unrighteousness and taking them and such have the letter in their mouths but knows not the Word of God which who comes to know it restrains them from all such practises Again I. S. from his blindness and root of Errour and lying heart wherein dwells no truth but much confusion saith that the letter i. e. the Scriptures is the true ground of the believers Faith and again in the same page saith That Christ in the Scriptures is the true Ground of Faith And to prove the former he brings Prov. 22. 19. 20 21. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee have not I written to thee excellent things in Counsels and Knowledge that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee Answ. By this Scripture the Lord is made the ground of Faith and not the Letter And therefore did the Prophet make known excellent things in writing in counsel and knowledge and for this end did the Apostles both preach and write that the Faith of those which heard them and read their writtings might not stand in the wisdom of words nor in the letter as its ground but in Christ the Power of God and Christ who preached the true doctrine that in it every one might believe said to the World and to the pharisees While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the Children of light and these had the letter but did not believe in the light which light is Christ and which light is the foundation of Faith and is the foundation of many generations in which many did believe before this letter which declares of it was written And that Faith which stands in the light and in the power of God is the ground of the Scripture letter from whence it did proceed after they believed they spoke and wrote that which is now declared in Chapters And every one which come to the true ground of Faith must come to the light to believe in it that they may be the Children of it and then the Scriptures will be profitable unto them they with the light having the understanding opened to see for what end they were given forth and how they come to be fulfilled and witnessed in that which gave them forth for the ground of Faith to believers is but one both before and since the Scriptures was written which is Christ in whom whosoever believeth shall be saved let Christ be in what he will for he was the ground of Faith when the letter was not and he is the ground of Faith when it is and no other foundation for Faith can any man lay than that which is laid Jesus Christ who is the true light and enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world that all men in him might believe and they that believe not that he is so shall die in their sins as Christ saith Joh. 8. 24. But John Stelham going on in his own devised Fables would pervert the words of truth both in our writings and in the Apostles as it is manifest in his writing of this reviling Rebuke concerning R. F. and I. N. E. B. and F. H. and others which whosoever read their words and his they may discern truth from devised fables without much Reply unto it as in some places he is mingling his own words with theirs joyning a lye to the truth that he may contradict it as false as every one that reads with understanding will see which when they have spoken plain truths which he himself hath often in his Book confessed unto to be truth will afterwards give his meanings to their words as he hath done unto the Apostles words saying If they mean thus c. then he goes about to contradict his own meaning and when he hath contradicted his own meaning then he saith he hath contradicted their words though he have before confessed the truth of their words so he hath not contradicted the words as they were spoken but because they spoke not his meaning with the words therefore the true words must be false in his judgement and bear his rebuke as his Book doth make manifest and adding his lye to the words of truth these two things are his greatest proofs to resist the truth in page 77. he hath mingled his own words with the words of R. F. in which page he acknowledgeth a former addition and yet reneweth another R. F. having been speaking of the light which enlighteneth every man which cometh into the world he adds which where it is and it is in every man it reneweth the judgment c he here adding his own and then rebuking it would make people believe lyes that all might be damned who believe not the truth But on the contrary for we never have said that every mans judgement is renewed with the light though they be enlightened for they are enlightened who hate it and who are void of true judgement because they hate the light which they be enlightened withal And also the Apostles words he perverts and gives meanings unto which if he did not they would be a plain testimony with that which he hath set himself to oppose so giving meanings both to their words and our words his meanings must be the ground of his Believers Faith and not the Scriptures as he said before The Apostle Peter speaking of a more sure Word of Prophesie wherein they did well to take heed as unto a light that shined in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. Knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved of the holy Ghost to this I. S. adds not heart-prophesie no breast-prophesie but written down in Books c. which is contrary to the Apostles words for he doth not exclude heart-prophesie for there was never any prophesie but did proceed out of the heart before it was written in any Book And the Apostle saith Until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts and that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost and that which moved them to speak Prophesies was in their hearts and the Apostle did not bid them wait till the day-star did arise in the Scriptures but till it did arise in their hearts and then he told them how the Prophesies of the Scriptures came Peter saying Until the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts I. S. saith That is until by the study of the Scriptures more light be cleared up c. Now let all them of understanding read and compare his words and the Apostles and they may well conclude with his confession that he hath an old lying heart and flesh in
THE REBUKES OF A REVILER Fallen upon his own head In an Answer to a BOOK put forth by one Iohn Stelham called a Minister at Terlin in Essex Wherein is shewed unto all Spiritual men that he himself is justly proved to be a Contradictor of the Scriptures while he falsly accuses others thereof that are clear and the saying is fulfilled upon him he is fallen into the Pit which he digged for others for even that way which he calls Heresie do we Worship the God of our Fathers By R. H. London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1657. THE REBUKES OF A Reviler Fallen upon his own Head In an Answer to a Book put forth by one John Stelham called a Minister at Terling in Essex VVHereas the antient of dayes hath appeared and the Lord God of Israel and of his holy Seed for ever hath in these our dayes being his own appointed time stretched forth his hand to gather in his Remnant which hath been scattered and starved upon the barren Mountains and he hath made known his arm and power in raising up his righteous branch and in bringing out of Captivity his own Chosen that his own Name may be exalted for evermore and his marvelous light hath he caused to shine forth unto many that have sit in darkness and he hath cryed behold me behold me unto a people that hath not been called by his name yea from this time it shall be said What hath God wrought and who is like unto them that are saved by the Lord a happy people and blessed are they whom he hath chosen for his own Inheritance they dwell in their tents and none can make them afraid for there is no Inchantment against Israel nor no Divination against the Seed of Jacob he that curses them it shall return upon his own head and he that defies them shall surely be confounded in a day for God hath spoken and it shall surely come to pass he hath