man of a competent Estate which is observable 1. for his falling into Trances 2. for his great Faith whereby he overcame the Tempter and cast him out or at least far from himself when in the fiery tryal which goes usually before an unfeigned conversion he did as he never fails to do on such occasion assault him with all the might and the wiles he hath at hand to make the despairing Soul fall under his temptation 3. for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and strangeness of his disease and 4. for his cure and recovery without the help of all other means than of a strong Faith in Christ This same Briggs was a Lawyer of the Temple a godly man about 30 years of age and contemporary to Fox the Author of the English Martyrology His case and all that passed between the Tempter and him all the time of his Trances is in truth so remarkable that as it induced then many pious learned men both Physicians and Divines who resorted to his House all that while every day to hear the things which he spake to put it in writing so it induceth me to give it at large as they have left it to the publick that they may see in seeing and believe the extraordinary working of the Holy Ghost in good men to convert them as well now as heretofore and so referring my self for the particulars thereof to their Memorial that shall be God willing printed within a short time I will give over here the discourse of the power of Faith and of the faithful working Miracles to this day to follow the main design of this the demonstration of the Apostles Spirit continuing in Christ's Church as long as the World endures To which end the distinction of an extraordinary and ordinary Spirit set up by Master Vicar is to be considered of and we are to understand that though the Apostles had the extraordinary Spirit he ascribes to them whereby they wrought Miracles yet it is properly such that is extraordinary in respect only of the Spirit of Lip-Christian-Bishops and natural men for the extraordinary circumstances it came and sate with on the Apostles doth not make it to be the more extraordinary neither did it presently though it introduced them into the kingdom of Light and opened unto them the principle and the center of all wisdom and knowledge whence the language of nature and the wonderful works of God were at the same time understood and seen of them shew and reveal unto them what they should believe and teach in any doubtful cases for the time they were to live but respective to that of true Christian believers it is but ordinary for saith Peter again Act. 15.9 the Lord put no difference between us and them meaning those he had said v. 7. believed but he that knoweth the hearts and therefore when men believe bears them witness of their faith by giving the Holy Ghost to them even as to us v. 7 8. Whence follows that since God bears witness to them that believe by giving the Holy Ghost to them even as he did to the greatest Apostles all the faithful are sealed as Paul saith 2 Cor. 1.22 Ephes 1.3 4.30 with the Spirit of promise when they believe and with an equal portion when they believe equally Thus whether Jews or Gentiles whether Apostles Teachers or any men provided they be believers indeed being all made to partake or drink of one and the same extraordinary Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 which is further confirmed Act. 11.17 by Peter pleading that God gave the Gentiles the like gift as he had done unto him what he durst not have pleaded if there had been between the Apostles and the converted Gentiles Spirit such difference as the Bishops imagine for had there been any such difference in their Spirits they that contended with him as grudging and repining that the Gentiles should enjoy the same priviledge they did had given him some answer which we do not read they did and not glorified God for it as we read they did v. 18. But truly this distinction of an ordinary and extraordinary Spirit among believers being yet unknown with them they freely acquiesced and it being neither found nor grounded upon Scripture which on the contrary asserteth the unity and the identity of Spirit and speaks no where but of one and the same Spirit all the Church over we are rather to adhere like them to St. Peter's words denying this difference than to the newer doctrine of the Episcopal Church which to the withstanding of God Act. 11.17 stands stoutly for it And that you may the better judge and understand your selves whether the said difference ought to be admitted of it will not be amiss to consider the working of the Apostles Spirit and how much the Apostles themselves ascribed to it for most of the Lip-Christians attribute so much to it and have such strange conceits of it as for instance they who say that it is ceased that they are kept blind thereby from knowing when they see him and from perceiving when he doth manifest himself that it is he whom they see and his virtue which appears all which might be prevented and what we ought to think clearly seen and perceived if in reading we had ears to understand what is said of it in many places as for instance out of the 13. chapter of the Acts v. 52. it is plain and obvious that Paul as chief Apostle Gal. 2.7 8 9. and the disciples of Antioch were fill'd with the Holy Ghost and from the 15. chapter that upon some new-comers teaching against the doctrine which no doubt Paul had preached to them when they believed ch 13.39 and was still present with them to make it out as he did ch 15.2 yet they the said disciples notwithstanding their being filled with the Holy Ghost not only knew not themselves how to decide the question but refused to believe to Paul and to Barnabas a certain argument that they thought no better of them than of the said new-comers and that notwithstanding Paul's extraordinary gift they thought him not infallible and sent them to know the mind of the other Apostles that were at Jerusalem But what is more observable in an Article of so great a consequence as this was Gal. 5.2 Peter and the rest of the Apostles and the Elders when they came to hear of it were themselves at a great loss for they met all together to consider dispute of and resolve in this matter v. 6 7. and after much disputing pro con Peter stood up and giving a good reason against the thing in question which reason after that Paul and Barnabas had spoken being confirmed by James with some addition to it it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church who gave their assent to it and sent accordingly Letters by some other men besides Paul and Barnabas to the faithful of Antioch And saith James my sentence is v. 19. which sentence or
