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A51253 An antidote against the spreading infections of the spirit of Antichrist, abounding in these last days under many vizors being a discovery of a lying and antichristian spirit in some of those called Quakers ... in relation of what passed in writing between them, and Thomas Moore, Junior, after and upon occasion of a meeting at Glentworth, with the sum of what was discoursed at that meeting also ... / by Tho. Moore, Junior. Moore, Thomas, Junior.; Naylor, James, 1617?-1660. 1655 (1655) Wing M2597; ESTC R6849 119,742 126

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doctrine which we have learned in the word of the truth of the Gospel compare Rom. 16 17. with Col. 1. 5. and 1 Cor. 15. 1 4. and to avoid them for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly their lust will or spirit or the light in them which is darkness what ever it be if it spring not from the person of Christ as declared in the Gospel who is even so the true light they magnifie not Jesus but themselves in the internal or external operations of their own spirits And by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple under pretence and shew of godliness they deny the power and root of godliness are the enemies to the Cross of Christ his personal sufferings and the only vertuousness of them for the taking away our sin and the love and glory of God as appearing in that face of him This they seek to undermine and sleight under pretence of magaifying Christ in them glorying therein in that which is their shame their internal proof of the mystery of iniquity with power and signs and with all d●ceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish from the faith for in them only it hath efficacie Phil. 3. 17 18. 2 Thess 2. 9 10 11. from such I say we are streightly admonished of the Lord To turn away 2 Tim. 3. 5. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16. 22. If any pretend to acknowledge Christ and yet lift not up praise not magnifie not above all and unto and for all things pertaining to life and godliness the Son of man Jesus Christ as now already come in the flesh and through sufferings entred into glory for us as the only ground and foundation of our faith and matter of our rejoycing and song to others and fountain of our teaching that is that spirit of Antichrist not to be followed it s indeed not only against Christ but his most pernicious enemy being a contrary Anointing from which we are to flye at least as soon as we perceive it in any as Prov. 14. 7. Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge which I oft after hearing some of their Discourse declared and as I could get liberty thus demonstrated I perceived not to be in them but the lip of a contrary Anointing and yet they are tempting me to follow after them a company and go with them night and day though they know such are my apprehensions concerning them Now whether it be right in the sight of God that I shal obey God or them in th●● let others judge yea I wil in the strength of Gods grace observe the directions of the great Shepherd when any shall say Lo here or lo there is Christ either in this form of Church or State-government or in this order or as these in the secret chambers in some internal operations as found and accomplished in them in such manner as we cannot discern it unless wee lay aside all that knowledge of God in Christ we have received through and according to his word as fleshly ●o go after them appearing the second time without sin unto salvation and accomplishing that rest and hope of glory and perfection now in and upon them which we through the Spirit wait for to be revealed in the Resurrection of the dead when we shall all be gathered together to it which and more to that purpose was Naylors and Farnsworths witness concerning themselves we are I say expresly admon●shed then not to go after such and that for this reason in which we are fortified against their juggling That the coming of the Son of man that day of his second appearing in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels should certainly be as the lightning from the one end of the heaven to the other at once accomplished to them altogether and visible to every eye even to those that shall weep and wail because of it Matth. 24. 26 27. Luke 17. 22 23 24. Rev. 1. 7. Therefore if a Prophet or Dreamer of dreams should tell us of a sign or a wonder and that also should come to pass as we know Antichrist shall come with signs and wonders in the latter dayes to move us to turn aside from following the Lord or to inquire after another God or to take us off from our waiting for his Son from heaven whom he hath raised from the dead we will not hearken to them nor go in company with such wicked men as Deut. 13. 1 2 3. and 28. 14. Psal 1. 1 2 3. 2 They require me to eat no food c. Whereas our Saviour bids his Disciples even those great Apostles who were to give forth the last and fullest Revelation of the Gospel for obedience to the faith among all Nations which was in that first publication of it to be confirmed with Miracles by them also even then when he gives them power in his Name to heal the sick c. yet then he bids them twice together eat and drink such things as they give and set before them among whom they went preaching Luke 10. 