These words are part of our Lords holy sermon in the Mount, which containeth;

A Premonition, in which there is

• A Caution in this word [...]
• A descripti­on of them whom wee are to be­ware of, whom hee
  • 1. Describeth generally, by their Title, Ealse Prophets.
  • 2. Particu­larly, by their
    • Exter­nall shew, they shall
    • Inward dis­position, be­ing Rave­ning wolves.
      • 1. Intrude themselves.
      • 2. Insinuate.
      • 3. Dissemble.

And of these, as God shall enable me, & I pray God that this Text may be as profitable to you as fitting.

And first I purpose to speake of false prophets, how dangerous they are, and of the caveat in the last place, which will be then more acceptable to you, you seeing the great danger that you are in by them [...] of false prophets.

The word Prophet is used in Scriptures,

First, for a fore-teller of things to come, derived from the word [...], which signifieth to divine False Pro­phets. A falsis prophe­tis. [...] or fore-tell.

Secondly, in a larger sense for all Ministers and Teachers.

Our Lord biddeth us beware, not of Prophets, but of false prophets, or such as pretend themselves to bee Prophets.

[Page 4]The word signifieth lying prophets.

Saint Peter termeth them [...] ▪ lying tea­chers, 2 Peter 2. 1. who privily shal bring in damnableheresies.

St. Paul calleth them [...], speaking lies in hy­pocrisie.

Take heed of such also as pretend that they speake immediatly from God by revelation, as the illumina­ted Anabaptists, Familists and other Enthusiasts (make their proselytes beleeve:) or from the Oracle of Gods Word by an especiall insight given them from above, to interpret Gods Word.

Again, from such as turne the truth of God into a lye. Rom. 5. 25.

The Fryers of old erected their Kingdome by lyes. Walsingham reporteth that they were so famous for ly­ing, In Vita Rich. 2 that it was accounted a good argument, hee is a fryer Ergo a lyer.

Do not our lying prophets goe beyond them, they tell lyes, they write lies, they preach lyes, they print lyes, as if God needed lyes: Thou wilt destroy all them that speake leasing, saith the Prophet. Psalme 5.

Here I would observe two things.

1. That there have beene, and always shall be false [...]alse prophets alwayes in the Church. prophets in the Church.

2. Why God suffereth them.

For the first, that there have been, and always shall be, false prophets in the Church.

There shal arise (saith our Lord) false prophets, and if Matthew 24. it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

I know (saith St. Paul) that after my departing, grie­vous Acts 20. 29. Wolves shall enter in among you. Again, the spirit [...] Tim. 4. 1. speaketh evidently, that in the latter times, some shall de­part from the faith, and shall give heed to the spirit of er­ror, and doctrines of Devills, which speake lyes through hypocris [...].

[Page 5]Likewise St. Peter affirmeth; But there were false 2 Pet 2. 1, 2 prophets among the people, and there shalbe also false tea­chers among you which privily shal bring in damnable he­sies, even denying the Lord that bought them, & bring upon themselves swift damnation.

For example sake, wee read of the Devill the arch­false prophet, deceiving our first parents in Paradice: of Iamnes and Iambres, withstanding Moses, and resi­sting 2 Tim. 3. 8 the truth: In Eliahs time of many false prophets deceiving the people: yea, in this very time when our Lord preached upon the earth.

The Church was annoyed with divers pernicious sects: as with [...]he Pharisees, who like the Papists held Justification by works: With the Saduces, who held with the Atheists of our time, that there is no resurre­ction: With the Essens, who like the Anabaptists of our time, thought themselves free from all humane authority. I might set down the hereticks that sprang up in the most pure ages of the Church, viz. In the first 400. yeares after Christ, collected by St. Agustine Lib. de haere­sibus. out of Eusebius and Epiphanius.

The Apostles and holy men seldome planted any Churches, but the devill with his false prophets went about to subvert them. Heare what St. Paul saith to the Galatians. O ye foolish Galatians who hath bewitch­ed Galat. 3. 1. you▪ that you should not obey the truth?

Again, to the Corinthians, I fear, lest as the Serpent 2 Cor. 11. 3. beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so you should be cor­rupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The noble Churches of Antioch, Ephesus, Alexan­dria, and Constantinople, were poisoned by false pro­phets.

In Ephesus were the Nicholaitans, in Alexandria, [Page 6] Arrius, in Antioch, Samosatenus; in Constantinople, Eutyches and Nestorius; and i [...] Britany, Pelagius, cal­led in Welch, Morgan: But how Christian Princes, & holy Bishops, and learned men bestir'd themselves to save their flocks from those Wolves, and in the very beginning to suppresse them, you may perceive by the ancient Councels, in some one of which 400. year, 600. Bishops conve [...]ed, and ran together, yea among us, to damne Pelagius heresie; Bishops came from beyond the Seas, as Germanus and Lupus out of France, St. Augustine also Bishop of Hippo in Africa, was assisting to us against him, as appeareth by his writings extant among us: Our histories report that our Welch Arch-bishop Davie was a great meanes to extirpate his heresie, who wrote a booke against it.

As sorreign Bishops were ayding to us in suppres­sing the hereticks that rose among us, so were we assi­sting to them, as Eborius of York, Restitutus of Londō, Adel [...]ius of Colchester, with other Brittish and learned men, subscribed the Councell of Arles. Also some of An [...] 313. our Bishops were at the Councell of Nice and Sardis, and with others damned the Arrian heresie, and absol­ved Athanasius. Our poor Church is at this time op­pressed Jesuites and other Rom [...]sh [...]m [...]s [...]ies. with false prophets, not only with Iesuites and other Romish Emissaries, but also with unpure Fami­lists, who blasphemously pretend to be godified like F [...]lists. God, whereas indeed they are devillified like their Fa­ther the Devill, who would be like the most high.

With illuminated Anabaptists, who blaspheme the Anabaptists▪ baptisme of Children, and these hereticks, whom in time past we burned, wee may heare now in our pul­ [...]its [...]educing the people.

We have also Donatistical Brownists, who like the Brownists. [Page 7] Pharisees of old, separate themselves from other men, counting all men prophane that are not of their Con­venticles.

We have also Independants, who dream that they I [...]ded [...]. have a perfect model [...] of Church-government, which Almighty God kept secret from the Patriarks, Priests, Prophets, Apostles, and Doctors of the Church, and now lately revealed unto them.

We have also Antinomians, who, whereas the Pa­pists Antinomians. leave out one Commandement of the ten, they null the whole Law, not allowing it to be a rule of life. This opinion simple people swallow down, having, as they suppose, found a new way to heaven.

We have Arminians, an after-brood of Pelagius. Arminian [...].

We have Sabbatarianss, who affirme the old Jewish Sabbatarians. Sabbath to be kept; and not the Lords day.

We have also Antisabbatarians, who would have Antisabbatari­ans. no speciall Sabboth day at all, affirming every day to be a sabbath to a christian man.