THE ETERNAL GOSPEL Once more Testified unto and Vindicated Against the Ignorance or Malice of the Bishops and Teachers of the now Church of England This Book proving against their Doctrine That the Holy Ghost is not ceased but is still given to all the Faithful and to some in the same measure as the Apostles and Disciples of Christ had it Also at the occasion of a late Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Bishop of London by the Vicar of West-ham that Miracles and other gifts and works of the Holy Ghost are not ceased in the Church and that the School-Learning helps no man to understand Scripture and the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven nor the knowledge of Nature where by the way the true cause of the so much perplexed and famous Phoenomenon taken for a Weather-glass is by Experiments cleared and demonstrated against the Hypothesis of the New Virtuosi John 5.44 12.43 Luk. 7.35 How can they believe who seek for the honour of one another and love the praise of men more than that which comes from God But wisdom is justified or known of all her Children LONDON Printed for Allen Banks and are to be sold by most Booksellers in London 1681. HAving received this Book from the Author in order to its Printing I do hereby appoint Allen Banks to print the same Witness my Hand HENRY SCARLOT TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS JAMES Duke of YORK Patroni valeant Ecquis proteggere Verum Luci aut optatae fautor adesse potest Qui Lux qui Verum est qui Verum in saecula servat I liber ille tuus nempe Patronus erit THis is not therefore Great Sir to beg your Patronage for this Book nor for my self but rather to direct you to the Light of salvation Luk. 1.17 and to make it shine to you 2 Cor. 4.4 lest you lose here your Earthly and after your Heavenly Kingdom for lack of knowledge Hos 4.6 for though I seem angry with some men for Religion I am so far from hating a man for his Religion that I look upon him as he whom the Son of man came to save Mat. 18.11 a fit object of my love and charity and as a wounded man who needs me that am neither Priest Minister nor Levite for his Friend Luk. 10.30 37. and Physician Mat. 9.12 And therefore I am so much farther from being concern'd against Your Highness for yours with the Epidemical distemper though it wants not a President in Scripture 2 Kings 3.13 14. that Your Highness is one of the powers of this Land whom I am bound to honour and that for the Oath of God Rom. 13.1 2. Eccl. 8.2 and that looking upon you not only as a wounded but as such wounded man who though fallen unhappily into the hands of those Thieves John 10.1 20.21 22. that are stripping Your Highness both of the Triple Earthly Crown you might else enjoy one day and of your chiefest Kingly Heavenly Prerogative the Holy Unction whereby Christ makes all those Kings indeed Prov. 16.32 25.28 that do obey his commands Rev. 1.6 Exod. 19.5 6. may not only recover but be a great instrument to promote Gods Spiritual Kingdom and therefore as such Dan. 12.3 deserve one the first Thrones and Crowns among the twelve Tribes of Israel in Heaven Luk. 13.30 7.43 47. I tender your safety more than that of any man wishing with all my heart that like the Samaritan I might pour Oyl and Wine into your Highness's wounds set you on my Beast bring you to an Inn your Throne and thence to an everlasting Kingdom where may your Highness reign for evermore Amen But how can I do this except you own and believe that you are wounded and sick and how can you believe it except you come to know it and how shall you come to know except one doth shew it you and except you attend to the things that shall be shewed Act. 16.14 Rom. 10.14 15 17. If you will be pleased therefore to peruse this Book it shews you and you may easily gather from it that all men generally Christians as well as Gentiles are by birth bruised and sick Gen. 3.15 Rom. 3.23 1. Cor. 11.7 that the way to recover from the said sickness and bruise and to become whole again as to the Kingdom of God which is in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 being by the said new birth of the Holy Ghost who is then renewed within them Tit. 3.5 all men must to be saved be thus regenerated and receive the Holy Ghost therefore as well and as much as the Primitive Christians and that the said renewing or new birth of the Spirit being a reformation to the same Image of God Adam was created to which doth consist in knowledge Coloss 3.10 as well as in righteousness Ephes 4.24 the Spirit of the Father that doth create us anew to his Image and likeness teaching all things John 14.26 16.13 1 John 2.20 27. 1 Cor. 2.10 as well as he is the power of Christ Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 Gods arm revealed to us and the bloud of the Lamb whereby sin is overcome and righteousness fulfilled Rev. 12.11 is inconsistent therefore with a despondent relying on other men for what we are to know to believe and to practise and is not attained to by a change or conversion from Popery for instance to another Religion which knows Christ as much after the flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 worships the Father as little in spirit and truth John 4.24 aâ—â— grieves the Holy Spirit no less than the Popish Church and which under the pretence of Reforming makes a Schism which is a far greater sin than to bear with some few erroneous opinions but by a true conversion from sin to righteousness by knocking and by waiting at the posts of Wisdoms doors Prov. 8.34 Jam. 1.5 by perusing daily and keeping diligently the precepts of that wisdom contained in the Scriptures in vitam lucem assurgendo our selves For such conversion is to know me saith the Lord Jer. 22.16 9.3 and such knowledge of God is saith Christ John 17.3 life Eternal Verily such knowledge and not an implicite Faith is both Salvation it self and the cause of Temporal and Worldly felicity for when a man meditates daily in the Law of God and observeth to do according to all the words that are written therein he makes his way prosperous and successful in all things Josh 1.8 Deut. 28.1 to 14. and when his ways please the Lord even the worst Enemies he hath are at peace with him Prov. 16.7 But Sir as such knowledge is our summum bonum both in this and the next World so extremum malum est non recognoscere Deum in the said manner for though God for a great while winketh at this ignorance Act. 17.30 yet he will be known at last and felt specially of those that either forget to know or having the means offer'd to know him do neglect them see Judg. 2.10 11 14. And the Egyptians
