The First matter wee will speake to you is , ( wherein your iniquitie doth greatly abound ) that you have amongst you , that deny Christ to have taken Flesh of Mary : some holding that he brought it from heaven , and some not knowing from whence hee brought it , both w●ich destroy the Faith of Christ , who are such as Th apostle 2. Pet. 2 , 1. Speaketh of , which privily bring in damnable herisies , even denying the Lord that hath bought them .

To say somethinge to the First that hold that he brought it from heaven , that the grossnes of their black error may appeare . The ground of scriptures testifie that that which is from heaven is heavenly , therefore if Christ brought his Flesh from heaven , then he must have had a heavenly body , in that there can come nothinge from heaven , but that which is heavenly , and Th apostle 1. Cor. 15. saith of heavenly bodyes : They are glorious , they are not weake but of power , they are spirituall , they are ●mortall . Now in that Christs bodie was mortall and died , it was not a heavenly , glorious , spi●ituall , powerfull bodie : but was an earthly , naturall weake body , and had the same infirmities that our bodies have ( sinne excepted , as is shewed Heb. 4.15 . For wee have not an high Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmeties , but was in all thinges tempted in like sort , yet without sinne as also Chap. 5.2 . which is able sufficiently to have compassion on them that are ignorant , a●d that are out of the way , because that he also is compassed with infirmitie . And his infirmities appeare in that he was hungrie Mat. 4 2. He was weary Ioh. 4.6 . He was trobled , and his soule was in great heavin● Mat. 14.33.34 . And he confesteth his Flesh is weake . Mat. 26.41 . All these infirmieties , nor anie , infirmitie could not come from heaven , for in heaven there is no imperfection not imperfect thinge . And wee demaunde can heavenly bodies be weary ? can they be hungrie ? can they be trobled , and their soules be in heavines ? or are they weake and mortall ? then is there miserie in heaven , which cannot be . Therefore it is to be concluded , never to be denyed , by anie that have Grace , that Christ brought not his Flesh from heaven , in that there was infirmitie and weakenes ( which is imperfection ) in his Flesh . And heere ) haveing so fitt occasion ) let us pe●e a word by the way , to them , in whose sinne death & hell hath consented , which say that God was turned into , or made Flesh . How could God be made weake Flesh ? whch was full of infirmities , as hath bene shewed by the scriptures Christs Flesh was . And whereas some of these say , that all that Christ suffered and did in the Flesh was but in shewe , it shal be unto them according to their faith , if they repent not , for they shall have a Saviour but in shewe and though the wilfull perverse stiffnes of these men promi●se littile hope , yet let us say , what by the Grace of God wee are anie way able , if wee might by our best endeavours stopp men from runing so violently to condem●●●ion in this accursed iudgment that they hold , which say , all that Christ suffered and did heare upon earth , was but in shewe .

And for this purpose wee will commend the godly disposed Reader unto the xv . th . Chap. of the first to the Corinths , where Th appostle declares unto them againe , the Gospell which he had formerly preached , and which they had received , and whereby they were saved , except they had beleeued in vaine . And he sheweth that first of all he had delivered unto them , that Christ died for their sinnes , and that he was buried , & rose again the third day . So wee preach , ad so have you beleved saith Thapostl not with standing a●l this , some Corinthians were fallen to say that there was no resurerection of the dead , with whome Th appostle ( because he knewe that they had recevid and beleeved that Christ died and was raised againe ) reasoneth thus : If there be no resurrection of the dead then is Chrst not risen , and if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vaine , and your faith is also vaine , and wee are found also false witnesses of God , for wee have testified of God that he hath raised up Christ , whome he hath not raised up , if so be the dead be not raised . Ior if the dead be not raised then is Christ not raised , and if Christ be not raised your faith is vaine , ye are yet in your sinnes : and they that are a sleepe in Christ are perished ; and if in this life onely wee have hope in Christ , wee are of all men most miserable . The Appostle by these undenyable arguments and reasons proves Christs death and resurrection : First that Christ died ver. 3. And for profe of that , he takes the testimony of the scriptures , and by the same profe and warrant he proves that ●e was buried and ros againe and for further confirmation of his being raised from the dead , Th appostle produceth the witnes and testimony of Cephas saw him and of the twelve , and he was seene of more then fyve hundreth brethren at once ; and after of Iames : Then of all the Appostles , and l●st of all of himself , and he addeth for further proofe hereof , their preaching , so wee preach saith Th appostle , and he appealeth unto their owne consciences , for this truth of Christs death and resurrection in saying unto them so have you beleeved .

