reason Thirdly but for all A.S. in his Epistle Dedicatory hath made such a great noise about miracles wrought by a Roman Catholick Priest in and about London and Westminster yet when he comes to prove that the Church of Rome is powerful in miracles then he doth just as much as nothing but takes an easie way to get out from that thing which seemingly he undertook to go thorow with by referring of us for a witnesse of his affirmation to nostre dame de Loretto nostre dame de montague nostre dame de hall and to the whole world c. Now what a pittiful proof or witnesse is this which A.S. directs us to For as the Apostle saith the whole world lies in wickedness 1 John 5.19 and wonders after the beast by whom lying miracles are wrought Rev. 13 3. So that the miracles which the world bears witnesse to are lying miracles for the world knows noâ— Christ nor his Church 1 Joh. 3.1 by whom true miracles are wrought for when Christ wrought miracles amongst the world they did not bear witnesse to him but said he did it by the Prince of Devils Mat 9 34. So that the witnesse that A.S. calls for confirmeth my forementioned affirmation viz. that the miracles in the Church of Rome are wrought by the Dragons power in the beast and false prophet that the whole world wonders after Fourthly and for nostre dame de loretto and the rest mentioned they signifie nothing as to our satisfaction in this particular because they are altogether unknown to us neither can we attain to a certain knowledge of them if we would for the information of the Church of Rome is to us no satisfaction so as I said before that A.S. for matter of proving his affirmation hath done just as much as nothing only made a shew like a cloud without rain But methinks if there were so many miracles wrought daily by a Roman Priest about London c. as A.S. seems to make a noise of he should have instanced some of them particularly for our satisfaction but seeing he hath not instanced any we have just cause to believe that there are none at all Ninthly So to proceed to the ninth part of A. S. his first Argument viz. Out of the true Church none can be saved I answer that thing I do not at all deny for all that are saved are of the true Church but that none can be saved out of the Church of Rome that I do deny for the Church of Rome is not the true Church but the Whore that drinks the blood of the Saints as afore-proved therefore out of the church of Rome people may be saved Wherefore let all who expecteth or desireth salvation make hast out of this great City Babylon And run for your lives towards Jerusalem the holy City the true Church the Lambs wife in whose light the Nations of them that are saved must walk Rev. 21.24 lest you perish within the borders of Babylon whose desolation shall certainly come in one day Yea Death and Mourning and Famine â— for strong is the Lord who is now arisen and judgeth her Well But if the Church of Rome say that she doth not drink the blood of the Saints but the blood of hereticks c. and therefore she is the true Church 1. I answer so or to that effect said the destroyers and murderers in all ages even they that put Christ to death they did it not in their own account as he was the Son of God but as a blasphemer and the Apostles were persecuted as spreaders of heresie and shedders of sedition and not as Saints and servants of the Lord in their adversaries account Act. 24.5 and thus the murthering persecuting spirit hath in all ages as at this day sought to shelter it self but this covering must now be ript off for the power of God is arisen that rends the vail of darknesse and the day is dawned that makes all things manifest 2. And farther If they were hereticks c. whose blood the Church of Râ—me drinks yet that doth not argue that she is the true Church but the contrary for the true Church did never drink the blood of hereticks nor persecute any because they were hereticks but the greatest punishment that ever Christ appointed for hereticks was that they should account them as Publicans and Heathens Mat. 18 17. 3. So its clear that Christ the power of God and the true Church that had the mind of Christ did never kill nor persecute any because they were hereticks or did not believe nor yet because after they believed they made shipwrack of faith But laboured in the spirit of love and meeknesse to restore them and to convince them by sound doctrine but if they refused to receive admonition or to submit to the Church after due admontion given then they let them receive the punishment aforesaid and refused to have fellowship with them and this was the greatest punishment that ever the true Church inflicted upon any though they were rebellious and this was the way to make true believers of people which force and compulâ—ion by penall laws will never do Though its true compulsive laws may make many of them hypocrites who fears man more than God but they who fears not man that can kill the body and can do no more but fears the Lord God almighty above all such will not bow to the compulsive Laws of men which violates the righteous Law of God in their own hearts no more then Sbadrach Meshach and Abednego would bow to the image that Nebuchadnezzar set up though for their stedfastnesse they suffer the pangs of death as many of their predecessors have done whose blood the Church of Rome hath drunk Thus much in brief to the nine particulars of A.S. his first Argument by which I perceive he thought he had infallibly proved the Church of Rome to be the true Church but what his Argument is worth for his purpose let all who reads this Judge And the next thing he undertakes is to prove Peter to be the rock or foundation upon which Christ builds his Church and to accomplish this design he rambles through several languages into which the Scripture hath been translated and in the conclusion he saith a great lie to Peter then Christ said upon thee I will build my Church c. when neither of the several Languages which he makes use of to prove it saith any such thing according to his own interpretation of them and indeed its blasphemy in A.S. to affirm it But then he saith that Christ is the primary rock and Peter the secondary rock Reply But how can that be that Peter should be a secondary rock for A.S. cannot prove that God ever ordained or appointed a secondary rock to build his Church on neither do we in all the Scriptures read of a secondary rock once mentioned for the Apostle affirmeth the contrary saying Another foundation can no man lay
into the world and leads up to God the Father from whence it comes all who are taught and guided by it but condemns from God all who in unbelief or in rebellion do despight unto it and disobey the motions thereof But to return to the matter concerning the Churches being Judge First I find A.S. in the beginning of his seventh Chapter saying Methinks I hear a Quaker whispering the Light that is in thee is the Judge of all controversies and the law and rule according to which thou must walk Answ I answer Yea the people called Quakers do believe and say that the light which every man is enlightned with is the law and rule according to which every man ought to walk and is the Judge in all controversies in matters of faith for as before All Judgement is committed to the Son John 5.22 who lighteth every man that cometh into the world so all Judgement being committed to the light that lighteth every man the light that is in every man must of necessity be the Judge of all controversies and this I farther adde that all who are baptized into Christ hath put on Christ and all who are by one spirit baptized into one body though they were sometimes darknesse are made light in the Lord and so they being in him and he in them are all one even as Christ and the Father is one and he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one by which its clear that Christ in his Church who is light with him is the onely Judge of all controversies and indeed this supernatural Light is the true touchstone by which all spirits may be tried whether they be of God or not for as the Apostle said whatsoever makes manifest is light Ephesians 5.13 so that without this touchstone none can try spirits because an evil spirit may speak good words Again Christ is in all things to be the Example of all believers and he lighteth every man that cometh into the world John 1.9 so every man being enlightened with the light of his spirit who is to be our example in all things it must of necessity be that the light that is in us is this Judge and the law and rule according to which all ought to walk Secondly But then A.S. replyes that the light that is in thee tells thee that thou must hear Christ and Christ tells thee that thou must hear the Church c. Answ I answer Yea the Light that is in us teacheth us to hear Christ who hath enlightened us and also to hear his Church with whom he dwells and that hears him and in whom his spirit speaks so as I said before I shall not go about to deny the Authority of