The Mad Mans Plea

To the Lord's Fools and Mad Folks.

I Speak not now of man's fools or mad men, who are in their wits, and wise to do evil, who are neither Christian nor civil, love not truth nor peace, nor Saint, nor State; these I leave to the mercy of God, and Justice of men.

Neither speak I of civil matters, but of Mysteries: for as God is a Mystery, so man is a Mystery also; the number of the Beast being the number of a man, Rev. 10.7. Rev. 13.18. And as Hagar, and Ishmael, with Sarah and Isaac were Allegories, though such persons were, Gal. 4.24. so Paul and Apollo were presented in a figure 1 Cor. 4.6. as in the Captains person, the Church is pointed at which lies with the whore, in my third Argument hereafter mentioned, Rev. 17.2.

But because I would first comfort the Lord's fools and mad folks, let me tell the wise, That fools are the wisest men, and mad men the most sober minded (as babes are the highest men) with God, Mat. 11.25. 1 Cor. 3.18. 2 Cor. 5.13.

Ye suffer fools gladly, saith Paul, such a one was he to the Church for Christ his sake, 1 Cor. 4.10. 2 Cor. 11.19.

And not only Paul, but Christ was counted mad, and besides himself, by his own friends, or kinsmen, and by the Church of the Jews, Mark 3.21. the reason is, the wisdom of God is foolishness with men, 1 Cor. 1.18. Act. 26.25.

How Christ being the wisdom of God and power of God should appear to men as a fool and a madman, is the Mystery of God manifest in flesh, crucified through weakness, yet justified in spirit, 1 Tim. 3.16. 2 Cor. 13.4. That is, God the eternal spirit took flesh into union with himself, that he might crucify flesh to himself, and make the man appear as weak as a worm, a worm and no man, that God might be All in All, and that nothing might be said to be in the man, but God, God manifest in flesh. Psal. 22.6. Joh. 8, 28. Joh. 14.10. 2 Cor. 13.4.

This is a Mystery that fleshly and natural men understand not, therefore 'tis foolishness to them, who see not the spirit in man, but when flesh is in strength, wise, and sober: but as the foolishness of God is wiser then men, and the wisdom of men foolishness with God; so 'tis no wonder that the prophet of old was called a mad fellow by the King: and he that departeth from iniquity now, maketh himself a prey, or is counted mad, as 'tis in the margin, Isa. 59.15. 1 King. 9.11.

But if we be besides ourselves, it is to God, and if we be sober 'tis for your cause, 2 Cor. 5.13. Mark, when Paul ascended to the Mystery of God, he was as a man besides himself; but when he was sober, 'twas only to condescend to their capacity, in carnal things, in outward order, ordinances, duties, and commands; no higher were the Churches then carried, though some Saints were spiritual and in things above.

But the Church (though once a spouse) is now become a harlot joining with man and with many, yea, the great whore whose flesh must be eaten, tormented, and burnt with fire: men therefore now must be sober to God, but stark mad with the Church, in plaguing, vexing, and destroying all her delicacies, Rev. 18.6, 7.

Therefore 'tis come to pass, as 'twas with the Church of Israel, The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come, Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, and the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity and the great hatred, Hos. 9.7. that is, God being come to visit the Churches and recompense them for their iniquity, for their great hatred (of his glorious appearance and people) makes the prophets fools, and spiritual men mad, to harden the Churches the more. For so it follows, verse. 8. the watchman of Ephraim is with my God (that's said of the spiritual man who waits on God only) but the prophet is the snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God; that is as the prophet is hatred in the Church; so all his words and ways are snares to catch them; for they have deeply corrupted themselves &c. so that all men may see and know them, verse. 9.

Well, the Prophet then is a fool, and the spiritual man is mad. Truly (friends) I am neither prophet, nor spiritual man, but have the folly and madness of both: 'tis God has made me so for the Churches sake. For if God makes natural innocents, why not spiritual fools? and mad men too? And if God had not made me a fool, surely I should never have made the Ministers mad.

