no man Doth true honour consist in such hollow deceitfull unwarrantable titles inventions of the beast as are given by the world one to another * Is not your Lordship your Honour your Worship and the like a flattering Title Ester 3.2 How contrary art thou to Elihu who said Let me not accept of any mans person neither let me give flattering titles unto man for I may not give flattering titles unto man in so doing my Maker would soone take me away And Mordecai he would not bow unto Haman though the Darling of a King * Mind that you idolatrous and dissembling complementers who are bowing to and sawning on one another when in your hearts you are fit to murdâ—r one another Psal 2. But while thou feeds thy Magistrates with such food as their crazie carnall stomacks gape after while thou feasts them with such fare I say thou fattens the enemie and pines the pure but read thy reward and take it with thee The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaketh proud things Psal 123. Thou tells them Full 28 years are run out since thou was called to this City by the general vote of all the godly in it It seems this was all the call thou had'st the vote of men Thy confession makes it manifest thou had'st no call from God How hast thou proved thy generall vote of all the godly in this Citty Must thy bare word be taken when thou hast already been proved a lier Was there not one whose heart was towards the Lord not one Child of God in all the Citty but those that gave their vote to thee The Baptized people will not credit thee in this thing but look upon it as an uncharitable censure a presumptuous Boast and will ranck it amongst the rest of thy Lies Full 28 yeares are run out c. all which time together with my spirits and strength I have pent amongst you and upon you but for about 2 yeares in the heat of the late unhappy broyles when the good hand of providence removed me to a Citty of Refuge to wit Norwich Thou art Master of thy Trade A smooth tongue oylie words thou wantest not But this will not doe thy varnish must be washt off under this painted stufflies Poyson Hast thou spent 26 yeares upon those to whom thy book is dedicated with thy Spirits and strength what 's that which speaks so lustily in the Pulpit and walks so lively in the streets Is it not Edward Reyner his own self Hath the Mayor and divers more to whom thou dedicates thy book lived 26 yeares in Lincolne If they have not and I am sure t is so how hast thou spent thy spirits and strength amongst them and upon them all that time Besides hast thou had no journeys out of the Citty in all these 26 yeares Hast thou spent none of that time in bowling musick feasting at home or abroad If thou confessest then that time was not spent upon thy freinds for the good of their Souls whilst thou was Pampering thy own body Dives like with dainty fare and carnall pastimes not becoming a Minister of the Gospell But if thou denies this many in Lincoln can witness against thee So that turne which way thou wilt the hand of the Lord is against thee thou art found out a lyer in this particular also Wee to the Idoll Shepheard that leaves the Flock c. 11 Zecha 17. verse Then thou talks of the good hand of providence c. Deale honestly with thy own heart was it the good hand of Providence or the left hand of slavish feare and self ends that made the Hireling leave his Flock when the Wolf came What an unkind requitall did'st thou make them for their generall vote to preach amongst them Was thou so honest or so hardy to stay and desire their generall vote to leave them Was there not many a Soul in that Citty who thought well of thee yet knew not of thy flight till the Bird was flowne Hee 's blind that sees not this to be Blasphemy Thou goes on calling an Abridgment of thy Doctrine heart renewing life reforming soule saving truths Here 's three lies in a little roome canst thou prove that the Bible much less thy Babell book can renew the heart reforme the life and save the soule of any sinner Is it not the living God alone can do these things The leaest Child in the Schoole of Christ that reads this stuff of thine sees thy sottish error but 't is just that thy lying spirit should be laid open O that ever such a lying man as thou art should take upon him the name of a Minister of the Gospel What a Saviour is it which thou trustest in cannot he renew the heart reforme the life and save the soule Then surely thou art in a sad condition being so great a sinner and hast so lame a Saviour But if he can then see what wrong hast thou done him to make a meere useless Cypher of him and place salvation in printed leaves and abominable lies But this makes it manifest thy heart is not renewed nor thy life reformed nor thy soule saved were it so thou would'st not have printed such dark Popish stuff in such a time as this when light breaks forth in aboundance Soone after thou begs leave of them to leave that little Peice of thine in their hands as a light to guide them c. John 8.12 John 19. Christ Jesus is the light of the world does not he inlighten every one that comes into the world is he a perfect light or not wilt thou say there is imperfection in Christ Jesus Luke 1. 