Family be asked whether in his generall Repentance he doe include his bodily worshipping according to the custome of Mahomet the Church of Rome or wheresoeuer he liueth the Magistrate commaunding it he will answer you no he doth not repent of that For hee ought to subiect his Body at any worship which the Magistrates commaunds keeping his heart to God For Gods worship is not at all outward and therfore that his practise is good and approueable Doth he now repent of this in any generality which he accounteth one of his good actions Repentance is an acknowledgement of sinne c. but an Idolater and Familist acknowledge their action herein to be good therefore cannot repent of them at that time If any say they haue not sinned Ieâ—e 2.35 1. Ioh. 1.10 God will enter into Iudgement with them and their sinne remaineth Oh but this is a dangerous censure they obiect not onely of those that are liuing but of many that are Dead To which we answer we censure none onely relate Gods censure in his Word that cannot lye Which word shall iudge all men at the last Day Ioh. 12.48 wee say of none whether dead or yet liuing that they are damned except such as sinne against the Holy Ghost as many of the Familists haue because wee know not in what moment of time they may repent But this we say whosoeuer they be that sinne and neuer repent thereof they shall perish Luk. 13.3 not we but the Lord saith this Therefore so long as we know men line impenitently in Idolatry through what delusion soeuer hating to be reformed and casting Gods word behinde their backes we can truely say they are in the estate of condemnation and shall perish if they repent not of that their Idolatry and come into the Arke that saueth 1. Pet. 3.21 which is the Baptisme of Christ the request of a good Conscience by Christs resurrection For the profession that must be had and kept is to draw neare to God Heb. 10.22.23 with a true heart in assurance of Faith sprinckled in our hearts from an euill Conscience and washed in our Bodyes with pure water Hauing thus discouered the false Christ of H.N. and his learners false way of Religion of those that are running fast after him though yet it may bee not of that louely Family who affirme that by keeping the Law any may be saued though they be neuer so great Idolaters as Idolatry is taken of all but Familists which wide brod way of affirming that any may haue saluation though they beleeue not in the man Christ but be Idolaters ouerthroweth the vertue of Christs precious Death and bloodshed and all Religion and Godlinesse Wee say hauing discouered the falshood of these wee now come to cleare our selues of their imputations which followeth thus vnder their hand Twelue transgressions that yee commonly called Anabaptists doe commit euen with a high hand and therefore yee for the very greatest part are vn-Christians FIrst your greatest Zeale is concerning Ceremonies and your least is concerning Godlines euerlasting and further yee contend against Godly ceremonies Answ In this vniust accusation are contained three thinges 1. Wherein our greatest zeale consisteth namely in Cermonies 2. Wherein it doth not consist in Godlines euerlasting 3. That we contend against Godly ceremonies First what mystery they may conceiue in this word Ceremony for they vse it much wee doe not well know but if they had no other meaning than as it is Heb. 9.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated Religious Ordinances or Diuine seruice or worship or Ceremonies then we say our zeale ought to be great concerning the Ordinances of true Religion or worship to God for it is the first and great Commaundement Mat. 22.37 Religion or religious seruice or worship towards God consisteth in the vpright hearty and vnfained submitting vnto with our Spirits and performing with our Bodies such Ordinances and Commandements as Iesus Christ the great Prophet hath commanded For he that obeyeth not the Sonne shall not see Life Ioh. 3.36 but the wrath of God abideth on him and wee must obserue all that hee commaundeth which if wee will not wee shall be destroyed from among his people Act. 3.23 for wee must stand fast and keepe euery instruction which hee or his Apostles haue taught vs 1. Cor. 11.2 for in these last dayes the Father hath spoken vnto vs by his Sonne and if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast Heb. 1.2 and euery transgression Cap. 2.2.3 and disobedence receiue a iust recompence of reward how shall wee escape if we neglect so great a saluation Cap. 3.3 For the Sonne is worthy of more honour then the Seruant wee are Christs friends if wee doe whatsoeuer he commandeth but hee that saith Ioh. 15.14 1. Ioh. 2.4 hee knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyer So that if the Ordinances of Religion or Diuine worship be the Lords if wee should not be zealous therein and earnestly contend for the maintainance of that Faith Iude. 3. which was once giuen to the Saintes we should be iustly reproued of the Lord as the Church of Laodocea and that iudgement pronounced Reuel 3.16 I will spewe thee out of my mouth But they will answer the Scripture learned men haue no vnderstanding as in any other thing so in this For the worship of God is altogether to be performed within in