said and it shall not be revoked They that wait upon him shall never be ashamed but his presence shall go before them and his righteousness shall be their reward Therefore O ye Mountains and Hills wherefore are ye gathered together ye high and lofty Oaks and rebellious Children to what purpose have you set your selves as in Array for Bâ—tâ—â—l against the Lord and against his Anointed in vain have you sought Divination against Israel and to no purpose have you risen up to resist Mount Sion whom the Lord is establishing and exalting above the Dominions of the earth and though many have set themselves and of the wisest too in our age to gainsay the truth which is revealed by subtil Arguments and have travelled in pain to bring forth misty vapors to blind the eye of the simple and have laid and sought so to do stumbling blocks of iniqâ—ity before the people by multitude of crafty productions and lying arguments Wo unto you wise Writers and Scribes you have taken away the Key of Knowledge and have neither entred the Kingdom nor suffered others to enter that would what will be your doom and what will be your judgment O the heavie hand of the Lord will be upon you you damnation sleeps not a moment And whereas John Stelham one oâ—Gogs Army against the Lamb and his followers a falsly supposed and contrarily called and unjustly named Minister of the Gospel hath out of his corrupt wicked old lying heart which he confesseth he hath brought forth a large Piece out of Babylons treasure of falsly collected and falsly framed Arguments whereby he hath sought to offend the way of the Lord but the rather hath burthened his own Soul by his own wickedness and offended himself and made himself unworthy of life eternal and is reckoned in the sight of the Lord and proved in the sight of man to be indeed sinful John Stelham yea he is numbred and truly too among Babylons Children and the Lyars and Hypocrites whose portion is in the lake and not among the Children of the Lord for them he hath set himself to oppose and by his subtilty secretly sought out Inchâ—ntments and endeavouring to curse whom God hath blessed he is accounted among the uncircumcised and shall not die the death of the Righteous neither shall his last end be like unto his except he repent yea God hath kept him back from honour and to shame and disgrace he is already promoted in the sight of all the Saints and all his work is troden down as a branch of a dead tree to be cast into the fire and what though he have travelled full 10 Months or more yet his birth is imperfect and the fruit of an Egyptian Womb which hath obtained neither praise of God nor favour of man and what though his Arguments be many and subtil through the strength of his devilish wisdom whereby he hath descended into the darkness to fetch up his stuffe and invented in his mind and framed in his evil thoughts which hath filled his Volums by his envious pen and what though he hath taken seeming occasion against us by his industry and bent his tongue to utter it as feinedly and zealously as may blind the siâ—gle eye and in as great hypocrisie and pretended Righteousness as possibly may What then of all these things let him take this for an Answer in full to all his many Arguments and to his whole Work and whatsoever is brought forth or may be yet lodging in his sinful heart ever to declare We are of God his Covenant is with us and the whole World lyes in wickedness and he that is of God heareth us and this is enough Reply to all what he hath or can say further against us and this Testimony the Father gives of us who hath chosen us in him before the world was and let him and all our adversaries know That our Religion is in that which keeps unspotted of the world and our acceptance with God is in him who is the light of the world who exerciseth our Consciences in all good things towards God and towards man and though we answer not yet are we no worse and though we answer yet are we no better praise of men approves us not to God nor dispraise of men makes us not sorrowful But our peace is in the Father whether the world do us love or hate or praise us or dispraise And first of all like unto Rehum and Shimshai and their companions he appears with his Dedication much like unto theirs from the same spirit and unto the same end as may be seen Ezra 4. 9 11 12 c. and in the manner of Amaziah Priest of Bethel unto Jeroboam the King with a Message much of that nature as in Amos. 7. 10 11 c. and this man with his feigned flattering titles appears to the chief in Authority for Approbation of his work that men may accept it the more but that 's little worth if God accept
one with him are not from being guarded with a Popish Law and these are truly Romes Subjects who are guarded with his Law more than we are Romes Emissaries which secretly he would cast upon us and make the Protector and his Council believe it if their hearts be so hardened But better is thought upon concerning them though I. S. would make them evil suggesting evil into their hearts But a false Prophet is known by his Lyes and Slanders and secret smiting and then he saith He would have some of this Sect * more narrowly watched c. and stigmatized Oh cruelty out of the abundance of the heart his mouth utters like a Pot boyling with anger that cannot contain it within the mouth what lodges in the heart of this man consider what less then in their hearts who were Qâ—een Maries Jesuits and Priests if the Protector and Council would answer the cruel intent of his mind as Queen Mary did theirs Balaam or worse he is for he hath sought inchantment and would curse before they sent for him to do so but it shall return on his own head who is watched against for a Wolf and Devourer and stigmatzed for a Deceiver and false Deviner one who art marked for a false Prophet and known to be so by every one who is taught of God and in the end of all this secretly uttered wickedness and cruelty insinuatingly expressed to suggest evil into the minds of men more honest than himself he wishes for Blessing upon his Highness and Honours that they may discern true Spirits from false such who proceed out of the mouth of the false Prophet from such as proceeds from the Father and from the Son indeed of such a gift of discerning they have need and by the fruits they may try every Spirit and in a just tryal by just judgement are thou tryed and thy spirit is made manifest to be the spirit which proceeds out of the mouth of the Dâ—agon who wars against the Saints and out of the mouth of the Bâ—ast who hath many Heads and many Horns which Beast arose up in the Apostacy since the Apostles dayes and thy Spirit is made manifest to be that spirit of the false Prophet who deceive the Nations for thy fruits doth discover thee a lyar aslanderer a perverter of the right way of God art thou proved and such things proceeds out of the mouth of the false Pro and so let them beware of thy Spirit who art not guided by the Spirit of Christ Jesus nor of the Father but a worker of darkness and a reviler of the light of Cstrist calling it false Prophet-like as being led with the Spirit of the Dragon and of the Beast Perverse Principle We have measured thy spirit to be as I have said and he that speaks otherwise speaks a lye and if the Protector and his Council believe otherwise they believe a lye and cannot obtain a blessing though thou with thy lying Spirit pray for them whom God the Father of blessings hears not but is against thee and this is my prayer The Lord rebuke thee and thy wicked tongue and give the Protector and his Council a better understanding than to believe thee else will the Lord make them cursed to themselves and to the Nations of them my heart hopes better things and this might serve for a full Answer to thy whole Book and by this little of thy work that I have viewed turned nto the sight of all art thou discovered to be an enemy to God and a secret envier of his people and by what thou hast said it appears what the rest of the whole matter