of Conscience and their Hearts will be dis-engaged in Love and Affection to you-wards and this will be infallibly the Effect of Persecution for Conscience sake as King Charles the first saith in his Meditations A charitable Connivance and Christian Toleration often dissipates their Strength when rougher Opposition fortifies and puts the Dispised and Oppressed Party into such combinations as may most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their persecutors c. 10. Consider if ye force Worship and Religion and cause men to conform against their Judgments how dangerous is this to destroy mens souls and to lead 〈◊〉 even to destruction For seeing ye affirm not the Infallibility of your Worship and Religion and yet will impose them and so engage mens Souls in depandancy for Salvation upon things and wayes uncertain and which GOD giveth not the Faith to believe in I say how dangerous is this to ruin souls for in no way can the soul be secure but in the faith which God works in the heart in the Obedience of Infallible TRUTH So ye 〈◊〉 mens souls upon a Rock and it is unreasonable as before mentioned that men should be forced into the profession and Practice of uncertain and fallible Religion and that they should be forced by you into that which may be evil for which not you altogether but themselves must bear the punishment in the Day of the Lord and except ye could affirm and prove the infallibility of your Church which is impossible there is no Equity nor Right Reason for it That you should impose upon others any more than others should impose upon you For as King Charles the First said in his Meditation He desired not any should be further Subjects unto him then he and all of them might be subject unto God c. 11. Consider if ye allow not liberty of Conscience but persecute about the same ye walk in the way and after the example of some of the Heathen Rulers and of the false Christians and shews that ye allow of the cruel persecutions by the Church of Rome and ye follow their example who persecute unto death such as they call Hereticks and if ye do persecute for matters of Conscience then ye allow the very deeds of the Heathens who persecuted the Christians for their Religion sake and ye justifie Papists in persecuting the Protestants and ye plainly demonstrate unto all the World by your works and fruits that ye are of Antichrist if ye impose on mens Consciences by force in the matters of Religion and persecute good Conscience about the same for it was the Antichrist and the Beast that first forced all to worship and violently engaged all into a conformity and killed and persecuted all that would not worship according to the Image Rev. 13. as ye may read And it was not Christs way nor the practice of any of his primitive Churches to impose and force on the persons and Consciences of men concerning their Church and Religion to cause all into a conformity thereunto and destroy and persecute all that would not This was not the way of Christ and his Apostles in their daies but they left Religion free and said they were not lords over mens faith nor lords over Gods Heritage neither did impose upon any in doubtful cases of conscience much lesse compel against mens Conciences for the Apostle left the practice of doubtful things as every one was perswaded in his own mind to do or not to do without imposing by force or directions of persecution about the same Therefore if ye do not allow free liberty of Conscience ye are out of the Doctrine Example of Christ and his Apostles and follows the way and example of Antichrist Heathen Rulers and cruel Papists to your great dishonour 12. Consider if ye allow not liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion but impose and persecute about the same It must inavoidably tend to destroy and expel Trading Husbandry and Merchandize in these Kingdoms for a great part of Trading and Husbandry depends upon such kind of persons whose principles are for toleration in Religion and hates persecution and violence in that case this ye will find true on examination and if liberty of Conscience be not allowed such will be exposed to great afflictions some to imprisonment and some to poverty and some to flee into other Countries to the destruction of their Callings and Trading and the hands and industriousnes of such people will be weakned in these Kingdoms if they cannot enjoy their just liberty in temporal spiritual cases and the effects thereof will work wofully in this very respect even to dis-enable both the hearts and hands of Husbandmen and Trades and expose these Nations to want and poverty and to enrich their enemies 13. Consider If Liberty of Conscience be deny'd and Persecution be introduc'd about the same all these and many more woful Consequences and Effects will follow infallibly to the ruin of these Kingdoms even Wars and Bloodsheds and Discontents and Murmurings and all evil things will be the Product of the aforesaid Cause viz. Of denying Liberty of Conscience in Religious Matters for in a word it will tend to and may effect the Overthrow of you and Ruin your Government and Authority for the great and mighty God of Heaven and Earth will be provoked against you and his Wrath will go out like a Devouring Flame upon you if that ye limit the Holy One and will not suffer him to exercise his proper Right in being King in mens Consciences to exercise them in all the Wayes of his Worship and Matters of his Kingdom but do oppress impose and persecute about the same this I say will infallibly work the Kingdoms ruin and expose you and your Government to the Indignation of the Holy Lord God who is tender of his Honour and will not give it to another and he loveth and effecteth the Cause of such whose Consciences are truly tender towards him and though ye persecute such and seek to destroy them and for a time exercise great Afflictio and â—â—â—ressions upon them for the matters of their Conscience yet the God of Heaven will appear for such in his season and deliver them and avenge their â—ersecuâ—ors And therefore all ye Rulers consider and lay these things to heart lest ye provoke the Lord against you by destroying the People whom he regards and that not for evil doing but for the Caâ—es of Conscience and because they cannot relinquish their profession and principles of their Religion and how and conform in things against their Light and Knowledge 14. Consider If ye allow not Liberty of Conscience what exceeding danger 〈◊〉 run your selves into even to destroy just men and righteous as Hereticks and erroneous and may promote Hereticks as Church-members both which are great Abominations in the Sight of God and this Danger ye bring upon your selves for ye are not infallible Judges who are Hereticks and
not read that the Iews persecuted them for so doing And will you that have the name of Christians persecute the People of God though they meet together in private houses and their own hired houses and cannot come to your Temples and Steeple-houses And will not you suffer such to meet together out of your Publick Places but you will persecute them and call them Hereticks and such like Is not this worse than ever the Iews did to the Apostles And so you are out of the Example of the true Christians who met together and preached and prayed often and not in a Synagogue or Publick Place but you cry against them that do so and threaten to persecute for it and thus you shew your selves out of the true Christian Example and in this you are worse than the Iews and more cruel if you should persecute People for meeting to wait upon the Lord in their own houses or in what place or time as the Lord should move their hearts but if you proceed in this way and will not permit the People of God to meet together in their own houâ—â— and not in your Idol-Temples then the Power of the Lord will confound you and God will break you to peices and you will feel his heavy Wrath upon your Consciences and God will smite you with his Judgements inwardly and outwardly Now for your restraining of people from one way of Worship and forcing them to another and compelling them about Religion by cruel Laws and Commandments of men this is of Antichrist for you to do and of the Devil for all forcing of People to this kind of Worship and from another 〈◊〉 posing upon their Consciences in matters of Gods Kingdom this is also of â—…tichrist and contrary to Christ and his Way for he won People by sound Doctrine and by Love and by a good Conversation and so did his Disciples for they never forced any by outward violence to their Worship nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Church-Government and Ordinances but it was the practice of the Beast and the Dragon that first forced People and compelled them 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ship since the dayes of the Apostles Rev. 13. It was Antichrist that first 〈◊〉 upon People in the Ignorance of their Consciances and contrary to their â—…ences by the Commandments of men false Faith false Worship false Ministry false Doctrine and false Religions so that now if you should force any contrary to their Consciences to your Steeple-houses to 〈◊〉 and say your Form of Prayers we shall say then you are Antichrist 〈◊〉 of the Devil if so be you should endeavour to compel any either against 〈◊〉 Consciences or in the Ignorance of their Consciences to your way of Worship or Religion Therefore take heed how you meddle in these things lest God confound you And as for us we are the People of God we fear his Name and worship him and cannot bow to the Devil and we need not be forced to worship the Lord for his Spirit leads us into all Truth and we need none of your outward Prescriptions or Form of Prayers for the Spirit of God teacheth us in all these things when and where and how we should worship the Lord God who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth which is free and not by outward force and all the Worship that is otherwise and not in the free Spirit of Christ is of great Babylon whom the Lord will confound and destroy Another general Objection answered Object 2. Again whereas it is said by some Now there must be no more private Preachers unlearned men and men not ordained must not now preach anymore Lay-Persons must not be Preachers that are not so qualified nor so and so ordained and this is the present talk among some People Answ. To this I also answer and say Wo to them that would stop or quench or limit the Spirit of God in Sons or Daughters for such are Denyers of the Scriptures and the Power of God and such bring guilt upon their own Consciences and work fearful Abomination against God And what must not the Spirit of the Lord speak now where it is in this Age as it did in the dayes of old as you may read in the Scriptures for was not Elisha a Plow-man and was not he called from the Plow 1 King 19. and became a Prophet of the Lord unto the House of Israel and had the spirit of Elijah poured upon him and would not you have said he was a Lay-man a Plow-man unordained not fitting to preach if you had lived in his dayes And was not Aâ—â—â— called from following the Flock who had been no Prophet nor no Prophets Son but an Herds-man Amos 7. 14 15. and it was lawful for him to preach the Word of the Lord though he was but an Herds-man and had been no Prophet nor Prophets Son which if he had lived in your dayes you would have called him a Lay-man an unfit Person unlearned and one not ordained for the Ministry and you like Amaziah the wicked Priest of Bethel would now quench the Spirit as he would have done in Amos who was a Trades-man and such a one as you call Lay-men who are not as you say fitting to preach And did not Christ Jesus himself chuse Fisher-men and sent them forth to preach the Gospel and such as were men of Trades and unlearned in Books as it is written Act. 4. 13. When the Ruâ—â—â—s saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived they were Unlearned they â—â—velled and these were Ministers of Christ and preached the everlasting Gospel whom you would have called Lay-men and men unfit to preach 〈◊〉 you lived in their dayes And Paul himself by Occupation was a Tent-â—…er it is said and he laboured with his Hands and yet was a Preacher of the Gospel and there are multitudes of Witnesses in the Scriptures of these things how that men of Trades and unlearned in Letters and Books and never were brought up at Schools and Colledges but followed the Plough and were keepers of Cattel and some followed Fishing such as these in old 〈◊〉 had the Spirit of God given them and they preached the Gospel And what if the Lord at this day give his Spirit to such as these and send them 〈◊〉 to preach the Gospel even to such as were brought up and educated 〈◊〉 â—ay be at Handy-craft Trades and are labouring men and are not 〈◊〉 at Schools and Colledges will you limit the Lord and quench his 〈◊〉 and reproach his Wayes and Servants and now call them Lay-perâ—… and say they are not fitting to preach for they are not Learned nor â—…ed say you and calling them Mechannicks and private Preachers and 〈◊〉 they must not now be admitted to preach the Gospel and in this you 〈◊〉 the Scriptures and the Example of the Saints in former Ages and so neither 〈◊〉 the Scriptures nor the Spirit that gave them forth though you say 〈◊〉 own the Scriptures yet
the Church of ROME who are in the said Book Villified and Reproached by the Name and Term of Antient Phanaticks And this is sent forth as an Answer thereunto to Pursue it Apprehend it and Condemn it as a Pamphlet of Calumnies and Slanders against the Protestants both of former and present Dayes who are all of them Scorned in the said Book the one as Ancient the other as Modern PHANATICKS Which is sent abroad as a Warning to ENGLAND to beware of the spirit of the Church of ROME lest it Exalt it self in Cruel Persecution against the PROTESTANTS and all that differ from it HOW Great and Miserable hath been that Darkness and Ignorance which hath over-spread the Nations and Kingdoms of the World since the Apostles dayes And how manifold is that Error into which many have been fallen even as into a Snare of Destruction And how woful is that Strife Division and Contention about Religion that hath highly abounded among the Christian People so called For the whole Christendom have been divided and in Opposition one part against another about the True God and his Worship and concerning the knowledge of Salvation by Jesus Christ And divers kinds of Religion Church-Government and Practices of Ordinances of Faith Worship have been extant in the World and Nations Countries have been all in Division Strife and Contention about these Matters and have been also persecuting one another violently unto Bonds and Death for and because difference in Judgment and Practices concerning Spiritual Things Papists against Protestants and Protestants against Papists and one sort of Christians so called against another and the men of such a Judgment and Faiâ—â— and Way of Religion have been persecuting and seeking to destroy all that have been contrary minded to them And thus have been the woful Divisions and evil Effects thereof in the World among Christians about Faith and Worship and Religious matters this has come to pass because of the spirit of Error Darkness that hath possessed the minds of men since the falling away from the Truth as it was once manifest among the Apostles And thus it s come to pass because of the erring from the Spirit of God and because that hath been wanting amongst men therefore have People been divers and divided about Matters of Religion each one sort following their own Invention and Traditions of men and also persecuting one another and killing and imprisoning one another because of the same and all this because the Spirit of Truth hath not dwelt in the Hearts of Christians as it did in the Apostles not led guided and taught them in true Unity and Fellowship as it did the true Christians in the dayes of old And while the Spirit of Christ hath been wanting and is not received into the Heart to mortifie guide rule and teach in all the Wayes of God and the whole exercise of Religion and Duty towards Him and while there is any kind of imposing and forceing of Religion by Laws of men upon Penalties and Forfeitures and setting up Worship and Church Government by that means and in that way without the immâ—… Teaching of the Spirit of Christ in the Conscience I say while this hath been and is continued nothing but Division Strife Contention Persecution and Nations and Peoples destroying one another about Religion hath been is or can be in the World amongst Christians And of this same to wit of Division and Contention about Religion with the Enmity of such as are so divided one against another to the persecuting and killing one of another that are contrary minded as it hath been brought forth in the World for Generations past we have here a sufficient large Testimony lately published in a Book called Semper Iidem or A Paralel of Phanaticks c. wherein is made mention of what Strife and Contention there hath been in former dayes among the false Christians and how they have cruelly Persecuted Burned and Destroyed one another in this Cause only for and because of the difference in Maters of Judgment and Religious Things and these Persecutions and Cruelties effected contrary to the Example of Christ and his Doctrine who hath exhorted to Love and Peace and not to Kill and Destroy and that a man should love his Enemies and not Kill and Destroy them contrary to which Doctrine the false Christians of all kinds have walked and acted since the dayes of the Apoâ—… who have been Apostatized and fallen from the very Life and Power of Godliness as held amongst the primitive Saints into Forms and empty Shadows being all in strife one with another about such things and have wanted the Spirit of Christ which should have led and guided into all Truth and exercised them in the true Worship of the true and living God who is a Spirit and is only truly worshipped in Spirit and in Truth but out of this Spirit and spiritual Worship the false Christians have been erred and so all divided and in Centention aâ— aforesaid and persecuting one another because thereof each one sort justifying their own Way 〈◊〉 Right and condemning that which hath differed as the Wrong and all as Hereticks that have been otherwise minded But as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Book Semper Iidem c. I would gladly animadâ—… 〈◊〉 conâ—…ing it and do intend to write a few things by way of anâ—â—er thereunto and this is the present Occasion of my present work for having met with the said Pamphlet and perusing of it I found divers Considerations on my spirit to send forth in Answer to pursue the said Semper Iidem up and down the World till it returns again unto the place from whence it came to wit Unto the bottomless Pit out of which it lately arose and in reading the same Book I have principally observed the Mischievout End and secret Evil Intents of the Nameless Author more than the Matter it self contained and though the Author be Nameless yet is his nature and spirit known by his Book and for what end he hath concealed his Name I know not except he was ashamed of his Work and durst not Authorize his Matter by his Name but however the spirit end and intent of the said Nameless Person is perceived and known as much as any Tree can be distinguished by its Fruit and he is of an Envious Disposition of Heart and of Malicious Countenance and in nature and stock of the descent of Cain for his spirit is of an evil constitution hot and fiery and enclinable to destroy all that are not like-minded with himself in the Iudgment of Religious Matters and his proceedings and the end of his work is of an Intent and Purpose wicked enough if every Effect answers the Cause appearing and be not diverted from the End proposed by the Author and this I find by Calculation of his Birth and the Temper of his spirit and of the Time wherein his Book is published and by the Cause and End and Intent of the
One to such and such kind of Persons whom they name Clergy-men as if they knew all Religion and might only Preach and all besides themselves might be in Ignorance and know nothing nor can be fit to speak of the Matters of God's Kingdom which is contrary to the Scriptures and Example of Saints in former Ages As for the 13th and 14th Doctrines about Baptism of Infants I have spoken somewhat to it in my Answer to the fourth Doctrine so here I pass them Then Semper Iidem goes on and saith Who sees not among these the principal Tenets of our Anabaptists Fifth-Monarchy-Men Levellers and Quakers c Answ. As for the Anabaptists Fifth-monarchy-men and Levellers so called I shall not now plead their Cause but shall leave it to themselves to do it against Semper Iidem neither shall I condemn them with him or justifie them against him But as for the Quakers so called I have a few word to plead for them against their Adversaries though I shall be brief at this time They are neither Rebellious Seditious Hereticks nor Phanaticks though accused at this time of these things and accounted by the Author of Semper Iidem as such though neither he nor any of their false and envious Accusers that have ever risen against them can prove any such matter nor ought against them saving That they are an Innocent and Harmless People towards all people and though Sufferers by Injustice and Cruel Imprisonments under all Authorities yet not Rebellious nor Seditions against any but Peaceable and Quiet under all this is their Practice since they were a People And as for their Principles of Faith and Worship and Doctrine and Religion they are according to the Scriptures and Example of the Saints in former Ages and not ever yet convicted by any either Protestants or Papists of Error False Iudgment or Heresie though all manner of Evil hath been spoken against them in that Case yet never to this day truly detected or reprehended concerning the same And they desire no better way to be made manifest in their Doctrines and to be approved or disproved therein through the World than to have free Egress and Regress among the Papists and Protestants and all others in the Way of sober Arguments and Disputations and Reasoning out the Truth of what they hold and profess and if they can possibly be convicted that their Way and Doctrines and Religion are not found Verities but Errors then it is time to forsake them But all the Persecution that is already or can be acted upon them will never make them change their Minds till Death nor renounce the things which the Spirit of God in their own Hearts doth bear witness to the truth of And therefore let the Church of Rome lay down her Cruel Weapons of Persecution by Burning and Destroying of such as differ from them in Religion and let her admit of Disputations and sound Arguments to uphold her self thereby if she be able and to Confute and Convince such as are contrary minded to her even the Quakers so called if she can and let her cease her Fire and Faggot and Inquisition-Disputation of Murders and Cruel Tortures against such whom she calls Hereticks and let her appear in the soundest Arguments of Reason and Scripture and Antiquity that she can adorn her self withal and the Quakers so called will not doubt nor fear to advance towards her and meet her and answer her in the same for the true and legal Tryal of both that all the World may see and understand the difference between these two and whether the Papists Religion or the Quakers Religion is of more Reason Verity and Antiquity and the Quakers are willing to try this Case with the Papists engaging upon the adventure of certain Proof or Disproof of their Religion in the view of the whole World And this is the most I shall say at present on their behalf and in the mean time till this be performed let the Church of Rome and all her Members cease to persecute and accuse such whom they know not but by the Evil Reports of others and the Tenets and Principles of the Quakers so called will be justified where the false Christians cannot stand nor appear in Judgment Then Page 7. The Author of Semper Iidem complains of some Phanaticks as he calls them that nick-name what they dislike saith he They call the Church a Steeple-House the Surplice a Rag of Popery the Organs Grumbling-Pipes c. Answ. As for the True Church it is in God 1 Thes. 1. The People of God that are regenerated and sanctified wheresoever come together are the true Church of Christ for the Church was in Aquilla's House as it is written So that it is the People that are the Members of Christ the true Church and not the House or Place wherein they assemble at any time And as for calling the publick Meeting Places which some call Churches Steeple-Houses this is no Error for the Form Fashion and Service of the Place prove it to be so A great House made of Wood and Stone and a Steeple with Bells in it erected at the End of the House may properly be called a Steeple-House without Error and cannot at all be called a Church but in Error And as for the Surplice which the Priests put on this is without Question an Invention of the Church of Rome because there is no such thing in the New Testament nor was there any Surplices worn by any of the Ministers of Christ in the Apostles dayes but is an Invention introduced into the World by the Church of Rome and so is and may be called A Piece or Rag if you will of Popery And as for Organs and the Practice of them as held forth for the Worship of God there was no such thing among the Apostles neither did the Saints of the Primitive Church hold forth the Worship of God by playing on the Organs but the true spiritual Gospel-Worship is more heavenly and spiritual even in the Spirit and in the Truth is God worshipped as Christ said and not by outward Musick on Organs and such like but this is also an Invention of the Church of Rome since the Apostles dayes And Organs having Pipes of different sounds may be called Grumbling-Pipes without Offence Again Page 11. It is charged as a great Error in some that held It was not lawful for a Christian to take an Oath Answ. To deny all Swearing and taking of Oaths is according to the Doctrine and Command of Christ Jesus who hath said Swear not at all so it s manifest that the false Christians accuse and condemn such for Hereticks as abide in the Doctrine of Christ and keep his Commands And thus both Papists and Protestants are found in Error and Heresie themselves and breaking the Command of Christ and walking contrary to his Doctrine in Swearing and taking Oaths and condemning such as Hereticks as cannot take an Oath for Conscience sake and so
