Forms by number and Tale they are as much Idiots as the rest are who know not the Spirit to pray by And so this is no Authority to prove your Practice Apostolical and holy as for variety of Prayers and Worships it delighteth the carnal mind indeed but they that worship God in Spirit and Truth they Pray by the Spirit and in it as David and Christ prayed whether seven times five times or three times and with understanding and that which they prayed in was not various but one and it 's by that one Spirit which is not various by which the Sons of God cry Abba Father and the variety of your formed charms Bablings upon your Beads God hath no regard unto but is a Smoke in his Nostrills all day And they that have exercised themselves in these things have not the Witness of God in their own consciences that they are accepted of God and so I shall proceed to another Doctrine called Apostolical and Holy and that is about Meats whether they may be lawfully eaten at all time The Author confesseth they forbid certain kinds of Meats but it is but aâ— certain times and they are forbidden not as they are Evil and the Creatures of God but because they are forbidden by the Church and his proof is the Apple which Eve and Adam eat was not Evil in it self but being prohibited so to eat that which is good of it self is not ill but to eat contrary to the Superiors mind and order this is Evil. The Bible and Scriptures ought not to be read but leave is to be asked of the Superior because there are many hard Passages which they which have little or no learning as Peter testifies in hâ—s second Epistle chap. 3. some â—nderstands it one way and some another and therefore it is the fittest for Learned men to judge of them and they must judge whether People be in a capacity to read them Answ. And why are Meats forbidden aâ— certain â—imes is this like Apostolick Doctrine are not all Times and Seasons in the Hand of the Lord and are all good to them that believe and to the pure all Things are pure all Times and Seasons all Meats and Drinks being sanctified by the Word which made them all holy unto all that do believe And if you forbid them not as they are Creatures of God but because they are forbidden I say who did forbid them or when were they forbidden by Christ his Apostles or the true Church of Christ in their Dâ—y but on the contrary Christ taught That which goeth in at the Mouth and â—n at the Belly doth not defile the Man but that which proceedeth out of the Heart which is corrupted And Paul said What is sold at the Shambles may be eaten and no Question made for Conscience sake for to the clean all Things are clean and to the believing all Things are pure and who hath limited such Meats for such Dayes and such Times the true Church No but the Church of Rome â—ho are going on in that Doctrine the Apostle spoke of 1 Tim. 4. which he reckoned a Doctrine of Devils but here is your Argument that must bring you off because you forbid it not at all Times I say if it be a Doctrine of Devils to forbid at all Times then it is some Part of the Doctrine of Devils to forbid at any Time seeing Time and Things are all good in the Hâ—nd of the Lord but if this Doctrine should hold what would become of your dog-Dog-dayes and of your Lent which has been patched up Week by Week by divers Popes and of your Wednesday Friday and Saturday Fast so by this Account of yours half of the Year is either unholy or else some Meat is unholy for half of the Year but there are few but see your Blindness that in this much need not be said but only thus that which may lawful in it self when it is prohibited by the Lord unto any particular then it becomes evil for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin But Christ alone unto whom all Power is committed hath the sole Power over the Heart and Conscience and for any to make Injunctions and Prohibitions contrary to him the same is Anti-christ and so the Practice which your Church commands is not Apostolical but you bring Yoaks upon the true Disciples Necks which they that are made free by the Son cannot stoop unto neither joyn with for whosoever doth goes into Bondage And Christ is the supream Power unto whom all Power is committed and when he justifies what superior can condemn And there is no need of asking leave of them that are Superiors which reckon themselves as so seeing every man stands clear in the Sight of God when he transgresses not against the Supream Law of Christ in his Conscience and to offend any Superiors who lay any Injunction contrary to the Command of God is not to offend God neither to break his Command 2 dly It seems all Parts of Religion are monopolized by Mystery-Babylon in which Rome is comprized not only Patents and Pardons sold for eating of Meat but Authority and License must be given to every one that reâ—ds Scripture a Thing which the Apostolick Church before the Pope had a Being knew nothing of but on the contrary some were exhorted to read the Scriptures and some were commended for reading of the Scriptures and for searching whether the Things were so as Paul testified and in this they were counted more Noble then they â—t Thessalonica but now it is become an ignoble Thing and not at all to be 〈◊〉 to read the Scriptures without Patent or Licence in the Church of Rome's Account who have laid down Ignorance to be the Mother of Devotion but the Danger is because there are hard Passages which are not understood when the People have little or no Learning as the Author saith was it for Want of natural Learning that Peter complained they wrested the Scriptures and therefore is it for Want of Natural Learning that the Scriptures are not understood and for Want of this they must not be read as the Author saith Ignorant Man what was Peter such a great learned Man a poor Boat-man of Fisher-man whom the Scripture saith was illiterate in the Acts When they beheld Peter and John and that they were illiterate Men and saw their Boldness and took Notice they had been with Jesus What! was it Want of Natural Learning that Peter spoke of then he spoke against himself for he was illiterate but it was such a Learning that they wanted as this Author wants who is untaught by the Spirit and unlearned in the Doctrine of Christ and such wrest the Scriptures and do not understand hard Sayings because the deep Things of God are revealed through the Spirit of God and not by natural Learning as this Author who would sell Licences and Pardons for reading the Scriptures as they have done for eating Flesh in Lent but a Story
Saints Sabbath is a stranger to the church of Rome he that hath overcome the World and the Devil only knows God's rest and the true Sabbath of which the Jews was a Figure and the Sunday thou callst it is no more a Sabbath reckoned by the Lord of Life then that which thou callst Saturday for every day is kept Holy to the Lord by him that witnesses the work of Redemtion and this is according to the Apostolick Doctrine and if because of example the Christians whom you are pleased to Stile Sectaries do observe the first day of the Week in the Power of God for his Worship then they are as much if not more to be heard then you and have as much Solid reason on their side as you and thou must not think to carry the Matter on with such frivolous Arguments as this to advance Mystery Babylon for this is a knowing Age blessed be the Lord wherein the Wisdom of God is revealed and that which comprehendeth all shadows Types Dayes Times Years Meats Drinks Washings and other Figures they are all seen over and he is come manifest which is Head of the true church and not the Pope who was is and is to come Life it self Truth it self Power Strength and everlasting satisfaction to thousands and ten thousands who have believed and to a numberless Number which are yet to be gathered into God's Sheep-fold and into the narrow way of Christ which will deny and doth deny upon good Grounds and infallible Testimony from the Eternal Spirit that the Church of Rome is either in whole or in part any part of the true Church of Christ. And seeing this valiant Champion hath made so fair a Proffer That 〈◊〉 their Priests Jesuites and Catholicks over all the World will turn to the Sectaries Way as he calls them if they can but get a clear and satisfaâ—tory Resâ—lâ—tion to the following Doubts Answ. I am one which do acknowledge my self to be reckoned by him as a Sectarian yet as a Sectarian is reckoned by the true Church of God in the Primitive Time in the Apostles and Christ's Dayes I do not reckon my self as such and that I am a Minister of the everlasting Gospel I dare not deny seeing a Necessity is laid upon me to acknowledge the same yet herein I do not glory but in him who hath call'd me for the Work sake and I know the Teaching of Christ Jesus and his Doctrine and no other Thing these many Years have I published but that which I received of the Lord and from him by his Spirit which is according to the true Faith and Godliness which was in the primitive Church before ever Rome did lay claim to be the only true catholick Church excluding all others but her self to be in the Way that leads to Salvation I which am as one amongst many Thousands which God hath manifested his Mind unto shall answer in clearness and according to Apostolick Doctrine and the Manifestation of his Spirit but when I have so done I am afraid this Champion with the rest of the Priests and Jesuits and the rest of the Catholicks over the World will hardly own his Challenge or confess that Doubts are answered yet however if it satisfie but one of a Thousand I have my Reward and shall put it to Tryal The first thing the Author who it seems knows the Mind of the Church of Rome in all things both as to Doctrine and Practice which they do allow of and the contrary they will deny he knows to the full or else he would never sure have made such a bold challenge The first thing that they would be resolved in is Whether any can clearly shew that any Teachers Doctors or Ministers are sent of Almighty God to preach and reform the Roman Catholick Church and that they are not some who say the Lord saith when the Lord hath not spoken unto them neither sent them Ezek. 13.2 Answ. What the Roman Church and their Members will take for a satisfactory Resolution as to themselves I sometimes question and do doubt the resolving of the most but however by the same Commandment that the Apostles did evidence their commission that they were sent to reform the Church of the Jews also them that had made Defection from the Faith amongst the Gentiles this may be shown 1. The Apostles of Christ Jesus did declare their Commission which they had received from Christ and for other Proof they sought none amongst them that were Auditors or Hearers but the Witness and Testimony of God unto which they desired to be approved in the Sight of God 2. They shewed the Jews that they held the Types and Figures but did not receive or believe him who was the Substance in whom they all ended they were sent to bear Testimony to the true Light that lightetâ— every one that cometh into the World and to preach down Dayes Times Moneths Years Fasts Feasts Sabbaths Circumcision Temples and Offerings the Priesthood and the Sacrifice which were but to continue until the time of Reformation and the bringing in of a better Hope by which they drew nigh unto God and had an Access unto him and they declared their commission against a voluntary Humility and worshipping of Angels all which things the Church of Rome do stick in and vindicate for Apostolick Doctrine and many more things which the Church of Rome is run into contrary to the true Church of Christ and therefore had need of Reformation So that which is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles and Practice of the primitive Church in the first hundred years is in the Apostacy but Rome is in many Practices and Doctrines contrary to the true Church therefore needs reforming And so God hath manifested himself in this his Day of Power and hath discovered the Church of Rome to be contrary in Doctrine and Practice to the true Spouse of Christ and hath stirred up and moved many by his Power and Spirit to preach the everlasting Gospel and to declare also against the Defection of the Church of Rome and her apostatizing from the Faith and they are not of those whom the Prophets spoke of which ran and the Lord sent them not for them were the false Prophets in Israel and they were manifest by their Fruits of which there are great Store in Rome who are manifest by their Fruits and they are such as are in Cain's Way who would kill and such as are Seekers of Gain from their Quarters and such as take the Jews Tythes and these the Lord nâ—ver sent to be Teachers or Ministers to bring to the Knowledge of Christ but we deny all these things and your Church in the very Ground and Foundation and know that it will be swept away when the Beast is taken alive upon which your Church now rides then shall you see that that which you long put off among People as Apostolick Doctrine will not be received any more
The Papists honouring of Reliques and Images of Saints and praying by Beads proved to be but the Inventions and Traditions of Men and contrary to the Doctrine which the Apostolick Church held forth p. 512. VIII The Doctrine of forbidding certain kinds of Meats and forbidding the Scriptures to be read by all answered p. 515. IX Concerning Miracles p. 519. X. Answers to eight Propositions set forth by one C. M. in a Book of his called A Catechism against all Sectaries p. 521. A General Epistle to the Seed of God p. 536. A Visitation of Love Peace and Good-Will from the Spirit of the Lord sent unto the whole Flock of God now in their Day of Tryal and Hour of Temptation p. 537. An Epistle to all the beloved Prisoners and Fellow-Sufferers in Newgate and else-where in Bonds about the City of London and to Friends of Bristol and Hartford who have lost their Liberty for Christ's sake whom the World is not worthy of p. 543. The great Case of Tythes and forced Maintenance once more revived p. 548. The State thereof enquired into before the Law under the Law and among the Jews likewise under the Gospel The true Ministers of Christ their Allowance shewn Likewise the Corruption of Time since Christ how Tythes have been introduced wherein Antiquity is searched and the Judgment of the Fathers of the Church in several Ages produced A general Epistle to all who have believed in the Light of the Lord Jesus and are called of God to follow the Lamb through the great Tribulation p. 604. The True Rule Judge and Guide of the true Church of God discovered and born Testimony unto what it is and wherein it it consisteth in Opposition to the preâ— tended Catholick Church of Rome her Rule Foundation Guide and Judge being in Answer to a Book writ by Captain Everard entituled An Epistle to all Non-conformists p. 611. A General Epistle to the dispersed and persecuted Flock of Christ Jesus in England and else-where who have believed in Christ the Light of the World and now suffer for his Name 's sake p. 657. Oaths no Gospel-Ordinance but prohibited by Christ being in Answer to A. Smallwood's Sermon published which he preached at Carlile wherein he laboured to prove Swearing lawful among Christians p. 668. To all the well-beloved Flock of Christ whom he hath gathered into his Fold to seed in his heavenly pasture in and about London Hartford and Kingston p. 732. THE END Claudius Espontius ordained at a Council at Pysoy in France that Infants Baptism should be receiv'd by Tradition because it could not be proved as a Command from the Scriptures Ignatius Bishop of Rome was the first Ordainer of Infants Baptism that they should have God-fathers and God-mothers c. Victor Bishop of Rome instituted that Children might be christened by Lay-men Lay-women in case of Necessity Pius Bishop of Rome built the first Temple after the Apostacy in Honour to Prudentia Dionysius in the yea 267. divided bâ—th Rome and other Places intâ— parishes and Diocesses for Bishops Abraham and his Wife buried in Hebron in a piece of Ground he bought Justinian the Emperour ordained that men should Swear by the Gospel or Book called the Gospel lay their hands thereon and Kiss it saying So help me God Silvester Bishop of Rome ordained that all Churches should be christened and should be anointed with oyl Clement Bishop ordained confirmation of Children and said none was a perfect Christian if he wanted this and thus children should be smote on the cheek signed with this Cross. At Lyons in France they appointed Holy-days to encrease their Religion Boniface the fourth ordained Stephen Innocents Laurence Michael Martin John-Baptist and all Saints to be kept holy Corpus-Christi day was ordained by Urbanus the fourth Silvester Bishop ordained Lammas day in memorial of Peter 's pains Gregory ordained that Mass or short prayer should be said over the Tombs of the dead Gregory appointed Wednesday and Fryday should be fasted Soul-mass-day was ordained by Odilo Sextus commanded that no Lay-People should touch the Priests Garments Sabinianus ordained that People should come together to hear Service by ringing of Bells John 22 d. Bishop ordained Bells to be tolled three times a day Singing of Mattens at set times Hierom appointed Pelagius the second commanded Priests to say them daily Telesphorus appointed that Lent should be kept before Easter and fasted Concerning Mass Letany many Authors patched it up at sundry times Acts and Monuments vol. 2. Fol. 55. Euseb. lib. 6. chap. pag. 98. In his Book de succes cap. 6. Act and Mâ—n vol. 1. â—â—l 527. Folio 653. Exâ—â— 20.7 Aâ—ts and Monum vol. 2. fâ—l 701. De Succes cap. 6. Acts 11.29 Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 22. Cyprian Epist. 27.34.36 Hom. 11. in acta Hom 16. in Evan. and dist 5. de conser Acts and Mon. pag. 536 537. Prosper de vita contempt lib. 2. cap. 4. Cyril de adorat in spir ver lib. 4. ad finem Oriâ—en hom 15. in Levit. Gen. 14.9 11 12 13. Gen. 18.20 Hebrews 7.4 Gen. 14.18 Gen. 28.22 Gen. 28.13 14 Ver. 19. Ver. 2â— Exod. 13.1 Tertul Lib. advers Judoeos alii â—â—tm Sepius Gen. 4.6 Ambros Lib. de Cain and Aâ—el Chap. â— 1.6 Galat. 3.17 Levit. 18 4. Ezek. 45.13 〈◊〉 23.19 Lev. 23.10 Num. â—5 20 Deut. 18.4 Ezek. ch 45.11 Numb 12.21 Num. 18.2 8. Stat. 26. Hen. 8. Deut. 14.23 Levit. 27.30 31. Deut. 16.12 Rabbi Ben majemon in jad chaz chahast de Therumah ch 1 and mis 5. Kotzi inp x. cept 133. 2 Chro. 31. Mal. 3. c. Neh. 13. Rambam de decmis ch 9. Luke 1. Heb. 7.16 Heb. 7.13 Heb. 7.12 v. 18. Gal. 5.2 Rom. 4.11 Gal. 6.13 Matth. 10.7 Matth. 10.8 ver 11. Matth. 10.10 Luke 10.7 Acts 4.34 Acts 11.29 Vide Ockam in Opera 90. duum ch 107. Vide Synod ianger can 66. Tertul. his Apolog ch 39.2.42 Offerings continued 340. Years Eusebius lib. 4. ch 22. Cyprian in his Epist. 37 34 36. The Council of Antioch Anno 340. Chrysost. Hom. 11. Cypr. de unit Eccles. ch 23. Greg. Hom. 16. in Evang. and dist 5. de Cons. Jerom. in Epist. ad Nepotian devita clericorum In Serm. de 10 th temp in tem 10. Chrysost. Hom. 43. upon the Epistle 1 Cor. 1.16 Cyril de adorat in spir ver lib. 4. ad finem Prosper de vitae contempt lib. 2. chap. 14. Origen Hom. 15. in Levit. Mascon 8. Can. 5. Cap. 53. in ext tot de des cap. 33. cum non sit vide a Baput prox sec. 7. Selden Selden his hist. upon Tythes c. 7. Ad Tt. de paroch al paroch extra significavit So Cora Aenvias Varviar resolute l. 1. c. 17. Vide Sona in Concil Gang. 7. Nantz Council Council Trent Non sunt ferendi qui varjis artibus decimas Ecclesiis c. Bed l. 1.26 Extat in Bed exemplaris Saxoni lib. 3. Linwood in constit pro vincia Tit. dec sancino gâ—tiom Pro meo remedio animae regni populi John Wickliff's complaint out of Fox his Act. and Mon. Aeneas Sylvius in his Bohemian History Fox his Acts and Mon. pag. 69. Acts and Monuments p. 605. Ambrose upon the 16 th of Luke Bernard upon 17. Luke Eusebius upon Jerom. Isidore de Summo Bono chap. 42. Heb. 7. Acts and Monuments pag. 607. Acts and Monuments pag. 621. Paul Grisaldus apud camell borell in consiliorum parte Antho. Bishop of Spaletto ac repub Eccles. lib. 9. Luke 9.58 Luke 8.1 2. Mat. 10.9 1 Cor. 9.5 Gen. 28. and 2.22 Basils â—istorâ—es by â—eneas Sylvius Ex libello diâ—o the complaint of Loderics Mors oâ—â—m impress Gene 2.3 ‖ ‖ Without an Oath as under the Law in divers causes where no Oath is mentioned but Witnesses Deut. 19.15 ‖ ‖ Deut. 19.6 In case of Life and Death no Oath was used we read of * * For he is called God's Covenant Isaiah 53.5 and God's Covenant is his Oath which he sware Luke 1.72 73. ‖ ‖ Deut. 19.16 Exod. 20.10 * * Adjure doth often signifie to charge or Oblige by bare Promiâ—e as well as Oath for if the phrase I adjure thee by God be a command to Swear by God then thâ—s would make Acts 19.12 13. absurd when the Exorcists did adjure the evil Spirit in the Name of Jesus not to Swear but to come out or depart oâ—t of the Man
THE DAWNINGS OF THE Gospel-Day AND ITS LIGHT and GLORY DISCOVERED By a Faithful and Valiant Follower of the Lamb and Labourer in the VVork and Service of God and a Sufferer for the TESTIMONY of JESUS Francis Howgil Who Dyed a Prisoner for the Truth in Appleby Goal in the County of Westmerland the Twentieth Day of the Eleaventh Moneth One Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Eight And the Dragon was Wroth with the Woman and went to make War with the Remnant of her Seed which keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 12.17 And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their Lives unto Death Rev. 12.11 Printed in the Year 1670. To all the faithful Friends and Followers of Christ Jesus in Scorn call'd Quakers Dear Friends THE Remembrance of the Author of these Books is fresh upon me as I believe it is upon many more that knew him and indeed he can never be forgotten by us whose blameless and innocent Life and Conversation when amongst us was a good Pattern unto us for he was a Man of a meek and gentle Spirit and was very careful and tender to all in whom the least Appearance of Truth manifested it self and his Travails and Labours were great for the Truth 's sake to beget People to the Lord being not satisfied to eat his Bread alone as many yet living in England Scotland and Ireland can testifie where he laboured and suffered and he was a Man of a tender and broken Spirit and constant in his Love to all his Brethren and a great Care he had over all the Flock of God and his Faithfulness to the Truth was a Crown unto him unto his latter End and his Name for his Constancy to the Lord and his Truth shall be had in Remembrance by Generations to come I have here drawn up a short Relation of his last Tryals and Sufferings at Appleby which being not heretofore published I thought meet to incert them before his Books as followeth and remain A Friend to all that love the Lord Jesus Ellis Hooks London the 3d Day of the 5th Moneth 1676. A true Relation of the Tryals Sufferings and Death of Francis Howgil who dyed a Prisoner for the Testimony of Jesus in Appleby in the County of VVestmorland the 10th Day of the 11th Moneth 1668. in the 50th Year of his Age. THE said Francis Howgil about the latter End of the 5th Moneth 1663. being in the Market in Kendal about his ordinary Occasions was summoned by the high Constable to appear before the Justices of Peace then present at a Tavern who tendred him the Oath of Allegiance as they said and committed him to Prison till the Assizes at Appleby so at Appleby he appeared and had the same Oath tendered in the Court by the Judges and for not taking it was indicted only he had Liberty to answer to the Indictment the next Assizes in the mean Time a Goal Delivery being at Appleby he was required again to enter into Bond for the good Behaviour only to ensnare and to bring him into further Bonds and for denying was committed Prisoner A further Relation of his Tryal at two several Assizes is as followeth Being at the Assizes he had free Liberty of Speech and good Audience before the Judges and great Men of the Country and many others and indeed the Lord made him without Fear and girded his Heart with Strength and opened his Mouth in Wisdom so that he gained upon his Adversaries for which Glory is given to God who was a present Help to him in the time of Need. Before the Judges sate F. H. spoke to the Clerk of the Assizes and told him he did not know whether they expected his Appearance then or not the Clerk said You have done well and that he would acquaint the Judge and he should only engage to him to appear the next Assizes to answer the Indictment against him and that he should not appear in Court Francis bid do what he would In the mean time Sir Philip Musgrave so called a great Adversary to the Truth and the great and chief Prosecutor of Francis had informed the Judges against him As that he was a dangerous Person a Ringleader and a Keeper up of Meetings of dangerous Consequence and destructive to the Peace of the Nation so then they concluded he should appear in Court and so the Clerk informed him and told him about what time he should be called So the Court began Judge Twisden gave the Charge to the grand Jury in which he said There was a Sort of People who under Pretence of Conscience and Religion who seemed to build upon the King's Declarations from Breda and under Colour of this hatched Treasons and Rebellions and gave the Jury Charge to enquire and present such that the Peace of the Nation might be preserved so they impaneled the Jury and Francis was called to the Bar and the Judge spake as Followeth Judge speaking calmly to him said The Face of things was much altered since the last Assizes made a large Speech to him and the Country telling him That all Sects under Pretence of Conscience did violate the Laws and hatched Rebellions not saith he that I have any thing to charge you with but seeing the Oath of Allegiance was tendered to you the last Assizes and you refused to take it it was looked upon that such Persons were Enemies to the King and Government and said I will not trouble you now to answer to your Indictment but I must do that the next Assizes in the mean time you must enter into Recognizance for the good Behaviour To which F. H. answered I desire Liberty to Speak which he had without Interruption and said as followeth F. H. Judge Twisden thou very well knowest upon how slender an Account or none I was brought before thee the last Assizes where thou were pleased to tender me the Oath of Allegiance though I believe both thee and the rest of the Court did know it was a received Principle amongst us not to swear at all many Reasons I gave thee then many more I have to add if I may have Audience for it may appear to you an absurd thing and Obstinacy in me to refuse it if I should not render a Reason I am said he none of those that make Religion a Cloak of Maliciousness nor Conscience a Cloak to carry on Plots or Conspiracies the Lord hath redeemed me and many more out of such things and seeing I am engaged to appear at the next Assizes I desire no further thing may be required of me Judge You must enter into Bond this dangerous time and therefore consider of it and tell me now or before the Assizes end The second Day of the Assizes he was called again F. H. Seeing thou art pleased to let me answer to my Indictment which I am willing to do I have been of
moved him to a Disposal of his outward Estate and the setting of his House in Order his Love was very dear to his Brethren and Fellow-Labourers with whom he had laboured and travailed in the Work of the Ministry in Testimony whereof he left to each of them something as a Remembrance of his Love and also was mindful of the Church and left a Legacy to be distributed amongst the poor of the Houshold of Faith in the Parts where he lived And though the time of his Departure did draw nigh and his Sickness encreased yet in all that time he was in perfect and good Remembrance and oftentimes very fervent in Prayer and uttered many comfortable Expressions to the great Refreshment of those who were with him And about two Dayes before his Departure being attended by his dear Wife and several Friends he begun to say unto them Friends as to matter of Words you must not expect much more from me neither is there any great Need of it as to speak of Matters of Faith to you who are satisfied only that you remember my dear Love to all Friends who enquire of me for I ever loved Friends well or any in whom Truth appeared and truly God will own his People as he hath everhither to done as we have daily witnessed for no sooner had they made that Act against us for Banishment to the great Suffering of many good Friends but the Lord stirred up Enemies against them even three great Nations whereby the Violence of their Hands was taken of I say again God will own his People even all those that are faithful and as for me I am well and content to dye I am not at all afraid of Death and truly one Thing was of late in my Heart and that I intended to have writ to G. F. and others even that which I have observed which Thing is that this Generation passeth fast away we see many good and precious Friends within these few Years have been taken from us and therefore Friends had need to watch and be very fâ—iâ—hful so that we may leave a good and not a bad Savour to the next succeeding Geneâ—ation for you see that it is but a little time that any of uâ— have to stay here And often in the time of his Sickness he said He was content to dye and that he was ready and praised God for those many sweet Enjoyments and Refreshments he had received on that his Prison-house-Bed whereon he lay freely forgiving all who had a Hand in his Restraint And he said This was the Place of my first Imprisonment for the Truth here at this Town and if it be the Place of my laying down the Body I am content Several Persons of note Inhabitants in Appleby as the Mayor and others went to visit him some of which praying that God might speak Peace to his Soul he sweetly replyed He hath done it and they all spoke well of him And a few Hours before his Departure some Friends who lived several Miles from that Place came to visit him he enquired of all their Welfare and prayed fervently with many heavenly Expressions That the Lord by his mighty Power might preserve them out of all such Things as would spot and defile And a little after he was saying something concerning Weeks or a time after which Persecution should be ended but his Weakness was so great and his Voice so low that it was not fully heard A little Season after he recovering a little Strength further said I have sought the Way of the Lord from a Child and lived innocently as among Men and if any enquire concerning my latter End let them know that I dye in the Faith in which I lived and suffered for And after these Words he spake some other in Prayer to God and sweetly finished his Course in much Peace with the Lord. George Fox's Testimony CONCERNING Francis Howgil NOW concerning Francis Howgil who was one of the Lord's Worthies that preach'd his everlasting Word of Life from about the Year 1652. until the Year 1668. He was convinced of God's eternal Truth and received his Gospel in the Year 1652. the same Day that he had been preaching in the Morning in Furbank Chappel in the Afternoon he was convinced by a Messenger of the Lord and several others that had been Teachers were convinced by him as John Audland and others He had a great Acquaintance with the highest Sort of Priests and after he did receive the Lord's Power and the Word of Life he was a Torment to them and he did confess to some of the Priests that the Knowledge of God and his Truth he knew no more of whilest he was amongst them as to the inward Enjoyment of it then a Child of five Years old And he and John Audland that had received some Money for preaching at a Parish called Colton in Fornace Fells in Lancashire when they had received the Gospel freely and the Word of Life from Christ they were commanded of the Lord to go and return that Money back again to the Parish and People from whom they had received it which they did and this made the Priests more to rage and the Professors So as the Son of God came to be revealed in him he began to know his Command and powerfully and freely to preach him and his Word of Life this did he and John Audland all the Dayes of their Life after their Convincement preached Christ Jesus freely as they had received him and turned many unto God And no sooner was his Mouth opened but the Priests Magistrates and Professors began to rage against him and began to be offended at the Word of God and the Gospel and sometime after cast him into Appleby Goal in a nasty stinking Prison in the County of VVestmorland and there they kept him for a time in the latter End of the Year 1652. but the Lord God delivered him out of the Mouthes of those Lyons whom God after overturned both Priests Magistrates and Professors And so after he was set at Liberty he grew valiant and bold for the Name of the Lord and travailed up and down on Foot preaching the everlasting Gospel and went to many Steeple Houses to warn both Priests and People of the Day of the Lord that was coming upon them and directing of them to Christ Jesus their Teacher and Saviour and travailed a foot through the Countries to London and was moved of the Lord he and John Cham to go and admonish O. Cromwel after he was newly made Protector and went to some of the Steeple-houses in London and other Meetings declaring to them the Day of the Lord and the Word of Life and where they might find it And after this he travailed through the Countries to Bristol preaching the Word of Life and after went into Ireland with Edward Burroughs and preached the Word of Life there to both Magistrates Priests and People under great Sufferings and many were begotten to the
Lord Jesus their Saviour and Teacher there was Truth and Life by them And after Henry Cromwel the Deputy of Ireland banished him and Edward Burroughs out of Ireland through the Instigation of the Priests and other Magistrates but the Lord overturned them his Adversaries also And so continuing in the Labour of the Lord till the Year 1661. he was imprisoned at London when the Monarchy People rose with many others though clear and innocent from that bloody Act for his and their Weapons were spiritual and they sought another Kingdom And after he and they were set at Liberty he still continued in the Work of the Lord travailing up and down the Nations and coming into the North at Kendal the Magistrates sent for him out of the Market and tendred him the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy and because for Conscience sake he could not swear in Obedience to the Command of Christ his Saviour they committed him to Appleby Goal in the Year 1664. and there they kept him from Sessions to the Assizes in a smoaky Hole and at last they premunired him and his Body being almost spent in the Service of the Lord being a weak man there did he offer up his Life as a Sacrifice of his Faith for the Lord Jesus Christ's Truth and dyed a Prisoner for the Name of Jesus in the latter End of the Year 1668. and so laid down his Life as a Testimony against the Persecutors Breakers of the Command of Christ and his Blood doth cry for Vengeance though he could say The Lord forgive all hâ—â— Persecutorspunc who having the Mind of Christ desired the Good of all yea the worst of hâ—â— Enemies and in that Desire of the Good of all did he labour travail seeking their Good and their Eternal VVelfare in the Inheritance of Life that fades not away of which he was an Heir and is entred into Rest and the Possession of the same And now this peaceable Man the persecuting Priests and Magistrates have gotten their Desire to shut up in Prison this Servant of the Lord to Death for obeying the Command of Christ but how they will answer it before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the great Judge at his Tribunal Day which hastens apace let them consider with themselves for if they went into everlasting Punishment that did not visit Christ in Prison what wâ—ll become of such as cast him into Prison in his Members And so they made his Wife a Widdow and his Children Fatherless who have none to cry unto but the Lord who will relieve the Widdow and help the Fatherless The Place of his outward Habitation was in Greying in Westmorland a man known to be of good Report before he received the Gospel freely from Jesus which he declared freely and great Sufferings and Tryals and Reproaches and Scorns and hard Labours in the Work and Service of the Lord he went through and many vain Disputes Priests and Professors of all Sects rose up against him but the Lord in his Power gave him Dominion over them all Who ended his Dayes in Peace in the Truth of God and the Lord's Service and Testimony for his Name and for the keeping of and obeying the Command of Christ his Lord and Saviour And therefore all Friends and Brethren that are begotten by him through the Word of Life and others live in the same Word that lives abides endures forever that is a Hammer a Fire as a Sword to all that is contrary to that which is holy and pure so that in the Truth Power and Word of Life the Lord God may be glorified in you all the Dayes of your Life And blessed are all they that aye in the Lord they rest from their Labours and their Works will follow them G. F. Richard Pinders Testimony CONCERNING Francis Howgil AS concerning our dear Brother in the Lord Francis Howgil the Author of these ensuing Writings he was a Man so well known through the Churches of Christ in his Day that much need not be writ concerning him as by Way of Testimony to those that knew him and his Spirit and Manner of Life and Conversation yet I having had a full Knowledge of him especially in the time of his long and tedious Imprisonment in the Town of Appleby in Westmorland where for his Testimony sake he ended his Dayes and laid down his Life as a Testimony for that Truth that he had testified of so largely both in preaching the Gospel and in these ensuing Books which he writ at several times according as the Lord put it into his Heart and as there was Occasion to answer Truth 's Opposers and after many Years Travails and Labours in the Work of God he through the Envy of some great Persons in that Country was made Prisoner at the foresaid Town of Appleby they having nothing justly to lay to his Charge yet knowing that it was his Principle not to swear at all Christ having forbidden it they put the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance unto him and only for refusing to swear he was premunired they in the least laying nothing of Misdemeanour to his Charge and when the Judge pronounced the Sentence of Premunire against him he only replyed It is a hard Sentence being only for the Exercise of my Conscience but the Will of the Lord be done and prayed the Lord might forgive them all that had any Hand in it and so after the said Sentence being committed Prisoner he continued a Prisoner several Years in which time I was very conversant with him and I must give this Testimony for him that I never heard him in the least murmur or repine in all the time of his Imprisonment but alwayes appeared as a Man wholly given up inâ—o â—he Will of God and when at any time we had been speaking of his long Imprisonment constantly he would have said The Will of the Lord be done and such was his godly Behaviour and Conversation in the time of his Confinement that he greatly gained the Hearts and Love of the Goaler's whole Family and all others of the Town that knew him and had any Acquaintance with him and even to this Day when his Name is mentioned they are all ready to say he was a Man that truly feared God so that he left an exceeding good Savour behind him in that Place And as for the Course of his Time and Dayes in this World I have this to say he was born of honest Parents and brought up to some Learning according to the usual Custom of the Country and in his Youth and tender Years was one that sincerely thirsted after the Knowledge of God and the Lord was good unto him and gave him Discoveries of divine things unto his Soul 's great Comfort and he was an early Owner of the People of God called Quakers and walked with them and was alwayes ready to suffer with them as at any time called by the Lord thereunto he was one greatly
delighted in Concord and Unity and greatly delighted in the Company of such whom he knew truly feared the Lord and nothing did rejoyce his Heart more then to hear the Truth prospered and that the Churches did encrease in the blessed Fellowship of the Gospel of Christ Jesus And when his Dayes were near spent that Sickness and bodily Weakness came upon him he endured it with very great Patience unto the latter End and his dear Wife and some other Friends being with him he spoke forth heavenly things as one that had obtained the full Assurance of an heavenly Crown and as one whose Heart and Soul was fully fixed upon the Lord who was mightily seen to be with him to his very last End his Soul magnifying of him for his infinite Goodness unto him all his Life long and so he laid down his Head in Peace being he had faithfully served the Lord in his Generation And this is my Testimony for that faithful Servant of God who to the Hour of his Dissolution bore Testimony unto the Truth and my Soul's Desire is his Blood in the Day of the Lord may not be laid to the Charge of some who had a great Hand both in causing him at first to be made Prisoner and also in the continuing of him so to the very last but we leave things with the Lord as knowing Vengeance belongs to him and that he will give a Reward to every one according to their Works By one that loves the Name of the Righteous which shall never rot though the Wicked go down to the Grave and are remembred no more and by one that was a Friend and Country man of the Author of the ensuing Writings R. P. A funeral Verse or Verse in Remembrance of that pious Patriot and Christian Sufferer for the Testimony of his God and his Truth Francis Howgil who faithfully willingly and readily gave up his Life to the Death for the Record which he did bear concerning the Things of Jesus and for obeying the just Commands of Christ. Christian and Moderate Reader IN Silence I had sate and stay'd my Pen Yea as one not appearing till O then Great Pressures suffered me to take no Rest Till that unfolded was which in my Breast Lay cabined then with a mournful Eye Constrain'd I was to wring mine Elegy Love mix'd with Tears made Verse of this my Theam Tears mix'd with Love made tickling Eyes a stream Bedewed Cheeks they then did represent Symptoms of Sorrow weeping Eyes have sent But yet methinks I am not as alone There 's many with me that do make a Moan Yea there are Thousands that do sympathize With me they joyn and stand in watry Eyes When they at first do hear this sorrowing Sound That dear F. H. his Body is laid in 'th Ground But stay what 's need of mourning he 's at 's Rest Perpetual Joyes enjoyes forever blest Redemption from all Pain and Sorrow he Is now attain'd into Eternity Heaven's Joy yea his Soul in solacing The doubled Allelujah now to sing Who was adorn'd who richly beautifi'd Who valiant was for Truth when he was tryd Who stoutly did persist unto the End A Champion like for Christ his Life to spend Like a brave Warriour fighting in a Field Like to a Martyr he his Life did yield O glorious glorious everlasting God Praises to thee Praise sounds to thee abroad Who through thy great Power and wondrous Love Who through thy great Mercy didst approve And him didst call even in his tender Years So that he sought thee daily shedding Tears O this doth speak thy Praise thou living God Who didst so early lay on him thy Rod To bring him home lest he should go astray And step aside from thee another Way Yea this I know that Record he did give That from a Child he sought in God to live Then in process of Time thou by thy Light Remov'd the Darkness of his darksome Night Terrors O Lord from thee took hold of him And Judgment just upon the Man of Sin Thou cut him down with sharpness of thy Word Which was more sharp then a two-edged Sword Thou hewedst him all in Pieces and him try'd That thou mightst cause him to be purifi'd And then O Lord the dawning of thy Day To him appeared in Beauty to array Then did thy bright and glorious Morning-star Yea in his Heart arise and shine right clear Then Lord thy Comliness to him appeared Then Lord thy Mercy to his Soul was heard Speaking great Peace his Soul did consolate Thou madest him happy in a blessed state An Instrument of Praise Thousands give thee Thanks Lord that they his Face did ever see Thou fed'st him in the Valleys where t' was green Where fresh springs run thy Love was therein seen Thou led'st him nigh the Brooks and VVaters still VVith Joy and Gladness thou his Cup didst fill His Ministery in the Truth was great His VVords were piercing powerful and sweet Yea they were soft and tender gentle calm They were as Ointment as a precious Balm To heal to consolate to cure the smart Of many a swooning sorrowed wounded Heart Great was thy Love O God who oft instill'd Thy VVisdom living Vertues of him fill'd Who through thy inspired spirit bright Who with the Glimpses of thy glorious Light Who with the joyous splendour of thy Day Who with thy comely Beauty didst aray Who many Graces didst to him impart Yea Lord great Things revealed in his Heart Let these speak forth thy everlasting Praise By all who know thee now yea and alwayes That thou O living God descended down Into his Heart and there to take up Room So that O Lord nothing to him more dear Was then thy Truth when once it did appear Yea Lord his Life his Liberty his all He gave up freely when of him they call To Prison he resign'd till 's dying Day Truth ballanc'd all and had the greatest Sway Oh shall I now omit and not rehearse His Travails Prisons Perils in my Verse His Beatings Woundings which mine Eyes have seen His Stocking Threatnings Mockings which have been All which for Truth 's sake in his Time did bear Which did confirm his Testimony clear Rest then dear Francis rest in thy glorious Rest Rest in the Lord rest now forever blest Farewel my late dear Friend farewel my Dear Thy Absence causeth me a dropping Tear Thy Countenance thy Comliness to me More joyous was then outward Harmony Thy good Advice thy sound and Serious Words Thy many Writings which to Truth records The loving Aspect which from thee I had When now I do remember O I 'm sad That sweet Salute that from thy dying Lips I did receive in my Remembrance is Thine Eyes my Hands did close thee to thy Rest Once more I bid farewel forever blest Farewel farewel forevermore farewel Thy Habitation's Heaven there to dwell A Well-willer to the Truth who seals his Testimony that he dyed in and for the Truth E. G. Thomas Langhorn's
I was moved to call thy Name Abigail which signifies the Father's Joy or Delight for in thee I was comforted that did mitigate my present Trouble and my Counsel unto thee is That thou remember thy Creator in the Dayes of thy Youth and fear the Lord in thy Youth and learn to know him and serve him all thy Dayes first seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof it 's not far from thee it 's within thee it consists in Life and Power and it stands in Righteousness Truth and Equity Justice Mercy Long-suffering Patience Love Light and Holiness this is the Being and Center thereof therefore seek not lo here or lo there without thee in this or that outward Observation for mâ—ny seek there and never find it but seek and thou shalt find wait and thou shalt receive if thou enquire in what must I seek and what must I wait in how must I seek I inform thee thou must silence all thy own Thoughts and thou must turn thy Mind to that which is pure and holy and good within thy self and seek and wait in that in the Light of Jesus Christ wherewith thou art enlightened which shews thee when thou dost Evil and checks and reproves take heed unto that and it will shew the evil Motions and Thoughts and as thou lovest it it will subdue them and preserve thee for the time to come out of Evil for though thou be born into the World a reasonable Creature yet thou must be born again and be made a new Creature or else thou canst not enter into God's Kingdom thou must know the Seed of the Kingdom in thy self of which thou must be born and formed again into God's Image I have told thee God hath sown it in thee a Grain of it a Measure of it a Portion of it a Measure of Light and Truth of Righteousness and Holiness keep in thy Mind to that and love it and thou wilt feel the heavenly Father working in thee â—nd begetting thee to Life through Jesus Christ that hath enlightned thee and thou wilt feel the Power of the Lord strengthning thee in thy little and make thee to grow in the Immortal Seed of his Kingdom and out grow and over grow all Evil so that thou wilt daily dye to that and have no Pleasure in it but in the Lord and in his Goodness and Vertue shed abroad in thy Heart which thou wilt tast and feel within and have Joy and Comfort therein love the Lord with thy Heart and Soul even him that made thee and gave thee a Being and all things in Heaven and Earth and still wait for the Knowledge of him in thy self he is not far from thee but near unto thee and unto all that call upon him in an upright Heart and do thou enquire of thy dear Mother she will inform thee she knows him and the Way to Life and Peace and hearken unto her Instruction God is a Spirit a pure Spirit of Light and Life and Power he that searcheth the Heart and shews thee when thou dost Evil or think'st Evil or speak'st Evil and shews unto Man and Woman their Thoughts that which shows the Evil is Good and that which shews a Lye is Truth this is within take heed to it this is called God's Spirit in the Scripture believe in it love it and it will quicken thy Heart to Good and it will subject the Evil here is thy Teacher near thee loving it and if thou act contrary it will condemn thee therefore take heed unto this Spirit of Truth and it will enlighten and enliven thee and it will open thy Understanding and give thee to know what God is and to do that which is good and acceptable in his Sight this Spirit never errs but leads out of all Error into all Truth O Abigail believe my Words they are the Words of God and Truth be not wanton but sober minded in thy Youth and wait on the Lord within hearken unto him God is Light immortal Life immortal Truth immortal an everlasting eternal Spirit he speaks spiritually and invisibly within the Hearts and Consciences of Men and Women hear what he speaks and obey his Voice and thy Soul shall live fear to offend him or sin against him for the Wages of Sin are Death therefore prize his Love in thy young and tender Years and do thou read the Scriptures and Friends Books and take heed unto what thou readest to obey it as far as thou understandest and pray often unto the Lord that he will give thee his Knowledge and open thy Understanding in the things of his Kingdom search thy Heart often with the Light of Christ in thee manifest and bring thy Deeds to it that they may be tryed and examine thy self how the Case stands betwixt the Lord and thee and if thou seest thy self wrong humble thy self and be sorry and turn unto him and he will shew thee Mercy and take heed for the time to come that thou run not into the same Evil again keep thy Heart clean watch against the Evil in thy self in that which shews it therein there is Power and thereby thou hast Power to overcome all Evil And dear Child miâ—d not the Pleasures of Sin which are but for a Moment and the End is Misery but keep under and cross thy Will and Affection so thy Mind will have no Pleasure in the Evil but in Good and thou wilt feel the immortal Seed springing up in thee which God's Peace and Love is to O Abigail these are great and weighty things not to be slighted accompany thy self alwayes with them that fear the Lord and fear and worship him in Spirit and Truth and lead a holy and a blameless Life and Conversation deny not them but love them and suffer with them take heed that thou follow not the hireling Teachers who preach for Gain and Lucre and abide not in Christ's Doctrine believe them not heed them not they do People no Good but thou wilt see them thy self they have an outside Shew of Godliness sometimes but deny the Power of God and true Holiness remember I have told thee who have had perfect Knowledge of them but be sure that thou let nothing separate thy Love from God and his People those are his People that keep his Law and obey Christ's Voice and lead a holy Life and they were ever hated and belyed and persecuted and evil-spoken on alwayes by bad and evil loose People these are God's People and his Love and Peace and Blessing is with them do thou grow as a natural Branch up among them of the living Vine and continue all thy Dayes in Obedience unto God's Will and thou wilt feel Joy and Love in thy Heart which above all things covet after and thou shalt attain and obtain everlasting Peace which the Lord grant unto thee according to the Riches of his Mercy and Love which endure forever and ever Amen And now Abigail concerning thy well
not F. H. To all you who have Eyes and yet are blind and who have Ears and yet are deaf and have Hearts and yet cannot understand To you am I moved to declare THE Lord is proclaiming himself to be King and all the Mountains and every Isle and every Oak of Bashan and all the Cedars of Lebanon and all who rule as Kings and Conquerors shall bow Hear ye deaf the Trumpet is blown the Standard is lifted up there is open War proclaimed between Michael our Prince and all the Inhabitants of the Earth Arm your selves O ye Mountains and gather your selves on Heaps O ye Isles the glittering Sword of the Lord is drawn and a Fire is before him and all ye will be found as Stubble and you are all to be slain Heaps upon Heaps and are all to go down with all the Uncircumcised Rulers and People into the Pit The Lord the mighty Jehovah is revealing himself from Heaven in Flames of Fire to render Vengeance upon all the Workers of Iniquity for you have slain the Heir of the Vineyard you are killing his Prophets and imprisoning his Saints to you all Professors Rulers and Priests who say you are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan I speak in Plainness of Speech unto you all who live in all the Abominations of the Heathen and yet say you love Christ Do not you call the Master of the House now Beelzebub do not ye mock and set your Mouthes awry ye Sons of the Adultress and of Sodom at the Light of Christ which enlightneth every one that comes into the World which Light did lead all Saints into Purity and up to God and this you call Natural and them who witness Redemption by the Son you call Blasphemers Christ which you profess and yet know not was accounted by your Generation a Blasphemer and all the Apostles and Saints were persecuted by your Generation as Evil-doers as Despisers of Government as Disturbers of the Peace as Leaders of the People into Iniquity as the Off-scouring of all Things as Sheep for the Slaughter and many of them put to Death and in Prison by that Generation which professed God and said they had his Ordinances yet slew them who professed him and kept his Statutes for if ye be not wilfully blind are ye not doing the same now mocking haling imprisoning bringing before Magistrates them that witness Jesus Christ in them and because they bear witness against all Sin Did ever any of the Saints of God persecute imprison or hale before Magistrates and falsly accuse any Did ever the Saints complain to Authority to guard them Hear ye whited Tombs ye painted Sepulchres what Gospel is this you profess What God is this ye serve that must be defended with Clubs Swords Rulers and Carnal Weapons the Saints who had the everlasting Gospel said their Weapons were not carnal but spiritual and yet they were mighty through God to beat down strong Holds even Principalities and Povvers Thrones and Dominions but your Gospel and Ministry can do nothing vvithout a Svvord All People see vvhere you are and vvhat you are doing you run headlong to run those vvho vvere despised by that Generation of Pharisees and Professors vvhich you are in vvere a burthensom Stone upon vvhich all that opposed did break themselves so this Generation vvhom ye set at nought ye shall be made to bovv and throvv dovvn your Crovvns before them and before the Lamb vvho is our Leader and Guider Glory unto him forever more its hard for you to kick against the Pricks for vve vvitness the tvvo-edged Svvord of the Lord shall bathe it self in the Blood of his Enemies and shall be made fat vvith Slaughter O ye Mountains ye shall become a plain for the ransomed to come over you all your Profession shall be as Stubble and you shall be left naked and bare and nothing shall be able to cover you because you are Crucifiers of Christ and the Saints repent that you may be hid in the Day of his fierce Anger vvhich is to come upon all the Workers of Iniquity Francis Howgil This was The Word of the Lord Which Francis Howgil Was moved to Declare and Write TO OLIVER CROMVVEL Who is named Lord Protector The Word of the Lord came to me the last of the First Moneth about the Nineth Hour as I was waiting upon the Lord and waiting in James's Park at London FRiend I was moved of the Lord to come to thee to declare the Word of the Lord as I was moved of the Lord and deal plainly with thee as I was commanded and not to petition thee for any thing but to declare what the Lord had revealed to me concerning thee and when I had delivered what I was commanded thou questionedst it whether it was the Word of the Lord or not and soughtest by thy Reason to put it off and we have waited some dayes since but cannot speak to thee therefore I was moved to write to thee and clear my Conscience and to leave thee Therefore hear the Word of the Lord thus saith the Lord I chose thee out of all the Nation when thou was little in thy own Eyes and threw down the Mountains and the Powers of the Earth before thee which had established Wickednesse by a Law and I cut them down and broke the Yokes and Bonds of the Oppressor and made them stoop before thee and I made them as a Plain before thee that thou passedst over them and trode upon their Necks but thus saith the Lord now thy Heart is not upright before me but thou takest Counsel and not at me and thou art establishing Peace and not by me and thou art setting up Laws and not by me and my Name is nor feared nor I am not sought after but thy own Wisdom thou establishest what saith the Lord have I thrown down all the Oppressours and broken their Laws and art thou now going about to establish them again and art going to build again that which I have destroyed wherefore thus saith the Lord wilt thou limit me and set Bonds to me when and where and how and by whom I shall declare my self and publish my Name then will I break thy Cord and remove thy Stake and exalt my self in thy overthrow Therefore this is the VVord of the Lord to thee whether thou wilt hear or forbear if thou take not away all those Laws vvhich are made concerning Religion vvhereby the People which are dear in mine Eyes are oppressed thou shalt not be established but as thou hast trodden down my Enemies by my Povver so shalt thou be trodden dovvn by my Power and thou shalt know that I am the Lord for my Gospel shall not be established by thy Sword nor by thy Law but by my Might and by my Power and by my Spirit Unto thee this is the Word of the Lord Stint not the eternal Spirit by which I will publish my Name when and where and how I will
for if thou dost thou shalt be as Dust before the Wind the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and he will perform his Promise For this is that I look for at thy Hands saith the Lord that thou shouldst undo the heavy Burdens and let the oppressed go free are not many shut up in prison and some stocked some stoned some shamefully intreated and some are judged Blasphemers by those who know not the Lord and by those Laws which have been made by the VVill of man and stand not in the Will of God and some suffer now because they cannot hold up the types and so deny Christ come in the flesh and some have been shut up in Prison because they could not swear and because they abide in the Doctrine of Christ and some for declaring against Sin openly in Markets have suffered as evil-doers and now if thou let them suffer in this Nature by those Laws and count it just I will visit for those things saith the Lord and I vvill break the Yoke from off their necks and I vvill bring Deliverance another VVay and thou shalt knovv that I am the Lord. Moved of the Lord to declare and write this by a Servant of the Truth for Jesus's sake and a Lover of thy Soul called Francis Howgil AN ANSVVER TO A PAPER CALLED A Petition of one Thomas Ellyson late Shepherd of Easington in the County of Durham to his Highness the Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and to all Emperors Kings and Princes through the World THere are many in the County of Durham that knovv that thou hast been a Shepherd lately enough and see thee vvhat thou hast been and vvhere thou hast been and vvhere thou art novv and knovv thee to be one in Nature vvith those Shepherds vvhich the Lord sent Ezekiel Isaiah and Jeremiah to cry against vvho feed themselves vvith the Fat and clothe themselves vvith the Wooll and that thou art one of those Shepherds that cares not for the Sheep and art in the Nature of one of those Shepherds vvhich the true Prophets cryed against vvhich vvere as Evening Wolves and as Foxes in the Desart And for the simples sake I am moved to lay open thy Deceit that thou art one of those Foxes thou speakest of vvhich hath Fire in their Tails and thou art made manifest to be of old Cain's Nature that old murthering Spirit and vvith thy flattering Titles which thou givest unto Men and hast Mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage and thou art born after the Flesh the Son of the bond-vvoman vvho art petitioning to me that they may abuse their Povver and exalt themselves over the Heritage of God and thou that vvouldst have Lavvs to bind the Consciences of men to walk after thy Will thou art Anti-christ vvho art petitioning the Povvers of the Earth to make Lavvs to limit the Holy One of Israel But blessed be the Lord the Day is come that thou and all Deceivers Persecutors and Flatterers are discovered and many see thee among Magistrates that thy Spirit is the same that vvould command Fire to come dovvn from Heaven to have destroyed them vvho vvould not receive them First Thou sayest That Moses who was a Commander over all Israel that he was appointed to bear the People in his Bosome as a nursing Father and thou say'st thou art a Cryer for the Remembrance of those things that all might be carryed in their Arms now and thou goest on and tellest them that God will require the Government of his Church at their Hands Rep. Moses vvho vvas faithful and true over the House of God vvho vvas a Figure of Christ he did receive the Lavv from the mouth of the Lord he acted in Righteousness and vvhen Eldad and Madad prophesied he vvas not angry as thou art but desired that all the Lord's People vvere Prophets and all vvho vvait upon the Lord to receive the Lavv of God from his mouth novv and vvalk in the same they have the same Spirit and they vvill not limit the holy One But thy Cry that thou callest for is that thou would'st have them who are in Moses 's stead as thou say'st they are for to limit the Holy One and thou art the Deceiver the Apostle speaks of vvhich art gone into the World vvho vvould'st persvvade the Magistrates that they must govern the Church and so thou vvould'st have this Generation of Rulers to be dashed in Pieces as all the Generations have been before them in exalting themselves in the Seat of Christ when as the Prophet saith The Government is upon Christ's Shoulders and the Scripture saith He alone treads the Wine-press And therefore whosoever will assume unto themselves to govern the Church by an outward visible carnal Law shall be as sure to be broken as all the rest The Church is in God and is invisible and that which is visible and natural cannot make any Law to bind that which is unlimited but they if they do go about to limit the Holy One of Israel and would set themselves in his Seat of Judgment and take away his Glory which he will not give to any and all such as have made any Laws in their own Wills to limit Sons and Daughters they have all been broken as the Scripture witnesseth every where and therefore let all Governours in England Scotland and Ireland and all the World to whom thou writest take heed how they set themselves in the room of God and lay Yoaks upon the Necks of them who are free by the Son and are brought by the Power of the Lord from under the Breach of all righteous Laws or transgressing any which are holy and just for the Law is for the lawless the Law is not for them who are in Righteousness but the Law is for the Transgressors who are in Unrighteousness and they are those that act by that Spirit which dwells in thee who would levy Troops for the Innocent and art vvroth and thy Countenance falls like Cain and hates thy Brethren and would have a Lavv made over the Conscience and vvould have the Povvers of the Earth to abuse their Povver in turning their Svvords against them vvho live in Righteousness and declare against Unrighteousness And further thou goest on and tellest them This was a Law given to Adam and so thou pervertest the Scripture by thy Imaginations Where readest thou of such a Lavv given to Adam that he compelled his Family to Religion And further thou sayest Which Care of Government is in great neglect in this Nation upon respect to tender Consciences sundry Sects and Sorts of Schismaticks are suffered unsuppressed and they sacrifice to Dan and Bethel And thou goest on and tellest the Nobles that it lies upon their score that they should suppress them Answ. That vvhich vvas given to a particular Family or People vvhich vvas for its time is not everlasting So any that take up any Rule vvithout them to act by act not by Precept but
the Lord hath uttered his Voice before his Army for his Camp is great as a Lyon and is greedy of his Prey as a young Lyon he will not spare but devour and destroy all the Uncircumcised and cut off from the Earth even all the abominable Tremble tremble O Earth before the Lord and all ye careless Sons and Daughters that live at Ease in the Flesh in Wantonness and in Mirth a Day of Howling is coming upon you a Day of Sorrow and Lamentation Howl howl and weep ye that spend your Dayes in Vanity in Lust and Pleasure killing the Just ye Drunkards your Throats are as an open Sepulchre your Throats shall be dryed up and parched with the Flame of the Lord's Indignation the Lion shall be famished Diver 's End is your Portion you covetous greedy Deceivers Oppressours Lyars Swearers proud envious contentious Quarellers ye vain airy light Minds ye are â— Dust and will have your Portion in the Lake that burns Tophet is prepared Hell hath enlarged her self the Grave stands open to receive you the Pit hath opened her Mouth the Deep shall swallow you up ye rebellious and stiff-necked Generation who fear not the Lord but add Sin unto Sin behold the Day is coming ye shall wish the Mountains to fall upon you and the Rocks to cover you and shall seek Death but shall not find it The Arm of the Lord is stretched out the Hand of the most High is against you you fruitless Trees that cumber the Ground you shall be cut up by the Roots and cast into the Fire ye Lyars Swearers cursed Speakers ye proud and covetous double Dealers and Hypocrites which say in Word what you are not in Deed and make a Profession of the Name of God but depart not from Iniquity the Trumpet of the Lord is blown out of Sion the Alarm is sounded out of the holy mountain let all the Inhabitants of the Earth tremble a Noise of War and Rumor of VVar is heard his Sword is furbished and brandished to make a great Slaughter and the slain of the Lord shall be many Oh ye Potsherds of the Earth will ye strive against the Lord will ye set Bryars and Thorns in Battel against him who shakes the Heavens and makes the Earth reel as a Cottage who dryes up the Face of the deep and cuts off all the fresh Springs and makes the Cedars fall and pours down Snares upon the wicked Fire and Hail Storm and Tempest and Pillars of Smoak this shall be your Portion to drink the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it O foolish People unwise when will you seek after Wisdom Wisdom hath lift up her Voice in the Streets but you have stopped your Ears as deaf Adders and say in your Hearts we will not have Righteousness to rule over us but we will walk as our Fathers and worship as other Nations do and as them whom the Lord hath cut off out of the Nations as untimely Fruit and are perished with the Uncircumcised Fear fear tremble tremble ye careless Ones ye hard Hearts ye Rocks shall be broken ye Cedars shall fall ye strong Oaks shall be cut up by the Roots your Root shall perish ye Mountains shall melt ye wild savage Creatures that are as wild Asses upon the Mountains a Moneth is coming wherein you will be found and a Day is at Hand wherein you shall see him whom you have pierced yea behold the Judge of all the World stands at the Door even of the quick and dead and he comes in the Clouds with Power and great Glory and every Eye shall see him and every Heart shall melt and all Faces shall gather Paleness and all Knees shall smite together and every Tongue shall confess his Judgment just when he shall execute his Wrath upon you and sweep you into the Pit and blow you away with the Whirlwind of his Wrath and then you shall be judged out of the Book of your Consciences Therefore fear fear and repent repent and prize your time while you have it and mind the Light of Christ Jesus that shews you your Iniquities and Sins and it love and it will turn you from Sin and Unrighteousness to Christ Jesus from whence the Light comes and it love and it will judge all your vain Actions and bring Condemnation upon all the Deceit and lead you to true Confession and Forsaking and to know the Lord is pure and holy and nothing that is evil can dwell in his Sight And so remember you are all warned in your Life time lest you be swept away into the Pit and perish forever and ever and there be none to deliver you and unto you this is the word of the living God whether you hear or forbear F. H. THE FIRST General Epistle Written to the Camp of the Lord In ENGLAND TO all the Seed of Abraham who are Jews indeed and Israelites in whom is no Guile who are of the true Circumcision made without Hands Who are of the Off-spring of David and of the Church or the first-born who are the first Fruit unto God Ye royal Off-spring of the Rock of Ages who have come out of the everlasting Washing My dear Brethren called Quakers who have eaten your Bread with Fear and Trembling whom your Brethren have cast out Oh how I love you my Soul is knit unto you my Heart and Life breathes after you I am one with you in Suffering and in Joy ye are the choicest of the Flock ye are the fairest of all the Children which are brought forth Oh my beloved Ones though I be among the Tents of Kedar as without where the Voice of the Lord hath neither been heard nor known yet you I forget not if I do let the Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth and let me never speak more in the Name of the Lord who is my Life and the portion of my Cup forever Oh! what shall I say unto you none knows your Beauty nor Innocency nor Glory but them who are redeemed out of Kindreds and Nations and Tongues and People and Countryes who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes For the Name of my God and your God who is living and lives for evermore is in your Foreheads you are his Off-spring and the Fruit that came out of the Eternal VVomb begotten by the Eternal VVord of Life which lives forever and are nourished at the eternal Table in the everlasting Mansion-house of my Father which is in Heaven None so fair none so beautifull none so Glorious none so Rich you are crowned with Love forever you are clothed with Righteousness forever you eat of the Tree of Life which heals the Nations and of the Bread of Life that nourishes you up forever and drinks of the living VVaters which run fresh beautiful and cool in it you are bathed and suppled and made white you are builded upon a Rock storms cannot move you tempests cannot make you afraid in this you have been and
freely to the Throne of Grace and are accepted in him who is the Condemnation of all the World who hate the Light but your Life the Light of the World God blessed forever and ever And all you Fathers and Elders and honourable women who are not a few whose Bones and Sinews are filled with Marrow and Fatness who wait at the Altar of the Lord and know the Mercy-seat which hath overshadowed you and the golden Vessel in which is the hidden Manna by which all the Children of the Lord are fed round the Table of the Lord out of the Everlasting Treasure-house of my Father VVatch over the Flock of Christ Jesus in every Place and Region and Quarter where the Lord hath set you and govern them in all Wisdom and Righteousness that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ may be adorned and take Care of them willingly knowing this the Lord requires of you and hath called you unto and to nourish the Plants and the young Ones and the Babes and that every one may know their place and watch and instruct in all Wisdom and correct and reprove in the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus that no rebellious nor sloathful may grow up nor be harboured among you but all in Diligence may be kept in the Fear of the Lord in their places that the Gospel of Christ Jesus be not evil spoken of nor the Heathen blaspheme And therefore my dear Brethren be diligent in the Work of the Lord so much the more as you see the Day is approached and the Harvest is great and the Vineyard of the Lord is great and large and but few Labourers yea the Lord is enlarging his Borders and spreading forth his everlasting Truth and stretching forth his eternal Arm over the Nations and opening the treasures of Heaven and bringing Rain out of his Treasury to water the Earth that hath been parched and dry and to make his Plants to grow And so all wait that you may see the power and presence of the Lord in all your Assemblies and see that there be no Strife nor Contention nor Exaltation amongst you but all in meekness and quietness and long-suffering and forbearance even as the Lord hath spared and forborn you one submitting unto another even as you have heard and received when the Word of the Lord came first unto you and he that will be the greatest shall be the least but all in meekness and lowliness of Mind serve one another in Love even as you have received and the everlasting God of Life and Power be with you all and make you grow in the living power and virtue of God to order all things in his Wisdom as good Stewards of the manifold Mercies of the Lord which you are made partakers of that he alone may be glorified throughout all the Churches of Christ Jesus every where And to you my dear Brethren Fellow-Labourers to whom the Word of Reconciliation is committed are in the Work and Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ and are made partakers of the everlasting Gospel of peace which unto you is given to declare Lift up your Voices blow the Trumpet sound an Alarm out of the holy Mountain proclaim the acceptable Year and the Day of Vengeance of our God gird on your Sword upon your Loins put on the tryed Armour and follow him forever who rides upon the white Horse and is clothed with the same whâ— makes War in Righteousness Ride on ride on my beloved Brethren and Fellow-Souldiers make all plain before you thresh on with the new threshing Instrument which hath Teeth beat the Mountainâ— to Dust and let the Breath of the Lord scatter it make the Heathen tremble and the Uncircumcised fall by the Sword the Lord of Hosts is with us and goes before us Spare none neither Ox nor Ass neither old nor young Kill cut off destroy bathe your Sword in the Blood of Amaleck and all the Egyptians and Philistines and all the Uncircumcised and hew Agag to pieces break the Rocks cut down the Cedars and strong Oaks make the Devils subject cast out the unclean Spirits raise the Dead shut up in Prison bring out of Prison cast in your Nets lanch into the deep divide the Fish gather the good into Vessels cast the bad away bind the Tares in Bundles cast them into the Fire the Angel with his sharp Sickle is come the Angel of the everlasting Covenant is come thrust in your Sickles reap the Earth the Word of God is come that divides let all Flesh keep Silence divide the Word rightly feed the Lambs and Babes fill the hungry stop the Lyons Mouthes feed the fat and the strong with Plagues and Judgments declare his Name publish his eternal Truth which shall stand forever Eternal Life is come Glory to him forever silence all Disputers and Diviners forever trample upon all the Chaff Dung and Mire forever which all the Wisdom of the World feeds upon Greater is he that is in us then he that is in the World Oh my beloved Ones although I am the lowest and weakest among many of my Brethren yet the eternal Power of God is my Shield forever the Lord of Hosts is with us there is a Crown which none can take away to all who have denyed all yea it is on our Heads the Dread of God is with us And truly dear Brethren we cannot say that we fished and catched nothing for many Vessels are full nor we have not travailed and laboured and brought forth Wind as the false Prophets do for we have the Seals of our Ministry which shall be Witnesses for the Lord in Generations to come Not unto us O Lord but to thy Name be Glory forever who hath done and doth all for us and in us who is our Strength our Glory our Crown of Rejoycing all the Day long for his hidden Treasure is brought forth and made manifest in earthen Vessels unto him be eternal living Praises forever And so all dear Brethren Members of the same Body of Christ Jesus by which we are set free from Sin in the Liberty Life and Power in which you are made free stand as Witnesses for the Lamb and for the holy Nation for the royal Seed of the true Israel of God that it may be brought out of Captivity to serve the Lord in the Land of the living and the eternal God of Power and Life of endless rich Love and Mercy be with you all and prosper his own Work in your Hands that he alone may be glorified unto whom be eternal infinite Praises who is our Life our King God blessed forever and ever And to you all my dear Brethren and Sisters who suffer in Bonds and Prisons and Dens and Holes and suffer the Enemy to plow-long Furrows upon your Backs in Patience and suffer stocking whipping buffeting beating and cruel Mocking and Stripes and Chains and Fetters whom the World is not worthy of even as they did unto our Master of
