AN individual LETTER To every man that calls himself a Minister of JESUS CHRIST.  
Penned more particularly for Mr. Christopher Love, upon some Observations from his Sermon, preached Jan. 29. 1644. at Windsor, and repreached at Uxbridge, Jan. 30. 1644. upon Jer. 33.6. Whereby the Author doth examine and inquire, whether Master Love were ever called by God, and Jesus Christ, or directed by the Spirit of Truth to preach the said Sermon: Or ever sent forth by Jesus Christ to be his Minister. Being also for a Caveat or Memento to all others who call themselves Christ's Ministers, to examine whether ever they had a Mission or Commission from Jesus Christ so to do, they having embroiled the Land of our Nativity in an unnatural war formerly one with another, contrary to any command, precept, or practices of Christ and his Apostles, or word of Truth: By whose evil practices they have caused the Gospel of Truth and Peace to be evil spoken of, and have opened a torrent of Blood, which none but the Heavenly Physician can stop and cure; To whom the Author intreateth the People to look, and pray, and wait for help, for vain is the help of man.  Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save: neither is his care heavy, that he cannot hear, Isa. 59.1, 2, 3. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear, vers. 2. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity: your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue hath murmured iniquity, vers. 3. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Because thou hast refused Knowledge, I will also refuse thee, that thou shalt be no Priest to me: and seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children, Hos. 4.6.9. And there shall be like people, like Priest, for I will visit their ways upon them, and reward their deeds, vers. 9 God is our hope and strength, and help in troubles, ready to be found: He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the world, Psal. 46.1.9. He appeaseth the noise of the Seas, and the tumults of the People, Psal. 65. 7. Surely the rage of man shall turn to thy praise, the remnant of the rage shalt thou restrain, Pfal. 76. 10. For the Pastors are become beasts, and have not sought the Lord, therefore have they none understanding and all the Flocks of their Pastures are scattered, Jer. 10.21. 
Written by an English man, Christ's servant, for England's remembrance.  
London, Printed, Anno 1651 when the formal Presbytery received a wound, as the episcopal before, and Independency in time will follow, if they do the same works, and repent not.   

A Premonition to all that call themselves Christ's Ministers, and all that shall read herein P.N.B. Junior.  
Friends, however I have set upon this work, know that I do not do it out of envy to any of your persons, honour's preferments, or profits, or esteems which you have & enjoy by any of your ministerial employments by the state or people that accrue unto you thereby. Neither do I despise or triumph in my Honoured Christ: Love's misery, lying under a heavy answer, but desire to be a mourner with any of you therein really and sincerely: Neither would I have any to whose hand this shall come, to misconster me in my desires herein; but humbly entreat God who is the giver of all wisdom, and reproacheth no man Jam. 1.5. to reveal it to him who hath commaned me to write it, & is my witness how greatly I long for all your salvations, as my brethren English men, and for the glory of his great Name who is able to restore England, and every English man, and to guide our feet into his fear, to write his law in our inner parts, to unite us in love, to give us abundantly the truth as it is in Jesus; to settle us in peace and purity; to keep us in peace, and to preserve us to his own glorious presence, where we shall see even as we are seen which if we please him here always as his Son did, or so endeavour, or delight to do; for Christ saith, Joh. 8.29. For he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone, because I do always those things that please him. And what those things were, the word sets forth: which, when God shall send you forth as his Ministers, he will enable you and the Elders also (if there shall be need of you) as formerly his Apostles, & hold a Fatherly union with you, if you do always those things that please him: wherefore, as Paul saith, I Cor. 6.20. Let us learn, that no man presume above that which is written, that one swell not against another for any man's cause: for the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. For this is the Testament that God will make with us, if we be Israel's house: After those days faith the Lord, I will put my laws in their minds, and in their heart I will write them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his Brother, saying, know the Lord. For all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more, Heb. 8.10, 11, 12. This is new Testament; this is Gospll although it may not please men, this is not another gospel as Paul speaketh, Gal. 1.6, 7. Twice though the author's name be not to it: and this is not man's Doctrine, but Gods which I have received from God, and his word. Peace be with the Brethren, and love, with faith from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them which love the Lord Jesus Christ to their immortality. Amen. Ephes. 6.23, 24.   
James saith, Cap. 5.19, 20. verses. If any man have erred from the truth, and some one man hath converted him, Let him know he shall save a soul from death. 