7 8. And the Apostle Paul tells Timothy They are Doctrines of Devils that command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received and that with thanksgiving of them that beleeve and know the truth c. 1 Tim. 4. 3. I shall therefore answer them as our Saviour doth the Devil in a like case It is written thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 3 They require me to lay aside all books c. the holy Scriptures not excepted Whereas the Holy Ghost tells us he hath therefore written to us excellent things that so our trust may be in the Lord and we may have those words as written and left in record for and to us to answer all that are sent to us Prov. 22. 17. 21. and commends to us the example of a better Preacher than any of them in this That he sought out acceptable safe profitable and plain words for the people and in his search found That which was written was upright words of truth Eccles 12. 10 11. and renders it as part of the character of a godly man he exerciseth himself in the Law or doctrine of the Lord both day and night Psal 1. 2. yea the same holy Spirit commands Timothy to give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine to meditate on and give himself wholly to these things and in so doing study to shew himself approved a workman that needs not be ashamed 1 Tim. 4. and 2. 15. But these spirits lay their commands upon us not so much as to look on them in the Records left us in Books neither night nor day A notable peece of policy For if they can but keep us from going to the Law and to the Testimony with their internal light or power they
of all his gracious Promises in his own time and way for they are all Yea and Amen in Christ and the performance of them coming forth with him according to the manner of Gods giving him who is now given vertually and Spiritually and in the testimony of him mediately and so all Gods teachings in and with him but shal in his time appear personally and visibly and then all things with himin like manner gloriously and immediately in fulness and glory He that beleeveth makes not hast Rom. 8. 32. 2 Pet. 1. 3. Ephes 1 17. Col. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 13. 12. Rom. 8. 18. 1 Joh. 3. Isa 28. 16. In answer to the Second part of this Query I adde That I suppose here the man had forgotten his Inscription or Dedication for there he directs his Queries only to them that deny the alone sufficiency of Gods teaching and yet here makes it one of his Queries whether they do so or no or else if these Queries were framed as is thought by some of a more subtile pate than his whose hand is at them then this with some other tantologies and significations of weakness in the Inditor may bee looked upon as done of purpose to keep us from thinking that any of their Grandees had a hand in it but be it as it will it is a blemish to their pretence of being immediately guided by an infallible spirit yea it signifies their spir●● to be both forgetful and not understanding what it saith nor whereof it affirms as well as also their propounding so many confused Queries and in such manner without laying down any thing plainly by way of position signifies their spirit to be fearful of discovering his Principles if he have any lest he should not be able to mannage them or lest presently discovering them and endeavouring to manage them he should spoyl his design at first And surely I could have passed over more weakness in expressions without such notice of it if it had not been a little necessary on this account to shew the vanity of their pretence of immediate revelation from Gods Spirit and being furnished to and acted in all by it It is none of the Character of Jesus Christ but of the foolish Woman her ways are moveable that thou canst not know them and therefore moveable left thou shouldest ponder the path of life Prov. 5. 6. yea this also is mainly to be observed in her Instruments they are proud yet knowing nothing always doting about questions and strife of words c. 1 Tim. 6. 4. Whereas on the other hand the Servants of Christ by his Spirit have been always led in all lowliness of minde not to commend or preach themselves but Jesus Christ the Lord and therein to testifie of him what they did know in the plain demonstration of the Spirit even in words which the Holy Ghost taught them that they might propound and lay down somewhat for the feeding and profit of others as 2 Cor. 5. 12 14 15. 4. 5 6. whose word therein was not yea and nay but in him even in the demonstration of Christ and the things of him was yea 2 Cor. 1. 18 19. 1 Tim. 4. 6 7 8. 11. 16. 2 Tim. 2. 15 16 23. 24. Tit. 2. 11 15. 2 Tim. 3. 14 17. 4. 1 5. For direct answer to this part of the Query I shall adde nothing here but refer the Reader to the Answer to his Inscription where I have fully given my testimony to the alone sufficiency of Gods teaching 8 Qu. What and where that word is that people should hear behind them and where that teacher is c. Isa 30. 20 21. Ans 1 That word mentioned vers 21. is now in the testimony of Jesus the Lord as he hath been delivered to death for our offences and raised for our Justification and is received up into glory as that testimony is now come forth in full since the Ascension of Jesus Christ for though God did speak in divers manners unto the Fathers by the Prophets yet hee hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son c. Hebr. 1. 