can be an evil spirit cannot bring forth good works but yet a little further is thy matter unvayled for the sake of the upright And further I. S. after his wicked Presentation to the Rulers of this Nation with lyes and evil Speeches proceeding out of his old heart he writes an Epistle out of the same heart to the Church as he calls them wherein is many words uttered but altogether tasted with that leaven of his malice against Quakers and Quakerism who seems to be the greatest burthen upon his evil heart because truth is among them and if truth go on his deceit will be more made manifest wither and perish and so as subtilly as may be he would defend himself in the sight of his Church that his shame may not appear before them it may be lest his Hire should be abated and he seems to cast a cloak upon them but whether out of pure love to their Souls or for his own Gain and such a sum of Money God knowes however the least Child in the truth dwelling in the light sees his length and can measure his state and knows that good cannot come from an old lying heart and he speaks something of wondring after the beast and false Prophet but hath not described what the Beast is and the false Prophet And I refer the Reader to a Book called The Measure of the Times wherein the Priests of England such as I. S. is reproved according to the Scripture to be the very branches of the same Root of false Prophets which all the World wondered after in Johns time and though he speak much to his Church of Christ without and of his birth blood and his righteousness and justification thereby c. but to all that I say All are Reprobates but such in whom Christ is within them and none are justified but such nor hath any part in the inheritance of God though they may profess never so much of Christ without and what he hath done for others yet except he be within them too to change and renew them and give them power over all their sins their profession of him is vain I am no picker of Quarrels else many of his words might be searched which I run over hastily knowing his voice to be the voice of a stranger and not of Christ who never made use of an old sinful heart to pen Epistles to Churches But into this lets search he saith Christ blessed Infants-Baptism Where or when I ask proof of this and till then I say I. S. hath belyed Christ and the generation of the just Well may he belye us when he hath belyed Christ who could not bless that which there was not there was no Infants Baptism that ever we read of in his dayes sure people will be more wise than to be established through Lyes else their sin be upon them if through hardness of heart they be given up to believe Lyes that they may perish He speaks of a well ordered Conversation Indeed this seems Hypocrisie to exhort others their Churches to that which many of the Independen Teachers have not themselves who are Hirelings and takes Gifts and Rewards for Preaching and is in the way of all the Deceivers of old and they that do these things have not a well ordered Conversation but a Conversing with the
generation of ungodly and when we read the plain words of Christ Luke 17. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you he saith we madly wrest the reading of the words when we neither â—dd nor diminish now he seems to say It is the Kingdom of heaven among you and not the kingdom of heaven within you and so blames the Scripture and confounds the doctrine of many of the Independents who say the Scriptures is believers Rule but he seems to charge the Scripture with false translation and therefore is subject to alteration and so cannot be the rule of Believers according to his own account and thus by wicked men are we blamed when we do not speak according to Scripture language and now as wickedly charged by I. S. for speaking just in the Scripture expressions with madly wresting the words but thus it was before and whatsoever we do now by our enemies must be reviled and our words abused contrary to our innocent intents Then in the end of his Epistle he desires the Prayers of his Church that his Reply may be accompanied with power according to the truth of it Indeed so it shall and no more according to the truth of it which is very fâ—lshoods and deceits so shall the power of the Lord confound it and turn it into folly and confusion as may be seen by a sober man who this following doth with patience read and weigh Then many things is uttered by him in his Epistle to the Reader he seems to shew he saith how R. F. and his Associates have made up A Litter and Fardel of Erronious Divinity and secretly charging us with making up of what we profess from some Writers before us But to this I Answer His reproachful words Litter and Fardel and Erronious we bear with patience rather rejoycing that we are accounted worthy of the reproach for the truths sake from an envious man than to be angry with our reproaches But however let him and all our enemies know what we profess and bear witness of we receive not from man but from God even the Gospel which we testifie of by the revelation of Jesus Christ in us we received it and informs others to the same door which is by our Ministry that they may receive the same and this is but his poor shift to undervalue the power and truth of Jesus in the sight of men who would falsly make men believe That our Doctrines are but the spawn of many ancient Errors as he saith brooded by some Moderne Writers when as the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles we bear witness to by the same Spirit and not to any other Authors who were without the Spirit of Jesus and all these shifts â—aves not the Priests of England from being discovered and their deceits and abominations to be made manifest by our Light and Doctrine which is the Light of Christ and the Doctrine of the holy men of God before us And further his wickedness appears by reproaching and reviling dead men such as H. N. Jacob B. W. E. with others whom I confidently believe were men in their Generation more honest than himself and more upright with God and sincere in what was made known to them than this same reviler who is set to revile both living and dead if they do but cross his fancy Let all men take notice of these things and of his rebukes with an evil heart whom the Lord doth and will rebuke by the Spirit of his mouth in the day of his just judgements who art a reviler of the just both living and dead and all along in that Epistle as in the rest of his Book which is the Rebukes of a Reviler he bends his very tongue as the poyson of Asps being under it against the Quakers reckoning them with the Papists and such others but this is but as the Pharisees his fore-fathers did who numbered the Son of God and condemned him with transgressors and betwixt two theeves And in the end he desires his Reader to receive in Love what in his Book is found agreeable to the Spirit of God in Scripture truth agreed so let it be and therefore many things in his Book which is not given forth by the Spirit of God nor according to the Scripture truth which the honest Reader may find upon a serious reading and search with the Spirit of God and according to the Scripture is to be judged and condemned and not received what shall the honest Reader receive this for truth That the Light of Christ Jesus is A Preverse Principle and that Christ blessed Infants Baptism with very many such like things of the like nature proceeding from the same spirit which is proved not to be of God but of the Devil for every tree is known by its fruit and every spirit by its works and words many other things more devilish if more devilish can be he charges us withal in a most unreasonable manner that our Religion is the Fort of Babel and that Jesuitical Plots and Designes are carried on by some of us and Quakerism is built upon the fourfold pillar of Papistry with such like the very transcribing of his words shewes his wicked spirit by his unsavory words which things we do deny in the presence of the Lord