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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81785	Johannes Becoldus redivivus or, The English Quaker, the German enthusiast revived : visible in this narrative. / Translated into English, for the use of his countrey-men, by J.S. ; Written long since in French by Guy du Brez.	Brès, Guy de, 1522-1567.; Scottow, Joshua, 1618-1698.	1659 (1659)	Wing D2413; Thomason E2137_3; ESTC R208359	48,581	94

affirm that the sense of these words written and spoken by the mouth of the Minister is the true and indubitable word of God as it more plainly appeareth Jer. 36.4 6 8. where the Prophet Jeremiah commandeth Baruch to write from his mouth all the words of the Lord. The words of Jeremiah written with ink in a Book are called the word of the Lord. How often do we hear in the Prophets Thus saith the Lord read these Scriptures Jer. 25.15 Jer. 20.33 1 Pet. 1.23 Isa 40.6 1 Thes. 2.13 Deut. 10.18 Acts 4.31 Acts 6.2 Acts 8.14 25. Acts 11.1 Acts 13.5 7 25. Acts 17.13 Acts 18.11 Heb. 13.7 Ephes 1.13 We ought rather to give credit to so many evident testimonies of Scripture then unto such Ravers who do nothing but rave and dream Muntzer careth not for that but dareth give the Apostle Peter the lye Now they which thus leave the Scriptures finding out another means to come unto God through pride they are deprived of their senses They pretend unto Revelations of the Spirit and despising all reading they mock at the simpleness of those which yet follow the dead and killing Letter as they call it By what spirit is it by inspiration whereof they are so highly rapt as that they dare reject all the Doctrine of the Scriptures as a babish and childish thing they say It is the Spirit of God but it is plain mockery so to speak For they must needs grant us that the Apostles and the faithful in the Primitive Church were inspired by the Spirit of Christ yet none of them durst contemn the word of God and the holy Scriptures but rather each of them had them in very great reverence as we may see it by their writings which are furnished with many testimonies from the Old Testament and certainly thus was it promised by God through the mouth of the Prophet Isa 59.21 where we see that the Lord joyned these two together his Word and his Spirit wherefore should we separate what God hath by an inviolable bond conjoyned Moreover 2 Cor. 12.4 Paul who was rapt up into the third heaven and there heard things unlawful for man to utter notwithstanding gave not over diligent reading nor profiting by the Books of the Old Testament Commanding Timothy to bring with him the Books which he had left at Troas with Carpus 2 Tim. 4.13 2 Tim. 3.15 1 Tim. 4.13 Yea he exhorts Timothy who though he was an excellent Teacher and well instructed in the holy Scriptures to give himself to reading and what praise doth he put upon the Scripture 2 Tim. 3.16 I would ask these men whether they have received another spirit then our Saviour promised to give his Disciples they will not dare to vaunt of another spirit now what Spirit our Saviour promised to send unto his Disciples he sheweth plainly when he saith Joh. 14.26 This Spirit shall not speake of himself but should bring to their remembrance what they had formerly heard of him It is not the Office of the holy Spirit that which Christ promised to dream of dreams of new and unknown revelations or to hold forth new doctrine but it is the work of the Spirit of God to confirm us in that which he hath already spoken by the Prophets and Apostles seeing also that the Lord promiseth not to send us another doctrine saying Hold fast that which thou hast until I come Revel 2.24 Gal. 1.8 9. whereby it appeareth that we ought diligently to travel as well in the hearing as in the reading of the holy Scripture if we will feel the benefit and fruit of the Spirit of God Luke acknowledgeth the diligence of those of Baerca in searching the Scriptures Acts 17.11 To this purpose tend these Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.19 Joh. 5.39 Luk. 4.21 Mat. 4.4 Ephes 6.16 Mat. 22.19 Luk. 24.27 Joh. 2.22 And Paul would have a Bishop to hold fast the faithful word Tit. 1.9 c. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures c. Acts 14.24 28. If it were otherwise how could we take heed of the deceits of Satan who daily transformeth himself into an Angel of light whereupon should our faith rest we should be carried to and fro without any stability But they do alleadge Object it were a great absurdity to subject the holy Spirit unto the Scriptures to whom all things are to be subjected As if it were a shame and ignominy to the Holy Ghost Answ to be alway like unto himself and to be constant in the same word without wavering at all if any should reduce the Spirit to an Humane or any other Rule it were debased yea brought into servitude but when we say That the Holy Ghost having once spoken is not mutable and changeth not discourse now speaking one thing and then another as men are wont to do who will say that we offer any injury to the Holy Ghost But they say Object He is by this means examined which belongeth