the true Church but the usurped authority of the Church of Rome I do deny usurp'd I say because she hath been and here is sufficiently proved not to be the true Church to whom Christ gives power and authority both to bind and to lose therefore her authority is usurp'd and she is not to be heard but to be turned away from Thirdly A.S. saith If you object that the spiritual judgeth all things and the spiritual is judged of no man I answer that the godly spiritual judgeth all things c. But I deny that you or any other Sectaries in the world is godly spiritual for as St. Augustine saith they have not the Holy Ghost that are out of the Church Reply To which I say that as A.S. hath coâ—fessed That the spiritual man judgeth all things its according to my own belief but what doth this avail the Church of Rome who as I have proved is not godly spiritual but is sensual and devilish and is not the true Church but the Whore for although as he saith The godly spiritual is judged of none yet the Whore is judged of all who are godly spiritual and although A.S. denyeth that thâ— Quakers are godly spiritual yet he is never able to prove his affirmation for though they have not the holy Ghost who are out of the Church yet it doth not follow that they have it not who are out of the Church of Rome except she could be proved to be the true Church The contrary whereof I have already proved for the people called Quakers though they are out of the Church of Rome are led by that spirit which teacheth them to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world as thousands of their Neighbours can bear witnesse therefore the people called Quakers are godly Spirituall Again That Prophet which is of God is godly spiritual Jer. 28.9 and that Prophet which speaketh a thing and the thing come to pass that Prophet is of God But the people called Quakers have prophesied several things as to the late overturn'd Powers of this Nation with divers other things which accordingly came to pass as to their sorrow they were made to know therefore they are of God and godly spiritual 4. A. S again saith If you say know ye not your selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Câ—r 13.5 I answer the true sence and meaning of this place is this c. So here A.S. is again undertaking that which himself saith is the Churches work for saith he in his eighth chapter the Church is the alone interpreter of all Scriptures and yet he himself who is but a particular man is here undertaking to give an interpretation or meaning to the forementioned Scripture by which it is plain that he condemns himself in the thing he is doing 5. Again fifthly he saith That the spirit of God saith Hear the Church but the spirit of the Devil contradicts and saith Hear not the Church but Christ alone for of Christ saith he it s written This is my beloved Son him hear ye behold how the Devil pleads for Christ of purpose to deceive Christians c. Ans To which I answer That I think I need not say much to convince all that reads but A.S. his own words that he is either grosly ignorant or else abominably wilful wicked for who can believe that the Devil will plead for Christ or perswade people to hear Christ and disswade them from hearing of the Church certainly if he would perswade people to hear the greater he would not disswade them from hearing the lesser And how can people pâ—ssibly be deceived that hears Christ and obeys him I cannot believe that its the spirit of the Devil that perswades people to hear Christ but rather that its the drawings of the spirit of the Father that invites them to come unto the Son and to heâ—â— him for Christ said None cometh unto me except my father who hath sent me draw him Joh 6 44. But A.S. contrarywise in effect saith That the Devil draws people to come unto Christ and to hear him By which he hath manifestly shewed that he is of â— contrary spirit unto Christ Therefore A.S. is an Antichrist and
one that puts light for darkness and darknesse for light against whom the woe is pronounced Isa 5.20 And although A.S. so much pleads for the church whom I know all will hear that hears Christ yet upon serious consideration I find its of purpose to deceive Christians and so he hath shewed himself as bad as the Devil he speaks of being found doing the same work of which he seems to accuse the Devil for in his sixth chapter I find him as afore declared in effect perswading people Not to adhere to the motions of the Spirit of Christ under pretence that they cannot tell whence from God or the Devil it comes or whither to Heaven or Hell it goeth c. And aâ— above he is again perswading people That its a dangerous thing to hear that spirit that invites them to hear Christ calling it the Devil because it doth not invite them to hear the church of Rome also But I never read or heard before that any spirit did invite people to hear Christ but the spirit of the Father and his spirit said This is my beloved Son him hear ye Mat. 17.5 Therefore that spirit that invites people to hear the Son of God is not the Devil but the spirit of the Father and ought to be heard and obeyed by all 6. Again A.S. affirmeth that the spirit of God saith That Carpenters Smiths Masons and other tradesmen must not meddle with Ecclesiastical things as to Preach or Teach c. But saith he the evil spirit affirmeth the quite contrary by perswading them they may all prophecy one by one But alass then saith A.S. he deceiveth for that place is understood of the real and true Prophets of whose number all the Devils in Hell cannot prove all tradesmen to be Answ Here A.S. seems to oppose that which for my part I know none affirms for who is there that saith all Tradesmen have the spirit of Prophesie I know none Yet although all Tradesmen have it not it doth not therefore follow that no Tradesmen have it neither did I ever read that the spirit of God did forbid Tradesmen to meddle with those things nor doth that Scripture which A.S. quotes confirm any such thiâ—g which he affirmes but rather the contrary and we do read in the Scriptures of truth that Christ did call some of several Tradesmen to teach the way of God and to Preach the everlasting Gospel witnesse St. Peter a Fisher-man and St. Paul a Tent-maker with divers others that might be mentioned so that though all Tradesmen have not the spirit of Prophesie yet we see that some had and they were not forbidden but commanded to Preach and Teach and therefore they who have the Testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of Prophesie although they be Tradesmen they may Preach and Teach according to the gift thereof received for the Appostle said Every one as he hath received the gift of the spirit so let him administer 1 Pet. 4.10 7. And saith A.S. the Apostle saith Women must not speak in the church but the Devil saith they may For the Scripture averreth saith he That your sons and daughters shall Prophesie this Devil deceiveth the women Quakers But alass that Scripture was fulfilled in the Apostles and in the true Propheâ—esses in their times as Anna Luk. 2.28 and now is in such as have the true spirit of prophesie which Quakers Wives and Daughters can never prove themselves to have Answ Here A.S. hath confessed that there was Prophetesses in the Apostles dayes and that there now is at this day also and the Apostle spake of Women that were helpers with him in the Gospel Phil. 4.3 So then its undenyable that Women did speak and Prophesie and now may though the Apostles did not permit busie-bodies and taâ—lers to be asking questions in the Church but said they should ask their Husbands at home So the thing disputable is Whether or no the Quakers Wives and Daughters hâ—ve the true spirit of Prophesie concerning which I say this The Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of Prophesie and many Wives and Daughters of the people called Quakers have received the testimony of Jesus and knows the life of Jesus manifested in them as by their fruits of love meeknesse gentlenesse patience long-sâ—ffering c. which are fruits of the spirit doth appear unto those who have a knowledg of them Therefore they have the spirit of Prophesie And farther several of the Wives and Daughters amongst the people called Quakers have prophesied of the desolation of the great Whore the Church of Rome and when that comes to passe it will be thereby proved that they have the true spirit of prophesie and then shall every tongue confesse to it and in the mean time let none speak evil of the the things they know not least they be found fighters against God 8. Again A.S. saith That the good spirit saith It is a Religious act to swear by God in a Just Cause but the evil spirit contradicts for its written saith he Swear not at all Behold the â—uritanisme of this impure spirit but alass he deludeth for God expresly commands Jer. 4.2 Thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in Truth in Judgment and in Justice c. Ans I answer although in the Law and Prophets people were commanded