1 2. and the Spirit of God in this dispensation of the fulness of times teacheth all things and leads into all truth by taking of the things of Jesus and shewing them according to the testimony now come forth and so opening and makeing use of them in and unto every case and matter as is before more largely shewed yea this word then was no other but the same light teaching and direction of the Lord which also then was in and did issue forth in and through that testimony or witness of Jesus the Lord and Gods righteousness in him as that testimony was then come forth which was witnessed in the Law and Prophets Rom. 3. 21. yea preached from the beginning And hence having reference to the eighteenth verse of that Isa 30. it is there fully signified to be met with in waiting for the Lord yea it is plainly expressed as part of the priviledge of them that through his goodness and forbearance to manward in which he waites that he may be gracious are overcome to wait for him to have all their teaching light and direction from him as he was then witnessed and their enjoyment of promises in and by him whence that Isa 2. 5. O house of Jacob come yee and let us walk in the light of the Lord. That testimony of Jesus being indeed the Vision of all Visions the spirit of Prophecy Isa 29. 11. with Chap. 28. 12. 16. Rev. 19. 10. 2 To the Second part of the Query What that Teacher is mentioned vers 20. which should be in the midst of them c. For answer to this We must take leave to minde our Querist of his mistake of the words of the Scripture to which he alludes it being a material mistake To which doubtless that Spirit that breathed forth those words by the Prophet would not have led him but some lying spirit that under pretence of bringing Scripture would pervert it and steal away from us the Word of the Lord and that we may not discern him makes it a matter of reproach to look into Books to search the Scripture whether those things be so or no as he presents them to our imagination the word in the text is in the plural number Teachers which he renders that Teacher and thine eyes shall see for that which he renders thus it should be in the midst of them the words are thus Though the Lord give you the bread of Adversity and the water of Affliction yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers And where those Teachers are the text tells viz. present with them and before their eyes even now in the days of their adversity while the person of the Lord the fountain of their teaching for whom they wait is personally absent from them as 2 Cor. 5. 6. and not
evils as drunkenness swearing c. Surely therein he acknowledgeth that such spiritual wickedness teacheth to deny some sins unless he mean That those gross evills of drunkenness swearing c. bee no sins I am indeed ready to suppose them to be of that number that judge no act or practise as Drunkenness Swearing Adultery c. to be in it self sinful but to him that judgeth it so or not otherwise sinful in them than it is open gross and so scandalous and striking against their being satisfied in their spiritual Covetousness and Adultery in beguiling unstable souls of which their minds are full as 2 Pet. 2 14. For it is a shame to speak of those things that are done and allowed by some of them in secret as Eph. 5 12. But if this be his meaning That drunkenness Swea●ing c. are not in themselves sins or sinful as is fully signified in his expressions in the said letter where he saith That which taught me to leave some gross evils without c. and after mentions drunkenness and swearing yet doth it not therein teach to deny sin but to deny God c. I say if this be his meaning why doth he call them evils and gross evils too if no sins or sinful I leave him with his Contradictions But 2 The Holy Ghost instructeth us That all evil or unrighteousness is sin 1 Joh. 5. 17. For sin is the transgression of the Law 1 Joh. 3 4. so that by the Law which saith Thou shalt not lust c. is the knowledge of sin Rom 7. 7. and 3. 19 20. 1 Tim. 1. 9 10. And yet also that touching the righteousness which is in the Law Paul was blameless while yet he had not received the true light but was a furious enemy to Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 6. As the Jews whose zeal was yet a zeal of God though not according to knowledge as Rom. 10. 2. And against many sins even such sins as for which The wra●h of God comes upon the children of Disobedience as Adultery Joh. 8. 4 5. and abuse of the creatures in Drunkenness and Gluttony as appears in their false charging our Saviour with such things Matth. 11. 19. yea they were men much for fasting mortification and holiness Matth. 9. 14. Luke 18. 11. Joh. ● 18. And so were the false Apostles and teachers that came among the Christians after Col. 2. 16. 18. 21 23. 2 Cor. 11. and yet thereto moved and guided by that false light or principle and spirit in them which indeed was darkness and did therein pursue such ends as the establishing a righteousness of their own and sometimes also that they might appear to men to be just temperate holy c. in pursuance of which end they were also more in appearance than in truth and large in their boastings proclaiming every man his own goodness yea sometimes as in the last mentioned chiefly they herein pursued this as the main end in and with the former That they might the more powerfully insinuate themselves into the minds of such as were going right on their way to the corrupting them from the simplicity that is in Jesus destroying their faith and hope in Christ beguiling them of their reward c. This the end of their walking Phil. 3. 