Now let all Protestants, and professors of the reformed churches consider these things, and the apostle's labour, and these foolish Galatians, that went into these weak elements and rudiments that brought them into bondage, that had begun in the spirit, and thought to have been made perfect in the flesh; and therefore pray consider, you that set up these days, for people to observe.

And do not you say to your people in your steeple houses, 'Six days thou shalt labour, and do all that thou hast to do,' &c. And then do not you stand up in the same steeple houses, and bid your holy-days and mass days; and have your paritors, and other officers to trouble people for opening their shops on many of those days, which you have no command from God, nor Christ, nor his apostles, to keep or observe. But all you Protestants, consider, is not God, and Christ, and his truth and name more dishonoured and blasphemed upon your holy-days, as you call them, than any other day in the week, when all are let loose to sports and plays, and all manner of vain pastimes, as they call it, and drunkenness, looseness, lightness, wantonness, oaths and profaneness, out of the very bounds of sobriety, modesty, and christian moderation, which should be showed forth by all the true christians? And they that turned again to the weak elements and rudiments, whereunto they were brought into bondage, in their observing days, months, times, and years, this was not a christian gospel practice in the new covenant; but a gospel and christian testimony and judgment, against them that did do so. And the apostle saith, 'Stand fast therefore in your liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage,' as some of the Galatians were: also going back into the Jews circumcision, besides their observing of days, times, months, and years; and so it could not be the spirit of God that led into such things. For the apostle calls them fools, and saith, Who hath bewitched you, that ye begun in the spirit, and think to be made perfect in the flesh.' And therefore I desire you in the spirit of meekness, that you may reform, and be reformed out of these weak elements and rudiments, which brought people into bondage in the apostles' days; and therefore they must needs bring people into bondage now; for which you have no command from Christ, nor his apostles, but their testimony against them: and therefore I desire you may be reformed by the spirit of God into the primitive reformation, the apostles' testimony, practice, and judgment, and to stand fast in the liberty, where Christ makes free out of bondage, and not to force others to that which brings into bondage.

And ye know the great observation on May-day, a great deal of vanity and looseness is acted upon that day; and was not the ground of observing May-day, and the may-poles, from Flora, a strumpet at Rome? VOL. VI.

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Is not this a heathenish custom, and not fit to be practised amongst them that profess the gospel day of Christ, and his new covenant, and the true christians that are followers of Christ? And seeing you have no such command from Christ, nor his apostles, to follow any such vain custom and tradition, like your forefathers the heathen, but not the forefathers the apostles and the church of Christ in the primitive times.

And did ever the Jews in the old testament observe Adam and Eve's days, or Noah's day, who by faith built the ark, who was a just man, and perfect in his generation, and walked with God, or Enoch's day, who walked with God. Gen. v. 22. and vi. 9.

And did ever the Jews observe Abraham's day, or Isaac's, or Jacob's, or Moses', or Aaron's, or Joshua's, or any of the prophets of God's days? Though Abraham saw the day of Christ, and rejoiced, yet he did not say it was an outward day that he saw and observed, nor call it Christmas day, which you have from the pope, and not from Abraham, Christ, nor his apostles. As dark and as blind as the Jews were, yet we do not hear that they observed any of the days before mentioned, in the old testament. But Herod who observed his birth-day, and made a feast to his lords and high captains, &c. and when the daughter of Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod, that he said, he would give her whatsoever she would ask, and her mother counselled her to ask John Baptist's head, which was given her in a charger; and here are their fruits of their dancings, and their bloody feast, to slay the just, though we do not hear that Herod, nor any, either in the old or new testament, had any command either from God or Christ so to do. Neither have the christians from Christ or his apostles to observe their days, birth-days, or others: for the apostle said to the Galatians that were turned again to the weak elements and rudiments, whereunto they had been brought into bondage, who observed days, and months, and times, and years, they did not obey the truth in that, before whose eyes Jesus Christ had been evidently set forth, and crucified amongst them. And do not they crucify Christ among them now, that observe days, months, times, and years? And do not they persecute and spoil the goods of them that obey the truth, and imprison them that cannot observe their days, times, months, and years? Look over all Christendom, I pray, both Protestants and Papists, and see if that birth born of the flesh, hath not been persecuting that birth born of the spirit. Gal. iv. 29.

And where did ever Christ or the apostles command lent to be kept, and Shrove-Tuesday, and many more holy-days, as you call them, that might be mentioned? And is not there a great deal of rudeness and wickedness committed on that day you call Shrove-Tuesday, throughout

the land? And is it not time for you to reform from these heathenish and Popish customs, by the spirit of sobriety and modesty, and that your moderation may appear, that you are christians in nature and deed. And I pray be not offended with such true christians, as cannot in conscience observe such things. And had you not the names that you give unto most of your days and months, from the heathen and Papists, and not from the prophets, Christ, nor his apostles? And were not the old pagan Saxons in their idolatry, the first that brought in the names of the days after this manner, and these called christians have retained them to this day.

