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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	answer_v	scripture_n	word_n	1,678	5	4.1153	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76289	A briefe ansvver to R.H. his booke, entitled, The true guide, &c. Wherein are occasionally declared and proved by Scripture these particular things following: [brace] first, that the baptisme of water is a distinct baptisme from the baptisme of the spirit. ... Sixthly, in what sense some things related in Scripture are not Scripture, with divers other particulars occasionally spoken of. / By R.B. a well-wisher to the truth, and R.H.	R. B., Well-wisher to the truth.	1646 (1646)	Wing B159; Thomason E357_2; ESTC R16628	31,113	40

and Pharisees in his time and this hath been the lot of the Church in all ages the true members thereof were called Hereticke and Schismaticks and is it not a matter of great zeale at this day for many Ministers to raise at Gods people and call them Antinomians Anabaptists Separatists c. and such reproachfull tearmes to render them odious Therefore saith Doctor Sibbs further It is the poysinfull pride of mans heart when it cannot raise it selfe by its man worth it will endeavour to raise it selfe by the ruine of others credit through lying slanders The Devill was first a slanderer and lyer and then a murtherer he cannot murther except he slander first even as those that kill a Dogge make the world beleeve that he was mad first so they alwaies take away the credit of the faithfull in the world and then persecute them and so those watchmen that should encourage the godly they smite and wound them To conclude were it not for the just vindication of the Truth of our selves and others I would never have put Pen to Paper but he hath compelled me as Paul was in a like case by the Corinthians to his just vindication 2 Cor. 12.11 saith he I am become a foole in glorying ye have compelled me for I ought to have been commended of you And so St. Paul was faine to goe contrary to Solomon counsell Pro. 27.2 and praise himselfe to vindicate both the Truth and himselfe A little further in Pag. 22. he saith They much desire and pray for 〈◊〉 Answ I beleeve his desires and prayers are rather that we should returne to them and their waies then to Christ but certaine it is if he do pray for us either his praying for us will make him cease persecuting of us or his persecuting will make him cease praying for us He saith We further object and bring many Scriptures to perswade people to stand fast in the Truth they have been taught but they have not been taught the Truth but have been taught a false and blind way by your Ministers He answers It is a very false and scandalous imputation cast upon the faithfull Ministers of Jesus Christ for have they not taught us Jesus Christ that we are freely justified and saved by him alone I answer here first R. H. labours to vindicate his faithfull Ministers about their Doctrine It is very well I say if they do teach free Justification and Salvation by Christ alone I can remember the time since it was a rare thing to heare free-grace preached especially in the practicall part of Divinity I my selfe have heard delivered in London not long since at a Fast that true repentance and humiliation was able to remove Gods judgements which if it be so I marvell to what purpose Christ serves for and one even of R. H. his intimate companions is not very well instructed in that point for I have heard him say divers times not long since that the more good workes he did the greater glory he should have at last in Heaven so laying the height of his glory on the foundation of his good workes building this Babell on Nehe. 13.14 so that he may thank his good workes at least for the height of his glory But I would desire them to shew me what measure of glory is given freely without any respect to workes and what glory is intailed to workes But suppose it be granted they teach Jesus Christ more purely than formerly yet I have observed that the men that were as he Goats in the Doctrine of Gods free grace and love were as odious at the first as ever Martin Luther was in his time yea and still are too many that remaine of R. H. his mind for he doth what he can to disgrace the teachers of it still by his Calumniations as may plainly appeare in his Booke Pag. 9. and they can hardly forbeare bringing in Moses Law of workes in Moses way of administration whereas we are only under the Law to Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 If it were not so why do they so raile against Gods people under the name of Antinomians He saith We object and say your Ministers are Antichristian for they were called by an Antichristian power there fore it is not lawfull to heare them He answers that must be proved first which you say c. I answer had R. H. been indeed but a True Guide he would have been punctuall in proving this point especially it being the chiefe point in difference betwixt us and the maine thing he aimes at in his Book as I said in the beginning but certaine it is the man was at a stand here and was faine to be of a good beliefe and take things upon trust and would have others do so too but observe the way he takes to prove the point and to answer the objection he goes foure wayes and all wrong for he brings not one proofe of Scripture positively to prove his Ministers lawfull But First He puts us upon negative proofes Secondly He compares them with other teachers Thirdly By two fabulous similitudes of a Cooke and a Clarke Fourthly By answering three questions So that here is not one rule from Scripture to prove it and so he makes himselfe a seducer in his first answer to the last question Page 5. of his Booke Wherefore I answer To the first of his foure things I have in a sense answered already by declaring the necessity of a mans proving his practice positively by Scripture which holds forth a rule for all lawfull practice and not to require negative proofes from others for that is not Gods way To the second thing where he compares them with other Teachers I suppose he meanes Teachers by vertue of Office and so we have none of any higher calling then R. H. when he himselfe teaches but if he will rightly