IMportunitie of friends hath with vn-answerable perswasions constrained me , to imprint this Sermon : because an ignorant zeale of some hasty spirits , would cry downe the lawfull Authority of the true Doctrine , and discipline of our Reformed Church . I therefore desire your Graces favour most earnestly , to accept these my first fruits , sacrific'd on the Presse ; and to wish them safe protection . My oblig'd duty directs , and necessitates me , to be thankefull vnto you , for your speciall favours beyond my desert , to dedicate myselfe , and these my orthodoxe labours to so good , and Gracious a Lady . The Lord Crowne your merits with spirituall , and temporall blessings for Christ Iesus sake , and that for the hearty praiers of

IT is your practise , to run from the Church . Iam sorry , that so learned , and so holy men , as you would seeme to be , doe want true Christian patience , to heare orthodox holy doctrine . But let me intreat you , to vnderstand me this one time . I hope it will be for your edifying . This is my prayer vnto Almighty God through Iesus Christ . My businesse with you is the Puritan : whose name distinguish'd , whose essence rend'red in the very property , and whose severall kinds essentially differing , I giue into your owne hands , that you may see , and learne true Reformation .

Concerning the name ( Puritan ) it is ambiguous , and so it is fallacious . For some good men are called Puritans : and they are Puritans indeed . They are pure in heart , and so blessed , that they shall see God . Mat. 5. 8. And some evill men are called Puritans , who desire to seeme to be iust , and holy ; but in their doctrine , and discipline , they are the vnderminers of our True , Protestant , Reformed Church . Are you angry , because I tell you the truth . Be angry but sin not , and I will tell you , the essentiall definition of this fallacious Puritan .

A Puritan is a Protestant Non-Conformist . A Protestant , this is his Genus , his kinde of being . A Non-Conformist : this is his differentia , his essentiall difference , his essentiall Qualitie . A Puritan is a kind of Protestant . For he wil be tryed by the Scriptures concerning his faith , and his Christian morall life , so farre as his Spirit will endure the text . But the scriptures deduceable sence in Essentials , Essentiates , Efficients , Finals , Subiects , Effects , and their Modalities , being opposite to their tenets , confounds this Professor , and overthrowes his Chaire : but he asham'd to forsake his seducing profession a long time vehemently clamarous , taketh fast hold only on the letter , and chapter of the text . So then this Puritan is a sullen fallacie of the Reformed Church : being confuted , he will not learne to turne : still he is pure , not really , but in his owne suppose . The Lord graunt him grace to reforme .

This Puritan is a Non-Conformist . For he is oppositely set , a Contradictist to the Scriptures deduceable sence in three things . The first is the 39 Articles of our Churches Reformed faith . The second is our Common Praier-booke . The third is the Canons of our Church . And yet the doctrine of the Articles , the faith of the common prayers , and the lawfulnesse of the Canons , are contained in the deduce-able sence of holy Scriptures . The Articles of our Reformed Churches saith , which he opposeth , are these : the 3. 6. 9. 16. 17. 20. 21. 23. 26. 27. 33. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. This is proved in the severall kindes of this irregular scripturist . The praiers in the common prayer-booke , which he contradicts ( being collected , and translated out of the Masse-booke , yet corrected , and purged from grosse errors ) those selected prayers he refuseth every one , because they were thence collected . The Absolution he disliketh , because he makes a quere , whether the congregation did faithfully , and penitently confesse their sinnes . The Lords prayer hee will not say , because hee will make a praier like to the Lords praier . Nunc dimittis , &c : hee reiects , because he will not any praier , or hymne , but such as hee thinkes fit according to his owne will . The Letanie he saith is composed of coniuring , and swearing , and of vnnecessarie and vnlawfull Invocations . The collect on Trinitie Sunday , he saith is composed of an Impossibilitie . And that the last collect but one read at holy Communion is composed of vntruths . He is ill-disposed . , oppositely affected against prayers at Christnings , Confirmations , and Burialls .