not unto men to do Is is very clear Answ that it is such an examination as he hath pleased to establish in the Church that we may not receive the spirit of Satan instead of him wherefore it must needs be that the Spirit abide for ever such as once he hath revealed and manifested himself to be in the holy Scriptures It is no shame nor opprobry to the Spirit for any to say of him That it is no dishonour for him not to be mutable nor to renounce himself As for that which they tax the Ministers to be Ministers of the dead letter one may plainly see the Lords taking vengeance upon the outrage offred unto his holy Word smiting them with a spirit of giddiness for having despised the true and only means of coming unto God which is the Scripture and the Word of God In that passage of the Corinthians where Paul saith 2 Cor. 3.6 The letter killeth and the Spirit quickeneth let any closely consider against whom the Apostle disputeth and they will understand his drift It is very evident that Paul in this place had to do with false Apostles who preached and extolled the Law without Christ caused the people to recoil from Salvation purchased by Christ and the grace of the new Covenant whereunto the Lord had promised to write his Law in the heart of the faithful the Law then being separated from Christ as a body without a soul Jer. 31.33 Ezek. 11.19 Ezek. 36. Heb. 8.10 and nothing cometh from it but death to those that are under it it doth nothing but beat and strike the ears without any quickning the soul until by faith we are sent from it unto Christ as from the Usher unto the Master and then the Law will be found such as David sings it Psal 19.8 The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is faithful making wise the simple the commandments of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart c. Thus must we

JOHANNES BECOLDUS REDIVIVVS OR The English QUAKER The German ENTHUSIAST REVIVED Visible in this Narrative Translated into English for the use of his Countrey-men by J. S. Written long since in French by Guy du Brez ECCLES 1.10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said See this is new it hath been already of old time which was before us LONDON Printed for and are to be sold by John Allen at the Rising-Sun in Pauls Church-yard 1659. 1659 Post Tenebras Splendet Ip s●●iche Iohn Allen at the Rising sunn in Paules Church yard TO THE READER THe Soveraign disposer of beings the times thereof and the changes therein appointed to Adams sons having allotted ours to be in these last and perilous daies signally parallel unto those which this Narrative relateth there being then as now Deceivers sent forth and judicially commissionated to execute the writ of vindictive justice upon the non-receivers of truth in love God sending energy of errour that they may believe a lye the more effectual vigilance is required of us all that in this our now we may carry it as those which have found the favour to be preserved and accounted faithful therein and that the present must be of heresies may be subserviently tending to the manifesting of us approved Now see the prodigious practises and blasphemous belchings of these then Satans Emissaries comply with these his late Agents in itching and bewitching times I leave to judicious consideration when at the Frogs crept out of the mouth of the Dragon Beast and false Prophet content not themselves to sprawl in ponds and fresh waters but have ominously crawled over the vast brynish Ocean attempting our Nova-Albion shores whose daring designs by the Lords good hand have hitherto been frustrated that the frantick opinions of such fanaticks may not unto the vulgar sliely pass under the mask of new unknown light but barely may appear as indeed they are Satanical illusions by the old wily Serpent under such specious shews now again usher'd in he being again let loose to try our Gospel-stedfastness and to punish the wanton ingratitude of this our present age Let it be considered whether in this small History which though printed neer a hundred years since the spirit countenance language garb gestures and practises of those which pass under the name of Quakers do not lively appear declaring themselves to be the genuine off-spring of such a father the first and second brood so resembling the deceiver his master-piece in both being to break in sunder all natural civil and sacred bonds and policies not with Amalek contenting themselves to fall upon the rere of Gods Israel in their march out of spiritual Egypt but in the day of this our Jerusalem crying Rase it rase it even to the foundations and also whether the adversary of mankind hath not in our native soil already acted the comical part of the German enterlude represented in the sequel and whether he watcheth not his season to bring in the Tragical part also As for the Author of the Original of this book he is unknown to us but by his works which now follow him I have only translated the Historical part of the first Book of his larger Treatise it being about the tenth part thereof the rest not unworthy of the same labour being spent in the solid eviction of