18 19. 2 Cor. 11. and of their voluntary humility and neglecting of the body c. Col. 2. 18. 23. yet many of the things they denied and abstained from from such principles and to such ends were sins and sinful and many of the works they did and pressed others too in themselves good Whence our Saviour saith to his Disciples All that they namely as sitting in Moses seat and urging the things required in the Law and admonishing of the evils reproved in it bid you observe that observe and do but after their works do not for two Reasons First They say and do not Secondly The works they do in which is signified They also do something good and commendable and abstain from some evils though short of their sayings but even that which they do is to an evil end yet as to their apprehension and according to the judgement of others that can judge but according to outward appearance they many of them have attained perfection in the denying and mortifying of not some but all sins some things they do from such false principles deny and abstain from that are indeed sins and sinful and those may be done to many of them in their account and apprehensions all sins or at least they are not sensesible of those greater sins they live in and glory off as appears also in these spirits we have to do with Observe what follows Richard Farnsworths Challenge word for word as it was sent to me the said Tho. Moore by one of their own party on the foresaid Evening of the last of May as soon as I had returned Answer to to their Charges as before MOved of the Lord to write this to the chiefest of those called by the name of Manifestarians in and about Boston and Lyn That if they will grant to this which is hereafter laid down we will try our God these wayes as the servant of the Lord tryed Baals Prophets and their God by sacrifice without fire c. So I am freely willing made by the Lord o try and prove your proudboasting spirit by these particulars as is hereafter propounded and expressed First That the chiefest of you grant to go abroad with me where I shall be led to preach the word for two weeks together Secondly That you and I eat no food as outward bread and flesh nor any outward victualling provided by any man or creature for that time nor drink either Beer Ale or Wine nor partake of any other outward thing except a little spring water and that neither you nor I look upon any book all that time seen with a visible eye Thirdly That for two weeks time we have meetings every day or every other day one week for the first amongst those called Manifestarians and others as the Lord shall please and I be permitted amongst them to speak the word of the Lord and each other day he that joyns with me herein to speak also and he shall permitted be if he dare say and by the Spirit of truth affirm that he hath any thing to speak immediately from the mouth of the Lord He shall I say be then permitted to speak one day as I do another or part of each one week amongst those called Manifestarians and others that the Lord shall lead unto and no outward help neither meat drink nor book as aforesaid and another week amongst those that the world scornfully calleth by the nick-name of Quakers And lastly That for the two weeks time he part not from me day nor night that he receive no more outward help than I do And this way of tryal I have freely from the Lord expressed And then it must be acknowledged after all this
mentioned I wholly waved for these Reasons 1 There is nothing in them requiring Answer but the substance of it is in those last mentioned 2 They are stuffed with self-commendations and raylings and reproaches of others as before and the grace of God that hath appeared by Jesus Christ teacheth us not to walk with them in that way not so to answer a fool according to his folly as therein to become like him in walking in such a way and use of such weapons though so to answer a fool according to his folly as may tend to the making his folly manifest l●st he be wise in his own conceit Prov. 26. 4 5. The Apostle durst not make himself of the number of some that commend themselves c. 2 Cor. 10. 12. nor durst Michael the Arch-Angel when comending with the Devil bring against him a rayling accusation but said The Lord rebuke th●● o● Satan c. Jude 9. Zac● 3. 2. Yea the holy Ghost admonisheth us not to render to any man evil for evil or rayling for railing but contrariwise blessing c 1 Pet. 3. 9. Rom. 12. 17. according to that excellent pattern 1 Pet. 2. 21 22 23. And although Answer might have been given to those papers also and not in their way yet it is hard for us to meddle with such unclean spirits without getting some defilement by them as the being provoked to or learning frowardness or des●re of vain glory in meddling with such froward and vain-glorious spirits whence we are admonished not to go with a furious man no not in joyning issue with them in their proud boastings and perverse disputings but to withdraw our selves from them as 1 Tin 6. 3 4 5. lest we learn his ways and get a snare to our soul Prov. 22. 24 25. 3 Another reason of my waving them was The little expectation of profit to such persons in dealing with them Seest thou a man wise in hi● own conceit and thence hasty heady perverse self-willed and furious in his words or matters there is more hope of a fool than of him Pro. 26. 12. and 29. 20. 4 The assurance that I have that he that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot Prov. 9. 