and are clear in his sight from these divilish accusations though I. S. play the Devils part in this Epistle as well as in his whole Book and is an accuser of the brethren and is to be cast out and judged with the life of God and to give testimony against his lyes and slanders is sufficient Answer and the next time he enterprises the like Work we demand of him witness of his words what these Jesuitical Flots and Designes are we do carry on Which slander is so divelish could he prove what he saith his words would take away our lives but to raise the unclean spirits against us though the Nations is truly supposed the purpose of his words and not being content with what he himself can believe us in his work reaches to raise the rage of whole Nations to execute their fury as well as his own upon us and so his words gives ground to all the wicked that doth believe hâ—m for none else can to persecute the people and way of the Lord under the false account of being Plotters and of having ill Designes which things we stand witness against and seeks the peace of all men though he have bent his tongue for Lyes and brazen'd his face to utter them without fear or shame to suggest evil into mens minds that they may harm the upright but it is known by his words what lodgeth in the heart of such a person who thus openly and impudently doth slander just men to the taking away of life if any were so divilish to witness lyes and slanders as he is in forging of them and declaring of them and that to the Protector and his Council too but from these things we being
it and whether Wine that is put into a Bottle be made Wine by the bottle or whether is it not Wine without the bottle and Water put into a vessel be not Water without the vessel or whether the vessel make it to be Water John Stelham saith Every verse of Scripture is a little vessel of light and that light without Scripture is no light so these things have I laid open that every one may see how the Lord hath turned wise men backward and made their wisdom foolishness and that they may see how those stumble and fall and are snared and taken whose light is turned into darkness and how great that darkness is and now are the Scriptures not denied but fulfilled for now is the light and truth come into the world by which they are found to be blind which said they saw and in which they see that were blind and now the depths are seen which are covered with darkness and Babylon is seen the Mother of Harlots which bring forth in confusion and bind up in ignorance other confusions and lyes I shall also mention given forth by I. S. in his Book As page 68. he saith That God was and is the Word according to Joh. 1. 1. and in page 69. he saith The Father is not the Word nor never so called which is contradiction and in page 70. saith Christ is more in the Scriptures than in his Saints which is false for greater was that which the words came from than the words which did but declare of the fulness from whence they came as all that know Christ will bear witness unto and against all such that say Christ is more in the words than in them which speak the words Again in page 73. he saith Christ the Author of Salvation to them that obey him speaking in the Scripture saveth by the Scripture which is false and contrary to the testimony of the Scriptures and the witness of them which witnessed his Salvation who said By his life are we saved and by Grace through faith which was the gift of God and not by the letter and their witness was true for God his Works against all such who are of a lying heart and spirit of errour who would make the letter to be the light yea more even that which makes light to be light and so greater for that which makes a thing is greater than the thing that is made and would have the letter to be the Word when as the letter saith God is the Word and would make the Scriptures to be that by which people are saved as in page 73 saying Christ saveth by the Scriptures but the Scriptures speak no such thing of themselves for they say that there is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved but by the name of Jesus neither is there such a word written in the Bible that say men is saved by Scriptures nor that the light of the Godhead is natural as I. S. saith that he may set up a light of Scriptures as he calleth it And he speaks in page 82. of having our minds darkned with the light of Scriptures mark doth that light which he hath in all his Book been exalting above the Godhead light and above that light which Christ hath enlightened every man withal darken mens minds what is it then that must enlighten them here is his testimony of the light brought up to the full that all who can receive it may believe it for he saith to us if our minds were not darkned with the light of the Scriptures the two texts in Rom. 10. 18. and Col. 1. 23. might resolve us how the Gospel is preached to every Creature and not to the principle of light in the Conscience how can the Scripture resolve us of the light if it darken our minds but by these things this is made manifest that darkness hath blinded his eyes that he neither knows the light nor the Scriptures which was given forth from it Again another of his contradictions concerning the light in page 23 24. compared with page 75. is this saying the light that shined in Pauls heart and the light that shineth in the Scripture is the same light and God who shineth in the heart by Gospellight according to the Apostles words 2 Cor. 4. 4. contrary unto which in his 75 page saith That the Gospel light about matters of Salvatioâ— of which the Apostle speaks never entered never shined into mens hearts Answ To this let all take notice and consider whether of these two Contraries they are to believe the one saying God shineth in their hearts by Gospel light and the other saith It never entred nor shined into mens hearts But if the Scriptures or the Apostle is to be believed he saith for God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ but we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us â—Cor. 4. 6 7. here was the light of the Gospel shining in their hearts in matters of Salvation giving them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and they were the vessels in which the light did shine and from which they spoke the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery and so that which they spoke of the light and of the Gospel is yet a mystery unto such whose eye is blinded with the God of this world and the wayes of unrighteousness knowing neither the light nor the Gospel of Salvation but filling up their line of confusion as hath been already manifest and may further be made manifest Again John Stelham in his 6. head of Scripture Contradiction speaks concerning the Law and goes about to distinguish between the two Covenants which the Scriptures speaks of but knows not what he speaketh nor of what he affirmeth but contrary to the Scriptures speaking of a Moral and of a Ceremonial Law which the Scriptures speaks of no such words nor no such distinctions as of a Moral Law to be the Covenant of Works and that the Ceremonial Law is not a Covenant of Works but of Grace And whereas he tells of a Covenant of Nature which is one with the Covenant of Works and so here is several Covenants which I. S. hath made and several Names here given to the Covenants which God never gave nor they which spoke of the Covenants never gave such names to the Law in the words of Scripture as Moral Legal Natural Ceremonial so that is all without and contrary to the Scripture language And whereas he goeth about to prove Adam to be under a Moral Law which he calls a Law of Works but hath no Scripture to prove it from but from his suppositions as thus If it was not of Grace it was a Covenant of Works and again If