12.7 to guide them into all truth so that fearching by the Light of this Spirit even the deep and hidden things of God ch 2. 10. Rom. 1.20 and growing in grace by it they may * Note that the English Translation of this place of 1 John 2.20 which reads you shall know all things is false for the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not you shall know but having known you know still for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used instead of the Present Tense as the Latin Verb Nâ—vi know John 14.26 1 John 2.20 27. and do all things Mark 9.23 Phil. 4.13 and thus being taught of God John 6.45 need not that any man teach them But the Question is Whether this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Unction the Holy Ghost be given to all true Believers or good Christians as unto the Apostles For that it is given to them all in some measure their very name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English anointed ones and being made Kings and Priests Revel 1.6 5.10 they must needs be anointed shews and that they partake of the true Oyl of gladness with the Messiah or Christ called so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by reason that he had not the Spirit like the other anointed ones by measure John 3.34 Hebr. 1.9 for both Christ and Messiah signifie the anointed and not the Faithful only but all men Jews and Gentiles partake of the Holy Ghost a certain portion of it being distributed to every man living and allowed to all mankind as appeareth 1. Because Christ by the Light of his Spirit enlightneth every man that cometh into the World John 1.9 and not the Faithful only 2. Then from the spiraculum breathed into man's nostrils Gen. 2.7 being still since Adam lost the Holy Ghost by his Fall to the days of Solomon and likewise in our days the Lamp of the Lord in man Prov. 20.27 3. Next from the reason given by him who is perfect in knowledge the most wise God Gen. 9.6 why man should not shed man's bloud to wit because he is made after the image of God which shews that man had not yet quite lost the image of God for if he had this reason had ceased at the same time and as being of no force God had not made use of it therefore hath some of it still for we find no where that since Noah's time he hath lost it And this Image consisting in the Spirit of promise for by the receit of it men are according to the promise made to Abraham of their being restored or renewed to the same Image of God Adam had which all are fallen short from Rom. 3.23 God's promise to Abraham being but the same as that which he had made to Adam presently after his loss Gen. 3.15 which what is it else but a bruising of what made him creep a rising from the beastly dark state he was fallen into and so a recovery from his said sickness and loss created a new saith Paul Eph. 4.24 Colos 3.10 after the image of God Acts 2.33 38 39. Tit. 3.5 6. Heb. 11.39 40. since man hath still some portion of the said Image left him he hath likewise some relicks of the said Holy Spirit which forms and constitutes it as from the words renewing and newness of the Spirit frequently used by Paul as Rom. 7.6 12.2 Tit. 3 5. upon this account may further be understood 4. Again The kingdom of God being like unto a man travelling from his Estate into some remote Country who delivered to his Servants his goods or good gifts Mat. 25.14 that is the Holy Spirit confer Mat. 7.11 with Luk. 11.13 it follows that God giveth his Spirit to all mankind for all men are God's Servants the being Lord and Master and the Holy Ghost is saith Paul alluding to this 1 Cor. 12.7 given to every man to trade use and improve him for his own best advantage 5. Lastly The Kingdom of God which is within man Luk. 17.21 being like leaven put into meal Mat. 13.33 a thing of the same nature but so heavy of it self that it must be fermented with Leaven to become Bread it appears that though all men have with Adam lost some part and note well come short only Rom. 3.23 of the whole Image of God 1 Cor. 11.7 yet all men some more some less and not only those few that are born of the Spirit have still remaining in them some old ruinous fragments or a certain smoaking Flax which is of the same nature as the Spirit of promise which renews and reforms man but which was not given till Christ was glorified John 7.39 Quicquid in hominibus saith the thrice great and learned Author of the Pymander videt audit verbum Domini that is to say is from the Word of wisdom or Spirit of the great God 1 Cor. 12.8 Neither do any of the Christian Sects I know of deny the said allowance of the Spirit to themselves though some exclude other men such as the Jews and Heathen And Master Vicar himself is so far from denying and arguing against it that he makes it his business by a new distinction of an extraordinary and ordinary Spirit to shew that though the former is ceased as he disputes yet the Christian Church always receives and hath the latter of the two continued His words are these pag. 6. viz. The Apostles extraordinary Spirit continued more or less about 400 years in God's Church and men wrought Miracles and thereby convinced Gainsayers though about that time they were not so numerous and plentiful as they were before and the reason was because there was no such need of them and a little after they ceased For when the occasion and reason of working Miracles ceased as Kings proving Nursing-Fathers to the Church the Gospel being a National Religion in most Countries then God in his wisdom suspended that great and mighty power wherewith he had accompanied good men before Therefore men are now to look for no other Spirit but what is necessary for their needs as they are Christians Having said pag. 4. that the Primitive Christians stood in need as Apostles of their extraordinary Spirit upon the account of both the Jews and Gentiles there being great reason that such as were the immediate Instruments of so great an undertaking as making void a Law to wit the Law of Moses which had been settled by God and convincing the prejudiced Gentiles of the truth of their persons as well as of their doctrine should have a proportionable commission and strength to do it with Alas adds he pag. 5. had it not been for this the Gospel would have been nipp'd in its first budding forth and it would have been a downright impossibility for so great a part of the World to have been imposed upon by such a company of illiterate persons as the Apostles before the descent of the Holy Ghost were Can you imagine that such learned men as Dionysius and