Heare Thappostle , that they might be brought to the sight of the depth of the iniquitie of this their error , declares unto them , what doth necessarily followe if there be no resurrection , and so Ch●ist be not raised from the dead . And first concerning us saith Th appostle , ( you that say there is no resurrection , and so that Christ is not risen From the dead ) this followeth , you make all our preaching vaine , and so are wee preachers of vanie thinges , And you make us also false witnesses of God , for wee have testified of God , that he hath rased up Christ from the dead and this reproach do you cast upon us . And upon your selves this evill do you b●ing in saing there is no resurrection , and so that Christ is not risen From the dead , your owne faith is in vaine , you have a vaine faith and you are yet in your sinnes , all your sinnes rest upon you : further more by his your saying , you bring this iudgment upon all that are dead in Christ : that they are all perished and all the faith full in Christ that are leveing , you make them of all men most miserable . And haveing thus layde before them all the evill of this there saying there is no resurrection , he concludes , but now is Christ risen from the dead , and was made the First fruits of them that sleepe .

To turne all this evill that Th appostle hath Heere shewed unto the Corinthians ( that said there was no resurrection where by it followed that Christ was not risen ) upon all those that say Christ died but in shewe , and so died not at all in truth , it is most plaine that all this evill comes upon their heads , for in that they say Christ died but in shewe , they must needs say , he did rise againe but in shewe , and so was there no resurrection in truth . And here do they ( most miserable men that they are all ) make Thappostles preaching most vaine , for then are they preachers of vanities and shadowes , if Christ be dead but in shewe : so do they make them false witnesses of God , for they have testified of God that he rasied up Christ from the dead , whome he hath not raised up , if so it be he died not . Then is the faith of the faith full in vaine , and their sinnes are yet them , if Christ be not dead and risen againe , then are all that are a sleepe in Christ perished and all the faithfull liveing are of all men most miserable . But we conclude against them all that say Christ died but in shew with the same words that the Apostle concludes against the Corinthians . But now Christ died , and is risen againe from the dead , and was made the first fruts of them that slept . And therefore Thappostles preachinges are not vaine , neither are they false witnesses of God . And the faith of the faithfull is not in vaine , neither are any parte of there sinnes abidinge or remayning yet vpon them And the faithfull that are a sleepe are not perished ; neither are the faithfull in this life of all men most miserable . But all this is their portion that say Christ died but in shewe ( which is not at all ) their preaching is vaine , and they are preachers of most vaine thinges . And they are false witnesses of God , in that they testifie that Christ died not , and so that God raised him not vp from the dead , their faith is vaine , and they are yet in their sinnes , and all that are dead in this their false faith are perished : and thus are their estates herein most miserable .

What were sufficient to speake against this wicked blasphemous opinion of theirs , which say Christ , sufferings and death were but in shewe , these are they that in the highest degree deny Christ to be come in the Fle●h : or if they did confes●e and beleeve that Christ were come in the Flesh , then must they of force confesse that he died , for all Flesh must needs dye and be changed as is shewed Isa. 10.6 . and 1. Pet 1.24 All Flesh is grasse , and all the glory thereof is as the Flower of the Feild . And all the glory of man is as the Flower of grasse which withereth and Falleth away . All the disciples of Ch●ist never made question of his death for they saw and were sore he was dead , and therefore they began to doubt of his resurrection through infidelitie , which there had bene no cullor for them to doubt of , if they had bene of these mens opinion , that he died but in shewe .

