f thern^ pteachingj writing, and b Rem a meefentenm minimedubwn, Wh\eh(byb'ott%b*bej be rntfwmin may be made arffimentandi dubiam fatfai Cteefl donbtfuU by fopbifticall wrahglinos^nd fome er- tZBB838&£%3 -urCa, that ofp;^x ir who heJd/^ 4ram.Cker.kcad4u.T1n.npag> 17- 1 ti?W Mac Up aria Chat ot (d) Arijfo & Pyrrho 9 tf Inter uptime vaiere & grwffimt whofe6pihi6n%asthatthere watno'difaencc -+grotaw Arift+fr.Tynh- gxewnt ^ /rrt > e „ ^ ryt ^d Jktitb and nntvwix ' fkineJTe* Stefe* and that '**i Pr ^ r " wh0 »*$*™' e Al'md Indicium JProtagor^eft-qui that U trite to every om , which appearetb or puetJdcHiqveiHweffequodcuiqM- fttmeibtobeetme) are fo abfurd , that they deamr.Cieer.AMd.qu.lin.2.p.iQ r are mb«J Worthy to bee exploded then deba- / Cieer.de fmbrftfipr* hud. ^ fc ~ ny jLjfrfa of reafo and aga ^ JHcft (faith the/ Oratoiir,) mn have long ftnee left of to difpute 5 and fuch furely are many of the fanatical fancies of our present time. But fuch Tenents as may deferve difpute, and may lately be admitted to debate -and difcufli on, ^though occafidnally both Minifters and other Chriftians may fall to argument and conteftatiojj about them) wee conceive (and thereupon have unaninaoufly refolvcd for our felves,/that no fct conference or - difpute An\Atttptionof th Miniprs of Chcfhirc. 9 difpute concerning them bee undertaken by any Mtnuier or o~ theripfivice Chriiiiaii,withoiit the common eonfen* of the; Minifters, and their advice how to order or manage it in the molt convenient manner, And recoRdly»forMagiftf»tes,webol4 it to be their duty, (and they are to bepa^t in $ind of k by the , Miniilers if need require)to prohibit the^ nbljfhingor fpreading of falfe and dangerous opinions., and if they bee publi(hed in g'^SJerUei Bookes and Pamphlets, that they ought to purfuc them, with ProtAgorcKcwn zeale as hot as fire, that they auy bee burned as the Bookes of * n P rmi P i0 H- (g)Akderitej Protagoras were at 4tlxnsi&v his, (peeking dmbtfuUy jjrJ U J e ^ °>* \ tf Rdigim in thi beginnwgofthm y and thebpokes tfcuripw artJ utfim.m^ut £< at Ephejm , A&siy.iy, and the Bookes of th: bmtkh s as of 'non fnuhabtodh (6) Arius and others, , and that the perfons of fuch-as are c f r ^^— ■ l lbtl forward to poyfon foules with pernicious errours, if when they e ^J " conaone be forbidden they Will notforbeare,ought either to be confined, ctcerJcNat* or. exiled, zx^Abd^fiHs Protagerat wm -by ; t-beCivill aKtbority > t Deo.l.i.p.2o6. andno more to ta allowed liberty to (educe the foules of men ^ Mcep.cilifi. totthe belief of damnable doctrines, then thofe who have the l c ' %l o Cc j' Ji ^' Plague fore running upon them to come into allcompanieSjOry'^V^^ for/furious mad men. to bee permitted , to walke at la^rge Mf^lth juffimri>e-Mtf; Swor,ds jrt their hands to wound andkiU whom they meet, if a groextenmnt- they-haveaminduntoit. tmfi{ibnq- And wee lake k to bee the true Blood? Tenevt, (»l|t|!W^ give denomination to the Booke oPthat title, (though the ' g ' Authour meant no fuch matter) f. That it 'is themU 'ofGodkBloofy Tc- that fince the comming of his Son Chrift IefHs^fermipm^ of the mo f Pdgar?, IewiflhTurkifh,andAMtckripZb bmfcfc encet ; andworfiipsbe granted to attmen y in >dll Nations and Countries y and that they are onely to bee f ought againft, (with that which onely jnfoule matters is able ft conquer) to rifc" the [word of Gods Sftrit | [the Wordtf Gt>d: AndQ) that to Va^0^^^^3^wg^^^n^^3tf^y^ ^fe^^ ,fc T^M^SS5fe#5BPSi^ , 5^^^^ ^aUMl^w^^Bu k»^ either frofefing docfrmeor fraclijing Wbrjh/f mee-rely Religious or Spiritual! , is to perfectie him, and fuch a pxrfon what &jer his Doftririe or !*fti&$S? w> 9 true or me, [uprs'the pft)@ri£^ B 2 are *o An AtU^umtfthe Mhifiers of CJxfhirc. arc fuchmaxlmesoffouJe-murtherag if when hec wrote them, Satan(whomoft thhftethfor the blood of foul*) did notonely ftohdat hUright hand, asPfal. up. 6. but did guide his pen while he wrote fuch paradoxes of perdition 3 agairin' which it were an eafic taske, ("if it were any part of our pretent undertaking) to make good the contrary tenent of (w)'**" n Meaprimhw Semen ia trat nemi- guftine* Where bet •corrected his former ftmijhejfe Ktn adverimem Chnfli ege cogen- ^ \ m ^ y towards the erronious by refohw inn. Sea htc op. mo met— " , r j • ; i r . inn ronv^centium verbis »P°? bet ! er ^deration, that men may be compel- led &K*tflrfiW$km fupeftUur txem- l™ ^ ™eir own good , - and overruled when thy ffis. AHf/lp^Vihienwp-.ic)^. are in an eviUmind^ rxh'ich n the fnmm*ry contents of bus Epifi/e fo Don ai w the Vonatifl^ when cited to the council! bee offered to mah^awaj bimfelfe by the 7VJJ. Fourthly,Tn opposition to the prodigious indulgence forenoted* and to the evlll effects it may produce(if riot opp6(edby the Ma- » gilVfates as'wd! as by the MinifWs.-) We conceived wasnecef- fary -for the'High Court of Parliament to fet forth an Ordi- n The fame nance for the piinifhirig of Blafpheniie's, as they did the fecond Jay the MM- of Maj, 1648. Whereof the iumrriary Contents which wee tors of c&j/fjft 'think feeex to mention in thisplace ittfifilii allfnlhycrfons k K^^ *fw the date r of -thisprefht Ordinance roive'd of an wl Ui m h by pr.eacbw?^. teaching 5 printing or writing , t^t^^^^^m^ there is no God or that Gjdis not to the -rtuthtof pre fen* w tUnl^h 'dot knot \nw and foreknow all things, Jefas Chrift. ar f y % b^vot-Ali^tfjhat fa iy,Yiot perfectly mly,or that he is mot Bt email ^ that the fattier 14 not Ged,the Son ' is not God or that thcJfotyGbcft is not God: or thatjhall in like-wdnmr[maintame ajjd^ubl^that Chrift is not, Gode- W&Trhhihe fMher^allJcvj the wM ood of thrift or tkattfoCpAheadandMa^^ feverAll na- tures, or that the humanity ofchrift, is pure and unfpotted from all fmne,cr that ftall maintain or publijh as a for e- [aid, tfat Chrift di Hot dyt\nor rife from the dead y nor it.afcendelwtQ hav^h^yCrtha^ deny his death is weritcrio** L An Atttftation of the Miniflers 0/Chcfliire. i I meritorious in the behalf e of Beleevers : or that jhall maintain andpublifh as aforejaid^ that the holy Scriptures of the oldTefamentfrom'thefrf of Gcncfis to Malachi, and of the New Teflament from Matthew to the Revelation is not the Word of God % or that the bodies of men (lull not rife againe } or that there is no day of Iudgement after death: AH juch maintaining and publifhing of fuch err our or er- rours is made felony > and the party accufed thereof by the oath oftwowitneffes before any two of the next Iuflices \ {who in fuch a cafe are authorised by the Ordinance, to mi- ni fler an Oath) or by confeffionof the party (hall by them bee committed to prifon without baile or mainprise untill the next Gaole- -delivery at which hee jhall bee indi tied for felonious publifhing and maintaining juch err our. And in cafe the Indictment bee found ^ and the party upon his tria/l jhall not abjure his jaid err our and defence^ and main- tenance of the fame y hee (hall fuffer the paines of death 5 as iff cafe of felon ie without benefit of Clergie, and in cafe hee jhall renounce and abjure his )of ail irreligious Religions propofeth ) 26^3^' yet as we take the tenet of Independency to be an error in it felfe , * Tert. "to (b doe we find it by found reafon and fad experience to bee 3 if rruth>&cp. rtat the naturall mother, yet fuch a tender Nurfe and PatronefTe P * n his . boc to hereticall opinions of all kinds s ihat to it we may (for a great j^dy Tcri part) afcribe the luxuriant growth and fpreading of errors, hereiies, &c. fo far over th|s Kin^dome ; as on the contrary the freedome of the Kingdome or ScotLwd from the like evills ( q ) /which is record d as their happinefte * and to their honour ) to the fir me efta- 1 *"" # s ^' 1CAn ' Jrivilegim varum .,.„ r i u j u n u -if quo e)w nomer. apud extcros tHit celebi bliPiimentor a iubordinate Presbyteriall ) uod archer anJsplmmmui^. (ante, Government among them. ,<5o 2 , ) ftnefcbifmtenedw hsrefiunn Sixthly, Notwithstanding we are far tern cum puritate doftrin* retimerit. in pi -from the rigoreus refolutionofCO^/- $> nta & Cen M-P ■6iedit.Oen.T612. in .. . ^1 . • rrz. • r. ./ ^ . •/? r Hwticos inco) rigivilts <& pone <& dct\ -larmtm^bo^perempt^rthepm Wm^bmm^^^^^ '■■■ofhtreticfywirbdeatb^mthout any fuch multan . Bell de Ukisjrf. c. 2. 'diftincYionor difference as is made in sjjarericuobftinatis bene fawn eft -quod theOrdinance of Parliament) (s)affir- tac vita toffantur, nam quod diuttus vnw nun* alfi it is a \i*dmfe tothemjo cut them e0 P lur J S *£?%&*£ llZTZ '*, 1 -, it- 1 tunt.&maprem Jibt aamnauonem gem •iff. becjujeibe Imger they live, tbemoreer- rm t. ibid. p. 22$. col. 2. rots they will iment s the mare ferfonj tbey } will pervert ^andfo ts procure tbemfelvej the* deeper damnation. Which conclusion of his we account the more cruel ,becau(e of the largeextentof the title Heretick,in his fenf&comprchending allChnliVianswhoprofeffenotfubje&ion to his Antichriftian Ca-pbas the Pope/ But we conceive the Spirit of Chrift brea- theth into his, more meeknefle and moderation towards fuch as are contrary minded,tho«gh their fimpliciry have fometime been fo far wrought upon by thefubtilty of others &s(t)to become mad agrinft the medicine that jhould cure, xMedicamentant fciunt & infant jknt advtrjl them of their madnejfe. At whom when Antidotum quo fani ejfe pepiiJJm.Aug.Coi wee are moved to bee angry, wee mud. H mL - 9 ' c l hbJffiufa > ■ v;. M * r W a a- uQwtm vehement! & acrt dolor e indignab* Uirne anger mco .pity as ( v) Aupfime Mw C hMi^wifir$kfw^A^ W aid i^ An Atteflation of the Minifters of ChzMtc. did towards the ManchicJ?ees y and when weoppofe them,wee ma/I [J Sine fuper • as he( w ) a d vifeth without pride prefume of the truth t and without M de veritate cru rftf contend fir the truth, not abridging them of any liberty ei- ftniTprc v™ tner of opinion Or of pracYiie,which may be proved by the word me cerme. of God to be apart of their Chrittian right, Which weprofefle Ug.connci lit. without all prejudice to fuch neceflary and falutary (everity , as ktil.Donatijls by juft and lawfull authority is already or bereafcer (hall bee tr*! Vioj* thou ghtmeettobeexercifedupon tho(e,whoby their fedulity in folliciting to perillous opinions, as by their obliinate per- iling in them may deferve that. Sect, III. THus far for the firft point, bowfarrejou have our confute We are next to (hew our reafons why we thus joyn With you, both in our judgments and in our publick profeflion thereof to r ^ rlm ^ m the world.For though we thinke with Ambrofc , ( x ) that it is m fonolmli matter °f Advantage to fort and ajfociite our f elves to every good man, tmbr. deOffic. much more tofo many and fo worthy Divines as are united in a. cap. 10. your fubfcription to theTeftimony to the Trtuth, &c. Yet we rinc, conceive it will be rather a fupport to the caufe,then a prejudice Sapientiam to you, or in us, to any other (who haveappeared in this com- bt adnniintfo pjy ance before us ( and who might bee Co much (horter, as they Zentl *ufo* were quicker in their Atteftationjif we put ofTthe reproof o((f) tm prolmt r> La&antius 9 by fubjoyning to our former Affent fuch confidera- 'aliifpecudum ble reafons thereof as thefethat follow. tre dhenntur. Xhe firfl: we take from the jult zeale we oaght to bear to the 2.e$!p. 129. & or y of God,which is much oppofed by error, herefies, and tafryc* hoi. bJafphemies, and the Toleration of them. ForaIbeit(^)7*/&e- 4 c» 27* p. tnifliuf told the Emperour Valens^ th at variety of SeUs tended to 3$» the glory of *" t^U o»* x) ^-nt-aWc **x&w»-;-— And( rf ) a/ur* of wrenches called Anti- f ^ puttf*"/"**™ «***k«'>« «*' i,T0X " " v U&xfo far contemned and affronted itjbat tf-cumns, *4Uxandr. fj>*w! qfiw htzaufe tbe lave faidfTbmfo alt not commit p% * 9 ' adultery , they profejfed they would commit adultery. And this impure purpofeand pra&ifeqf theirs, they grounded upon an impious principle of their own, holding two Gods., a firft and a fecond; the fecond ( they Cud ) fowed tares, corrupted mankind, and gave the Law, in breaking whereof, they make account they have revenged the wrong of the firft and better God, upon the fecond and worfe. The fame Devil! which fuggeftedfuch wild and wicked con- ceits to therr,Sath taught forae of our times(t)'0 j»*4? *be Cbappei b Teftlm to Ac o/Rome the Church ofCbrifijbe brand fet in the forehead of the great rrurh > * € ?