ye high Cedars and mighty men put on your Strength and gather together all your Forces which you have trusted in call upon your Gods and all your Southsayers and Diviners together for now he is come and the Daughter of Sion now laughs you to scorn and Jerusalem the free Citizens do wagg their Heads at you for he will now plead the Cause of the Poor against you who have been too strong for them and now all that hear this shall tremble For he will make Jerusalem a Praise in the Earth and from it do the Law and the Prophets come forth Awake Oh Arm of the Lord and put on Strength as in the dayes of old to redeem thine own Inheritance which hath long been by the Heathen laid waste and hath been trampled upon by the Uncircumcised art not thou he which was and is and is to come who wilt not give thy Glory to another Arise and shine forth in thy Brightness thou Star of Jacob and Sun of Righteousness and let the Earth be filled with thy Light and Glory that Generations to come may call thee blessed Dry up the Tongue of the Egyptian Sea confound the Wisdom of this World which never knew thee neither would own nor receive thee make the Diviners and Sorcerers mad who have scattered thy Sheep from the everlasting Fold and have healed the Hurts of thy People deceitfully and have caused them to err in telling them thy Power nor thy Arm was not to be looked for now as in the Dayes of old nor thy immediate voice nor word was to be looked or waited for now in the Earth and so have deceived the People with their lying Divinations which they have spoken from the Imaginations of their own Hearts and have laid a stumbling-block in the Way as the Son of Nebat did who made Israel to sin But Oh Lord thou seest how thy own Seed lyeth scattered and ravenous Beasts make a Prey upon it and the Devourers swallow it up therefore hast thou appeared in thy Love and Power for thine own Name 's sake and wilt not suffer thy Seed to be trodden upon any longer by the Prince of Darkness nor his Children whom he hath begotten in his own Image Arise shine forth thou everlasting Covenant of Light and Peace by which and in which all our Fathers believed and so obtained a good Report and were redeemed out of Captivity to serve the Lord forever with one Heart and Mind and worshipped in one Spirit in which Faith they laid hold upon the Perfect Righteousness of Christ made manifest in them and were justified but hath been hid for many Generations in the time of Anti-christ's Reign and all the world hath wondered after the Beast and hath received his Mark but now is the Night far spent and the Day is at hand wherein all that hath been hid shall be made manifest and the Number of the Beast is read and known by all that are redeemed from under his Power and now the Beast and the False Prophet is seen and the Man of sin is made manifest in this the day of his everlasting Power and the brightness of the Sun of Righteousness who is the Light of the world hath made him manifest who is come and coming Glory unto him for evermore who alone is worthy to take the Kingdom Wherefore all honest-hearted in and under all Forms of Professions who have travailed and are weary and all you that have kindled a Fire and have warmed your selves at the Sparks thereof and yet still you lye in Sorrow Oh all ye that have panted and thirsted after Righteousness who have wearied your selves in seeking among the dead Graves and Tombs for a Saviour but have found no Rest and who have followed Lo here and there in this Grave and the other Sepulchre builded on this and that Sand and still swept away your State I know you have no Peace in the eternal Rest I say unto you while you look without you your Eyes may consume in your Holes and your Expectation fail and you will be still complaining For your sakes who are weary and have found none to direct your Way a few Lines I am moved in Compassion to write unto you and if you will not receive it you will not believe if one should rise from the dead for I have obtained Mercy from Christ through his free Grace who is risen from the Dead and saw no Corruption by which Grace I am saved from Sin and cleansed from Unrighteousness after long and sore Labour and Travail under Pharaoh the Oppressour from under whose Dominion I am brought to worship the living God in Spirit and Truth in his Temple where he dwells in Righteousness forever And for the simples sake who have erred for Lack of true Knowledge as I did in Times past I shall declare unto you a little in short of my Travails in Egypt's Land where Darkness is so thick that â—f ye wait but diligently to see your selves you will fell it also From twelve Years old I set my Heart to know that God which the World professed and which I did read of in the Scripture which Abraham Noah Moses and the Prophets and the rest of the Fathers worshipped and I did fall into the strictest Worship that was in that Part wherein I lived and often I desired to be alone and attended much to reading and Meditation and then as I was sober and serious alone I began to see that all the Sports and Pastimes and such as Youth delight in naturally were Vanity and they lasted but for a Moment and while I was in Folly and Wantonness doing of them the Nature which was run into Transgression had Pleasure in them but as soon as I was come from among them I was judged in my self for what I had done and often made me weep then I resolved in my Will that I would never do so again and for some time did restrain from the common Practice of those things that I had walked in but as soon as I came amongst those again I acted those things again which before I did see to be Vanity but long before that I was checked for many things and so I walked often condemned in my self when I was serious and had no Peace and then not knowing what to do in much Sorrow when I was alone I had a Desire to be alone where I might not hear nor see any Folly acted and did not go to the former Exercises although something in me hankered after it but when I yielded not unto it I was glad and had Peace and then I began to oppose my Fellows with whom I had walked in Wantonness and then they began to revile me and hate me and scorn me yet notwithstanding I mattered not then I read much and prayed in Words often three or four times a day but I knew not where God was but in my Imagination imagined a God at a Distance and so went on and then
I began to grow in Knowledge without which is sensual and then I was puffed up for the World admired me but still I was condemned for vain Words and Actions and the Root of Iniquity grew in me and then I followed a more strict Course and often went five or six Miles to hear some more excellent Means as they called it and so did get more Words but still I was the same nay worse for Knowledge puffed me up then along to about fifteen Years of Age I posted up and down after the most excellent Sermons so called and so became acquainted with all the eminent Christians so called in the Region where I lived and I was despised of my Parents and of the World made a Wonder and great Reproach came upon me but still I saw they knew nought and it was no Matter and so much Sorrow fell upon me four or five Years and when I was turned within I was judged for all my Iniquity formerly and still my Heart was shewed to me that it was corrupt but as I kept within to the Light in my Conscience I was restrained from many Actions which I had a Will to do and in the Instant when I have been doing any Unrighteousness in Actions or Words in many things I was often stopped and when I saw that I did it not a great Joy arose in me and when I had done any thing forwardly and rashly I was judged but this the Teachers said was a Natural Conscience that kept from Sin and did restrain it and said he that had but restraining Grace as they called it he was but a tame Devil And so I hearkned to their Imagination and so slighted the Light as too low a thing that was but common Grace that did preserve out of gross Evils but the Saints had a peculiar Faith and Grace and so I hearkened to them and still I was convinced of Sin and then they told how the Saints did believe in Christ and so Sin was not imputed but his Righteousness was accounted to them and so I must seek him in the Means as Prayer and receiving the Sacrament as they called it and judged me a worthy Communicant and in great Fear I was that I should eat unworthily and none could direct me what the Body of Christ was insomuch that one time I read all the Scripture that spoke of Christ's Suffering And they said I must believe he suffered for me and I believed all that they called Faith but yet I could not see how he dyed for me and had taken away my Sin for the Witness in my Conscience told me I was a Servant of Sin whilest I committed it and they told me I must not omit that Ordinance for thereby Strength was confirmed and Faith added insomuch on the one Hand they pressing it as a Duty and on the other Hand I saw that the Scripture said He that eats unworthily eats Damnation to himself I was in Fear notwithstanding none could accuse me without yet then afterward a great Fear fell upon me and I thought I had sinned against the Holy Ghost and great Trouble fell upon me Then they said I had not come prepared and yet I had all the Preparation that they had spoken of but still they were all Physitians of no value Then I fasted and prayed and walked mournfully in Sorrow and thought none was like me tempted on every Hand so I ran to this man and the other and they applyed Promises to me but it was only Words for the Witness of Christ shewed me That the Root of Iniquity stood and the Body of Sin whole notwithstanding I was kept by a secret Power from gross Evils but still Sorrow compassed me about and I questioned all that ever I had which they said was Grace Repentance and Faith And then I told them there was Guilt in me and they said Sin was taken away by Christ but the Guilt should still remain while I lived and so brought me the Saints Conditions who were in the Warfare to confirm it and so I said in my self This was a miserable Salvation that the Guilt of Sin and Condemnation still in me should stand and so I was tossed from Mountain to Hill and heard them preach Confusion and so I mattered not for them and said Sure this is not the Ministry of Christ and so I ceased long by Fits and did not mind them but kept still at home and in desart Places solitary in weeping and every thing that I had done was laid before me insomuch that every Thought was judged and I was tender and my Heart broken and when I could sorrow most I had most Peace for something spoke within me from the Lord but I knew him not then and they said that it was Heresie to look for the Word of the Lord to be spoken now in these Dayes but only the Letter and so I regarded it not much yet often I was made to do many righteous things by the immediate Power and Word of God and then Peace and Joy sprung up in me and Promises were spoken That he would teach me himself and be my God and often I did obey contrary to my Will and denyed my Will but they told me This was legal to obey out of Fear and that was Slavery but there was an Evangelical Obedience as they called it so I got above the Fear and yet acted the former things which they called Ordinances and they said that was Son-like Obedience and Christ had done all Then there appeared more Beauty in them called Independents and I loved them and so joyned my self to them and all the Money that I could get I purchased Books with and walked with and owned them as more separate from the World and they prest Separation but at last I saw it was but in Words that they would do things and chuse Officers and Members of themselves and so made themselves an Image and fell down to it yet there was some Tenderness in them at the first but the Doctrine was the same with the World's Words without of others Conditions Then they whom they called Anabaptists appeared to have more Glory walked more acording to the Scripture observing things written without and I went among them and there was something I loved among them but after they denyed all but such that came into their Way as out of the Fellowship of the Saints and Doctrine of Christ I saw the Ground was the same and their Doctrine out of the Life with the rest of the Teachers of the World and had separated themselves and made another Likeness but still all said The Letter was the Word and Rule and Christ at a Distance without had done all and some of them holding Free-will others opposing and all in the Will But still I lov'd them that walked honestly amongst all these but though I had seen and owned all that I had heard except the Figure which I saw was outward and that was their
greatest Glory and I saw they would have all fall down to it else no Communion in the midst of all these and much more which is Death to speak on but only that all honest-hearted may see themselves where they have rested and also may not trust any more to a Reed of Egypt after all this no Peace nor no Guide I found and then the Doctrine of Free Grace as they called it some preached That all Sin was done away past present and to come and so preached Salvation to the first Nature and to the Serpent that bore Rule only believing this and all is finished to this I hearkened a little and so lost my Condition within but still whither ever I went this was spoken in me His Servant thou art to whom thou obeyes and so I being overcome by Sin I had no Justification witnessed in me but Condemnation Then some preached Christ within but they themselves were without had but Words and yet they said All must be within unto which my Heart did cleave and spoke of Redemption and Justification and all within and of God appearing in Man and overcoming the Power of the Devil and then that in my Conscience bore Witness it must be so and I was exceedingly pressed to wait to find it so and something breathed after the living God and a true Love I had to all that walked honestly in what Profession soever and I hated reviling one another and that they should smite one another and persecute one another and with the Sufferer I alwayes took Part but still I saw though they spoke of all things within and of a Power to come that they enjoyed not what they spoke for the same Fruits were brought forth till at last I saw none walked as the Ministers of Christ nor none that pretended to the Ministry had any such Gift neither Pastor nor Teacher nor any such Members as were in the Apostles time So at last having passed up and down hurried here and there I saw all the Teachers of the World that they sought themselves and fed poor People with dead Names and Deceit and that they were not the Ministry of Christ and so I saw them all in Deceit who did not abide in Christ's Doctrine and I got my self quit of most of them for ever as I dissented from their Judgment they hated me and persecuted me So at last there was something revealed in me that the Lord would teach his People himself and so I waited and many things opened in me of a time at Hand and sometime I would have heard a Priest but when I heard him I was moved by the Lord and his Word in me spoke to oppose and often as a Fire I burned and a Trembling fell upon me yet I feared Reproach and so denyed the Lord's Motion and it was revealed in me to wait and I should know his Counsel and the Word of the Lord was in me The Time was at Hand when the Dead should hear the Voice of the Son of God and it burned in me as Fire That the Day was near when it should not be Lo here nor there but all his People should be taught of the Lord but still my Mind ran out and out of the Fear into Carelesness for the Cross of Christ I knew not and yet I say I was wiser then my Teachers I met with in that Generation I do not glory in it for Condemnation is past on it all forever yet still I had ever as my Mind was turned to the Light pure Openings and Prophesies to come and a Belief that I should see the Day and should bear Witness to his Name and so when things opened so fast the Wisdom of the Flesh catched them and so I went up and down preaching against all the Ministry and also run out with that which was revealed to my self and preached up and down the Country of the Fulness that was in the old Bottle and so was wondred after and admired by many who had waded up and down as my self had and we fed one another with Words and healed up one another in Deceit and all laid down in Sorrow when the Day of the Lord was made manifest for I was overthrown and the Foundation swept away and all my Righteousness and Unrighteousness was all judged and weighed and all was found too light And immediately as soon as I heard one declare whose Name is not known to the World but written in the Lamb's Book of Life forever in eternal Record forever as soon as I heard him declare That the Light of Christ in Man was the Way to Christ I believed the eternal Word of Truth and that of God in my Conscience sealed to it and so not only I but many hundreds more who thirsted after the Lord but was betrayed by the VVisdom of the Serpent we were all seen to be off the Foundation and all Mouthes were stopped in the Dust and so we stood all as condemned in our selves and all saw our Nakedness and were all ashamed though our Glory was great in the VVorld's Eye but all was Vanity And then after all this I was ignorant what the first Principle of true Religion was but as I turned my Mind within to the Light of Jesus Christ wherewith I was enlightened which formerly had reproved me for all Vanity and also as I did own it it led me into Righteousness and when I turned to it I saw it was the true and faithful VVitness of Christ Jesus and then my Eyes were opened and all things were brought to Remebrance that ever I had done and the Ark of the Testament was opened and there was Thunder and Lightning and great Hail and then the Trumpet of the Lord was sounded and then nothing but War and Rumour of War and the dreadful Power of the Lord fell upon me Plague and Pestilence and Famine and Earthquake and Fear and Terrour for the Sights that I saw with my Eyes and that which I heard with my Ears Sorrow and Pain and in the Morning I wished it had been Evening and in the Evening I wished it had been Morning and I had no Rest but Trouble on every Side and all that ever I had done was judged and condemned and all Things were accursed whether I did eat or drink or refrain I was accursed and then the Lyon suffered Hunger and the Seals were opened and seven Thunders uttered their Voices mine Eyes were dim with crying my Flesh did fail of Fatness my Bones were dryed and my Sinnews shrunk I became a Proverb to all yea to them who had been mine Acquaintance they stood afar off me the Pillars of Heaven were shaken and the Earth reeled as a Cottage one Wo poured out after another and I sought Death in that Day and could not find it it fled from me and I sought to cover my self any Way or with any Thing but nothing could for the Indignation of the Lord was upon the Beast and the
false Prophet and Babylon came into Remembrance in that Day the Mother of Harlots and the Sea dryed up and all the Merchants that traded with her stood afar off for the Cup of Fury was poured forth and Cain was seen and Judas that had betrayed the Lord of Life and I would have run any Way to have hid my self but nothing but weeping and gnashing of Teeth and Sorrow and Terrour and I roared out for the Disquietness of my Heart and the Kingdom was full of Darkness I knew not the right Hand from the left I became a perfect Fool and knew nothing and as a Man distracted all was overturned and I suffered Loss of all in all that ever I did I saw it was in the accursed Nature and then something in me cryed Just and true is his Judgment my Mouth was stopped I durst not make mention of his Name I knew not God And as I bore the Indignation of the Lord something rejoyced the Serpent's Head began to be bruised and the VVitnesses which were slain were raised and stopped Heaven that it rained not in the Dayes of their Prophecy and a great Famine there was and the Sun was darkened and the Moon turned into Blood and the Stars did fall and all the Grass of the Earth withered and every green Tree and all the Springs were dryed up and a great and noysome Smell and a Plague fell upon the Earth and the VVaters became as the Blood of a dead Man and the Heavens passed away with her Noise and the Elements melted and the Earth was scorched with the Flame which proceeded from the Throne of God and the Judgment-Seat of Christ was seen and an Account was to be given and then Esau was cursed and Cain and Judas and Ishmael and all the Cananites and the Egyptians went to the left Hand and as the Judgment was pronounced something cryed Just art thou oh Lord in all thy Judgments And as I did give up all to the Judgment the Captive came forth out of Prison and rejoyced and my Heart was filled with Joy and I came to see him whom I had pierced and my Heart was broken and the Blood of the Prophets I saw slain and a great Lamentation and then I saw the Cross of Christ and stood in it and the Enmity slain upon it and the new Man was made and so Peace came to be made and so eternal Life was brought in through Death and Judgment and then the perfect Gift I received which was given from God and the holy Law of God was revealed unto me and was written in my Heart and his Fear and his Word which did kill now makes alive and so it pleased the Father to reveal his Son in me through Death and so I came to witness Cleansing by his Blood which is Eternal Glory unto him forever and am a Minister of that Word of eternal Life which endures forever Glory unto his Name forever and have Rest and Peace in doing the Will of God and am entred into the true Rest and lye down in the Fold with the Lambs of God where the Sons rejoyce together and the Saints keep Holy Dayes Glory unto him forever And these few things have I written for your sakes who walk in Darkness that you may see where you are and also ye high Cedars who trust in the Arm of Flesh that you may cease your Boasting and come down from off the Pinacle where you are exalted for the same must come upon you if ever the Lord you know in Truth and Righteousness even through the Death of things in the Curse of all Knowledge and Wisdom which is from below yea through the Death of Death that rules in you which must be slain upon the Cross of Christ Jesus if ever you come to true Peace and witness eternal Salvation And therefore cease you Diviners and Imaginers who have feigned a Faith and a Christ and a Salvation in your Imaginations and yet that you may live in the Lust and Filth of the World and the Customs and Fashions which perish I say your Expectations shall fail and you will lye down in Sorrow for where Salvation is witnessed the Life of Christ is witnessed but you would have Salvation and the Life of the Devil brought forth and lived in But unto all such I say This will be your Sentence Depart into the Lake Therefore take Warning for it is not your good Words without the Life of Godliness nor your swelling Speeches that are accepted with God for he accepts nothing but what is of himself and by him wrought in the Creature by his own Will and Power and this destroyes the carnal Will Power and Righteousness and this work which he worketh of himself and by his Power and in his Covenant is perfect and is accepted of God and so it s no more the Creature but Christ who is all in his Saints and so he brings all that follow him out of his Works of Condemnation which are acted in the disobedient Nature and are accursed whether praying or plowing or whatsoever while Cain lives which is in the Banishment out of the Acceptance of God and all who follow him who is the LIGHT and leads all that believe and follow him into the living Works of Righteousness wrought by Christ through Faith and is accepted and well pleasing unto God and here all boasting is excluded for all is of him and from him that works both the Will and the Deed and here the Lord is admired in all his Works and his VVorks praise him Wherefore all honest hearted who travell and are weary and have found no Rest for your Souls I say unto you Arise and come away lye not groveling in the Earth like Moles nor seek not to know God in your fallen Wisdom for the Well is deep and if you know nothing but the old Wisdom which is corrupt and natural you cannot come to one Drop of the living Water therefore dwell no longer among the Graves and Tombs where the unclean Spirits dwell which trouble and vex all that pass in their Way neither dwell among the Pits where there is no Water he is risen he is not there look upward mind that which draws you from the Earth the Covenant of Life is made manifest Glory unto him in the highest his Proclamation is Ho every one that thirsteth come freely and receive of him freely without Money or Price or any thing of yours or self nay self must be denied and that you must deny if you will receive of him that he may be all and you nothing for he gives freely and his Gift is perfect and pure without Spot Stain or Mixture and all that receive his Gift come by it to be presented perfect to the Father And this is making manifest to you also who wait upon him who is given for a Covenant of Light and Peace and Life and all that receive this gift shall come to hear glad-tidings Peace on Earth
were in Tumults often as we have been and they said that they were not worthy to live and now the same you say As Instance a Warrant given out at Dublin in December 1655. to fetch up and send up bound to Dublin all that are called Quakers and all these things and much more you who sit as Rulers and Judges of the Nation of Ireland have charged upon us and have required the Justices every where to examine us on these things and to lay them to our Charge and to see what Testimony we have or Letters of Recommendation Isay What testimony had the Ministers of Christ from the Rulers or high-Priests then they were false Apostles which were made by man's Will and the Apostle said Need we Letters of Recommendation as others have And of what Church we are in England we are of that which is in God begotten by the Preaching of the Gospel of the Son of God which all the Hirelings and them you uphold by a Popish Law call Heresie and there is that in every mans Conscience which is the Letters of our Recommendation And you say we are not of any settled Principle I say we are grounded and settled upon him who is the Rock of Ages and stand in his Counsel both sure and stedfast and cannot be moved Notwithstanding all the rage of the Heathen we are in Peace Glory unto him for â—vermore who is the World's Tormenter and the Breaker of Death's Covenant and Hell's Agreement and disquiets the Devil's Peace and torments them who plead for his Kingdom And you accuse us we make open and publick Disturbance to the Grief of the godly and sober People and Scandal of Religion if we come and declare the Mind of the Lord as it is revealed in us in publick and declare the Word of Life in Truth and Soberness and then you hale him out and Stock Whip Prison and persecute and what Religion is this that is among you who stop your Ears and as the Jews did with Paul run upon us and rent our Clothes and yet you call us Disturbers Are not these Practices found in most of your Idols Temples into which the Hirelings creep and call a Church and all those Practices among you are found and we are ashamed of you and your Practices that these things should be found among you after so manifest an Appearance of the Lord's Wrath against them and are these godly to that in all your Consciences I speak One haling another beating another punishing and rending our Cloathes and Prisons and Revilings and cruel Mocking and false Accusing and Stoning are these God-like or like God Oh! be ashamed And you that are so soon grieved you are not God-like who is long-suffering and his Saints who were God-like did bear and forbear one another And these Parish Teachers which you hold up in Ireland I challenge them all in the Name of the Lord who lives forever that in all their publick Worship as they call it and them also that they are not like God not any of his Ministers nor any thing that ever they practice And therefore I say Come forth and vindicate your Practice and let your God come forth and be tryed and lay open your Practice and your Principles to the World and stand by them if you can and for shame never run to the Magistrates to help you learned Rabbies you great Orators come forth and stand and prove your selves before the People and manifest your Strength and your weapons and that God that answers by Fire let him be God you have confessed our God answers by Fire for it s kindled among you and the Word which is Fire we have declared and many have heard it and have believed and answered it and now it burns and you shall not be able to quench it post and run as fast as you can dig as deep for Counsel as Hell call up all the Powers of Darkness you shall not be able to quench the Fire that is kindled If we should hold our peace the Stones of the Wall would cry out against you And therefore I say unto you all you Parish Teachers and all you that uphold them arm your selves with all your Strength call your Diviners together for we proclaim in the Lord's Name who hath rent the Heavens and is come down and his Tabernacle is with men open War we declare and sound the Trumpet of our God out of the holy Mountain all the Earth shall tremble before him and the Mountains shall melt before him why should we not be discovered to you we are sent forth to take Peace from the Earth and to warn all to the Battel of the great Day of God for now he is arisen in his Power and Glory and his Kingdom is come Glory unto him forever and we are Witnesses of it and it 's not of this World and we have denyed the World and follow him who hath a Bow and a Sword and makes War in Righteousness and none is able to stand before him therefore gather your selves on Heaps O ye Potsherds and make a Confederacy among the People arm your selves cast up your Mounts and Batteries strengthen your selves and trust in the Arm of Flesh and say None can come near us Verily I say unto you you shall be made level with the Ground and all your Sorcery shall be laid open and Anti-christ is discovered by the Brightness of the coming of Christ our Eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts in his Glory and all your Glory ye Tellers of Dreams and Diviners shall be made as a Dunghil and your Renown shall perish from the Earth the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it And now a few Words unto you O ye Heads and Rulers of the People in Ireland who sit in Judgment remember from whence you are raised and how great Deliverance you have had and how manifest the Lord hath appeared for you to deliver you out of the Hands of your Enemies who despised the Lord and all Righteousness and they were numerous and great when you have been in great Streights and they said in their Hearts We will swallow them up and then the Lord in the Day of your Distress delivered you and hath given you their Possessions and Dominion over them and hath setled you in Peace and you that have been low hath he exalted to bear Rule and expects from you Righteousness Justice and Equity and to be as Feet to the lame and Strength to the weak and to break off every Yoak of Oppression from the Neck of the poor and oppressed and to relieve your Brethren and entertain Strangers remembring you were many of you Strangers in this Land which now is given you to possess I say take heed unto your selves how you act according to the Customs of the Nation and your own Wills nor the customary Worship of the Nation which the Lord laid by and wasted and scattered all them that pretended themselves Teachers of the People
was there any of them that stood in the Gap or turned People from their Iniquity till the Lord broke out in his Wrath as Fire and laid the Land waste and the House of their God waste which you burnt up and will you now joyn with Moab and will you build again those things which you have once destroyed then you make your selves Transgressors think not thus in your Hearts that the Lord hath given you Dominion over the Nation to walk after your own Wills and joyn unto Deceit and that you may establish those things again which the Lord was wroth with and if you hold up those by your Laws and your Power and your Prisons and your Sword which is the People of the Lord's Curse I speak of the Teachers who are in Balaam's Way and greedy dumb Dogs who can never have enough and bestow the Nations Tythes and Lands and Riches which is the Lord's Treasure upon them that they may cry up Deceit and flatter you both you and they will fall together And Friends I am plain with you the Hand of the Lord is against them and all the Power of the Nations shall not save them from his Indignation And therefore be wise O ye Rulers and do not you think to take Counsel against the Lord and prosper nor prescribe not the Lord a Way for his Thoughts are not as your Thoughts nor his Wayes as your Wayes For he hath chosen the weak Things of this World to overthrow the Mighty your Eyes have seen this without and he hath revealed his Will to them and in them whom you look upon but as weak things and base things and in them he is making known his Eternal Power to overthrow the World's Wisdom and Might which is in the Fall and Curse from whence all Heresies and Blasphemies and Sects and Opinions flow and come forth and he is bringing his own Work his mighty Work to pass even to overthrow and overturn all the Power of the Beast and the false Prophet and shut them into the Pit and the Decree is gone forth and sealed and shall not be altered though all the Powers of Darkness joyn against him and although you should make a Law as the Jews did to take away the Life of Christ yet it did but little avail them for he hath carried on his Work through all Generations notwithstanding all Opposition and this is he in whom we trust and do not you think that you are able to limit the Lord by whom he must declare his Name or how or where or in what time but in his own VVay and Time and if he command and will us all mens VVills must be broken though still the holy men of God suffeâ—ed as such and so accounted as Disturbers of Peace I say the Devil's Peace must be broken and though the false Prophets of his Nation cry Peace unto you when you walk in the Imagination of your own Hearts and though you cry peace unto them yet one is come and coming to take peace from you for all your Peace and Agreement that you make against the least Appearance of God in his Servants it will be dashed to pieces And if they were to depart from the presence of God who fed nor the Saints neither clothed them nor visited them in prison but were to depart with the Devil and his Angels into everlasting Fire what will become of you who instead of clothing encourage the people to rent them off us and instead of feeding us give Command to depart because we are Stangers and instead of visiting them in prison you put them in prison and send for them one hundred Miles to be dragged to your prisons and before your Judgment-Seat in whom he is made manifest And now O ye Council at Dublin your Order hath so gratified the Devil and all the prophane in the Nation that they judge your Order was not large enough as that they had not Liberty to banish them who have been long Inhabitants in the Nation and therefore they tell you their Readiness to fulfil your Orders upon this Account and desire your Directions what to do further yea you have made all Lyars Drunkards cursed Speakers and prophane rejoyce and have strengthned the Hands of the wicked and so Judgment is turned backward and Righteousness cannot enter but all these things are recorded and you shall one Day remember what you have done And Friends it 's nothing to us we lay down our Heads in Peace notwithstanding if it had been done by them who had never professed any thing of Liberty of Conscience and Tenderness it might have been born but here your double Hypocrisie is made manifest Oh that ever you should be so led but why do the Heathen rage and the People imagine a vain Thing for he will exalt his Son upon the Hill of Sion and then wo unto them that have joyned their Power to uphold the Beast and the false Prophet for all must go into the Lake together where the Worm dyes not nor the Fire goes out to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels forever And therefore I say unto you Repent and turn to the Lord and seek Judgment and Righteousness that so you may judge for the Lord and break off all Oppression and entertain the Strangers who seek not yours but the Good of the Nation and that all people might know the Lord and worship him in Righteousness that so your dayes might be prolonged in the Land and the Lord of Heaven and Earth might rule over you in Righteousness and that he alone might be exalted in the Nations which hath not been known for many Generations but only all have lived with the Name without his Life and Power in Deceit and all Manner of Unrighteousness and the Lord is wearied and will ease himself of his Adversaries and his Glory shall no longer be given to another Cork in Ireland the 8 th of the 11 th Moneth 1655. AN EPISTLE TO THE Church of Christ BEING MY BRETHREN WHO ARE MADE PARTAKERS of the RICHES OF THE LOVE of GOD IN Christ Jesus In and About the CITY OF LONDON DEar Brethren who are called to be Saints by the Word which proceeds from the Throne of God the Lamb in which you have believed and denyed your Country and followed the Calling of the Lord and are become Children of Abraham and Children of the Promise Grace and Everlasting Peace be encreased amognst you who have believed the Testimony of his Son and are made Partakers of the common Salvation which was delivered unto the Saints and now made manifest in this his own Day according to his Everlasting Love to his Seed which Seed we are which are come up out of Egypt from whence he hath called his Son great is my Love unto you all and it 's the Love that I love withal which is stronger then Death and hath broken the Covenant of Death and now is become a broad River from
whence Streams of Refreshment flow which make the Heart glad and the Soul to rejoyce in the Land of the living Oh my dear Ones who are anointed with the holy and living Oyl which he was and is anointed withal who is the Life you have received into your Hearts which teacheth you all things and is the Truth which abides forever and as you abide in him and he in you you are made Partakers of Eternal Life and because he lives you live also Now dear Ones having set your Faces towards Sion and towards the holy Tabernacle where he dwells look not back but all mind your Leader and Captain who hath chosen you to follow him in the War and to be Partakers of his Glory and Crown as they are faithful to his Commands which are not grievous to them who deny themselves therefore you all have known the Terrours of the Lord and the Indignation of the Almighty while you were in the disobedient Nature and in time past when you were in the Alienation and without the Knowledge of the true God in the World and worshipping dumb Idols even as you were led by the Enemy of God who ruled in you and seeing while you were in that Nature captivated unto divers Lusts which the Wrath of God hath come upon and you having tasted of the Cup of Wrath and that with the living God nothing that defiles can have Fellowship but with Doubting and Trouble and with Fear and Condemnation in you and not true Peace nor Assurance you did witness then but now being changed in your Minds by hearkning to his living Word which killed you while Sin ruled which brought Wrath and works Death now to the disobedient but now hath he changed your Minds and brought you subâ—ect and hath subjected the Adversaries under your Feet who have believed in him and have given up all to the Death of the Cross Oh my dear Ones stand all in that pure Freedom and your Measure which hath been obtained through the Death of the Cross and which Peace and true Liberty you have already obtained hath been purchased at a dear Rate and therefore dwell every one in that Measure and be diligent in the VVork of the Lord and press on that all may be subject by him who is the Light and Guide that he alone may have the Preeminence who is the Head of all Principalities and Powers in whom you have believed and received the VVord of his Power which is eternal to whom be Glory and Praise fâ—r evermore which VVord after it had judged and condemned Sin in the Flesh now gives pure Peace and Life to all who believe in it and are judged by it and it seals you and is the Spirit of Promise and bears witness in your Spirits as you act according to its VVill and therefore now all deâ—r Friends being all sensible of your Guide and Teacher shut him not up in a Corner but wait that his Word may be preached for a Testimony to all the World and the Nations of the World that so the End of it you may come to see in you and the utmost Part of it may be given in Possession to the Son that he may alone be glorified And all DEAR FRIENDS wait in Patience and be circumspect every one over your own Hearts that there be no fainting nor looking back amongst you but that you may all keep out that which would lead you into the Rebellion and it may be cut off that so you may come to the End of your Hope the Salvation of your Souls and watch one over another in the living and not with the Evil but cover one another and bear one another and if any fall by Temptation admonish and restore them in Love and let not Strife nor Contention be among you but all be low meek and gentle one to another that so no Pride nor Presumption nor fleshly Exaltation may be amongst you but that you may every one walk as Ministers of Righteousness in your Place and so preach Righteousness in the Earth that the Lord alone may be glorified who is enlarging his Kingdom in this the Day of his Power and in his Strength we run and are not weary fulfil our Joy and grow up as living Branches of Righteousness and bring forth Fruit in him who hath called you and begotten you by the Word of his Power to a lively Hope by the Resurrection of the dead incorruptible which hath changed you from Death to Life my Desire is to you and my Heart is enlarged when I think upon you and my Prayers are to the living God whom I know hears for you that you may all walk to the Praise and Glory of his Grace which hath saved you from Sin and will save you as you abide in it and will be sufficient for you to keep you single and without Stain and present you perfect before the Throne of God which is Grace God Almighty of Life and Glory be with you all my dear Brethren and preserve you all in the Arms of his living and eternal Power that you may all have Dominion by the Blood of God which is Life Eternal over all Sin and be cleansed by it from all Uncleanness and so receive the Eternal Reward the Inheritance with the Saints in Light which is the Inheritance of Jacob over which God reigns forever and blessed are they that come to witness this Forever the Lord of Life be with you all and preserve you under his Everlasting Shadow that so you may be brought to see the Lord and be ever with him who lives forever and ever and unto whom be Glory and Praise forever Amen Amen Dear Friends Glad would I hear from you that my Bowels may be refreshed for our Labour and Travail hath not been a little and our Suffering in this desolate Land my dear Brother E. B. whose Love I know is dear to you all I have not seen towards five Moneths I am in Hope I shall shortly the Work of the Lord prospers abundantly blessed be the Lord in such a wicked Generation as this is but Hell hath opened her Mouth against us and all is on Fire Councils and Head and Tail Rulers Officers Priests and all the Heathen are on an Vproar and so we must pass through Fire and Hail and Pillars of Smoak pray that we may be preserved for the Work whereunto he hath called us to gather the rest that are scattered and to turn them to the Shepherd and his Fold that they may lye down with you in the same Everlasting Fold and herein we war and strive and fight with Beasts but strong is the Lord who hath covered us and girded us with his own Armour and hath taught our Hands to War and our Fingers to fight in this the Day of his Power unto whom alone be Glory and Praise forever and ever Your dear Brother in the living Fellowship and Brotherhood which all that come to know must lay down their
Life to come into it F. H. Cork the 18 th of the 11 th Moneth 1655. A LAMENTATION FOR THE Scattered Tribes Who are exiled into Captivity and are now mingled among the Heathen and are joyned to the Oppressor and refuse to return Presented unto all the separated Congregations under what Name or Form soever in Love to the Lost. SHEWING The Difference betwixt them that were separated by the word of Faith and them who have separated themselves in Immitation from the Letter And how they differ both in Doctrine in Matter in Form and so not the same with the Churches of Christ in the Unity The Difference between the true and false Ministry The Difference betwixt the Faith which is feigned and the Saints Faith The Difference betwixt true and false Hope A few words to the Ministry in all Sects and to all the mingled People who dwell in the Land of Darkness and are tossed up and down and know not where the Power is which is of God which gives victory A few VVords for your Information Thy Prophets have seen vain and foolish Things for thee and they have not discovered thine Iniquity to turn away thy Captivity but have seen for thee false Burthens and Causes of Banishment Lam. 2.14 By a Servant of Truth and a Friend to Righteousness who suffers with the Seed which is held in Oppression waiting and labouring for its Return F. H. Printed in the Year 1675. THE CONTENTS Concerning the Word of Christ which the Apostles and Ministers preached who had it in them revealed which did gather them into one that believed in it and its Effect and Operation that it had The Difference shewed betwixt that Ministry and the Ministry of them that preach the Letter for the Word The Difference between them that were separated by the VVord and them who have separated themselves The Difference shewn betwixt them that are taught of Christ and them that follow the Principles of Darkness that lead into Error The Difference betwixt the Faith which is feigned which is the VVorld's and the Saints Faith Concerning Hope and the Difference betwixt true and false Hope True Faith how it s wrought and what it is and its Operation A VVord to all the Ministers of the World in all Sects and to all People in every Sect. A few words to all you who put out the eye through long accustoming unto Sin who are near utter Darkness With some Information to them who are tossed and find no Rest nor know not where the Power of God is that gives Dominion over Sin the Power declared and the Way to Peace A LAMENTATION FOR THE Scattered Tribes TO all you who profess the Name of our Lord Jesus in Words and make mention of his Words and of his Ministers Words who had the everlasting Gospel and the Word of Reconciliation and of those Practices which the Churches of Christ had in their Day committed unto them after they were gathered out of the World and had denyed it and its Nature and were not comformable to it but were changed in their inward man and fruits of Righteousness were brought forth and they were as Lights in the World and did bear witness against the World that they were evil and said they were of God and had the Witness in themselves and were bold to say the whole World lay in Wickedness To you who are called separated Churches and Fellowships under this or that Name to you I write my Soul pities you above the rest of the World and in Love to those Desires which were once among you I write that so if it be possible you may come to see your selves and the Foundation on which you stand that those Desires which were after God begotten may not wholly be slain extinguished and betrayed through the Subtilty of the Serpent whose wayes are crooked and whose Subtilty is great to keep man under his Power This I have to say unto you There was and is a Zeal in you but not according to Knowledge bear my Words and judge that in your selves which would be angry There was that which shewed you the National Way of Worship under Episcopacy and Prelacy and Presbytery which is one in the Ground and Nature that this was the broad Way and not according to the Mind of the Lord neither was it according to Precept nor the Practices of the Churches of Christ which is clear from the Scripture Now you seeing this was not accoding to Christ nor his Ministers nor the Churches you began to separate from them into this or that Body under this or that Name as a Body separate from the World and their Worship because you found in the Writings of that which is called the Gospel People be gathered out of the World now your Eyes being still without you conformed to their Practices as you judged both in matter and manner and Practising those things which you read in the Scripture that the Churches Practised and so some Zealous did go forth and gather people together in this or that Form and here was your beginning and so here you set up your Rest that you walk according to the most exact Pattern that is Visible or Written yet since this you do not agree but are divided in your selves one sets up this and another that thing which you in your Reason judge right Now many things I might write unto you which you cannot bear but rather in Love a few Words that you may see the vast Difference betwixt your Assemblies and Churches and the Churches which you say is your Example And first of all I will shew in the Ground how far you fall short although it may be you may hate my instruction yet I say Suffer me a little for I am one who have obtained Mercy after a long and a sore Travel and tossed up and down in great Tempests but at last entered into the everlasting Rest and do not desire to contend with you for out of Debates carnal I am brought but rather in love to the Honesty in you all which is not of this World I speak First they received Power from on high and Commission given to preach the Gospel to all Nations I speak of the Ministers of Christ and those things which they had heard and seen and felt and tasted of and had handled of the Word of Life which Life was manifest in them this they preached and were sent to turn People from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power unto God's Power and as many as received and believed the Word which they preached which was the Word of Faith and Faith was begotten by the Preaching of it and they heard and learned of the VVord of Life Faith came by hearing that VVord and this VVord which they preached unto them was nigh them in their Mouth and in their Heart which as People turned to it and received it and believed so a Change was wrought in the Hearers of it and they were
all your Strength and all your Rest in the Flesh and Ease in your Beds that you have made shall be taken away you have slain those Desires in you which were once after God and now follow the Pleasures of the Flesh and have set up such a Worship over every one of you as you can live at Ease and in Pleasures and in Pride and vain-Glory and Covetousness and are Men-pleasers and Respecters of Persons and yet your Justification stands sure and your Faith which you hold and this Faith is Reprobate which leads into the Works of Darkness Oh you are high you are strong Warriours for the Prince of Darkness and greater Opposers of the Power of the Lord then they that have professed less who are gone before verily this is fulfilled in this Generation Publicans and Harlots enter the Kingdom and come to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and you are shut out Will he accept you for your Words will he accept you because you eat his Bread and drink his Wine and one of you is hungry and another Company of you plead that your Communion must now be as much Wine as you can drink and this is Gods ordinance you say Oh ye blind and slow of Heart to believe Is not Parphar and Damascus and Jordan and all the Water his and the Cattel upon a thousand Hills is he beholding to thee for thy lame and blind Sacrifice will he accept you for these things while your Wills stands and while you hate to be guided by his Light and Spirit which cleanseth the Inside shall I not say as Paul said of Circumcision It 's neither Baptism or not being baptized it 's neither breaking of Bread nor drinking of Wine neither your Observances and Washings your Prayers nor your Fasts your feigned Communion and Fellowship but a new Creature that God requires not outward washings nor things carnal which none of these things make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience nor the coming unto these doth not purifie nor make the Answer of a good Conscience while you do not witness that which makes you Partakers of the divine Nature you have no Fellowship with the Father nor the Son but only sacrifice to your Nets and feed upon Ashes and would take those things which were but Figures to oppose the Substance as the Jews did and never look for him to be revealed in you who is the End of the Figures and the End of the Law for Righteousness and the End of the Prophets who now is not worshipped in the Oldness of the Letter nor in Figures but in Newness of Spirit and in the new and living VVay which he hath consecrated for all them that come to him and believe in him and come to within the Vail Heb. 10.20 Nay these things which you call Ordinances as you practice them are not so much as the Image of Heavenly things and though you come to them Year by Year Week by Week they do not make you that are Comers thereunto perfect for if they did then there were a Necessity for the Continuance of them But now to that of God in all your Consciences I speak which shall witness in the Day of the Lord that your Consciences are no more purified nor you made any more perfect then the first Day you took them up And this I say unto you in love to your Souls I know no more of the Power and Presence you do witness among you in these things then if you worshipped in the Temple at Jerusalem and â—urned Incense and Offered Sacrifice and Burnt-offerings which Christ said was left unto them desolate and verily in the Day of the Lord's Account you shall bear witness unto me that I speak not in mine own Name although you cannot believe I say the Lord is departed out of these things and the Gentiles and Heathen who know not God have now all these things to tread upon and all also to feed upon but this I say unto you Sacrifices and offerings without which are Carnal and Elementary and perish with the using he will not have but he is come whose Flesh is the Life of the Saints and his Body is known which is prepared to take away Sin and it was witnessed of him and he is come to do the Will of God and this is he in whom the Father is well pleased who is the Light of the World and hath enlightned every one that comes into the world and whoso is not led by the Light he is not led by the Son and there is no Offering but in the Light that is accepted nor nothing which is well pleasing to God but what he now Commands who is entered to within the Vail into the Heavenly Tabernacle and you whose Hearts the Vail is over and Flesh is over unturned to him you are and his Face do not see nor his Mind do not know and now his worship is no more outward and Carnal but spiritual and everlasting And all you that cannot own the Measure of God in you which shews you his Teachings and Doctrine the offering up of that which is perfect you do not know nor the offering up in and by the eternal Spirit you do not know and so do not know purging away Sin but still you are Checked Condemned in your selves notwithstanding your large Phylacteries and long Garments of Self-righteousness and Selfishness in Performance in your wills from Imitation yet all of you confess the Guilt must remain because none of you are come from under Condemnation therefore you judge all is so Ah ah miserable Redemption and Justification is this what Redemption is wrought among you when the Light in your own Consciences shews there is Guilt and you are under the Power of Pride and Covetousness and Envy and Wrath railing and slandering them that bear witness against your deceit and have not Power over your Tongues nor over your Thoughts but are led captive by him that works Unrighteousness nay so ignorant are you most of you that you know not what it is that is in Captivity and what it is that wants Redemption nor what it is which the Gospel is preached to and purity of Spirit you do not know Verily I say unto you all whose minds are not turned to the Light of Christ which will let you see notwithstanding all your Righteousness and Fulness which you judge you have attained to there is one thing you lack yet you that have kept all the Commands in the Letter which few of you have done you must sell all and give to the Poor and yet before you witness a Disciple of Christ you must take up the Cross of Christ which you all stumble at and it is Foolishness to you as it was to your Generation who were in your Nature who sought to be justified by the Works without them and even you are the same look that God accepts you because you have conformed to the outward Part of the Law
and shall go into Perdition and he hath deceived the Nations long and all have exercised their Power against him who is the Heir of the Promise the first-born of every Creature who is higher then the highest and greater then the greatest and have changed his Laws and made them void and have set up the Law of Sin and Death and have established unrighteous Laws by the Power of Darkness in which all Nations have been involved since the Dragon hath Power and whosoever would not obey those Laws and Customs and Constitutions the Dragon hath had Power and they that have joyned to him for a Time to kill to imprison to destroy and they who have been exalted have had thought to weary out the Saints of the most high and to root out the Memorial of the Just that he and all his Adherents might reign forever in the Kingdom of Unrighteousness and in the Dominion of Darkness which is the Devils dwelling Place and Residence forever who is at Enmity against God and the Children of Light which worship God in Spirit and Truth in Life and Righteousness Now is the Time drawing near and he who is the Desire of all Nations appeareth the Ancient of dayes is coming whose Throne is established in Righteousness forever who will break the Head of the Dragon and will lay hold upon him and chain him up that he deceive the Nations no more And all you Emperours Kings Dukes Earls Nobles Lords and Potentates who have joyned to him your Kingdom shall be rent from you and your Hands shall grow weak that you shall not be able to defend your selves against him who travails in the Greatness of his strength who is coming up against you as a Lyon greedy of his Prey and will devour at once all his Enemies that thought in their Hearts to reign forever and to settle themselves in iniquity forever now the Time draws near when he will put down the Authority of the Dragon and of the Beast and the Beast with many Heads and Horns and their Rule shall come to an End and he will dash you one against another as broken Pitchers till you be consumed and brought to nought and be worn out as a moth-eaten Garment and will overthrow your Laws and Customs which are made in the Night of Ignorance and Blindness and will change your Customs and the Times and will reduce the Earth again into its first Purity and you that have ruled shall serve and be tributary and as you have had a time of rejoycing over the Witnesses who have troubled your earthly and devilish Peace and slain them as Sheep for the Slaughter a time of Mourning is coming upon you when you shall say alas alas for your Glory shall pass away and your Renown shall wither and for your Dominion which shall grow so weak that you shall not be able to resist him who travels in the Greatness of his Strength and treadeth the Winepress of the Wrath of God who is mighty and strong to judge the Whore and all they that have committed Fornication with her and have drunk of her Cup and are inflamed with Adultery and cannot cease from Sin but burn in Envy against the Appearing of the Manchild who is Heir of the Promise yea of Life everlasting born here to the Inheritance which is incoruptible unto whom all Power belongeth both in Heaven and Earth who will subdue the lower Power and Powers of Darkness and tread them under Foot and all who act from that Power which is below the Life below the Truth below the Light that power will he and all whom he brings out of the Grave and raises above the Grave tread down under foot which stands but in the Earth wherein dwells Unrighteousness Although thy Teachers and Diviners in thee oh Earth who preach a Divination of their own Brain and from the Imagination of their own Hearts have made you believe oh you Powers of the earth who are in the Fall in the Transgression of the Life that you were the higher Powers every Emperour King Duke Earl Nobles Lords and that all were to stoop to your Wills how contrary soever they have been to God but you and they must know there is one higher then the highest who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords who alone will judge the Hearts of his People and their Consciences for he will not give his Glory to another although you have long usurped it since the dayes of the Apostacy and would have had all to bow to that Power which hath transgressed the Life and is gone from the Power of God Oh! long hath been the Night of Ignorance and Darkness and great hath been the Apostacy in the earth since the Dayes of the Apostles and since the false Christ's and false Prophets entered into the World which Christ said should come and cry lo here and there and should deceive many yea all the world wondered after the Beast and John saw it all lay in Wickedness and the time that Christ prohesied of came to be fulfilled in the dayes of John and he saw it Mat. 24.23 24. that many false Prophets and Antichrists were gone out into the World out from the Life out from the Truth out from the Light wherein the Saints had Fellowship who wrote forth the Scriptures and he said They were gone into the World and he said the whole World lay in Wickedness and so they went from Holiness into Wickedness and from the Father's Love into the Love of the World and Peter and Jude who lived in the same Age they saw them that went in the Error of Balaam and in the Way of Cain and in gainsaying the Power being turned from it like Corah and also their Hearts were exercised with covetous Practices So John saw they were come 1 John 2.18 19 Little Children it is the last time as you have heard that Antichrist shall come even now there are many Antichrists whereby we know it 's the last time and Peter saw that false Apostles should come who should make Merchandise of the People and prophesied of it as you may read 2 Pet. 2.2 3. and in the 14 15. verses you may know them by their fruits having eyes full of Adultery and cannot cease from Sin beguiling unstable Souls and Hearts they have exercised with covetous Practices and they were the cursed children and these had forsaken the right Way Christ the way and his Command also Freely ye have received freely give and they laboured to keep the Gospel without Charge who were true Apostles but these false Prophets deceitful Workers Antichrists and false Apostles they were gone in Balaam's Way after the wages of Unrighteousness in Cain's Way in Corah's Way in Antichrist's Way out of Christ's Way and these false Prophets false Apostles they spoke swelling Words of Vanity and did allure through the Lusts of the Flesh and they like the rest of the false Prophets gone before them cryed Peace and promised
many Waters which shall make all the Potentates and the mighty of the Earth bow the Eye-lids of the morning are opened and the Sun is rising to his Height and the dark Air is scattering by the Breath of his Mouth and so all things shall appear in the Earth as they are and every thing under the Face of the Heaven shall be brought to Light and all the Powers of Darkness discovered and the Works and Workers of Iniquity shall no longer be hid but shall be discovered by the Light of the Son of God and shall be judged and condemned by the Life of Righteousness and blessed are they who know a hiding-Place in him when his overflowing Scourge passeth over the Nations which is already made ready to execute his Judgment upon the Heathen that know him not Oh! who may abide his Presence when he appears in his Power Majesty and Glory all the ungodly of the Earth shall be as driven Stubble before his Bow and shall flee before him nevertheless the Pursuer shall overtake and the Destroyer shall lay hold upon them and all the ungodly shall hear the Sentence Go ye cursed from the presence of the Lord into the Pit of Everlasting Destruction And when this Day comes upon the Nations all your Prophets Diviners and Teachers who are out of the Life of Christ who have flattered you and told you You were the higher Power and you must sit as Judges in the Things of the Father and Lord it over the Consciences of People and prescribe the Lord a Way and a Limit in your several Nations and Dominions they shall not be able to deliver themselves neither you but the Helper and the helped shall both fall together the Strengthener and the strengthened shall grow feeble and their Loins weak so that they shall not be able to stand before him who is the higher Power and the greatest Dignity who will rule over all Usurpers and over all the Children of Pride the Dragon the Beast the false Prophet and Teller of Lyes shall have their Portion in the Lake that burns Then shall the ransomed of the Lord and the righteous Seed whom the Nations have slain and persecuted the Prophets and holy Men of God and all that have been slain for the Testimony of Jesus rejoyce over the Deceit and it shall be sung in that Day The Lord God omnipotent reigneth who will ascend above all Principalities and Powers Thrones and Dominions and tread down all under his Feet that the Earth may be filled with his Glory and behold he cometh quickly in a Moment and suddain Destruction shall be upon his Enemies and the Breath of his Mouth shall make all melt away that hate the Lord and their Remembrance shall rot forever and ever Therefore oh all ye Powers of the Earth who are the Sons of fallen Adam whose Power ariseth out of the Earth in which the Devil dwells and the Serpent feeds who bear Rule but not by the Lord who sit as Judges in the Earth and yet your Judgment is from the Earth and from below know this you shall all be judged with the Just and all your unrighteous Decrees Laws Constitutions Ordinances and Edicts which are made in the fallen Wisdom you and they both together will be cast aside as a Thing of nought and must all be judged with the Just Therefore repent and turn to the Lord of Heaven and Earth that you may know his righteous Judgment set up in your Hearts and the Spirit of Injustice and Error purged out of your Hearts or else you judge not for God for all the Laws Constitutions and Ordinances which are made in the fallen Principle and fallen Wisdom to have all these in the Head or in the Memory so that he may act in a Nation or Kingdom according to the Letter of a Law prescribed in a Nation that doth not at all make a Man an able Minister of Justice or a Magistrate for God for the Root being unholy corrupt and erroneous from whence those Laws were given forth the Branches are unholy also the Ground being corrupt the Tree bad the Fruit is bad also and so all Nations who are degenerate from the Life of God their Laws and Constitutions do alwayes imbondage the regenerate so the Heart being deceitful and unrighteous such Laws proceed forth which do oppress the upright in Heart and all or most of the LAWS in all Nations are received by Tradition from Generation to Generation since the scattering of ISRAEL who received the Law from God's own Mouth by the Hand of Moses a Magistrate of the Lord and a Judge over Israel and so Heaps of Decrees Statutes and Ordinances there are in the Nations which do not answer that of God in the Conscience of every man and so that which is pure of God in the Conscience of every one cannot be subject to those Laws and Traditions but rather suffer as many Thousands have done cruel Deaths and great Oppression all this dark time of Anti-christ's Reign and of the Beast in all nations since the Apostacy and Death reigning over all the Sons of the first Adam in the Transgression Death hath breathed forth it self upon the Face of the Earth for Sin entering and Death by Sin it rules in the Heart and exerciseth his Power which stands in Unrighteousness and so all Mankind in all their acting can do nothing for God but against him and against his People who are redeemed out of the Region of Death and so all Law-givers Law-makers and Laws which stand in the Will of man and in the unrighteous Principle will the second Adam the Lord from Heaven the Restorer of Mankind utterly overthrow abolish and take away their Power for the Law-giver shall come out of Sion whoever in all Nations that ever come to see him must see him come from thence whose Appearance shall be as a Lamp that burns and he shall change the Customs the Times and the Laws and overthrow all them that stand in the Curse for he shall lead out of Death and out of its Path and from under the Law of Sin and Death that all that hear him and come to be subject to his Law shall deny all those Laws in the very Ground and bear their Testimony against them which stand in that nature that transgresseth the Life And therefore give Ear all Nations and all Emperors Kings Monarchs Lords Judges and Rulers of the Earth in all Nations he is come and coming whose Right it is to judge the Earth in Righteousness and the People with Equity even he unto whom all Judgment is committed and he hath appeared as the Son of God in the North Region of the World in Power Majesty and great Glory and hath made the Mountains melt before him and he hath dryed up all the Springs of Babylon and hath made the Cedars bow and made the Trees of the Forrest to shake and the study Oaks hath he cut up by the Roots and turned
are trodden under foot which are acted and brought forth from the changeable mind of man and so all Laws Constitutions and Decrees which are made in the Will of man come to be thrown down by his righteous Law which proceeds out of the Mouth of the righteous God who is Light and so as his unchangeable and unalterable Decree comes to be set up in every particular Ruler and Governour and himself judged with the just he comes to bear his rule for the just and answered that which is just in every man and no longer can he act against well doing but is a Leader and an Incourager of it in all and is a terrour to the unjust and so comes to know the Dominion again which man lost through Disobedience and Transgression Now all you Powers of the Earth wait that you may come to see that and feel it revealed in your selves to wit the Law of God from the Mouth of God that so you following it Sin may be judged in your selves and you come to know the one Lord the Lawgiver which leads man back out of Sin and Transgression by his Son whom he hath sent into the World that all men through him might believe in the Father and be restored out of Sin and Transgression unto Life eternal where Death hath no Entrance And so all who wait upon the Light of the Son of God and are obedient to it they come to feel his Power and his Decree which cannot alter its Property or Verity and all who come to be guided by it you will come to see that which unites you unto God and one Nation to another in the Covenant of God Oh! that all your Eyes were opened that you might see that which belongs to your Peace and the well-being of all Nations that so the Power of the Flock might be refreshed among you and this I speak unto you a Change must be witnessed in your selves before you will cease acting in the changeable Mind now the time draws near the Lord will try you for the Earth must be lest without Excuse and he will have all warned for God will no longer be limited and therefore take heed how you gainsay any or resist any who may declare unto you the Counsel of God and cause them not to be persecuted or hurt but all be calm and moderate and learn Wisdom from above from him who hath enlightned you that you may come to deny your selves and follow him who condemns all Self-actings and Self-will in man and all Customs Laws Worships and Traditions that are made in the Will of man that so he unto whom all Power is committed may be feared and worshipped in Spirit in Life Truth and Righteousness that so all Sedition Rebellion Treachery and Unrighteousness may be cleansed out of the Earth and that all quarreling fighting contention may end and people come out of that which the sword is against that so the Swords may be beat into Plowshares and the Spears into Pruning-hooks that so Violence may be done away and Cruelty swept out of the Nations that the Dominion of God may be set over all and his Truth advanced above all that the Kingdoms of the World may become the Lord's and his Christ's and blessed are they that stoop unto his Scepter who judges the Nations in Righteousness and the people with Equity who is the Salvation of all his people for evermore and a hiding Place in the day of Trouble LONDON the 20th of the 2nd Moneth 1658. SOME OF THE MYSTERIES OF God's Kingdom DECLARED As they have been revealed by the Spirit THROUGH FAITH For the Information of all such who have erred for Lack of true Knowledge in their Judgments and have perished for Lack of Understanding to the Intent that they may for the Time to come wait in that which gives the true Knowledge of God and of his Kingdom and of the Mysteries thereof which come to be revealed through Faith to the upright in HEART Also for the Confirmation of such who are made Partakers of the like precious Faith By one who is made Partaker of the Riches of his GRACE and of the SALVATION which is in Christ Jesus revealed through the SPIRIT F. H. The Secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him The Particulars treated on in the following DISCOVRSE I. WHat the Day of the Lord is and to whom it hath appeared and how it is seen and discovered II. What it is and what it will be to the wicked declared III. What it is to the Righteous and how he appears to them and whether we are to look for it while in the Body resolved IV. Where it doth appear and how it cometh and how it is to be looked for declared V. What the Spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the Things of God VI. How the Spirit of Truth worketh and operateth in them who are convinced and yet have not obeyed it shewed VII How the Spirit of the Father worketh in them who hearken to it and are in some Measure made Partakers of its Power shewn VIII Unto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals Assurance of the Father's Love and of Justification with God declared IX What the Grace of God is which is free and to whom it hath appeared and where all are to wait to receive it X Whether all have received the Grace of Godor no and whether it be a sufficient Teacher in it self demonstrated XI Some Objections answered XII A Word to the wise Men of this World who are glorying in the Sound of Words XIII Also another to them who are glorying in outward Appearances and worshipping visible Things instead of the Life XIV The Kingdom of God and his Christ declared in some Measure as it is revealed by the Spirit what it is and where it is to be waited for and how it comes to be revealed in them that believe XV. Divers Objections answered TO THE READER Reader IN Times past in the Night of Ignorance when Men groped in the dark as blind Men since the Apostles Dayes and out of thick Darkness have spoke darkly of the Things of God and of his Kingdom and written many things about the Things of God and of his Kingdom which have fed the dark Minds of many who are unconverted unto God And seeing how many People are confused in their Minds and err in Judgment and have lost the Key of Knowledge which should give an Entrance into the Mystery of God's Kingdom and open their Hearts therefore in Compassion unto them who are thirsting after the Lord to find him these few Things I was moved to write for the sakes of those who have no Place to rest in or upon to the Intent that all may wait in that through which God reveals his Mind and manifests his true Knowledge in Man and these Things that I have written as they were revealed to me and in me by his
