COncerning that late conference that I had with you about some Papisticall doctrines , maintained by the English Prelates , and yet somewhat doubted by weaker bretheren ( though they be not many ) but is not to be wondred , for as the profane proverb saith , Rome was not built in a day , so neither will their doctrines bee suddenly rooted out of mens minds : For indeed these are part of those very doctrines , that are the very whore of Babilons wine , with which shee hath made Nations drunke , and therefore it 's no marvell , though mens heads bee so intoxicated , that they go staggering up and downe , and know not where nor how to stand steddie in the faith , and be you assured till you leave her abominations , you cannot be safe from the wrath of God , and therefore bee advised by a brother who will advise you in his brother Pauls words , 2. Co● . 6.17 . Come out from among them , and bee ye seperated , saith the Lord , and touch no uncleane thing , and I will receave you ; And therefore till ye seperate from the doctrines as yee do from her ceremonies , ye cannot be safe .

Now the first doctrine that I give you warning of , is about the baptizing Infants , of which I somewhat doubt , because it is derived from Rome : for as Master Lilborne , when hee was on the Pillory , very worthily said , that Episcopacy being derived from the Pope of Rome , was from Antichrist , and that these Ministers which exercised their functions by power received from the Bishops , did it by a power from Antichrist , from which I think may safely be concluded , that our Baptismes received by that power is from Antichrist ; besides I know no difference betweene a false Church , and no Church , a false Christ and no Christ , a false Baptisme ( which most of our bretheren say , the Baptisme received in the Church of England is ) and no Baptisme : And therefore considering from whence we had our Baptisme , the goodnesse of it may very well be doubted of ; besides for the Baptizing of Infants , I know not one plaine scripture for it : Moreover if we do but consider what a hurt it doth , for it 's a meanes to keepe men from good lives , because most men think they were made partakers of Christ in Baptisme , and being by our best Ministers in their Sermons , exhorted to get Christ , their answer is , that by a covenant in Baptisme , they were made partakers of Christ , and are so bold that they will say Ministers ought not to preach to them , as if they were Pagans , and we now to become Christians , and to get Christ : but say , that Ministers should perswade them to the keeping of that Covenant and teach them how to keepe it , and so they shall be sure of Christ , but this is false doctrine , false in the very ground , though the Jewes made a covenant at the Circumcision to keepe the Law , Galat . 5.3 . yet we Christians have no such direction from Chirst , and therefore Godfathers and Godmothers that in the Childs name make a covenant , and say , that they beleeve the Articles of Christian Religion , and promise to forsake the world , flesh , and divell , to doe this by way of covenant , in the Childes name is without warrant , and they that procure Godfathers and Godmothers for this end , do erre , not knowing the Scriptures , nor the power of Christs death ; which is not layd downe for men conditionally , if they shall beleeve and repent , but absolutely without any conditions ; And therefore I beleeve the businesse of Godfathers and Godmothers is a very foolish ceremony : For the Crosse in Baptisme , some say , that was to the old Christians a Monitory , sign or figure , to put them in mind of their promise made to God in Baptisme , in the Infancy of the Church , for want of the Spirit : it may be so , but what need we such Monitors ; have we not the holy Spirit which is our Monitor , therefore away with such needlesse ceremonies : And therefore for the form of words in Baptisme used by the Prelaticall Church , viz. I in the name of the Father , Sonne , and holy Ghost , Baptise thee .