such as refused to take any Oath walked in the Doctrine of Christ and such walked contrary to his Doctrine as did condemn them And thus it is manifest that Papists and false Christians are fallen from the Doctrine of Christ and are calling Good Evil and Evil Good and putting Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light for they account such as will take Oaths and Swear good Christians who are Breakers of the Commands of Christ and such as abide in the Doctrine of Christ and cannot take any Oath but keep the Commands of the Gospel they are accounted Erronious and Hereticks and such like And whereas the Author of Semper Iidem hath censured judged and condemned in his work Iohn Wickliff and Iohn Lambert Thomas Evison and Iohn Waddow William White Cornelius Bunge Iohn Maundrel Iohn Trankerfield George Eagles Hugh Latimer Bishop Granmer and Bishop Ridley Thomas Hawkes Richard Woodman all of whom were Martyred and put to Death because they dissented from and denyed the Papists Religion these by name with a great many more this nameless Author with whom I am now dealing hath condemned for Hereticks and Erronious Persons and made void as much as in him lies their Blood and justified the Papists in putting of them to Death Now every particular Case of these particular Men that he hath named and accused as Phanaticks and Hereticks I shall not seek to shew or demonstrate so as to justifie every man's particular Case against this nameless Author of Semper Iidem but this is evident That these men are reputed by Fox in his Monuments as MARTYRS of JESUS and they have been reputed in England for many years as such and have been held of great Estimation and have been accounted as the Fathers of the Protestant-Church and my Judgment of them is this That their Death generally was for the Testimony of Jesus and because of their Faithfulness in denying the Church of Rome for I do believe That God did awaken these men with many more and stir up their Hearts in their Day against the Idolatries and Superstitions of the Times they lived in and many of them were sincere men according to their Light and Knowledge in their Day though I shall not justifie every particular man in every particular Part and Act of his Faith and Conversation but shall leave that at this time reserved in mine own Heart And still I say for the most part they suffered Innocently on their part and without Cause and Cruelly Inhumanely and Unjustly on their Enemies part and they Martyred them and put them to Death by Fires and Tortures unrighteously and as cruel Murderers on their part that Executed them And in asmuch as their Sufferings were only and because of denying the Church of Rome dissenting from her and denying of her and wherein only and alone their Sufferings were in this Cause and for this End they suffered as Servants of God though as I have said I shall not justifie every particular man of them in his whole Faith and Conversation And for a further Relation of these Persons who were put to Death mentioned by my Nameless Author whom he accuseth for Phanaticks and Hereticks and such like I leave it to be read in Fox's Acts and Monuments where it may be read concerning the Martyrdom of every one of these particular men with their Examinations Tryals and Executions as they are reported by Fox who hath alwayes been reputed A Faithful Chronologer of the Protestants Cause till this Semper Iidem seems to accuse him for a Lyar and false Reporter and such like And whether the People of England have not better cause to believe his Relation of these Persons than they have to believe they know not whom viz. the Author of Semper Iidem a Nameless Author who hath reviled the Protestants Cause and accounted the Martyrs and faithful Witnesses thereof Phanaticks and Hereticks let themselves be Judges But I shall leave this only with desire that these men whom he hath named their particular Cases may be read in Fox's Acts and Monuments which if you look in the Table at the end of the second Volumn â—ou shall find the mens names with the Pages disciphered where their Cases 〈◊〉 be read and when you have read them then judge whether Semper Iidem hath not falsified their Cases and wickedly reviled them by the name of Ancient Phanaticks thereby seeking to supplant the whole Protestant Religion and all that dissent from the Church of Rome And thus much in brief concerning the Martyrs whom in the 14th Page Semper Iidem saith That a notable part of the Sufferers whom Fox makes relation of were Phanaticks and Sectaries and Mad Saints and such like naughty words by which he accuses a notable part these be his words which is the chiefest part of the Martyrs related of by Fox and accuseth Fox himself of double Injuries in his Relation in that he hath Canonized Phanaticks and Sectaries and Mad Saints for Saints and Martyrs and in that he Reviled and Accused Queen Mary and the Papists in those dayes of greater Persecutions than they were guilty of and saith They did no more than Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth and Queen Elizabeth did to the Papists Thus it is manifest That that well reputed of and credited Historian Fox is reputed a Lyar false Reporter so the Book of Martyrs made worth nothing and Queen Mary the Papists justified in what they did in martyring and putting to Death the Protestants in their days and also Queen Elizabeth is secretly condemn'd in what she did against the Papists Oh that these dayes should ever appear in England which once were not thought of These things are published and suffered in this Old Government newly revived Let the Protestants of England take notice of it and see how the Records of their Martyrs are made null and of none effect and the Martyrs themselves slandered as Phanaticks and the Martyrers justified as Righteous in what they did and these things published and proclaimed up and down London These things I cannot but observe as full occasion is given me by Semper Iidem How that the Papists Cause seems to revive and to lift up its Head again in England in vilifying and reproaching the Cause of all the Protestants of all sorts who seemingly begin to be crow'd over again and the Death of their Martyrs made of none Effects as aforesaid And this is only in Love towards the People of England to make them consider what attends them and what Invasion is coming upon them if it be not prevented not that I wholy justifie the Protestants Cause against the Papists though Semper Iidem pleads That Queen Mary did no more to the Protestants than Henry the Eighth Edward the Sixth and Queen Elizabeth did to the Papists as the one Persecuted Burned and Martyred the Protestants so the other did Persecute and Destroy the Papists by which he would reason a justification of Queen Mary
received and so is divided in whole or in part from the true Church of Jesus Christ and from being a Member of the same and not only so but hath received also and doth hold some False Principles Opinions and Practices either different from or contrary to the Truth of the Gospel before believed in known and professed such a man is a Heretick though generally yet truly described Not such as are Heathens Unconverted who never believed yet in the Gospel such who have alwayes resisted the Truth and never yet were convinced of the Way of the Lord nor ever tasted of his Word and Power but have alwayes been Strangers to the Israel of God and Enemies to the Church of Christ such are not properly called Hereticks though they do err in Mind Heart and Practice but such only as have believed in Christ and Professed his Truth and been of the Church and yet are fallen away from the perfect Truth into some false Principles and Practices and are become unsound in Judgment and erroneous in their Understandings and have forsaken the Way of Truth in whole or in part and are corrupted and lost their Love to God and his Wayes and are obstinate and hardened against the Truth which once they believed and with False Doctrines Principles and Practices do gainsay and oppose the Truth and them that are stedfast in it These are Hereticks and truly so called Men that have erred from the Faith that have made ship-rack of it and of a good Conscience that are turned against the Lord and his People and gainsay the Truth that once themselves have believed and professed These are Erroneous Men and Hereticks and such Hereticks there were in the Church and among the Corinthians and there were such who did creep into the Church and privily brought in Heresies amongst them as before is proved And these Hereticks were such as had once been amongst the true Members of the true Church and been convinced of the true Jesus and had sometimes walked with them but were departed from them and had forsaken the Truth and received false Principles and Opinions and therefore they were truly nominated Hereticks and all such at this day are truly so called And this is the Description in general of a Heretick 4. Now I come to declare who are the true Judges of Heresie and Hereticks Not every man can judge in this case in his own Thoughts Imaginations and Suppositions who are Hereticks and who are guilty of Heresie though it hath been the practice for many Generations amongst the Apostate Christians to reproach traduce and accuse one another to be Hereticks and each sort and sect of false Christians to judge censure and condemn others that are not of their Judgement and Opinion but different from them to be Hereticks and Erroneous and this hath been usual among many but this is not the true Judgement not the way to try and judge truly who Hereticks are by one Sect and sort slandering and accusing others to be such because they have not conformed to their Way and Principles but been different from them true Judgement hath not been brought forth in this case on this wise but rather Envy and Enmity hath judged and men's thoughts imaginations and jealousies have falsly judged in this matter and no sound judgement determined who have been Hereticks for men have judged of one another by their private jealousies and evil conceivings and censured one another to be Hereticks without the Spirit of sound discerning and just Judgement and all that Judgement brought forth in that case without the infallible Spirit of Christ Jesus which is onely true Discerner and Judge in the matter hath been false Judgement and men have judged one another falsly upon envy and evil suppositions and without the Spirit of the Lord and it hath often happened by reason hereof That such so judged for Hereticks have been more righteous and more in the truth then they that have so judged them and the Judges have been more out of the truth and more Hereticks themselves then they whom they have falsly Judged And this might be made appear through several Times and Ages since the Apostles dayes among the false Christians 5. None are able to dilcern of Heresie nor to try and judge justly who are Hereticks none but they I say that have the infallible Spirit of God in them to guide them and have infallibility and perfect certainty of Judgment and Knowledge in that case of Heresie none else are rightly able to judge who are Hereticks but such I say as have the infallible Spirit of Christ and are infallible and certain in their Judgments these onely and none else are able to judge they onely are competent Iudges in this case of Heresie and who are Hereticks and if any judge in that Case it is but out of Envy and Enmity and in the evil Suppositions and Conceivings as aforesaid and must needs be false and unjust Judgment if they have not the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of Judgment to discern by and determine with in that Case for no man nor men may or can justly judge another in the matter of Heresie as a Heretick by their own thoughts or suppositions out of their enmity and for their self-Interests but the Judgement in that matter must be just equal holy and true and onely by the Spirit of Christ Jesus which is infallible and gives infallibility of Judgement and discerning into all cases and things for it was Christ Jesus and his Apostles and the Saints that had the infallible Spirit of God and infallibility of judgement that could onely judge justly of such things who were Hereticks and who were not and it was not the Iews nor Pharisees that could justly discern or judge in God's Spiritual matters but they alwayes judged of Christ and his Apostles and of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God falsly and unjustly in their evil suppositions and envy and this was because they had not the infallible Spirit of Judgement nor the certain infallible knowledge and discerning of different things in Spiritual Cases and so it is now at this day amongst them called Christians there is none can discern truly nor judge justly what Heresie is nor who is a Heretick but such as are guided by the infallible Spirit of God and have infallibility of Judgement nor none can make Laws whereby justly to judge of Heresie and Hereticks but them who have the same infallible spirit of God guiding them and have received infallibility of Judgement So both the Law-makers and the Judges of the Law must be infallible in knowledge and judgement in this case of Heresie otherwise the Law made for that purpose and the Judgment given by that Law are both False and Unjust and not according to God and his Truth but are to be justly judged and condemned of the Lord God in his day and season 6. Now it remains to be enquired into Whether there is any
Punishment pertaining to Hereticks as such for such Heresies held by them Being first convicted truly thereof as aforesaid by the true Church of Christ in whom there is infallibility of Judgment Knowledge and discerning in that case for in the true Church of Christ doth infallibility of true Judgment and Knowledge dwell and every true Member of the true Church hath its particular Measure of the infallible Spirit of Christ whereby he is certainly perswaded of the Way of Truth in which he walks and knows and believes the infallibility of the Truth he professeth and is certain and secure of the Way of his Peace and Assurance in God which he hath received and believed and also hath certainty and infallibility of Judgment and Discerning who are out of the Truth and in the Way of Error and are Hereticks such are infallibly known and discerned by the Spirit of God in the true Church of Christ and by every Member of the same according to his measure of the same Spirit and Gift of Knowledge and Discerning by it And to such as are so convicted by the infallible Spirit of Christ for such their Heresies there is a Punishment pertaining for Hereticks were to be punished in the Apostles dayes according to Paul's Instructions 1 Cor. 5. 5. which was That such a one as had erred from the Truth which once he knew should be delivered up unto Satan for the Destruction of his Flesh that the Spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord Here was a Punishment described by the Apostle for this Heretick that had erred and gone from the Truth and acted against it though once he believed in it and knew it And again Tit. 3. 10. he exhorts and advises That a man that is a Heretick after the first and second Admonition should be wholy rejected and turned away from and judged with the Holy Spirit of God And thus it is clear there is such a thing as dealing with men that are Hereticks and punishing them for such their Heresie according to the Apostle's Doctrines and Instructions And without all controversie such as do err from the Faith which once they have received and turn from the Truth in principle or practice must not escape unpunished but must receive the sentence of just Judgement from God and from his Saints that continue faithful 7. But what kind or nature this punishment is of in what way and manner such as are Hereticks may be and ought to be punished is doubtful to many and is a case at this time to be inquired into for that way and practice of punishing such as have been supposed to be Hereticks as among the Christians so called for many generations to wit the way and practice of burning banishing killing imprisoning and afflicting corporally the persons of them that have been called Hereticks for their heresies and laying forfeitures and penalties on their bodies and estates as hath been the practice of Papists and Protestants towards one another since the Apostles dayes this way and practice hath not been of God nor by any example or precept of the Apostles or first Christian Churches established in their dayes they did not practise or prescribe such dealing towards them that were truly Hereticks and were erred from the Faith and Truth of Jesus Christ not Killing Burning Banishing and Prosecuting the Persons of Hereticks this was not the way of the Spirit of God among the Primitive Christians they did it not nor gave institution for the doing of it at any time but this way of dealing towards Hereticks in such cruel proceedings as hath been in practice for many Ages is of Satan and Antichrist and is down-right Murder Robbery and Wickedness in the Eye of the just God while one Sect or Sort of Christians so called have punished and enviously persecuted another Sort different from them as Hereticks with grievous Afflictions in Body and Estate even unto Death and Banishment this hath not been of God nor true Christian-like but of the wicked one and Cruelties and Murders before the Lord neither are the same proceedings at this day in any part of the World where they are extant any just legal Righteous Christian-like way of proceeding according to Apostolical example but are of Antichrist and of the Wicked one as I have said And this Way and Practice of proceeding towards Hereticks hath been so far from effecting the return of any to the Way of the Lord that have been erred from it as the end of proceeding toward Hereticks should effect that the way and practice of Killing Banishment and Persecuting by violence Hereticks so called hath hardned men in their evil way and made such as have been Hereticks more bold confident and obstinate in their Way Heresie and Errors and many that have been more righteous and clearer from Heresie then such as have so judged them have been destroyed by cruel dealing and many others have been destroyed in their Iniquities and Errors by being so proceeded against And thus true Judgment and Justice in this case have been perverted and turned backwards and because of Ignorance and Cruelty the Righteous have suffered unjustly as the Wicked and the Wicked have suffered by unjust proceedings and thus the Way of Righteousness hath not been known in the Earth but Error upon Error one evil upon another hath come onesin added to another among the Sons of men in the Apostacy amongst the false Christians 8. But the perfect Way of the Lord in proceeding towards such as are truly Hereticks so discerned and infallibly judged to be by the true Church of Christ is this Let such first be admonished advised instructed and warned again and again to beware return from and renounce such false Principles Doctrines and practices held by them and this in the spirit of Christ Jesus in perfect love and in meekness and in the wisdom of the Lord God such I say as are erred from the way of the Lord and from the faith of Christ once received into error ought thus in the first place to be dealt withal by the Way of Admonishing Instructing Warning and Reproving that there may be a Returning and Repentance towards the Lord and his Truth again from whence they have erred and if such shall not receive the Instructions Reproofs and Admonitions of the true Church of Christ then such Hereticks shall be rejected and cast out according to Titus the 3. 10 11. saith the Apostle A man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself here is the Description of the punishing of an Heretick if he will not receive Admonition after being given him again and again but doth harden his heart against the Church and against the truth of Christ and will not repent but persicts in his errors and heresies and that after reproof and admonition then he is to be rejected rejected what is that but a casting out from
any Creature was made and the whole World is comprehended and mans state in his first Creation is here known what it was and mans state in Transgression is also known what it was and mans state restored again is also witnessed and the difference perceived betwixt the first Adam which was overcome of the Devil though he was innocent and without sin and bore the likeness of his Maker and of the second Adam who cannot be overcome of the Devil whom Satan hath nothing in who is the express Image of the Creator it self He that hath an ear to hear let him hear Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard it hath not entred into the heart of man that which the Father hath revealed by his Spirit things not lawful to be uttered of which there is no declaring that which is Infinite Endless Eternal and in this I shall end By one who hath measured and viewed in true Iudgment the condition of all Mankind who is a Lover of Souls and a Friend to the Creation of God known in England by the name of EDWARD BURROUGH London the 6th of the 3d Moneth 1656. Truth Defended OR CERTAIN ACCUSATIONS ANSWERED CAST Upon us who are called Quakers by the Teachers of the World and the People of this Generation WITH A clear Discovery who are the false Prophets and when they came in and how they may be known and who they are that deny Christ and that preach another Gospel and who deny the Scriptures Churches Ministers and Magistrates whereby the Magistrates and People of this Nation may see they justifie that which the Scripture condemns and condemns that which the holy men of God justified and may read their example and our example through the Scriptures The Epistle To all you who call your selves Ministers of the Gospel and all People in all Relations under what form of Worship soever in England or in all the World whâ— profess your selves Christians THe mighty day of the Lord is come according as he promised of old and this day is witnessed wherein he is establishing his Mountain and exalting it above all Mountains and is gathering his People which have been scattered in the dark and loâ—â— Night of Apostacy which Christ and his Apostles saw coming into the Churcâ—… then and hath had dominion long over the World and hath reigned till now and reigns nâ—â— in all the Professors in all Forms every where But now the time is come wherein the Kingdâ—… of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and thousands witness it to the praise of his everlasting Name And therefore the Nations are angry and 〈◊〉 Pâ—inces of the Earth because Michael one Prince is arisen to plead with all who make 〈◊〉 against him And now Herod and Pilate and all Jerusalem are in an uproar and Ammâ—â— and Amaleck and the Egyptians and the Philistines are joyned now against him And all you who live in Forms and know not the Power do now persecute and joyn your selves tâ—gether being in the same nature as the Persecutors of old which were born after the Flesh. And now you Sons of Bondage and of Hagar are to be cast out and now you are all 〈◊〉 manifest that you are in the Flesh for all your Bows are bent and all your Arrows are 〈◊〉 at a People which are accounted by you as the filth of the World and as the off-scouring of all things whom the World calls Quakers in whose foreheads is written the Name of the living God and unto you I say that make war against them and now take part with the Dragâ—â— against the Lamb you shall all drink of the Cup of Fury and indignation of the Lord 〈◊〉 unto the Living God who is holy and jealous for his own Glory and Name which hath manifested his Mind and Will by his eternal Spirit unto us shall you all bow and stoop For now the Lord hath rent the Vail of the Covering which hath been spread over 〈◊〉 the Nations in all Professions and you are all seen by the ternal Eye which is opened in thousands even all from the highest to the lowest who have stolâ—n and painted your selves with 〈◊〉 â—ens words And all your Images which you have set up and all your traditions from â—en in which you have walked are all seen to be stubble and â—ill not abidâ— in the day of the Lord. And all your Churches which you have gathered together by imitation from the 〈◊〉 shall all be scattered and there you all are for you all deny Revelation and say it is ceased and so you call the Letter the Light and the Word but with that which was before the Scripture you are seen and judged even with that which shall endure for ever And seeing you have cast reproach upon the Name of the God of Heaâ—â—â— and Earth whom we worâ—â—ip and which you call delusion for the truths sake are we moved to lay open your â—akedness that you may be judged by that which you say is your rule Here in this Little Book thou who hast any honesty in thee or any desire of truth and wilt search the Scripture thou wilt see thâ—◠〈◊〉 the teachers of the world in all Forms and all Professors ever cryed out who had but the Form against them who had the Life and Power as you all 〈◊〉 now against them who Worship God in the Spirit and have no confidenâ—e in the flesh and therefore in this following Discoâ—rse which 〈◊〉 written by the same Spirit that gave forth the Scripture thou shalt see who are the false Prophets and who they are that preach another Gospel and who they are that deny the Scriptures and thou mayst see when the false Prophets came in and who they are clearly proved to be by their own rules And all you who call your selves Magistrates and Christians you may see your selves to hold up that which Christ the Prophets and Apostles cryed oâ—â— against and Persecute them who stand in the counsel of God and them thâ—â— Declare against all the deceit as the Holy men of God did and so you are the beast which holds up the false Prophets and those whom the Scripture declareth against God is arisen to dâ—… to pieces all them who withstand him and therefore come out of Babylon â—â—d out of all your painted forms and come to own the first Principle which will change your mindes even the Light of Christ which he hath enlightned every one withal and by it you shall see what you are doing Now if you deny this you deny the Corner-stone and you stumble and shall be broken and by thâ—â— which you call natural shall all your Image of gold and silver and all your mixed invented worship be dashed to pieces and 〈◊〉 for the Pit Therefore all be silent and speak not evil of those thingâ— you know not for now you are all seen you who say you are â—â—ws and are not but are of the Synagogue