In that all that is spoken of the resurrection from the dead , is spoken of Christ , it shall not be amisse yet further to consider what the holy ghost by the Appostle sheweth in this 1. Cor. 15. Chap. concerning the resurrection from the dead , for by his resurrection his death shall appeare . This is that then which Thapostl hath sett downe heare concerninge Christs death and resurrection and concerning his naturall and earthly bodie , and his spi●ituall and heavenly body , Th appostle doth shewe first of all in the 3. Vers . That Christ died , and Vers. 20. Now is Christ risen from the dead , and Vers. 35. there is a question how the dead are raised up : to which question the Appostle annsweres , speaking of all dead bodies in generall , and of Christs dead bodie in particuler ( whome he hath shewed in the 20. Vers. to be the first friuts of them that sleepe ) That which thou sowest ( saith Th appostle ) is not qu●●ned except it dye , teaching hereby as he had shewed before that Christs body did dye , and all bodies must dye first , or els they cannot be quickned , that is , raised againe from the dead vers. 36. Then it being most evidently in this scripture proved . That Christ was raised from the dead , it is as evidently heere proved that he must needs , and did first dye : for ( saith Thappostl● ) it could not be quickned except it first dye . And Thapostl haveing thus annswered to that part of the question , in sheweing how the dead are raised , then he proceeds to the second question , whch is , with what bodies come they furth , to which questione hee answereth Vers. 37.38 . Thou sowest not that body that shal be , but God giveth it a body at his pleasure , to every seed his owne body . Heere Th apostle sheweth , that Chr. body , & all bodyes th●t are of Chr. ( for of those onely doth he speake as appeareth vers. 23. ) are not raised in the resurrection with those bare bodies that are sowen , but God giveth a bodie at his pleasure ; even to every seed his owne body , that is to the seed of man , all one body ( to them which are raised in Christ ) for there is but one Flesh of men . The Apostle haveing Heere First shewed , that the same bare body that is sowne shall not so be raised up againe , then he sheweth what manner of body it shal be in the resurrection , and wherein it shall differ from that wch was sowen and died . In the 40. vers saith Th appostle , there are heavenly bodies , and earthly bodies , and in the 49. vers. wee shall ●eare the ●mage of the heavenly . Heere is set 〈◊〉 with what manner of bodies the dead are rased and 〈◊〉 being the 〈◊〉 fruits of the dead , with such a body was he raysed : then followeth how the heavenly body and the earthly body do differ in glo● the earthly body is corrupt , dish●norable , we●ke , naturall , and mortall . The heavenly body i● incorrupt glorious , stronge spirituall , immortall . The image of the earthly body wee have from the First Adam , wch was made ( saith Th appostle ) a l●v●ing soule , that is , naturall and earthly . The ymage of the heavenly body all that are of Christ shall have from the last Adam a quic●ing spirit , that is , spirituall , heavenly wch is the ymage of Christs glorious as body after his resurrection . Thus wee see the whole d●st and intent of Thappostl in all this scripture is to prove the resurrection from the dead , and how the dead rise , and with what manner of bodies and all this by Christs death and resurrection , because as he died and risse againe , in the fair● order vers 23. with the same bodies vers. ●9 . shall all that are of Christ use againe , proveing hereby also that Christ ●d a naturall earthly , and mortall body ; sowen in co●●uption , in dishonor , and in weakeraised in incorruption , in glory , in power , a spirituall body , Heavenly , immortall , what can be more plainely set downe , if men that have eies would see , and would not wincke with their eies ; why will men pervert the scriptures to their owne distruction ? takeing Heere a peece of a sentence , and there a peece , and never lookeing to the scope and sence . And thus much according to our smale talent to shewe the error of them that are fallen , to so deepe distruction , as to say , God was turned into flesh , and so his death and all his sufferings were but in shewe : and to say them ( if by the grace of God it may be ) that are not fallen so far .