Let mee bee bold to shew you a mystery , that when in a Sacrament a forme of words become a stumbling blocke , and that the truth may bee ( without prejudice to the originall ) expressed in other tearmes , then to avoid stumbling into other errors , the old forme may be changed , and another forme of words that doth not occasion the like stumbling , may be used , as for example of this of Baptisme , out Prelaticall Ministers say , that they have a power from Christ , for the comfort of distressed penitent Soules , in the name of the Trinity to pronounce absolution from sinne : For justification of this Popish act ; the Prelates alledge their forme of Baptizing , and say , it is no other then is there expressed ; For as in the one place he saith I , in the name of the Father , Sonne , and holy God , Absolve thee . So in the other , in the same name , Baptize or dip thee , for so the words signifie , into Christs bloud , of which they say , the water is a signe , by which mysticall action , they say , the soule there Baptized , is cleansed from a●… sinne . And moreover they say , that as a Constable in the Kings name , doth execute an office , so doe the Prela●es in the name of the Trinity , cleanse the Baptized , and Absolve the truely penitent , all which is plaine Popery : and therefore I judge it ( and so do many of our bretheren also ) very lawfull and convenient to change the forme of words in Baptisme , and say , I Baptize thee into the Union or Unitie : By which forme is demonstrated , that the faithfull soul is made one with the Father , Sonne , and holy Ghost , which is most comfortable , and abundance of solace doth ensue to all the elect so joyned : For this union can never be broken ; and besides the excellency thereof doth so overwhelme the inferme actions of all such as are righ●ly so Baptized , that such a Soule , notwithstanding some infirmities , appeares before God like the woman , Revel . 12. All clothed with the Sonne , the Moone under her feet , and a Crowne of 12. Sarres upon her head . So glorious in the sight of God , that Iohn saith , even as Christ is , so wee in this present world 1. Iohn 4.17 . This is the right Baptisme of the holy Ghost , that as the body is dipped into the water , so is the soule into the Union , Essence or being of God ; but this mystery I advise you not to discover to such as be carnall , least ye cast pearles before swine : and as some say this is the very seedplot of Familisme ; I answer , the Spirit assures us this is a glorious seedplot for truth . I have beene the larger because I would have you well instructed in this principle .

Another thing I would have you to beware of , that you be not married by a Minister . The Papists make marriage a Sacrament , and therefore injoyne a Priest to performe it . And our English Prelates treade in their steps , for they must have a hand in joyning men and women together , else our foolish people thinke themselves not rightly married ; but I advise all that fear God to abstaine from all appearance of evil , especially in mariages have nothing to do with the Prelates ; let us take our beloved for a faithfull yoak-fellow in the presence of our brethren , God requires no more .

As for churching of women , I hold it utterly unlawfull . And to abstaine from our wives after child-bearing a full month is meere Judaisme ; the new Testament injoynes no such thing ; and what ever is not of faith is sinne .

For the Sacrament of Christs last supper , I need not name some fopperies used at the same , as kneeling upon your knees when you receive the bread and wine , ( which you have already left ; ) as also the taking it in the morning , a custome without any warrant from Scripture . Let me in this be bold in Doctor B●stwicks words in his 14. page of a booke , intitled an answer to certaine exceptions made by a learned Gentleman , where reproving such as take it in the morning , who saith to you it cannot bee called the Lords supper , but the Lords breakfast . And so it is indeed to them , for they eate up the Lord at a breakfast , and swallow him downe whole , and make no bones of him , hee is to them but their mornings nuntioes : And after that they drink up his bloud , most sweet Canniballs ; an● after this they can eate a sufficient dinner . These fellowes saith the learned Doctor must needs have good stomacks , therfore do not sympathize with the Babell brats in eating their Lord in a morning : Neither do you put off your hat in time when yee e●te the Lords Supper , for this I boldly affirme , for Christians , to put their hats off to the bread is unlawfull , and no lesse idolatry then to kneele to it : I know some will mince and make dissentions about this point , but I say let the faithfull servants of Christ flee from all appearance of Idolatry . To sit at the Lords Supper with hats on heads , in these times , is not only lawfull but necessary , and that for the totall abolishing of all reverence and shew of bread-worship ; and wee that are the people of God have cause to praise him for manifesting truths so clearly to us ; and if wee should negle●t the practizing therof , we should shew our selves ungratefull , and unworthy of so great favours .