compare his Ministers to find whether they are Ministers of Christ or of Antichrist let him go to Scripture-patterne for all inward and outward qualifications for Christs Ministers or Pastors according to that Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they walke not according to this rule it is because there is no light in them For what the Prophet saith of speaking I may say of practice and 1 John 2.24 Let that therefore abide in you to be practised certainly which ye have heard from the beginning if that abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning ye shall continue in the Son and in the Father now this is a way without exception To his third thing verily one similitude hath as much authority as another therefore consider that as it is not lawfull for any person without commission and authority from the King to use and apply the Kings Seale to convey any assurance in worldly matters even so it is not lawfull for any man having no calling or commission from Christ to take upon him the administration of such Ordinances of Christ that never were

to trye any thing for feare there should be evill in it would he not have us try appearances of evill whether they are so or no Would he have us take all upon trust that comes from them Truly I do not read that Paul made 1 Thes 1.21 Try all things and keep that which is good the Objection and ver 22. Abstaine from all appearance of evill the answer to the Objection that is R. H. his addition to the Scripture to darken the sense of it But the Apostles mind is as I conceive to teach us ver 21. to take nothing upon trust untried and being tried and found good to keep it and being found to be evill to avoid it wholly in all its degrees even to the very appearance of evill The second Objection is this But they teach many sweet Truths He answers therein lies the more danger Truly I conceive the danger lies not in teaching sweet Truths much lesse in teaching many sweet Truths but the danger lies in this when men make not use of that duty and Christian Liberty they have from the Word of Truth to try all things they heare wheresoever or by whomsoever whether they are Truths or not Which duty and Liberty is so much infringed by him in this his answer as may appeare in the amplification of his answer Page 9. by a fabulous similitude as if he meant to drive men wholly from triall The next Objection Page 9. which being large I referre to his Booke where he saith That we say the way to have their eyes opened is to forsake their Antichristian Ministers Answ This we deny and say quite contrary the way to forsake Antichristian Ministers is to have mens eyes first opened by Jesus Christ and whereas he saith in the words following that his opposites would have them come and joyne with them in their meetings This is his slander who is so jealous of all mens waies but his owne that he is unwilling to make a found triall either of other mens waies or his owne but takes things at the first hand to disgrace others and boulster his owne and so his positions being still begged and not proved he builds without a foundation The similitude he alludes to of Eves eating the forbidden fruit will not serve his turne for that was proved infallibly to be forbidden fruit but he takes for granted and hath not yet proved the waies he so reproaches to be forbidden fruit therefore his answer is of no force but must needs remaine the conceit of his own braine and mis-applied It followes Page 10. where he brings in the Pharisees accusing Christs Disciples of ignorance John 7.49 yet boasting themselves of their owne light Answ I have declared a little before who are most sicke of the Pharisees disease and truely this mentioned here by him is another Symptome of their infection for they were better versed in the Lawes and Traditions of their Fathers than in the Lawes of Christ and so accused Christs Disciples of ignorance so that I grant it to be as he saith of the Pharisees and it is a very Epidemicall disease amongst all of that kindred but now to the triall of his application to see if it doth not touch himselfe most Did he when he writ and composed his calumniating Book thinke with himselfe that he knew nothing If so I wonder how he durst venture to put it forth so to publish his ignorance to the world Also if he were free from all boasting of his knowledge what was it that made him to dignifie his Booke with such a high title as The True Guide this I commit to any reasonable mans consideration whether he thought he know nothing and was freed from boasting according to his quoted place 1 Cor. 8.2 When he wrote and published his Book with so high a Title and according to his other quoted place 2 Cor. 10.18 He that commendeth himselfe is not approved but he whom the Lord commendeth But Saint Paul answers him fully 1 Cor. 2.8 with Acts 9.5 They that know Christ will not persecute and crucifie Christ in himselfe nor in his members The next Objection he seems to answer is Page 10. Object but I cannot answer their arguments they are so deep must not I then be faine to yeeld unto them He answers by no meanes c. See how resolute this man is the deepest arguments cannot move him but marke his proofe Mat. 24.26 A third time abused for this absence of Christ here spoken of is a like absence from all men upon earth and so from R. H. as well as from others whether it be understood of his personall absence or of the absence of him in the externall and powerfull administrations of his Kingdom in both these senses the Scripture speakes of his absence For that of his person see Acts. 1.11 This fame Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him goe into heaven For that of the administrations of his Kingdome in the gifts of the Spirit see Mat. 16.28 Marke 9.1 There be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they have seene the Son of man comming in his Kingdome which absence was supplied and enjoyed in the gifts of the Spirit as I have declared before at large as also how this enjoyment was againe lost under Antichrist Now he must of necessity understand that absence of Christ in one of these two senses for it cannot be understood of an inward and spirituall absence for that enjoyment that slowes from