♦•' wbore^ becaufe it is in the Frontifpict of all the Catbolique Cmfeffions^ ?* of you have noted in jour Catalogue. And the Devills Amanuensis doubtlefle he was, who not many yeers fince wrote the book of Mans Mortality,which prefents to the world a gallipot of poy- fon, for an AIabMei;-box of Spikenard, Mar. 14. 3. in which peftilent Pamphlet, are fuch blafphemous and abfurd afler tions, as Religion may abhorre, and reafon deride; and that filch poy- lpnful pills may be fwallo wed with the lefle fufpition of danger; they are fugared over with prefatory praifes- and the doftrine of (he immortality of the foul, that it may be diftafted and detefted, C blafphe- 1(5 J* Attention of the Minijlers o/Chdliire. blafphemoufly reproached, as if it had been rather raffed up out; of hell, then fentdownetrom heaven. And can wee take notice of fuch notorious and horrid con- tempts of the truth and honour of our God,and not be fo far moved with them, as to teftifte our confent with our godly bre- thren againft them? God forbid, yea we hold it our duties in true zeal to his glory, rather to become emulous of the melting fpirit of David, when he faid, rivers of water run downe mine eyes htcaufe men k$ep not thy law^Tfal. 1 1 9, 1 36. how much more^when they doe not only not keepe the law 3 but teach men to break and to contemne the law, and as much as in them Iyeth,to difanull and deftroy the law^ not only the law ot Faith, Romfy 27. a? this impious mifcreant forementioned would doc, but the law of workes alfo ( the rule oHife, which is another law of the fame Apoftle in the fa'me placed as the Antinomians goe about to doe. both contradicting and blafpheming them,as the Jews did Pauls preaching, AUs 13.. 45. and the Anti-Scripturifis^ho doe the like againit them both, Law andGofpel, as you have f TcftHn.to rhc foewed in your Qf) Teftimony; It is time for theeO Lord to'jvorfy rrurh,&c.p, %.)or they have made voide thy Laxv, Vfah Up. 1 26. and for the I5> i^» Lords fervants to worke with him, and for him, and to contend for the Emphaticall conclufion of the Apoftle, Doe we mah^ void the Law through faitbl God forbid, yea wt efiahli/b the Law^Rm. 3. ji. And while many aFefo lewdly lawleffc, as our late errone- ous and hereticall Rabfhakeh's haveihewed themfelves to bz^Wi sarin* t but call tQ mind the deep fenle that King Hezihjak had up- on the blaiphetnous reproaches of the Aflyrian Generall, when at the hearing of them he rent his cloaths^ cowed bimfelfe mtbfac^' cloth ^ went into tbebeufeof the Lord^and made other patheticall exprcffionft,. which (hewed how much he was perplexed for the diftbnourx>f his God thereby, Ifa. 37. 1 -4. Nor can wee bt# defire and endeavour to be afTe&ed( as he was) with due pro- portion to the impieties and provocations of our prefent tirrefj and to give fuch demonftration thereof as the came requircth, and the opportunity affordeth. And though Minifters be inferiour to Kings in honour, yet in Seal to the glory of God they (hould not be frcond to any 3 hoW great foe ver 5 but Fore-men rather as the Leviteswere, who (whea An Attejtdtiw of the Mi*iftcrs.ofChc{bkc* tj \( when God wasdi&onoured by that uUpid idoJiu7,in ™*kina and worihipping the golden calfe, and Mo fa demanded who* m tkLwds fide>£xQd.$2.26.yame with theirfwordsby their fidea and did prefent execution upon the principail tran/greffbrs-and albeit we be no fuch fworxkmen as they were, norhave'any thing to doe with bloody facrificea as they had, yet we are not without our weapons ( which may bee of ufe for convi&ion, though not as thofc in their hands, for execution of fuch as are injurious and blafphemous againft the glory of God, as ihat I- dolatry was,and our modern herefies are^with our tongues and pens we may plead for the propriety and purity of Gods ho- nour, againft all who any way feekto oppofeoreclipfeie.And remembring how great thezeale of Mtfis was to the glory of God 3 when rather then the Heathen (hould have any occafion reproachfully to mifreport his judicial! proceedings with his people in the wilderneffe, Exed. 32. 1 2. he wifhcth that his name might be blotted out of Gods booke, ver. 3 2. We take it to be but a (lender teftimony of our zeale to the glory of our Maker and Redeemer to fubferibe a printed Teftimony to the truth of ,Chriit Jefus. Nor (bould we thinkeittoomuch ( if there were caufe to require fuch a fervice at our hands) to fee forth a * juft * Betwixt tfr volume for vindication of his glory, againft the hereticall tra- penning and ducementof this wicked and wretched age wherein we live. printing of ^ Atteftation 9 S^«- TT r h«re eame *"•"• forth a brief a 11 1 r^. • t yet found con As we are called Dmnes and under that Title and in relation fu «fion of «• to our great and gratious Lord Q whofe Ambaffador* wee are ,ors > w -' mti * 2 Cor. 5.20.) we ft and obliged to be affectionately fenfible of e^ £™? rt ef C p € very thing wherein his honour is concerned 5 So in our relation ~Prin t c< irom him to the people as lvatcb-men over their finks, H• 4, col*%* men ; the accufation of (k) Hierom may be ju- flified again (Van heretick^which lSytbat hee it a man of bloidyV/ho dayly is guilty of the blood of foules 5 and 10 mould we be 5 if we mould be filent when we have a ftrift charge to watch over them 5 to forewarne them of their danger > that) they may take heed of it. and we conceive this way of warning may be very ufefull, as a common fliout of the Shepheards to- gether, againlt the Wolfe in Sheeps clothing, though a Lion feare it not, Jfay 31.4. Thirdly., A third reafon which engagethesto a publkk at- teftation of thofe truths whereunto you have given teftiraony , and the difclaiming of errours as you have done, is the refpeft which of duty we ought to bear to the publick welfare of the Kingdome, both in point of fafety and of honour. Firft , for fafctie 3 and that from a double danger, the one of corruption of faith, faith^rocietyjandcivill juftkc; ( OM i/pity * wards God be \ Kaud fde , iak$n awaji ( and with tolerafion of all opinions in Religion^it p J etAte r {j ver ^ cannot coniifl) aitbtRomanOratour.inferrttb, faith arid that ex- J e !j^l'i tttlentvjrm Jufiice which uphMihUmaheficieij^ willfail 9 for &? turn humani adminiftration whereof, the dectfion of differences ", and the generUy&una Aiming of (Mfe is refolded in the Te(Hmony of an. oath, as € *eeBmi]jjM the Apoftle fteweth, »£ 6. 16. And what advance of an oath, ?^f * ™ m if it be not rootea in ReIigion,& now unliable will that root be f u r C4 ^/h /# with many, when they are fubje& to be fhaken with multiplicity i. p. 1^7. of uindes of erroneous doctrine? Ef^Vi4.The other danger is pf-the ru^n^of the weal puBlkk^which is haftened & fotnzwms fuddainfy brought on ( to the deftru&fon of Cities ) by evil! /ludieSj and evlll doftrines 5 ( m ) Heathenjet %erj prudent Mo- m Vetus Grsci* raliflsbaveobferved, although perhaps they were not fo wife as I onge provident to know this radical] ororiginall caufe thereof, w.tffdi is the 9^mfeh s fifn juft judgement of God, for the wicked fteffej? 1 men in particu- ?'!?"? "'J?**' lar, tor their Iicentioulnelie in tond andfaue opinion s,and im- rnalis ftudix, pious practices. And/ar the honour of our Church andState^how malifqne doftri- much is it impeached both at home and abroad , by the infamy nu 9 repeme mas of fo many errors,herefie5,and Se6b as have been , and yet are, c [ vlt * tesevenfs too .much tolerated among us?. What a fhame and reproach is tegibnp, 2*0, it to our nation at this day to fee it in print from" beyond fea, med. and that not by a Papift, but ( »)a Proteftant Dmne^Tbat Eng- n Angliabit 4, land within ihu four yeers ii become the finite and lake of Hydra for an ***J a 8*eft ^ajl errors andfe&s^tjo Frovince from the beginningof the world, info L erM onwju jbortafpacej bjib brought forth fo manjji) mmftrow berejfes^ as Eng- erremm & f e - Jand bath done. Againft thefe two greatevills both ordanger and Ctamm: tmfa a difgrace, the beft remedy and apologie we can hope for is this, c **6™ crh U that publick perlons doe openly profefle againft errors and he- plZl^llu^tlt refies. The Parliament hath done it thrice in moft publick man- menflrofubw *>er,ohce in their firft Declaration 5 n>&er« they /^(and a worthy^) fa protulit. At. Member of the Homrable Houfe tf Commons remembers them of it, ^ k*cHon§rut in an epilUe dedicatory to them,)// isfarfromQurpurpofet*defire Jjjjjfjjf &a™' to let loofe the golden reynes of difcipline and government in the Churchy Ecclefh Anglia to have private firfons % or particular congregations , totafy'up what p. 1, prtfat. forme of Divine Jervice they pleafe for we bold it requifite^ thai there ©Mr. Leigh frwldbe througbeut the whole Realm a conformities that Order ^wbich JjJ '^^^ the lawes tnjope^ according to the word of God, Secondly^ in their j}^ p a C 5 Ordi? 20 An Au eft at ion of the Mmjfters df Gbfefhire. Ordinance of the 4. of February, i6$6.for a day of humiliation of the whole Kingdomein regard of the growth of thofe wicked windes of err our, &c. Which being worthy ofperpetuall re- membrance, that it may not bee loft ina loo/e (beet, (for the glory of God,and honour of the Parliament) we conceive it convenient wholly to infert in this place. Die lovk 4. Feb. 1 6 ±6. An Ordinance of the Lords and Com- mons Aflemblcd in Parliament,concern- ing the growth and fpreading of Errors, Herefies, and Blafphemies-,fet- ting apart a day of publiquc humili- ation to feek Gods alfitfance, for the fuppreffing and preventing rhe fame. c \ 7\TEE the Lords and Commons Afemhled in Par- c V V liament of England 5 having entered ipto a c Solemn League and Covenant, to indeavour fincerely 5 c really, and con (lastly , the Reformation of Religion , in c Doffrine, Difcipline andWorftnp : and the extirpati- ' on of Popery, Super ftition, Herefie,Schifme^Prophane'nejfe y c and whatsoever (hall bee found contrary to found Doffr/ne^ c and the power of godlwefie $ and having found the c pre fence of God wonderfully -aft ft ing us in this caafe^ * especially fince our faid engagement in purfuance of the 'faid Covenant : Have thought fit (left wee partake in * other mens finnes, md thereby bee in danger to receive of 6 their plagues) tofet forth this our deepefenfe of the great * dijhortoM of God, mdpmlom condition that thh King- c dome AnAtteflathn of the Mhifers of ChcfliircJ 2 1 1 dome is /#, through the abominable blasphemies > and dam- ' nable herefies vented and spread abroad therein, tending c to the fubverfion of the faith 3 contempt of the Mini fiery, { 'And Ordinance of lefus Chrift 1 And as wee are refohed ' to imploy and improve the utmoH of our power, that no- * thing be faid or done again ft the truth ^ but for the truth^ * Jo wee dejin that both our J elves and the whole Kingdome < may bee deeply humiledhefor.e the. Lord for that great re- c proach and contempt, which hath heme caft upon his name \ \and Jiving truths^ and for that Jwiftdejlrucl ion, which c wee rqay. .juflyfeare will fall upon theimmortall Joules of $\fevhwkotiwor lJ miy t $ by giving heed to 1 JeduchigJpirits. ? Lfcfhe hearty and tender .comf a fitm- ^ whereof wee the faid* Lords and Commons Order and Or- * dainejhat Wednejday being the ic.day ofMavchneXt, be 'Jet apart for a day ofpublique Humiliation^ for the growth *&fpredding of errps, herefies S* b)afphemi&s\to be oh fervid c in all places within the Kingdom of Eng\md^& Bernini o'» c ofWdes^ndTown ofRcrwick^andtofeekGedforhisdi- Q rettion wd af, fiance Jor the fupprefjwg and preventing of c the fatne^ and all Mini fers are hereby injoynedto publifh rC thisfrejent Ordinance upon the Lords Day, preceding the Q faid tenth day of 'March. Ordered to bee printed^ and ^ copies 1 be Jent abroad by the Members that Jerve for the Q respective Counties, Cities ^and \ Burroughs. H. Sljyngt CLr. Pari. D. Com. . ■\ • . . , ■ • - . . 