the Covenant of Works was not made with Adam in innocency God could not in justice require satisfaction of his posterity under the Fall c. A third supposition to prove Adam under a Covenant of Works is this Either he stood under the Covenant of Works or was under the Covenant of Grace or he was under no Covenant c. Unto which I Answer All such Priests and Teachers who be out of innocency themselves cannot tell what Covenant those are in with God who are innocent and in the image of God in holiness and righteousness and therefore from such have we so much perverting of the Scriptures and violating of the Law of God to make it according to their imaginations But unto such God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest Instruction and castest my Words behind thee psal. 50. 16. Thou givest thy mouth to evil and thy tongue frameth deceit But I say that Covenant in which Adam was with God in his innocency and in his image he stood in that and by that by which he was made a living Soul and in that was in unity and Covenant with God for the disobedience of which he was driven out from God into the Earth and none was under the Law of Works neither was that Law added until there was transgression which it was added because of but that which is innocent and without sin unreprovable in Gods sight is under no Law but that which endureth for ever which doth free from sin and death those that be in it which is made manifest unto some since the falling from it and which the Isles is to wait for till it be made manifest where it is not already revealed and all who come to have right to speak of Gods Precepts and to take his Covenant in their mouths they see and comprehend all such darkness which doth not speak according to words of Scripture but speaks of three Covenants contrary to Scripture saying that the first Covenant promiseth nothing of Salvation nor mentioning nothing of a Saviour and yet saith that that Covenant is a part of Gods Word and his Will and pure law and yet mentioneth nothing of a Saviour and again saith that the Moral Law he calls of Works which promiseth no Salvation mentioneth nothing of a Saviour that this which mentioneth nothing of a Saviour is to be a directory and rule to true believers for the ordering of their Sanctification â—s it is also in Christs hand guiding them by his Spirit so this cannot build nor joyn together and so time to cease building any more in confusion but in denyal of that false doctrine I say That there is but two Covenants spoken of in the Scriptures which is a plain testimony of them without any such confusion or contradiction as the Apostles to the Hebrews saying in that he saith a new Covenant he hath made the first old c. And in the first Covenant as you may read Heb. 9. in all these things there was Christ held out and mentioned in the shadows and figures and so that Covenant which promiseth no Salvation nor mentioneth any thing of a Saviour that we deny for there is not such a Covenant in the Scriptures For that which said Do this and live promised life and mentioned Christ who is the life and by Christ who is the life and light of men is that Covenant fulfilled and by his power both the obedience and life is brought forth of which that Covenant speaketh and the new Covenant being come that God hath promised wherein he hath put his Law in their hearts and his Spirit in their inward part and all such needs not to come to such Priests to be taught who tells of a Covenant which promiseth no Salvation nor mentioneth any thing of a Saviour for we who be in the second know the first fulfilled which Christ was held forth in under Ordinances of Divine Service and a worldly sanctuary and divers washings and carnal Ordinances which never made the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but now is Christ the Covenant of God and Covenant of light come and preached and with his light shineth in mens Conscience that he may make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience which Covenant is now witnessed among thousands and such denyed which speak of a Covenant that mentions nothing of a Saviour and that to be the rule of true believers Again in John Stelhams 5th head of Scripture Contradiction he speaks concerning Sin saying That the more a Soul is sanctified the more he sees his moats to be beams and that Paul was groaning and sighing all his life time under the body of sin and death Both these are false For the more a Soul is sanctified he is not the more taught to lye or to see falsly but the more he is taught to see clearly and discern a moat to be a moat and a beam to be a beam and knows the differance And Paul thanks God who had given him the victory over sin and death which he had not while he groaned under the body of it and so both the Saints and the work of sanctification is falsly accused by such and such are to be denyed as Enemies to God and to his Work In the reading of this let all people take notice That in the several and particular Heads of I. S. Book where he saith he hath contradicted us he is proved himself to contradict the Scriptures and so far as he contradicts the Scriptures in those particulars so far he may say he contradicts us and our testimony being one with the Scriptures in them things For in his 6 Head as concerning Justification he saith He that is justified is justified by God not under the Aspect or Notion of a Saint and as such but of a sinner and as a sinner believing in Jesus not as he loveth God or overcometh the world by Faith c. but as believing on Christ dying c. Now this testimony of I. S. is contrary to the Scriptures for God never justified any as hating of him nor as a sinner but as made obedient through Faith according to the Scriptures as the Apostle witnesseth Gal 2. 16. Even by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ c. so they believed that they might be justified and the ungodly they were first called out of their ungodliness and whom he called them he also justified and they whom he justified them he also glorified and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Acts 13. 39 and so all who are justified by the Lord are justified from their sins and not in them as all shall witness who come to be justified by Christ from their iniquity And
fell from the way of life and could not continue in Christs Doctrine no longer and so such things may satisfie people concerning the way of truth for while they are of us all such things is denyed by them but when they go out from us then they become Drunkards Swearers Prophane Adulterers Fornicators and so every evill Work is committed and then they turn to the Priests Doctrine where all such things are and are excused and then the Priests rejoyce and give thanks if any turn from the light of Christ and the obedience of the Gospel into Drunkenness and Prophaneness again where they were before and if they will but swear and respect mens persons and use the rod of violence and persecute and shed the blood of the Innocent and be conformable to the World that is the Priests rejoycing and if any turn from the truth into any act of uncleannesse then they take that as a proof against those that abide in the truth and such a thing is a better proof to them then all the Scriptures and those are they that reâ—oyâ—â— in â—niquity and watch for evill and so they rejoyce in that which we have â—ast out as abomination and these are they that plead for a life in sin while they are here and that say that the Saints glorified in Heaven do yet hope for the Resurrection of their bodies and so not come to the end of their hope though in Heaven whenas the Saints upon earth Witnessed the end of their hope the salvation of their souls Now these may well deny perfection on earth who deny it in Heaven which the Saints we and the Scriptures do witnesse it in both and against all such who are not fit to speak of the things of God Again In his 9th Head of contradiction he speaks of a Waâ—far which yet he himself never came unto and in it he wrests Pauls words and so would turn the truth into a lye saying as if Paul should say thus If sin that wars and fights in me hath no power to condemn me then there is no condemnation