Proh tempora! Proh Mores! or an unfained caveat to all true Protestants, not in any case to touch any of these three serpents;: viz. Mr Erbery's Babe of glory. The mad-mans plea, and Mr. Christopher Feakes exhortations. Whose language is infectious, and whose stings are mortiferous, therefore of all Gods people to be shunned, as those which intend nothing more then Christian persecution. Written by J.N. a mechanick.

Proh Tempora! Proh Mores! Or An unfained Caveat to all true Protestants, not in any case to touch any of these three Serpents: Mr Erbery's Babe of Glory, The Mad mans Plea And Mr Christopher Feaks Exhortations.

IN this short Discourse, I shall not lay open to publike view the summum totale of Mr. Erbery's painted Je∣zabel, nor so to mention it word by word in way of an Answer, if so, I might finde enough of his com∣bustible matter to fill a large Volume, and that for these two Reasons.

First, Because the chiefest matter therein con∣tained, is onely what he hath often expressed at Sommerset house in the Strand by word of mouth, in the hearing of many of my friends, and now he cryes, Cur non liceret scribere, si licet effari, so that where his breath cannot reach, his sting shall.

But secondly, Because he hath in his book neither head nor foot, but on∣ly a rabble of news from North Wales, brought to London by a seduced Di∣sciple, I know not wherein I can piece one whole sentence worth an Answer; and for this cause I shall onely speak generally concerning Mr. Erberys book stiled, The Babe of Glory.

And first for the Title of his book, I do conceive according to their grand Ordinance, Except ye be rebaptized, you cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven, upon this account of theirs, I hold it my duty to new name this Babe, and as I suppose it is the Babe of Antichrist, or the dawning of the false Prophets springing forth out of North Wales, and extending to the utmost cape of its continent, generally termed the four corners of the earth; (but blessed be God) that he doth not draw all men after him, I am bold that it is but yet a little while and those that see as it were in a glass, shall see cleerly the duration of these men to be but for a moment, the devil may prevail long with men whilst he is in an Angels clothing, but this is sure, he shall not continue long, but Christians may see his mutability and his sub∣tile wiles wherewith many are led captive.

Mr Erbery tells us of our becoming so like unto God, as that we shall not know how to commit sin, and of our super-glorious condition, even in this life, for my part, I sear the continuance of it, and therefore to shew you their sainting in their unheard of Principles, I shall speak the truth and shame that spirit which is shameless in the hearts of many of them; there∣fore I do affirm, and nor unwillingly, but as I must appear before God, that

a man may pray eloquently, expound Scripture after the manner of Apostles, and sooth his hearers with his sugred and Antinomical tongue, (for in gene∣ral, men and women do delight to live under such a Ministery as is all for Faith and no Works) men do rather affect to hear of King Jesus, then of Jesus Christ in all his Offices, I say a man may do all this as we say, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and yet want true Grace; I do desire that those which read this ex∣pression may admire and wonder at it, even unto astonishment; now expe∣rience is the best teacher, which experience although at certain times grie∣vous to consider, yet in time hath produced such good effects as Patience and Hope, which Hope makes me not ashamed of the truth, but to grow as it were in an Extasie, and be amazed that I should be received to mercy. Indeed the Lord for reasons best known to himself, doth suffer you to in∣crease & to go on in your way of seducing, perhaps for the tryal of our Faith, and on the other side as the saying is, the higher you are gain'd, the likelyer to fall, ut lapsu graviore ruatis, but take it from me, there is no surer discerner of an hypocrite, then by his non-perseverance in that good and true way which he so much pretended for, but it is he, and he onely that endures to the end that shall be saved. Let Mr. Erbery but consider well of that Scri∣pture in Jam. 1.8. and that also in. Rev. 22.18, 19. and I am confident for the first, he is the very Idea of a weather-cock, and the proper subject to whom that verse does relate; & so for the other it would amaze any man that reads his book, to see what addition here, and what diminution there, what man∣gling and barbarous dissecting he makes of the holy and divine Oracles, but I will let him cease because I do not now intend Polugraphy, & therefore you that read this may have a great care of a Pamphlet stiled, The Mad mans Plea, whom I suppose to be more Knave then Fool; My friends, he that toucheth pitch will be defiled, it may be if you once go to hear these men (for I know that people were never more curious then now) I say perhaps because of the sweetness of their Syrenlike voice, you may be enticed to go again, and chiefly because you are not as they say, come to Mount-Sinai▪ where you shall hear the Law with its terrible voice, like Johns preaching in a rough garment, but unto their Mount-Sion, where you are past Law and the true Ordinances of Jesus Christ administred in its right form & method, let me tel you that separate your selves in this age from the true way & man∣ner of hearing the Word, that there is many of you have fallen very foully and scandalously, for all your smooth and glossy tongue, I could name some of you that did gain as many followers in that time of your excelling hy∣pocrisie, as that Sorcerer Theudas did Jews by his specious pretences; but I could be more comforted to hear you lay it open your selves, even in your publike Assemblies and Meeting-houses, you do in a great measure derogate from that heavenly Apostle of whom you make often mention, concerning his dis-esteem, and his undervaluing of learning, if you do remember Scri∣pture so well, as you commonly have it at your fingers end, and something more by this then ordinary, in making of this sin, when we call the days of the week after Heathen names, much forgetting if that had been sin, St. Paul would rather have omitted the ships name that carryed him that dangerous voyage, then to have used this new found sinful expression, whose sign was Castor and Pollux, but to omit this, I say, if you take notice, this said Apo∣stle in all his Epistles, does never conceale his former arrogancy, his massa∣cring