1 ■ Thfrdly,by their Ordinance of the 2. of ^aforementioned- for the punishing of Blaiphemies and herefies, which wee prefume had been fooner (et forth, if the diftemper* of the -times' had not defrauded them of ft opportunities for fuch a publication , and the Minifters doing their parts to the fasie purpofe to €ry down errour8,8cc. by preaching and writing a- fiainS : 7t An Attcftatien of the M'wifters tf Chefhire. gainftthem, there is the lefle caufe tofeare apublique guilt and perillofthe Kingdome,and a fairer defence again (t theiru- patatioTiofreproach ? thcnigb-thay bee not fo farrefuppreffedas they fhoaki bee. Fourthly., A fourth reafan why wee thus publiquely profeiTe againft errors &c. with you is,cecaufe of the fubti/ty , fedulity and pride of hereticks $ 1. For their fijbtilcy, they are as Fatti faid ofE/y*») DtvlU their vdmtte nccen-faiber, who hath a thoufand deceiptfull arts J or devices to dolhurt, m- ii vtes.Epifi* ftruð them in pernicious falkdesyaniteacheth them to make fmlim<e' choice of fuch perfons to worke apon as arc mod eafiiy de- 2«'aTm' ceived, and fuch wayes to worke by, as may bee moft probable g% for prevailing : Upon this grounddoth Gregory Nazlmzien fofe p ti fit ****&>* anlmpoftorin histime (^), Why faith hee doft then gather toge- [*» «*>•»»£*' tbv ai the filth of a fink into oneoulfe every vaine and Tight witted W>* nwriv&c, man 5 mt worthy indeed of the name of men , and by fttbtilty of Gr* Na^orat. f^ ttc y^ having made them more and more effeminate, baft fet up anerp 33.Tom.i. ?• fhoppe of impiety, : and by abufing their madneffej haft craftily contrived *" an barveft of advantage to thy felfe ? 2. For lethality, as the Devill is aperpetuall Peripatetick continually going to and fro y in the earthy and walking up and downe in it % lobij, 1 Pet. 5.8. So his agents and emiflaries hereticall teachers(as our Saviour (aid of the Scribes and Pharifees) compare Sea and land, to make aprofelyte, Matth* 23.15. Thus doe the Jefuites at this day, r Vhilip.kle- Q>^ as ne of * their own Order Jhewetb bj manifold! examples : and ^^S^tit'r k° tn tne y and otner ^ducers came of late from forain parts slcietdJfTfl^ 3* For pride, they f tm , are many of theni of the high mind of Eunmiu* the heretickj whom it would not fuffice, ( as the fame anciext f 'a^V^ jmvT^, w^t« am- Orthodox ( f ) DoElor obfrveth of him ) to bee of fre^N^ZZtfl^zi •*'"" f ome accoHnt )™dto have a ?iumber ofVifciples, but t Hoftit nofter tarn variu expug- hee tool^e it for a detriment to bimfelj^ unlejfe he might nandw eft telu qmm ofpugnat in- draw all to deftrutfion, after him. The confriera- SS£S9mS^ $® fc&mi'jfa »M caufeto caft about j* 6 r-i r -3D \,t J to overcome tkem as many wajejr S as they con.e to affault or oppofi tbetruthiand we conceive this way of unanimous difcovery and detection of errours.>8cc,to be of great moment, tothatpurpofe. Fifthly, An Amftmon of the Minifiers of Chefhire, S s c t, II L Flthly, A fifth reaibn , why wee thinke it requifite thus to expreflfe oar£felvcs opponents to errors, &c. is, becaufe of the common people, who by their levity and inclination toward vagrant fptculations , as (^) Calvin calls them 5 are apt to bee de- Y Tatitaplenfyte thillat togirwn fpecu ceived by fuch importers as with- nwn f f tdo > tamaqne kHW crcumagh oat feare, or wit, or learning, S#^ j * • a iu^r* Calvin expl* pei jiduValmten* Ocmil.opul or dexterity draw fuch di&ipies 672. after them; and as they are wil- ling to bee deceived , fqare they wilfull when they are deceived. For the firft, the obfervation of (w) Hierom hath bcene verified in w Nihil tarn facile eft , quamvilem plebec divers ages (ours for one, J that no- lingua vdlubilitate deciperetfnaquicquiduoi thin? it Co eaju as to deceive the vile **'*"' P} wm ™*L> Hkron > ad Ne P otj < ,* / . / , #> , de vita tier icomnuTom.i.p.no* vulgar fort, wit}) a voluble tongue, who x Prm impermm .„ jfifaj quam do ^ admire every thing fo much the more dtfcipuli. flieren, ad Demitr.Tcm p.ify 4i they leffe widirft and ir$and it may bs y 4* quawvti dtfciplinam quafi tempe\ their Teachers doe not underftand ^"^ themfelves, for(£) fomc of themes %% faimj&^ffi . hee faith , are Matters of the ignorant, f a incognita condemmti.Cuir, de nat. Dm* i before they have beene fcbolars of the p 226. Learned. And they are not more ignorant then confident, and obitinate too, as the(j^ Oratottr obJerveth,to what dijciplinefoever they arecarryedas with a tempejl, to that of to arocl^ they ftic^, and they (V) read onely what is written on their own fide, not vottchfajing a view of any thing againft it, and fo condemning the innocent without taking cognizance of their caufe* That's the manner of many deduced Difci pies amongft us, who a Errare are well acquainted with fhort feducing Pamphlets , but will l9 cum Fia neither bee at colt nor paincs to read full and folid difcourfes^^"^ made in confutation of them, and many times they are , or w ,^,^ pretend themfelves ignorant, that any fiich are extant, as if they /. \ p. 1 22. had (j) refolved rather to err e with finte^ then to tbink.right b Erubtfcitquifq; with others. Of this pertinacious perfifting in error, Au- * am m ™'* A £"l e *™ r ^fwreBderethadoublereafon, or caufe rather, f for ZZ^T^dk reafon it hath none) every one is ajbamed(b)(faith he) to ne air .Aug. ad Deo^r fart with an will opinhnjeft hee (hottld be thenght mconfiant^ Ep$>ffi»P - 2 *4 ' A AfeBaetper fingulas diesfitwrn ted admvenhty & fuchfirare I nunauwn quifquA-n cxcegitav't. dcMadv. H&rc\a condemning Judge atainjl blmflf fir having continued fo long in bis precedent errour: tnough of fome wee may fay, that they are very tickle as well a? very fajfe in thtjir opinions, affecting as (c) Lcn*w rcocah* to find out / owe new thing (very day , to Ir'mg forth fomexvbat that hath not bcem thought of by any em before them 5 in regard hereof, though Tome may bee fo farre gone, in erroneous and irre- ligious folly and frenzy ; that at (d)Irenaus faitby aUtbe eUeben in the earth (a ( Wee take the zealeof the an dent Fathers for area- fonable inducement, for usthuato appearein opposition to /a.TW.i, errousSj&e. a»ofthe(g)j 18. Fathers afiembled 5 Anno 315. in P3* 1 * the firft councell of Nice, efpecially for the fuppreffion of piph.Hare. tne ^ %%n herefie , where {%) Arim was condemned by a ng H*nf. common Vote,, and fo were other hereticks in other councels. Bur we confider not onely their number,and content as a motive unto us, for what wee now prefcnt to your view, but take it, for an incentive for more fervour in our Deteftation ofhcrene* 5 that fomc of them have opened their mouths in fevere cenfures , and vehe- ment reprehenfions of them, as Toly- carpuf (who lived in the time oflgna* titff the Difciple of lohn the Evang.0 /i/r)and outlived him, though he dyed Quibns ( i. et fitnakputribut) ft uliqwt a jyr art y r# ( kj Wken Matcion the be- ***** nit** hrnmrn* mem . . M h ^ ^ fy m Udge of m, utaHdmfHftmntts bJafphem.co^H. b«*> 1 bmtke U"**«) to beetb •> adv. Hxrefil; & cuf. 4* ^24 2 . firfi borne of Satan. (/) Some of them have flopped their caret at the re- hpirfifl FclycarpAS Murcioni aliqnando ocenrrenti tacere non pod was moved to moderation to fuch kind of men, feus * m ™' A ?^'dv. Ruf. 1 anfwerwasthi8,f»)2«0»€/£i#g 1 cannot cenfint unto * 2 <4 rbeiytbat by [paring of heretical 1 fiould notfinw my Jelfe o In I mtjdefiyigiU to be a Catbalique^iftbat be a caufi of difcordy dye I can 9 «™ it* debacebmr HrV/ but bold my peace againftfuS per fins 1 cannot. And if he *£ V^Mfalt mi were fometimes too rough and ruffled too much a- {^hSh Lmxlte^ gainft fuch as were oppofite to him in opinion fr a commit tcmpertfei (though on this fide herefie J as indeed hee did a- rafm*Argum(nt.inHiero, fpin&VigilantiusQfor which he is juftly taken up by ^* W Jom.i.p.iz. (^Eni/wia :)yetbcth he and the moft of the ancient Fathers of beft account , as lren Divines DtuMoulin thereto,(who were not called to it,or not permitted to be pre- * r j?* h ? (ent at it,) as an imi table example for consentient tcftimonie of f* writing* Minifters againft errors 3 &c.It will not,we hope.feeme an imper- the Synod, tinency,in this place (fince the caufe is the fame, though the tfoughrhcg perfons bee of a farr higher rankej to rehearfe the Declaration wcr tP°! At of King James in his profeeution of a complaint to the States A^ c '* of HoSatsd^gainHConradus Vorft itu a wretcbed beretick$,ov rather rad^Vorfi.p Atbeift, (as heecalleth him) whom hee would not indureto 349. bee harboured in a neighbour Country, much leffe in any of his own Dominions. For thus may (uch an inftancf reafonably induce us toapubliqueprofefiion againft errours, &c, and the ^6 'Tin Attepatien of tMMtmjvcrs oj ^ucimrc. toleration of them : if a King were fo zealous againft the To- leration of one particular man infe&ed with uniound princi- ples y and at fucha diftance from danger to his owne people (though hee might bee the more zealous as hee was i rati tied, Kent * # Defen ^ er of the Fdkh)^r) j contrary fa:th to that which indue v'thc" ^lle was ^ rt * in ten< J^d; Should not Gods Mini iters be ^wakened forwri and qukknedzealoufly toconteil aga'nft Domeftick Seducers, or Popery by whom their flockes may bee in danger to be deftroyed ? nft Mr.lu- Eightly,If we (liould not be very apprehenfiveof the prejudice ^^^ and reproach of Divine truths, and Do&rinesof Piety by the ySpeedt " multiplicity of erroneous opinions, hereiies, blafphem-es, and w./aH8. perjuries in the breach of Covenant, and the toleration of ^• 2 -'-/ wr - themj Wee will not fay (asfome have hypsrbolically fpoksn M ? lchn 7 °^ tne ^ u PP^y °* tne * r own fil€"Ci,(/)T^jf the pones of the finetj \*>in,Sion &nd && °f 1 ^ e bonks would cry, Jhould tb:y hid tbeirpeice, but We cdgevific conceive that heathens might rife up in judgement againlt us age*tf. and cendemneus, forifWeefaould bee mute (while herefie is fo loud) they would bee found more faith full to a faffe Re- ligion then wee to a true. \Vhat the morall fort of fuch men have both Aid and done for their ReL*gion(as for the Gceek$> Plato *nd Pl*t*rch y for the T atines,C/c t ?v and Senec* 9 ) would make up a copious accufaiion of our Laodicean Neutral! or racere nominall C'iril'tfans of this age 5 Wee may have enough to ourpurpofeoutof oneof them, even Ciceto, whombecaufe hee was both a prudent Moralift and an eloquent Orator, and well read in the belt Authors of both Languges > we may prefenc as Speaker for the reft- and of him wc may Icarne to rake heed how wee niaks light of any peece or particle' of Religion, where(<)hee faith,that Religion w no ktier then alto- Ant uniiquff Kel'gknem gedxr abandoned) if it bit not every way and intirefy am unjHcqaayue conferva, maintained : 2nd for making conscience ofan oath 'Irt^^J^rn* or Covenant, wee may cbfc ve much of his well tligv faDeotcJle.cicer.de meaning this way by his dehmtion ofan Oath, P404. and the obligation upon it, (v)an Oath (faith he) Cvtijuratodiccidafenten- U a religious affirmation , and of what a man fo at- ncmhsrh fe aJhibve tt- firmnh God ia w j tnc fc , M J witb Qodbis onrn mind, ded't tpft dm divinhu. ^ tnat ,s > h " CQf cience y) C**? tbl n n ^ tc ^ thd bath given v.de ifficl.U $95. tiotbivg unto man ptfjre Divine , and (x^'w^at if fo 1 Quid affimmc Dw witr^JJed^jjlrmid^or prowiftd, muji be kept, though promife;iuv:end»-n.:t:j, to a imn t\ ft C;t yeathoagh totheloifc ofa nuns , An Atteftation of the Minijlers of Chdhirc, 27 /ife,andheecommendeththc conragiousand confcientiou* re- solution of Ttegulw, who taken Captive in the firft Punick W^rre wasfcnt to Rome, for an exchange of prlfoners, which \.