union is perpetuall Rom. 8.11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you So 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is borne of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him c. These things being premised it followes clearly that we are forbidden to goe after R. H. into the desert to seeke Christ or after others into the secret Chambers he being alike absent from all untill that in Mat. 24.27 28. be fulfilled For as the lightning commeth out of the East and shineth into the West so shall the comming of the Son of man be c. These things I thought good to adde to that spoken of before to make the matter more plaine It followes he saith The Spirit of God bids remember how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent Rev. 3.3 Very good counsell to him and us and it is very well backed with two other proofes 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the forme of sound words Gal. 1.8 9. Thogh we or an Angell from heaven preach any other Gospell to you then this let him be accursed Where we finde that no Assemblies or Churches in the world must be our rule but only the true patterne of wholsome words here R. H. seemes as if he would keepe to the patterne and

if it were so why is he so angry with us for so doing We dare not do any thing without Scripture as he doth as we have already declared and shall further appeare in the matter following And whereas he mentions Thiatirahs Prophetesse that came with her deep learning I understand that to be so because she spake not as the Oracles of God 1 Pet. 4.11 But with the enticing words of mans wisdome 1 Cor. 2.4 And where hath R H. had either by word or writing such from his opposites except a passage or two in this our answer to pay him in his owne Coyne for we have had such from his Epistle as Orthodox Heterodoxe Enthusiasmes Ignis fatnus Anodines Enchiridion If he call this deepe learning we agree with him but if he meane by deep learning that which is allowed of God 1 Cor. 2.10 such as our arguments to him have hitherto beene and still do consist of then it is no marveile he cannot answer them for God saith expresly that such as are resolved and setled in their formall waies setting up that Idoll in their hearts they shall not have the Truth discovered to them but he will in judgement being enquired of suffer the Word to sound after the sense of their old formes and false wayes Ezek. 14.4 Thus saith the Lord God every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his Idols in his heart and putteth the stumbling blocke of his iniquity before his face and commeth to the Prophet to enquire of him concerning me I the Lord will answer him according to the multitude of his Idols But truly his learning in his Booke is shallow enough for it hath no ground or foundation whereon to build that he chiefly aimes at and what that is I have declared already In Page 11. I find a pretended answer to a pretended allegation which he there saith he met with how true I know not it is this They perswade people that the Word delivered in private and by private men of their way is more sweet and they can profit more by it than by that which is taught in the publike Ministry To which he gives a twofold answer first he makes that had in a private way to be stolne waters Pro. 9.17 and forbidden fruit Gen. 2.9 16 17. Chap. 3.6 Whereto I answer first if ours be stolne waters so is his for he preaches in private take private in his own sense as I have declared before and I wonder how he dares to trade in stolne waters and to eate forbidden fruit unlesse it be lawfull for him only so to preach and not for others But secondly though he hath overthrowne his own practice he hath not yet proved our practice to be either stolne waters or forbidden fruit as I have declared already upon another the like occasion whereto I referre And whereas in Page 11. he is large in his amplification of this to upbraid others the matter there being convertible it fits R. H. himselfe as much as it can do us unlesse he thinkes that we are only bound to have and shew love towards him and he quite contrary towards us verily in this he deales just like the Pharisees Mat. 23. require much from others but performe little themselves So he would have all our words and waies towards him paved with butter and hony though his words and waies be with gall and wormewood towards us as by and by shall appeare His next allegation he seemes to answer is in the same Pag. 11. and it is this They would perswade people that we are not able to maintaine what we teach or hold for they have offered to reason with our Ministers or private men but they cannot get us to it this he knows for the most part to be true but he answers some of you have been reasoned with and confuted too though you will not acknowledge it but if any have refused it is not because we cannot maintaine the Truth we hold but because you are a perverse people that will not yeeld to the true meaning of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures but will make all Scriptures to speake what they would have them speake to maintaine what they hold and practice I answer first he acknowledges in part our readinesse to reason with them and their unwillingnesse to reason with us But whereas he saith further that we have been reasoned with and confuted too he should have done well to have declared in what particulars the time when and the place where and in the meane time we must taxe him for an untruth It follows Page 12. where he saith Because you are a perverse people and perverse and obstinate in an erronious way such as will heare no reason Answ In Pag 11. in the last amplification he censures the censorious that they do not indeed profit by the Word because they grow not in charity and so by his owne Doctrine he profits not by the Word in their Assemblies because he is not charitable but very censorious doing that which the Word plainly forbids Mat. 7.1 2 3. Judge not that ye be not judged for with what judgement ye judge ye shall be judged and with what measure you mete it shall be measured to you againe And why beholdest thou the moate that is in thy brothers eye but considerest not the beame that is in thine owne eye