We have Traskites, who affirme many Jewish cere­monies Traskites▪ to be observed by Christians.

We have Arrians, who deny the deity of Christ. Arrians.

We have Antitrinitarians, who blaspheme the holy Antitrinitari­ans. Trinity.

We have Millenaries, who dream that wee must Millenaries. live with Christ 1000. yeares here in earth before the resurrection.

We have Hetheringtonians, who hold a hodg-podg of many heresies.

We have an Atheisticall sect, who affirm that mens Soules sleepe. soules sleep with their bodies.

We have Socinians, who teach that Christ dyed, not to satisfie for our sins, but to give us an example of [Page 8] patience, with other abho [...]inable errours.

Alas, what Heresie have we not? and most of these are subdivided into many Sects: as there are about twenty sorts of Anabaptists, fourteen set downe by Alstedius, and the rest by Bullinger; sundry sorts of In Indi [...]e Po­ [...]m. Bulling▪ [...]dver. An [...]b [...]. Familists, Brownists, and of others: every day be­gets a new opinion, it faring with them, as with the ancient Hereticks, who having once forsaken the truth, wandred from one errour to another; they agreeing onely in this one thing, to doe mischiefe to the Church of God.

The old Fable may have relation to our times of an overture of peace tendred by the Wolves to the Sheep, but upon condition that they would put away their dogs, that were malignant to them: and doth not all this follow upon the suspension of Church Government? Alas, our Church is oppressed by false Prophets, and we have no government to helpe. The City of God is on fire, and who goeth about to quench it? The plague of Heresie is among us, and we have no power to keep the sick from the whole: The Wolves that were wont to lye in the woods, dare come into our Sheep-folds, and roar in our holy Con­gregations.

O thou Shepheard of Israel, why hast thou broken Psal. [...]0. downe the hedges of this thy Vineyard, which thy right had had plantted? the Boare out of the Wood, and the wilde beast out of the field doth devour: Oh remember not against us our former iniquities, let thy tender mer­cies prevent us, for we are brought very low.

2. Why God suffereth false Prophets in his Church.

Resp. 1. For the punishment of the ungodly, as 2. Why God suffereth false Prophets. [Page 9] St. Paul affirmeth: Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved: Therefore 2 Thes. 2. 10. God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lye. [...] That all might be damned that believed not the truth.

St. Basil hath a Contemplation why the Devill hath so many servants, who is the enemy of man­kinde, and God so few, who hath created us and redeemed us, &c. The reason he saith, is not because the Devill hath spoyled God of his Kingdome, but because men loved not the truth, God gave them o­ver to be slaves to the Devill. Were it possible that men should be so carryed away to believe lyes and fooleries, but that they are given over to a reprobate sence?

2. God suffereth false Prophets in the Church, 1 Cor. 11. 1 [...]. for the tryall of the godly. There must be (saith St. Paul) Heresies among you, that they which are approved may be knowne. The Lord proveth you, (saith Moses) whether you love the Lord your God.

The Uses that we should make of this is,

First in these distractions to bee more diligent to Use 1. seek after the truth.

If Arrius had not so wickedly denyed the Deity of Christ, the deep mysteries of the holy Trinity had never beene so accurately determined by Athanasius, and other learned Doctors.

If the Manichees had not so shamefully railed upon the old Testament, the learned Doctor, St. Augustine had never taken so much paines in answering their lewd Objections.

If the Brownists, and other Sectaries had not so imp [...]dently disgorged their malice upon our Church, [Page 10] calling her Whore of Babylon, &c. The learned men of our Age had never by their writings so sufficient­ly cleared her innocencie in the hearts of understan­ding men.

The second use is, that the Shepheards should use Vse 2. double diligence, taking heed to themselves and to the fl [...]cke, over which Christ hath made them over­seers, and to double & treble our prayers to the great Shepheard of soules, that he would lead us in the paths of righteousnesse for his names sake. Let no man slight prayer which is the armour of the Church, & of great Lib. 4. cap. 4. force: one onely example I will cite out of Theodoret, who reporteth that Alexanders prayers prevailed more against the Arrians, then Athanasius profound learning.

When the Arrian Bishops with the Emperours power, threatned to bring in Arrius into Alexanders Church, the next day hee prayed all night after this manner; O Lord, if it be thy will to bring Arrius into my Church, then let thy servant depart in peace; but if thou wilt be favourable to thy Church, of which I am sure, then turn thine eye upon the Arrians: The next day when the Arrians came with great p [...]mp to have taken possession of his church: Arrius going a­side, his bowels brake asunder like Iudasses.

Let us earnestly pray to God to keep these hereticks out of our churches, let us call upon him with David, Psa [...]m [...] 80. 4▪ How long Lord wilt thou be angry with thy people that pray? And thus much what false prophets are, and why Which come, [...]u [...] veniunt. [...] God suffereth them.

• 1 their Intrusion.
• 2 Insinuation.
• 3 Dissimulation.

[Page 11] [...] their intrusion, they come, they have no cal­ling, Intrusion. these false prophets are not sent: Paul asketh how they can preach except they besent. And this standeth Rom. 10. 15. with good reason, every true Minister standeth in Gods room, being the Lords Embassadour to deliver his wil, who dare do this unsent? This did the Devil in Paradise, and the heretick Arrius as the Alexandrian Synod affirmeth: No man taketh this honour to himself Hebr. 5 5. but he that is called of God, saith the author to the He­brewes.

They come! but whence come they, from the schools Whence come they. of the Prophets? No, but many of them from mecha­nick trades: as one from a stable from currying his horses, another from his stal from cobling his shooes, and these fit them downe in Moses chaire to mend all, as Embassadors of Jesus Christ, as heralds of the most high God. These take upon them to reveal the secrets of the most high, to open and shut heaven, to save soules. You may reade of such priests that Jeroboam 1 Kings 12 31 provided, but they were for his calves, fit for calves. As for the Lords Priests, the Majesty of the King and dignity of the Priest hood concurred in one person (viz. in the first borne) from the beginning to Moses: In the Gospel Christ preferreth St. Iohn Baptist before all the Priests and Levites before him: and St. Paul commandeth them to have double honour: and so they have b [...]en esteemed in all ages either christian or prophane, in whom there hath beene any Religion at all.

But to returne to my Text, to heare these base fel­lows to discourse of the holy Trinity, of Gods eternal decree, and other deep points of divinity, you may hear the mad men in Bedlam to prate as wisely as they, [Page 12] & are not they that run after such men as mad as they?

May not Almighty God say to these Prophets, what Psalm 50. 16. hast thou to doe to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst take my Covenant into thy mouth, seing thou ha­test instruction? But they will aske why they may not preach aswel as Peter who was a fisherman, and Paul a Tent-maker, &c. To these I answer, that these were immediatly called by our Lord, and enabled with gifts fit for so high a calling, as to heale the sicke, to cleanse Leapers, to cast out Devills; The holy Ghost came upon Acts 2. 4. them, and they spake divers languages: They had all manner of learning both humane and divine.