the Foundation or Fundamental Principle of the Religion which is not in Form but in Power agreeing in the Foundation and in the whole building But Friends you seem to charge the late Powers of the Nation if not your selves yet some part of your Body which now are in power with great things with no less then to be Satans Seedsmen for if allowing difference in Forms be the dangerousest and fruitfullest Seed that ever was sown by the envious One as you say it is then who do you blame either the fore-going Parliaments of which some of you have been and so cannot be clear from that evil or the Protector himself and this seem to be a very great charge upon him whose judgment is appearingly to give allowance unto difference in Forms to be the Seedsman of Satan or to allow the envious One to sow the Seed which you call dangerous it is not Christians that are divided but the Sects and false Opinions men of corrupt minds Thus much in answer to the words as they are laid down but I rather chuse to speak to the mind or intent of the Penmans spirit of your Declaration which implieth an inclining to be against many Forms and to bind up all into one Form of Worship and so thereby though some which is evil would be shut out yet would the true spiritual Worship of the Saints above all assuredly thereby be excluded and the tender spirits of People who truly seek God would be oppressed But keep your selves from that evil I warn you lest you be broken and never bound up and lay no Law nor make no Law upon Religion but let Religion defend it self only lay your Law upon Peace-breakers and violent men and bind not mens Consciences to a Worship by your Precepts either made already or by such as may be made if you ease the Oppressed so God will establish you in peace if you fulfil his Will herein Again you say In not being fully sensible though the Lord in the depth of his wisdoms and righteous Iudgments hath for some years last past been overturning several Authorities in these Nations and hath as it were been pouring them from Vessel to Vessel he hath been pleased ever since his people publickly contended for his Truths still to set up Rulers who have allowed them the free exercise and profession of them Answ. Indeed you are not sensible of the righteous Judgments of God in overturning several Authorities in the Nation and therefore you go in the same abominations as they did who were overturned till you also be overturned as they were But take heed to your selves lest you be more then poured from Vessel to Vessel even spilt in the dust of misery and never more gathered again Your last part of this particular is false for we that are in the pure Religion and in the Exercise of our pure Consciences have not from some of you our Liberty but are cast into Goals and Dungeons and banished out of yoâ—â— Towns and Cities some of us by some that have been Rulers set up if this be doubted by you examine through your Nation true testimony may be given so that here you have spoken better of the Rulers then indeed it is and would make the Nation believe untruths to establish you though I condemn not all but my words are towards the Guilty that they may repent lest they perish in their iniquities and be cut off in their transgressions and the Curse be upon you all for the sake of some Again you say In that Athiestical and luke-warm Spirit too commonly aâ—…gst you whereby not only the Form but also the Power of Godliness is reproached and accounted as a vain thing but also too many have fallon from their first love and others esteâ—… themselves rich whilst they are miserable poor and blind and naked sins which â—…e the highest aggravated by being committed in Countries where the glorious Light of the Gospel shinâ—s clearest Answ. This you have confessed truly to your own shame in the sight of other Nations your spirit is not only luke-warm unto Righteousness but it is too â—â—mmon among some of you to be zealous and hot in persecuting the Way of Righteousness and indeed many of you are grosly fallen from your first Love and Integrity and thereby the Power of Godliness is not only reproached by you but persecuted and counted vile and they that live in it oppressed such is your zeal in your dead Form some of you that even you count the true Way and Worship of God madness and you are the men that esteem your selves rich while you are miserable and blind and naked and your sins are aggravated the more and higher because God gives you warning daily by the mouth of his Servants who hold forth the Light of the glorious Gospel and bears witness unto your faces against your Abominations and Idolatries committed by you yet for all this you continue in your iniquities and evil entreat the Messengeâ— of Peace unto you souls and are the men indeed which are Athiestical evâ—â— many by their work saying in their hearts there is no God and as truly as yoâ— have confessed your sins so must you confess the justness of the Judgments of God upon your own heads if you return not unto the living God and own the day of your Visitation Again you say In being more dissatisfied that you have not obtained all you aimâ—d 〈◊〉 then thankful that you have obtained so much as you now enjoy Answ. Verily this is not the least of your sins but exceed some others fâ—r you aim at that which you shall never obtain till you be thankful and walk worthy of what you enjoy and this is the way Ease the Oppressed and take oâ—f the yoke of the Poor and Needy and of the Lord you may be heard and seek not your own honour for that is the ground of dissatisfaction and unthankfulness among you and the cause why you abuse the Mercies which you do enjoy having lost the sence of the former dealings of the Lord with you Further you say All which with other the grievous sins of these three Nations caâ—â— aloud upon all the good People in them to lie low in the sight of our offended God and bâ— Prayer and Humiliation away which in our deepest distresses we have found both our Dâ—ty and Comfort to tread in to seek to appease his Wrath and that he would be pleased fâ—… his own Names sake to remove whatever accursed thing there is found amongst us and the as he is our God so we may be his People Answ. Indeed many more grievous sins are highly abounding in these three Nations your own oppressions and self-seeking honours and vain glories in your self-performed righteousness with your persecution of the Innocent by grievous unjust Fines and Imprisonment not regarding the cry of the Poor which lie under the heavy hand of Oppression of you subordinate Rulers these aboundantly add to the
confuted thine c. Do not boast but hear what I say thou sayst in that answer that Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father in your Nature Mark now thy Nature and your Nature who are one with thee is sinfull and wicked and of the Devil for so all Lyars are and it is Blasphemy to say sinfull wicked divillish Nature such as Iohn Bunions is and his Fellows is at the right hand of God in Heaven O horrible consider of this and see what thy begging an answer hath brought upon thee I deny though thou affirm it that thy and your Nature which is wicked or a man in that Nature is ascended into Heaven and therefore boast not thy self another time This nakedness of thine might have been covered but for thy own boasting and thou sayst Asts 1. proves it let the Reader search If he can find that Christ ascended in sinful wicked Nature such as theirs is who are one with Iohn Bunion and this is another Lye of the Scripture and though thou with much impudent confidence affirm the Quakers to be Deluders c. I say from that we rather love dispraise then praise and are as our fore-Fathers were counted Deceivers and yet are true and thou art deceived in thy own heart in that thou understandst my words that I should say as though there were no false Prophets now because I said they were in the Apostles dayes which is true and yet are they now too even it s witnessed by thee and thy Fellows who are in their steps who through coveteousness making merchandize of Souls and your people are ever learning and not able to come to the knowledge of the truth and goes for gifts and rewards and are false Accusers and such like Nay but understand me better for I say thou art a false Prophet and thou art now though thy root sprang forth in the time of the Apostles of which thou are a Beanch and thy Fellows And though I said that Antichrist was in the dayes of Iohn and this was before a Quakers was heard of my words I own pâ—…rs that that the Christians were called Quakers at that day if thou canst 〈◊〉 I allow not thee to be my Interperter except I found thee more honest 〈◊〉 doth condemn thy meaning upon my words and though thou sayst instead of moving our selves no false Prophets we prove our selves no Christians because I said that word Quaker was not heard of in those dayes Now consider are they no Christians now whose title or name without was not gives or heard of in the Apostles dayes then Protestants are no Christians nor Independants are no Christians nor Anabaptists are no Christians because they were not called so in the Apostles dayes and whilest thou hast thought to prove us no Christians hast cast out thy self also then thou art no better then we and what poor Arguments and vain consequence these are 〈◊〉 the wise consider I did not say there were no Quakers then but not a Quakers heard of viz. by that name for there were thousands of Quakers who trembled and quaked at the Word of the Lord Moses and David Iereâ—… Isaack Paul with many more Quakers and Tremblers though not then 〈◊〉 called but as I said such as thou hast such thou bringst and thy Master will accept thee Then thou sayst I fling durt in thy face because I said if we should diligently search thee we should find thee in their steps through feigned words through coveteousness making merchandize of Souls loving the wages of unrighteousness And further I said among them thou art found who art preaching 〈◊〉 hire and loves the error of Balaam who went after Gifts and Rewards oâ— Now thou seemest to be grieved and calls this a false Accusation But le ts try the cause admits dispute Art not thou in their steps and among them that do 〈◊〉 things ask Iohn Burion with whom thou art joyned close to vindicate 〈◊〉 and call him Brother hath he not so much yearly 150. l. or more except tâ—… hast some of it which is unrighteous Wages and Hire and Gifts and Rewards What sayst thou Art thou not in his steps and among and with him and then that do these things if he be thy Brother and thou so own him what is 〈◊〉 in him whom thou vindicates I lay upon thee but tell me who have 〈◊〉 thee deny him and the rest of the Independants in these things which 〈◊〉 knowst he doth act and in thy answer I cannot find thee fully clearing thy 〈◊〉 by denyal but sayst That spirit that lead me out of this Way is a lying spirit 〈◊〉 or what Way I say out of the way of preaching for Hire dost thou mean â—y it s a lying spirit in thee that goes in their steps and among them that goes in 〈◊〉 way and though thou bid me have a care of receiving by hear say what I bâ—… said and received in this is truth though thou evade it never so much As to that of some bidding thee throw away the Scriptures c Indeed upon such terms it might be spoken so as to be owned a Lyar and a Slandereâ— is an unfit Fellow to meddle with the Scriptures or to take the Name of the Lord or of the man Christ Jesus in his mouth and I may say truly what hast 〈◊〉 unrighteous person to do to take his Name and truth in thy mouth hateâ—… to be reformed And in that I say of thy crying against Christ within this is true who said there was nothing in thee nor any man without exception to be taken not in of as we may prove by witness though thou deny it then was not Chrâ—… within and what less is this then to cry against him when as thou deayd him within or else concludes he is not worth taking notice of And thoâ—… thou say I falsely speak of thee in saying thou callst the Doctrine of Christ waâ— in false opinions and take in hand to discover it but the falseness is in the who hath uttered that which is untruth and contrary to the Gospel and 〈◊〉 denyes it or would hide thy wickedness for thou having framed an objectiâ—… and speaks of some that are for a Christ within c. and then thou sayst the wilt discover the falsity of such opinions Now thou dost here reckon the Doctrine of Christ within a false opinion or among them at lest let the Reaâ—… judge and be thou silent for shame but all thou sayst clears thee not froâ— what I said of thee God shall judge thee thou lying tongue and deceâ—… heart Then thou chargest me with folly and to eat my first words and to be 〈◊〉 ble in judgement and to fight against the Truth c. From my question aâ—…e doth not the Scripture say Christ is within except you be Reprobates aâ—… not this thus much all are Reprobates but they in whom Christ is within a yet because I said the measure or manifestation of the
the Holy Ghost Ans. His words are utterly false yet we say we have received the Holy Ghost which teacheth us and leadeth us into all truth and by it are we lead out of all Wickedness and Delusion and all wicked speeches which he brands us withall and these things are his own for he is seen to be in delusion and odious wickedness and wicked speeches And saith he They speak against the DOCTRINE of the SPIRIT and cryes down the love of the Saints and against the Ordinances of the Ministers of Christ. To this I have answered In the love and union with all the Saints we are and Ministers of Christ but against Hypocrisie we declare such who profess what they are not and use their tougues and saith the Lord saith when the Lord hath not spoken to them and sprinkle Infants and saith it is an Ordinance of Christ and singing Davids experiences in Rime and Meeter with many other things which the Priests hath in their practice such things we deny to be Ordinances of Christ and them to be Ministers of Christ which do practice them and this we do say by the Spirit of Truth But that we pronounce damnation against Gods Church and holy Servants this is false again and is but the fulfilling the number of his lyes and though he charge us secretly with preaching another Gospel then that which Paul preached is false and if we duely examine it will be he that will be found preaching another Gospel whose practice is found in many things contrary to them who were Ministers of the true Gospel and so the curse pronounced by the Apostle will fall upon him and not upon us in the day of Judgement 21. His one and twentieth Reason Saith he The Quakers themselves renounce 〈◊〉 words the Ranters and Papists as a deluded sort Answer To which I answer and say Yea not only in words but in lives lives also we utterly abhor the Ranters and Papists both in profession and practice and do know that Rich. Baxter is of the same spirit though differing in words But saith he The Ranters and Drunkards cryes out against the same Ministers same exercise and godly people as the Quakers do To which I answer What the Ranters and Drunkards may do in their wickedness and unclean spirits is one thing and what we do in the fear of God and tender love to peoples Souls is another thing but how uncharitable is this man in his judgment Let us try him as if I should say The Ranters and Drunkards and Prophane and all ungodly People they are our Enemies and do oppose and gainsay the Way of God and the people called Quakers and they Beat them and Reproach them and Slander them and doth much cruelty unto them and thus doth Richard Baxter of Kidderminster he reviles them and reproaches them and belyes them and therefore he is one with the Ranters and Drunkards and prophane people and he holds part of the Papists Ranters and Drunkards doctrine and practice And thus he is judged with his own Rule according as 〈◊〉 hath judged us by the same Rule and now say I as well as he of us Let any man judge that hath not forsworn all wit and reasons whether it is likely the Holy Ghost will inspire Richard Baxter and a company of Priests of Englâ—… to acquaint them with the same Points Doctrines and Practices which the Papists Ranters Drunkards and all prophane people exercise themselves in for as all they are Enemies to the Quakers so is he and his company Aâ—… farther I ask him Whether the same things be heavenly in Rich. Baâ—… and his company which be hellish in the Ranters and Drunkards And whether Richard Baxter hath not condemned himself and the Priests of England in condemning the Papists and Ranters and Drunkards and prophane people in acting the very same things to wit speaking against reproaching reviling and slandering and backbiting an innocent people of God called Quakers 22. His two and twentieth Reason And saith he If I have any Reason to 〈◊〉 weary of the Christian Catholick Reformed Religion what reason have I to turn Quaâ—… more then to any other Sect Why saith he how do they prove they are more in the riâ—… then any other c. Ans. To all this I answer this is according to his knowledge who sees 〈◊〉 difference between good and evil between such as serveth God and such as serves him not and how can this man be a Teacher of others that is so blind himself The true Christian Religion he is out of and in a Sect whose fruiâ—… are as bad as the Papists or Familists or any others for I believe not the worâ—â— of Sects could have brought forth more lyes and slanders and scoffing worâ—â— in one sheet of paper then he hath done in this which now I deal withal And as for our proof that we are in the right way to every man that hath an eye to see and an ear to hear and an heart to conceive it 's easie to be proved and such are satisfied but as for Unbelievers and Persecutors such as himself they must hear and see and not perceive and understand 23. His three and twentieth Reason Saith he The way by which they prâ—… is not producing any evidence for they renounce that and offers all from the Autâ—… of the spirit within them c. Ans. The way by which we prevail is by the the Spirit of the Lord which 〈◊〉 within us and that was the way whereby all the Ministers of Christ evâ—… prevailed by the authority of that But yet this is false we do not deny 〈◊〉 produce Evidence but is sufficiently able and hath done it to produce Eviâ—… out of the Scriptures to prove all things which we profess or practice for Religion But saith he They must prove their Commission by Divine miracles before 〈◊〉 reasonable man can believe it c. many that fear God and are in the 〈◊〉 Reason hath Believed us already and do see the Mighty Wonders of Goâ—… brought to passe and it cannot be believed by Richard Baxter no more 〈◊〉 Christ was believed of the Pharisees in whom the mighty Power of God 〈◊〉 made manifest for though he did miracles yet this Generation could not believe them And he tells of some that said he was 〈◊〉 so might they well do and not lye his blindness is made manifest at largâ—… And saith he But can I see the Witness in them that saith they have the Witness in themselves Nay because thou art an Unbeliever thou canst not but it thou wert a Believer in Christ thou wouldst feel the same Testimony in the Brethren but by thee we are not known and therefore by thee are falsly Judged for no other Testimony do we give or hold forth but the same which the Apostles did which we have received from Christ as the Apostles did and not by any authority of our own though he falsly says it but by the Authority
few years ago but the Saints were Quakers I am able to prove long before for Abrahâ—… and Isaac and Moses and Habakkuk Daniel and Paul and all the rest were Quakers though they were not called so and though our name is new yet our Religion is old for it is the good old way even the way the Apostles walked in though it hath been over-clouded for many years in the dark night of Apostacy which hath been over the whole World and the Beast hath Reigned and made War against the Saints and killed them and this hath been for many ages as you may read Yet there was a Seed which God preserved for himself in the midst of darkness but now is the Way of the Lord made manifest again and the same Power and Life of God which was in the Apostles dayes and Truth shall spring forth and Idolatry shall be rooted out by little and little and Antichrist and his kingdom shall fall and even Christ the Son of God the same as ever was for no other do we own but him who was and is and is to come he shall rule and his People shall follow him And though he saith The Quakers be an upstart Sect using such scornful words not beseeming a Minister of Jesus Christ but we are willing to bear all his reproaches for Christs sake And he speaks most foolishly and saith as if we knew not the contents of our Religion yea we know the contents and foundation of it which is Christ that good old foundation and him we are zealous for and him we Preach and no other And though he saith The Christians Faith hath been known for sixteen hundred years ago I say it was so but the night hath been over all wherein no man can work since it hath been first revealed and Traditions and Superstitions hath the World been exercised in and led into and the true Faith of the Gospel hath been departed from and many knows it not at this day And he saith He abhors any Gospel or Religion that was not made sixteen hundred yeares ago c. To this I Answer Then must he abhor his own practice for sprinkling of Infants telling people it is a Baptizing into the Faith of Christ was not so long since nor singing Davids experiences in Rime and Meeter for a part of Gods Worship and many other things which the Priests of England practise for Religion and Gospel Ordinances but are not so but an invention came in many years since the Faith was revealed to the Apostles and thus he hath abhored his own practise and is condemned out of his own mouth And whereas he speaks of one that lately spoke to another in these words He denied the God that he Worshipped That might be true for thousands in England Worships the god of this World and that god the Saints deny And he counts it a thing very abominable to trust to that Which is within the Saints though it be according to the Scriptures for Christ is in the Saints and God dwels in the Saints and God and Christ is only to to be trusted to There is also another piece put forth by him called A Sheet for the Ministry in which also according to his usual manner he Rails and Lyes against the Quakers in many things also I might instance in many more things wherein he hath belyed us as a man without fear or honesty and much ado he maks about Tythes And he commends his Reader to the Quakers Catechisme for better satifaction And I do commend all sober people to the Answer of the same wherein his folly and weakness is laid open as in them particulars But he saith The Tenths are theirs as fully as the rest are ours but this is denyed for the Tythes are not paid out of the Lands but out of mens labours and industrious exercises upon the Land for if any man let his Land lye untilled there is no Tythes claimed so that it is manifest it 's paid out of mens labours and not out of the Land and many other things we have against Tythes and against the unjustness of them and the oppression growing thereby And we do know That never any Minister of Christ was maintained in such a way nay they were so far off being maintained by a Law that they would not make use of their power which they had in Christ in those things as of outward maintenance But much need not be said for thousands begins to see the grievous burden and unlawfulness of Tythes and that in the Gospel administration these things are no way commanded by the Law of God but as they came in by tradition and were established by the Pope and are now the chief maintenance of Englands Teachers Indeed grievous and sad to be considered it is how many hundreds in England of honest men are made havock on in their Persons and Estates in relation to Tythes because for Conscience sake they cannot pay to the upholding of an Antichristian Ministry which denies Christ come in the flesh by upholding Tythes which only belonged to the first Priesthood under the Law and was never practised either paid or received by any of them that were Witnesses of Christ come or after his death who did thereby fulfil that part of the old Covenant and put an end to that Covenant and the Priesthood was changed that took Tythes and a necessity there was also of the change of the Law as it is written So this is an Answer in part to Richard Baxters many Lyes and Reproaches and his whole Work is turned by as our spoyled prey of Babylons treasure and no more to be recokned in the Records of Truth but shall stand upon an account among the corrupted and poluted commodity of the growth of Egypt and Babylon And this is for the satisfaction of honest people by a Friend EDWARD BURROUGH THE TRUE Christian Religion Again DISCOVERED After the long and dark Night of Apostacy which hath overshaddow'd the whole World for many Ages and the profession and practise thereof witnessed unto by the Scriptures And here all may see who it is of all these Sects and divers Forms of Religion in these Nations that are agreeable to the Scriptures in what they profess and Practice and who it is that are not according thereunto for the Line of true Judgment it stretched upon all Profession and a true search into and tryal thereof is made and hereby it is manifest who it is and what sort of people that may justly claim the benefit of the Protectors Oath to be protected thereby in their Practices of Religion who hath bound himself to maintain and uphold that Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures c. FOrasmuch as Oliver Cromwel called Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland chief Ruler according to man hath bound himself by an Oath and Sworn that he will uphold and maintain the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it
the Waters are dried up which have been the Seat of the great Whore Now though all those Churches and Sects of People are said to be and known to be the Seed of the Whore and not of the Virgin as I have declared and though Nation and Peoples and Multitudes have been all running to Fornication and been deceiv'd and made drunk yet this I have to say In all sorts of People and amongst all those Sects amongst Papists and Protestants and all Sects risen out of them in thousands of people notwithstanding the Darkness and all the Apostacy that hath rul'd in the general yet in some of all Sorts and Sects there hath been a Sincerity and Simplicity and a Desire and Zeal for God and of God in them and amongst them yet the Sincerity Simplicity and Desire which hath stirr'd in some of all Sects it hath no sooner appear'd but it hath been smitten and betray'd by the wicked without and so by the error of Judgment within For even amongst the worst of Sects we know there are some in whom there is Simplicity and Sincerity and Zeal and yet err in Judgment for this is possible and we know it is so with Thousands and ten Thousands at this day There may be a Simplicity and Zeal and Sincerity of Heart and yet err in Judgment and the Judgment not truly guided by the Spirit of the Lord but a false spirit and a false thing even the spirit of Whoredom it self ruling the Judgment and be chief there and this destroys and murders and betrays the Zeal and Simplicity and this is and hath been ever since the dayes of the Apostles great error in Judgment and the Judgment of all those Sects have been mis-guided and misled and a false thing and not the Spirit of the Lord has guided the Judgment and thereby the true Sincerity Zeal and Simplicity hath been enslav'd and held under by reason of the erring in Judgment And the State of such is truly to be lamented where Simplicity is devour'd and Sincerity betray'd and held captive by the Whorish spirit that sits Ruler in Judgment I do not speak of all people of all Sects that they have Zeal and Simplicity but of some people in all Sects and through all these false Churches and so the spirit which hath guided the Judgment that has abased the Zeal and abused the Sincerity and betray'd it so people have been a running running after the Form and blind in Judgment and lost Sincerity and Simplicity that has been betray'd in them though sometime appearing and stirring and so the wrong part in people has fed upon the Form and Appearance and the Seed starved and the Sincerity eaten out and so one Sect hath made this the Rule of their Judgment and another Sect another thing the Rule of their Judgment one cries Tradition another Scriptures another cries The Practice of Saints before us and none of all have been guided in Judgment by the Spirit of the Lord where the Spirit of the Lord is not the only rule of Judgment guiding the Judgment in all things that people that man are in Error and the Sincerity in them has not its free course but bound under with a spirit which is Bondage leads into Bondage And when people come to be turn'd to the Light of Christ in them and receive a measure of the Spirit of the Lord to guide the Judgment then the Sincerity Simplicity Zeal will grow and thrive and be encreased but till then the Good is eaten out that lies under and is oppressed and ever and alwayes the Desire quenched the Sincerity lost the Simplicity betray'd by the spirit of Whoredom which rules the Judgment and these things are manifest in our Age. Therefore all people come out of your Sects and false Churches for the Woman is return'd and returning out of the Wilderness and the Seed shall spring forth as in the dayes of old E. B. THE True State OF CHRISTIANITY Truly Discribed and also Discovered unto all PEOPLE What it was in its Beginning and Purity and what it now is in its Apostacy and Degeneration And here by true Testimony is declar'd to the whole World how and wherein in divers particulars the Christians through all the World so called now are fallen and gone backward and revolted from what the true Christians once were And this sheweth unto all the World the woful State and Condition wherein them that are called Christians now stand being departed and revolted from the Spirit of Christ and from his Teachings And this is given forth that all People may understand concerning the Times and the changing of Times and concerning what hath been what now is and what suddenly cometh to pass in the Earth BEhold and hearken give ear and listen diligently all ye People through the whole World that are called Christians All you I say that go under that name and that bear that name and are named Christians from one end of the Earth to the other through all Nations and Countries whither you are scater'd upon the face of the whole Earth Behold and take notice what the Word of the Lord is unto you and what the Testimony of Christ is towards you all for the Line of true Judgment is laid upon you and the Measuring-Rod is put forth to reach over you and the Servant of the Lord hath viewed your State and Condition and what you were in your beginning and increase and what you now are in your Decrease and woful Apostacy into which you are fallen and degenerated from the Life of Christianity Oh! let your Ears be open to Instruction and regard well what I through the Lord do say unto you even all you and every particular of you under Heaven that make a Profession of Christ in words and are known through the World by that name of Christians hearken I say and consider and remember from whence and into what you are fallen and return and repent The Lord hath with you a Controversie and he will plead with you because of your Back-slidings and Revoltings for you are gone away backward and you are turned aside from the Life of Christ and from his Spirit and are now without that which was the Reason and true Ground of your Name Christian and you have lost the true Character of the Name and now have only the Name without the Life and Power thereof and are dead to Christ and his Life and have a Name to live but are dead and having lost that which gave you a true title to the name of Christian you deserve not that Name nor to be called by the Name of Christ because you are departed from his Spirit And this is to be declared to you in the Name of the Lord that you may take a view of your own estate to the end that you may be awakened to return from whence you are degenerated The Lord had a People in all Generations unto whom he
