or Pastors let him stand forth and answer by name which hath received the word as from the mouth of God to minister it faithfully as the everlasting Gospel and message of God Query 49 Who is the Astronomer or Astrologer let him stand forth and answer by name which hath received the word dwels in the word by which the earth the Sea all that in them are the heavens the Sun Moon Stars the habitations of the heavens the hosts of the Heavens were made which made all governs all even unto this day to building destroying to planting plucking up which shews the natural causes of all overtures changes And let him answer me with the strength of his understanding whether his predictions are not subject to alter change or are they altogether unalterable infallible And this will manifest the original to be either the word of the Lord or the spirit of the Devil let him tell me whether worm Jacob hath a habitation in his house or shew me how the seed of worm Jacob is governed in his house which if he knows not that how knows he in what manner the Plannets are governed and Signes are ordered in and about the house of Heaven Isa 44.25 Dan. 4.7 8. Query 50 What is the ground cause of every disease which is generated in the nature of mankind whether you Docters do know the infallible Symptoms of the nature of the diseases and have you the figure of that root in your Herbal which is the substantial effectual cure of such diseases how in what manner ought than root to be applyed as a Remedy for the cure of the malady and saving of the sick which if ye knew the virtue and were faithful unto all persons considering their conditions in administring an equal portion of that root would not your practices preach a testimony to the discovering of the iniquities of all that makes a prey upon the people for the love of their monies yea or nay Query 51 What is the ground of a just Law Let the Judges Justices and Lawyers answer whether they stand in that ground which was the originall of the Law given unto Moses or are any of them in that ground wherein Moses received the Law Whether are they grafted into the roote of righteousnesse wherein the good Stewardship of the Lawes is testified to be the preservation of peace in the Nations which if they answer affirmatively I further Query What is the little measure of equitie which measureth all causes and dealeth just Judgement unto all without respect of persons in all manner of differences suits and controversies between man and man as in one Law and way of equitie and truth which if the Judges Justices did Judge by that Law and the Lawyers plead from the ground of that Law the Innocent would no longer suffer nor the oppressed groane under cruelties through the execution of corruption under the name of a Just Law Query 52 What is the tongue of the learned distinguish that which is but one from the tongues of mens learning which are many in the world and whether any tongues beside that one in any measure reacheth to the understanding of the things of God yea or nay Isa 50.4 Query 53 Whether is Philosophy in contrariety unto or in unitie with the tongue of the learned and what is the originall roote of Rhetorick and ground of Philosophy and can any receive the tongue of the Learned to speak forth the things of God in the wisdome of God in whom the ground of Philosophy and roote of Rhetorick remaines and is not the roote knowne by the branch leafe and blossome which springs from the roote yea or nay Query 54 What Bottle is that which is only proper to receive in it the old wine of Rhetorick and dregges of Philosophy And what Bottle is that which receiveth only the new wine of the kingdom and whether is it possible that these two can be contained in one bottle without breaking the bottle And what is the old bottle which cannot hold new wine Whether are not you that old bottle which never was broken yea or nay Query 55 What ayre is that wherein Paul said the Saints shall meet the Lord whether is it one of the foure Elements of which the Philosophers said mans naturall body is composed of Whether is it a naturall Element that shall for ever comprehend Christ and the Saints spirituall life seeing Paul said and so shall we be ever with the Lord. But if ye say that that ayre is not one of the Elements which the Philosophers wrote of answer then according to the Scripture and shew by the witnesse of God what that ayre is if not an Element 1 Thes 4.17 Query 56 Whether doth not your Philosophy informe you that if there be a third of necessitie also there must be a second and a first which ye Doctors of Athens or other Officers of the two Catholique Churches throughout the earth need not have gon to Rome or other Colledges or Schooles to have learned seeing most of the meane and vulgar in your accounts could so farre informe you in your own places and streets But without controversie to the ends of the earth you must first goe ere