Neither hath Almighty God alwayes left such pre­sumptuous wretches unpunished: Korah, Dathan, ond Numb. 16. 31 Abiram, and the 250. Princes, who would take upon them to sacrifice with strange fire, the earth opened & swallowed some of them, and fire from heaven con­sumed the rest.

Elimas going about to turne the Deputy from the Acts 13, 8. faith was stricken with blindnesse.

Arrius dyed in a Jakes, voyding his bowels with Lib. 1. Eccles. histor: cap: 14 his excrements as Theodoret recordeth.

Manes was excoriated by the Persian King. Hierom catal. scriptor. Niceph. Cal. hist. lib. 14. cap: 36. Melanct. lib. 3 Chron. Theod. lib. 2. Cap. 26. Paulus diacon. lib. 15.

Montanus and his two mad prophetesses hanged themselves.

Nestorius tongue was eaten up with wor [...]es.

Anastasius the Emperour, a great defender of the Eutychian heresie was smitten with a Thunder-bolt.

Nicomedia a place where the Arrians were appoin­ted to meet, was swallowed up with an Earth-quake: and Antioch, a nursery of faction and heresies, was shaken with an Earth-quake, and afterwards burnt with fire from heaven.

[Page 13]And of late dayes Iohn of Leiden, King of the Ana­baptists Sl [...]id. com. l. 10. [...]ol. 137. with Knipperdolling and Crechting, had upon a scaffold their flesh torne apeices with hot irons?

And Servetus was burnt for his abhominable blas­phemies at Geneva. Examples are infinite, although seducers may escape punishment in this world, yet how can they escape the damnation of hell.

To you. To you that are my Disciples, To you, ad vos. [...]
[...]

No word in vaine [ to you] daily experience sheweth us, whom the Anabaptists, Brownists & Fa­milists, goe about to seduce, viz. not drankard [...], adulterers, swearers, gamesters, and such like, but such as desire to know the right way to heaven: St. Paul telleth us, that they leade captive silly women, ever lear­ning that are desir [...]us to learne.

[...]: They come not, [...] but to you, not as enemies but as friends, in [...]inuating themselves into you, as Councellors under the colour of giving Subspecie con­sulendi [...]gunt nego [...]ium sedu­cendi Greg. mag. lib. 23. mor. cap. 21 good councell, they seduce. This did the Devill in Pa­radice, councelling our first parents to eate of the for­bidden fruit, hee promised to make them like God. And tempting Christ in the wildernesse, promised to give him all the Kingdomes of the world, and the glo­ry of them; Thus all seducers promise great matters, yea the kingdome of heaven, and the glory of it.

The Wolfe (saith a learned man) when he taketh a Lupus cum o­vem rapuerit dentibus eam non laedit, sed super dorsum suum [...]am sua. viter jacere facit Vincent in specul. Nat. lib. 19. Cap. 83. sheepe at the first, layeth him gently upon his backe, carrying it away with little hurt to the place where he meaneth to worrie it. The Anabaptists and other sec­taries do the same, when they take sheepe out of our folds, they pretend to carry them unto Zion, whereas indeed they take them out of the Church to strangle [Page 14] their soules in their prophane conventicles.

Sweetely singeth the Bird-catcher when hee would catch the Foul: these seducers have their several cals o [...] notes. Come out of Babylon cryeth one, Christ must raigne saith another, come to the holy Communalty saith another, &c. Every one have their severall calls, wherewith they do inchaunt silly soules.

That you may the better avoid their inchantments, Ephesians 6. 11. [...] I will set down to you the method that these seducers use in deceiving simple people.

In the first place they go about to separate the sheep from their Shepheards, and this they endeavour to do by disgracing them that have cure for their soules, & bringing them into contempt with their people: affir­ming them to be unprofitable, unpowerfull, calling them Baals priests, Caini [...]es, taxing their conversati­ons as prophane, and their doctrine as erroneous, co­louring their malice with crying out for Reformati­on (which God grant) For our infirmities; which they malitiously cry up, we must confesse that we ar [...] men, and weak men: but for our Doctrine, which they also scandal, it is Gods truth; would to God ou [...] lives were as pure as our Doctrine. Our infirmitie [...] are our owne; the Doctrine we preach is yours; re­fuse not for their c [...]amours, and our infirmities, th [...] golden treasure of salvation, which we bring unt [...] you in our earthen Vessells. Thus they smi [...]in [...] your Shepheards with their tongues, the Sheep ar [...] scatt [...]ered and surprised by these ravenous Wolves. The Devill in Paradise spake ill of God himselfe, and so deceived our first Parents, perswading them tha [...] he loved them no [...], in forbidding them to eat of th [...] fruit which would make them like God.

[Page 15]The use that we should make of this, is to teach Vse. all true professors, that are Christs Sheep, to take heed that they forsake not their shepheards, and with In Sheeps cloa­thing. Vestimen [...]is o­vium. [...] Their Insinua [...] tion. itching eares run after seducers, who have faire out­sides, and pretend much love.

In Sheeps cloathing.

In these words hee setteth downe their dissimula­tion: our Saviour may seem here to allude to the Wolfe in the Fable, concerning whom the Mytholo­gist speaketh. A Wolfe on a time, putting on a sheepes Lupus ovis pelle in­dutus ovium se im­misc [...]it gregi, quoti­dieque aliquam ex [...]is [...]ccidebat; quod cum pastor animad­vertisset illum altis­simo arbore suspen­dit: interrogantibus autem caeteris pasto­ribus cur ovem sus­pendisset; aiebat, pellis quidem ut videtis est ovis, opera autem lu­pidae. skin, immi [...]gled himselfe a­mongst the flock, and so eve­ry day strangled one of the sheep: which when the shep­heard perceived, hee took the Wolfe and hung him upon a high Tree: at which, the o­ther shepheards wondred, be­ing ignorant of the cause, what he meant to be so cruell, to hang up a [...]illy harmesse sheep: he answered, His skin you see is a sheeps skin, but his workes are the workes of a Wolfe.

Here we may observe, that it is not the manner of Seducers, to shew themselves as they are within: if a Wolfe within, yet a Lambe without: If a Wolfe should come in his owne likenesse into the fold, the shepheard would resist him, and hunt him away with [Page 16] his Dogs: but comming in a sheeps skin he findeth entertainment, and they shun him not. Even so Se­ducers, if they should come in their owne likenesse, the Magistrates and Ministers would withstand them: but comming like zealous and holy Christians, they finde entertainment.

Tertullian doth ask, Qu [...]nam sunt istae pelles ovium▪ St. Paul telleth us, [...] having A shew of godlinesse. 2 Tim. 3. 5. forme, or shew of godlinesse, viz. outward sanctimo [...] ny, counterfeit holinesse.