7. The truth of which I have both before and since proved in having to do with such spirits as these And for these and like Reasons I thought to have waved this also were it not for these following Reasons 1 There is something intimately charged on us in the Inscription namely the denying the alone sufficiency of Gods teaching and many things propounded by way of Query which being rightly answered according to the Scriptures quoted as the ground of the Queries will tend much to the discovery of the ground of their mistakes and to the strengthening the beleever against them 2 Though the Queries as they are propounded may be discerned to be foolish and unlearned such as are to be avoided by beleevers yet such is the pretence of zeal for God and spirituality in the acknowledgement and worship of him in the Querist that the folly and unlearnedness of the Queries and the evil spirit running along in them will not presently be discerned by the weak without some discovery who not discerning the same are more apt to be en●angled with them For their sakes therefore I have assayed to propound something after a true relation of the Queries word for word as in the paper that came to my hands by way of Answer or rather discovery of the folly and evil couched in them And also that this may be of use for the recovery of such as are intangled with such spirits if not past hope of recovery as I fear some are as likewise lest they should have occasion any of them by our being wholly silent to glory or be lifted up in the conceit of their own wisdom The Queries of some called Quakers about Cambridge with the Inscription or Dedication and Conclusion of them as they were propounded and sent in writing in the name of Thomas Biddal as follows To Alice Morden and the rest which are not yet given up to Delusion to all who deny the teaching of God to be sufficient to guide to God to all that own it without humane helps or learning or teaching of men ● WHat and where that New Jerusalem is which John saw come down from Heaven wherein there is no night neith●r need of light of Sun Moon or Candle for the Lord God and the Lamb is the light thereof and into which in no wise shall enter in any thing that si defiled or worketh abomination or maketh a lye but ihose whose n●mes are written in the book of life Rev. 21. 22. 2. What and where that Sion is which Isaiah and Micah spake unto unto which all Nations should flow where the Lo●d will teach the people of his waies from whence the Law of God and his word shall go forth after which they shall learn war no more but shall say come and let us walk in the light of the Lord Isa 2. Mic. 4. 3. What and where that Covenant is which the Lord hath promised in the latter daies wherein he will write his Law in their heart and put it in their inward parts and they shall no more teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother for all shall know him from the least to the greatest of them Jer. 13. Heb. 8. And whether we may expect to come into the Covenant in these daies 4. Where and what that annointing and unction is by which the Saints know all things and need not that any should teach them but as that annointing teacheth them of all things which is true and is no lye 1 Joh. 2. and whether it be the same in these daies to them that have it 5. What and where that Comforter is which when he is come shall reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement and shall guide into all truth and sh●w things to come and shall shew the things of Christ and glorifie him Joh. 16. 6 Whether any of the servants of God may expect and wait to receive his word from his own mouth immediately as all the Messengers of God in all Ages did or whether no other word is now to be heard in Books which God spake to o hers Jer. 23. 7 Whether any man may wait for the fulfilling of that promise in these latter dayes that all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and whether that teaching be sufficient without any humane help or learning to guide in the wayes of God or no Joh. 6. Isa 54. 13. 8 What and where that word is that people should hear behind them saying This is the way walk in it when they turn to the right hand or to the lef● And where that Teacher is that shall be removed to more into corners but shall be in the midst of them and
Chap. 3. 14 15 16. 1 Joh 4. 1 6. as before more at large in the Discourse about the matter and manner of the Fathers teaching And this Spirit as in his essence he dwells in the person of Christ in whom dwels not only the fulness of God but of the God-head bodily so in these his instructing and reproving influences he is in the Gospel he goes forth to men in and with the testimony of Jesus with whom God gives all things pertaining to life and godliness even through the knowledge of him 6 Qu. Whether any of the Servants of God may expect to receive his Word from his own mouth immediately as all the messengers of God in all Ages did or whether no other Word is now to be heard in Books which God spake to others Ans First All the Messengers of God in former Ages did not receive the Word in a like manner immediately from God not Paul and Timothy Paul neither received it of man neither was he taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ God was pleased to give in or into him an immediate and full revelation of his Son even of the whole Gospel of his Son that he might preach him among the Gentiles Gal. 2. 