I make answere thus . To pronounce , He pardoneth , and absolveth all them , which truely repent , and vnfainedly belieue ; is the actuall duetie of Evangelicall Priests , and so good a duetie is no sinne . Ministers ( must ) say the Lords prayer . The Lord hath said it . Luk. 11. 2. And they must make their praiers according to the forme of the Lords prayer . It is the text , they must vse no vaine babling : their forme of praier must be effectuall , not vaine ; briefe , not stuffed with tautologies , and iterations . Read Matth. 6. ver. 7. 8. 9. God did regard vs with a Saviour , in that he did regard the Blessed Virgin with a Sonne , and a Saviour , therefore we say the Magnificat . Wee shal be saved by the same faith , as old Simeon was , therefore we say Nunc dimittis . In the Letanie we pray to bee delivered from sinne , and punishment . And how must Christians pray for to bee delivered , but by Christs agonie , and bloody sweat , & c ? And is this swearing , or coniuring ? Is praying in the Winter , to be delivered from thunder , and lightning , vnnecessarie ? Lightning , and thunder are Gods secret iudgements : he may afflict sinners with them in the Winter : though naturally summer bee the time for those terrifying Meteors : but because they are Gods secret iudgements , therefore we pray alwaies for deliverance . Is praying for theeues , and whores vnlawfull , the one being included in all men , travayling by land , or by water ; the other being included in all women labouring with child ? Our Saviour saith , that his Heavenly Father is mercifull to the iust , and vniust , and that all Gods people must be so mercifull Math. 5. 48. &c: And S. Paul saith , doe good vnto all . Gal. 6. 10 : and therefore we must pray for all . On Trinity Sunday we pray to be delivered from all adversity ; and it is thus in the Lords praier : Deliuer vs from all evill : And shall we not pray , as the Lord hath taught vs ? In the last Collect but one at the holy Communion , wee Confesse our vnworthines , and blindnes : And wheresoever sinne is inherent , and a fighter , there must be necessitate causae , ( sin being an actuall cause , ) an vnworthynesse of Gods favour , and blind ignorance ; not in the necessary precepts of saith , but in Contingents , with what particular blessing , when , where , and how God will blesse sinners . Prayers at Baptisme doe regenerate : though you denie this . T is the text : Aske , and you shall haue . To pray is to Aske . To be Regenerate is to haue . The blessed Apostles did confirme the Churches , which they before had converted . Act. 14. 22. Act. 15. 32. For confirmation is a Principle of the doctrine of Christ next to baptisme . Heb. 6. 1. 2. Therefore S. Peter , and S. Iohn did pray & impose hands to confirme the Church with the holy Ghost . Act. 8. 17. And little Children being more weake in the state of Grace , then such Converts , must necessarily be confirmed by the Bishop , the Apostle of the Diocesse ; though not by miraculous , yet by seaven , of the holy Ghosts gifts . We must pray for the dead . Thy kingdome come . Oh Lord raise the dead prisoners in the graue . And herein we pray for their soules , and bodies . God be with them , to comfort their soules deprived of their bodies ; I say to comfort them with hast'ning the Re-vnion , and the consummate ioy of soule and body . Thus the Primitiue Fathers : Iunius , B. Bilson , Mornay , Chameirus . This is not to defend Purgatory , but the receaued answere against Purgatory .

These things being thus answered ; obserue that this Puritan would obstinately cast out of the Church , Gods sauing mercy , saving hope , saving charity , and the seauen guifts of the holy Ghost . And what then is his religion , but faction ? But marke those , that cause diuision in the Church , contrary to the doctrine , which you haue receiued . For they , that are such , serue not the Lord Iesus , but their owne bellies ; and with faire speech , and flattering , deceiue the hearts of the simple . Rom. 16. 17. 18.