For example, The Devill transformed himselfe into an Angel of light.

Baals Priests used long prayers, they prayed from 1 King. 18 20. morning to noon, they cryed aloud, and cut them­selves with Knives and Lancers, till the bloud gu­shed [...]ut upon them.

The blasphem [...]us Arrians, as St. Basil repor­teth were easily believed because of their counterfeit holinesse. Saint Augustine writeth the same of the Manichees.

The Romish seducers have many Fasts, long prayers, they whip themselves; yea, the begging Friars befool'd the Christian world with their pre­tended holinesse, with which they varnished their lewd lives. Generally seducers come with outward sanctimony, with a seeming contempt of the world, with long prayers, as the Pharisees, to devoure Wid­dows houses, fastings, tears, almes-deeds, seeming zeale, seeming humility, seeming harmlessenesse. They can cry, weep, &c.

And this you may see in the Anabaptists who at their first comming into Munster, seemed to be very [Page 17] holy men. Their talke was altogether of Mortification, Bull. Adver. Anab [...] fol. 51. lib. 2. cap. 7. Initio humiles & demissi fuerunt: ni­hil splendoris & magnificentiae habe­bant; clamabant & invehebantur in om­nem excellentiam, fastum & magnifi­centiā, item adversus gladiū & potestatem magistratuū. Opes & honores erant illis (ita simulabant) nau­sea. Nihil loqueban­tur quam de mortifi­catione veteris ho­minis, de renovatione spiritûs, de separata & Deo commissa a [...] dicata vita, mundum & cuncta quae in ipso sunt plane fassidi [...] ­bant. and holinesse. Their Appar­rell was modest and simple: They forbad the wearing of rings, pearles, and lace: They made a great shew of piety, mercy, and charity: They af­firmed, that it was not law­full to put any man to death, no not for the Magistrate in case of justice; but when their number increased, and that they had surprised the City, they became of all hereticks most unpure, and unclean, ha­ving not only many wives, for which they pretended to have a speciall command from God, but also making the women of their Sect common, casting aside all Lawes of ho­nesty and pudicity.

And for their Apparell, their Prophet Iohn of Leiden arrayed himselfe, his wives, and followers, like Princes, assuming to themselves glorious Titles, as the foresaid Iohn the Taylor sti­led himselfe▪ King of Syon, and King of righteous­nesse▪ and in stead of mercy and much pi [...]ty before pretended, they not onely rob'd rich men, but also most cruelly murthered many, beheading some, and [Page 18] impaling others upon stakes: yea one of the Arti­cles of their religion was to kill all the wicked. (That is, all them that were not of their Sect) and to destroy all the Kings of the earth, and to make their Pro­phet Iohn King of the universe. In the History of the Anabaptists of Germany, you may read what faire pretences they made before they surprized the City.

The use that we should make of this, is to be very Solli [...] cavea­mus h [...]r [...]ticos qui [...]nve [...]sa­ [...]o [...]is of timae sunt, quorum [...]rte vitam non tam Deu [...] quam Diabo­ [...]s▪ lost▪ [...]xit b [...]m▪ 7: in Ezek. wary of these Hereticks, who are of the best con­versations; whose lives, saith Origem, are possibly di­rected not of God, but by the devill.

Secondlie, this their sheeps cloathing may be their palliating▪ their errours with the testimony of holy Scriptures. I read that the Monster Arrius pretended to have 42. places of Scripture, to prove that Christ was a meere man, and not God; and this the Sedu­cers 2. Testi [...]o [...]s of Scripture. learnt of their Father the Devill, who cited the word to the Word himselfe, tempting▪ him to cast himselfe downe from the Pinacle of the Temple, viz. He cited part of the 91. Psalme, He hath given his Psal. 9 [...]. Angels charge over thee, they shall heare thee up in their hands, lest thou shouldest dash thy foot against▪ a stone, leaving out part of the Text, viz. to keep thee in thy wayes. The devill fitted it for his purpose.

The Use that you should make of this, is, ad­vise with your learned Pastors: and double and treble your prayers to Almighty God to keepe you, I [...]tre sec [...]s [...] ­tem Lupi ra­ [...]a [...]s. [...] and to bring into the way of truth all such as do erre, and are deceived.

But inwardly they are ravening Wolves.

[Page 20] [...], Wolves. Whatsoever they pretend, they are Inward dispo­sition. Wolves: as Wolves are to the Sheep, so are false Pro­phets to Christs flock.

St. Paul calleth them, [...], grievous Wolves, Our Lord setteth downe their outward shew, and Acts 20. 19. their inward disposition: what outward shew soe­ver they make.

[...], Wolves in divers respects.

1. As the biting of a Wolfe is venomous, like Arist. lib. 1 [...]. the biting of a mad Dog, making them that are bitten by them, mad: so false Prophets venome men, causing them to goe out of their wits.

2. As the Wolves destroy more sheep by craft, then by might; so doe false Prophets▪ of whom Saint Paul speaketh of some carrryed away [...] [...]ph. 4 By the cogging of men, and with craftinesse, by which they lye in wait to deceive.

3. As Wolves are dull-sighted in the day, and I [...]terdi o [...]a [...]i [...] nocte [...]lari [...]s. [...]ide [...] Gis [...]r lib [...] ▪ [...] ▪ quadrup. quick▪ sighted in the night: so false Prophets are ve­ry accute and sharpe witted to defend their errors; but very dull and blinde to see the truth.

4 Make a garment, saith Plutarth, of the haire of a Wolfe, & it will prove odious, being lousie, and bree­ding vern [...]e upon him that weareth it. So all the profit you shall get by false Prophets, will be noxious to you.

[...] which signifieth dilanio▪ to teare a­sunder [...] of [...] to rend asunder▪ as one Wolf may destroy a flock, so one Hereticke a Congrega­tion.

[...]. Lupus quasi Leopus, followeth the Lyon hun­ting for his prey; and what the Lyon spareth, the Wolfe devoureth.

[Page 21]So false Prophets follow their father the Devill, the roaring Lyon, seeking whom they may de­voure.

Wolves play with little Children, as Aristotle re­porteth, Arist. lib. 8 N. Animal. and sometimes spareth them▪ as wee read of Ro [...]ulus brought up by a Wolf; and of late days I read of a man brought up among the Wolves, and ra [...]e about with them, and preyed as they did▪ but being taken by Hunters, and chained up, he howl'd like a Wolfe; and continuing among men, and ha­ving gotten his speech and understanding▪ he would complaine, that he lived more carefully among men, than among Wolves.

I never read that a false Prophet spared any man whom he could seduce: and it is not so dangerous to live among Wolves in the fields, as with false Pro­phets in a strong City.

Ravening wolves they are by reason of their rapa­citie, [...] taking away truth from our understandings, cha­rity from our affections, and holinesse from our acti­on.