pure Spirit if thou waitest in the Manifestation of the Spirit these Things thou wilt see to be Truth though hid and vailed from the World that lyes in VVickedness as thou comest out of its Nature I have not written for to please Men of corrupt Minds who glory in VVords and outward Appearances and glory in natural Parts and in Sounds and are erred from the Life but to the simple-hearted and for the strengthening of the weak and for the understanding of the simple and that which thou seest in the following Discourse which thou canst not close with let it alone and judge nothing before the Time in thy Wisdom that is earthly or in thy Reason but in that and to that of God in thee I desire to be approved and to nothing else and shall be made manifest in the day of the Lord that is dawning in the world and many have seen it to appear in Power and Glory wait thou in thy own particular that thou may'st feel thy own Condition and see thy own State and that which lets thee see thy own Condition will let thee see the Lord and what I have declared of him to be true I am thy Friend in Truth and wish Good to all Men. F. H. SOME OF THE MYSTERIES OF God's Kingdom DECLARED As they have been revealed by the Spirit THROUGH FAITH THE Lord God of the whole Earth who lives forever even the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and Jacob whose Throne is established in Righteousness forever who rideth upon the Heavens and shines forth in his eternal Excellency from the Firmament of his Power he is manifesting himself in his Power as in the dayes of old and revealing his Righteousness as in the Years past and pouring forth his Spirit upon his Sons and Daughters according to his Promise and they that believe come to be made Partakers of the Blessing of the everlasting Hills even the Lord who appeared at Sinai unto Moses his Servant in the Bush who rose up from Mount Seir and shined forth in his Brightness from Mount Paran and came with ten thousands of his Saints even he from whose right Hand went a fiery Law so that the People could not behold his Glory the same is he who hath now appeared in this the Day of his Power and is appearing whose Glory shall dazel the Eyes of the World whose Brightness shall make dim all the World's Glory and stain its Wisdom and shut it up in utter Darkness that it shall not appear to have any Existence or Being and the Shadow of Death shall fly away and all the haughty and lofty Princes of this World shall be horribly afraid the Beasts shall go into their Dens when the day appears and the Lambs of the everlasting Fold shall come forth and be fed in the fat Valleys where the Springs of Life compass about all the Banks and rejoyce in their Shepherd and shall say The Lord is my Shepherd which many at this Time do admire and say What hath the Lord wrought who have seen his Wonders in the dayes of old and have seen his noble Acts which the Fathers have told of who are fallen asleep and are at Rest in the Lord and now many is God bringing to see what they witness to be true and to have the same fulfilled in themselves Honour and Praise unto him forever who is the Stay Strength of all his People forever And the day of the Lord is broken and the Light hath appeared that manifesteth all Things which are reproveable and the Day-Star is arisen in the Hearts of many and they are come to see that fulfilled in their Hearts which Peter exhorted them to wait for and to take heed unto the sure Word of Prophecy until the day appeared and did dawn in their Hearts which day when it appears and to whom it appears discovereth all things and maketh all things manifest as it is declared by the Spirit of Truth in the Scripture of Truth and every Man's Work shall be tryed of what Sort it is and of what Nature it is and this day hath appeared to many Praises to the Lord who have waited for it and now they see every thing in its Ground and Rise and every tree and fruit is seen according to its kind whether good or bad and every Man's Work is obvious to every one who are in the day and upon whom the Morning of Righteousness hath appeared and the Sun of Righteousness hath shined upon whereby that is seen in every one by the Light which is truly called day by the Lord who causeth it to spring from on high which is reproveable and condemnable and also whatever is justifiable and unreproveable is seen by the day of the Lord appearing in the Heart The Day of the Lord what it is and to whom it hath appeared discovered and how it is seen GOD is a Spirit his day is spiritual and is seen with a spiritual Eye it 's pure Light pure Brightness the pure shining forth of the Lord in his glorious Excellency the pure shining forth of Eternity Life putting forth it self in its Brightness Holiness shedding it self abroad in its Glory Purity spreading it self in its immeasurable Excellency and can only be seen as it is in it self by the Children of Light that are born of it there is a natural day there is a spiritual Day the natural day receives its Brightness from the Sun the spiritual day receives its Brightness from the Sun of Righteousness by whom it 's brought forth without whom nothing was or is made or brought forth but by him who is the Fountain of Life and as the natural day receives its Clearness from the natural Sun and is discerned by the natural Eye of a natural Man and all things natural are seen and discovered by and in the natural day and are perspicuous and obvious to him that hath his natural Sight even so from the Sun of Righteousness the Lord of Glory Light and Purity the day of God receives its Brightness and is issued out from him by the Rayes of his Brightness and is discerned and seen only by the spiritual Eye of the spiritual Man who is the Image of the Father brought forth in Life and in his own Nature and Quality that is to say from God the Father of Life by Christ Jesus the Life of men the Light of the World and this is the Birth which is born from above which is of the Nature of the Father and the Son and of the day and he only comes to behold this day and discerns all things of the Father's Kingdom by it and likewise discerns all the hidden things of Dishonesty and the Works of Darkness which are brought forth by the Prince of Darkness who is shut up in eternal utter Darkness which is his dwelling-place forever which is his Residence and shall be the Residence of all the Workers of Iniquity that bear his Image forever Object But some
may be ready to say It is not yet appeared and all things are not yet made manifest and that Day is not yet come neither hath appeared in this Age to any Answ. What if a man that is naturally blind say that there is no Light in the day nor in the Sun because he sees none is therefore there no Light in the day nor in the Sun And what if all things be alike unto him day and night so that he can distinguish nothing doth this therefore make void their seeing who do see with the natural Eye both the Sun the day and hinder them from Distinguishment or Discerning And what if they who are spiritually blind and are Children of the Night say they see nothing nor behold nothing of the day of the Lord or of the Discovery of the Things of God or of his glorious Appearance which many witness doth this therefore make their Sight void or the Discovery of the things void to them who have seen into the Things that be of God's Kingdom the Unbelief of some doth not make the Faith of them that do believe void God forbid What the Day of the Lord is and what it will be to the Wicked declared AS I have said though the day of the Lord be pure Light and Brightness in it self and mixeth not with the Night which is of a contrary Nature because the Lord in the Beginning separated them and set a Decree which will last unto all Perpetuity and that which limited the Bounds and Circumference thereof now is the same I say though the day of the Lord be pure and keep its Purity Property and Nature and is still one and the same in it self for nothing can alter its Purity yet it is a day of Blackness Gloominess and a notable terrible day unto the wicked who hate its Appearance and hate the Light Children of Falshood and of Deceit whose Deeds be evil it makes them and their Deeds manifest there it is unto them as it is written in a certain Place The Eye-lids of the Morning are unto them as the Shadow of Death the Appearance of the Lord affrights them and they would run from it as a Thief that diggeth through a Wall and breaketh open a House in the Night when deep Sleep is upon men but when the day appears that discovers his Actions he is afraid because he will then if he stay there be seen and all that live wantonly upon Earth whose Hearts are set to seek after Wickedness as for hid Treasure the day of the Lord will steal upon such as a Thief and will come as upon a Thief and they being Children of the Night and bringing forth the Fruits of Darkness contrary to the Light they will have their Portion in utter Darkness and eternal Vengeance will compass them as a Wall and Fury as a Fire that devoureth all the Fewel so shall the ungodly perish and have their Portion with Hypocrites Think on this all you Railers and Revilers of the Light and of the Appearance of God and repent for as the wild Ass that snuffs up the Wind and they that seek will not weary themselves with her yet a time cometh when she may be found and taken even so all the ungodly though they may run as a wild Ass and traverse their Way as a Dromedary yet the Moneth cometh and the day cometh they will be overtaken in the midst of Security and they shall not escape And though the Children of this World and Teachers of this World and Professors of this World who profess the Scriptures have prayed for the day of the Lord yet when it comes it will be as hot burning Fire and devouring Fire and they will fall as Stubble and as burnt Mountains before it and will not be able to abide for as I said whatsoever is reproveable is manifest by the day the Light which is eternal in which God appears and it shall appear even to the wicked to the ungodly they shall be made manifest that which is manifest is not hid but seen and brought too Light and beholden So all you Hirelings who preach for Hire and you people that love to have it so you shall not be hid all Gain-sayers of the Truth you shall be found out all shall be convinced of their ungodly Deeds and hard Speeches and that which makes your deeds manifest will be the day and that will convince you for even the wicked shall see his Appearance although to Condemnation Shame and Contempt They shall see him whom they have pierced And know further even in the wicked God hath a Witness which is pure which checketh often though they heed it not because the God of the World hath blinded their Eyes yet when Christ the Life shall appear he will make that see in the wicked which they have put out and the God of the World hath blinded yet he by his Power will open even the Eyes of the wicked and they shall see him and his coming in Dread and his pure Appearance which shall make them horribly afraid and his Day and Appearance will be to their Sorrow Although they would not see yet they shall be made to see and to hear that which they would not hear when God sounds his Trumpet to give warning to all that the dead both small and great may arise some unto everlasting Life and some unto Shame and everlasting Contempt All that have hated his appearance shall see though they would not Put not this far away all deceitfull Workers Drunkards Lyaâ—s Swearers Whores and Whoremongers Adulterers Idolaters who worship your own Imaginations and all Railers Mockers and proud wanton disdainful People that live in Wantonness and Pleasure Time-servers Flatterers Men-pleasers cursed Speakers vain Talkers foolish Jesters fierce Despisers of those that are good who are come out of the Pollution that you wallow in his Appearance will be to their joy but to your Shame and eternal Misery except you speedily repent What the day of the Lord is to the righteous and how he appears to them and whether any are to look for it while in the Body resolved THe appearance of God who is eternal Life in his day in his immeasurable Light a great Joy and rejoycing to the righteous for there they come to behold him who is unto his people an everlasting Light and in his Light they come to see Light and in his day he reveals the secret Mysteries of his Kingdom in them who see his day appear in their Hearts which maketh all things manifest even the Secrets of the Lord and his hidden Treasure and his durable Riches which never canker nor rust but is fresh and keeps its pure Image and Impression and is still the same by which all the righteous who have waited for Gods Appearance come to see him and his Riches as it written This is he we have waited for let us rejoyce and be exceeding glad why what is he come that you
have waited for yea come and his Reward is with him and they that see him come find Contentment in him and in his Reward and what is the Reward Joy Gladness Peace of Conscience Assurance of God's Love sealed in their Hearts by the pure Spirit of the Lord the Streams of Life flowing forth continually from the great deep which refresh and keep cool in the greatest Extremity and Heat of Temptation and this is enjoyed by them that have waited and do wait for it even in the Body they bare witness of him and of his coming the Disciples what was their witness The Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding Of what of God of his Day of his Appearance of his Power of his Wisdom of his Kingdom of Hâ—pe of Faith of Assurance of Peace of Joy of Comfort and Consolation what in this life yea a Cloud of witnesses I might bring in former Ages and a Cloud of Witnesses I might bring in this Age blessed be the Lord But my Witness is nearer me that giveth me Assurance and is surer to me then all their Witnesses although they be all true Abraham the Father of the faithful and of the righteous who believed God and was accepted he saw Christ's day and was glad Say literall Professors that 's by Faith yea what else by Faith he and â—ll that ever saw Christ and his day or the Father they saw him by Faith By Faith they saw him who was invisible Isa. 12.2 Behold God is my Salvation he also is become my Salvation what dost thou enjoy it already yea he is become And Simeon who waited for the Consolation of Israel Luk. 2.30 Now let thy Servant depart in Peace for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation And this he said who knew God's Comfort and Consolation as our Suffering for Christ doth abound even our Consolation in Christ doth much more abound and they were made Partakers of his Divine Nature and sate together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus For heaven is his Throne and they that are in him and enjoy him who is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God know Peace and Rest and Salvation both from Guilt and Act of Sin And the Apostle wrote to the Hebrews After he had purged away our Sins speaking of the Attonement the everlasting high Priest he sate down on the right Hand on the Majesty on high He saw beyond Sin even him who had purged away Sin and this comes to be made manifest unto them and in them that believe by the Spirit of Jesus who is Christ the Lord the Arm that brings Salvation and is the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that believe who begins it in his day and perfecteth in his day for he works in the day as he himself said Hitherto my Father worketh and I worke but the Night cometh when none can work So that he destroys the Work of the Devil which is his Work in man which they that are come to his day feel and see the handy-work of God in themselves and his own works praise him for they onely can and they that are not come to the day know not God's Work in themselves and they who have not yet heeded that in themselves which manifesteth all things reproveable neither that which doth reprove they are not come to know the Appearance of the glimering of Light or of the day yet in themselves which the Saints witness in them even all they that are sanctified Where the Day of the Lord doth appear and how it comes and how it is to be looked for declared THey that gaze abroad whose Eyes are abroad cannot see his Appearance nor his day which appears he that knoweth not wherein it consists knows not how to look for it no more then the Jews who were Scripture-Professors and learned Men knew wherein the Kingdom of God did consist even no more do the litteral Professors whose Faith is founded on the Letter and upon that which is visible know what I say First All must know wherein it doth consist it is eternal Brightness shed abroad through all Things which pierceth through and searcheth the secretest Place even that which is invisible and maketh manifest all things and the Nature of every Thing by the day of the Lord comes to be seen and it appears in the Heart they were to wait for the day to dawn and to break forth in their Hearts and to wait for its Appearance there and that is it which is to be waited for and upon that which maketh Evil manifest and brings it to Light and declares against that which is contrary to its Nature and so the day cometh to dawn Christ the Covenant of Light God's Gift who is sent and anointed of God to preach and to proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord and also the day of Vengeance he proclaims in the Heart for he comes not to bring Peace but a Sword and his Sword is the Sword of the Spirit it 's that which divides and discerns the Intent of the Heart and his day discovers the desperate Wickedness of the Heart and where he finds no Faith in the Heart he kindles a Fire in the earthly Heart and executeth his Vengeance and his day unto such is a day of great Perplexity their Spirits come to be wounded the Heart comes to be made faint and Sorrow comes to fill their Hearts and Trouble to be felt and in this State are all who are unconverted he finds no Faith no Hope in the Heart therefore he comes and takes away Peace Many have talked of the day of the Lord but when it comes to draw near them they will not abide it whatsoever makes manifest is Light Now the day makes all Things in every one manifest and when Deceit is seen and Wickedness brought to Light then they that have done Evil cannot abide but would run to any Thing rather then abide the day or to see the Lord of Life appear in his day to execute Vengeance upon his Enemies and to destroy his Adversaries and to kindle an unquenchable Fire to consume all his Enemies and who have not seen this yet in themselves never have seen the Day of Salvation nor of Gladness and this made the Prophet cry out Who may abide the Day of his coming And many have been Eye-Witnesses of the dreadful Day of the Lord which hath appeared wherein all Peace hath been hid from their Eyes and all that ever came to see the Day of Joy and Gladness first did know the Terror and terrible day of the Lord in themselves therefore said the Apostle We knowing the Terror of the Lord do perswade Men now it cometh not with Observation lo here or there so the Pharisees looked the Kingdom should come when Christ told them it was within them so I say if ever any do behold the bright shining forth of eternal Life thou must wait in that which is pure of God through which
he will manifest his day and his Power in his day in thee as thou keepest in thy Mind to that which manifests unto thee Evil and shews thee Good thou wilt see how it appears Even as the Light shineth from the East unto the West so is the coming of the day of the Lord and the Eye which is spiritual â—eâ—s it and the Power the Glory of the Lord comes to be seen in the day which is pure and spiritual in the Heart and the Eye which is pure doth behold when it comes where it comes and how it comes and it 's hid from vulturous Eyes and from their Eyes which are fall of Adultery and cannot cease from Sin Now the day of the Lord cometh not where the carnal Mind may imagine nor when Man will neither according to the carnal Desire of the carnal Heart neither according to the evil Eye that looks out can it be seen but is seen in God's own Light and by the Measure of God's holy Spirit And as the day of the Lord is a Mystery the Spirit of the Lord is the only Discoverer of it None know the Things of God but by the Spirit of God and the day of the Lord and his bright shining forth in the Heart of Man is one of the glorious Things of God which only the Spirit of God doth give the Knowledge of to Man and in Man and not the Letter nor the Scripture for the Jews had the Letter and they had neither heard God's Voice at any Time neither ever did they see his Shape neither did they see the day of the Lord nor the Power neither in a Word did see or perceive God or any of the Mysteries of God's Kingdom at all but dreamed imagined thought and conceived of Things in their Minds their foolish Hearts being darkened for the further a Man draws from the Light his Heart comes to be more dark and their Understanding closed up and shut up that they cannot behold the Lord neither his Glory which is revealed only by God's holy Spirit which Spirit is near Man though he see is not What the Spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the Things of God THE Spirit of the Lord is pure holy equal Purity it self Holiness it self Equity it self and is one with the Father and the Son the Father Word and Spirit are one it 's Life it 's pure Power â—ure Strength Purity it self which mixeth not neither joyneth to any Thing but that which is of its own Nature it 's an immeasurable pure Substance it 's Life issued forth an active living Power and is everlasting alters not changeth not keeps its Holiness its Purity forever it is unsearcheable unfathomable undeclarable Words are all too short too narrow to declare its Excellency and Glory but only as it makes it self out to them that believe and opens it self and sheds it self abroad in them that wait upon it it is revealed in its own Purity manifest in its own Power and received in its own Light felt in its own Virtue the living Father of Life himself is manifest by it and appears in his Power Majesty and Excellency through it to man and to the Sons of men to the righteous and unrighteous to godly and ungodly to the upright and to the deceitful to the Children of Darkness and to the Children of Light that which searcheth the Heart of man and sees through all things and maketh manifest all Things even the hidden Things of God and the secret Works of Darkness and reproveth for all Evil all Iniquity that is the pure Act of the Spirit which convinceth every man and as the Creature comes to joyn to it it ariseth and shines forth more clearly and maketh it self known in its Power and Operation its Power comes to be felt it checks and reproveth judgeth and condemneth all Actions which are done and past and brings them to the Creature 's Remembrance and as it is waited upon and hearkened unto it sheds it self abroad in its own pure Brightness and â—ringeth all things to Light even all the Deeds of Darkness and maketh manifest the Intents of the Mind and manifesteth all things reproveable Now as there is a waiting upon the pure Appearance of it and the Mind be still and quiet and calm the Creature comes to feel and sensibly know his own Condition he sees his Mind is alive to other Things and other Lovers and not to God and so he sees himself dead to the Things of God's Kingdom and in the Loss and in the Fall and in the Transgression now this which shews the vain Motions and vain Thoughts and checketh them is an Operation of the Spirit and Purity comes to be felt working in the Heart and as it is loved and obeyed it leadeth and converteth the Heart to the Lord and draweth towards it self out of Unholiness and from under the dark Power and brings that under and so it ariseth in its Strength as it is believed in and waited upon and judgeth and condemns for all Evil for it is the Discoverer of the Mind of the Lord to the Sons of Men or the Father by it makes known his Mind to and in the Creature and doth discover the Things that be eternal in their true Property and Nature which only they that have the Spirit and have received it and are brought out of the Sensuality come to discern him who is invisible and the things that belong to everlasting Happiness which are not seen by a natural Eye neither received by the Spirit of the World who never received the things of God neither the Testimony of them who were in the Life Now all that come to receive it that is to say the Spirit of Truth must wait in that which is pure unto which it joyns it joyns not to the corrupt Man neither to the sensual Heart neither to the vile Affections neither unto them whose Eyes are full of Adultery which cannot cease from Sin neither to the Seed of Falshood neither to the corruptible Birth neither unto that which is born of the Flesh nor unto the Will of the Creature yet notwithstanding though it joyn not to these yet it is near man even the natural man its Manifestation or the shining forth of its Brightness maketh all these things manifest before-mentioned to be evil and thus far the Spirit of God hath appeared to the World and all Mankind as to convince the World of Sin yet still it remains in its own Purity and while the Heart of any man is taken up with that and joyned unto that which the Light reproves that is to say the Worker of Iniquity that man hath not received the Spirit neither is made Possessor of it nor enjoyes it but it stands off man and from man at a Distance shewing the Worker of Iniquity and the Works of Darkness and manifesting to the Creature in its Light and letting him see unto whom he is
Now that which shews a man Evil after it be committed is the pure Appearance of God And that which shews a man the Temptations when they arise that is the same now this they call Common and that which preventeth a man and keeps him back that he lend not his Heart nor put forth his Hand to commit Evil but restrains a man from it is not that saving out of evil and that which stops the Adversary in his Way that he enter not but preserveth the Creature out of Defilement and saves him from it is not this saving is not this the same thing that the Apostle who was well acquainted with the Grace of God and of its Operation wrote of to Titus That Grace of God which brought Salvation which had appeared and doth now appear to all men which taught them self-denyal to deny worldly Lusts and also to live godly or like unto God in this present World and now doth the same is not this sufficient to believe in and sufficient to save Now I do not say but there is a greater measure let out unto them that are converted unto God then is to them that are convinced of their Evil by the same Grace yet still it is one and the self-same thing one Gift yet a greater Measure of one and the same pure Vertue and Power which is given to them that obey the Life which is already made manifest by its Appearance unto all Object But some will be ready to say that this is Errour and that which is contrary to the Scripture and to orthodox Teachers that the Grace which is saving is near all men and hath appeared to all men To that I answer Though grace be saving in it self even the grace that hath appeared to all men and may be truly called saving grace yet to them that believe not in it neither are taught by it it convinceth and shews Evil and checks and judges for it yet there is no Variation nor Change in the Gift of God but as it worketh upon different Objects for Faith and Unbelief are two different things as Light and Darkness are different and so the Word of his Grace is the Savour of Life unto Life that is to say unto them that believe and is the Savour of Death unto Death unto them who are in the Unbelief who indeed are dead while they live yet here is the same Grace and the same Word of Grace yet here are different Operations so the Lord killeth and maketh alive yet the same Lord the Spirit convinceth of Sin and reproveth for Sin and also consolates and comforts here is Diversity of Operations yet the same Spirit which never alters Object But further some may say If that it be saving Grace or at least a degree and a Measure of saving Grace that hath appeared to all men then how is it that all are not saved by it Answ. Because I would all stumbling blocks were removed away that the Path might be made plain that all might come to believe in that which is God's Gift in which there is Power and Sufficiency therefore I am constrained by the Grace of God to declare of it and to bear witness to it thus largly which I know will be to the Edification of all that hunger after Righteousness All are not saved by it because they believe not in it neither are taught by it yet its Validity Power and Vertue is nevertheless in it self and though them that are careless and heedless say We feel no Power nor Sufficiency in it to save us from Sin yet this makes not void their Confidence who have receiâ—ed it and know its Power which hath given them Power and also Sufficiency to do the Will of God what though Unbelievers who are in the Alienation say there is no Beauty in Christ neither Fâ—rmnor Comliness this makes not his Glory void who is the express Image of the Father full of Grace and Truth the Disciples saw it and bore Record of him who were in the Faith and the Pharisees said he had a Devil who were in the Unbelief but in brief this is my Testimony that the Grace of God the perfect gift of God which shews Ungodliness and leads from Ungodliness all that are taught by it is a sufficient Teacher of it self I mean as the Power of Christ through it is made manifest unto all them that hearken to it Paul a Minister of the word of Reconciliation who was rapt up into the third Heaven where he saw things unutterable came to be tempted and buffetted with the Messenger of Satan and Fear and Doubting rose up in him and he prayed unto God thrice and this answer was given unto him my grace is sufficient for thee so this is evident to all Understandings who are opened by the Lord that which shewed him the Temptations and Satan's Messengers and Satan's Buffetings was sufficient to preserve him and so is it for all who singly are kept to it and in it sufficient to shew Ungodliness because of its Purity and to lead from worldly Lusts by its Power and to teach the Will of God and to live like unto God in this present World and this Testimony I bear of it and to it even what I have felt and tasted and handled of its Sufficiency and Vertue and Power of its Operation for the Confirmation of the same Truth which is believed by many Brethren and also for the Information of them who thirst after the Lord and for the Opposition of all the Gain-sayers and Opposers of it which Testimony I commend to that of God in every man which will witness me herein in the Day of God when all Hearts are opened and all Falshoods and Truth is made manifest in the mean time shall rest in that which I have declared of in which there is pure and perfect Peace A Word to you wise Men of this World who are glorying in the Sound of Words and worshipping outward Appearances to all wise and literal Professors who think you are worshipping God aright who think to search into the deep Things of God by your natural Wisdom Learning Parts and Study GOD hath broken open the Seals of the great Deep where the wonderful unalterable things of God are revealed from whence eternal Wisdom is flowing forth to his little Ones whom he hath sanctified from the Womb and his Power and Glory he is shedding abroad and making it to flow forth as though it issued out of a Womb by which Power and Wisdom you are all weighed even by one who is swadled about with Righteousness and girded up with the Girdle of Truth you are all measured as with a Span and are all weighed as with a Scale all your Parts Tongues Languages Interpretations Significations Wisdom that are come to be enjoy'd by them who have believed in the true Light that lighteth every Man which rounds you all as an Heap and measures you all as with a Line your Breadth Length
in due time to be revealed through Death they come to be known that is to say through the Death of Death for Israel the true Type after they passed over Jordan and had taken Jericho and Aie and had made an Enterance into the land yet there were many Enemies to be subdued and much Land and possessions which they were not made Partakers of long after even so after there be of the true Rest enjoyed and possessed and an Enterance made into yet there are many Enemies to be subdued and much of the heavenly Inheritance to be enjoyed by them that stand in the Power which giveth Dominion over Sin the Devil Hell and the Grave and they come to be made Partakers of God and so the Enmity being slain man comes to enjoy God who is eternal Life and comes to receive the Crown immortal which God the eternal Power and Strength giveth in due time to them that wait in Patience and in Faith through which the immortal Inheritance comes to be revealed to all the Children of Light And so to conclude in few Words this I say unto all who are longing after God and waiting to feel his Power keep in your Minds to the pure Measure of God's holy Spirit and therein wait to see his Kingdom and his Dominion and to be made Partakers of it which brings the World to an End and will let you see to the End of it too before it was and him who is now glorified with the Father in the Kingdom of God with the same glory he had with the Father before the World began and whoso comes to the End of the World and to the Beginning again comes to see him and his glory and the Kingdom of glory which fades not away which whoso come to enjoy are eternally happy AN Epistle to Friends IN LONDON A Servant of Jesus Christ unto all the chosen obedient and faithful Friends and Brethren in and about London wisheth an Increase of Righteousness Faith Obedience Patience Love Peace Mercy Long-suffering Humility Knowledge Wisdom Virtue Life Power Immortal Happiness and Felicity among you all and in you all that you may know and feel an Increase in the Increase of God that your Joy Rest and Peace may be full in him who is Eternal Life it self who hath brought and is bringing Immortality to Light through the Gospel unto all and in all who receive it and believe in it which is the Power of God unto Salvation unto all that believe and by it alone is the Remission and Forgiveness of Sins witnessed and in no other Name but this who is the mighty Power of God is Eternal Life witnessed nor Victory and Dominion over Sin the World and the Devil but by Christ Jesus the Word of God the Power of God by which Power alone is Strength and Victory witnessed over Death and the Grave by all that believe in him and receive him to them he gives Power to become the Sons of God and to receive an Inheritance with the Saints in Light among them that are sanctified Therefore dearly beloved in the Lord fulfil our Joy who have laboured and travailed amongst you and have declared unto you the Gospel which is preached unto every Creature under Heaven and the common Salvation which was delivered to the Saints who are at Rest in the Lord and now again delivered and declared unto us in this his own Day of Mercy Love and Grace and the Revelation of his Righteousness that they without us might not be made perfect for all make up but one Body and if a Member want the Body is not perfect And you your selves are our Witnesses That we preached unto you Christ the Lord which we were made Partakers of and only our selves your Servants for his sake and the Lord is our Witness and that of him in you all is our Witness that we followed not devised Fables nor through enticing Words of the Wisdom of Man declared we unto you nor handled the Word of Truth deceitfully but in much Fear and Soberness and Tenderness unto all in whom there was any Ear to hear or any Desire in their Hearts after the Lord neither did we seek to exercise Dominion over you but rejoyced when any had Dominion in the Lord over Deceit and when they reigned we reigned also but they who reigned without us and not in the Lord and would have entred through Deceit and Craft any Way into the Vineyard of the Lord and have spoiled the Plants and would have subverted from the Faith we could give no Place unto that no not for a Moment to them who have made the Offence of the Cross to cease and glory in the Flesh and would lead all thither again and have made Havock of the Flock of Christ for whom he dyed and would have had them to have lived and reigned who put him to Death and counted that which cleansed from Sin a vain and a low thing unto such I am wholly without Compassion but wait to see the righteous Indignation of the Lord fall upon them who have resisted the Holy Ghost and have done Despight unto the Spirit of God Misery and eternal Vengeance will be the End of such and the upright shall rejoyce Therefore dearly beloved of the Lord who are obedient unto the Word of his Grace these things are come as a Tryal that none may henceforth glory in Man nor in any thing but in the Lord the Life it self and in them who are in the Life and every one may keep to their own singly and so they will not be easily moved and you whom the Lord hath kept in the Hour of Tryal and Temptations that you joyned not with the Error of the Wicked prize his Love and keep low stand in Awe of the pure presence of the Lord else you will know his Wrath will be kindled against you again but the Fear Awe and Dread of the Lord keeps you clean clear and pure in his Sight mind all the first Love and that which keeps your Hearts open and tender to the Lord and one to another put away all Strife and Contention watch not for one anothers halting for that which would rejoyce in that is in the Transgression it self dwell in Love and Peace one with another take heed of Security and Carelesness and Ease in the Flesh for then Poverty Dryness and Barrenness will be among you and the Womb will be shut that brings forth the Children which the Lord delights in but all feel the Life and the Power of God and let your Faith stand in it alone and they that trust in it shall never be moved for there you will be preserved out of the Changeableness and changeable things which adulterate the Mind from God who never changeth for God who is pure stands off at a Distance from that Heart which goes a whoring after other Lovers there the Bed is defiled there he will not lye nor his Love he will not manifest to the
though with the best of all our Commodities though with Cinamom and Odours and Oyntment and Frankincense yet they will buy none of our Ware nor there 's no Hope of trading with them any more for they are come to know the Pearl which is more precious then Rubies and the heavenly Treasure that doth not rust and the Word which is sweeter then the Honey and the Honey comb there 's no Hope of them but this is the Misery they will not be content with what they have found but impart it to others and so beget a Dislike in other Peoples Minds to the best of all our Merchandize However them that are gone from us and deny our Mother and her golden Cup and deny all her Merchants great and small not only them that trade in Wood and Vessels and Brass and Iron but even them that trade with the best Merchandize as Gold Silver precious Stones Pearls fine Linnen Purple Silk and Scarlet however let us excommunicate them and give them up to Satan and let us call to the Beast with his seven Heads and ten Horns who is scarlet-coloured dreadful and terrible and let us accuse them of Heresie Schism and Blasphemy and call them Seducers Deceivers and false Prophets and let us brand them with Names of Reproach as Sectaries and say they are seditious and rebellious and mutinous and they are Enemies to Church and State and all good Government Peace-breakers factious and pestilent Fellows that bring all the Nations into an Uproar and if that will not do let us petition to Kings Princes Dukes Parliaments Protectors and Councils that some speedy and effectual Course may be taken for suppressing of these Hereticks and for stopping of these blasphemous Doctrines as that the Steeple-house is not the Church and sprinckling of Infants no Ordinance of Christ and singing of Psalms by Tradition no Part of the true Worship of God and it may be shall get some Law or Act of Parliament against them or call them Vagabonds and get them whipt abroad and put in Prisons while we take away their Oxen and Goods at home and so by this Means it will stop others whom we traffick withal that they will not dare to hearken unto them for if they will not buy our Wares and take our measures by a Glass in Love to it yet because of Fear of Imprisonment or Loss of their Goods or Estates they will be constrained to trade with us But alas it is otherwise with us now then it was in Queen Mary's Dayes when Mass Mattens and Even-songs Processionings Ave-maries Creeds and Pater-nosters took up most Part of the Time and went off among People for spiritual Worship at a good Rate neither is it with us now as it was in the Dayes of Bishop Laud our great Metropolitan and the rest of our Mother's Merchants then would Common Prayer translated out of the Mass-Book into the English and Creed Letany Pater-noster with a Lord have Mercy upon us or we beseech thee to hear us good Lord forty Times over in a Quarter of an Hour with some of David's Psalms turned into Meeter by Hopkins and Sternhold Masters of Musick sung with Organs with Choristers and Boyes with bowing to the Altar and such like Merchandize which was then precious in the Eyes of our Mother's Children then whosoever would not be obedient to all the Rites and Ceremonies we branded them with the Name of Puritans and Non-conformists and haled them before Sessions Courts and Magistrates cited them to appear before the Bishops served them up to the High-Commission-Court before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal falsly so called and there the Flesh was gnawn to the Bone and Ears cut off stigmatizing and burning with Irons Imprisonment and Banishment Now as People came nearer the Day they began to suspect all this as not to be the spiritual Worship of God having no Ground nor Footing from the Spirit of Truth nor Example from the Scripture nor from the primitive Churches then they over whom our mother once reigned began to question her whether she was the Lamb's Wife yea or nay And whether our Predecessors and Brethren were the messengers sent out by the true Church yea or nay And whether the Ordinances and Practices were the Institution of Christ and his Apostles yea or nay in the primitive Times And the Day dawned upon them and the Spirit came to be revealed and did shine into their Hearts and they began to search the Scriptures and to compare the true Church which was cloath'd with the Sun and crown'd with the Crown of twelve Stars with our mother Mystery Babylon and they began to compare the Apostles and ministers in the primitive Times with our Predecessors Babylon's merchants and also compared the Institutions and Ordinances which were delivered to the true Church with the Institutions Rites Ceremonies and Inventions of our mother Mystery Babylon and so they found all out by the Revelation of the Spirit and by searching of the Scriptures they found out the Rise of our mother after the Woman was fled into the Wilderness and that she sate not as a Queen upon Nations Kindreds Tongues and Peoples till after the Woman did fly away upon the Wings of an Eagle into the Wilderness for a Time Times and half a Time and likewise they found out that our Predecessors and Fellow-merchants were not like the ministers of Christ in the primitive Times neither our Doctrines and Ordinances like the Ordinances and Doctrines which were once delivered to the Saints before ever we merchants set sail or floated in a Ship on the Sea And so finding our City to be raised up in its Glory since the Glory of God was lost in the Earth and finding our Queen Mystery Babylon ruling in our City since the Lamb's Wife fled and finding us merchants to receive her Traffick from her City since the Faith was lost that once was delivered to the Saints and did see our Creeds and Beliefs and Pater-nosters our Prayers and our Hymns that they are quite another Thing which was Part of her Traffick they have concluded and that upon infallible Grounds warranted by a Cloud of Witnesses in the Prophets and Apostles that our mother is a Whore and her Predecessors are her merchants and that our Ordinances are and Traffick hath been invented by some of our mother's children which are Apostates and they have found us out And now alas a Ship will be hardly able to ride any more upon the Waters nor the Sea will hardly bear up our Vessels any more the Nations the Kindreds the Tongues and the Peoples are almost dryed up especially in the North Regions they will not buy our merchandize any more our Ships are like to stand still and our merchandize is like to be all shipwrackt therefore let us take counsel lest all the Sea dry up and we all sit down in Solitariness and our Song be turned into wo worth the Day misery and alas Therefore now it
invisible thing But stay Sirs do you keep this Day which you call a Christian Sabbath holy to the Lord Is not this your Market Day upon which you sell your Traffick one or two Glasses for twenty or thirty Shillings a Day besides what you get for sprinckling of Infants Do you not speak your own Words nor think your own Thoughts nor work your own Works If you say you do not how comes it to pass that there are all these Defects in your Performances and all this Iniquity in your holy Things I hope you dare not say that Defects are from God or that Iniquity or Sin is of God and if you have not a Male in your Flock let sacrificing or offering alone and do not think that God will be pleased with your lame blind maimed defective Sacrifices neither with your strangled Things nor your Swines Flesh so I say unto you repent and learn to be reformed in your selves before you prescribe Rules for others lest both you and them that follow you fall into the Pit because the Merchants of this Rank and Order do love to be medling with every Thing wherein there is Hope of any Thing to be got they will try all kinds of Merchandize and so present they their Direction about Marriage to any who will take their ignorant Counsel Direct They say Marriage is no Sacrament nor peculiar to the Churâ—h of Gâ—d and they say we judge it expedient that it be done by a lawful Ministâ—r and to be published there Times before it be solemnized by the said Minister Answ. If you mean by Sacrament an holy thing then Marriage is either holy or unholy if unholy then fit to be done by none if holy why is it not proper and peculiar to the Church of God if they who are Members of the Church of God may marry in the Lord and in the covenant in which man was made the male and the female then what hath any to do with it who are not of the Church of God and what hath the Church of God to do with them that are without and what hath a Priest to do with this where was Abrahams and Sarahs Priest when they were married and where was the Priest to solemnize the marriage of Isaac and Rebeccah and of Zachariah and Elizabeth and because you say it is not peculiar to the Church of God whether were these of the Church of God before mentioned but what hath the Priest to do to publish it three times like a Bel-man for the loss of a Horse or Cow through the Market or rather why ought not the Man and the Woman both in the fear of the Lord if they be moved thereunto by the Lord publish their own intentions And moreover their joyning together in the Church of God when the members of the Church of God are present but this frustrateth the Priests 5 or 10 s. and his Clerk 6d or a Shilling more or less as they can get Direct Further more they say It may be done any time of the Year but on a Fasting-day or on the Lord's Day Answ. Why are these Dayes prohibited if Marriage be a holy thing or an honourable thing why may it not be done in the Fear of God and the Power of God why not on any Day were Dayes made for man or man made for Dayes your ignorant Predecessors the Pharisees judged as you do that it was not expedient or convenient that he should heal a Daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound on the Sabbath day And now they say that the honourable Estate of Marriages is the Covenant of their God and before it was laid It was not peculiar to the Church of God if entering into a state of Marriage be the Covenant of God and if the Covenant of God be peculiar to the Church of God then what is the reason you Reformers that Marriage is not peculiar to the Church of God And now take their directions who hath a desire to Trade any more with their Merchandize concerning the visitation of the Sick Direct The party sick is to send for the Minister timely and seasonably before their understanding fail them and if the Minister suspect the party of Ignorance he shall not examine them in the principles of Religion especially touching Repentance and Faith and to make known unto him the danger of deferring Repentance Answ. If he be such a one who is the sick as hath traded much with the Priests Merchandize if he be capable of understanding there is some hope he may give the Priest 5 Pound or ten Pound and it hath been high time for the Minister to have shown him the danger of deferring Repentance before now when he is like to go out of the Body not to have deferred his exhortation till this time and if the party be ignorant it were more time to inform him about the Principles of Religion and Repentance and Faith then to have him make answers to that which he knowes nothing of and then you conclude if desired the Minister shall pray for him to this Effect Direct Confessing and bewailing Original and actual Sin and the miserable condition of man by Nature and that God would give him an evidence of an interest in Christ and the Seal of Eternal Life by Christ. Answ. In Sin you began and in Sin you will End complaining of original and actual Sin before you know what it is and holden on till you come to the Grave and never depart from it and what must not the Minister pray except he be desired it seems they alwayes must please other mens desires rather then mind the Spirits motion in themselves And what is interest in Christ yet wanting and evidence and Seal of eternal Life yet wanting and it may be the party 40 or 50 Years old What was not this man baptized when he was an Infant and have not you said in the 48 page and 45 page of your Directory that Water-baptism is the Seal of the Covenant of Grace and of being ingrafted into Christ and of Regeneration Adoption and eternal Life and what is the evidence and Seal lost now useth not this to be the doctrine amongst you once in and ever in Christ and whom he loves once he loves to the End and hath not this man partaken of the Sacrament and eaten the Flesh of Christ and drank his Blood and a Church-member as you call it and is his Evidence now to seek and the Seal now wanting utter Darkness is your dwelling Place Direct And now we come to the Directory for solemn Fast That when some great and notable Judgment is inflicted upon some People or apparently evident or when some special Blessing is to be sought or obtained then solemn Fasting is a Duty that God expects from a Nation and People and they are to abstain from all Food and from worldly Labour and Discourses and bodily Delights and rich Apparel and Ornaments and such like although lawful at
other Times and gorgeous Attire and lascivious Habits and if any such Thing be the Minister may reprove them at a Fast. Answ. To fast unto the Lord is not to set a Day apart by the Will of man but by being moved thereunto by the Lord and not to hang down the Head for a Day like a Bulrush nor to smite with the Fists of Wickedness but to loose the Band of Wickedness and let the Oppressed go free And as for gorgious Attire Rich Apparel and Ornaments it 's no where found so much as amongst you Steeple-house Fasters and for Delights and Pleasures and these Things which you say is lawful at other times that which so judgeth will not forsake them in your set Times and if they be lawful at any time then the Apostles Exhortation is made void who said Not in Gold nor costly Array nor broidered Hair that which abstains from them one day and takes them up another day is Hypocrisie and Deceit And as for your Abstinence from one set Meal in a day and it may be go to a Banquet or a Riot the next day after this is Abomination to the Lord And how should the Minister reprove any for Pride when it may be hath as many Points at his Knees as a Beasom Ribbons and Cuffs and a long Robe to his Heels and a broad Hatband enough to cover one most Part down the Waste if it were spread out and who do you think will receive this man's Reproof for Pride that thus is gorgiously attired And what do you judge this man will have on the Thanksgiving day Direct The next comes on the Performance of the Worship which is reading preaching with singing of Psalms fit to quicken the Affections and especially Prayer wherein Sin is to be confest with several Aggravations and with greater Inlargement then at other Times Answ. You that have nothing to quicken your Affections but to turn David's Cryings and Tears into a Song and sing You roar for the Disquietness of your Hearts and as Men distracted when your Hearts are whole and unrent and you that think to be heard for your feigned Confessions and if you speak from your Hearts as you say the Ministers ought to do there is no such Hypocrisie and Deceit among any People as among you who do that which is forbidden and leave that undone that is commanded and presumptuously sin against the Light of your own Consciences as you confess and do not so much as endeavour to receive Christ into your Hearts nor so much as endeavour after Mortification and Newness of Life And how can you think for your multitude and Inlargement of Words and seeming Importunacy God will hear you for your much Babling many hypocritical Fasts have been made which I have observed as well as some other men what would be the End thereof the Beginning thereof was Feignedness and the Performance thereof like them that Amos speaks of that howled for their Corn Wine and Oyl and mocked God and drew near with their Lips but their Hearts were far from him Direct But to proceed Such Texts ought to be used for preaching that may best work the Hearts of the Hearers into Humiliation and Repentance and the Minister is to exhort before they depart that their Assembly may improve their whole Life to the Glory of God by re-inforcing themselves and their Families in all private Resolutions towards God which they professed in publick Answ. You that have no other things to bring people to humility and repentance but by a Text as you call it of Scripture which you may judge in your carnal minds will do it and pick and chuse too the Scripture where you like What! was not the Scripture spoken forth by the Spirit of God and cannot be broken And one Scripture is as good as another and is as effectual as another but none is effectual without the Spirit which is that which leads to Repentance and brings down the Pride of the Transgressor and except People come to receive the Spirit and believe in it which convinceth them of Sin and leads them to Repentance all your stirring up and composing and re-inforcing will do no Good at all and re-inforcing of self began your Fast and there it will end without Christ which whoso comes to follow deny themselves and otherwise taught then to take the Kingdom by Force And concerning their humiliation thou hast heard and mayest judge Reader what their Thanksgiving will be like the rest Direct The Minister is to make some pithy Narration of God's Deliverance and sing some pertinent Psalms and choose a pertinent Text to the Occasion Answ. The Thanksgiving doth not arise from any Sensibility that people feel in themselves but it arises from the pithy Story as they call it of the Minister and likewise from his devised Sermon which hath fed the carnal Minds to rejoyce in Words without the Life and then ring the consecrated Bells and get Bonfires and eat and drink and satisfie the flesh and these are the Thanksgivings and the Rejoycings that the World makes over the Witness in themselves Direct And now I come to the singing Psalms and their Mass-house the place of their Worship and so I have done with their Traffique First they say that singing of Psalms publickly in a Congregation with a tunable Voice is a Christian's Duty Answ. Where it was injoyned by Christ or any of his Ministers I am ignorant and yet the Scriptures I know but no where read in it that singing of Prophesies and Prayers and other mens Conditions turned into Ryme and Meeter by Poets and Masters of Musick in an inverted Tune in the same Mind which invents Tunes for Ballet-mongers and to sing such Conditions amongst proud wanton and disdainful People covetous envious and such as have not so much as endeavoured after Mortification or newness of Life as generally your Parochical Congregations are as you have confest in your Directory for publick Worship this is no way accounted as a Christian's Duty for whose Souls are not brought out of Death cannot praise the Lord and you confess Ministers and Congregation that you are blind in Mind hard in Heart full of Unbelief Impenitency Luke-warmness and Barrenness not endeavouring to receive Christ into your Hearts your State is Howling and Lamentation and not rejoycing yet singing with the Spirit is owned and with understanding Direct And now we come to the place of publick Worship They say It is not unlawful or unconvenient for Christians to meet together in the place which was dedicated to Idolatry or consecrated to an idolatrous Use yet we hold it requisite that the Places of publick Worship should be imployed and continued to that use Answ. And upon what Account do you count it lawful convenient and requisite to meet in an Idol's Temple or a Mass-house your Account will be but slender and poor which will be without Example from the Saints Did Josiah or Hezekiah when they had broken
Saying was true then which was spoken by Christ the Power many Generations after I in them and thou in me and all was perfect in one the Father was in the Power the Power was in the Father and all the Creatures in the Power now was the Father glorified now was the Son glorified now was man in Dominion in Power crowned with Honour Lord over all the Works that God had made in the Power and now the whole Family both of Heaven and earth bowed their Knees to the Lamb to the Power and this was then fulfilled At the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow both of Things in heaven and Things in Earth and his Name was now the Word of God and this was in the Beginning and the Word of God is the power of God and now both the caelestial Bodies and the terrestrial Bodies were all subject to the Power and all the Works of the Lord's Hands were finished and he rested and all things both in Heaven and earth rested in the Power and all kept holy Day and rejoyced Though the Heavens and the Earth were created and all things wrought and finished yet the World was not begun that lay in Wickedness which the Devil is the God of neither was the Power which is Christ the Mystery hid neither was the Lamb slain yet Now after all was made and created and were good and blessed and endued with Power Life and Vertue according to the Purpose of his heavenly Will which is eternally pure yet was not the Lamb slain nor the Mystery hid which is the Power which is Christ for what should slay him or what should hide him he that reads let him understand this that I speak of cannot be reached to with that Wisdom that stands in time which was not in the Beginning with God that is shut out but the wise in Heart shall understand Knowledge and the prudent shall know what hath been in the Beginning and of his wonderful Works in the Dayes of old and of the Mystery which was before the World began when the Lamb was in Glory the Son in Glory Christ in Glory the first born of every Creature and was born before the World began he that hath an Ear to hear let him hear when all that God had made and brought forth by the Word by the Power was blessed and stood in the Power then did the Lamb sit in his Throne then was he the Delight of God and God in him and all that was made by him rejoyced in him here was Love here was Glory here was Purity Unity and a sweet Harmony Joy Peace Love eternal Life God's Power ran through all all was good Christ was not now hid he shed himself abroad and all things were Partakers of his Power in which they were made here was Happiness Blessedness Joy Dominion everlasting and eternal Felicity Innocency Purity and Perfection and man in it God in it the Lamb in it man in it after his own Image the Mystery of Godliness was not hid there was nothing to hide it or overshadow it no Vail no Covering but Righteousness was manifest and was the Covering of all Innocency the Cloathing of all Purity the Robe of all and Life the dwelling Place of all and all the Works of his Hands rested with the Father with the Lamb with the Word with the Power with Christ in Glory with the Father in the eternal Glory whereby all was upheld in Purity Unity Harmony answering the pure Will of God and man had Power to answer the Will of his Maker which he received from God the Father of Life by the Power in which he was made and to abide in the Will of God forever and herein he and all things in Heaven and the whole Family thereof and all the holy Host of God bowed to the Lamb's Power and he reigned and the Angels were subject to the first-born of every Creature before the Angels or before any thing was made he was his Age who can declare or his Generation his Age runs parallel with Eternity with Immortality came from the eternal Womb and from the Bosome of the Father where he is even where he was before the World began he that reads let him understand now the Power ruling in all and over all all were in Peace and was blessed Now the Angel stood in his Power moved in his Power and all the caelestial Bodies went in and out at his Command and moved not nor stirred not but when he moved and this was then fulfilled let all the Angels worship him and so they did reverenced him and were subject to him sang and rejoyced in him triumphed in his Power and all the holy Host moved at his Command and marched on in his Strength to perform his Will and to accomplish his everlasting Purpose and to fulfil his eternal Decree and gave Glory to him who sate upon the Throne of Righteousness and judged in Righteousness forever and ruled in Righteousness forever there was Joy in Heaven the Father rejoyced the Son rejoyced the Angels rejoyced the Morning Stars sang the Sons of God shouted for Joy the holy Host gave Praise and all praised in the Firmament of his Power in which they stood moved walked lived and accomplished the pure perpetual and eternal Decree of their Maker Moreover the terrestrial Bodies were all subject to him he reigned in all over all moved all gave Life to all and was the Life of Adam of the Male and the Female and then was this fulfilled even then which was spoken in time though by him who was before all time who was the Life of all things I say he lived then and because he lived Man lived also for he was his Life now Christ the Power reigned over all and all in the Lamb's Power were subject in a sweet Harmony answering the pure Will of their Lord their King that lived forever who was upon his Throne in the Heavens and now his Kindgom was over all there was Joy in Heaven there was Peace on Earth the good Will of God was done in Earth as it was in Heaven Oh beautiful oh glorious oh comely oh admirable oh incomprehensible was the Glory my Tongue cannot express and time would fail me to declare the eternal Excellency which God hath revealed by his Spirit and that which I see is not lawful now for me to utter now were no Mountains nor Hills to hide the Mystery but it shined upon all in all over all and above all was not hid as I said there was now no hiding Place that could or did overshadow the Mystery of Godliness for the Eyes of all things looked upon him whether Caelestial or Terrestrial and all and every thing according to its Kind rejoyced in the Light of his Countenance and of his Power was glad and gloried in him for then there was not another he that can hear let him Now the Earth rejoyced and the Floods clapped their Hands now the great
out of the Power hearkened to him that was out of the Truth who turned the Truth that God had spoken into a Lye she joyned to the Tempter and hearkened unto him and eat of the Tree of Knowledge without the Power and she looked out and the Eye ran out from the Life from the Power and was deceived and did eat of the Knowledge without the Power without the Life and she also tempted the Man and the Temptation entered into a Ground which was blessed before and good in the Motion of the Life of the Power but she having transgressed contrary to the Command and the Man received it contrary to the Command without the Motion of the Power or the Life that all was to move in he also going out of the Power received it in and fed upon Knowledge without the Life without the Power out of the Truth he became one with the Woman one with the Serpent who went out of Truth and abode not in it and they all were disjoynted and cut off from the Life and the Power and here was the Beginning of the Father of Lyes and of him who spoak of himself out of the Power out of the Truth and his Beginning is without Foundation now he that is wise in Heart read his Generation or who made him now appeared the Angel of the bottomless Pit and not before and made War against the Power against the Lamb and so the Heart of Man was turned away from obeying and feeding upon the Power to obey and feed upon Knowledge without the Life or Power and here was the first Transgression out of the Power and the Motion of the Light which made all Things good and so as this Knowledge was fed upon and grew Man dyed unto the Life unto the Power and Wisdom and Dominion that he had over all that God had made he lost and so dyed unto the power and lived upon Knowledge without the power and now became afraid of the power because he was in the Transgression of it And thus the Serpent who was most subtil went out of the Truth and acted in Sin and led into Transgression and so there became Fear where there was none and Shame where there was none and Nakedness where there was no Nakedness before the power was dyed unto which was their Clothing in Righteousness and there was a hiding place sought by him who before Iniquity needed no hiding place and this is the Foundation and Beginning of that Seed in the Transgression which shall call to the Mountains to cover them and to hide them from the Wrath of the Lamb. Oh how is Man degenerated now and grown quite out of the pure Quality and Kind and Nature in which he was made now afraid of the Power that made him which before he had Union with and was his Life and gave him Dominion and this fulfilled upon Man he was planted a Noble Vine a holy right Seed now become a degenerate Plant of a strange Vine now when the Lord appeared and examined him and Man knew his Fault that he had acted against the Power yet that which acted in Transgression would excuse here is the Fruit of the Devil's Work transgress and then hide and excuse it and so the VVoman put it off to the Serpent he was the Beginner of it but if she had stood in the Power he would have had no Place nor his Counsel but they all went out of the Light and Life into the Knowledge without the Power and Life and so the Curse came upon all now the Man cursed and the Ground for his sake and the Woman cursed in Sorrow to bring forth and the Serpent cursed the Beginner of Inâ—quity cursed above all the Beasts of the Field to go upon his Belly and Dust to be his Meat forever and an Enmity put between the Seed of the Woman and his Seed forever and an Eternal Decree passed against him forever and he made VVar against the Seed of the VVoman which the Lord promised to bruise his Head now came the miserable Estate in that which led him into Transgression grew and he in it and to be at Unity with it then came Hardness of Heart and then came the VVorld to be founded in his Heart and he grew in the Heart and he grew in the devouring beastly Nature to follow the earthly Imaginations of his Heart and became earthly and fed upon that which the Beasts of the Field fed upon and now the Lamb came to be slain since the Foundation of the VVorld now was Man driven out from the Tree of Life and out of the Garden and could no way come there again he had no right to it the Lamb being slain and was cut off to wit Man from him which before gave him Peace and from the Power in which he was made he was driven out from and the Sword set that go what way he could he could not come into the Life again the Image of God lost then the joyful Day was lost and Rejoycing in the Lord at an End then the Day of Peace was finished and perpetual Misery and Wo came in then Unity with the Lord of Glory gone and now Shame and Contempt came and woful misery Now Hell was formed and the bottomless pit sprang up and the Angel thereof ruled and advanced and the Lamb slain and now the lake was prepared and Tophet ordained now came the Day of Anguish of pain of Wo Sorrow and Misery Blackness and Darkness Terror Horror Fear on every Side and the Day of great perplexity Dominion lost power lost Authority lost peace lost Joy lost Health lost Unity lost with God and Unity lost with every Creature and endless Misery brought in Alas alas what is become of him who was the Son of God now become as the Beasts that perish now a Vessel of Wrath a dishonourable Vessel Oh unspeakable Loss forfeited all Life and all gone into plunged into the deep Pit of endless Misery driven from the Presence of the Lord from Blessedness and Happiness into Cursedness and Misery never to come to Life again but through the loss of Life man in Honour in Dominion partaker of Eternal Riches and the durable Riches now turned out of all and become vile in the Sight of the Lord and hath forfeited Life and all Eternal Life and he who was in perfect Freedom become a Bondman a Slave to the Devil and to noysome lusts he who was Lord over all now became a Servant to all and every Creature he who was in Dominion in the power of God now became base and vile he who was the Image of God now became the Image of the Devil he who was Heir of Life and Felicity now became Inheritor of Death and endless Misery he that was partaker of the unchangeable Love now partaker of Wrath he that was in the Covenant of Life in which he had Union with God and all the Angels and all the holy Host of God
Church of God when as Christ saith He is the door none comes into the Fold but by him and none comes to the Father but by him and he is the way so who sets up another entrance unto God or into the Fold or into the Church which is the Pillar and Ground of Truth sets up an Idol and prefers an Idol above the Life and so are in the Idolatry But let none mistake that I say Water is an Idol nay it is a good Creature of God or that I say Johns Baptism with Water was an Idol nay he was in the Power and Spirit of Eliah and his Baptism a Figure of a good thing which was to come which afterward was received by the Disciples and Christ's words made good unto them John indeed Baptized you with Water unto Repentance but ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost and with Fire not many dayes hence that was Christ's Baptism I am not Ignorant of the many and great Contests in this Age that have been about these things and I know many Scriptures that speak of Baptism all which I have searched narrowly with the Measure of God's Spirit given unto me into the true Ground of things and the true State of each administration and in this thing I am satisfied fully that the Baptism with Water was John's Baptism and not Christ's and the Baptism of the Spirit 〈◊〉 Christ's and now John's I have no desire to Wrangle or Jangle about words or contest about Shadows but that all may come to know him in whom all Ministrations end in and there will be Peace and Satisfaction to wit in Christ But to say something to the main Basis and Foundation which Priests and Separatists build much of their Arguments upon the last of Matthew and the last Verse Go teach and baptize all Nations in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost as for all the Priests about their baptizing of Infants here is no Ground at all for here is first teach and then baptize and here is no infants neither and so I know what Consequences have been drawn from this by the unlearned in their Imaginations but them that have the least Measure of true Light will not take a Consequence to build a Foundation on for this is contrary to their own Rule they say the Scripture is their Rule then their Consequence is not the Rule and if the Scriptures be the Rule let all People of your Parishes know if you can by the Scripture shew when John or any Disciple of his or Christ's baptized Infants and taught them Principles of Religion twenty Years after but they are willingly ignorant that see not you to be Idolaters and as for the Baptists Separates who build upon this for their Water-Baptism they are as groundless as the Priests and all their Agruments are as invalid as the rest for here is baptizing the Nations in the Name of the Father in the Name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and any who are judicious or wise and are in any Measure of God's pure Wisdom will not say that the Name of the Father is Water or the Son or holy Ghost is Water the Name of God is I am and a strong Tower and the Name of the Son is the Word and the Word is the Power but this is not Water but further they say the Disciples had received the holy Ghost and did baptize with Water after and they were baptized with Water after they had received the holy Ghost and they bring divers Scriptures to prove this I shall not deny but Peter baptized with Water and Paul two or three Families and thanks God he baptized no more and said he had declared the whole Counsel of God and he makes not mention in all his Epistles that Baptism was any Part of his Command neither in all his Counsel to the Churches any where doth he exhort either to Timothy Titus or Apollo or any of the Brethren to baptize with Water but as for Peter's baptizing with Water I know no more Command he had then Paul as for the Commission which Matthew writes of Mat. 28. 19. and that Mark mentions Mark 16.15 there is no Water and so it 's the Baptism of John I grant and Christ bearing Witness to John that he was a Prophet and did baptize many and therefore he or they in Honour to John's Ministry might baptize some as well as Paul did circumcise Titus and then in 1 Cor 7.19 said It was nothing and again in another Place Neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision did avail but a new Creature and because it was a Figure which People did not idolize so much then as they did Circumcision for the Weakness of the People for a time and the wise in Heart may understand that when any Representation or Figure outward was set up it was not easily denyed again nor an easie Thing to be laid down when the thing signified was come for many of the Jews believed in Christ and were said to be Brethren and yet they came from Jerusalem and troubled the Church of Galatia and would have brought them under the Figure Circumcision again and the Apostle in Gal. 4. asks them Now when ye know God why turn ye again to the beggarly Elements Circumcision observing Dayes Moneths Times and Years I would ask the moderate a Question whether Water be not an Element and pertains only to the elementary Part in man which is to pass away and be dissolved when the Seed is raised up whose Nature is not elementary but caelestial I shall say no more to them at this present who are contentious who are so zealous for their Water upon so weak a Ground but take heed that while you are striving about your outward Water you neglect not the washing of Regeneration and the cleansing of the Spirit many have been baptized but which of you have received the holy Ghost there is not one among you dare own or witness an infallible Spirit but count it an Error that any should speak or witness or look to enjoy any such thing in these Dayes well I say unto you your Day is a Day of Darkness and Gloominess you live in and thick Darkness covers your Tabernacle for whoever have received the holy Ghost or Spirit of Truth in any Measure are led by that which is infallible and not fallible and if you look not for this ye are no Sons notwithstanding all your washing the outside For as many as are the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God and this is witnessed Praises to the Lord forever the Lord is unto his People an everlasting Light and this is the Sum that Water is owned to be a Figure of the one Baptism and was an Element and pertained to that which is elementary but the Elements shall melt with fervent Heat and be dissolved in the Day of the Lord and then the Seed comes up which is Heir of the Promise which is