The third thing , in which this Puritan is Nonconformist , is the Canons of our reformed Church . These , 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 24. 29. 30. 31. 48. 49. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 60. 61. 73. 127. &c. But who is this Puritan ? What is his name ? Mr Rogers in his Preface to the 39 Articles , saith , that since the suppression of Puritans by Arch-Bishops , Parker Grindall ; and Whitegift , none will seeme to be such irregular Professors . But the eie that beholds their daring oppositions in the Church , may very well beleeue , that such Rebellions are taught in their Conventicles . What Rebellions ? Their teaching against the Kings Supremacie , a reiecting of our Reformed saith , a refusing of Gods holy worship written , which is the Common Praier-booke ; a despising of Canonicall obedience ; a repugning against our Reformed Church . Yet this seditious Schysmatique would be the most true Reformist of Church , and Religion : but read the Suruey of the Pretended holy discipline and hence it is euidently proued , that he knowes not what he is , nor what he would be . Therefore for his better edifying , let him learne to beleeue , to pray , and obey according to the vnderstanding Rules of this Reformed Church . For the 39 Articles are true precepts of faith ; all Collected out of holy writ . The Common praiers are godly praiers . The Canons are true , & wholesome lawes . Therefore he , that will not beleeue , pray and obey according to this established estate of Church gouernment , is noe pure man in heart . He studies Consusion of Church , and Common-wealth . The specificall kinds of this Puritan promise neither truth , nor goodnes : and therefore let noe man fauour their vnrighteous dealing ; and let our Church stand fast in her faith , instruct , correct , rebuke : that this Non-conformist may be a true Reformist .

The species ; specificall kinds of this Puritan are these . 1. the Perfectist . 2. the factious Sermonist. 3 the Separatist . 4. the Anabaptist. 5. the Brownist . 6. Loues-familist . 7. the Precisian . 8. the Sabbatarian . 9 : the Ante-disciplinarian . 10. the Presuming Predestinatist . These ten kinds in their opinions are the best Christians : and every one differs in the Reciprocall Quatenus ( i. e. ) in his proper essentiall Quality from other , as much as white , and blacke : yet the same subiect of inhesion ( man ) may be all these ten , as the same eie is white , and blacke : though whitenes , and blacknes differ essentially .

The Perfectist is he whose purenes is continuata perseverandi actio sanctificans ; neuer to sinne after baptisme . This is the Nouatian Catharist . But St Paul did sinne after baptisme . Rom. 7. This is a perfect keeper of Gods law . Thus he is a Papist . But S. Paul could not doe the good , which he would , but the evill which he would not . His opinion is , that a Christian sinning after baptisme is damned . Our Reformed faith is ; That by the grace of God , he may Repent , and amend : and thus S. Iohn ; if we confesse our sinnes , he will forgiue . 1. Iohn . 1. This Puritan sinnes against the 16. Article .

The factious Sermonist , is he , whose purenes is , to serue God with sermons , and extemporary praiers made according to his supposititious inspiration . His opinion is vaine glory : Preachers Compos'de not according to his hasty rule , he sayth are vn-worthy , and therefore they must not be heard to preach , nor resorted to , at holy Communion . Then S. Peter , ( if vnworthines might depose Preachers ) should neuer haue preach'd after his forswearing his master . Our reformed faith is , that we may vse the ministery of vnworthy Ministers . And t is strange that he commends himselfe to be worthy : whereas S. Paul is not a teacher of his opinion . 2. Cor. 2. 16. in these words . Who is sufficient for these things ? This sinneth against the 26. Article . Another opinion of his , is that preaching is better than Praier . But both being most necessarie : Preaching for to instruct the people ; and praier to worship God , instrumentally to cause regeneration by baptisme &c. It followes , that this Sermonist is a peeuish disturber of Religion . A third opinion of his , is , that priuate Praier made by a tardy commer to Church is the sacrifice of fools . As if too late comming to Church were not a sinne to be repented of : and that one soe ill prepar'd to ioyne with the congregation , should not pray for remission , and Gods blessing , and then praise the Lord with the whole Assembly .