I Write to you Master Love, and to every one that calleth himself Chists Minister, not out of Arrogancy, or vain Glory, but out of Conscience, and tender affection, to yourself and others, entreating you all in Christ's name, to be reconciled to him, and to read my lines, and to let me have your answer really as the truth is in Jesus. For I hope you have the spirit, and are one of Chists. It may be you believed better of the last Parliament of Lords, and Commons, the Lands physicians, as you call them, who are since cast out and thrown down, than they deserved, experience showeth it. Let us trust in the living God, these aretituler Gods. I have said you are God's, but you shall die like men. Mr Love I read in your book called England's Distemper, Page 38. Truth may be adulterated as well as peace, in that book you have delivered wholesome truths, but again you have set forth some errors which questions your Missions as Christ's Ministers, and favours much of man pleasing, and of Worldly wisdom, which is earthly, sensual and devilish. For though, I honour presbytery, it must keep to the word, closer in practice having the example of Christ and the Apostles, as well the Prophets, than English Presbitry hath done. It must be more Heavenly wise, more self denying, and less carnal, less politic, though as wise as Serpents, yet innocent as Doves. I would neither have them or any other say the Lord faith it, when it is only their own sayings and inventions, for (thereby is the Gospel evil spoken off) and there is not several gospels, and though a man pervert the gospel, yea were it an angel, I dare not hold him blessed in that as preaching man's Doctrine to please men; I cannot in that hold him Christ's Servant, as faithful Paul hath handled, and God by Christ and the spirit, the Comforter, and his Word hath taught me, for which I desire ever to be thankful.  
I read, David by the spirit of the Lord spoke, his word being in his tongue. The God of Israel spoke to me, the strength of Israel said, 2. Sam. 23, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. And these are called the last words, of David. As David's are called his last words having seen divers Temptations, and evils for the righteousness of them, so would I have yours for the truth. Again, though Paul through God's grace given him, laid a foundation, 1. cor. 3.10. But faith he, let every man take heed how he buildeth upon it, for there is no other foundation than Jesus Christ, and if any man build on this foundation, Gold, Silver, precious Stones, timber, hay, or stubble. Every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it, and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is, and every man shall receive his wages according to his labour, 1 Cor 3.8.10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. In the twenty eighth and twenty ninth page of your Uxbridge Sermon, you say, did they who made their footing to be Jure Devino, which we have rather found to be Jure Diabolico (the Bishops is there meant by you) think thus to be cast down before the People upon the Dunghill, and made vile and contemptible; Did they ever think to lie under so much disgrace (and others to be countenanced by the Nobles and Commons of the Land) when themselves are an abhorring to all flesh, and their names a reproach to all people, and are not these Dagons', Nobles, & Commons become so likewise, ut supra, though you sought then to please them. I fear Col. Von, once my Captain subtlety corrupted your young yaars. I entreat you and your Brethren to these ensuing, to answer without reservation or guile which concern the Gospel of God's glory so much, though it cross man's affection, or self-interests, yet as (God is truth) let every man speak truth unto his Neighbour, though the Ministry say they have Ordination & succession. Yet their lives, qualifications, or corruptions, or self-interests, gives the Gospel a Check or lie, they following the whorish world; for they ought nor to be men-pleasers, strikers, or fighters, or given to filthy Lucre, or Novices: neither crafty and deceitful dealers in their lives, and rhetorical speakings contrary to found and wholesome Doctrine; yea, the Apostle Paul faith, I think that God hath set forth us the last Apostles, as men appointed to Death; for we are made a gazing stock unto the World, and to the angels, and to men: we hunger, are naked, we have no certain dwelling place, are buffeted, reviled, evil spoken of, and yet we bless, and pray, and suffer persecution, and labour working with our own hands, 1 Cor. 4.9.11.12.13. The marginal notes, faith, He that will take right view, how like Paul and the Pope such are, who lyingly boasteth he is his Successor, let him compare the Delicates of the Popish Court, and St Paul's state, as we see it here (and how far was Christ's state short of this I pray you) who saith, the Servant is not greater than his master: and since the Pope is granted to be that Whore, and the Bishops their Successors with him to be none of the Apostles successors: And neither of them are Jure Devino, but rather Jure Diobolico, and as you observe, abhorred of all flesh, and a reproach to all people: And as amongst other things, for corrupt Ceremonies in service and Doctrine for preaching up Tyranny and that People must obey the King's lust in all, laying their necks to the block, and not defend themselves by force of arms in any case, your Uxbridg Sermon, Page 16, 17. Now since both these have lost ordination, and succession, by your own confessions, who upon earth I pray declare can give it. For lo they that withdraw themselves from thee shall perish, as the Psalmist saith. Thou destroyest all that go a-whoring from thee, Psal. 73.27. This (all grant) and yourself proved, who then hath I pray you, power to send out or ordain Ministers for Christ. Is it from Heaven or from men, as Christ asketh the Pharises of John's baptism, which hath brought me to the question asked by the Bishops when they ordained any for the Ministry. Viz.  
Bishop.  
Q. Do you think in your Heart, that you be truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Cstrist and the order of the Church of England. Minister answ. I think it; now did not he answer I think it, he could not be made a Minister.  