But for that opinion of some , that thinke we ought to salute one the other , with an holy kisse , at the time of eating the Lords supper , though some doe like of it , yet I wish it might bee forborne for a time , lest in the planting of our Church , some weake ones stumble : And let us remember that saying , all things that are lawfull , are not expedient . For going to their common meeting houses , remember I pray you our last discourse ; for the name of the place , by any meanes never call it a Church , it is but a meeting place made of lime and stone : And for reverence , there is none due to it : And to shew any reverence is meere superstition : The place differs not from our common dwellings ; and truly that difference of places were done away , I could wish , and I know that many are of my mind , that either these were imployed to some other uses , and so new meeting houses built ; or at least men were suffered all the weeke to buy , sell , or worke of some trades in them ; for so long as any hold a reverentiall respect in their minds of the meeting houses , even so long a superstitious relique of Antichrist lodgeth in the heart , which to God we hold is abominable : And therefore I commend Master Samuel How the Cobler , and others that chose to be buried in the fields , and that by the highway side , rather then in the seperated grounds : and for Master En●ck Hewet the Glover , who buried a maid in his yard , hereby appeares the zeale of our holy brethren against such Idolized places . But for going to these houses to heare the word , I am not as some of our brethren are totally against it : but if we doe go some caveats must be observed , as first we must not go in while their abominable Service is in reading . Secondly , when we do go in , let us be sure to shew no act of reverence , neither let us kneel down within their Church , ( as they call it ) nor when we come out let us neither bow nor put off the hat , nor use any other posture in token of reverence , that so we may have clear consciences from any act of worshipping God in their meeting houses . In the third place let us have an eye to o●● thoughts , that we heare not the Preacher as a messenger sent from God but as a man exercising his gifts : And if we do observe these caveats , I think you or another may go in safely , and sometimes do good , as Paul became a Jew unto the Jewes , if that by any meanes he might winne some . So we by hearing their doctrines may the better judge them & confute them , and so we may win some soules from them ; and truly for my part I judge this a better way , then totally to forsake their Assemblies .

As for the singing of Psalmes with them , doe as you are perswaded , but know their Psalmes are no other then Davids Psalmes adulterated by men that were Poets , ( yea perhaps Ballad-makers ) and ye know how Poets are generally esteemed of , and therefore our Psalms as they now stand versified , are little-better then humane , and you know that all humane inventions in worshipping are abominable to God . That the Psalmes are not those whereof Iames speaks . Is any merry let him sing Psalms . Jam . 5.13 . plainly appears , for that the right Psalms are spirituall Songs , Ephe . 5.19 . of which the Apostle speakes 1 Cor . 14.15 . where the words are , I will pray with the spirit and pray with the understanding also . I will sing with the Spirt , and sing with the understanding also . By which place it appeareth that book Psalmes are no more lawfull then book prayers , which we all judge unlawfull . But as Doctrines , Revelations , Interpretations , and strange tongues were by inspiration from God by his Spirit ; so were Psalmes also : for which see 1 Cor . 14.26 . Therefore I conclude it is not lawfull to sing Psalmes without the Spirits inspiration ; but because all our brethren are not thus minded , I leave it to their discretions , till they be further instructed in this truth ; In the mean time let as many as be thus minded walk by this rule , and peace be upon them , and upon the Israell of God . I have said the more against this carnall Psalme singing to move you to presse on to more new truths , that you may serve God in newnesse of Spirit like a Christian , and not in oldnesse of Letter like a Jew .

As for burialls of the dead , I need not say any thing of that , for your self is well satisfied , how not any thing about it belongs to a Minister , no more then to marriages , neither praying nor reading , nor ought else , there is no footing in Scripture for either : and therefore brother , be not dismayed , at the jeeres and mocks of the Ishmaelites , that scoffingly said we bury our brethren as we burie dogs , cats , or stinking carcases of beasts , and that in open fields , tush , God knoweth our hearts , and we must bear their scoffes till bodily observations , and Superstitious customes be done away , which I hope will be ere long ; and that naked truths without Ceremonies shall flourish : and so be not cast down , you shall see Satan in his instruments shortly troden under our feet , when we shall be made Princes in all nations then we shall bind Kings in chaines and Nobles in fetters of iron ; such honour the Saints shall have , and that is it we hope and wait for .

As for the oath of Supremacy , ( viz ) that one should sweare the King is supreme in causes Ecclesiasticall , is a most vile and unlawful oath , contrary to fundamentall truth , and the very nature of true churches , whose supreme government rest not in any one particular person , as Pope or King , but solely and alone , joyntly in all the members of every independent congregation , and therefore we hope that oath will be altered , of which I shall not need to write any more .

I have some other things to write of , as about the Scriptures , which is the right and which is not , and how they may be discerned by the Spirit , as also about the Creeds as some call them , the Athanasian & Apostles Creed , neither of them good : the Athanasian Creed hath no lesse then blasphemy in it , and the other palpable untruths . That which was made by Goodman Turner , viz. the Saints belief , is worth them both . So desiring you to strive on to the attaining of more new truths , I commit you to him that is able to make you perfect .