to me which words Paul never spake and it is a lye in the ground for it is not sin that is the condemnation but the light which lets men see their sins because men love darkness rather than the light as many in this age have manifested themselves to do and the light shall be their condemnation who are not yet come to the War nor to the Victory which the Scripture speaks of Again in his 10th Head of Contradictions speaking of Repentance as if he would prove that we denyed or disclaimed godly sorrow and his proof is this If we disclaim in dwelling sin in the godly we disclaim godly sorrow Let all people take notice of this If we deny in-dwelling sin we deny godly sorrow this is contradiction in the highest degree but against it this I shall affirm that none comes unto godly sorrow but they deny dwelling sin and they that do not deny in-dwelling sin denies godly sorrow Again John Stelham in his 11th Head of Contradictions to the Scripture in his speaking of the Word and means of Grace he is setting up that which before he hath been pulling down in page 123. where he saith That they are justified from all legal obligations and conditions of their own workings both within them and without them And in page 174. he is setting up Obligations and conditions of Reading Hearing Prayer Preaching to which he saith life and salvation is promised and so would have salvation come by Works which he hath so much declared against before and so makes Prayer Reading Preaching c. not only the means through which salvation comes but the cause for which they are saved saying To prayer is promised salvation Now to the informing of minds of people I say That all promises are to the Seed and the fulfilling of the promises is witnessed through its obedience to Christs command and through the works of righteousness but none can pray so as to be heard of God and accepted but who have first known heard and believed him whom they call upon which none do but who own the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which teacheth to Pray Hear Read and Preach with knowledge and understanding Again I. S. in his 12th Head concerning Baptisme would go about to prove the sprinkling of Infants to be the Baptisme and so denyes both Iohns who was from and Christs and the manner of them and sets up another which the Scripture doth not mention as sprinkling Infants which who reads his Books may see his proofs by consequences would have the Scripture speak that which in never mentioneth in plain Precept and so would turn the truth into alye and so by his own rule in the 68th page of his Book shall he be judged Such Messengers as speak more then is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by him to what they say But that all people may come to a right understanding of the Scriptures and that which is testified by them is to come to the light which Christ hath enlightened them withall which light was before Ordinances was and which light gives to see the place of Ordinances and their time wherein they are to be obeyed for the light comes from the substance of all the divers washings and carnall Ordinances and it leads into the one Baptisme which is the substance of that of Water which Iohn who was a Prophet was the Minister of and Christ said unto his Disciples Iohn verily baptizeth with Water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire but he never commanded them to baptize with Water but commanded them to go teach all Nations baptizing them into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and although some of the Disciples and Paul for a time did Baptize with Water yet who shall judge their permission in it although Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ witnesseth that he was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1. 17. and thanks God that he had baptized no more of them yet witnessed that they were all Baptized with one Spirit into one Body And I. S. saith To be against Infants Baptisme is contrary to Acts 2. 28 29. This is false for that Scripture doth not command it nor give president for it let the Reader search if he find any such thing as the Scripture proving Infants Baptisme but the promise is to as many as the Lord shall call and so he hath foully belyed the Scripture for if that Scripture be contrary to such who are against Infants Baptisme then must he prove from that Scripture Infants Baptisme to be commanded as practised which he cannot do and so is a perverter of the Scripture and it is truth that we do deny brain imaginations and sprinkling Infants with water but then he rambles over many Scriptures proving the Baptisme of Believers these
the converting of many hundred of souls by Paul and many other works of God wrought by him but dung and losse so I. S. holds forth this is Ignorance indeed he hath shewed his Ignorance by what he hath said and not proved in any thing that concerning questions we contradict the Scriptures His 21th Head concerning Civill Honour In this we do not contradict the Scripture by arguments nor practise but doth honour all men in the Lord and cannot respect mens persons nor have them in any admiration for any advantage yea we honour men in reproving them in their unrighteousness and I. S. pleads much for civil honour the Scripture speaks not of Civil honour and the question is what this honour is that he calls civill and wherein it may be done and not in transgression nor in respect of persons Magistrates is to be honoured by subject on to their just commands requests and laws and by patient suffering under their corrupt Laws and evill commands and not resisting evill yet the person of no man is to be respected for he that doth commit sin and is a transgressor of the law of God and Ministers of Christ are to be respected for their works sake and they desire no honour nor praise of men but knows reproach and infamy is their respect from the men of this Generation and as for hirelings deceivers they are respected of the world but condemned of God and of his Saints and testified against and Parents are to be respected in the Lord by their children and Masters by their servants but where God commands one thing and Parents or Masters another as it often comes to pass in Christs time as it doth now whether to give respect to God or man this I leave to be judged by sobe men that makes conscience of what they say and thus in short I give a testimony how we honour and would have all honoured in the Lord and leaves I. S. long discourse to himself and his company and doth bear witness against the vain superstition and foolish customes of this Generation His 22d Head concerning Swearing In this we do not contradict the Scripture but saith and practiseth according to Christs words Swear not at all which is spoken absolute and without condition and mitigation and he saith we take these words of Christ against his meaning and this is false and wicked too in I. S. who would he seen to hold forth that when Christ said Swear not at all he meant not as he spake for both Christ and the Apostle James were righteous in what they delivered concerning Swearing who forbids all manner of Swearing no cause excepted and we take Christs words according to his mind and doth deny all Oaths and abides in Christ and the Apostles Doctrine and our yea is so and our nay is so and whatsoever is more cometh of evill and I. S. would plead for swearing before a Magistrate but that Magistrate which fears God and loves his way will believe a man sooner that cannot swear for conscience sake then he that makes no conscience of Swearing and such a one is liker to testifie lyes with Oaths then he that for conscience sake denyes Oaths and in his conclusion he saith scholastically though Ignorantly they that will not expound Scripture by Scripture and compare the precepts and examples for Swearing without prohibition against it fall into Scripture contradiction but R. F. nor others will therefore c. this is unsound and laid down but not proved at all