the Saints and servants of the most high, but where ever he did come he was very apt to say, I am that Saul the persecutor, and did once study earnestly to commit this kind of murder, and that with fervent zeal, which words were no otherwise spoken, but onely that he might adde more splen∣dor to the exceeding love of God in Christ, which makes him to cry out with great admiration, that I Paul should be received to Mercy; that shewed no Mercy; this did therefore cause him to give greater diligence, this makes him to be more zealous and fervent for Jesus Christ his master and Lord, then ever any before him or after him; this makes Paul not onely love the brethren, but to lust speedily after the conversion of others wherever he sojourned: but my friends that stile your selves mad men, onely in an up∣braiding way; to you I say thus much, that you are so far from Pauls minde and do so much slight that Scripture in Jam. 5.16. as that you do act clean contrary, and speak contrary, onely as you say in despight of the Papism, and that because the Papists from that Scripture do use so much confession before men, and one man to another, therefore you do use the less before God, and for the most part in your Prayers, you talk proudly with God, in a fashion more mandatorilike then supplicatory, as if so be God was but your equal makes you in your Orisons say, Lord thou must do this thing for us, and thou must make our State to cause their ships and men, and that very suddenly, to go and bring away home with them the new Roman King, and when that is done, they bid the Lord not to suffer the ships to lye by the wals, but in the next place to sail up the Straits with the next wind, and so to Rome, which is mystical Babylon, &c. Indeed the three things which do chiefly stick in these mens throats are these: Learned Ministers, Infant-Bap∣tism, and singing of Psalms amongst the mixt multitude; And first for our Ministers, the mad knave calls them Baals Priests, idle shepherds, Dumb dogs, lazy Sir Johns, &c. all which Titles Mr. Feake that Arch Prophet of our times doth greatly affect and approve of, as I shall declare, as if so be, because learned, they were not capable of the Spirit; now let me tell such carping momusses, that Grace is adorned and beautifyed by Learning, and more then this, God doth usually send that blessing of blessings, even the spirit of Prayer, and teaching, to accompany that sincere and pious care which many Parents take in the vertuous education of their children, which because many of you want, do therefore possess strong delusions; I ask any of you whether the Spirit of God did teach you to read English? I deny not but that some men may have much humane Learning, and yet want that Spirit that you so much boast of, and does it therefore follow that they are all so? 2ly, Remember your own congregational baseness, and great relapses of your own members, who when God hath brought some of them out of your extraordinary, and your supernatural liberty, it hath rejoyced me to hear them with such vehement detestings of your prophaneness and instability, even in all your ways, neer upon resting, and yet never at rest in your bye judgements, I believe that there is a spirit of madness raigning in many men, you say you need no Priest, because you are all taught of God, and you are above common Ordinances, as hearing publike Prayers, and publike Preaching, which last one of your Sect told me that they could all do as well as the Priests; nay better, for saith he, they are fain to study for