79. John 16.13 2 Pet. 1.19 What need is there of thy dark Lanthorne when the glorious Sun it self shines so comfortably doth not Christ give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and guide their feet into the way of Peace And John saith when the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth and Peter saies we have a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawne and the day star arise in your hearts Away thou blind guide that book which thou begs leave to leave with them as a light to guide them will lead all such as are guided by it into the ditch there 's a multitude of lies contradictions false doctrine and blasphemies in it of the Serpents invention mixt and interwoven with severall places of Scripture which thou wrests and pervertest explicating of them according to that deceitfull principle that is predominant within thee thereby hoping more plausibly to put off thy counterfeit ware and false doctrine for current truth but the light hath discovered thy delusions and thou art seene and judged Is thy book able to preserve from errors in opinion and looseness in conversation as
THE PROUD PHARISEE Reproved OR The lying Orator laid open IN AN EXAMINATION OF Some Passages in a Book Entituled Precepts for Christian Practice Or The Rule of the New Creature New Model'd Written by one Edw. Reyner who calles himself a Minister of the Gospel in Lincoln But is found a Lyar by a Child of the Light who is known to the World by the Name of Martin Mason LONDON Printed in the Year 1655. To my Friends and Acquaintance in the Flesh in Lincoln who yet love the Garlick and Onions of Egypt better than the Milk and Hony of Canaan I Am not ignorant what Aspersions will be cast upon me for writing this ensuing Treatise But I have learnt to passe through evil Report and good Report as a Deceiver and yet true 1 Cor. 6.8 All the Reproaches and persecutions of the World cannot rob me of my Jewel of my comfort of my Crown And so truth be but exalted I matter not for all the poysoned Arrowes which Men of Envy shoot against my Person I can as freely expose my naked Breast to receive them chearfully as they are forward to dart them spightfully and when they have done forgive them freely All this I can do through Christ that strengthens me Phil. 4.13 But come poor hearts You who lie stretching your selves upon the Bed of Ease and delight in the broad way you are in because it gives ease and liberty to the flesh Tarry there no longer I beseech you for though the way seem right unto you yet let me tell you the End thereof are the wayes of Death And if you will not take my word Loe I bring you no lesse than a King for my Surety even Solomon himself Prov. 14.12 Rev. 15.3 And if that will not do here 's a greater than He Christ himself the King of Saints Math. 7.13 How many years have you been feeding upon the bare Commons your Shepherds having no better Pasture for you than their formal Prayers and Houre-glasse Sermons studied and hammered upon the Anvil of thâ—ir own Imaginations painting them over with the pleasant Title of Christs Ordinances but had their Prayers and preaching proceeded from that pure Fountain of living water the Trees would have born better fruit But their connterfeit Coyn can now no longer passe for pure Gold for the light hath discovered them 1 John 5 1â— He that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked One toucheth him not He that can witness this condition that Man hath his Divine within him The light is his Guide and he needs not Jer. 27.9 Jude 8. Jer. 23.21 Jer 27 10 the dark Lanthorn of an eight and twentie years Dreamer While you rest poor souls where you do you dwell in darkness come therefore out of Babylon seek the good of your own souls and forsake the Priests grope no longer in the dark loe now its day dote no more upon your filthy Dreamers who run before they were sent and prophesie lies unto the people 't is they who draw you into delusions and your souls unto destruction if you draw not back from them for while you go from the pure the light in your Consciences you run into the puddle of mens humane inventions the streams of the Sea of Rome Own therefore the pure teachings of that pure principle of God within you the light which convinces you of sin and evil when no eye sees you Heb 12 14 Take councel there and do not fear to be deluded by it for it will draw you if you are willing to be led by it from impurity unto Holiness without which no man can see God 'T is but a Romish mist your Teachers cast before your eyes when they render the light a delusion least it should discover to you their Mystery of Iniquity But the Lord hath a Controversie with them and is throwing their Diana down do not you therefore set to your shoulders to hold it up any longer least you be found fighting against God 2 Pet 1 19 But know we have a more sure word of Prophecie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day Starre arise in your hearts Remember you have warning in your life prise it Martin Mason THE Proud Pharisee Reproved OR The Lying Orator laid open WHat means the Man to give his Book such a Boasting Title as The Rule of the New Creature new modeld Were he himself in that happy condition a new Creature is he would have manifested