you come in truth to answer this my Query Paul said that he knew a man which was caught up into the third heaven what was the first heaven wherein Paul made his first entrance coming out of the Jawes and prison of death And what was the second heaven and the third heaven in which he saw the Revelation of things unlawfull to be uttered And whether the first second or third heaven is beneath but equall or above the ayre which Paul spake of And finally speak plainly whether can a man in his will by his wit or wisdome politicall his knowledge historicall the exercise of his arts and parts sylogisticall or philosophicall or by any of your studyes Theologicall throughout your Universities and Colledges Answer these Queries concerning the things of God according to truth in the wisdome of God to speak as the Oracles of God yea or nay 2 Cor 12.2 All ye Officers of the two Catholique Churches if truth be with you you will be glad of an occasion to Answer and lay open the deceits and Errors of hereticks for the confirmation of every honest heart and establishing all simple souls in the doctrine of truth Be wise in your generation for your owne actions will testifie in the hearts of the people either for you or against you Fury may proclaime a fire in your bosomes and you may order this writing to be burnt with fire but that will publish your envie and preach your spirits to be of the author of murder I tell you in time such an action will work your own confusion and afterwards God of a truth will plead with you by fire Truth is above deceit and can stop the
to the whole world is come it cometh it hath sounded and is sounding The mighty day of God is at hand therefore whilest you have time repent And allthough the Gentiles resist and all the Heathen every where gain-say yet the Lord will be glorified over all the world unto whom the Light is the sure message of the Most High whether they will hear or forbear AN EPISTLE TO THE GREEKS I Have heard a rumor in mine ears of a hard cry among the people Alas alas Our glory is defaced and our ancient praise and renown is utterly defamed Our wives are made the Vassals of other women and we are become slaves to a strange Nation We are no more under the Government of the Scepter which swayed our Fathers but the wills of another people works violence over us Our houses are but as habitations lent unto us and our substance and portion at pleasure may be spoyled by the hand of the Devourer Our children unto us are not as were the children of our fore-fathers in their Generations our wives and children treasure and substance is but a burden unto us when the eyes of our Lords looks over us Alas alas our misery is great and none regardeth it the sound of our cry hath reached far yet few have pondered it And the Lord said unto me Cry also among the Professors of Christian Religion even thus it is come to passe in many Regions of the earth the bondage it great and the captivity is doubled with violence and with cruelty The chains and yoaks are twice laid on and the people are under the indignation of the Lord The judgements of their adversaries lyes heavy upon their heads and their Loins are banded with the oppressions of their Rulers as with Iron and with Brasse and they cannot break the Cords to cast off their burdens and this and much more is the misery of the Greeks which their fathers iniquities first brought upon their heads in their dayes and the children of their Generations drinking of the Cup of their abominations unto this present Seed of evill doers Wherefore the hand of vengeance still toucheth their shoulders and in this manner God hath seen it equall to lay the burden upon that man which with his transgressions hath laden and pressed down the righteous soul of the Lord as a Cart is laden and pressed down with sheaves This is the end of their labours they ploughed the fields of the pleasure of their own hearts they sowed the seed of unrighteousnesse in the depth of the ground of iniquity who notwithstanding the Lord watered them with the water of adversity yet returned they not in the day of affliction wherefore of corruption they have reaped this abundance of misery YE Greeks unto whom I write for the seeds sake as a husband unto a wife not covering the diseased parts or falsly solving up the forest and most dangerous wounds not seeking to seal up your states in hidden sentences from your understandings or your conditions in parables nor to shut the door of the Kingdom against the seed of the Kingdom It hath pleased the Lord contrary to every part of the natural and desire of the carnall to lead me through some of the Countryes wherein as Sojourners you are Inhabitants among whom I did earnestly seek but could not find and then I returned to the Lord and sought with tears yet truly could not find one in a City that was worthy Ye ought to bear with me for the Truths sake nevertheless whether you