the Spirit and not in any outward Ceremony whatsoeuer With this they flatter themselues in their owne eyes whilest their iniquity is found worthy to bee hated the wordes of their mouthes are iniquity and deceipt Psal 36.2 c. they haue left off to vnderstand and to doe good they imagine mischiefe vpon their beds and set themselues vpon a way that is not good as shall manifestly appeare to all that haue eyes of any indifferency when we shew what the worship of God is as afterward we shall haue a good occasion to speake of onely this may suffice to cleare vs from any vniust accusation if we be zealous for the Lords Ordinances concerning his worship To the second part of the accusation that our least zeale is for Godlines euerlasting What doe they meane by this Godlines euerlasting whether that of their oldest Elder H. N. the perfection of liuing in the holy vnderstanding and vpright righteousnes in the louely being which in these last dayes is reueyled by H. N. in the house of Loue Or doe they meane that to bee euerlasting Godlines which some of his young Disciples affirme to be in those Gentiles Rom. 2. A iustice in themselues through keeping the Law which they call the Christ neither of these we freely confesse we seeke after For the first we doe asmuch detest as we doe the Deuill himselfe who is the Father of all lying allegories and reuelations that are not contained in the sacred Scriptures And for the second we doe
peruert Heb. 6. and other holy Scriptures to their owne destruction Hauing now discouered some of H. Ns. principles The summe of the true Faith wee will in short set downe our Faith concerning these 6. Principles Heb. 6. First of Repentance from dead workes we doe beleeue that euery transgression of any Law of God is sinne 1. Ioh. 3.4 Rom. 6.23 and the wages of euery sinne is Death and so a dead worke That no man by reason of weake Flesh can keepe the Law Rom. 8.3 and therefore by transgression becommeth dead in Sinne Ephe. 2.1.3 and so by weake Nature the Childe of wrath For the Law causeth wrath Rom. 4.15 for where no Law is there is no transgression but the power of Gods word contained in the holy Scriptures 1. Cor. 15.34 Ephes 5.14 and not the Reuelations or Dreames of H.N. nor any others awaking man and setting his sinnes in order before him and the fearefull terror of Gods wrath against him Act. 2.37 16.30 Act. 2.38 3.19 causeth man to be pricked in his heart and to cry out what shall wee doe to be saued To which God answereth Repent of thy sinnes confesse them sorrow for them and reforme them But man seeing by the same holy Scripture that this his repentance or any other thing that he can doe cannot appease Gods wrath nor satisfie his Iustice for his sinne he is inuited hereupon to flye vnto Gods Grace by the Redemptiō purchased through the blood of his Sonne who is God ouer all and tooke our Nature vpon him and became Man Dyed for vs and is risen againe in his Body ascended into Heauen sitting at the right hand of his Father making intercession for his seruants euen for all that obey him Heb. 5.9 through whom alone wee haue Redemption euen the forgiuenes of our sinnes 2. Thus by Faith in the Blood of Christ is this Sinner sprinckled in his heart from an euill Conscience Heb. 10.22 and must also be washed in his Body with pure water 3. This is the Baptisme that saueth not onely the washing away the filth of the Flesh but in that a good Conscience maketh request vnto God 1. Pet. 3.21 by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ Yet not onely the good Conscience is Baptisme but also washing with materiall water into the Name of the Father c. For to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen which is the estate of Grace or true Christianity in this life called the Kingdome of Heauen Ioh. 3.5 Ephes 4.5 Wee must haue Water and Spirit Christ hath coupled them together as his one Baptisme and let no man seperate them 4. By laying on of handes wee conceiue is meant the whole ministery of the Church which consisteth of those Offices mentioned in Christs Testament All which are to be entred into by laying on of hands as these Scriptures teach * Act. 6.6 13.3 For other laying on of hands by which extraordinary guiftes were communicated vnto men wee vnderstand they were myracles giuen of God in the primitiue Church for the confirmation of the Apostles authority who taught thinges that neuer before were taught Heb. 2.5 which that they might be credited they did such thinges as neuer men did And if any Familist can doe Myracles as did th Apostles thē might they haue had some colour to write and bring into the world new Gospels as they are not ashamed to doe 5. Concerning the Resurrection from the Dead We beleeue that our soules shall be seperated from our bodies by naturall Death That the Body returnes to earth whence it came and the Spirit to God that gaue it Eccles 12.7 1. Cor. 15. vntill the day that Iesus Christ shall come againe to Iudge quicke and dead Then shall our Bodies rise againe euen these bodies Ioh. 19.25 c. and with these eyes shall wee see our Redeemer Lastly we doe beleeue and looke for to our great reioycing the blessed appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ to that Eternall iudgement wherein