neither major nor minor and here by he hath concluded wickedly the Apostle Iames and Christ himself to be fallen into Scripture contradictions who did expresly forbid all swearing and did not compare the precepts and examples for Swearing with the prohibition against it and thus I. S. is taken uttering folly with his tongue and hath drawn a conclusion upon Christ and the Apostle Iames to be contradictors of Scripture let shame cover his impudent forehead And they that charges Christ and the Apostle Iames with contradicting Scripture are enemies to God and of the devil and for eternall vengeance but I. Steâ—haâ— hath done so and therefore he is an enemy to God and of the Devill and for eternall vengeance But further at large as concerning Swearing and our testimony thereof is laid down at large in a Book called The glory of the Lord arising And whereas further I. S as a man not weary of iniquity goes on after his false charging of us with Contradictions to Scripture charges us again That we contradict our selves in many things which Accusation we bear with as much patience as we do his former seeing they are all out of one heart and to the same end for it is a small thing for us to be judged by man and so that wherein he charges us with self-contradictions I pass lightly over having cleared the truth that we do not contradict the Scriptures but if this man I. S. had been in generations past what would he have said of Isaiah who was sent to tell Hezekiah from the Lord That he should die and not live 2 King 20 1. At the same instant of time the Word of the Lord came again to Isaiah that Hezekiah should be healed and that he should go up to the house of the Lord These were both the Word of the Lord to Hezekiah and yet no contradiction in Isaiah though such a Spirit as I. S. would so have judged And what would he have judged betwixt David and Jeremiah Psal 119 the 103. and Jer. 23. 29 David saith The Words of the Lord are sweet unto his taste yea sweeter than the honey to his mouth And Jer. saith The Word of the Lord is as a fire and like a hammer which breaks the Rock to pieces Now there is no contradiction in these two not to that Spirit by which they are guided though so it might seem to such as I. S. whose minds are dark And what would he have judged of Christs words Matth. 12. 30. and Mark 9. 40. where Christ said He that is not with me is against me and he that is not against us is with us and yet in these words there is not contradiction to him that hath an ear to hear But if I. S. had been in those dayes out of his evil heart would he have charged the holy men of God to be contradictions to themselves it is very like that he would and these things I leave with the Reader to be considered of for we who have the same Spirit do clear Christ and the holy men of God from contradictions and knows I. S. and such as he to be seekers of occasions against the just and would make offences where there is none for as I have said we do not allow I. S. to be the interpreter of our words for then no question but he would have his own end and meaning and in I. S. saith We deny the letter of the Scripture to
be Scripture this is charged upon him to be a lye as it is well known through this Nation both in Doctrine and Conversation we own the Scriptures and to deny Matthew Mark Luke and Johns Declarations of the Gospel to be Gospel is no denyal of the Scripture for the Gospel was preached to Abraham which Gospel was and is the power of God before these four men did Declare of it though we deny their Writings to be the very Gospel which is the power of God yet we do not deny but they truly declared of the Gospel and this is to own the Scripture as it speaks of it self to be Let I. S. judge what he will of us and wheras he speaks of Gospel-letters and Scripture-Gospel the Scripture give no such names to it but saith the Gospel is the power of God and that is the Gospel which we Preach even the power of God unto all people let I. S. judge by consequence what he will And further he would plead for the title of Master from the example of Abrahams servant but this is nothing to prove the lawfulness of a Minister of Christ that they may be called Master for Christ saith to his Ministers Be ye not called Masters and the Spirit of Christ being our rule that leads us in the fulfilling of Christs words let I. S. shuffle as he will Also he lyes of J. N. to say he denyes and grants the same thing to be in the letter for though he say he that believes hath the witnesse in himself which is truth yet he doth not say the letter is the Believers witness which he seems falsly to be charged withall and he saith the Spirit of God must give the spirituall understanding of the Scriptures But this he doth in another way than that whereby he inspired the pen-men of the Scriptures Now this is false doctrine For Christ the Way the same to us as to them and not another way of understanding Scriptures nor by another Spirit than that which gave them forth and he saith Christ directed to himself Joh. 5 39. as revealed in the Scriptures and more than that as conveyed by the Scriptures to a Soul Now let the Reader take notice and search that Scripture Whether he hath not added to it yea or nay or where any ever had Christ conveyed to them by Scriptures it doth say the Scriptures testifies of him but it doth not say that he is revealed in the Scriptures nor conveyed by them to a Soul and this is his additional gloss to corrupt the text to undervalue the eternal Spirit of the Father by which Christ is only revealed and received and not by the Scriptures And for E. B. to say That he came not to them with enâ—icing words neither what he had gathered from the Scripture without him But to declare the Word of the Lord and not to speak his own conceivings and imaginations this is true and no contradiction in it though I. S. say these cannot both be true to say That he neither came with what he had gathered from Scripture nor his own imaginations for the Apostles of Christ did not preach what they had gathered from Scripture neither their own imaginations but preached the Word and Gospel of God which they had received from God and not gathered from Scripture nor in their own imaginations and because he saith both these negatives cannot be true then it is concluded that himself preaches either what he hath gathered from Scripture or his own imaginations and let him chuse to say whether he will and in the next he will be proved a false Prophet and that E B. compiled a Book out of Scripture Collections is false for having the same Spirit which gave forth the Scripture which brings the Scripture to remembrance is not compiling a Book out of Scriptures and I. S. is found a false accuser and E. B. neither a self Contradictor noâ— self curser and these are true words to this generation and owned with the Spirit of God though I. S. in his scornful spirit abuse them he that hath the Word of the Lord from the mouth of the Lord to declare he is reviled and mocked But he that speaks the imagination of his own heart from the Saints conditions he is heard and owned and this is neither Scripture contradiction nor self-contradiction let I. S. judge out of his own heart what he will neither is this self contradiction to ask which of the Saints hâ—d the witness of their souls union to seek in the Letter and yet to affirm the Spirit opens and brings that which is spoken in Scripture to remembrance Let I. S. first answer the query in plainness which is an honest query and not to imply from it his own conceptions to make appear self-contradictions let the sober Reader judge where the contradiction lyes and he saith the Spirit is in the letter and goes about to prove it if he could if the Spirit be in the letter then all must have the Spirit that hath the letter and the Spirit is where ever the Bible is which I do deny for many hath the letter and professes it which knows not the Spirit and many hath the Bible in their pocket which hath not the Spirit