12. 16. which revelation of the whole Gospel he had from the person of the Son of God immediately or in such manner without the help of men as Instruments that he was therein fitted to be one of those great Apostles to give forth the last and fullest revelation of the Gospel to all Nations for the obedience of faith having both seen the Lord and received the Word immediately from himself as they did though born out of due time thereto 1 Cor. 9. 1. 15. 8 9 c. Not to Timothy for he heard and learned his Doctrin mediately even of the Apostle Paul and so by the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit through his Doctrin and Ministration and so also his gifts and fitness for his service by the laying on of his hands c. 2 Tim. 1. 13. 2. 1 2. 3. 14 15. 1 Tim. 4. 11 14 15 16. So likewise the Thessalonians from whom sounded the Word of God to many others 1 Thess 1. 8. They themselves received it mediately through the Apostles Doctrine and Ministration through such demonstration of the Spirit as accompanied the word which they heard of them See 1 Thess 1. 5 c. and 2. 13 c. Secondly none since may expect in this day to receive it so immediately as Paul did but mediately through their word both the message and fitness to declare it This appears 1 In that they are said to be the Apostles last in respect of such immediate furniture and mission 1 Cor. 4. 9. and 15. 8. whence also they were to give the Revelation of the mystery for obedience to the faith among all Nations as well then to come as then in being And if any man think himself to be a Prophet or spiritual to render himself such he is to acknowledge that the things they the Apostles and Prophets have written are the Commandements of the Lord and not any other word that may come to him or from him Rom. 16. 25 26. 1 Cor. 14. 36 37. 2 Pet. 3. 2 3. 2 It farther appears in that our Saviour prayes for sanctifying to and blessing on the ministration of no other since those immediate messengers But such as shall beleeve on him through their word Joh. 17. 20. Neither is any other word to be heard listned too or received by us is the word of God But that so already spoken by immediate inspiration and commission by the one mouth of his holy Apostles and Prophets and what comes up thereto All spirits are to be tryed by it 1 Joh. 4. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 3. Before we bass from this Query note the inconsistency of their professed Principles and Practices and the secret wickedness discovered in it In the Query they signifie That none ought to hear any other word in Books that God spake to others but only what himself hath immediately received from Gods own mouth and yet they write these Queries to such as they look upon as people deluded drawn from their Guide and so farre from having received Gods immediate teaching or submitting to it or waiting for it that they judge them fit to be given up for Rebellion and not only these and divers such Papers but their printed Books and Papers are very numerous and are generally dispersed by them to all people with earnest pressing them to read them It appears by comparing what they say and do that their meaning is not to take us from reading Books generally for they would have us read more then ever such as they disperse and commend only they desire to take us off from reading such Books as do indeed contain in them matter spoken by God to others as the holy Scriptures and what in any measure truly comes up thereto Surely They are wiser in their Generation than the children of Light for they know should we diligently read and minde the holy Scriptures we should be therein strengthened to discern them and their Books so as to throw them by as needless and unclean Therefore they first and openly cry out against all Books and reading that so they may include or take in the holy Scriptures and whatever is suitable thereto against which is their only design the Evil Spirit in them well knowing that men are very apt to conceive some light esteem of or distaste at the Scriptures and what is consonant to them because that is always reproving them and testifying their Wisdom Works and Lusts to be vain and evil especially when they are encouraged thereto under pretence of Spiritual●ty and higher Notions and yet with such secret promise of liberty or exalting something as is suitable to their proper lusts and if they once be moved to slight those Books and so the things heard from the beginning they will of themselves enquire after and not be taken off from those Books and Novelties through which they were first perswaded to such light estimate of the Scriptures under pretence of taking them off from Men and Books c. When once the Ear is turned from hearing the truth or the Heart brought to dis-relish sound Doctrin then it is easily turned aside to Fables and the same Evil Spirit will secretly while he crys out against hearing men and reading Books allow them heaps of Teachers and Books too and direct them not only to hear and read but to worship them in which the truth of those Scriptures excellent to this purpose are verified Col. 2. 18 19. 2 Tim. 4. 1 4. 7 Qu. Whether any may waite for the fulfilling of that Promise Isa 54. 13. Joh 6. and whether that teaching be sufficient c. Ans To the first part of this Query I answer They that know his Name will trust in him and wait for the certain fulfilling