hee shall Iudge both quicke and dead according to their works done in this Flesh 2 Cor. 5.10 whether they be good or euill Reuel 20.12 to an Eternall being to wit Them that by continuance in wel-doing seeke glory and Immortality Rō 2.7 c. 1. Thes 4.17 Rom. 2.8 they shall come to Eternall Life where they shall bee euer with the Lord. But those that are contentious and disobey the Truth and obeyes vnrighteousnes haue done euill and haue not repented thereof They shall come forth to the resurrection of condemnation Ioh. 5.29 indignation and wrath shall bee vpon them burning in the Lake for euermore with the Deuill and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Now let all Iudge whether wee be totally ignorant of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. as these accusers doe suggest or rather that themselues are not only ignorant of them for if they were their sinne were the lesse but they deny them and that after their enlightning The 9. transgression they accuse vs of is Ninthly you will not bee reformed by the Light which God hath manifested in these latter times and whereof much is in the Booke of Common Prayer and in the Homilies and in the Booke of Ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons Answ VVEE hauing asked some of them what Light this is that in these latter times God hath manifested for we conceiue God neuer spake nor euer will after his speaking by his Sonne in these last dayes who by himselfe and his Apostles hath deliuered all the Counsell of God sealing it vp with these sentences If wee or an Angell from Heauen teach any otherwise then we haue Preached Gal. 1.8 9. let him bee accursed And if any adde to what they haue done Reuel 22.18.19 God will adde the plagues written by them or if any take away any of those their wordes God will take away their names out of the Booke of Life we say we hauing asked them concerning these thinges they haue answered vs God hath spoken to the world at three seuerall times First by Moses and the Fathers 2. By Christ and the Apostles And thirdly by an euerlasting Gospell in these last dayes alledging Reuel 14. Which what Gospell should it bee but the Gospell of the Kingdome which H. N. hath published to the world in which many of his poysoned Doctrines is broached concerning which hee hath giuen himselfe a stately stile farre exceeding the Apostles in all their writings full of blasphemies which is this H. N. through the Grace and mercy of God Euang. Peg. Cap. 1. and through the holy Spirit of the loue of Iesu Christ raised vp by the highest God from the Death according to the prouidence of God and his Promises annoynted with the Holy Ghost in the olde age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christ Godded with God in the Spirit of his loue made heyre with Christ in the heauenly goods of
vnto themselues which shew the effect of the Law written in their hearts their Consciences also bearing witnes and their thoughts accusing one another or excusing From hence they cōsidently affirme that these Gentiles knewe not the man Christ nor beleeued on him yet kept the Law and thereby were iustified before God and because the Scriptures which they pretend to alledge to colour their deceits doth so plentifully declare vnto vs a Christ therefore they say This is the Christ for you must not imagine that they say that any man can be saued without Christ yet they intend nothing lesse in that saying then that any are saued through the purchase of the Blood of that man Christ apprehended by Faith for that they count an idle Fiction their euill Consciences know we wrong them not herein for we relate no more then what some of them haue vttered in which we haue vsed much meanes to procure their reuocation of that their cursed conceit that so we might not be constrained to publish it but they waxe worse and worse euery day in their delusions Now to shew how they peruert this Scripture to their destruction let it be well obserued what th'Apostle aymeth at in this place Paul being the messenger of the ioyfull tidings of Christ to the Gentiles Rom. 1. cap. in the former Chap. plainely conuinceth all the Gentiles to be vnder the wrath of God that by not making right vse of that knowledge which God afforded them by the inuisiblenes of his eternall power and Godhead manifested and shewed vnto them by the wonderfull Creation of the world which was sufficient to make them without excuse Psalm 19. in that the Heauens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament shew the workes of his hands Day vnto day vtter the same and Night vnto Night teach they knowledge there is no speach nor Language where their voyce is not heard The Gentiles we say knowing God by these his wonders yet glorified him not as God neither were thankefull but became vaine in their Imaginations and their foolish heart was full of darknes when they professed themselues to be wise they became fooles for they turned the Glory of the incorruptible God into seuerall Idols wherefore God gaue them vp to their owne hearts lusts c. they turning the truth of God vnto a lye worshipping and seruing the creature aboue the Creator and so not regarding to know God further by that meanes they had God deliuered them vp to a reprobate