„* dnot efiFe< ^> new ' as upon oath by his return to render lunWe into the hands of his cnenre*, and (y ) when Jfy had given his. opinion jh at it was not y Captk fi s reddendo* infenatk expedient for his Country, men to give bach their cap- noH ^ n f^'^mde cwnretineremr ab five? for his oatbejfafa and avaintt the diQwafion * m - c "f?H p l! chim rcd j re walm *fh»frle,dsbecamebaek tJfJpuuifbLtby JE^T™ 1 ^ *! hx enemies rather then bee nmldfa;fifiethefahbhe z $nv}&A necdatur, em bad given tu them, (z) And though he were killed bee in n:e!iore c *u% fam fi domi fetiex was in a better condition (faith Cicero) then if he co ? tn '™ P er Jw & cenfularu re- had payedan old perjured, and co^Lr Captive in "******&*<* his own count ey. And that wee may know that heathen Romans are more to bee trullcd fas more true of their words) then Po« pi^P.omaniasattbisday hee condemns their tenet uho hold chap ^ihwtthan^(ov^th^^^\th an herctickj i*»« to btehpi pud bee bids themthat are cf that opinion take heed {a) that they ma{< it not a lurking }/ace for &)**}> whereof a man mould not b;e gui/ty \ SiMifwmntnulUmiffe.fidtm though it were ;to advance the welfare of the i^^fideudatajih'ukiem negu^ Common weale: for he holds there be degrees raiw /atd)> ^P er f d P'^ cker ^ #>• of the duty of man.the firft toGod.thefecond $W? to his Country, and the third to his parents.and then to others according to their raukes, fo that Religion innfth^thS ' placed by.R.eligion.Cefpecially by J#on^™J^ ing : of oathes and Covenants ^humane focieties are IcureSd preferved.(£)#^ many /**»#( faith he Ve en fir Zj I o , gun \ btivwmj hmb the fear of Whine vengeance with- /KM'£*#^i*> ■held from ViU»ny > how My i, theficielx of Citizen, a- "'r ?' Div ""S«Pplfi'::wius ^gtbemfJvesfiodhhgimerpofid.bolbmaJ^eand ffi^^feltt 10 ga ne extraordinary credit and confidence, to an fif* """J^kih, ,„„:)?. tpil k which hee wrote to Liei„i M fc) bed 2o ' ferfome. And touching Tokration of impious odi- «£/*>?; <* WrXi n.ons, weraayK-now what his mind was, by tfifc /',?""'" "JMap^fonWJfime hcereportethand approved of P mag0Tm LrM.'^f"^^- <^.. 2% &» AitefatimtfmMimjterstfChcmrc* btmgfeurned, and hitnTelfe(fbr fpeaking doubtfnlly of the Dci- Cietr.de nat. t y ) banifhed, and t?hi* by the fentence of the Judges of Athtns, dvr,l.i.p<2o6 f ot |, aswcma y(eethe2ealofthemoftemkient,both Greeks and Romanes in this example, who though they were Barbarians to one another (efpecially- the Romans to the Greenes ;Rom. 14. 1 5.) wee that areChriftians fhould bee more unworthy and much worfe then either (our greater light adding much tot he>ggra- vation of our guilt) if wee fhould not deeply take to heart the dilhonour of God by errours, 8cc. and the toleration of them, and willingly put to our hands with our Reverend and godly Brethren, in aTeftimony to the truth of Jefus Chrift, and to our Solemn League and Covenant made agatnft them- E C T. IV. N : ineth!y,Wee conceive it the more requifite thus to appear in profeffion of the fame truths and oppofition of the fame er- rors, Sec. with ycu,left we fhould incmrez double danger, the one p PlerunwbA-ofpnne, the other of punifbment; the finne, wee would bee loath liitdocendis ali- fhould bee charged upon usjs a treacherous or timorous filence, q\utniQ. etiam q j^ t ^ conc fcmned by the Prophet Jeremy in his time,chap. 9. ySl«r* verfe 3 .) when there is juft occafion or rather urgent necefllty to fuiapeccatiseo- declare our minds in the caule of our Saviour Chri(t 3 as you have rundem dmn&b:- done. The pmifbment wee have caufe to feare (if we fhould be ttbm pAreunt, a f ra * 1( i tniis to difcover the difotes of our confeiences) is twofold, J t"mpZmerfa- ih * one fpmtuall, the other temporati, the former no leffe then iellantur^quam- the great curfe of Anathema Maranatba forlacke of love to onr vhinfiwmm Lord Jef™ Chrift, iCor. 16. 21. for what love beare wee to minime puniun- h^ -^ W ee forbore to witnefle a good confelfion for him or wufol 2%' fais *ruth,when fo many falfe witnefles are rifen up againft them c Vdcumhbo.bodil and for temporal! puni foments, wee may according to the riipiget^eles obfervation of ( d ) Auguftine,juftly expttt a fbare in tbwy with eorum vereenn- fat w hofe great proxocatimi of Gods wrath , doe mofi procure them dtmur ffindtre> ^ a fil^t confent or connivwee towards the wic\edneffe of the times Tni mciTilTde- wherein me live, (e) whether it proceed of negligence, orbafofulmffe, i>item*s>ne inr or feare left their enmity (whom by difebarge of our duty we may of- pedrant&nosx-fwd^ Jhould either binder our good or doe tu hurt. y yo» r LordfUips, efpeciaUy fir that thvCo- venm nw taken by the nprefenwives, and other chief Corporations in England, thereupon the GenerattApem- bly and 2arhanmt of this Kingdmt have fr Junto mentioned m thttrAcJs, Lmm t ^dffeclMmM " *mor- jo An Attestation of the Minifiers of Chcfhirc. < c Vnionand Conjunction of both Kingiomes y by Solemne " League and Covenant, neither are me without hopes (if c < things bee carried on in a f aire and right way) that t hi 1frv,>.. j2 'A» Attention of the Mini fiers of Chefhire. cruelty and uncleannefs much corrupted & augmented,and that Mitr.1245. if the (J)evill Spirit cafiout return upon us , hee will bring with him /even ot!er Spirits more wicked then himfdfe^nd fo (hould they prevaile, (which God forbid) our Utkfijte would be Vorfe then tfafirfl, Mattb 1 i. 45. Can we look for any better of fucfo as \ Egdnibila- are impstuonfly fpxmd on> (as the fame(m) Author (uith of them) yiconjeUare ^y w icked furies, at if they bad devoted themfih ti ta devillifh malig- uaj^malk ' ™*J <*nd miferytand if fuch adeftru&ivc hoHility fhould be profe- fiisyfeftq\totoi cuted, as iome purpofeit, what ever become of the (eftaries and \alo djimoni & hereticks (moll fpoken of) the grand hereticks of the Popifh vfirMdwyif- faftion would bee much incour aged and advanced by it : for if • ' **3' i# the moll zealous Antipapifts {hould aflault and flay each other a they Reeded but to bee lookers on untill both (ides being mu- tually weakned, they might have hope to have both for a ^ . . prey, and would take it, as if God had (et us together by the treticos com- eares to ma ^ e ^>me (portfull fpe&acle for them to behold , fo uttitut CatkostnuchGenebrard meant, when he faid, (n) God fits hereticks a* ten tacentiims gainft hereticks^ that ibeCatbiliqaes might bee filevtjpe&ators of their ^toebr^"* mHtHa ^ majfacres . Whereby they may expect fo 1 arre to prevail 'hrowgrj.4>p. as to compaffe their moll; deilrucVive defignes upon the Prote- '66.inter'*n. ' ft*nt party. 'S7i 74. That moved Cabin with pafTtonate admiration, to (ay upon the contentions of Evangelical profeiTors 3 in his time^. (ijGoodGod ! what delight and/p&rtdoe wee mah^uYa- o'Dtusbonelquantot fy pifisl me could notgratipe them more then wee d&e^ by our ~Ti",vh*Z Jiff™ca,ifthy badbiredv, fAetbem fome acceptable fir- Jmus operam noft/am, vtce * For they make account that our conflicts will 'Alv % Bp.Mehmhon. p. haftcn their conquefts, and they would bee fare the 1 5» . more to glory in our (innes and fufferingSjbecaufe they I jJ^ZTuifi ™kc (p Vity 'heir *v,n mjp>* note of the true Church* ! jr t*m capue. Be Harm, and (^f) diftention, sur dijjention y which they obferve , 'e iutk.E'.lefj.4 c. 10. and aggravate beyond all meafure, a marke of herefie. ! r * n, j , ?' 78 ' f ^ , ? /r . Befides,thereisaprelaticall and otherwife Malignant ' igtZZZ^Z Parry among us to whom fuch a. are in Mr, d.firefe, \ robnefs . of the c **„**»£ to ^/.Hieromcii SflSSSSU Kufhnus, *£a*™ wards us,though thus farre wee have profeffed againft them , ^^s^pfrSS for even upon their own grounds they mull allow us the fame liberty to think,and fpeak, and wrke,and aft, according to our principles and confeiences, which they aflume to themftlves and permit unto others; and the rather,becau(e a confiderable fort and number of them doe not fo much diflent from us,in mat- ters of the greateft moment, as they doe from many of thofe fvho under the titles of Independents, ( howfoever otherwise divided) are united together againft the Presbyteriall Governs ment, and with reference to fiich wee further fay,that(though we approve of the Presbyteriall Government's moft confonant to Scripture, and moft convenient and commodious , ( as a Wall of Difcipline about the Vineyard of Doftrine) for the E a defence 34 M Attention of the Minifters of Chcfliirc^ defence of the foundneffe of faith, and holineflfeof life, and therefore could with it were generally received,through the three Kingdomes of the Covenant. ) Yet doe wee not de'ire the efta- blilhmentof it in that extent, tobepurchafed by the price of blood, and therefore we difavow the difpute of the fivord, to determine any differences betwixt us. And we hope the godly, both Presbyterians and Indep. nJentiyVfill be fo wife, as to beware fymetm'Nt* f fuchabreachas may incourage and confirsne their enemies, ^x'crLr>hethcrPopi{h, Prelaticall, orprophanr, againft them both. pftor.Arn. & whom as(z>) Armbiw faith to Serapionjbey boib jlikt condtmn^and tnipjo^M- ly wbomthy are baib alike abominated, though for divifive and to. opcnbus dedruftive ends, they may court the one party, and calumniate |Drf Abfotln thc other 5 & V%* ver f a > as ( "0 Cardinall Men gives inftmfti- lisAnfwcr to ons to the Seminary of Preiltsin his time, to make the divifion h. Hills third Q f Proteftants and Puritanes ( as they call them ) more advan- Rf«fc£.lQ3« tagioiis to the fervice of Popifh dcfignes. If you have to deale with a Puritane ( faith the Girdf4. pall ) you muftfayjruly Brother for you there is more hofe ? then far the fe that be Proteftants • becattfe they for feare of the Prince jwdthe Law are ready to fay and veleeve any things and therefore me thinketh they be Atheifts 5 but for ycu there is more hope^ being either hot or c old J f you deale with a Proteftants ell him there is more hofe of him then of the rafh brained Puritanes^ beeaufe they with Religion have pit sffall humanity & ctvility with all other good manners. And though fome particular litigants in eonteitation for their I mn me impe- cau ^ and party, have be^n carryed by precipitation of paffion tazr p ivau to the expreifron of much perfbnall ipight and reproach both in titnfitnes quo fpeech and in print; yet tbe greataejTe of the hazard to which Xmeltimwm ^ th l ^ Q one anc * tne ^er wi ^ ^e ex P°^ e ^ > *? tne *' r difference hmhiflitnfi " &ould be driven on to a Military ni3rch 5 (riouId make them lay 'mftntiam. ci. down their difpleafure, and take up the refolution of the Roman ir.Epifti ad (.#JOratour 5 Afa private offences or fallings out fh all binder me % er riancwnyEp* rnakf me (faith he )/fJJe ready to joy m with my greaiefi enemy for Ej U 10 ? * ti* fafety rf the publUk^ Th« An Atteftatiw of the Minifters &f CheflircjJ - jf The third part of the Atteftation> Containing an Apology for publica- tion of thefe Errors , and for the Refor- mation in hand againft the (csndali of them, and of other impious and abfurd aberrations from Religion. and reafon charged upon if* ! , '. Sect. I. TO this our confeffion with you, we think fit by way dF Apology for you and for our felves to add a caution againft mifconceipt, which many perhaps take up upon the great noife and outcry we make againft errors, &c. which (j> ) fome thinly y Mrj.GoodrK. fhould rather have been fuppreft with fiience 3 tbm blazsd abroad rSipn Coikdge topHblichjjitrvfvitkout an antidotg againft tbem^or refutation of tbm. ^ lfirc ^.E # 7*. And it is as probable^ yea it is certaine to fomeof us who have heard it fpoken, that all the reproaches of thefe impious opini- ons 3 are caft upon the Reformation in hand. To take off fuch imputations we thinks it fit to hy, Firft, Though problematical! errours which are prefenteA with fome appearance of truth and reaibn, fhould not be pub* lifted withoat difproofe^ becauie by fueh 3 men may more eafi- ly be deceived* Yet fuch groffe and as well abfui d as impious paradoxes, as moft of the error?, &c« in your Catalogue may. be mentioned without particular amfutation of them r as is the herefie of the S adjusts jn)\q fay,thereis no refurrtftion neither An- gell nor fpmt^AUt 23.8.and the herefie of Hjmemus and Pbiletus fayingjii the Apoftles time, the Refurre&ionjt paft already^ 2 Tim. I 2.1 j, and the bi'afphemy o^Rabpekeh^ If a, 3 6, from yer. Ij2. to . the 20. which was heard at firft without fpeaking of a word a- gainft it 3 and that by an exprefre commandfrom Kiag Hezekp* ab ver. 2,1. and afterwards thrice written without a refutation, 3 Kf»^i8.from v.27-to v.35. 