to swear in truth and righteousnesse and to performe their oaths to the Lord yet Christ the new covenant whom God promised should not be according to the old saith sweare not at all Jer. 31 31 32. and though Moses and the prophets was to be heard under the ministration of the first covenant yet they said when Christ the second covenant was come people must hear him for said Moses a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me him shall ye hear Deut. 18.15 And the Prophet said that Nation and people that will not serve thee that Nation shall perish Isa 60.12 So that although Moses said thou shalt perform thy oath to the Lord yet Christ that Prophet who is the end of that Law and whom Moses said the people must hear or else be cut off he saith swear not at all and although the Prophet said thou shalt swear the Lord liveth c. yet Christ who is the end of the Prophets and whom the Prophets said people must serve or else perish saith swear not at all and although it may be alledged that the Angels swore yet Christ the first born amongst many brethren to whom all the Angels must bow saith swear not at all and although it may be farther alledged that God himself swoare and therefore its lawful for Christians to swear yet God himself said concerning Christ This is my beloved son hear ye him Mat. 17 5. And this beloved son of God whom all Christians ought to hear saith swear not at all All which being rightly weighed and considered it plainly appears that swearing by any oath whatsoever was forbidden by Christ Jesus who is the Law-giver
THE WHORE UNVAILED Or the Mistery of the Deceit of the CHURCH of ROME REVEALED BEING A brief Answer to a Book Entituled The Reconsiler of Religions or a Decider of all Controversies in matters of Faith Written by a professed Roman Catholick who subscribes his name A.S. in which he endeavoured to prove the Church of Rome to be the true Church But what his arguments therein produced are worth for his purpose may be here seen in this following Treatise Also his reflections upon the Principles of the People called Quakers Answered With a brief Discovery of the true Church in which the Doctrine of Perfection is vindicated by sound Scripture Arguments By a servant of the Lord Josiah Coale Whereunto is added the 14 th Chap. of A.S. his Book in which he declares the Protestant or Sectarian Ministers not to be true preachers nor sent of God which I thought meet to publish herewith that the Sectarians or Episcoparians may answer for themselves O thou that dwellest upon many waters abundant in treasures thine end is come and the measure of thy Covetousness Jer. 51.13 For out of the north there cometh up a Nation against her which shall make her land desolate and none shall dwell therein chap 50.3 And a mighty Angel took up a great stone like a milstone and cast it into the sea saying thus with violenâ—e shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all Rev. 18.21 Their Idols are silver and gold the work of mens hands They have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not they have ears but they hear not noses have they but they smell not they have hands but they handle not feet have they but they walk not neither speak they through their throat they that make them are like unto them so is every oâ— that trusteth in them Ps 115.4 5 6 7 8 But our God is in the heavens he doth whatsoever he pleaseth ver 3. Printed in the Year 1665. TO THE READER Reader ALthough the Author of the pretended Reconciler of Religions did in the conclusion thereof seem to Challeng an Answer to all particulars therein laid down according to the Chapters and Numbers thereof yet I did not look upon his Challeng to be any obligation to me to proceed according to his directions neither indeed was it needful or necessary that I should answer his desire therein for it would have required more time than I was willing to spare for that work and more labour than I was willing to bestow about it because there is an easier way which I have taken to do the work as effectual as though I had gone through with every particuler there incerted For when the foundation of a building is Raced the whole building will fall as effectually as though a man should begin at the top and pull down all one stone after another and with a great deal lesse labour it is done So for my Comodaty I have observed that Rule in answering the aforesaid Book by Racing the Foundation of the Contents thereof or answering the chief Heads by which he therein endeavoured to prove the Church of Rome to be the True Church upon which all the rest of his Book hath its dependancy and those Heads or Particulars being Confuted the rest must of themselves needs fall or of necessity be of no validity and so not worth spending Ink and Paper about upon consideration of which I doubt not but the Reader will find as good satisfaction in what I have hear written concerning the Church of Rome as though I had answered all his particulars particularly And so to the Grace of God do I commend thee J. C. The Whore unvailed c. GReat is the controversie at this day throughout the whole Christendom concerning the way of worship and salvation and great is the confusion that is about faith and religion c. Even amongst all professing Christianity and many and cruel are the murthers that have been acted by them one against another about faith and worship since the apostacy bebegan and since people forsook the right way and went in Cains way and in Balaams Jude ver 11. For then persecution began amongst the profâ—st Christians and not before and when the right way was forsaken then people went into envy and then they withstood the truth even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses and then they began to be scattered from the holy mountain of the Lord where nothings hurts nor destroys to the baâ—ren mountains where they have been destroying one another and there in the dark and cloudy day of Antichrists reign they have been worshipping the many headed beast that then arose and also the dragon that gave power to the Beast to make War with the Saints and they who have been worshipping upon one mountain they have cryed salvation is here And they who have been worshipping another head or upon another hill they have cried that salvation was to be found there For the seven heads of the beast are seven mountains upon which the whore sits that drinks the blood of the Sainâ—s And so they fell out one with another about the way of salvation and upon these barren mountains unto which people are in vain looking for salvation the strife and the envy hath been And there people hath been killing one another about the way and themselves all out of the way in an Antichristian destroying persecuting spirit as their fruits declares for the Spirit of Christ never led the true Christians to prosecute any about Religion neither doth any who are in the right way kill and destroy mens lives about religion Nay they that do so are not true Christians but of an Antichristian spirit for I testifie in the name of the Lord and for God that the Spirit of Christ doth not nor never did admit or allow of persecution or of destroying menâ— lives about worship faith towards God neither are any of them all true Christians whatsoever they professe that are found so doing For it is not a bare profession of Christ and of zeal for his cause and crying up ordinances c. that makes people true Christians or that gives them acceptance with God or will make them well pleasing unto God But that which makes a man a true Christian is his obedience unto that Spirit which baptizeth into the true faith by which righteousnesse is wrought Heb. 11.33 and into Christ who is the Author of faith and will bring him to have the mind of Christ as the true Christians had and will make him partaker of his divine nature and will teach him to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world and to do to all men as he would they should do unto him which is according to the Law and Prophets that Christ came to fulfil And indeed there is nothing that can bring a man into this true Christian state but only the wâ—rking and operation