other persons brought up in the Schools at Athens who well understood the principles and connexion of things would have submitted to the pretences of such bold and rude persons who could shew no reason at all beyond their own consident assertions for what they said No it was impossible and by the way this one thing shews the great necessity of humane Learning and is a sufficient confutation of all those Enthusiasts who do revile it to wit that what the Apostles wanted of it upon the score of Education God supplied by Miracle But for their extraordinary Spirit it is a plain case because we daily experience it that it is ceased and that no man can now pretend to it for he that pretends to the same Spirit the Apostles had must do the same things or else he is mighty vain and argues his understanding to be much impaired Now judge ye who is more vain than this Vicar who denies Scripture and the experience of several sober learned pious godly men who have been Eye-witnesses and testifie and relate the Miracles wrought upon some faithful believing men since his four hundred years as shall be shewed hereafter Judge also whether his own experience can teach him that the said Spirit is ceased For the gift of Miracles being but one of many belonging to that Spirit and all the gifts being not given to every one of those that truly believe but one or two gifts to each as in page appears he must needs be acquainted with all the true Believers that live all the World over to say that his Experience and that of his acquaintance who are as well informed as himself of what passeth daily among the faithful shews him that none of them can at present pretend to it when the Prophet Elijah who was as noted a man I hope as the Vicar knew not one of the seven thousand faithful men who lived in his time in Israel 1 Kings 19.14 18. and they that can do these things do not seek to shew themselves and to be known openly John 5.44 7.4 6. Luk. 8.56 But though they did and wrought some Miracles every day in the sight of all the World yet they that say that Miracles are ceased so long ago would believe them no sooner than their fellow Pharisees who though blasphemous enough to ascribe the glory of them to Beelzebub were not so silly as to pretend that they were ceased Then observe from his own words that what God by Miracle supplied of Humane Learning being wanted upon the score of Education might by Education have been got without Miracle and so what need was there God should supply by Miracle what he might have had and done plentifully without it For there lived at the time that Christ chose the Apostles many other men who had by their Education got Humane Learning enough to hold out an Argument against the learned Heathen And St. Paul who had enough Acts 22.3 needed not I presume to supply his want of it receive the same fulness of Spirit as the other twelve yet he received it and that with as extraordinary circumstance as all the rest Acts 9.17 18. 2 Cor. 11.5 12.4 Gal. 2.6 8. Besides the necessity of Humane Learning Logick Metaphysick c. to convince Dionysius and other learned Gentiles whose conviction the Vicar said before was the hard task that required such an extraordinary Spirit implys that Humane Learning was the means the Apostles made use of to convince them contrary to 1 Cor. 2.6 8. Col. 2.8 Mat. 11.25 And if so may not they that are now great Masters in it although by Education and say they make use of it as the Divines of these times against their Adversaries pretend to do the same things and to have therefore the same Spirit the Apostles had Verhum sat sapienti this being but by the way to give the sober Reader a hint of what the Learning of those wise men will produce 1 Cor. 1.19 20. And they have ill luck who whilst they seek for honour and praise for their Learning and Wisdom not only get no credit but forfeit by what they were in great hopes to procure some that which they were look'd upon to have already gotten But O that they were as wise and learned as they pretend and as they would seem to be for then they might do some good and had saved me the trouble of declaring now for them that the Apostles Spirit continues still in the Church that all men have the same right and as good pretences to the extraordinary Spirit the Apostles had as the Apostles themselves and that they may now have it and if they will make use of the same means they used Acts 1.14 2.1 15.7 8. John 14.23 Luk. 18.1 receive it and be filled with it as much as they were For the gift of that Spirit if we will but take Christ's word and solemn promise for it Mark 16.17 John 14.12 wait upon the Church of God all them that believe in him of any nation and tongue and of any profession Acts 10.35 44 46. and that not for about 400 years only but until now at present and to the end of the World Mat. 28.20 for that I may not leave them comfortless saith Christ John 14.18 23. I will come by what can comfort refresh and give life and joy viz. by my Spirit v. 26. 6.63 Jam. 2.26 Acts 3.19 20. and make my abode with them or within them for the Church being the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 Eph. 4.12 he must like the Soul in man dwell in the Members that make the said body for ever John 14.16 13. and to you and your children and to as many as God shall ever call saith Peter Act. 2.38 39. the promise of the same blessing to wit the receit of the same Holy Spirit Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 8. Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.14 belongs And saith he further Act. 10.47 11.15 not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as he confirms it ch 15.8 according to the same measure as we the first have received the Holy Ghost you may receive be filled with him and have him likewise Which words shew that St. Peter did not arrogate either to himself or to the rest of his fellow Apostles the extraordinary Spirit ascribed to them viz. a more peculiar gift and a greater share of God's Spirit than all other true Believers have or may have and that he did not then dream of being more infallible than they be and of his Church and Church-mens prerogatives as men do before they have received the Holy Ghost witness Mark 9.38 conferred with Luk 24.49 Numb 11.28 29. And so from these words of Christ and Peter that it appears that the Apostles Spirit or the same Spirit they had never ceaseth in the Church nor in any National Religion Sect or party until it ceaseth to be the Church and the Flock of Christ
