THE BAPTIST AND Independent Churches So called Set on Fire By a bright shining LIGHT revealed from Heaven Their PASTORS and TEACHERS scorching in the flame of it Gnashing and Blaspheming God and his Tabernacle As their Principles rash and judging herein recorded do demonstrate which are answered for the vindicating of Truth and the satisfying of the simple In which they are found to be children of them who killed the Just and have drunken of the Cup of Fornication who also must drink of the Cup of Indignation at the hand of the Lord. Wherein also is an Exhortation unto all people to examine themselves in what state and condition they are and to meet the Lord by repentance before that great Day of wrath that is come and coming to overtake them and they perish for ever In which all flesh shall QVAKE and TREMBLE Wherein also are some of the everlasting Truths of God revealed whereby all that have desires and breathings after God and to be partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ and would be acquainted with the one Faith and one Baptism and with the way that leads into it and the Kingdom of God may be directed into it Whereby every Particular may by an infallible testimony according to the Law and Testimony come to know whether they are in the one truth and in it walking In it also is a Word of Comfort to the IEWS Likewise is shewed when all Carnal Ordinances which stood in time and outward things and had a limitation of time ended to every one that believes which were types and figures and what they did prefigure is proved by the holy Scriptures of truth By one who is labouring and seeking the Redemption of all mankind in Christ Iesus who would not that any should perish but come to the knowledge of the Yruth. THOMAS MORFORD Isa 10 17. And the Light of Israel shall be for a fire and his holy One for a flame and it shall burn and devour his thorns and bryars in one day Rev. 16.9,10 And men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the Name of God which hath power over these Plagues and they repented not to give him glory c. And they gnawed their tongues for pain Hosea 4.15 I will go and reurn to my place till they acknowledge their offence and they seek me in their afflictions London Printed for Robert Wilson and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Windmill in Martins l'Grand 1660. The heads of things contained in this BOOKE 1. EDward Whale Priest of Waterford his Doctrine That none was ever free from sin in this life answered pag. 1. 2. Robert Carr Baptist Pastor of Clonmel his Doctrine Thaâ— the Scripture is the Rule of Life and Faith and the more sure Word of Prophesie and the Law and Testimony answered and confuted and the true and perfect Rule and Guide and the Law and Testimony shewed what and where it is p. 9. 3. The said Priest Whale and Priest Millard of Passage affirming That the Light within us is darkness are here answered p. 11. 4. An answer to Samuel Wade Baptist-Teacher who saith He believes that the Quakers are under the highest delusion in magnifying the Light within in opposition to Christ without and the Scriptures p. 12. 5. An answer to an affirmation of Joseph Parsons a Teacher of the Free-willers viz. That God would purge the Tribe of Levi to offer sacrifices external as of old p. 22. 6. A rash Judgement of William Lee Baptist Teacher and Governor of Waterford reproved and found false and so proved according to the Law and Testimony Wherein also is a true Testimony of the operation of the Eternal Power and Spirit of the Lord in the work of Regeneration c. p. 24. 7. An objection That we observe not the Ordinances of Christ as Baptism c. answered What that Baptism Matth. 28. was viz. A threefold Ministration by the same spirit John's Baptism a figure fulfilled and ended Baptism into Christ is another thing then that of water the figure William Lee and William Lamb their gross actions of violence manifesting their fruitless baptism p. 28. 8. Breaking of Bread a figure carnal and perishing continuing onely till he came who is come the end of all figures The form not to be used in imitation without power p. 32 9 The Doctrine of Pastor Hunt Baptist against Perfection answered Of Imitation which is Idolatry Truth purifieth and perfecteth A silence of flesh must be before God's Teaching can be received But the Spirit being poured out both Sons and Daughters may prophesie p. 34 To the impartial and unprejudiced REDER READER WHoever thou art that art enquiring after the Good old Way to walk there and hast desires to be directed therein but art a stranger unto that or knowest not where to have it which should give thee an entrance therein here in this following Book is that plainly demonstrated according to the holy Scriptures of Truth which should give thee an entrance therein and also where it is illustrated by infallible testimonies by one who hath wandred from Mountain to Hill to seek the Lord breathing and panting after him as the chased Hart after the Brooks of water but found him not until he came to wait at the true Door which is CHRIST the LIGHT which gives the true entrance into the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ And seeing according to the Scriptures of Truth perilous times are come many are crying Lo her 's Christ and lo there 's Christ whereby the simple-hearted which have true hungerings thirstings after God and would be acquainted with the One Truth one Faith and one Baptism and one Lord Jesus Christ know not which way to turn by reason of the many inventions of man and voices that are in the world each one esteeming hie own his invention that he worshippeth his God with to be the best way Therefore in the fear of God in the cool and calm spirit read over this Book wherein thou shalt find many of the Principles and Doctrines of some of the eminentest Professors Pastors and Teachers who have a form of godliness but deny the Power the which I was an ear witness of and when I heard it I said in mine heart Great men are not alwayes wise in the wisdom of God But in the grief of my soul I said Men of high degree are a lye and men of low degree are vanity Wherein also is an Answer thereunto according to the holy Scriptures of Truth by which their folly is made manifest though not with enticing words or in the form or method of the Serpents wisdom unto whom it is not directed nor for their sakes who by his wisdom are acted is it written Therefore let that noble spirit be in thee as was in the Bereans Search the Scriptures and compare them together and see whether the things herein be true let that of