You say in the appeal with your Sermon, by way of Apology, Page 8. some say I intruded myself on the work, when divers can testify how earnestly Captain Hampton, the governor of the town did solicit me, with many others. Again page, 9 1. Objection, what ever your call was to preach, yet the matter was unseasonable, 2. Objection. Why did you not write this vindication sooner, these things by you are verbally answered, but your answer therein (is your shame, and others like you) for though you preached the said Sermon in Windsor Castle the day before; all this proves not your mission from Christ, or your brethren's, or your works to be spiritual, but carnal, or literal, or both: It is not others report hath corrupted your name, but the flies of your own practices, and Doctrine, and (almost all of you preached another Gospel.) You say in Page 14. of your book, Prisons are many times or oft times the greatest inlets to many divine speculations, or the Servants of God in a suffering condition, have ordinarily the most clear discoveries of the will of God, a worthy Doctrine consonant with the Scripture: but then as Peter saith, He that suffereth as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or as a busy body in other men's matters, 1 Pet. 4, 14.15.16. But if ye be railed on for the name of Christ, blessed are ye, for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you, which on their part is evil spoken of; but on your part is glorified. Note, whereas you say in your Sermon-Book, page 20. The Lord demands of the men of this generation, will ye have the gospel in power, & c? A reformation in purity? your Assemblies refined? your pollutions removed? and the Government of my Son established in the midst of you. Will you own my cause? fight my battles? avenge the wrongs & affronts which have been offered to my great name? will you jeopard your lives for my sake? will you cleave to my Parliament in truth and full purpose of heart? Certainly this is no Gospel Doctrine to provoke to blood, and that blood should touch blood, which is reproved by Hosea from the Lord, chap. 4 1, 2, 3. And for which our Land mourns, as is there declared Neither was it ever any of Christ's Doctrine, or any of the Apostles, as will plainly appear by God's book, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which faith also John 18, 36. Jesus answered Pilate, as oft times he had answered the learned Scribes and Pharisees, who feigned themselves just men Luke 20.20. In other cases: My kingdom is not of this world: If my kingdom were of this world than would my Servants fight. that I should not be delivered to the Jews: But now is my kingdom not from hence.  
I fear you, as many also of your Brethren, have impudently belied the Lord, as Hananiah did, Jer. 18.10, 11. and other false Prophets, when he contradicteth Jeremiah the true Prophet, which in the 15. and 16. verse, Jeremiah reproves again, saying, Then said the Prophet Jeremiah unto the Prophet Hananiah: hear now Hananiah, the Lord hath not sent thee, but thou makest this people te trust in a lie; therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will cast thee from off the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast spoken rebelliously against the Lord And in the 26. page of your rhetorical discourse, which seems to be pestilent witty, as many of your brethren's, contrary to Paul, 1 Cor. 2. I esteemed not to know any thing but Christ crucified. Neither flood my preaching in the enticing speech of man's wisdom, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God: And we speak wisdom among them that are perfect; Not the wisdom of this world, neither, of the Princes, of this world, which come to nought, 1 Cor. 2.2.4, 5, 6. Here is not a world of State-physitians and avengement, as in your 26. page, but giving God all power and glory, to avenge to whom it belongs. But lless, rejoice, love without dissimulation. Be of like affection one towards another: Be not high-minded: recompense no man evil for evil. If it be possible, as much as in you is, have peace with all men, Rom. 12.9.14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 Yet say you, much innocent blood hath been spilled, which must be avenged on us, or by us. Is this not another gospel than Paul taught? who saith, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but give place unto wrath: For it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. I desire you, if you have time in this life, other wise any that call themselves Ministers in any place of England, to answer these things faithfully herein mentioned, that God may receive glory thereby, the people edification, and your souls the comfort, which is the humble and hearty desire of  
From my house of shelter through God's mercy under my Father, near Sepulchers Church, London, so called, July 7. 1651. Nath: Burt, Junior, a sinner, yet hopes he is Christ's servant.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
COnsidering of how great concernment these things herein propounded are, and of the affliction Mr. Love lies under, I was much prossed within me to print this same before the sending of it; that if Mr. Love's conveniency should not afford him to answer it, yet that some other Ministers (as they call themselves) might answer that great concerned thing or question, how they came by the call from Jesus Christ to preach: seeing such are commanded to teach the people to observe all things whatsoever Christ commanded them, Mat. 28.20. And that Christ & his Apostles never commanded war & avengement: and these do, and say, they are Christ's Ministers.  
If ye bite and devour one another, take heed lest ye be consumed one of another. For all the Law is fulfilled in one word which is this, thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyself. Gala. 5.14.15.  
From whence are wars and Contentions among you, are they not hence? even of your pleasures that fight in you members, James 4.1.  
For where envying and strife is, there is sedition, and all manner of evil 〈…〉  
FINIS