was a God and they feared him and served him and worshipped him and his Name was precious amongst them who were his chosen People and with whom he dwelt and his Power and Presence was amongst his People that did walk with him under what Name soever they went in the World But the first time that ever the People of the Lord were called Christians or known by that Name from other people it was at Antioch in the time of the Apostles who were Followers of Christ as you may read Acts 11. 26. And the Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch and before that time the People of the Lord were never called Christians and this Name was given to them by the Heathen because they were for Christ and of his part and did follow him and preach him to be follow'd and in all things exalted his Name and did and suffer'd all things for the Name of Christ therefore were they named Christians and that Name was true unto them for they had upon them the express Image and Character of Christ and follow'd his Spirit and preached him unto all people for Life and Salvation and that all people might come to Christ and become Followers of him and therefore they were rightly named Christians to be known by that Name from all other people upon Earth who were not Followers of Christ who could not rightly be call'd Christians because they were not of his part and from thence forth unto this day all people whatsoever that believed in Christ and became Followers of him and that professed him were called Christians from that Original and Foundation of the Name which then was laid Also you may read Acts 26. 28. And Agrippa said unto Paul Almost thou persâ—adest me to be a Christian Here again Paul followed Christ and preached him and was on his part altogether and highly extolled his Name therefore King Agrippa called him Christian and was almost perswaded to be a Christian to wit A Man for Christ to take part with him and to be on his side and the Name interpreted this is the signification and all that have this Character do truly deserve the Name of Christians for they are anointed People and this was the beginning of the Christian Name And before that time as I have said were the People of God never called Christians in any Generation and ever since that time through all Ages all that professed Christ and believ'd in him throughout the whole World were called by the Name of Christians and the Name and Religion of Christians were honourable and greatly beloved of God for that People was the peculiar People a chosen Generation as you may read 1 Pet. 2. 19. and whilst the Life of Christ was manifest and the Spirit of Christ did lead them and teach them in all their Wayes and Practices of Religion And whilst I say they retained the Power and Life of that of which they had the Name the Power and Presence of the Lord was amongst them and above all the people of the Earth were they blessed and more then all people upon the Earth besides had they the Countenance of God shining amongst them and upon them and pure unity with God and one with another had they in his â—ife whereby they were made a terror and a fear to all Nations while they stood in the Counsel of God and were Christians in life and power and practice as well as in name and the Lord greatly encreased them in number for as you may read through the Acts of the Apostles through all the World many believed in Christ and became Followers of him and received the Knowledge of him and became anointed People and received the name of Christians sometimes Thousands at one Sermon were converted to the Faith of Christ and became subject to his Spirit and had his Mark upon them and all such were called Christians and the Apostles went through many Nations and of the Iews and Greeks and of the Heathen and all other people some of each were converted from that way in which they had walked to follow Christ and they became Christians and here was the encrease of Christianity and through many parts of the World they planted Churches and Assemblies of Christians And as I said while they stood in the Counsel of God the Name and Religion was of him greatly beloved But now the Christians are Apostatized and degenerated from the Spirit of Christ and from that which gave them the true Name of Christians and the name is retained only and the Life and Power lost and now many have a name to live but are dead and that is departed from which gave the true interest and title in the Name Hear this all ye Christians That Life Light and Power of God which was amongst the Apostles and Christians once you are departed from and have lost the sence and knowledge of and have the Name and not the thing which was the Reason and Ground of the Name Wherefore all ye through the World that are called Christians look back to your Original look unto the Apostles who were the first that were called Christians from whom you had the Name and see how you are degenerated and fallen from the Life that they were in and though you retain the Name of Christians yet you are not Followers of Christ nor taâ—ght by his Spirit and none in the dayes of the Apostles were truly counted or called Christians but who follow'd the Spirit of Christ and were first converted to him and changed by his Power from Sin to Righteousness and from Death to Life and such as were so were truly called Christians But now all such as are called by that Name and are not followers of the Spirit of Christ nor converted to him neither changed by his Power from Death to Life and from Sin to Righteousness such are in the Degeneration from the Life of Christianity and have a Name without the Life and Power thereof And now it remains to be shewed how and when the Degeneration came upon the Christians and wherein they are apostatized and degenerated from that â—ife and Spirit and Practice which was amongst the Apostles that were first called Christians The Spirit of the Lord spoke through the Apostles and foretold of a falling away from the Truth and from the true Christian-life and Paul said Acts 20. 29 30. said he Grievous Wolves shall arise and enter in who would not spare the Flock and from among themselves should men arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them And he also said 1 Tim. 4. 1. That some should depart from the Faith and give heed to seducing spirits And he also said That it should come to pass the people should become wicked departing from the Truth having the Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof and such were led away with divers Lusts and men of corrupt Minds and reprobate concerning the Faith And the Apostle Peter also foretold That
there should false Teachers arise among the Christians who should bring in damnable Heresies and many Christians should follow their pernicious wayes by reason of which the Way of Truth should be evil-spoken of And the Apostle Iohn saw That many false Prophets were gone out then and many Antichrists were then come in among the Christians Now all these do shew and declare of a Degeneration and falling away of Christians from the Life of Christianity and we see these Prophesies fulfilled and Flocks of Christians are devoured from the Life of Christ by devouring Wolves which have entred among them who have led them into pernicious ways and into damnable Heresies whereby the Name of Christianity is become reproachful amongst the Heathens that never were called Christians and many Thousands are departed from the true Faith from that Faith which did purifie the hearts of the Saints and many Christians have given heed to seducing spirits and have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof and they are led of divers Lusts and are become men of corrupt minds and are reprobate and without the true Faith And the Apostles prophesied of the Degeneration which we see fulfilled in these our dayes and even while some of the Apostles were yet living they saw the Christians Apostatizing and falling away and the Spirit of the Lord spoke through Iohn Rev. 2. 3. to the Christian-Churches in Asia who were already departing from the Christian-Life some of them were departed already from their first Work and some of them were given to the doctrine of Balaam and to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing the Lord did hate and others of them were seduced by Iezabel and taught to commit Fornication and to eat things sacrificed to Idols and others of them had a name to live but were dead and others of them were neither hot nor cold and the Lord said he would spue them out of his Mouth Now here the Christians were falling away you may see and as before it had encreased so now the true Christian Life began to decrease and the glory thereof became darkned through all Asia And also Rev 13. 11. 1. 16. Iohn saw one Beast arise out of the Sea and another out of the Earth which set up a Kingdom over the whole World and caused all people upon Earth to worship the Beast and the Beast hath been great in his power and he hath ruled over the World in great dominion and all that would not worship him he hath had power to kill and hath killed them so that the true Christian Life and Religion as the Apostles received it and practised it hath been extinguished for many Generations and People have had the Form of Godliness but denied the Power and lived under the Name and Profession of Christianity but have been without the Life and this is to be considered of and diligently searched into by all you that go under the Name of Christians through all the World for unto you only I direct my words And now it remains to be shewed what the state of Christians is at this day and wherein particularly they are apostatized and degenerated from the true Life and Practice of the Apostles who were the first Christians for wherein the Christians now are contrary and not agreeable to the Apostles in Faith in Practice in Worship in Ministry and in the entrance into Christianity and in any other thing whatsoever I say wherein they are contrary and not agreeable to the true Christians of old to wit the Apostles therein are they degenerated and fallen from the true Life of Christianity and this shall be the Rule of Judgment to try all you that are called Christians upon the face of the Earth wherefore awake and come forth to Judgment for the measuring Rod is laid upon you all whereby you shall be truly measured and compared with them that where the first Christians upon Earth and the Heathens shall see your nakedness and your shame and his at you when they behold how wofully you are fallen from that Life in the Purity thereof of which you do profess the words and shall not they rise up in Judgment against you who never had the name of Christians who are not faln nor degressed from what they have profest in any measure comparable to you who now retain only the name of Christians and are departed from the Life of Christ. First concerning the entrance into Christianity and the way and means whereby people are now made Christians and receives that name In this will your fall and degeneration appear For the Apostles and first Christians upon Earth before they were Christians or were called so they were first converted and changed and translated from Death to Life as you may read 1 Iohn 3. 14. and Col. 1. 13. and they first received Christ and became followers of him and received his Spirit to teach them and to guide them For the Apostle said If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. to wit no Christians and the Apostle said as many as were the Sons of God were led by the Spirit of God and also it was promised by Christ to all that were his the Comforter should come the Spirit of Truth and he should lead them into all Truth which promise all that were Christians did receive and they were led into all Truth by the teachings of the Spirit of Christ which dwelt in them for all that were Sons God sent the Spirit of his Son into their hearts which Spirit sanctified them through the obedience thereof Now these were Christians and were truly so called For they had the mark of Christ and his Image upon them and he dwelt in their hearts by Faith Ephes. 3. 17. These I say were truly called Christians and none but such at that day of their Original were called Christians or had Fellowship in the Christian life nor were any looked upon by the Apostles to be Christians but by them that were such But look back all ye Christians upon Earth and see your fall and wherein you are contrary and not agreeable to the true Christians in their first and pure Estate I say look to your Original and see how you are Apostatized from them in your entrance into your profession of Christianity for though you have the name of Christians yet you were not made so nor received that name by being first converted and changed and translated from Death to Life and from being the Children of disobedience to be the Children of God through the work and operation of the Spirit of God in you for hereof are Thousands and Ten Thousands of Christians now wholly ignorant and altogether without the feeling of the Spirit of God to change them to convert them and to translate them but are accounted Christians by tradition or natural education and because of being sprinkled with a little water upon the face being Infants or by a
bare confession and profession of the Name of Christ in words and professing of a bare belief in the Scriptures by this way and means were you made and received you the name of Christians without any real change from darkness to Light and from Satan to God as I have said Now here appears to be a woful degeneration in the very entrance of the thing and this is not agreeable but rather contrary unto that way of Christianity wherein the Christians in their beginning were so made and called for then none were Christians or so called but who through the preaching of the Gospel were first converted changed and renewed as I have said but now in these Nations all are called Christians that are spinkled upon their faces with Water by a Teacher when they are Infants or that do but profess Christ in words though they are not guided particularly by his Spirit neither have received Christ to dwell in them and to be King over them and here again appears a wofull Apostacy for none in the beginning of Christianity in the World were made Christians or so called but who received Christ and in whom he dwelt and was in them as you may read 2 Corinth 13. 5. and who were Followers of him and had his Spirit in them the Comforter to teach them and to lead them into all Truth but now thousands upon thousands who have the name of Christians have not received Christ to dwell in them nor to rule them neither is he manifest in them by his Spirit to teach them and they are not led into all truth but live in deceit and unrighteousness and are not Followers of Christ but follows their own hearts desirâ— and their own hearts Lusts and are condemned in their own Consciences and have not received the Comforter the Holy Spirit to be their Guide and Leader out of all Unrighteousness and here appears a woful Degeneration And that you Christians through all the World are revolted and gone backward from Christianity as it was in its Original a Lamentation may be taken up because of this woful Fall into which you Christians are fallen Consider of your own state and return and repent Again The Christians were begotten of God and born of him 1 Joh. 5. 18. And they were born of the Word of God and of the incorruptible Seed 1 Pet. 1. 23. And they were created in Christ Iesus unto good Works Eph. 2. 10. And they were New Creatures and old things were done away 2 Cor. 5. 17. They had put off the Body of Sin and Death Col. 1. 18. And were the Servants of Righteousness and free from Sin Rom. 6. 22. as you may read But now also Woful are you Christians degenerated from this for Thousands upon Thousands of you are not born nor begotten of God though you have the Name of Christians neither are you born of the Word of God which lives forever nor of the incorruptible Seed neither are created again nor become new Creatures nor have put off the Body of Sin and Death neither are the Servants of Righteousness nor free from sin But on the contrary Are the Servants of Sin and free from Righteousness and are in the corruptible state and are old Creatures and are not washed nor purified as the Saints were as you may read 1 Cor. 6. 11. and here is a woful Degeneration of the Christians now from what the Christians were in the beginning The Christians then were New Creature and put off the Body of sin and were washed and sanctified But the Christians now are not so but the contrary to wit Unwashed and Unsanctified remaining in the Pollutions of the World and are of the birth which is born of the Flesh and are in the old nature serving sin and the lusts of their own Hearts and thus are you fallen from that which the true Christians possessed for being compar'd to them you are not agreeable but rather contrary to them in all these things and the Lord is now come to search you and to try you and to all People shall you be discover'd for the Lord is now risen to bring all to Tryal and to Judgment And again Herein will the Apostacy of the Christians appear in respect of Unity and Fellowship for the Christians in their Beginning while yet the Life of God was not darkened amongst them They were of one Heart and one Mind and one Soul as you may read Acts 4. 32. And the Lord promised That he would give unto his People one Heart and one Way And Ezek. 11. 19. the Lord promised To give his People one Heart and a new Spirit Which Promise the Christians received and they that believed were of one Heart and there was no lack amongst them but some sold their Possessions and distributed to them that had need and they were Members of Christ and he was Head amongst them and over them And they were Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bones Eph. 5. 23 30. And all the Christians were of one Faith Eph. 4. 5. and had Unity and Fellowship in the Life which was made manifest in them for they had tasted and handled and seen and heard the Word of Life and they had Fellowship with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ. But all ye Chirstians upon Earth how are you degenerated and how great is your Fall in this For you are not of one Heart and Mind nor in Unity and Fellowship one with another but are of divers Sorts and Sects and are run into many Opinions and Divisions and are of many Wayes and Minds and Hearts Divers sorts there are of Papists and divers sorts of Protestants so called which are all divided in Opinions and striving and contending about Faith and Religion and the Worship of God and are opposing one another and putting one another to Death because of a difference in those things How great is the difference through many Nations amongst Christians about those things which sheweth that the Christians are wofully fallen in respect of Unity and it is manifest such Christians have not received the Promise of God as the Apostles had for now the Christians can suffer one another to lack and to perish and die and starve for hunger and want Behold in all this all ye Christians generally how you are fallen then in the beginning of Christianity no lack nor want was amongst them they that had much sold it and gave to them that had none but now thousands are oppressed through Want while others have too much some are feeding and clothing excessively with their multitude of Dishes and changes of Raiment while others have scarce whereon to seed or to cover their Nakedness and this manifesteth that you are not Members of the Body of Christ neither is he Head in you nor amongst you but you are Members of an Harlot and joyn'd to a Harlot and one with a Harlot for you profess many Faiths some say They believe Christ is
given to all others believe Not so some say They believe he died for all others they say They believe contrary to that And thus the one Faith which the Apostles had the Christians of this Generation have lost and they have lost the one Head Christ and have many Heads every Sect hath their Head Many Heads among the Protestants many Heads among the Papists but thus it was not in the beginning of Christianity therefore you Christians are subverted from the true Life of Christ. The Christians then were of one Faith but now of many The Christians then had one Head Christ but now the Christians so call'd have many Heads The Christians then could lay down their lives one for another and were written in the Hearts of one another by the Spirit of the Living God but the Christians now are in Envy one towards another and in Strife one with another the Great Men do oppress the Poor and they go to Law one with another for Earthly things and one Stealing from another and one Hanging another and Murdering one another and making Slaves one of another and Robbing one another and seeking utterly to destroy one another and yet such have the Name of Christians amongst whom all this is acted But consider How woful is your Fall and how wicked is your Degeneration from the Life of God and from the true Christian Life and Unity which was amongst them in their Beginning Then they were of one Heart and of one Way but now divided and in Strife and Contention about Religion and the Worship of God and also about Earthly things for which they destroy one another and seek so to do Then they could lay down their lives one for another but now they are taking the life one from another through wickedness a woful Apostacy and great night of darkness is upon you then none among them had lack of any thing nor none destroy'd through wasting any thing upon their Lusts but now Thousands perish for want while others have too much and are destroying it upon their Lusts Then had the Christians one Head Christ but now the Beast reigns that hath many Heads Then they were of one Faith but now the Christians profess many Faiths Then the Christians handled saw heard and felt of the Word of Life in them and they had Fellowship with the Father and with the Son but now Thousands of Thousands of Christians are without the sence and feeling and knowledge of the Word of Life in them and walk in Darkness and in Ignorance and have no Fellowship with the Father nor with the Son Behold behold ye Christians how ye are fallen and how great is your Fall A Mourning and Lamentation may be taken up for you The Garment of Righteousness is rent from you and the Beauty of the Son of God appears not upon you Alas alas What doth it advantage you to have the Name of Christians seeing you are thus wofully degenerate from that Love Unity and Life in the Fellowship of God which was among the Apostles who were the first Christians and from whom ye derived the Name but are without the Life as hereby is manifest to the World Again Herein doth the Apostacy of the Christians appear in respect of Holiness and Purity of Life for The Christians were of a holy Life and Conversation the Apostle said 1 Thes. 4. 7. God hath not called them unto Uncleanness but unto Holiness And as you may read Tit. 2. The aged Man were to be Sober Grave Temperate Sound in the Faith in Charity in Patience and the aged Women likewise their Behaviour was to be as became Holiness and the young Women were to be Discreet and Chaste and young Men were to be Sober minded and Servants were to be Obedient to their Masters and to shew good Fidelity For saith the Apostle unto the Christians The Grace of God had appeared teaching them to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World for that end was Christ given that he might redeem them from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of Good Works Now here in short is a true Description of the true Christian Life and Conversation which was exhorted to and no doubt but practiced by the Christians in the dayes when Christ was manifest amongst them but from this Practice are the Christians degenerated For How are the aged Men and Women now given to Covetousness and Earthly-mindedness and are Peevish and Perverse and Immoderate and in the Works that are Evil shewing that they are not in the Apostles Doctrine and not in the Christian Life but to it are become dead bringing forth Fruits contrary to the Fruits that the aged Men and Women brought forth in the beginning of Christianity shewing they are not of a holy Life and Conversation as the Christians were and ought to be And also how are the young Men and the young Women degenerated from the true Christian Life and now are given to Wantonness and Pleasures of the World and the Lusts which are evil following Vanity and Pride and Vain-Glory And Masters and Servants being corrupt in their places serving themselves one of another and making a Prey one upon another And thus all sorts of Christians are fallen from the Christian Life and Holy Conversation and shew that they own not the Grace of God which hath appeared to all men to be their Teacher as the true Christians once did For it is manifest That the Christians now so called have not deny'd all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts neither do live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World as the Christians did but on the contrary How are ye Christians fallen from the pure and Holy Life abounding in Wickedness and in all Ungodliness How doth Pride abound among Christians How doth Lying Swearing Drunkenness and Whoredom and all the works of the Flesh abound Dissimulation Back-biting Envy Wrath and all that ever can be called Evil is abounding amongst ye Christians so called This shews that your Apostacy is great from that Life and Conversation which the Apostles and Churches of Christians were in who had denied all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts but generally ye live in all Ungodliness and worldly Lust judge ye of this Backsliding into which ye are faln they were taught to live soberly righteously and godly in this present World but ye live unrighteously and ungodly and out of the Fear of God and the Grace of God is not your Teacher as it was theirs Also you may read how much the Apostles exhorted the Christians to a holy Life and Conversation the Apostle said 1 Cor. 3. 17. The Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are speaking to the Christians And he said Eph. 1. 4. They were chosen in Christ that they should be Holy and without Blame before him in Love And Col. 1. 22. They that had been sometimes Enemies to God in their minds were reconciled to present them Holy and Unblâ—meable in