things that appertain to the way of Life and Salvation but that the Church of Rome is the true Church as A.S. affiâ—meth and by his many Arguments hath endeavoured to prove I do not acknowledge but deny and doubt not but I shall in this short ensuing Treatice prove the contrary to the satisfaction of every judicious Reader First Although the true Church of which Christ is invisible Head is one yet the oneness of the Church of Rome is not a sufficient Argument to prove her to be the true Church for wherein doth her oneness consist farther than in Idolatry Superstition Murther and such like abominations of which much might be mentioned which was never practised by the true Church in the Apostles dayes but in these things the Church of Rome is one witnesse her worshipping Idols or images bowing to that shee calls her Altars and the rest of her Superstitious Ceremonies witnesse the killing burning or drinking the bloud of so many thousands as she hath done for many hundred yeares pâ—st as the whole Christendome full well knows therefore the Church of Rome is not the true Church Secondly And consider was not the company of Priests one in Hosea's dayes who murthered in the way by consent whom the Prophet compared to troops of Robbers Hos 6.9 And is not the Church of Rome one as they were for hath not she murthered many by consent of most of her members in the way that she is in consider these things But then A.S. saith that she is one in matters of Faith and governed by one invisible Head Christ and by one visible Head the Pope the true successor of Peter c. and therefore she is the true Church Answ 1. I answer that she is perfectly united in matters of Faith I utterly deny witnesse the History of the Counsel of Trent which copiously relates the Divisions and Contradictions amongst them there about matters of Faith But admit thaâ— it were so that she were one in matters of Faith that doth not prove her to be the true Church unlesse she could prove her Faith to be the true Faith by which righteousnesse is wrought Heb. 11.13 And which is made perfect by works of righteousnesse James 2.22 But the Faith of the Church of Rome is not the true Faith as her works of unrighteousnesse before mentioned clearly make manifest therefore the Church of Rome is not the true Church Secondly That the Church of Rome is governed by one invisible Head Christ that I also deny and her fruitâ— before mentionâ—d and which I shall hereafter mention sufficiently declares the contrary and as Christ said to the Jews If you were of Abraham you would do the works of Abraham but now you go about to kill me thus did not Abraham So say I of the Church of Rome If she were governed by the one invisible Head Christ as the true Church was then she would have the mind of Christ who came not to destroy mens lives but to save them as the true Church had 1 Cor. 2.16 but she hath not the mind of Christ Witnesse her destroying the lives of many not onely of those that believe not but of those that beliâ—ve Therefore she is not governed by the invisible Head Christ and consequently is not the true Church but the Whore that drinks the blood of the Saints Thirdly But that the Church of Rome is governed by her visible Head the Pope I shall not go about to contradict for although that proves her to be one in subjection to the Pope yet it doth not prove her to be the true Church because Christ never ordained a visible Head to his Church but that the Pope is the true successor of Peter as A.S. affirms that I do deny and it remains for him to prove it or for some of his servants to do it for him for after Peter was converted he never gave consent to the murthering of any as the Pope hath done many Therefore he is not the true Successor of Peter 2. That the true Church is holy or as A.S. saith the spotlesâ— body of Christ that I do acknowledg but the Church of Rome of which the Pope is visible head is not holy nor the spotlesse body of Christ 1. For the spotlesse body of Christ the true Church was baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire the spirit of Judgment and of burning and thereby her filth and her spots were purged away from her and she was washed from Idolatry and covetousnesse c. as the Apostles testified 1 Cor. 6.11 and thereby she was fitted for Gods Kingdom and was made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and had the mind of Christ 2 Cor. 2.16 who came not to destroy mens lives c. Luk. 9.56 But the Church of Rome is not washed from Idolatry nor free from Murther as her worshipping of Idols or Images doth testifie and as her killing and destroying about Religion and worship beareth witnesse which the spirit of Christ never allowed of nor the spotlesse body of Christ never practised Therefore the Church of Rome is not holy nor the spotlesse body of Christ And as to that affirmation of A.S. in the third Number of his first Chapter viz. Every man as he is Regenerated in Christ and a member of his body is holy and a saint though as he is the son of Adam he is a lyar and a sinner Answ To this I answer That the most part of all the Sectaries in the world will joyn with him in that particular therefore he need not so much â—ry against them but the true Church will not own that Doctrine neither can I own iâ— because it is the Doctrine of Devils and the spirit of God testifies against it For it is impossible for any man to be both a saint and a sinner at one season for if that could be then might a man serve two Masters which Christ said could not be Luk. 16.13 And the Apostle said He that commits sin is the servant of sin Joh. 8 34. and is free from righteousnesse Rom. 6.22 So hath no part in Christ who is the righteousnesse of God And whosoever loveth or maketh a lye shall not enter the holy City which is the true Church Revel 21.27 Therefore is no member of it Now let A.S. consider his ignorance for according to his own confession the true Church is built of living believers elect and precious but he that is a lyar and a sinner is dead for the soul that sins shall dye Ezek. 18.4 Therefore he that is a lyer and a sinner is not a living believer nor yet holy and a saint Yet I do not deny but that he that is regenerated in Christ and is baptized into him and is thereby made a member of his spotlesse body is holy and a saint for by and through the second Adam he is redeemed out of the first fallen Adams state Well But A. S. saith That all the members of the Church
she is not the true Church Secondly Again A.S. saith and diabolically affirmeth in the second Page of his pretended Reconciler of Religions that the true Church is composed of both good and bad wheat and tares which I do abominate to acknowledge and is blasphemy in him to affirm for the true Church is built of Living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 elect and precious or as A.S. affirmeth of living believers but no living believers can be truly called the bad nor the tares but elect and precious and all that are living or precious are the good therefore the true Church is built of the good only Thirdly But if the Church of Christ which A.S. in his second page affirmeth is the kingdome of Christ be composed of both good and bad then according to his own affirmation the kingdome of Christ is part good and part bad which is horrid blasphemy in A.S. to affirm Oh grosse darknesse and confusion Are thou a Member of that Church that calls it self the light of the world Oh dark dull gloomy light the Lord God Almighty bring all his people out of that dark Cell that they may walâ— in his marvellous light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world which makes all things manifest of what sort it is Fourthly But if you say that Christ likened the kingdome to a net that was cast into the Sea which gathered of all kinds I answer he did so yet when it came to land there was none composed or gathered into the vessels but the good only and the bad were cast away Matth. 13.48 Therefore the true Church is not composed of both good and bad but of the good only Fifthly But if you object that the tares and wheat were both to grow together in the field I answer they were so untill the harvest and the field is the world Mat. 13.39 but the true Church is not of the woâ—ld Joh. 17.14 but when the reapers were sent forth which were the Angels that had the Gospel to preach Rev. 14 6. who went to disciple people and to baptize them into the true Church Mat. 28.19 Their commission was to compose or gather the wheat only and to seperate the tareâ— from it and to bind them in bundles for the fire Mat. 13.30 and therefore the true Church is not composed of both wheat and tares but of the wheat only Sixthly Farther If you say that there was some in the true Church in the Apostles dayes that were false brethren and these were bad I answer Though they were amongst them yet they were not of them as the Apostle said 1 John 2.19 Therefore the true Church is not composed of both good and bad but of the good only But to râ—tuâ—n to the fifth part of A.S. his argument where he saith that the Church of Rome is known to the world in her Bishops Pastors and Believers c. and therefore she is visible Answ Although that proves her visible yet it doth not prove her to be the true Church but the contrary for the true Church that was the light of the world was not known to the world John 17.14 but the visible Church of Rome is known to the world as A.S. himself affirmeth therefore she is not the true Church but the contrary Again the true Church wrestled not with flesh and bloud neither was her weapons carnal but spiritual and she wrestled with spiritual wickednesses that were in the high places and broke down the strong holds of iniquity 2 Cor. 10.3 4. but the Church of Rome wrestles with flesh and blood and kills mens bodies about Religion