stumbling and the occasion of it is in them who hates the light and calls it natural which light is Christ for him a witness I am against all such who deny Christ to be the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world who is of the World called Richard Hubberthorn NOw as in answer to thee Frederick Wodall who hath put a stumbling block before the eyes of many by thy lyes and deceit to keep them from receiving the pure truth of God which the Lord is now spreading abroad and making manifest to gather to himself his own from the mouths of all false shepherds that Jesus Christ the true shepherd they may come to witness who is the true light and is not natural as thou wouldsâ— make him to be nor that light in the conscience is not natural which Jesus Christ hath enlightned every one withal but all who in it dwell shall witness against thee and thy malicious spirit who hath uttered forth thy bitterness and venome against those who walk in the light and who witness the truth of God in the life and power of it and against all false accusers In the beginning of thy Epistle to the Reader thy enmity thou utterest forth against those â—ho for the name of Christ do bear his reproach in the world in whom the Scripture is fulfilled which saith they shall speak all manner of evill of you falsly for my name sake and thou art one of them who art speaking evil and encouraging others to speak evil against those whom thou and the rest of the scorners call Quakers and calls them a nest of stinging Wasps and saith that they have leavened a dear brother and sister of thine and made them Prosylites unto them I answ This accusation is returned back again upon thy own head for the poison of asps is found under thy tongue and forth of the venome doth proceed as all who hath understanding may see and discern and those whom thou callest thy dear brother and sister are made able in the light to testifie against thee and thy lie and to witness that they are brought out of the Prosylites condition and out of the leaven of the false Prophets and false teachers which they were in so long as they followed thy doctrine but now that doctrine they do see which doth leaven and draw peoples minds to the light of Christ within them and so makes Prosylites and children of the Devil but in the light of Christ art thou and all that uphold that doctrine seen and denied In the first page of thy paper thou wouldst make people believe that thou makest no defence against my reply to thy answers and yet in the second page thou repliest against mine concerning the tenth Querie and chargest me in reputing thee the author or father of a lie in returning to thee again thy own words in answer to the tenth Querie which words are these It is intolerable that Christ should be the Prince of Peace I answer Let every one that hath a desire to know whether this be so read thy own words in thy printed Paper in thy answer to the tenth Querie in the twelfth page whether these be not thy own words the tenth is intolerable and the rest of thy words which are in answer to that Querie are full of confusion and all wdo reads them may see it so I leave thee to be judged of all and condemned of all who in the light of Christ do see thy confusion which proceeds out of thy own mouth Priest 'T is a priviledge we have cause to bless God for every day viz. that unto us are committed the Oracles of God Answ. Here I charge thee to prove when ever the Oracles of God was committed unto thee or to the Priests of England unto the Jews they were committed which was before Christ came in the flesh and they who had the oracles of God committed unto them did seek to kill and crucifie the Son of God as you the Priests of England who go in the way of Cain and after the error of Balaam do now seek to destroy the Son of God where he is made manifest and the oracles of God were never committed unto you nor the ministration of the Gospel but in the steps of those you are found who ever persecuted the righteous seed of God as you have made it manifest in this generation And again thou art bringing scriptures to prove the letter to be the word of God which Scriptures will witness against thee for the Scripture saith that God is the Word Joh. 1.1 and thou art diminishing from some and adding to others and perverting the Scriptures to thy own ends thou bringst that scripture in Titus 2.10 11 12 13. and these words thou speakest from them this is the grace of God bringing salvation when the Apostle saith For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world and here though thou bringest this scripâ—ure in thy paper yet it thou canst not own that the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared who denies Christ to have enlightened every one that comes into the world Pr. This Word for the manner of delivery unto us is called Scripture and we are commanded to search it Joh. 4.39 and laid under the promise of blessing in that way Psal. 1.2 Answ. Here thou hast numbred thy self amongst those whom Christ commanded to search the Scriptures and amongst them shalt thou be numbred and in that scripture thou mayest read thy condition and the rest of the Priests with thee as Joh. 5.37.38.39 40. ye have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape and ye have not his word abiding in you for whom he hath sent ye believe him not search the scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye might have life now all you who are in the same condition the same command is unto you But there is no promise of blessing promised unto you in that way no more then was to them which was so commanded but never prove your selves Ministers of Christ for they were no Ministers of Christ that this was spoken unto nor Saints but such as received honour one of another as you do who are in that generation And they were such as did not believe that which they did profess Moses and the Prophets but Christ tells them plainly they did not believe Moses nor his writings al you no wthat profess Christ you cannot believe Christs words who saith He is the true light which doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world Therefore out of the doctrine of Christ you are shut and out of the Scriptures which you do profess for the Sons life which witnesseth the Scriptures you
believe they will and see your folly that under his Name whom thou callest Sir Robert Bindlosse under his name and patronage they may appear as a cover to veil their imperfections Therefore R. B. to thee I say Be wise and fear the Lord and run not on in the broad way with such a one who doth confess in his answer to the first query that he doth not attain the same knowledge and understanding of the Gospel as the Apostles attained Therefore thou R. Sherlock thy knowledge is brutish and thy understanding sottish as the Scripture saith for none knows the Apostles condition and knowledge but with the same understanding and in this thou deniest it and thou art in another knowledge and understanding and art in another doctrine and the true Gospel thou dost not know and thou art to be held accursed as the Scripture saith Gal. 1. And so here thou hast given satisfaction to many that stood in doubt though to all the children of light thou wast known and all things shall work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8. therefore R.B. take heed what thou sets forth under thy Name and Fathers for if thou see a thief and consent with him thou art guilty And R. Sherlock the Queries that were sent to thee thou callest them scrupulous and the Letter which was sent to thee as a Libel Why dost thou slander the innocent and simplicity but of thy generation we look for no other whose mouth is ful of slanders Thou slanderer in thy Epistle to the Lady thou slanderest privily under a colour who flatters her where thou art telling her of love stirs her up to envy as in p. 46. and incensing her and wouldst stir her up against them whom thou callest Quakers so thou might'st have as well have incensed her against Moses who was a Judge over all Israel quaked and David who was a King quaked so all that are vertuous will own us who deny opinions for them we deny and there thou art who livest in opinions and as thou speakest of some to strike at the root of many infections and errors which are overspread amongst you the Lord Jesus Christ hath raised up a Light in his children that they are striking at your root and laying open the deceits and bringing forth his own Work to his own praise And thou sayest All men do worship God and Christ with one heart and one mouth and after one manner is not onely decryed but also dismist our congregations and since the pale of Ecclesiastical Discipline is pulled down by whose coercive Laws all men were kept within the limit of the true Faith Here I charge thee to be a lyar Was the true Faith and the Worship of God maintained by an outward Law Thou Traytor have they pluckt down the true Faith and the Woship of God or your old Ceremonies Thou seducer how art thou tormented by that which hath pluckt down the traditions Tremble for the hand and sword of the Lord is against thee as it was against them thou dissembler and envious one the Law was not made for the Church which is the pillar and ground of truth which worships God in the spirit but for such envious persons as thou art who hast cleared thy Church Worship here from the true Church and Worship of God to the view of all honest hearts and thou art tormented because the freedom is given for the liberty of tender consciences to worship God his own way even in spirit and in truth as in John 4.23 24 And thou sayest Since under the name and priviledge of liberty of conscience licentiousness of opinion hath got footing And this thou seems to father upon the Magistrates We who are in the Light of Christ Jesus which doth exercise our consciences towards God and man all opinionâ— licentiousness we deny therefore thy mouth must be stopt O slâ—nderer which soweth dissention for since the Lord hath opened the Magistrates understanding with the Light of Christ in them the same light doth give freedom to the light in others consciences which worketh into tenderness of conscience teacheth to exercise a good conscience towards God man such Magistrates do not make a Law over the consciences of men which thou seducer brutish fellow wouldst have a law upon but the law is against such as thou art and so thou hast shewed thy self to be in the frantick state heresie which thou talks on and many such speeches as thou hast in thy Epistle to Sir R. Bindloss as thou callest him And whereas thou speakest of your church and hope your hope will perish your church and all who are in the Light will be ashamed of your church And thou art he who art of the Devil who dost promote lies and untruths which is of thy Father the Devil Joh. 8.4 but God is coming with his mighty power to chain thee up thy Father the Devil the old Dragon who is the Father of lyes and thou art one of his servants who blindeth the understandings of the people who are in the unbelief and seeks to poison their affections with vanities and lying slanders And in thy conclusion thou wouldst not have him to perish with the blind and giddy but if he follow such as thou art he doth follow both and in the ditch both will perish together And thou speaks to him of walking in the paths of the just and righteous and such thou privily slanderest and their way hatest thou who walkest in the steps of the wicked and with those that forget God and thou must be cut down with the sword of the Almighty God To that in thy Conscience I speak when thou art in the terror remember me for that in thy conscience wil condemn thee and witness me And Friend to the light in thy conscience I speak under whose Name this Book goes there is thy Teacher if thou lovest it which is the Light of Christ if thou lovest it it will teach thee as thou goesâ— up and down and shew thee the way of the just for it is just it will condemn thee if thou hate it And when the Book of Conscience is opened thou shalt witness what I speak that it's truth to thy soul. Pr. And whereas thou sayest You do neither pretend to any such sublime and eminent gifts neither do you nor ought you to depend upon any such immediate revelation but do use such means and helps which God in all ages hath afforded to people viz. by study and industry in the Schools of the Prophets Schools thou sayest they had at Bethel 2 King 1 3 5. And Elisha 's Colledge was so full that they enlarged it 2 King 6.1 1 Sam. 14 20. and upon the Hill of God 2 Sam 10.5 10. Rep. Here let all these Scriptures witness against thee that thou art no true Prophet no Minister of Christ who witnessed the end of the Prophets and were all taught of God which
sound of Christ as a light hath never been heard where sin and iniquity is discovered but that which hath brought forth these things may well be called an untimely birth which ntver saw the Sun not never knew the light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall which cometh into the world for a little of this fruit doth manifest that tree from whence it springs so we shall judge the tree by it's fruits Another fruit from this tree is to give his testimony of the Law of Faith which is this How far the Law of Faith may be said to be written upon every mans heart is not given unto me to understand only this glimpse I have of it That it appears to have had an influence upon the heart of man by those sacrifices which were offered up to God before the publication of the positive Law wherein as well Cain as Abel offered sacrifices Gen. 4.4 Answ. This testimony doth not proced from the word of Faith in thy heart for that would give an understanding how the Law of Faith is written in the heart as well as how the Law of Works is written and this thy glimpse which thou sayes thou sees from the proposing of the promise and the influence which thou sayes thou seest upon the heart of man by the Sacrifices of Cain as wel as Abel offered unto God if this thy pretended light and glimpse which is so far of Christ be truly weighed and tryed it may prove but a vain vision and a divination of thy own heart as all who consider thy testimony of the Law of Faith in saying that the discovery thereof ariseth from what is without and that it had never been known nor never thought of nor never would it or could it rationally have come into the heart of man to have conceived such a thing but from the declaration of God in his promise Here it doth appear Faith is a mysterie to thee and thy eye hath not seen it nor the ear heard neither hath it entered into thy heart to conceive Faith in the working and operation of it And in that thou sayest well that it was not given thee to understand how it is written upon every man's heart and thou had done well if thou had not stretched thy self beyond the line of thy knowledge and understanding for thou thy self confessest that unto those first believers Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Moses David Daniel and the rest there was communicated unto them a Spirit of Faith and a Light sutable and proportionable whereby they were enabled to behold Christ who was the object of their Faith Then if it did arise from the Spirit of Faith within them the Light of Christ who was the Author of their Faith it did not arise from the Declaration of God in the promise without so that the mysterie of Faith vvhich is held in a pure conscience is yet to be learned vvhich vvas vvitnessed amongst the Saints So vvhen thou vvrites again of the Lavv of Works or the Lavv of Faith or the discovery vvhich the Lord maketh to his creature under the diversity of these administrations keep back to the measure of the gift of God and then vvil thy testimony be no larger then thy knowledge vvhich is a guilt hath spread over many in these days but this I say Blessed is the man which doth not condemn himself in the thing vvhich he allovveth and vvhich doth not destroy himself vvith the breath of his ovvn mouth but there is a generation which their own breath as fire shall devour them Again concerning the Light which every man is enlightened withal which is thy stumbling-block and rock of offence as it is unto all the rest whose deeds are evil Thou saist God hath not annointed it to that Work nor laid the weight of eternal salvation upon the shoulders thereof it being too weak for that service Answ. Him hath God annointed who is the Light of the World and hath enlightened every man that cometh into the World and there is no work of eternal salvation wrought but in the Light which every man is enlightened withal and this Light is of him and from him which bears the sins in his own body and is not too weak for that service which the Father hath given him to do and this Light is Christ. And whereas some say Hath every man Christ Every man hath Christ to save or to condemn him Christ is as truly the condemnation of those whose deeds are evil as he is the Saviour of them that believe and as those that believe in the Light are already saved by Christ so also those that believe not in his Light which he hath enlightned them withall are already condemned And so Christ is near unto every one to answer every mans work according to the nature of it whether he serve sin unto death or be found in the obedience of truth unto eternal life for now is the day appeared to try every mans Work of what sort it is and now are many offended because the Light is broken forth and their eye is evil because the Lords is good But wo unto the World because of offences if any have the Spirit of a King let him search out the cause of the offence which is now broken forth amongst the children of men that the enmity which is in all sorts of people of all professions should rise up together and become a body the wicked joâ—ning hand in hand preaching and printing and crying for unity which they are making up of enmity that they may be strong against that which the Lord hath now brought forth in his Light and Power to be Witnesses unto him in every place wheresoever he doth call them witnessing forth his Mercy and Truth by which iniquity is purged out and preaching the Gospel to every creature whereby they may come to the knowledge of the truth that they may be saved But in the World it is so come to pass in these days that he that can but give reviling terms and hard speeches against the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall calling it natural or insufficient and if they do but revile those whom they call Quakers and put this in the beginning of his Book then it passeth with toleration and hath as good approbation from the World as any of the Priests have for their Ministry but if any man begin to speak of the Light within and the Annointing within and the Word of Faith in the heart and of the Mystery of Faith in a pure conscience and of the sprinkling of the heart from an evil conscience and of believing in the Light as Christ said such a one speaking of these things and not directing his speech in open reproach against them called Quakers the peoples hearts will be fiâ—led with jealousies lest he be one So that even the Light is become a reproach unto them and their derision daily but the Lords hand is