〈◊〉 Truth to speak plainly by reproving them that gain-say it and to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God in every mans Conscience 〈◊〉 I desire to be manifest and seek not 〈◊〉 worâ—… to covâ—â— Eâ—… thâ—◠〈◊〉 may not be sâ—… 〈◊〉 â—â—ou 〈◊〉 â—…y to 〈◊〉 â—…t but let all my Enemies sâ—…ct wâ—…at thâ—…â—…ill 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stand approved and noâ— of man 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 â—ew inâ—…rd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of man but of God And as for railing Language and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—inst thee I have used none but spoke the truth in Plainness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ing thou â—…est to stâ—… at is whereâ—â— I sâ—…d I suppose thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…d thy self Mr. Philip Tavernâ—â— â—nd â—â—ou now 〈◊〉 to hide 〈◊〉 sâ—… from the force of my words to the sight of the World◠〈◊〉 appears 〈◊〉 to â—…ke upon thee with some Shame and thou sayest Thâ—… 〈◊〉 not preâ—… Mr. before thy Name but the Stationer did it who sayst â—â—ou wâ—… pleased to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man with that Title c. Rep. Noâ— instead of clearing himself he hath shewed moâ—e guilt of Ambition 〈◊〉 â—efore and my words were I supposed and not an absolute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith and had not I good Reason to suppose it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was his Aâ—…n being also contrary to the express Command of Christ Mat. 23. 〈◊〉 inâ—…eed I hardly ever read any Superscription like to it by the greatest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of men as men accounâ— and it is a thing far above Humility 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—ming any man much less one that professeth himself to be a 〈◊〉 of Christ to subscribe himself oâ— be with his consent Mr. such an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seems to cover himself from Ambition because saith he he did it 〈◊〉 himself but another I say I shall not charge him here with Falshood but I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is very unusual for any man to add any thing to another mans Book without his knowledge I never knew it done by any Stationer who hath had 〈◊〉 knowledge of their Wayes but yet he acknowledges it was done in Honour to him to subscribe him Master and here he hath justified the thing and 〈◊〉 that he is indeed guilty of Ambition who confesseth that it is an 〈◊〉 to him to be subscribed Mr. by another for he saith The Man that 〈◊〉 â—â— Honoured him with that Title And here men may take notice what Honour â—â—is my Adversary looks after even the Honour that Christ forbiddeth who 〈◊〉 â—â— his Ministers Be not ye called of men Masters but the man hath honourâ—… 〈◊〉 Taverner with titling him Mr. as he saith Tâ—â— next thing treated proves also that he is Ambitious for he pleadâ— much the lawfulness of Titles of Civil Respects as he calls it and this is all to justiâ—… the Title of Master to himself and thereupon hath wrested divers Scriptures 〈◊〉 though the Unbelieving Greeks used the word Master or Iohâ—…â—2 â—2 〈◊〉 â—e hath quoted is this an Example sufficient for Christians to break the â—…and of Christ Mat. 23. 10. Neither are any other Scriptures a Warrant 〈◊〉 thy man so to do though for a whole Page he treats only as for the lawfulâ—… of â—â—ch Titles yet in the end would shut guilt from his own Door that he 〈◊〉 not Titles for he saith This he speaks not that he would have it so done to 〈◊〉 And this his seeming to justifie himself proves himself guilty knowing that he had given truly occasion for People to judge he would have it so and in the end would blind the minds of the Simple with words of seeming Humility that he would not have it so done to him as if he cared not for it And whereas I said in my first That I am without any Prejudice towards the man viz. P. T. He saith I must give him leave to question it first from my Railing Words against him secondly from my Scornful Pitty expressed c. saith he Rep. I have no Prejudice against him God is my Witness and he may queâ—… what he will who is in the Unbelief for its manifest by his former that he questions where he hath no just occasion shewing much prejudice in himself for he said in his first Relation commenting upon some of my words If by such words I meant so then it was truth but if I meant so then it was false And 〈◊〉 not this a perfect sign of prejudice in him who had not just occasion to except against the words as they lay nor could not condemn them but upon giving his own Interpretation of them first Whereupon I said in my first Answer p. 14. Alas poor man must I be judged upon thy own Meaning c. and yet in 〈◊〉 words I shewed no scornful Pitty to him though he falsly supposeth it and sâ—… it and so while he cannot believe that I am without Prejudice against him 〈◊〉 hath shewed himself guilty of prejudice towards me and my words to be seeâ— and justly believed by many And whereas he saitâ— It s doubtful howâ—… I own the Authority of the Scripâ—… because I say in my first We through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hope have had Hope saith he Now it seems because I place my words 〈◊〉 have had Hope his unbelieving doubtful Heart questions whether I own the â—â—thority of Scriptures and would falsly conclude That through the Comfort of the Scriptures we have no Hope now and saith he Are you now flown so high that you need not c. pag. 3. And therefore I may now answer further Yeâ— through the Promise of the Lord declared in Scripture we have Hope 〈◊〉 this present That God will bring down and overthrow all such that deceive the 〈◊〉 who are made Ministers by man and of man at Schools and Colledges and all this set Maintenance by Tythes and casting people into Prison and spoiling their Goods to maintain Ministers as at this day in the Nation many Hundreds have been cast into Prison and many Hundred Pounds worth of Cattel 〈◊〉 Bedding and all kind of Goods have been distrained for to maintain the Ministry I say We have Hope according to the Scriptures That God will being down all this and your preaching for Money and bargaining with people 〈◊〉 so much the year and your preaching what you have studied for from the Scriptures by a Glass in a Steeple-house where the Mass used to be said God will confound all this and poor people shall be delivered from the Mouthes of those Deceivers that make a Prey upon them and preach for Hire and seek for their Gain from their Quarter and these things with many other we hope for at present Wherefore think not in thy self we now do not hope for we 〈◊〉 do and and have had Hope through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures Whereas I charged P. T. in my last That he had wronged both me and the Trâ—â—â— in his Relation c. which he saith in his Answer is false and he saith He 〈◊〉 not apprehend me and the
thou and thine too light and the 〈◊〉 the Lord will scatter them And P. T. confesses Every Real-hearted Christian may be and is in 〈◊〉 called Perfect Rep. Then wherefore doth he oppose me who testifieth the same thing and he now confesseth even That every Real-hearted Christian may be and is called Perfect in Scripture And is not he here guilty in that he charged me falsly in pag. 21. of his last With going Rounds like unto a Horse in a Mill who sometimes denies Perfection and sometimes confesses it to be attained in this life but he is forced in the end to confess to the Truth and to iustifie me And also the Scripture doth testifie The Saints were already perfect and compleat in Christ while they were in the Life upon Earth Col. 1. though there be a time wherein all the Saints do complain of the Body of Sin in their Warfare and Travel yet there is a state also wherein they have put off the â—…doy of Sin and are the Servants of Righteousness and free from Sin Rom. 〈◊〉 22. But P. T. shews little Experience in those states as of the Travel under the Body of Death and also of the Victory over it and so what he speâ—… is but by guess from other mens words and then it is no marvel if he errs in â—udgment and bring one Scripture to contradict another not having the infâ—… Spirit that gave it forth nor feeling the States nor the passing thorow these Conditions declared therein for there is a time of Travelling and complaining under the Body of Sin and its Burden and a time of Freedom from it and Victory over it yea even in this life upon Earth And whereas I said in my last Many of the Saints daily received more and 〈◊〉 of God's Wisdom and of his Power and Life revealed in them wherein they grow in to God from strength to strength Now saith he But whether he doth not own some to have attained so high that there can be no Addition is a Query my soul saith he 〈◊〉 not been able to enter into his secrets in this thing because my words were Mary of the Saints c. Rep. My first words it seems he cannot contradict but owns them to be the so I need not defend them only he supposeth a Question in which there is not much Edification to be answered and I have no secrets in what I speak for to the the Children of Light my words are plain though to P. T. and such they may be Parables and Secrets But as for my own particular I now here answer 〈◊〉 Question and further reply I do grow up in Wisdom and Knowledge daily and never knew so much of T 's Deceit as now I do since and at the Dispute the Ground of this our Debate so I thought good to let him know that I do grow in Truth which doth daily discover more and more Deceit in him and them that oppose Truth and so also grow in the Knowledge of his Error of Judgment and Ignorance that I may condemn it and judge it And whereas I said The Light which everyman is lightned withal by Christ is sufficient to bring up every man to believe in Christ that loves the Light and walks in it and unto such is Grace added and encreased daily as in page 16 of my first more appeareth In opposition to this to overthrow it as he supposeth he hath nominated that Scripture 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of â—… 〈◊〉 Now my words are true and no Contradiction to the Apostle's words 〈◊〉 to such as are blind that cannot discern between Light and Darkness 〈◊〉 will judge falsly and out of an evil mind make an appearance of seeming 〈◊〉 where there is none for the Light that lighteth every man that 〈◊〉 the World is Christ Iohn â— 9 and that Christ the Light that 〈◊〉 every 〈◊〉 that comes into the World is sufficient to bring every man 〈◊〉 loves the Light and walks in it to believe in Christ these are my words 〈…〉 mind and would any man that were not stark blind make 〈…〉 this Doctrine or bring a Scripture to prove the contrary 〈…〉 I own and do no way contradict For the 〈◊〉 Man doth 〈◊〉 the things of God nor know 〈◊〉 yet this is not Contrary to what I say 〈◊〉 Christ Jesus lighteth every man that comes into the World 〈◊〉 Light 〈◊〉 is sufficient and he changeth men from Natural to 〈◊〉 so they 〈◊〉 to believe in Christ that hath lightened 〈…〉 say or hold forth That the natural man 〈…〉 God and that the natural man hath Faith 〈◊〉 never 〈…〉 to my mind to say so he hath drawn 〈◊〉 evil Consequence 〈…〉 and then confounded his own 〈…〉 for my saying and intent is that 〈…〉 the World and his Light is 〈…〉 natural to spiritual and to give 〈…〉 things of God and of his Spiri◠〈…〉 is no Contradiction to the Apostles worâ—â— though 〈…〉 understanding I suppose rather than 〈…〉 Principle is proved sound and the Title of the 〈◊〉 a Lye And whereas I said That Christ wrought Righteousness perfectly 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Righteousness in all that believe and 〈…〉 or that hath not the other pag. 12. of my first He saith Whâ—ther I do 〈◊〉 Iustification and Sanctification he leaves all rational men to judge c. 〈◊〉 That Christ wrought Righteousness without us is not denyed by him 〈…〉 the Righteousness of the Law in the 〈◊〉 he cannot well deny 〈◊〉 read Rom. 8. 4. and that no man is justified by the Righteousness that 〈◊〉 wrought without who believes not nor is converted to God but in the 〈◊〉 of Satan This all the Children of God believe and know That none 〈◊〉 justified by Christ's Righteousness without 〈◊〉 who are convertâ—â— to God 〈◊〉 received Christ and he is in them 〈◊〉 else they are 〈◊〉 and not justified And so I am not ashamed of my Principle 〈…〉 to be too light for he that hath not Christ 〈…〉 is a Reprobate and not justified by anâ— Righteousness without Neither 〈◊〉 found Iustification and Sanctification which be 〈…〉 are one in Christ for he is made unto us Sanctification and Iustification and 〈…〉 that is in the Pollutions of the World unsanctified is not justified 〈◊〉 condemned so none are justified by a Righteousness without them but 〈◊〉 in the same corrupt 〈◊〉 with him must not I be judged 〈…〉 justifie If any Work be 〈…〉 in the Strength and Power of 〈…〉 strength then 〈…〉 and that no Work or Word is justified but what the â—… And though P.T. ignorantly commenceth 〈◊〉 these words yet are they words of 〈◊〉 and Righteousness and all that he saith 〈◊〉 nothing to the 〈◊〉 And whereas I did ask him which he had Ignorantly affirmed in his 〈…〉 that Righteousness which Christ works â—… in his Strength and 〈…〉 is called Our Righteousness which he seeâ—â— to answer but 〈…〉 my words for I
let but reasonâ—…â—en peruse the Scriptures mention'd by thee and see if there be such a thing 〈◊〉 them as held forth by thee That the New Man the Spirit or Law of the Miâ—â— is called Imperfect Sanctifiation which thou hast asserted and cited those Teâ—… to prove it but as to the thing it self I have answered before only this is to 〈◊〉 thy manner of perverting Scriptures which is the work of the evil spirit in thee and not the Work of the Spirit of God And thus I have examin'd some part of thy Principles of Religion which thâ—â— hast put forth into the world for others to learn and the Error and Falsness of them is laid open and how contrary to Scriptures they are and in haste 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were I have passed over it not willing to rake into things which gave no just occasion against Truth but have only confuted a few of thy many particulars which had I narrowly sought into other things much Unsoundness would have been discovered but what I have said is truly sufficient to discover unto 〈◊〉 persons the Error of thy Judgment and of thy Principles and Practices and 〈◊〉 thy whole Religion And before ever thou be a true Instructor of others in 〈◊〉 Way thou must first repent and believe â—nd learn the Way thy self which yet thou art ignorant of for thou hast shewed no Knowledge but what is senâ—… and devilish and from below and meerly carnal and natural and meeting wiâ—â— thy Book and enquiring what the Author was I was engaged to say something to it by way of answer and to lay it to the Line of Judgment according to the Scriptures and it hath proved very guilty of Error and perverting Scriptures The 21th of the 3d Mâ—â—eth 1659 By a Lover of thy Soul and a Sâ—eker of the Good and Peace of all men Edw. Burroughs A MESSAGE To all Kings and Rulers IN CHRISTENDOM To all called Christian Kings and Princes and to all the Parliaments and Rulers and Governours of every Degree throughout the whole Christian World A CALL unto you all by a Servant of the LORD in the Name of the Lord God Dreadful and Mighty and the Highest Power over all the World That ye take off Oppression and relieve the Oppressed and cease to grinde the Face of the Poor and from drinking the Whore's Cup and from carrying of her and from all Oppressions whatsoever lest the Lord God Almighty execute 〈◊〉 fierce Indignation upon you if ye will not turn at his Reproof 〈◊〉 hearke◠〈◊〉 his Voice when he calleth unto you FOrasmuch as it hath come to pass in the World for many Ages smâ—â— the last Glorious Appearance of Christ Jesus and the Light of his Glorious Gospel through his Servants the holy Apostles That Antichrist that Man of Sin the Enemy of Christ and his Kingdom hath ruled in the Hearts of people and throughout over the Christian World and he has been exalted within and without ever since the falling away from the true Faith which once was delivered to the Apostles and true Churches and he hath shewed himself to be God and hath sitten in the Seat of God and hath exercised Lordship over the Persons and Consciences of Men throughout Generations ever since the falling away from the Faith For the True Church the Elected Spouse the Lamb's Wife which once brought forth him that was to rule the Nations and was clothed with the Sun and had once great Beauty and Excellency hath been fled into the Wilderness and hath been desolate as without Husband and Issue but hath remained in her place prepared her of God where she hath dwelt in Mourning and been fed with the Bread of Sorrow being pursued thither by the Dragon and his Floods of Cruelty who also waited to devour the Man-child when he was born and the Martyrs Blood hath been shed and the holy Prophets and Apostles and Saints have been made War against and killed and persecuted for Righteouâ—â—ess sake and the two Witnesses have long lain slain and rejoyced over in the Streets of the great City and the Blood of the â—…cent hath â—een drâ—…k and thâ—… Lamb and his Followers have been made Waâ—…â—…inst and the Dragon the Dâ—vil and Satan hath deceived the World into the Name of Christians without the true Christian Life and Righteousness and Truth hath stood afar off and Justice and Mercy hath been wanting and the Fear of the Lord and true Obedience to him hath been in a great measure expelled out of Nations and even all that would not worship the 〈◊〉 â—nd his Images and receive his Mark the Beast hath had power to kill 〈◊〉 and he hath had power to execute his Wrath against them that have followed the Lamb even all this time of Darkness and Apostacy which hath overâ—…dowed the Christian-world since the Apostles days until this time and all this hath been since the falling away from the Life and Righteousness and Spirit of Jesus as I have said 〈◊〉 the Beast hath been great that arose out of the Sea and out of the Earâ—… when the true Faith was lost and his power mighty amongst men for he reâ—…ed power from the Dragon and made War against the true Church and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 devour the Man-child and power â—â—th been given him over Kindâ—… Tongues and Nations and all the World hath wondered and followed after the Beast and have been admiring his power and his great authority and saying Who is able to make War with him for he hath had a Mouth given that hath spoken great things and it hath been given him to war with the Saints and to overcome them by his unrighteous Laws and Decrees and all that dwelt upon the Earth have worshipped him whose Names are not written in the Book of Life and he hath had many Heads even divers sorts and changes of Government and many Horns with which he hath pushed the Innocent and ruled over the Earth and kept all under his power and he hath set up Images to worship and Likenesses without Life and he hath caused both Small and Great Rich and Poor Free and Bond to receive his Mark and be 〈◊〉 carried the Whore and she hath journeyed upon him from Nation to Nation through the Earth in the Sheep's Clothing and made all Nations drink her Cup of Fornications And the Whore the false church she hath fate as a Queen in great State and Authority upon Nations Tongues Multitudes and Peoples and throâ—… the Beast's authority which hath carried her she hath ruled in great authority over the Consciences Persons and Estates of People and she hath drunk the Saints Blood and the Martyrs Blood and in her is found even 〈◊〉 this Day the Blood of the Martyrs and the Prophets and of â—ust 〈◊〉 and of all that have been slain upon the Earth and she hath exercised Cruelty and Tyranny over the Heritage of God and she hath had the Sheep's Clothing upon her even part of the Garment of the
this be your meaning as may justly be supposed it is the Lord deliver the Nation from you this is not the way to gain the credit of Religion but the further you go on in this way as you have formerly walked in the more will your Profession and Religion stink in the Nostrils of all good men Your fourth Evidence is Immensity and bounless liberty permitted assumed and freely practised by many to Write Print and Publish all manner of Blasphemies and Opinions c. the sad and wofull effects thereof appears in many some being in Apostacy others in luke-warmness and much decay in the Power of godliness c. Answ. As I have acknowledged 〈◊〉 there are without doubt many Errors Blasphemies and false Opinions extant in this Nation both Written Published and Maintained but upon whom and what sort of men this can truely be charged this is very doubtfull to many and your Charge being onely general no particular Answer can well be given onely it appears you would have none to Write Print or Publish but your selves or by your consent and you would tye the Nation up in the bondage of your own Spirits and you would be the onely Judges of Blasphemies and Errors but that we allow not for Enemies must not be Judges and it is very possible such is your Darkness that you may call Truth Error and Error Truth in some particulars but if you shall instance any particular Doctrines Blasphemies Errors and Opinions published and maintained in my next I shall freely give my witness against them if they be really so and against the people that holds them as well as your selves and more particularly I cannot now say and there is indeed wofull and sad effects of Errors brought forth in this Nation and many are in the Apostacy from the truth and in the luke-warmness also and the power of Godliness is decayed and they have the Form and holds that without the Power your selves may do well and your Congregations also to search your own hearts by the Spirit of the Lord in this case that the guilty may see and turn unto the Lord that his wrath come not upon them Your fifth Evidence is Sabbath Prophanation both in Opinion and Practice grown to a greater height than ever formerly the Iews Sabbath cryed up instead of the Christian Shops opened upon the Lords day yea some working the works of their ordinary callings in knitting and sowing of Garments in our Assemblies even in the Pulpits in the time of Gods publick Worship c. Answ. This remains doubtful to many what the true Sabbath is and whether the Lord doth require of this Generation the observing one day above another and if so what day it is that he requires the observing of as for the 7th day of the week we know that the Lord commanded the Iewes to keep as a Sabbath and to rest But that was never commanded to the Gentiles and as for the first day of the week which is called the Christians Sabbath that is doubtful to many whether God commands and requires the observation of that day by the Gentile believers yea or nay seeing that there is neither command nor binding example for it throughout the Scriptures if there be any I do desire that you would shew it in your next and by what authority whether from men or from Heaven the first day of the week is now kept by you as your Sabbath for really many are doubtful in this case and you would do very well if you have a command from God or example from his Servants in former Ages to discover so much unto the people And as for your calling it the Lords-day it is certain every day is his and not one day more then another and as for Shops opening and such things as you mention though every one that do such things may not be justified in the doing of it yet such a thing in it self may be justified if the Spirit of the Lord moves unto it and who shall limit the Lord And why may not others labour in their ordinary callings that day as well as you in your ordinary callings I mean your ordinary calling of preaching that is an ordinary calling it is certain because you deny any extrordinary calling in these days and so I only query this why others may not follow their ordinary callings as well as you for it hath been affirmed very lately by some that preaching was a trade and a function for men to get a living by and we do not question but there are many now in this Nation called Ministers that do preach for that end and would cease to preach if Mony and Tithes were ceased to be given them I speak this of some not of all which doth demonstrate that the way of your preaching is an ordinary calling which you labour in on your Sabbath-day Your sixth Evidence is the pouring out by many of aâ—â— Sects with a full mouth all manner of obloquy and contempt upon Ministry and Ministers of the Gospel openly interrupting them in the exercise of their Duty whereby they are discouraged in their Work while they are represented under the notion of Baals Priests Gehazaes Pulpited Divines distributers of Sundayes Doles Simonions Decimating Clergy common Incendiaries c. Answ. It is certain that the true Ministry and Ministers of the Gospel were in all Ages and now are contemned and despised and all manner of evil spoken against them for the Name of Christ but whether you are those true Ministers of the Gospel and your Ministry the true Ministry sent of Christ this is doubtful to many and by many particulars which might be instanced the contrary doth appear The Ministers of Christ in the dayes of the Apostles they never complained of being interrupted for they were haled before Rulers and commanded to preach no more in that Name and yet they were not discouraged thereby in their work nor when they were called Movers of Sedition and Deceivers and such reproachfull names they regarded not these things but as for you you seem to be troubled that any should speak to you or ask you 〈◊〉 Question or exhort you to repent if any out of good Conscience query with you concerning your Practice and Doctrine and if any exhort to Good and cry against Evil amongst you this you call interrupting of you in your Ministerial Duty and to Prison Houses of Correction and to Whips and Stocks must such go which was never the Apostles Practice never was any sent to Prison for opposing of them And what if the Ministers of England be called Hirelings and false Prophets and greedy dumb Dogs the practice of some of them doth prove it that they are so these things you must bear as coming deservedly and not unjustly upon you for the Servants of the Lord in all Ages ever cried against Deceivers and false Prophets and called them Deceivers and greedy dumb Dogs and Serpents and Vipers and Evil Beasts and