That which I spake of Captain Chillingtons Church or Horseguard, was my folly and madness: but as the foolishness of God is wiser then man, so I cannot but observe the wisdom of God in bringing forth my words at such a time, (a strange providence) when there was such a tumult and confusion in the Captains Church, which truly I never heard of, till I had ended my public afternoons discourse; which was far more peaceable; as also our dispute with the Ministers the week before; though Politicus be pleased to present it to the world with manifest lies, as of a mutiny, and tearing women's Kerchiefs in the place, which is most false, as hundreds can witness. Therefore if Pragmaticus be turned Politicus, that's in plain English a turn-coat, or a man of the times; let him now as a Christian confess his mistake in the next weekly Mercury, else truly, I will toss him in a Blanket (with the Ministers) in a sheet of paper; then blow him away as dust into the four winds: for the present powers are resolved, that their Ministers shall tell no more lies to the Nation. Politicus says that the Dispute had like to have thrown down the church with the ministers; that's false again, & not so true as that the Captains Church might have confounded City and Army; but blessed be God who hath preserved both from fools and flatterers. Indeed folly and madness appeared to men in my proving the Captains Church not to be of Christ, in these following reasons.

First, His Church being not according to the order of the Gospel, because made of a Horse-guard in Paul's.

Secondly, Because Faith is not there, for you all know Faith 's Church to be under Paul's.

Thirdly, There's no repentance appearing in that Church; for the English prelates had their penance, the Scots Presbytery a Stool of Repentance, but in Captain Chillingtons Church there's neither Penance nor stool of Repentance for men who lie with their maids.

Fourthly, There's no salvation or safety there to be found, for two men (as they say) building there on high, fell down, and were like to break their necks.

Truly as Elijah jeered at Baals priests; so though I am sad and serious at other times, yet now I could not but jest out these Arguments, because they would not answer mine in earnest. For in sober sadness, I proved in my Call to the Churches, that the baptized Churches have no Gospel-faith at all, Joh. 7.39. for as there is faith in Christ, and faith on Christ; so there is the Faith of Christ, the Faith of the Son of God, which was not on promises (as legal, and as our Gospel-believers) but only on the Father, who was all in all in him, acting all his works, and suggesting or prompting every word that he spake: so do not the Baptized Churches believe, Joh. 5.19.30. Joh. 8.28. Joh. 14 10.

Again, as there is faith in dependence, and the Faith of evidence; so the Faith of operation, or the work of faith with power, when the power of God that was on Christ, appears in the Church; this the baptized Churches cannot show, Joh. 14.12. For as there was the gift of Faith proper to the Church, (how else could the Elders of the Church heal the sick? &c. 1 Cor. 12.9. Jam. 5.14.) so there was the grace of Faith common to the Saints, called the Mystery of Faith in a pure conscience, which the baptized Churches know not, 1 Tim. 3.9.

Secondly, There's no repentance appearing in their Churches, for as their prayers are called howlings (on their bed of ease and fullness, Amos 6.1, 4, 6. verses) so they assemble themselves for corn and wine, &c. that is, for worldly ends the most of them meet, Hos. 7.14. yea, all of them return, but not to the most high, verse. 16. this shows, there may be a repentance, but not to God, for every repentance for sin is not to God; yea, there may be a repentance to God, but not to the most high. I scorn to speak of those who from Independents turn to be Anabaptists; there are some more spiritual and sincere Saints in Baptized Churches, who return, but not to the most high, they are content to lie below in the waters, not to ascend to the fire and spirit of burning that was, and must be again, Isa. 4.4. they return, but not to the most high, to the highest discoveries of God, to the height of Zion Jer. 31.12. but sit down in their formal doctrines and dippings, whereas Paul was ever returning and repenting (that is) forgetting what is behind, he was reaching forth to the price of the most high calling of God in Christ, that is, to attain to the resurrection of the dead, Phil. 3.11, 12. For as the resurrection is, when God shall be All in All, 1 Cor. 15.28. so the Churches of Christ (living only in death, in the dying of the Lord Jesus, baptized into death, and showing forth his death till he come ) were always repenting, or returning (not from sin only, but) to the most high, to higher discoveries of God daily, growing up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord; but when the resurrection comes and the Saints come to the most high; then there's no more returning, repentance is hid from mine eyes, Hos. 13.14.