will hear or forbear for the Lords sake and his seeds sake I am obliged by that which stretcheth forth love unto souls in this manner to stretch forth mine hand to draw back the Curtain that you may look to the Light which breaks through the Lattice and to remove the skirt which it folded over your nakednesse that your eye may see your filthinesse O misery misery the seed is in bondage that 's your greatest misery within the burdens of which is the ground of your misery without Consider consider and lay it to heart use diligence in the search of your hearts for the Lord God cometh quickly to try and to search every heart and to reward and give unto all according to their deeds done in the body whether they be good or whether they be evil Consider your Life which is the ground and cause of the mourning of the Land Jer. 23.10 I have passed through you and have seen the life of your people Behold abominable swearing lying cheating coveting drunkenness whoredom adultery murder Rom. 1.23.24 c. Changing the glory of the incorruptible God into Images made like unto corruptible man Wherefore God also hath given you up to uncleannesse through the lusts of your corrupt hearts Who have changed the truth of God into a lye and to worship and serve the Image of the creature more than the Creator Whos 's own Image only praiseth him who is blessed over all for ever and evermore Amen And this is truth in the presence of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth and unto the Light of Christ which shines in all your Consciences which shews you all your sins even unto that true Witnesse in your own hearts I speak I have been an eye witnesse of the bowing of the bodies of many of your people unto the works of your Fathers idolatrous hands unto which your corrupt hearts and deceitfull affections are joyned whilest not one of you in a Nation which mine eye ever beheld came to bow his heart in Righteousnesse and his life in Spirit and Truth before the Lord God who is a Spirit John 4.23 Whose day cometh and now is that the true Worshippers do worship him in Spirit and in Truth And for as much as Ye with other Idolaters do make these few following dark words the seeming ground of your standing places saying Viz. That you are the Roman Catholique Church and that you believe in Christ and do believe the Words and Doctrine of Christ the Scriptures of the Prophets and writings of the Apostles and that you hold the Precepts and do follow the instructions of the ancient Fathers c. Answ You whose Fathers made many Temples and painted Pictures therein that they might worship and bow down unto the works of their own hands Ye see the day in the midst of your calamities and time of sorrows how that many of the houses which they built are left unto you desolate And if now you the seed of the corruption of their generation were but come to the losse of your Fathers naturall Image in your carnal hearts and affections You would also as clearly discern your greatest misery which through the grosse vail of darknesse over your hearts is hid from your eyes Oh the captivity the captivity you are held in the possession of bondage and captivity under the profession of the name of Christ and Christians in the lusts of unrighteousnesse and the pleasures of
people and deceiving the hearts of the simple Awake awake to the judgement Behold the breath of the holy Apostles life is ready to utter voices in the earth as thunders against you destruction to your dwellings desolation to your habitations I have seen a dart within your doores which will wound you and when the day of God as a Thief in the night overtakes you Remember ye were warned unto repentance that you might escape the floods which shall overwhelm your Lands unto the determination of the consummation and decree of everlasting indignation and vengeance And furthermore ye Priests who say that you officiate as Peters Successors in the degree and order of your places I have both seen you your fruits and your labours and that hath plainly declared in the substance unto me that you have not the least relation unto the life of Peter being but the dirt and dust which the upright and undefiled spirit of Peter shakes from off his feet as a witnesse against your Cityes and habitations even in this day as a witnesse against the wickednesse and Idolatries of your Generation and whilst you are professing Peter's power and authority of binding and loosing on earth your manifold deceits hath blinded your hearts whereby you are so much ignorant of the word and work of Gods power that your corrupt wisdomes exercised in studies to the end of your evill dayes shall never find out the earth wherein the just life of Peter is this day entred binding the unrighteousness of your life and spirits under him as his Foot-stool everlastingly to tread and trample upon the glory of your heads and crown of your deceits Oh ye Greek Pastors Priests