the truth of Christ and his Doctrine I do believe and abide in through his mercy and Power Obj. But thou dost not practice the Ordinances of bread and baptising of water Well let us reason together Answ I do require and challenge all the Baptists in the Nation to prove by express words for he that addeth or diminisheth to or from the words written in the Booke God will adde to him the Plagues written therein where ever Christ did baptize with Water or command any to baptize with Elementary Water That Matth. 28,19 Go teach all Nations baptizing them c. doth not speak of Elementary Water and it is evident the Scripture doth speak of other Baptism then John's which was onely Elementary Water which I also do believ was a Command of God to John though sometimes practised by the Disciples but fulfilled and ended by and in Christ to every one that believes and follows the Light of Christ within which leads to the one Baptism the weightier matter spoken of Eph. 4.5 And I have a Baptism to be baptized with saith Christ and how am I straitened tiâ—l it be accomplished Luk. 12.50 Now Christ had fulfilled John's Baptism as to himself before he spoke those words and was before that baptized of John as you may read Luke 3.2 And himself did prophesie the decreasing of his Ministration For saith he I baptize with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me who is mightier then I he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire He doth not say Christ should baptize with Water but with the Holy Ghost c. And he shall encrease saith John but I shal decrease And when the Apostle came to Ephesus finding certain Disciples which had take notice been baptized before that unto John he said unto them Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed And they said We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost Then saith Paul who was not sent to baptize with water for I baptized none saith he except Crispus and Paulus c. and the houshold of Stephanus To what were ye baptized They said Unto John Then saith he John verily baptized with the Baptism of Repentance saying That they should believe on him that should come after him Christ Jesus When they heard that they were baptized into Christ and Paul laid his hands on them and they received the holy Ghost Acts 19.1 to the 6. So it is evident as I said before there is another Baptism then Water-Baptism as true experience of many can witness who are now baptised and baptizing into the Father Son and Holy Ghost or into Christs death according to the Scriptures of Truth for saith the Apostle Know ye not that so many of us as have been baptized into Christ were baptized into his death c. Rom. 6.3 And he said unto the Galatians As many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 So the Scripture doth not say any where that they that are baptized into the Father are baptized with water or they that are baptized into the Son and Holy Ghost are baptized with Elementary water which onely was a type or figure of the inward washing and sanctifying for the baptisme of the Father Son and Holy Ghost is three distinct things of a various operation though wrought by one and the same spirit the one a ministration of Terror and Condemnation the second of Salvation or washing and cleansing from sin and the third a Sanctifying and Glorifying with the same Glory that was with the Father before the world or sin began And so I do affirm in the fear of the Lord which is according to the Scriptures of Truth That Christ is the end of the Law and of John's ministration for righteousness sake to every one that believes in the Light which Christ hath enlightned every one withall that whosoever I say believes in the Light of Christ in them it leads as they follow it into the one baptism Eph. 4.5 and daily Cross of Christ to the Crucifying and slaying of the Lusts of the flesh Pride of Life envyings wrath strife adulteries Idolatry witchcraft variance emulation seditions heresie Drunkenness murders self-willedness c. the which they that live in are not Christs neither are such actions the fruits of the members of the true Church And whether many of those sins be not standing amongst you Baptists Let that of God in you all Judge for I standing peaceably in a meeting amongst the Baptists in Waterford where William Lee was Preaching and when he had done I stood upon a form to speak the Word of the Lord that was in my heart as fire desiring their moderation I speaking no other things then what is contained in the Scriptures of Truth but Will. Lee came out of his Pulpit and laid violent hands on me and thrust me down gnashing his teeth on me Another member of that Church Serjeant Wilson Constable of the Town laid violent hands on me and haled me out of the room and said That I deserved to be stoned to death and another time I walking peaceably in the next room to their meeting came Geo. Caldron called an Alderman and told me It was their hired house and if I did stay there it should be to my perill and the day aforesaid when I was with the Mayor when Will. Lamb Pastor was taking his leave of the Mayor he bowed hat and knee saying Your humble servant Sir according to the fashion of the world which passeth away for which I reproving him he came and laid hands on my hat and took it off my head and threw it violenton the ground which some of his Brethren would have had him taken up again but he would not so because I know they were ashamed of the brutishness of their Pastor one of them took up my hat and ran after me and put it on my head which was said to be Captain Boulton And that same day because I testified the writings of the Prophets and Apostles were not the Word of God but I said that which was spoken from the Spirit of God were the Words of God but Christ is the Word Bov. 19. Jo. 1.1 So Will. Lamb was speaking with the rest and would have had me to been taken hold of for he said there was an Act of Parliament that if any should say the Scripture was not the Word of God they should suffer c. And being somtime after that amongst the Baptists of Waterford Jo. Deck a Teacher of them was whispering with some of his Brethren and came presently unto me and held up the Bible in his hand and asked me whether that was not the Word of God Judas-like to betray or insnare me I asked him whether that was the Word of God which Rabshaka and Sennacherib spoke blaspheming and reproaching the Living God and that the Devil spoke to Christ his answer was That it was And Roger