for then not only the gift of Miracles to which and to their skill in Humane Learning got without Education he seems chiefly to confine the Apostolical gift but all other gifts also which do infallibly wait upon that of the Spirit such as wisdom and knowledge 1 Cor. 12.8 are removed and taken away from that Sect in God's wrath Revel 2.5 rather than wisdom as the wise Vicar measuring it by his own shallow brains and dull fancy as shall be shewed in its place saith God did suspend the same that Church becomes desolate and remains according to the Prophecy of Daniel 9.27 and the construction thereof by St. Matthew 24.15 and St. Luke 21.20 compassed instead of Christ's presence by the Holy Ghost with abominable armies and companies of Church-men Only as there are divers administrations and gifts of the same Divine Spirit 1 Cor 12.4 6. such as wisdom and knowledge faith healing miracles tongues prophecy and discerning of Spirits which are not all to be found in one member or Paul is much mistaken v. 6 29 30. so I must here further declare for Master Vicar and all his fellow Watchmen that though one man doth not do all the same operations that all the Apostles did yet if he doth some of them he may pretend to the same Spirit the Apostles had for if the ear shall say because I am not the eye I am not of the body is it not of it therefore v. 16. that is if he that hath but the discerning of Spirits should say because I am not a Teacher or a Prophet I have none of the same extraordinary Spirit as the Prophets have hath he not therefore been made to drink of the same Spirit v. 13. for if the whole spiritual body were prophecy where were the gift of knowledge and discerning of Spirits v. 17. and if they were all Prophets or all workers of Miracles where were the several members and operations that constitute or make up the said spiritual body v. 19. Thus do I from St. Paul speak here for Master Vicar and will yet further instance St. Paul a chief Apostle Gal. 2.6 7. during the time of whose preaching and stay at Antioch arrived certain Prophets one of which did prophesie that there should be a great dearth or famine throughout the World Act. 11.26 27 28. to whom the Disciples who were doubtless directed by Paul and by Barnabas gave credit and Paul himself though he had a greater gift of the Spirit did not say or object that he wondred that his inferiour should have this thing revealed to him when he knew nothing of it And elsewhere that same Prophet foretold Paul what Paul himself foresaw not in his own case Act. 21.10 or he had what he did not foreseen that he had been set at liberty if he had not appealed to Caesar Act. 25.26 26.31 32. to wit that he should be taken at Jerusalem and thus saith the Holy Ghost said then that certain Prophet for so the Scripture calls him ch 21.11 Whence I ask the Vicar since St. Paul could pretend to as good a share at least of the same holy Spirit as that certain Prophet did why did not the Holy Ghost reveal the same things to him Because though he had knowledge and understood mysteries as he was an Apostle yet he was not a Prophet for are all Prophets saith he 1 Cor. 12.29 30. are all workers of Miracles as all are not Apostles v. 28. so I cannot work all the said other gifts in me it being God alone that doth work them all and note in all and not in one man v. 6. Likewise I ask if he that hath the gift to discern the Spirit of the Vicar and some portion of knowledge hath not the gift of Miracles hath he not therefore the same Spirit as the Apostles But what say you Vicar to what Paul himself doth stile yet a more excellent way than Miracles and Prophecy and the best of the said gifts viz. Charity v. 31. 13.2 is that ceased in your Church I dare say you are not willing to acknowledge it and so like the Chief Priests Mat. 21.25 26. you are hedg'd in on both sides for if you say that this more extraordinary gift is not ceased in the Church neither by your Argument are the other gifts also which are counted by St. Paul not so excellent as this ceased as you teach from it and if you say that it is ceased there then judge whether you are still a faithful Church for do they believe in Christ that omit one of the first and chiefest of his precepts Mat. 22.39 John 13.34 1 John 3.11 and take quite another way than that which he hath shewed them And this last your Argument that he must do the same things who pretends to the same Spirit the Apostles had proves further or you must yield that it is of no force and validity at all which dilemma as likewise the other your great Learning could not foresee and prevent your being now put to them for the Apostles were sent to do what Signs and Miracles No sure but to preach and win or gain Souls by teaching them the way to their conversion 1 Cor. 9.19 Mat. 28.19 Mark 16.15 This they did in all places but preached in many places nay they convinced many and Dionysius himself and established Churches without working of Miracles as may be seen by their Acts and their Miracles were not always wrought to convince the gainsayers of the Faith which you say was the reason and the occasion of them since they wrought them sometimes in their private Meetings by night amongst the faithful as for instance at Troas Act. 20.7 8 9 10. Now you will grant that it is incumbent upon the Church to preach exhort and win Souls 2 Tim. 4.12 and you pretend you do it so that if you do it not you are not a faithful Church but burthensom hypocrites inutilia hujus pondera terrae and if you do it you do the works of the Apostles therefore by your Argument have the same Spirit they had and so it is not ceased but it is your Argument that ceaseth to be in force if that can be said to cease which had never any true existence but in a false and erroneous fancy He that winneth Souls is wise Prov. 11.30 Dan. 12.3 wisdom is by Paul counted the first gift of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.8 31. If therefore you win some Souls as it is pretended that some of your number do or else what reason is there why you should be imposed upon a Christian Nation as necessary to them have you not a greater gift of the Spirit than Miracles which are according to Paul v. 29. but the fourth in order and do you not do a greater thing than Miracles and so as great a thing as any of the Apostles He that hath as much faith as a grain of Mustard-seed may do all wonders Mat. 17.20 and yet witness Paul 1