suppose impossible things to manifest the truth of our Principle our Principle is not to be insolent tyrannical nor to be Usurpers over God's People to enslave but far the contrary even that Justice Mercy and Truth may sit in the Throne and that Peace and freedom may be held forth unto all that no Usurpers nor Tyrants but Iust Men and men that fear God and hate Covetousness and every evil Way that such alone may sit in Judgment whom God calleth to that Place who will rule in Righteousness and Justice and regard the Cause of the Poor and Needy we would that such onely ruled who were ruled by the Lord who would be a Blessing in the World and to all People not desiring more Liberty to our selves than what we would give unto all others in all just Ways This is our Principle as to matters of outward Authority among men and not as this false Accuser hath suggested out of his evil Heart 6. As to the matter of your suppressing us which your Applauder saith you have been instrumental to do This is as false as the rest for we are no more suppressed than before you exercised your present Authority but are every way in as much liberty of Persons and otherwise as in their dayes before yours and are no way suppressed nor fearful of it So the Author of such Lyes hath but flattered you and fawned upon you in telling you ye have suppressed us whenas its nothing so but and if it had been in your hearts or be at this day to suppress us and to hinder us of our Liberties and to persecute us the Lord shall plead our Cause against you and give no success unto your Work but it shall be turned to our Renown and to your Overthrow and the secret hand of God shall confound you and break your Purposes and deliver his People out of your Mouthes Thus it shall come to pass ifthat your Hand sshould be stretched forth to hurt us who are Gods Heritage and the Sheep of his Fold And thus much in answer to his Epistle Now I come to a second Accusâ—tion of his stated in his first page in these words We may see from whence Anabaptists Quakers Ranters and Levellers all had their Original namely from the Papists c. Answ. 1. As for the Anabaptists Ranters and Levellers I leave them to plead their own Cause and though we are accused with such yet there is much difference in Iudgment and Practice between us and them though I believe they are all further from Popery both in Iudgment and Practice than is this Accuser of them but yet they shall answer for themselves and I shall onely mind the matter I have in hand which is to clear the People of God called Quakers from the Accusations charged falsly against them whom I know to be innocent from these false Accusations 2. That we did arise from the Papists or that they are our Original in Dâ—ctrine Faith or Practice this is utterly false for between us and them is perfect separation and we are of another spirit and divided from them as appears every way even by their persecuting of us for our Testimony bearing against them and their Religion and they have written against us and we against them divers Controversies and they have imprisoned divers of our Friends in their Dominions for giving Testimony against their Wayes by all which it doth appear that we are not of the Papists line nor arisen from them for if we were of Them they would love Us and not persecute Us and that herein we are falsly accused as in other Things And this is an old out-dated Accusation and is of no Account for now we are otherwise known through these Kingdoms and we are manifest to the Consciences of men in the sight of God to be such as fear the Lord and walk in his ways 3. And as for our Original It is the Lord God alone that hath raised us up and planted us a People that were not a People in times past and not from the Apostate Christians neither of Papists nor Protestants so called are we sprung but are of the Apostles Line and of the Stock and Race of the true Christians that believe in Christ and follow him and in every part of our Religion both in Faith and Practice and in Conversation we are agreeing with the holy Apostles being witnessed unto by the Scriptures in all that we profess and Practice and the Lord hath raised us up out of the Apostacy into which all Christendom hath been fallen since the Apostles dayes whilest Antichrist hath reigned over the World and we are as the first Fruits unto God and to the Lamb since the fâ—lling away from the true Faith and Truth and Righteousness is our Original and Christ Jesus it our Foundation on whom we are builded and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against us and this Testinony the Spirit of God giveth for us and in us in contradiction of the false Accusations of all our Enemies 4. And if it be an offence to be risen from the Papists and if all that be evil which they are the Original of then the Protestants so called are in the Offence and their Ministry and the chief part of their Church-Government Worship and Ordinances are evil for did not the Protestants spring from the Papists and did not the Papists institute the Way by which the Protestants Ministers at Schools and Colledges And was it not they that first Instiuted sprinkling of Infants and calling it Baptism into the Faith and into the Church And was it not the Papists that first taught the Protestants to keep holy dayes as Christmass and Candlemass so called and many other particular things relating to the Protestant Church Ministry and Worship were originally ordained and first practiced by the Church of Rome and Papists and so while this false Accuser is charging others himself and the men of his Way are found guilty of the same things and the Papists may justly say to the Protestants that they are false hearted to them in denying of them and their Church when as their Fathers were the Instituters of the principal parts of the Protestants Worship and Ordinances and so they like unnatural Children have denyed their Mother that bred them up and ordained them a way of making Ministers and maintaining them and many other parts of their Religion But because she hath not been the National Interest for these many years therefore the Church of the Protestants have denyed the Church of Rome though originally they rose out from them The next thing in his Book I take notice of is where he seemeth to charge us with boasting that we talk with God and God with us and have Revelations and as if God commanded them to kill all the Wicked and to make a new World a Sect in Saxony saith the Accuser arose that held this and the Quakers now are like them which is as much as
Fined and taken out of their own Houses and Meetings to Goals and Prisons as it is at this day upon the Occasion of that Insurrection whereof they were clear and innoâ—ent both to God and Men though they are dealt withal as Plotters Conspirors and Rebellious when as hereof they are not guilty And this is all that I shall say at present as about that Insurrection and the Occasion of Semper Iidem its Publication And whereas Sir Iohn Oldcastle and Sir Roger Acton with divers others are mentioned and their Death 's related whom this Author saith were put to death for Treason and Rebellion and making Insurrection Concerning the Carriages and Death of such I shall say little nor can I justifie any in so doing neither in Ages past nor in this present Time if they were put to death only upon that Account for rebelling with Carnal Weapons and rising up in Conspiracies against the Authorities which they were under or for Evil-doing to their Neighbours I say such neither in this Age nor in Ages past do I justifie nor will vindicate their Practices nor condemn their Death but shall leave them to be justified or condemned of God according to their doings and according to the end and intent of their Hearts in their Proceedings but many others are mentioned in Semper Iidem who suffered and were put to Death burned and killed only for and because of their Principles and Practices in Religion while yet they lived peaceably and were of a harmless Conversation amongst Men the Persecution and Death of such upon that account I do condemn and do charge it to be Murder in the sight of God of such who were burned and destroyed because of their difference in Religion from the Church of Rome when as no Unrighteousness nor Double-dealing as to men could be charged and proved against them such I say as died and suffered for that Cause have been murdered by the Power of Antichrist among the Apostate Christians and the Blood of such will the God of Heaven avenge one time or other Now I come to search some Particulars which are stated pag. 3. which it s said John Wickliff held which Doctrines the Author of Semper Iidem seems to say are Errors by his condemning such for Hereticks as held them for Truths THe First That the Sacrament of the Altar is nothing but a piece of Bread This the Lollards so called are said to affirm for which the Papists condemn them as Hereticks Answ. As for the Sacrament of the Altar so termed by the Papists we find nothing of it in all the Scriptures not Sacrament of the Altar nominated only we find That Christ took Bread and brake it and gave it to his Disciples not as Himself for He only gave it them to eat in remembrance of Himself As oft as ye do it saith Christ do it in remembrance of Me. Where it is manifest that there is a distinction to be made and a separation in expression to be put between that Bread which Christ gave his Disciples to eat and his own Body for they were to eat the Bread not as Him but in remembrance of Him and this shews that the Bread which Christ gave his Disciples was Bread to be eaten in Remembrance of Him and so it is no Error but sound Truth to affirm That the Bread called the Sacrament of the Altar by the Papists is but indeed a piece of Bread and may safely so be called But suppose it were Error in men so to believe and say yet it is Murder Cruelty and not of Christ but of the Wicked One so to deal with them for their Error sake as before-mentioned Doct. 2. That Priests have no more Authority to administer Sacraments then Lay-men Held by the Lollards Condemned as a great Error by the Papists Answ. As for the Name and Order of Priests we find none such among the Apostles in the Christian-Churches in their dayes Pastors and Ministers and Prophets and Teachers we find but not Priests by that Name as a particular Order of Men in the Church saving that all the Saints are called Kings and Priests unto God neither do we find such a thing As consecrating a piece of Bread into a more holy quality then it was in it self before nor any Commision given by Christ to a particular Order of Men to administer Bread to the People as his Body we read that the Saints brake Bread when they were met together and some time from House to House but that there were particular Persons by an Office among them that did administer the Bread in the Form and Manner as among Papists we read not of this in all the Scriptures And as for Lay-men as Papists term them this word we have not in all the Scriptures but Saints we have of divers growths but the Papists have made many Inventions of Offices Titles and Names in their Church for which they have no Example at all in the Scriptures Doct. 3. That all things ought to be in Common Opposed by Papists as a great Error Answ. It is a great question what signification may be put upon the Word Common so I shall not vindicate for Truth the Doctrine as it lies and leave the Interpretation of the Word Common to my Adversaries and so I pass it only do mind that it is said in the Acts That they that believed had all things Common Though the Word Common there I understand not Absolute but with Restriction Doct. 4. That it is as lawful to Christen a Child in a Tub of Water at home or in a Ditch by the Way as in a Font-stone in the Church Opposed by the Papists as a great Error Answ. As for the Baptizing of Infants by dipping or sprinkling and calling it the Baptism into the Faith and into the Church as practised and held by the Papists we have cause to question the Lawfulness of the Thing in it self at any Place For we find no Command or President of Christ nor among his Apostles in the pimitive Churches for this thing of Christening Infants and therefore we question whether the Thing in it self is lawful at any Time or Place suppose the Papists could prove the Thing lawful and that it ought to be done by vertue of any Command or Example of Christ or his Apostles then again we question why not as lawful to be done at any other Place as in a Font-stone so called Of what holiness or purity is that more than other Places and of whose invention is it of all the Christians since the Apostles dayes seeing we find nothing at all of it in the Scriptures But suppose the Principle to hold indeed absolute Error the Papists yet do still wickedly in racking men and burning them because thereof Doct. 5. That it is as lawful at all times to confess unto a Lay-man as to a Priest Opposed by the Papists as great Error Answ. As for that manner and form of Auricular Confession so called
who are not and therefore may easily proceed in that way to punish such as Hereticks that are not truly so and except ye could affirm and Prove your possession of the infallible spirit ye can no way proceed justly reasonably to deny Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion nor punish and persecute any in that case but if ye do ye do it in ignorance and know not what ye do and may as soon destroy true Christians and Saints as Hereticks for want of infallible judgment to discern who are and who are not and this is a danger ye ought to avoid by allowing the free exercise of Conscience as the Lord perswades every mans heart 15. And lastly also consider what a reproach you are under If such whom ye call Heretick and yet doth not infallibly know that they are such be punished and persecuted and destroyed for their Religion sake who are just and upright men in their Conversing between man and man and unreprovable in their dealings among men whether they err in judgment in spiritual knowledge or not err and such as are Drunkards prophaâ—e persons go at liberty in their stage-playing and gaming and the like even tolerated and unpunished and not prohibited whom all do know and can distinguish who such are when they appear this will render your Government to evil reputation both in this present time and in ages to come and therefore consider it if Drunkards Gamesters and prophane persons have more toleration and liberty in their wayes of open vanity then sober temperate persons in the exercise of their Consciences in Religion which if any such do err in principle which is not infallibly known to you it is only to their own hurt in the sight of God and he onely and not you ought to punish them in that case but prophane persons as a fore-mentioned are easily judged by all to be such and their error inpractise is hurtful to the whole Kingdoms and pertains to you to punish as Dr. Taylor now a Bishop in Ireland hath said his words in this â—ase are worth observing why are we so zealous saith he against those we call Hereticks and yet great friends with Dâ—unkards and Swearers and Fornicators and intemperate and idle persons I am certain a Drunkard is as contrâ—oy to God and lives as contrary to the Laws of Christianity as a Heretick and I am also sure that I Know what Drunkennesse is but I am not sure that such an opinion is heresie c. And these things I do in all meeknesse and due respect both to your places and persons present to your serious considerations that ye may prevent these evil effects that are so destructive unto you and these Kingdoms which absolutely must follow upon not allowing free Liberty of Conscience in the Exercise of Religion if any shall object That to tolerate and allow Liberty of Conscience in Religion is inconsistent with the safety and peace of the King and these Kingdoms I shall be desirous to hear from wise men what such objections are stated by them and wherein they say it is not Congruous with the Happiness and Peace of these Nations to grant and allow the Premises And on such Occasion I should make clearly to appeaâ— the contrary and that it is only consistant with the Peace and Prosperity of these Kingdoms considering them in their present Estate To grant and allow Free Liberty of Conscience as aforesaid in the Exercise of Religion unto all Christian People O! Remember ye Mighty Men of the Kingdom That the Great and Mighty GOD takes notice of all your Doings and accordingly will he reward you in his Dreadful Day which is near to come upon all the World and Wo unto the Wicked in that Day O! Remember that ye your selves not long since were a Suffering People and now you are raised up again and therefore be not too zealous to afflict others especially for the Cases of their Consciences in reference to their Faith and Perswasions about Religion but be Gentle Meek and Long-suffering towards all for that is the way to make Peace and preserve it with all men that will gain the Affections of the Contrary-minded but Force and Rigour will exasperate the more and never truly reconcile differences among men And make no Laws contrary or different to the pure Law of God but let pure Consciences go free without Force or Restraint in the Exercises of Religion and let God have his Prerogative and Lordship in the Exercise of Conscience but let your Authority be extended over the outward man in the matters between man and man to preserve Peace and Right in all outward relation And be Wise and Learned ye Rulers of the Earth and kiss the Son lest he be Angry and ye perish and if his Wrath be kindled but a little blessed are they that trust in him This is your Time and Day happy are ye if it be given to you to do the Work that God requires of you only The 26th of the third Moneth 1661. By a Lover of Truth and Just Government E. B. A DISCOVERY OF Divine Mysteries VVherein is Unfolded Secret THINGS of the KINGDOM of GOD Being a TESTIMONY 1. Concerning Life and Death with their several Fruits and â—…cts Distinguished 2. Concerning the Mystery of God and Godliness and concerning the Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity 3. Concerning True Liberty of Conscience what it is in it self and how obtained And what the True Guide and Rule is of the Exercise of Conscience 4. Concerning the Diversity of Judgments in Religion the Cause and Effect thereof and the Means to bring to Unity All which are Published for the Edification of such as desire to know the TRUTH The PREFACE THE Light of the Day of GOD Almighty is arisen upon us in our Day and the Shinings-forth thereof is with great Clearness and Force even as the Sun at Noon-day and many are come to the Glorious Appearance thereof and to walk in its Light with much Ioyfulness for as the Wise-Man said The Light is Sweet and a Pleasant Thing it is for the Eye to behold the Son And so fully is our Morning-Son now appeared that the Upright in Heart may Walk and not stumble and the Poor in Spirit may Run in the Path of Life and not fall For indeed we may say The NIGHT is spent and the DAY is come therefore let us Walk in the Day and put on the Armour of Light as many as are made the Children thereof And where the Light of this Son is arisen and in whose Hearts it shineth it cannot but give some Testimony through such an one of its own Glory Vertues and Excellency to them that sit yet in Darkness and in the 〈◊〉 of Corruption that they also may 〈◊〉 the same Light and Glory arise on their Tabernacles For 't is the Property of this Spiritual Heavenly Light to shine forth out of Darkness and to give Light to such as have
it self forth in a higher appearance and fairer shew than ever it did before for this Mystery hath sate in the Temple of God and shewed it self to be God and been worshipped above all that is called God this Mystery of Iniquity the Man of Sin which hath put on the Sheep's-Clothing and shews it self as the Sheep of Christ and as Christians and Churches all which hath been for many Ages the Manifestation of this Mystery while that the Mystery of the Devil hath not been destroyed but now is the Lord arisen who will discover and destroy this Mystery and save the Creature and in the destruction of this Mystery is the other Mystery revealed to wit The Mystery of God and of Christ and that is the Mystery of Christ that destroyes the Mystery of Antichrist and of the Devil And now the Sons and Daughters of the Lord Almighty are coming into this Mystery of God Eternal who is blessed for ever and all that is coming to be overthrown which doth oppose it and gainsay it and there is nothing that can destroy or discover this Mystery but the appearance of Christ the Son of God for it is he that doth discover and destroy the Mystery of Iniquity by the Spirit of his Mouth and by the Brightness of his Coming and this are people coming to The Man of Sin is to be thrown down and the Man of Righteousness the Manof God is revealed and Sons and Daughters shall shew him forth in the World and the Mystery of God shall shew it self forth over the World and in Nations and blessed are all they that come to the opening of this Mystery of God which is the Mystery of Life and Eternal Salvation CHAP. III. A Testimony Concerning true Liberty of Conscience what it is in itself and how it is obtained and what the true Guide and Rule is of the Exercise of Conscience THis is my Testimony as I have received from the Lord true Liberty of Conscience is Liberty and Freedom of the Conscience from the Bondage of Sin and all Transgression past and present and from whatsoever hath been or is a Burden or Oppression upon the Conscience whether inward or outward the Conscience I say is at Liberty when it is freed from the Burden of the Guilt of Sin past and from the present Temptation unto Sin And till this is witnessed there is no true Liberty of Conscience for every thing whatsoever which is Sin and Transgression against God in Works or Words brought forth by the Creature is Bondage and a Burden and oppresseth the pure Conscience and therefore perfect Freedom from all Sin and Transgression is Where the Body of Sin and Death is put off and where the Evil is crucified and the guilt of it taken away and where the Conscience is truly exercised by the Spirit of Christ which leadeth into all Truth and preserveth from all Evil then is the Conscience at Liberty and this is true Liberty of Conscience when this is brought forth in the Creature For where Sin is brought forth and Transgression lived in there the Conscience is bound and the Cord of Iniquity imbondageth the Conscience and it hath not its Liberty in the Service of God nor from the Service of the Devil because the Spirit of God doth not exercise it but the spirit of Unrighteousness leadeth the Mind into the Lusts of this World into Lying Swearing Pride Drunkenness Hypocrisie and Idolatry and the guilt of these things burdeneth and presseth down and is a Bondage upon the Conscience And where the Conscience is bound by Unrighteousness within and by the spirit of the World which leadeth contrary to the Lord there is no Power of Man without can set that Conscience free or give Liberty to it because the Cord of Iniquity hath bound it within and the Burden of guilt is upon it and Conscience lies under Bondage unexercised with the Spirit of God which is free and setteth free the Conscience in the practice of all Good and from the Power and Captivity of all Evil. Therefore before true Liberty of Conscience be witnessed or any have true Liberty in Conscience Iniquity must be purged out and Sin crucified and the Body of Death put off and guilt washed away and the Annointing received that leadeth into all Truth and the Blood of Christ the Seed felt that sprinkleeth the Conscience from all Sin and Works of the Flesh and washeth away all that which staineth and defileth the Conscience and then the pure Conscience hath its true Liberty from the Bondage of all Evil and from the guilt thereof and in the Exercise of all good and this is true Liberty of Conscience and thus it is attained and by no other Way nor Means than by the Sword of the Spirit of God which cutteth down the contrary And where Conscience is thus freed within by the Power of the Lord and delivered from the bondage of Evil and from the burden of all guilt and exercised in all good by the Spirit of God Then nothing without nor any Power of Man which may work against such by Persecution and act in opposition to such whose Consciences are thus freed can imbondage the Conscience to God-wards or bring it under a burden to God-wards I say for it is not altogether Bondage of Conscience or the Burden or Oppression upon his Conscience that is set free as aforesaid though he is outwardly persecuted by men for that doth but hinder the Exercise of his Conscience to Manwards but not to God-wards for there his Conscience is free in Joy and Peace though by reason of Persecution he cannot have the Exercise of it to men I say Though such be put in Prison Banished or whatsoever Suffering be laid upon them by any Men or Laws without yet their pure Conscience is Free and at Liberty in it self to God-wards through all this and over it all for the Lord hath set them free from all that Bondage and Guilt of Iniquity which hath been a Bondage upon their Consciences within And whether they do Suffer or have Freedom or Captivity in their Persons from men yet is their pure Conscience at Liberty to God-wards and in perfect freedom in it self and to themselves though for the Name of Christ and his Truth they be persecuted and all Evil done against them by evil men and the exercise of their pure Consciences prevented as to Man-wards For that which defiles the Conscience doth bring it under Bondage but that which keeps it pure and free from pollution that keeps it in Liberty and in perfect freedom to God over all Persecution and Evil Men and Unjust Laws which would exercise dominion in and over the Consciences of the Saints and bring them into Captivity as sometimes their Persons are by Evil Laws and Persecutors But who stand in the Power of the Lord and in the exercise of the Spirit of God which freeth the Conscience in their own particulars as I have said doth not come
it be for hiâ—… hâ—…g the Sâ—… of â—â—is Good Spirit in uâ— That whether we Live or Dye we are the Lord E. B. Antichrists Government JUSTLY DETECTED OF Unrighteousness Injustice Unreasonableness Oppression and Cruelty throughout the Kingdoms of this WORLD Wherein Antichrist hath had his Seat and great Authority for many Generations in the Apostacy from the Spirit and Life of True Christianity Shewed and Declared First In the Case of Imposing upon Conscience in Matters Religious by Force of outward Violence or Pains and Penalties on the Persons and Estates of Men which is proved Unrighteous and Dangerous and of Antichrist c. Secondly In the Case of Heresie shewing what it is in it self who a Herteick is who are the true Iudges of it and what Punishment pertaineth to such as are truly convicted thereof and that To Kill Burn Bannish or to punish Hereticks as such corporally is of Antichrist c. Thirdly Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceivableness what he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and what his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom The EPISTLE Dedicated to all the Rulers of what degree soever in the so called Christian World O Friends in the perfect Love of God Almighty towards your Souls and Bodies and towards all Mankind which Love is as a Fountain opened in my Heart and kindly issueth forth in Soul-breathing-desires of Good unto the whole Creation In this Love joyned with an Humble Meek and Lowly Temper of Spirit do I present this little quantity of Substance unto you not so much for your approof of my Work as if I craved your Licence and Approbation for this small Piece to pass under your Iustification as is usually the manner of such Epistles thus directed but much more for your serious and weighty Considerations of the Cases though Briefly yet Truly unfolded which are things of very great moment to you and wherein all of you from the Least to the Greatest are less or more concerned And I do present this Work unto you as Wholsome Advice and Good Councel for you which ye ought verily to read and receive as such rather then to Flatter you by begging a Pass-port from you that this may be read and received where it shall come for the Truth and Verity of it the Weight of the Matter contained and the Soundness and Substance demonstrated shall plead its own Worth for acceptation in the Hearts and Consciences of all sincere Men. The Truth and Verity Weight and Substance of Matter I say these Termes I may justly present this small piece under the denomination of unto you and all the World True it is I do not study pleasing Stile nor have I endeavoured to clothe and trim the Matter with Flattery Curious Termes Words of Man's Wisdom or some Rare Method that it might appear more in Shew than in real Substance as the way of too many Writers have been in such Cases Nor do I promise to please the Wordly Wisdom in Men by a Delightful Sound so much as to answer the sincere Consciences of Men by Sound Truths declared more in Homely broken Terms of Speech than in the rarity of Phrase or well-compacted Rhetorick For I have alwayes desired to be known and approved of God and those that fear him in Sincerity Humility and down-right Truth and for this I study daily and labour alwayes even to have Praise Peace and Comfort of God rather than men in what I am and in what I do And therefore it is my desire that ye would look beyond the Method containing to the Matter contained and that your Eye may be fixed on the Substance intended which is verily and in Truth That ye may be informed the Way of your Peace and Happiness in this World and in that which is to come and may never hereafter Impose by Force and Violence in the Matters of Faith and the Worship of God upon the Consciences of any through Penalties and Punishments upon Men's Persons and Estates but that ye may allow and tollerate freely Liberty of Conscience in all Religious Matters and may not by Cruelty Destroy Men in their Persons or Estates upon the account of their being supposed to be or if really Hereticks and because of difference in Iudgment and Practice in Spiritual Matters These are the Particulars for substance held forth unto you and all the World and I have judged it most proper to direct these Cases to your View and Consideration as being the Persons most chiefly though not wholy concerned Therefore blame me not but rather receive my Love though but little in Quantity yet real in Quality and that ye will find one day when ye have truly tryed the Effects of the two Cases plainly laid before you which are Imposition upon Conscience and Free Liberty of Conscience These are the two Causes which will have their different and contrary Effects upon all the Rulers in the World Peace Blessings Prosperity and Happiness are the Effects of the one Cause and Wars Tribulations Contentions Misery Sorrow and the Curse are the Effects which have and will unavoidably follow the other Cause and this ye will all find in the Experience of Time and Transactions coming to pass in the World And therefore I cannot but in homely plain words as my manner is assert the Causes and the Effects of the Causes unto you again and again for the very End to Inform you Advise you and Warn you to follow the Good and to forsake the Evil to do the Right and hate the Wrong that the Effects of Righteousness and Liberty of Conscience even Peace Love Mercy and Prosperity may ever be with you and the Effects of Cruelty and Oppression and Imposition upon Conscience which will be your Misery Downfal and Destruction if ye continue in the Cause which works this Effect may be turned away and ye delivered Wherefore O ye Men Be Advised be Warned this is the Day of the Lord's Dawnings we have seen his Power and Glory he hath wounded us and healed us he hath killed and made alive he hath Proclaimed Liberty in eur Squls and Consciences from Death and Darkness from the Grave and Hell and he hath set his People free from Bondage to serve Him with a pure and perfect Heart And if ye Mortal Men made of the Dust of the Ground whose little measure of Breath is in your Nostrils will not approve of and joyn with this Blessed Work of the Lord but shall gain-say his Doings and set your Power against his Power and will not let the People go free in the Exercise of their Consciences in Holy Performances whose Consciences God hath made free then shall the Most High reward your Opposition with his Cup of Vengeance and he will make you know He is the Lord against whom ye thus raise Contention and he will dissolve your Substance and bring down your Glory and subdue