more Modesty and Moderation and have been cloathed with that sweet smelling Garment of Humility without which Iewel no man shall ever weare the never fading Crown of Christianity 1 Pet. 1.5 For God resisteth the Proud and giveth Grace to the Humble O the difference betwixt Truth and Deceit betwixt the Ministers of Christ and Antichrist Paul boasted not of things without his measure but according to the measure of the Rule which God had disâ—ributed to him Paul said 2 Cor. 10.13 Let us walk by the same Rule Was this Rule the writings of the Prophets or Evangelists Gal. 6.16 Was this Rule any Epistle written by some of the Apostles Was not Paul a new Creature when he writ to the Galathians Acts 13.9 was not Paul filled with the Holy Ghost was not the Holy Ghost his Rule Can the Holy Ghost be new model'd Rom. 8.9 Again Paul sayes If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Is that Man a new Creature that hath not the Spirit of Christ living in him Hath that Man the Spirit of Christ living in him or is he a new Creature that so undervalues that holy soul-satisfying Spirit by preferring his own Inventions before it by giving that Honour to lifeless leaves that is due to the infinite God of life and love whether the Spirit of Christ be the Rule of a new Creature yea or nay let that soul judge in whom the Spirit of Christ lives and whether that Rule can be new model'd by man or not But what must become then of Edward Reyners Rule Let it return from whence it rose This is his first lie The world hath a Proverb 'T is ill stumbling at the Threshold He that begins his Book with a lie is likely to have more of the same stamp before he comes to his end Here I charge him with blasphemy let him clear himself as he can In his Title Page he stiles himself a Minister of the Gospel but a lyer and a blasphemer is not to be trusted I shall therefore with the Lords leave examine him a little further His first Ordination sprang from the Romish Root That foundation being built upon the Sand. The Man grew ashamed thereof and relinquished it and now derives his Ministry from those of his fellowship so now he presumes hee 's built upon the Rock but let him that thinketh he stands
thou hintest does not that which guides into all truth preserve from all errors in opinion and loosness in conversation John 16.13 and is it not the spirit of Christ that guides into all truth O the impudency of this Antichristian Minister Would be not fain be counted infallible that dares thus arrogate and assume that to him and his lying Legend which is onely due to the infinite God of life and love does not this clearly demonstrate that the Papall honour is eagerly pursued by this purblind Preist Children of the night may be misled but the Children of the day do discern them But this doting Dreamer is through the goodness of God discovered to be a twig sprung from the root of old Antichrist and there 's none but Bats and Owles will beleive the lies and blasphemies which he hath written in his book At last he concludes his Epistle with a lying complement I am your servant Hypocrisy is spun with a fine thred and yet thou suffers them to call thee Master thou paintest thy self with Pauls language as if thou had'st been and still wert desirous to seek them not theirs and willing to spend and to be spent for them blush and be ashamed of thy deceitfull mystery art thou guided by that pure principle that unerring spirit which Paul was That of God in thee knowes thou lyest hast thou that pure love to thy Auditory which he had to his Corinthians be ashamed thou Hypocriticall lying blasphemous man repent repent Hints that Now I am come to Edm Calamies Epistle or approbation commendation of this mans doctrine who hints that Edw Reyner is excellent in picking out choyce subjects to write upon are lies contradictions blasphemies such choyce subjects to write on to write much in a little the man indeed hath writ three grosse lies in three lines in his Epistle Dedicatory where he calls an abridgment of his doctrine Heart-renewing life-reforming soule saving truths there is much Antichristian deceit discovered in that little Letter He goes on saying The subjects he viz Edward Reyner treats on are very usefull seasonable and spirituall but t is in advancing of Antichrist and his Kingdom And his manner of handling them very solid substantiall accurate and succinct and calls it much plaineness and much satisfaction to the godly learned But babes and sucklings in Christianity discerne this Orator to be a lying wretch He saies I have read it considered it and approved it more shame for thee but Simeon and Levi will take part one with another and so he hopes will every juditious and pious Reader But the hope of an hypocrite shall perish See how one Preist paints another with flattering commendations he saies Edward Reyner will appeare like Bezaliell and Aholiab who were fill'd with wisdom of heart to work all manner of work of the cunning workman c. Were they fil'd with more wisdom of heart than this Fox is with deceitfullness A cunning workman he is seene to be but the Mystery of his iniquity is laying open Read it saith Edmond Calamy and it will make thee very holy here and perfectly