The Separatist is he , whose Purenes is Pharisaicall . He commends himselfe in the Temple to be farre aboue all others for holines : Our Sauiour sayth that the Publican repenting was more iust than he . Luke 18. 14. His opinion is , that only he is the Elect , the Regenerate , and faithfull child of God . And that all others are reprobates , the wicked , the vnregenerat , and the damned : But Gods iudgments are vnsearchable . Rom. 11. 33. And who art thou that iudgest ? why dost thou Iudge & c ? Rom. 14. 4. 10. 11. 12. 13. The iudgment of our Church is , that al that are baptized are regenerat : Thus , Seeing that this child is regenerat & grafted into the body of Christs congregation &c. And the Church regulated by scriptures is the pillar and ground of truth . 1 Tim. 3. 15. therefore belieue our Church . Regeneration is by infusion of grace , by sowing the good seed : ( it differs from increase of grace , & perseverance . Regeneration is ortus boniseminis , the springing of good seed : This good seed did grow in stony and thorny ground . Regeneration is the individual act , making Christians . Increase of grace & perseverance preserue Christians . And morall perswasion cannot regenerate stony and thorny hearts dead in sinne . Therefore regeneration being the individuall act of God bound to his Church by his owne covenant , iudge as our Church doth , concerning the baptized ; that all baptized are regenerate . The grace of Gods covenā● doth admit of noe Separatists : for it did not separate , but bind Isaac & Ismael vnto God in obedience : neither doth it separate , but vnite the baptized vnto Christ . As for the separating iudgement according to the mercifull decree of election who are the saved : this belongs only to God to pronounce . But let all Christians religiously pray and liue according to the grace of restitution , and humbly submit their iudgments , concerning the secrecy of personall election . The Separatist sinnes against the 17. Article , which sayth that Gods election is secret to vs , for we know not the elect by their particular names . He sinnes against the 35 article at the 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 10. 11. 15. 19. 20. 21. homilie . For these doe charitably exhort the whole congregation to obey and honour God ; whereas the separatist is noe freind of Publicans and sinners : but the vncharitable accuser of our Saviours pittied company .

The Anabaptist is he , whose purenes is a supposed birth without originall sinne . And yet our bodies are parts of Adams nature , that did sinne . And no man was borne without sinne , Christ only excepted . His tenet is , that infants must not be baptized . Yet Isaac was circumcised the eighth day . And to be circumeised , and baptized are one , and the same in effect . And Abrahams Religion , and ours are the same . Gal. 3. 9. 14. 15. 16. 17. And therefore by a necessarie seale of the Covenant , we must doe , as Abraham did ; binde little children in covenant to God . This Puritan sinnes against the 9 & 27 Articles . The one affirmeth that infants are borne in originall sin ; the other , that infants must be baptized . If infants be borne without originall sinne : then t is noe controversy ; That originall sin foreseene is not the meritorious cause of reprobation . The sinner deserues , & the iudg intends punishment . So 't is certaine , that sinne is not the foreseene intending efficient of that preordain'd punishing decree . And it is without question , that Gods Supremacy may pardon or punish pro absoluto beneplacito , only as he will , seeing 't is the prerogatiue of supremacy , he being supreame Iudg. But he cannot be iust in decree , if he so reprobates , but for sinne foreseene . For the law was not , that any should die in Adam , if he had not eaten of the forbidden fruit : and therfore this law in prevision transgressed is the meritorious efficient of reprobation .

The Brownist is he , whose purenes is to serue God in woods and feilds . He is a wildernes of purenesse . His opinion is , that Idolatry cannot be reformed without pulling downe of Churches . But King Hezekiah commaunded the Levites to sanctifie the house of the Lord , and to carry forth the filthines out of the sanctuary &c. 2. Chron. 29. 5. And our Saviour whipt the buyers and sellers out of the Temple : though it was prophan'd , yet without any pulling downe , he calls it the house of prayer . Mat. 21. 12. 13. This Puritan sinnes against the 35 Article , at the 1 homily , which teacheth a decent keeping of the Church .

Loves familist is he , whose purenes is to serue God as wel at his Neighbors charge , as at his owne . Omnia sunt Communia : no one saith , that the things , which these Loue-Masters possesse are their owne , but all are Common . Yet S. Paul saith , that he is worse then an Infidell that provideth not for his owne family . If he be poore , his poore purenes must not labour with his hands to get his liuing , though he be a Mechanicke , he must only meditate on the word . Yet the text saith he that will not Labour , let him not eate . He in his conceipt is a greater S. then S. Iohn the Baptist , and that he is in persecution for the Gospell ; and therefore Ananias doth sell his possessions , that the poore brother may participate of his brotherly kindnes . Concerning S. Iohn our Sauiour saith that he was as great a Prophet , as any borne of a woman . Concerning Ananias S. Peter saith that he dissembled with the holy Ghost : Concerning this poore Saints persequution for the Gospell : his punishment is iustly to be inflicted on him for abusing the gospell with his deceipt to maintaine idlenes : His neighbour seduc'de to sel , is vndone : this is iniurie which must not escape vnpunished . This Puritan sinnes against the 38 Article . For this truth is to be beleeu'd , that as in persequution , the rich did releiue the poore Saints : So in the time of peace , all able men must labour , to preserue the Common wealth . Here , note , that Loues-familist in the 38 Article is called the Anabaptist : and t is true subiectiuè ; sed non formaliter . The same man may be Loues-familist , and the Anabaptist : but to be formally the Anabaptist , is not to be Loues-familist their definitions differ .