Imposing upon the Flock of God or forcing in Religious Matters for ye see the Elders might not be constrained or forced to take the Oversight of the Flock neither having the Oversight of it might they be â—… 〈…〉 â—y noâ—◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 Heritage nor use any 〈…〉 〈…〉 the Apostle and the conâ—… 〈…〉 saith he Elâ—…â—or â—or 〈…〉 upon them in â—…igor or 〈…〉 Elders and Ministers overseeing 〈…〉 oversee God's Heritage 〈…〉 self-denial and in all th◠〈…〉 hereby with the Word of 〈…〉 wards and not ruling over them as 〈…〉 Lordship by forcing and 〈…〉 imprisoning â—nd 〈…〉 as hath been 〈…〉 â—ver the Heritage of God 〈…〉 Lords over the Flock 〈…〉 example of Scriptures and 〈…〉 Gentleness and good Example 〈…〉 Peter's Instructions Thus it is clearly manifest throughout 〈…〉 the way of imposing Religiâ—â— and 〈…〉 Worship and Church-Government in the dispensâ—… of 〈◊〉 Gospel as aforesaid is contrary to the commands of Chriâ—… 〈…〉 example of Scriptures and is not of God nor according unto him And now I shall â—â—â—w in the fourth place of whom â—it is 〈◊〉 â—y whose Example this violence used and prsecution unto 〈…〉 on and also the beginning of impoâ—… 〈◊〉 force â—â—ongst Christians 4. All this persecution 〈…〉 been in the world as imprisoâ—ments 〈…〉 unto death and grievous Afflicâ—… hath been of 〈…〉 through the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Envy of the Devil against God 〈…〉 that Persecution 〈…〉 before the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ in the 〈◊〉 it 〈…〉 the particulars of it as it is signified 〈…〉 Transactions in 〈…〉 â—â—â—wledged by all that such cruel Persecutions were of the Dâ—â—il And again in the days of Christ and his Apostles 〈◊〉 was the force and 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 practised â—â—on the true 〈◊〉 Christians by â—â—e Jeâ—â— and 〈…〉 which was in â—licted upon Chriâ—… Apostles and the Christians was imposiâ—ion and 〈…〉 Religion 〈…〉 so much for compâ—…ing them to any thing as from that way of Riâ—… and 〈…〉 which they walked they were â—…ded 〈…〉 in the Name of Iâ—sus and were â—â—prisâ—nâ—â—â—anished and greatly 〈◊〉 by the Iâ—â—â—s that 〈◊〉 proâ—… People 〈…〉 Religion 〈…〉 for the â—… I need 〈◊〉 mâ—ntion the particular proâ—fs for this thing 't is so clear 〈…〉 and elsewhere how the Primitive Christians were forced and impoâ—â—â— upon by cruel Laws and violent Persecutions for their Christian Religion sake all 〈…〉 out of 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 in the heart 〈◊〉 wicked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Goâ—… by all â—â—t 5. This Way and Practice of imposing upâ—◠〈…〉 〈…〉 Pesecution 〈◊〉 the same wasâ—…â—…gst Chrâ—… nor â—…cticed by any called Christians 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Faith which some did 〈…〉 afterterwards For even in the Apoâ—… 〈◊〉 some were gone ouâ— from them into the Way of Câ—iâ— that killed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and into the Way of Balaam that went for Gift and Rewards 〈◊〉 these were Apostates 〈◊〉 the true Church and they were 〈…〉 and â—uch liâ—â— as Paul to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as these were alâ—â—â—dy sprung up in the first Age and they grew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the second Ages And these were the Antichristâ— and â—â—lse Proâ—… whith Iohn 〈◊〉 were gone out from the true Church into the World in his 〈◊〉 and these deceived the World by the Form of Godliness and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Power and Spirit of Christ And the Apostates from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which were over spread in many Nations and grown 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 Sea and the Earth out of which the Beast arose Rev. 13. And it was 〈…〉 War with the Saints and to overcoâ—◠〈…〉 worship him and he should CAUSE the â—â—rth and 〈◊〉 that dwell therein to worship and 〈◊〉 should CAUSE 〈…〉 should be killed and 〈◊〉 should CAUSE all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— Rich and Poor Bond and Free to receive â—â—s Mark c. And this Beast was the Authority of Antichrist that arose among the Apostaâ—â—â— and the false Prophets that thus Caused and Compelled all to worship the Beast and his Image Mark how often the word CAUSED is used in that Chapter which is Compelled or Forced and it was the Antichrist the Beast that did it the Authority that arose among the Aposâ—… Christians that were gone from the true Church and this was the first that we read of any Forcing or Compelling to Worship or persecuting about Worship and Imposing about the same since the dayes of the Apostles through Ages amongst them called Christians and here was the beginning of Imposing by 〈◊〉 and Violent Laws in the matters of Worship and Religion amongst the People called Christians and one Sect and Sort according to its Authority imposed by Laws and Force upon another causing and compelling one another to worship and believe according to his Form and Image and as any Sect of Christians gained outward Authority over others that same has caused and forced all others by outward violence into Conformity to its Way and Worship and this hath been amongst the People called Christians in the Apostacy ever since Antichrist and his power rose up amongst them and thus and at this time begâ—n first the imposing of Worship and persecuting about the same amongst Christianâ— And thus 't is manifest to be of Antichrist and of the Wicked one and not of the Lord. 6. By what is said it is plain That all in this present Age who impose by force of Laws and compel to worship and persecute about the same are not in the Example of Christ or his Apostles or any the good Primitive Christians but in so doing are in the Example of the Persecutors of the holy Prophets and in the Example of the cruel Iews that killed Christ and persecuted the Saints and in the Example of the cruel Heathens that violently persecuted the Christians in diverâ— Ages and Countries and are indeed of Antichrist and of the Beast that arose up against the Saints and made War against them and such are all they that do impose upon the Persons Estaâ—â—s and Conscienâ—â—s of â—…n at this day upon the account aforesâ—… And this is worthy of â—ll meâ—â— serious Consideration And now in the next place I shall proceed to shew how 〈◊〉 and Unreasonable it is for any called Christians to impose â—pon the Consciences of others and to force them by Laws and Commandments in the Matters of 〈◊〉 and to persecute â—â—out the sâ—â—e 1. Iâ— it unrighteous because it is an intruding upon the 〈◊〉 and Priviledge of God and seems to be a derogating from his Honour Power and Domiâ—… which properly is in himself and pertains to him alone and not unto mortal man which is to give Laws to Conscience â—nd to exercise it in all 〈◊〉 of Religion respecting his Worship Duty and Service and to perswade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consciencâ—â— by his Spirit to follow him and observe all things which he â—…quires in Faith and Worship This Power is only proper to God alone and to him pertaineth and to no other And therefore for any man or earthly Powers of man to give Laws and Rules to Conscience and to impose upon men in the
matters of God's Worship forcing Conformity in Spiritual Exercisâ—â— by violent Commands upon Forfeitures and Punishments seems to be and really is an assuming and presuming upon God's Authority which belongs only to him and tends to rob him of the same and is an entrenching upon his Soveraignity and is wholy Unrighteous and inasmuch as it is a â—…g in the Seat of God and forcing the Exercise of Worship and intruding upon his Blessed Priviledge and a presuming into his Authority which he commits to no man a robbing him of his Honour and Spiritual Dominion therefore to Impose in Matters Religious is Unrighteous on their parts that do practice it And. 2. It is Unrighteous because it is contrary to the Command of God D◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would be done unto but this Imposing in matters of Worship is a Practice done by others which others would not be done unto by any and therefore 't is Unrighteous For no one Sect or sort of Christians would be impâ—…sed upon in that case by any others not forced and compelled by outward Violence against their judgments and Consciences unto such a Conformity of â—…th and Worship to do thus is not to love a manâ— Neighbour as himself nor to do to all men as men would be done unto For if at any time and place the Papists so called impose upon the Protestants so called in this case of â—orcing them unto Conformity or Persecuting them about Religion 't is cryed out against by such as are so imposed upon to be Tyranny Oppression and Exacting Unrighteously and thus every Sect of Christians cry out against others that do impose upon them by Force in things Religious contrary to their Judgments and Consciences each sort when they suffer saith of others They are Unrighteous in such Impositions though many cannot see it to be Unrighteous in themselves when they have the Oportunity to do it and do impose upon other but this is where Self-advantage killeth and choaketh the Witness of 〈◊〉 though however in it self imposing as aforesaid in Religious Maâ—…rs is contrary to the Holy Law of God and a doing to others as men would not be done unto by others And therefore 't is Unrighteous both before God and all just Men. 3. It is Unrighteous to impose Worship by Force because it is an exercising Dominion over men's Faith by Force of outward Power which the Apoâ—â—le renounces and seems to forbid saying They had not dominion over mens Faith â—â—d if the Apostles themselves had not power and dominion over men's Faith that is to say To Command mens Faith to believe or do this or the other but 〈◊〉 the holy Spirit of Christ perswaded their Consciences inwardly then no outward Power of Kings or Rulers whatsoever can Justly or Righteously chalenge â—…h priviledge as to have dominion over mens faith by imposing upon them through force which is to take dominion over men's faith which is unrighâ—… because it is contrary to the Scripture and to the example of the Apostâ—… 〈◊〉 inasmuch as it is exercising dominion and Lordâ—â—ip over the stock of Christ and not leaving them to Christ the true Shepherd who onely ought to teach his people by his Spirit into all truth both of Doctrine Faith and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath not given power or authority to any Rulers of this World to impose by force upon the consciences of his tender stock nor to rule them in â—…y 〈◊〉 exercising outward force upon them but whosoever doth this it is unrighteous 4. It is Unrighteous in respect of the Fruits and Effects which alwayes have and ever will be produced by such Imposition upon Conscience in Religious Matters as aforesaid to wit Persecution and Cruelty of Men exercised in that Case which ever hath been and will be brought forth in Nations and Kingdoms where such Impositions are For if we look into Ages past what Strife and Contention what Enmity and Bitterness what Wars and Bloodsheds what Dangers and Mischiefs what Persecutions and Cruelties have been brought forth among men between Kingdom and Kingdom between City and City between Kings and their Subjects between Neighbours and Neighbours between Brother and Brother upon this very Unrighteous Account of Imposing upon Conscience by Force in respect of Worship and every Nation and City at this day is in the same Danger of the same Mischiefs where such impositions are in Force and therefore needs must the Occasion of these so unjust and unrighteous Effects which doth administer the Reason of such Contentions Wars Persecutions and Cruelties be Unrighteous and such is imposing in Matters Religious as aforesaid and this is partly manifest and will be morâ— and more through the World That that Kingdom City and Country will not be free from these Dangers and Mischiefs but will alwayes be liable unto them while this kind of Imposition by Force on the Conscience is unremoved and that which is the Occasion of such continual present Dangers to destroy Kingdoms Cities and Peoples is Unrighteous and such is Imposition in the Matters of Worship and Religion 5. It is unrighteous in any King Prince or Authority of this World to Impose as aforesaid because it diverteth confoundeth and destroyeth the End of Just Rule and Government amongst men one over another which is only to Rule well in outward Affair and over the outward Man to keep that in Peace and Good Order and to be a Praise to them that do Well and a Terror to all that do Evil in the Outward Man this is the only End of Government and Rule amongst men in this World To Rule well over the Outward Man in things between man and man but not to Rule over men's Consciences and to exercise Lordship over men in the Spiritual Matters of Christ's Kingdom this pertains not to the outward Worldly Government of Men and therefore whosoever do take it upon them and thereby do oppress the Conscience of any by forcing in Spiritual Mattters doth Unrighteously inasmuch as they do diverâ— the End of their Authority and use their Power to another End then God hath appointed them and while they should only preserve and defend the outward man by good and wholesome Laws made for that purpose they vex and oppress the Inward Man even the Conscience by forcing upon it and Imposing through Violence in the Matters Religious which is contrary to the End of Just Rule and Government in the World and therefore is wholy Unrighteous 6. It is Unrighteous because it effects no Good End nor begets people into the true Faith and Worship of God but on the contrary makes many Hypocrites even through fear and terror such Laws forcing Conformity do make many hypocritically conform to such or such way of worship which the Spirit of Christ doth not perswade their Consciences of the truth of nay it may be against their Conscience and that Imposition as aforesaid which is the cause of this is surely Unrighteous unrighteous because the End propounded by the
Imposing Religion and the Example hereof may be read in Nations and Countries at this day what Discontents and Contentions have arisen dangerously among people one towards another and towards their Rulers upon this Cause and Occasion of Imposing Religion by Force Unrighteously and 't is a Danger this day that all the Rulers of the World are exposed unto and deeply involved in where this Cause of Imposing Religion is extâ—nt in Force 3. It is Dangerous to Impose Religion by Force because it must needs produce Oppression Persecution Violence and Hatred in the prosecution thereof and this is dangerous to any Kings Rulers or Governours to be reputed Oppressors Persecutors and Violent Men this is Infamous and of bad Report amongst men and Abomination and Wickedness in the sight of God for any Rulers upon Earth to be Oppressors Persecutors and Cruel Men and such consequently must they be that are Imposers upon mens Consciences in Matters Religious And this Danger all the Rulers of the World are in that do Impose Religion by Force even to render themselves Infamous by Oppression in the sight of men and to render themselves Sinners against God and this Danger falls upon the Imposers of Religion because of such their Impositions by Force upon the Consciences of men Lastly 'T is Dangerous because 't is of Antichrist and not of Christ as before proved and all that do Impose by Violence on the Consciences of Men in Religious Cases are of Antichrist in so doing and because thereof liable to God's Indignation and Heavy Wrath in this World and hereafter and 't is Dangerous to bring the Wrath and Judgments of God upon Men that are guilty thereof for God will be avenged upon such his Enemies that exercise Violence and Persecution upon Men for their Conscience sake And this is a Danger unavoidable which all that impose Religion are liable unto even to be Cut Off in the Wrath of the Lord and to undergo his Indignation for all the Reasons before shewed These with many other Dangers are they involved in that are Imposers in Religious Matters Therefore Oh that the Rulers of this World would be Wise now in their last day and would consider the Unjustness and Unreasonableness of their Imposing Religion and the many Dangers that attend the same Oh that they would learn God's Counsel and Rule only for him in Justice Mercy Truth Equity and true Judgment exercising the same in the Meek and Lowly Spirit of Jesus among men and over whom they are set to Rule in this World and would give to God Almighty his Due and Right and Priviledge in exercising the Consciences of Men by his Spirit in all Cases of Christ's Kingdom for it only belongs to him to be Ruler in the Inward Man Oh! that the Rulers of this World would give this Power and Dominion unto God and would from henceforth never more exercise Lordship over Conscience by Imposing Religion through Force but would only Rule well over the Outward Man in the things pertaining to Man and would leave to God the Rule and Exercise of Conscience Oh! then would it go well with them and Happy and Blessed should they be in such their Authority and Peace should be unto them if that they only took the Government as appointed of God over the outward Man and did not impose upon the inward man by Force in Religious Matters but committed that Authority to God Then I say should Peace and Blessings be unto them But while it is otherwise even while they exercise Dominion and Lordship over Conscience as aforesaid they do unjustly and Unreasonably and bring upon themselves many Dangers and are liable to Contentions Oppositions Wars and many Mischiefs in this World and to the Anger and Wrath of God in the World that is to come CHAP. II. Concerning Heresie the Case Stated What it is in it self and who a Heretick is and who are the absolute true Iudges of it and what Punishment pertains to such as are truly convicted of Heresie 1. THere is such a thing as Heresie in it self even many Heresies and Errors abounding amongst the Sons of Men in the World at this day and there was Heresie in the dayes of the Aposties and amongst them brought in by such as erred from the Truth after they had once known the Truth and received it as ye may read the Iews they cryed out of Heresie in their time which caused the Apostle to say to them Acts 24. 14. After that Way which ye call Heresie do we worship the God of our Fathers And the Apostle said 1 Cor. 11. to the Church There must be also Heresies amongst you that they that are approved of God may be made manifest And 2 Pet. 2. 1. it is spoken of some who should privily bring in Damnable Heresies into the Church By all which it is manifest there was in the Apostles dayes Heresie and Heresies as there is at this day even many Heresies and Errors in the World held professed and maintained by the Apostate Christians that are gone into the Form of Godliness without the Power and are turned from the Spirit of Christ and the soundness of his Doctrine into the formal Profession of Religion and of the words of Christ and his Apostles and among such are the Heresies and Errors 2. Heresie is somewhat believed and professed in Practice of Worship and in Point of Faith and Doctrine that is either contrary to or different from the perfect Truth of the Gospel of Christ something I say held and practiced in Point of Worship Faith and Doctrine which is not justly according to the pure Truth of Jesus but either in whole or in part different from and contrary thereunto and whatsoever Practice of Worship or Point of Doctrine as is so held professed believed or practiced is Heresie and Error because it is different from and contrary to in whole or in part the perfect Truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus and because thereof it is Heresie and such is Heresie in it self different from and contrary unto the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ though as for the particular Parts and Points of Heresie in Worship Doctrine and Practice which are at this day held professed and believed among Apostate Christians are so very many that they would be too large here to ennumerate but my present Intention is only this To shew at large what Heresie is in it self and who is a Heretick 3. A Heretick one that is properly so is such a Person as hath sometime believed in the Truth and made Profession and Acknowledgment of the Way of true Christianity and hath received and held the true Faith of the Gospel of Christ and been in some measure united to Christ and a Member of his Church but is fallen and degenerated in whole or in part from the said Faith and Acknowledgment of Christ Jesus and the Way of Christianity and hath erred from the Truth of the Gospel once believed and
proceedings have been in the Enmity and Ignorance and not in the Power and Life of Jesus whereby it hath come to pass that many men hath been destroyed for the cause of which they have been more innocent then they that have destroyed them And thus by false Judgment and cruel proceedings in the matter of Heresie and Error many have been destroyed unjustly and the World filled with Enmity about difference in Religious matters and with Murders and Cruelties upon the false Judgments of men about Heresie and this is weighty to be truly considered a Case to be lamented and grieved for by the Righteous Oh! what strife in the Christian World hath been for Ages on this occasion each sort of People exclaiming against and persecuting others as Hereticks and seditious persons onely for difference in Judgment in Spiritual Cases and each particular person almost raging with fury and intending his Neighbours destruction and onely for being contrary-minded in point of Doctrine and Worship Oh! the view of these things and woful effects produced in the World for Ages in these occasions makes my heart grieve because of the destructions of men yea of the destruction of many upon wrongful judgments and proceedings on these occasions I am troubled I am troubled and ever since I have known the Right hand from the Left in God's matters my Soul often in the deep search of these things hath cryed out How woful are they And when shall it once be that these things shall be no more in the World but that every man may sit at rest and quiet with his God in the Way Faith and Practises of Righteousness as his heart is perswaded of and not be tossed with false Judgments cruel Afflictions and hard dealing because of his Judgment and Conscience in the belief and Knowledge of Heavenly Matters Thus hath my Spirit been framed with zeal against these things this imposing of Religion by force these procedings of killing and destroying men upon the account of Heresie these things my soul hath loathed and I am weary of them and my zeal is kindled against them Oh I when will the Rulers of this World learn Wisdom and forsake false Judgment and Oppression And when will it be that they will onely rule and judge for the Lord in their state and compass of Worldly affairs between man and man in the matters of outward wrongs and injuries And when will they leave it to the Lord to be Judge King and Ruler only in all the Cases of his spiritual Kingdom Then should it be happy and blessed unto men unto Kings and their Subjects to Rulers and their People and to all sorts of Persons if Judgment were onely ascribed unto God that he only might judge and determine of these Cases and punish men according to the desert of their Offences of Error then should it be well with them But in the mean time whilst men are judged and supposed to be Herericks and thereupon sentenced to Death Banishment or corporal Punishment for their supposed Errors sake in matters of Iudgment and Conscience Tribulation Misery Distractions and wofull Consequence will follow upon that work to Kings Rulers and People in every Nation and Countrey and no Peace true Comfort nor Happiness shall be in the midst of men And this is the Judgment of the Spirit of God in him who hath obtained favour from God to receive Knowledge and Understanding in these matters He that can receive this let him CHAP. III. Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceiveableness What he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and What his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom 1. THese things are great Mysteries and though in the World they are very much abounding and extant throughout all Nations yet for the most part unknown unto the World and not discovered among the sons of men but secretly hidden and veiled under false covers and in much deceivableness dwelling and working upon Earth in the deep Mysteries of Iniquity to the deceiving of multitudes of People who are indeed of Antichrist among whom he dwells appears rules reigns and hath his Authority and Government and yet they know it not nor do they discern him in his Wayes and Works though they are under his Power and subjects of his Kingdom such indeed is the Mystery of Antichrist his hidden false covered pathes in which he works and walks amongst the Sons of men in the World that he easily beguiles and betrays men and deceiveth them unto perdition while yet they know not that they are beguiled and deceived but think they are altogether well and do well and are in the way of Salvation being led of that wicked one and blinded by him and are bewitched into the false faith and deceivable pretence of goodness righteousness holiness and sanctity as if they were indeed Members of the true Church and Saints of the Most High and had a right to Eternal Life and were the very Sons and Servants of the Almighty wher indeed and in Truth they are yet in the estate of Enmity against God in the Degeneration and Bondage of Corruption unconverted and unsanctified and Sinners and Ungodly the very Children of the Devil and Servants of unrighteousness and have no assurance nor right unto the Kingdom of God to rest in his Peace and Glory Such I say is the working of Antichrist that he appears to be in the World contrary to what he truly is in his own beeing and nature and deceives men and People into the apprehensions and conceits of what they are not even contrary to what they are in their present State and Standing even so deep and Mysterious is Antichrist in himself and in his working among the Children of men 2. That there is such a Man or Spirit in the World as Antichrist this is not doubtfull but confessed by all and proved by the Scriptures for the Apostle wrot to the Church They had heard that Antichrist should come and even now saith he are there many Antichrists come into the World 1 John 2. 18. and also 2 John verse 7. saith he For many Deceivers are entred into the World and this is a Deceiver and an Antichrist c. and 2 Thes. 2. the Apostle speaks of the Man of Sin and of the Son of Perdition that should be revealed in the World and should exalt himself above all that is called God These with many other Scriptures do prove that there is such a thing in the World already come into the World and now dwelling and walking in the World as Antichrist Man of Sin and Son of Perdition and as I said 't is confessed by all that there is an Antichrist such a Man or Spirit now extant in the World though there are great Debates and Contentions amongst many called Christians what this Antichrist is and who he is some holding one thing and some another about him and also