[...], grievous Wolves, cruell Wolves: a [...] Acts 20. Cruelty of these mystical wolves. Hebr. 11. 37 Wolfe delighteth in bloud: so these mysticall Wolves: of the cruelty of these ravening Wolves you may read▪ Hebr. 11. 37. By them the Saints of God were stoned, they were sawne asunder, they were tempted, they were slaine with the sword, &c. In the Primi [...]ive persecutions, they opened the Bellies of holy men and virgin [...], and filling them full of Corne exposed them to be eaten of Swine. Cyril of Hiera­polis had his breast opened, and his Liver taken out, and chewed by these ravenous Wolves.

[Page 22]In cruelty the Romish Wolves excell. Call but Romish Wolves▪ Martyrs in Q. M [...]ie [...] time. to minde the martyrdom of our holy men in Queen Maries dayes, which holy men delivered our Nati­on from Idoll worship, Bread-worship, invocation of Saints and Angels, and translated the holy Bible into English, who restored to us the Cup in the Sacrament, the symboll of Christs bloud, who sealed their confes­sion with their bloud. Their blessed remembrance shall remaine for ever.

In the Massacre of the Protestants in France you Massacre in [...]a [...]ce. may see their Wolvish cruelty. The Papists being not able to quell the Protestants in Battaile, they put on sheepes cloathing, made a League with them confirmed by Oathes, and a publike Edict. And that the Protestants might the better confide in them, the Protestant King of Navar, our Queens father, was to marry the sister of the then French King. To the which marriage the Protestant Princes & Nobles resorted, invited with great joy and expectation of future happinesse. The marriage was solemnized; but in the night time the Wolvish Papists fell upon their guests, and worried them against the Law of hospitality, promises, and oathes. The noble Prince, the Admirall (among others) was murthered in his Chamber, was drawne to the Gallowes, and han­ged up by the heeles. And to consummate this ab­hominable Treacherie, the Pope (hearing of this their mass [...]cring the P [...]o [...]stant) went in Procession with his Cardinals, and sang Te Deum. But what [...]o [...]der [...] need I forraigne examples? Call to minde our pow­der-Plot, a cruelty superlative, in a moment to de­stroy our King, Queen, Prince, Nobles, Bishops, [Page 23] and Patriots. What Devill could have devised such a plot, and this to be done, not in open Rebellion, but to be blowne up with Gunpowder, sitting in the house of peace, making the Parliament-house like Mount Sinai, Tonitru & fumo, with Thunder and Smoake.

The can bee no agreement between wolves and Barthol de propr. sheep: strings made of wolves guts, and sheeps guts, can never agree in an Instrument.

I might also relate of the cruelty of the Anabap­tists Plin. l 11. [...]t▪ hist. in Munster, and papists in Ireland; but this shall suffice.

There are divers kindes of Wolves.

1. There are Wolves called Cervari, unsatiable Creatures.

2. A Wolfe called Glanos, [...], Ari [...] lib▪ S: cap. 5▪ which seeks to prey upon men.

3: A Wolfe called Cirucs, who when the moun­tains Gisn▪ are covered with snow, will venture into Cities.

4. In Ethiopia, wolves that have Maines like Isod. lib▪ 13. Lions.

5. In India wolves that have three rowes of teeth, Asist. lib. 2 feet like a Lion, a face like a man, and voyce like a trumpet, Taile like a Scorpion, swift as a Hart, a like fierce and cruell.

It is not so dangerous to live among those VVolves in a wood, as among our mysticall wolves in a strong City: As wee have none of these wolves in Eng­land, so Lord deliver us from these mysticall wolves.

O God thou hast not cast us off for ever.

Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy Congrega­tion.

[Page 24]They have cast fire into thy Sanctuary▪

O God, how long shall the adversaries reproach us? shal the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

O deliver not the soule of thy Turtle Dove to the mul­titude of the wicked.

Arise, O Lord, and pleade thy owne cause.

Mr. Calvin that admirable man of God, whose name is yet terrible in the kingdom of popery, setteth Characters. Lib 3. in Perm. Lib. 4. in stit. Cap. 1. [...]. 16. Acts [...]. 9. downe certaine characters of these Impostors, taken out of St. Augustine.

1. Great boasters making ostentation of their own worth, like Simon Magus who bewitched the people, saying, that he himselfe waa some great man, like the Gnostiks who had a high conceit of their own know­ledge, as if they were the only knowing men of the whole world, &, as Eliah, left alone for their faculty to expound scripture: Yea, among us some Trades-men have a high conceit of their deep learning. As a shoo­maker being demanded by one of his neighbours whe­ther hee could preach better then the Doctor his Par­son, answered with indignation, that he should be ve­ry sorrowfull if he could not preach better then he.

2. Superbia tumidi, blowen up with pride. It is re­ported by Bede, that when Austin the Monke came into Brittany, and that the Brittish Bishops were in doubt of receiving him, an old man gave them advice to observe whether hee were humble or no, and that by his humility they should know whether he were of God or no: by their pride you may know them, their talke, being commonly in commendation of them­selves, and casting dirt and vilifying others. This o­verweening Epiphan. cont▪ heres. of heritickes hath bred much distraction in the Church: In the primitive times Marcion the [Page 25] heretique, having not that preferment that he expe­cted and thought himselfe worthy of, demanded what was the meaning of those words. No man ple­ceth an old garment with a piece of new cloath, for Mat. 9. 16. 17 that that should fil up taketh away from the garment, and the breach is worse.

They gave him the true sense of Christs words; but the proud heretick applyed the parable to himselfe, & avouched that he should make a remediles breach a­mong them.

Thereupon he broached his heresie, viz. That there were two Gods, the one the author of good, the o­ther the author of evill; which errour cost St. Augu­stine more pains in confuting it then many other. Ae­rius being denyed a Bishopricke, wrote against the whole order. And among us many proud spirits ha­ving not these preferments which they thought them­selves worthy of, have forsaken our Church, & gone to Rome and Amsterdam.

3 Calumniis insidiosi, deceitfully slanderous, and in Calumniis inst. di si. Brownists goe beyond all o­ther [...]ect [...]ri [...]s in rayling. this faculty of all others the Brownists excell; they fill their sermons, books, and communication with scan­dalous imputations: they spare neither government nor church; like cursed children tearing their mother a pieces; which when they have done, they may con­fesse with Nero, who, when he had ript open his mo­thers belly, affirmed that he never thought his mother had bin so fair: The Jesuits are not so bitter against our Church as the Separatists, compare their writings: Michael the Arch-Angel durst not give the devil such cursed speaking, nor raile upon him as they doe upon us.