2Cbr. 32.1 7,1 8,19^. 3.6.foreci-»- led, neither are fueh irreligious and irrational! conceits or fay-^ .B.J Sags* 3$ ! An Atteftati&n of the Mimfters of Che (hi re.' Ings worthy of a refutation^ nor they who hold or vent them capable of a religious and rational 1 convi&icn. Secondly, Though in refpeft of others that may be required flenijjimm an( j p Cr fbrmed,yet it is not requifite that every time they are re- 'Jdvtrfiit "mm P°^ed they (hould be refuted,becaufe that hath either been done fjtrefes contra- before, or may be done after in tim€ convenient; ( z) Epiphani- Whnitn. Epi- us did not only rebearfe a largt Catalogue of 80. berefies 3 but(m be faith ban.prtfat.in y' im f e if e ) mas { e a copious coWadi&ion or Confutation againfi them aU> f'2 28 i ^ Ut C a ) Auguftim writing a Catalogue of herefies after him did *Aug.'pnnc. there only repeat and not refute them , though el/ewhere hee Zm.6.operm'-Cpent a great dcale of profitable painci in confutation of ma- ny particular herefies and he-retickes, as of the Manichecj in ge- neral 1, and many of them in particular,m his firft Tome 3 and(in his fixth Tomejof the Mmicbets in general!, and in particular of P 'rifcillianijl j jDrigtnifts ,and Ariansjndi in the feventh Tonre of the Vonatipy both in generali and particular. So that what is not done in your Catalogue, may if it bee needfull be perfor- med at another time; if not performed already by fome other. And thirdly,Though thofe who are not verfed in antiquities, thinke the errours which are now broached, cfpecially the abfurdeft of them,to be new borne brats of the prefent age, yet, as in Philofophie fome are miftaken(who take Cepernicm for the firft author of that giddy fancy,of the earths turning round, and the heavens (landing dill (by for be was not borne till tbe yeer 1473. after Cjjrifi^ and long before Chrift it was a- h Abrah. Bucolvrm Jud. fcribcd tQ WnmmKn* c . . r , * ^. K„ , ,. ,. . TV l -1 l to numertficer. Acad. ?*, of the M J °f Cbn ? ^tnhng no bigfor tben tbe globe ito. 2. p, 26. fine. ofthiSmne^ and tben arreted untiU tbe generali rtfur- rfWrircrin bis booke of nU'um^ though many take it to be a new fi&ion of Muis Mortality ,borhfouIe thc , d j WrUer therto f, never heard of before his and body. p. 33. prl nted ^ -f^ ^ fam£Wasthc ^ rf fa amkm ( e ) Afjuicbees, andi&refire they tcorfbipfed tbefmnne, c Chriflwn cum in c^lwnafctnderh^orpus fu- because thj conceived the body ef Cbrifi hm reiifuilfe inglfrfilu&nc filankhacsejfe „„ Q^ >-„ thealabe tk reef- and being ?!'rfuaftosutf$lemadorarenr t Sixt. Stncrf ^ J 3 , • '* -g -'" ' - rt - ■ - - - -«>- -' - anru?nt rrrours tbev have mft with An Atufiatiw tfthc Minijters 0/Chefhire. 37 their confutation heretofore many of them by Tertul. tiau Epipban.Jttg. of old,and of later times, by Alpbonfa Cafire, who wrote 14. bookes inrehearfall and refutationof them , which TwxrimtiM publifhed fince hko death, with the addition of for- ty herefies more 3 either pretermitted by Alphdnfai^ot borne fince * his death 3 ( as he profeffeth ) though both of them mifcall thofe herefies which are not. Fourthly,It may fall out that the Reformation may be carryed Uwpugnant ad- on by fome men with too vehement an am'ipathy^fjttthringeach ™ r fa jnvkemJ of tbem his otvne oJfinion f in a way ofcontradi&im to others > whereby dklnmXm! while they (bun ooeerrour, they run into another, fometimes adverf. * h*re/l\ moft contrary to it, fo ( g ) Anw took up his herefie out of /**♦*♦f/uref.i. 2. Independency^conccmng they could not be fecure enough from f «»8»p« 170. Ecclefiafticall tyranny, over their confeiencies , if there were €oi * 2% any coercive povper in one,asln the Epijcopall, or m many 9 as in Tresbyteriall government. Fifthly, That the many errours, herefies , and blaf^h^rniej, which have rufcedin upon us,«n a kind of interregnum bttwixt the pulling downs of the Prelaticall,and letting up 1 he Presby- teriall difcipline, may notpr jidicethe prefect FUrormation by the fcandall which cometh from them, and the contumely which deiervedly beloageth to them 5 we are to bee remembred, that is is no new thing, for the devil! to beitirre himielfe as of late he hath done,to trouble^ tard, and reproach the true Re- ligion, by putting forth many fale ones, which may puzzle the people, fo that they know not whu h to betake themfelves to, but then efpecially when any great change is to be made for the be tter. W h kh wee may obfer ve in four moft remarkable times and dates of Religion, Sect. Hi TH firft was when Chriftianity was to be fet up,& Judaifme and Paganifnte to be preached down^ then did the Devil! 3 3 , An Atteftati m of the Mmficrs of Clicfliire* difpleafed that his temples were deferred, and Chrift fought af- * Avfde civ* terras under another title hath been noted, out of * Aug.de civi- t%.e. ^i. parti /die^ijraife.upvery many as impious, abfurd^and ridiculous 2 >P* *n9- opinions as any are taught in our times? as to begin with that wherein the Apoftles lived, there was Simon Ma^us a belcever for I a time, and one that was baptized by Philips /Ms 8. 13. who 1 hS.pifb.7om 2. pretended ( b ) that his Concubine Helena was the fame Helm of I jLi. k&ef. 11. Greece 3 whom Homer wrote of, tbat Jhs made the Angels , and that the Angelf made the vrorldjtbatibe Old Teflamtnt was not of God, and that it was a moriall fin to bdeeveit.Rc held another opinion Qi) lSemen vno- as jtupure as thefe were impious, which we conceive fitter to be I ™" ^fanguK Gtdowne in the margin in Lat. then in this text in the Englifh • yemfaminamm tongue. And we read of the Se&of the Nicolaitans^ Qev, 2, 6. I fer confaetos 15. defended from Nicolas a Profelyteof Antiocb s one of the i 'menfet cellethim f even Deacons chofen and appointed by the Apoftle, AUs 6.6tf. '£ ^nitwmf- ™ ho f e doUr ' im and P raUi f e had a rank favour of carnaI1 finfulncfli. que verfeftijji- And though for 2VzW^ himfelf, it be fomewhat uncertain what me, ibid* to refolve of him,for modefty or immodefty either in his di&ates or doings, becaufe while fomeas k Nicolmusdej-draccnismmmtemperantUdomi' QL\ Epipban'm and (l)Hkromhm mnncnpoffity ut hater et quo petulames affeftus "f r 1 u- r 1 defenderJ, docuitnifi quit fmgulk diebus iLrem a ^ Cufed h ™ of very unclean Opi- txerceret, nmpeffe participem fieri viustem*. nions and practices; others as (m) ■'Epiph. ibid.h&ref. 2^ . Clemens Akxandrinus, and (») E»- 1 Nicelaus jintiochenus omnmm mmdicurum re- afo us nave p l ea ded for him, tbat be- $™>*™^ n f*^ lav^g a w Clemens Alexand. Stroma t. U ?'. p. 187* beautiful wife.be brought berfortb^and r\ Eujlb* EcclefiajU hi ft. /.^.e»76* permitted bim tbat lifted to marrie ber$ © Monuerat Nicotians Viaconus *a&w&*i tii*tpH* a nd(o)a late learned authour,com- * t^'to r&t* • p. iS°7» par. mecU fares, efpecially venereeuf^as to be re- trained: Yet is it not denied by any of the Authors who fpeak fo favourably of him , but that fome &£,%? Ah T d ' f f t and MU SeMcn ' I ol the &™ s S^r ** >onp after, tf?j*ypo*pr. Clemens Alexaud, i :o cit&uliu o. tooKe up licentious and lalcivious opinions in his nam*, and made their practice as loo r e as their oplmonsC^pjand fo they finned with* 6Ht(hjme in filth firmcitiotr' ( q ) yea as Clemens AiexanrLrinn* An Atttfl*M# tf m Mtmjters of Cheimre. 39 faith, thej fronwnctd fublkk?, Vtnerjfo bee amjfiUall comnuni- 4*. After them came up a mod horrid and filthy Se& of the Gm* fi#kh whofe impieties and impurities cannot bee mentioned without horroiymd we therefore fet them in the margin, and (r)\nLatim, for they are too ...... groOe to be put downe in plaine r Vxms habii ; ru ^ ^^s0^mfeMam & ,.V i *• u r l virorum contrcflatn,notjt fiutemfdem p:ofefpo:tt Englifb., though thole Who are & e ij iimej Sjnaxhn ip^n wpuudine imlupl Wife , of fuch a deadly poy fc n, emus polluerunt comedones humane carnes, v-lr coi may make an wholefome medi- dens alteriux:rem,Surge dixit, fie diktl'mem A -cine to chemfelves, inferring f'f'"^#^^^ r r l -re Zti * a .,UiT nvajnamimlxrculafitemq&ir fluxum a mafculo inp from fuch premittes that doubt- prhf mm5 $ cjfmtes / xkm J m umes>drx:mnt; 3 lefle there is a devil, for none but pater hoc donum corpus Qhrifti offer imus , fofic ip) a (birituali impoftor of great art edemnt 9 affiimentes femenfitum>dixenmtq ; hoc eft co>) andfubtilty,asheis^ 13. 10. chrifti.hccefipafcha.Epipb.Tonu 2.1. 1. bfref.t % r 1 „ ^n'L.rr^, Volupm'u gratia tantum, non generations liberor and of great powers 2 Tbtff.2. coi J m . % incflqm /^J fai}afmit imh 9. could periwade men to any fxtwninMortariopiftillo contuderunt, n 9 fy quamlibet aliam, guaper en fledl) whofe impure impieties^) aftiones mrpesprogrejja eftjojfe in mundifaZlores fe We will lap up in the fame Ian- gelostran/ire, undemultifeipjosipfojefttpr^ftanth \ guage: v tt to li\Eplpb. faith, t"fiffif™> ^xercmunt magiamfncantatmes & { t ° 11 1 1 ri £/ •/!• Satanicacp°ra.Epipk,ib the]/ called tbemfelves Christians, t chriftianosfe nominamnt in Ecclefi* Chrifti oppm to theorem fcandall both ofCbrifi urn, & gentium fcandalum* ibid* and of the Heathens. The ^Adamites had fbme affinity with the former fe&s, but they were more foolifh then filthy, atleaft in their filthinene not fofhamelefle, fpr as ( v ) Epiphariw writeth of them 5 "they were v Epipb. ik like unto Mould warpes,whofeldome appeared in the fight oibtref 52* men, they held their males to be as Adam, and their females as Eve^m the ftate of innocency,and therefore they excercifed their Religion ( fuch as it was) in ftoves and hot-houfes, naked, lea- F ving io An Auejtmon oj the Mintjversoj cnemirc. ving their cloths in an outward roome 5 if any man had any blemifh^they caft him out of their congregation calling hi*i A- w Epipb. ibid* dam, who had eaten the forbidden fruit. ( w ) There was another b£r e r k 37. f ort of heretickes called ( x ) Ophites from Ophis a ferpent, xO>/c ophti a f Qr tnC y W orfliipped.the Serpent that deceived Adam and £zk 5 5crpenu a8 a moft wife creature endowed with all kind of knowledge. y £/>/>*. 'ibid* (j) And fomethought as well of Cj/», whom they accounted L#r^: 38* their father, holding he was a man of more vigorous vertue then ^e//,becaufe bewasabletokiUhim^to him they forted(s) I Rpiph.ibid* Ef'Ufierejfa Sod mites and Judas md in :hem they gloried as in their kinfmen^and aferibed to them perred and fupernall know- ledge; and for Judas they praifed him for betraying of Chrift, ) ... * fomeof themrendringforareafon that drift was about to r- ; ' difiblve things well eftablithed , and others, that by betraying him to deathjhe did a good worke conducible to humane fafety. Befidesthefe tenets peculiar to their (eel:, they taught with the ., Corpocratians (a) that none could be laved , unlefle hee cdm- %npipb. itod. m^j every filthy aft, calling upon a particular Angell, to whom they attribute the inftinft of every particular finne on earth. We will conclude the herefies raifed by Satan againft thefirft Reformation of Religion, from Judaijme and Taganifme^ with the herefie of the Fepufians ( omiting clivers others, either leffe odious^or lefTe ridiculous ) ( h ) who fondly conceived upon a , L tpifu tiid. pretended revelation to Quintillm and ^PrifciUa^ that their I re '* ^* City Pepuza in Thrygia, was the celeftiali Hierttfalem } forefpo- ken by the Prophets* they likewife commended Eve for tafting the forbidden fruity as a prudent aft, and as the caufe of our Alvatiomwiththcm the word Saeerdos was practically as wel as grammatically of both genders, for women were admitted to all Ecclefiafticall offices, and they alleadged for their promifcu- ous pra£tife,(efpeeially for to make Minilters of the Word and Sacraments ) Miriam the lifter of Mofes, Exod. 15. 