as the whole Christendome knoweth and the spiritual wickednesses are still standing in her as afore proved and as all the world sufficiently knows therefore she is not the true Church Sixthly The infallibleness of the true Church of which Christ is supreme head and governour I do not go about to deny but that the Church of Rome is infallible that I do deny For First Although A.S. hath affirmed that she hath alwayes remained since Christs time unto this day without interruption c. yet he never proved it neither can he do it for as before I have said we never read that the true Church in Christs dayes was found in such things neither was such things then found in her as is now found in the Church of Rome and which the Church of Rome is now found in by which it is clear that she hath not alwayes remained since Christs time in the state she now stands Secondly But if she hath alwayes remained since Christe time to this day without interruption aâ— A.S. saith she hath then she cannot possibly be the true Church for the true Church was interrupted since the Resurrection and Ascention of Christ and yet remained as hereafter I shall shew and in the Apostles dayes her interruption began and some of the Apostles foresaw it and said of your selves shall men arise speaking perverse things Acts 20.30 and when they were arisen they withstood the truth as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses 2 Tim. 3.8 so here the interruption of the true Church began and after this John saw the Dragon interrupting or persecuting her into the Wildernesse where she had a place prepared of God that they might feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes Rev. 12.6 13.14 ver concerning which I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter so on this wise the true Church was interrupted since Christs days But A.S. saith that the Church of Rome hath alwayes remained since Christs time without interruption Therefore she is not the true Church Thirdly And whereas A.S. farther saith that the Church of Rome shall alwayes remain to the end of the world and therefore she is infallible I answer He hath not at all confirmed that by any proof neither hath he any farther proof than his own affirmation except he would produce that saying of the Mother of Harlots viz. I sit as a queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow Rev. 18.7 And indeed what would be a very pittiful Argument to prove the Church of Rome infallible but none other can he produce except he could first prove her to be the true Church which he is never able to do his best argument by which he hath undertaken it being already confuted Therefore we have no more cause to believe his affirmation than we have to believe the sayings of the forementioned mother of Harlots for they are both alike to us and though she said she should see no sorrow yet John who was in the spirit of the Lord said that in one day her desolation should come Rev. 18.8 And although A.S. saith that the Church of Rome shall alwayes remain to the end of the world yet I say in the name of the Lord and by the same spirit that John was in That the one day of which John spake is already dawned in which the desolation of that Great Whore
with the sun that and there she was and the Moone was under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve stars Rev. 12.1 And having brought forth a man child that was to rule all Nations with his rod of Iron the enmity of the Dragon then arose who sought to devour the man child but being by the hand of God prevented of his purpose on the man-child ver 5. he then cast out his flood of persecution after the woman ver 15. of whom this ruler was born and drave her into the Wildernesse whither she fled from him to her place prepared of God that they might feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes Rev. 12.6.14 and there she hath been and there she hath fittâ—n aâ— in a sollitary place and in a mourning state and condition out of which she is now returning and is now coming up out of the Wilderness and is descending from God as a Bride adorned for her husband Rev. 21.2 and her name is the Bride the Lambs wife the holy City ver 9. new Jerusalem And now is Jerusalem shaking her self from the dust of the earth in which she hath been trodden of the Gentiles and now is she putting on her beautiful garments and now doth the solitary begin to rejoyce and the barren that did not bear begins to break forth into singing Isa 54.1 And the things that many Prophets desired to see and could not see is now seen and revealing glory to God in the highest The day is come which we have waited for we will be glad and rejoyce in it and now the time times and half a time is expired in which the true Church hath been fed in the Wildernesse and now is the forty and two months expired also for which time the holy City hath been trodden under foot of the Gentiles Rev. 11.2 in which time the beast had power given him to continue Rev. 13.5 and the Whole world wondered after him and worshipped him and in that time it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them and he received power over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations that all that dwelt upon the earth should worship him whose names were not written in the book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world if any man have an ear let him hear Rev. 13.7 8 9. And this was the time that the true Church was in her mourning state which now begins to be over Glory to God for ever the day of rejoycing is come And for her Bishops Pastors and Believers that she had I answer Christ was and is her Bishop and chief Pastor 1 Pet. 2.25 And the rest after the Apostles dayes were they that fed her in the Wildernesse and her Believers were those that had the Testimony of Jesus Rev. 12.17 whose blood the Whore drunk And they are now her Believers whose blood the Whore thirsts after And as to that question viz. What Emperors or Kings did adhere to her or now do Answ I answer On this wise did the Pharisees Query with those Officers whom they sent to take Jesus and bring him unto them saying Have any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him Joh. 7.48 Well what Emperors or Kings did adhere to him at that time Was he not therefore the true Christ because the Rulers of the world and the Pharisees rejected him And what said the Apostle to the true Church in his day You see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighthy nor noble c. but God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise c. that flesh might not glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1.26 27. And farther the Apostle who preachâ— Christ said That he preached the wisdom of God in a mistery which none of the Princes of the world knew c. 1 Cor. 2.7 8. By which it appeares that none of the Princes of the world knew Christ the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 And the true Church was in the world as Christ was for the Apostle said as he is so are we in this present world 1 Joh. 4.17 And the world knows us not ver 1. because it knew not him So that notwithstanding the Princes of this world knew not Christ when he was amongst them and although the Rulers believed not in him nor did adhere to him when he was come yet that did not argue that he was not the true Christ And notwithstanding iâ— was so that the true Church was unknown to the world and was composed not of many wise men after the flesh nor of the Nobles of the earth but was persecuted by them as she is at this day yet she was the true Church for all that And seeing it was so that the Princes and Rulers did not adhere to her in the time of her flourishing state when she was cloathed with the Sun how can it be expected that they should adhere to her in her persecuted state and in her mourning wildernesse-state for a rich man shall very hardly enter the kingdom Mat. 19.23 but there is more in them words And moreover seeing the Kings of the earth committed fornication with the great Whore and went into her how then can it possibly be expected that they should adhere to the true Church Surely all who have a spiritual eye open may be hereby satisfied as to this particular And farther as to that Query viz. What general Councils did she hold and what Hereticks did she Condemn Answ I answer she hath not been in a capacity in her wildernesse state to hold general counsels as in the time of her flourishing state yet the mighty God hath alwaies been her wonderful counsellor Isa 9.6 and the members of her hath stood in and held to his counsel according to the manifestation thereof received by them Not loving their lives unto death as the Church of Rome well knows who have drank the blood of many of them or shall know to her sorrow and pangs And as for the true Churches condemning hereticks the Church of Rome knows that those members of her whose blood she hath drunk did alwaies condemn those heresies that are healed and the idolatries acted in the Church of Rome and did alwaies give testimony against her superstitious inventions and denied to have fellowship with her therein and looked upon her as reprobated from the true faith as Fox his Acts copiously relates and this was a great condemnation as the Spirit of Christ gave commission to the true Church to passe upon hereticks And again as to that question viz. What Academies did she erect Answ I answer A peoples Erecting of Accademies is not an argument sufficient to prove them to be the true Church for what Academies or Universities did the Apostles Erect or confirm or attain the knowledg of God in Was it not the light that shined in their hearts