[Page 26]4 Treacherously seditious, not preaching peace, as Treacherously seditious. Christ commanded his disciples to doe, but division: yea the Brownists arrogate to themselves the name of Separatists, which well they may, being separated from their Mother Church, from all the reformed Churches and malitiously divided among themselves. Read Mr. Whites discovery of Brownisme, who setteth down among other what a fiery contention was a­mong the Iohnsons, the younger brother becomming a libeller, and loading his elder brother with reproa­ches of shame and infamie, and that in print, and the other separated himselfe, and brake fellowship with his brother and father, & cursed him with all the cur­ses in Gods booke, which he confirmed with the sen­tence of excommunication, giving his brother and fa­ther to the Devill.

Lest they should seeme to be destitute of the light of truth, they arrogate to themselves the shadow of austerity, a shew of holinesse. The substance of holi­nesse is charity, which they want, 1 Cor. 13. Without which they are nothing: Having a shew of godlinesse, [...] Tim. 3. 5 but denying the power thereof, from such turne away.

Sacrilegious, what the appetite of all schismaticks Sacrilegious. hath been this way is notorious, caring not for the ru­ine of the whole Church, upon condition that they might get some-what. They have so taught, that some thinke that there is no such sin as sacriledge a [...] all.

For whereas sacriledge may be committed, 1. A­gainst holy persons, viz Against Gods Ministers, as the wrong done to Zacharias the Priest was punished, Mat. 23. 35▪ not only in the King and people that did it, but upon [Page 27] the Jewes that lived many hundred yeares after.

2. Against holy places; Yee shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my Sanctuarie.

3. Against holy things: Ye have robbed m [...], saith Mal. 3. 8 the Lord, in detention of Tythes and Offerings.

1. Now for holy persons, some affirme there to be none now: men making no difference between a Mi­nister and a Cobler.

2. For holy places: they impute no more holi­nesse to a Church than to a stable.

3. For holy things: as holy dayes, as Sabbaths, every day alike; and for Tythes, they thinke they are repealed: never by Christ, but as the work continu­eth, and the service of God; so also the main [...]ai­nance: Indeed I finde them forbidden by Muntzer the Anabaptist, who also forbade paying rent to Land­lords, with other things.

It must needs follow, if there be no holy persons, places, nor things, that there can be no sacriledge. Wha [...]? have we lost a sinne? is that Law abrogated? happy it were for many sacrilegious persons (among us) if it were so, to avoyd this curse. If there were no such sinne in the Gospell, why doth St. Peter so curstly rebuke Ananias for it? Ananias, why hath the Devill filled thy heart to lye to the holy Ghost, and keepe Acts 5. 3 away part? If the devill were in him, and he and his wife stricken dead, who kept back but halfe that hee himselfe had offered? what shall become of them? & what devill is in them, that take away all, no [...] which they themselves had given, but which their forefa­thers with great piety and devotion had offered unto Almighty God? St. Paul [...]quaileth or preferreth Sa­criledge [Page 28] before Idolatry. Thou that abhorrest Idols, Rom 2. 22 committest thou Sacriledge? An Idolater may have some Religion, but the sacrilegious person none at all: an Atheist is worse than the Devill himselfe.

7. Madly obstinate, convincere [...]s possum, saith M [...]dly obsti­nate. St. Augustine, convertere ve [...]ò non possum, He could convince them, but could not convert them, they be­ing given over to a repr [...]bate sense. From hardnesse of heart good Lord deliver us.

[...].

Having before spoken of the description of false Prophets, and how dangerous they are, I come now to the Caveat, Take heed.

The word is taken in a double sense.

1. In the sense of attending. 2 Peter 1. 19▪ [...], To which you doe well that you doe attend: So we read in the vulgar, Attendite à falsis Prophetis.

2. It is taken in the sense of bewaring, Mat. 61. Take heed: So it is to be taken in this place. In the Sy­rian Translation, which tongue our Lord preached in, To be forewarned.

Beware, is the word of a friend: yea the Counsell of our Lord and Saviour, who is our best friend: Beware, as if he should say, I know my deare, that you hea­ring of the narrow way that leadeth unto life, will be very desirous to enquire of every one, but especially of those that seeme to be Prophets, concerning this way, for your better direction: But let me forewarne you above all others, to beware of false Prophets; for they instead of directing you, will set you out of the way.

[Page 29]This Caution he gave his Disciples whom he loved, Mat. 24. 4. Take heed that no man deceive you. Again, Mat. 244. Take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees.

Let our Lords Counsell be acceptable unto you: Be­ware Beware prece­deth danger. usually precedeth some danger. This doubling, some great danger.

Poyson is very dangerous, but no poyson so dange­rous Poyson dange­rous, heresie worse. to the body, as false Doctrine to the soule. Be­ware of false Prophets, more dangerous than men in­fected with the plague.

The plague is of all diseases most infectious to the body; heresie is as infectious to the soule.

This City is much more to be pittied at this time swarming with false Prophets, then when there dyed in it 5000. a week of the Plague. Then we lamented the dead bodies of our friends departed, whose souls God had taken to himselfe; But now we may lament the soules of our people who are departed from God.

They are not onely in danger of infection, but grie­vously infected. One poore soule cryeth out, no set prayers; another no Sabbath; another, no Lords Pray­er; another, no Law for a rule of life: and for them that goe about to cure these infected persons, they are in as much danger as they that goe to visit men sick of the pestilence: they being not much unlike those swine and dogs, of whom our Lord forewarneth his Disci­ples, Give not holy things unto dogs, nor pearles unto Mat. 7. 6 wine, lest they tread them under their feet, and turne a­gaine, and rend you. We are in danger of them in our houses, yea, Cordolio I speak it, they enter irreverent­ly Cordolio. into our Churches: some tear our Books, and have beene ready to lay violent hands upon us at the Lords Table, administring the holy Communion.

[Page 30]They are worse than murtherers; a murtherer may kill a man, but one fa [...]se Prophet may destroy a whole Worse then murtherers. City, or C [...]untrey; a murtherer destroyeth onely the body, but a false Prophet both body and soule.

The curses that were to be denounced upon mount Eball, may in part be pronounced against these sedu­ce [...]s. Cu [...]ses of Mount Eball▪ D [...]ut. 27. 16

Cursed be he that causeth the blinde to goe out of the way. Yea, more cursed are they that seduce ignorant w [...]ll-meaning people, from the simplicity of Gods truth.

Cursed be he that removeth the marke of his neighbors Land. Yea, more cursed are they thac remove and take away the markes of Christianity from among us▪

Cursed be he that setteth light by his father and mo­ther. Yea, more cursed be they that blaspheme their mother the Church, in which they were begotten, & made members of I [...]sus Christ.

O Almighty, which stillest the raging of the Sea, and madnesse of the pe [...]ple, in mercy looke upon these p [...]ore soules, and give thy people grace to a­voyd the infections of the Devill, and with pure heart and mind to follow thee the only God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[...] To whom o [...] Lord giveth this cavea [...], not to To whom▪ his Desciples only, but to all men: the word is plurall.