20.and the foure daughters Prophetefles of P^i^theEvangelift, AUs 21. S,p. and that of Paul to the Galattans^ there is neither lew nor Greekc,* &*r« it neither hondnor freejthere U neither Male nor Female^ pr jt are ail ont in Chrifi Jefus, Gal. 3. 28, SlCT. A# AmfiMtW of the Mimfiers ofO&&h& %i Sect, III. THe fecond mod inconfiderablc time or ftate of Religion was at the reformation and change of it from Popery tb Prote- fhncy(by theMiniftery ©t Lutberfialvin,BHcer f Beza& others ) thendidtheDevilltodifgraccit, fet up fundry gracefcfTe here- ticks,as John hkbiw the father of the late Antinomiam, who de- ny ed the ufe of the Law io the : . ; time of the Gofpel, and(V)held cStdmnt ^cunquetandevtjit hommsym^mm , c , »^^«r > ^ J vutmpurayiuflificdntameneum ft pt omtQiowbM evi tbat hn> impure foever atnans tije galii cn d&LsUtdm. Commeiu L 12- f. 24.8. be$et be isjuftified if be beleeve the d Belt. QhrmoU part* altera*?. 5 6 7 . promijes ofCbriftpndCd^Micbael Servetw a Spaniard s vtho being but 9% yeers of age, bragged thathee was the chiefe Prophet o f the world 5 when as the (e) P'?*»°f th f^ eServetus M fimplieem , fed ex tnultU itnfiewH hee profefied not the errours of C6nfiatam bareticmm Urvm p $ tmu pita , At any fimple or lingular heretics, MarcUm, &c> Paftoret Eccleftdt Bafilett but a compound of the herefies Epift*Syndicis <& Senanti inter Calvin.EpfioLp. 1 2j o^Aritts , Afarciorty SabeUiuf , Photmuf^ Manicb£tis^r\d Pelagi- ttf, and divers of the Church of (/) Berne charge him with re- viving other herefies. And the --j**! , . _, .„.„. Divines oti zg«re objected to pollmari^Vakmhiams.Mim^.Ecchf.^rn^^ him(g)0f e/? execrable blajpbemies <& Senatui Genev. ibid. p.uS. againft the facred Trinity, a- gTrinitatemtternam Dei triceps Monftrum fyCer\ cainft which he wrote (bjfeaven ™ m W*dam t ripartitum \denique imaginarios Deos ill M^tkotnM hnnkes * im * ae tres ^P 7rrtus dsmoniorHm appeffitat.Minifi Uafphemoics DOOfceS. ■ Tigur. Eeclef. Syndic & Senatui Genei. ibid. f.iaS About the fame time in EoU hBelldr.cbrcnol.par^altera.p.^? WtheDevill ftirred up one(I) David George fnho tooke upon him to be a great Prophet , and » BeU.ihid.f.%6 the elder brother of Chrilt, and promhed that three years after his death he would rife again 5 and reftore the Kingdom unto lfi r<*«/.There was alfo onc(jQCafper Swhinckefelditts a Silefian^ygho k BeSam, ibid. held, that upon the afcenfion of Chrift into heaven the humane nature was turned into the Divine; (I) and that tbe Scripture was but a dead letter,* beggerly element. There J ljte I a ™mafgen*mekm Walfo \m&» -hoC« C^faith of hinj)/ f< Z$Sfe*5Z+& forth as htnfit drawn* out of M dotages of tbe Mam- c4f \ u $#, m fi&ra. F 2 chees j 4* An Attention of theMinifiers ef Chc/hire. liquet ieag- chees concerning the nature and perfon of Chrift. (w ) fum ejfe & ^\ nc j an other named Vakminvps GtntilU a blafphenious here- tfeuca'f* tlc ^ e a 8 ain ^ f ^ c ^ acrcc * Trinity, againft whom theS)r«- ''fimnbblaf- d* c kl °* Geneva proceeded to a judiciall Sentence for a So- piis p/enam, lemne and fubmiffive recantation of his tenets. Eut there were \ra facrum /rr<7 y^ j ^ h-eretickpr which raoft defamed the Reformation of tiOilv'*- R^*g' on in tnole dayes, the ( » ) Anabaptist and Libet tines', the P p 5. j Anabaftift denyed the baptifme of infants to bee lawful! ; and leid. Com taught that if they were baptized/uch baptifme wasanulttty^ >p> n^» they held aCommunitieof goods, bragged of Revelationsby )id* vifions and dreames* whereupon at Sangall in Helvetia one * cue offhf s brothers head in the prefer.ee of his parents,to which he was perfwaded ( as he faid )that he was commanded by God himfelfe.Of this Seel: the head as a King and a Prophet was ( o) eid.ib.1,10. John Ley den^who taught that a man was not bound by marri- oo. age to one woman, but might be allowed as many wives as hee pleafed,and for this (when Tome Doctors oppofed his opinion) hee threw downe his cloake, and the New Tefta merit on the ground, and fwore by them both , that the Doctrine he delive- red was revealed to him from heaven. With him prophefied KnipperdAing , a blafphemous braln- Uerd. Mi* ficke Heretick,who faid he had received it from heaven, (p) that 199* ell Temples fhould be deitroyed,and prefently the befotted peo- Vid % p. 201. pk fe^\ t0 worke, as he gave out the word, (^) Wwfewagreat crowd of people flood below him , ftanding upon an afcent a* bove their heads, hee went upon their heads with his hands and his knees , breathing upon them,, and foying, i he Father bath fan&ified tbee y receive the bolj-Gbbjl; and to deceive the people yet further with more apparent danger , up ftart a new prophet a Gdld-fmitb by his calling, (hisnarneis not noted) bat a Black^fmitb oxlron-fmith rather by his fpeech, and hee boldly denounced as a dictate of the heavenly Father ( r ) ?kid. itid. thtt John Leiden mu(fc bee Emperour of the whole World,and ioo/ that being aflifted with ftrong forces hee ftiould without diffe- rence or exception, kill all Kings and Princesj and (hould fpare only the multitude, to wit, thofc that love juftjee 9 and Co hee fhould poffefle the feat of his father David; untill his father re- quire it again* The An Attefimhn tfthe Minifters tf/Chefhire. 1 iy The other notorious and dangerous Sec}, prejudicial 1 to the honour and progrefle of the Preformation begun, was the SccY of the Libertines ^ot whom Bellarmine having made a very (hort and infufficienc report intitles it to Calvin , and to ex- preffe his extream contempt of him, he ( * ) excitjetb bimfelfe that *• ^ ortttT j »»' bee bath mother author of the Libertine tenents 9 then John Calvin f ?a ^ ^ ^ the herttiark in his booke againfl the Libertines: but though to him hannem Calvin the name of Calvinebe ignominious,and to other Papi(ts,whom htrejiarctxtm. malice hath made mad againit him 5 ( as Sad againft the Saints Be ^m. chr§n\ before he was converted AUs 26. 1 1 So defpicable as tof s Jf»f the ^AiVihu ami- name of Calvin upon their Dogs-,to us and to all found and orcho- i us Calvini ne* dox Proteflants 3 itis(as50/0W0tf fakhofagood nam^etter then men impomnu pttiom oyntmem.y Ecclef. 7. 1. and his discovery of the opinions Mekh. Adam'. and manners of the Libertines^ the moreauthenticke, and the W^" y^>* ■ more punctually to be related 5 becaufehee is the exacteft wri- p g 2 \ terof their ftory 3 fpeaketh of his owne knowledge of them,ha» ving had perfonall notice of, and conteftation with the ring- leaders of that fm{ullkdi(t') Quint ine and Foiqniuf tthere was ai- r Calvin. Injfrl Co one Coppine, whom the deviil fet up before the former of thefe adverf. Liberty two, to begin the (owing of the Libertine tare$ 3 butbis fame was c - 4 ' °f u ^ foone obfcured by Quint ine^nd his memory in a manner buried ? 4 * by his proceeding and prevailing. His difcourfe of them is fbmew hat large, taking up about 17. leaves in folio,but we will contract ivhatis pertinent to our pre* fentpurpofeinto a narrower com- v AdverffMaticam&furicfamSeZlamLBe^ paffe: In the general! ( v ) bee calls- tinor. qui fefpiri males voce nt. So m the title of them a furious and fanatiche SeB^who hislnftr.p # 4 5 ^rc«i. i* call tbemfelms fpirituall, and yet (w) J ^jTn^ »**>*& alii < W W P r(h j. . n • l j jtn£ af i?o]a&beuumaeft* adeo ut nemo Cam meme araprodigmjljmcty, andbrut^ > prtdim fine her r ore deeaeogitarepoflit. iiid^ that m man that is well in bk wits , can e. 1 ♦ p. 4 $4, C ol. 1. thinke of what they bold witbsut borrow, x E°rum Sefia. cloa'a eft ant fentina quoedam ijt and fo foule and filthy ( x ) that it U qu * m °™?'fi'f'conflmtJb.t :.2i .p.tf6.€. 1. ./ ilnt Y Cum ahauando JQumtmws tn locum veMHet ubt asthecommon receptacle of aU unclean- 9M idaminterfe^jacebat 3 atq,iincadefeta^ nefje. In particular they blafphe- quit virpim, qui pra forrtre dxeret,ba mibi moufly confounded God and man in 1™ hocfcelw admifit? putidw rife mquiu ha their operations and a&ions 5 ( vYay- T HJ:#' et >f* Vfi *d™fifiu*lo admifit Dm ad. ;«„ */ * ~L *r Jj'j.h^. J-Y t\ mifitrfUoderiimego&tufacimvs 9 I)ewefficir t W** at »b*tG. 448 . col. 1 . j cDiahlum fypeccaium accipimtpro ima- ginatione, qua nihil eft. Hid. P4.44 csl. I. d Proplaftice Chriflwnfingmt qui non tan- turn idolumfit adverfntfil'mm Dei, fed ve- luii fordium omnium facevs , out cloaca in quam feces omnei re cipian mi ,il\p.^ c Ipfi Chrifto probrum imrant quo Diabo* Jo deterior cenferi poflitjb.e.q, p.^y/col. 1 . fAperte riderefolitifunt,fi quisfcriptuw allegaref. nee dijjimulare quin em pro fabu* lis haberent* Calv. Inftrufi. advttibert.c.9, p. 441.ee/. 1.2. I % Totam legem dbolere volunt, inquientes i nullum amplms ejus habendam effe ratienem. fropterea^uodin libertatem ajfeni Jimus. ibid. c. ipf.453. col. 1. h Apud eos Paulus vas csnfraffam erat, Pe~ trui abnegator Dei, Johannes adolefcensflc<= lidusyMaithois faneram* ibid>c, 3. p. 4 3 $ . col. 2» i Quod omnU hominum incliwio five a na- iHra,fiveamaU confuemdmproficjfatur 9 voeaiio Dei ?■/}. ibid.c. 20. p. 4 5^. col. 1 • k Simulaique adulter fcortatorit fui t&d'wn cfepem^eumfubinde commuwepoteft // quk alius magti gra'us fefe offer at. Similiter fconater. &c* ibid. c. 2Q« />. 455. col. 2 r An Aiupitm of the Miwprs o/Chefhlre 1 < # pleated with her fltfbly bed-fellow, fhe may change for another, who may bee more acceptable to her- and an Adul- terer or Fornicator hath the like liberty for female variation; and ( / )if any have hten imployed as a Tan- . ; their cottr/e, becauje it u their calling. 1 be(jn) ^ • ut mwfquifqnt vocatimm fuamfeqmtur. confitfion of goods , they called the communion ibid. c. io. p. 454. col* 2. of Saints, and permitted every man to get m in bona confufonem in ***'.*■•*- 4S+ bolicall, a'nd partly brutifh deed pts and dealings they were fuch as Calvin well ^Omnesadpuerosufq.ipflsconfpuereinfai faith Were worthy that (q ) all even t9 clem pr \ Certifflmum ittud eft exmdantis in m*a- pidity of the people* and withall an cvi- dumfurori* Deifiageffum y cum coufq, Sat** dence of Divine indigDation^sOXk/w* «* h * b ™\ ^T, tamxlete fi and who under counterfeit and apifhfc offing did play the Sycophant , andjlanderoufly abu- fed many perfons of reverent place and note, & fitch was the wifedome of the time, that many filthy and lewd Pamphlets came forth againjl him^ cafiing forth much Jl inking dung and beaftly filth into the faces ofhonefimen^ ( y) fo that it y &£ * «. plainly apearedto the wifer &difcreeterfortjhat the devill was the author of this at [grace.* Secondly 5 for the Brow- * ibid. nifts they tooke offence at both fides , andmade a temerarious and wicked feparation ; they had their original I and name faith (^) Camden from Robert Browne a Cambridge iCmid. H man a young fiudent in Divinity 3 who condemning the ° £:- hz " ' Church of England as no Church entangled many in the fnares of their new fchifme. Thirdly, of Hacket and his party* Mr. Nic. faith, two or three men bewitched with fome honour, by a certa/ne man of a frantick fpirit, lifted Mr -M> N "* up themselves with high words ofblafphemie, whofe wor- king this was all men know, that know the wiles of Satan. But that both may be better knowne 3 (Tor moreaffurance of this truth^and better caution againft the {lander of Religion)it wil be requisite to make a more clear and full report of the Diabolicall blafphemie and furie of that impious Importer Hackgt, which we will makeupoutof the feverall relations oiCamdm and Seravia. ( a ) This Hacket was amandf vulgar fort 3 borne at Oundle in the a Camd.H'iR County ofNorthamptoriiUnlearned} infoknt^ fierce, and fo eager up- Q EKz.l 4- cnrevenge 9 that be bit off bis hontfi ScbooU-mafterj nofe (afbe imbraced P • 4°0» bint} nndtt cdlour of renewing their kve ) andlih a dogmas they fay )t at G it 4 S A* Attefiatien of the Minijlers of Ctafhirc. itdowne before the poor e deformed mans free , n bile he prayed bim tore* fiore it to bim 3 tbjt it might hefewed to wb'ileft tfa wound was green. And fo aver ft was bee from all piety that the heavenly doBrine which be hid learn d in Sermons 3 be repeated among bit drinking comp miens at their cups to be derided.Afterward when be had wafted bit eft ate which hi hid with a widow f he fuddainty toofe upon him tbtperfon of cm of admirable fan^iity, [pent all his time in bearing Sermons Reaming/crip- tares, and as the deviJl pats on an holy-day habit, transforming him into an angel of lights Cor. i 1.14.