mind c. Th' Apostle hauing now conuinced the Gentiles prouing them to be vnder the wrath of God he concludeth O man whosoeuer thou art thou art inexcusable Cap. 2.1 euen as well Gentiles as Iewes and Iewes as Gentiles which also in the 2. Chap. he goeth about to proue For his feruent desire of the saluatiō of the Iewes maketh him to declare the estate of the Iewes to be as bad or worse then the Gentiles that they might see it be humbled and flye vnto Iesus Christ for although Circumcision in it time was profitable if they kept the Law yet if they transgressed the Law their Circumcision was counted as no circumcision And the vncircumcision saith th'Apostle if they keepe the Law shall not their vncircumcision bee counted for Circumcision Vers 26 This was the glory of the Iew that he was called a Iew rested in the Law gloried in God knew his will c. This the Apostle seeketh to bring downe by shewing them that they that taught others should haue taught themselues saying Vers 23 Thou that gloriest in the Law through breaking the Law dishonorest thou God For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as is written c. Hauing now also conuinced the Iew comparing the estate of the Iew and Gentile together both which had the Law th' one in the hart the Letter th' other in the heart but not in the Letter he affirmeth that the Gentiles did those things by nature which the Iewes did not obserue by the Letter whereby they were more excusable then the Iew being only a comparatiue speach which is very vsuall * Ioh. 6.27 Ioh. 3.32 Luk. 14.26 1. Ioh. 2.15 in the Scriptures not that either of them were iustified before God for by nature or Flesh it is not possible to keep the Law because it is weake by the works of the Law none can be iustified in his sight The Apostle hauing thus done demandeth this question What then are wee Iewes more excellent Rom. 3.9 No in no wise for wee haue already proued that all both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne as it is written There is none righteous no not one Vers 19 c. Now we knowe that whatsoeuer the Law saith it saith it to them that are vnder the Law that euery mouth may be stopped and all the world bee culpable before God Vers 20 Therefore by the workes of the Law no Flesh shall be iustified in his fight But now is the Iustice of God made manifest without the Law hauing the witnes of the Law and of the Prophets to wit Vers 21 the Iustice of God by the Faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vpon all that beleeue For there is no difference Vers 23 for all haue sinned and are depriued of the glory of God and are iustified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Iesus c. And that he might bee a Iustifier of him that is of the Faith of Iesus Vers 26 Therfore saith the Apostle Wee conclude Vers 28 that a man is iustified by Faith without the workes of the Law wee doe not make the Law of none effect through Faith Vers 31 wee establish the Law For is the Law against the Promise of God God forbid Gal. 3.21 For if there had beene a Law giuen which could haue giuen Life righteousnes had beene by the Law Vers 22 But the Scripture hath concluded all vnder sinne that the promise by the Faith of Iesus Christ should be giuen to them that Beleeue Gal. 3.26 c. All are the sonnes of God by Faith in Christ Iesus there is neither Iew nor Grecian bond nor free male nor female but all are one in Christ Iesus Whosoeuer is iustified by the Law Christ shall profit them nothing If men for want of loue of the Truth were not giuen vp by God to strange delusions of the Deuill they would acknowledge their horrible error herein giue glory to God submit to his truth and confesse that this in the Gentiles Rom. 2. is Law not Faith Nature not Grace They say these were iustified before God by keeping the Law but you see how plainely God contradicteth it Gods Iustice is manifest without the Law and the Law cannot giue Life These Spirits say They did that by Nature which made them iust with God when as God saith Nature maketh vs the Children of wrath Ephes 2.3 because it cannot keepe the
Hee did no sinne neither was guile found in his mouth hee was that iust one Cap. 3.18 who appeared to take away our sinnes and in him is no sinne That he suffered for the sinnes of others although what is said be proofe sufficient yet if any thing might bee accounted plaine with these wofull men manifold testimonies might be added Esa 53.5.6 you see Christ appeared to take away our sinnes hee was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes are wee healed Vers 12 and the Lord laide vpon him the iniquity of vs all hee powred out his soule vnto the Death hee bare the sinnes of many and payed for the trespassers hee dyed for the vngodly Rom. 5.6.8.9.10 for Sinners his Blood iustifies others his Death reconciled vs when wee were his enemies hee was giuen to Death for vs for our Sinnes Rom. 8.32 2 Cor. 5.15 Gal. 3.13 4.5 1. Pet. 2.21.24 hee dyed for all that were Dead Christ redeemed vs from the Curse of the Law by his suffering euen the cursed Death of the Crosse that he might Redeeme them that were vnder the Law who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his Body on the Tree 1. Pet. 3.18 4.1 1. Tim. 2.6 1. Ioh. 