the great truths of the humanity of our Lord Jesus of the necessity of Baptism to believers Infant seed of Magistratical power under the Gospel of the lawfulness of an oath and of the immortality of the soul all which were both questioned and opposed by those which in this book he styleth Anabaptists between whom and meer dissenters in the point of Pedobaptism being otherwise Orthodox and peaceable the Reader ought alwaies conscientiously to distinguish He titleth his book Le source raeine fondement des Anabaptistes ou rebaptises de nostre temps I find him quoted by Mr. Rob. Baily in the second part his Disswasive from the errors of the times The second Book he dedicated to Christs scattered Flocks in Flanders Brabant Artois c. thereby manifesting how there lay upon him the care of the Churches Affectionately he provoketh the faithful therein to a more awful enquiry serious study and cordial receiving of the truth By the sight of these pillars of salt if any wandring misled souls should be reduced from the errour of their way or if any others who through grace have hitherto been kept should be encouraged to hold fast the truth and order of the Gospel he shall rejoyce who desireth to approve himself Thine in Christian duty Joshua Scotton Boston in New England the 26. of Novemb. 1658. JOHANNES BECOLDUS REDIVIVUS IN the year 1521. and the year ensuing there arose a certain number of mutinous and seditious persons who secretly made Factions th●y chiefly dwelt in the quarters of Saxony which border upon the River Salah among whom their chief was Nicholas Stork They dreamed dreams Nicholas Storks and his accomplices they preached dreams and said That they spake familiarly with God by Visions they preached their dreams for truths and Divine Oracles and because that there should come a new world wherein should dwell righteousness therefore they ought to exterminate all the wicked with all the Princes and unbelieving Magistrates from off the earth oppose Magistrates they called all those unbelievers which were not of their Sect and Faction From out of this School came Thomas Muntzer Dr. Balthazar Hubmore Melchior Rink John Hutt John Deuter Lodovike Hetzer c. All these boasted that they familiarly conferred with the Lord. In their teachings they with heat of affection did defame and detract from the Ministers of the Gospel and Ministers afterward with the like violence fell upon the Magistrate thinking that if they could make void these two Orders unto the Church the wolves might safely fall upon and dismember the Flock wherefore these wolves i. these false Teachers have alwaies principally set themselves against the Ministers of the Church and the Magistrates to see if they could drive them out from the Flock or at least disgust some of the sheep against their Pastors that so estranging them from them they might undo them Their Doctrine spreads Their Doctrine suddainly spread throughout all the Country and in a little space they gathered much people after them and Rebaptized many thousands Rebaptize thousands insomuch as many simple people were led by a zeal without knowledge being by their fair appearance insnared They tyed themselves unto the only simple and naked Letter of the Scripture They varnish over their foul intentions with fair pretences without regard to the sence thereof they carried it very fairly before all men for they had alwaies in their mouths the love faith and the fear of God the mortification of the flesh and the cross which were the garnish wherewith that they might be of value to the simple they painted and

the field with his and sack'd the Country about Isfield pillaged the Fortresses and Temples or Church●s and slew divers Gentlemen taking others prisoners which having done he returned laden with plunder and having so well sped the popularity were encouraged in the mean time they skirmished and ravined in the Country of Mansfield wherefore Muntzer thinking that there was a revolt in all parts came forth from Mulhuze with three hundred seditious men Upon these stirs Albert Count of Mansfield at an instant assembled some Troopes of Horse and fought Muntzer so as two hundred were left upon the place the rest being astonished with drew and fled toward Fraucuse and sojourning there waited for the recruit of their Army which was the cause of retarding their stirs In the mean time the Princes gathered together to the number of 1500 horse with some foot the Peasants being encamped in a mount neer Fraucuse they could not easily be assailed by reason of the Carts they had furnished themselves withal The poor people being unprovided either of Arms or Artillery and for the most part not acquainted with Souldiery the Princes bring moved with compassion admonished them by messages that they would deliver up the Authors of this sedition and that laying down their arms every one might with assurance and without fear of punishment return unto their houses Muntzer then fearing his skin advanced into the midst of the Troops and with a stern countenance made his Oration Muntzers Oration You see fellow Souldiers and Brethren how these Tyrants neer