for they pretend all to see John 9.41 to know and understand best Christ and the oracles of God Rom. 3.2 we are the strictest Sect of Christians say most of them we are wise and the Law of the Lord is with us Jer. 8.8 we are of Christ Mat. 24.5 and lo he is amongst us Mark 13.21 and thou wast altogether would they say to Christ himself Luk. 10.16 if he came to preach over again the same things he did and to make them sensible of their neglect of the same and practices against it born in sins or ignorant for that phrase imports so much and dost thou think to teach us John 9.34 who are our selves the best Doctors of his purest Church we know too well the meaning of Scripture to believe thee and we may chuse to credit even an Angel of God if he came down from Heaven to confirm what thou teachest These are doctrines of Devils and it is very probable saith the Reverend Vicar pag. 11. lin 12. that some worse Sect than that of the Quakers if a worse can come in their room will ere long what if this were a Caiaphas prophecy John 11.51 be at the doors and disturb the minds of credulous people Therefore is that party I speak this for instance which calleth another whose doctrine may for all that be far better than its own the worse Sect of all Christians like to believe by its means and to receive from it even the plain truth it self without they see some Miracles and the same power of Faith as the foresaid instruments to wit the Apostles had whilst like the proud Pharisees they thank God that their doctrine and their way is not like this Luk. 18.11 No sure but rather to be like the self-conceited Jews Rom. 11.7 11. made more blind than the Gentiles and per consequent the conversion of all such whom I take to be far from converted Christians is a more difficult work and so needs the same if not a greater Spirit and strength than that which the Gentiles wanted in the Apostles Greater abomination of the desolation cannot be found in the Church than when being made altogether desolate that is brought to the most opposite state to that which constitutes a Christian Church it yet abominably calls it self and will be counted the true Church of Christ But I hear some again of that blessed crew doubtless whom no reason without sence can convince and satisfie saying though we grant all this yet the Apostles wrought Miracles spoke new Languages and Prophecied therefore though you cannot do it your self yet if their Spirit is not ceased and seeing these signs wait upon the gift of it to some of the believers shew us who doth now any of those signs or hath done them within the twelve last Ages and up comes Master Vicar with a scrap of his Learning Dic quibus in terris eris mihi magnus Apollo Opera jam sanctus tam grandia spiritus edat as Miracles and Prophecy the great attestation of any truth whatsoever pag. 3. and per consequent of the truth of the Spirit of the Apostles being continued ever since 1200 years to God's Church For we daily experience that none of the pretenders to their Spirit do the same And we may assert saith he pag. 6. that they ceased soon after the said fourth Century notwithstanding the boasts of the Church of Rome who indeed instead of confirming men in the Christian Religion by their pretended Miracles do if men be considerate rather expose it to their scorn and censure so ridiculous are the stories they tell and upon such slight and pitiful ground do they pretend their Miracles are wrought And here I must confess that the Vicar and his crew have catcht the Bear by the tail for so notwithstanding the boasts of another Church and of what one whom he will call as well as the Quakers one of the worst of Christians can say and shew against him he may still as boldly assert that they are ceased and find pretences enough to defend his assertion But though what he saith of the Miracles of the Roman Church is too true of most of them yet have there been all that time no Believers among them and have none of the signs mentioned Mark 16.17 waited upon some of them this is a bold assertion and a very hard thing for Master Vicar to prove chiefly if we consider that Christ by foretelling us that some false Prophets should rise and shew great signs and wonders Mark 13.13 grants that seeing even those whose coming is after the working of Satan saith Paul have power to work Miracles some of the true Believers living among the Papists have done since that Prophesie some of those many Miracles which are related of them and may now if it were so and though the Vicar could prove that they never did any do some wonders it being prophesied of time to come without any restriction to the sour first Ages Mark 13.13 and of what should come to pass after the Gospel had been published in all Countries v. 10. then in respect to all men v. 37. and per consequent to all times till the Worlds end And if not only those false Prophets who work their wonders by the help of the Devil but the Nigromancer also who acts by the strength alone of humane nature can effect wonderful things as by retiring but for one moment within himself and setting very strongly his will upon a thing though at a great distance from him introduce and bring to pass his desire upon it or at least stamp upon it such mark or impression as the longing Mother doth upon the fruit in her womb as appears plain by Balaam cursing or bewitching by Enchantments whom he would Numb 22.6 24.1 except God by a special providence prevented him Josh 24.10 Numb 23.23 why should the same power be denied to faithful men though they live among the Turks or are reputed Papists especially being more Masters of their own Passions than such natural men as a Nigromancer is and their minds more abstracted from all lower things because their conversation is in the heaven above But to do all parties right it must needs be confessed that some of the Romish Saints as Bruno Lopez and such have by their fruits or their works as by denying themselves and dying to all the World and to all the comfort they did enjoy of this life to follow ever after their Saviour under the cross wandring in desarts mountains and dens Heb. 11.38 without taking thought how they should subsist and live shewed us that they did truly and really believe in Christ and so we have no reason to think but that he met them Isa 64.5 Act. 10.35 made them know of his doctrine John 7.17 and granted that some wonders were according to his promise Mark 16.17 wrought by their hands Act. 5.12 This and let Master Vicar think what he will otherwise though I have not seen