here was Worship but it was the Beast's Worship and idolatrous Worship and the Dragon's Worship who sought to destroy the man-child which all the Angels are to worship all this Worship is in the Apostacy So let all take notice of this compelling causing forcing killing and destroying about Worship all they that so do yet are worshipping the Beast on which the Whore rides and this is that Generation who slew the Lamb and they are of the World and this is the Dragon's Brood who sought to devour the man-child and this is the Serpent's Seed and a Seed of Falshood who made War with the Remnant of the Seed of the Woman through all Ages unto this Generation and so all that which is called Christendom is more or less under the Beasts Power and hath his Image even to this Day and yet some of them are professing the Saints Words and imitating their Actions who were Followers of the Lamb and kept the Faith now this that John saw as come in did grow Deceivers Anti-christs false Prophets who were before and troubled the Churches Galatia and Corinth and made Havock brought in Deceit and infected many as Coloss. Pergamus Sardis and Laodicea Rev. 3. But now all Nations were erred and gone from their Maker their Husband and did drink of the Cup of the Whore and were adulterated from the Life Faith and Power and now worshipped the Beast and the whole World went after him there was some of his Adultery Whoredom and Fornication in the Apostles Dayes and some had drunken then but now Nations Kindreds Tongues and People drunk the Cup of Fornication and now Jezabel who slew the Prophets and drunk the Blood of the Saints she reaches out her Cup Kings Merchants noble men great men Nations Kindreds Tongues and People were made drunk the man-child sought to be devoured Floods cast out after the Woman the Saints Blood drunk the World worships the Dragon and the Beast and his great Authority and wonders after him now Jezabel the VVhore who made the Nations drunk she prophesies all the Nations made drunk with her Cup of Fornication and drinks in all her false Doctrines and devised Fables now she is as a Queen now the Nations worship after a Beast ariseth she gets upon him and rides she and the Beast become one she drinks the Blood of the Saints the Beast makes VVar compels kills being of one mind with the VVhore none to buy or sell but they that have his Mark or his Name or at least some of the Number of his Name and who were not defiled were killed or sought to be killed this is since the Apostles Dayes So now we have found the Whore her Beginning in the Apostacy having lost the Faith and Power that the Saints were in we have found out the Rise of the Beast in the Apostacy since the Apostles that all the World wondred after and worshipped Now Rome we have found thy Foundation and the Beginning of thy Rise and see how thou art elevated we have thee and all that sprang out of thy Stock and Root betwixt this time and the Apostles and we read beyond thee though thou boast thy self of Antiquity and glory in thy Councils and Convocations for thy Proof we have sounded thy Bottom I have thee and all the Apostates sprang from thee betwixt me and the Apostles the Anti-christs false Prophets Deceivers false Apostles they began they laid thy Foundation who went out from the Apostles and denyed the Cross of Christ and the Power of God and the Apostle prophesied of their Increase here thy visible Members began to gather and they went out into the World and the World received them according to Christ's Saying out of the Light out of the Power out of the Faith out of the Life that the holy men of God were in being ravened from the Spirit whored from the Life they went out in an outward Dress had a Shew a Form of Godliness the Nations received the Cup and Kings of the Earth the Nobles and the mighty men thou boasts of they drank of thy Cup and were inflamed with Adultery after thee and then the Nations over which the Whoredoms spread Kindreds Dominions Tongues Nations and Peoples became Fornicators all became as a Sea rolling tossing foming raging casting up Mire and Dirt unstable reeling then the Kings the great men thy Nobles who were Rulers over the People being drunk with the Nations Cup of Fornication they sprang up as a great Beast with so many Heads and Horns and their Teeth became as Lyons their Feet as Bears and then thou begannest to ride in the Nations and to sit as a Queen then thou associatedst they drunken Fornicators together then thou began to usurp Authority and sitedâ—t as Judge over the Heritage of God and of the Saints of the Apostles and of them that kept the Testimony of Jesus then thou beganedst to kill and destroy and suck the Blood of the Saints and to be drunk with it and then thy Kings whom thou callest Converts and Christians having drunkken thy Cup they formed Laws and made Laws to guard thy Whoredoms and Adulteries and Idolatries then thy became they Executioners and what thou saidst was good the Beast maintained and what thou condemnedst by thy Councils for Heresie they became Executioners of then came in compelling to worship by the Beast that rose out of the Sea and then thou cryedst Hereticks and condemnedst the just and then thou got'st a Cover thou wouldst not kill but the Beast must upon whom thou ridest then if there were any that kept their Virginity and the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ which was in the Apostles Dayes then thou condemnedst them for Hereticks then the Beast compelled and caused to worship but if they would not bow to his Image then thy Merchants cry up they despise Governours and Rulers when thy Doctrine and thy Lawes are corrupt then the Beast must kill then he blasphemes the God of Heaven and his Tabernacle and then thou sayedst thou killest none but the Beast must upon which thou rides and shall have a whole Council to confirm it to be lawful and now thou call'st thy self the Catholick and Apostolical Church and thy Seat the Apostolical Chair and the Rulers and Leaders Defenders of the Faith Nay we find thee contrary to the primitive Church and thy Seat and Chair is raised up since and thy Bed of Whoredoms made since and the Kings and Rulers in thy Dominions are become Defenders of thy Idolatries and VVhoredoms and are indeed the Beast that makes VVar with the Saints and hath prevailed and Truth overcome but he is risen who is able to make VVar with the Beast and to take the VVhore and to burn her Flesh with fire for he is able to judge her and the Beast's VVeapons and thine are carnal but the Lamb's and the Saints are spiritual and so thy Doctrine and Practice is quite another thing patched Stuff some brought in from the
of the Gospel and the Foundation and the Tryer of Spirits and the Touch-stone and say it 's the Foundation of their Faith and Religion and so are all in the distraction one Envying another and Persecuting one another about the words of Truth spoken from the Spirit of Truth which cannot be understood again but by the same Spirit and so all them that have not the Spirit of Truth are in the Apostacy And all Sects Judgments and Opinions that have risen up since the Apostacy from the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints when the woman Travailed and brought the man-Child which after because of the Dragon's Power fled into the VVilderness and her Child caught up unto God all the Faith and worship that since is sprung up since the VVhore hath sitten as a Queen in Majesty is all denyed the Ground of their Worship Laws Traditions Inventions and all their invented Practices and Forms and Images and Likenesses are denyed and disowned as to be the Dress and Attire of the Whore which hath allured People through her enticing pretences and shews of Holiness when indeed all is but spiritual Adultery and this must be all turned under again the Whore's flesh Burned and her Attire plucked off and her Nakedness appear and her shame to them that have committed Fornication with her and they shall be ashamed of themselves and of her and abhor themselves and abhor her and Destroyed shall she be and the Lamb's Wife shall be beautified and come out of the secret Place into open View out of the Solitary Wilderness into the beautiful place that the Lord will bring her into and the time times and half time is out the thousand two hundred and threescore Dayes are at an End and he bears witness of it who saw her fly away upon Eagles Wings into the secret place which was prepared for her for these Dayes and Times appointed and I say he that knows the Counsel of the most High in this matter can account the time times and a half and the Dayes and what shall be after the dayes be expired which is at an end blessed is he that sees believes and Understands he shall see that which yet hath not appeared neither can it be believed by the most though it were declared but yet a little while and the Earth grows ripe and an Ear will be opened in many who cannot yet hear and for a little while in this I shall be silent and Treasure up that which the Spirit hath revealed till the time be fully accomplished which God hath determined and then his Glory shall be revealed and all the former things which have lived since the man of Sin hath been Exalted shall all dye and an utter Consumption shall be of all the changeable Laws made since the Apostacy and the many changeable Dresses of the Whore and Attires in which she hath appeared and Imaginary worships into which all have run since they were Apostatized from the Faith all this shall be disannulled and come to an End and be Blasted forever the Spirit of the Lord saith Amen How the Woman that was clothed with the Sun and had the Crown of twelve Stars upon her Head which did flee into the Wilderness comes out again after the great Whore is judged and her Child that was caught up unto God comes to appear again NOW after the time times and half a time after the thousand two hundred and threescore Dayes she returns after the Whore is judged and the great City Babylon is fallen which hath made the Nations drunk and brought forth Children in Fornication who had drunk the Blood of the Saints in the Apostacy after the Whore was judged and the Voice was heard in Heaven of much People that sang Halelujah Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power who witnessed to the Righteousness of God's Judgment And a Voice came out of the Throne saying praise our God all his Servants and ye that fear him both small and great Rev. 19.5 6. And I heard as it were the Voice of many Waters and as a great Multitude and as the Voice of a mighty Thunder saying Halelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth the Whore is now judged the Mother of Harlots condemned with all her Inchantments and Sorceries Now the Lamb's Wife appears who is the Mother of the man-child which was caught up unto God she that was cloathed with the Sun with the glorious everlasting caelestial Light she is both the Mother and the Wife he that hath an Ear let him hear Now Jerusalem that is from above spiritually so called who was the Mother of all the Saints before the Apostacy she appears again and comes to be the Wife of the Lamb and the City of the Saints and the Mother of them that are born from above this shall be and is made manifest to some but a numberless Number shall see it and the Day hastens greatly and she is appearing again and her solitary Garments shall be put off and as she was beautifull before the VVhore made the Nations drunk clothed with the Sun and had the Moon under her Feet and a Crown of twelve Stars upon her Head and though she became Child-less and also as a VViddow and the Remnant of her Seed slain and destroyed so shall she appear again in Glory and Beauty as before and shall be made ready yea mine Eye hath seen it she is making her self ready as a Bride for her Husband and unto her is granted that she shall be arrayed in fine Linnen clean and white even arrayed in the Righteousness of the Saints which is not self-Righteousness the Garments of the Harlot and her Lovers but in the Righteousness of Christ the Lamb her Husband and Child also and she shall now bring forth many more Children though her Seed hath been slain yet a numberless Number shall appear and ten Thousand Thousand shall be brought forth by her and glory in her and reverence her and rejoyce in her forever and they shall be all clad in the same Robe which the Husband the Lamb is clothed withal and the same the Lamb's VVife this VVoman is â—lâ—thed withall and the same shall all the Children by clothed withal the fine Linnen the Righteousness of the Lamb which was dead and slain since the Foundation of the World but now alive and lives for evermore and here a heavenly Family appears now after the Apostacy and this shall be seen by all that have an Eye that can see through and beyond the Smoke of the Pit that hath darkened the Air while the Beast and Dragon have had Power but now hath her Child appeared again the man-child hath appeared again and he that was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day saw whither he was taken up to the Throne of God Rev. 12.5 and on the same Lord's Day he saw him after the Woman was fled and the Remnant of her Seed was made War with and slain in the Earth where the
Dragon had Power He that was in the Spirit saw him alive again after he was caught up so he that is in the Spirit now on the Lord's Day sees the same man-child who was brought forth by the Woman who was to rule the Natâ—ons but was caught up to the Throne of God before he came to rule and then the Dragon ruled the Beasts and false Prophet the Whore the Mother of Harlots sate as a Queen and the Woman the Mother of the Heir fled into an obscure and a retired Place and was hid times and dayes as I said before but as she appeared again in Beauty so the man child the Heir he appears also in Glory Majesty and Power and John saw him Rev. 19.11 12 13 14 15 16. And I saw Heaven opened and behold a white Horse and he that sate upon him was called faithful and true and he doth judge and make War in Righteousness his Eyes were as a Flame of Fire on his Head were many Crowns and he had a Name written that none knew but himself and he was clothed with a Vesture dipped in Blood and his Name is called the VVord of God And now the Woman's Seed is increased again after the Dragon and the Beast's War and now they become an Army and follow the Lamb their Leader who is anointed with Honour Glory Majesty and Renown Strength Power Wisdom Joy and Gladness above all his Fellows yet his Followers are anointed too and the Seed of the Woman the Inhabitants of the City of the great King they are clothed with the same Garment and Armour and ride on in Power Strength and Majesty after him and they are clothed and shall be with the Garment of their Mother and the Garment of their Captain their Head and as he rode on in Innocency so they ride on after him and the Woman was in Heaven that travailed and the Child was born there though he was to rule the Nations of the Earth and so whoso are of this Woman's Seed who are born in the City of the great King Jerusalem unto which the Hebrews were come Heb. 12.22 before the Apostacy before the Woman fled so now the same City comes to be seen again and the Children are born of their Mother the Lamb's Wife who is joyned to him and is to be so forever in the everlasting Covenant so they being heavenly Children redeemed from the Earth from under the Dragon's Power they follow the Lamb the Word God's Power Rev. 19.14 And the Armies which were in Heaven followed him upon white Horses clothed in fine Linnen white and clean and out of his Mouth goes a sharp Sword and with it he shall smite the Nations And now comes he to rule them with a Rod of Iron he was brought forth long before but was caught up to God again and the Dragon Beast and Whore and false Prophet ruled the Nations and killed the Saints but now he appears again after the Apostacy and a great Host with him and the Woman also and her Children are many and they all follow the first born and now comes the Wo to the Dragon and Whore Beast and false Prophets and unclean Spirits and on them that worship Devils and now shall he tread the VVine-press of the VVrath of God Almighty and he hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh written King of Kings and Lord of Lords And now appears an Anâ—el standing in the Sun which the VVoman was clothed with and he cryed with a loud Voice saying to all the Fowls that fly in the midst of Heaven come and gather to the Supper of the great Day of God and now must the Flesh of the Kings and Captains and Nobles and Flesh of mighty men who had drunk the Whores Cup now must drink of the Wine of God's Wrath And the Beast and the Kings of the Earth and their Armies gathered together to make VVar against him that sate on the white Horse and his Army and the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought Miracles before him and the remnant were slaâ—n that took Part with the Beast by him that sate upon the horse and his Army whose Sword proceeded out of hâ—â— Mouth and all the Fowls were filled with their Flesh the Whore is burnt before the Beast the false Prophet and his Army now slain and their Flesh eaten by the Fowls of Heaven and now the Blood comes forth to the Horse Bridles And now the Angel descends having the Key of the bottomless Pit from whence the old Dragon the Serpent the red Dragon the Devil came there is his Beginning there was he brought forth and there he grew up he that reads let him understand out of the bottomless Pit for the Nations were never deceived till he appeared and he appeared as I have said before after the Heaven and the Earth was made and all things therein I say after he was not before he deceived Eve in the Garden now he is grown old and so is truly called the old Dragon grown into a Body of Deceit well now must he be taken and bound and cast into the bottomless Pit from whence he came that he deceive the Nations no more Rev. 20.1 2. and all this War is in the bringing out of the Apostacy and in Order to the Lamb and the Saints everlasting Reign in Heaven and over the Earth forever This I have seen and my Heart rejoyceth and my Mouth shall praise the Lord and the Woman I say is appearing and she is cloathed with beautiful Garments and the holy Child the Man child hath appeared and is manifest again among the Saints and in them and the Lamb which hath been slain since the World began is alive and behold he lives for evermore and now many are his Followers and an innumerable Company shall ride on after him who is King of Kings and now is God fulfilling that which John saw in the Lord's Day which should come to pass the Work is begun he hath appeared out of whose Mouth proceeds the two-edged Sword which shall hew down all the Dragon's Army the Beast and his Followers and though the Cry be yet among many who shall make war with the Beast and who shall speak against his Prophets Yet a little while and Fear shall come and their Vaunts and Boasts shall be turned into Doubting and dreadful Fear on every Side for Jacob shall be as a Flame and Esau and all his Race shall be as Stubble he that reads let him understand the Wisdom of God in a Mystery and the whole Work of the Lord which shall shortly come to pass The Manifestation of God's Glory shall be as great after the Apostacy as ever it was in any Age before the Rise of Anti-christ and the Ministration into which them that follow the Lamb shall be brought shall be as spiritual holy caelestial and divine as ever was before for the End of all your outward visible Appearances shall come which
is their Lord and King who lives forever and they shall see his Face and his Name shall be in their Foreheads and the Lord God shall give them Light and shall be unto them an everlasting Light and they shall reign with him forever and evermore over the Whore Beast false Prophet Antichrists Deceivers Seducers the Pit Death Hell and the Grave and shall triumph in his Strength over all the Powers of Darkness and sing Praises to him that abides forever these things are true and faithful and shall be fulfilled and the time is at Hand blessed are they that wait and watch that they may discern the Signs of the times and the coming of the Bridegroom that they may enter into the Chamber of â—est and into the Palace of eternal Life into the City of the greâ—â— King to sit with him and eat with him and rejoyce with him in the Glory Eternal which was before the World began and shall be when it shall be no more the End hastens he is blessed that is come and coming to the End of It for that which is immutable and eternally glorious shall appear the Lord hasten it saith my Spirit Amen F. H. DARKNESS AND IGNORANCE EXPELLED BY THE Light shining forth AND THE Appearance of the Day In Answer to a Book called INNOCENTS NO SAINTS Publish'd by one Edward Dodd wherein he hath labour'd to prove Tythes lawful and Tything Priests and Hirelings to be the true Ministers of the Word and the Mass-house the Church and calls Idolatry Civility and Heathenish Complements Courtisie and hath perverted many Scriptures His Deceit laid open his Vindication made void and his Argument confounded and Truth laid open in all these Particulars for the sake of the upright in Heart who rejoyce in Truth 's Prosperity By one of the Lamb's Followers who makes War against the Head of the Dragon and against the Rear of the Beast F. H. And the Merchants of the Earth shall weep and mourn over her for no Man buyeth her Merchandize any more Rev. 18.11 And cryed when they saw the Smoak of her Burning saying what City is like unto this City Rev. 18.18 DARKNESS AND IGNORANCE EXPELLED THE man-Child which was caught up unto the Throne of God when the red Dragon sought to devour and Destroy him hath appeared again in Power and great Glory after the long and cruel Tyranny of the Dragon wherein she hath killed the Saints and hath prevailed against them and hath made great War Spoil and Havock of the Remnant of the Womans Seed this 13. or 14. hundred Years and hath compelled all both small and great whose Names have not been written in the Lamb's book of Life to Worship him and the Beast unto whom he hath given great Authority to Kill and to Destroy whosoever worshipped the God of Heaven that so they might be worn out and all the Earth might Worship him and fear him and extol him and his Authority Now the time times and half being near an end that John saw the Woman should be retired in the Wilderness she appearing again in her beautifull Garments and her heir and her Seed appearing again in after the long Night of Darkness Now when the Lord in this the day of his Power is appearing again and the man-Child that is to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron Now the Dragon Beast VVhore and false Prophet and all the Mystery of Iniquity Gog and Magog and all the Apostates Deceivers and Merchants of Babylon that have traded upon the waters upon which the whore sits they are all up in Arms every one with his weapons which he hath formed in the bottomless Pit is now set in array against the Lamb who is risen the Priests Hirelings and Babylon's Merchants who have got so great gain by Sea they have given the first on-set in the Front of the black Army of the Dragon and this six or seven Years have made a great Noise and have raised so much Smoke out of the Pit that they have darkned the Ayr and made it cloudy and have filled the Earth with a great Noise that many have admired what the Issue would be and what the event might prove and that many who have waited in Patience have seen the Lamb appear and have seen his rising in Majesty and hath prevailed And many of them who have the first on-set grow weary seeing the Battel grows too hard against them and the Lamb and his followers prevail And now comes on the Tail of the Dragon as the reserve and the rear of the Beast among whom Edward Dod appears and he thinks to prevail and get himself a Name and to do exploits but alas all his weapons are but the old broken Bows and the Spears that are strewed up and down the Field of confusion which we have run over and over and Trample upon and esteem them no more then rotten Wood He hath raked up those things which have been answered over and over and that which the rest of the Dragon's army hath vomited up before in the Beginning he hath licked up and now Vomits it out again and casts out Floods of Poysoned Words false Accusations and arrogant Reproaches and proud Disdainful Speeches as though his Tongue were his own And like one of Ishmaels Brood Scorning and Deriding at Innocency and saith he hath laid down some of our Tenets and named them and shamed them All sober People who know any thing of God will see thou hast shamed thy self and not us in uttering forth thy Folly And thy Title of thy Book demonstrates what is within it the Beginning is Scorn and Derision the end is Folly and Madness and many ignorant words uttered forth from a corrupt Heart and unbridled Tongue which is bent to do Mischief and to speak falshood but lest thou shouldst Glory in the old rotten broken Weapons which thou hast taken up which were formed by thy Leaders and not by thee which we have answered again and again and have over-run them as Stubble which answers have cleared the Truth to all sober People that they see all your Weapons are but Carnall and not spiritual and they have no might in them at all to stand against the Truth nor them who are made free by it whose weapons are spiritual and mighty through God to beat down strong Holds of Darkness and the Towers of ignorance Many are beat down already and the Lamb is risen and upon the white Horse and a numberless number is following him who rides on after him who shall subdue the Nations to himself and break the Yoak of the Ungodly and deliver the Oppressed and no Weapon that is formed against him shall Prosper I say lest thou shouldst boast I shall return these Lines in answer to thy Book Thy Book thou Titlest A pair of Spectacles for a dark-sighted Quaker I say thy Spectacles are more like to make ones sight dimmer then through them to be made to see they are such wooden Ones
freely willing to give them and then there will be no complaint But let us Reason a little further of this matter Would Melchisedeck have taken the tenth if Abraham had not given it him Or when did Melchisedeck or any before the Law take away the Peoples Oxen Cows Horses Sheep Pots and Pans and Bedding upon which poor people lie three-Fold four-Fold and sometimes ten-Fold that they claim or sue People to Courts throw them into Prison till Death as many Evidences we have in this Nation either give us a Precept or an Example before the Law or under the Gospel or else stop your Lying Mouths and clamorous Tongues forever Dost thou and the rest of the Priests think that we are so Ignorant that we know not the Original of the Tythes in these Nations a thing invented to fill the Popes Coffers and the rest of the Clergies budgets seven or eight hundred Years after the Ascension of Christ All which Tythes and Oblations and Obventions were invented in the Apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles and since the Woman fled into the Wilderness And the man-Child was caught up to God when all the World wondred after the Beast then they had their rise And when the Kings and Rulers of these Nations did drink of the Whore's cup then they made Laws to compel the Nations and the People therein to pay the Whore's Merchants and the Pope's Locusts which he sent over the Nations to fill the Earth with their Deceit which Laws stand yet in force as though they were some Divine institution but both the Tythes and the Law by which they are compelled to be paid we deny and bear our witness against as to be things which hold up the Devil's Kingdom and the Gospel which the National Ministry holds up and preaches hath no more ability in it to procure a Maintenance for them then the Papists Gospel did for them So to be brief the Priests have the Popes Wages forced by a compulsory Law made and ratified by them who owned the Popes Supremacy Furthermore we assert that Tythes were never due by divine Ordination but only to the Priests and Levites in the first Covenant nor never were commanded to be paid but in the Land of Canaan and whoso upholds the Ordinances of the first Priest-hood denyes the Ordinances of the second So this Commandment to pay Tythes now to them who are neither of Aaron's nor Levi's Tribe and by us who are not in Canaan temporal nor of Israel according to the Flesh the Commandment by which Tythes were due in the first Priest-hood reaches not unto us And after Christ's Ascension not one of the Apostles either commanded or required any such Practice of the Saints either to Colossia Corinth Antioch Philippi Pergamos or the rest of the Churches in Asia So that it 's evident to all judicious men that this is quite another thing got up in the Apostacy which no Minister or believer ever did own who were Witnesses of the second Covenant but any who are not satisfied in this thing by what I have said which much more I could say concerning this thing but I refer them that are not satisfied to a Book called The great Case of Tythes stated published by A. P. In thy fourth and fifth page thou art pleading for Master-ship for thy Ministers and so by thy own Argument thou hast proved them out of the Doctrine of Christ who said to his Ministers call no man Master neither be ye called Masters but to oppose this thou brings John 3 10. how Christ said to Nicodemus art thou a Master in Israel And then thou vaporest and saist these are not the Words of Mr. Baxter and Mr Smith but Christs In some Translations it is Ruler in Israel In another Teacher in Israel But it may be some who coveted after mastership as thou dost have put in Master for Ruler Teacher but grant the word Master Christ testified that the Jews and Pharisees that they were called of men Master and reprehended them for it And if he did say to Nicodemus art thou a Master he spoke but in their Language not with approbation of their being so called for it 's manifest he gave a contrary Command to his Disciples and the Commands of Christ did not contradict one another And as for Richard Baxter and Samuel Smith whose Works thou sayest do witness for them beyond thy Testimony As for R. B. his Works are manifest to be works of Darkness many false Lyes and Reproaches he hath cast upon the living Truth of God and hath been a great opposer of the straight Way of the Lord for which the Lord will plead with him you all in the day of his Righteous Judgment And as for S. S. let his own Testimony evidence what his Work is who said in the Congregation at Cressage he had looked for Fruit seven Years among them but found none So it 's manifest he is such a Workman as may be ashamed of his work In thy sixth and seventh page thou sayest The Pharisaical Quakers make void the fifth Commandment because they do not put off their Hats to Political and spiritual Fathers as thou callst them and thou heapst up a great deal of Scripture to no purpose not one word in them all doth prove any such thing as putting off Hats either to Fathers Spiritual or Temporal and so thou art a preverter and a wrester of it to thy own Destruction and thou cites Rom. 13.7 to prove putting off Hats render to all their dues tribute to whom tribute and this is the Tribute of the Nation thou sayest And the 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man this thou bringst Ignorant Block shew us either plain Scripture or example from the Saints where it is commanded or commended or from any Ordinance of man or else cease thy foolish Clamour and learn a Bridle for thy Tongue and cease thy foolish Inferences If the Magistrates had no better Tribute then putting off the Hat they would soon be poor Rulers And whereas thou callest it Civil worship doffing the Hat and bowing the Knee I know no more civility in it then if thou shouldst put off thy Coat or thy Doublet to every one thou meetest with And most of this which thou calls civility is the most practised by them who are the Rudest Vainest and the Phantastickst proud Anticks in the Nations who are full of Flattery and Deceit and vain Complements and to a proud Fellow with a gay Cloak or powdered Hair and a deal of Silver lace dawbed upon his Cloaths then off goes the Hat and the Knees bow and your Servant Sir and your Servant my Lord or your most humble Servant 〈◊〉 thrice humble Servant when if he were commanded to do Service to such a one would not do any thing material but disdain him And meet then with a plain man who will not Complement and then sirrah and numannerly Clown and be ready to Fight
prophane in all Times since the Foundation of the world that the Lamb hath been slain and the Seat of Iniquity raised up and this Seed hath been made manifest by its Fruits throughout all Aâ—es and Times throughout all Nations Kindreds Tongues Regions Countries and Kingdoms And by the Fruit which is brought forth in New-England they themselves may read their Stock and Off-spring and Fruits and Doings which is brought to Light and evident elsewhere declared that so when they come to view over their VVork again Shame may cover their Faces and Astonishment fill their Hearts that such Fruits should be brought forth by them who are so high Professors of God in VVords and of the Scriptures to be the Rule of their Obedience and Faith now shall you be tryed by the Scripture your Rulers your Teachers and your Church-members and the Life of the Saints that gave forth the Scripture will stand a witness against your Doctrines and cursed Practices for evermore you may read your example Cain Herod Murderers and Men of Blood the persecuting Jews who were zealous for God as they thought who persecuted to Death and said They had a Law and by that Law Christ ought to dye but you are worse then they for you had no Law which would take hold upon the righteous and faithful witnesses of God till you had made one or invented one and digged down to Hell to ask Counsel of the Prince of Darkness your God And further you may read your Example Nimrod who came of the Stock of Ham who was cursed as well as the Serpent as well as Cain and your Thoughts are vain like the Thoughts of your Fore-fathers the Pharisees whom Christ prophesied of to his Disciples and said The Time would come when they should hâ—le them out of the Synagogues and persecute from City to City and speak all Manner of Evil of them and should go about to kill them and yet think they did God Service so void of Understanding hath the Seed of the Serpent alwayes been in all Generations which Words of Christ are fulfilled among you Professors of New-England who are thinking as they did that you do God Service in killing his Members and you are come to that time your Fruits have made it manifest Oh! could you have believed in times past if it should have been told you that you above all People should be the greatest Persecutors and exceeded in Wickedness and Cruelty and Hard-heartedness the Papists the Turks the Heathens who make little or no Profession in Comparison of you and yet that you should exceed them in Rage Cruelty and Madness It is an Abhorrency to all sober People you have stained the Earth and defiled your Land with Blood and have caused the Name of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to be blasphemed among the Heathen by your wicked ungodly barbarous and brutish Actions and you are in that Nature and in their Steps which killed the Prophets and mocked his Messengers and shamefully entreated his Servants upon whose Heads all the Blood-shed from Abel to this Day will be required But blessed be the Lord whose Arm hath been stretched forth and hath gathered Thousands out of that Nature which is cursed from God forever and hath revealed his Salvation unto them and the everlasting Gospel which is to be preached again after the Apostacy and hath made us Partakers of it to wit the Power of God and so we see unto whom the Arm of the Lord is revealed that all Nations since the Apostacy have drunk of the Whore's Cup and are bewitched with her Sorceries and therefore according to the Command of the Lord and the Motion of his eternal Spirit we have born our Testimony against the Apostates and Deceivers who retain the Words and have lost the Life and Power to the Intent that all that believe in the Light which Christ hath lighted every man withal that People might wait to receive Power from on high again which all the Sons of Adam have lost in the Transgression that as many as receive the Power may come out of Transgression and for this End hath God chosen and separated many contrary to their own Wills and from whatsoever was dear unto them in the outward to deny it all and to answer the pure Motion of God's Spirit whithersoever he leadeth and in so doing many have found the Power and Presence of the Lord going with them and before them and he hath prospered his own Work in their Hands and hath brought many out of Sodom and Egypt and out of Mystery-Babylon to Christ the Mystery and to the Mystery of Faith which is held in a pure Conscience And we were not ignorant of this what Opposition we should receive from Anti-christ and his Ministers Satan and his Messengers and how that the whole World lay in Wickedness and how that Nations Kindreds Tongues and People had drunk the Whore's Cup and how that all Hirelings Deceivers false Prophets and Seducers would withstand neither were we ignorant that the Beast's Power which got up in the Throne of Iniquity and Exaltation since the man-child was caught up unto God and Wâ—man fled into the Wilderness wherein he hath compelled all both small and great to worship him Neither were we ignorant of his Strength and of his great Authority that he had in the Nations and how that the VVhore the false Church rode upon him and also we knew that the Nations were as VVaters nor of the great VVaves which would lift up themselves nor of the multitude of Merchants which make Merchandize of Souls for dishonest Gain who are greedy of filthy Lucre nor of the multitude of Ships in which they carry their merchandize and deceitful ware neither were the Servants of the Lord who have thus deeply suffered â—as else-where is made mention of of the Spirit that ruled in the Professors and Teachers of New-England Notwithstanding all this which was seen before we consulted not with Flesh and Blood but were obedient to the heavenly Call and stood given up to the Lord in Life or in Death to finish the Testimony which God hath put into our Hands that so many may be brought to know the living God revealed in themselves that so they with us and we with them may rejoyce in him who is becoming the King and Law-giver and the exceeding great Reward of all his People to whom be Glory forever and ever Amen AND now the Devil being let loose for a little Season he rages and goes into utter Darkness and fetches up all the Powers of Darkness and they combine together to fortifie his Kingdom that so none but he who was a Murderer from the Beginning may have any Rule in the Town of Boston or the Jurisdiction thereunto belonging and now he thinks his Kingdom is sure The last Piece of Work which the Rulers have done for their Master is as followeth An ACT made at a GENERAL COURT held at Boston the 20th of October
said Human Invention and vain Tradition And Trinity of Persons in the Divine Essence where learned you this Article from the Pope from the Mass-book yet the Father Son and Spirit are owned and these three are one and the Father Word and Spirit and these are one but I challenge all you Orthodox Professors to shew me from Scripture where the Holy Ghost or Spirit is called a Person be ashamed of your Ignorance ye illiterate men 2. Or shall deny the Person of Christ to be distinct from the Father and the Holy Ghost or shall deny the Person of Christ to be distinct from every Believer Answ. Do but mark the Madness and Confusion of these mighty Rabbies before there must be three Persons in one Essence and now Christ must be distinct from the Father and the holy Ghost before in God and now distinct from God this is damnable Doctrine which hath been brought in since the Apostacy for the Scripture saith God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself how was he distinct from the Father when the Father was in him And I am in the Father and the Father in me and I and my Father are one Nay say New-England Doctors They are distinct and the Fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily Now prove you that the Father and the holy Ghost are distinct from Christ or how is Christ's Person distinct from every Believer when he that is a Believer hath him revealed in him and he that is a true Believer eats his Flesh and drinks his Blood How is he then distinct What nearer Union can there be exprest Is that distinct from a man that he hath in him But it may be they will say as the rest of the Dreamers do he is in Believers by his Spirit distinct from his Body then I say Christ is not divided a Person without a Spirit or distinct from the Spirit is not Christ but this blind Doctrine came up since the Apostles Dayes and was counted as Orthodox by the Councils at Nice and Lateran a Company of Apostates and hath been counted by the Beast's Followers a great Point of Divinity 3. Or deny the Manhood of Christ to be a Manhood distinct from the Manhood of any other Man Answ. The Man Christ Jesus who was of the Seed of Abraham according to the Flesh and the Son of God according to the Spirit his Flesh is distinct from you who live in ENVY whole FLESH is as the Flesh of Horses and as the Flesh of Dragons who devour you know not the holy Flesh of Christ but the Man of God doth who is born of the Spirit and the Flesh of Christ is his Meat and they that believe in him are Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh you ignorant Dreamers how then is his Flesh distinct But you do feed upon Ashes as your Father doth the cunning Serpent for God's Wisdom is hid from you 4. Or shall deny the Scripture or the written Word to be the Rule Answ. We own the Scriptures which you ignorantly call the written Word as though all the Scriptures were but one Word the Word is Christ which was revealed in the Saints which spake the Words forth and he is the Way and the Rule of Life to them that believe and his Spirit is the Leader and Guider into all Truth and the Rule of Obedience and you are they that deny the Scriptures and the Rule of holy walking you own it in Words and in VVorks deny him witness all your fore-mentioned Deeds of Darkness and Hypocrites and Dissemblers cry Scripture is the Rule of Faith and Life when their Life that they live in stands in Sin Wickedness and Deceit 5. Or shall openly revile either Church or State or Church-VVorship Church-Officer or Ordinances divine or the publick Assembly of the People of God to worship him according to the Prescription of the Gospel Answ. Your Church and State Church-Officers and Ordinances and Assembly and your Worship is manifest to be a Place where Dragons are who sting devour kill and destroy God's Workmanship and he that speaks for you God will condemn him for he that justifies you justifies the wicked and that is an Abomition to the Lord And let the Nation see your Prescription in that which you call your Gospel where Christ commanded the Churches or gave his Disciples such Prescripts as these If the rest of the Jews or Gentiles will not come to your Assemblies fine them 5 s. a Day and 10 s. a Day or 40 s. a Moneth and if any speak any where in my Name but where you meet let him that speaks be fined 5 l. and if they will not pay fetch away their Goods Beasts Horses break open their Houses and take Hatchets and beat down their Doors and take the Names of them that meet and bâ—le them to the Court and there fine them 5 l. a Man and send them to Prison and load their Backs and Stripes and whip them severely and if any refuse to doff his Hat and will not say Reverend Mr Peter and Reverend Mr Paul and Reverend Mr John or if it please you Mr Mark or Mr Andrew and Philip then go you to the Judgment Seat and tell the Magistrates and let them indict them and put in a great deal of aggravating Words as Muteny Sedition Insurrection Rebellion and the like and let them say unto them you are against the laudable Custom of our Country and last of all banish them and if they return again put them to Death and let them say as Richard Bellinghom the Deputy Governour of Boston said to John Copeland John Rous and Christopher Holder We commanded these Men not to come again but they returned again in Contempt of the Magistracy and Ministry and so whatsoever comes upon you Loss of Ears or Loss of Life your Blood be upon your own Heads I say let the Regions know your Prescript in your Gospel and your Rule of Life for these Practices and then you will convince the Quakers and satisfie all People 6. Or shall entertain any such in a Way of Conventicle or private Meeting or shall resort unto the Conventicle of any such who are known Refusers to come to the publick Worship of God in the publick Assembly Answ. These Men would have banished Paul he was a Man publickly known to refuse to go into the Temple and Synagogues except to lead People out of them and yet they have got his Words in their Mouthes and these Men would have imprisoned the Church of Corinth and Galatia and Thessalonica and the Church of Antioch for they met in Houses and denyed the rest of the Synagogue of the Jews and the Temples of the Gentâ—les and they had private Meetings and often by the Sea-side and Mountains and other Places and although Bishop Laud be dead his Spirit speaks and acts in New-England he made such Articles as these against Conventicles and told of the laudable Customs and Worship of
contemned and despised by the wicked that they might see themselves and be humbled for their Iniquity and repent of their Transgressions yet notwithstanding such is the Obstinacy of many as that they hate the Reproof of Instruction yea the Scorneâ— and the Fools unto whom Wisdom cryeth Return at my Reproof so that all are left without Excuse yet notwithstanding though they reject the Mercy and Love of the Lord and gainsay his Holy Spirit though they do for a while persist in their Wickedness yet this shall be the End the wicked shall not go unpunished of that certain Testimony is given that God hath appointed a Day wherein he will judge the Secrets of all Hearts by Jesus Christ according to the everlasting Gospel which was declared and now is published again by them that are come and coming out of the Apostacy and in that Day thou Thomas Underhil shalt be convinced of thy ungodly Deeds and of thy hard Speeches and false Accusations and reproachful Calumniations and Slanders and of many false things which thou hast charged against a People whom Christ hath redeemed by his most precious Blood which thou shalt be judged for in that Day when Terror shall fill thy Heart and Wrath come upon thee from whence thou shalt not be able to flee though thou may'st call to the hard Rocks and to the high Hills which are in the Transgression whose Hands thou would'st now strengthen against the Just and blind their Eyes that so they might receive thy false Suggestions and Instigations and so would'st perswade them to stretch out their Hands against them which are to be preserved and cherished who are dear unto the Lord as the Apple of his Eye but the Lamb of God who taketh away the Sins of the World who is arisen and arising in his Power and Might to make War in Righteousness against the Beast and his Power the Mother of Harlots and her golden Cup of Fornication against Anti-christ and his Men of War against the Dragon and his Army and he is travailing in the Greatness of his Strength who shall subdue the Nations to himself and break all the Ungodly that stand in his Way as a Potters Vessel and behold a numberless Number have taken Part with him who rides on in the Power Strength of his Might the least of which thou shalt not be able to stand before but shall vanish as Smoak and be consumed as Stubble before the Fire which shall burn up all the Ungodly and melt them all away that hate the Lord then shalt thou call to the Rocks and to the Hills from whence thou now lookest for Salvation that thou mightest be preserved in Safety still in Babylon where is thy Habitation and in the Region of the Shadow of Death which thou hast taken up for thy dwelling-Place and that they might suppress that which thou callest Heresie and Blasphemy which hath invaded thy Kingdom already and put out thy Light and is staining that which thou gloryest in and is bringing Contempt upon thy Mother's Merchandize of which thy Shop is filled with Books of curious Arts and made up in the Imaginations of Men of corrupt Minds many of which are good for nothing but for the Fire which have bewitched People from the Simplicity of the Gospel and have darkened Peoples Understandings and brought a Mist and a Cloud over Peoples Hearts so that the Sun of Righteousness could not be seen to arise in the Hearts of People and now thou with the rest of Babylon's Merchants which have long trafficked with their Sorceries art angry because thou hast had a share in her Merchandize and hast gotten Gain by selling of such Traffick which is as unsavoury Salt good for nothing but to be trodden under Foot of Men thou cryest like Demetrius for his Shrines Great is the Goddess Diana and thou with other who have got Gain and a Trade by the aforesaid Inchantments of the Harlot and her Merchants thou cryest The Church the Church the Ministry the Ministry and Religion the National Ministry which when the Matter is enquired into what the Church is it is found to be no other then the Mother of Harlots who hath sitten upon the Waters these many hundred Years and the Ministry is no other but them that are in Balaam's Way and such whose Hearts are exercised with Covetous Practices and such as the Prophets and Apostles declared against who sought for their Gain from their Quarter and who taught those Things they ought not for filthy Lucre And for Religion it is nothing but a Profession in VVords at best without the Life or else some old Traditions human Inventions and innovated Customs which have been brought in since the Apostacy but I say because of thy gainful Craft thou art now busied as thou hast been divers Years not only against the Quakers but against others who have separated from your hypocritical VVorships and deceitful Formalities and for this End thou hast bended thy Tongue to tell Lyes and thy Ear is open to mischief that thou mightest get any Thing to accuse the Truth withal and to set up and promote thy long Trading with Deceit what have not the Hills and the Mountains Parliaments Protecctors formerly gratified thee that thou art so covetous and greedy of Persecution and Blood-shed Though thy insatiable Desire hath not been satisfied neither I believe ever shall yet thou shalt not go unpunished and when Judgment comes upon thee then may'st thou call to the Rocks and to the Hills to cover thee and hide thee from the Wrath of the Lamb and from the Presence of his holy Host but they shall not be able to save thee What! hath not all the Beacons that thou hast fired given sufficient Warning to all the Dragon's Host and to all the Beast's Army and to all the Harlot's Merchants and to all Babylon's Children that they might come out all to Battel they have been Fired these five Years hast thou not gotten all thy Host up together by thy Books which formerly thou calledst so to withstand the Lamb and his Followers that thou art come on again with a fresh on-set to see if thou canst stop the way of Truth that People might not receive it for that is thy End in writing this lying History as thou thy self hast confest alas poor Man is this all thy strength that thou art able to make up and are these all the Weapons of thy war-fare a company of vain Arguments out of the Priests Books which have written as thou hast done against the Truth and old Stories which thou hast received out of our Adversaries writings which thou hast heaped up together to fill Peoples minds which Prejudice that they might not receive the Truth dost thou think this is like to prevail a company of broken bowes and shattered Spears and lame Chariots whose Wheels have been often taken off which we have over-run and Trampled down that few will have any trust to these or this
is but to set Bryars and Thorns in Battel against the Lord. Thy Book thou callst Hell broke Loose or a History of the Quakers published to preserve Christians against formality of Religion and Apostacy and to the intent that thy Book might not grow old nor stick upon thy Hands as such other moudly stuff hath done thou saist London Printed in the Year 1660. and so hast Printed a lye in the Frontis-piece of thy Book thy Book by that time thou may'st hang up with old Almanacks or sell for waste Paper and if thou beginst with a lye and Scorn how dost thou think that this will be an Antidote as thou callst it against formality and Apostacy Is not a Lyar an Apostate is not he that pleads for Popish Trumpery a formalist in Religion without the Power he that reads but thy Title page may see what thy Book is within if he go no further the Covenant of Death is not yet broken in thee and the agreement with Hell is not yet disannulled and therefore all this Smoke is come out of the Pit in which thou delights to dwell And is this such a worthy Piece in thy account that thou must needs shelter it under the Wings of the Officers of the Army of England Scotland and Ireland art thou so great a Friend to them and in thy Book tell'st them they were the in-let of Heresie and Blasphemy who art but yet an Episcopal stem or at best a Presbyterial Branch I believe many amongst them will savour thy Spirit and know what Uniformity and unity thou art for which may be more properly called deformity and Enmity and so thy Flattering Epistle when they see thy Spirit will hardly merit thanks and so that wicked Spirit which could not be satisfied in the time of the former Parliaments and Protectors still persists in the unsatiable desire to see if the Army will gratifie thee and turn Persecutors but thou hast mist it far in crying a confederacy to the reverend Pastors or Priests of Scotland the Army knows right well or at least might do that the Priests of Scotland whom thou so reverencest have been alwayes Hinderers and Obstructors of the Way of God and of his Work these divers Years instance two â—o three Hundred of them before the sight at Dunbar who Prophesied all like Zedekiah for the poor Scots against the English Army to go up and Prosper and Cursed them and Excommunicated them and gave them up to Satan and for Distruction but such Prophets were made fools and their divinations were Madness and God gave a sufficient Testimony against them and their deceived Followers which I hope the English Army have not 〈◊〉 forgotten and for the Scotish Priests and their Doctrine and Practice 't is so grosly ignorant and abominably Prophane as I believe many of the Army do right well know but such as are not satisfied I refer them to a Book called The Doctrines and Principles of the Priests of Scotland wherein may be seen their deceit and how some of them have said they had Reason to curse the Magistrates from morning to Night because that Allowance was granted unto any to Worship God in Spirit and Truth who could not be subject to their Traditional uniformity and thou tellest the Army in thy Epistle That ruin is like to come upon all Religion and Piety if God prevent it not by you or some other way they may see what Religion thou art of which may be rather called Irreligious and Impious the Government of Religion and Piety lyes upon the shoulders of him who is a wonderful Counsellor and mighty to save and able to defend them that are subject to him and wouldst thou have the Souldiers or any others intrude themselves into Christ's Throne unto whom all Power is committed both to make Religious and preserve pious them that do believe in him this were to derogate from the Honour and Power which belongs to Christ who is the Head of the Church who will not give his Glory to another and let all take notice of this that whosoever hath sought to take Honour from him and glory from him he hath laid their honour in the Dust and their Glory is become as the moth-eaten Garment as hitherto it hath been evident and thou tellst them They know the Scripture is God's written Word and a Holy perfect rule of Faith and Practice and that it holds out that Christ is now in his human glorified Body in Heaven If thou hadst said the Scripture are the Words of God written thou hadst said something for the Word of God is one thing and the Words are another though the words are a Testimony of the Word and the Word and the Spirit which is one which gave forth the Words are the perfect Rule and Foundation of Faith which was before the Words and is greater then the Words as we have often declared to thy dearest Generation though they would not hear and where doth the Scripture hold forth a Human glorified Body in Heaven thy deceit and ignorant mind holds out a Human glorified Body we say according to the Scriptures that Christ's Body is spiritual and he is raised a spiritual Body and is Glorified in a spiritual Body and in a Heavenly Body which thou never knewest neither art like while the Nature lives in thee in which thou now stands And thou say'st in thy Epistle that one day in seven should be set apart for rational Souls to mind the things of Eternity And which is that Day that thou wilt set apart some of Babylon's Merchants have cryed up one day and some have cryed up another day and some have called the seventh day the Sabbath and some have called the first day the Sabbath and whether was Sabbaths made for Man or Man for Sabbaths and whether was dayes made for man or man made for dayes all time is in the Hand of the Lord and they that have Communion with him do mind the things of Eternity every day and so they come to know the day of the Lord in which rest is given to the Soul and the Creature hath rest though he labour in the Creation when that is done away in himself which hath Opprest thou may'st go learn what this means In thy Post-script as thou callst it thou saist If any shall take offence for thy seeking to civil or Military Power to Support Religion thy defence is thy belief is That thou ought to seek to the higher Powers to support Religion and this is the Liberty of thy Conscience and that this thou may do more acceptably then they who Cross their own profest Opinion as they have done of late Years by motions Counsels Books and Papers which they have delivered for these many Years for â—he pulling down the Ministry and Steeple-houses and that their importuning the Magistrate to pull down Ministry and Worship is a yielding of the Cause I say thy belief is without the true Foundation and so
R. H. and of E. B. thou hast perverted and not spoken the Truth as afterwards may be made more manifest In the 35th page of thy lying Story thou say'st The Quakers have succeeded much and have prevailed in these Nations and beyond the Seas but thou hopest where-ever thy Book shall arive before them the People will so well know them as to abhor any further Acquaintance with them Here thou hast manifested thy Spirit to be like the envious Jews who crucified the Lord of Life and persecuted the Apostles from City to City sometimes running before them with their Lyes and sometimes after to oppose them and to stir up the Vagabond Fellows and ruder Sort of people to oppose and abuse them yet notwithstanding the Truth prevailed and many believed on the Name of Christ through their Words which they published unto them we have found the like Opposition not only from Strangers but also of our own Country-Men and have had many such lying Stories as thine sent before us and spread over the Nations and yet God hath carryed on his Work notwithstanding all Rage Opposition and Cruelty it hath prevailed and shall prevail for so is the purpose and Will of God and they who shall see thy Book who are but reasonable men will abhor and detest thy envious Spirit and Truth shall be more advanced and that shall be fulfilled the Remainder of the Wrath of Man shall turn to the praise of God Thou sayest They are a very cruel Bloody People if we may Judge the Lyon by his Paw or what is abundantly in their Hearts God will confound thy lying Lips and thy deceitful Tongue whose Blood have we shed can we not say and that of a Truth and have our Testimony by Gods witness in every man that we are clear of the Blood of all men Nay on the contrary hath not our Blood been spilt in your places of Worship which you account Holy and have not many suffered in Bond until Death by the reason of the Oppression of the Blood â—hirsty Priests of this Nation and thou mightst well have been silent if thou hadst not had an impudent Face have not we much to lay to your charge and that truly what dost thou Judge of thy godly Ministers in Lancashire and Cheshire whom thou callst the Valient Captains of Christ's Army which preached up the People into Rebellion upon pain of Damnation And others said except they went to the Randevous it was much if they were saved And others said the Nations must be purged with Blood to shed the Blood of all those that withstood them And others said if God would stand as a Newter they had men enough and such Blasphemous Words and Doctrines were uttered which are too tedious to relate and all this Quarrel they said was against the Quakers Now let the Reader Judge the Lyon by his paw and what is in these mens Hearts by their Words and Actions before mentioned And now to conclude this in thy own wrods what would not these men do if they had Power to their will But the Power of the Lord God preserves the Innocent and is against all the Workers of Iniquity I shall not trouble the Reader with what Priest Ford and Fowler of Readding hath gathered up out of Priests Books which they have Vomited forth against the Way of Truth nor what Tho. Underhil hath licked up and vomits out again which is but that which hath been Vomited up before so that it may be said of them all as the Prophet saith Their Tables is full of Vomit and filthy spewing covers them all all which things hath been answered over and over but that Swine love to be wallowing in the Mire and Doggs love to lick up their Vomit and the Envy of the wicked will not cease till he be cut off nor the evil Eye for watching after mischief till it be put out And now Tho· Underhill and the rest of thy party who resist the Spirit if I would recriminate might not I more justly and truly bring many thousands bad Examples acted by your party who are accounted Christians and charge them all upon you then all these things in thy Lying Story which thou hast brought against the Quakers If I should go from Parish to Parish as thou hast done from one end of the Land to another and so also beyond the Seas and should I rekon up all the Fornicatours and Adulterers all the Thieves and Murtherers all the proud and covetous all the Fighters Brawlers Railers Drunkards cheaters and defrauders and should charge all these upon the Presbyterâ— what a Volume I might make And were not this a just Retaliation wouldst thou count it an equal thing or would it be accounted Just in the sight of sober Men if I should charge the moderate and guiltless with these things before-mentioned then Judge thy self for thy Envy and Foolishness and let thy Mouth be stopped forever for accusing those whom God Justifies In the 38 page in thy Observation on the whole History That one may talk much of God and Christ and of the things of Religion and all in Vain and how the coming in of Unbelief shuts out Truth Faith and Piety and the great danger the Nation is in by being overturn with Hypocrisie and formality in Religion and how many have the form of Godliness but deny the Power He whose Eye is open may see the intent of thy History is to resist the Power of Truth and to strengthen deceit and this shall stand for thy own lot and for the Congregations and Assemblies thou art pleading for who at the best are but in the Subburbs Babylon who talk of God and Christ and of the Spirit and of Religion but all in Vain for nothing is brought forth among you but formality deceit and Hypocrisie and Error and Unbelief and a form of Godliness hath long covered the Nation and Truth Faith and Piety hath been rejected and the Power of godliness but now hath the Lord appeared and hath rent the Vail and manifested the deceitfull Workers and Hypocrites and though thou be observant as to others Foot-steps yet thou hast not viewed thy self neither pulled the Beam out of thine own Eye neither hast discovered thy Envy nor the murderous Spirit that rules in thy Heart from whence all these muddy Waters flow forth and all this Fog and mists arise which darkens the Air which whosoever receives in their understandings come to be Darkned but all that fear the Lord will see out of thy corrupt Heart all this mischief which thou hast long been Treasuring up doth now come forth upon which the day of Wrath will come both upon thee and it Thou saist The Quakers have no reason in the World to Boast of their sufferings as they do for thy have suffered as Evil-doers for being uncivil to Magistrates and disturbing God's People in their Assemblies and for being busie-bodies and some other known Wickedness and all their charginâ— Courts
and Justices with Persecution falls flat to the Ground We are no Boasters but rejoyce in our sufferings for Christ's sake neither are we weary but are willing to bear and suffer till the Lord arise and plead our Cause and our sufferings are Recorded and the Lord hath considered them though men would not and hath overturned many and Rebuked many for our sakes and it is he that Justifies us and who art thou that Condemns us the Testimony of our Innocency and the causeless suffering hath a Witness in many thousands Hearts who are not like thine as Flint and what uncivility hath any to lay to our charge as against Mâ—gistracy whom have we wronged or what Violence have we done to any except thou Judge that incivility because we do not Complement Bow and flatter and make feigned Addresses like thy Generation and this your Highness and the other your Excellency and another my Illustrious Lord and the next Week or next Month call them Traytors Tyrants and Usurpers and as I told thee before that which was order among the Churches is accounted Disturbance by thee which evidently manifests that you are in the Apostacy and out of the Christian Religion which was Professed and Practiced among the Primitive Christians and for any known wickedness among us I am out of all doubt if thou hadst any thing thou wouldst preach it upon the House top known wickedness hath God redeemed us from which thou yet Wallowst in and yet takest delight in And therefore all these known Wicked abominable falshoods Lyes are come forth besides the abusing of our words and false representing what we have written as our Doctrines to the World and this thou hast done sometimes added to our Words and sometimes detracted from them and sometimes addest thy own Collections then presentst them to publick view as our Errors and Blasphemies and as for Courts and Justices Magistrates and Rulers many of them hitherto have ruled by the Dragon's Powers and not by the Power of God in that many have incouraged the Evil-doers and have not listned to the cry of the Oppressed therefore hath the Lord God overturned them and their day is past and our charges against their Wickedness and Persecution neither our Testimony neither our sufferings have fallen to the Ground but stand as a Record against them And thou saist It is high time for all the redeemed Ones and sanctified Ones and Children of Grace the Favourites of Heaven Honest Godly sincere Christians Children that will not Lye to improve their intrust in God for this sinful divided Nation What dost thou own any to be redeemed and Sanctified or to be Children of Grace or that do not lye and yet cryest out of Perfection as Blasphemy or that any should come to or live by that which is perfect if thou excludest the Quakers to be any of these they will not findm any redeemed Sanctified Honest Godly sincere Christians and all your Improvement and your intrust which you have in God and in Christ will but amount to a small dram you all of you hitherto as you have said have improved your intrust and have sought God as you have said by your Prayers and Humiliations for the suppressing of that which you call Heresie and yet you have had no answer neither hath he listned nor will he listen nor bow down his Ear unto because your Hearts are full of Abominations and as for relapsing into Popery you never came out of it witness the Priests Popish Ordination their Popish Attire your Popish Mass-houses your Cross and Bells your Popish Tythes Easter-reckonings and Mid-summer dues your Popish Colledges your Popish Crosses and your Popish Images in and about your Idols Temple and because of the holding up of these things the Hearts of many of God's People are made sad and because you would hold up your Religion by Swords and Clubs and Persecute others who dissent from you in this you are one with the Papists And is this all thy Reformation that thy godly Ministry can bring forth You have travailed in vain and spent your strength for nought and because of these things the Hand of God is against all in the Nation who hold them up and who is he that can alter the Counsel of the Lord and God will not be reconciled to the Nation till these things be done away because of these things and many more grievous Oppressions which have been holden up therefore God hath broken them in the midst of their Counsels and confounded them in the midst of their devices and will confound and overthrow all deceitful Workers and unprofitable talkers such as thou art and one Hill shall fall after another till there shall be a great plain that the ransomed of the Lord may walk over and Worship the Lord together in Spirit and Love and Truth in Joy and gladness of Heart even as when Israel kept the Feast of Tabernacles And now I shall come to let the Reader see how thou hast falsified our Words which thou hast added thy own Imaginations to and then hast quoted our Books to make People believe they are our words whenas they are thy own forged lyes the which I shall return upon thee First Thou sayest George Fox In Truth defended saith that Preaching the Word Praying and singing are no Appointments of Christ whenas he saith no such thing but the Hireling Priests divinations and feigned Prayers and other mens words in Rhime and Meeter are the Inventions of men and not the Ordinances of Christ. Secondly Thou saist E. B. In Truth defended saith The Priest taking Tythes in the time of the Law was Evil and proved them to be false Prophets and Deceivers Whenas he saith quite contray that the Priests took Tythes under the Law according to the Command of God but now the Priesthood was changed and the Law was changed and them what Preach for Hire and seek for their Gain from their quarter or take Tythes are in the steps of false Prophets and Deceivers and no Ministers of Christ. Thirdly That it 's dangerous for the ignorant and Unlearned to read the Scripture and the Ministers of it are the Ministers of Death Now thou hast detracted from the Words There it is said that it is dangerous for thee to take the Scripture to War against the Saints withal and to make a trade with it and give carnal Exposition and then sell them for Money Fourthly Thou tellest of one Master Kellet in Lancashire and his Queries Whether did not Christ Institute his last Supper with Bread and Wine and R. H. saith the Bread which Christ called his Body is his Church which words thou hast mangled and perverted as thou hast done the most thou hast medled with and there is no such man as Master Kellet the words are these in Truth 's Defence p. 103. Christ did not â—peak of Bread and Wine but he took Bread and brake it and said This is my Body and we
Children of Sion do not fear thee neither do they regard thy Revilings for they dwell in a safe Habitation and 〈◊〉 at perfect Rest and are above all thy fiery Darts which in thy Envy 〈◊〉 shootest against them and thy Reward shall be according to thy Work and the multitude of men shall not be able to deliver thee from the Wrâ—th that cometh against thee from the Lord and all the false Prophets and Wolves in Sheeps Clothing with whom thou hast taken Part against the 〈◊〉 and his Fâ—llowers they shall be a broken Reed for thee to lean 〈…〉 why Alas the Determination of the Lord is against them and the Day of their Sorrow is approaching and hadst thou been wiâ—e for Gâ—d and for thy own Soul thou would'st not have endangered thine own Sâ—ul on Report and I am not altogether unacquainted with Ecclesiastical Histâ—riâ—â— their Defence and though we have no Goals Prisons Stocks nor Whips nor yet any unjust or cruel Way of dealing towards you as you have 〈◊〉 against us yet we have the Lord to be our Armour and he is the only Rock of our Defence and he is stronger then man and in him we trust and what are all thy Lyes and Slanders unto us And what though Balaam for a Gift may seek Enchantment against us yet there is no Divination found against the Elect Seed and seeing thou hast gone in Balaam's Path thou shalt reap his Reward who art an Enemy of Righteousness and a Perverter of the right Way of God whose End will be Wo and Misery Wherefore consider O thou vain mortal man that must dye and come to nothing wherefore hast thou set thy self against God and heaped up thy Multitude of envious Words Lyes and Slanders against his People What is the Fruit of such a Work but eternal Vengeance from the righteous God And though thou art come in the End of the Battel and hast helped Gog and Magog according to thy Strength yet Friend our City cannot be shaken its Foundation cannot be removed and what art thou vain ignorant Creature that hast fought against God and his People THE HEART OF New-England HARDENED THROUGH VVICKEDNESS In Answer to a Book entituled The Heart of New-England rent published by John Norton appointed thereunto by the General Court The Doctrine of the Quakers Vindicated his Arguments made void his Ignorance manifested and his lying Doctrine brought to Light and judged with the Word of Truth and Truth cleared from his Aspersions and Slanders By him that waits to see the Throne of Righteousness exalted above all Deceit F. H. And the rest of the Men which were not killed by the Plagues repented not of the Works of their Hands neither repented they of their Murders nor Sorceries nor worshipping of Devils Rev. 9.20 21. NOW when the Lord of Life and Glory is appearing in his Power as in the Dayes of old and his Goodness Mercy and Truth as in the Years past and the Riches of his Grace and Salvation which he maketh to flow forth and spring forth from the great Deep now when he is manifesting his Light from his holy Habitation and his saving Health from his dwelling Place that the Sons of Men might be Partakers thereof and praise him who liveth forever and ever who is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto them that believe the Pit of Darkness hath also opened its Mouth and out of it many Unclean Spirits do arise and Fogs and Mists of Darkness Ignorance and Error are also arisen out of it to hinder the Light from shining and to darken the Air that the Sun of Righteousness might not be beheld and would dam up the Way that the Springs of Life might not refresh the City of God and his tender Plants that so the Prince of Darkness and the King of the bottomless Pit might not lose his Dominion for this End hath he mustred up and is mustring up all his Men of War with their several Weapons and all the Engines of Wickedness to resist the Lamb of God who is risen to make VVar in Righteousness that so the Kingdom of Darkness might still be established and the Subjects thereof live at Ease and Peace in Egypt and Sodom where Christ and the VVitnesses are slain I say for this End hath he sent out his Men of VVar to resist the VVork of the Lord which is to destroy the Devil's VVork one of his Champions more stout then his Fellows is come out with his VVeapons of VVar which are most of them borrowed and not his own and the City in which he hath encompassed himself is a Refuge of Lyes but however he appears with the Face of Authority and subscribes himself John Norton Teacher of the Church of Christ at Boston in New-England who was appointed thereunto by the Order of the General Court his Book he calls The Heart of New-England rent at the Blasphemies of the present Generation or a brief Tract concerning the Doctrine of the Quakers shewing the destructive Nature thereof to Religion Churches and State Now whether John Norton was appointed of the General Court to be Minister of Boston or he was appointed by the General Court to tell Lyes how the Heart of New-England is rent whether he intends should be believed the Reader may judge for his VVords may be understood of both However John Norton hath manifested his Master that it was not Christ who appointed him to be Minister at Boston but the General Court that appointed him neither was it Christ oâ— his Spirit that set him to work to publish Lyes to the VVorld that the Heart of New-England was rent but the General Court neither was it Christ nor the General Assembly that ordered him to write this Book which he calls A Tract concerning the Doctrine of the Quakers but the General Court they have ordered thee to tell Lyes and thou hast received thy Commission and actest it and shewest it to the World and the Sign thereof is By the Appointment of the General Court before we go any further men of Understanding will judge whose Minister whose Souldier whose Warriour John Norton is and at whose Appointment and Commandment he ministers and wars and hath cleared himself to be no Souldier of Christ no Minister of Christ but appointed to minister and to war at the Appointment of the General Court and so what will be brought forth by him in his Tract as he calls it afterwards as to minister Grace to the Hearers and Readers the Reader may judge seeing that he is a Minister by the Will of Man and his Work is appointed by the General Court And doth John Norton believe that People will receive his Testimony as that the Heart of New-England is broken and rent whenas the Blood-thirsty Cruelty and barbarous Actions and inhuman Act of Cruelty and the noisome Smell and a bad Example have you given to the World and the LAVVS and APPOINTMENTS and ORDERS of that General Court of BOSTON and NEW-ENGLAND