Thirdly, I said there was no salvation in baptized Churches; that which I spake in jest, they may see in earnest very shortly: 'tis not salvation hereafter which I mean, for so some Protestants hold that honest Papists may be saved as well as we; but to be saved from Babylon's plagues ( death, mourning, famine, and fire, Rev. 18.8.) to be saved from that fire, from Babylon's fall, and from those fearful pangs prophesied of Ier. 30.6, 7. Yea from that fire and brimstone in which all shall burn who worship the beast or his image, &c. Rev. 14.9. let the baptized Churches look to it, that there be not much of man, of the wisdom of man, and power of man (that's the Beast) in their ways: and so that their worship have not the Image of the beast, when the wisdom of God and power of God appears not in their dipping, Rev. 13.18.

Truly, I spake not then, nor now, of the Captains Church in private revenge, but in that public spirit of vengeance, that is in ten thousand of Saints (though they speak not) against carnal Churches, and against ungodly ones, who separate themselves, not having the spirit, Jud. 19. for is it not ridiculous to build Churches now, when heaven and earth are shaking, Joel 3.16? yea in the day of the great slaughter when the towers fall, Isa. 30.25? for if the day of the Lord be against every high tower, Isa. 2.25. the Towers fall will be on the Churches, as the Kingly power fell on the Prelates, the Parliamentary Tower fell on the Presbyters, and though the Independant and baptized Churches build a Babel Tower to heaven, 'twill fall upon their heads at last.

2. Is it not ridiculous for Anabaptists to build a Church at Paul's (in the highest place of the City) when Paul never owned a Church of Anabaptists or dippers?

3. Is it not ridiculous that they cannot see old Paul's in a new coat of Free stone, as a visible monument of the folly and madness of Bishops?

4. Is it not ridiculous that the Anab aptist Church should expend so much on sticks and seats in a Horse-guard, when living stones and members of Christ want the money?

5. How far is this Horse-guard from the order of Gospel-Churches, who never made a meeting place for themselves, to preach and pray in, but went forth to the world, to the Temple or Synagogues to preach, and to pray in their own houses.

6. Answer, ye Anabaptists, Was ever water-baptism in a Gospelway without the baptism of fire before? Did ever any baptize who was not first baptized with the spirit himself? was not the way of baptism by washing the seat, or going down to the waters up to the anckles, and not by dipping?

Again, how are you buried with Christ by baptism, when Christ's burial was not his going into the earth, and rising suddenly as you do out of the waters, but his burial must be three days and three nights, which is a Mystery you know not: let the Anabaptists lie so long in the waters, then I will say they are dipt indeed.

Lastly, let the world judge if the modesty of Gospel-Churches would suffer so many naked women to be dipt with men? and whether such modest garments as your Confession mention for the the administrator, and for baptized persons to wear, be according to Scripture or sense? seeing all Judea came forth to be baptized of John; and three thousand, yea, five thousand in a day baptized by the Apostles, how could so many be dipt in a day or in an afternoon? (for Peters Sermon lasted all the morning, and more) and where could so many modest garments be had in a moment? surely all the Tailors and Semsters in Jerusalem could scarce make so many in a month.