that gave them this knowledg 2 Cor. 4.6 And was not this light the Law that was the Apostles Schoolmaster till Christ Gal. 3.24 And is not the Law which is light Pro. 6.23 written in the hearts of all people And is it not a sufficient Schoolmaster now to bring people who are taught by it unto the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Christ as it did the Apostles then What need then is there of erecting Academies for people cannot attain to the knowledg of God by Natural learning 1 Cor. 1.21 Nor thereby be made true Ministers of Jesus Christ Yet I am not against having an outward School house or some convenient place for the educating or bringing up of children in Natural Learning which is good in its place but that any can thereby be brought to the knowledge of God or made true Ministers of Jesus Christ that I cannot own Neither was this way of making Ministers by natural learning or setting of them up by man in being untill people had forsaken the right way and went into Cains way and Balaams and then the envy and murther began amongst the profest Christians and then they could not endure sound Doctrine but heapt up to themselves teachers according to their own hearts lusts who knew nothing but what they knew naturally as bruit beasts c. and this the Apostle Paul foresaw and wrote of to Timothy 2 Tim. 4.3 and Peter prophesied of them also 2 Pet. 2. and John and Jude saw them come 1 John 2.18 Jude 10.11 so that by natural learning and ordination of man no true Minister of Christ was ever made or sent forth but contrariwise the Apostle Paul was made a Minister viz. not of man nor by man nor yet by natural learning but by the revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1.1 so we do not understand that in the Apostles dayes they did erect Academies or that they had any need of them and indeed I cannot but look upon it as an ignorant question to be proposed by A. S. upon this account But to his next Query viz. What Churches and Monasteries did she build Answ I answer this is as ignorant a question as the former and great foolishnesse to ask what Churches the Church built however this I say they who were Members of the true Church did build up one another in their most holy faith Jude 20. And as for Monasteries or Monk houses we hear of no such thing that was in being in the Apostles dayes neither do we believe that there is any need of them for we do not read in the holy Scriptures that ever the true Church in any generation built such places but we know that many such places have been erected and built within the borders of the great City Babylon since the Apostacy began and since the right way was forsaken and many other Superstitious inventions and Idolatries as before hinted hath been set up relating to the beasts and Dragons worship all which God hath determined to throw down and when the desolation of all these things cometh and the seven Mountains upon which the Whore sits comes to be laid waste according as hath been prophesied in ages past Isa 42.15 And when the great Whore comes to drink the cup of Gods fury which is already filled into the hands of the Saints of the most High to pour out unto her Rev. 12. I say then shall she know that God hath spoken by me and that I have herein declared the truth according as I received it from and by the spirit oft he Lord. And thus much as to his Queries But then he speaks of another clear and easie way to find out the true Church to try all Churches by the true Catechisme and see which of them all sayes it truly believes it rightly c and that which doth is the true Answ I answer to try all Churches by their Doctrine and practice and see which is most agreeable to the Principles Doctrines and Practice of the true Church in the Apostles dayes is indeed a way that I do very well approve of and if all controversies betwixt you and us might be decided after this manner laying aside all carnal weapons carnal laws prisons fires and the like which hath been the weapons that the Church of Rome hath defended her self with for many ageâ— past and doth at this day I say then it would be indeed well and we shall be very willing to engage with you wiâ—h spiritual weapons bring the best you can form or find out but for carnal weapons we are redeemed from them and the weapons of our warfare are spiritual so I say upon equal termes we shall be very willing to dispute the matters with you that are in controversie betwixt us and they who are found either you or us in Doctrine life and practice to be most agreeable to the true Church in the primitive times shall be owned and acknowledged to be the true Church now at this day And they who are detected to be in the steps practises and Doctrines of them whom the holy Prophets Christ and his Apostles testified against shall be concluded to be the false Church now at this day and upon these termes as I said before we shall be very ready and willing to joyn issue with you at any time or place that you wiâ—h us shall agree upon And whereas A.S. saith that all the Schismaticks Sectaries and Hereticks in the world cannot truly say that prayer that Christ taught his Disciples viz. Our Father which art in Heaven c. for said he they are continually doing the works of the Devil and are his children and consequently cannot truly call God Father I answer therefore the Church of Rome cannot call God Father for she is and long hath been doing the works of the Devil the murtherer as before proved therefore she is of her father the Devil and cannot call God father in truth and in righteousnesse Then A. S. rambles through several other particulars in which he controverts with Sectaries c. whose cause I am not concerned to plead only this small hint before I have given to prove the Church of Rome one of those Sects who cannot speak the fore-mentioned words truly and so I shall leave the Sectaries with whom A. S. controverts to plead their own cause for the thing that was chiefly in my heart when I took in hand to write this brief reply was to prove the Church of Rome not to be the true Church and the chief Arguments by him produced to prove her the true Church I have already in brief answered Again A. S. in his 6th Chapter makes it his business to prove the Church to be the Judge of all controversies in matters of faith and saith that not every man nor human reason nor the private spirit nor the Bible is this Judge and to prove it he quotes Matth. 18.17 where Christ said tell the Church c. Ans To
unto all Christians therefore it is not lawful for Christians to swear at all And that spirit that tolerates swearing or would set it up as a religious act is an anâ—ichristian spirit because it is against the command of Christ And although the Apostle might or did call the Lord to witnesse concerning the truth which he spake yet that doth not prove that the Apostle swore as A. S. affirmeth that he did neither do we read that ever any of the Apostles did either propagate or tolerate swearing since Christ forbid it But contrariwise the Apostle James saith Above all things my brethâ—en swear not neither by heaven nor by the earth neither by any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay least you fall into condemnation So that although A.S. would wrest the words of Christ to perswade people that his intent was they should not swear but in truth and in righteousnesse yet the words of Christ and the Apostle whom all true Christians are to heare doth clearly import that their intent was that people should not sweare at all by any oath whatsoever But this Antichristian spirit which opposeth the doctrines and commands of Christ and his Apostles we have had large experience of and we have oft-times seen that it leads people to swear and also to forswear themselves both which are an abominaâ—ion to the Lord and in the transgression against God and the new covenant Ninthly and A.S. saith the Apostle said salute one another but the devil saith salute not one another for Christ saith he sending his disciples bid them salute no man by the way Luke 10.4 this Devil follows all Quakers but alas Christâ— meaning there was that none should hinder them by the way c. Answ To which I answer here again A. S. goes about to make us believe that the commands of Christ are the impositions of the Devil or at least that the