happy hereafter Is not this a Chicken of the Serpents hatching can lies contradictions and blasphemous Doctrine make very holy here and perfectly happy hereafter And now he concludes with an old Sacerdotal Complement Your Servant in the work of the Ministry Your Teacher thou mightest more truly have said in the Mystery of Iniquity His Letter is short but I cannot say sweet yet he hath a notable faculty of writing much in a little many filthy lies are laid down in his little letter Babylon he loves Babylon he lives in and in Babylon I leave him The God of life and love be merciful unto him The next thing I meet with is Edward Reyners Preface to the Reader where he sayes After serious consideration and consultation with flesh and blood what consult with flesh and blood about the things of God Did Paul so Gal. 1.16 Nay he conferred not with flesh and blood but it seems thou didst whether Paul or thee better deserves the Name of a Minister of the Gospel in this particular let the wise man judge Yet thou sayes thou found thy heart inclined thou hopes by the good hand of God to take those ten Rules into second thoughts upon two grounds especially That in the review of them they appeared to thee too short and defective The other was that notwithstanding the tenuity and imperfection of them God hath as thou was informed its likely by such flatterers as Calamy made them instrumental for the good of others But it is the good hand of God to make it clear thy hope was the hope of an Hypocrite desiring to seem what thou wert not a Minister of the Gospel Hadst thou been a true Minister of the Gospel thou wouldest not have consulted with flesh and blood Thou couldest not have preached that which was defective and imperfect did ever any of the Apostles deliver such Doctrine as thou hast done How wert thou guided by what Rule not by that Rule which Paul was Could the Holy Ghost give out that which was defective and imperfect Wilt thou make that pure spirit the Authour of that filthy Book He that is so weak as to believe thee or thy Dreams is not guided by wisdom so I pitty him Thou beseeches the Reader to take thy ten Rules out of thy Book into his bosom Thy meaning is to believe and practise them What believe lies contradictions and blasphemies live and die in ignorance They have little reason to answer thy request otherwise than Get thee behind me Satan John 16.13 1 John 3.9 What if a man could repeat all the Bible that 's larger and better then thy Book yet if the Vnction within the spirit of Christ live not in him all will avail him nothing If that seed remain not in him how can he be guided into all truth how can he keep himself and not sin Pen and Inck shall never make a sinner become a Saint Calling it a Delusion and they that are guided by it thou countest deluded The true Rule but not thy ten Rules will if observed keep from wandring stumbling falling and halting But thou art not yet in the way to Heaven for Christ is the way He is the light and him thou lovest not but to thy power dost persecute him both in print and Pulpit He is the Guide into all truth and him thou followest not but flyest from He is the Rule and him thou walks not by but delightest in the dark Dungeon of self-inventions Luke 13.24 The way seems to thee so narrow and strait thou dares not Amos 1.6 strive to enter in but takes pleasure in the broad way because its easie to the flesh But woe be to them that are at ease in the flesh Thou art not come to the brideling of the Tongue witness the many lies in thy
shame man be silent thou brings in Pauls warfare A Law in the Members c. Rom. 7. A state or condition of sin it does hold forth A Combate between flesh and Spirit betwixt the seed of the Woman and the Serpent but does it mention that Original sin does deprive of the Image of God and of Communion with him That original sin makes subject to the wrath of God and to all his judgements here and hereafter Thou brings in Psal 51.5 David saying Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me He makes a deep confession of his sins and acknowledges the weakness of his Parent Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me she was a sinner when I was shapen conceived in her wombe 1 Cor. 2.14 Gen. 40.8 Isa 29.11 But that spirit by which thou art guided cannot give the interpretation of Scripture The same that gave it forth must open it To thee and thy Generation it is sealed but to the Saints it is given to understand Thou asks Who could sleep in the night that carrieth a Toad in his breast to bed with him and sin is as full of poyson as a Toad O minde thy own condition see how many Toads thou bearest-about thee in thy own breast Page 4. How full of poyson is the Doctrine thou delivers Of Originall sin and such like stuffe page 5. Thou sayes Every beloved sin or Master lust is a Belzebub or Prince of Devils Ah how many Belzebubs dost thou harbour in thy bosom as pride applause desires of silver and gold and a great estate See if these and a Nest of such like Serpents be not within thee if these be not the Dalilahs thou delightest in Thou sayes God joyns pardon of sin and power over sin together c. Page 18. Page 21. That sin makes ugly in Gods sight That it kisseth and