it self and thou may'st as well count the rule of the Sons of God Heterodox and Heretical and the Apostles Position who said as many as are the Sons of God are led by it and Christ promised unto Believers the Spirit of Truth to lead them into all Truth and to bring things to their remembrance and to guide them in the Path of Righteousness what has Envy and Madness eaten all the good out of your Hearts yet the Scripture is not so excluded by us as thou Judgest though we say the Spirit may lead and direct with it or without it yet not contrary to it for the Spirit doth will and may take up what thing it pleaseth to manifest it self and its mind unto the Creature and who art thou and what art thou any thing but an Egyptian who wouldst limit it and tie it to Paper and Ink to words and Syllables sounded and written in diverse Tongues Languages and Characters they that appointed thee for a Minister never knew God's Work and we know that there are several Ministrations and several Operations yet the same God and the same Spirit who manifested it self and formeth and Ordaineth things according to its Heavenly will to represent its Heavenly mind to the Creature and that which Christ hath Ordained and Instituted to be Worshipped in waited in and his presence seen in and the Operation of the Spirit of Grace in the work of the Ministry which is for Conversion and Edification is dearly owned by us as that whereby we have found the Lord and his pure Presence through this or that thing and without and beyond all Creatures or visible Appearances and this is not accounted Idolatry by us as thou falsly say'st which God will Judge thee for in the day when he appears to take Vengeance upon his Enemies in flames of Fire and thou that talkes of trying the Spirit by the Letter knowest no more of God then a Horse but what thou knowest naturally the Jews had it and they tryed and Condemned him for a Blasphemer and the Apostles for breakers of the Law and makers of it void and so condemned the Lord of Life and the Spirit by which the Prophets and Apostles were led even as thou dost with us and I never heard of any Political order of Church Ordinance or Officers or Ordinances not of the most dark and Sottishest Merchants of Babylon that ever spoke or wrote yet there was sundry Gifts given and sundry Institutions in the Primitive times which were single things of things of a more Heavenly and Coelestial Nature which were to be made manifest He gave some gifts to be Prophets some Evangelists some Apostles some Pastors some Teachers but these were Ministerial for the Work and Service which he had appointed but this was all by one and the same Spirit but I never heard of any Political order of the Officers or Political Ordinances ordained in the Primitive Churches but it seems you have got such in New-England in the Church of Rome so called I have heard of the order of Benedict of Francis and Austin and the like and of several Ordinances Instituted by their Mother to perform but I never heard of any such as a Political order of Officers and Ordinances before and this may be called an Image indeed and nothing in the world but deceit and is no Heâ—rodoxy that ever such a Blind fellow as thou should put Pen to Paper who hast crept so into the Mudd and Dirt that gross Ignorance and Darkness is in all thy words But the least of the Children of Light will see thy Ignorance so that I need not say much Concerning the Magistrate they own none are lawful Magistrates who are not of their Way their non-acknowledgement of the Magistrate as now established in all Christian States is more then manifest Answ. If thy Aspersion were full proof no more need be said but the Judicious will not easily believe thee that there is a State of Magistracy is granted by us and that a true Magistrate that Rules well and Rules in the Power of God and is a Terror to evil-doers and a Praise to them that do well and are as nursing Fathers who preserve mens Persons and Estates from devourers as a Father preserves a Child from injury these are Ordained of God and such we are subject unto for the Lord's sake and for Conscience sake and to every Ordinance of man which is consistent with the Honour of God and a pure Conscience but I believe you have few of them in New-England who are rather like Bears and Lyons tearing and rending their Estates and rend and Tear their Flesh and gnaw it like evening Wolves that the Prophet speaks of and wouldst thou have this counted as God's Authority and we tell thee and all the World in singleness of Heart and unfeignedness that our way is Christ the way to the Father the Truth and the Life the Power of God and the Wisdom of God and all that Rule not in his Power Rule in the Devil's Power in the Dragon's Power in the Beast's power who made War with the Lamb and killed the Saints and compelled them to Worship and herein they that Rule in the Power of God and for God are manifest and them that rule in the Dragon and Beast's power for they that Rule in the Power of God answer God's witness in every man and reach to that by his Act of Justice in the Transgressor and he restraineth the Evil-doer within and limiteth that and preserves the Creature as much as in him lies from harm and his Estate from destruction and also saveth the Innocent Meck and Harmless from the violence and from beating and fighting and from them that would Destroy their Persons and Estates and herein the Magistrate that Rules in the Dragon's Power and in the Beast's power he is also made manifest he reacheth not God's witness by his Governing he lets the Transgressor live and is not a Terror to evil Works and workers but a Terrour to them that do well exercise a pure Conscience towards God and man and it may be cannot go into the House of Rimmon neither can bow to Baal nor be subject to that which another may set up in his will and in his Pride then he afflicts the Body the Creature and mars God's workmanship and defaces it and doth Violence to the Creature and rends away his outward substance and saith for his Authority It was so ordered at our General Court I must tell the the false Church the Mother of Harlots has ridden long upon the Scarlet-coloured Beast which has been made drunk with the Blood of the Saints whose Garments have been red with Scarlet colour and I know no where in any Christian State so called where he reigns in more Power then in New-England and you ride upon the Beast which hath risen out of the Sea which is amongst you and the Beast carries you your Church on his back bears it
sure Word of Prophecy here is to be understood first a sure Word secondly a more sure Word for the Apostle in that Chapter speaking of their Diligence towards them that did believe and declared unto them That they had not followed devised Fables when we made known unto you the Power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but are Eye-Witnesses of his Majesty verse 16. and heard the Voice from this excellent Glory this is my beloved Son in â—hâ—m I am well-pleased when we were with him in the Mount This was as sure a Word to the Apostles as any that ever the Prophets had spoken before was to them so the Old Testament could not be more sure then this which they heard from the excellent Glory but this was not so sure unto them to whom Peter wrote and this was only the Apostles Declaration but the Word of Prophecy unto which he exhorted them was nearer then any of the Prophets Words or the Apostles Testimony of what they heard in the Mount the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prâ—phecy to wit that which bears witness against Sin and to Righteousness from this the Prophets spoke and this was that publick Thing or Spirit and they that speak not from it speak from a private Spirit of their own and this Word of Prophecy or that wherein they could see or foresee Things to come they were to take heed unto as unto a Light which shined in a dark Place and this was the more sure Word which he directed to which in all thy Book thou quarrelest against and through this they saw the Apppearance and knew the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in Power and great Glory and did see the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in their Hearts and they were to attend to this not only before but also after for by the Word of his Testimony the Saints did overcome And so all thy Interpretations are false and thine is the private Interpretation and not from that sure word of Prophecy which the Prophets and Believers took heed unto and through which they interpreted Things truly according to the Mind of God As for the Story of false Teachers arising and prevailing among People and what the signal Nature is and thou say'st They are sent as Scourges and as Judgments to them who have not received the Truth in the Love of it and thou bringest a Scripture I came in my Father's Name and ye received me not John 5. but if another shall come in his own Name him you will receive It 's manifest that thou comest not in his Name nor in Christ's Name and if not so in thy own Name thou comest by the Appointment of the General Court at Boston and so there will few believe thy fabulous Stories which are not worth rehearsing which will cast a Mist before the Eyes of them who cannot see through thy Deceit and the Sum is thou say'st of all that the Doctrines of Devils audaciously disseminated pretending themselves to be sent of God are signal Signs of evil Times The Doctrines of Devils have long been audaciously seminated by numerous false Teachers and false Prophets as Christ foretold in Mat. 23. 24. which John saw come 1 John 2.18 Little Children it is the last Time ye have heard that Anti-christs should come and even now there are many and they have ruled long in most Parts of the Earth that John said The whole World wondered after the Beast and this hath been a sad Time these thirteen or fourteen Hundred Years wherein the true Church the Woman cloathed with the Sun hath been in the Wilderness in a solitary Place exiled because of the Beast's Power and the Dragon's Power and the false Prophets Miracles and because of the Doctrines of Devils have made it a sad Time and an evil Time such as thou hast taught viz. That the Light which every Man is lighted with is gross Darkness and worse then gross Darkness and that Christ left Political Officers and â—hat the Lord's Supper 〈◊〉 a visiâ—le Political Church Ordinance and that Baptism is a visiâ—le Political Church-Ordinance and that it is Blasphemy to hold Perfection â—f Degrees in thâ—s Life and that none can be cleansed from Sin while upon Earth These and the like Doctrines of Devils have been sown which thou now audaciously seminates by the Appointment of the General Court at Boston but the Time draws near an End the Night is far spent and the Day is at Hand when the Beast shall be taken alive and the old Dragon laid hold on and the Mother of Harlots burned with Fire and the false Prophets which have wrought Miracles before the Beast and have cryed as thou cryest him up in New-England Who is able to make War with him who hath shed the Blood of the Saints of the most high God which will lye as a Stain upon your Political Church as thou callest it which will not easily be washed away the Time of your Mirth in Sodom Egypt is near an End though you strengthen one another and make merry yet Wo will come when all these before-mentioned go down alive into the Pit together and when the Sea is dryed up that your Traffick will not go off then Alas shall be the Note of her Merchants who have traded with her Sorceries and Witchcrafts and have made People drunk that they have reeled and staggered and have been all like a Sea unstable and have not known the Rock of Ages upon whom all that do believe are established Thou say'st The Gospel is a Constitution or Effeâ—t tempered of the Grace of God and of the Blood of Christ. Answ. The Gospel thou knowest not but buildest with thy untempered Morter and unseasonable VVords and what is the Gospel an Effect of it is not only an Effect of an Operation but it is that which operates and is the Power of God which will confound all this Mud and all these 〈…〉 dy Traditions which you mix with the Scriptures and call them Goâ—pel And now thou comest to the destructiveness of the Doctrine of the Quakers to Religion the Churches of Christ and Christian States because thou say'st It appears in this from the Nature of the Oâ—ject they single out to fight against as the Trinity Christ the Scripture Order â—oth Civil and Ecclesiastical as instituted in the Gospel As to those Principles I have answered before in part but dost thou tell of Civil Order in your State or in your Political Church as thou callest it is that to be counted a Civil State who destroyes the Creatures God's VVorkmanship and destroyes Mens Estates and sells their free-born Children as Bond-slaves dost thou judge that these Rule well according to the Appointment of God who is a Terror to them that do well and an Encourager of Violence and Cruelty as your late Actions have sufficiently evinced And as for the Order of your Political Church we have heard of it that you are as
of this Nation from diverse Parts thereof not only from one Sort of People but all except one viz. the Presbyterians instead of taking off the heavy Yoak thereof the Oppression whereof hath reached Heaven even to the Throne of God and he hath considered it though you would not but instead of removing it have established it for which he was wroth with you you have lost your Crown and he hath laid you by as men who would not accomplish his End and let his People go free and let me tell you it was rashly and proudly done of you after so many valiant Officers who had waded through a Sea of Troubles though I shall not say but they sought themselves too much which I hope God will give them to see They had done great Service for the Nation and considered what might best conduce for the welfare of the Army and for the Nation 's good and Safety and to present it to you desiring your Concurrence therein and though they did send among their Quarters for subscriptions they knowing before hand except it carried some bulk or at least seemed a matter of Concernment you would take less notice of it that you should in your heat and passion being filled with Jealousies vote out these Officers at their return from performing the faithful Service to you the Nation it was an unworthy Gratification and to put in others less capable only to exalt your own Power and rather to draw back to Bondage then going forward to perfect the business aforesaid for these and many more Instances that I might lay before you it was just with the Lord to remove you and not to prosper you and to overturn you because you stood not in his Counsel neither hearkned to them who would have wished you well with whom God's Counsel is and it is just you are turned out and let me advise you and despise not my Counsel for the Counsel of the mighty hath failed take counsel at a Shepherd or a Man of low Degree be you quiet and seek not Revenge neither blow the Sparks nor kindle heat in Peoples Minds neither provoke the Army tâ— Blood-shed but rather diswade them and wait to see what the Lord will do if he will raise up any to perfect that long desired and hoped for End Freedom and Liberty in the things that are just as Men and in the things of God without Imposition and if you live to have your Share among the People in this it will be well and you may have no cause to repent of your being still and quiet though you may have cause to repent of your Rashness and of the things before mentioned X. And you of the English Army who were dissatisfied with the Proceedings of the late Parliament against you I wish there be not too much Self in you in the thing rather for your own Advancement and particular Interest then that the Good Old Cause profest was not carried on by the Parliament according to your Desire and the Peoples Expectations If Self-Interest was the Cause as it is to be feared there was so much of that you will be crossed in your Expectation for that is the thing which hath obstructed the thing intended all along since the thing was asserted that will soon be made manifest and there remains a Ground in your selves which I believe will hinder the End proposed which must be done away before you can do much for God though you may profess and declare in Words much which may take with some for a while yet it will not satisfie long I wish in my Heart Good to you all but there is something stands betwixt you and good things you would like the rest please all Men but that cannot be stand to the Good and let your Actions answer the Witness of God in the worst And you say in your Declaration You have an Intention to take away Tythes and settle some Way for a godly preaching Ministry I say they will need none of the State 's or Common-wealth's Maintenance And if you shall take them away and settle any thing by way of Compulsion upon the People for any Ministry you leave us in Bondage and we must declare against that as against Tythes and we cannot pay neither the one nor the other for Conscience sake And you who are the Committee of Safety newly erected yea many of you have seen or at least might have seen what hath hindered the End proposed you have a Day of Visitation God will try all Sorts of Men if any will be faithful to the End therefore this I say to you and the rest of the Army throw down all those corrupt Laws made about Religion Mass-houses Clerks Wages forced Maintenance and meddle not with it for that thing broke all Parliaments and Councils hitherto and so will it do you if you meddle with it leave all People free without Imposition of any Maintenance to any or else you do nought let everyone be free let every Judgment maintain their own leave People free as to the VVorship of God only to Christ who is Head and Ruler of his Church and Lord over the Conscience and is his alone Right which if you shall not do he will throw you down also Therefore let him have Room and VVay or else that which resisteth will be cut off And this is God's VVord unto you all Take Heed of gratifying any to the imbondaging of others let Tythes and forced Maintenance go down and if for the Good of the Nation or Common-wealth as in Things civil all with a free Heart will most readily and willingly assist you for the Good of the Nation Stand not puzling about Business not worth mentioning nor striving who shall be greatest but remove the present Oppressions and that which is the Cause thereof satisfie the Nation with Deeds Words will not with Things not with Names that will not and it is not a King a Parliament a Protector a Council or Senate we look at will do the Thing Neither People be ye wedded and glewed to Names he that purposeth Righteousness and Equity in his Heart and walks after it is that which God will bless and prosper for when Kings Parliaments and Councils are gone from the Power of God they are for the Thraldom of a Nation and not for its Liberty but this I fore-warn you whatever you do meddle not in the Things of God or about Religion let that alone and you will more readily serve the Necessity which the present Affairs call for and the common civil and equal Liberty of all Men Oh that you had Wisdom and the Counsel of the Lord were with you how soon might Things be established Then would you do more in one Day then in ten while you consult with your Reason and the old corrupt Laws many of which are good for nought but the Fire Thus I have in all Faithfulness cleared my Conscience unto you as the Lord presented
ready to bury thee in Silence that thee and all thy Glory may be trampled upon and that thy Memorial may dye and rot and thy Renown be shut up in the Pit of Oblivion the Fellers stand ready to cut thee down as an abominable Branch and to cast thee into the Fire to consume thee and to make a final End of thee and to destroy all thy pleasant thing the Lord is grieved for thee and the Spirits of his People are made sad for they feel the Weight of Iniquity and the Load of Transgression which will sink the Nation if it be not turned from but the Lord will ease him of his Enemies and avenge him of his Adversaries and will sweep away the Refuge of Lyes and the Lovers of them into the Pit of Destruction and the Day hastens when they that exalt themselves high even upon Pinacles shall be brought low and many Hills hath God made one with the Plain and many more yet shall be made a Plain that the Glory of the Lord and his Interest may be exalted Oh England consider thy former Dayes and call to Mind thâ— Years past and consider in what State thou wast twenty Years ago and what Complaints filled every Corner of the Land by Reason of the heavy Yoaks that were lâ—id upon the People by Reason of mâ—ny wicked Laws which were made by Men of corrupt Minds not only upon the Estateâ— of Men but also upon their Persons and Consciences and the Cry of many innocent People was great and reached through the Clouds And what Innovations and Impositions were made upon tender Consciences by those called Bishops which the very Land groaned with the Burden thereof who were but a Stem sprung from that corrupt Root of Rome and most of their Worship Canons Constitutions they had from thence â—nd what Intrusion and Popish Stuff was ushered in daily upon the People â—n this Nation which they groaned under and compelling and forcing about the superstitious Rites and Ceremonies and foolish Fopperies which â—hey brought in as religious Matters and what lazy Drones they upled reading a Piece of the old Mass-book in English and calling it Divine Service and judged them Hereticks who opposed all this muddy dark Stuff which the People were vexed with and their Souls grieved and the Lord grieved and vext insomuch that the Lord heard the Cry of the Oppressed and did appear in his Power and Strength in many People to bear witness against the aforesaid Evils which were growing upon the Nation which tended to Bondage and Thraldom both as concerning Mens Persons and Estates and also their Consciences which Bondage they were weary of which Yoaks the Lord brake and gave a total Overthrow both of the one and of the other and many upright in Heart did rejoyce and with unwearied Pains did travail through a Sea of Troubles not minding the present Difficulty but rather eying the End Freedom and Liberty and many precious Men ventured their Lives and lost their Blood and consumed their Estates and offered willingly of their Substance in the Time of need that they might accomplish the aforesaid End Liberty and Freedom as Men according to the equal just Law of God and Freedom as Christian without being imposed upon either by Men or Laws which was a Prize which the Lord did intend should be put into the Nations Hand as a Recompence for their former Sufferings in which all the upright would have been satisfied and therefore they who have been Obstructors and Hinderers of this Thing have the greater Sin and Load upon their Backs which hath sunk many of them But alas when the Obstructions were taken out of the way and there was a little rest Covetousness did get up and Pride in the Hearts of the Rulers and them in Authority in the Hearts of the Souldiery especially the Officers of the Army most of which God had raised from a mean Estate to a great Dignity You forgat the Lord and did divide the Spoil amongst you and so became full and Fat and then kick'd against the Lord and neglected his Service to pursue that which God had put into your Hands but getting into Places of Honour became as bad if not worst then many that were cast out before you and then laboured to set up your own Interests and not the Interest of the Nation and to set up a Form of Religion and another deceitful Image and not the Interest of Christ Jesus for he could have no room among you It grieves my Heart and 〈◊〉 the Spirit of the Lord God in me to consider what Tenderness and â—â—â—vency and love there was in former Years to the appearance of Gods Truth Life and Light and now it 's become the chief Object of 〈◊〉 Scorn and the whole bent is to turn Christ's Interest out of the 〈◊〉 and to destroy the Sheep of his Pasture whom he hath Redeemed 〈◊〉 his most precious Blood to lay your Sins before you and your Transgâ—â—â—sions in your sight that you may see what you have done Oh People of England Was it only a Form of Government or such and such a Government in Name that ye pursued after or was it not the Thing it self Freedom it self Liberty it self Righteousness it self thâ—â— the heavy Yoak might be done away which as to any of the last I doâ—â— say but they might have done it if they had stood in God's fear and 〈◊〉 his Counsel for it is not this or that Title or Form of Government which is only Essential to the well-being of a People or a Nation 〈◊〉 have had tryal of many Names and what do you enjoy yet that which you look'd for Oh nay you are defrauded you are cheated you are â—â—â—bed and Spoiled of that which the Lord God did intend you by Treâ—â—â—erous and false-hearted Men whose Words have been smooth 〈…〉 and their Hearts full of rottenness and through fair Pretences 〈◊〉 Liberty and Freedom and Sanctity and Holiness People have been led up and down like Horses and tossed up and down like a Tennis-ball Or was it a Form of Religion which might be set up by this or that Party that tender People did seek after so as to be Bound to this or that Form by an outward Law by compelling and forcing Was it not Reformation according to the Scriptures which was spoken of and intended by the upright-hearted and behold how have we been Cheated here Was this the Liberty of Conscience that was pursued after to set up Popish Tythes which no true Christian can Pay for Conscience sake Or to set up a Company of Men to be Teachers to learn seven Years the Art of Speaking to borrow their Words from Homer or Aristotle and Heathen Authors or to take up a company of Errors decreed at Chalcedon Nice Latren or Trent for Articles of Faith or to get words from Astrologers and Southsayers and mingle this with the Scripture and call them The Goâ—pel and to have set Wages
by a Law given unto them and to have Traditions of Men brought in for the Ordinances of God such as the Baptizing of Infants which Claudius Espencius a Popish Bishop confessed that this was to be believed by Tradition for it could not be proved by Scripture that such a Company I say as these should be forced upon the Nation as Godly Ministers and their invented Worship to be acknowledged as Divine and to maintain the old Mass-Houses and Pay Clerks Wâ—ges which the Scriptures make no mention of and all this must go in the Name of Pure Reformation according to Scripture and to gather Money from House to house to buy Bread and Wine and then a Priest to patter a few Words over it and then say it 's Câ—nsecrated and call it a Sacrament and that Priests should have Money for Marrying of People and for Baptizing of Infants or for Burials or to pay for the Ground in which the Dead is buried this was reprehended and Condemned by the Council of Trent in the height of Popery in the Year 1547. many such bad Impositions are daily holden up and they that hold them up must be accounted as Godly Ministers and many more things of this Nature are continued which is so far against the Consciences of many whom God hath enlightned so that they are a great Offence Oh this is quite contrary to that which was intended and that which is the worst of all many of these things are forc'd upon the People by a Law And now Oh Heads of the Nation how do you think to be believed or who can trust you any more Obligations Covenants Oaths and Promises all broken and falsified and as soon as you had rest when you had time to have Prosecuted the aforesaid things Declared for purchaâ—â—d at a dear rate through much expence and Blood-shed and Sufferings you let most of all their corrupt Laws stand many of which are â—ood for nothing but Fire and it became as hard if not harder to obtain any Right by Appealing to the Law or Judges thereof then it was before and the vast Lands and Revenues of your Enemies you divided amongst you and sold it at inconsiderable Values and giving great and large Sums to a company of Dreamers and blind Watch-men and so wasted that which might have well maintained an Army in the Nation for many Years as though the Work and the lives of many precious men and the shedding of the Blood of Thousands had been only to purchase Wages for the greedy Priests Hirelings who can never have enough so all the precious Treasure which became a booty and a prey for you is exhausted and gone and greater Pressures upon People then was before and now the Nation more in Poverty and need then ever and the People more inthrawl'd in Bondage then ever And Queen Mary's Act for guarding Jesuites and the Mass stands yet in your Law Books as though it were a heavenly Oracle and yet you cry out of Popery and so when your Hearts were not right with the Lord he set you one against another and you came to be devidâ—d amongst your selves and set up and pull down and Ordain and Repeâ—l and so brittle and changable that none did lean upon you but he was hurt by you and yet every Party crying like Absolom Oh that I were a Judge in the Gate how Righteously would I do And so every Party have Stolen away the Hearts of People after them for a while and at last betrayed them and thus every one hath been seeking his own Interest and not the Lord's till the Lord hath left you and the Line of Confusion is stretched forth over you and you bring forth the Stones of Emptiness And every Party when he is got up into the Seat of Government seeks Veangence on him that hath Opposed him and Blowes the Sparks which sets all of a Flame and only for Self and Honour and Exaltation and Interest and thus have you led People up and down like Animals till they are weary and say It was better with us in Egypt though in hard servitude then to have Yoaks multiplyed upon us and cannot see when they will Cease Oh how Unstable are you in your minds and run like a swift Stream till you be lost and know not how to return And Flattery and Deceit that must go under the Name of Civility and one while calling this his Highness and the other his Excellency and the next Moneth proclaim him Tyrant and Traytor And so if the Wills of a Party be but crossed or opposed though Honoured a Week afore for good Service and Applauded and in a moment then proclaim him Traytor and so betray one another and are Treacherous one to another and in Rage would eat up one another Are you like to help the Nation and Decree one Week and throw down next Week and so run to and fro like Drunken men and how are you like to do any thing that 's good The Lord hath tryed most sorts of Men especially the great Ones and the Heads of the People and they are become just all Dross and little or no Vertue is found in them all and so is the Nation like to be established in Freedom while Policy Craft and Treachery and Wrath are the chiefest Instruments in the Work but the day of many is past wherein they might have done good to the Natiâ—n and to the People of the Lord therein but their Sun is gone down and their day is done and Night come upon them And Oh People will nothing satisfie you but Egypt again that you run so fast that way that you have forgotten all God's wondrous Works in this Land will nothing but the Iron Furnace satisfie you and the heavy Yoak of Bondage which you in former Years complained of Are you grown altogether insensible of the things that belong unto your Peace that you lost after that which will destroy you and enthrawl you forever You have had many Warnings from the Lord and your State hath been clearly declared unto you but have lost all Fervency and Zeal you are become dry dead careless and secure and now would be content to make a Covenant with Death and shake Hands with Deceit upon any Terms if so be that your Wills were satisfied and the Heart of Unbelief being got up in you and a departing from the living God you seek Peace and Settlement in another thing where you are never like to be established what stands your hopes upon the sandy Foundation of unstable men Have you not sufficiently yet tryed all that that it hath proved as a broken Reed and as a Bubble which passeth away Oh is it not high time to look upon the Lord and to eye him have not men of high Degree proved a Lye and men of a low Degree proved Vanity Have you not looked long enough for Salvation from the Mountains of the Earth and are they not all melted and hurled
old Writers whom you call Heathen seven Years and other latter Popish Writers and Aristotle's Philosophy any Part of the Gospel and to frame up a Speech adout Religion out of your old Commentaries which were made in the Night of Ignorance and to mix Scripture with them is this the Gospel and to get a Patent from a Protector a Parliament or a Committee to preach at such a Place is this like Gospel may be a great Seal at it and then stay whether the People would have you or no and force Maintenance from them and plead your Letters-patent for your lawfull Call like an Indulgence from the Pope and to claim all the Tythes of a Parish and all Oblations Obventions and Mortuaries is this like the Gospel or like the best reformed Churches you talk on in that you call your Covenant and to set up the old Mass-houses baptized Bells Hour-glasses Clerks to say Amen Church-wardens is this like the reformed Churches and to gather money from House to House to buy Bread and Wine and then mutter a few Words over it and give it to People on the mid-day like a Dinner and call this the Lord's Supper or a Sacrament and to baptize Infants and get Money for registring a Name and call this an Ordinance of God is this like the reformed Churches in the primitive times and to take Money for marrying of People is this Gospel-like to preach over the dead and observe other Cereonmies like the Popes Exequies is this like the best reformed Churches Nay which of all the reformed Churches so called who are broken off from Popery in something have not deny Tythes Is there any Ministers among all the Protestants in Europe but they have wholly relinquished Tythes as to be no Gospel-maintenance as Germany and the Eastern Countries France Geneva and Switserland and many others yet these treacherous Priests of England boast of the Purity of Doctrine Worship and Discipline beyond all and these must go under the Name of Godly learned Ministry and if this be Godly what is Ungodly if this be learned what is Ignorance and to stay at a Village Twenty or Thirty Years if there be gain enough if this be Laboriousness what is Idleness and what Havock and Spoil have you made within these twenty Years in this Land more then the corrupted Bishops did before Oh what Havock have you made and Spoil of Mens Estates in this Nation within these few years which were called years of Liberty if the Chronicles were searched amongst all the Protestants in Europe the like parallel could not be found neither hath there been the like Wickedness acted many dyed in prison for denying your insatiable Desires and because you demand Things contrary to the best reformed Churches which you say you press after you must deny all the things before mentioned before any judicious man will believe and therefore it is in vain for you to cover your selves with a Cloak of Hypocrisie for God hath opened an Eye in Thousands that you will never be able to blind though you stir up Smoak and Dirt and Dust and Fogs and mists of Ignorance that darkens the Air yet they will see through it and by the Breath of his mouth in whom they have believed it will all be scattered but however it is just with the Lord to let loose upon your backs the old Prelates and Bishops to be Tormenters of you and make you Drudges and Slaves as you were formerly and it is just with the Lord to let the Dragon's Power over you all again and to bring a Scourge upon you and the People that have hearkned to your Lyes and Deceit that the Helper and they that are holpen may fall together that the Blind and they that have chosen the Blind for a Leader may both fall into the Ditch together into the Pit that they may never rise again Yet know this Oh Nation and the Inhabitants therein there is a People in thee which is precious and so accounted of the Lord that have not joyned to your Back-sliding but have kept their Integrity and their first Love neither have they joyned to your Brittleness and Instability neither have they sought themselves but the Good of the Nation and all the People therein and though they have had many Provocations as from the cruel and merciless Cruelty of Self-seeking Men yet they have born and suffered knowing Vengeance belongs unto the Lord who in his Day will recompence Fury upon his Adversaries and scatter them as the Wind scatters Clouds and so are in Peace and Quietness under the Shadow of him who hath brought them forth with a mighty Hand and out-stretched Arm notwithstanding all Opposition which hath been very great even by all Parties and Interests hitherto and little or no Regard hath been had to this People but they have been as for a Prey and for a Spoil unto all and unreasonable Men have plowed long Furrows upon their Backs and they have had no Helper in the Earth but on the contrary every one hath lent his Hand to bow them down and tread upon them as Ashes under the Soles of their Feet and yet no Evil to lay to their Charge but false Surmises and receiving the false Representations of corrupt Men whoâ—â— Hearts have gainsaid any Appearance of Good that ever appeared if it crossed their ignorant corrupt Minds What hath this People come to harm thee O Nation that thou makest them thy Butt to shoot at and they are become the Object of your Scorn and Derision What have they plotted or contrived Rebellion Have they gone out upon their Enemies and sought Vengeance against them as every Party hath done else besides Except it 's become a Crime to speak the Truth and bear Witness against the Hypocrisie and Deceit of Treacherâ—us Men and to lay their Iniquities before them that they may see and be ashamed and turn from their Evil which hath provoaked the Lord to Anger and because of their Rejection of God's Counsel they cannot be established And for the Sake of this Remnant he will confound and overthrow on the right Hand and on the left all that rise up against them though they should never open their Mouthes as to plead their Innocency yet the Lord will and condemn them that rise up against them and plead the Cry of the Oppressed that cry unto him Day and Night which the Lord hath heard and considered and is come down and hath begun his Work though man doth not see it and hath poured forth a Spirit of Confusion upon them who have Ill-will to the Lambs of Christ's Fold and who shall act any Thing further as to think to root out the Heritage of God their Counsel shall be turned backward and their Enterprize cursed for God he hath determined to lay the Top-Stone with Shouting and that which he is building he will finish and of a Truth this is the Family which he hath chosen which his Love is unto
Plato's and Diogenes's discourses and to omit Seneca because R. I. saith Ambrose hath reckoned him in the Bead-row of Saints it may be with Saint Dominick and Saint Patrick Saint Francis and some other of the Popes Canonizing but however I shall let many of his Envious and frivolous and impertinent Arguments pass as thing of no Validity or worth being they have been Answered over and over by many Hands and all the Fortresses and strong Holds thrown down so that to any Judicious man they will appear to be but Rubbish however R. I. would be gathering together the Rubbish again and would make it appear as goodly a fabrick as he can when indeed there is no thing in it all so thou may'st see Reader in R. I. his Vindication of this Mouldy cankered Ware of Babylon which he would hold up his own Folly Ignorance and Errour made manifest in the ensuing discourse of his Doctrines and most of his Principles thou may view and see which I have taken up and answer'd and his Confusion and Blindness thou mayst see and also view the Spirits that acts this Man and how this man is like to Convince any who hath not Power over his Tongue but lets it run to utter forth the deceit that proceeds out of his own corrupt Heart thinking thereby to blind Peoples Eyes that they should not see how Ignorant and Light vain and Treacherous these Priests are who would monopolize all into their own Hand nay though God commanded and move by his Spirit yet this must not speak nor declare the mind of God except these Priests will allow of it in whom the Welfare of all People lies if thou wilt believe R. I. in the 11 page of his Book yet if these count it disorderly for any to speak as h1 hath received of the Lord from his Spirit it must go for such and be accounted such as disorderly In the Epistle to the Reader R. I. saith such Schiâ—maticks as these Quakers have torn the Church in Pieces and its Authority condemned and the Ministry slighted and false Religion advanced Answ. It seems that the Church that R. I. is of is none of the true Church which is built upon the Rock Christ which the Gates of Hell prevaileth not aâ—ainst neither any weapon that is formed against it can prosper but R. I. his Church is torn in pieces and may be prevailed against sure it is but Babylon whose Stones must be scattered and whose Building must be thrown down it is but the Whâ—râ—s Aâ—â—re that is sending off that her Nakedness may appear and her Deceit made manifest and the Authority which is condemned and reproved is no Authâ—rity but the Authority of the Beast upon which the false Church hath riden and hath câ—lled it by the Name of the higher Power and the Ministry is but such as traffick with the Whore's Sorceries by which she hath deceived the Nations and this indeed and those Ministers indeed are slighted by us because we know him who is the Minister of the everlâ—sting Covenant whose Spirit is manifest according to his Promise to lead his People into all Truth and so the Religion which standeth only in the Traditions of Men and in Idolatry such things as R. I. goeth about to maintain as Images Crosses and Piâ—â—ures Mass-houses Hireling Prâ—â—sts Popish Tythes and Pâ—pish Ceremonies which R. I. so much pleads for all these are slighted as not to be consistant with the true Religion or the true Church of Christ. Yet nevertheless saith R. I. in his Epistle I have adventured voluntarily to side with those that contend for the Truth agaâ—nst the Quakers and yet in the same Epistle saith He was moved of the Lord thus to declare Answ. What Confusion and Lying and Blasphemy is here hath R. I. adventured voluntarily in his own Wilfulness and Perversness to take part with those Contenders against the Truth in which the Quakers live and worship and God must be made the Author of this and all the Heap of Lyes and Confusion which is declared and uttered forth in his Ignis fatuus which if no more were said then hath been were answer enough unto his railing Discourse and yet what Impudency this Man hath to say he was moved of the Lord when as he hath confest he hath voluntarily took part with the Contenders so that it is manifest to all reasonable men who set thee on work and whose Work thou hast been doing for which thou shalt be sure to receive a Reward in the mighty Day of the Lord. And R. I. saith Forasmuch as their counterfeit Coin hath been offered to me for good Sâ—lver I thought it fit to nail it to the Market pâ—st that it might not decieve others and instead thereof I have here made a tender of other Money viz. this ensuing Treatise which I doubt not but it may pass with Truth 's approbation Answ. That which R. I. calls counterfeit Coin was made publick by our selves and it hath been and shall be received by them that know God's Image and the inscription of the Spirit and though R. I. hath denyed it when it was proffered to him the Value and Worth of that which hath been proffered to him is no worse For though a Price be put into the Hand of a Fool he regards it not And now Reader thou shalt see what kind of Coin he hath tendered and how thou judgest it may pass with Truth 's Approbation as hereafter will be made manifest in his further Discourse Wherefore Reader saith R. I. Have not so great Regard to the Authority of the writer as the Truth of the Matter written by him who was moved of the Lord as thâ— to declare against those who are Adversaries to Truth Answ. Indeed the Authority of a writer or of that which is written is of no great moment seeing he is but one of Anti-Christ's Voluntiers who hath not only belyed them that feared the Lord but also hath uttered forth many damnable Doctrines and yet would fasten all these upon the Lord so that his Deceit might be of more Authority and none might question the matter thereof because the Lord alwayes moveth to Truth and Righteousness and so R. I. is one of them that hath taken the Name of the Lord in vain which will not be holden guiltless but will be found guilty when the Searcher of all Hearts shall make all things manifest And then R. I. further saith That sprinkling of Infants is commanded by the Scrptures and is a Seal of the Covenant and Baptism of Infâ—nts is that which answers to Circumcision for Mortification of the Flesh and Remission of Sins and Admission into the Church are sealed unto Infants by sprinkling or that which R. I. calleth baptizing I say Baptism of infants is a Popish-Tradition as hath been proved by divers so that of it I need not say much but where it is commanded in the Scripture as R. I. saith Coll. 2.11 12. is but a
bad Proof for R. I. for the Collossians were circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands and they were buried with him in Baptsim baptized into the Death and Sufferings of Christ such a Baptism as the Priests never Administred with their Hands and the Spirit of the Lord was wont to be the Seal of the Covenant to them that do believe but now it must be turned out of doors for visible Water hath taken up its Place in R. I. his Judgement which is currupted how doth sprinkling answer to Circumcision the Males only were circumcised and not the Females and why do you sprinkle Females if Baptism must answer to Circumcision and if the Extent of the one must be as large as the other And as for Mortification of the Flesh and Remission of Sins that which mortifies the deeds of the Flesh hath Life in it and that gives a living Testimony within Remission sins of is in the Blood of Christ and the Seale thereof is by the Spirit unto them that believe but this popish tradition hath taken up all in R. I. his Account if his Argument be true nay the Papists themselves who are as zealous for sprinkling of Infants as R. I. or any of his Brethren can be yet one of their own Bishops at a Council in France of both Protestants and Papists at Pisoy 1561. Claudius Espencius saith many Things are to be believed by Tradition only as the Baptism of Infants which cannot be proved from Scripture but this R. I. would have the Scripture to be a cloak and a coveâ— not only for Popish traditions but for his own invented imaginations which he hath set forth to blind the People withal The next Thing that R. I. goes about to vindicate is Swearing which their Ministers teach Men to swear which ought to be in Rightousness and Truth and for his Proof he brings Deut. 10.20 and saith Christ only prohibits rash and vain swearing and superfluous Oaths Answ. Unto this much hath been said and answered already by many pens and so that in the Answer thereof I shall be brief in the first Covenant it was lawful to swear in Truth and Righteousness and likewise all rash and vain Oaths under the Law were forbidden but Christ who is the End of the Law for Righteousness who is greater then the Prophets and greater then Moses and Solomon and greater then the Angels unto whom they all worship he saith expresly Swear not at all now whereas R. I and ther 's have said Christ only in these Words prohibits vain Oaths or false Oathâ—s then he had reproved nothing but what the Law had reproved but he saith it hath been said of old Time thou shalt not forswear thy self but saith Christ I say swear not at all so that it is manifest that all Oaths are forbidden by him who is the Oath of God and why saith R. I. it is not contrary to the Gospel of Christ for to swear and yet doth account the writings which is called the New Testament the Goâ—pel wherein Christ hath expresly forbidden it and therefore those Ministers that teach men to swear are not the Ministers of Christ but teach those things that are repugnant to the Gospel of Christ For he that breaks one of the least of the Commands of Christ and teacheth others so to do is least in the Kingdom of God The next thing that R. I. would vindicate is their of singâ—ng David's Psalms in invented Tunes such as pleaseth the carnal Mind and for his Proof he brings Mat. 26.30 They went out and sung a Hymn and Paul and Silas sung in Prison and singing is divine Worship for the Praise of God and the Comfort of our Souls and it is a Soul-ravishing and Heart-raising Ordiâ—ance Answ. It is acknowledged and alwayes hath been by us that Praises belongs unto the Lord and that they that are made alive whose Souls are raised out of Death can and do praise the Lord and they that siâ—g with the Spirit and with Understanding are acceptable unto God and they that are in the Spirit do that which the Spirit moveth unto and so worship in the Truth and are accepted of God and Christ and Paul and Silas and many more praised the Lord and many now do praise the Lord and he that hath a Psalm may sing but what of all this what doth this prove for R. I. and the Mass-house-fingers and what doth this prove as to the singing of them that are void of Understanding who sometime sing I go mourning all the Day long and just at that moment are singing and what doth R. I. think it cannot be a Psalm except it be in Meeter or doth he think it is not accepted except it hath a Tune with so many stops and to sing David's Prayers and call it Praises is this with Understanding and even to return R. I. his Words upon himself A more ungrounded Opinion was never invented by the Devil for them to sing or to pretend to praise God whose Souls lye in death and do not know what it is to partake of God's Benefits neither the unsearchable Gift this kind of singing and Immitation doth not comfort the Soul but burden it and this doth not raise the Witness but killeth it and you make merry over it and this kind of singing must be turned into howling and lamentation And saith R. I. Our Worship doth not differ neither in whole nor in Part in matter or in manner from the Saints Worship in the Primitive Times Answ. This Man's Confidence or rather Impudence is in Opposition to Knowledge and Wisdom for it were easily proved that it neiâ—her in whole nor in Part neither in matter nor manner agreeth with the Primitive times as for Example it is no where recorded in the Scripture that any Apostle Minister or Ministers did take a little Water and did sprinkle a few Drops on a Child's Face called this an Ordinance of God and say it is a Seal of the Covenant and Mortification and Remission 〈◊〉 Sins neither any such Doctrine did they declare neither did any of thâ— Ministers and Apstoles of Christ cause People to buy them Bread anâ— Wine and then give it the People back again a Bit of Bread and a Sup 〈◊〉 Wine at the middle of the Day and call this the Lord's Supper or a greâ—â— Sacrament neither had they Bells in their Churches to call People togâ—â—ther neither had they soft Cushions and Pulpits and a Hour-glass 〈◊〉 by them neither did the Primitive Churches prohibit or limit thâ— Spirit of the Lord God amongst any but if any was moved to speak any thing or had any thing revealed from the Lord the first was to hold his Peace These and many more things you differ in both in matter and manner which largely hath been declared by other Pens and so in this I shall be brief neither had the Ministers of the Gospel their Maintenance by force neither had they Easter reckonings
the Apostle's Doctrine and so this R. I. is tryed by his own infallible standard to be a Deceiver who teaches contrary to that which he calls his Law and Testimony and the Law which is outward is the Law of the first Covenant which made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better Hope did by which we draw nigh unto God Heb. 7.19 Therefore the Lord sâ—â—d by the Mouth of the Prophet Behold the Dayes come that I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel not according to the Covenant I made with them when I brought them out of the Land of Egypt when I was as a Husband and unto them which Covenant they brake but I will write my Law in their Heart and put my spirit in their inward Parts I will be to them a God and they shall be unto me a People Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8.9 10. Now this blind man who gropes as at noon-day saith This is imperfect which is written in the heart and so faulty with him and therefore to be ruled over and the other which is outward is perfect and faultless and so ought to be a rule but saith the Apostle contrary to R. I. If the first covenant had been faultless there had been no place for the second which second the Apostle saith is a better Covenant and stands upon better Promises but yet saith R I. this is not the rule nor fit to be a rule And furthermore the Apostle said as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God and this was their Rule and the Law of the Spirit of Life made the Apostle free from the Law of Sin and Death and the new Creatures Rule by which they were led into all Truth and as many as did walk in it out of all Sin But nay saith R. I. It is not fit to be a Rule for this is imperfect and is that thing to be ruled and for his Proof brings Psal. 17.4 By the Word of thy Lips I have kept me frâ—m the Path of the Destroyer and how doth this prove that the Law in the Heart is to be ruled thou ignorant man who utterest forth nothing but Deceit and Error and so the Scriptures declare against thee for they say The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the Eyes Psal. 19.7 8. For the Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light Prov. 6.23 and the Commands of the new Covenant are spiritual and not carnal and they are perfect and fit to be a Rule Guide to all them that believe in a perfect Way and not as this R. I. saith unfit to be a rule because of their imperfection and would in his blind Distinctions cast a mist before Peoples Eyes And all may judge not only of this R. I. his Mistake but of his wilful Impudence in preferring that which is visible and outward and may be seen which was given forth in time viz. the Commands outward and the Letter outward above the Law of the Spirit of Life which is invisible spiritual and eternal And as I said to S. S. so I may say to thee Lean Souls are they like to be who receive such damnable Doctrine as this for Atticles of Faith but however Reader thou mayest take notice of R. I. in his Epistle to the Reader he saith the Quakers Money is counterfeit Coin which he hath nailed on the market-post and instead thereof hath tendred other Money and that thou mayest see what kind of other Money the Priests is and what Image it bears by the Principles here discovered which is altogether Tin and Dross and reprobate Silver which will be received by none but them whom the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of that they should not see the things that belong unto their Peace And Edward Dod being sensible that he and all his Stuff or he and all his Arguments were carried captive and became a Booty and a Prey he is glad that any will step in and rescue him and flattereth R. I. and saith I am engaged to you to imbrace you as a precious Friend that of so weak Principles as mine have raised so perfect a Structure so absolute rational and demonstrative that more need not to be done Answ. R. I. his Vindication hath not redeemed E. D. his Principles at all but rather hath laboured in vain and spent his Strength for naught and hath brought forth such a Birth as sober men will blush at made up of Ignorance Blasphemy Derision and Lyes which they that have the least Moderation will abhor and detest and the Principles of E. D. and R. I. are not only weak and feeble but wicked and impious as is manifest in what hath been declared and the Structure that R. I. hath made is but builded with untempered Mortar Lyes Falshood Error false Doctrine which the stormy Wind of the Lord will rent and scatter and confound and exalt his Truth above it all But Edward Dod saith What can be said to reduce such a People I know not since so many convincing Arguments cannot prevail alas poor Men whether would you reduce us or bring us back to the slime Pits of Sodom where Edward Dod fell with his Stuff or turn us back again to Images Pictures and Crosses to Mass-houses Hirelings and Tythes to Lace Ribbons and Cuffs which both E. D. and R. I. have strongly pleaded for as faithful Servants to their Master who would not have him loose a Foot of his Territories however Edward Dod hath resolved to continue one in Life and death with R. I. who hath shaken Hands with the Prince of darkness and made a Covenant with death which must be broken and though S. S. E. D. and R. I. joyn Hand in Hand yet the wicked shall not go unpunished fore-very one shall receive a Reward according to their Works And so I have done with R. I. his Book called Ignis fatuus whose Arguments false doctrines errors and lyes are disolved into nothing his 〈◊〉 made void his Ignorance made manifest his false doctrine brought to Light and reproved by the Word of Truth only I shall return him a few of his Lyes back again for him 〈…〉 the second time and repent of them and remember the Sentence for all Lyars is The Lake that burneth Rev. 22.15 First That their Worship differs not in whole nor in Part in Matter nor in Manner from the Churches in the Primitive Times Secondly According to the Scriptures their whole Worship is framed Thirdly That Jezabel was never more madder against the Prophets then these Quakers are against Christ's Ministers Fourthly The Quakers contemn Magistracy and infect the Common-wealth with Faction Fifthly That the Quakers burnt some Houses at Oxford Sixthly That Timothy and Titus were setled in a Parochial Way in their Quarters Seventhly That F. H. complains of the Darkness of the Sun when the Fault is in his own Eyes Eighthly
The Quakers deny Honour to Superiours and to whom it is due and so blaspheme the Name of God and his Doctrine Ninethly F. H. would never have cryed out of Deceit but a Purpose to deceive the more Tenthly That the Quakers bid open Defiance to the Worship of God Eleventhly That J. N. did say that he was as just and holy and good as God Twelfthly That F. H. said That Christ Jesus was not glorified in Heaven with a real Body Thirteenthly Human Nature is taken for the regenerate Part of Man and the Soul Fourteenthly That the best Men though regenerate bear Nettles Brambles and Pricks Fifteenthly There is an inward Law called the Law of the Spirit of Life which is imperfect and not fit to bear rule but to be ruled Sixteenthly And the Scriptures lead us to the Spirit and encline our Hearts to the Obedience of the rule Seventeenthly And F. H. prefereth Ignis fatuus before the clear Light of God's Word Eighteenthly and lastly when he hath spoken all these Lyes and published them in Print to the World he blasphemously saith in his Epistle to the Reader Have not so much regard to the Authority of the Writer as the Truth of the Matter written by him who was moved of the Lord thus to declare So all these Lyes with many more and all these damnable Doctrines which he hath uttered forth against the Truth these things he would fasten upon the Lord's Motion and so make him the Author of Iniquity and a Cloak for his ungodly Speeches against them who love the Truth as it is in Jesus who have suffered many Reproaches for its sake and have been killed all the Day long by this Generation amongst which R. I. is who hath bent his Tongue to Mischief and his Lips to utter forth Deceit and as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses so hath this R. I. resisted the Truth being a Man of a corrupt Mind and concerning the Faith reprobate but he shall not proceed much further for in what he hath written his Folly will be manifest unto all men and them that fear the Lord will depart out of his Foot-steps which lead to the Chambers of Death and from those dark Paths in which R.I. treadeth which lead into utter Destruction Westmoreland the 15 th of the 4 th Moneth 1660. F. H. To all Friends and Brethren who have been called of the Lord into that Place of New-England to bear your Testimony for the Lord to the answering of his Witness in every ones Conscience FOrasmuch as the Lord through his infinite Love and Goodness which he hath manifested amongst the Sons of Men hath called you and fitted you for his Work and Service which he hath to do you being made Partakers through the Love of God unto you of the like precious Faith with many Brethren which giveth Victory over the World and supporteth all them that keep it in the Day of Tryal My Heart's Desire is that you may all fulfil the Will of God and answer his End in sending you thither that so you may receive your Reward my Heart is drawn out unto you in true Love being sensible of the many Oppositions that you have met with and may meet with by Reason of the Strength and Power of Darkness in those Parts where Satan's Throne is exalted keep all near the Lord and feel his Power in your selves which giveth Dominion and Victory over all the World and over all fading Things which pass away and so you will feel his Strength daily renewed in you to carry you above all Opposition and his Presence to go before you and his Righteousness to be your Reward so will you be preserved in the Peace of God and feel his Life present to refresh you in the Time of Need and as your Tryals and Travails and Sufferings for Christ do abound so your Strength and Joy and Peace and Consolation will also much more abound from his Life manifest and revealed in your Hearts keep in the Power of the Lord over all Deceit and know your own Image in every one to whom you joyn and let no Deceit come near you which may get the Words and not be subject to the Power for those will betray you and rise up in Rebellion against you and glory over you for that only which can receive you through the Cross will stand by you and the other who may receive the Truth in Words into the earthly Part will stumble at the Cross and so get a Knowledge above the Cross these will blow away as Chaff Keep in your Innocency and every one in your own and there you will come to be setled and established as Trees whose Roots are spread in the Earth which cannot easily be plucked up nor a Tempest blow down you know where the Entrance was unto your selves into the Sheepfold into the true Rest thither bring all and keep all down to that to the Measure of God's Spirit through which eternal Life is revealed and the Things of God's Kingdom made manifest and they that would climb up any other Way must come down again and them that walk in any other Way must come back again and they that would strive to enter in any other Thing are shut out forever for you know there is no Communion or Concord with the Spirit of God which is pure and that which resisteth it and gainsayeth it that Wisdom must perish it 's from below that Knowledge must fade away and come to nothing So never heed the Subtilty and cunning Craftiness of the Enemy which would twist and twine every Way to gainsay the Truth and make a Noise in an airy Sound which may satisfie corrupt Minds who vilâ—fie the Truth and set the Corner-Stone at nought look not at them nor never heed that you know in whom you have believed and no other Foundation can be laid then that which is laid already for all to build upon throuâ—h which they that do believe are made a glorious and an holy Habitation for God through the Spirit and any that declare another Way another Door another Life then he that is the Light of Men is accursed So feel hâ—s Eternal Power the Power of his Resurrection in your selves to subdue and bring under all 〈◊〉 Enemies which would hinder your Enjoyment of his Life but he is a tryed Stone and they that have tryed him have found him elect and precious and his Faithfulness Power and Might Love Life and Glory endures forever and ever throughout all the Generations of the Just who are Eye-Witnesses of his Coming Power and Glory which God out of his Everlasting Love and Kindness hath revealed unto Thousands and his Coming is known in Ten Thousands of his Saints and also with them and they with him to judge in Righteousness and to make War with the Sword that proceeds out of his Mouth which slayes the wicked and brings Death and Destruction upon Death that so Life Immortality and Eternity may be brought
and the Sea obey him and therefore my dearly beloved ones unto whom the Lord hath reached in those Parts and whom he hath visited in this 〈◊〉 Day of his Power wherein he is exalting his Name which hath long been debased in the Nations and his Salvation in the Earth and the uttmost Parts shall be a Possession for his Son who hath long suffered and born the Iniquity of the People and hath suffered because the Sheep have been astray but now is the Lord bringing them back that have been driven away and them that have been scattered that he may feed them that they be no more a Prey to the Foxes and evil Beasts which have devoured them prize the Love of God in that he should follow you with his Love and send his Servants unto you to call you home who were gone astray and to give up their Lives freely that you might be made free and to suffer that you might be brought out of prison now I say you having heard and believed the Truth keep down all that which would lead you to question again and look not out at Sufferings and Difficulties for this I testifie unto you must be the Cup that all must drink of who come to enter in at the strait way and blessed and happy are all they who give up all freely to his heavenly Will for the same we passed through before we came to see the Reward and to reap Joy there is a time of Winter wait in the Patience and be not offended because nought but Barrenness and Bareness apppears for a while within when Summer comes the desolate shall rejoyce and the thirsty land shall become a land of Springs at which the Flocks shall drink and the Herds shall be refreshed and heed not the winter storms without neither the boisterous Floods he will rebuke the Wind and the Sea and they shall obey him and the Spring you shall see so keep the hope the Anchor and there will be a stay for your Hearts in time of Danger and you will see the storm over and the wind still and then the shower of Righteousness shall descend upon the tender Plant and the Rain the gentle showers which he brings out of his Treasure will refresh the inheritance of the Lord which hath long been dry and the Dew will distill upon the tender grass and the Brightness of the Sun will refresh the Heart and make it glad these things are true and faithfull and God will vouchsafe them unto you as you all abide in Patience in the Cross to all the mortal it shall dye and Immortality and Life you will see brought to Light through the Gospel and the Love of God is to you and the Thoughts of his Heart was towards you for good as God shewed unto me five years ago where I saw Virginia a beautiful Garden upon whâ—ch the Sun did shine most pleasantly and the Air was clear and the Glory of the Lord did overshadow it even to my Amazement at which my Heart was glad and my Spirit rejoyced in the God of the whole Earth and seeing the Lord hath begun his glorious Work among you and is shining forth as from mount Paran in his excellent Beauty keep all your Hearts pure and your Consciences clear that you may see him for so is his Promise The pure in Heart shall see God and to see the presence of God that gives Life and the Light of his Countenance is that which maketh glad the Heart therefore as the beloved of God put on Manhood never heed the Dragon's Power neither the Beast's threats neither the Harlot's censures but be valiant for the Truth upon Earth for the Lamb is arisen who shall tread down his Enemies in his Wrath and make them all as burnt mountains and his Fellowers with him and his Host is numberless and their Voice shall be as many waters which shall bring Dread upon the Nations who worship the Beast and have received his Mark and make the Hypocrites tremble and they all march on in his Strength and do not break their Ranks follow him for the Victory is his it 's decreed in Heaven who shall reverse it or alter it and all that follow shall triumph in his Strength and their Enemies shall be as Ashes under the Soles of their Feet and his Weapons are spiritual and so are all his Followers and they are keen and sharp and they shall wound the Head of the Kings Enemies who is the Lord our Righteousness the God of all Grace fill you with Patience and Long-suffering that you may as good Souldiers fight the good Fight of Faith that you may be crowned with Immortality and Life everlasting which God the Lord of Life and Glory will give unto all them that love the Appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Desire and Prayer of him that desires the Good of all which stand nearly related unto the Houshold of Faith Westmorland 1660. F. H. SOME OPENINGS OF THE WOMB OF THE MORNING To all the Princes of Germany and People who profess the Name of Jesus Christ in those Dominions this is sent as a free Gift in true Love unto those Nations Wherein the State of the true Church is discovered with her Foundation and Mystery-Babylon and her Foundation that all may try themselves upon what Foundation they are and whether they belong to that City which is to be made desolate or to the Lamb's VVife which shall be married unto him forever in everlasting Righteousness And the Way and the Entrance into the true Worship in which God is well pleased discovered unto them who are weary that they may come to Rest and to know that wherein Peace and Felicity consisteth THe Mighty day of the Lord is approcahing wherein the Secrets of all men's Hearts shall be manifested even from Him that sits upon the Throne to him that is the meanest Servant and every Bondman and every free-man the Circumcised and Uncircumcised the Professor and the Prophane their Works shall all be discovered and all their deeds shall be brought to Light and every one shall be Judged not according to what he hath seemed to Profess but what he is in reality and in Truth so shall he be reckoned and accounted of by the Lord for every man's Works shall be tryed of what sort they are and the reward shall be according to every Man's Works in Truth and in Righteousness not according as fallen man judgeth nor according as he calls right but according to the Righteous Judgment of the everlasting God in whom Truth Life and Immortality resides forever Now when this day Approacheth which is near at hand when the Thought of all Hearts shall be revealed then many who have ruled shall see they have not ruled in the Authority and Power of God and therefore must receive a Recompence and give an account of their Steward-ship unto the Lord and them that have served and obeyed shall see that their Obedience hath been
worshipping falsly he is to this Day under the Anti-christian Reign who hath exalted himself and sets himself in the Temple of God and sits as Judge thereof that which belongs only to the Lord 's Christ and so intrenches upon the Soveraignity which belongs to Christ the King of Righteousness and such will do Violence to the Subjects of Christ's Kingdom Therefore all Kings Princes and Potentates of the Earth who profess the Name of Christ Jesus cast off those heavy Yoaks which the false Church and Harlot have perswaded you to put your Necks in only to raise her City and to put off her Merchandize and to make the Church of the free Woman the Church of Christ suffer and this above all Things hath brought great Detriment and Hurt unto you Princes and People of Germany for they have been led by a blind Zeal to do that which they have been perswaded unto by her which hath sate as a Queen and as the Lady of Kingdoms and a Mistress over God's Houshold to do that which hath provoaked the Lord against them whereby their Dominions have been rent from them and many of the dear Lambs have causelesly suffered and many of their Subjects have been evily entreated and some have been put to Death so thereby have lost the Hearts of the People by such Actings only to satisfie the blood-thirsty Mind of her that hath drunk the Blood of the Saints Therefore ye Kings and Princes of the Earth and Emperours and all People who have been beguiled through the falshood and Sorceries of this false Church who have Drunk of her Cup of Fornication and have given your Strength and Power to the Beast and so have wrought their Works and not the Lord's shake off the Yoak from off your Necks and draw back your Authority and Power that you have given to the Beast who hath Killed and compelled all to Worship him and all People to buy the Whore's Sorceries shake off her Inchantments and Witch-crafts and intanglements and stand upon your own Legs and come to wait upon the Lord and upon the Light of the Lord which you are lighted withal that so you may answer God's End and rule for the Lord and keep Peace among all People under your Dominions and then it will be easier for you to do that when you leave all men's Consciences free to the Lord and every man to that of God in him according to which every man must be judged and then People will be more ready to obey your just Commands which are for Peace and Prosperity which are for the welfare of a Nation and Country for since the Apostles dayes the Apostacy hath come and covered them and many People have been forced into a Worship and unto Services and unto a Religion by outward compulsary Laws and by the outward Sword and great Penalties and Imprisonments if not subject to their Commands and all this hath come up since the Apostles and spread it self over Kindreds Tongues and Nations in the mid-Night of Darkness have many Countryes been vassaled and this I testifie you all that this is no true Christian Religion nor in Christ's way search diligently and read through the Writings of the Apostles and Saints in the Primitive time and see if ever the true Church of Christ or the Ministers thereof Christ or his Apostles gave any such Commandment or did ever lay any such injunction upon they that believed Rulers or Governours or others as to force or compel them to believe their Worship or Forced Killed or Banished them that Opposed but unto the contrary they Exhorted all and Commended every one to that in their own Consciences in the sight of God and so left them unto that which they knew would inform their Understandings and perswade their Minds and when they were informed and perswaded of the Truth of what was declared then they pressed Obedience not by any force or Awe but they knew that they which would not be Obedient unto that of God manifested in them they should be judged of the Lord and never have Peace and this brought down the disobedient and Rebellious Spirit and the Gâ—in-saying Spirit and yet saved the Creature alive and herein were the Ministers of the second Covenant more Excellent then the first Therefore Awake ye Princes of Germany out of the Spirit of Slumber and shake your selves out of your deep sleep which hath been upon you and wait upon the Light of the Lord in all your Consciences that you may come to see the day of the Lord God which is now a dawning and dawned that so you may distinguish between the Precious and the vile and also of every Work and Action and Worship you may truely discern of what sort and kind they are of for he that doth not Witness the quickening Spirit which enlivens the mind unto God and deads it unto Sin his Works actions and worship is but of a bad Sort these are the Works that must be burnt with Fire and that is the Worship which God is not pleased with which is performed from the earthly corrupt part in man by Tradition all this kind of Profession is God's Controversie against and this kind of Professors and this kind of false Church is God's Anger kindled against and hath been dishonered by this deceitful kind of Christianity and the Name of God hath been more dishonoured then by the Heathen who have not Professed any part of Christianity at all yea what wicked Barbarous Inhumanites have been brought forth by this false Church who got the form at the first and denyed the Power Oh! what Killing Murdering Blood-shed Persecuting Destroying the Creatures laying whole Nations desolate and whole Countries waste who could not conform to their Hypocrisie and invented Injuctions of Men Oh what Pride and Arrogancy Covetousness fraud and deceit Cosening and Cheating envying and hating Cursed speâ—king filthy Communications Oaths and Drunkenness and Riotousness Whoredoms and Uncleanness have been brought forth so aboundantly that the very Heathen are not found in the like Practices and well might they conclude if the God of the Christians be such an one as leads his People into such Practices then they would never believe in him nor Worship him in the Christians wayes for these Practices have hardned their Hearts and made them out of love with the Name of the Living God Oh! a bed of Torment is prepared for this Abominable Harlot who hath denyed Christ her Husband who hath enlightned every man that cometh into the VVorld with a Measure of his Light John 1. and the day hastens that her Flesh must be Burnt with Fire and all her Lovers shall hate her and the Kings and Nobles and mighty Men of the Earth which have committed Fornication with her shall withdraw their Love from her and assistance from her who have given their Power to her and so have made them selves as Waters so that it is Just with the Lord God to bring the Heathen and