Devil stirs up people to keep the commands of Christ the first of which is blâ—sphemy in the highest degree and the second is little lesse for if the Devil would teach people to keep the commands of Christ then might they serve Christ and Bâ—lial but as Christ said that cannot be And indeed we do experimentally see and finde that the Devil alwaies opposeth the keeping of Christs commands As now in A. S. Who would diswade them from it under pretence that its the devil that leads them to it And as to his saying this Devil follows all Quakers I answer its true but alas its intentionally to destroy them for it was said to the Serpent in the beginning that the seed of the woman should bruise his head and he should bruise its heel Gen. 3.15 And even so it s now come to passe for the Lord Jesus Christ the promised seed Gal. 3.16 being become the leader of his people and the Angel of Gods presence going before them the Devil as A. S. saith comes after them and follows them with his fiery darts of persecution and Serpent like is snarling at the heel But blessed be the Lord he that goes before them and is in them is greater and mightier then the Devil that follows them and he hath been their preserver hitherto and I doubt not but he will unto the end preserve all who trust in him And as concerning Christs words there needs no meaning to be given to them for he meant as he spoke but if they did according to A. S. his own conclusion he is not the interpreter but the Church Therefore A.S. being not the church but a particular man according to his own argument his interpretation is not to be heeded Again he saith every man is not the Interpreter for saith he every man is a liar and indeed he hath confirmed unto us that himself is a liar because he hath belied the intent of Christs words aforesaid by giving his meaning to them Then saith A. S. Yet these deluded souls think that this their deluding spirit is of God and why forsooth because it reprehends them of sin c. and did not Judas his spirit rebuke him of sinne and notwithstanding induce him to desperation and to hang himselfe Answ Here A. S. is again putting light for darknesse or calling the spirit of truth a deluding spirit for is not that the spirit of truth that reproves the world of sin John 16.7 8. Did not Christ say that he would send the comforter that should reprove the world of sin and we never read of any other spirit that did reprove sinne but the spirit of truth which A. S. blasphemously calls a deluding spirit neither did I ever read that a deluding spirit was the comforter which that spirit that reproves for sin is as Christ said And again is it not clear that A.S. puts light for darknesse in calling that a deluding spirit which reproves sin for the Apostle said that whatsoever things are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever makes manifest is light Eph. 5.13 and the deluding spirit is darknesse it self so that hereby it manifestly appears that A.S. cannot discern betwixt light and darknesse so is a miserable blind guide indeed And though the spirit of truth did rebuke Judas for his treachery doth it therefore follow that it was the same that led him to hang himself no this is great ignorance in A.S. to affirm for he might as well have said That the same spirit that led him to betray his Master did afterwards rebuke him for it but then his ignorance would have somewhat more plainly appeared But it was indeed the same spirit which led Judas into that presumptuous act as to betray his Master that afterwards led him to desperation and to hang himself and that spirit which let him see his wickednesse which he had done and rebuked him for it was light for whatsoever makes maninifest is light Eph. 5.13 Eleventhly then lastly he saith Thus far have we degressed for the Conversion of Quakers c. Answ To which I say that if he have no better way to convert Quakers nor no better arguments to produce in order to their conversion then what he hath made use of in his pretended reconsiler of Religions he were better be silent and save his labour for I cannot believe that a thousand such books will ever convert or rather divert one Quaker nay nor convince them neither except it be of his own grosse ignorance or wilful wickednesse of which there is enough appears as before manifested Thus having briefly answered the most remarkable arguments produced by A. S. to prove the church of Rome the true church and also the several particulars by which he endeavoured to render the people called Quakers as a people led by a deluding spirit I find the rest of his book consists of divers arguments in which he controverts with Sectaries and their Bibles and Ministers c. whose cause as aforesaid I am not ingaged in therefore it doth not
truth 1 John 2.13 But when he spake those words viz If we say we have no sin c. he then spake to children for said he my little Children these things I write unto you that you sin not 1 Joh. 2.1 Now if they had been already perfect or fully freed from sin then had they attained to the mans state which the apostle laboured to bring them to Colo. 1.28 But they having not attained to that state he would not have them to deceive themselves nor to think more highly of themselves then they ought to think Rom. 12.3 which children in understanding are sâ—bject to do but with these little children the apostle travelled in birth that Christ might be formed in them Gal. 4.19 who is the one offering that perfects for ever all them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 and he laboured to build them up in the holy faith which gives victory through Christ that so they might be borne up to a mans state for said he he that is born of God doth not sin John 3.9 Thirdly But then it may be some will object that the apostle spake not only of children but of himselfe also saying if we say c. To which I Answer that although the apostle numbred himself with them yet that doth not argue that he was in their state or that he was not set free from sin no more then Iames his numbring himself amongst the scattered Jews saying with the same mouth curse we men c. Jam. 1.9 doth argue that he was one of them that did curse men for its evident that the apostle became as weake to them that were weak and to the strong as strong and to them that were under the Law as under the law and to them that were without the law as without the law though not without law to God and became al things unto all that he thereby might gaine some 1 Cor. 9.20.21.22 so although he did condescend to them that were weake as children or babes in Christ as to number himself amongst them for the gaining of them to a farther state yet that doth not at all argue that he was as they were for the apostle Paul himself said that he was set free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 all which being rightly weighed and considered It manifestly appeares that perfection or freedom from sin is attaineable according to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles which by the people called Quakers is preached and continued in as before asserted therefore they are the true Church 4. Again The Order and Discipline of the true Church in the Apostles time was That the Propets might speak two or three and the rest might judge and if any thing was revealed to another that sate by he might speak and the first was to hold his peace 1 Cor. 14.29 30. and the same order the people called Quakers have in their assemblies as is known to thousands by which it appears that they are the true Church 5. Again The Ministers of Christ in the true Church in the primitive times who turned people from darknesse to light and from Satans power to the power of God Gal. 1.1 were Ordained and made Ministers not of man nor by man nor of the letter but of the spirit by the revelation of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 3.6 and so are the Ministers amongst the people called Quakers made Ministers of the spirit by the revelation of Jesus Christ as the effects of their ministry doth testifie for many are turned from darkness to light and from iniquity to righteousness and the spirits in prison is by them ministred unto and the dead are raised unto life and the captives are set at liberty as thousands can and must bear witnesâ— Therefore the people caâ—led Quakers are the true Church 6. The true Church in the primitive times was taught by the grace of God that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts they should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present woâ—ld Tit. 2.11 12. and the people called Quakers being taught by the same spirit of grace doth deny ungodliness and worldly lusts as many in this Nation well knows and doth live soberly righteously and godly in this present word as thousands can testifie Therefore the people called Quakers are the true Church Thus I might produce many more arguments to prove the aforesaid people to be the Church of true Christians but much of this kind