1. To us Ministers, who are the Lords watch­men, Min [...]sters▪ Ezek. 33 and are to give an account, not onely for our selves, but also for the people comitted to our charge. Take heed, saith S. Paul, unto your selves, and to the flock, over which the Lord hath made you overseers to feed the A [...]s [...]0 38 Church of God, which he hath purchased with his owne bloud; for I know that after my departure grievous [Page 31] Wolves will enter, not sparing the flocke.

Againe, I charge thee before God, and the Lord Iesus 2 Tim. 4 [...]. Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his ap­pearing, preach the Word, be instant in season, out of sea­son, reprove, &c. For the time will come that they shall have itching eares, and after their owne lusts get them a heap of Teachers, and turne their eares from the truth, and be given unto Fables. And againe, In meeknesse 2 Tim. 2. 25 instructing them that oppose themselves: if peradven­ture God will give them repentance to acknowledge the truth, that they may recover themselves from the snare of the devill, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Magistrates, who as they are nursing Fathers and Magistrates. Mothers to the Church, so they should make good Lawes to be as wals to the Church, and also put them in execution.

They are called Shepheards (as, Cyrus my shepheard) Isa 44. 28 and are to yeeld an account to Almighty God for the sheep committed to their charge; which through their negligence shal be devoured by these ravening wolves.

A question may be asked, in that our Lord biddeth Whether law­ful to put false Prophets to death. us to take heed, whether it be not lawful for the Magi­strate [...]. To put false Prophets to death: in which question wee are to note whom we are to account false Prophets, viz. Not every one that differeth from our Church in opinion, or have some naevous opinions.

But by false Prophets we understand such as hold fundamental errors, and persist therein, after all means used for their conviction; yea not onely persist, but also endeavour to disperse their pernicious errours, to the perverting of others. Again, such whose Doctrines are blasphemous, as the Arrians are dangerous to the destruction of the government under which they live▪ [Page 32] And where all these concur they deserve death, because they corrupt the faith: If such as corrupt and poyson Fountains of water, at which men and beasts drink, do deserve capitall punishment: how much more they, who as much as in them lyeth do poyson mens soules?

Againe, we have divers examples of this lawfull Examples. severity executed upon Idolaters: first, in Eliah's time, 1 King 18 40 2 Kin [...]s 10. 24 commanding all the Prophets of Baal to bee slaine. Secondly, in Iehu, giving the like commandement.

Thirdly, in all the inhabi [...]ants of the Land of 2 Kings 11. 18 Iudah, who destroyed all the houses of Baal, and slew Mattan he Priest before the Altar.

Furthermore, we have examples in Ecclesiasticall hi­stories; B [...]llirg. [...]ecad. [...]rm. 8. as first in Constantine, that fam [...]us Christian Emperour, who enacted, that if any man did offer Sa­crifice upon the Altars, Gladio ultore sterneretur, He sh [...]u [...]d be pu [...] to d [...]ath, and his goods confiscated. The like als [...] was en [...]cte b [...] Theodosius, Valentinianus, and Martianus, as Mr. Bullinger reporteth. The ground and warrant of this is G [...]d himselfe, That Prophet, or [...] 13. 5 dreamer of dreames, &c. shall be put to death. If any man object, that this was a judiciall Law; I answer, if it were so; yet the equity of that judiciall Law re­maineth to all. St. Augustine saith, that there is a puni­shing Sicut [...]st m [...]se­re [...]ordia puni­ens, i [...]a est cru­d [...]lita [...] p [...]r [...]e [...]s. Epi. 54. mercy, and a sparing cruelty. For it is a puni­shing mercy, when Governours doe punish dangerous seducers for safety of the whole: And it were a spa­ring cruelty, to let them goe unpunished: for, looke how much mercy is shewed to the Wolf, so much cru­elty is done to the sheep.

This may serve for the reproofe of such Magistrates, who, when they have danger [...]us Wolves discovered unto them, wil not lend their helping hands to suppres [Page 33] them. To conclude this poynt: The Romish seducers are severely punished among us, & kept from our folds, and why not all other false prophets, who blaspheme God & seduce our people? What? shall we punish them only that attribute too much to the Sacrament of bap­tisme, affirming Infants un-baptized not to enter hea­ven? And suffer Anabaptists who wil not baptize them at all, but blaspheme the baptisme of children, calling it the marke of the Beast, affirming that it came from Anti-christ and the Devill? and suffer them to pub­lish books in defence of this and other their abhomi­nable errors?

Shall we punish them only that attribute too much to the Element of bread in the holy Communion, ac­counting him no good Christian that will not call it his lord god? And suffer such men who mocke and sc [...]ffe at the sacrament of the Lords supper, calling it a two-peny banque [...]?

Shall we punish them that give too much reverence to the blessed Virgin, holy Apostles, and Saints depar­ted, Ma [...]e [...]icta [...]it caro Mariae. and suffer them that blaspheme the holy Virgin, whom all Nations should call blessed?

Shall we blame the Papists for saying too many Pa­ter-nosters, and tolerate the Brownists and other Sectaries who will not say the Lords prayer at all? some of them affirming it to be an abhominab [...]e idol, although it be commanded to be said by our Lord himself?

Shall we punish them that not only keep the Lords day, but also many holy-dayes, and suffer them that will neither keep holy-daies nor the Lords day, as the Familists and Antisabbata [...]ians?

Shall we punish them that confesse their sins, and [Page 34] suppose that they cannot enter heaven without a par­ticular Confession of them? and tolerate them that will not con [...]esse their sinnes at all, and affirme that God can see no sin in them? as the Antinomians.

Shall we punish them that worship God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity? and tolerate them that blas­pheme the holy Trinity? as the Arrians, and Antitri­nitarians. I hope that our Governors wil drive these also from our folds, as they doe the Popish Emissaries: [...], Act [...] n [...]l N [...]c p [...]rt 1 ap [...] Cyz [...]z [...]. It is fit for us that are Christ [...]ans to avoyd all those who speak against Christ, and hate them as the ene­mies of God, and corrupters of soules.

This Caveat of our Lords belongeth to every 3 To every Christian▪ not to keep co [...]p [...]ny with t [...]en. Christian man.

We are not to keep company with them. It was Eves fault to admit conference with the Devill. In these false Prophets there is such a malignant spirit, that the Devill cannot doe more hurt out of them, then in them. St. Paul counselleth the Romans, to Rom. 18. 28 marke them diligently that make divisions, and to a­voyd them. If we must avoyd Schismaticks that make divisions, how much more Hereticks?

St. Iohn in his Epistle to the Elect Lady, forbids 2 Ioh. 10 all society with them: if there come any to you, and bring not this Doctrine, receive him not into your house, nor bid him, God speed.