there and this will be confessed by I. S. and all his fellows and so he must revoak who â—aith the Spirit is in the Letter and the Spirit gives life but the Letter kill In his proof he saith The written Word viz. the Letter is of greater authority then the Writer mark here Christ was one of them which gave forth Scripture and he was a greater authority then what was written and I say as it is plain to all honest men who can believe truth that the holy men of God who had the Spirit were of greater authority than the Scriptures since hath been which they left behind them But I. S. hath set Christ and all them that gave forth Scripture to be lesse in authority then the Scriptures let wise men judge of this matter he saith They were imperfectly holy that wrote forth the Scriptures and this is an absolute lye for the Scriptures gives this testimony of many of them that wrote it that they were perfect men and he hath also slaundeâ—ed Christ to be impâ—rfectly holy and in his next let him pâ—ove what this Imperfect Holiness is and till then we deny there is any Holiness â—mperfect Further he saith The promises of the Scripture are his Chariot to convey him Spirit whether he pleases to go but where is his proof for such a Doctrine but all that he saith doth not prove that the Spirit is in the Letter though he say to make up the sum of his matter Daily experiences doth demonstrate that the Spirit is in the Letter but where is the man let him answer that thus hath experienced that alwayes when he hath seen the letter and handled the letter hath seen and handled the Spirit the testimony of
not for we say the same that some mens Consciences are defiled and we do not desire the Laws to be made according to mens several opinions and defiled Consciences but according to the light of Christ Jesus in every mans Conscience which is but one in all and is according to the Law of God and every just Law will be according to it and though I. S. by his own meaning would make it appear contradiction in our saying no Law must be concerning Religion and yet saying all Laws should be according to the light of Christ in the Conscience Now by these words we do not mean that we would not have a Law according to Religion but no Law to limit to or from this or that manner of Religion and this doth very well agree with our saying let all your Laws be according to the light of Christ so by his misinterpretation of the first he makes it appear to be contradictions to the second but it is not so in the light of the Spirit of God And further R. F. saying the law of God answers his Justice and the light of Christ in the conscience answers the law of God which is perfect according to that in the conscience these words I. S. charges with two errors but let the Reader try where the error lyes and not believe I. S. false deduction from R. F. plain words which are simply uttered through subtilty wrested And I. S. speaks as if some would have Magistrates to make Laws to bind themselves from striking at offenders Blasphemers Gospel and Church disturbers c. In answer to this we are not they that would have any Magistrates to bind themselves from striking at offenders who are truly able to judge of offences we own that such should be punished according to the offence but the Magistrates Law reaches but to the outward man to keep that in peace and good order and not to the inward man to bind or limit that And as for Blasphemy and Gospel and Church disturbing we find many Magistrates not able to judge thereof but many on the contrary calling truth blasphemy and reproving of sin in Teachers and people Gospel and Church disturbing and so by false judgement making such offenders which are not and so abusing their power and condemning the Innocent rather then the guilty and these are such as I. S. speaks of where the strong man armed keeps the house and these are rather a terror to well doers then to evill and such Magistrates and such Laws by which the just are oppressed and the hands of the wicked strengthened will the Lord confound in a day to the glory of his name and to the refreshing of all his people who is now every way oppressed by evill men both by Rulers Teachers and People And as for the rest of his Book it s but of the same nature with the former and not worth answering to onely his lyes I do deny and his first following is that all our Doctrines are raised upon the ruines of the Scriptures excellency and authority this is false neither doth his proof at all make it good His second lye is that our corrupt Tenents are built upon false and novel Interpretations and this is two lyes together our Tenents are not corrupt neither do we build any thing which we hold upon false Interpretations His third lye is that it is pride that hath bred and doth feed our opinions and practises and this is also false and to prove it hath wrested some of E. B. words His fourth lye is that unbelief begets and procreates all our errors and our love of error with our derisions of the truth here is many lyes folded up in one which are all denyed with the life of God and the author of them proved to be of the Devil and we proved to be of God who are spoken all manner of evil against falsely for the name of Jesus His fifth lye is that we do subtilly couch many errors under spacious words of truth this lye also I bear Witness against as also against his Sixth wherein he charges us with meer ignorance and wilful blindness about the covenant of Grace c. His seventh lye is that much of mystical Babylon and confusion is in our Writings and wayes this is also a lye and of the devil and also against his eight I bear testimony our Doctrines and practises ends not in Apostacy neither are they blasphemy against Christ as I. S. impudently asserteth so that from the first of his Book to his last his whole Work is born witness against not to be of God but of the devill and in vain hath he striven and his Work shall not accomplish any part of his desire for the Quakers against whom he hath Written cannot be offended in Christ though I. S. have endeavoured for to make their way and Doctrines in the sight of men abominable but his Work shall not prevent the purpose of the Lord nor the gathering in of the upright-hearted from the mouths of devouring Shepheards such as I. S. and the Priests of England who is it that doth not begin to see their deceits and abominations yea thousands do and mâ—ny more shall do so that all their striving to uphold their Kingdom is but in vain for God hath blasted al their glory and he will teach his people himself and govern them by his own Law and order and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and Antichrist and all his ministers shall be confounded and the Beast and the false Prophet shall both be taken alive and cast into the lake Ah John Stelham against whom hast thou set thy self and exalted thy horn against whom hast thou bent thy strength and shot forth thy envie in crafty words of guile who is it that thou hast defied and girded on thy armour against and counted them as nothing before thy uncircumcised strength even against the Lords people hast thou thus done though thou wilt not now know it yet one day thou shalt know it when iniquity is come to an end and transgression finished and thou shalt stand in thy lot at that day and receive according to thy work a just and righteous reward from the hand of the Lord in the day of judgement when every secret work of iniquity shall appear to condemnation and in the mean time the Lord will bring forth good unto his people even from thy evil and all things even thy evil purposes shail work together for good unto such whom God hath called and thy works and purposes which are to trouble them and to break them and to make them appear vile in the sight of men even thy work doth the Lord turn to establish them and to unite them and in the sight of men thy work against us proves us to be of God and thy self to be of the Devil who was a persecutor from the beginning