Uncircumcised over the Nations again for the 〈…〉 re more justifiable in the sight of God then these who Profess him in Words and yet are Reprobate unto every good VVork Therefore come out of Babylon all People and Potentates of the Earth and drink no more of her Cup of Fornication and receive no more of her Traditions nor inventions for the Ordinances of Christ and partake no more of the Sins of this false Church which hath drunk the Blood of the Prophets and slew the Saints under the Name of Blasphemers and under the Name of Hereticks as the Jews of old did who had the Words of the Prophets without the Life and were in Error themselves and in the Blasphemies who killed the just One and Crucified Christ as a Blasphemer and the Members of his Body as Hereticks Plagues and Woes are prepared of the Lord God and Thunders Storms and Tempests are to be poured upon the Seat of this Whore and the Seat of the Beast for dreadful is the day of the Lord which is coming upon all Flesh which shall wither as Grass and the hâ—lls shall melt and the Rocks shall cleave the high and lofty shall bow the strong Men shall be afraid Terror shall come upon all Hypocrites and fearfulness and weakness upon all the Mighty and Valiant and upon all that have Warred and striven with carnal weapons and all Worshippers in the Flesh the Sword of the Lord shall come over all which is ready furbished and brandished which shall be soaked in the Blood of Bulls and the strong and the Fat and the Mighty and the slain of the Lord shall be many for the notable Day of the Lord God is appearing such a day as hath not appeared since the Apostacy for God's Controversie shall be with all the Inhabitants of the Earth at the Sound thereof the Nations shall be afraid and the Isles shall Shreek and the Mighty men shall fail for God hath determined to cleanse the Earth of all the fruitless Trees that cumber the Ground and to makeâ—h overflowing Scourge pass throw the Nations to sweep away the Refuge of Lyes Idolatry and Superstition Will-worship vain Human Traditions of men and to make all Flesh to bow before him Therefore all People who look to escape the Judgement of the Lord God which is coming upon the Nations flee flee for your lives out of Babylon out of Sodom and Egypt spiritually so called hasten and come out to meet the Lord God lest you be overthrown in those cursed Cities whose Sins have reached up to Heaven make haste and come out and be not upon your reserves and consult not with Flesh and Blood partake no more of her Sins lest you partake of her dreadful Plagues and of the Cup of the Lord 's fiery Indignation which is the Portion of all the Inhabitants of that City for they shall drink it And all ye Princes and People in Germany who are called reformed who have denyed the Church of Rome in some things and who judge you are come to a good Degree of Reformation I must needs say unto you that the Reformation your Departure from her is yet but weak poor and feeble and you are come but a little way I may say unto you as the Prophet said you must rise and go from that which you are now in which you judge to be the Worship of the true God for it is not your Rest indeed you have departed and cast off some things which are but circumstances you stick still in the old Ground and if you take not heed the Leaven of the Whore's Sorceries which is yet among you may quickly leaven you all again into one Lump and bring you back again within the Walls of that bloody City and you that are Princes will not want Temptations to draw you back to associate your selves again with the Church of Rome that now thereby you may be strengthned against the heathen for if you should enter into any Association with them or give any consent unto such Temptations you do but go down into Egypt for Help then will your latter End be worse then your Beginning and your Bondage and Thraldom will be greater then it was before and I must tell you plainly the Lord will pare the Heathen and exalt their Horn and they shall be as a Scourge and as the Lord's Battle-axe to bring down the Pride and Haughtiness of that blâ—ody City which hâ—th drunk the Blood of the Saints and they that have yoaked others shall now be yoaked and they that have cruelly tyrannized over others shall be tyrannized over and that which hath led others into Captivity Bondage and Thraldom shall go into captivity bondage and thraldom and the Heathen shall rule over it Therefore ye that are called Protestant Princes or Reformed and to all People within your Dominions look not back for help from spiritual Sodom Oh let it never enter into your Hearts you are yet in the Suburbs of that City therefore come further off and out from it for you still retain too much of the Government of that City and too much of their Form Ordinances Institution and Doctrine and judge them to be Apostolick and Catholick but wait you to know the Power of God in your Assemblies which changes the Mind and Heart within for bodily exercises profiteth little you have had Tryal enough of that but what Life and Power do you enjoy which was from the Beginning before the World began Is there no forcing and compelling amongst you about Religion and Hire for your Ministers And do you not limit and stop that which the generality cannot agree unto and brand it for Error and Heresie and is there no killing about Religion nor making men suffer about matters in Religion may every one speak freely of the things of God what he hath received freely of the Lord as they did in the Primitive Times when the Church was in Purity Forcing ought not to be amongst you and you put too great a Price upon outside things which at the best are but Shadows of spiritual things which are to be revealed in the Heart and know you this that they that worship the Lord aright worship him in Spirit and in Truth and they who come to witness the New Covenant come to know the Law of the Spirit of God and the Life revealed in their Hearts by which the Sons of God are led into all Truth and they need not go back to the Tables of Stone nor to literal Precepts for a Rule for their Rule is within to wit the Spirit of God which the Father hath promised to pour forth upon his Sons and Daughters by the Mouth of his Prophets and that they need not say know the Lord for all shall be taught of him from the least to the greatest who are come to the everlasting Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling which purifies the Heart and sprinkleth the Consciences which speaks better things to all
them that receive it then the Blood of Abel There hath been in those Parts some stirring of the Lord amongst you but the Power of God hath been much abused and great runnings out have been amongst you and many have followed their own devisings and one hating another and have erred from the Spirit and there have been Factions and great Breakin gs amongst you and many seeking themselves until Darkness hath come over again and so are come to be setled into a dead Form so that little of the Presence of God is found in all your Assemblies nevertheless though all these things are so yet the Lord's Love is reaching towards you again and a Visitation and a Day of Mercy there is yet held forth Oh happy and blessed will you be if you do not despise nor reject it and be not offended in the lowest Appearances of Christ to the Sons of Men wherein a greater Glory is revealing and shall be revealed then hath been since the Apostates entered in Now the Way wherein God doth purpose to make known his Mind and his hidden Riches and communicate his Heavenly Mysteries will be in a more hidden secret and spiritual invisible manner then yet ever hath appeared for hitherto Deceit hath transformed it self and Satan's Messengers have conformed and Antichrist hath imitated and the unconverted have been worshipping observing and practising of outward things without the moving of the Life so that Antichrist hath gotten into every outside Appearance and by this means hath sheltered himself with a colour and shadow and the Devil the Enemy of all Mankind hath kept his Kingdom whole by covering himself with the Words Shadows and Outward Performances And now take but a View over all those Kingdoms that are called Christendom and see how much of the Life of Christ is brought forth and how little of the Image of God is manifested and the Kingdom of God revealed among people which stands in the Power and Life of Righteousness therefore the full time of the Lord is come wherein every Word and Work shall be tryed and the Secrets of every man's Heart shall be made bare and the root and ground of every Action shall be weighed And Wo will come upon all who are covered with the words and outside shews and cloathed with outward Performances and not with the Spirit of the Lord God Therefore Friends and People high and low rich and poor bond and free of these things we have a blessed Cloud of VVitnesses whom God hath now raised up in this the Day of his mighty Power wherein God hath shined forth in Brightness From his holy Habitation are these things seen which have lightned the Earth from his dwelling Place he hath given forth his Word and great is the Company of them that publish it and there shall be many more for a numberless number shall hear it yea the dead that are yet in the grave shall hear it and by it shall come to live and we are a great Number who have travailed through many dry Places and barren Wildernesses who have had the tryal and tast of all outward professions and visible Worships and external Performances and visible Ordinances which are contained in hand writings and we have waded through all these things with a great deal of Diligence and strict Observancy and we have travailed many Years with great Pain that so we might have found Rest and Refreshment to our Souls that so we might have sitten down in it and as Seekers and Travailers who are weary were willing to lend an ear unto any who have but said come hither and here is Rest and one hath cryed lo here and another hath cryed lo there and so we wearied our selves at last from Mountain to Hill and spent our Strength for nought for none could truly inform us where we should find him whom our Souls loved and whom our Hearts panted after and our Bowels yearned Until at the last the Eyes of many were opened by the Lord who saw that eternal Life was not to be found in any external visible thing and do know that all they who are exercising themselves after those things in the exactest strictest manner cannot be made perfect as pertaining to the Conscience and all these great Talkers of the Fame of Christ and of his Glory and Power Miracles and Works and of his Death Obedience and Sufferings the bare Report and Sound of these things doth no good at all to him who feels Sin hath full Power and Dominion in his Heart so that the Life of Christ must be felt within enjoyed and possessed within and revealed in the Light or else he cannot stand justified in the Sight of God nor clear when he judgeth neither can he find Rest nor Peace for his Soul so I am one who have found Mercy and Favour at the Hand of the Lord among many Thousands to be a Witness of that Life which was with the Father before the World began which is now manifested in the Hearts of Thousands of his People destroying the Works of the Devil and bringing in everlasting Righteousness So the Love of God which is shed abroad in my Heart through the Bowels of Compassion which I have unto all Mankind knowing that all in the first Adam's State are lost in the Fall I do now give forth these Lines and say unto all seek not the Living among the Dead not in dead Forms not in dead Graves not in dead Worships neither in dead Performances for the Lord is risen out of all these things and is sate down in Glory in a living holy Habitation and now his Appearance unto the Sons of Men is in a more spiritual manner for I have fully tried already what is in all these external things and because I know and have seen his Appearance therefore I speak to the informing of all how they may come to find him who is the Desire of their Souls and the Salvation thereof I say listen and hear that your Souls might live for Christ is that eternal incorruptible pure unchangeable immortal Life which hath ligtned every man that cometh into the World John 1. yea he that hath enlightned every man with his true Light he is that eternal and immortal Life so that I say unto you all high and low who desire Rest unto your Souls cease from your willing cease from your running cease from your own Performances cease from worshipping you know not what and cease from seeking in that Nature which the Lord hides himself from and come ye to learn of Christ and sit at his Feet even at the lowest Appearance of him even at the lower End of the Table must you come before you can be exalted for thou must be contented to sit down there that which climbeth high and exalts it self God will bring down and that which manifesteth Sin is Light and that which reproveth Evil is the same and what is reproved in the Heart of man is manifested
hasty heady Teachers and Speakers which know not the Lord's Voice cannot profit the People at all and all these tellers of Dreams and dreamers dream in the Night but what is the Chaff to the Wheat but he that hath heard God and knows his Voice and his Word which is a Spirit may speak it freely and that will answer the just in all People and the Witness of God will testifie in all Consciences to the Truth thereof and feels the Power of it and will remember it when the dreamers that dream will be forgotten And all ye that are broken into many Opinions and Sects and divers Judgments wait that you may know that which will unite you to God and one unto another that you may come all to be of one Heart and of one Mind and of one Soul into the Unity of the one Spirit as the Saints of old were in and many there are now unto whom the mind of the Lord is known blessed be the Name of the Lord forever and that you may all come to know him that healeth the Nations and leadeth out of Wars and maketh them to cease to the End of the Earth for VVars saith the Apostle James proceed from Mens Lusts and so wait in the Light which Christ hath given you for Power from God to be revealed in you which killeth the Lusts in your selves That your Swords may be broken into Plow-shares 〈◊〉 your Spears and VVeapons of War into Pruning Hooks then the Occasion and Ground of War is gone then you will come to be Follwers of Christ who came not to destroy mens Lives but to save them and to love Enemies anâ— bless them that curse you and do Good to them that hate you and pray for them that despightfully use you and persecute you and this is the Way to conquer the Spirits of your Enemies Therefore stop not your Ears nor slight 〈◊〉 the Day of your Visitation for the joyful Sound of the everlasting Gospel is now to be preached again unto all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and towards you in Germany is that coming wherein Remission of Sins is obtained and Life and Immortality is brought to Light and blessed and happy will you be if you be found worthy to receive it which many Nations and People have put away from them and thereby have made themselves unworthy of everlasting Life And now this is a Message of Love and a free Gift unto you the Princes and People and Rulers in Germany that you may all be warned to be in a Readiness to meet the Lord in his Judgments and also to receive the tender Proffers of Life and Salvation to you and your People Nation Rulers and ruled may be happy and so come to witness Blessedness and Peace in all your Habitations which the Lord hath brought many unto in this the Day of his mighty Power wherein he hath shewed himself in the Earth and made many Witnesses of his noble Acts and of his wondrous Works that he hath done amongst us to the Intent they may be Testimonies thereof that other Nations may be invited to taste and see how good and gracious the Lord is who is the Light of his People and how pleasant the Way is that lighteth every man that cometh into the World and these Things I testifie unto you who have tasted how good and pleasant his dwelling-place is and how precious the Fold of the Lord is and how green and pleasant are his Pastures into which he leadeth his Sheep unto them hath he given everlasting Life and perfect Assurance of his Love forever These Sayings are faithful holy just and true and blessed is he that hath an Ear to hear and a Heart ready to receive understand thaâ— which is now declared of they even they shall be Witnesses of the same Glory in themselves and not only believe because of the Sound and Repâ—â—t thereof but see handle and understand these things in their own Hearts and feel it in their own Breasts So this is God's Visitation of Love to you 〈◊〉 Oh prize it lest it pass over your Heads and you never attain unto the Comfort of that which belongeth unto your eternal Rest and Peace From one who loves the Lord and all the Children of the Light and 〈◊〉 the Salvation and Welfare of all Men who is at perfect Unity with 〈◊〉 the Creation of God F. H. From England the 26 th of the 1 st Moneth 1661. THE GLORY OF THE True Church DISCOVERED As it was in its PURITY IN THE PRIMITIVE TIMES ALSO A Manifestation how and when the Apostacy came and how long it hath continued in the Church ROME proved to be in it because she differs in Doctrine and Practice from the Church of Christ in the Apostles Dayes Published for this End that People may be informed and their Understandings opened to discern the Times and Seasons and see the Difference between the Lamb's Wife and the Mother of Harlots By one who desires that all may come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved and walk in the Light of the Lord. F. H. TO THE Reader or Readers GReat hath been the Wisdom which God hath shed abroad in the Hearts of his People and made known unto his Servants through Ages wherein he hath made known his Mind and Will at sundry times and in divers manners sometimes by Types sometimes by Shadows and Representations sometimes by Dreams sometimes by Visions sometimes by Prophecy there was not the least Ministration but it had a Glory in it and the one living God manifested his Mind unto the Sons of men who feared his Name in every Generation and shewed unto them and signified his mind unto them what he was and shewed unto them how he would be worshipped and they that were obedient unto that which was made manifest in every Age and Ministration found Acceptance with the Lord and the Peace of God in their Hearts After man had transgressed and gone from his Maker and lost the Guide of his Youth and broken God's Covenant then Blindness came upon him and a Vail was betwixt him and his Maker and man increased and grew in an earthly Part and lusted after earthly Things which fed and increased that Part and the Image of God was lost in which the Creature delighted yet notwithstanding such was and is the Love of God towards his Creation and to his Workmanship that he did not utterly cast off man forever but followed him to draw him back again out of the Transgression to have Unity with him who was his Maker and when man was gone unto Darkness the Lord stooped so low as to come near him and to that State he was in and made a Covenant with man when mans Heart was outward upon outward Things and gave him Commands outward and Statutes and Ordinances outward that he might worship therein which were Shadows and Types of some better Things to come and these were the Ordinances of
now mark this that by which the Apostle gathered them from the Jewish Temples and Priest-hood and the Gentiles from their Idols Temples was by the Preaching of the everlasting Gospel to wit not the Law nor the Ordinances of the first Covenant but the Power of God and the word of Reconciliation for the first Covenant of the Jews made not the Comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience Neither the Gentiles Idols Temples nor Worships made them perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but rather made them worse and more corrupted Heb. 9.9 But the Preaching and publishing of the Word of Reconciliation that did it was committed to the Disciples it was received and believed in by many both Jews and Gentiles as at Ephesus and elsewhere and they were made a Habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes. 2.22 Now mark this they preached not up the Letâ—er of the Law nor that which was written in Tables of Stone for the first Priest-hood that was ended and the Ministry of that and the Vail was over their Hearts while Moses was read and their ability stood not in the Litteral knowledge or in that which was written But they were able Ministers of the New-Testament of the Spirit and so all that did believe both Jews and Gentiles who received the word of Faith which was nigh in the Mâ—uth and in the Heart Rom. 10.8 they grew up in the Knowledge of God and of his holy Spirit and great Gifts grew amongst them as of Prophecy of speaking with Tongues of Interpretation and there was diversity of gifts and diversity of Operations yet all by the same Spirit which the Apostles were made Ministers of and which they that did believe and receive and received gifts from it and knew the Operation of it which wrought in them mightily to the throwing down the strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 And the principalities and Powers of Darkness and to the Translating and changing of them from Darkness to Light and from Satans Power to the Power of God even into the Kinâ—dom of his dear Son Col. 1.13 And several Congregations in divers Places were all one Body whereof Christ the Life was the Head in which they had believed and of whose Power they had tasted grew up in Knowledge and Wisdom and gifts and the Day of Christ approached which Abraham saw And they exhorted one another and admonished one another and when they met together at several Places every one according to the Gift of God as he had received not from the Letterâ— but from the Spirit did and might administer to the Edification one of another and to the building up and comforting one another in the most holy Faith which gave them Victory over Sin which Faith was wrought in them by hearing of the Word that was nigh them in the Mouth and in the Heart which was the Word of Consolation which was in the Beginning Moreover when they met together they might Prophesie one by one and every one Exercise his own gift to the edification and Comfort of the Body as the Spirit did lead them in Order and if any went out from his Measure he was judged by them that were in the Spirit Furthermore they that had believed the Gospel which was published to them for remission of Sin they grew up into great Enjoyments and Attainments in the righteous Life of Christ which was manifest in them And though first they knew the Ministration of Condemnation and the sentence of Death yet afterwards came to know the Ministration of the Spirit and the sweet Assurance and Testimony of it bearing Witness to the Spirit that they were the Sons of God and they were made Heirs according to the Promise Heb. 6.17 and were made joynt-heirs and co-heirs with Christ in the Kingdom which is Immortal which faâ—es not away and did dome to know Mount Sion and the City of the living God Heb. 12.22 and it were large to speak of the Glory and the Transcendent Excellency of the Church of Christ which became a purchased Possession to him in the Primitive Times or the first hundred Years after the manifestation of Christ in the Flesh. But take notice of this that they that were sent out who had received freely of the Father of Christ and of the Spirit Ministred freely as they had received freely without making any Covenants or enquiries after worldly revenews but went from City to City Preaching the Gâ—spel of Christ freely as they hâ—d received without any conditionâ— frâ—m the People And as many as believed and received the Gospel did Minister freely their Hearts being open unto them who had declared unto them spiritual Things Acts 4.34 Mat. 10.8 c. So that we read of no compulsion or forcing Maintenance from any of the Cities whether they believed or not believed the Father took care of such Harvest-men and and what they received was given freely and there was no Complaint though often they denyed that which was proferred to them and thâ—ir Câ—re was to make the Gospel of Christ not Burdensome or chargeable but rather their Hands should Minister unto their Necessities Acts 18.3 Again though divers gifts were given unto the Disciples before and after Christ's Ascension as some to be Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and some Elders or Bishops yet they were all made Ministers by the holy Ghost yet it were large to speak of the Power and of the Wisdom and of the Enjoyments of God in that day and time and of the Gifts and of the order which was in the Church at that time But in a Word the Son of God was made manifest and gave them an Understanding and they knew him that was true Truth it self and Christ was revealed in them and manifested to them the Hope of their Glory Col. 1.27 Furthermore they come to see over the new Moons and Fâ—sts and Feasts and Dayes and Times and Meats and Drinks and none could judge of them or ought to judge of them in those Cases for they saw the Body Christ for the man-Child was brought forth and the Woman was Cloathed with the Sun who had the Crowd of twelve Stars upon her head who brought forth the holy Child Jesus who saves his People from their Sins In whom all Shadows Types Figures Representations end This in short was part of the Glory of the Primitive Church which would be large to speak of as it was in the first State of its Purity But hereafter some fuller thing the Lord may bring forth in his own time and day CHAP. II. Concerning the entring in of the Apostacy and the Declination from the Purity of Doctrine Worship and Practice and when it began downwards from the entring of it in until this present Age and Time CHrist the true Prophet which Moses spake of whom the Lord raised up and manifested in the Fulness of time he prohesied and declared of false Prophets that should arise Mat. 7.15 Beware of
a Service for such a Day and such a Worship for such a Day we find not in the first hundred Years after Christ. And for your Lent which one of your Fathers invented and this was his Ground because God had the tenth of the increase of Tythes due to himself and for his Ministers under the Law therefore it was necessary that the tenth part of Dayes should be allowed as Tythes to the Lord Oh! Gross ignorance and palpable Blindness mid-Night it self came upon you in the time of your Visibility when the True Church was fled into the Wilderness As though the Lord was not the Lord of all Dayes and as though all dayes were not his and to be used to his Glory And your prohibiting Meats and distinguishing of Meats one Holy for such a day another for such a day Flesh one day and Fish another day as though there were not the Flesh of Fish or one thing were clean and another Unclean And this invented Trumpery hath been observed for Catholick and Apostolick Doctrine but by whom we must needs tell you by the Nations Kindreds and Tongues and People upon which the Whore sits and out of which the Beast rose And we will grant you antiquity enough this many hundred Years and yet we will prefer the Primitive Times before you and bring their Doctrine and Practice to reprove you though we do not desire to go in Cain's Way and to kill Creatures that are out of the Doctrine of Christ and contrary to Apostolick and Catholick Doctrine which wrestled not with Flesh and Blood but with spiritual wickedness whose Weapons were not carnal but spiritual and yet they hâ—d great might in them and threw down by these weapons that which never could be by carnal 2 Cor. 10.4 Again your forbidding to Marry which is reckoned by the Apostles Doctrine to be a Doctrine of Devils and contrary unto that the Apostle's Doctrine was Marriage is Honourable in all Estates the Bâ—d undefiled Heb. 13.4 And seeing you plead Peter was at Rome and Peters Chair and that the Bishop of Rome doth succeed him and hath the Keys as Peter had Why do you exclude the chief Bishops as you account them from Marrying and divers other Orders seeing Peter had a Wife and seeing that it is Catholick and Apostolick Doctrine before you could claim the Name of visible Church that a Bishop should be the Husband of one Wife and should not be Covetous nor no striker nor given to Wine nor filthy Lâ—cre c. But since the Bishop of Rome hath Appropriated to himself to be the Head of the Church and the chief-Bishop over all â—he Catholick Church it hath been manifested how much covetousness and covetous Practices have been Acted as Money for Pardons and Indulgences and get Money for the living and the dead and the invented Purgatory hath filled your Coffers and your Meritorious works have been Sold at a dear rate Insomuch that a poor Woman who hath lost her Husband and he deceased must pay ten Shillings for a mortuary that he may be Prayed for or some of your Merits may be accounted to him which you have in store as a Stock to sell to any who come with a Prize in their Hands And from whence have you all these Tythes have you not borrowed them of the Jews and yet you are no Jews and such things we do not read among the Jews were Tythable Pigs Eggs Hens and Geese to omit greater matters and the Smoak passing up the chimneys and that which you call your Peter-Pence And this is contrary to the Catholick and Apostolick Doctrine which Peter would have been ashamed to ever have mentioned either amongst Jews or Gentiles And now I would ask you a Question or two seeing John saw the true Church flee into the Wilderness the Woman that was cloathed with the Sun who brought forth the Man-child what cause have you to boast of Visibility or Universality Now when were you in the Wilderness if your Church hath not been so then it Demonstrates that your Church is not the Woman cloathed with the Sun for she did fly into the Wilderness as with the Wings of an Eagle Secondly Whether hath your Gospel been universally publickly preached these sixteen hundred Years or nay And is it the very same that was Preached in the first hundred or two hundred Years seeing that John saith that all Nations did drink of the Whore's cup of Fornication And then Nations were Waters seeing he saith the Gospel shall be preached again to Nations Kindreds and Tongues which clearly demonstrates there was a time when the everlasting Gospel was not preached to the Kindreds Tongues which are the Waters upon which your Church is Situated And it is evidently manifested that yours hath been another Gospel then that which was preached in the Apostolick Church and in the Catholick Church the first hundred or two hundred Years after Christ was manifested in the Flesh Much might be said to Demonstrate the Truth which is in Hand that there hath been an Apostacy the Beginners thereof came forth in the Apostles dayes and afterwards grew into a Body and became like a great Sea which according to the best Ecclesiastical writerâ— which have given a Narrative of the first five hundred Years declared that there was great loss within 300. Years but in five hundred Years or less the very Power of Godliness was denyed and very much of the Form And though your pleads Antiquity for a Thousand Years for these things aforementioned which they would be hard to prove For although it should be granted them yet we will joyn issue with them in this thing and are able to prove all these Doctrines and Practices not to be as it was in the first two hundred Years except they will own such as taught the Doctrine of Balaam and taught the Doctrine of Devils and went in Cain's and Chore's Way for an Example It were not hard to prove the introducing of all these things before mentioned and how they have come in by degrees one Council that rose out of the Waters ordaining this another ordaining that and so have risen up into this great Body of Darkness some of the Practices borrowed from the Jews and some from the Heathen and some invented of themselves in latter Ages so that the Worship that was in the Spirit and in Truth in Christ's and the Apostles dayes is turned from and such a numberless Number of vain Traditions Ave-maries Creeds and Pater-nosters and such a deal a do as there is about their unbloody Sacrifice of the Mass that they are glad to be counted by their beads on strings as many very well know By all that which hath been said may easily be Collected that there hath been a great Deviation and Apostacy from the Doctrine and Practice of the Primitive times thus far as I am descended I leave it to the Reader to judge and compare these things with the Churches Doctrine and
to magnifie the glorious commendation of Martyrs made a Statute that a yearly Oblation should be had in memorial of them and Gregory would that Mass should be said over their Tombs or Graves now Priests read the original of your service over the Graves of the dead and see if this be Apostolical The Fast of Wednesday and Fryday was appointed the one day Christ was crucified and on Wednesday Judas purposed in his Mind to betray him Gregory was he that ordained that neither Flesh Gregory appointed nor any thing that had affinity with it as Cheese Milk Butter Eggs should not be eaten on such days as were Fasts and here came in this Doctrine of Devils Soul-mass-day this was begun by Odilo that was Provost or Provincial of Cluniacensis Order upon the Occasion he heard about Etna the burning Mountain of Sicily oftentimes great Lamentations and Cryings and Weepings were heard which he supposed to be the Weepings of evil Spirits that bewailed because the Souls of dead men were taken from them by the Petitions and Sacrifices of well-disposed Christians therefore he appointed his Covent to make a general Oblation for All-Souls the next Day after the Feast of All-Saints and this great Institution was ordained about the Year 1002. and so all whose Eyes God hath opened will see all this Heap of Invention hath been practisee since the Beast rose out of the Sea and the Whore hath sate upon the Waters which is since the Apostles Dayes CHAP. X. Concerning Priests Vestures and Belâ—s which are practised among Christians as Apostolick Institutions THE Jews high Priests had Vestments and the rest of the Priests who offered Sacrifices and Oblations at the Temple and Tabernacle Lev. â— 6 7 8 9. 13. And Aaron the Priest had a Coat girded with a Girdle and clothed him with a Robe and put a linnen Ephod upon him and put a Breast-plate upon him and a Mitre upon his Head and Aaron's Sons had Coats with Girdles and Bonnets as was commanded by the Lord and in chap. 16.4 and he put on a linnen Coat and linnen Breeches with a Coat and Mitre and girded it with a Linnen Girdle and these were the holy Garments and these Garments were to be put off in the Holy Place and divers other Garments and Vestments which were worn by the Priest about the Temple-Worship and Sacrifice which were Shadows of better things and of more holy Garments but this was in the first Covenant that made nothing perfect which was faulty and was to continue until the time of Reformation But Christ being come and offered up all Shadows had an End and they preached up the everlasting Offering and him who offered up himself once for all Now Christ sent out his Disciples without great Provision as to Attire for they were to take neither Staff nor Sâ—rip nor Shoes nor Money nor Brass in their Purses and yet they were to go among them that were like Wolves renting and tearing devouring and destroying and there was no great Likelihood of obtaining any earthly thing from such while in that Nature but the Apostles liâ—ed by Faith Mat. 10.9 10. and Luke 10.3 4. and they were not to take two Coats and the Apostle in his Travails was often in Necessities in Hunger and Cold and Nakedness and did not go in costly Array nor in disguised Habits but in his old Age wore sometimes a Cloak among the Churches which he sent for to Troas an ordinary Garment 2 Cor. 4 8 9 10. 6.4 to ver 11. 2 Tim. 4.13 and John the Baptist who was a great Prophet had a Coat made of Hair and a leathern Girdle about his Lyons Mat. 2.3 and the primitive Christians wandered up and down in Sheep-Skins and Goat-skins being destitute of whom the World was not worthy Heb. 11.37 38. But after the Apostles Decease deceitful Workers and evil Beasts and they that abode not in the Doctrine and Ordinances of Christ went out into the World and the World went after them and so lost both Power and Form of Godliness and invented things some from the Heathen and much from the Priests under the Law Sextus the first commanded that the Corporis should be of linnen Cloath only and that of the finest and purest and forbad that Lay-men should handle the hallowed Vessels and namely Women were prohibited hallowing the Priests Vestures and Altars and Cloathes Diversity of Vestures of sundry Orders were much what taken from the Example of the Hebrew Priesthood was practised and ordained by Stephen Bishop of Rome and Sabinianus decreed first that the People should be assembled together to hear Service at certain hours by ringing of Bells and John the 22d Bishop of Rome ordained that Bells should be tolled every day three times and that then every man should say three times Ave-Mary as Polidore saith Lib. 6. The Invention of Bells was from Imitation of the Hebrews because the high Priest had in the Skirts of his uppermost Garments little Bells to ring when he was in the holy Place within the Vail And the Banners and Trophies which are hung up in Churches were taken from the Heathen which did bear them to signifie the conquest of their Enemies these have been set up in the Churches so called by some of the Bishops of Rome to declare as they said the Triumph of Christ over Death and Hell Now all Nations who are called Christians look to your original and from whence these Practices have risen and those things are continued even amongst the Protestant Churches are either from the Jews or from the Heathen or from the apostatized Bishop of Rome long after the days of the Apostles and so these Hoods and Surplices and Caps and Bonnets and Cowls and Tippets and Miters and Canonnical-Coats and Girdles and divers strange attires it is like to prove these things we must have Aaron's Breeches brought in and the linnen Ephod and his Son's Girdles and Coats and Bonnets and the high Priest's Mitre and all these Candlesticks for a Gospel-proof CHAP. X. Concerning Mattens and â—inging of Pâ—alms by course in musical Tunes and Supplications and short Prayers called Letany THE Jews under the Law had many Officers which belonged to the Temple-Worship among which were Singers as the Sons of Corah and the Sons of Asâ—ph and Eâ—rahites and the chief Musicians c. and divers Psalms were given forth by the Spirit of God by David and others upon several occasions sometimes after Victories and sometimes when he felt the Presence of God and the working of his Power and who were Eye-witnesses of his wondrous Works as the rest of Israel were many times as at the Dedication of the Temple and also when they came out of captivity Neh. 7.44 12.27.42 43. Psal. 149.3 150.3 4. and all these singers of Songs pertain to the Temple and the first Covenant and to that Priesthood which could not continue by reason of the Faultiness thereof Heb. 8.7
already enjoy and Possess and so the Apostles brought them to a further examination not to look at things visible but to examine themselves whether they were in the Faith for he that is in the Faith is not in that which is visible Prove your selves know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 Now they who came to witness Christ in them knew the Resurrection and the Life in them and Witnessed the Life of the Son of God to live in them and they in it and this was a further State then looking at visible Things which were in remembrance only of his Death and blessed are they who have an Eye to see and an Heart to believe these things And now the Apostle spake unto wise Men and bad them â—udge what he said 1 Cor. 10.15 So that Novices or they that were young or Babes had hâ—rdly been able to discern if he had spoken such things to them but he spoke to wise men which could judge of what he said and ver 16. thus he said The Cup of blessing that we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ And the Bread which we breakâ— is it not the communion of the Body of Christ ver 17. For we being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all partakers of that one bread and that one Bread was Christ who said I am the Bread of Life and this they witnessed and these are great Mysteries and they whose Eyes are towards visible things cannot see them and what a Nâ—ise and a Stir hath been made these many hundred Years and what killing and persecuting about things that are seen And since the Mystery hath been lost and the Key which opens the mystery how People have waded in the dark till they have lost themselves and are sunk down into utter Darkness as hath been manifest about visible things which do corrupt how many have been killed about this Bread and this Cup which are visible since the Apostles Dayes and how many Institutions and Laws have been made about this and have fought like Swine about the husk and discern not the Life neither the Lords Body It is endless to declare what stir they make about this Bread and this Wine in the Church of Rome which I shall not now stand to particularize much but however after the Priest hath consecrated it they conclude it to be the very Body and Blood of Christ and yet a thing which may be seen and that is a temporal thing and so give it Names past numeration And what work have they made about times and dayes when it was fit to be received and how many Decrees have been made about these things Anacletus caused a Decree to be made that all were to come to it under pain of Excommunication and Victor denounced that those should be interdicted from all Service when they should receive the Sacrament that would not be reconciled to their Neighbours of all Grudges and Hatred again Clepharanius one hundred Years after Anaâ—letus commanded that all that professed Christ or bare the Name of Christians being of the Age of twelve or fourteen Years should at least once a year at Easter receive the blessed Sacrament Fabianus decreed that they should receive it three times in a Year and Innocentius the third decreed it should be kept in the church that it should be ready at all times lest they that were sick should want to spiritual comfort of it and Honorus the third confirmed the same and Austin concluded the Eucharist to be of absolute necessity for Infants And what a stir hath been in the reformed churches so called about this and what disorderly work and what high Imputations they have gained to it whenas they commanded the Parishes to buy it and then sell it them again that the Priest must have a Offering at Easter also a token of a piece of Lead a token that they are at Unity with the Priest or else they may not have their Bread and Wine again for which they paid before and this hath been called a great Mystery HAP XII Concerning Ministers and their Office under the Law and the Gospel BEfore the Law was given forth there were divers did offer Sacrifice and builded Altars unto the Lord as Seth Abel Melchizedeck A braham Isaac and Jacob who were Guiders and Directors of People in the Way of Righteousness who instructed their Families in the Fear of the Lord but after the Law was given forth Aaron and his Sons and they were to offer Sacrifice according to the command of the Lord and to perform the Worship that God had appointed for that Time and Age at the Tabernacle and Temple there were Levites who bore the Ark and looked to the Vessels and pitched the Camp and divers other Services as Singers and Readers of the Law and Prophets on their Sabbath Dayes and Porters and the like and all these pertained to the First Covenant and Priesthood which was to have an End both the Priesthood and the Law and the Service thereof for it was but to continue till the Substance came Now Christ being come to the End of the Law for Righteousness unto all that believe made after the Order of Melchizedeck and not by a carnal commandment he offered up himself once for all and became the Author of eternal Salvation unto them that believe put an End to the first Worship and Priesthood Before he was offered up he chose Disâ—iples unto him twelve and also seventy and endued them with Power and many did believe through their Words and they were not Men of great parts but as they were fitted by the holy Ghost that gave them Utterance and they were sent out not to preach the Law but the Word of the Kingdom and many did believe and grew and were confirmed in the Faith and after Christ s Ascension the holy Ghost was poured forth upon them in a more ample Manner and it did bring to their Remembrance as Christ had foretold and they received great Gifts for the Work of the Ministry some were Prophets some Apostles some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and all made Ministers by the Spirit for the Work whereunto they were chosen and many were converted and did believe then they that had the Word of God to publish travailed as they were led and moved by the Spirit to publish the glad-tidings of the Gospel and when the Believers were many and many young in the Faith they ordained Overseers or Bishops or Elders who were sound in the Faith to watch over them that were begotten but mark they were approved men and faithful and of blameless lives not given to Covetousness neither did tyrannâ—ze over them in rigour but were apt to teach and instruct in Love Gentleness and they that had been ancient Labourers in God's Work did so who had received a Gift to minister unto others and as to be
the Sunday Urbanus the seventeenth Bishop of Rome ordained church-yards to be hallowed and forbad Marriage of Priests Pontianus the eighteenth Bishop Ordained that Psalms and Mattens should be sung in Church Night and Day to drive away Evil Spirits Sixtus the twenty fourth Bishop in the Year 222. after Christ ordained that Priests should wear Holy Garments as Cuffs and divers others things in imitation of Aaron and then came up Surplices he commanded Images to be set up in Churches Foelix the twenty sixth Bishop of Rome ordained division of Parish churches and Diocesses to Bishops Leo the Emperour gave commandment that all Images and Pictures of Saints should be takenâ—out of the Churches for the avoiding of Idolatry but the Bishop of Rome withstood the Emperour the Emperour for his confirmation of taking of Images away called a Council of Bishops about three Hundred and thirty and they ordained and Decreed that all Images should be taken away and burned in the year 740. But in the Year 762. Gregory the third called a Council together at Rome near a thousand Bishops and condemned Leo the Emperor and three hundred Bishops for taking Images out of the Churches and yet the former Council and this all of one Faith and Church which they use to say could not Err and the latter Decreed they should be adored and Worshipped with all Reverence Boniface the eighth he gave License to Mendicant Fryars to hear the private Confession of Sins that People should confess to them Pope Alexander gave commandment that the Sacrament should be made of the Sweet Bread and commanded that Water should be mingled with Wine Innocentius the third ordained that People should confess their Sins to a Priest once a Year at the least And these kind of Decrees stand for Apostolical to this day among the Apostates and the Reformed churches so called do own many things that are too near a Kin to them and press them for Ordinances and Holy Institutions yea in many Countries the self-same Things are both owned and Practised in many Particulars which I have mentioned before in other parts of this Book and are looked upon as divine Service and holy Worship which the Ministers of Christ who have the Word of Reconciliation to publish are ashamed of knowing them to be such things as never was Practised nor holden out by Christ or his Apostles but are brought in since Darkness hath over-spread the Earth and the Power of God hath been lost And at the first Institution thereof though there might be some shew of a good Intention in the Formers of them but now they are become absolute Idols and however at the first some of these things mentioned might seem to some to be indifferent yet now being prest of Necessity as the Ordinances of God they are become Idols and ought to be thrown away and departed from by all that profess the Gospel of Christ Jesus and the Worship of God in the Spirit For the Lord God hath drawn away his presence out of all formal and visible Appearance since Anti-christ and the false church hath got them on for a Garment and to cover themselves withal to the deceiving of the Nations And now in this the day of his Power hath Appeared in a more Mysterious and secret and hidden way and in a more spiritual Appearance into this deceit cannot enter nor Transform therefore all Babylons Merchants are angry and Anti-christs followers are full of Wrath and the Dragon casts out floods after the heir and her that brings him forth and makes War with the Seed but the Lord is putting on her beautiful Garments and Marrying her to himself and she shall Reign and her Seed who are born of the Spirit when she that sat as a Queen upon the Waters shall have an End and the Dragon shall be laid hold on and Chained up and the Beast and false Prophet be cast into the Lake forever Blessed are they who keep in the Faith and Patience till these things be fulfilled their Hearts shall rejoyce and their Tonâ—ue Praise the Lord and Magnifie him whoâ—e Throne is established in the Heavens and his Kingdom is over all And although there was a defection from the Faith and Practice of the Apostles in the first two hundred Years after Christ yet doutless there were many who lived and died in the Faith and suffered as Martyrs in the time of the great Persecutions by the Heathen Emperors and many who could not nor did not Sacrifice to their Idols suffered Death and under-went cruel Torments by the Heathen who were in the Dragon's Power for the Testimony of a good Conscience for confession of Christ Jesus and although divers of the Bishops of Rome and other places did bring in things which they instituted as matter of Worship and so People were darkned by them yet in the ten Persecutions by the Heathen Emperours many suffered Death and Thousands of the christians besides but Deceit crept in by degrees and invented things were brought in by the Leaders of the People but these things that were invented were prest to be observed in their Diocesses and Parishes which they had made and sate down in but there was little compelling yet till the Dragon gave his Power to the Beast and it was 650 Years before ever the Bishops of Rome did climb up unto their height as to claim the Title of the Universal Bishop or head of the church or challenged Supremacy over all christian Churches yet before this time abundance of Darkness was entred in and the Power was much lost and divers innovations were brought in for Ordinances divers of the Jews ceremonies and divers of their Institutions which belonged to the first Priest-hood and these were prest upon the Churches by several Leaders or Bishops as Apostolick Ordinances which had no concurrence with the Primitive church in the first hundred Years after Christ as hereafter may be shewn in divers things wherein they were Apostatized from the Life and Power of God and from the Practice of the Saints mentioned in the Scripture and of the churches planted in the Apostles dayes CHAP. XIII Something concerning the ten Persecutions by the Heathen Emperors of Rome FOR the first three hundred Years after Christ who was born in the Reign of Augustus Caesar then Emperour of Rome and was rejected and Crucified by the Jews in the seventeenth Year of the Reign of Tiberius Caesar then Emperour of Rome who Reigned eight Years after Christ was crucicified whom Pilate gave Sentence against and delivered to the Jews the said Pilate was banished by the Emperour and afterwards he killed himself in which time Stephen the Martyr was stoned to Death by the Jews and the same day Stephen was Stoned Dorotheus saith Nicanor one of the Deacons suffered with two thousand Christians more in his Reign about this time Paul was converted The next Emperour that succeeded Tiberius Caesar was Caesar Caligula who commanded his Image to be set up in the
Temple at Jerusalem to be Worshipped as God Herod who Mocked Christ with his Souldiers and set him at nought was banished and died miserablely he likewise put forth Caiphas the High Priest and afterwards in the forth Year of his Reign Caligula was slain Claudius Nero succeeded him and Reigned thirteen years a grievous Tyrant and an hater of all Good by him was James the Son of Zebedee Martyred and Simon and Parmenâ—s the second of the seven Deâ—cons Martyred and Thomâ—s who preached to the Medes and Persians was slain with a dart in his Reign about this time Simon Zelotes who Preached in Africa was crucified Andrew and Matthew the one crucified and the other slain with a Spear Matthias and Philip the one was crucified and the other Stoned to Death About the 62 year after Christ James the Son of Alpheus called the Brother of Christ was Stoned to death with many more and Mark slain at Alexandria Domitius Nero began his Reign about the sixty seventh year after Christ he Reigned fourteen years Emperour of Rome under him was the first of the ten Roman Persecutions he caused the Christians of all Ages Sects and sorts to suffer he commanded Rome to be set on Fire in twelve places and to avoid the infamy thereof he accused the Christians with it and caused them to be persecuted and put to Death and in the latter end of his Reign Paul was put to Death for the Testimony of the Faith of Christ. In the year sixty nine this Nero was afterwards proclaimed by the Senate of Rome an Enemy to all Mankind and condemned to be drawn through the City and to be Whipt to Death for fear of which he fled and afterwards slew himself and the Church had Rest for a season from Persecution after him In the ninety sixth year began Domitian the Emperour to Reign who began the second Persecution who was a Blasphemer against God and an Idolater In his dayes was Simon Bishop of Jerusalem crucified and John the Evangelist banished into the Isle of Patmos but after the Death of Domitian he was released by Pertinax this Domitian the Emperour fearing the coming of Christ again commanded that all that could be found of the stock of David in Jewry should be slain and many false Accusations were brought against the Christians and the Inquisition was this Swear the Truth whether thou art indeed a Christian and if they confessed they were condemned and put to Death for that alone Clement succeeded Anacletus the Bishop of Rome and after him Everistus who was martyred under Trajanus in the 102 year after Christ. In the Reign of Trajanus the Emperor began the third persecution of the Christians Simon who was said to be Christ's kinsman was Bishop of Jerusalem and Ignatius Bishop of Antioch who suffered Martyrdom in the Reign of Trajanus in the year 111. with many other of the Christians who were destroyed in this persecution the churh of Rome was not so highly exalted as afterwasd she usurped Authority neither were the Officers thereof nor Bishops so corrupt as afterwards they came to be both in Doctrine and Practice Marcus Antonius Verus began the forth Persecution in the year 162. in whose time a great number who professed Christ suffered cruel Deaths in Asia and in France and other parts among whom was Polycarpuâ— the Bishop of Smyrna this persecution continued thirteen years The church had some rest under the Reign of Lucius Antonius Comadus and then the Christians began to wrangle and jangle about the celebration of Easter and about Observations of Times and Feasts and run into things outward and contended about them and so weakned themselves and hurt one another Alexander Bishop of Rome succeeded Everistus and Telesphorus succeeded him likewise and Higinus and Pius and Ansatus Soler and Elutherius all these were Bishops of Rome but many things began to creep in in their time but being kept under by the Roman Emperors they did not get much outward Power because they had no outward compelling Laws to force their Institutions in divers things which were contrary unto the former Apostles Practices yet notwithstanding there was something of Truth and of the Power of it kept and they testified against the Idolatry of the Heathen and so suffered death Severus succeeded in the Empire about the year 195. under whom was the fifth Persecution against the Christians who reigned eighteen years in the beginning of his reign he was somewhat favourable to the Christians but afterwards through the malicious suggestions and accusations of wicked men he was so enraged and incensed against the Christians that by proclaimation he commanded through the Empire that no Christians any more should be suffered whereby a great number were destroyed and killed as Eusebius saith in his 6 th Book about the year 205. This Severus the Emperor was slain in Brittain about the year 214. and was buried at York Aurelius Alexander Severus began his reign about 224. at this time the Church had gotten some rest from Persecution at this time the Christians had gotted some House or Place to meet in in this time of rest in Rome and the Cooks and Tiplers challenged it to belong to them the matter being brought before the Heathen Emperor Severus he judged it to be more honest and reasonable that this Place should be continued to the Christians to worship God in then that the Cooks and Victualers and Tiplers should enjoy it by this all may understand that there was no great Minsters Steeple-houses or Places called Churches erected in Rome unto this time for the Christians although there is so much ado in this time about Steeple-houses and Minsters and Parish-churches within this latter Age by them that are run into visible things have been so strongly pressed for a house of God and a holy Church so that in this time the Christians had no Mass-houses with Steeples and Crosses and Bells and Organs standing East and West which are pleaded for to be decent and holy Institutions yet notwithstanding the Moderation of this Emperor Galistus and Urbanus Bishops of Rome were put to death but yet the Bishops of Rome did not arrogate to themselves to be universal and these were not called Popes though divers superstitious things crept in and were allowed by the said Bishops and they were declining from the Doctrine and Practice of the Apostles in the first century and this was about the year 226. Maximinius the next was chosen Emperor rather by the wilfulness of Souldiers then the Will of the Senate he caused the sixth Persecution which was great against the Christians especially against the Leaders and Teachers hoping that when they were smitten the Sheep would soon be scattered this was in the year 237. Pontianus Bishop of Rome was banished by this Emperor and many more christians suffered under this Emperor and were put to death and more it is likely would have suffered but the Lord shortned his dayes and his Tyranny for he
he would abandon and leave that Babylon which is but a siâ—k of Mischief and of all Ungodliness and keep his Court elsewhere in some place of better Fame and this is the Legate's Testimony of the Seat of the Mother Church of Rome Besides many of her own Members in England in the Year 1245. do manifest what Action has been upon this Nation as may be seen in a Supplication written in the Names of the Nobles and Commons of England to Pope Innocent the fourth shewing how many Subsides and Taxes had been levied and sent out of the Realm and how they had been liberally paid they complaining also how he sent Italians and forraigners to possess theâ—â— Churches and Benefices in England who had no regard of Peoples Soulâ— and so were no good Shepherds as they said and how the Italians received threescore Thousand Marks a Year besides other Vails and Excises â—heâ— do reap more Rents then the King himself and so when he could no◠〈◊〉 his subsides and raise all the Sums which he exacted from Year to Year Pope Innocent perswades the French King to make War with the King of England for his not condescending to the Pope in all things although he was then one of his Sons and of his Church but enough of this it were lâ—rge to enumerate the Actions and Cruelties the Oppressions which have been done in that which is called Christendom since the Emperour 〈◊〉 unto the Pope his Power and how much Idolatry Superstitiâ—n 〈◊〉 and Doctrine of Devils hath been spread over the Nations these many hundred of Years and how many have been put to cruel Death for not 〈◊〉 and conforming to the said Doctrines and Practices Injâ—nctions and Ordinances and how many this false Church hath stirred up 〈…〉 another and Destroy one another about these things which have 〈◊〉 put upon People under the Name of Divine Authority and holy 〈◊〉 and Apostolical Institutions by what as it is written all may see that these things are in the Apostacy and in the Fall in the curse and in the Night of Darkness wherein all this Wickedness hath been wrought by the false Church which the Lord God will reward double and dry up 〈◊〉 Waters under which she sits and make her Seat desolate and throw down her Pride who hath drunk the Blood of the Martyrs and shed the Blood of the Saints and devoured the Lambs of Christ and made Merchandize of Souls and therefore all who are in part departed from her stay not in the Suburbs but come out of her City and the Adjacent places there that ye be not partakers of the Judgment which is to come upon her But Oh! abundance of Darkness remains yet in the Nations and even in the Protestant Churches who hold up things yet which were invented by her insomuch that one belonging to the Church of Rome Dionysius Petavius a Cardinal layes claim to the ceremonies which were practised in England in the Bishops time For saith he in his Book called the History of the World the Religion of England and Doctrine is Calvinism the Doctrine of Geneva but the Ceremonies are of Rome as they were practised in England in the Year 1640. In the time of Leo the fourth Edelwolphus King of England went to Rome for performance of a Vow that he had made and was courteously received and accepted by the Pope Leo For which cause he ordained a tribute to be paid yearly to the Pope to wit a Peny sterling for every House in England that kindled a Fire Now Protestants look to your Easter-reckonings you have denyed the Popes Supremacy and yet Vicars and Parsons receive his Tribute of every House that kindles a Fire and this stands yet as a good and wholsome Institution amongst you And so for shame let all that profess Reformation and the Doctrine of Godliness and the Faith of Christ and the Practice of the Apostles â—s their example come out of things which the Harlot hath invented and say as Abraham said to the King of Sodom that he would not take a Shoe-latchet least he should say he had made Abraham Riâ—h So let them that profess Reformation not keep a shoe-latchet nor one lap of the Whores Garment nor any piece of her Ornaments that she may not Boast any more that we are made rich by her Merchandize so purge out Horn and Hooff and all the old leven out of your Hearts and out of your Assemblâ—es and come to believe in Christ the true Light that lighteth every one that comes into the World that he may be your Law-giver whose Institutions are Spiritual and his Ordinances heavenly which makes 〈◊〉 and clean and pure the comers thereunto and so let the old Romish 〈…〉 foolish Ceremonies about Worship alone many of which are 〈◊〉 from the Heaâ—hen and judge not any for deâ—arting from them 〈◊〉 Persecute none for not observing of them for whoso do will maniâ—est themselves to belong to the City which is to be overthrown and to be in the Apostacy and not Members of the true Church of Christ the Lamb's Wife And many more things which stand yet amongst them called Christians as set discourses have been set up called Hâ—milies And the aforesaid W. H. shews the grâ—â—nd â—here â—re they were 〈…〉 Some complained that their Churches and Universities were 〈…〉 Error as many are at this day by which there was a want of able Pastors four Sermons were appointed by publick order in the Yâ—ar onely and certain Homilies were devised by learned Men and confirmed for sound Doctrine by the Clergy who made them and the Authority of the Prince which Homilies were appointed to be read by Curates of a mean understanding and them that had but mean pay as five Mark or twenty Noble a Year of which sort we had many in England in the year 1640. I desire we have no more lest more ignorance abound and these Homilies were to be read after a certain number of Psalms read and the Letany and an Epistle and Gospel and it may be Athanasius or Nicen Creed and this was the Worship which hath been holden out even amongst the reformed as spiritual Worship all which while People have been exercising themselves in those things they had been further and further off from God and the Knowledge of his Truth which is manifest to them that believe not by the Injunctions and Ordinances of men but by the holy Spirit which leads out of all Error Superstition and Deceit and all that believe in it come to be taught of the Lord and Worship in that which is pure and are acceptable in his sight CHAP. XV. Something concerring the general Councils since the Apostles Dayes though they have been all of one Faith and though iâ— hath been said the Church could not err all which of the several Councils belonged to the Church of Rome yet see the Difference IN that which some call a Council or a Synod at Jerusalem Acts 15. when some
and Judges ought to do so and so have made them put their Neck in a Yoak which is too heavy for them to bear which the Lord hath not required at their Hands and because of this compellings and forcings many Hypocrites have been made and many of God's Peoples Consciences wounded and burdned and many Kings and Rulers have lost their Dominions and they have been taken from them because of this by the Lord. So all that have intruded upon Christ's Prerogative and Soveraignity in this thing are sure to be reckoned as no other but as Usurpers and Intruders into that Power which the Father alone hath given unto his Son which Power Dominion and Glory he will not give unto any other as to be Judge and Law-giver in the Hearts and Consciences of his People Object But some may say Did not the Prophet exhort to enquire for the old Paths and the Good old Way and did not the Prophet say Kings should be nursing-Fathers and Queens should be nursing-Mothers And must not this be fulfilled in these Dayes Answ. This is true that the Prophet did exhort the Princes and people of Israel who were in the revolted Estate who had transgressed the commandments of the Lord and had lost their Guide of their youth the Râ—st of their Souls and therefore he turned them back to consider of the dayes of old and enquire after the good old Way that they might walk therein which they were gone from but this doth not pertain at all unto this time of Christ Jesus is the new and living Way which all are to enquire after now who is the end of the Law for Righteousness and the first Covenant unto them that believe and as for Kings being nursing-Fathers the Queens nursing-Mothers this was prophesied by the Prophet before they went into captivity and how the Heathen should have power over their Kings prophets and priests and people and Jerusalem should lye desolate now this the prophet spoke of concerning the return of them unto the Lord and they to inhabit their own Land then their own Kings and Queens should rule over them and be as Nurses to them when they should return from their Captivity then Jacob should rejoice and Israel should be glad and this was spoken to the Jews and this had Reference to their State in that time Further it may be objected ought not Blasphemy and Idolatry and Adultery be punished is this to be suffered now seeing it was punished under the Law Answ. Yea this is to be punished and shall be punished and that even with Death for as I said the Father hath committed all Power unto the Son who will execute his Judgement upon all them who will not have him to reign in their Hearts as it is written Those mine Enemies that would not that I should rule over them bring them before me that I may slay them with what Weapon with carnal nay but with the sharp two-edged Sword which proceeds out of his Mouth and with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and the spiritual Weapon which runs through the Blasphemer and kills him and slaves the false Prophet and Southsayer and Inchanter and Idolater and yet saves the Creature alive take one Example of Christ the new and living Way when the Pharisees brought a Woman tempting Christ which was taken in Adultery saying according to the Law of Moses she ought to be stoned to death he that was the end of the Law said He that â— without Sin cast the first Stone convicting them all that they were in the same Nature and yet did not approve of the Adultery but said Go and Sin no more lest a worse thing come upon thee likewise Paul said I was a Persecutor and a Blasphemer this Generation who profess Paul's words would say Let him dye he hath confessed he was a Blasphemer but he was slain with other Weapons Christ slew the Blasphemer and the Persecâ—tor in him and left the man alive and made him a chosen Vessel to declare against Blasphemy and lead out of all Ungodliness And herein is the second Covenant more excellent then the first and the Ministration more excellent then the former and the Dominion and Goveâ—â—ment of Christ more excellent then the Dominion and Governmeâ—t of 〈◊〉 Kings of Israel and the Weapons more excellent then theirs and the Powâ—r greater then theirs whâ—ch is able to destroy the Works of the Devil iâ— Blâ—â—phemy Idolatry and Adultery and save the Creature aliâ—â— this is the better Covenant indeed the everlasting and herein is the Mercy of God exalted his Dominion and Power exalted and Christ the King of Glory exalted and these Sins before mentioned punished with great Severiâ—â— and great Judgement for in the first Covenant they slew with a temporal death but Christ when he appeareth in his Power and Glory in Flames of Fire renders Vengeance within upon the Wicked which burns and scorcheth brings Anguish and tormenteth all them that are in that Nature and banisheth all them from his Presence and from the Glory of his Power till that be dead and slain which would not have him to reign to wit that which is born of the Flesh which is within and Blasphemy Idolatry and Murder are the Fruits of the Flesh where the Flesh is not lived in these things cannot be brought forth I speak not of the Creature who is God's Workmanship for that may be alive when the Birth and Fruits which are after the Flesh are both dead and herein is the mighty Power of God made known and his Justice and his severe Judgement which all must pass through before they come to witness eternal Life he that despised Moses's Law died by the Mouth of two or three Witnesses which was a natural Death of how much sorer Punishment shall he be worthy which treadeth under foot the Son of God and counteth the Blood of the Covenant 〈◊〉 unholy thing Heb. 10.28 29. and blasphemeth But further it will be objected that the Apostle exhorteth for a Submission unto every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's Sake 1 Pet. 2.13 whether it be unto Kings as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent of him and Rom. 13.1 2. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher Power for there no Power but of God and the Powers that be are ordained of God Answ. From these Scriptures many bad Constructions and Inferences have been gathered as that Kings and Rulers were to be obeyed in all things and that every Worship that is commanded by a King or Superior ought to be obeyed and that Kings and Rulers had Power in spiritual things to make a Law for such a Worship or forbid such a Worship and all these ought to be obeyed and so in the Apostacy the Ministers of Antichrist have brought in many Inventions and Traditions and humane Institutions for divine Worship and Service and thereby have pressed Rulers to make Laws and compel all People