fruit and when they had gathered a Flock might eat of the Milk when they had sown spiritual things amongst a people they had power to eat and power to drink and so it was ordained that they who preached the Gospel should live of the Gospel but it was not ordained that those who preached the Gospel should live by forced maintenance or by making merchandize of mens Goods Estates of which the Priests in England for which thou writest this defence are guilty Again thou goest about to defend the Priests sprinkling of Infants saying It is a sign or seal of salvation page 64. Ans. If this be true that all children thus sprinkled with water have the seal of salvation by the resurrection of Jesus Christ and are by this baptism made partakers of Grace and united into the Church as Members of the Church why do you say both Priests Professors that there is no falling fâ—om grace Have not many been so engrafted into the Church received that seal whom you now call Hereticks and Deceivers Why do you so confound one principle with another For we have been already so engrafted into the visible Church and made partakers of that Grace which you say it 's impossible to fall from And thou bring'st Calvins words which saith That although there be but a little water cast upon our heads yet notwithstanding it is not a vain figure for the Heavens are opened upon us and God speaks in it as it were from Heaven and Christ is there present with his blood as Witnesses of the usage and operation of the Sacrament and saith Baptism is a token and proof of our cleansing or a seal and character whereby God confirmeth unto us that all our sins are cancelled and abolished and that they may never be rehearsed nor imputed So then by this he that hath a little water cast on his head he hears God speak in it Christ being present with his blood washes away all sin and this is a proof of his cleansing So why dost thou and the Priests speak and write against us as being fallen from Grace and departed from the Truth seeing we have received as wel as you the seal of the Covenant and proof of clâ—ansing and cannnot faâ—l from it if your doctrine be true But as for sprinkling Infants thou hast not brought one Scripture to prove it but saist Baxter against Tombs hath proved it and quotest Calvin and Beza as if their words were plainer proof for thy purpose than any Scripture for there is no Scripture without invented consequences that is a precept for it and when thou hast wearied thy self canst not prove it thou saist whatsoever may be proved from the Scripture by consequence to be the scope and meaning of the Scripture is sufficient proof p. 73. Again thou askest us a question To shew thee one command or example in the Scripture for the baptizing of those that are grown up whose Parents one or both were Christians by professing the Gospel of Christ. Ans. If thou knew the Scriptures or didst weigh thy own words it would stop thee from asking such foolish and unlearned Questions for thou self thy confessest that those which were grown up were baptized and that they had also received the holy Ghost before they were baptized and as for them or their Parents being called Christians by their profession many believers were baptized and followed Christ before the Name Christian was given to them as thou maist read Acts 11.26 that after much people was gathered and so became Churches they were first called Christians at Antioch so whatsoever their Parents were called by profession that is nothing to that which thou art about to prove sprinkling of Infants But to conclude thy proof for Infants Baptism thou quotest Rob. Brook who thou saist hath read more Ecclesiastical Histories to find out the rise and beginning of the baptism of Infants in the Church of Christ then all the Quakers and yet he could never find the beginning of it So here all this while thou hast pleaded for that which thou knowest not who was the first Author of and so thou hast run out thy self into meer ignorance but that thou maist be informed and made wiser then thy Teachers and thy learned Readers of Ecclesiastical Histories I shall shew thee the beginning of that Baptism and who first invented holy Water In the reign of Pope Alexander was holy Water first invented Water mixed with Salt and by the saying of these words We bless water mixed with Salt among the People that all men sprinkled therewith may be sanctified and purified and this we command all Priests to do as Pliny writeth And herby thou mayest know the first Father or Inventer of this your practice the Pope and not the Apostles so when thou writes again do not so undervalue all the Quakers as thou hast done in this thy Book as to say that they dare not read Latine Books nor have read Histories and thou saist we count it a sin for Ministers to learn Latine but these are but false aspersions for we do not account it sin to learn Latine Greek or Hebrew neither are we afraid to read them but we do so far read and know them that we have found out the Priests deceit by pretending that of the Tongues which they had not and though you preach and practice that which you know not where it had its beginning yet vve knovv hovv deceit came in and how it hath overspread you with darkness and ignorance and because you see not therefore you judge us to be blind but the Light of knowledge is arisen in which we see before the Pope his holy Water mingled with Salt or sprinkling Infants was and see the beginning and end of those dark inventions and our Doctrine and Principles tend to the bringing of people to know a true living Foundation for all their practices and that the darkness of Popery and traditions of men may not always keep people in blindness to practice the Popes inventions instead of the Apostles and Christ's Doctrine who by the bright shining of his Light is leading people to his baptism which is by one spirit into one body by fire and by the holy Ghost such can no longer be kept in that which doth not so much as wash away the filth of the flesh but comes to the answer of a good conscience witnesseth the baptism which saveth as the Apostle Peter saith 1 Pet. 3.21 such are come to the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Again to fill up thy book thou hast charged many false things upon us so findst thy self work by enlarging thy lyes one after another As first thou sayest some of us have affirmed that Christ did never arise from the grave and that his body is rotted within the grave and that some of us have made a mock of his Doctrine of Justification by the imputation and the
deceit in Westchester and of his free-will hath given me not only to belâ—eve but to suffer for his Name sake who hath called me out of my own Countrey and from my Father's House and to go in obedience to his command whithersoever he shall call me While I was young I girded my self and went whither I would and then I yeilded obedienâ—e to my own will and to the will of man and was a man-pleaser but the Will of God I knew not neither was obedient to his commands but when the Lord was pleased to reveal his Son in me and make known his Will unto me to enlighten me with his true Light which hath enlightened every one that cometh into the World and by it let me see my self to be a stranger to him and knew him not though I was grown mighty in the Aegyptians Wisdom and was in love with the World and in the favour of men and in a profession and words of man's wisdom exceeded others being in a form of godliness but was ignorant of his Power and his Word but when his Power was made manifest and his Word spoke within me which Word was in my heart and was as a fire or a hammer and this Word being made manifest within me my Conscience being awakened by the Light of God which did convince me of sin and did testifie against all my words and actions and that just judgments of God were revealed from Heaven against that Nature I lived in and the Trumpet of the Lord was sounded within me and the Earth did tremble and the Viâ—ls of the wrath of the Almighty were poured down upon me and the powers of the Earth were terribly shaken the foundation of Wisdom and Earthly Knowledge was shaken and the Judgements of God were upon the outward man and my flesh was wasted off my bones and the bones smote one against another and I knew the Lord to be terrible and this Word powerful in burning up and hammering down the lustful nature I lived in in pleasure and wantonness in pride and fulness which the Word of the Lord was declared against and this Word I witness spoken from the Lord 's own power within me which made my flesh and bones to tremble exceedingly and did cause pain in all my loyns and paleness of face my comeliness was turned into corruption and my joy into lamentation and I was brought to the bed of sorrows where I cryed out in the bitterness of my spirit and I had no ease nor rest day nor night for the hearing of the ear which I did hear and the sight of mine eyes which I did see I heard the sound of the Trumpet the Alarum of War within me terrors wo misery and destruction was upon me in my trouble I cryed in the evening Would God it were morning and in the morning Would God it were evening and the terrors of the Almighty being upon me my acquaintance and familiars stood a far off me for they knew not the power of the Lord nor the Judgements of my God which I do witness to be revealed and made manifest in me and the Lord raised up in me a love to his Word by which all the powers of the Earth did tremble and the Earth it self was shaken by it and by this Word was I called to go and declare it as I had received it from the Lord to those who lived in the same Heathenish nature without the knowledge of God and to declare the Judgements of God against sin and ungodliness as they were made manifest in me And by this Word was I called to forsake Father and Mother Lands and Living to go in obedience to the Lord who commanded me not to take thought what I should eat or what I should drink or wherewith I should be cloathed but cast my care upon him And this I witness the Lord's care and those whom the Lord calls into his Work and who labour in his Vinyard need not complain to the World for want And for yeilding obedience to the Lord and his commands and not giving obedience to the corrupt Will of man who commands me contrary to what the Lord hath commanded do I suffer under the persecution of those who are set in the place of Rulers and Magistrates professing themselves to be Ministers of the Law of England and to act Justice according to that Law and do bear the Names of Major Justices of Peace and Magistrates and say they act according to the Law of the Nation and present Government but they are seen to be in the generation of those who were ever persecutors of the righteous Seed where-ever it is brought forth and the Servants of the Lord in all ages were ever persecuted by that generation professing to be Ministers of Justice But that which is acted is cruelty persecution and injustice and the righteous suffer whom the Law was not made for but for the lawless and disobedient and was added because of transgression The righteous Law af God was to be inflicted upon transgressors breakers of the Law but the unrighteous Law of men is inflicted upon the righteous who walk blameless and are proved no transgressors but in obedience to the Lord do witness a good conversation towards God and towards men our consciences bearing us witness in the sight of God And those who are Rulers of the City and Rulers of the Synagogue under whom I suffer imprisonment say this is their Law That if I will home into my own Countrey aâ—â— to my Father's House and stay there and depart this City I may be free upon this account else I shall remain in prison And this is contrary to the command of the Lord for he hath commanded me out of my own Countrey and from my Fathers house but my own Countrey dwelling and Fathers house the World knows not that which I am called from they know the natural man knows that which is natural And this is contrary to the Law of the Nation for the Law of the Nation doth not confine any to stay at one place nor to be kept from any one City being proved no transgressors nor breakers of the Law But I seek a Country and City whose Builder and Maker is God and truly if I had been â—â—â—dful of the Country I came forth and did love the pleasures delights and flesh-pots of Egypt which I am called from I might have had opportunity to have returned thither but in obedience to the Lord I had rather suffer affliction with the people of God then enjoy the pleasures of Egypt And you who say I have no lawful calling I do witness the same Word of God the true prophets of the Lord were commanded by to declare against all sin and ungodliness by the same Word do I declare against it where I am commanded of the Lord and am called out of the same calling that they were into the same Work of the Lord that they were and so I do
thee withall to guide thy mind into the fear of God to the Light of Christ in thy conscience I speak which if thou hearken unto it it will lead thee out of pride and lust and envy and will bring condemnation upon that nature thou hast lived and acted in that is out of the fear of God and hearkening to this Light in thy conscience it will direct thy mind to God and draw thy mind and affections out of earthly things and the pollutions of the world by which thou art defiled thy mind and conscience is defiled by lust and unâ—leanness lusting after earthly things and the flesh is defiled by that mind â—hat wallows in the Earth Now minding the Light in thy conscience Christ hath enlightned thee withall thy understanding will come to be enâ—ightned to see the deceipts and the blind Guides which have led thee â—rom this Light in thy Conscience which should exercise it and lead thee â—o go to fear him and to be taught of him and will lead thee from the â—eachings of man which keeps thee in thy sins and draws thee from this Light in thy Conscience which convinceth thee of sin and lets thee see sin â—nd evil and all ungodliness and will bring thee to deny it and lead thee 〈◊〉 repentance and so thou wilt come to know Jesus Christ which gives â—epentance and remission of sins and then thou wilt deny Priest Sherlock â—nd all that generation of Priests who saith in thâ— 32. page of his Book â—hat Christ was a person not capable of Faith and Repentance And here I â—o charge him in the presence of the living God to be a lyar for he is â—he author and finisher of faith and he preached repentance and gives repentance to his people And he denies the knowledge and understanding the Apostles had and yet saith he preaches the same Gospel pag. 10. And saith That external Tongues Arts and Sciences gives them to understand the meaning of the Gospel p. 11. And saith That the spirit causeth fleshly fruits p. 22. and saith That to understand the Doctrine of God they must use the light of distinctions p. 54. and saith That Religion is the Art of Arts p 86. And saith That Prayer in all the parts and species thereof is a means to fetch down the holy spirit of God p. 144. When as the Saints said the Spirit taught them to pray and that they prayed with the spirit and with understanding Now to the Light in your consciences I speak which will let you see these lying Priests and blind guides which have deceived you so long and kept you blind and ignorant So all people cease from them and wait upon the Lord for teaching A lover of the Truth and a witness against the deceit and deceivers and a lover of the souls of all people and that righteousness might be established was I moved tâ— write this Richard Hubberthorn Quest. 1. WHether your Gospel be the same which the Apostles preached And if it be why go you to Oxford and Cambridge when the Apostle saith the Gospel that he preached was not after man neither was he taught it by man Pr. Thy answer is You preach the same Gospel the Apostles preached but do not attain the knowledge and understanding of this Gospel by the same means Rep. Here let all people see what wooden stuff this is How can you preach the same Gospel and have not the same knoâ—ledge and understanding If it be not by the sâ—â—e knowledge and understanding it is not the same Gospel for the spirit oâ— understanding is but one and from this Spirit of underâ—tanding thou hast cleared thy self Pr. And thou sayest You ought not to depend upon any such immâ—diate Revelations from Heaven as the Apostles had Rep. Here again thou hast cleared thy self from the Spirit thâ—â— gave forth the Scriptures who deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven And here thou hast denied thy self to be anâ— Minister of Jesus Christ for no man knows the Son but the Father and he to whom he is revealed And thou that deniest immediate revelation thou hast denied the Son of God and hast shewed that thou hast not life for he that hath not the Son of God hath not life And therefore we deny such Schools as Oxford and Cambridge where the rudiments of the world are invented And abundance of filthy words are in the Answer to this Query that are not worth mentioning Qu. 2. Whether you can give another meaning to the Scriptures than they are Or whether the Apostles did give the meaning to them when they spoke them forth yea or nay And if they did what need learned men give the meaning of them Pr. And in thy answer thou sayest The sence and meaning of the Scripture is involved in it Rep. Here thou wouldest make people believe Christ were in the Letter who is the substance that gave it forth and was in them that spoke it forth for the Scripture doth declare another thing of God and Christ it doth not declare God and Christ is in the Letter but here it is that fools might appear blind and such as thou sayest learned men must give the meaning to the Scripture Pr. And thou sayest That Christ took a Text and that Philip took a Text. Rep. O thou enemy and slanderer of Christ and the Apostle Did they take Texts to get money with them and to lie a quarter of a year or half a year in a Text Christ came to fulfil the Scripture and the Apostle shewed how Christ fulfilled the Scripture and came to fulfil that which the Prophet spoke The Scribes and Pharisees were learned men and they could not open the Scriptures Peter an unlearned man he opened the Scriptures Pr. And thou speakest of standing up in a Pulpit of wood Rep. In the time of the Law when they read it there was a Pulpit of wood to a particular people to whom the Law was given but Christ said Go preach the Gospel to every creature And Christ cryed wo against them that had the chiefest place in the Assemblies And here thou art one of them that would be under the Law and would have a Pulpit of wood and pleadest for thy learning that the Scribes and Pharisees were in which is to no purpose who saith the kernel of the Nut is in the shell and that comparison thou bringest to make people believe that the Life is in the Sâ—riptures and so the poor people are groping in the Letter to find life there when the life was in them that gave it forth Pr. Thou speakest of flying to God by prayer Rep. Yet thou deniest the Revelation from Heaven which the Saints were to wait for the Revelation of Jesus from Heaven and this makes all you blind guides to stumble because you have not the life which gave forth the Scripture which now is made manifest to the children of God Qu. 3. Shew me by the Scriptures who ever was made a Minister of
God to be a lyar for the word was in the beginning before any tongue was and your Hebrew and Greek is natural and the natural man knows not the things of God and the world by wisdom knows not God Pilate was a worldly man and he had this original and the wisdome of the world and there thou art and there the curse is upon thee so here thou preachest another original then the Apostles did they preached Christ the fountain and thou preachest Hebrew and Greek that is thy original and thy father Pilate had that original which crucified Christ and set it over him and the scripture came not by the will of man Therefore it is not the knowing of it by Hebrew and Greek but by the spirit that gave it forth therefore all people take warning and cease from such deceivers and take heed to the light in your conscience which is the light of Christ to guide your minds up to God the Father of light and be not deceived nor wander not up and down after such who know not the truth but put Hebrew and Greek for the original which Pilate had which crucified Christ Jesus as you may read in Luke 23. All people may see thou art brought no further yet then thy father Pilate so all thy prayers we deny for there is nothing of truth born up in thy understanding who art led with a seducing spirit into delusions who saist the spiriâ— of life stirs up the flesh to bring forth fruits and thou that art in the flesh canst not please God And there thy spirit is tryed to be the spirit of error And a great deal of such stuff thou hast in thy answers to the queries which is not worth mentioning And this thou hast written to publish thy self that them that have a love to Christ their hearts may be turned from thee to God to see how thou hast uttered forth thy solly though with many fair glosses thou and such as thou art deceive the simple But all who are in the light do see thee and comprehend thee Something in Reply to the Epistle thou wrotest to the Lady BINDLOSSE TO her thou speakest of the doctrine and spirit and the holy Ghost Here I charge thee to be a lyar who knows nothing of them who deniest immediate revelation for thou who deniest that deniest the Father and the Son as in Matth. 11.27 Wherein goest thou about to exhort others who art in the condition thy self but art as Martha that would be serving If she do but take heed to the light which Christ hath enlightened her withall she will quickly see thy folly for the light which Christ hath enlightened her withall shall be her condemnation if she hate it and if she love it it will guide her into the way of righteousness up to Christ And there O woman is thy teacher and his condemnation And the Work which is brought forth in the North doth tâ—rment thee R. Sherlock and such as the Lord doth move to exhort or to speak such thou slanderest and dost accuse as tempting for thy slanders and reproaches the wo wil turn upon thee from God who is the Justifier of his children and with such Priests as thou art the righteous seed was ever hated as you may read throught the Scriptures If she that thou callest a Lady be grounded upon thy doctrine be a member with thee of thy body let her read thy answers to the queries the replies to them to the light in her I speak which is of Christ which will witness me and let her see thee and if her mind be guided by it it will condemn all her former practises of worship and let her see thy delusions And again thou art flattering the Lady and tells her of a discourse of the Spirit and these are thy unsavoury words who art discoursing of the Spirit but deniest it for thou that deniest immediate Revelation denies the Spirit In the Corinthians the Apostle said things were revealed to him by the spirit and all thy doctrines to be denied and all that thou speakest and thou art seen to be one of the evil beasts and slow-bellies whose mouth must be stopt And what dost thou tell her of growing up in the knowledge of God and stop the way for her to pass who deniest immediate revelation which the Apostle exhorted to And the Saints were to have the loins of their minds girded up as in 1 Pet. 1.13 And what hast thou to do to talk of Heaven or happiness who art a Beast in thy colours And so this is the intent that I have written this Reply to the Epistle which thou wrote to her thou callest Lady that she might with the Light of Christ in her see thy folly for to that I speak which is the Light of Christ which if she hate it it will be her eternal condemnation Something in Reply to thy Introduction Pr. NO age hath brought forth more pretenders to the Spirit of God than this wherein we live Rep. Let all people take notice if thou be not he that pretends the Spirit who hath not the same understanding and knowledge that the Apostles had and there thou art in the pretence who art blind and thy worship as thou callest it is thou dost not know what worse than it was at Samaria who art in the pride of heart And as thou sayest the Devil hath sown his crop and reapt his harvest and there thou art one of his servants sowing his seed and amongst the delusions as thou calst them for that is in thy generation which comes out of thy own bottle which now flows out what is within issues forth this is thy own condition who seducest the people The fire is kindling and the tares are burning which makes you wicked ones to cry out And so all Impostors and Blasphemers are in thy generation and you are ignorantly worshipping and your gross Idolatry which thou speakest of is your own and thou art a Murderer and understandest not what thou speakest of them and God thou knowest not who deniest immediate revelation from Heaven but onely what thou knowest thou knowest naturally as a bruit Beast which Jude speaks of And a great deal of stuff thou hast in this Introduction which is not worth mentioning If the Reader doth but read with a single eye he may see all thy confused stuff which is not worth naming And a great deal of stuff thou hast written in discourse of the Spirit and the Holy Ghost which thou knowest not what thou speakest of and of the Trinity which there is no Scripture for A Reply to an Epistle that thou wrotest to him whom thou callest Sir Robert Bindlosse THe Queries being sent to his house from Rich. Hubberthorn being his desire that they should be made publike and we do praise the Lord that deceit is brought to light And thou saist Perhaps some satisfaction might be given to those seduced wavering souls amongst you Truly I do