^ didheprefentbimfdfe in blbid*f. 4 C I« the appearance of an hifp'md Saint.pcwrirg forth his prayers with an \ ^'J « admirable andftrange kjnd of fervour falling upon bis face as wrapt in *Ec<*h'ab%fo an extj fi e > and iXpoftnlating a* it were with God. But whereat Sphitu fanftc attmtn are wont in calling upon God to implore his prefence, he only was inlhti fan, accuftomed to pray that God would abftnt and withdraw himfelfejrom Dr.H&dr.Sara- the congregation of thfe that were prajing.Q)He counterfeited revela- Tffrc2p!±g. "onsroade to him from heaven, by which he dignified himfelfe fltfjoqiut, & W ^ tne tif k of(c*)KingofEuxopeordain(dbjGod.And hisdelu- pvibms Lend, ded difciples Copinger and Artbrington added that hee was the \imnckte cbri- higheftand fupream Monarch^ (^)that all the Kings ^/Europe ^cllMdtY™ didholdthilr Kingdomes of him, as bis vaffalls, that be alone therefore \i(ft cumventi' wa5 10 ^ e °b9 ed > and the Queen depofed. Befides this temporal!, hee Utr in man* affumed a fpirituall preeminence of a very high degree, for be fajujudicctcr ry) f a id he was avoynted from bear en by the holy Gboft; commanded Sem Q b7 Jd'r uti nis two P f0 P nets ) tne one °f mercy, the other of judgement, \osfcgetubifit, C*tP' R & er an ^ Anbringtcn> to (/) proclaim* in the City of London, ■elicite eum ejfe that Cbrift the Lord ( meaning himfelfe j was comefrom bejven with )n&dibusWalkt- bis fan in bis band to judge the world} which hee averred with fo n in fraclo An^ mucn confidence( g) that hee bad them tell where be lodged, challen- ^lenndumw* S' n S tnem c ^ at w °uld not belecve him, to come thither and kill bim \niantkHCy&me if tbtj could. And when for his blafphemous arrogance againft G poflimecci-. God and his.fonne Chrift Jefus, and many feditious and j ^ n Jfr b ! d * difloyall expreflions of his fpight and contempt of the Queen 3 he VeominHan's" was broughi t0 condigne and capital* puni(hment;while he was nifi prsfens ) be was net afraid to threat- Hixmeimitteret ten G»id himfelfe , if hee did not fend pre fent htipe for his deliverance. ifo/.Mo» f j \ Bein? condemned^ hee mas hid upon an hurdle and Qtiii^^drwnet&wcbtefejlreet of the Ctty, mcejjantly roaring m Jn Attefkation tfthe Mwifters ofChcftntcl 49 out with a dreadfull found, Iehova Me/fias^ behold the hea- ven, the heaven of en, behold the Sonne of the moft High descending dorvne to deliver me .At the Gull owes being ad- monified to acknowledge hk finne again/1 God, and the g)neenjhe execrable wretch inveighing mojl co&tumeliouf* ly againft the Queen jryed out with a Stentors voicef) hea- venly God Almighty, lehovah^ Alpha and Omega , Lord ef Lords 5 King of Kings 5 God everlaftwg , thou knowefi that I am the true Iehovah whom thou haftfent , fhew fome miracle out of the cloudy to convert thefe infdells, and take me from mine enemies. But if not ( I tremble to fpeak it J * I will fet the heavens on fire^and with thefe hands plucke ¥ g ; . . ^ thee out of thy throne: and other speeches he ufed more un- foredted au- fpeakable. Turning him to the Hang-man as he was putting thot,r . who rc " the rope to him^Thou Bajlardfaid he wilt thou hang Hao portsIt * ket thy King f having the rope about his neck^ he lift up his eyes jind grinning faid,Dofl thou repay mee this for a King* dome? I come to revenge it. Befides thefe homebred perturbers of the progrefle of Religion, in the way towards a more perfeft re formation ,there came fome forainersfrom Holland* Countrey (as Camd. cenfures itjfruitfull Qk,)of hemickswho under a Jhew of fngular integrity and k ibid p. 2 1$. fanffityjnfinuated themfelves into the ignorant vulgar people, and then distilled into their mindes damnable here- fies,mnifeftly repugnant to the Chriflian faith, by a portcn- totis ej/ftrange kind offpeakinpjnofl contrary to the Chri- jlianprofeffionjvhicb men might rather admire then under- jland.Thefe named themfelves the family of Love, or houft of Charity Shey perfwaded their followers that thofeonely were defied and to be faved which were admitted into that family ^and all the reft reprobates and to be damnedxandthat it was lawfullfor them to deny upon their oath before a Ma- gijlrate whatfoever they lif y or before any other which was G 2 not 50 An Atteflation of the Mtntfiers of Chefhire. not of their family: of this fanatical vanity they Aifperfed hookes Among that 'followers, tranjhted out of the Dutch tongue into Englifh, •which they entituled, the G off el of the Kingdome y Vocumentall fentences , the prophecies of the Cp'int of Love, thepublifiing of peace upon earth. The Author H.N. rvhofe name at length they cold by no means be perfwaded to reveal, yet it was found afterward to bee Henry Nicolaitf/ Leiden. Who with blafphemom mouth zave out, that hee did partake of God,ana God of his hu- manity. Sect. V. THe fourth State or time of Reformation, is that which at prefent is peftered with fo many errors, herefies, and blaf- phemies; concerning which your Catalogue of them will fave us the labour of the like account, which concerning others wee have brought in. From fuch uniound Divinity s fuch brain-ficke blafphcmie,' fuch a frukfullharveft of the Tares ofherefie, ashavemoft a- bounded in thefe times ( wherein Reformation was to be fee up, and former fwarvings from Religion and reafon to be filenced and fupprefied ) will fairly follow that which may confirme our faith in the word of ,God, and may conforme our affections to a better liking of Religion, in that edition of it corrected and amended, which now is offered to the acceptance of all well- minded people, As Firlt, That herein we fee by experience the proof of the A- poitles prediction, that there mufi be herefies lhat wife which are ap~ provtdmay he mamjeft,i Cor. i i . i$>. And that they alfo may be dif- covered, who are tof}zdtohk every wind efdoBrineJLph.Af* 14. Arid in refpeft of fome who fee them(e!ves againft the truth, and fettle their refolutions to oppofe it, that of the fame Apoftle may verified, God JhaU fend tbm firongdc* fofionf,thjttkjfhould faleeve a tye 9 lh*taU^ might he damned which ttoktvedmt the truth J/Ht hadpteajure in unrighteeufnejfe, 2 Thef.2, i 2 ! Secondly j That thefe herefie* are as the Apoftle callsjthem the An Attejlatton efthe Minifters 0/Xhefhire . 5 1 Do Srtnts of Devil It} 1 Tim. 4.1. Firft, Beciufe many of them are fo abfurdiy impious, as to be clearly contradi&orie to thtf light, not only of holy Scrip- ture?,butof humane nature. Secondly, Becaufe though many of them were ancient, yet hereticks of later times have revived them, not only by reading (for the leaders of many among thern,were altogether illiterate) but by the inftintt of Satan,as f I) Calvin well obferveth , in See Cafv.hjs 3* hisinOrucYton againftthe Likrthei of his time , who though Ch.of hisinftiJ they agreed with many of the ancient hereticks Cerd^Marcion^ .V ,p *4:>4v the Gnojiick/, and Manic bees-, yet ( m ) being unlearned idiots, as mffi yiidemU-\ he calleth them, and not acquainted with bookes or Writings, mines mdotti they did not draw their dotages from them, nor is it like they f un * ac Miot*4 had any mention of 'them, bu't thatthe fame matter the devil^^W^' who ftirred up the hereticks of old, did inftill the likedo&rine cbartk fiat ex- into thefe new difciples. mhati utexiii Thirdly, Becaufe he knoweth better then any MatchUvillian de Jj ria ft* **- Politician how to makeufeof divifion among men , efpecially t^Venfmill Chriftians,to(ervetohis grcateft advantage, and his advantage eft ipfesfiire is to make fome of s wrong Religion, fome to ftand at a gaze as ulkm unqmm an ignorant travailer where many wayes meet, and to make &* httmmhwB choife of no Religion^and fome who have mifchofen the worft, t^ n rJ H -£ m to reproach thebe(t 5 not onfy by their exprelTecontumelies,but wa^ftirqufve"- by their pernicious wayes, £t heir grofle errors, and loofemap- teres ilios h&n- ners ) by reafon whereof, as Teter prophefied, the way of truth if veos olimfujci- evillfpoken of 2?et, 2. 2. And from differences in opinion hee ^^^demdo- well knoweth how to breed diflike in arTeftion, which if he can, l^pillfi ™* he wil raife to the height of moft hate full hoftility, as he did by iuos hfiruxeran the fpirit of the Arians y Tyonatijis^Anabaftiflj^ndoihcrhGvetkks ibid.c*i.p.w % both of the ancient and more recent times. Cf >l- *♦ Fourthly, Since all found Chriftians refolved for the firfl Re- formation, that Chriflianity was the right Religion , and Ju- daifme and Paganifnie the wrong, ( notwithstanding the many and monftrouserrorSj&c. in the primitive times ) and that for theiecond, the Protectant Religion is therigbt,and Popery the wrong Religion,though as impious errors brokeforth asbefore* fo we may refolve of the other two Reformations from Frelacie toPreibflertifiom a cold and corrupt Liturgy ^to a more cordial! G 3 anc * jj An Amfuuon of theMimfters of Cheihirc. and fincereferviceof God, from the burden of fuperftitious ceremonies,to a true freedomc of conference, and ChrilUan li- berty, ( in the third defired , and by the fourth in a good part performed )that they have the better caufe who ltood for then), and indeavoured to carry it on to perfect accompli (h men t 5 not they that oppofe it, albeit the Devil! ( as afore time ) hath let out fome fmoa-ke of errors ,8tc.from the bottonilsfle pit^Re^.?, 2. to darken the light thereof, that it might not mine forth Info clear a convieYion,andfo effectual la converfion as other- wife it might dosjyet even this working of Satan(with all who are truly inftru&ed in the principles and progrefie of Religion, and are not ignorant of hisdevifes,2 Cor. 2. 11. is an argument that the reformation is of God 3 becaufe the devil ufeth fuch fub- tilty and diligence,to defame and difgrace it,and if he could to fupprefie it. Fifthly* If that be true which out of Honortts Reggus a for- raigne writer wee have notedjthat this laff Reformation hath been inverted with more and more prodigious errors, &c. then any other , this alfo makes nothing to the prejudice of thofe truths of doctrine, difcipline, and worfhip, which now are pre- sented to the world, bat rather much for them,fince of the later times, it is efpecially prophecied, that menfoould depart from the faith, and give heed tQJpir its of error \fnd doUrims rfdevils$i Tim,^ 1 .which importeth an encreafe of herefies both in kind and de- gree of proficiency from bad to worfe in late fuccceding more 1 Mr, Verlint in tncn ' n anc ^ cnt foregoing ages, (n) Mr. Perkfns obftrving fbme- risrrearife how wnat to this purpofe, where he faith, that herefiej abound in this o live,andrhat loft age of the w$rld^ gives for a reafon of it, the devils reviving vt\\. yol. i. f the herefies of former ages,belides the invention of (bme new P»479* co, »i» nes5to which we may adde, thatheeis the more bufie at this time, in profcution of his defigne for fpreading of errors, &c. (as more outragious in his wrath ) becaufe his time is but fhort, Rev. 12. 