to receive them although they have been repugnant to the true Worship of God and then such Teachers have pressed such People to Obedience as of Duty and Necessity because the aforesaid Scripture doth command Subjection to all Rulers and thus hath Babylon reared up her City and gotten Merchants to put off her Merchandize and so hath cheated both Rulers and People and hath led them to hate and destroy one another Now these Scriptures and divers others which speak of Obedience to Magistrates in all things must needs be truly understood to be of things that are just and equal which are only civil and concerning things between Man and Man and the Ordinances which are for the well-being of a Nation or the good and wholsome Government of a State and cannot be understood of things Spiritual or relating to things appertaining to the Conscience or respecting things about the Worship of God my Reasons are weighty for in that time the Apostles wrote whether Peter Paul or any other the Magistrates were all Heathens as Herod and Pontius Pilatâ— Augustus Caesar Tiberius Caesar and Nero who were Heathen Emperors of 〈◊〉 and Idolators and at that time they had Power over Rome and 〈…〉 Jerusalem and Judea and Paul writing to the Romans and Peter 〈◊〉 Cappadocia Pontus and Asia who were all under Heathen Rulers and did not worship the true God doubtless they enjoyned not submission unto the Heathen Rulers in spiritual things for then they must have been joyned unto Idolatry for if it be understood that they had Power in spiritual things which pertained unto the Conscience and that they ought to be obeyed in all spiritual things then Peter and John were Transgressors themselves when they taught boldly the things of the Kingdom of God in every City where-ever they came and the Rulers in most Places opposed and put Peter and John out of the City and commanded the Apostles to speak no more in the Name of Jesus and yet they returned again and disobeyed their Command and their Power and Authority and said Whether it were better to obey God or man judge ye so that no King Ruler nor Magistrate as a Magistrate hath Power given of God to imprison or force or prescribe any Law or Worship upon the Hearts and Consciences of men for that belongs only to Christ the Law-giver the Bishop of Souls But then it would be objected if not as a Magistrate yet then as a Christian he may enjoyn and give Command concerning Worship and compel and punish them that obey not Answ. As a Christian they have no Priority but as they stand in the Growth of Truth not above others for God is no Respecter of Persons for the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who preached the Gospel and had begotten many into the Faith through the Power of God which was with them by which they spoke and in things spiritual might have claimed Obedience to their command much more then any temporal Prince and yet they said We are not Lords over mens Faith nor did they exercise Lordship over mens Consciences but left every one to God's witness and to the Word of his Grace which was nigh in their Hears and furthermore said Let every one be perswaded in his own Mind and said If â—ny should be contrary minded God would reveal it to them and so waited in the Patience to see the Work of God prosper and were content and so forcing and compelling about spiritual matters by temporal punishments and temporal Laws is all contrary to the Apostles Practice in the primitive times though the Heathen persecuted the Christians by their temporal Laws for spiritual things about spiritual matters for the Worship of God but we never read of any called Christians that did so till Pelagius a Bishop of Rome or Pope when the Emperor had given Boniface the third this Power to be called the chief Bishop and Head universal over all Christian Churches then he began to make temporal Laws to punish about spiritual things and Pelagius made a Decree that Hereticks should be punished with temporal Death about 555. years after Christ so let all Princes Magistrates and Rulers who deny the Church of Rome in her Apostacy follow not her Example but leave every one free to the Lord in spiritual matters as concerning his Worship for to him must every onâ— give an Account in his own Day when it shall be required from which the Wicked shall not be able to flee Another Objection But then it may be said what Power will you allow to Magistrates that profess the Name of Christ or how far have they Authority from God to punish evil-doers and encourage them that do well Answ. It is said By me Kings Rule and Princes decree Justice there is a ruling by him and that is a ruling in the Power of God in him he that rules in the Power of God measures equal Justice unto all Men and ruleth by the good and wholesom Laws which are made by the Will of God which is according to God's Witness which he hath placed in every man's Heart and such a one is a temporal Head over the temporal Body and ruleth in Righteousness in temporal things but Christ he is the Head of the Body which is spiritual which is his Church Now the Law is against the Lawless is against Lyars Stealers Swearers cursed-speakers Murderers Man-slayers Man-stealers Violence and Oppression and Deceit and that which tends to the hurt and destroying of the Creation and he that is the Executor of the Law ought to infflict temporal punishments for temporal Facts provided that every Punishment be sutable o the Transgression and go not beyond it and in so doing he rules for God and the Sword is to be turned against that which doth evil and to keep Peace amongst all men and to keep down all Strife and Contention Quarrelling Fighting and keeping the unrâ—ly from devouring and destroying one another and this is to rule for God in a Nation in the Creation and to countenance the honest upright and quiet meek and this is a Praise 〈◊〉 them that do well and this is that which would keep the Nations at Peace and here Governours and Rulers come to be blâ—ssed when the Princes thereof rule in Righteousness and when People live under them a holy godly and quiet Life but when Godliness and Holiness and Righteousness is counted as a Crime and Wickedness and Violence and Inquity set up that Naion is near a Judgement and for the Iniquity of Rulers Kings and People many fruitful Lands hath the Lord made barren and that which is for the well-being Preservation and for the universal good of all People therein all People ought to render Obedience unto such Command for Conscience sake and all People ought to obey Rulers and Governours in that which is Good and Lawful and warrantable in the Sight of God and unto all just Commands to yield Obedience not for Wrath
of Evil thoughts and Transgressors of the Law and are guilty of all Marlorat out of Luther and Calvin saith upon this place To respect Persons here is to have regard unto the outward Habit garb and attire and accordingly to esteem or undervalue him love or dread him and that such respect of Persons is repugnant unto true Faith and is inconsistent wiâ—h it and concludes that none ought to be Honoured upon the account of Riches But this Generation of Hypocrites are gone further into Transgression of the Law into honouring or disesteeming of Men because of their Cloaths or habit a Gold Ring a gay Cloak a Fan or a Feather are become the only cogniscance or badge of honourable Persons in this Age among Professors but it was not so in the Dayes of old but Modesty Gravity Sobriety Temperance Humility were the tokens of one truly Honourable Jerom writing to a great Person in the World named Colentia directing her how to live in the midst of her Riches and honour saith thus Heed not your Nobility nor do ye thereupon take place of any repute not them who are of a lower extraction to be your inferiors Our Religion admits no respect of Persons nor did it lead us to value the outward condition of Men but their inward frame of Spirit it is hereby that we pronounce men Noble and base with God not to serve Sin is to be free and to Excell in virtue is to be Noble Bâ—sides it is Folly for any to boast of Gentility since all are equally esteemed by God nâ—r is it material in what Estate a man is born the new Creature hath no distinctions Or was this the Doctrine of one single Person alone for Paulinius Bishop of Nola reproved Sulpitius Severus for writing himself in the Title of a Letter to Paulinius your Servant he saith In the Title of my Letter I have not imitated your excellent Brother-hood because I thought it more secure to write Truth Take heed hereafter how you being from a Servant called out unto Liberty do Subscribe your self Servant unto one who is your Brother and fellow-Servant for it is a sinful flattery not a Testimony of Humility to pay thâ—se Honours unto a man which are due to the one Lord one Master one Gâ—d So this is no new Doctrine to deny respecting of Persons and flattering Titles and Complements although it seem strange to this Generation in whom the corruptible part is exalted and that which is below the Truth and the Power of God elevated in their minds which despised the Honour which is from above and the Humility and lowliness of the Saints and their plainness and Innocency But all that come unto Christ and do bâ—lieve in him and follow him for their Example will come out all these vain complemental flattering titles and respecting of Persons and will give all Honour and Glory and Reverence unto him alone unto whom it is due and respect him who is their Life and have a respect unto all his Commandments and unto that which leads out of the Vanity of the World and to the Beginning again before deceit Pride and flattery had a Being in the pure Innocency and Uprightness where Truth is spoken from the Heart without flattery and dissimulation in all plainness CHAP. XX. Universities and Schools of Natural Learning were of no use as to the making of Ministers of Christ in the Primitive times but a thing introduced and brought in in latter Ages by the Apostates who had erred from the Spirit who then admired and set up natural Languages and Philosophy that thereby they might be furnished to make discourses Speeches and Sermons to get Money by and as they are holden up at this day are made an absolute Iâ—ol and as to their Practice it 's generally known to be prophane and no way meet to advance the Church of Christ. CHrist Jesus the everlasting High Priest and Minister of the Tabernacle when he was manifest in the fulness of time to fulfil the work which was given him to do of the Father he chused unto him twelve Disciples which believed in him Men who were not brought up at Universities neither had studied Philosophy nor natural Tongues but some Fisher-men and such as were illiterate to be Ministers of the glad-tidings of the Gospel of Peace to the Nations and their ability stood in the Spirit where the ability of all the Ministers of Christ now standeth viz. not in the Letter not in Philosophy not in natural Languages not in Grammar and Musick but in the Spirit which qualified them and from whence they received abilities to declare the Word of Righteousness and by it they had skill to divide it aright and to give every one their Portion and minister to every one suitable to their State in which they were and they were skilled in the Word of Righteousness and many did believe through their testimony though they had not the Wisdom that was from below nor much read in natural Languages and some not learned at all yet they wanted not Wisdom and utterance and Words meet and suitable to declare and Demonstrate the Heavenly mind of Christ although it is true many of the Jews learned Rabbies opposed them and set them at nought the Philosophers Stoicks and Epicures resisted yet they desired not to be approved in that Wisdom which man teacheth but in the Wisdom which is from above which the natural Man with all his natural Parts doth not understand and Natural men with their natural Parts despise the simplicity of the Gospel and they seek Qualifications which the Lord never sought and such will not heed the Qualifications which are laid down by them that were Ministers of Christ for they that had received the Spirit and were made Ministers by it were qualified by it and their holy Conversation preacht unto others they were vigilant they were watchful they were Sobâ—r they were in Temptations and tryals but their Lives were of good report no covetous Persons seekers for their Gain from their Quarters no Lords over mens Faith no Masters over mens Consciences but were Servants unto all for Christ's sake not like the Ministers in these dayes who will assume the Office but have not received the gift of God neither are so qualified or fitted as they were who had no Universities nor Schools of Learning and these are they that cry up nâ—tâ—ral Tongues and Languages as the chief Abilities of a Minister of Christ aâ—d that none are fit to dispence the Word of God but such who are 〈◊〉 up and educated in these things and such in former Dayes despised the â—ross of Christ and the Simplicity of the Gospel and set up Tongues above it and so do they now But let us consider whether soon after the Primitive times they had any such Universities or seven Years prentiships as they have now or whether it was their Practice to be Studying these things which be but Natural and whether they did
esteem them as any way helpfull to the Ministry But that I may not be mis-understood I know each Language and each Tongue hath a proper Signification and is not Evil in themselves Schools of Learning I am not against natural Languages they may be Servicable for natural Uses natural Transactions in civil Affairs betwixt Nation and Nation man and man but as they are extolled and cryed up to be nurseries of Piety and to fit Men for the Ministry as to make it Effectual iâ— utterly false and more mischief is learned and Impiety practised in these Universities then in any other parts of the Nation and indeed it is one of the main Props and Pillars of Anti-christ's Throne and Kingdom and thâ—t which upholds his Seat And that they only are the only fiâ—ted and called men to Minister who have Natural Tongues and have read a little in a few Heathen Authors and thereby are able to comment and make a discourse to the hearing of the Ear but God's Witness is not reached at all and such dispise the Spirit and set light by them that enjoy it which clearly evidences they are out of the Power of God which was among the first Christians who received the Spirit and spoke from it which is only sufficient and able to make a Minister of Christ So let us see what Antiqâ—ity saith Gaudentius de mor sec. Justinian saith We do not read that ever thâ— Aâ—tients did openly in Schools teach Philosophy since they did rather 〈◊〉 and saith a good Author I would fain see a man that could shew thâ—t Chriâ—â—â—ans either before or in the time of Justinian did openly teach Philosophy And Hadrian Saraviah informs us the primitive Christians had no Accademical Schools like to those now adayes yet there was one at Alexandria but in these Schools they read only Catechistical-Lectures and we do not reâ—d of any University of the Waldenses Albigenses and Bohemians fâ—r 〈◊〉 it of their Teachers were Tradsmen and handy-crafts men and did noâ— spend their time in reading Tongues or studying Authors Herald animad in ar nob The Christians in the primitive times living excluded from all Honours and Magistracies did neglect these Studies which were for the discharge of civil Imployments because that Sophisters and Philosophers were the principal Enemies of Christianity therefore upon this Account they condemned also all politick Learning they condemned Tragedies and Comedies and other Poetical writings being the main Part of humane Learning as judging they did not conduce to solid Knowledge Tertullian lib. de Idolat page 138 139. judged that School-masters professing Learning were guilty of great Idolatry because they only explained Names and Genealogies and Fabulous Acts of Heathen Gods And generally Believers in those Dayes harboured a very bad Esteem of natural Learning and generally the Christians were provoked thereunto because the Gentiles did upbraid them that their Teachers were illiterate Persons as Combers of Wooll Weavers and the like these things being objected against the Christians the Christians on the other side rejected all Learning as an useless thing and no way advantagious to Salvation though their Adversaries boasted of it Origen lib. 3. saith The Christians did declare that men of any condition might be saved Servants Idiots and Rusticks and such as the World valued as Fools and that God did confound the wise in their own Wisdom and Celsus as Origen in his book saith that Christians did proclaim it in their Assemblies Let none that is wise enter none that is learned none that is prudent for thus it is appointed us in the Gospel but if there be any unwise unlearned any Foolish let him approach with confidence for these are fit to be the Servants of God Guzentius in his Animadversions page 25. saith that the Gentiles did object against the Christians their rude Stile their harsh Language and how they were destiture of all Addresses calling them Rusticks and Clowns So the Christians did again term the Gentiles the Politick the Eloquent and the Learned Clemens Romanus saith in his Writings lib. 2. chap. 6. Abstain from all the Books of the Gentiles for what have you to do with strange Discourses or Laws or false Prophets which seduce weak men from the Truth In the Council at Carthage there was a Canon made distinct 37. cap. Epist. citante Jac. Laurentio de lib. gentil page 41. Let not a Bishop read Heathen Authors Gracian saith we see the Priests of the Lord neglecting the Gospel and the Prophets they read Comedies and read Loves Verses out of Beuchlies they peruse Virgil and what is a Sin of enforced Necessity in Children is become their Delight Doth not he seem to walk in Darkness and Vanity of Mind who vexeth himself Day and Night in the Study of Logick who in the Persuit of Physical Speculations one while elevates himâ—eâ—f beyond the highest Heavens and afterwards precipitates himself below the nether Parts of the Earth and diveth into the Abyss and chargeth his Memory with the distinct Knowledge of Verses Petrus Belâ—nius saith in Greece amongst the Christians which were very many there were very few learned men because they esteemed not of it 〈◊〉 Necessity to Christianity though they could speak Greek and some Latine â—ut few could write or read In their Libraries were several Manuscripts of Divinity but no Historian no Philosophers for these were anathematized And all Christians not to study Poetry and Philosophy yet Reâ—der thou mayest understand that the Greek Church is highly owned for a true Christian Church and highly owned by the Protestants yet neither they nor the Pickards nor Waldenses in Bohemia did value Learning so far were they from esteeming of it as the proper true Religion Luther de Institu puer inter aper Wittenberg to 7. fol. 444. Paul exhorteth to beware of Philosophy and vain Deceit 2 Col. 2. He had been at Athens and had acquainted himself with that vain glorious humane Wisdom and knew the multiplicity of contradictions which it had procured what then had Athens to do with Jerusalem What Fellowship have the Epicures and Stoicks with the Church of Christ Jerom. lib. 1. contra Pelag. What hath Aristotle to do with Paul or Plato to Peter A multitude of Testimonies might be brought to this Effect how the Christians did in former Ages reject Philosophy and Heathen Authors and all such frivolous Stories as no way lawful for Christians to meddle in nor any way good to propagate Christianity Bishop Usher in Vindication of the Waldenses by way of Apology he saith God did chuse fisher men that so he might not give his Glory to another forasmuch as the little ones had asked Bread came to receive it and the learned being busied about vain contentions and Disputations were sent empty away the Waldenses saith Bishop Usher de succes chap. 6.28 We are not ashamed of our Teachers because they labour with their Hands procuring thereby a livelyhood to themselves because both the Doctrine and Example
do believe And now Reader I shall present thee with a great Fardel and Bundle of the Whore's Merchandize and of the counterfeit Ware which she hath long deceived the Nations with which hath long laid as mouldy and rusty in this Nation but now new trim'd up and presented again to this Nation as for precious Treasure and it is not to be concealed in a narrow Corner nor put off under-hand so that this Merchant of Babylon hath presented it to publick View with a great Confidence that People that have been tossed up and down and have found no Rest for their Souls at lâ—st may come to make a trial of this Merchandize and see what it will do but lest any should be cheated and deceived with such counterfeit traffick I could not chuse having the Knowldge thereof but declare against the Deceit thereof and to give Warning unto all to beware how they touch taste or handle it lest they be defiled and corrupted by it and their Understandings darkned and their Consciences defiled and the Merchandize is thus tituled A short Catechism against all Sectaries by Way of Question and Answer wherein all the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome are asserted for Infallible and Apostolical wherein also is holden out that the Church of Rome is the only true Church out of which there is no Salvation and some Arguments to prove the same also in this said Book all that are not of the Church of Rome are condemned already as Hereticks and Sectâ—ries wholly to be without Salvation newly published and translated by C. M. and London printed for P. S. 1662. And though we have given publick testimony both in Word and Writing in divers Nations in Doctrine and Practice yet such hath been the Envy of many Professors who have denyed the Church of Rome that they have accused us for holding Popish tenets yet now on the other Hand by this Popish Author we are condemned as Hereticks and Sectaries and to be without Salvation And thus they who have been under the Beast's Power in the Apostacy have tost us upon their Horns from one to another and have pushed us this Way and that Way and every Party and Sect hath reckoned us and joyned us with them whom they judged to be Transgressors but it is a small thing to us to be judged by Man's Judgment for our Judgment is with the Lord and he judgeth in Righteousness and unto him we appeal who in his own Day when Righteousness comes to be revealed in Peoples Hearts they shall come to know us as we are and the Truth which we believe and walk in as it is in Jesus But that such a Heap and Bundle of false Doctrine and superstitious and idolatrous Practices may not go unreproved God hath put it into my Heart to bear my Testimony against it and all the confused Heap of Darkness which is laid down for Catholick Doctrine and to discover the Deceit thereof lest any should be beguiled and led into the dark Paths of Ignorance and Error and should become an Inhabitant of that City which hath shed the Blood of the Prophets and Martyrs where now Christ is crucified First of all the Author saith There is but one true Religion wherein any can be saved Answ. 'T is true there is but one true Religion in the which Salvation is witnessed which is confessed by all who profess Religion and every one will needs lay claim to it and many have contended even by Force and Arms since the Apostacy entered in and have killed and destroyed one ather about the Name or Sound without the Thing it self and all Professors of Religion who are in that Nature are not in the true Religion in which Salvation is witnessed The true Religion standeth in the Power of God and to be exercised in those Things which the Power of God directeth every one in who believe in it and to be obedient unto the Commands of Christ and to keep his Sayings and to follow his Example in Righteousness and Holiness and in that which overcometh the World and giveth Victory over it and keepeth out of the Pollutions of it and this is the pure Religion which purifies the Heart and Conscience from dead Works and teacheth to love Enemies Now the Church of Rome is manifest not to be in the one true Religion but hath departed from this Faith and this Doctrine let all Nations bear Witness where your Religion hath been professed how you have kept this Faith and walked in this Religion if any have dissented from you these many hundred Years and that upon good Grounds as Luther and Calvin which thou art so angry at â—nd bring'st many Calumnies against and slanderous Things and Lyes â—f which thy Vessel is full Now they with all others that dissent from you you have reckoned and do as Sectaries and Hereticks and in case it were really so if you were in the true Religion and in the Faith of Chrisâ— yâ—u would not destroy so many mens Lives as you have done within these thousand Years I appeal to all Nations where your Authority hath been exâ—râ—ised how many have you killed tortured burnt to Ashes and destroyed the Workmanship of God but it may be thou â—udgest such a Distinction as this will cover a little as To hate their Heresie and to love their Person but how you have loved their Persons I hope Englâ—nd hath not yet forgotten instance John Wickliff whose Bones you took up and burnt forty one Years after his Decease and how many Hundreds more have been burnt to Ashes in England in later Years as Hereticks and Sectaries whose Blood yet speaks and cryes for Vengeance upon that City that Church or Religion which hath drunk the Blood of the Prophets and Martyrs So in what I have said the Church of Rome to all unbiasâ—ed Spirits will appear to be out of that one true Religion and that Faith and Doctrine which Christ delivered and so Salvation is not to be looked for amongst Killers and Destroyers And so what I have said may convince the Author of this Book that they are not in the one true Religion in which Salvation is witnessed And this Roman Church hath been alwayes visiâ—le and universal since the Apostles Dayes and Infidels have alwayes been obliged to joyn unto her yet one cannot be bound to seek that which is invisiâ—le and the Marks and Signs of thiâ— Roman Church are four comprized in these Words I believe in the True Church which is One Holy Catholick and Apostolick Answ. That there was a Church at Rome in the Apostles Dayes is not denyed so there was at Antioch at Philippi at Thessalonica at Corinth and divers other Places that I might instance which were as visible as Rome was and as much a City set on a Hill as Rome was and not inferiâ—r in Doctrine Gifts and good Works to Rome at all but as to Prâ—â—edâ—ncy and Antiquity may claim Priority before Rome and if
should be the greatest and said unto them The Gentiles exercise Lordship one over another but it shall not be so amongst you and though Peter and the rest of the Apostles who were in the Power of God had that which did open into the Kingdom of God and shut out that which did defile yet this we are sure of he sold no Pardons nor Indulgences for Gain and filthy Lucre as many have done whom you call Peter's Successors and Christ's Vicar and Universal Bishop and visible Head but it is manifest how the Pope became visible Head and Universal Bishop not because of any Work or Labour in the Doctrine of Christ or the Work of the Gospel but by means of the Roman Emperor for while the Christians were under Persecution and Suffering there was no talk of visible Heads or much of Universal Bishop for then Rome had no more Priority then the rest for the Churches at Constantinople at Jerusalem at Caesaria at Cyprus and Alexandria for the first three hundred Years they had as much Power in their several Churches as Rome had and often the Elders or Bishops of the afore-said Churches did reprove sharply the Bishop of Rome but at last above five hundred Years or upwards Phocas to aspire to the Empire of Rome he murthered his own Master Mauritius and his Children to attain unto the Empire so at that time Boniface the third was Bishop of Rome and Phocas somewhat fearing and willing to have Boniface his Favour condesceâ—deth to all his Petitions and grants him to be Universal head-Bishop over all Christian Churches and there was the first rise of Rome â—s visible Head for this frivolous Reason of being Peter's Successor could never have raised him to that height but then the Emperor's Power and Authority became to be the more forcible Plea for before that time the Bishops of Rome were chosen by the Emperor's consent but after he had got Power Emperors could not be chosen but by the Popes consent and then came the Bishop of Rome to be a visible Head and be called Universal Bishop Christs Vicar a Lord spiritual over all the Churches and in process of time Lord temporal over all the Empire And thus your Church of Rome became magnificent and great to sit as a Queen upon the Waters Nations Kindreds and Tongues as you acknowledge your Church of Rome hath spread over and here is a Head and a Body which are joyned together in Union Christ is the Head of the true Body which is his Church and his Wife and Antichrist he is the visible Head of his visible Church and Wife Mystery-Baâ—ylon The next piece of Merchandize which the Authâ—r brings forth to view is Purgatory and prayer to be made for the dead and also prâ—yer unto Saints and the Authors proof is 1 Cor. 3.15 wheâ—e he Apostle speaks Every mans Work shall be tryed and that Work whâ—ch will not abide the Fire must be Burnt and this the Author calls The Fire of another World and Prayer for the Dead he proves out of 12 of Maccabees and prayer to the Saints he sayes it's lawful to Pray in this Wâ—rld unto good People and Paul while he lived did Pray for others and also did beg their Prayers And the Angel in the first of Zachary prayed for Iâ—rael and there can be no harm in Praying to them that can Pray for us Answ. They that dwell in the shadow of death are lik to speak out of thick darkness they that have made a Covenant with Death are loath to have it broken and they that have a mind to continue in Sin while they live have a mind to put the Evil day afar off Judgment afar off Evil-doers will never have it time to give account for their Evil deeds and so put it off till they are Dead and to another World and let â—he Devil have Prehemience in their Hearts while they live and reckon their Sins venial and Light faults this is contrary to the Doctrine of the true church of Christ and contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said The Wages of Sin is death and there is no Sin goes Unpunished nor Unjudged and Sion is redeemed through Judgment and by the Spirit of burning and Purgatory is a Fiaction falshood and a Lye and there is no cleansing from Sin in another World Solomon saith As the Tree falleth whether to the North or to the South so shall the Tree lye and the Word of God who have received it in their Hearts which is as a Fire that purifies and the Blood of Christ is that which cleanseth from all Sin and there 's not any cleansâ—ng from any Sin but by it and there is no cleansing in another World but Purgatory hath been invented and Prayer for the Dead that thereby the Pope might be enriched and sell the invented Prayers and Aâ—e Maâ—â—es and so cheat People of their Money and there 's no Sacrifice to be offer'd for the Dead who dye in their Sins nor no Remission after this Life And as for praying to the Saints the Scripture makes no mention of and though Paul did Pray for others and beg the Prayers of others yet he prayed not for them when they were dead neither did beg the Prayer of the deâ—d but prayed for them who were Believers in the true Church and desired the Prayers of them that were living Members and were alive and lived in the World and were redeemed out of it and the Angel prayed not for the People of Israel when they were dead and that which thou calls Jeremy's prayer in the Maccabees was never spoken by the Spirit of the Lord nor the Offering was not made in the Will of God and the Prophet saith Though Abraham know us not and Israel be ignorant of us yet thou O Lord art our Father And the Lord said unto David Seek my Face and call upon me in the day of trouble and I will hear and Answer Not upon Mary Peter and Paul Dominick and Anthâ—ny Again it 's contrary to the Practice of the Saints in the Primitive times and contrary to the Doctrine of Christ who said unto his Disciples Whatsoever you ask in my Name the Father shall give it to you He doth not speak of any other Name neither is any Prayer or Supplication accepted of the Father but in the name of Christ alone So these Doctrines are false and Doctrines of Devils never commanded nor Practised by any of the Saints in the Primitive time but only have been invented and practised by the Apostatesâ— who have Erred from the Faith and Practice which was onâ—e delivered unto the Saints which the church of Rome hath made Ship-wrack of in many things which I have made appear and I shall proceed to more particulars to manifest it lest any should be beguiled with such deceitful Babylonish Merchandize which the Nations are too much corrupted with already The next false Doctrine which the Author layes down is That
in Heresie in Schism so that there is an absolute Defection from the Life and Power of God which was manifested in the Apostles dayes and therefore the Church of Rome is not the true Church What I have said as to the Doctrines and Grounds which have been laid down by the Author I shall refer it and the Answer unto God's Witness in every Man's Conscience and if I hear any more of the Author his great Boasts or ambitious Challenges which may reach to all that do dissent from the Church of Rome as to be Hereticks I shall engage in the Strength of the Lord to vindicate the Truth however opposed and shall further if God permit be ready to give a more large and full answer unto the Doctrines and Practices and Worship of the Church of Rome and prove them to be contrary to the Scriptures and the Apostolick Doctrine and the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints So in what I have said I hope may convince the Author of his vain Assertions and them that are enclined towards Babylon it may put a Stop to that which would too readily close with every thing which goes under the Name of Antiquity But in what I have said upon the whole Matter I hope will be sufficient unto all who read with a single Eye without Prejudice and unto such I say the Lord give them an Understanding that they see and discern the Way which leadeth to Life and Felicity from that which leadeth to the Chambers of Death and the Pathes that take hold on Destruction A GENERAL EPISTLE TO THE Seed of God DEar Friends every where who have believed in our Lord Jesus Christ and called with an holy Calling to the great Salvation of God which is manifest in this the Day of his Power keep your first Love and let not the Threats of Men neither the Browns of the World affright you from that which you have prized more then all the World now the Sun is up and a time of scorching is come and that which hath not Root will wither now every Ground will be tryed and blessed is the Good that brings forth the Seed which must inherit the Promise Oh let not the Cares of this present Life choak that which God hath begotten and seeing the Lord hath so marvelously wrought for us hitherto in the midst of great Opposition let not your Faith fail nor your Confidence in God who delivered Jacob of old out of his Adversity and Israel out of all his Troubles whose Care is over his People now and having seen the Emptiness of the World and its Way and Worship let nothing blind your Eye again and let not the things present nor things to come separate you from the Love of God in Christ Jesus and mind not them that draw back to Perdition but let it teach you all more Diligence to be as those that press after Glory Immortality and Everlasting Life the Way of God was ever hated by the World and the Powers thereof never heed the rough Spirit nor the heavy for their Bound is set and their Limit known but mind the Seed which hath Dominion over all and forsake not the assembling of your selves together in which you have found God and his Promise and Power amongst you and Blessing your Understandings opened Oh rather suffer all things then let go that which you have believed fâ—r whoso doth will loose the Evidence of God's Spirit in them and their Peace and Joy will be lost the Lord God preserve you all unto the End faithful Your Dear Brother for the Testimony of Jesus F. H. Aâ—â—elby Goal the 10th of the 3d Moneth 1664. A Visitation of Love Peace and Good-will from the Spirit of the Lord sent unto the whole Flock of God now in this their Day of Tryal and Hour of Temptation DEar Friends and Brethren who have been called to believe by the holy calling of the Lord unto Sanctification and Holiness that ye might inherit the Promises of God and that your Souls might live in the Land of the living and partake of his Goodness that you might admire him and praise his Name forever And seeing the Lord out of his rich Love and Mercy hath visited you who sometime sate in the Region of the Shadow of Death and were cast out of his Presence in the time of Unbelief seeing he hath caused his miraculous Light to shine upon you in his gracious Visitation of you and hath given you to believe in his Name prize his Love unto you and let not his gracious Benefits slip out of your Minds lest your Hearts be filled with other things that will corrupt your Hearts and make you an unmeet Habitation for the Lord to dwell in and among Dear Friends hear my Brotherly Admonition and Exhortation for the Lord moved in my Heart to write unto you and in the Bowels of his kind and tender Love and Motion of his heavenly Spirit to stir up your pure Minds and Consciences unto Stedfastness in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and so much the more that you all be watchful seeing the times be perilous for now the Adversary goes about roaring and ravening on the right Hand and on the left to destroy and devour that which God hath brought forth in you that so he might regain you too under his Power and Government and that ye might revolt from the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ that stands in Power and Righteousness which is come and hath been of a Truth manifest in great Glory and this is an Hour the Power of Darkness is let loose to try the Faith and them that dwell upon the Earth and he is let loose for a Season blessed are they that hide themselves under the Shadow of the Almighty and under the Wings of Christ Jesus who is given for a Redeemer a Saviour and a Preserver of Men that the wicked One touch them not and now the Devil rages because he knows his Kingdom is but short and but for a small time is like to stand in many because a stronger then he that rules in the World is come and hath began to dispossess the strong Man and bind him and cast him out and now he rages and stirs up all the Temptations within and without and all his Instruments to joyn with him to make War for him that he might not rule who is the Heir of all things and given for a Leader and to be the Head of the Body his Church in which alone he hath Right to rule because the Lord of the whole Earth yea of Heaven and Earth hath put all Power into his Hands to bind and to lose to bring out of Captivity and to lead Captivity Captive that Life and Immortality might again inhabit in the Sons of Men that Truth and Righteousness might sway that Mercy and Love might sit on the Throne that his Salvation might take hold on the Ends of the Earth and his Power made known
from Sea to Sea that all that wait for him and love his Appearance now when he is made manifest might rejoyce in his Goodness and Life and may be made glad as Zeâ—ulon and Nephtali beyond Jordan in the Dayes of old upon whom sprung up a marvelous Light that the whole Earth might be filled with his Praise and Glory that hath been filled with Darkness Violence and Cruelty in the time of the Devil and Anti-christ's Reign which hath been long and great in the Earth so that the Hearts of the Sons of Men have been corrupted and they are gone backward from the Lord and have been degenerated into a strange Nature and have brought forth evil and corrupt Fruit like that of Sodom and they that do Evil are not at all ashamed neither do they blush but are become impudent through the long Custom of Evil and hard and impenetrable upon whom the Hammer of the Lord must come and his Indignation be poured forth But you whom God hath called out of this Estate into a State of Redemption and Purity by his Son the Light of the World who hath illuminated the Eyes of your Minds Consciences and Understandings that you might bear Witness unto him that is true a Testimony against the World that lyes in Wickedness and pleads for it and lives in it as though it were the Way to Felicity hold fast your Liberty hold fast your Faith hold fast your Hope hold fast your Testimony let none take your Crown and so much the more as you are compassed with Temptations and the times be perilous so much the more you had all need to keep near the Lord for now Father would betray the Son and Sâ—n the Father the Mother her Daughter and the Daughter her Mother and Brother and Kinsfolk betray one another and them that exercise Authority would betray who are not in the Power of God and through Flattâ—ry and Threats and fair Promises and Frowns and Gifts and Rewards and Ease and Liberty and the Glory of the World and whaâ— not to lead your Hearts away from the Lord and then glory over you and rejoyce that your Feet should slip and you fall into the Mire and Dirt and gross Abominations and Pollutions of the World that lyes in Wickedness Dearly beloved nâ—ver heed none of those things let not the Philistines put out your Eyes nor damm up your Wells for then would they mâ—ke you grind like Sampson and you might perish in the Drouâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Look of Moisture and then your Dayes would be miserable and 〈◊〉 Yeâ—rs full of Sorrow for the Lord will perfâ—rm 〈◊〉 Promise and 〈…〉 with them that keep Covenant with him but if you forsake him in your Hâ—arts in what is made manifest then he will forsake you and then 〈◊〉 are left to the Mercy of your Adversary which will be cruel Therefore 〈◊〉 the Pride of Moab nor the Reviling of the Children of Ammâ—n 〈◊〉 thâ—â— are uncircumcised in Heart and the Moth shall eâ—t them up aâ— a 〈◊〉 Oh! if any draw back from following of the Lamb through Suffâ—ring they will be smitten and the Lord will have no Pleasure in them and what will Amaleck say when Israel turn their Backs in the day of Battel but where is their God in whom they trusted and he that brought them forth was not able to deliver them to the End Oh that such things might never be spoken of now in Gath or Ashkelon as in the dayes of old lest the Sons of the Philistines triumph and the Daughters thereof rejoyce in their Wickedness and this would make the Hearts of the Israel of God to mourn this is the day of the Lamb's War indeed in our Age and a Day of Battel though his Weapons and his Followers be not carnal but spiritual and there is none that goeth to War doth entangle himself that hath a Purpose to hold out and is resolved to continue with him in his Sufferings but will shake off these things that incumber lest he should not obtain the Victory and come short of the Promise Victory Crown which all that endure Hardship to the End shall receive Oh dear Friends look above all visible things and stand out of them all and loose from them that the Enemy do not ensnare you what is not the Earth the Lord's and the Fulness thereof and hath not he given the utmost Part of the Earth for a Possession to his Son What was not Abraham our Father blessed when he was faithful and obeyed the Voice of the Lord and went out of his own Country he knew not whether was not the Lord with him whether ever he went and his Blessing upon him where he sojourned in a strange Land did not God intreat him kindly in Mesopotamia and among the Hittites and was not he loved and feared among his Enemies Was not John the beloved and faithful Disciple of Christ banished into Patmos for the Testimony that he held Was not Shadrach Mesach and Abednego Children of the Captivity cast into the Furnace and Daniel too among the Lyons for the Testimony they held against the common Worship of Nations commanded by a Law Did Christ endure the Death of the Cross and the Contradiction of Sinners and condemned by the most Did not the believing Hebrews who were banished wander in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins in Holes Dens and Caves of the Earth for the Hope they held and the Country they looked for Did not Moses through Faith forsake Pharaoh's Court and became a Companion of poor Brick-makers in Captivity A Cloud of Witnesses might be brought even of them who dyed in the Faith and yet were not made Partakers of the Promises who many of them saw not what you have seen nor heard those things that you have heard nor enjoyed that which God hath made many Partakers of and have we not a great Cloud of Witnesses in this our own Age some who have not loved their Lives unto the Death for the Testimony they received believed and held fast unto the End unto Death have not many dy'd in Prison with hard Usage have not some been hang'd and dyed a shameful Death and finished their Course with Joy and Peace have not many endured great hard and long Imprisonment for Years and are they yet weary nay have not many suffered great Spoil of their Goods and have not they a Reward seven-fold into their Bosom Oh let the Consideration of these things dwell upon your Hearts and provoke you unto Suffering and Long-Suffering with Joyfulness that in the midst of all Tribulations as it abounds you may feel according to the Promise of God your Joy much more abound to carry you above it indeed now is the time come and he that will manifest himself to be on the Lord's Side must suffer and he that will not but turns back into the broad Way and runs with the Herd of Swine into the Sea of common Pollution must perish there and indeed there is no Place
Protestants the Bohemians being descended from the Waldenses they did profess and held out that all Priests or Ministers ought to be Poor and to be content with free gifts or what the People freely offered them so faith 〈◊〉 Sylvius in his Bohemian History And it is one of John Wickliff's Articles whose Works are as much esteemed of by the Protestants of England and Bohemia as despised by the Papists and their Clergy having his bones taken up and Burnt 41 years after his decease and his Articles condemn'd by the Council of Constance his own words are That Tythes were and are a free gift as among the Christians and only pure Alms and the Parishoners may for the offence of their Curates detain and keep them back and bestow them upon others at their own will and Pleasures And his Proposition aforesaid is maintained by that godly Martyr John Hus who was Burnt for his Testimony at Constance but take his own words That the Clergy are not Lords and Possessors of Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Goods which are freely given but only Stewards and after the necessity of the Clergy is once satisfied they ought to be Transported to the poor And again if the Clergy do abuse the same they are Theves and Robbers and saocriligious Persons and except they do repent by the just Judgment of God they are to be condemned Likewise Ambrose Preaching upon the 16. Luke Give an account of your Stewardship c. From hence he infers That the Clergy are not Lords but rather Stewards and Bailiffs of other men's Substance furthermore Jerom writing to Nepotianus a Clergy-man saith How can they be of the Clergy which are commanded to contemn and despise their own substance and yet to take away from a Friend is Thieft to deceive the Church it is Sacriledge and to take away that which should be given to the Poor Likewise Bernard in his Sermon upon these Words Simon Peter said unto Jesus Luke 17. from thence infers these words viz. Truly the goods of the Church are the Patrimony of the Poor and whatsoever thing the Ministers and Stewards of the same not Lords Porossessors do take unto themâ—elves more then sufficient for a competent living the same is taken away from the poor by Sacrilegious cruelty Also Eusebius in his Treatise upon the Pilgrimage of Saint Jerome writes thus If thou oft possess a Garment or any other thing more then extream necessity doth require and dost not help the needy thou art a Thief and a Robber And Isidore in his Treatise de summo bono Chap. 24. saith Let the Bishop know that he is the Servant of the People and not Lord over them These and divers more Authors that worthy man John Hus instanced at a Disputation in the University of Prague in Vindication of John Wickliff's seventeenth Article which was that Tythes was a free gift in the time of Christianity and accounted as pure Alms. At the reformed Church in Geneva they live upon free gift and Tythes of all sorts are taken up for the use of the State and laid up for the publick treasury And that good man William Thorp of whom I made mention before who gave a large Testimony against divers abuses crept into the Church it being the Mid-night of Popery being complain'd of by the then Popish clergy and brought to examination in the Year 1407. being accused before Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Chancellour of England He gives a very clear Testimony about Tythes how that they were no Gospel-Maintenance In his answer he saith That in the new Law neither Christ and his Apostles took Tythe of the People neither commanded they the People to pay Tythes neither to Priests nor Deacons and Christ and his Apostles preached the Word of God to the People and liv'd of pure Almes or free gifts but after Christ's Ascension when the Apostles had received the Holy Ghost they travelled Labouring with their Hands and also he saith that Paul when he was full Poor and needy Preaching among the People he was not Chargeous unto them but with his Hands he Laboured not only to get 〈◊〉 own living but also to relieve others that were Poor and needy And further he saith Tythes were given on the old Law to Levites and Priests but our priests time not of Levi Ergo by the Law our Priests cannot challenge Tythes for as the Priesthood is changed so is the Law but since Chrâ—st in the time of his Ministry and also his Apostles lived by pure Almes or else by the Labour of their Hands for the Servant is not greater then his Lord At which Words the Bishop said unto him God's Curse have you and mine for thus Teaching And further the said William Thorp saith that those Priests that do take Tythes deny Christ to be come in the Flesh unto when the Bishop said Heard you ever Lozell speak thus and further the said William saith that the covetousness and Pride of the Priests destroyes the vertue of the Priesthood and also stirs up God's Vengeance both upon Lord's and Commons who suffer these Priests charitably and the Arch-Bishop said thou judgest every Bishop Proud that will not go arryed as thou dost by God I deem him to be more meek that goes every day arryed in his Scarlet Gown then thou in thy Thread-bare blew Gown This is an Answer much like a Lording Bishop and a Tything Priest but I refer the Reader to the whole Discourse and Testimony of Williams Thorpe which is large in Fox his Acts and Monuments Likewise William Swinderby in the Articles that are charged against him is That for an evil Curate to curse his Hearers or Excommunicate them for with-holding of his Tythes is nothing but wickedly and wrongfully getting from them their Money for if saith he that the Priest or Curate be a wicked man as most of the Tything Priests are If the Parishoners do pay him Tythes they are guilty before God of upholding him in his Sin and Evil deeds and further saith he that whereas Christ's Law doth command to Minister freely to the People the Pope with his Law sells for Money whereas Christ's Law teaches his Priests to be poor the Pope justifies and maintains Priests to be Lords Also with him doth agree Walter Brute as is manifest by the Articles charg'd against him viz. That no Man is bound to pay Tythes in Gospel times 2. That if the Parishoners shall know their Curate to be bad they ought to hold from him their Tythes 3. That if any Priest receive any thing by way of bargain or yearly Stipend in so doing he is a Schismatick and accured 4. That if we be bound to pay Tythes in Gospel times then are we debtours to keep all the whole Law for to say that men are bound to one part of the Law and not to another is not true for this were to prefer one part before another and to set the
the Pope being grown great thunder'd out his Interdict against this Nation Excommunicated the King affrighted the Subjects with his Bulls stuffed with Commination or Curses and that against the very point of Arbitrary disposal of Tythes and the Pope did highly insult over Kings and Princes about this time witness Frederick Barabrossa Hen. 6 th and King John and some others as the Histories of them makes mention so that by the Power of the Pope Parochial payment came just to be setled yet notwithstanding the English Parliaments not willing wholly to forget the Poor for whose sakes tythes were chiefly given did make divers Laws that a convenient portion of the tythes should be set apart for the Poor of the Parish forever as in the Statutes Rich. 2 d. 15.6 and the 4 th of Hen. 4. The Pope having by these means brought in Tythes and the Priests made a pretended title by prescription they set up Courts called Ecclesiastical Courts which remain to this day amongst them that say they are reformed to recover their tythes by and the Priests came to be the Judges of the Court so people might easily understand what might be expected from them yet them that did not pay no greater punishment could they inflict upon them but Excommunication Yet notwithstanding this general Decree the Pope did dispense and did give exemption to divers Orders of his Clergy so called to free them from payment as the Hospitallers Templers and generally to all Lands which belonged to the Religious Persons and Houses which is the reason that divers at this day who have any Land which sometimes belong'd to the Monasteries now dissolv'd say they are tythe-free Now when the Pope by colour of the Jewish Laws by which tythes were given to the Levitical Priesthood had gained an Universal payment of tythes to all his Clergy he in further imitation of that earthly tabernacle sets up a new building after the former Pattern and therefore to himself he claims first-Fruits and tenths as a Successour of the Jewish high-Priest Sins also he under takes to Pardon Cardinals are appointed as Leaders of the Families Miters are ordained for the Head as Aaron had Synagogues they Built now falsely call'd Churches with Altars like the Jews with Organs and Instruments of Musick with Singers and Porters c. And in the form of the Levitical Priesthood they transform'd themselves and this was taught for Catholick Doctrine at that time and yet is still upholden and pleaded for by the Protestant Clergy thereby wholly denying Christ Jesus come in the Flesh the end of all types and Figures Likewise afterward Henr. 8. being a Papist and believing the Popes Doâ—ctrine as also did his Parliament made a Law that every one should seâ— out and pay his tythes as due to God and holy Church Also a second Law in his time was made to the like purpose for great need and reason he had having dissolv'd the Monastâ—eâ—â—'s who had many tythes and eitheâ— had them in his own Hand or Solâ— them unto others to be held as Lay possessions And they having no Law whereby to recover them he madâ— a new Law to enforce the payment of them but still restrained the tryaâ— of Tythes in the Ecclesiastical Court trâ—ble Damages who also restrain'd the Tryal to the Ecclesiastical Court these Laws supposed them due to God and Holy church therefore they required every man to yield and set out their Tythes as had been accustomed likewise some Ordinances were made in that which was called the Long Parliament in the time of the War grounded upon the former Law for treble damages all which Laws were grounded on the Pope's Decrees and Constitutions and his Ground is upon the Jewish Priesthood as before is made good by strong supposal all which indeed is without any true Ground in Gospel-times For a Gospel-Ministry I think it nor amiâ—s to add here by the way a complaint made to the Parliament not long after the dissolution of the Monasteries in England when Lay-men began to possess appropriated Churches and Tythes into their Hands but take the Words of Lodâ—rics Mors sometime a Gray Friar c. Ye that be Lords and Burgesses of Parliament House I require in the Name of all my Brethren that are English-men that ye consider well as you will Answer before the Face of Almighty God in the day of Judgment this abuse and see to amend it when as Anti-christ of Rome durst openly without any Vizard walk up and down throughout England he had so great Favour and his Children had such crafty wits that they had not only almost gotten all the best Lands of England into their Hands but also the most part of all the best Benefices both of Parsonages and Vicaridges which were for the most part all impropred unto them the Impropriations held by them were much more then one third of all the Parish Churches in England divided into three parts And when they had the gifts of any not improperd they gave them unto their Friends of the which alwayes some were learned for the Monks found of their Friends Children at School and though they were not learned yet they kept Hospitality and helped their poor Friends and if the Persons were improperd the Monks were bound to deal Alms to the Poor and to keep Hospitality as the Writings of the gifts of such Parsonages and Lands do plainly declare And as touching the Alms that they dealt and the Hospitality that they kept every man knoweth that many thousands were well received of them and might have been better if they had not had so many great mens Horses to Feed and had not been over charg'd with such Idle Gentlemen as were never out of the Abbeys and if they had any Vicaridge in their Hands they set in some times some sufficient Vicar though but seldom to Preach and to teach But now that all the Abbeys with the Lands and Goods and impropered Parsonages be in temporal mens Hands I do not hear that one halfe-penny worth of Alms or any other profit comes unto the people of thâ—se Parishes your pretence of putting down of Abbeys was to amend that which was amiss in them it was far amiss that a great part of the Lands of the Abbeys which were given to bring up Learned men and to keep Hospitality and to give Alms to the Poor should be spent upon a few Superstitious Monks which gave not forty poundâ— in Alms when they should have given two hundred pound It was amiss that the Monks should have Parsonages in their Hands and deal but the twentieth part thereof to the poor and Preached but once a year to them that payed the Tythes of parsonages It was amiss that they scarcely among twenty set oâ—e sufficient Vicar to preach for the Maintenance which they received but see now that which was amiss is amended as it is in the old Proverb It is amended even as the Devil amended his Dam's Leggs when he
keep his Divotion within the Limits of such a Place or any parish for in the Respect of Offerings and profits Canterbury was indeed the only limitted parish so it was not material at what place they met or where they offered their Bounty so they did it 〈◊〉 where and it 's commonly received that Honorus who succeeded Augustine at Canterbury about the Year 630. divided his province into paâ—isâ—â—s as some of the greatest and most learned Writers relate But when the Pope's Doctrine was received and Divotion grown great such as it was most Lay-men of great Estates desired the Country Residence of some Chaplains or Clarks that might alwayes be ready for their Instruction their Families and adjoyning Tenants and then Parish Churches began to be builded by them also and the Bishops hallowed them as it was called and they were endued by particular Maintenance from the Founders the Territories Demesnes and Tenâ—â—â—ts and Neighbouring Possessions and they assigned the Limits where the holy Function should be exercised appointed the Persons 〈◊〉 should 〈◊〉 the Church and offer there and provided a special Sallery for the Performance and made the Revenue perpetually annexed to the Church of that 〈◊〉 who received it and so the Offerings were restrained from the Common Treasury of the Dioceâ—s Out of these Lay Foundations chiefly undoubtly came these kind of Parishes which at this day are in every Diocess their Difference in Quantity being originally because of the several Circuits Demesnes or Territories possessed by the Founders sometimes greater and sometimes lâ—ssâ—r At what time these Lay Foundations began to be frequent appears not but some mention is made of them about the Year 700. as Bede â—aith who mentions one Puch a Saxon Noble man and one Addi who builded also and endued them with Sallary but about the Year 800. many were founded by Lay men and recorded to be appropriated to the Abbey 〈◊〉 by this Time Lay Foundations grew very common and Parochial â—imits also of the Parishioners Divotion And in a Council hold under 〈◊〉 Arch-Bishop of Canterbury we find that where Churches are builded and that they are consecrated by the Bishop of the same Diocess a Canon of the same Synod ordains that though every Church upon the Death of every Bishop that all the Families of every Parish were to meet at the Church and sing 30 Psalms and 600 Psalâ—eâ—ies and â—0 Missays with Pasting and Prayer for the Soul of the Bishop deceased Many more Instances might be given and Presidents about these Parishes but enough of this only to inform the Reader of their Original from these it doth fâ—lly appear that the Limits of Parishes were understood but the first express mention of Limitation of Profits to this or that Church as in the Laws of King Edgar made in the Year 970. in the very Midnight of Popery where it was ordained that every man should pay his Tythes to the most ancient Church or Monastery where he heard God's Services but some Parishes had other Beginnings in Regard of the inconveniency which made 〈◊〉 Alexander write to the Bishop of York that he heard of a certain Parish in â—his Province so far distinct from the Parish Church thâ—t the 〈…〉 could not repair to it in Winter whereupon he commands the Arch-Bishop to build a Church in the Town and to institute a Presâ—nâ—â—tion of the Rector that might have to his Use all profits encreasing in those Limits and acknowledge a Superiority to the Mother-Church And so by the Authority of the Power either by the Pope Bishop or Princes who received their Doctrine the Limits and Maintenance of Parishes have been more or less as they ordained and as they do continue to this Day Likewise in other Kingdoms and Nations where the Pope had Authority the like Rules as aforesaid were observed as might be evidenced by sundry Authors but not to trouble my self or the Reader any more with such unprofitable Stuff I have only given these Instances to shew the Ground and Rise of them and shew how that people then were not limitted to any particular place in Respect of Worship neither in Respect of Pay or Duty so called but now them that pretend Reformation and have denyed the Pope and his Doctrine as they say that claim both and if all between such a Hedge and such a Ditâ—h such a Water and such a Way will not come and worship at that Place called their Parish Church and hear their Service and joyn with them iâ— iâ— though it be never so repugnant to the Doctrine of Christ and the true Worship of God but more especially if they come not with their Pay they will give them up all unto Satan by whole Sale and cast them into Prison and denounce them Hereticks and câ—y to the temporal Power for Help against these Non-conformists for they are not fit to live in a Nation because they are not commodious to us and then get an Order fetch away their Goods break open the Gates and carry away poor mens Corn drive away Oxen and Cows and trail away the Pots and Pans hale away Clothes off poor peoples Beds and then cry they are not subject to the Orders and Canons of the holy Church no not conformable to our Laws and this is the practice of our great Reformers of our latter Ages which are far worse then in the very Height of Popery by Reason oâ— which practices the Land mourns and because of which we cannot joyn with them in their Worship neither give them pay for doing of Mischief nor suffer the Lord's Goods to be given to such coveâ—ous lazy priests who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies And for denying of these late Innovations and new upstart things which are no Congruity with the primitive Church of Christ we are great Sufferers at this Day but have rather chosen to keep our Consciences clear and the Doctrine of Christ inviolable whatsoever we suffer till God make our Innocency and our Righteousness appear as the Noon-day and plead our Cause in the midst of all our Enemies The poor Husband-man's CompIaint his Hope and Confidence LET Pope and Priest do what thy may God will take Tythes ere long away For they 're oppressive in the Land Which makes good Men against them stand For we oppressed are thereby Which makes 〈◊〉 to the Lord so cry To ease us of this Burthen sore That we may praise him evermore That he would hearken our Addresâ— Which we to in Humbleness Present our Suit to ease our Grief And thorow Pity send Relief For by the merciless Merchants Crew Of Babel's City doth renew Our Sufferings most heavily Housholds expos'd to Penury Our Kine and Oxen they by Force Drive away without Remorse Our Bedding Pewter and at last Our selves are into Prison cast Thus to Misery they their Doom By Authority fetcht from Rome Do expose our sad Estate And whole Housholds ruinate By that which they usurpate They
been manifest among you above all the people and Families of the Earth in our Generation constrains me thus to write unto you and to stir you unto Faithfulness in this Day of Trial for now Satan desires to win now you within and to sift you without therefore all watch and pray that your Faith fail not which now will be tryed and your Hope and your Love and your Zeal to the Lord and his Truth and whether you will confess him before Men his Way Worship Laws and Statutes which he hath revealed in your Hearts which fallen men oppose and contradict and Sayers gainsay and would not have him to rule nor his Servants to obey so let it be manifest to all you fear God rather then men and love him and obey him above the Precepts of men which are against him and whether you love the things that are above beyond the things that are earthly and whether you will own him his Cross Reproach and Suffering or deny it and have the Liberty of the World which is Bondage and free from Righteousness it 's no time of Reserves concealing hovering or halting for there is an utter Discord betwixt Christ and Belial and so much the more of Christ his Power and Kingdom is brought forth so much the more is the Hatred Envy and Wrath of the Devil kindled who hath deceived the Nations and blinded their Eyes and in his Subjects who oppose the Lamb of God and tread under Foot the Blood of the Covenant so that to one or other each one belongs and which is for each part will be seen for there can be no Concord or Reconciliation Therefore all Children of the Day put on the Armour of Light and have your Feet shod now when we walk through thorny places and be not fearful or doubtful but of believing Hearts stand not aloof off and idle when others are engaged in this spiritual War pull not your Necks out of the Yoak when others draw shelter not your selves when you see others in Jeopardy love not the World when you see others have thrown it off be not entangled in cumbersome Things when you see others throw off all Weights turn not your Backs in the Day of the Lord's Controversie but follow the Lamb This is the Day of Tribulation we have to follow him in our Age like as all the Martyrs and Prophets had in their Age whose Garments were made white in the Blood of the Lamb So all that continue and are not faint-hearted shall receive the Crown the Honour the Reward and shall reign with Christ who now suffer with him Therefore all dear Children of God and Followers of Christ Jesus let the Loins of your Minds be girded up be now ready when the Lord calls who is on my Side who will take Part with me who will own my Reproach who will engage with me who will gather to my Standard of Salvation lifted up and to my Ensign of Righteousness held forth in the World to redeem it anâ— who is ready and not abroad in the Field neither hath to go to the House top but that all may say in their Hearts here am I ready to do thy Will ready to obey thee and follow thee and to suffer for thee for whoso draws back the Lord hath no Pleasure in such he that will save his Life shall lose it and he that will save his Liberty shall lose it in the Spirit and he that will save his earthly Possessions and for the doing thereof will deny that which God hath perswaded him of that he ought to be faithful in he will lose his Inheritance in the heavenly in a Word whoso fails in holding forth that Testimony that they know God requires and is their Duty to render unto him will lose the Testimony of his Spirit they have sometimes felt in themselves and will decay and their Love will wear out therefore whosoever are resigned and given up unto the Lord will be approved and manifest to be on the Lord's part by Obedience to these things mentioned Friends do you not believe it a Duty that every Christian ought to be exercised in to meet together to wait upon him to worship him and to admonish exhort and strengthen one another to pray together in the Holy Ghost and one for another and to edifie and comfort one another and do you not believe God dwells not in Temples made with Hands neither hath any Fellowship with Idols but is worshipped any where and in every Place where the Saints meet in his Name Again have you not been comforted edified and strengthned in meeting and have you not found the Presence of the Lord and his Face and have you not felt his great Power working in your Hearts when you were assembled together in his Name working in you to the opening of your Hearts and quickning and enlivening your Souls unto God and judging down the Evil and have you not felt his living Mercies shed abroad in you and the Springs of Life opened and the holy Seed refreshed and God's Witness reached in all and many convinced and converted unto God in your Assemblies so that all have gone away comforted and refreshed and resolved to continue in the Grace of God the Consideration of these Things dwelling in your Hearts and the Sence of your own present Condition should stir you up and provoak you unto Stedfastness in the Faith and Practice you have received and walked in from the Beginning of the Manifestation of God's Love unto you so that there should methinks need little Exhortation God's Enemies are resolved to do wickedly be you also so to do your Duty they seek by any means to make any fall from their Principles and Stedfastness do you seek to escape their Snares and to be kept clear in your Consciences before God be valiant for the Truth sell it not but all for it that it may be your all and then you shall see your Lot is fallen in a good Place and your Possession is pleasant the Lord calls now to Suffering put now your Necks in the Yoak bear one anothers Burthen and so fulfil the Law of Christ and take heed you give not Ear to that Voice that speaks Save thy Liberty save thy Estate possess thy own and provide for thy self and spare thy self that is the Voice of the Enemy of your Souls So keep over the World and its Spirit let no Slackness appear for that makes Sufferings long and that gives Ground to your Adversaries that they shall prevail and that weakens the Hands of others and strengthens not this confirms our Enemies in their Deceit that we are but as other men and people that have professed God in Summer and fair Weather but will make Ship-wrack of all in a Storm and in Suffering and any turning aside from the holy Commandment of God openeth the Mouth of God's Enemies do not seek every one your own Profit Ease Life and Liberty only but every one another's
had not that Sufficiency which many look upon now they have to wit natural Tongues and Languages yet it was sufficient in them to give them Wisdom to declare the things of the Kingdom of God to the Salvation of many that did believe through their Words it was sufficient to comfort Paul and Silas when they were shut in the inner Room and their Feet fast in the Stocks when there was no outward Cause of Joy but rather of Sorrow yet they were made to sing and rejoyce because of the great Comfort and Joy that the Spirit of God filled their Hearts with again it was sufficient in the midst of great Conflicts and Tribulations which Paul and the rest suffered for the Gospel's sake and for Christ's sake and yet as Suffering did abound it was sufficient to make Consolation to super-abound to ballance the Suffering and to make it easie Fifthly It is that everlasting Covenant which the Lord promised by the Mouth of his Prophets in â—ormer Dayes that he would fulfil in the latter Dayes or after times That he would write his Law in their Hearts and put his Spirit in their inward Parts and that they should not teach every Man his Neighbour saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest and again in another Place I will pour upon them the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication and they shall see him whom they have pierced and again I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh and my Sons and my Daughters shall prophecy c. And this was fulfilled at Pentecost in Jerusalem when the Disciples met together and the Promise of the Father came to be fulfilled and the Unbelievers said They were filled with new VVine and the Lord hath a Care of his People through Ages and hath not left them comfortless not without a Guide and a certain and sure one too which Spirit is manifest among some Non-conformists whom thou takest Liberty to call Sects and the Sufficiency of it is witnessed praised be the Lord in our Assemblies both as to convince to convert to save to judge to guide to instruct to comfort and is that alone in which all true Christian Men can worship God in the Silence of all Flesh fleshly Motions Thoughts it 's that that giveth Assurance also of Acceptation with God and is that which makes the Prayers of the Saints as sweet Incense in the Nostrils of the Lord it is that which makes the Words of him like Butter as pleasant as Hony or sweet Oyl who speaks by it through it and from it whereby the Hearts of many have been pricked and the Thoughts of many have been revealed and many have been comforted with Joy unspeakable and filled with pure Love from the sensible Feeling of the Sufficiency of its Power operating in the inward Man even as when the Harvest had been gathered in and the Press been full of Grapes and the Fat 's had overflown with Abundance so that they could have rejoyced and sung and danced for Joy as sometimes David did when the Ark of God was brought from the House of Obed-Edom and placed in Jerusalem when David danced for Joy and all Israel was filled with Gladness what might I say for the Certainty Sufficiency and All-sufficiency of this holy Spirit of God I might fill my Mouth with Arguments and time might fail me in Speech to speak of the Excellency Certainty and Infallibility thereof against all Opposers and Quarellers In a Word it is that alone means through which God conveys Eternal Life to all Man-kind and it is that Rule by which all the Sons of God were led Rom. 8.14 It is that only sure Guide Judge Way Rule in which there is Certainty and Assurance of the Love of God to Man-kind it is that by which the Deeds of the Flesh are mortified and men quickened and enlivened unto God in their Hearts in which the Saints are accepted by which they are regenerated and through which they become Heirs of the Promise what shall I say but this let all Flesh be confounded before it and all Deceit stop its Mouth and all the Sons of Men bow before it all Councils and Churches all Rulers and Elders all Reason and Comprehension all Words and Writings of Men and holy Men yea of the Scriptures of Truth it gave them all a Being it was and is and is to come and will remain when all visible things are past away it is that by which God will plead with all Flesh and bring a Consumption upon all the honourable of the Earth and burn up the Mountains and make the Hills to melt and make all a Plain before him therefore make room make room make way ye Potsherds and cease all your contending and babling and bow to it and learn of it in your Hearts which R. E. like an ignorant Man calls a private Spirit that your Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord and you may escape his Wrath which is to come against all Resisters of it Sixthly Your Catholick Church falsely so called who hath Erred from the Spirit the infallible Guide though you much boast of it both in Doctrine and Practise abundantly insomuch that your Faces seem altogether to look another way and your course to arrive at another Haven then the Apostles and all the Primitive Christians attained unto to wit everlasting Happiness and Rest of their Souls and acceptation with God in their performances and Sacrifices which they offered unto him in the Spirit of which they and all that believe in it and have received it received perfect assurance in their Hearts by the immediate Spirit of God and likewise the Protestants in general whether Lutherans or Calvinists or other Sects known by denomination are of so narrow and a pinching Spirit as that you would Pinch and shut up the Universal love of God unto all Mankind in a narrow Corner and monopolize the free Grace of God that hath appeared unto all Men that teaches all Men that receive it to deny all Heresie Falshood Opinions and Humours private Spirits and Spirits of Error which leadeth from all these and is sufficient to lead out of all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to do that which is acceptable in the sight of God and this all Sects since the Woman cloathed with the Sun fled into the Wilderness viz. the true Church and all parties have laid claim to and excluded all other that were not of the Opinion as from having any share in it as though it were given only to such a company of Men that succeeded the Apostles and by Arts and parts and Natural Language in the Course and Term or Years and at such such places as the Apostles were sometime conversant at and other Sects besides you who have kept more nearer in Conformity in Doctrine and Worship and unto the Apostles then you have done they have laid claim to the Spirit of God and to