stabbeth putteth out your eyes cuts your throats c. Art not thou and thy Generation of Pulpit-talkers the Devils seeds-men that sowes his tares among the wheat his Servants to put off his cheats and false counterfeit ware of original sin sprinkling Infants taking a bit of bread and a sup of wine roaring and singing in your Synagogues Pharisaical Prayers Hour-glasse Oratory and the like Do you not with such as these kisse and stab the people and with the hony fine names of Christs Ordinances Gospel-duties coming to Church the Baptism of Christ and the supper of the Lord which you put upon them sting the people to death for which of them can witness the life of a Christian Do you not by these put out the eyes of the peoples understanding that they see not the sun of righteousness the light so they live in Egyptian darkness under the Priests their Taskmasters Do you not set them to grinde at your Mills as the Philistins did Sampson puts them upon Pharisaical duties at set times coming to your Steeple-houses using hypocritical prayers promising them liberty but brings them into snares suffering lusts and sins to lie in their bosom unreproved and cut their throats do they not draw the people backward from Christ the light of the world in every mans Conscience and so hales them to Hell while they think they are going to Heaven See the end O friends of this praying and preaching if it be not to preach up the Priests to make them your Masters and you their Servants that they may live upon other mens labours Come but to them on their Market dayes do as they do eat drink and be merry with them in their Idols Temple and pay them Tithes for their Heathenish Oratory Then they 'l account you good Christians But if you withhold your hand and draw back feed them not with Tithes or other allowance The Priests will Laban-like cry out Gen. 31.30 wherefore have you stolen our Gods and sue you at the Law till by their Ordinance for troble dammages they have drawn blood But surely the eyes of those Gentiles shall over long be opened The dead shall hear the voice of the Sonne of God and live and no longer be deluded by those doting Babylonish Dreamers Acts 26.19 But the City of Lincoln hath a paire of proud Pharisees two subtle Antichristian Foxes who pretend they minister not for money yet either of them can dispence and dispose of one hundred and fifty pounds a year for their vain babling John 5.25 They seem as if they mattered not Tythes what need they when they have so much mony a year duly payd them without any cost or care of theirs Do they not preach the same Doctrine and tread in the same steps which the tyrannizing blood-sucking Tithemongers do Do they not account them their Brethren in the Ministery when do they publiquely preach against Tithes or disown them in print or Pulpit Is it enough to mutter out a word or two sneaking in holes and corners as if they could not digest their unrighteous Mammon If they are convinced of the unjustness of the thing Why do they not proclaim it on the house top In so doing they should offend their ungodly Brethren bar themselves for the time to come in case their present pay should be taken from them Page 23. The man writes thus Hare sin perfectly perpetually then you will not spare it but kill it presently till sin be hated it cannot be mortified Do they so with Tithes and yearly maintenance hate them perfectly and thou wilt preach against them presently O thou teacher of others first cast out the beam in thy own eye away with thy Pharisaicall righteousness begin at Christs Crosse and practise that unpleasant Sermon of self-denyal what sin soever thou lovest though it be thy Absolon either the maintenance of thy Son at the seminary of Satan or thy repute of a godly Minister thy lofty wages of unrighteousness thy deluding the ignorant and proyhesying lies unto the people the pampering of thy body with superfluous dainties what ever it be that is thy Dalilah deal not gently with it but hate it perfectly and perpetually for till it be hated it cannot be mortified Page 28. Now thou art got to thy old trade againe talking of holy duties or ordinances improved as weapons edgewise to cut and kill your lusts How these unholy duties and ordinances of thine have cut and killed lusts in thee or the people your lives make it manifest Have these as Antidotes for so thou hintest expeld the Poyson of sin The impurity of your lives your lusts being still living speaks the contrary Pag. 302. But self-love as thou saies in another place of thy book is a false glass which you commonly look your selves in that makes all seeme good you either have or doe But thy painted language can deceive non but the silly Nahū 3.4 The vizard of the welfavoured harlot must be puld off that her ugliness may be seene and