Son of God and immediate miraculous revelation and sayest there is no need of any such qualifications now therefore doth all your Teachers shew forth your railing and slanders but these things we wave for God will give you you lyars your portion who hath not the same knowledge and understanding that the Apostles had and here thou hast shamed thy mother that is adulterated from the Apostles life Pr. Our gifts are from the spirit of God though studied for with these means that are outward and moral c. Rep. Here I charge thee to be a Lyar in the presence of God the gift of God is a free gift it is not studyed for nor is it gotten by moral means and if it were studied for and found in outward means then it were not a free gift and here thou hast made it manifest that thou knowest not the gift of God for it is not him that wills nor him that runs but God that shews mercy So thou blasphemer for shame blush Pr. No man can be wise without the spirit of wisdom nor knowing without the spirit of knowledge so no man can pray as he ought without the spirit of prayer p. 71. Rep. In thy answer to the first query thou sayest you do not attain the same koowledge and understanding of the Gospel as the Apostles did then if thou have not the same knowledge and understanding it is all deceit for in thy own words thou sayest you cannot not pray without the spirit knowledge and understanding and thou sayest you do not attain the same knowledge and understanding the Apostles had then thou hast not the same spirit of love to pray withall and thou sayest you cannot pray without the spirit yet thou goes and tells people of a Gospel and hath not the same knowledge and understanding the Apostles had therefore thy knowledge is bruitish Jer. 10.14 Psal. 92.6 Psal â—9 8 Pr. That we may according to the Catholick Faith worship one God in Trinity Rep. For these things which thou tells people of there is no Scripture as Catholick Faith and Trinity and of three persons Pr. The second kind of the holy Spirits impressions on humane souls page 78. Rep. There is no Scripture which speaks of humane souls for the soul thou knows not who art a murtherer with thy Deity stuff who would dit up the way from God but praises be to the living God who hath given his sons and daughters eyes to see thee and all your Deity stuff which you imitate who are whoredomed from God but the Saints of the most high God do sing over it and you halelujah to God who witness their souls redeemed And there is abundance of stuff in that Book which thou calls the discourse of the Spirit which is not worth mentioning and abundance of lyes and slanders but them we pass as knowing the author of lyes from whence they come is for destruction And in page 95 thou speaks of Timothy studying for his gift Did he study for his gift or for the proving of it and dividing of the word aright but he did not study for it for the gift of God is a free-gift And in another place thou speaks of the blessing of God being upon your studies but I say the curse of God is upon your studies who have not the same knowledge and understanding that the Apostles had and so preaches another gospel Pr. And most blasphemously to profess and boast of an equality with God p. 66. Rep. Thy boasting is excluded without in thy generation and thou art excluded from the life and mind of the Apostle who said Let the same mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2.5 6. and this thou calls blasphemy and so thou hast shewed what spirit thou art of contrary to the Apostle Pr. And for our new sect of Enthusiasts had they the spirit of God as they pretend abiding in them and speaking in them c. Rep. All pretences and sects are denyed where the Spirit of God dwells though with thy generation such was ever called so And that is thy own who hath made a discourse of the Spirit and here thou art clearly from them that the Spirit of God spoke in and did abide in them which Spirit of God did descend into their hearts which Spirit God hath given to every one to profit withall and the Spirit of the Father speaketh in you saith Christ Mat. 10.20 take no thought and in many places thou art speaking of a study and blessing a study Here thou art contrary to Christ who saith Take no thought and art of the Devil And here I charge thee to be one of them that Jeremy speaks of who speaks a vain divination of thine own heart Pr. As here Angels are Spirits and the souls of men are Spirits but God is not a Spirit as they are Spirits pag 57. Rep. This is confusion for Christ said God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and there thou art raced out to be without the doctrine of Christ. Pr. 'T is the very ground whereupon this last upstart crew of Quakers build all their resolutions and strange fanatick opinions and heresies even that which they call the light within us whereunto we must only give ear pag. 112. Rep. O thou impudent God will make the an example thou lying spirit Is the Light which Christ hath enlighned every one withall that comes into the world a strange fanatick opinion which one he loves it and the other he hates it and he that hates it it is condemnation Here thou art against Christ and the Apostles for the Apostle did exhort the Saints to take heed unto the light within them untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts O thou Lyar did the Prophet cal the truel light a deceit of the heart or is the light of God a false vision Christ Jesus which doth enlighten every one that comes into the world which is witnessed among the Quakers and he that walks in the Light shall have the Light of Life and thou that hates this light speaks a divination of thy own brain and a lying imagination and with this Light of Christ thou shalt be condemned thou blasphemer who calls the Light of Christ heresie and fanatick opinions but here thou dost but fill up the measure of thy Fathers who calls this Light which is Christ in us Heresie p. 113. To all you Readers of his Book I speak to the Light of Christ in you which if you love it it will bring you to weigh and comprehend his words and if you walk in it you shal have the light of life and you that hate it it shal be your Condemnation when the book of Conscience is opened you shal witness that I speak the truth to every one of your souls R. Sherlock thou bids them beware
against all such wayes of daâ—kness but now thou art here found teaching people how to make the Pope supream Monarch by saying God made two Lights the greater to rule the day viz. the Pope the lesser to rule the night viz the Emperor and so makes the Pope and Emperor to be those two Lights Here I charge thee to prove wherever the Ministers of Christ taught any such thing to the people or did so contemn and despise the Ordinances of Heaven and the Lights which God made to rule the day and the night which thou compares to carnal men like thy self And here thou hast perverted the Scriptures and made thy folly and deceit manifest to all that they that can but read in the natural Heavens will condemn thee and out of thy own mouth thou art condemned for in thy paper thou hast said That which is not Scriptural is not spiritual Now for that which thou hast said thou hast no Scripture to prove it and the Scripture will testifie against thee and the Sun and the Moon which are in their course in the Firmament of Heaven will testifie against thee and so these we do deny and thy doctrine with the Pope and his Supream Monarch and all who worship the Host of Heaven we deny being clear from their doctrine and deceit Priest If they will establish implicite faith thus it may be done Job 1.14 The Oxen were plowing and the Asses feeding besides them i. e. the Priests were preaching and the people believing this is to crucifie the Word of God Here thou art proved and made manifest to be a false Teacher who art teaching people how to establish implicite faith and to blind the eyes of people thou bringest that Scripture Job 1.14 when as there is no such word as implicite faith spoken of there nor in the Scripture thou finds no such word nor did ever any of the Ministers of God teach people how to establish any such thing and those priests who preach that and that people which believe it do make the Word of God of none effect through tradition Priest Thou art charging and accusing some to hold forth the mysterie of iniquity in principles and to affirm a community of persons and things Ans. The mysterie of iniquity we know and them in whom it worketh in all deceivableness of unrighteousness and from it and its workings we are separated by Christ Jesus and in his Light do see and comprehend its workings in the children of disobedience and all vile and unclean persons who are in the lusts of uncleanness and in the mystery of iniquity and all things which are separated from the light we have no union nor fellowship with and all these practices we do deny which are unclean which is acted contrary to the light which is pure in which we are called not unto uncleanness but unto holiness And to this God is our Witness and our Consciences also bears us witness against all false accusers So I charge thee who hath put forth this accusation to turn thy mind to the light of Christ in thy conscience with it thou may see in thy self the ground where this mysterie of iniquity worketh and thou may see in thy self that which hath unity with that which is unclean the lusts of uncleanness inordinate affections and evil concupiscence the ground which the mysterie of iniquity worketh in is yet standing in thee and so of the same things of which thou accuses others art thou found guilty which is for condemnation with the light Priest 'T is pity Christ should be the foundation and wood hey stubble built thereupon yet this is possible 1 Cor. 3.15 Ans. Here thou hast perverted Paul's words and speaks thy own invention contrary to the Scripture for Paul did not say 't is pity Christ should be the foundation but said other foundations can no man lay than what is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold silver precious stones wood hay stubble every mans Work shall be made manifest Now in the Light art thou made manifest that Christ is not thy foundation who takes Pauls words out of their place who witnessed Christ to be the foundation but thou art found building upon this foundation gold silver hay stubble and making a refuge of lyes which are for the fire whose work is to be burned in the day of the Lord. Priest Thou sayest Wisdom is grown up to perfection amongst that people called Quakers Ans. In the Light of Christ we dwel which comprehends thy Wisdom which is earthly sensual and devillish and from that Wisdom these things published forth in thy paper do proceed which is full of lyes and confusion but in the Light of Christ made manifest in those thou calls Quakers art thou seen to be in that Wisdom which is not perfect and so thee and thy Word we do deny which is for condemation with the Light which is contrary to thy earthly Wisdom Priest Thou Priest Woodall art accusing me for numbering thee amongst those who are guilty of preaching for carnal things who reap carnal things and this thou makes thy defence saying This is my case More then seven years I have served in the Gospel where I am receiving what a people freely give for my Family reproach in outward things refusing a considerable setled maintenance elsewhere Ans. Such as thou sowest such shalt thou reap and all they who have given thee money for preaching such things as thou hast here published forth in print they have given thee money for that which is not bread and so bought the carnal with the carnal but their souls are yet made merchandize of and that unjust gain which thou hast received this seven yeers from that people will rise up in judgement against thee who hast not only used it for thy necessity and support in outward things which were needful for the use of the body but hast spent it upon thy lust and pride in thy family spending more in lust and pride and gay apparel than those whom thou receivest the gift from And thou who hast professed thy self to be a servant to that people and they having given thee Wages so long for that which did not profit them thou after the manner of the Gentiles hath exercised Authority and Lordship over them and whereas thou shouldest be their hired servant they call thee Master thou which should be the least of all amongst them art greatest of all exceeding them all in pride and high-mindedness in ease in pleasures in idleness and fulness of bread but as the Lord doth open the eyes of those whom thou hast kept in blindnesse and ignorance they wil come to see thee and thy doctrine to be contrary unto the Gospel of Christ as they may plainly see and read in those things which thou hast published forth in print which is serviceable unto all who hath understanding that thy confusion and folly and lyes against
the Truth against Christ against the Saints and against the Scriptures they may see which hath been long hid but now is made manifest in the Light unto all who are come to know the free teachings of God who will no more give thee money for speaking a divination of thy own brain and not from the mouth of the Lord. Priest Who knows not that Tythes and Glebes were under that dispensation by Divine Law ordained for the maintenance of the Priests Ans. Here thou wouldst make people believe that thou denies tythes which was for the maintenance of the Priests under the Law But as for the glebes which thou speaks of there was never any such thing ordained in the Law here thou hast made it appear that thou art ignorant of that which was ordained for the Priests maintenance under that dispensation for they had no inheritance nor glebe lands to maintain them as some of the priests of England have and yet those priests in England which do receive tythes and so upholds that which thou seems to deny yet thou owns them as thy brethren and to be Ministers of the gospel And here your deceit is so plainly made manifest that you accuse one another and condemn one another all your hearts being exercised with covetous practices preaching for filthy lucre all being agreed together to persecute revile and slander the pure truth of God where it is made manifest in his servants to declare against all your deceits that out of your snares the righteous seed of God may be delivered to testifie against you and your Ministry under which the Seed of God is kept in bondage Priest Reader I have done our Heavenly Father taketh sleeping Disciples at the best Matth. 26.40 Ans. Here thou hast uttered forth a lye that all may plainly see who saith thou hast done and in the next words saith Our Heavenly Father taketh sleeping Disciples at the best Now from this Scripture in Matth. 26.40 thy words are proved to be false for in that condition the Disciples were then in they were not at the best who could not watch with Christ one hour and the Comforter was not then come which afterwards they did witness by travel and labour and fasting and prayer and watching day and night they did witness and we who do witness the same condition now do testifie against thee and all who make lyes of the Apostles who did witness Jesus Christ in truth and uprightness of heart and the same Christ do we witness and do freely preach him to every Nation being made manifest to that of God in every ones conscience to be witnessed Now as my first Query is printed in thy paper the latter part of it I deny which was not given forth nor spoken so by me· In thine it is written thus How can that be said to be a natural Light which witnesseth unto God against the things of the Spirit of God Which is false But in mine it is written thus How can that be said to be a natural Light which witnesses unto God in that which is holy against the natural inclinations of fallen man seeing the Scripture saith the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 Now as every one hath a desire to knovv the truth of these things that the occasion of stumbling may be taken avvay they may read the Query as it was given forth from me in pag. 16. of that printed paper called David's Enemies discovered which was put forth in print to be seen as it vvas there vvritten before Woodals paper vvhich is novv in print vvas given forth And this I have given forth that the truth may be cleared ovvning that vvhich did proceed from me and denying that vvhich is not mine And as for Frederick Woodals Ansvvers to the Queries they are replied unto in the paper above-mentioned and to the rest of his printed paper an ansvver is herein returned that he may not boast in his folly but be ashamed and repent Novv as in ansvver to that in the latter end of thy book vvhich thou directs the Reader unto thou seeing that thou hast holden forth these things vvhich thou canst not prove as the first Adam to be the Fountain of all natural good and so to blind the eyes of people that they may not see thy lye and saith thou means not primitively and here thou speaks one thing and means another but this covering is too nâ—rrow for thee and under it thou canst not hide thy self but thy nakedness and shame appears to all whose eyes are opened and by them thou art seen And whereas thou wouldâ—â— cover over thy shame of that thou hast formerly spoken in telling of two Images the Image of God and the Image of Christ and that the first was natural and the second spiritual and here thou speaks contrary to the Scriptures which saith he is the express Image of the Father And herein all who do witness the Scriptures to be true must witness against thee who speaks contrary to the Scrâ—ptures and now to blind peoples eyes thou tells them thou understands it thus Adam was made after the Image of God God the Father Son and the Holy Spirit Come let us make man not after our not my Image To this I answer Here thou hast added to the Scripture for God did not say Not my Image as thou dost charge him to say for the Scripture saith God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him as Gen. 1.27 And thou calls the image in which Adam was created the essential image and the image of Christ thou calls a personal image and hereby them who dwell in the Light thou art seen out of the substance in the images making to thy self images and likenesses from thy imaginations but in them thou canst not know God and Christ nor the image of God in which Adam was created in innocency and there is no such word in Scripture as Essential image and here thou goest about to make three images and so amongst the image-makers thou art who art out of Gods commands and there thou may read thy self But now the Lord God is gathering his own seed by his eternal light out of all images and likenesses to be conformed to the image of the Son to bear his image who is invisible which all the imaginers cannot enter into who stumble at the Light but all such are seen by the children of the Light and denyed for now do they witness from the Lord the day of Redemption yea plenteous Redemption is now witnessed by them who dwell in the Light which comprehends the World out of the World and out of the Worlds teachings and out of the Worlds wayes and out of the Worlds Worships into the pure teachings of God and into the Covenant where they know God and are taught of him and no more can they be led by the blind guides for their eyes are