The Precisian is he , whose purenes is , not to sweare before a Magistrate . yet this kind of swearing is commanded Deut. 6. 13. He teacheth that vnlawfull swearing is a greater sinne , than murther . God indeed is greater than man , Hence is the compare , But the effect destructiue is greater by murther , for thereby mans life is destroyed , but vnlawfull swearing cannot wound so deepe . And God commands that the Murtherer die the death , blood must be shed for blood ; he deales not soe seuerely with the swearer . This Puritan sinnes against the 39. Article : which teacheth that t is lawfull to sweare before a magistrate .

The Sabbatarian is he , whose purenes is to preach downe all holy dayes . Preaching ; the instrumentall directing cause to keepe holy the sabbath day , he makes to be the keeping holy the Sabbath ; but Gods holy worship , common praier is this keeping holy the sabbath day . For preaching the holy direction teacheth holy worship common praiers to be the holy practise of that day to praise the Lord for our Redemption &c. This is the sole principall end of preaching on the Lords day . The Sabbatarians preaching is a Sylua synonymorum , Tantologies , Iterations . His praying is too much brainsike babling . His opinion is ; Labour thou sixe dayes : therefore there must be noe holy dayes , but the Lords day . T is true in an vnderstanding iudicious sence : Thus. Thou must praise God for the Creation , Redemption , Restitution , and preseruation of the world : To praise God for these causes , onely the 7. day is set apart : which is not the Iewes Sabbath , the sabbath only for the creation . But this is the day following : when Christ rested from subduing sinne , hell , and death : when the Lord Iesus ceased from his worke . Heb. 4. He then appoynted a certaine day , by saying to day ver. 7. And because Christ rested from his worke of restoring his kingdome to Israel in the same manner , as God did from his , ver. 10. appointing the first day after the creation to be the sabbath . Therefore the first day of the Iewes weeke , the scripture calls , and t is instituted for to be the Lords day ; for this is the day of Christs rest religiously to be celebrated with holy worship in remembrance of our iustifying , sanctifying , sauing , victorious , and trivmphing Redemption . But concerning other holy dayes there were seauen together , in the time of the law . Deut. 16. Therefore when God was to be praised for preseruing Israel in tents , when he brought them out of Aegipt &c: then the text saith not , labor 6. dayes , but keepe holy 7. dayes &c. So when God is to be praised for the Angells good newes to the Blessed Virgin , for the Natiuity of our Sauiour , for his circumcision &c: then the Church teacheth not 6. dayes labour , but to praise the Lord on the holy time appoynted . This Puritan sinnes against the 35. Article at the 7. 12. 13. 14. 16. and 17 homilies . For these doe teach the holy obseruing of feasts vnto the Lord .