Isa 56.11 Mat. 23.14 Do you not seek for gain from your Quarters and use long vain glorious prayers in your Synagogues fashioning your selves Rom. 12.2 2 Tim. 1.13 according to the world not holding fast the form oâ— sound words suffering poor souls to commit sin in the best of their sacrifices by telling lies when they sing Davids Psalms Do they not preach against pride yet who more proud then the Priests Matth. 7.3 Do they not talk much against covetousness yet who more covetous than themselves Are not these the Pharisees of our age that can spy a mote in their Brothers eye but cannot see to pull out the beam in their own Jer. 23.21 These run and never were sent And for division and Contradiction let twenty speak all from one place of Scripture and you shall have so many men so many mindes and meanings opinions imaginations and contradictions Then for a spirit of giddiness who more giddy unsolid and more unstable then themselves Twenty or thirty pound a year more and some other conveniencies is a Call sufficient with most of them from one place to another To leave a poor flock for a richer fleece is an ordinary thing And as for bitterness and perversness let them preach where they will if their Tithes be not payd or their Doctrine be publiquely opposed let them shew patience and moderation that can The Priests have not such pleasant flowers growing up in their Gardens And as for falshood and deceit 't is too well known by some that they live in that Mystery of Iniquity and delight therein but this will be bitterness in the latter end when conscience-Conscience-Book comes to be opened Page 329. Phil. 2.16 Thou bids Be willing and ready to suffer for the Churches of Christ and Children of God as Paul was for the Philippians Not as Edward Rayner was for the Lincolners If I be offered upon the Sacrifice and service of your faith That is sayes thou if I seal my Doctrine with my blood and confirm your faith by my death I count it matter of joy both to you and me Page 330. But thou never hadst yet such Christian courage nor never wilt while thy heart dwells where it does Have not those Heathens thou tells of who suffered and dyed for the prosperity of the Publick shewed themselves better State-Martyrs as thou calles them then thou hast been a Gospel-Minister P. 333. Priest Thou complaines what a poor Account can rich men give of their goods who have done little or no good to others with them Can learned men give of their gifts Can Magistrates give of their power who have born the sword in vain who have taken to themselves the honour but not performed to others the duty of their place Should any of the Saints have spoken this language Thou wouldst presently have branded them with the Name of Busie-bodies and Contempt of Authority should have been cast upon them P. 318. A little before thou was muttering out and hinting That Authority was trampled upon that men sleight and hate him that rebuketh or judgeth justly in the Gate and here thou complaines of his bearing the sword in vain But no better can be expected from thee than thy bottles be fill'd with P. 335. Thou sayes it's a Mark of dishonour and a Brand of infamy to be a Self-seeker to be like a Hogg that does no good till he dyes and scarce then with his good-will Search and see how many such Hogs thou hast in thy Herd and thou shalt find more such Cattle than thou canst truly call Christians P. 339. Thou tells of Dorcas dying full of good Works and Paul full of Ministeriall Labours not full of filthy lyes Blasphemies and contradictions as thou art and of good successe or Gospel-fruits full of the Seales of his Ministery How many such Dorcasses hast thou in this City Wert thou now on thy Death-bed instead of good successe of thy Ministry mightst thou not justly complain as thou did a little before What a poor Account can rich men give of their goods learned men of their gifts and Magistrates of their power A vast difference between Paul's successe and thine And indeed it must Needs be so Paul was fill'd with the Holy Ghost and thou with the spirit of Deceit and Delusion Pag. 350. Speaking of the Return of Gods presence and his favour thou usest those words In giving you the Liberties of his House Acts 7.47 48. Act. 17.24 25. 1 Cor. 6.19 Thy end is seen in the use of that Language But the Lord dwells not in Temples made with hands The Saints Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost Then thou talks of tasting the sweetnesse A fine expression if there were Truth in it and feel the power and efficacy rather the Flatness deadness and dulness the Beauty and Glory the uncomeliness and raggedness of all his holy Ordinances thy filthy Dreams and Traditions Rags of the Romish Whore and of the Assemblies of his people a mixed multitude of Presbyterians Independents and Cavaleers so called O that I could truly call you an Assembly of Gods people O that your hearts were upright before the Lord My soul pities all such who are thus led and nuzzled up in ignorance by a painted Pharisee who will neither enter into the Kingdome of God himself nor suffer them that would Matth. 