opened which were blind and now in the Light of Christ the Way is seen which leads unto God the Father of Light and in it all false Prophets and false Teachers they do see and by them cannot be deceived who come in sheeps cloathing and are beautiful outwardly decked with the Saints words but inwardly ravening Wolves And now their covering comes to be taken of which was none of their own and now the Wolf appears ravening against the Lambs of God for the day hath made them manifest and of them the Lambs of God are aware and in innocency are preserved and in the pure Wisdom which is not of this World in it they see and comprehend the Serpents Wisdom subtilty craftiness and snares which for the righteous seed are laid but in the Eternal Light made manifest to the seed a way is seen out of them all and by the Eternal Power of the pure living God of life deliverance out of them all is witnessed Eternal pure living praises to him for evermore Given forth from the love of God to the souls of those who desire to know the truth to take away all stumblings and cut off all occasions from all minds that in the Light of Gheist the truth they may see to be clear from all slanders and false accusations which from the unclean spirits proceeds which goeth out of the mouth of the Dragon to devour the innocent but from the Dragon and all his Floods the innocent are preserved Given forth from him who a witness stands for the truth of God against all deceit R. H. Written from Mondlesham in Suffolk the 29. of the 3. Month 1655. The distance between Flesh and Spirit c. THis is the Word of the Lord to all people as I am moved of the Lord to clear the scandals and false accusations cast upon the righteous seed and as the seed of God in all generations have suffered reproaches from the World so now the same seed where it is brought forth suffers by this generation of evil doers and is afflicted and tormented and shamefully accused now in England whom you call Quakers And you say we deny all the Ordinances of Christ and you say we do not honor the Magistrâ—tes nor are subject unto Authority but are disturbers and breakers of the peace which is false The first accusation You say we deny Repentance Ans. And this is false for Repentance is the gift of God and this gift we have received and his free grace which teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.12 by repentance we have forsaken sin as it was discover'd to us by the Light of Christ which he hath enlightned us withall and so the mercies of God we have found according to his promise and are sent of the Lord to preach Repentance to all people who would have all men come to repentance and to the acknowledgement of the truth that they might be saved 2 Tim. 2.25 And with the Word of the Lord as they are moved of the Lord do many go now with this Doctrine into your streets into your markets into your synagogues and into your cities to call you to repentance before the wrath of the Lord come upon you and both sons and daughters now are sent to preach this Doctrine amongst you from the Lord and for obeying the Lord herein are they reviled by you and persecuted and falsly accused And thâ—s is left for a Testimony against you from the Lord and shall bear witness against you The second Accusation is That we deny Baptism Ans. The Baptism of Christ we own which all the Saints were baptized into which was by one spirit into one body as in 1 Cor. 12.13 and by this baptism we do witness the washing away of sin not onely the washing avvay the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God But sprinkling of Infants vve deny which there is no Scripture for And all you who from your imagination do imitate Johns Baptism and so go into the vvater and say you are believers and have right to the Ordinances of Christ but you to be believers we deny vvho are not yet come to repentance and your Water-baptism vvhich is but an imitation from the letter for the Lord never sent you forth nor commanded you either to preach or baptize as they did vvhom you go about to imitate vvho are not yet come to repentance nor to the first principle of the doctrine of Christ nor to ovvn the light of Christ in your consciences which should exercise them and lead you to vvait upon God and lead you to repentance And the Faith of believers you know not for the mysterie of Faith is held in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 vvhich you cannot vvitness which hates the Light of Christ vvhich should exercise your consciences and so your minds and consciences are defiled and vvith that mind you talk of faith and of the Ordinances of Christ and of Water-baptism vvhich serveth unto us for a figure as the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 3 21. And Jesus Christ was baptized by John by water that he might fulfil all righteousness Mat. 3.15 And John was a Prophet and Christ is the end of the Prophets and Johns baptism was but a figure for he said he did but baptize with water but Christ is the end of all figures types and shadows and did fulfil them for he fulfilled all righteousness and Johns Ministry and Johns baptism and he that fulfilled all righteousness the same baptizeth which John did bear witness unto and all men came unto him Joh. 3 16 but he baptized none with water But this is a mysterie to thy dark mind which knows not the baptism of Christ nor Johns doctrine nor Jesus Christ the true Light which enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world vvhich John bore witness unto John 1.9 but goes to hold up the types and figures which Christ came to fulfil and so deniest Christ to be come in the flesh to fulfil all righteousness and so thou art an Antichrist who holds up the figures which Christ came to fulfil and so thou denies the Scriptures and Christ who said he came to fulfil all righteousness and the Saints baptism thou art ignorant of which is by one Spirit into one body 1 Cor. 12.13 And Paul who was a Minister of Christ and preached the Gospel did bring many into this baptism and he was not sent to baptize with water but to preach the Gospel and all the Churches which he preached unto came to witness Christs baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire by one Spirit into one body and were baptized into Christ who was the head of the body Rom. 6.3 and by this baptism we are thus washed from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit but your imitated baptism of water we deny who live in your filthiness of flesh and spirit whose minds and consciences are defiled but the baptism of Christ we
have acted contrary to it and taking heed to the Light it will lead you out of all those things which the Law of God takes hold upon and will add the Law upon every transgression And all you that act contrary to the Light of Christ in the Conscience it will be your condemnation And you are they who deny the Ordinancs of Christ which walks not according to the Light of Christ which he hath enlightened you withall and you are they who are not subject to Authority who are not obedient to the Light of Christ in the conscience and you are the disturbers and breakers of the peace whose minds are not guided by the Light of Christ and this Light will let you see giving heed unto it who are out of the commands of Christ and are not subject unto Authority nor obedient to the Light of Christ in the conscience And here I have cleared my conscience to you all from the Lord to the Light of Christ in your consciences I speak which will eternally witness me to have spoken the truth unto you all who have falsly accused the innocent As I was moved of the Lord who is a Servant unto you from the Lord in love to all your souls to set up righteousness in the Land R. H. The Light of Christ within proved to be sufficient to lead unto God In Answer to a Book put forth by John Tombes and Richard Baxâ—er In which they go about to prove the Light within insufficient to lead to God by many falliâ—le Arguments by Perverting of Scrâ—pture and their own reasonings But their rule for proof being so fallible uncertain and confused that often-times they prove that which they would disprove and confess that which they would deny For the convincing and edifying of those that are not satisfied concerning the Light within is this given forth by R. H. Prov. 4.18.19 The path of the Just is a shining light shining more and more unto the perfect day The way of the wicked is darkness they know not at what they stumble BEcause the Lord hath appeared and his True Light is broken forth that by it his Inheritance may be gathered and his Dominion from sea to sea may be witnessed and because many with it are already gathered into the Covenant of everlasting Life many are turning their faces thitherwards enquiring the way to Sion therefore doth the offence arise like floods from men of corrupt minds destitute of the Truth and spiritual understanding of the great mysterie of godliness to wit God manifest in the flesh though appearing us in a form of godliness and words of Scripture which in unrighteousness they hold both perverting the Scriptures and falsly accusing others to wit Christ the Prophets and Apostles and last of all those called Quakers that so by any means the might quench the Light of that fire which God hath kâ—â—dled or hinder his Work which he hath begun that the vail which is over peoples hearts under which iniquity is hid might not be read nor discovered Therefore is there a joining together and making a confederacy one with another against those which follow the Lamb of God keep the Word of his Testimony for upon the same account as we read Luk. 23.12 that Pilate and Herod was made friends who before had been at enmity between themselves which was to set at nought and to deliver up to be crucified the Son of God upon the same account is Baxter the rigid Presbyter and Tombs the pretended Baptist made Friends and call one another Reverend Brethren both setting themselves with their strength arguments and reasons devised words and false charges against the breaking forth of Christ's Light and walking in his truth for but a little while since Baxter had said that Tombs and the Anabaptists were the Authors and Fautors of the delusion of the Quakers as Tombs confesseth in his Epistle And Baxter also confesseth the same in his Epistle That he hath been too eager in disputations which he saith is too well known in the Nation And although here is a great pretended unity betwixt them yet it is but in hypocrisie for in one page of Baxters Epistle he talks of holding the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace as members of the same head and body uniting their force for the common Truth against the pernicious Adversaries thereof And in the next page saith That he hath already told the Episcopal Brethren That Bishop Usher and he did fully agree in half an hour but saith That the wound is yet uâ—healed betwixt him and Tombs for he never treated with Tombs about such a matter but saith he is confident that they should agree in one day upon terms of common charity and forbearance So that to men of understanding it appears that Baxter is agreed with the Bishop and the Episcopal Brethren but not with Tombs noâ— the Congregational Brethren and further it is manifest from his own words and according to his limit and time of treaty that he could agree with twenty four bishops as soon as with Tombs for all their pretended unity and agreement for theâ—e is twelve hours in a day and he agreed with one Bishop in half an hour So we seeing their book begin with such lyâ—s and confusions we know the whole Volume and effects of it wil minister nothing else to the people the strength and force of those two lately pretended brethren joined against the Quakers in their two Epistles and nine see â—onâ— in which iâ— thirty arguments and ten reasons against the sufficiently and spirituality of Christ's Light wherewith he hath enlightened every man which cometh into the World yet for want of knowledge and because of darkness speaks against themselves and proveâ— that which they would disprove as by something following may be made manifest 1. As first the charge against the Quakers in the 15 th page of their book is That we put darkness for light in that we make a natural Light which is but darkness in spirituals as if it were to be heeded as mens rule in all sorts of duties and knowledge of the things of God Ans. This charge is false for we do not make any natural Light if heeded as mens rule in any duty nor to the knowledge of God neither have ever held such a thing but this is the way of old of all slanderous tongues first to lay down a false position of their own and then disproving it makes people believe that they have confuted an error when they have but proved their own words false and so boasteth in a vain shew as David saith Psal. 39.6 proving nothing against us Again John Tombs saith page 28. That Câ—â—â—st makes mens hearts void of Light till they be enlightened with his Light and that every man till he be enlightened by Christ wants Light to guide him in the knowledge of his duty and the way to salvation Ans. But in contradiction to that in page 11. he
of things as they are made manifest by the Lord to the Light in you I speak that in it you may be able to understand truth in what I say and by the truth to judge of things that differ for such as the Tree is such is the fruit an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit neither can one Fountain send forth sweet water and bitter Now as concerning a Book given forth by John Stelham Priest at Terling in Essex who having an evil eye because God is good and being filled with indignation because God hath mercy on his own Seed whom he hath blessed hath out of the abundance of his heart spoken it forth Now the way to know that which is spoken in darkness is to read it in the light and if his Testimony in any thing as coming from him is to be believed it is that which is concerning his own condition and if his estate and condition be such that in it he can receive the things of God and minister them to others then they may be received but if his condition be such that in it he cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God then that which cannot receive cannot minister and so he is to be silents and none to expect the things of God from him being neither fit to reprove nor to rebuke but to be reproved and rebuked as will appear as followeth The ground in him and the heart out of which this abundance of words in his Book proceeds in it as he declares is yet the root of all error and of all sin is in him and seen by him not mortified and that he hath an old lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth no good thing a sinful wretch and worm subscribing himself the sinful John Stelham as in his Introduction in pag. 80. and p. 117. Now therefore we having found out the root and the ground to be a root of Errror and the ground of Deceit and a heart wherein dwells no truth nor no good thing therefore from that which is unclean shall we not expect that which is clean to proceed nor truth from that wherein dwells no truth but from the lying heart and deceitful tongue hath the Lord delivered us so that if we be called revilers and be rebuked and a charge laid against us as to contradict the Scriptures of God and be called Antiscriptural Antichristian and Antispiritual we have now learned to know whence it doth proceed even from the lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth and we can bear it because we know that til that heart be taken away and a new heart known wherein is truth we must be reproached and spoken evil of falsly for his sake who hath taken away the old lying heart and hath given us a new heart wherein truth dwelleth and where truth proceeds out from and herein are we manifest from the children of this generation and herein are the two states known and the two conditions of men according to the testimony of Scripture and the parable which Jesus spoke Luke 6.39 Can the blind lead the blind shall they not both fall into the ditch And ver 45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh And hereby is the Tree known by his fruits and the heart of the wicked was ever filled with lying and vanity and understanding was hid from them the Lord was grieved with such that did err in their hearts and had not known his wayes Psal. 119 70. Psal. 140.2 and this was an evil which was under the sun that the hearts of the sons of men were full of evil and madnesse while they live Eccles. 9.3 And such a heart was in the Scribes and Pharisees a lying heart wherein dwelt no truth filled with evil thoughts as Christ said Wherefore think you evil in your hearts Mat. 9.4 and out of the heart did arise all false accusations calling the truth blasphemy and the way of it heresie and such who be in the state as John Stelham confesseth he is was never appointed by the Lord to watch over souls But such where Christ did dwell in their hearts and because they were sons God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts Eph. 3.17 Gal. 4.6 and such had truth in their hearts doing the Will of God from the heart and did draw near unto God with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water these did not profess the things of God in an old lying heart wherein dwelt no truth but called upon the name of the Lord with a pure heart and said that the end of the commandment was charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned from which some swerved in the Apostles dayes having turned aside unto vain jangling and such desired to be teachers of others but the doctrine is corrupt and the Mysterie of Faith is not held where the heart and conscience is not pure and the Lord is good unto such who be of a clean heart Now as concerning the Scriptures John Stelham's Testimony from the old lying heart wherein dwelleth no truth is this That the Scriptures are the Word of God and truly so called and the Letter and Scripture is all one as p. 3.4 but to contradict that himself he saith in p. 5. the Letter taken strictly is but legal administration using these words The Letter killeth i.e. the bare legal command without a promise of power or pardon as a bare Letter void of strength life and spirit it leaveth all men under a killing sentence and curse Let them that have understanding judge Again as concerning the Letter in page 6. he expresseth himself thus The Spirit is given by it And in the next words saith the Scripture is but instrumental to the Spirit Now mark the Letter taken strictly being legal without a promise of power or pardon void of strength life and spirit the Spirit to be given by this which he confesseth is void of strength life and spirit and is but instrumental to the Spirit whether this be not contradiction and confusion let them that read judge For in reading these things which he hath published many may seal to the confession of his own condition to be truth but that which he hath declared of the things of God to be false for now the Light being broken forth such doctrine cannot be received nor believed that thâ— Spirit is given by the Letter but that which is declared in the Letter was given forth from the Spirit vvhich vvas in them which spoke it forth but people may long have the Letter and think in it to find God and eternal life and may dye in