and people what can you plead for your Patriarch Can you not read the deceitfulnesse of his succession through the manner of his Election Dare you say that it is according to the election of the grace of Christ Jesus in the order of the truth or power of the true Faith who contrary to the word of Life and doctrine of the true faith doth purchase unto himself that Title and Degree with the price of a sum of moneys from the Emperour of the Turks whom you your selves do say is Antichrist and Reprobate concerning the faith of Christ an enemy to the life of the Saints and spirit of Peter of whom you say that your Patriarch is his successor Oh confesse confesse your blindness and blush blush and be ashamed of your impudence and obstinacy in ignorance for behold if your foundation and root concerning the remission of your sins be rotten what farther prop or post to your selves can you hew out in your imaginations and inventions for the support of the deceived walls of your Fathers buildings And again After one hath paid the price for the purchase of his Office if another of your Nation goes with his sum of moneys and gives to the Emperour he disposses the first and gives the Degree and Title to the latter Oh horrible abomination who hath a voice and hath with-holden and not cryed in the streets and published it in the open places even the iniquity and the abomination and not cryed against the loathsomnesse thereof by such desperate mockings of God through the wickednesse of their purchases Read diligently the Scripture Acts. 8.19 20 21. But Peter said unto him thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter for thy heart is not right in the sight of the Lord. Now compare the practices and see if the unrighteousnesse of Simon the Sorcerer who was in the gall of bitterness doth parralel the strength of the sealed bonds of iniquity of your Patriarchs Successors and finally touching this matter take this as the summe to your selves the original and ground of his deceivable granting and your receiving the remission of sin according to the truth of the reckoning of your own account is the Reprobate spirit of Antichrist Read also O Italy France Ireland Spain and Portugall the seat of your Father the Pope John 18.36 he sits exalted in the Kingdom of this world contrary to Christs example as King upon the highest mountain over many waters Rev. 17.15 Matth. 4.8 9. in the possession of the inheritance of the promise of Satan All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me The aboundance of his corrupt honour and vain glory with the abominable fruits of the worships of his children and the Priests actions in iniquity gives testimony of the oath of the witnesse that he stands principall in the ground of Apostacy Hester 3.8 c. Hamans decree which he got granted for the slaughter of the Jews and his Gallows of fifty cubits high which was prepared for Mordecai is the figure of your Fathers Inquisitions for the taking away the liberty Hos 5.13 14. and the destruction of the life of such as God sends to declare against your Traditional worships in Superstition and Idolatry Math. 11.29 How far is his life from Christs doctrine and example of humility who in the pride of his heart sitting on high in the seat and Throne of arrogancy maketh the comers to see his face to fall down before him upon their knees to kiss his foot The abomination and loathsomnesse of the nature of these few fruits are sufficient unto all that have the true sences of seeing and savouring that his succession is not in the Covenant of grace according to the election of God whom men in the flesh have elected and chosen unto the glory of the kingdomes of men in this present evil world And finally touching the vanity of your conceptions and the deceitfulnesse of the Popes practices this is the sum of the account of the true record concerning the absolutions and forgivenesse of sins which ye receive from his authorized sons Your Fathers the Priests Lucifer which sought a seat above the meek Prince of salvation is the root and ground of the issues of their grant and warrant of Remission Zach 9.9 Math. 21.5 Isa 14.12 13 14 15 16. whose figure and resemblance is the revelation of damnation He that hath an ear to hear let him hear and a heart to fear let him fear I have not in every particular remonstrated your Traditions and customes wherein you walk contrary to the truth but having the testimony shall in short shew you how that you are short of the substance in which the promise is yea and amen of eternall life Your hearts and minds are not singly and simply joyned to the Light of the Lord Christ Jesus which shines in all your consciences and that 's the cause of the foot-steps of your wayes and the birth of your words and works to proceed and flow forth as the fruits of the womb of darkness And in how much in all your wayes words and works you are short of the Life of the