12. QbfeU* If it be objefted as by fome it is , in favour of Prclacie, and for Prelation of it before Presbyterie out of the foremen tioned author ^that whereas in feure jeers fpacelaftf aft (wherein the Bifheps were eppofed and deposed ) there have teen fetch multiplicity ofmonfirous St&s in England, as info port a time was never kfiOwm ]n *nj Fro~ vincti An Attcftrtiw of the MinifieYs of Chefhirei 53 vince>znd that there were in(fl)6o.yearsof theBifhopsbiitfour Eipifcopwl Sc&lf*rit*h*n**$ , > Fami W , >* nd An M*^ "*>' but three, g 1 ^ *J for he faith thofe that were called (pyPuritansjNMgodlj & ortho- nifl ^ Se ^ s dcxtnm 3 tvhoia Church-government 3 ceremenieSyOnd/ffmefuperfiitions protnletunt, diffented from the Bifbaps. Fwitanos, SsLTo this we aalwer,fmfyhat the reporter being a Granger to ^T*"? % our State,though converfant in many of our controverfiall wri- Zbmifl^M tings might bee miftaken in the number of Sects among us, Mid R e g. deflau doubtlefle he was fo,for befide thofe he nameth, there were *Pa- Ecclef*in Angl tifts+ArminianJ* Socman •/, Grindletmians. HothmngtonianiJIra!- P* 1 * . . ".{ 3 7 ' pPuntam eram Secondly 3 If there were fewer Sects in that longer ,then in this thodcxi qui ab lefTertime, it might be there was the more peace, lefle divifion, epifcopk quod becaufe the ftrong man armed kept the palace, Luk$ 1 1. 2 1 .For aci gnbemtio- the Bilhops held their palaces armed with great power and au- J^^S! thority,and they were divers of them as willing as ab!e,to doe cn es qua-sdam the devil! better (ervice then petty Sects could doe, for their po- dijfcntitk&M tency at Gourt,in the Scar-chamber, high Commiffion, theiV crofle keyes of order and jurlfdiction, perfonall, and confjftori- all, enabled them to fufpend and (ilence the moft conscientious and powerful! Preachers, to put downe Lectures and afternoons Sermons on the Sabbath, and to fet up carnall fports and recre- ations on that day, to uphold non-refidences, pluralities, pro- phanenefle and fuperft itious ceremonies$ and to carry o» ftcha complyance with the grand herefie of Popery, as might put Papifts in great hope, that if they were too ft out to come to ut> we would be fo humble as to come to them. Thence it was that they bragged( when they faw the Com- munion table let up, and railed in as an Altar, and the places of publick worftiip popilhly painted) that our Church ( q} began to q See CbitTmg* look, with a new face>& their walls tofteakjz ntwlauguage 3 by the new wrtbs prd» ir* face they meane a new draught, and by the new language^ new a "fj^ook caK dialect of Popirt) conformity h *nd(r)tbat our 3 9. Articles are pan- f^ Charity " entyjea ambition infcmeftnje tofeem Catholic k^hdit is(in their fenfe) m ifhkei>^ Popifo.So that it may with good probability be collected, that r Md* the devill fjpitteth at Freslyterk, by fo many latefpread, though not late hatcht herefies, with the more fpight and rage, out of the revenge of the cpiarrcllof Prelacxe^the putting down where- of -■ j4 A* JttcJlatiM of the Minifiers ef Chelbire. of, i n refpeft of their forementioned evill dealings, he cannot buttake for a great prejudice and impediment to the advance- ment of his Kingdome ;. by which returne of the objection, wedefirenottoput any reproach upon fuch as were not parta- kers with the evilt deeds of their pragmatical! brethren, for to them we referve place for an apologeticall plea, io farre as their learningjpiety^ains-takingjmoderation and humilkyf wherein fome of them are eminent ) may be capable thereof. And now ( Deare Brethren ) wee have thus joyned with you in publick profeflion, and our engagement to the Covenant and Government of the Church, and our refolution according to our calling and places, toftand for defence and promotion of both, and in oppofition to all errour, &c contrary to them. We doubt not but you will joyn with us in unceflant follicitations atthethroneof grace, that God will be pleated to make way for fincere and affectionate entertainment of both in the hearts of the people to whom they are tendered, and that by his blef- fing thereupon they may attaine thofe* happy endsffor which they werepropofed ) and have been approved by the two Hono- rable Houfes of Parliament, the venerable Affembly of Divines at f^eftminfter the reverend Commiflioners of ScotJaad D znd ma- . ny faithfull and worthy Mrnifters , and confeientious Chrifti- ans,both in City andCountrey. And we wifh we could fay fo much,and of fo many in both the Univerfides of this King- dome. And for the Apologeticall fupplement we have made againfl: the reproach of our preftnt Reformation, we hope you and o- thers of ourgodly and learned brethren,wil accept of as an aflay, to doe the truth and them, as well as our {elves, both a neccflfary and acceptable Service. To which we will mike no further ad- dition, then the fubicription of our names. An 'Atu flatten of the Minifters of Chejfhire, j$ IOhn hey, for thefrefent Treacher at Aftbury Thomas ■ Lang-Icy, Minifter at Middlewich Henry lA-*Sy,B after ofOCvtdld'sin Chefter John Gkndok^Paflor of Peters in Cheftcr Thomas Upton, Baft or 0/ Trinity in Cheftcr William Pearctree,P4/?*r 0/Mary's in Cheftcr Benjamin Ball, Baft or of John's in Cheftcr Hugh Burroughs/;*/?^ of Chriftfeton John Marigold,P- of Wavcrton Jofias Clark, B after of : Tattenhall Kichard Chapman, Baft or of Thornton in the Moeres George Cottingham, Baft or of Plcmftall James Hutchinfon Baft or ef Dodleftone Randall Gueft, Baftor */Poulford William Anderton, Baft or de Coppenhall Jofua Golbornc,P^/?^ of Ecckfton Randall Adams,Minifter of Wallefey William Glegge ^Minifter 0/Hafwall Bryan Lafcells,M/W/? as lime mingled with mi Ike: an here- tick a man of blood. p. 18. 2. The third reafon taken from the confideration of the fafety and honour of the Kingdome-jvhich are much oppo- fed and impeached by errors, herefies. p. 18, &19. 4. Thejafety of civillfocieties endangered by want of jujlice, and by pernicious docirins. 5. The difiionour of En°hnd, by abundance of Setts , aggravated by com pari fon of our prefent time, and fat e-, with the precedent of England > with other Kingdoms. p. 19. 6. The bejl Remedy andApologie in refpeff of both > is publikelytoprofejfe againfi them-, the Parliament hath done it thrice. 1. By their fir jl Declaration. 2. By the Or- dinance for a publike fajl for the fpreading §f herejie, March the 10. And 3. by their Ordinance^ May i.forpu- nifhing blafphemys^'herefies, &c. p. 19. & 20. Qpr\T__, The Contents. SECT. III. A Fourth reafon for publick prof efiion again f herefies is taken from i. Thefedul/tyjdtilty^ and pride of hereticks 5 as of Eunomius. p. 22. 2. Taken from the levity ^and inclination of the common feople to vagrant fpeculations^ who are willing to be decei- ved, will full when they are deceived. p # 2 1 , 3. The caufe of mens pertinacy in evill opinions: here (ie and fpirituall frenzy > hardly cured. p. 23. & 24. 4. Afixth reafon^ taken from the \eal of the ancient 1 Fathers Againfi herefies^as of the CouncellofNice, Poly- carpe, Hicrom 5 and others ^ though Hicrom werefome* times too fharp againfi fome^f or their opinions on this fide here fie. p,. 25, 5. Afeventhreafon^from the like \ealom &ppofitio#cf here fie by the reformed Churches^ as by the Synod at Dorr " and 'other godly Divines , confenting with it againfi the Armenians. V* 2 5* 6. The\eal ef King James againfi Conrad Voftius : The file of the Kings of England, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH 5 when firfi given them^jby-^whom^ and for what. p. 26. y* The Eighth reafon taken from the care the Heathens had of their own erroneous Religions 3 and from their Heligicus obfervation of an oath. p. 26. 8. Regulus anheroickeYxomn^ willingly dyed, that- he might not be wilfully forfwom. p> 27. 9. B gw much confidence mor all heathens have repofed in an oath, and what benefit they both expeffed and enjoy- ed^by confeionabk keeping of an oath.. p.. 27. The (Contents. SECT. IV. i . >i TP#> Ninth reafonfrom the dinger hoih of finnt Ji, andpunijbment , by connivence and filcnce at the wickedness of others. ~ p. 28. 2. For that Chrifians have been paffive partakers in the punifhment of heathens. p. 29. 3 . Politick neutrality detejled by ingenuous moral ifts.ib. 4. The 10. reafon taken from the good acceptance of the tejiimony to the Truth, againft errors &c. (hewed by our reverend and godly Brethren ^/Scotland; who plead it to the e fates of their Parliament, for prefervation of Peace \ and prevention of War betwixt the Kingdoms, p.29^0. 5 . Differences betwixt Presbyterian^ and Independent^ not to be decided by aWar. p. 30. SECT. V. I. i-T+He breach of Covenant politickly pretended for 1 the raifmg of a new War, defmclive to the Co" venant^bothtnthe doclrinall and praclicall parts of it- p.31,32. II. Wee frail gratifie our greatest enemies \and aft their meft dangerous defignes again fl our [elves, if wee take up a War betwixt Presbyterian and Independent. p. 33. III. Herein there is great reafon the Independents (hould be of the fame mind with their Presbyterian Brethren^ and fiould be as willing as they^ to maintain mutuall peace, not - with fan ding difference of opinions betwixt them. ibid. IV. The Papifls fubtilty in fetting diffentions among the Pr&tefantpdYty+The inflrucfions %iven to Seminarie Pricfs to that purpofe^ by Cardinali Allen. p. 34. V. Xo private d,(fenticnsjl)Ould withhold us from hol- ding together for the defence of the publick. ibid. A J A III. Part of thc^tteftation; con- taining an Apology\for Publication of thefe Errors,and for the Reformation in hand,aoainrt the fcandallof thcm 5 and of other impious and abfurd aberrations from Religion and reafon charged upon it. SECT.!. I. r T" f i/< difference of errors fuch, that though feme of ■ them need the addition of an Antidote when they are fuhlifbed, others do not. p.3 J,?£ II. Some errors both in Philofophie and Divinity', thought new, which have been devi fed and divulged of ttt r P-3 5 - III. Reformation carried on too violently from one ex- tream to another. p IV. Errors and herefies have abounded the more^by a */Wtf/interregnum betwixt pitting down the Prelati- tall, andfetting up the Presbyteriall Government, ibid. V. The Divell moft befiirreth himfelf in broaching and fpreadhg Errors and Herefies, when any great worke of Reformation is fet on foot. ibij # VI. Four remarkable tines obfervable for evidence them f' . ibid. SECT. II. and 37- I. ^Hefrfl when Chriftiamty was to be fet up , Iudatfm, and Paganifm to be preached down. p.37. II. Many impious impure and abfurd Herefies fet up. &Jet out by Satan jo reproach thefrfi Reformation, p.38! III. As that of Simon Magus, Nicolas the Deacon of i Antioch, Errata. pAg. i: after the words Errors, &c. 1.* 1 2: add thefe words in a new Iitie t J pirt * /hewing how far the rninilrers of Cbejbire confent with their Brethren or the Province of LontUu divided into 2 Seftions-.p: 2: 1: 34: deleuhe: p: 1:7: for emi- nent r: imminent: p: g:I; g: for lifesr: lives: ib:l:a8: for is :r: to be. ibid: J: 45: after hut, add for; p: Io: 1: 2 Rafter plates, add or; p: 1$ :in marg.add, lit: 5: I: 2: for quUtiquo: p: 14: for that, r: it, and then add thefc words in a new line, 2. Part, containing the reafonswhv the Miniftersof (f^J&f/*, thus joyn with their Brethren of the Pro/inccof Ltndtn^ in their judgment,and the pablick profeffion thcreof.-divided in c Se;aions:p:i5:I:a7 :for,tomake,r:that the do&rine ©f the^ cocguallpcrfonsis:ibid:I: 2$, after T^wr add for. p. 1 6.1.18, dele, them. p,I7.1:Itf. forwilheth,r;wiflied:p. 1 8. in raarg^adlit, g .l,5:for vi r: «r, p. 18, 1-20, after him, add felf,ibid.l,33, dele thirdly. p.20>l. 3 > f° r winds r. wceds,p. 22« 1, ?. dele fourthly ,p. 2 3,1. I. dele fifthly, p, 26.1- I» in marg.aftcr that, add titIe.p,3o. 1* 26, for then, r. and, p. 34> in marg.l.2,afccr J^tfttrium ir.darmastf 37,1. 8, after ^o»»rthlyTadd though Jbid 1.2 1,f©rfifcly r.yet,p. 40, !• j2,after make, add women, P« 41,1. 1 8. aher divers, add miniftersi ibid. 1.34.tor«iiw/», r, Menns p. 42, 1. » 3. after perfwaded,add and, & dele that he was, ibtd.l. 2c, afcer him, add he, ibid. I. a^afterhead^delehee, p.43J. IO ,after^«^2p. *i4,atf.*or inverted, r,infcftcd,p* 53,1. 30, foi Church i r. Churches. ^^^^^^c|&t^^^^^e^^^^c|»c^^^ I