these things there was Christ held out and mentioned in the shadows and figures and so that Covenant which promiseth no salvation nor mentioneth any thing of a Saviour that we deny for there is no such Covenant in the Scriptureâ— For that which said Do this and live promised life and mentioned Christ who is the life and by Christ who is the Life and Light of men is that Covenant fulfilled and by his Power both the obedience and life is brought forth of which that Covenant speaketh and the new Covenant being come that God hath promised wherein he hath put his Law in their hearts and his Spirit in their inward parts and all such need not to come to such Priests to be taught who tel of a Covenant which promiseth no salvation nor mentioneth any thing of a Saviour for we who be in the second know the first fulfilled which Christ was held forth in under Ordinances of Divine service and a Worldly Sanctuary and divers washings and carnal Ordinances which never made the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience But now is Christ the Covenant of God and Covenant of Light come and preached and with his Light shineth in mens Consciences that he may make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience which Covenant is now witnessed among thousands and such denyed who speak of a Covenant that mentions nothing of a Saviour and that to be the Rule of true believers Again in John Stelham's fifth head of Scripture-contradiction he speaks concerning sin saying That the more a soul is sanctified the more he sees his moats to be beams and that Paul was groaning and sighing all his life-time under the body of sin and death Both these are false for the more a soul is sanctified he is not the more taught to lye or to see falsly but the more he is taught to see clearly and discern a moat to be a moat and a beam to be a beam and knows the difference And Paul thanks God who had given him the victory over sin and death which he had not while he groaned under the body of it and so both the Saints and the Work of sanctification is falsly accused by such and such are to be denied as Enemies to God and to his Work In the reading of this let all people take notice that in the several and particular heads of J. S. Book where he saith he hath contradicted us he is proved himself to contradict the Scritures and so far as he contradicts the Scriptures in those particulars so far he may say he contradicts us our testimony being one with the Scriptures in those things Pr. For in his sixth head as concerning Justification he saith He that is justified is justified by God not under the aspect or notion of a Saint and as such but of a sinner and as a sinner believing in Jesus not as he loveth God or overcometh the world by Faith c. but as believing on Christ dying c. Now this testimony of J. S. is contrary to the Scripture for God never justified any as hating of him nor as a sinner but as made obedient through faith according to the Scriptures as the Apostle witnesseth Gal. 2.16 Even by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ c. so they believed that they might be justified and the ungodly they were first called out of their ungodliness and whom he called them he also justified and they whom he justified them he also glorified and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 13.39 And so all who are justified by the Lord are justified from their sins and not in them as all shall witness who come to be justified by Christ from their iniquity And whereas J.S. vvould set the Law and Justice of God at a difference with the Gospel and as contrary in saying The Law and Justice finds and leaves us sinners Gospel and Mercy declareth and pronounceth us righteous Now the one pronouncing a man to be righâ—eous and the other pronouncing the same to be a sinner these two are contrary But the Scripture hath another testimony saying Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other Psal. 85.10 Now here is unity here is not Righteousness pronouncâ—ng one thing and Mercy another for the righteousnesse of God is revealed from Heaven against the disobedient and this vvill not leave them disobedient nor sinners if ever they come to mercy for it doth not leave them as it finds them And so that Doctrine is accurst from God which saith That Justice finds them sinners and leaves them so and to say that Justice pronounceth them sinners and Mercy pronounceth them righteous But to satisfie all people a few vvords may serve to answer the volume of that darknesse and blindnesse given forth by him before-mentioned should a man full of vvords be justified Job 11.2 Again concerning J.S. in his seventh head concerning Regeneration he saith That the Word of God that is preached was never without or besides Scripture c. And as in other places he hath said That the Spirit is given by the Letter so here he vvould make Regeneration to proceed from it which this being denied he concludes it had been better the Scripture had not been known nor written An. The Word and Gospel were preached unto Abraham without Scriptures and before the Scriptures were written and they who are regenerated and born again it is by the immortal Word which is able to save their souls which Word was before the Letter was written and who be begotten again and born by that Word it is profitable for such that the Scriptures were written given forth and the Scripture by such is honored but such who call the Letter the Light and the Word and that which begets again into the new birth by such both the Work of God is despised and the Scriptures perverted and denied Again J. S. in his 8. Head of Contradiction speaking of perfection uttereth forth more confusion and contradiction to himself in his speaking of the Communion of the Saints in Heaven and doth lye concerning the Saints on earth saying the Saints in Heaven hoped for the perfection of their bodies at the Resurrection c. And again contradicts that in saying that at death they have a final perfection and a full harvest and reward of peace c. Ans. Now this is the issue that all people may take notice he hath so envied perfection and Christ's Doctrine which saith Be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect And them who now preach that Doctrine that he hath set out a Volume to declare against the Saints being perfect here yea and his envy hath reached to Heaven to prove that the Saints in Heaven are not perfect but wait for the redemption
prayer in the Spirit and who are moved by the Spirit morning or evening or at meals or otherwise and this is truth let J.S. gather what he can from it Further he saith If we teach one another why do we condemn them for teaching But to this I have answered Preaching or Teaching by the Spirit we own and without the Spirit we deny and because we say we own all that which is Gods as Baptisme the Lords Supper and Sabbath c. yet doth disown in practice their Water Baptisme and their form of breaking of Bread and Wine and their forms of Church fellowship and their form of keeping a Sabbath this he charges to be contradiction but it is not so in the sight of the Lord though I.S. falsely so judge it for their Baptism and breaking of Bread and Wine and their Church-fellowship and keeping of a day I say their exercise in these things we do deny to be of God as in measure is proved and may be further if need require and I say we own that which is Gods and which is led unto by his Spirit and practised in his fear and counsel yet we do deny all their Imaginations of any thing which God commanded doth own the command of God and yet doth not contradict our selves though I. S. falsely so judge of us Further he charges us with self-contradiction concerning speech and silence because we check some for speaking and yet speaks or writes our selves but this is the same with the former and the same answer will serve that speaking that which is not in the Spirit we check which is not the voice of Christ but of the stranger and yet doth own that which is spoken by the Spirit of God and herein doth not contradict our selves Further he saith We contradict our selves concerning Conscience and Laws because we say there must be no Law concerning Religion viz to bind any man to worship in this or the other way and to bind him from this or that way of Worship and yet in exhorting the Rulers that their Laws be according to that in the Conscience but in these words there is no contradiction for the Laws being according to the light in every mans Conscience that Law will not binde or limit the conscience from this or that way of worship in Religion for that Law is unjust which binds or limits the pure conscience of any man but that Law which is contrary to the light in every mans conscience is oppression and we bear witnesse against it and though we do say no Law must be laid upon Religion that is to say to binde any mans Conscience to or from such a form of Religion and though we further say that all just Law is and should be according to every mans Conscience yet in this there is no contradiction And whereas J.S. speaks of such Laws who persecuted prisoned and crucified for the testimony of a good Conscience God hath hewen down in all ages saith he Let the Rulers of England take notice of this from the mouth of one of their Teachers And further I adde so will God hew down in this Age all those Lawes by which many are persecuted and prisoned as he hath done in other Ages therefore let it be considered by them And he saith The Magistrate is not to level his Law with every mans conscience and light and this he speaks in opposition to us but he needs not for we say the same that some mens Consciences are defiled and we do not desire the Laws to be made according to mens several Opinions and defiled Consciences but according to the light of Christ Jesus in every mans Conscience which is but one in all and is according to the Law of God and every just Law will be according to it and though J.S. by his own meaning would make it appear Contradiction in our saying no Law must be concerning Religion and yet saying all Laws should be according to the light of Christ in the Conscience Now by these words we do not mean that we would have a Law according to Religion but no Law to limit to or from this or that manner of Religion And this doth very well agree with our saying Let all your Laws be according to the Light of Christ so by his misinterpretation of the first he makes it appear to be contradiction to the second but it is not in the light of the Spirit of God And further R. F. saying the Law of God answers his Justice and the Light of Christ in the conscience answers the Law of God which is perfect according to that in the Conscience these words J. S. charges with two Errors but let the Reader try where the Error lies and not believe J. S false deduction from R.F. plain words which are simply uttered though subtily wrested And J. S. speaks as if some would have Magistrates to make Laws to binde themselves from striking at Offenders Blasphemers Gospel and Church disturbers c. In answer to this We are not they that would have any Magistrates to bind themselves from striking at offenders who are truly able to judge of Offences we own that such should be punished according to the offence but the Magistrates Law reacheâ— but to the outward man to keep that in peace and good order and not to the inward man to binde or limit that And as for Blasphemy and Gospel and Church disturbing we find many Magistrates not able to judge thereof but many on the other side calling â—â—th blasphemy and reproving of sin in Teachers and people Gospel and Church disturbing and so by false judgment making such offenders which are not and so abusing their power and condemning the innocent rather than the guilty and these are such as J. S. speaks of where the strong man armed keeps the house and these are rather a terror to well-doers then to evil and such Magistrates and such Laws by which the just are oppressed and the hands of the wicked strengthened will the Lord confound in a day to the glory of his name and to the refreshing of all his People who are now every way oppressed by evil men both by Teachers and People And as for the rest of his Book it s but of the same nature with the former and not worth answering to onely his lyes I do deny and his first following is that all our doctrines are raised upon the ruines of the Scriptures excellency and authority this is false neither doth his proof at all make it good His second lye is that our corrupt Tenents are built upon false and novel Interpretations and this is two lyes together our Tenents are not corrupt neither do we build any thing which we hold upon false Interpretationâ— His third lye is that it is pride that hath bred and doth feed our Opinions and Practices and this is also false and to prove it hath wrested some of E. B. words His fourth lye is that unbelief
before-hand to judgement so their works are wrought in God who answer the light which they be enlightned withal but the light is not sutable nor according to that birth which is born after the flesh but condemns that in all its ways and actions and is given to lead the creature out of that nature and out of that birth into the regeneration to lead out of the deeds of darkness and out of the shadow of death into the living inheritance among those that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Another testimony concerning the light relating to the two Covenants is this That as there was a new Covenant diverse from the former the old so there must of necessity be another light to accompany it diverse from the former that is as then mans spirit so now the spirit of the Lord c. page 35. Answ. There are diversities of gifts but the same spirit and there are differences of Administrations but the same Lord and there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.4 5.6 Now all people is to know that there was a ministration different from the administration of the Gospel the new Covenant a different administration from the old but there is no necessity that it be ministred from another spirit nor from another Lord nor from another Light therefore to say that because the Covenants or Administrations are diverse one from another that therefore it must not be the same spirit but the one by the spirit of man the other the spirit of God and that the lights is to be diverse the one from the other this is a false Testimony for the same spirit in which the Law was administred the first Covenant in the same was the second administred which doth make perfect according to the conscience Now as all people is brought out of their own inventions and imaginations and from following their own spirits to own the light of Christ which hath enlightned them they should know the diversities of Administrations and the diversity of operations and yet but one Light and one Power and one Spirit and not as many lights as births nor as many spirits as operations not every Administration to have a diverse light to accompany it for though there be that are called gods whether in heaven or in earth as there be gods many and lords many but to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are things and we by him howheit there is not in every man that knowledge 1 Coâ— 8.5.6 7. and though there be in the world many lights yet to us there is but one him by whom all things was made which doth enlighten every man that commeth into the world that in him all men might believe as every one believes in this light they shal know that mans reason understanding is not the light which every man is enlightned withal for some are unreasonable men and some are void of understanding Neither is the spirit of man the light of the world which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world neither is any thing called the light of the world in the Scripture but Christ for saith Christ I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness Joh. 12.46 Then spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life Job 8.12 And again I am the light of the world Joh. 9.5 And the messenger which was sent before his face to prepare the way of the Lord and to bear witness to the truth said In him was life and the life was the light of men and that was the true light which enlightneth every man that cometh into the world Joh 1 4 9. And this is the light which in all ages generations and under all administrations the Saints did bear their testimony in and this light did never change nor alter though ages and generations have changed and men have changed and do change and the minds of men change and their ways change and their worships change and forms and religions which are not according to the light which Christ hath enlightned them withal which changeth not which as it is followed will lead them out of those ways which do change which is not the living way for the new and living way is one with the light which every man is enlightned withal which is every mans way to the Father who follow it and every mans condemnation who disobey it Another testimony concerning the first man Adam in his first estate without sin the sum of it is this That as it was at first that is at his beginning made so that is without sin for so was he made Eccles 7.29 upright without crookedness without invention that this man yea in his purest naturals cannot receive nor discern the things of the spirit of God until he is born of the Spirit or from above according to Joh. 1.13 8.3 6. 1 Cor. 2.14 Answ. This testimony is false for the first Adam before the fall was the son of God Luk 3 38. and did know and perceive Gods voice and power and he knew Gods command That he should not eat of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil which if he did he should die the death for he was in Gods image and the Lord spoke unto him and he perceived it and he had right to eat of the tree of life which was in the midst of the Garden and if Adam had continued in that state there needed no Law to have been added because of transgression neither had there needed any precept upon precept nor line upon line neither any teacher or instructer of the ignorant for there had no death passed over to separate God from his creature which he had made in his own image and given him power over all creatures but to say the Son of God in the image of God without sin in uprightness and power to say that he is sensual having not the spirit or to say that he is the natural man that cannot receive nor discern the things of the spirit of God this is greater blasphemy then that which the Apostle reproved Rev. 2.9 in those which said they were Jews and were not but were the Synagogue of Satan and all such which brings forth such mists of darkness ignorance to blind the eye in people which should see the things of God in clearness are to be reproved sharply that they may be ashamed and no more bring forth that which is both uâ—nâ—cessary and unseasonable and contrary to truth as J. Jackson hath done And further he adds That the natural man which Paul speaks of 1 Cor. 2.14 and compares it with 1 Cor. 15.44.45 is not to be taken for the carnal sinful man