it I believe and honour their name and make no question but that many such are now living up and down the World which as unworthy of them knows little or nothing of it And if I can but die the death of those righteous men to live as they have lived I shall no way envy Master Vicars nor any of his Bishops Paradise So much for the Roman Church Now as for the Protestant they being as good Christians and as true Believers at least as the Papists are I know no reason why they should not see and have seen as well as the Papists since their departing from them which is near 200 years somâ— of the same gifts of the Holy Ghost among themselves if they are not yet ceased except for want of the same degree of Spiriâ— and Faith as those had which have wroughâ— wonders among the Papists for though iâ— be confessed that their Doctrine is betteâ— than that of the Roman Church and thaâ— their Notion therefore or Opinion is better yet neither a Notional or an Historicaâ— Faith nor crying with our mouth and lips Lord Lord we know thee Hos 8.2 Mat. 7.21 15.8 for the Devils know the same as those and believe and tremble but doing the will of God making men true Believers it doth not follow from thence that they have more or even so much Faith as some of those Holy men who have wrought wonders among the Papiste Alas how can they believe though they cry Lord or sing it with Organs never so long whose heart is set upon all vanities under the Sun and how can they work Miracles that deny those works of Faith which make men true Believers such as dying wholly to all the lusts of the flesh and all worldly-mindedness and that believe and assert that all Miracles are ceased But when the Protestant Church hath yielded such Believers as some of the Romish Saints have been the same signs also have then waited upon them and have been seen and heard of those that say they are ceased though by reason of their blindness and hardness of heart they have in seeing seen them no more than the Jews who saw and wondred were in amaze looking upon the wonders Christ and the Apostles did as a Cow upon the new and painted door of her Stall As for instance they have seen the Maid of Bohemia Kotterus Drabicius whose Prophesies are extant and the unparallel'd ever since the Apostles Jacob Behm the Apostle of this last Age of the Church who hath as the other three appeared to all Europe in Person and by his Books which are in most of the European Languages First the Maid of Bohemia by purifying her heart by Faith prophesied of what should come to pass afterwards falling into Trances like Abraham Gen. 15.12 and Balaam Numb 24.4 and gave signs several times when certain things should happen and at what time the next Trance or Fit should come upon her Kotterus was a Leather-dresser of Silesia who when he had prophesied and set down his prophesies and given them to be put in Latin to Comenius gave him this sign viz. that his Library should be burnt down if he refused or neglected to do it which upon Comenius neglecting to execute came accordingly to pass by a fire from Heaven Drabicius who lately got the Crown of Martyrdom in Hungary by the hands of the most inhumane Anti-Jesu-Jesuits prophesied which is a gift and work or operation of the Holy Ghost better and more excellent than that of Healing and of Miracles 1 Cor. 12.28 31. but because the Jesuits kept him Prisoner for it we know not what signs he did and it may be he did none because of the unbelief of all the unfaithful crew that had some access to him And as for the Teutonick Philosopher Jacob Behm who being brought up at first a Cow-keeper or Herdsman and after a Shoe-maker and Cobler in a Village shewed himself a Prodigy of all wisdom and knowledge what wonders had he not done had he met with fit objects I mean with Believers whose Faith had reached into and joyned it self with his But that some were wrought by his Faith is a plain case if his being supplied with all manner of Learning without Education and the help of any Books but of a Dutch Bible only is a Miracle according to the Vicar's assertion for what deep Mystery what great Arcanum is there in Natural and Moral and Divine Philosophy which he hath not been perfectly acquainted with without the study of Books as to the single-ey'd Readers of his admirable and inestimable Works it manifestly appears notwithstanding that it is at first sight a hard matter to apprehend his meaning and not so hard neither but to them in whom the God of this world doth blind the mind lest the light of the glorious Gospel which Jacob Behm hath of late most lively set out and cleared from the dark mist which the ignorance of men had offuscated it with should shine to them as Paul saith 2 Cor. 4.3 4. The difficulties they meet with in perusing his Works proceeding not from his stile but from the depth of the things and from the Readers themselves who as meer natural men receive not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 but as some of their first fellow disciples objected before to Christ John 6.59 say this is an hard saying and go back walk no more or have no more to do with him v. 66. Then as for new Languages if he did not speak them all he spake and understood that which like the Apostles new Language was understood among all Nations and Tongues viz. the Language of Nature for note that the Apostles gave but one voice for each word or did not utter each word they spake in the several dialects of those Nations which heard Peter's first Sermon Act. 2.9 14. yet were understood of all as if they had spoken to each in their own Language v. 11. And that he spake this Language and had really the knowledge of occult Philosophy his Explication of most of the hard names in the Bible and in other Writings of some truly learned men his Mysterium Magnum his Answer to the 40 Questions of Dr. Walter about the Soul and her state in this life and after it his Signatura Rerum or his reading at first sight when he came into a Field the most occult properties and virtues of any Plants by their outward Signature though he had never before seen or read or heard of them and in a word all his Works with King Charles the First whom you will grant I hope to have been as competent a Judge as any Divine of the Episcopal Church witness to some part of them that if the Author thereof was not brought up a Scholar the Holy Ghost was in him and his Books nil humani sonabant every where betokening and declaring the most abstruse and divine wisdom that ever he read do sufficiently