unto you have conjured to put you all to death and yet they are so saint-hearted as that they dare not fight us they make foolish and unworthy tenders to make you day down your Arms you know that I am the Author and mover of this enter prize but not upon mine own authority or particular fansie for it is not of mine own head but by the command of God these things being thus led on you and I must obey and not abandon the place and rank where God hath set us heretofore he commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son who not knowing the issue without difficulty obeyed the Divine command Gen. 22.2 wherefore God preserved his son and adorned his faith with great benefits we then who are in the same estate ought to persevere leaving the event of things unto God howsoever there is no doubt but all will fall out according to our wish and ye shall with your eyes behold the Lords relief for we shall destroy as many as there be enemies In many places of Scripture Psal 72.4 13. God hath promised to help the poor and needy which doth truly belong unto us for we are poor and miserable and inasmuch as we desire to return and increase in the knowledge of God none should doubt of the Victory or of an happy issue Behold on the contrary the condition of our Enemies they call themselves Princes but indeed they are very Tyrants for they take no care of any one of you but they squeeze out all your estates and swallow them down with all greedinesse Among the people whom God particularly chose it was ordained that their Kings should not be unprofitable spend-thrifts and they were commanded diligently to read in the book of the Laws which he had constituted but what do these Tyran●s now and how do they spend their time they think that they are not concerned in the Commonwealth nor do they informe themselves how it fareth with the poor and miserable They see not to justice but suffer Robbers upon the highwaies they punish not thieves nor do they take order against evil doing they in no wise comfort the fatherless nor the widow nor do they take care for the instruction of youth they not only do not advance Gods honour but they hinder the same nor have they any thought but how get other mens estates unto themselves wherefore they daily finde out new inventions to raise money nor do they care to procure or maintain peace with many the like speeches afterwards he exhorted them saying Be then couragious and rid this great unprofitable troop out of the way knowing that in so doing you shall fulfil the good pleasure of God I perceive no means either of sure or safe composition for they will never be otherwise minded they neither will grant us our liberties nor the true service of God Wherefore we ought rather to die then to approve of their wickedness or to let them snatch the Doctrine of the Gospel from us In sum I do assure you that God will help us and that the day shall be ours for be himself hath promised me it openly he himself I say who can neither lye nor deceive hath commanded me thus to proceed to punish the Magistrate Behold how Gods power appeareth when as a small handful of people overcometh a great number as for example you know what Gideon did with his small company and Jonathan with his armour-bearer what David did alone against that monster Goliath I put it out of doubt that this day shall be noted by the like Victory and that posterity will alwaies have it in remembrance for though we be in bad equipage not well furnished with arms and things needful we shall not fail to worst them and this frame of heaven and earth will sooner fail then we shall be forsaken of God Take heed left Reasons judgement make you shake or the appearance of danger that presents make you fraid but lively fall on the enemies be not daunted with their Guns or Artillery for I will receive all their bullets into my Gown Behold see how our God is for us contemplate I pray you the witness and sign of his good will toward us lift up your eyes and behold the heavenly how I could wish that in our Ensign the same Rainbow were pourtraied God evidently showeth by this sign which appeareth on high that he will in the Battel assist us denouncing ruine and perdition unto the Tyrants our enemies be couragious then and being assured of his fvaour fall on for God will not that you should make an agreement with your enemies His Oration being finished the greatest part of his company by reason of their present peril ceased not to be much afraid all being in disorder and without any conduct Yet there were in the band some bold and desperate ones bent to do mischief they being over-forward and ready to do evil were inflamed the more by reason of his speeach especially the Rainbow before spoken of did encourage them and they judged it as a most sure sign of Victory there was this further to their advantage that their Army was great it being about 8000 men and the place advantagious for their defence these Varlets cryed out that all should take up their arms and with courage they came to close with the enemy singing an hymne whereby they did implore the aid of the Holy Ghost There was sent