of such a birth that they are so easily slain nor of such a Doctrâ—ne that they are so easily disproved for the immortal birth is brought forth unto which God hath given wisdom and understanding to be as wise as Serpents and in their innocency is their wisdom brought forth which Seed inheriteth the strength of the Almighty So though they be permitted to fight and contend against the truth yet to prevail is nor given them Therefore in vain is the Net spread in the sight of any bird and in vain do they exercise their strength against the Lord 's Annointed for this which they have brought forth is but as setting of bryars and thorns in battel against the Lord or as if the untimely birth should strive against that birth which is brought forth without deformity to slay it as those in former ages who were wiser in their generation then the children of Light sought to slay the Heir that the Inheritance might be theirs In like manner do men now also rise up against the life of the same Seed which is risen in the hearts of the children of men to slay it that so they may profess the Scriptures in their high swelling words of vanity having mens persons in admiration because of advantage for if this Seed doth live which the Lord hath not only brought to the birth but also brought forth it will stop that profession which stands in the hypocrisie and will quench that violence of fire in which that zeal flames out which is not according to knowledge But the Seed is risen which inherits the strength of the Almighty which can bear all things and suffer all things and will come to reign over all gain-sayers for all the high swelling words of vanity shall come to nought and truth shall be exalted over all in the power of the eternal Spirit when blackness of darkness wil cover all those spirits which have spent their strength against the appearance and manifestation of Truth and those that now boast themselves in their presumption against the servants of the Lord and testimony of truth shall come to be a servant of servants even to the least in the Kingdom of God before they have right unto that which they now profess or before they be counted worthy to cry Hosanna to the Son of David or to bear a testimony to the Lords Christ for he wil have none such to be his Witnesses as deny his Light which he hath enlightened every man withal for the true Witnesses bear this Testimony of Christ That he is the true Light and is the Light of the World which hath enlightened every man that cometh into the World that every man through him might believe and every one in whom the Witness is found true is justified of God Another Accusation is again Richard Farnsworth for saying That Christ did break the Passover with his Disciples and herein he is charged to want Light or that the Light in him was not sufficient to open this and that he did not discern between the Passover and the Supper of the Lord and likewise is accused for calling that a shadow which the Scripture saith was but to shew the Lords death till he came Ans. To call the Supper the Passeover doth not demonstrate that he wants light neither that the Light is insufficient for the Diâ—ciples called it the Passeover which they prepared for him and Christ called it the Passeover which he eat with his Disciples Mark 14.12 14. Matth. 26.20 21 22. and that which they eat he broke but it doth not say that he broke his bones nor eat his bones yet he eat the Passeover with his Disciples And whereas he is accused for calling that a shadow and many now in imitation take Bread and Wine and call that the Lords Supper opposing those that are come to the Substance and witness the substance eating that which is meat indeed and drinking that which is drink indeed But this man which doth oppose Richard Farnsworth and others in these things he hath the least reason to mention this Supper or the breaking of Bread of any for others do call their breaking of Bread and drinking of Wine the Lords Supper because they practise it but this man doth neither practice that as the Lord's Supper nor witness the substance so that this is the greatest hypocrisie to contend about that or to accuse others in denying of that which he himself denies the practise of Sâ— that this Accusers Doctrine and Accusations want both lighâ— and reason Another Accusation is against these two Writers Richard Farnsworth Francis Howgil as if they should be in an unreconciled difference because the one hath affirmed That the Light of Christ is sufficient to open all the Scriptures And the other saith Thou that tells of opening Chapters or Verses by meanings thou never heard a word of Christ. Ans. These are no differences for the Light of Christ and mans meanings are contrary So for the one to say the Light doth open and the other to say mans meanings doth not open this is not contrary So the confusion is turned again to the accuser and doth not belong to these two Writers So the ignorance of this Accuser is to be taken notice of which would make people believe things that are not for if he write his Book for those that can neither read see nor hear his labour is in vain and if he write it to those that can read see hear and understand they will account it foolishness especially in this day when the Light of life is broken forth among the children of men to give them an understanding according to truth for in this day he that keepeth silence is reputed wise and better is he that keepeth silence then he that speaks unless the spirit of the Lord give him utterance Another Accusation is against W.D. he speaking to such a one as is guided by the Lamb c. saying The Light in thy Conscience the righteous Law cryes through thy earthly heart and brings it into judgement c. And then speaking of the parable of the little leaven hid in three measures of meal that it changeth the whole lump into the nature of it self So the little light that shines in thy dark heart is the powerful Word of Faith and that the Light is the sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well to take heed until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts And for these things he is accused Ans. Those that are guided by the Lamb do witness that the Light the righteous Law cryes through the earthly heart and brings it into judgement and will not accuse one for saying so And as for speaking of the little light as Christ spoke of the little Leaven was it no offence in the dayes of the son of man to preach that the Kingdom of Heaven was like unto a grain of Mustard-seed or like unto a little leaven And is it an
holy 1 Pet. 1.16 And this is not a doctrine of Devils but of Christ the Son of God and Paul preached Wisdom among those that were perfect 1 Cor. 2 6. and David preached the Doctrine of perfection in this life saying Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Psal. 37.37 Now David did not bid them mark such a man as there was not So the Doctrine of perfection is that Doctrine which both the Prophets Christ and Apostles preached and so not the Doctrine of Devils if we preach the same but all those that preach up sin and that men must live in it and that they cannot be free from it while upon earth these are Messengers of Satan and preach the Doctrine of Devils and people need not that doctrine for they are willing enough to live in sin without having it preached up and being strengthened in it and that makes them so willing to pay the Priests such Wages for calling the proud happy and those that work wickedness Saints and justified persons for without such Wages not a priest in England would preach peace to them in their sins but they would all be silent for if people come once to know Christ their Teacher and he in them the hope of glory who saves his people from their sins then no man wil buy their merchandize any more but wil come all to hear and learn of the Father and come to witness his Covenant and his Teachings and shall not need that one teach another saying Know the Lord for all shall know him from the least to the greatest Heb. 8.11 And this shall all come to witness that come to be translated into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God and then shall they come to witness his Words who is the Lord from Heaven who saith Be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect and be ye holy for I am holy And this is the voice from Heaven The real Cause of the Nations Bondage and Slavery here demonstrated and the way of their freedom from their sore and hard Bondage asserted Presented unto the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England who have a Power and Opportunity put into their hands to do good and to fulfil the expected ends of many if they improve it From one that hath seen the corruption which bondageth the whole Creation and that waits for the redemption of the creature from under it R. H. I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning afterwards thou shalt be called the City of Righteousness the faithful City Isa. 1.26 Not before When this is fulfilled in England it shall be truly called a free Nation or Commonwealth Not before THere hath been a time when the prudent hath kept silence but now Wisdom hath opened her mouth and will be justified of all her children for the Lord is reviving the spirit that hath been imprisoned and taking the yoke from off the Disciples necks and is going on in the Name of his Power to make his creature a free creature and his people a free people and the Nation that serves him and obeys his Law a free Nation and the thunderings of his power is gone forth and his Light is risen to discover and destroy that which hath deceived the Nations and to give a discerning unto all of their freedom from their bondage and in what it stands and that is to be cast out which gendereth to the bondage of the Soul Spirit or Conscience in any exercise of Worship or obedience unto God which springs from the measure of his own life which must not be hindered or quenched by any Law Power or pretence whatsoever Therefore from the free Spirit of Life and Liberty in Christ Jesus this is proclaimâ—â— to the whole Nation and the Nations round about to take off their bondage and to take away their reproach which hath lain upon them for want of the life of Christ which is now risen to do its own work and perfect its own praise and to deliver its own Seed wheresoever it hath been in captivity the power of life must deliver it from all that which causeth shame and reproach which is the iniquity and transgression of the Life of Christ which is the original cause of bondage to every Nation which the Lord hath promised to take away in one day Zac. 3 9. And his Work and Power shall be known by its fruit which is to take away theâ—r sin Isa. 27.9 One great yoke of bondage which is upon the Subjectâ— and Seed of God in this Nation and others is that Ministry which is not free neither wil minister without money and the people are not free to hear them yet a yoke of bondage is laid upon them to pay them and this iniquity is established by a Law So here is neither free preaching nor free hearing unto which the free Spirit raised up in this Nation declareth thus That every one that will minister must do it freely and as of the ability which God giveth him and as the Oracle of God and that no profession of people may maintain anothers Minister but that there may be a free preaching and a free hearing among all people that so it may be a free Nation and they that will have Teachers according to their own lusts and judgements they to maintain them and that there may never any such iniquity be established by a Law as for one sort of people to maintain anothers Minister for this hath caused heart-burnings envy and strife insomuch that little Justice could be done for the Nation by reason of the cry of complainers and oppressors as at every Parliament every high Court every Assizes and Sessions and petty Courts there hath some pretended Minister or other been presenting Addresses Petitions or Complaints and so have stopt the just and lawful proceedings of the affairs of the Nation which interruption may easily be prevented and the Courts of Justice freed from such brawling and unreasonable complaints which hath been more interruption to Justice than any thing in the Nation besides and hath more hindered the peoples deliverance from being a free people and a free Nation than any thing in the Nation besides So let every form and profession of Religion maintain their own Minister and maintain their poor which are crying at their Meeting-house doors and in the Streets in the Name of their God for some relief that so there may not be a beggar in England for herein the Christians in name are become even a reproach among the Heathens to see their own flesh stand naked and uncovered in the streets and Steeple-house doors and at their doors and they turn their ears from the poor and forget God and loses the bowels of compassion and are not merciful as the Father which is in Heaven is merciâ—ul and so walks not according to the Scriptures but is a disgrace to Religion
and even a reproach among the Heathen So let no more the cry of the Priests nor of the poor be heard in our Land the one crying for Laws to persecute and receive money of those who they preach not unto which receives no teaching from them which cry is intolerable to be heard or suffered in a free Common-wealth And the other for want of the creatures of God when as others spend the creatures of God upon their lusts excessively and so the Creation is out of order 〈◊〉 those that are come into the Gospel-Ministration and to be taught of the Lord and have received Christ Jesus the Lord and walk in him it is not so amongst us for the creatures of God are not spent upon the lust nor destroyed neither is there a beggar amongst us who are truly of us in the obedience of truth so that we do not desire that any people or profession in the Nation should maintain our poor for they are our own flesh without respect of persons for if any of us have of this Worlds good and see our Brother stand in need and shuts up the bowels of compassion from him the love of God doth not dwel in us neither doth any other maintain those that minister unto us the Word and Doctrine so we according to the royal Law of Liberty desire to do unto others as we would have them do unto us and thus to be a free people and a free Nation So every form and profession will enjoy their own Minister till they come to know him unto whom the gatherings of the people must be viz Christ So that neither Parliament Assizes Sâ—ssions nor Courts will have any thing to do in matter of Religion but to keep the peace of the Nation and then he that hath the Word of God may speak his Word faithfully and freely without interruption so that the Gospel of God may have its free course and be glorified and that great oppression of Tythes which lies heavy upon the whole Nation which God raised up his Spirit in the Army once to testifie against may be taken away that what was then pretended may be now fulfilled and the people eased of their oppressions which they have long felt the burthen of and groaned under that so as a free people they may be delivered from that bondage and the Law may be disannulled by which that bondage is imposed upon them So this will beget love in the Nation and all persecution cruelty and bitterness wâ—ll cease and every one may freely and quietly enjoy the fruit of his own labor then with much freedom chearfulness wil every one minister of his substance unto all necessary uses knowing that the earth and the fulness of it is the Lords And when this universal love and free Spirit is begotten among people then wil righteousness establish the Nation and that will be brought forth which many sincere hearts and tender consciences hath waited for seveâ—â—l years and many have been even almost weary and faint in â—heir minds in waiting for that which they once had a lively sight of and hopes to enjoy in the Lord's promise of Liberty and Freedom opened in their understandings ten years since insomuch â—hat some have been ready to tempt God and say that he was slack concerning his promise and some for want of long patience have lefâ— off expecting that which they once believed hoped foâ— but God is reviving the hopes of the contrite ones in them that had said there was no hope in them is he renewing strength to believe that God will give Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning the Judges at the first were not to judge for gifts nor for rewards nor the Priests were not to preach for hire nor the Prophets were not to divine for money but the Judges did minister justice freely between man and man and the Priests did minister the Law freely which was added upon all transgression So in those days there were no Priests that troubled the Courts Judges nor Counsellors with Addresses Petitions or Complaints for maintenance no suing at the Law no imprisoning mens persons for Wages nor no spoiling of mens goods and there was not such delays in executing judgment upon transgressors as is now for the Judges sate in the gate and executed judgement speedily upon the offendors and cleansed the Land of evil-doers and so eveâ—y one was to wait on his Mâ—nistry which he had received from the Lord and are to do so now if they do it unto the Lord He that judgeth for God is not to respect any mans person in judgment and he that hath the Word of the Kingdom is to minister it freely and then the people wil minister their carnal things freely to every one that hath need so that whereas even from the Priest to the people all have been given to covetousness strife and debate every one now will be given to love and freeness one to another for he that hath spiritual things wil minister them freely and he that hath carnal things will minister them freely and so will all come from under the execution of the Law and from all strife and contention Another great oppression wherein iniquity is upheld by a Law is in the Ministration of the Law between man and man it not being done freely so not as in the beginning HE that doth minister the Law let him do it freely for the Lord and for righteousness sake and let him be as one of the Judges in the beginning and as one of the Counsellors whose eyes were not blinded with gifts and rewards and so it will come to be a free Nation and then every man will not seek his own but every one anothers good and then will pure love spring up to one another and one will seek to preserve and save another and not devour and destroy one another about earthly things as now they do so Christ's Spirit will be found among all sorts of people Ministers of the Law Ministers of the Gospel and Subjects of the Nation which were to save mens lives not to destroy them and then the Scriptures which cannot be broken wil be fulfilled and peace wil be extended as a River and righteousnesse as a mighty Stream For it is this spirit which I have mentioned in Lawyers and Priests which did not minister freely but for covetous ends hath made merchandize of peoples souls and estates that hath broken the peace of this Nation as many hath had a deep experience even when the Army was in its first purity and zeal for God and his Truth that Spirit did creep into their Counsels and corrupted them and did creep into Parliaments and corrupted them and when there was any appearance of a Monarchy or Government arising in the Nation that spirit crept into every high Court and corrupted it so that whole Nations are corrupted with that spirit so that till that spirit be purged out there
limitation and to submit unto any Power or Magistracy that doth or shall rule as the Ordinance of God without any limitation or qualification is far below that Spirit which was once in some of you in that profession for you have told of having the Laws regulated according to the Scriptures and of having Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning and then not to submit to what Government soever but that which is according to Equity and Justice And what do you bear Arms or fight for if not for a Government according to truth and that Righteousness may establish the Nation Some have judged this to be the very Design and End of the War and Controversie against many that were Governors and Magistrates and were by some called the Ordinance of God and the higher Power And if now you resolve to live peaceably and submit to whatever Government shall be establishâ—d then your Fighting is at end And if any shall come in and establish Popery and govern by tyranny you have begged pardon by promising willingly to submit and live peaceably under it as the Ordinance of God And if Jeroboam come to reign and set up Calves to worship and cause the people to sin yet you will submit and live peaceably and quietly under it accounting it the Ordinance of God And if a Pharoah come to rule he that bears rule must be counted a Magistrate and a Magistracy must be accounted the Ordinance of God by you and peaceably submitted unto and whatsoever Government they set up by their Act wil be accounted lawful things and you must submit to them else you have proved your selves all lyars but some did judge that ye had been of another spirit To the second you say As for the publick Ministry of the Nation who differ from us in the matter of baptizing Infants and some things in Church-Government we are so far from endeavouring to destroy them that we judge they ought to have the liberty of their consciences therein and that it is our duty to stand by them and preserve them so much as in us lies from all injury and violence Ans. It seems then that there is not so much difference betwixt them and you as will make them Antichristian and you Christian and there is a near compliance when as it is your duty to stand by them and preserve them while they are baptizing Infants But can you stand by them and preserve them and not tell them that it is Antichristian or contrary to the Scriptures And do you think that they will do as much for you as to stand by you while you are plunging your Members in the water And although you do so as you say is not this contradiction to your selves in what you say in the same Paper For do you not say That you will not tolerate any miscarriages in things Civil or Religious And whether is not this a miscarriage in things religious to baptize Infants And whether do you not tolerate this miscarrâ—age in them while you stand by to preserve them in it as you say from injury and violence But who doth offer any violence to them which are their guard against but the Priests will hardly believe you and if they ever have power that will not pardon you for so saying and therefore you had better have been silent than have shewed pour weakness and ignorance for nothing To the third you say Concerning the people called Quakers it is well known unto all that are not wilfully ignorant there are none more opposite to their irregular practices than we are nor are there any that they have exprest more contradiction to in matters of Religion than against us though their provocation therein hath not put us in the least on a desire of depriving them of their just liberty while they live morally honest and peaceable in the Nation Ans. Is not this secret smiting without a cause What irregular practice is that which you accuse them of and wil not mention is this honestly done What are they worse than the Episcopal Priests you mention to them wherein they differ from you and why not to the Quakers Is it enough for any man to believe that they are irregular because you say so without any proof Or dare you not mention wherein you judge it so lest they should disprove you But you say there is not any they have expressed more contradiction to in matters of Religion than against you Answ. That is false for they have more contradicted the common Priests of the Nation as their Books and sufferings will witness although they have according to truth contradicted you and also have more of your contradictions and confusions to declare concerning you which are not yet published But what do you account their irregular practice Is it because their yea is yea and their nay is nay in all their communications and yours not so Or is it because they cannot swear at all Or is it because they cannot have any mans person in admiration because of advantage or because they cannot respect the person of the rich nor honor the person of the mighty Is it because they do unto others as they would have others to do unto them Or because they speak the truth every one to his Neighbour without partiality or hypocrisie Or is it any thing relating to these things above-named If not in your next mention in what or else the wise in heart wil judge you to sprak onely from your imaginary conceit But what is your end in so secret smiting them Do you think to excuse your selves by accusing them And who is it that doth charge you in countenancing the Quakers in their practices either regular or irregular I know none that hath any ground so to charge you But to men of understanding who can see beyond words you rather appear to be begging a pardon of the Episcopal and Presbyter and the vvild Boys and Apprentices of London by accusing the Quakers as hereafter will appear and that fearfulness and unbelieving is entred into your hearts and so your spirits are betrayed into a slavish fear but if ever you be accepted or owned of God you must own that for your strength which the Quakers live in and if ever any rule for God in this Nation they must own that Light Life and Spirit which they are guided by and then they will not despise but have unity with the Quakers To the fourth you say Whereas we are further charged with endeavouring an universal Toleration of all miscarriages both in things Religious and Civil under pretence of Liberty of Conscience it is in both respects notoriously false And we do before the Lord that shall judge both quick and dead yea before Angels and Men declare our utter detestation of such a Toleration for in matters Civil we desire there may not be the least toleration of miscarriage in any much less in our selves Nor do we desire in matters