23.13 And I hope ere long their Eyes shall be opened and they shall see his deceits discovered and escape them P. 356. Thou tells thou hast heard some say God hath used to resolve their doubts by the Ministry of the Word thy meaning is by such Priests as thy self And then thou Presumptuously and Blasphemously boastest saying Thus God fulfills this promise Isaiah 20.21 Thine Eares shall hear a voice behind thee saying This is the way walk in it when thou turnest to the right hand or to the left hand P. 399. Observing the Soul the affaires of it and Gods dealings with it will make a man thou sayes A Divine to Himself and observing a mans course well and how God hath led him will make a man under God a Guide to himself Ah Friends Be your selves and dote no longer upon this filthy Dreamer when every one of you by his own Doctrine may be a Divine to Himself and a Guide to Himself Will you be so foolish to be led any longer by such a false Prophet Exod. 21.5 6. Will you have your Eares bored through with an Awle in token of perpetual bondage Do not inslave your soules for ever Mind that Divine Principle of God within you and if you be willing to obey that faithful Counsellor it will be a True Guide to you it will be whispering the pure Counsel and Will of God unto you Ah yield up your selves to the light of Christ in all your Consciences Love it I beseech you Ezek. 21.26 27. This is the Right Heir give him the
Kingdom of your Hearts Keep the possession thereof no longer from him Will you not Reverence this Son O kisse him lest he be angry Blessed is the man that heareth This Welbeloved Son in whom Alone the Lord is well pleased Blessed Prov. 8.34 35. I say is the man that heareth Him not the false Prophets who preach for Reward watching daily at his gates waiting at the posts of his doores not at the gates of the Idols Temples or the Posts of their doores For who so findeth him findeth life and shall obtain-favour of the Lord Seek him and you shall find him but then seek right look within for there He is in every one of your Consciences bearing witnesse against all unrighteousnesse He that sinneth against it wrongeth his own soul All they that hate it love Death Prov. 8.36 Page 408. Thou sayes Aged persons are fittest to give Counsell having lived many years they have gained much experience and thou brings in Job 32.6 7. Dayes should speak and multitude of years should Teach Wisdom It s true They should do so But is it so with thee Thou hast lived many years Thou shouldst teach Wisdome but O the abundance of folly and filthinesse abounding in thy book the grosse darknesse and doating dreams thou delivers instead of sound Doctrine My soul pities thee and all that are deluded by thee Wert thou not blind thou wouldst not have brought this proof for thy Assertion for this makes against thee Job in his former Chapter spoke much of his Integrity Elihu not well pleased at Jobs Justification of himself rather than God And against his three friends was his wrath kindled because they had found no Answer yet condemned Job Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken because they were elder then he when Elihu saw there was no Answer in the Mouth of these Three Men Then his Wrath was kindled and said I am young and ye are very old wherefore I was afraid and durst not shew my opinion I said Daies should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdome But there is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Great men are not alwayes wise neither do the Aged understand judgment Therefore I said Hearken unto me Titus 2.2 3. See thee here Elihu green in yeares was made to reprove gray haires And Titus must teach the aged Men and Women I know thy end is to make people believe Wisdome is lockt up in the lips of old men Long standing Teachers in the Pulpit but such Are Ancient in Deceit Multitude of years should teach Wisdome but the multitude of thy Eight and Twenty years Ministry hath brought forth a multitude of filthy lyes bound up in thy Babylonish Book of Doating Dreams instead of the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles Priest pag. 409. Once more thou tells the people That experience of God and his Dealings will make men become Prophets to themselves and able to be Teachers of others This is true but thou darest not abide here for if they separate from thee thou cryes out of Faction and Delusion Ah how my soul thirsts after the Salvation of your soules who are thus drawn into the Chambers of Darknesse and Delusion by this Mans Doctrine and deluding Tongue O that I may see you withdraw from this filthy Dreamer and set forward towards the True Land of Canaan The light of Christ in your Consciences it will lead you to the Heavenly Jerusalem wherein there is no need of the dimme Candle-light of this Egyptian Priest Come out of Egypt dear Hearts do not delight to live and dye in the wild Wildernesse you at present are in The generation of Priests are the Hard-hearted proud oppressing Pharaohs that will not let the Children of Israel go free but fear them not onely be valiant and Turn to the Light And it love with all your hearts and your soules shall see Deliverance shortly and Pharaoh and his Host shall be drowned in the Red-Sea Exod. 13.27 28. Priest Page 249. In that part of thy Book called the Government of the thoughts Thou sayes Thoughts of the Vanities of the world with delight in them as fashions sports thou mightest have named Bowling and Musick Complements entertainments news jests the very froth and scum of wit and discourse these thou sayes are not worth thinking of Answ Are they then worth thy living in them Thou dost conform thy self to the fashions of the world Thou usest Bowling and Musick and livest in Complements and respect