According to his Doctring, so was his practice, he would not bath with Cerinthus the Heretick, nor a­bide under the same roofe with him, but leaped out of the roome, and perswaded others so to doe. Po­lycarp, St. Iohns Schollar, meeting Marcion the Here­tick, [Page 35] would not salute him: Marcion asking him whe­ther he knew him or no? was answered by him, Yes, I know thee well to be the first borne of the devill.

Would any man entertaine into his family a man infected with the plague? how much lesse an Heretick, who, without the great mercy of God, may be the un­doing of him and his family.

This caveat should keep men from hearing those Iohn 5. 10 seducers: My sheep, saith our Lord, will not heare the voyce of a stranger.

Yet such is the folly or madnesse of these times, and men have such itching eares, that if the Devill himself should preach among us, I feare that he would have too many hearers.

[...]

But whereas they pretend to be led by the spirit, I Led by the spirit. beseech you, saith St. Paul, by the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ, that you be not so soone shaken in minde, neither by spirit (that is by pretence of the spirit) for as there is a holy Spirit, by whom the Prophets & Apostles inspired, spake: so you may read of a lying spirit in the mouths of false Prophets. Therefore St. Iohn commandeth us not to believe every spirit, but to search and try the spirits, whether they be of God, or no.

How shall I know Gods spirit, but by his Word? such spirits as speak against Gods word, are the devils 1 Iohn 4. 1 spirits, and not Gods. I have read that in a Synod in Britain held by Dunstan, Archbish. of Canterbury, who would have had a Decree passe against Ministers mar­riage, a strange voyce was heard out of an Image in the Church for confirmation thereof. But the British Bishop cryed out, that that voyce was the voyce of the Devill, and not of God: for God would not speak [Page 36] against his word: And indeed St. Paul calleth forbid­ding [...] Tim. 4 1▪ of Marriage the doctrine of Devills. We should try all these new Doctrines pretended to come from the spirit, whether they be against Gods word, or no▪ As for example, whereas the Romish Prelates forbid the Laity the reading of the holy Scriptures (in the vulgar) which God commands, and the holy Ghost commends: is this their prohibition from God, or from the devill? And whereas they command Com­munion under one kinde, contrary to Christs institu­tion; whose spirit is in them, Gods, or the Devills? And whereas other false Prophets forbid the saying of the Lords Prayer, with other things commanded in holy Scriptures: those are lying Prophets, who have not Gods spirit, but the devills: for God will not speake against his Word.

O yee foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you? saith Gal. 3▪ 1 St. Paul.

O yee foolish Galatians: wee see how carefull men are of being deceived in any thing of weight; in buy­ing land they advise with the best counsell they can get: for health they advise with the learnedest Physi­tians: in receiving money, if they doubt, they will go to the Gold-smith and weigh it and touch it at the stone: Let us not be carelesse only for our soules▪ Nay, who hath bewitched you, saith the Apostle? It is the fashion of witches, as some report, when they Cove­nant with the devill, to renounce their Baptisme▪ were it possible for a man, except hee were bewitched indeed, to be perswaded to renounce his Baptisme?

Were it possible for any man, except he were bewit­ched, to forsake the Church of God, and to dream of a new one, and that Almighty God never had a true [Page 37] Church, untill some fanatick persons at this time had framed o [...]e? How could all this their holy frame e­scape all the Patriarks, Prophets, holy Apostles, and Doctors, and be revealed onely to Browne, who lik't it so ill, that h [...]e returned againe to his Mother Church. The like antiquitie have the Etonites, and others of our Sectaries.

Our Lord sending forth his Disciples, as sheep a­mong Wolves, giveth them this counsell, Beye wise [...] Mat. 10. 16 Serpe [...]ts, and harmlesse as Doves. And why wise as Serpents? Like the deafe Adder, that stoppeth her eare, Psal. [...]8▪ 4 which wil not hearken to the voyce of the Charmer, charm he never so wisely▪ It is written of the Aspe, that to avoyd charming, shee layeth one eare close to the ground, and stoppeth the other with her tayle. Thu [...] the ancient Christians were wont to stop their eares, and not heare Christs truth adulterated. It is recor­ded by Theodoret, that when Lucius the Arrian Bishop came and preached among the Anti [...]hians, broa­ching his damnable Heresies, the people forsooke the Church, and would not heare him, Lib. 4. Eccles. Histor. cap. 20. M. Histor. Tripart.

But now they tha [...] beare the name of Christians▪ & would be accounted professors, r [...]n a if they were mad to be charmed, to heare the false Prophets of our time: Beye wise as Serpents, saith our Lord, and harm­lesse a [...] Doves. The Dove as shee is innocent, and harmlesse, so swift winged to avoyd the danger shee may receive from Vultures, and other ravenous birds. O that I had wings like a Dove, (saith the Prophet) then would I flye away, and be at rest. Our soules are win [...]ed▪ [...]. [...]5. 6 our prayers are our wings: let us fly to the rock where we shall finde rest.

[Page 38]You have heard of two wayes, the one leading to life, the the other to destruction: and that it is a dif­ficult thing to find heaven, and that because of fals [...] Prophets, who goe about to lead us out of the way: you have heard also what these false Prophets are, viz. lying Prophets, falsifying Gods Word; and why God suffereth them, viz. for the punishment of the ungodly, and for the tryall of the godly; and that they come unsent, without any calling, in Sheepes cloathing, counterfeiting holinesse, pretending Scrip­ture; being indeed ravening Wolves: and as Wolves destroy the body, so doe they the soule. Our Lord biddeth beware of them: and whereas they pretend the spirit, try the spirits, as St. Iohn counselleth you, whether they be of God, or no; and being not of God to avoyd them, being wise as Serpen [...]s, who stop their eares, and will not heare the voyce of the char­mer. Let us be innocent as the Dove and mount hea­ven with our prayers, and praying, say with David, Sew me thy wayes, O Lord, and teach me thy pathes: O­pen thou my eyes, that I may see the wonders of thy law. Lead me forth in thy truth, and guide me, thou art the God of my salvation.

And whereas the suffering of these false Prophets may be one of the causes of Gods heavy hand upon us, and of the unnaturall war among us, let us use all meanes to suppresse them in our callings, and so re­move this cursed thing from us.

All you that are the sonnes of peace, friends of peace and servants to the God of peace, double and treble your prayers, that some Mediator may stand in the gap, to divert Gods judgements from us: and if Al­mighty God hath otherwise decreed, let every one of [Page 39] us make his owne peace with God, commending our soules into his hands who is our faithfull Creator, keeping faith & a good conscience, of which take heed that you do not make shipwrack; which if you keep, you need not feare neither false Prophets, nor devills, fire, nor sword, nothing shall hurt you: Although they kill you, they shall but deliver your soules out of the prison of your bodyes, to enjoy everlasting peace; which I intreat Almighty God to bring us all, for his sonne Jesus Christs sake, to whom with the holy Ghost, three per­sons, and one God, be all Glory, Prayse, Honour, and Do­nion, &c.