2.2 c. Christ the Iust suffered for the vniust and he hath suffered for vs in the Flesh hee gaue himselfe a Ransome for all men and hee is the reconciliation for the Sinnes of the whole world Secondly it is manifest that none can haue saluation but by Faith in those Sufferings of that man CHRIST IESVS Mar. 16.16 Hee that beleeneth and is Baptized shall be faued as many as receiues him to them Ioh. 1.12 hee gaue power to bee the sonnes of God euen as many as beleeue in his Name Ioh. 3.16 And whosoeuer Beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting Life hee that beleeueth not is Condemned already Vers 18 Be it knowne vnto you men and Brethren that through this man is Preached vnto you forgiuenes of Sinnes and from all thinges from the which yee could not be iustified by the Law of Moses Act. 13.38.39 by him euery one that Beleeueth is iustified The righteousnes of God is manifest vnto all and vpon all that Beleeue Rom. 3.22 And Abraham the Father of the Faithfull he beleeued and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnes Rom. 4.24 And to vs also shall it bee imputed for Iustice which beleeue and the Iust shall liue by Faith Gal. 3.11 And wee are the sonnes of God by Faith in Christ Iesus Vers 26 What shall we need to alledge more testimonies who will not wonder that any mortall man professing the Scriptures should dare to set his face against God in these his euident testimonies when God saith The iust shall liue by Faith in his Sonne Christ Iesus who dare say this is a fable to seeke Iustice in another then in our selues and that by the Law men may bee justified before God as after it shall appeare they doe From all which testimonies we confidently affirme that neuer any Sinner was saued but by Faith in Christ either beleeuing him to come by the Promise of God to pay the ransome for mans sinne Or that he is come to performe the same For they that were saued before his Comming did beleeue in him according to the promise of the Father but after he is come all must beleeue as himselfe saith That I am hee Ioh. 8 24. or else they shall dye in their sinnes All which is so euident that it may be maruailed at that the Deuill should so besot men with blindnes as that they should contradict so euident a Truth and the rather because in wordes they acknowledge the Scriptures and in their Writings plentifully quote them but indeed it is certaine it is but to blinde the eyes of the simple For as the Master saith Therefore it is assuredly all false and lyes H.N. Dialog cap. 16. sect 16. seducing and deceitfull what the vngodded or vnilluminate men out of the Imagination of their knowledge and out of the learnednes of the Scriptures bring forth institute Preach or teach They Preach indeed the Letter but not the worde of the liuing God Let them esteeme themselues as holy as they will they are all a false Christianity and a deuillish Synagogue or Schoole So say his Disciples That wee out of the Family of Loue vnderstand not one word in all the vniuersall Bible and that wee are in the way of infernall darknesse So that pretend what they will they reiect all Scripture further then may stand with H. N. and his fellow Elders in the Family of Loue. For thus further they write They ought to beware that that they distrust not the Eldest in the Family of Loue H. N. in 1. exhor cap. 13 Diuis 11. fol. 31. nor suspect any manner of euill or vnwisedome by him nor yet in any wise perswade themselues that the Exercises documents or Instructions which are taught or set forth before them by the Father of the Family of Loue or oldest Elder are too sleight too childish or too vnwise for them to follow after or to obay but with perfect hearts humbly and singly minded as good willing Children to receiue the same instructions proceeding out of the wisedome and Councell of the Eldest and to stand euen so submitted till they come vnto the manly oldnesse in the Loue. Againe he saith The Scripturely learned man hath no knowledge of Gods matters In the Prophesie cap. 8. hee cannot vnderstand any tittle much lesse interpret or expound the same to others it is giuen onely to the Family of Loue to vnderstand the secrets thereof Againe thus My Children and you Family of Loue giue eare to mee your Father liue according to my Doctrine Jn his 1. exhort cap. 11. sect 1.2 that it may goe well with you take heed to my Doctrine and what I doe set forth and teach that it may bee a Seale of life and a witnes of truth in your hearts for it is your Life And againe thus Let your selues now in all your being nature minde and disposition Crying voyce cap. 3. sect 11 become renued through the loue in her seruice and giue all your vnderstanding captiue vnder the obedience of the Loue. And so teacheth his Children to say O my Father in the Loue 1. Exhor cap. 13. sect 2. I submit my selfe and all my vnderstanding vnder the wisedome of thy Doctrine Let all iudge if these wretches abolish not the Scriptures to set vp their owne deuillish inuentions what shew of the Scriptures soeuer they make But they obiect against this strict Faith in this man Christ and his sufferings Rō 2.14.15 For when the Gentiles which haue not the Law doe by Nature the thinges contained in the Law hauing not the Law are a Law