The first day of the week they worshipped the idol of the sun, from whence came Sunday. The second day of the week they worshipped the moon, from whence came Moonday, or Monday. The third day they worshipped the idol of the planets, which they called Tuisco, from whence came Tuesday. And from the idol Woden, came Wednesday. And from the idol Thor, came Thursday. And from the idol Friga, came Friday. And from the idol Seater, came Saturday. And the heathens called Mars the god of battle, and from thence they called the first month March. And Venus they called the goddess of love and beauty, and from thence they called the second month April. And Maia, a heathen goddess called Flora, Flora and Cloris were called the goddesses of flowers; and unto Maia the heathen idolators used to sacrifice; from thence was the third month called May. And upon the first day of the same month, they used to keep Floralia, feasts to the goddesses of the flowers, (viz.) Flora and Cloris. And Flora was a strumpet in Rome, that used on the first day of that month, to set up a may-pole before her door, to entice her lovers; from whence came may-poles to be first observed. And from the heathen goddess Juno, is the fourth month called June. And in honour to Julius Cæsar, a Roman emperor, is the fifth month called July. And the sixth month took its name August, in honour of Augustus Cæsar. And September, October, November, and December, are called from the Latines. And one Janus a king of Italy, was for his wisdom pictured with two faces, whom they honoured as a God; and from this name Janus, was the eleventh month called January. And Saturnus, Pluto, Februs, were called the gods of hell, whom the heathens said had the rule of the evil spirits there; and from Pluto or Febris, was the twelfth month called February.

And now, are not all these contrary to the holy scripture of truth, and the command of the Lord? Who saith, In all things that I have said unto you be circumspect, and make no mention of the names of other gods, neither let them be heard out of your mouths.' Exod. xxiii. 13. And further the Lord said, 'They shall overthrow their altars,

(namely, the heathens,) and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and you shall hew down their graven images of their gods, and destroy the name of them out of that place; these are the statutes and judgments which ye shall observe to do, in the land which the Lord God of thy fathers gives thee to possess all the days that ye live upon the earth.' Deut. xii. 1, 2, 3.

And there

And now consider, all you that profess christianity, both Papists and Protestants, do ye not make mention of the names of the heathen gods, and are they not heard out of your mouths, as before? Nay, are they not put in your Almanacs, that your very children may make mention of the heathen gods, and to be heard out of their mouths? Also is not this contrary to the law and command of God to the Jews? fore it should be below them, that profess the gospel in the new covenant, when the apostle saith, 'Every one that names the name of Jesus, let them depart from iniquity;' and the Jews were to teach their children, to observe and do the law of God in the old testament; much more should the christians teach their children virtue, and the law of love, life, and faith, in the new testament.

And we entreat you to consider, we have suffered many reproaches, and sometimes blows, and had many evil names given to us, and called us ill-bred clowns and unmannerly, to make us odious in the sight of men, because we would not give the title of rabbi, and master, to the priests; which is against the command of Christ, who said to his disciples, ministers, and teachers that he sent forth, 'Be ye not called of men rabbi, rabbi, or master, for one is your master even Christ, and ye are all brethren.' Matt. xxiii. 7, 8.

Now we do not read that either the twelve, or seventy disciples, did disobey the command of Christ. For where do you read in the new testament of those titles, Mr. Matthew, Mr. Mark, Mr. Luke, or Mr. John, or any other of the apostles? Or where do you read that any of the apostles, when they writ one to another, or the church to them, that they called one another masters? For James was far off from titling himself master. For James saith, My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.' So he calleth them brethren, (James i. 1.) and not masters. And Christ did not teach his ministers and disciples clownishness, and unmannerliness, when he said, Be ye not called of men masters, for one is your master, even Christ, and ye are all brethren.

And as for all your titles of bachelor of arts, master of arts, and your several sorts of garments, as surplices, lawn-sleeves, hoods, caps, girdles, &c. have you any example for these things from Christ and his apostles? Or a command from Christ and his apostles, for your practice in holding up these things, with your rails, altars, organs, and

crosses? Or had you them from the Papists, seeing that we find no command nor example in the new testament for them in the apostles' #days? And therefore, it is good to be reformed out of all the relics of heathenism and Popery, and come to the cross of Christ, the power of God, and the fine linen, the righteousness of Christ.

And we have had many hard thoughts upon us, and hard words also, because we cannot give the title of lord bishops, and call them gracious lords. And we never read in the scriptures, when the apostles wrote to the bishops and elders, and said to Timothy and Titus, which were bishops, that they gave them the titles of lords, or gracious lords. And Christ said unto his disciples, 'The Gentiles exercise lordship and authority over them, and are called gracious lords or benefactors; but ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.' Luke xxii. 25, 26.

And here you may see that Christ never set up the title of lord in his church, among his disciples, but he told them, he had appointed them a kingdom, &c. which was above the glory of the world, and their titles. And Peter writes to the elders, and exhorts them, who said, I am also an elder, &c. and bids the elders 'Feed the flock of God, which is among you, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but as being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd shall appear, you may receive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away.' 1 Pet. v. 1, 2, 3, 4.

Now here it may be seen that Peter who was an elder, he doth not call himself lord or master, nor them lords or masters. But they were to be examples to the flock, and to mind Christ their chief shepherd, and to receive the crown of glory of Christ when he should appear.

And the pope that saith he sits in Peter's chair, he is far off Peter's doctrine, who takes the title of lord, and he is not like to receive a crown of glory of Christ the chief shepherd, who hath got an outward worldly tripple crown upon his head already, of the glory of the world that will fade away; which we never read in the scriptures, that Peter had either called himself lord or master, or gave those titles to other elders, though he was an elder. But take away the filthy lucre from either the pope, bishops, and priests, and their titles of lords, &c. and you shall have but a few overseers. And therefore, we do entreat you that you call yourselves Protestants, to reform from all these titles which you have from the pope, and Papists, and not from Christ and his apostles.

And another thing the teachers and professors have taken offence against us, because we use the single language, thou to one, and you to many; which is according to their own teaching books, accidence, and