And now to speake to them that knowe not from whence Christ had his flesh , they see it proved that from heaven he could not have it , for then there could not possibly have bene infirmitie in it . They see further , or through the grace of God might se , that Christ had a naturall , earthly , mortall body , and that there is but one Flesh of men will they still remaine ignorant and doubting whence Christ had his flesh● then do they still remaine in sinne . Let them therefore leave their doubting ( wch is through their ignorance ) if they looke for salvation by Christ and let them knowe and beleeve from the scriptures of God . That Christ is of the seed of David , and of the Isralites according to the Flesh . Rom. 2.3 . And 9.5 . The Sonne of Mary the virgine , made of hi● substance . Gal. 4.4 . And so doth this agree with the First pr●mis●e made concerning Christ Gen. 3.15 . Where ● is spoken by God : That the seed of the woman shall breake the serpents head , without wch knowledg and Faith , no man shall ever be saved : ffor there is no salvation , but by Christ the promissed seed of the woman . Those the●fore am●●● you that will not knowe and beleeve that Christ is the seed of the woman , conceyued in hi● wombe , by the power of the most high overshadowing hir , shall never be saved by Christ the promissed seed of the woman . This then is your great sinne that you suffer manie amongst you that mainteyne a false faith concerning where Christ had his Flesh ; and you approve and allowe of some , that hold and mainteyne no faith concerning where Christ had his Flesh , and so do you approve and mainteyne them in their sinne , for whatsoever anie holds or mainteynes not of saith is sinne : and to be ignorant of anie part of that the scriptures hath manifested is sinne , and to determyne to remaine ignorant , and so to continewe unto the end is death for without repentance anie one sinne is death as Th appostle Iames sheweth Iam. 2.10 . Who soever shall kepe the whole law and yet faileth in one point he is giltie of all . Deceyve not simple soules then by noriushing them in their sinne , which you do , in saying it is not needfull to salvation to knowe whence Christ had his Flesh , as though there were anie part of the law or gospell , not needfull to salvation . And if there be anie part of the law not needfull then Christ need not to have come to fulfill the whole law , which he did as he saith Mat. 5.17 . And if there be anie part of the gospel of salvation ( which Christ hath purchased with his blood Ephe. 1.13.14 . ) not needfull to salvation , then Christ hath purchased more then is needfull . In the feare of God walke not thus by your owne inventions , leading and suffering simple soules , to walke in the waies of death and condemnation .

The second is , that manie among you ( and how farr you are all poluted wee knowe not but have great cause to feare ) do professe & practice not to kepe the seaventh day , a day of rest , & holy vnto the lord , abolishing herein the law , which was given in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assemblie , and which was written in the Tables with the finger of God , as is shewed Exod. 20.8.9.10.11 . and Deut. ● . 10 . Of all wch whole law , our saviour Christ saith Ma●. 5 , 17.18 . I am not come to distroy , but to fulfill : for truely I say vnto you , till heaven , and earth perish , one jot● or one title of the law shall not scape till all thinge● be fulfilled : not with standing all the spoken by God the father , & Iesus Christ his sonne , manie of you with an high hand , 〈◊〉 out , and distroy one of these Ten Commandements written by the finger of God Exod. 34.28 . and you will have but Nyne , ren●g a sunder the law of God , and casting away what is not pleasing vnto you . Not holding the examples of the disciples of Christ a sufficient rule of direction for you , who as is shewed Act. 20.7 and 1. Cor. 16.1 , 2. The first day of the weake came together to breake bread . Vpon euery which first day of the weeke , when they were come together Paul ordeyned in the Churches that every one should lay aside for the necessitie of the Saincts , that there might be no gathering when he came .