of persons Art thou not also one that givest entertainments listens after news and loves jests the very froth and scum of wit and discourse The living Principle of God within thee is my true witness and faithful Record in these particulars and shall rise up in judgement against thee for these things if thou repentest not The light will be thy condemnation if thou lovest it not P. 255. Thou sayes While you are thinking what gain you have got by such a Commodity you have fold of bargain of Land or Wares you have bought or at such a Faire or Market Think withall how little spiritual profit you have gotten for your souls at the many soul-fairs or Markets you have had as the Sabbaths Ordinances and Sacraments Let me answer for them herein Thou and thy Generation of Priests have gotten more temporall gains more Lands mony and goods by the bad Commodities and Wares and false Doctrine which you deliver at such Priest-Faires or Markets as thou calls Sabbaths and paintest over with the name of Christ Ordinances than ever their poor souls found comfort by them that bought them of you and traded with you Isa 55.2 Woe and misery will be the Portion of such Priests if they repent not who take money for that which is not bread and delude the ignorant with your insinuating Tongues calling light darkness and darkness light You are worse then Simon Magus for he would have bought the Spirit and ye sell the Letter adding thereto many lies of your own P. 375. Thou tells of the undaunted and insuperable courage of Paul whom neither bonds nor afflictions nor death could move or appale but the very thoughts of bonds imprisonment and afflictions made thee fly from thy flock in Lincoln to Norwich See what difference there is friends between Paul and your Priest Then thou brings in that of Nehemiah chap. 6. vers 11. shall such a man as I flee Hadst thou been as true a Minister of Christ as Paul was thou wouldest not have wantted Pauls insuperable courage but when the slavish fear was arising in thee Thou wouldest have said as Nehemiah did shall such a man as I flee But the Tree was known by its fruit shame cover thee thou cowardly Priest Mat. 12.33 Heb. 11. What dost thou talking of those Worthies in that little Book of Martyrs as thou calls it of whom the world was not worthy who subdued Kingdoms stopped the mouths of Lyons quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword Thou wouldst fain be ranked amongst those conquering Christians but it must be then in some unknown Land for here thy Cowardise is so well discovered thou canst not be counted such a Champion as those were P. 384. Thou bids the people As they have frequented Ordinances c. so do it still and hold on even till death and if these and the like things make you vile he would have you be more vile still P. 339. Is it not this mans design to keep you in darkness does he not deal deceitfully with you one while telling you That observing the soul and the affairs of it and Gods dealings with it will make a man a Divine to himself P. 409. and observing a mans course well and how God hath led him will make a man under God a guid to himself But he dares not centre here This Doctrine he sees would unroost him and all his Romish Generation Root Branch And though they may keep aloft for a little season yet they are not of the Lords planting and therefore shall be rooted up and so shall all other Formalists who stumble at the light Every knee shall bow unto my Jesus Here the man speaks plain English That unless you wilfully hood-wink your understandings you may easily discover The man is convinced That if you will but be so wise and wary as to watch over your own souls minding that principle of God within you which checks and convinces you of sin when no eye sees you nor eare heares you this will be a Divine a Teacher a true Prophet to every one of you This will speak truth when the false Prophet flatters you The light of Christ in your Consciences is the pure Divine The true Prophet the never erring Guid unto all goodness if you will yield obedience thereunto 'T is the desire of my soul you may no longer make this Dreamer nor any of this stamp your Darling Draw back from him for he is but a painted Sepulchre what good soever he promises you shall never be performed so long as his life is in the Letter he feeds on death Delight in that which draws out of sin unto holiness without which no man shall ever see God Feed no longer upon the Husks like Swine The Pearl of great price is set before you Christ Jesus the light of the world He is the way the truth and the life He is that bread from Heaven which who so feeds on shall never hunger He is that pure water of life which who so drinks of shall never thirst The light in your Consciences if you love it will preserve you pure and spotless and stablish you in that pure Religion which is undefiled But if you love Babylon and loath the light my Soul shall weep for you in secret Yet remember you have warning in your life-time prize it Much more of his filthy Rubbish might be gathered up but here is enough presented to the ignorant for whose sake this work was undertaken which may sufficiently render this Romish Orator an Antichristian Minister M. M. An end