Heresiography, or, A discription of the hereticks and sectaries of these latter times by E. Pagitt.

18. Of their prophecying.* 1.1

AS the illuminated Anabaptists are called Preachers, so the fanatick Brownists take upon them to be Prophets, and to preach the word of God with all authority publikely in their Congregations: St, Panlasketh, how they can preach, except they be sent? And this standeth to good reason, every true Preacher standeth in Gods roome, being the Lords Embassador to doe his will: who dares doe this unsent? These come not from the Schooles of the Prophers; but from Mechanick trades, & set them down in Moses Chaire, as Embassadors of Jesus Christ, as Heralds of the most high God: These take upon them to reveale the secrets of the Almighty, to open & shut heaven, to save soules, But to hear these fellowes discourse of the holy Tri∣nity, of Gods eternal Decree, & other deep poynts of Divinity, you may hear the Mad-men in Bedlam prare as wisely as they: May not Almighty God say to these mad Prophets, what hast thou to doe to take my Word in thy mought? &c. Of their confu∣sed preaching, or rather prating, heare Mr. Simpson complaine, and especially of the Prophets in Master Ainsworths Church: For our manner, (saith he) of meeting upon the Lords day, it is with such a confusion and contradiction with one another, that our profession of Separation may be overthrowne by it: For example, Thomas Cochi in his prophesie witnessing a∣gainst England, their Ministery is Anti-christian, and being so, cannot beget true faith; and where there is no true faith, there is no true salvation, a fearefull sentence in my judgemnt! A∣gain, our beloved, Mr. de Cluse in his prophesie laboured to prove separation from a true Church for any corruption, obsti∣nately stood in this Doctrine, was by another in prophecying there shewed to be absolutely contrary to the place, Rev. 2. 24.

which how unsoundly it was concluded by our Teacher▪ was ••••en observed by many: Also it was since by another delivered in the way a•• prophesie, that even among our selves did reigne in my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as namely, fulnesse of bread pride and idlenesse; 〈…〉〈…〉, in that they were not satisfied with neither temporall nor ••pirituall food; pride▪ in that many did strive to goe beyond their calling; idlenesse, in that many were negligent in their callings, If these things be so, and be not redressed by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this pro••hesie▪ we must, (according to Mr. de••Cluse his Doctrine) make a new s••paration, How oft doe the Br••thre•• except one against anothers prophecying, by which, much heart-burning and strife is ••indl••d between them? Th••se thi••gs being well considered, I pray you well to minde whether this new way of prophecying on the Lords day can be ••or the edification of the Church or not. For this new pro∣p••••ying of the Lay people, read a Treatise newly set forth by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Apol••nij.

Notes

• * 1.1

  18. Of their Pr••∣phe••••ing.