How will you be able to stand before the lord herein● H● hath established a law , the which it is more easie that heaven and earth should passe away , then that one title of the law should fall Iuc. 16.17 . And if you now be able to shewe ( which God forbid that anie should be so wicked as to enterp●ise ) that all these words , spoken and written by God himself . Remember the Sabath day to keepe it holy , be no part , jot , nor tittle of this law , then you have some cullor for the evill you practice and professe herein : but dare anie moueth of blasphemy speake it ? or anie hand of blasphemy write it ? wee hope no , why then give glory to God , & repent of this your sinne , and pray the lord that if it be possible the thoughts of your harts , the blasphemy of your mouethes , and the wickednes of your hands may be forgiven you . And sinne not as you do against God , in turning away your feet from the Sabath of the lord , and doeing your owne wills on his holy day , wherein also you do wronge to man , and beast , to whome the lord hath in mercie given a speciall day of rest . But yet further to shewe you that wich you shall never be able to annswere . Our Sauiour Christ Mat. 24.20 . speakeing of the distruction of Ierusalem ( which was to come to passe , & did , long after his death ) saith . Pray that your flight be not in the winter , nor on the Sabath day , sheweing vndenyably , that ther should still remaine a speciall day of rest , for the people of God to worship him on : vpon which day Christs bidds them pray that their flight be not , that they might not be forced to flie when they should rest and worshipp God . And if our Saviour Christ had ment that his disciples should have bene of your iudgment , it had bene all one , vpon what day their flight had bene . God give you grace to see your great error herein , that you may not still be hate full to God , and men , and Beasts . And thus much of this , except further occation be offered : Omitting to shewe you all the confusion you bring into the Church when there shal be no day certen whereon the disciples ought to come together , to edifie one an other , to breake bread , to pray , and to gather for the Saincts , if your rule be true ( which is as false as God is true ) they chuse , whether they will come at all , except you have authoritie to make a law to bind them , which sure you have not from God : even so do you confound hereby all due proceeding in the rule of admonition by the Church , if there be no certen day when the Church are bound to meet . But wee wi●l passe by this , hopeing you will fall vnder the former ground , and then you will easily see ( through the grace of God ) all these thinges , and manie mo●e which accompanie that your error , that do vtterly destroy all godlines , Religion , and the holy communion of Saincts . Therefore repent and forsake this your error , for if you do thus distroy the lawe of God , there can be no Religion of God in you .

T● 〈…〉 your Leaders are 〈…〉 them that mainteyne a Succession , and that 〈…〉 , and you will have all 〈…〉 , and tongues to come to you , and 〈…〉 Ordinances of Christ : and 〈…〉 administer in the holy 〈…〉 to you , and 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 power and all the holy 〈…〉 with the man of sinne 〈…〉 called o● God , and 〈…〉 vnder the 〈…〉 vnder the 〈…〉 Rom. 3.1.2 . ) 〈…〉 because 〈…〉 of God . 〈…〉 your 〈…〉 manner of way ? 〈…〉 of credit to 〈…〉 but 〈…〉 confess● 〈…〉 and the 〈…〉 vnto 〈…〉 proceed from 〈…〉 Ierusalem 〈…〉 call your 〈…〉 you and 〈…〉 do , to your 〈…〉 them to it , and to them everlasting distruction in so d●ing and suffering them selves to be to dra●n . Thus then 〈…〉 speake of the heavenly 〈…〉 And 〈◊〉 people shall 〈…〉 vp to the mountaine of the 〈◊〉 to the 〈…〉 of the God of 〈…〉 will 〈…〉 S●on , and 〈…〉 manner speaketh 〈…〉 ●rd shall send the 〈…〉 these Prophecies 〈…〉 〈…〉 become 〈…〉 you this 〈…〉 〈◊〉 taught the 〈…〉 when he said 〈…〉 word of the lord our 〈…〉 you onely 〈◊〉 you also taught of 〈…〉 humbled , and humble your selve 〈…〉 people ▪ 〈…〉

If this will not 〈…〉 word 〈…〉 be called 〈…〉 Prophet 〈…〉 Compact together 〈…〉 the Tithes of the 〈…〉 to praise the name of the 〈…〉 you this 〈…〉 I● you be the 〈…〉 but the Tithes must come to 〈…〉 the grace of God 〈…〉 you cannot 〈…〉 but you will 〈…〉 shal be the people . And 〈…〉 Mount Syon , which cannot be removed ? and shal you remaine for ever ? If you can promisse this of your selves , you go beyond all the excellent Churches that are spoken of in the new testament , whereof there remaines no mention at this day to be seene but onely that the scriptures testify that such Churches there were but not one of them hath remained vnto this day . Therefore none of them were Mount Syon . And will you lift vp your horne on high , and be more then they all ? this is the foolishnes of folly , beare with our rudenes : The lord knoweth wee seeke his glory and your good herein , although our infirmities may too much appeare . It is your turning from these your evills that wee disire , for Godes glorie and the salvation of your soules : and therefore will wee through Gods grace , endeavour yet further to shewe you your error in this point .