nonsensical and to no purpose contrived without reason or necessity nay repugnant to the end it was instituted for viz. the breaking of the flesh 1 Cor. 11.26 and the communicating to Christs spiritual body ch 10.16 which is done in becoming spiritual men our selves and a very wicked fool to persecute another because he will not be as great a fool as thy self I say that he who eats of this flesh shall live by it and shall by this flesh and bloud the power of our Christ and from on high Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 be quickned and so strengthned that he shall overcome the accuser or Tempter that tempted Eve Rev. 12.11 I mean shall bruise the head of the flesh that creeps and makes our Souls to creep with it Gen. 3.15 like Serpents v. 14. to cleave unto this vile Earth Psal 119.25 and to sink down from God into Hell it self Philip he that hath seen me hath seen the Father also John 14.7 9. for the Son is his express Image and represents him Heb. 1.3 John 1.18 And can therefore the Son of the invisible God who is a Spirit saith he that Son who dwells in the light no man can approach unto 1 Tim. 6.16 in the bosom in the throne of the most infinite God John 1.18 Rev. 3.21 be like unto flesh and bloud and sit there and come therence Rev. 3.20 to make us sit there also in the same bodily shape he lived with in the flesh what and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up saith he John 6.62 where he was before how can you then think he shall have flesh and bloud about him since when he was there before he had neither flesh and bloud nor humane shape and body John 5.37 Deut. 4.12 how can the flesh and bloud I had then about me which is not my flesh and bloud John 8.23 but the seed of Abraham Heb. 2.16 which I took upon Earth in the womb of one of his daughters that I might dye therein to deliver you from it v. 14 15. Rom. 8.6 be the true bread from heaven and the meat and drink indeed that makes you live for ever John 6.32 33 38 41 50 54 55 58. Truly if I had still a body of flesh and bloud I could not quicken you and the words that I speak being Spirit v. 63. how can you take them in a carnal sence but if you understood them and knew me saw my glory John 17.24 whereof that in Mat. 17.2 was but a very weak beam that body of flesh and bloud which you so much doat upon would vanish out of your sight Luk. 24.31 Heb. 10.20 2 Cor. 3.14 and then you would understand that I am risen indeed Luk. 24.34 from such body of death Rom. 7.24 and by rising from it or being no more in it made the fitter author of your eternal salvation Heb. 5.9 that is more able to help you and fitter to strengthen you John 16.7 both against the said body and him that tempts you by it 2 Cor. 5.1 4 6. by the power I have in rising unto glory obtain'd of an endless life Heb. 2.18 7.16 whereby you may rule over the tumultuous Nations the lusts that war in your flesh and come out of their bondage into the glorious freedom of the Sons of God v. 15. Rev. 2.26 27. which is rising from the dead and entring in the kingdom of God or your Salvation O you house of Israel both Jews and all Christian Sects come on now for the time past ought to have sufficed you open your eyes and at last walk in the light of the Lord Isa 2.5 Ephes 5.8 sit no longer in darkness and in your shadow of death otherwise under the thick umbraculum which your flesh darkneth and deads your Souls with learn to know me in Spirit and in truth according to mine own essence and nature and look no more upon me as your Antecessors John 6.42 and as the Mahometans and even as you your selves have done and do to this hour John 14.7 for the Jews look for nothing but worldly and temporal blessings for their flesh from Christ to wit to live in plenty glory and prosperity in this life under his reign as when Solomon reigned 1 Kings 4.20 21 24 25. taking accordingly what the Prophets say of the Spiritual kingdom of the Messiah literally as Isa 55.10 and therefore they thought of a visible appearance of Gods kingdom in the days of Christ Luk. 17.20 19.11 And the Turks expect to have all fleshly lusts satisfied by the mediation of their Prophet Mahomet when he comes with God say they to save his true Musulmans or them that truly believe in him and to judge the World So that Christians believing that they shall be one day saved with their flesh and bloud 2 Cor. 5.6 that their Salvation was once performed and perfected in the flesh by Christ as man by his becoming a man and by dying in the flesh when by his incarnation and death without ascending and coming in the Spirit there is no body saved John 3.5 13. 16.7 and that the second coming of Christ will be seen of all appear with observation to the eyes of all the World Luk. 17.20 look on him with the same eyes and in the same manner as both the Jews and the Turks have no higher thoughts of his kingdom than the others have know him still as the man of sorrows humiliated not as sitting from the time of his humiliation on the right hand of power and coming with great glory though he tells them so himself Mat. 26.64 Mark 14.62 and concurring thus with them in a temporal worldly and carnal knowledge of him they do not only bring back his Spiritual knowledge and worship introduced by him and the Apostles to the old bodily and ceremonial worship of God in the Jewish Church but even to a creature worship Rom. 1.25 23. and like the Heathen changing the truth of their God into that which he is not the shape or Image of man they set up an Idol made like unto flesh and bloud the fleshly conceits of him in the holy place their heart thus instead of knowing God as a Spirit in Spirit destroying his Spiritual knowledge and establishing a knowledge after the flesh and also per consequent a worship accordingly a down-right idolatry for Lux intelligendi being in mankind the Lex volendi agendi man willeth and acteth but according to his knowledge worships God as he knows him quia ignoti boni nulla cupido lusts for no more than that which he conceives and knows of him to wit a bodily temporal and carnal good and so continues to be such as he was at his birth that is carnally minded and this carnal mind being enmity against his God Rom. 8.7 Jam. 4.4 man in revolting to it or siding with that party which is in war against God he commits adultery that is falshood against God Luk. 16.13 18. with the great whore worldly