But to return to the bufiness of the Church or Horse-guard at Paul's, made it seems to preach and pray in, and to break bread together. Did ever Christ or his Apostles pray in public with their preachings? were not prayers as private and proper to the Church, as fellowship and breaking of bread? Act. 2.42. Did not Peter and John go up to the Temple to preach, but to their own company to pray? Act. 4.23. therefore the whole Church that was praying for Peter, met in Mary's house, where many were gathered together, Act. 12.5, 12. yea, when there was three thousand, afterward five thousand in the Church, the Church met to pray, and break bread only in private, from house to house, or at home, as the margin reads, Act. 2.46. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Neither was it fear of persecution (or want of liberty of conscience) that made them to pray in private; for they were not afraid to preach in public, in the Temple, and Synagogues,

Therefore though men may say, that my reasons before were but ridiculous, it was because their religion is so, and God will make it a derision to all, because by their carnal ordinances and dippings, they not only captivate the spirits of the Saints among them, but crucify Christ also, and keep under that spirit of glory which is breaking forth in the Saints of the most high, in whom the Lord sits; and as he that sits in heaven laughs them to scorn; yea, the Lord shall have them in derision, Psal. 2.4. so he shall laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh, Prov. 1.26. For they return, but not to the most high, they are as a deceitful bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of their tongue, this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt, Hos. 7.16.

This land (though the house of bondage) shall one day break forth into singing; and smile at those empty forms of Religion, when the power of righteousness appears, and all their oppressors perish, Psal. 72.4, 7, 11. verses.

No such oppressor as he who embondageth the spirit of liberty, even the spirit of the Lord Jesus, who is for the salvation of men, and not for the destruction of any, but of him who is the destroyer, Rev. 11.18. Luke 9.56.

Therefore 'tis said he will laugh at their calamity, &c. for the Churches fall will be like Babylon's, with great joy in Heaven, Rev. 18.20.

Babylon's last fall will be in the fall of these last Churches, who shall be thrown down not by man (as former Churches have been) but by the hand of an Angel, that is, by the mighty appearance of God in his people, Rev. 18. Neither is it by controversy (as before) nor by disputes (as now) but by derision and scorn, they shall all sink as a stone in the sea, or like a great millstone in mighty waters, Exod. 15.5. Jer. 51.63. Rev. 18.21. compared.

Therefore, Go ye forth of Babylon, flee from the land of the Chaldeans with a voice of singing, declare ye, tell this, utter it, even to the end of the earth, say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob, Isa. 48.20. The Lord's servant is the man who waits on God, and for God only; these (though captives now) shall be redeemed from forms and flesh, and sing at the fall of both.

Lastly, If madness be in the heart of every man, Eccles, 9.3. then this is the Island of great Bedlam, and (as a great man of the Sea said, when he heard of the Parliament dissolved) Come, let's all be mad together.

Truly there's a cup of trembling coming for all the Nations to drink, and for this first, for Judah and Jerusalem, Jer. 25.17, 18. and if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Ye shall certainly drink, verse. 28. drink and be moved, and be mad because of the sword I shall send among them, verse. 16. As the sword is the spirit of burning, and Baptism of fire: so the cup is that golden cup of abominations in the hand of the whore, who is gorgeously arrayed with precious stones, and Saints with glorious Ordinances. O this is the golden cup full of filthiness and fornications of the whore, whose flesh or forms of doctrine and worship as it must be burnt with fire: so the Churches, especially those Baptized ones are the woman that sits on many waters, Rev. 17.1, 2, 3, 4.

But where's the Sober Defense of Captain Chillingtons Church?

I answer, first, 'Twas well defended by soldiers. Again, there's now a Sober Defense of Citizens or Holderds.

Secondly, The destruction that is coming on the Church from God, is their Defense by man, for man is sure to defend what God will stroy.

Thirdly, the purest Saints and Primitive Churches sought no Defense but God, though man would destroy them.

Lastly, the Church coming out of Babylon, would not have a guard of Horse to defend them, as the Captains Church or horseguard had, Ezra 8.22. I was ashamed to require of the King a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the King, saying, The hand of our God is upon all for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.