Asystata. The repugnancy and inconsistency of the maintenance of an orthodox ministery, and tolleration of heretical opinions.

1. FRom rationall principles it is cleere, that those things that are of contrary quali∣ties are inconsistent, because they expell one the other, as fier, and water, light, and darknesse, the introduction, or coming in of the one, is the destruction of the o∣ther, there is such an antipathy betwixt some Trees, that they will not grow and prosper neer one unto the other; the strings made of the guts of the Wolfe and the Lamb, will not hold together in one instrument; an Orthodox Ministery, and heretical Opinions, are as opposite; there∣fore the tolleration of these latter, must needes overthrow the former.

2 Their ends are contrary as their principles and qualities which actuate them; of the Ministery, the perfecting of the Saints, edification of the body of Christ, keeping Men from being alwayes children, carried about with every winde of Doctrine, &c. of heresie, and errour, the unsetling of the Saints, o∣verthrow of the body of Christ, making Men, and keeping them, children; and, like the waves of the Sea, turned this way, and that way, with every blast of erroneous Doctrine.

How absurd therefore is it? For a Phisitian to say he will cure such a man perfectly, keep him in a sound constitution of his body, and yet give him

leave to eate any thing. For a Gardiner, or Husband∣man, to say, they will look to the prosperity, and fruitfullnesse of their Trees, Herbes, Flowers, Corn, and yet suffer the suckers weeds to grow, and over∣grow the rest. For States-men to say, they will take care of the Common-weale, and suffer the commo∣tions, and troubles therein, with their causes, (which heresies and errours too have no small influence into) to abound: This is like the practice of late, the Act for sanctification of the Lords day, (a Mock-act, smelling strongly of hypocrisie, that most odious sinne to God and good Men) and yet, men might meet any where to profane it, and draw others so to doe, by their wicked doctrines, and practises. Should the Lord Ma∣jor of London, say, he will be very diligent, for the preservation of the Citty, from the Plague, and other infections and noysome Di∣seases, and yet suffer all the Carrions and nasti∣n••sse to lye in the streets; who will believe him? So, if our Governours will say, they will doe all for the truth, nothing against it, and yet beare with that which is most against it, who will be induced to imagine the possibility of it?

3. What hath been the practice of pious Princes, amongst the Jewes, Christians, the Scrip∣tures, and Ecclesiasticall Histories, abundantly witnesse; They did, not onely set up, and maintaine the true, and pure worship of God;

but removed every thing that was destructive, and impeditive thereof, and this they did, by command from God, which is still in force: the ground, and reason thereof, being still in force, and there being no repeale thereof. Do any thinke, that God is not zealous now for his glory, as heretofore? and should not his Deputy be so too? By what artifices, hath the POPE held up his bundle of Heresies? by hindring, remooveing, destroying that which would destroy it.

Master NEWCOMB'S Sermon, on the fifth day of November, 1642. The BOHEMIAN PERSECUTION. CONTZENS ARTIFICE, to expell the protestant Religion, and the Practices of our Bishops, and the BOHEMIAN PAPISTS, according thereunto, are stale odious things; and why then, should they bee imitated, by those, that professe such great love to the PROTESTANT RELIGION? Can it arise from better Principles? Or produce any better fruit? Let all unprejudiced reasonable Men judge.