c. Rom. 14.4 Who are thou that judgest another mans servant to his own master he stands or falleth Christ Jesus is our master to whom we stand or fall therefore let not R. H. be so proud as to get into our Masters Chaire for he will question him for so doing Rom. 14.10 Why dost thou judge thy brother or why dost thou set at naught thy brother we shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ If R. H. had censured us to be false worshippers in relation to some outward false worship it might have argued rather weaknesse than wickednesse in us and so some place left for charity that we might have been Christians still But he hath point blanke made us Hereticks according to the common and known distinction of Heresie that obstinacy joyned with error is Heresie yea a little more vile too even brutish such as will heare no reason and yet for all this he would be thought to be humble and charitable Further saith he You are a perverse people that will not yeeld to the true meaning of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures but will make all Scriptures speake what they would have them speake c. Answ Truly we do no more feare his false censures here than his false English but the truth is that he takes for granted that only to be the true meaning of the Spirit of God in the Scripture which he yeelds to And all that differ from him to be a perverse people so that many thousands who are as really godly as ever was R. H. come under this censure and are by him

administred by any without such calling and commission from Christ To his fourth which is by asking three questions to which I answer by asking them other questions First whether the inward call without the outward be sufficient or whether God joyned not the inward and outward together to make it a sufficient call Secondly Whether God allow of any calling besides his own whether inward or outward and whether either of these allowed of by God being corrupted whether then it be Gods or no Thirdly Whether there be any difference betwixt a man that hath a corrupt calling to an Office not warranted by God and a man that hath no calling to an Office but suppose he that hath a corrupt calling and he that hath no calling should preach by vertue of a true calling before they have it should I be guiltlesse and yet constantly by my presence and practice allow of that which God allowes not of should not I be guilty of all corrupt Officers standing ever since the time of Antichrist and so come under that Sentence of Christ Luke 11.48 Truly saith he ye beare witnesse that ye allow the deeds of your Fathers and doth not a litle leaven leaven the whole lump being unpurged 1 Cor. 5 6 7. or may some corruption be let alone unpurged or may we in some things be guilty of allowing the deeds of our Fathers and not in others To conclude If men may remaine lawfull Ministers notwithstanding their corrupt calling from men and cannot as R. H. saith corrupt the Word of God Whether are not they lawfull Ministers that have their calling in the Church of Rome and so may lawfully be heard But marke how he reasons Why saith he were not Martin Luthers workes rejected but embraced Answ Why must R. H. needs be allowed a true Minister of those that embrace his Booke Do but take notice here how he also labours to justifie the Popish calling which I made mention of for Luther had his outward calling there Next he brings in Balaam a false Prophet to prove a true Minister Num. 23.21 but as Balaams speaking some truths from the mouth of the Lord made him not a true Prophet even so many truths delivered by others doth not make them true Ministers for Balaam had as good and better will to curse than to blesse Gods people he was very desirous to make them miserable for filthy lucres sake even as there be many in these daies too like Balaam in this witnesse their railing Bookes and Sermons against Gods people as if they were unwilling they should live in the world by them but it is but the old Antichristian practice Rev. 15.17 In his last Page he pleads earnestly for and encourages people to the Ministry of the Word and so do I also but that is not the difference betwixt us but our difference lies here he would have people beleeve the true Ministery to be no where else but with them in their way as if they only had this open doores he speaks of Rev. 3.8 10.11.12 he leaves out the 9. verse for feare it would have beat hard upon his quarters but certainly the Word of God in the publike Ministry as he calls it neither came to them only nor from them only 1 Cor. 14.36 Besides he must first prove his Church and Ministry to be the Philadelphian State before he lay claime to the open doore for that is the Philadelphian Churches promise for each Church had its peculiar promise as may be seene Rev. 2 3. Chapters And truly I conceive R. H. to be yet a stranger to the glory of this Philadelphian State but I desire that both he and I may see the right sense of that place who they are that God hath or shall betrust with that open doore but sure I am it is a doore to the new Jerusalem and not the old nationall earthly one These things I thought good to returne in answer to R. H. his True Guide in the behalfe of our selves and others for our just vindication and desire the Lord to indue him and the rest of our opposites with the spirit of Christian wisdome moderation and peace and for this purpose let them mind that experimented Counsell of Gamaliel Acts 5.35 Take heed to your selves what ye intend to do as touching these men and so ver 38 39. Refraine from these men and let them alone for if this Counsell or worke be of men it will come to nought but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it least happily ye be found even to fight against God Let them I say consider these things that so we may live at peace by them and they by us untill the God of peace truth and love draw up all the Saints to himselfe in him who is truth it selfe the Lord Jesus by a fuller making out of Truth so long obscured that so we may become one in Truth and in the meane time one in peace and love and this shall be the constant desire of him who earnestly follows after the enjoyment of Peace Truth and Love in one Lord Jesus Christ FINIS