would 〈◊〉 it up in a Corner and tye it to one sort of Men or Sect or Opinion and the Mâ—sters thereof would assume it to themselves as though the Spirit of God and Grace of God were only among them and must be conveyed from them to other People before they have it and the direction and Guide of every Man must be sought from their Mouths as though God had not given a measure of his Spirit unto every man to profit withal and to be led and taught and guided by it into all Truth out of Error according to Christ's promise and according to the Lord's Promise in the dayes of old that though his People might eat the Bread of adversity drink the Water of affliction yet their Teacher should not be removed into a Corner and from this quickning enlightening enliveâ—ing Spirit of God the Saints of God and Ministers of Christ in the Primitive times received Power and Authority to propagate Righteousness and to judge deceit and the Mystery of Iniquity where-ever it appeared and in this their ability stood for they were made able and fit Ministers by it not of the Letter nor of Mens Traditions nor of foolish fopperies which have been introduced since and shuffled in among Christians under the Name of Power and Authority of the Holy Church and the Church of God that had received this Spirit walked in it and brought forth the Fruits fit whereby they were a good savour in the Nostrils of the Lord and by which they adorned the Gospel of our Lord Jesâ—â— Christ by a holy Conversation which did manifest them to be of God and Convince and stop the Mouths of gain-sayers And thus we are bold to tell thee and all that the Spirit of God which is given a measure of it to every Man and more fulness of it to them that believe that it is the Rule and the way and means whereby all the Actions Words and Works of all Men are weighed tryed measured and judged and Objections Answered and is the alone Judge of all matters and answerer of all doubts and giveth only true and perfect satisfaction and therefore R. E. may blush and be ashamed to ever publish such a thing abroad in the World as to say That the Spirit of God is not a sufficient director Teacher and Judge but calls it a private Spirit Opinion humour and fancy to make the Eyes of them blind who wait for its appearance only to trust to Men who plead Antiquity and Power without verity And further he goes on and sayes in the 22 th page of his said Epistle There is neither Jew Turk Pagan or Christian but he may put on confidence enough affirming that he is taught by the Spirit of God 〈…〉 this and yet teach contradictions and further saith that it hath no effect among them who pretend to it and that they can no more satisfie another that they are guided by the Spirit of Truth then many who are cast into Bedlâ—m Answ. 'T is true many are confident and impudent enough but confidence without Ground and impudent proves but little and he thâ—t â—â—ith he is a Jew and is not but of the Synagogue of Satan will soon be found out by his Doctrine and Fruits and he that saith he is a Christian and led by the Spirit and keeps not the commands of Christ neither brings forth the Fruits of the Spirit is soon discovered to be a Deceiver and deceived and such are like to teach contradictions but all such are denyed shut out with the Spirit of Truth but them that have the Spirit of God witness a blessed effect among them for they are turned from Satan's Power unto God and do witness Remission of Sin and Reconciliation with God and are not at difference but at Unity one with another and are brought out of the obstinate and perverse Estate which all pretenders are in and as for contradictions they are more to be seen in the Church of Rome then many wheres else they who are but pleased and have leisure to view over the Decrees and Constitutions of several Popes and Councils since he was elevated to be Universal Bishop over all Christian Churches by that Hâ—athen 〈…〉 Emperour Phocas who slew his Master Maâ—ritius to obtain 〈…〉 did gratifie the Pope so far that he might be cryed up as Emperour as thâ—â— he should be Universal Bishop and this proved a better pleâ— for the Pope because the Emperour had Power to defend him and to compel all to receive his Decrees then that he was Peter's Succesâ—oâ— I say who will but look into the Constitutions and Decrees shall find such setting of and throwing down and such decreeing and such disannulling as twenty 〈◊〉 Champions as Robert Everard will never be able to free his Catholick Church from contradictions although he is very forward to charge otheâ—â— though he is but a new Convert but let him not boast till he haâ—h put off his Armour and it is thâ—t mad Bedlem Spirit of thine that saith That among all the Nonconformists there is no one that can satisfie another that he hath the Spirit of God I tell thee yes there are thousands satisfied in one another that they have the Spirit of God besides he that hath it can speak to the witness of God in another which shall testifie the same and moreover their Works and Fruits shall and do manifest unto others that they are born of the Spirit because the Fruits of it are seen as they are manifest to be born of God and do the Works of God and thou must first know the Spirit of God in thy self if ever thou look for it there and not hang altogether upon others belief as thou dâ—st upon thy Catholick Church before thou canst know it in another and first be Convinced by it and judged by it for thy ill deeds and ill thoughts and Hypocrisie and timeâ— serving and flattery and Men-pleasing before thou canst be Convinced of others Righteousness and also be Convinced of the unbelief of thy own Heart before thou canst believe others but thou hast been so busie abroad in quarrelling and contending about Words Names and empty shews without Substance and Life that thy mind is all over grown with Thorns and Bâ—iers scrawling and scratching and entangling thy self and others so that that which should Savour the things of God is over-grown in these and is buried and to them that are like Heaths in a desert know not when Good comes neither do know what they enjoy that dwell in the fat Valleis and the Pharisees had such unbelieving Hearts though Christ was the express Image of God and did the Works that never Man did yet being without Faith and without Reason they said he was a Blasphemer and all his Works were done by Bellzebub and would never be convinced that any thing he did was of God and that Spirit is near thee which would represent the Fruits of the Spirit to be delusion and
them that bring them forth like them in Bedlam and what though Turks Jews Pagans Mahomet and the false Christians do pretend to the Spirit and guidance by it and yet bring forth the Fruits of the Flesh doth this make the Spirit of God void or the certainty of it to them that believe or do make their Fruits of none effect God forbid thy Ignorance is manifest but here thou ceasest not thy Tongue being thy own and thou being at liberty and speakest thy own words which in the end shall become thy Burden Thou vapours and vants over them to wit all the Nonconformists and saist What can you say for your selves any of you which these Enthusiasts who have gone before you to maintain their Errours but the Rule and judge and then thou concludes That which God hath appointed to be rule and judge to all the World and capable of being known and heard by all and cannot contradict it self nor must be contradicted by any under pain of Damnation if you cannot shew it to have been your Rule you ought to lay aside your Folly as destructive to human Society and them that have pretended the Spirit the strongest party and Sword upon the vote will prove it self the most convincing Spirit and force the weaker Spirits to submit or cry for thou concludes the Nonconformists have no other Testimony to try your contradicting Spirits in matters of greatest moment but force and success if you have I pray you inform me what it is Answ. If the Wind had not turned into another door divers Non-conformists believe we should have had another Song from thee if time had but favoured thee so far as to have granted thee priviledge of thy Troop to be Captain which Name thou holds up yet in the pride of thy Heart though thou hast lost thy force success and Pay which was the greatest plea when time was with thee and not long since too which makest thee measure every Man's Foot by thy Last and thou might receive information before thou hadst made a Conclusion had been the part of a Wise man before thou hadst set thy self as Judge over all thy former Fellowships which thou fianedly pretends so great love to and before thou hadst discovered their nakedness if it be nakedness to all the World in such a publick insulting bravado as this like Goliah of Gath and as for whatsome Non-conformists both of the Church of Rome and to the Church of England to which thou creeping and sneakingly flatters and saist it 's established and therefore thou will not meddle thou might have said dare not for thy Spirit is well enough seen by them only to have the Spirit of a Slave and not a free Member of the true Church of God and it 's no part of a Vertue nor Honour for thee to insult and glory over them who are in suffering and Adversity whenas thou darest not meddle with them who are as contrary to thee as the former this is but the Spirit of a Coward and is ignoble and base and ever so to be accounted by all the Children of Light who dare put all to venture which they do enjoy on this side of Immortality and to suffer the loss of all visible things for their Testimony and the Truth which they believe and for bearing witness against that which is contrary unto their Faith as did the valiant Primitive Christians of old and that which some Non-conformists can say is more then thou canst believe although demonstrated in the evidence of the Spirit of God with sound reason and evident Example from the Scriptures of Truth and though thou and thy former fellowships then and thy new fellowships now have made this vapour which for ought I know might lay your Hands upon your Mouths all considering what contradictory Doctrines and Fruits have been brought forth since the Night of Apostacy entred in and all the World wondered after the Beast some have this to say He that pretends to the Spirit and the thing cometh not to pass that they speak or Prophesie let him be accounted a false Prophet again they that pretend guidance of the Spirit as some formerly have done and yet bring forth the Fruits of the Flesh as variance Hatred Emulation Strife Contention Heresie false Doctrine Persecution force and violence let them be counted as truly they are Deceivers and Delâ—ders which have gone out into the World and deceived a great part of Mankind of which Rome hath not had the least share clear it when thou canst Morever he that pretends to have the Spirit of God and layes down another Foundation to build upon in matter of Faith in matter of Rule in matter of Judgment in matter of Doctrine then that which the Lord of Life and Glory hath laid down he is a Deceiver and an Anti-christ but R. E. hath laid down another Rule another way another Judge another Foundation for Faith and let himself make the Conclusion if he once dare joyn to true Judgment other Foundation can none lay then that which is â—lready laid to wiâ— Christ Jesus the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles and of the Church of God by which they were all builded up as a holy Habitation for God to dwell in through the Spirit Again the Apostle saith All Judgment is committed to the Son both in Heaven and Earth and again he saith himself I am the Way the Truth and the Life and none can come to the Father but by me and again the Spirit of Truth shall lead and direct hâ—â— Disciples into all Truth and sealeth unto them their Justification Redemption and Salvation And this R. E. would lay all waste and void and why because many have pretended to it and have fallen short therefore all the aforesaid things must be laid aside as uncertain and not to be trusted unto and a certain sort of Men called the Apostles Successors who have sought their gain and worldly Interest and to enlarge their Dominions and to make themselves Lords over mens Faith and over mens Consciences whatsoever they say though never so contradictory to the Primitive Doctrine delivered in Christ and the Apostles dayes yet all must be received upon pain of Damnation as R. E. saith and this he calls the Visible Church and the infallible Judge and Rule and Director and hath laid waste the Office of Christ and turned the Spirit out of doors and made it ineffectual and would perswade all others to look to this from the Foundation and so is a deceiver and an Anti-christ Again we have this to say he that teacheth a contrary Doctrine then that which was once delivered unto the Saints is a Deceiver and deceived and this was Christ's Doctrine once delivered unto the Saints Swear not at all and love your Enemies pray for them that Persecute you do good to them that hate you And many more precepts which this visible Guide to wit the Roman Church holds not but hath made void
Angels Worshipping Relicks worshipping Images Transubstantiation Purgatory sprinkling of Infants prove to us from the Scripture in thy next that these were Apostolical and Infallible Doctrines delivered and taught by the Church of Christ in the Apostles time or in the first hundred Years after Christ and thou will not only gain me but many more to receive and imbrace the Catholick Church of Rome for an absolute Rule and Guide unto which all on Earth ought to be subject unto which if thou dost not we will take it for granted thou darest not lest thou ingage thy self in such a Controversie as thou never ingaged in yet by which thy and your Folly will more and more appear unto all I shall not trouble neither my self nor the Reader any further in traducing R. E. in his multiplicity of Words although the main and weighty Arguments and Reasons as R. E. looks upon them are answered which I commend unto thee and to the Witness of God in every Man's Conscience to try and search out where the difference and weight lies and the Truth and as the measure of God's Spirit in every Man's Conscience doth close with or against if it can what I have said about R. E. his Epistle for unto that I dare stand to the Judgment of and in it as every one believes and walks I bid my Reader Farewell Westmoreland this 18 th of the 5 th Moneth 1665. F. H. A General Epistle To the Dispersed and PERSECUTED FLOCK OF Christ Jesus IN THE DOMINION OF ENGLAND AND All Parts and Regions where this shall come who have believed in Christ the Light of the VVorld and now suffer for his Names sake DEarly Beloved whom God hath called and redeemed out of the World and the Vanities thereof to follow the Lamb in the Regeneration through the Cross and Suffering in this Age wherein the Whore Beast and false Prophet and all that have drunk of her Cup and have received the Mark of the Beast and are led aside to believe Lyâ—s that proceed out of the Mouth of the time serving flattering deceitful Workers of this Generation who are all joyned together iâ— theiâ—â—â—rength and Power to act every Way against the Lamb and his meck Appearance who takes away the Sins of the World and against all them that are made clean through his Blood and are come out of the Pâ—llutions of the Wâ—rld and to make War against the Râ—mnâ—nt of the Seed of God who are begetten again to the lively Hope of Christ Jesus and to the Inheritance that fâ—des not away and to root out and destroy and weary out through cruel Suffering the Saints of the most high that so the Prince of Darkness might rule in his full Power and Authoriâ—y in his Instruments and Servants without Opposition or any Gain-saâ—ing And as God out of his everlasting Love hath redeemed and translated many from great Darkness wherein they have bin hâ—ld in the time of Unbelief into his marvellous Light to walk in it and to bring forth the Fruits of the Day of Light Faith and Righteousness to the Praise and Glory of his Grace who hath called them and translated them for that very End to shew forth his Power and Glory in the Earth who have been quickned and raised by it out of the Grave that they might bear Witness thereunto and testifie of it both in Word and Work against the World and the God thereof who now rules in the Children of Disobedience therefore is his Wrath the more kindled and his Fury great against them that are departed out of his Kingdom and will not yield their Hearts and Necks to be subject any more unto his Yoak by whom they have been enslaved and held Captive under many and divers Lusts which the Wrath of God is revealed against and to be revealed against and because they are made free by the Frightness of the glorious rising of the Sun of Righteousness in his Power and quickning Life in their Hearts which hath broken his Yoak of Bondage and destroyed the Law of Sin and Death which sometimes had Power over them but now being made Conquerors of them through the Power of Christ the old Dragon the Deceiver of the Nations who is out of the Truth labours by all means to bring them back again under his Yoak and his Devices are not a few which are set on Foot at this Day to make all bow unto him which the Children of Light are not ignorant of who are and have been watchful against the mysterious working of his Power within and also without in his Instruments who have received great Power from him to propagate his Kingdom that stands in Wrath Evil doing and Cruelty And therefore all had need to watch and be circumspect that they that are escaped be not ensnared and entangled again lest their Bondage be greater and the Yoak heavier then before Therefore the Lord moveth often in my Heart to exhort all unto Watchfulness and Diligence and so much the more because the Dayes are perilous and the Times dangerous and the Temptations many on every Hand so they that look out are in Danger to be ensnared and let in the Enemy and Fears and Doubts and Unbelief enter and questioning in the Haste Can God deliver or will he deliver or hath he any Regard unto our Afflicâ—ion And because the time seems long and they cannot see to the End thereof their Hearts fail and their Faith is in Danger to be shaken and they lose their States therefore it concerns every one to watch and pray that they enter not into Temptations neither be overcome with the wicked One neither of the fading Pleasure Profit and Ease that the Children of this World do enjoy which is but for a Time and then is the Beginning of endless Misery Therefore all dearly beloved look over all the Sufferings and Troubles and Temptations and Necessities and over the Devil and all his Works to the Beginning and to that have an Eye which was before they had a Being to the Lord God everlasting who made Heaven and Earth have an Eye and let your Eye be fixed on him which destroyes the Devil and all his Works and will reward the Workers of Iniquity according to their Deeds with everlasting Torments Dearly Beloved who have been under great Sufferings Losers for Christ's sake and the Gospel's in this Age like as many faithful Witnesses have been in former Ages I am a Sufferer with you and am sensible of your Griefs Affliâ—â—ions Necessities and Tribulations which are many and do bear and suffer with you all in my Heart and in the true Sence and Feeling of you all dispersed every where where God hath placed you in the Earth my Heart Soul Life and Spirit breatheth forth unto you all and your Burden is mine your Afflictions are mine your Sufferings are mine I do weep with them that weep I am sorrowful with them that are sorrowful and what which is a Grief
Ease Hardness of Heart is generally over People and clearly to me it doth presage Judgment Tenderness of Heart and Spirit is generaly lost among people and the most have made Shipwrack of all their Hope Faith and Profession to please the time and men of this Generation who are perverse and froward they have been treacherous to God and to their own Souls and cannot do Good to his People keep as much as in you lyes out of their Spirit Manners for they are corrupt and though God's Judgments be abroad in the Land and his Anger kindled and broken forth yet few enquire the Cause or say What have I done but if any do enquire it is generally in that dark Spirit that leads them to Evil which God hides his Counsel from and will not be found of and yet they make Conclusions and give Judgment as the Heathen of old if any Pestâ—leâ—ce Famine or Drought or Judgment came upon them thâ—y said The Christians were the Cause and so stirred up Persecution against them the like and Dreamers of this Age in their Mock fasts and Humiliâ—tions they say Heresie the Cause and because all dâ— nâ—t conform and are not willing to submit to the changeable Institutions of men though never so repugnant to the Law of God they tell the Magistrates The I hanaticks and Quakers are the Cause and so they fast for Strife and to kindle Debate and to stir up Persecution and they seem to cleave so close to the Magistrates that will force and exâ—ct Gain for them and give them large Pay they will cry them up as the higher Power that all are to submit unto in all things under the Pain of Condemnation and they will cry them up and dance and clap their Hands and rejoyce as Israel did about the Calf when they had forgotten God so the Lord is provoaked more and more and they think by rooting out his People if possible will stay his Judgments it 's lamentable to see what Blindness is over the Hearts of the Seers of this Generation who cry Peace Peace and how Peâ—ple are given up to believe their Lyes and to Hardness of Heart and never consider their own Estate neither the Afflictions of Joseph is remembred Another thing also hath been in my Heart many Weeks and a Query hath been in my self and I know hath been on many Spirits why in this common Calamity and in God's Visitaâ—ion of the City of London and many other Places of this Nation that they that have suffered so greatly so long and so faithfully and have born such a Testimony for the Lord why also they should be taken away among the rest seeing the Lord was able to deliver and also command his destroying Angel to pass over as it pleased him and spare and take away as he pleased and why it should not be wholly upon his Enemies and upon them that called not upon his Name in Truth and Righteousness I had many sad Thoughts of Heart and have waited upon the Lord concerning these things with Supplications and Tears concerning his afflicted Peâ—ple and concerning his Name and Truth and this Satisfaction I have received in my self and do communicate unto you First of all it is said That Paul stayed and preached the Gospel at Ephesus two Years so that not only them of Ephesâ—â— but all Asia heard the Word of God both Jews and Greeks and many were gathered unto God and believed and the rest were hardened When I considered this that not only two Years but twelve Years that City of London hath heard the Word of the living God declared and published plentifully in it and the everlasting Gospel of Christ in the Demonstration of the Spirit and with Power insomuch that the Sound went through and through and many believed and the rest were hardened having lost the Day of their Visitation but alas it was but a few considering the Labour and Travail and considering so many Thousands who counted the things of God a slight Matter and for them that were worthy and did believe they were hated and despised and evilly entreated with the most and shut up in Holes and miserable Bonds and Prisons and lingring Torments which oftentimes were the Cause of their Death whose Lives God is requiring at the Hands of that Place and the Messengers of God were mocked abused and evilly entreated and shut up in Bonds till Death and Wickedness did abound and Peoples Hearts grew hard in Ease Riches Pride and vain Glory till the Wrath of God broke forth and cut down Thousands in his Displeasure and this was seen and foreseen full three whole Years and upwards by some of the faithful Servants of God who laid down their Lives in Bonds in that City and are gathered unto the Lord and also some who remain in the Body unto this Day and it was prophesied of and the City was warned thereof Rulers and People but the most made a Mock of it till the just Judgment of God seized upon it Secondly The Lord took away these faithful Men of God Edward Burroughs Richard Hubberthorn and George Fox junior who had been much conversant there who were faithful Watchmen and prevailed often with the Lord till they were shut up in Bonds for all their sore Travail and Labour amongst the Inhabitants thereof and that Place being unworthy of them any more he delivered them and took them away to himself from the Evil to come that they had seen and prophesied of that they might see none of that Misery that is now come Thirdly They were gathered unto the Lord as a Token and Sign unto them that believed of many following after and of their Dissolution Fourthly The Lord did fore-know and fore-see and also had determined Evil against that City and that which is now come to pass and that this Generation notwithstanding all the Entreaties Woings Warnings and Exhortations which they had and slighted and they would proceed on to more Mischief and Persecution in presumption against God and his people and are yet determined and have said in their Hearts Though the Bricks be fallen down we will build with hewn Stone to fortifie themselves that their End might not fail which the Lord God will blast and confound and though Friends have born their Iniquity they shall at last bear it themselves and know the Reward thereof and have none to help so the Lord hath taken away many in his Love and Mercy from the Evil to come and hâ—th freed them from further Misery and hath translated them out of the Reach of all their Enemies Fifthly Seeing they have suffered long and faithfully in that plaâ—e and and elsewhere and have born a living Testimony many to the Loss of their Lives and to their ruinating in this World against the Abominations that did abound and their righteous Souls were vexed as Lot's was with the Sodomites the Lord hath considered and hath said It is enough your Afflictions I will end and
take you into my Rest and Peace out of the Reach of the Oppressor Sixthly For the frustrating of the Purpose of them who decreed that unrighteous Decree for Banishment that it may not profit them neither answer their End and Unrighteousness the Lord the Lord hath cut them short of their Purpose and will cut them short of their Hope and in the End bring their Council to nought for that which is formed against the Lord shall not prosper Seventhly For the hardening the Hearts of this Generation who have devised Mischief from the Womb and have gone astray as soon as they were born after so many Warnings and evident Tokens of his Hand against them and of his Displeasure which have been set at nought and yet are resolved to go on to root out the Heritage of God I say that their Hearts might be hardened and their Eyes closed that they may not discern betwixt the End of the Righteous and the Wicked nor see a Difference in their States but as one dyes so dyes the other as to the outward Appearance though you beloved know a Difference both in Life and Death and I do believe many who have laid down the Body and put off this earthy Tabernacle have given great Testimony of God's Love unto them of his Favour Peace and Acceptation in the latter End in this which I have said I am satisfied and therefore could not but signifie the same unto you that we might not sorrow concerning them that dye in the Faith and sleep in Christ as them who are without Hope for these rest from their Labours and their Faith Works and Life shall live and we have and enjoy their Spirit and Life so it is only personal Absence of this earthly Tabernacle that we want so in that be comforted Last of all The Wayes of the Lord are unsearchable but as he reveals them to them that fear him and whatever may be manifest to any other this I am certainly perswaded of that God will have Honour and Glory through all these things as it shall be in the End for the Prosperity of the Gospel of Truth and I am perswaded of this though the Lord should permit many to be destroyed outwardly of all they enjoy yet they are resolved to trust in him forever And though the Day be dark and gloomy and the Devil be let loose to try the Faith of them that dwell upon the Earth and the Wrath of the Wicked be great yet the Bond is set that they cannot pass and though we that yet remain alive to this Day were all dissolved and rowled together in the Dust which is the End of all Flesh yet that Life and Power which we have believed in and that everlasting Truth which we have testified of and suffered for shall never be extinguished or rooted out but shall take up other Persons and Bodies from Generation to Generation while Sun and Moon endureth in this be all assured and comforted in the Lord and chearful in your Sufferings and comfort and strengthen one another in the royal Seed of God all live and dwell which cannot bow to the Seed of the Bond-woman which hath the Promise of Life and Immortality and everlasting Blessedness and all look unto the Lord over all and above all the Rage and Wrath of the Enemy and the Afflictions of this present Life and feel that which is without End The God of Power be with you comfort your in the midst of all your Tryals and preserve you that your Faith fail not is the earnest Desire of him whose Heart is knit unto the Lord and all his suffering People in the everlasting Covenant of Life and Peace pray all unto the Lord without ceasing that you may be able though through the Valley of the Shadow of Death the Peace of God fill all your Hearts that you may rejoyce in the Lord and trust in him forever The 16th of the 8th Moneth 1665. Yours in Life or Death F. H. OATHS NO Gospel-Ordinance But prohibited by CHRIST BEING IN ANSWER TO A. SMALLWOOD D. D. To his Book lately published being a Sermon preached at Carlile 1664 wherein he hath laboured to prove Swearing lawful among Christians his Reasons and Arguments are weighed and answered and the Doctrine of Christ vindicated against the Conceptions and Interpretations of Men who would make it void By a Sufferer for Christ and his Doctrine F. H. Because of Oaths the Land mourneth Jer. 23.10 11 12 c. By Swearing and lying and kâ—lâ—ing and stealing and committing Adultery they break out and Blood toucheth Blood therefore shall the Land mourn and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish Hosea 4.2 3. TO THE READER TRuth never had that Advantage nor Countenance from the Men of this World though Wise in their Generation since Sin entered into it to have the Approbation of the World neither of the Powers and Potentates thereof for it alwayes hated the Truth because it bore Witness against the World and the Deeds and Works thereof which ere evil for Wisdom is only justified of her Children and Truth is justified of her Children neither indeed doth it need any other Patron to shelter it self under but the God of all Truth from whence it proceeds neither shall I seek a Shelter neither run to any Mountain or Hill for Safety or Protection nor to the mighty of the Earth as many of latter Dayes have done to patronize their Labours and to make them the more acceptable and to be the sooner and more readily received But seeing the Apostle saith Not many Wise not many Rich not many Noble are chosen but he hath chosen the Weak and Poor and despised of the World who are Rich in Faith and good Works who are Heirs of the Promise and of the the World to come I chuse only to be approved to the Witness of Christ's Light in every Man's Conscience and to the Measure of his holy Spirit which he hath placed in every Man to that only I desire to be either approved or else by it reproved for wholly unto the Judgment of that in every Conscience I appeal and do commend this ensuing Discourse in the Sight of God and the Answer unto A. Smalwood's Book who hath sought to make void Christ's Command for to obey the Command of Men as is manifest in his Epistle Dedicatory to the Gentlemen of Cumberland for it seems by his Epistle they put him on Work to preach and print this Sermon whether upon this Subject or not I shall not determine but however he saith He hath obeyed their Commands though he hath laboured as much as in him lyes to make the Command of Christ void and the Apostles Doctrine by his Arguments which he hath raised to prove Christ's Doctrine one thing and his Intention another and so would blind the Minds of People only to establish the Doctrines of Men and the Traditions of Men in the Apostacy and hath put divers Constructions upon the
that he so vehemently contends for that ought to be observed as well as God's Fear Service it 's but their own Traditions Inventions for that under the Law will not serve As the Lord lives or that he calls Swearing under the Gospel will not serve The Lord is Witness or I speak the Truth in Christ or thâ—s is Truth in the Presence of God or the like none of these will serve but though he the Rulers do say they are Oaths yet when at any time we have proffered willingly to declare the Truth in this or that particular Causes or to make as ample Confession in Demonstration for clearing any Cause in Debate that hath either conduced to the Glory of God or the Good and Profit of any particular Man in the Nation among whom we converse and not without some Attestation of God or of his Wisdom Power and Presence yet it would never yet be received but reckoned as Insufficient though both the Rulers of this Age and A. S. have said it It might be that in private it might but in Judicature never as received though I do believe the most do believe we dare not lye in ordinary Communication much less in Judicature yet we have been set aside as Objects of Wrath as deluded erronious factious seditious Contemners of Law Obstructors of legal Procedings except we would lay our Hand upon a Bible and kiss it and say I swear and by the Contents of the Book and so help me God or else fined imprisoned for Term of Life our Lands and Goods confiscated and we sentenced to be banished our Wives and Children ruinated Husband and Wife parted Children and Parents separated and such Monsters of Christians have we to deal withal in this Age and how many brought into this sad Condition in England as little A. S. knows as cares But for ought I know that he and such as he in such publick Discourses as this of his have blown the Sparks and have kindled a Flame in the Rulers and incensed them and stirred them up to Severity and Harshness against them who fear the Lord and do maintain Peace with all men as much as in them lyeth and keep their Consciences void of Offence towards God which makes us to chuse rather all this Hardship then to offend the Lord who serve and fear his Name and reverence it more then they who seem to honor it and pretend God's Honour through their Swearing But to make amends for this A. S. saith The Magistrates must act by the Law and that enjoyns such a Form of Swearing and they cannot allow it Unto that I answer it had been a more necessary Discourse for A. S. to have exhorted the Magistrates if the Law had been answered in the Substance not to be so severe in the Form and also to have told them where any Law was made contrary to the Law of God either in Matter or Form the Consciences of Believers could not yeild Obedience thereunto when it was repugnant unto the Law of God and not according to the Form thereof and in such Cases to be wary and he and the rest of the Clergy to have advised with the Rulers and Law-makers and to have informed them from whom they receive such great In-comes and Revenues for the Preservation and Peace of all Men tnat they need not stand so much upon the Form seeing that so many conscientious People questioned it so that there needed not such tying up to Form under such great and heavy Penalties as Banishment Confiscation and perpetual Imprisonment but have informed them so that the Truth might have been found out and no judicial Proceedings hindered which I am sure may be without any Swearing true Testimony never being denyed when required by any Magistrate and let but a Penalty be upon him that gives false Evidence or speaks an Untruth about any Proceedings in Judicature or otherwise called to bear Evidence in any Controversie if found let them suffer as them that swear falsly and as perjured and the Case is one and here all Scruples and Contentions about Swearing would end and there would not be the least Obstruction in legal Proceedings or in Administration of Justice and let me tell Doctor Smallwood and the rest of his Brothren that if they would move such a thing in Parliament peradventure it would be readily received from them and in so doing they would do as acceptable a Piece of Service and as well-pleasing to God and would conduce as much to the Peace and Tranquillity of the Nation as any thing that ever they will do in their Age or hath been effected many Ages and so all these Heart-burnings Contentions and evil Surmisings and evil representing one another would cease and end and which if not effected nothing can be looked for but sad Suffering and great Oppression and Persecution which will provoke the Lord to Anger and ever did against all them that were the Cause of it in Ages past But I come to his second Argument Second Argument Some without any Colour Reason or Possibility of Proof will needs have Swearing a ceremonial Rite but God ranks it with his Fear and Service therefore it must needs be moral and therefore what at all Times as well under the Gospel as under the Law as well among the Gentiles as the Jews tends to the Glory of God that is not a ceremonial Ordinance nor forbidden by Christ but such is Swearing and therefore it cannot be thought to be prohibited Reply It hath been said and often asserted that all the ten Words and ten Commandments were moral and perpetual as well under the Gospel as under the Law then I wonder what A. S. and divers others intend to do with the fourth Commandment if it be moral and perpetual and to be observed in the same Manner and with the same Service as then commanded and the same day and time then he and most of them who contend most for the Morality of these ten Commandments are great Transgressors and if he grant there was something ceremonial in it and typical or figurative which then was the seventh Day which was given for a Sign of the World's Rest from its Labour and of keeping after it an everlasting Sabbath to the Lord by Man's Cessation from his own Works as God did from his Isa. 58. and the last of Hebrews ver 4. which Jewish Observation of the seventh Day as a Sabbath now though never so solemnly as then commanded will have no Acceptation at all no more then he and he as much that is none at all that never so solemnly swears by the Name of God in such ceremonious Way as the Jews did of old or goes beyond the bare Asseveration or Testimony of Truth with some Attestation of God's Power and Veracity which hath never been denyed which to do we do not only think but know it to be a superfluous Ceremony to Judaism not to say Brat of Jewish Extraction
rather wonder that such a Vail of Darkness should be so long over the minds and Hearts of them that believe not notwithstanding so clear evidence from Christ and his Apostles or the Example of the Primitive Christians or holy Martyrs who spoke the Truth but denyed to Swear at all but that Custome and Tradition is often more minded then the very Truth it self Oh! that the Rulers of this Nation would once consider weigh what they are doing and how many and great the suffering of a Conscientious People that fear the Lord in theirs Hearts are who dare not disobey the commands of Christ lest they fall into Condemnation and come under the rebuke of the Lord in their Hearts who hath Power alone to kill and to make alive but rather chuse to suffer the loss of all and undergo the manifold Sufferings that some malicious Spirits cause to be inflicted upon them when indeed there is no cause at all while prophane Persons Swear and forswear and take God's holy Name in vain and make little Conscience of any thing but sometime for and sometime against whatsoever seems countenanced and discountenanced by the Magistrates so that neither the King nor Kingdom is in any more security notwithstanding all such Swearing how solemn soever they seem in Swearing neither any more credit be given in Judicature then there is to be given to him that is a common Swearer in his private occasions or common Communication and Oh! how doth the Land abound in this insomuch that he that is not a Curser or Swearer is looked upon as a Phanatick or some disobedient Person or unconformable Man which ought especially to be eyed for a dangerous Person Oh! that the Heads and Rulers of the People would but consider how near the Judgment of God is and how ready to break forth upon the Nation and not without cause even great Evils are begun Pestilence and Sword already threatned and God's Arrows flying abroad to wound and to destroy them that continue in hardness of Heart rebellion against God and will not suffer him to rule and reign in the Consciences and Kingdoms of Men but vain Men would set up their Thresh-hold with his and not only so but against his and great is the wickedness and the Sins of this Nation upon many accounts which the Lord will bring a Scourge upon especially that grievous Sin of Persecution that Cain-like way which the Generations have chosen to add as they ignorantly suppose unto their Church and so build up their Zion with Cruelty and their Church by Iniquity Oh! this is loathsome in the sight of God had Zimri peace who slew his Master had Israel Peace when she slew the Prophets had the Jews Peace when they had Crucified Christ had the Romans Peace when they Persecuted the first Christians had Cain Peace when he had slain his Brother If nay let not England expect Peace when they are Persecuting them that are Members of Christ's Church so that this grievous Sin if England had no more were enough to bring the dreadful Judgment of God upon the whole Land and undoubtfully will if not repented of but now it must not be counted so and why because there are some Statuets and Laws which they obey not and so it 's for disobedience consider did not all the former pretend one Law or other did not all that ever suffer'd even the best of Men Christians suffer as disobedient as Offenders against some Law or other as Evil-doers in the Account of them that inflicted Punishments upon them if so as it is certain they did may not England be deceived while that they are thinking they do God and the King Service to root out and destroy some under the Notion of Heresie and some under the Notion of Disobedience and Factious may they not be persecuting Christ in his Members or destroying the peaceable Members of their Native Country the Lord open all their Eyes and do away the Darkness and the Vail of Ignorance that is over many Hearts that they may turn to the Lord and submit unto his eternal and unchangeable Power that so they may escape the Day of the Lord which is at Hand and the Judgment of God that is ready to break forth as an an over-flowing Scourge to cut off and sweep away in his Displeasure even all them that would not have Christ to rule in their Hearts neither have his Laws fulfilled nor obeyed which he writeth in the Hearts of all true Believers unto whom all must bow and be subject because the Father hath committed all Power into his Hand and his Glory he will not give to another no to none but him whom he hath given for a Covenant of Light and Life to be King Law-giver Saviour and Judge of his People and to be the Head of the Body his Church whom he redeems out of the World to himself to glorifie him who is the only Potentate and King of Immortal Glory God blessed forever and ever Amen To all the Well-beloved Flock of Christ whom he hath gathered into his Fold to feed in his Heavenly pasture in and about London Hartford and Kingston PEace from God the Father be multiplyed in all your Hearts through Jesus Christ the Prince thereof whom the Father hath sent as his Free Gift and given for the Covenant thereof unto all that believe and receive him to reconcile all even all that believe even them that have been and yet are afar off and are in Enmity in their Hearts yet by wicked Works and have no Title or Right unto Peace yet they that have received have and them that shall receive him shall have and shall be brought nigh unto God and out of the Wrath and Enmity and so come to be capable thereof through receiving and believing in his Name and Power by whom alone Remission of Sins is obtain'd and Peace and Reconciliation with God witnessed to whom be Glory and Honour forever and ever Amen Dearly Beloved with Thoughts of pure and unspotted Love I often remember you all who have been and are Followers of Christ and Sufferers for him in this present World and also have been and may expect to be while in the World Companions with them that suffer for that blessed Hope and Testimony which you have received from God in your Hearts by which the Saints in Light were purified and sanctified and did overcome the World and the Prince thereof who now ruleth in the Children of Disobedience who are subject to his Power and Government which stands in Wrath Envy Oppression Persecution and in that which leads unto every evil Deed and Work and because the Lord hath chosen you out of the World and from under the Power of the Prince of Darkness therefore he and all his Subjects hate you and as it was from the Beginning of his Kingdom since Sin entered into the World so it is now though it was not so from the Beginning of
God's Creation when all was blessed and at Peace and in Unity and Harmony one with another when Man was the Image of God and you through the rich Mercy and Love of God being called to believe in the Hope and Promise of God and having waited and obtained Life through Jesus Christ whom the Father hath given for Life and the Covenant thereof and of Peace unto all that believe I say it being given unto you of the Father to believe and receive him whom the Father hath sent to restore again all even all receive the free Gift and close therewith according as the Father tenders him unto all believing and obeying his Voice they come to witness Restoration and to be delivered from Darkness and Death and every evil Way and Work into perfect Freedom in due time and to serve the living God in Righteousness and Holiness and to be made Partakers of his precious Promise and of the Kingdom Power and Glory of God that fades not away and of Life eternal and Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost now and forever and makes all his chosen Ones who believe in his Name Partakers of his piteous and long Suffering and of his heavenly and spiritual Blessings in Christ Jesus to whom be Glory forever and ever Amen I say because the Lord hath chosen you and hath wrought Change in you and brought you out of their Pathes whose Habitations are full of Cruelty all that are in Bondage hate you and your Freedom and your Life and Way and there can be no Reconciliation no Concord in the Ground for as it was of old time even so now since Cain slew his Brother so all the Children of the Flesh of the Bond-woman and of the World hated them that were born of the Spirit and were redeemed up unto God to live unto him and glorifie him forever by shewing forth by a holy Conversation that they were so called and chosen of God I hope the Consideration of these things and the Knowledge of them dwells with you and in your Hearts and you see you are joyned to a blessed Company and an holy Assembly who are gone before and are entred into Rest and have precious Fellowship with them who now remain alive unto this Day who have Fellowship with the Father and the Son and in all our Trials and Afflictions are afflicted with us although you have had Exercises above many and have walked through the Region and Shadow of Death inward and outward yet the Lord hath upholden you unto this Day that you may bear in Mind his great and dreadful and wonderful Works and fear before him land honour him and speak Good of his Name and worship him in the Beauty of Holiness which he hath led you into and glorifie him in his Temple comfort and strengthen one another in the Truth and let not the World neither the fading Glory of it overcome your Hearts but in the Dominion of God stand over the World and its Temptations lest you be entangled that you cannot run with Patience and follow the Lord in the Cross the Dayes of our Pilgrimage go on apace the time is short all outward Suffering will have an End and Wrath shall cease to be any more happy are they that continue in the Patience for this Moment of time we have to follow the Lamb here through the War and Tribulation Victory is at the End thereof in the mean time God by his holy Spirit gives daily Hints of his Love in the inward Man unto all stay'd Minds and Assurance of the Victory which makes me often overlook present Suffering and forget the Afflictions that are past and little to heed present things though they seem to frown because the Light of God's Countenance is lifted up and his Favour and Love and strengthning Power felt in the inward Man which ballances all and weighs down the Scale of present Trouble and Affliction so that hard things are become easie and ponderous things light look not out at Trouble and Hardship but rather admire the great Goodness of God that hath so much restrained the Wrath of Men which was great and hath made some of it to turn to his Glory he hath made void the Intention of the prudent and hath turned Counsel backward and hath frustrated the Expectation of the proud and lofty who took Counsel together even as of old against the Lord and his anointed yet for all this God hath established his Son on the holy Hill of Sion and his Saints reign with him sure you cannot but have taken notice of these things and of the Out-goings of the Lord and have considered his handy-Works and say with me the Lord hath created Deliverance upon Mount Sion and hath appeared to the Joy of the Righteous and his Enemies he is making as the Dust under his Feet and is scattering the Devices of the Sons of fallen Adam and making them as the Chaff of the Summer Floor which the Wind scattereth Friends what shall I'say unto you that I love you ye know that it 's no less neither diminuished to the faithful I now give you to know I often remember you upon my Bed and not only so but before the Lord whom I know hath a Regard unto the Supplications of the upright and their Prayers are as Incense and from whom he smells a sweet Savour and gives them to feel and know it in their Hearts so that they come unto him with Confidence having Access through Jesus our Life and Joy unto whom be Glory and Honour forever and ever Amen Dearly beloved what shall I say to comfort your Hearts and stir up your Minds to the Exercise of his Grace in you but the plenteous Harvest of the Lord is come wherein they that have sown to the Spirit and have walked in Obedience thereunto do reap the plenteous Fruits of Righteousness Peace Joy Assurance and pure and perfect Consolation so that all Cause of Complaint is taken away Glory to the Lord forevermore the Vintage is ripe the Press is full and many Fatts overflow because of Plenty and many are filled with the Fatness of God's House the new Wine is drunk that comes from the pure and living Vine Christ Jesus Clusters of heavenly Grapes are possessed better by far then them the Spies brought from Eshcoll which may animate all your Hearts and encrease your Faith and Hope and further this I say unto you God is ready to give bountifully unto all if you be ready to receive and meet to digest his heavenly Food and I am sure you cannot want any good thing neither will his Consolation be withhâ—lden from you but that which the Prophet Hosea prophesied concerning Israel and the Blessings that should come upon them The Lord shall hear the Heavens and they shall hear the Earth and the Earth shall hear the Corn and Wine and Oyl and they shall hear Israel the same you shall feel inwardly to the Satisfaction of all your Souls the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ open all your Hearts and keep them open that he according to his Promise may come in and sup with you and make his Abode with you and us all Amen Amen Brethren I might and could write largely unto you but that I know that Word of Truth hath been and is plentifully from time to time published among you which I would have you all prize as a Mercy and Blessing from the Lord it was said in the Dayes of Eli the high Priest That the Word of the Lord was scarce in those Dayes and Amos prophesied against Israel when they slighted the Commandment of the Lord and said to the Sâ—ers see not and were out of Love with the Word of the Lord That there should come a Famine of it and they should wander from Sea to Sea and should not hear which was a great Judgment for that End I speak that you may prize that Plenty God hath scattered and sown among you and not loathe like Israel what nothing but Manna nothing but Manna or lust after new or unknown things as some prophane Minds say What one and the selfsame thing still we hear if we go from Year to year yest indeed the Truth is one the Way to Life one the everlasting Covenant of Life is one by which Salvation Peace and Reconciliation comes to all that believe and Union with God known and perfect Satisfaction to the faithful so that they say and believe in their Hearts he is come and the Way is declared that leads to everlasting Felicity and we look not for any nor after any other I say I might write largely unto you but you are written in my Heart even all that keep their Integrity feel my Love unto you all in the Life that hath quickned you that it runs as fresh and freely as Euphrates that watered the Garden of Eden and is no other then the bubling and springing of the VVater of Life of Love which the Lord caused to flow forth and in it to salute you all the Peace of God rest in all your Habitations Amen Appleby the 22 d of this 6 th Moneth 1668. Your Dear Brother in Suffering for Christ F. H. Cause this to be read in the Assembly of the Church of God in and about London Hartford and Kingston THE TABLE OF THE Principal Things contained in this BOOK A Warning to the Priests and People of Kendal page 1. The Word of the Lord to Oliver Cromwel p. 5. An Answer to Tho. Ellison 's Petition to O. Cromwel p. 7. The fiery Darts of the Devil quenched In Answer to a Book called The second Beacon fired presented to Oliver Cromwel then Protector p. 17. A Warning to all the Rulers in these English Nations p. 24. A Warning to all the World p. 26. A General Epistle to the Camp of the Lord in England p. 28. The Inheritance of Jacob discovered after his Return out of Egypt p. 37. A Lamentation for the scattered Tribes p. 65. I. The Difference shewn betwixt them that learn of Christ and are taught of him and them that follow the Principle of Darkness that leads into Error p. 72 II. The Difference betwixt the Faith which is feigned which is the World's and the Saints Faith p. 77. III. Concerning Hope and the Difference betwixt true and false Hope p. 79. IV. True Faith how it is wrought and what it is in its Effects and Operations p. 80. V. A Word to all the Ministers of the World in all Opinions and Sects and to all your People in every Sect p. 81. VI. To all you who put out the Eye through long accustoming to Sin who are near utter Darkness p. 84. VII To all them that are tossed and find no Rest for the Sole of their Feet but are still lead aside into Pollutions and Sin and know not how to come forth nor where the Power is p. 86. The measuring-Rod of the Lord stretched forth over all Nations p. 89 Some of the Mysteries of God's Kingdom declared p. 109. I. What the Day of the Lord is and to whom it hath appeared and how it is seen and discovered p. 114. II. What the Day of the Lord is and what it will be to the Wicked declared p. 115. III. What the Day of the Lord is to the Righteous and how he appears to them and whether any are to look for it whilest in the Body resolved p. 116. IV. Where the Day of the Lord doth appear and how it comes and how it is to be looked for declared p. 118. V. What the Spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the Things of God p. 119. VI. How the Spirit of Truth worketh and appeareth in them who are convinced and yet have not obeyed showed p. 121. VII How the Spirit of the Father worketh in them who are turned to it and have taken Heed unto its Manifestation and are in some Measure Partakers of its Power p. 125. VIII Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears Witness and seals Assurance of the Father's Love and of Justification with God declared p. 125. IX What the free Grace of God is and unto whom it hath appeared and where all are to wait to receive it declared as it hath been revealed by the Spirit p. 127. X. Whether all have received the Grace of God or no declared and whether it be a sufficient Teacher in it self to wit that Grace that hath appeared to all if it be received demonstrated p 129. XI A Word to the Wise Men of this World who are glorying in the Sound of Words and worshipping outward Appearances to all Wise and Litteral Professors who think you are worshipâ—ing God aright who think to search into the deep Things of God by your Natural Wisdom Learning Parts and Study p. 134. XII The Kingdom of God and of his Christ declared in some Measure as it is revealed what it is and how it comes to be revealed to them and in them that believe that all that are waiting for it may know wherein it consists and so receive the End of their Hope and the End of their Expectation and know the Dominion which hath no End p. 137. An Epistle to Friends in London p. 141. Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots discovered p. 145. The Invisible Things of God brought to Light by the Revelation of the Eternal Spirit p. 173. I. The Work of the Lord declared which was in the Beginning when the Word was with God and was the Father's Delight and Man made in the Image of God c. p. 179. II. The Vndâ—rstanding may read the Wisdom of God in a Mystery and also may see thi sottish Doctrine of the Apostates p. 182. III. An Objection answered p. 183. IV. How Peace Joy and Delight possâ—ssed every Thing that God had made how every Thing which he had formed glorified him with one Consent in the Beginning p. 184. V. How Man lost his
of Men and sport themselves over the Heritage of God what doth he that sits in Heaven and they that are in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus and will not the Lord have them in Derision who mâ—ke a Mock of Sin and rejoyce in Iniquity as though it were the high Way to Felicity Well though the Archers have shot hard at you and hâ—ve come in their Strength against you yet the Lâ—rd hath preserved you that you do not break your Ranks and I feel the Lâ—rd hath put Courâ—ge in you and Wisdom in your Mouthes to withstand yâ—ur Adversaries and the Lord is on your Side the Cause is his the Worship is his the Glory is his you suffer for and be assured he suffers with you and so are his People afflicted with you and in this be comforted that you are not alone though you be counted Fools it 's for Christ's sake though reckoned disobedient it 's because you keep his Commâ—nds and though you be represented as vile and evil and as Transgressors so was Christ so have his Saints been in every Generation since the Devil hath had Dominion in the Hearâ—â— of the fallen Sons of Adam What should you be troubled at thiâ— nâ—y rather rejoyce that the Scripture is fulfilled of you in our â—ge as Christ prophesied unto his Disciples That they should speak all manner of Evil falsely for my Names sake and be 〈◊〉 out of their Assembly and hailed before Rulers and Judgment-Seats for my Names sake but rejoyce and be exceeding glad And also it cannot but appear unto all People who are moderate that it 's only his Names sake you suffer for yea even the Lips of your Adversaries and the Words of your Judges do demonstrate no less that it 's not for any Evil at such a Meeting then it must needs be for your good doing there and to worship God any where but where they would have you is reckoned Crime enough to banish you Oh have not they bewrayed themselves and will not this enter into other Hearts not yet concerned to consider O surely yea and the Devil and his persecuting Enemies shall loose by it and the Truth shall be a Gainer Well Dearly Beloved you know even as the Gospel was preached to others before and as it came unto us and as we did receive it so it was declared unto you in all Simplicity and you have not been beguiled by it nor the Messengers of it of whom some are at Rest and fallen asleep and their Life and Spirit is with you and among you It hath been told you that all must be given up and all must be denyed and the Cross must be born and all must dye to the World before they could receive Christ or be made alive unto him and before the Enmity could be slain or the Peace witnessed which you have found true and happy are you that have believed and keep in the Faith And now beloved though our Adversaries think this is a loosing time and this is the Way to bring us and Truth in which we have believed into Disesteem I tell you the Truth in the Word of God unto you this is the Time of gaining unto many and shall be unto more and this is the Way the Lord hath suffered to come pass Persecution that your Faith and Hope may be tryed from Hypocrites and that it may be made known unto others that you possess something that others possess not that makes you willingly and cheerfully deny that which otherwise might be precious unto you if could be enjoyed in the Truth and them that have lifted up themselves against us may see and be convinced of their Weakness and that they overprized that which now in this Day stands in no stead and have undervalued that which is able to carry them that truly believe through all Difficulties and Distresses as it hath done you hitherto blessed be the Lord and will confirm you and establish you forever When they had crucified the Lord of Life they thought they had brought all to an End but then his Life Power and Glory was more and more manifest and Thousands more did believe and they thought to have stiffled all in Jerusalem and then it came to be preached to all Nations though they think to dam up the Way of Truth and stiffle it here and us I tell you nay the Fame thereof shall reach to the Ends of the Earth and the Sound thereof unto the VVorld's End and Salvation through it shall be known from Sea to Sea we have a glorious Effect thereof in our own Day as ever was in any Age and in so short a Time as I may truly say as the Prophet said The Lord hath wrought a Work upon the Wheels and hath done it through weak poor Instruments that his Arm and Power might only appear and that he alone might have the Glory and therefore be of believing Hearts and look not at the Blackness and Darkness of the present Time but before it and let none trouble you neither be ye troubled at the Words or VVritings of any evil Spies or discontented Minds for that would weaken some Papers I have seen of that Nature abroad which the Life of God judgeth And moreover if any come unto you with any new Doctrine try it in the Light your selves before you joyn to it or if any come with a Shew of Humility and tell you of another Appearance or in another Way then through the Light of the World and gather not to you but seek to make Dissension and Discord and to beget a Dislike in you either of the Truth or Persons of any who have believed receive not that into your Hearts Moreover you know how many have doted about needless Disputes and have busied Friends Minds about Trifles and have begot a Heat in them and have been hurried up and down in the Wind a while and all hath erâ—ed in nothing Moreover if any come and tell you that they who have preached the Word of Truth among you would reign over you and usurp Authority over you and seek Dominion mark for such are unsubjected Spirits for I know the Lord bears Record and be you also Record that they which have laboured among you have not preached themselves But Christ and have not sought yours but you and the Good of all your Souls I have heard such Murmuring sometimes of the Sons of Corah against some who were faithful Men who are fallen asleep and against some living who so have done their End hath not been good But I can say unto you with a clear Conscience and of them who are deceased and them that are living as Gideon said to the Men of Ephraim when they said he should reign over them he answered and said The Lord shall reign over you even I speak of all the ancient Brethren who have laboured and suffered in the Work of the Lord until now I know they only sought that the Lord might reign in
you and over you even as he doth at this Day for which I thank the Lord and I am satisfied hitherto in what is done and I have my Reward and it 's with me O dear Friends this I speak unto you that you might abide in Love and keep in Unity one among another even as you did see us one to another at all Times Oh dear Hearts dwell in Love in Meekness speak all the same Thing be kind to one another and tender and easie to be entreated one of another and be pitiful and merciful one to another and bear and forbear one another for Christ's sake who hath born your Infâ—rmities in Times past be like minded and truly I speak it your Comfort your Faith Obedience Suffering and Self-denyal thus far is come abroad and hath strengthned many and hath made them willing to be Companions with you in Life or Death their Prayers are for you their Praises are of you their Blessings are with you and so is mine who am the Lord's and yours in Life or Death and if we shall not see one another any more in these Earthly Tabernacles God's Heavenly Will be done And these Lines I send unto you as the best Thing I have to greet you with my whole Heart which is as tender as a sucking Child to you all Farewel Farewel everlastingly in the Life of Christ Jesus in which I write unto you Farewel Your Dear Brother and Companion in Tribulation F. H. Send a Copy of this to Bristol and Hartford and else-where where any are sentenced THE Great Case OF TYTHES AND Forced Maintenance ONCE MORE REVIVED THE True state thereof enquired into before the Law under the Law among the Jews likewise under the Gospel the true Ministers of Christ their Allowance shown likewise in the Corruption of time since Christ how Tythes have been introduced wherein Antiquity is searched and the Judgment of the Fathers of the Church in several Ages produced besides the Scripture it self examined in all which is clearly proved Tythes and forced Maintenance are no Gospel-maintenance the Scriptures answered divers Arguments confuted and Objections answered which are brought by the Ministry of this last Age. Also the Institution and Division of Parishes and their Rise which are published for the Benefit of all who desire that Gospel-Order might be established again in all the Churches of Christ. F. H. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Impartial Reader THou hast here recommended once more unto thy View what from Time to Time and from Age to Age hath been not only the grand Cause of invocating Councils but also hitherto even the Ground of great Dispute and Controversie if thou thâ—s Treatise do with a single Eye peruâ—e and ballance the same in just and equal Scales thou wilt find it of so muâ—h Validity as will poise thy Judgment to give Censure that this â— a clear true Demonstration of the Matter in Hand if thou be serious in thy View sincere in thy Heart and single in thy Mind as willing to know the Radix Rise and Ground of the Matter herein handled then wilt thou find thâ—â— the very Key which will aright and may without Scruple open unto thee and demonstrate the very certain infallible and sure Testimony as well of theâ—r Original Rise Growing Begetting Constitutâ—ng Setling Confirming Upholding and maintaining of them viz. Tythes all which that thou may'st be clearly informed may'st thou find as by Step and Step herein traced thou wilt find their Original as first how Tenths were given before the Commandment was given forth to the Jews thou wilt also find their growing and their Institutions thou may'st clearly see and wherefore they were so instituted thou wilt find them when confirmed and when corrupted and thou wilt find them when lawful and when not lawful thou wilt find them when they were to be payed and thou wilt find a Time when they ought not to be payed And because the Ministers of our Age as we have daily from them do vaunt and boast themselves of the Orthodox Fathers of their Church therefore wilt thâ—u find by a narrow Search and a single Eye in the reading hereof unto which I do advise thee and that in Patience and Sobriety thou wilt as one unbiassed ballance the same here may'st thou have their Opinions and Judgments also and their ancient Fathers quoted thou wilt have at large their own Words all which as by this Treatise is intended to inform thy Mind and be as a President how they are now in this our Age apostatized from what they were and now at length become as Usurpation or abused and for thy more full and perfect Understanding how they were continued and imposed thou may'st also read the Orders and Decrees of many great Councils their Opinions Judgments and Impositions from Time to Time in many Ages past thou wilt see the Testimony of the holy Martyrs and their Verdict and last of all the Scriptures discussed the Arguments confuted the Questions answered and the Objections razed which the Ministers of our Dayes do produce or in Times past have been produced as the Basis or Ground from which they infer and lay their seeming fair Foundation these thou wilt all see sufficiently clearly and evidently confuted their Structure defaced their painted Building demolished their Foundation unbottomed and they themselves if their old Root of Coveâ—ousness were not so strongly centured in them might be convinced there is not one Stone left but all is overturned and the Bottom viewed that thereby this Babel's Foundation may now be thrown down at the last which hath had so many Batteries and Assaults against it tha as it is the last so it is indeed a weighty Piece which if Truth might have Place and Error and Deceit which since the Apostacy is crept in once rooted out then needed there not another of this Nature for this indeed doth bolt the Door and if sensibly felt arightly understood and the Truth of it assented unto then would there be no Entrance but though all this may not take hold with the worldly Priest yet herein have I Hopes that Truth therein being so sufficiently demonstrated may take Place and Footing in every honest Reader so far as that he may not only be informed but convinced and not only so but being convinced by this which doth so candidly manifest the same he may in the Zeal of his Heart own 〈◊〉 and stand in the Defence thereof vindicating the just Cause thereof and witness with his Seal that this is true which if unbiassed he peruse it doth evidently appear unto me he cannot but own as he is willing and aminded to own Truth One Thing more is also in this Book inserted to wit the Sufficiency of Allowance to the Ministers of Christ in Gospel-dayes according to the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles and it were well if Magistrates and Superiors would weigh it and that they would with the infallible Eye of pure Judgment labour
little to satisfie their vulturous Eye And if they can get a Scrowl under any Hand that hath Authority they will break open Doors pull down Hedges carry away the Corn at their Pleasure drag away Pots and Kettles and tugg away Bedding and Cloaths of all Sorts Childrens Night-beds as a Priest of this Order did in Kent lately yea Curtains and Vallans drink Bear of the Cellar and if it be but half a Cheese and this is their Plea He that preâ—cheth the Gospel shall live of the Gospel and the aforesaid Husbandman Fatherless and Widdows have not any Part or Share in the aforesaid falsly claimed Tythes but all is too little to satisfie the insatiable Covetousness of these Evangelical Priests falsly so called O how can ye know and behold these things and not blush and be ashamed and shall the Laws which have been made in the Night of Darkness and Popery of Necessity be a Rule in this Age to Magistracy and Ministry which pretend they are in a more pure Light Oh that the Lord would open all your Eyes to consider but however them unto whom his marvelous Light is shed cannot but call unto you and also bear their Testimony against the aforesaid Grievances and Disorder which are executed beyond Measure upon the poor Pâ—ople in this Nation which certainly if not amended will draw down God's heavy Judgments upon the Nation and so I cannot but as one among the rest give in my Testimony for God and his Truth against such cruel Actings and falsly pretended Maintenance of Black-Coats and Turn-Coats and my Testimony is true and to seal it I have given up my Life and Estate By a Servant of the Lord M. L. To all who say you are gathered out of the World into Church-Fellowship these Queries are for you to answer I. WHat was the Woman that was cloathed with the Sun and crowned with twelve Stars which travailed in Pain to bring forth 2. What was the Sun she was cloathed withal and twelve Stars she was crowned withal and when was she so cloathed and crowned 3. And what was the Man-child that was brought forth seeing Chrâ—st was born of the Virgin in Bethlehem long before John saw this in the Isle of Pathmos 4. And when did the Woman fly into the Wilderness and what is the Wilderness into which she fled and what is the Wings of the great Eagle which she did fly withal 5. And what is the Time Times and the half Time which she is to be in the Wilderness and when did it begin and when will it be expired and whether is the Woman ever to come out again and when shall be the Time of her Return 6. When was the Time that the Man-child was caught up unto God which the Woman brought forth seeing Christ was ascended long before this Man-child was caught up to God which was to rule the Nations and how long it is since 7. And whether is he ever to descend again and be made manifest to rule the Nations and when shall he begin to reign 8. When was the Dragon in Heaven and how came he there seeing that it 's written No unclean thing can enter there or nothing that doth defile 9. And when was he cast out of Heaven into the Earth and how long hath he to reign in the Earth 10. When began he to persecute the Remnant of the Woman's Seed and how long shall his Reign be 11. When begin the one thousand Years that he shall be bound or whether is it begun or to come 12. When shall he be taken hold of and with the Beast and false Prophet thrown into the Lake of Fire 13. What is Mystery Babylon and when had she her Rise when was her City raised up over which she rules as a Queen 14. And what is the golden Cup of Fornication she hath made the Nations drunk withal 15. And what is her Merchandize which her Merchants trade withal and the Sea upon which they carry their Traffick and upon which the Ship-Masters and Ships ride and when shall it be dryed up and what shall dry it up 16. When shall the City over which she hath reigned be destroyed and when shall her Flesh be burnt with Fire and what is the Gospel that shall be preached again 17. And how long hath it been since it hath been preached to the Nations seeing it 's to be preached again to the Nations and whether is the Time begun or not when was the Gospel lost seeing all Europe is professing it or whether is it yet to come when shall it begin to be preached again to Kindreds Tongues and Nations 18. And what is the Light of the Lamb the Nations that are saved shall walk in after the seven Vials be poured upon the Seat of the Beast Declare if thou hast Understanding F. H. A General Epistle to all who have believed in the Light of the Lord Jesus and are called of God to follow the LAMB through the great Tribulation Dear Friends WHom God called out of the World and the Vanities of it to serve the living God in Newness of Life and to be Worshippers of him in Spirit and Truth and to be Followers of Christ in the Regeneration and to be baptized with him into his Suffering and Death that so you may be partakers of his Resurrection and Life and manifest unto all that you are risen with him out of the Grave of Sin Wickedness and Death by having your Hearts renewed and your Affections and Minds set to seek those things which are above which are not transitory and visible but everlasting and immortal by which the Souls of all the righteous and obedient Children are refreshed and nourished up unto eternal Life and through the eternal power of the Son of God which hath been and is manifest among them that believe in the Measure of his Spirit and keep their first Love and Integrity unto the Lord all his are preserved out of the Temptation of the Adversary within and without who seeks to root out that which God hath planted and to nip the Blossom and the Bud which God hath caused to spring forth through his tender Love in your Hearts so that you might dye to the Good and be spoiled in that wherein all your Happiness lyeth now and forever Oh therefore all watch and be circumspect so much the more against Temptations lest you be ensnared and your Faith fail and you fall short of the promise of God in not continuing Faithful to the End Friends a Care and a tender Love and a godly Jealousie is in my Heart to you and over you all that have believed that none of you may be lost and scattered again in the Desarts and Mountains and dry and parched places where you have sometimes been in the time of Unbelief where the Goats who are rough can feed that must go to the left Hand and have the Curse The Zeal of the Lord and his Truth who so gloriously hath