4 From the event, or rather naturall effect, which it alwayes produced, it hath over-throwne the Ministery, and consequently the worship of God, (which consequence many will deny even against sense and experience) in all places and ages of the world, under all modells and formes of government, and laide those various governments to∣gether with the people under them in the dust. Look upon the Jewish Nation beautified so exceedingly, and beloved of her God, the Q••een and Princess of the Provinces, did not her Kings & rulers by suffering Idols, as many as their Cities, cause her most glorious & jealous husband to depart from her, and give her a bill of divorce, and deliver her into the hands of her enemies, and did not her misery come in at this door, the pollution of, y••a trampling under foote her Priest-hood, and all the holy appointments of God by that Toleration. Did it not presently after the rejection and cru∣cifixion of their expected Messiah, the fruit of their many sects and divisions bring inevitable desolation upon them, under which they lye to this day. Did n•••• the pol••••heisme of the Heathens, like a worme, eate asund••r the rootes of their seemingly eternally settled Monarchies, common∣wealths, and Nations? Is it not in the mouths of most? That the Toleration of sports on the Lords day, winking at the Bishops introduction of Popery, out off Charles Stew∣ard, him and his, stubbed up Episcopacy, Roose and Branch, which would have rooted up the godly Ministery. Have you so soone forgotten, that this Carnall Stratagem, in the late Lord Protectors dayes, (who therein laid the foundati∣on of all our misery.) blasted the Ministery, and rendred it very unsuccessfull. The consideration whereof, probab∣ly, sunck his spirit, and hastened his death, and hath he not provided ill, for his posterity, hereby: though he thought to have established it? But you will say, our neighbours of Holland prosper, notwithstanding their practising the

same. How can you say so? Have not you been under God, the instruments of his vengeance upon them? have they not lost the power of godlynesse; doe we not follow them apace; can we looke upon them, but as a people hastening to their period? and shall we dreame of an ex∣emption, from their plagues, being guilty of their sins; allowed of and established by a Law; what can be obje∣cted, from scripture unwrested, and right reason, I know not. What hath beene, to the unhallowed violation, of the divine oracles, and abuse of reason, hath been fully answered by those, that have wrote, of the Magistrates power in taking care for the observation of the whole Law of God, and against the Toleration of all, or, some erroneous opinions: And the so much meerely pretended liberty of conscience. I will not, actum agere, but pray you to looke into them. Wherefore con∣sider, O yee heads, of the Tribes of our Israel, in whom is the quintessence of reason, is it suitable to your wisdome, to make resolves, militant, one against the other: Destructive one of another? Should not the wisedome of the onely wise God, and his authority preponderate your conceites, and make you stoope and yield submissively to him? Would you not have others yield obedience to you, in your lawfull com∣mands? and will you not give the same to Jehovah the righteous Law-giver and Judge of the World; Though you have power to cast downe Monarchies here on earth, are you so foole hardy, as to kick against the pricks, in opposing his supreame Monarchicall Soveraignty; must you not be brought to his bar in the most glorious Parlia∣ment of Angels, and Saints that ever will sit; how will you answer Christ, for preserring your owne imaginations before his revealed will, in his word; for designing, any of you, the erecting the Idols, you dote upon, and adore,

upon the ruines, and blood of Millions in these Nations. What evasions, and distinctions, will helpe you? When you are required to give an account, of the hinderance of the propagation of the Gospell, conversion of soules, and the glory accrewing to God thereby. How will you an∣swer the people, that have trusted you with all that is deare to them? How will you still the Clamour of their owne consciences? Which will speake, out, one day, when you will have more leasure to heare them. With what heart can you, now, or will you hereafter heare, the Lamentable cryes of the soules murdered by your bloody hands? Have you no bowells of pitty and compassion in you? Have you greater mercy for the wolves then the sheep? O cruell bloody mercyes! Where is the sincerity of your love to that Christ you owne if you are to seede hi•• sheepe, as Christi∣ans, and see them, fed as Magistrates, with wholesome food, will you let them graze any where, on any po••sonous and banefull herbe? Our love to Christ here i•• best 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by our love to his members, and should not his truth be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to you, then your lives, estates, &c. Much more opinion? and can you love it, and hugge its enemies in your owne bosomes, and in others? is it not very sinfull, to Tolerate evill in your selves? much more in others, most of all to enact it by a Law. The good Lord, keepe you, from further kindling his wrath, that hath burnt already, so hot, and so long, against these three Nations, hastening to ther finall consumption. Amen Amen.

Notes

• Ephes. 4.11, 12, 13, 14.
• Psal. 2.10, 11, 12. Fourth and Fifth Com∣mande∣ment, Rev. 2.2.20.