The Prophet in the 48. Psal. 2.3 . Seaketh on this wise Mount Syon Northward is faire in scituation , it is the joy of the whole earth & the Citie of the great king . In the Palaces thereof God is knowne for a refuge , and vers. 8. God will establish it for ever , Selah . To add vnto this , the glorious discription so at large sett downe by Iohn . Reuel. 21.10 . Where he saw , that great Citie that holy Ierusalem descending out of heaven from God , whose wall had twelve foundations , and in them the names of the twelve Appostles of the lambe vers. 14. wch Citie hath no need of the Sunne , neither of the Moone to shinne in it , for the glorie of God doth light it , and the lambe is the light of it vers. 23. And the people that are lived shall walke in the light of it vers. 24. And the Nation , & the kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish : and these nations shal be vtterly distroyed Isa. 60.12 . See your selves now how unlike you are this Citie : are you the joy of the whole earth ? sorrowe is the ioy that wee the poore winesses of Christ have in you for our partes , as you shall further heare : do the people that are saved walke in the light of you ? and shall the nation , and kingdome that will not serve you perish ? God forbid : be content and glade to have this Citie your joy , and to be Citizens of this Citie , and to walke in the light of it , and to serve it or els you shall perish and be destroyed . But this Citie cannot perish nor be destroyed , but you may be , and therefore you are not this Ierusalem : and the world knowes that you are not the earthly Ierusalem , wincke not with your eies but see , and st●pp not your eares but heare how the word of God doth convince you in this your error .

And now wee beseech the vpright harted amongst you to be willing to heare what Th appostle Paule doth shewe Ierusalem to be , and followe not your owne inventions herein . Th' appostle to the Gal. 4 . 22-26 . sheweth , that Abraham had two sonnes , and two wives , one sonne by a servant , and one by a free woman , he wch was borne of the servant was borne after the flesh , and he that was of the freewoman was borne by promisse . By the which thinges , another thinge is ment ( saith Th' appostle ) for these mothers are the two testamentes , The one which is Hagar or Syna is a mountaine in Arabia , and it aunswereth to Ierusalem which now is , and she is in bondage with hir children . But Ierusalem which is above , is free which is the mother of us all . Thus doth Th' appostle so plainely as is possible ( for the vnderstanding of all ) teach , that by Hagar the bond woman , is mente the old Ierusalem which is the old Testament , with all the carnal ordinances there of . And by Sarah the free woman , is ment the new Ierusa . the new Testament , with all the spirituall ordinances thereof . And this spirituall mother , which is Sarah the free woman , the new Ierusalem , the new Testament , is mother of all that are borne after the spirit : and they are hir children , as Th' appostle saith of himsel● & others ▪ vers. 31 Now will you be this Ierusalem , the mother of all the faith full ? will it not suffice you to be children , but you must be the mother of all ? Do but see how herein you agree with that Antichrist of Rome that wil be the mother of all Churches . How farr contrary is this to all the rest of your profession , who professe such humblenes of mynd in all thinges , and yet hereyn to seeke thus highly to advice yours selves above the poore servants of God , that through his grace and mercie by the power of his word and spirit , are borne children of the free woman : and though weak children , yet borne as free as you or anie : what great evill is this ( in soo maine of you as would to seeke to bring vs in bondage vnto you when you cannot ( by aine warrant of Gods word ) have anie more freedome in anie holy thinge , or to anie holy thinge , then wee , if wee be all the Children of one mother , for then are wee brethren . Synne not thus against God , and wronge not vs , by seeking to tread vs vnder your feet , which you do , in advanceing your selves over vs to bring vs in subiection , who are borne as free as you .