hath been by several of them already written wherefore I shâ—ll not inlarge at present but for any that shall desire any farther satisfaction let them come to the Assemblies of the aforesaid people and hear their Doctrines and behold their Discipline c. and as the Apostle said Try all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thess 5.21 These following Lines are sent to all Sectaries in Christendome who have been killing and destroying one another about Faith and Worship but especially to the Church of ROME O Babylon the Great who long hast reign'd a Painted Whore And hast bewitch't the Nations with thy inchanting power Into remembrance thou art com'd of God the mighty Lord â—ho'll do to thee as thou hast done the Saints with one accord Have bent their bowes against thee strong and mighty men they are They will not spare nor pitty thee in this day o' th Lambs War For it 's the day of veng'ance great of our Almighty God He 'll do to thee as thou hast done thou can't escape his rod. The holy Prophets in their day foretold these things of thee Which to our consolation we hope to live and see For Jeremiah he foresaw thy desolation great And said an Army great should come that should give thee defeat Out of the North the Prophet said they should come against thee Jer. 50.9 Even as it now is come to pass before whom thou must flee The seven heads or mountains great on which thou long hast sate Must now be turned upside down and made to reele and quake For now the Lion he doth roar and utter forth his voice At which the mountains great must move and fly away at 's noise Isa 42.14 15. Yea vacant waste and desolate those mountains must be laid And be no more inhabited for so it hath been said Thy Merchants many have enricht themselves and made them great And Rul'd with Force and Cruelty false-prophet like indeed Wherefore Lament and howle they must and mourn both great and small And cry alass alass for now is come thy sudden fall for 'th day is dawn'd which John foresaw and Prophesy'd of thee In which he said and Testify'd thy total fall should be Though thou hast sitten in thy pride like as a stately Queen And said within thy heart and mind Thine end should not be seen Though thou hast drunk the blood of Saints and glorify'd thy self And said Thou should'st no sorrow see nor ever loose thy wealth Yet woe and sorrow great and sore will swiftly thee surprise
the Church of Rome shall come and as surely as when Sodom was overthrown the Cities round about it were overthrown also 2 Pet. 2.9 Jude ver 7. so certainly when this great City Babylon is overthrown and made desolate the suburbs thereof shall be overthrown and made desolate also The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and therefore she must fail in her prophesies and cease in her being which as A.S. saith the true Church cannot Fourthly And farther the Church of Rome is variable in her Judgments as the diversities of Councels that she hath held concerning matters of Faith beareth witnesse for the following General Counsel hath oft times excluded that which was concluded on by the former and surely both cannot be inâ—â—llible they being quite contradictory one to the other Read the 15th chapter of F. H. his book entitled THE GLORY OF THE TRUE CHURCH DISCOVERED c. wherein the contradictions of the General Counsels which the Church of Rome hath held are sufficiently made manifest so that I need not trouble my self to insert them here and thereby its evident enough that the Church of Rome is not infallible Fifthly Again if A.S. or any other could prove that the Church of Rome had alwayes remained since Christs time yet as aforesaid that is not a sufficient argument to prove her infallible or that she cannot fail nor cease For consider the Dragon that old Sâ—rpent called the Devil who was a murtherer from the beginning who gave power to the beast that carries the Whore that drinks the Saints blood that said she should see no sorrow waâ— before the dayes of Christs appearance in the flesh yet the Dragon is not infallible But the Church of Rome is upheld by the Murtherer or carried by the Dragons power in the beast as the Murthers acted by her beareth witness therefore she is no more infallible than the Dragon is Seventhly And as to the 7th part of A.S. his Argument wherein he saith the true Church is inerrable and then saith that the Church of Rome is this inerrable true Church for all the Sectaries Schismaticks and Hereticks in the world saith he could never yet shew wherein she erred nor ever shall Therefore she is inerrable Answ 1. I answer although the Hereticks could not prove that the Church of Rome hath erred yet there are many who are members of the true Church of which Christ is Head and supreme Governour alone that can prove wherein she hath erred and doth still grosly erre from the Doctrine Practice and Discipline of the true Church as it stood in the Apostles dayes for the Apostle in his dayes said let every man be fully perswaded in his own conscience Rom. 14.5 and did not go about to force people to conform to such things that they were not perswaded of in their consciences nor to compell them by outward laws to conform thereunto but the Church of Rome doth not admit that every one should walk or act according as they are perswaded in their own consciences but goes about by outward laws to compell them to conform to that which she calls her holy Ordinances and Institutions which many for conscience sake towards God dare not conform to because they know them to be invented Idolatries and they who cannot for conscience sake submit to her impositions or drink of her cup of abominations then to be sure she will drink their blood Witnesse the blood she hath drunk for above this thousand years past of them that could not for conscience sake towards God conform to her Ordinances And therefore she hath erred from that spirit which was in the true Church and from the Apostles Doctrine and is still in the errour Secondly In the true Church in the Apostles dayes every one as he had received the gifâ— of the spirit of God so he might administer 1 Pet. 4.10 an◠〈◊〉 Prophets might speak two or three and if any thing was â—ealed to him that stood by he might speak and the first shouâ—â— be silent 1 Cor. 14.29 30 31. But this is not the order of the Church of Rome as is sufficiently manifest to all Christendom therefore she hath erred from the Apostles Spirit and order and is still in the error And thus I might produce many more arguments to shew wherein the church of Rome hath erred and doth erre only my desire is to be as brief as may be so that satisfaction may be given for which I doubt not but this is sufficient as to that particular 8. And as concerning miracles in the true Church I do confesse and beâ—r witnesse that there are miracles wrought in her daily but that all miracles are an argument sufficient to prove a people to be the true Church that I do not acknowledge but deny For First the Magicians of Aegypt could by their Sorceries or Inchantments imitate those things in the sight of the Aegyptians that Moses and Aaron did by the power of God Exod. 8 7. and he false prophet he wrought lying miracles before the beast that carries the Whore insomuch that he caused fire to come down out of heaven in the sight of men Rev. 13.13 14. and chap. 19. ver 20. And this the Whore might have said was done in confirmation of her faith and doctrines as A.S. doth yet neverthelesse it was done by the Dragons power who was a murtherer from the beginning For he gave power to the beast that carries the Whore to do such things Rev. 13.2 and therefore the miracles in the Church of Rome if now there be any is no infallible evidence to prove her to be the true Church Well 2. But then it may be some will say that this is harsh judgment and how can you tell but that the miracles wrought in the Church of Rome are wrought by the power of God or how can you distinguish between miracles wrought by the power of God and miracles wrought by the dragons power Answ I answer we have an infallible way to judge in this particular For all miraclâ—s wrought by the murdering power are not wrought by the power of God but by the Dragons power for the Dragon that old Serpent who is called the Devil was a murderer from the beginning but Christ the power of God is not a murdering power for he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9.56 Therefore the miracles wrought by Christ the power of God are not wrought by a murdering power But the miracles â—n the Church of Rome if now there be any are wrought by a murdering power for the many murders she have acted sufficiently testifieth to the whole Christendom that a murdering power rules in her By which its clear that the mirâ—cles wrought in the Church of Rome if there be any are wrought by the Dragons power and not by the power of God So that my judgement concerning the miracles in the Church of Rome is not harsh but according to the spirit of truth and sound