The Anti-disciplinarian is he , whose purenes is aboue the Kings Supremacy . Imperious Imagination ! His holines is the Churches greatest Authority , and as good a Rule for to know the Reformed true faith , as holy writ . He is a strict obseruer of the law , therefore his Religion is the best religion . But our Sauiour teacheth , that mercy is the best part of Religion . Matth. 9. 13. And he neuer learned , that Christs kings office is aboue Christs Priests office , in spirituall things : for as much as Christ a Priest , died for to make satisfaction for our sins , to God the Supreame Iudge , who is Christ a king : and that from this office of Christ a king , the king is derived : and that the Priest is derived from Christs Priests office . This Puritans tenet is , that kings must be subiect to the Puritan-Presbyters Censure , submit their Scepters , throw downe their Crownes , and licke vp the dust of their feete . Thus Mr Rogers in the 11. page of his Preface to the 39. Articles : and thus T. C. teacheth in his Reply , page 180. Thus the oath of Supremacie , & allegiance are broken . This Puritan is an Arch-traitor . His prowd holynesse sinnes against the 21. Article , which affirmeth , that Princes in their Dominions haue supreame Authority to gather together Generall Councels , and against the 35. Article at the last homily , which preacheth downe Rebellion : and against the 37. Article , which saith , that the King is supreame Governour of Church and Common Wealth next , and immediately vnder Christ in his Dominions ; in all causes , and over all Persons Ecclesiasticall , and Civill . His tenet is , that all Priests should be Equall . But who ever gaue all Priests authority to ordaine , and did exalt inferiour Priests , and pull downe Superiors for that equality ; but Farellus , and Viretus ( by Sermons ) two Geneva-Presbyters . But by what Law ? Whence was that authority ? This Puritan sinnes against the 23 , 33 and 36. Articles , which teach the lawfulnes of Arch-Bishops , and Bishops Superiority , and Iurisdiction . This Puritan is an enemie to Church-Ceremonies , as if Gods Ministers , and his house should be naked , without all externall beauty . He saith , that he is only for essentials at baptizing , &c. And yet Metaphysicall divinitie is farre beyond the spheare of his plainely , and briefly , &c. For the Scriptures deduceable sence transcends his capacitie . This Puritan sinnes against the 20. Article .

The Presuming Predestinatist is he , whose purenes is an inspired knowledge , that hee shal be saved by Gods absolute election . He is so sure of his salvation , as if he were now in heaven : as if thete were no life in him , but Gods essentiall glory . This is to sin without feare or wit . He considereth not , that the World , the flesh , and the Deuill are such cruell , and subtile enemies , that they did soe terrifie S. Peter as that he denied , with an oath , that he knew the Rocke of Saluation , and the other Apostles fled . And pray thou Continually , that thou enter not into temptation . Thus the 17. Article teacheth thee . And presume not that thou art absolutely certaine of saluation , for in denying Christs soules locall descent into Hell , which is against the 3 Article , thou deniest a part of Christs subduing euill spirits , and his triumph ouer the power of hell : for this end Christ descended to the spirits , that were disobedient in the daies of Noah . 1. Pet. 3. 18. 19. 20. And thou seemest to deny that good workes are the striving instrumentall causes for salvation , in that thou regardest not Examples of good life , by abhorring Apocrypha scripture , which is against the 6. Article . Suffer the words of exhortation : be not factious in the Church , to mainetaine an Imperious ruinating holynesse , to amaze silly people , to gaine a competency , by way of collection . God hath given the tenth part in al Israell for an inheritance , to mainetaine the Priesthood . Num. 18. 21. And if the humane positiue law hath not made provision according to this divine law , stay the Lords leasure , till he shall assist the king , and the generall Councell of this land , to reforme this thing , as yet full of difficultie . If thou hast no Benefice ; faction can never bring thee any de iure ; but reformation may . Downe on thy knees ; repent , and amend : and praise God Almighty , for as much as thy Dread Soveraigne Lord , and king , hath spared thy life so long ; thou being nothing better in tenet , than an Arch-Traitor . Downe on thy knees & giue harty thankes to God ; in that the Most Reverend Arch-Bishops , and the Right Reverend Bishops , thy holy and Ghostly Fathers , haue not delivered thee over to Satan , Maiori Excommunicatione , cursing thee forth , from the Church , and all humane societie , thou being a most contumacious Schysmatique . It is not sufficient , that thou deny , that thou art any such Puritan ; for thy faction is visible ( almost ) every where in this land . Downe on thy knees , and pray for Gods holy spirits illumination ; that thy zeale may be according to the infallible knowing faith , and that God may thus incline thy heart to our true , faithfull , reforming Christian Religion . The Lord Almighty , and most mercifull , make the light of his countenance to shine vpon thee , and to reforme thee . Then the Church shal enioy her much desired vnitie : In which how happy a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together , for Christians to liue , and die ; I desire you , to consider ; I pray you ; I beseech you : Even I , though I am very disdainefully hated of you , am so charitably affected : & I labour alwaies to the vtmost of my praiers , and studies , to instruct you with true sanctifying reformation , and so shall till death remaine ,