This being by the word of God made cleare that neither you , nor anie Church , congregation , or people , are Ierusalem , it will easily follow , that nether you nor anie Church congregation or people are the kingdome of heaven for the heavenly Ierusalem , and the kingdome of heaven are all one , as all that have anie vnderstanding agree and knowe . Therefore it shall not be needfull to vse 〈◊〉 w●rds mo in this cause , lett vs inshort therefore shewe what the scriptures speaketh of the kingdome of heaven . Our Saviour Christ Luc. 4.34 . Saith thus . Surely I must also preach the kingdome of God to other Cities for therefore am I sent . This kingdome cannot in anie vnderstandinge be ment of anie people , for it must be preached to a people and this agrees with that before spoken of Ierusalem which is , that it is the new Testament . And thus speaketh our Saviour Christ Ioh. 3.5 . except a man be borne of water and of the spirit , he cannot 〈◊〉 into the kingdome of God , whereby it is so plaine as anie thinge can be that no people are the kingdome of God , but that people ought to enter into the kingdome of God , and when they are entred , then are of the kingdome of God and children of the kingdome Mat. 13.38 . And therefore wee pray the Godly reader to consider , that there is a difference betwix the kingdome , and the people otherwise where was the kingdom before your ●irst begininge ? was there no kingdome , for your first beginners to enter into ? did they make a kingdome and enter into it and all of themselves ? then sure it was not the kingdome of God , and it stands you vpon to looke it be for if they set vp a new kingdome , they entred not into Christs kingdome , for Christs kingdome was and is an everlasting kingdome , and cannot be shaken , as the Author to the Hebrewes sheweth Heb. 12.22 . speaking of mount Syon , the Cittie of the liveing God , the Celestiall Ierusalem Vers. 28. Seeing wee receive a kingdome that cannot be shaken , let vs have grace , whereby wee may so serve God , that wee may please him with reverence and feare .

Wee have endeavoured with our best abilities ( wch you may see are smale ) to speake the larger of this point because wee our selves have bene formerly misledd with this error , that the Church is the kingdome of heaven , and monut Syon , and because wee knowe some others are strongly possessed therewith , which not with standing hold not Succession , but indeed it is the ground of all Succession for if the Church be Ierusalem , then must there needs be Succession , for there mus● needs be adue proportion of all thinges betwene the Tipe & the truth , betwene the old Ieru : & the new Ieru : betwene the shadow & the substance . And there being therfore Succession in the old Testament , there must of necessitie be Succession in the new . If therefore you can prove your selves Ierusalem , wee yeild you all the Prerogatiue of Ierusalem . Then must all people & nations come to you , and receive all the holy ordinances from you . Then must all sacrifices be offered vp in you . And then they that are not in you , are not in Christ . And all that are borne of water & of the spirit , must enter into you , and all that are saved must walke in the light of you . And then are you the ioy of the whole earth . Then must you be perached to other Cities , and then can you not be shaken , for Christes kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome , which shall never be taken away nor be destroyed Dan. 7.14 . But you may be shaken , & taken away , and destroyed though you were as excelent a Church as Corinth . Ephesus , Phillippi , Thessa : Smyrna , Philadelphia , for all they are shaken , taken away , & destroyed , which were much more excellent Churches then you , euen so may you much more be . Therefore you are not the kingdome of heaven : nor that heavenly Ierusalem , and so those previleges belong not to you , which you challenge , and some wretched men have given you ( whose condemnation sleepeth not ) and all vnder that culler of your being Ierusalem .

And let vs now bring to trial your other ground concerning this cause , which is . That the ordinances of Christ being ( as you call it ) once raised vp againe they are not to be raised anie more , but all men must fetch than from those that raised them vp , or from them that have received them at their handes by Succession First wee say vnto you that , which some of you could not . nor you all shall ever be able to annswere whilst the world endureth .

How knowe you of faith , that he or they from whome you received your begininges were the first ? This can you never prove to anie mans conscience that hath anie conscience , except you can shewe Prophecie of scripture perticulerly that such a man should first raise up ( to speake your owne word ) the ordinances of Christ , and that he hath done it , and that you haue it from him : All these must you prove by scripture , if your rule be true , and that men must have faith in it : but not anie one of these can you prove by scripture , ●nd therefore your rule is not true , and no man can have faith in it and then not to be hold and practiced by anie that wait for salvation by Iesus Christ , who must have faith in all that they hold , professe , & practice , or els they sinne : ffor without faith it is vnpossible to please God . Rom. 11.6 . Let us by the mercies of God intreat all you that professe the name of Iesus , not to stand vpon such vncertaine and vnfound groundes : For wch way shall you ever be able to prove , that he or they from whome you ( by Succession ) have your begining were the first ? No man can ever prove it , the world is too wide for man to comprehend or knowe all that is done in it . It is avaine invention , cast it away , seeing there is no warrant in Gods word to warrant it vnto you , that he or they were the first .