it, and that was a sign they knew not, neither were acquainted with the spirit of God, for we saith he, having God within us, are able to preach (or rather seduce) ex tempore at any time, though I fear that there is few of you that have true fellowship with the Father or his Son Jesus Christ, this being another reason as I conceive, because you are so seated in your most unholy and unstable Faith, as that you will not be convinced by Argument, these are ill signes that you worship no God but your own fearless and hope∣less Creed. Ah my friends, when any of us come to this pass, to have a low esteem of Ministers and the standing Ordinances of Jesus Christ, and to make sin of that which is no sin, of this sort is that of breaking bread amongst the known and unknown people, when as none more vile in the sight of a pure God then themselves, these are your time-servers, Stand by (with the Pharisee) for I am holier then thou, but the Apostles never used any such needless curiousity; and for my part, if I may lay down mine opinion in this matter, it is thus: that when the devil that crafty observer of the overtures in States and Kingdoms, did finde that all his labour and pains were in vain, whereby he thought to have erected Popery here amongst us in Eng∣land, and seeing that all his Machiavel plots were discovered by some of those that love the Truth and Peace, he then according to his ancient Fox-like policy causeth breaches and rents to be made in the Church, whereby some false brethren do impede as much as in them lies, the standing and perma∣nent Ordinances of our Lord, now remaining in all Protestant Churches, for if Athanasius want a persecuting Emperour, yet without doubt he shall not want a false brother, which Arrius by his external writings, and plausible Arguments to the then present Government, did get into the great mens af∣fections, even then when true and faithful Athanasius together with his Ni∣cene Creed, were banished exiles into a remote Countrey, now I say, when the heat of the Tyrants cruelty was in some kinde abated, yet the devil was not idle nor weary of his torturing the christians, but did work so craftily by that Arrian heresie, that Athanasius and the rest of the sincere Christians were never so molested and tossed by the Tyrants, then they were by such kinde of schismaticks, yet this is the associate of a true christian, that for all this he was that persevering Athanasius, when his enemies were ashamed at the ignominious downfal of their chieftain Arrius: like unto Daniel without worldly comfort, and yet Daniel still; so I am confident the faithful Ministers of this Land although reproached, and emulated, and persecuted yet they will be Ministers still, in despight of all opponents.

But the second thing they carp at is Infant-Baptism, which an Anabaptist as he calls himself, or as I call him an Antibaptist, being more proper to their profession, did suppose at a meeting in Warwick shire to have quite over∣thrown that Ordinance, and thereupon some of their Synagogue did pre∣sently set forth a book called Baby-Baptism routed, let any one judge of the rout, being not half so big as that rout which the Miller of Bynley made a∣mongst some of their fellow creatures when he found them Denudated, la∣ving and defiling his christalline torrent with an unheard of custom, and let me tell you, this does add to your Religion more contempt, because that al∣though you have gotten head amongst us in England, and a meeting place allowed you to exercise your selves in, yet you are not herewith content,

but do devise to through down al Religion, save that which bears your mark in the front of it, and to bring all Learning in subjection to your proud and scof∣fing Wills, chiefly inveighing against the Blackcoats; in my weak opinion a vesture more beseeming the Leaders of people, then a cloak trimmed with Gold Buttons, but I do with confidence aver, that although these people have as much power and prevalency in England, as Arrius had in the East; you will fall with the self same descent as your predecessors have done before you, and if you do intend seeing you cannot dissolve the ordinances which we must retaine. I will onely write this sentence concerning this matter, for your own proper admonition, that except you do devise some safer and more facetious stratagem in that external ordinance of wading, then was used to an old Marron in Warwick shire some yeers since (as I suppose not unknow to prophet Erbery) being to the utter loss of that daily use that before she had with her limbs (the waters so benumbing her) I say if this be not altered, you will have but few Disciples, and did I grant to you that our manner of Baptisme was onely an Ordinance instituted by men (believing with the Apostle, that neither circum∣sion nor uncircumcision avail any thing, except a new creature) I conceive you ought to submit to it for conscience sake.

Now for singing of Psalms, I mean that which Mr. Feake derides; I am confident, that for all their scoffes; as when I have come to Christ Church, onely in contempt of the Ordinance. I have beheld a great part of the people to sit with their hats on in a deriding posture: This it seems is one of Mr. Christopher Feake's Exhortations, and indeed is it not a comly one, when I compare it with that of the Apostle, 2 Cor. 8.24. Paul was of that heavenly con∣discending temper, that if by eating meat his brother was offended, he would never eat meat more. And does Mr. Feake think that this hat-waring and laughing (at our howling as they call it) doth not offend us that sing. Let them look to it, for the words are plain, Yea in so doing sin against Christ.

But, 2. Mr. Feake doth exhort them, and stir them up to sing that new song of the Lambe, they now being upon mount Zion; and to that intent the Spirit of God having taught it him, he song it, together with the Congre∣gation; but such was his Semi-Reformation, or deformation, that when he had compiled his Hymne of praise, He was fain to make use of one of our Prelatical Tunes (as they call them) a thing that as I thought did much dero∣gate from that spirit which was present with him at the peaning of them. You say old things and reliques are past and out of date, and you will make all things new if you can; you will reform and you will not, you cannot tell what you would have your selves, onely Mahomet-like, who though he hate Judaisme, yet commands that all Musselmen be circumcised, being no other then a crafty wile that the devil did infuse into the mind of Sergius that wicked Alcoran-founder, knowing that it would make their Faith and their Religion more accepted amongst men. So though our leaders make new songs, they either will not or cannot make new tunes, but will have our Quiresters tune, though they say it doth rellish of the beast, being onely for this cause, that the people may relish their novelties with the greater affectation. Augustine sayes, Quomodò debitè potest Deo psallere, qui ignarat quid psallat? So how can we praise God as we ought to do, when we cannot understand your strange no∣tions, but our old w••y of singing the Psalmes of David are not strange nor irksome to us; and therefore we are able to bless and praise God, and that