no other way can R. H. A word of Wisdom and Counsel to the Officers and Souldiers of the Army in England c. To weigh and consider before the light and power of their day be shut up in darkness when they cannot Act for God THe people of this Commonwealth hath by deep and sad experiences not onely seen the falseness and deceivableness of many fair words and pretences whereby they have been betrayed of their liberties and freedom and nothing yet but bondage and slavery is left upon them but they also through their deep sufferings have learned to know the spirits of men And though every appearance of a Power that ariseth gets new words and fair pretences but still in the old spirit Yet we do perfectly know that it is the new Spirit of the Lord put in the inward parts from which men must act for the Lord and for the Liberties of his people before they be established in righteousness or enjoy the liberty of their Consciences And we see that God hath given time and days which should have been days of liberty and of plenteous redemption But through mens departing from the leadings of God and suffering their own wisdom to pervert them they became days of persecution and cruelty which for the Elects sake which suffered in them was shortned as for instance 1. Oliver Cromwel in his days made many Vows Promises Engagements and Professions for the liberty of tender Consciences as the honest people of this Nation are not ignorant and how that at Dunbar he confest unto God in his prayer That if the Lord would but deliver him that time he would take away that great oppression of Tithes which when he was delivered both at that and many other times and had a prize put into his hand yet had no heart to improve it but contrary to all his prayers promises and engagements suffered and tolerated the wicked spirit of persecution in the murthering Priests and Magistrates to Rule in the Land over tender Consciences even until violence and blood covered the earth and filled the whole Nation suffering Laws to be made for Tythes and for persecuting of tender Consciences and so building again that which he had destroyed and so made himself a Transgressor but for the elects sake his dayes were shortened 2. In the dayes of R. Cromwell many of that succeeding Parliament began to declare their sensibleness how that O. Cromwel had betrayed the Nation and its Liberty and left them in great bondage debt persecution and slavery But how soon they were perverted and became more bloody and cruel against all that fear God the upright in heart are sensible setting up in themselves that which they declared against in him and instead of giving liberty and freedom to the Army and to the people of God they voted down that liberty and freedom which they already had viz. of meeting together one with another in the fear and worship of God so they became cruel as the Ostrich in the Wildernesse and as evening Wolves but for the Elects sake was their dayes shortened 3. The long and late Parl. they came up with greater pretences of liberty and freedom then all that was before them and the people generally applauding of them by telling them that they were the beginners of setling the Nation in the way of a Common wealth and did expect they should perfect the peoples Liberty and Freedom outwardly which by the other Powers they had suffered under expecting that they should remove those burthens which was laid upon tender Consciences by impositions and cruel sufferings and in their beginning they seemed to be given up to do the work expected from them and did publish it in their weekly news to the Nation several times that it was their real intent to make the Nation a Free Common-wealth not in name but in Nature and this was often expressed by them and indeed they did something more then those that went before them in setting at Liberty those that were imprisoned because they could not pay Tythes to the Priests and because they could not swear and because they could not put off their hats to honour pride and ambition and because they spoke the Truth against the deceits of the Priests which both the Souldiers and the honest-heaâ—ted in the Nation knows how treacherous they have been and the hinderance of every appearance of God in the Nation for the chief cause of Gods breaking down and of bringing into ignominy shame and reproach those late powers before mentioned was the letting in of the Priests spirit and flatteries as O. Cromwell if alive would witnesse or those that are alive may witnesse for him that he had never been such a covenant-breaker and betrayer of the Nations Liberties but by letting in that wicked interest which made him a reproach a by-word a hissing among the people And the two late Parliaments it was their joyning to that betraying interest of the Priests and neglecting of the Nations businesse that brought darkenesse and confusion and consequently a dissolution upon them And the last as I said did something more then the former But when they began to revive the Committee for plundred Ministers and did not take notice nor call any Committee to subdue or punish the plundering Ministers of which they were informed from divers parts of the Nation which had feloniously taken away the goods of many an honest innocent man then did Gods Indignation grow hot against them and then was it time for them to be dissolved for they had finished their day and they had done all that ever they would have done for the Lord for bonds and violence was in their hearts but for the Elects sake which hath alwayes borne a true Testimony against the oppression and cruelty under which the Innocent suffers was their days shortened All those before mentioned had their day from the Lord given them to try and to prove them and they have been tried and proved And now you the Army have your day from the Lord wherein you will be tried and proved and you will be more inexcusable if you do not the things pretended then any that hath been before you for you see what hath been the cause of the fall and you see how that through Pride and Ambition flatteries and fair pretences the Cause of God and the Peoples Liberties have been betrayed by those that have fought honour one of another and not the honour which belongs unto God onely Therefore if you would have the Lord to honour you and keep you in renown in the Nation seek not your selves but deny your own Lordships honours and Excellencies let none cleave unto you by flatteries in giving you titles in seeming respect and honors for that will betray you and lead you from that Innocency by which you should act for the Lord and as now you have Power exercise it in chusing men fearing God and hating covetousnesse ambition pride and honor that
so the Nation may enjoy that Liberty and Feedom which they have long waited for and suffer none to act that persecution in your names which hath already covered the Nation with blackness and darknesse and hath brought Gods curse upon their proceedings One thing is upon me to acquaint you with which many of you it may be doth not know which is this One of the little horns which pushed and persecuted the Lambs of Christ is springing up again and begins to be as fierce as ever For yesterday in the Exchequor at Westminster Judge Parker and Judge Wilde would not receive a true answer from an honest man who is well known for his uprightnesse against a false Bill exhibited against him by a Priest unlesse he would give it in upon Oath and therefore because he could not swear for Conscience sake but did testifie the Truth from his heart he was committed Prisoner to the Fleet and several others True and Just men and Friends to the Common-wealth was denied the Law and their answers rejected because they could not swear but in whose names and by whose authority they act those things is not yet declared to the Nation If those Judges act those things in the name and by the authority of the Army or their late chosen Counsel let it be openly manifest and if not but they did it in their own names let the Nation know it For this is worse then the last Parliament who did set many free who where so imprisoned and did give Commissions and receive Testimony without swearing Judge Parker seems to have forgotten that knowledge and fidelity which he had of that people when he went his last circuit in the North and his so favouring the Priests now shews that he hath forgotten since he confest that he was Sermon-sick at Carlisle this last Summer when he wished that a Quaker had been there and saw that they had reason to declare against them c. But to us it is no strange thing to see men so apt to change and to betray their own knowledge for filthy lucre sake while the corruption of the Laws through bribery and deceit is upheld which once the Souldiers had a clear sigâ—t oâ— and a determination to pull down and now it is the only day of their tryal to provâ— themselves and it is doing of that which you have accused the Parliament for not doing that must make you manifest for people will no longer believe words for your selves know that the good people of the Nation have made daily complaints and Petitions the Officers Souldiers also against that general oppression of Tithes the Parliament hath only given them thanks for their good expressions and good affections but done nothing until their thanks did even become loathsom to the people Is it not a grievous thing and intolerable to be born that innocent and faithful men who see and deny the Priests deceit should be forced whether by Law or Violence to give them the tenth part of all their labours and increase and they with that money to buy horse and arms to raise a Rebellion to murther and destroy those men who deny to give them that which your Law hath caused to be taken from them and so both the Law and Priesthood is joyned together in oppression of the people And the Nation is very sensible that all this while they have but been deceived by promises and fair pretences Therefore be diligent to improve the light of your day before the Sun set upon you and you be shut up in darkness and the power to do good be taken from you A member of his Army who makes War with the sword of his mouth Richard Hubberthorn London the 24. of the 8. mo 1659. An Answer to the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacie from the People called Quakers A Copy of which was given to the KING by them upon the 4. day of the 5. Moneth 1660. AS it was the Disciples Religion Principle and Practice to obey Christs command as in Mat. 5.34 But I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven for it is Gods Throne nor by the Earth for it is his foot-stool neither by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King neither shalt thou swear by thy head for thou canst not make one hair white or black but let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evil and this being the Apostles Religion and practice rhey preached thiâ— doctrine unto others as it is written James 5.12 But above all things my brethren swear not neither by heaven neither by the earth neither by any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest you fall into condemnation so this is our doctrine principle and practice that we cannot swear at all by any oath lest we fall into condemnation and so sin against Christ and if we do suffer or be persecuted and imprisoned because we cannot swear then it is for our Religion and exercise of our Consciences and obedâ—ence of truth unto our God in which suffering we shall rather die then sin against him And whereas it is required of us to testifie our obedience as Subjects unto Charles the second as our lawful King and own his Supremacie and Government in all just and lawful commands whereupon an oath of Allegiance and Supremacie is tendred As it is our principle and hath ever been our practice to be obedient Subjects under every Power ordained of God and to every ordinance of man set up by him for the Lords sake whether unto King as Supream or unto Governours or any set up in authority by him who are for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well 1 Pet. 2.13 14. and unto such we do freely promise obedience unto all just and lawful commands And we do own and believe that it is not without but according to the purpose of the Lord that he hath this day and power given him as King head and chief Magistrate over this Nation that while he hath this day and power he may rule for God in civil and outward affairs and matters relating to the outward man and estate in which all his just and lawful commands we can willingly be subject unto not for wrath but even for conscience sake and all commands which are otherwise whether from him or any other we shall willingly and patiently suffer under them what men shall be permitted to impose upon us and thus we do accept and own the King and his Government as he and it is according to God and answerable unto him we are willingly obedient and in Conscience bound to accept it and shall yield subjection thereunto but if otherwise contrary to God he rule in tyranny oppression injustice or the like that we must bear witness against by the spirit of truth but not by outward opposition as rebellion by insurrections plots or
up in pride and that would do or say any thing for his hire he should bring those Scripture to plead for swearing and that lawfulnesse of oathes in all which the Apostle took God to witnesse his love to the Saints and labour in the work of his ministry signifying to all that understand how that he spoke the truth and did not lye and kept to his yea and nay according to Christs doctrine and did not swear at all Now further to prove swearing Lawful John Tombs brings This fifth argument That which hath a necessary use for the benefit of humane society is not unlawfull but some swearing hath a necessary use for the benefit of humane society ergo Answ This argument is thus disproved and both the major and minor to be false For to break any command of Christ is of no necessary use for humane society but to swear any oath is to break his command ergo For Godlinesâ— is profitable unto all men in all their societies bat he that swears goes from Godlinâ—sse into ungodlinesse and trangression which trangression is of no use nor service amongst Christians so that John Tombs might as well have thus stated his Argument that to break Christs command is of benefit to humane society therefore to break Christs command is lawfull c. and might thus have proved it that excâ—pt we break Christs command we cannot preach for hire nor sue men at the Law for tythes nor live in pride ease and vanity nor keep our places of profit and benefit which is necessary for our society of Priests ergo But we whose eyes God hath opened do see that all his book tends to the perswading of people to swear when Christ hath said Swear not at all and that which he now would swear for again he vvould svvear against for the same advantage profit vvhich he hath in his eye yea or he vvould persvvade all men not to svvear and bring Scripture to prove it upon the same account so that vvhat he doth in this kind is because of advantage for tvvo years since he did not preach this doctrine nor vvrite those arguments Novv it being proved that the follovvers of Christ and believers in him are not to svvear at all then all those promissory oaths upon vvhich John Tombs hath grounded his other propositions is not to be taken But again to prove an oath of supremacy to King Cesar he brings the example and rule of Christ and argues thus If the Lord Christ in the dayes of his flesh did ackovvledge Cesar as supreme Governor in his dominions and did subject himself to his jurisdiction in ansvvering before the Roman Deputy and vvas obedient to his parents real or supposed then all Christians even the highest Ecclesiastical Prelate should be subject to the King as supreme Governor in his Dominions and for proof of this he brings Mat. 22 21. vvhen the Pharisees shevved sus the Tribute money Christ bid them Give unto Cesar that vvhich vvas Cesars unto God the things that are Gods so then it vvas the tribute money that vvas due to Cesar but doth this prove that Christ did swear or vvas any example of svvearing to Cesar or account Câ—sar the head of the Church Ruler in Ecclesiastical things so that this Scripture proves the contrary then for that which thou brings it for those Pharisees that brought the money to Christ said they knew that be respected no mans person but taught the way of God in Truth so then if Christ be our example and rule in this then to the supream King or Kings we must not respect their persons but give them their due which is that tribute whâ—ch hath their own superscription upon it and we must teach the way of God in Truth give unto God the things which are Gods which is all honour glory and rule in spiritual matters and give to Châ—ist alone the prâ—heminence which is head of his body which is his Church and we must not swear at all neither for nor against any man for Christ did not swear neither for nor against Cesar and we must live peaceably with all men nor envy nor fight for nor against any man and this is quite contrary to what Jo. Tombs would perswade people or to what he understands from the Scripture which would make people believe that Christ was an example of the oath of supremacy to Cesar so that people may well be blind ignorant who hath such Teachers But we also shall follow the example of Christ as 1. Tim. 6 13. who did witnesse a good confession before Poâ—tius Pilate and this is a good confession before any King or Ruâ—er now to say that we have obeyed the Truth from our heart and have not broken the Commands of Christ by swearing for or against any neither have we transgrest the example of Christ in respecting any mans person neither do we in our hearts envy any man King Ruler or people but hath love even to our enemies and can do good to them that hate us and can pray for them that persecute us and do desire and daily labour that all men might come to the knowledge of the Truth that they might be saved And this good Confession we can witnesse before the King or any in Authority and say that God is our witnesse and our Conscience also bears us witnesse in the sight of God as the Apostle did and we can say also that we speak the Truth before God and lye not for our eyes is not blinded with gifts and rewards neither have we taken Oath Covenants nor Protestations for Parties Powers or Religions but since we knew the way of Christ we have walked in it and kept to his Commandement Oath which is yea nay in all things so have not entred in condemnation with those that are given to change but the unchangeable Priest the unchangeable Covenant and unchangeable Law hath been our Rule and of this we need not be ashamed but in Gods power and Authoritie can we hold up our heads when others do bow down their backs alwayes crouching under every power and change of Government as Davids enemies did Psal. 69.23 for that is their place condition as the Apostle doth witness Rom. 11.10 Again Jo. Tombs saith that Paul a Saint was subject to the judgement of Cesar and appealed to him then he acknowledged him supream c ergo Answ. Paul was a Prisoner for the word of God and testimony of Jesus and appealed to Cesar for justice because he was unjustly accused and had not done any thing worthy of bonds or of death therefore according to their Law he ought to be set free but Paul did not call Cesar the supream head of the Church and chief Ruler in Ecclesiastical things for if Cesar had been the supream head of the Church of which Paul was a member he would have needed but little appealing unto for setting of him at liberty but in such