Righteousness Truth Faith and Worship without the Power of God even likeness of the things that the Apostles and Saints held in the Power of God And hereby is the World deceived though Antichrist hath taught them to Plead Scriptures and Prove by Scriptures â—…t the Apostles did the same things and held the same Profession yet being now held and professed out of the Power of God and not in the same Spirit that the Apostles were in 't is but of Antichrist and deceivable and leads captive the souls of men into destruction Oh therefore that the World and all that dwel therein would consider the danger of that deceivable Spirit of Antichrist and how he deceiveth mankind and would turn from him and forsake the wayes and works of Antichrist that they may be saved and not destroyed Oh! all ye called Christians 't is time to consider what Spirit ye are of and what Spirit leads you and how ye may escape his delusions for the Day of the Lord is come and he is gathering People out of the wayes of Antichrist and setting them free from his cruel Bonds to serve the Lord in Liberty and Freedom of the Spirit of Christ Jesus and blessed are all they that witness this where Christ reigns and Antichrist is subdued with his works and fruits and discovered and destroyed by the Spirit of the Lord and the brightness of his Coming who comes to judge the World in Righteousness and Truth 11. These things are said in general of Antichrist Now it remains to be shewed What the Government of Antichrist is in it self and where it is in beeing and who the Subjects of his Kingdom are That Antichrist the Man of Sin hath a Government a Kingdom a Power an Authority a Rule and a Dominion which is indeed his Government this is not doubtful to any but acknowledged by all but what this Kingdom and Government is many are Ignorant Now the Kingdom and Government of Antichrist is not the Government and Authority of some particular man in some particular Countrey and Nation upon Earth distinct from all other persons and Nations as if such a particuler visible Kingdom and Authority were Antichrist's Government and none besides But the Authority Kingdom and Government of Antichrist is more invisible more hidden as it were more spiritual and undiscernable unto the sons of men then any visible outward Kingdom is And indeed the Kingdom of Antichrist is the Authority and Power of Spiritual Wickedness of Spiritual invisible Iniquity or the Rule and Dominion of the Son of Perdition of the Man of Sin exercised in the hearts and Spirits of all ungodly men This is the Kingdom and Government of Antichrist an Authority of Spiritual Wickedness a Power of the Mystery of Iniquity and of invisible prevailing of the Son of Perdition in and over the hearts of the Sons of men not onely of one person or in one Nation or Kingdom of the World but in all sinful persons and over all Nations of the Earth Antichrist's Government is such throughout Kingdoms of this World even a Spiritual Power of Wickedness a Dominion and Authority of the Mystery of Iniquity ruling and raigning in the hearts of many men even of all sinful men of all unjust men of all unconverted men through all Nations in the World So that it may not truly be said that Antichrist's Kingdom and Government is onely the particular Authority of any particular man in a particular Nation of the Earth and all others Men and Nations are free but it is as I have said the Authority Power and Rule of the Spirit of Wickedness of the Mystery of Iniquity in the hearts of all evil men in all Nations through the World And this is truly the Kingdom of Antichrist in it self 12. This Government is placed and set up and chiefly the place and beeing of it is not only in all Nations at large but in the Hearts even in particular Hearts of the Sons of men in the Heart and Inward Parts of man is the place where Antichrist's Government is his Authority Power and Dominion is in the Hearts of the Ungodly in the inward Parts of Transgressors in the Heart Antichrist that Man of Sin dwells and works according as it is written 2 Thess. 2. 9 10. speaking of the Man of Sin Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all lying Wonders and with all Deceivableness of Uurighteousness in them that perish His dwelling and working is in them that perish in the Ungodly in the Hypocrites in all â—…aters in all false Worshippers Thus it is manifest That the Government of Antichrist is in the Heart not only to one man in some Nations but in the Hearts of all such men mentioned in all the Kingdoms of the World even the Mystery of Iniquity the spiritual Wickedness the authority and power of that spirit that is against Christ and contrary to him which is the Rule Kingdom and Government of Antichrist dwelleth and worketh in the hearts of the Sons of men even like as Christ Jesus dwelleth and walketh in his Saints as it is written so accordingly doth Antichrist dwell and walk in all that are the Subjects of his Kingdom Yet notwithstanding the Government of Antichrist is in the hearts of men originally there as having got dominion and Power over the seed of God and placed it self in the heart which is its seat and where Christ should reign yet the Government of Antichrist is not so spiritual so hidden and invisible in the heart but that it appears outwardly and visibly in the actions and fruits of men so that the outward actions and works of men are 〈◊〉 and sinted with the spirit of Antichrist and his government apaears visible in Antichristian Ways and Works brought forth by men the Sinfulness of men the Hypocrisies of men the Idolatries of men and the false Principles and Doctrines of men which appear visibly are the Works of Antichrist and his Government stands in these things in these Works he Governs men and to the doing of them he leads and rules men by his authority and power which is in the Hearts of men And thus Antichrist's Government appears visible and outward and is in the outward Actions and Works of men to be seen in the World as well as the working of his Power and Authority is in the Heart inwardly And also Antichrist's Government is extended not only as first dwelling and working in the Hearts of the Ungodly nor secondly as over the Works of men particularly but over the Governments of many Nations and Countries in general is Antichrist's Power and Rule extended so that the Governments of the World are leavened and tasted with Antichristian-power and authority in many Nations even the spirit of Antichrist hath possessed many hearts many Works and not only so but many Governments amongst men and this hath appeared and broken forth visible in all the works of Unrighteousness Injustice Oppressions and Persecutions brought forth in
the World at this day and through all Christian Nations there is a great Cry concerning False Prophets and Deceivers each one Sort and Sect of People accusing and charging the Teachers and Ministers that are of others and not of their Way to be Deceivers and false Prophets Thus the Papists cry against the Protestant Ministers and the Protestant Ministers do the like by the Papists each one sort of people cryes the like against the Ministers of the others And without all controversie there are in the Christian-World so called and in these Kingdoms many false Prophets and Deceivers even at this day and hath been for many Ages since the dayes of the Apostles And the World and Nations and Multitudes have been deceived into the way of Error through the means of the Deceivers who have done much Hurt in the World by their Divinations and Antichristian-wayes that they have walked in But though it is acknowledged by all sorts of Christians That there are and have been many Deceivers and false Prophets yet the great Controversie is at this day Who are the Deceivers and false Prophets seeing as I have said that every sort of Men are accusing others to be such But now it remains to be sought out and that carefully by all who are the Deceivers and false Prophets whether Papists Ministers or Protestant Ministers or whether any others and who such are in this day Now therefore for this very End that it may be made manifest unto all who the Deceivers are and that they may be turned from and their Wayes eschewed by all People thus I try them and bring them to right and true Judgment and shall not charge the Papists the Protestants or any others by their Name or because of their Name that therefore they are Deceivers But seeing that all sorts of Christians do profess the Scriptures and that they own them Therefore according to the Scriptures and by the Spirit of God I shall lay both Papists and Protestants and all others to the Line of Judgment by the Rule of Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them and if Papists Protestants or whose Ministers soever come under the Judgment of that Rule they shall be concluded by the Rule of the Spirit of God and the Scriptures to be false Prophets and Deceivers Therefore come out Papists Protestants Anabaptists Quakers and all others come forth and hear your Tryal and receive your Judgment First of all It is concluded and that I hope by all reasonable men That whosoever they are at this day through the World whether Papists or Protestants so called or whoever that shall be found walking by the same spirit and in the same Wayes and doing the same things that the false Prophets of Israel did in the dayes of old and that the false Brethren and false Teachers among the Churches of the Christians in the Apostles dayes walked in and followed such may at this day be adjudged deemed and taken to be false Prophets and false Teachers Deceivers and Seducers and this without respect to any Name or Title whatsoever that they bear in their Religion And this is the Rule of Tryal and Judgment in which I may Justly and Righteously proceed 1. They were false Prophets and Deceivers in the dayes of the true Prophets Isa. 56. 11. That were Greedy Dumb Dogs which could never have enough and that sought every one of them for their Gain from their Quarter and that Preached for Hire and Divined for Money Mic. 3. 11. The Priests that Taught for Hire and the Prophets that Divined for Money against such as these Isaiah and Micah cryed and that by the Spirit of the Lord being commanded of him so to do Now whosoever whether Papists or Protestants of any sort Independents Presbyterians Quakers or any other that have a Quarter from whence they seek their Gain for Preaching and Teach for Hire and have Hire for Teaching viz. Tythes or Sums of Money and Divine for Money such whatsoever they be without respect of their Names or Professions walk by the same spirit and in the same way and do the same things as the false Prophets did and are false Prophets and Deceivers And therefore all People it is left to the Witness of God in your Consciences and that you may give Witness in this Case who are they now and where they are that can never have enough but are greedy after Gain and Covetous and that seek for Gain from their Quarters or Portions of a Country or City and where are they now and who is it that Preach for Hire and Divine for Money that take so much Money or Gifts by the Year or Moneth for Preaching who is it or who are they now that walk in these Wayes such whoever they be whether Papists Protestants Sectaries so called are false Prophets and Deceivers 2. They were false Prophets and Deceivers That stood not in the Counsel of the Lord and that did not turn People from their Iniquities and Evil Wayes but spake a Vision of their own Hearts and not from the Mouth of the Lord And that cryed Peace to them that walked Wickedly and Prophesied Lyes and used their Tongues and said The Lord saith it whenas the Lord had not spoken to them and that seduced the People by crying Peace when there was no Peace and saw Vanity and spokâ— Vanity and Lyes in the dayes of the true Prophets I say such were false Prophets and Deceivers Now whosoever whether Papists or Protestants or any others that do not stand in the Counsel of God and that do not turn People from their Iniquities and their Evil Wayes but speak a Vision of their own Hearts and not from the Mouth of the Lord and that cry Peace to them that walk wickedly that prophecy Lyes and use their Tongues when the Lord hath not spoken to them and that seduce People by crying Peace when there is no Peace and that builds the Wall and daubs it with untempered Mortar and that do not Profit the People at all but cause them to err Such are false Prophets and Deceivers at this day wheresoever and whosoever without respect of Name or Title in their Profession Such now walk by the spirit of the false Prophets and are in the way of the Deceivers which the Lord sent true Prophets to cry against And now to all People of what Name soever it is left to the Witness of God in you all to give witness who they are now and where they are that are guilty hereof Who is it now that stand not in the Counsel of God and that do not turn People from their Iniquities that do not convert them to God by their preaching But speak what they have studied for even a Divination of their own Brain and not what they have received from God and that use their tongues and take other mens words the Words of Christ the Prophets and Apostles when as they have not the same Spirit of Christ and his
Raign in Person upon Earth p. 107. 12. To all them called Ranters p. 108. 13. To all them called Seekers and Waiters p. 109. 14. The Beast which all the World Wonders after but they whose Names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life hath many Heads and many Horns p. 109. A Description of the State and Condition of all Mankind upon the Face of the whole Earth Sheweth from p. 115. to 123. 1. What man was in his Creation before Transgression 2. What he is in Transgression and how he became a degenerate Plant. 3. The Way of Restauration Salvation and of Life Eternal declared to the Sons and Daughters of Adam in the whole World Truth Defended or Certain Accusations answered cast upon the People called Quakers by the Teachers of the World In which is discovered 1. Who are the false Prophets 2. When they came in 3. How they may be known 4. Who they are that deny Christ and preach another Gospel 5. Who they are that deny the Scriptures Churches Ministers and Magistrates c. p. 124. to 135. The true Faith of the Gospel of Peace Contended for in the Spirit of Meekness Being an Answer to John Bunnian a professed Minister in Bedfordshire p. 136. An Answer to a Book called Stablishing against Quaking put forth by Giles Firmin a professed Minister in Essex p. 153. The Crying Sins Reproved whereof the Rulers and People of England are highly guilty Being Additions to their own Confessions held forth by them in their Declaration wherein these Three Nations were invited to a solemn Day of Fasting c. p. 168. A Measure of the Times Wherein is shewed 1. What the state of things have been in Ages past 2. What the state of things are at this present day 3. What shall be the state of things hereafter from p. 183. to 203. The Testimony of the Lord concerning London Being a Warning to all sorts of People in it what the Lord requires of them p. 214. to 222. A Just and Lawful Tryal of the Teachers and Professed Ministers of this Age Wherein is shewed That they are judged and by the Scriptures proved to be contrary to all the Ministers of Christ in former Ages 2. And are proved to agree with all the false Prophets and Deceivers in their Call Maintenance Doctrine and Practice In which Book is also a Description of the true Ministry of Christ from p. 223. to 239. A Standard lifted up and an Ensign held forth to all Nations Being a Testimony Concerning The True God p. 241. The Son of God p. 242. The Spirit of God p. 242. Man and all Mankind p. 243. The World in general p. 243. Man's Restauration Redemption and Salvation what they are and by whom they are wrought p. 245. True Religion and the true Worship of the true God p. 245. Iustification and Sanctification p. 246. The Kingdom of Christ and how it is to be set up p. 246. Governours and Government and Subjection to them p. 247. The true Ministry of Christ and the false Ministry and the Difference betwixt them p. 248. The Gospel of Christ p. 249. The Word of God and the Scriptures p. 249. The Devil and Damnation p. 250. All Creatures that God made p. 251. The New Covenant p. 252. Faith p. 253. What Works are accepted of God and what Works are not accepted p. 253. Man's State in the first Adam before Conversion and his State after Conversion and what Conversion is p. 254. The Woful Cry of Unjust Persecutions and grievous Oppressions of the People of God in England Shewing the Ground of Persecution in its first Cause and the Enmity which is betwixt the two Seeds p. 256. Truth the Strongest of all witnessed forth in the Spitit of Truth against all Deceit In a Reply to John Bunnian ' s second Book p. 275. Many Strong Reasons Confounded Being an Answer to Richard Baxter ' s Twenty four Arguments which he said Would hinder any reasonable man from being a Quaker p. 310. The true Christian Religion again Discovered after a long and dark Night of Apostacy Shewing who it is of the Sects and Forms of Religion in the Nations that are agreeable to the Scriptures p. 325. A Message for Instruction to all the Rulers Judges and Magistrates to whom the Law is committed Shewing 1. What Iust Government is 2. How far the Magistrates Power reacheth and what the Sword of Iustice is to cut down and what it is to defend 3. An Exposition of some parts of the Law for the Edification of such as desire to judge Righteously between man and man p. 343. The State of the Controversie between Richard Mayo Priest of Kingstone and Edw. Burroughs p. 375. Truth made Manifest Being an Answer to a Book called The Quakers Rounds put forth by one Philip Taverner p. 399. A Testimony concerning the Estate of the True Church Shewing 1. What she hath been 2. What she is pag. 413. The True State of Christianity truly described Shewing 1. What it was in its Beginning and Purity 2. What it now is in its Apostacy and Degeneration And also sheweth the Woful State wherein them called Christians now stand being departed and revolted from the Spirit of Christ and from his Teachings pag. 418. A Declaration to all the World of our Faith and what we believe who are called Quakers pag. 439. Some of the Principles of the Quakers scornfully so called by men Vindicated In Answer to two Printed Books put forth by Philip Taverner a supposed Minister of the Gospel in Middlesex p. 444. A Testimony against a Great Idolatry committed Being a true Mourning of the Lord's Servant upon the many Considerations of his Heart upon that Occasion of the great stir about an Image of O. Cromwell carryed about the 23th of the 9th Moneth 1658. p. 457. A Message proclaimed by Divine Authority From the Chosen Assembly of the Redeemed People in England to the Pope chief Bishop in Rome and to his Cardinals Iesuits and Priests c. being an Invitation and Challenge to them to come forth to Tryal and shew if they have the same Faith Power Spirit Authority and Government as had the Apostles and true Churches before the Apostacy p. 462. A Faithful Testimony concerning the true Worship of God Shewing 1. What it is in it self 2. And who are the true Worshippers p. 474. Some false Principles and Errors Discovered In Answer to a Book supposed to be put forth by Samuel Eaton a professed Minister of the Gospel amongst the Sect of Independents in Cheshire p. 483. A Message to all Kings and Rulers in Christendom Being a Warning from the Lord to them to take heed of Oppression and to cease to grind the Face of the Poor and from drinking the Whore's Cup and from carrying of her and from all Oppressions whatsoever lest the Lord God Almighty execute his fierce Indignation upon them p. 492. An Account of some Grounds and Reasons of the Innocent Sufferings of the People of God
called Quakers And why they testifie against the Vain Customs and Practices of the World presented to the Parliament Anno 1659. p. 499. An Answer to a Great Cry up and down the Nation That the Quakers Meetings must be broken and suppressed and that this present Parliament intended to do it p. 502. A Cry of great Iudgment and Vengeance upon the Wicked near to be Executed as it was received from the Lord into his Servant E. B. p. 504. To the Rulers and to such as are in Authority Being a true and faithful Testimony concerning Religion and the Establishment thereof and sheweth How it may be established in Persons and Nations page 508. Satan's Design Defeated Being an Answer to a Manuscript sent by Priest Jackson of Sussex to a Member of Parliament p. 514. A Visitation and Warning proclaimed and an Alarum sounded in the Pope's Borders Beeing 1. The Account of a Iourney to Dunkirk p. 525. 2. A Letter to the Deputy Governour p. 527. 3. Queries to the Fryars p. 529. 4. Propositions as a Charge against the Romish Church with a Letter to the chief Iesuit Rector in Dunkirk p. 534. 5. A Warning to the Officers and Souldiers of the English Army p. 537. 6. Some Propositions to the English Priests p. 541. Good Counsel and Advice rejected by Dissobedient Men and the dayes of O. Cromwell passed over and of Richard Cromwell his Son late Protectors of these Nations Shewing the many precious Warnings neglected by them which from time to time were given to them p. 551. To the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England sitting in the year 1659. a Warnining to them to take off Oppression that Truth and Righteousness might be established in the Earth p. 592. A Message to the present Rulers of England Delivered to them in the year 1659. p. 588. To the present Distracted and Broken Nation of England Being a Mourning and Lamentation for the Confusions and Distractions that were then over the Land giving good Counsel and Advice how Peace might be restored p. 598. A Presentation to London Being an Answer to the Young Men and Apprenteces returned to some part of their Petition directed by them to the â—â—yor and Aldermen of the City p. 607. To the present Assembly Members of Parliament at Westminster presented to them in the 11th Moneth 1659. p. 612. An Answer to a Declaration of the People called Anabaptists in and about the City of London p. 615. An Answer to a great Cry The Quakers will soon fall c. p. 623. A Discovery of some part of the War between the Kingdom of the Lamb and the Kingdom of Antichrist Being an Account of several Disputes between E. B. and one Christopher Fowler a professed Minister in London p. 625. A Return to the Ministers of London By way of Answer to their Seasonable Exhortation so called directed to their Congregations p. 642. A Visitation and Presentation of Love unto the King and those called Royalists Consisting of 1. An Answer to several Queries proposed to the People called Quakers from a sâ—â—sed Royalist p. 667. 2. An Objection answered concerning the King's Supremacy p. 678. 3. An Epistle directed to the King and those called Royalists p. 679. 4. Certain Queries returned to them called Royalists to answer p. 684. A Testimony concerning the Book of Common-Prayer so called Being an Answer to an Objection Whether it be not in it self and as practiced in this Nation heretofore and at this present the true Worship of the true and living God p. 693. A Presentation of wholsome Informations unto the King of England Being an Answer to certain Accusations charged before him in a Printed Book called The Thrice Happy Welcome of King Charles the Second by one Geo. Wellington of Bristol City against them whom in Derision the Accuser calls Quakers p. 702. The Everlasting Gospel of Repentance and Remission of Sins held forth and declared to the Inhabitants of the Earth Being a Message of Reconciliation to all People every where in General with certain Propositions of Faith laid down which every one must believe or else they cannot be saved p 724. 732. A Vindication of the People of God called Quakers Being an Answer to a Book put forth by one Geo. Pressick of Dublin in Ireland in which many Lyes and Caluâ—…nies were written against the People of God p. 743. Some Considerations presented to the King of England Being an Answer to a Petition and Address of the General Court of Boston in New-England subscribed by John Indicot delivered to the King in the 11th Moneth 1660. thinking thereby to cover themselves from the Blood of the Innocent p 756. A Just and Righteous Plea presentented unto the King of England and his Counsel Being the true State of the present Case of the People called Quakers 1. Concerning Swearing at all and particularly of the Oath of Allegiance p. 773. 2. Concerning Meeting together to Worship God p. 776. 3. Concerning Tythes among the Jews and among the Christians and why we refuse to pay them at this day p. 779. 4. Concerning giving Security by Bond to live Peaceably or to answer Accusations then and there c. p. 782. 5. Concerning Gâ—â—ernment it self and particularly of this present Government p. 784. 6. Concerning Persecution what it is in it self and how great an Enemy it is to the King and his Government laid down in ten Particulars p. 787. Persecution Impeached as a Traytor against God his Laws and Government Being a Vindication of the Cause of the Ancient Martyrs against the Cruelty inflicted on them by the Papists in former dayes containing an Answer to a Book called Semper Iidem or A Paralel of Phanaticks wherein several of the Martyrs are vilified and and reproached by the Name and Term of Ancient Phanaticks p. 793. The Case of Free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Faith and Religion Presented unto the King and both Houses of Parliament Declaring it absolutely needful for them to grant it and shewing the woful Effects and ill Consequence which will infallibly follow upon the contrary to the Misery and Destruction of these Nations p. 813. A Discovery of Divine Mysteries Wherein is unfolded the secret things of the Kingdom of God Being a Testimony 1. Concerning Life and Death with their several Fruits and Effects distinguished p. 823. 2. Concerning the Mystery of God and Godliness and concerning the Mystery the Devil and Iniquity p. 827. 3. Concerning true Liberty of Conscience what it is in it self and how it is obtained and what the true Guide and Rule is of the Exercise of Conscience p. 830. 4. Concerning the Diversity of Iudgments in Religion p. 834. Antichrist's Government Justly Detected of Unrighteousness Injustice c. Shewed and declared 1. In the Case of Imposing upon Conscience in Matters Religious by Force of outward Violence or Pains and Penalties on the Persons and Estates of Men p. 850. 2. In the Case of Heresie shewing what it is in it self who