knowingly and sencibly of his great mercies toward us; but if I remember my own former reproof to you, it may be a matter of offence in the eyes of Mr. Feake, who accounts of the Fathers and their knowledge, as to base and sordid an element, for to be the subject of his Metaphysical and most capacious fan∣cy. He saith indeed when he was a child he minded such childish things as the perusing of Antiquaries, but now he saith, Ego non sum ege, or else he is trans∣planted sure into another Region: he saith nought save the Bible. I fear he did forget the Kentish Prophets book of Navigation, which the laid Prophet affirmeth will be of like duration. But indeed if Mr. Feake do remember that when he went to School, they had an expression which remaines firme and inviolable even to this day, amongst those that he calls Sir Jehus, and that is this, Satis est quod suffocat: and truely I do believe, that in that eternal and di∣vine Scripture, He with the rest of his followers which are so resolutely bent to trample down humane Learning, may meet with matter enough, not onely to satisfie and silence all such curious novations as those, which cast a scandal upon all such Ministers as will prefer Learning before unstable Doctrines, but also to choak and mortifie all confident, and overwise turn-coats. Such is the stupidity of this deplorable age, that if people were not blind, they might see Antichrist in colours, even in our own country; for do not we see these men that do pretend great and supernatural gifts, to preach nothing more then that which may set us all together by the ears: is any thing more rife in their expressions then the convenience of our dissentions, and upon this account they do much wrong that Scripture where it is said, That offences shall come. Is not their vain glory seen in this which they onely adhibite to themselves, as a token of their specialty, and singularity from the mixt multi∣tude in their private conventicles? Is not the major part of Mr. Feakes pray∣ing and preaching taken up in the encouragement of the hearers, to go first to the skirts and borders of Italy, which they say are the friends of the great whore; so that there may be none left to way-lay; or like the Banditi, to re∣sist Mr. Feake in his way to Rome; and above all this, is not this admirable and terrifying their Job-like patience, that men do not Apostles-like, leave all and do what they bid them do; But shall I tell my brethren according to the flesh, that as our proverbe is, Rome was not built in one day; so to this day amongst those forlorn Greeks that yet remaine, they have a Proverb, that Greece lost but one eye in one day; fair and softly is the wisemans steps. For my part let these men be so quick as they will or can, I do seriously believe that this present Pope Innocent the tenth, being a man of very old age, will be gathered to his Fathers, before Mr. Feake or any of his stout intenders shall arive at the sweet river Po; and therefore I do conceive that his rigid expressions are nothing, except unsound resolutions without Christian deliberation, Saint Paul sayes, Covet to prophesie, but forbid not to speak with tongues; it is thus in the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and this hold forth by it conjunction copulative, that the tongues are a great help unto prophesie, much less a disgrace, as they say, and do most commonly accompany each other, then the word Forbid I finde to signifie, not to impede, nor to cast durt in the faces of a Minister, because he is a good Scholar, so that he which is past or a∣bove our ancient writers, I fear he is past grace. I may truly think this, for when I see men strive to rent us in pieces by upbraiding our teachers, and

casting vile aspersions upon them, it is an ill signe of true brethren, else why can they not like the Apostles become all unto all men, that they might gaine the more; it makes me to cry with the Father, of an accursed toleration, but I hope that God will shew these men their folly, and what heavy judgements this their separation may produce. Oh, when shall we be one sheepfold, un∣der that onely great Shepherd Jesus Christ, even before the Lords bow is bent against us; and in my weak judgement, I do rather fear the Atheism of the heathens, then the Papism of Rome to overwhelm us, least God remove our Candlestick, because of our ingratitude, that although we possess the great means of salvation, yet we are murmurers, deceivers, & yet being deceived. And I will say thus much to those that are zealous in a good cause and in a sound Religion, I say let this keep up your spirits, and make you stick close unto the publike Ordinances; Because, first, This is no new thing to meet with false brethren. And secondly, because it is but for a moment that your tryal shall last: now although the primitive Christians endured above ten yeers persecution under the Emperors, yet it was but a little while in their esteem, which made the Father to cry out, Isthoc nobile vincendi genus patientia est; it must be with much patience that you shall possess your souls; and therefore have a care to your steps, alwayes bearing in your minds this remembrance of Asias former glory, and her present doleful estate, wherein she now remaines, as also what dreadful wars and famine were effected in the Low-countrys, only by the sedition of such like men as now rail against all Religion save thein own, which I am sure is much defiled.

FINIS.