there was the like example But these was warned in their day not to persecute the innocent nor to uphold those that preached for filthy lucre who served not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies But they hearkned not to the Counsel of the Lord but shut their ears against his Instructions therefore was their day taken from them and their Power given to another that they also might be tryed 2 In the year 1653 a Council of State was called by O C. but they did nothing to take off the weight of oppression in the Nation neither in Spiritual nor Civil things for Pride and the deceitfulnesse of Riches entred into their hearts that they did not regard nor set themselves wholly to do that which the Lord did require them although they were warned of God in their time yet the Yoke of the oppressor was not taken away but under it the Nation groaned and they wrought no deliverance in the earth III. Then the Little Parliament sat in the same year and there was a plant of Righteousnesse tending towards some equity and freedom springing up in them but the strength of deceipt and subtilty in others did quench it before it brought forth any thing to perfection and in that time the Priests fierce persecuting Zeal was so inflamed that many Petitions from several parts of the Nation was presented against the Quakers to the Parliament and their continual clamor Petitions and Addresses and they being not regarded and harkned unto was one cause of the continuance of the Nations bondage and oppression and God never prospered such as received them into their Councils or gave heed to their reports but a Curse and Destruction alwaies followed them in their undertakeings whose ear was open unto such things And in the time of his Power and Government was persecution continued about Religion though much was pretended to the contrary they also were warned and wisely counselled in their day and so was left without excuse IV. Again in the same year was O C. made Protector who had his day and power in his hand to have done good and to have done that which he and others pretended but he joyning with the covetous Priests and their Interests to make his arm strong thereby betrayed the Lord and his People into the hands of sinners And instead of removing Persecution he caused new Acts to be made to Persecute by and so brought a Curse upon himselfe and Family and Tribulation upon those that trusted in him And the Lord did often visit him with reproofs and instructions untill he hardened his heart agâ—inst all reproof and then was he given up of the Lord and of his People to his appointed end as an Example to all Hypocrites and Treacherous ones V. Again his second Parliament was called and fat in the year 1654. In their daies was not the Land eased not freed from its bondage and when they had let in the Priests Spirits and was incensed against the Truth and intending to make Laws to Persecute then were they broken and their power taken from them who in their day was warned but did not the thing which the Lord required of them VI. Oliver's 3d. Parliament which consisted of two Houses sat in the year 1657. they more than any of the rest did draw back into that which they had declared against and they let in the Priests Persecuting Spirit and made Laws for Persecution and many were Imprisoned in the time of their Government because for Conscience sake they could not pay Tithes to the Hireling Priests and because they could not Swear contrary to Christs command Mat. 5. And they had many warnings and admonitions from the Lord which they rejected and so the Lord rejected them as from doing his work VII Then Richard Cromwell in the year 1658. was made Protector whom the Priests flockt to as their Rock of defence that he as their Joshua might lead them into their promised Land which was but a Benefice of Tithes or Augmentation their prayed for Inheritance and they told him that the Gospel was bound up in him and so did cleave unto him by Flatteries as they did unto all the rest before him for their own ends but the suffering seed of God which could not Flatter him was not set free who freely declared unto him the word of the Lord and instructions from the Almighty before his day was over VIII And again his Parliament sate in the year One thousand six hundred fifty nine they continued and did not free the Sufferers and imprisoned ones who suffered onely for the worship of their God and for the exercise of a good Conscience but they went on swiftly in the way of their destruction to impose Worships upon people and to decree unrighteous Decrees and upon that Rock of Religion they were broken as others had been before them though they were exhorted to righteousness and told of the evill that did come upon them IX The ninth Government was again the Long-Parliament who came in with great pretences and resolutions and protestations to make this Nation a Free-Common-wealth not onely in Name but in Nature And they begun well and to call the prisoners up to London who suffered for Conscience sake and freed some of them and many of them intended to take away that great Oppression of Tithes whereby much deceit and many dâ—ceivers are held up in the Nation and then the Priests rage was kindled against them and they cursed them in their pulpits and preached up War against them and themselves get Horses Pistols and Swords to fight for their Tithes and Maintenance and when they were routed then they again petitioned the Parliament some begging pardon and some pleading not-Guilty and the Parliament was so blind that upon their Dissimulation they let in the Priests again and begun to gratifie the Priests and establish Tithes and then the wrath of God broke forth against them and their Destruction was prophesied of and told them that it should shortly come upon them as it came to pass because they would not receive the Lords Counsel in their day X. Then the Army and Committee of Safety so called had the Power and Government in their hands which they did not improve as they might have done for the liberty of the Subjects neither did they receive that counsel from the Lord which would have opened their understandings how to have ruled for him but with corrupt reasonings among themselves perverted one another and confounded their own work reasoning out the good and honest intentions of some that was amongst them until they all became as a heap of Confusion and their work broken to pieces A just reward of their own devices and following the counsels of their own hearts neglecting the Advice of that Spirit of righteousness which should have led and also established them in the work of the Lord in the Nation so as unworthy and disobedient were they cast out XI Then again the Long-Parliament
all feignedness and formality even to dwell in the substance which is the holy life of the Son of God where the true love the heavenly voice and pure joy is felt and known as in the beginning always remembring how the Gospel in power came unto you and how in fear and much trembling it was both preached unto you and received by you with the many blessed effects of its operation vvorking your conversation out of the earthly nature from the earthly body into the heavenly body in which you are able to take up his Cross if it be daily to follow him in the regeneration and newness of life even from the true knowledge of him in whom ye have believed and by whose povver you stand For when we consider the infinite deepness and largeness of that love with which we have been cloathed and have even covered others withal and likewise the many experiences of the Father's dealings with us in working all our Works both in us and for us this cannot but deeply engage our hearts unto him how that ever since we have known him to be our Leader he hath always gone before us preparing our vvay that we might serve him he hath for his seeds sake even reproved Kings and hath quenched the violence of fire that was kindled in many hearts against us he hath by his Wisdom put to silence the ignorance of foolish men that he may clear us from all their reproach He hath not only kept us alive in our suffering under the Wrath of our Enemies but in the power of his spirit made us to reign over them and not only over our outward and open enemies but also over the secret smitings of the wicked one which would privily slay the righteous He hath had a tender regard to his innocent ones to keep them out of the snares of the betrayers and to keep them in the unity of his power and love in the which I speak unto you that know these things whose ears the Lord hath so opened that you can try Words and whose eyes also he hath unclosed that you can see that which causeth divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and avoid it for hitherto even until this day have you learned by good experience and some through sufferings that whatsoever hath risen up to oppose the Lord in his Way to quench the strength of his Love or to break the unity of his people whether it hath been by spirit or letter under never so innocent pretences the Lord hath brought it down and confounded it and made it to be as dust under the feet of his Saints so that we may together say to the praise of our God that we knovv the depths of Satan and are not ignorant of his devices Therefore in the sence of this experience put on strenth O ye Arm of the Lord by vvhich he will do great things and through whom he will make his power known to the Nations in setting up his Kingdom and Government and his Peace of which there shall be no end Let nothing hinder the setting up of his Scepter of Truth and Righteousness amongst you and let the Life of Jesus in his Love and Power reign over all the earthly spirits and over the spirit of Jealousie which is strong as death and cruel as the grave which being not received it can hurt nothing but its own habitation in which it lodgeth So keep your selves pure in the love of God and be not partakers of other mens sins walking worthy of the holy and blessed calling in which the Lord hath given you an inheritance among the living And dwel in the spirit of meekness in which the Wisdom and Power of God you will feel to the refreshing of your souls for as you therein abide you are our joy in the Lord and a strength unto us in his Work Another Epistle to Friends IN the life of the Son of God dwell that in it you may be made manifest unto all answering the just and reproving the unjust for he is come to rule who must put down all rule and all authority under his feet and in him is the living dominion felt and the faith in the power which overcomes the edge of the sword and subdues Nations in which is the dread of the Almighty to bring under the stout-hearted even by the power of the holy seed which is spreading abroad in the earth for the finishing the Fathers work in the earâ—h which all are witnesses of who do abide and walk in his light where you may all enjoy your peace with the Lord and be kept in his power over the power and spirit of the world in the everlasting covenant of light and life where you may all feel the growth of the seed in you into the Fathers gift which is the life immortal so dearly beloved and truly begotten in my Fathers love dwell in that which gives you a sight knowledge and feeâ—ing of him who hath begotten you into a measure of his life light power and image and hereby will you all be united into one serving one another in love for God is love and we are his off spring and to the world is he manifest through us as being his natural branches and the breaking forth of his light and power and is as set upon a hill unto which all eys look and from which the sincere and tender take their example so dear hearts in the path of the Just walk which is a shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day so as children of it all walk that you to others may be examples and leaders out of darkness and out of the ways of death into the Kingdom of the Father which stands in the Light righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost in which the power and presence of my heavenly Father preserve you and keep you in his living Dominion Reasons why no Imposition ought to be upon mens Consciences by any but the Lord. 1. BEcause no man can perswade the conscience of another either what God is or how to worship him but onely the Spirit which God hath given to instruct man 2 Because to impose any thing upon another mans conscience either to do or practice is not to do unto another as he would have another do unto him and therefore is contrary to Christs doctrine 3 Because all obedience or service that is thereby obtained is for fear of wrath and not from love nor for conscience sake and will but continue so long as that fear or force abides upon them 4 Because thereby no man can make an Hypocrite a Believer but it is possible that thereby he may make many Hypocrites 5 Because that in all forced impositions upon mens consciences there is of the wrath of man exercised which workâ— not the righteousness of God but rather begets enmity one towards another 6 Because that men are not made thereby loving Subjects but forced Slaves 7 Because that by the force of imposing any thing upon men many are thereby hardned in their hearts and resolved to resist when as by love and leaving them free they mâ—ght easily be perswaded of that which otherwise thâ—y will not be THE END Acts 33. Rom. 4.11 John 5.3 Jer. 1.5 6. Luk. 1.66.08 1 Kin. 8.46 John 14.4 Prov. 20.9 John 18.10 Eccles. 7.23
carnal weapons to destroy or overthrow either him or the Government thereby for that is contrary to our life But as for swearing it being contrary both to Christs command and our Consciences as we never have so we never shall swear neither for nor against any Man Power or Government but shall be true and faithful to what we promise and profess And as concerning the Church of God and spiritual things relating unto Gods Kingdom we own onely Jesus Christ as Supream Head Ruler and Lawgiver there according to James 4.1 There is one Lawgiver which is able to save and to destroy and as it is written Ephes. 1.12 that God hath given him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all and as the Apostles did hold forth him to be the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first-born from the dead that in all thâ—ngs he might have the preeminence Col. 1.18 And him we do own as head Ruler and Commander in all matters of Faith Obedience and Worship in things appertaining unto his Kingdom and he onely is to rule give laws and order in the Consciences of men by his spirit light and power and as he is the author of his people Faith so he is the defender of it and them in it and so to him we give the Dominion Rule and Government as Head and Supream over his Church and not unto man so in him who is our Life King and Lawgiver we honour all men and do seek the peace of all men and not the destruction and unto this we do acknowledge and bear witness to who are members of his body which is his Church Richard Hubberthorne George Fox the younger London 23. day 4. Moneth 1660. Antichristianism reproved and the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles justified against Swearing In Answer to John Tombs's six Propositions for the lawfulness of Swearing All which Propositions are both agaâ—nst Christ and his Apostles Doctrine as is here proâ—ed according to the Scriptuâ—es For the satisfaction of all tender Consciences Because of Oaths the Land mourns Hos. 4 And as saith the Prophet every one that sweareth shall be cut off Zach. 5.3 The Epistle John Tombs IS it not a shame for thee who art called a Baptist thus to manifest thy self and divide thy self from thy own people Hast thou not taught people to swear first one way and then another Did ever any of the Apostles so in the Primitive times But on the contrary that people should not swear at all And why dost thou bring the Scripture that was spoken to the Jews and apply it to the Christians And why dost thou bring the Scripture where the Angel sware but brings not the Scripture which saith All Angels must worship the Son who saith Swear not at all So is not this like Antichrist and Anti Apostle that preaches up that which Christ and the Apostles denied as in Mat. 5. James 5. And whereas thou saist in thy Epistle that thy writing is short and indigested in that thou hast said truly for how can they that fear God digest it seeing it is so contrary unto Christ and the Apostles Doctrine And so both thou and it are become an ill savour to God and them that love him but thou shalt be rewarded according to thy work But God hath made thee manifest who hatst so long been hiding thy self under so many false coverings but now art discovered that thou shouldst no more deceive the Nation R. H. But on the contrary from the Scripture it is proved that the Believers and Christians are not to swear at all Therefore to them that are in Christ Jesus no Oath is lawful WE read in the Scriptures of truth Matt. 5.19 That whosoever breaketh the least commandment and teacheth men so he shall be least or not at all in the Kingdom of God But we do find some men especially John Tombs breaking the commands of Christ and teaching men so therefore he is guilty of that judgment but to the first proposition which is this That some swearing is lawful His proofs are these That which is not de toto genere in its whole kind evil may be lawful but swearing is not de toto genere or in its whole kind evil therefore some swearing may be lawful Answ. This argument is thus disproved To break any of Christs commands or to deny the Apostles Doctrine is de toto genere in its whole kind evil but to swear at all by any Oath is to break the command of Christ and to deny the Apostles doctrine as Mat. 5.35 36 37. and Jam. 5.12 Therefore to swear at all is not lawful but evil according to Christ and the Apostles Doctrine and in the state of condemnation Jam 5. Again John Tombs concluding that his major is manifest of it self goes To prove this minor thus That is not wholly evil about the use of which some Directions are given by God but God giveth directions about the use of swearing as Jer. 4.2 And thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth and judgment and righteousness ergo Answ. By the same argument may it as well be proved that the Christians and believers in â—hrist may be circumcised offer incense burnt-offerings and sacrifices because for the use of it God gave some directions and therefore it is lawful but as circumcision incense burnt-offerings and sacrifices of the Law is ended in Christ so is the Oaths which was among the Jews in him ended also to the Believers and by him forbidden for it was said of old time Thou shalt swear and shalt perform thy oath to the Lord but Christ in the 5. of Mat. makes mention of the Jews oath which God gave once directions for yet saith he Swear not at all here Christ puts an end not onely to frivolous and vain oaths but to the true oaths which the Jews was once commanded of God to sweâ—r for these oaths are they which Christs words hath relation to for he came to end the Jews worships and oaths who is the oath of God Christ the truth and righteousness of God saith Swear not at all which ends the Jews which was to swear in truth and righteousness 2 Argument That which is approved by God is lawful but some swearing is approved by God Psal. 63.11 Every one that sweareth by God shall glory ergo Answ. That Scripture Psal. 63.11 saith thus but the King shall rejoyce in God every one that sweareth by him shall glory but the mouth of them that speak lyes shall be stopped This was spoken of David the Anointed of God who was in that covenant of the Law wherein he might swear in truth and righteousness that oath As the Lord liveth and as my soul liveth but there was some in that time which if they used that Oath the Lord liveth surely they swear falsly Jer. 5.2 But what is that to the Christians under the new