God in thee judge The matter is great weighty which concerneth everlasting salvation And why should it be thought an incredible thing That Christ should now be manifested in mortal flesh qnickening them that were even dead in sins and trespasses for verily I I have written no other thing concerning him or of the operation of his Eternal spirit then what in measure I have really not imaginarily seen and handled and felt of his work and glory for I dare not speak of that which the Lord hath not wrought in me and by me or to boast in other mens lines for all the world have a form of worship talking of Christs words and the Prophets and Apostles words but are out of their Life and Power Behold what headiness and high-mindedness treachery and betraying one another and will be yet far worse by evil men and seducers c. What incontinence men and women burning in their lusts one towards another What eating and drinking and rising up to play c and yet all covered with a Profession of God and Christ But how can any better fruits be expected when Pastors and Teachers tell People for Doctrines they cannot get victory over sin on this side the Grave which herein is plainly proved false and the everlasting way of Truth discovered which leads out of sin and gives power against sin on this side the Grave and to live pure and holy even as God is holy Think it not impossible with the Lord all things are possible And what I have here written is not to render any man odious or to discover their nakedness but for the bringing of Gods truth to Light for I having had something lying on me a long time to give forth amongst the Professors and Baptists who have any true desires after God and as in obedience to the movings of the Lord I passing amongst them seeing their PRACTISES and hearing their DOCTRINES it was now laid on me of the Lord to give it forth as an Answer thereunto which I have done for the clearing of my Conscience in tender love that all who love their souls may be warned while time is For the dispensation of the fulness of time is come nigh for the gathering together all in ONE even in Christ whether things in Heaven or things in Earth The Parable of the Field is fulfilled the Pearl is found Father Mother Husband or Wife House or Land all is forsaken if the Lord calls and followed even to the end of the earth for the gathering into the unity with the Father and the Son This is the onely desire of him whom the Lord hath called into his labour which seeketh your Eternal good With the measure of God's spirit try all things and let not any motion passe away that seeks truly after God that you may come to have an infallible testimony of the spirit of the Lord in you to lead you and guide you For he that believeth hath the witness in himself T. M. THE BAPTIST AND INDEPENDENT CHURCHES So called Set on Fire By a bright shining Light revealed from Heaven Their PASTORS and TEACHERS scorching in the flame of it gnashing and blaspheming God and his Tabernacle As their Principles rash and judging herein recorded do demonstrate Which are answered for the vindicating of Truth and the satisfying of the simple In which they are found to be children of them which killed the Just and have drunken of the Cup of Fornication who also must drink of the Cup of Indignation at the hand of the Lord. 1. EDward-Whale accounted an Independent Teacher Priest of Waterford affirmed That the godliest man that ever was on the earth did not get the victory over sin or lived free from sin on this side the Grave He did not except Christ This he affirmed in his Pulpit before the whole Congregation in the Idol-Temple formerly a Masse-House with a Cross on the top of it and another at the end of it on the 21. day of the 6th Month 1659. in the City of Waterford Answ He that is born of God doth not commit sin because Christ the Seed of God is in him and as he abides in him he cannot sin though he may be tempted to sin as Christ was yet not overcome with the temptation of sin but thorough Faith in Christ gets the victory over sin and temptations on this side the grave 1 Joh. 3.9 ch 5. ver 4. Sin is of the Devil and he that commits it and pleads for it is taken captive by the Devil at his will 1 Tim. 2.26 1 Joh. 3.5.8 And for this purpose Christ the eternal Son of God was made manifest to take away sin and to destroy sin Heb. 2.14,15 And forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood Christ himself also partaked of the same that thorough the death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who thorough fear were all their life time subject to bondage which Christ redeemed them from for saith the Apostle He was made to us wisdom and redemption c. 1 Cor. 3.50 And the Apostle did witness through Christ victory over sin on this side the grave For saith he O death where is thy sting O grave or hell where is thy victory The sting of death is sin the strength of sin is the the Law but take notice thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory thorough our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.54,55,56,57 And so Priest Whale hath preached another Doctrine then Christ or his Ministers and hath as it were blasphemously charged Christ his holy Prophets and Apostles with sin for he did not except them when he said The godlinst man that ever was did not get the victory over sin on this side the grave And so by the holy Scriptures of this truth he is corrected and taken with a lye in his mouth and as it were denying the very purpose work and office of God in Christ which was to save from sin and thorough â—…ath to destroy sin and death and to take it away narling it to the cross c. And this testimony I give unto all the World for the Lord God and his truth That it is possible in and thorough CHRIST JESUS the light of the world that lighteth every one that comes into the World that all that it love and follow in the daily Cross I say That thorough Faith in the Blood of Christ who is our example whose steps many of us are following according to our measures who did not sin neither was guile found in his mouth c. it is possible to live free from sin and to live a pure righteous and holy life even perfect as he is perfect in this present World before this earthly Tabernacle go down to the grave and at this let none stumble but in the cool and calm spirit and in the Light and fear of God search the Scriptures for they testifie that
the truth of Christ and his Doctrine I do believe and abide in through his mercy and Power Obj. But thou dost not practice the Ordinances of bread and baptising of water Well let us reason together Answ I do require and challenge all the Baptists in the Nation to prove by express words for he that addeth or diminisheth to or from the words written in the Booke God will adde to him the Plagues written therein where ever Christ did baptize with Water or command any to baptize with Elementary Water That Matth. 28,19 Go teach all Nations baptizing them c. doth not speak of Elementary Water and it is evident the Scripture doth speak of other Baptism then John's which was onely Elementary Water which I also do believ was a Command of God to John though sometimes practised by the Disciples but fulfilled and ended by and in Christ to every one that believes and follows the Light of Christ within which leads to the one Baptism the weightier matter spoken of Eph. 4.5 And I have a Baptism to be baptized with saith Christ and how am I straitened tiâ—l it be accomplished Luk. 12.50 Now Christ had fulfilled John's Baptism as to himself before he spoke those words and was before that baptized of John as you may read Luke 3.2 And himself did prophesie the decreasing of his Ministration For saith he I baptize with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me who is mightier then I he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire He doth not say Christ should baptize with Water but with the Holy Ghost c. And he shall encrease saith John but I shal decrease And when the Apostle came to Ephesus finding certain Disciples which had take notice been baptized before that unto John he said unto them Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed And they said We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost Then saith Paul who was not sent to baptize with water for I baptized none saith he except Crispus and Paulus c. and the houshold of Stephanus To what were ye baptized They said Unto John Then saith he John verily baptized with the Baptism of Repentance saying That they should believe on him that should come after him Christ Jesus When they heard that they were baptized into Christ and Paul laid his hands on them and they received the holy Ghost Acts 19.1 to the 6. So it is evident as I said before there is another Baptism then Water-Baptism as true experience of many can witness who are now baptised and baptizing into the Father Son and Holy Ghost or into Christs death according to the Scriptures of Truth for saith the Apostle Know ye not that so many of us as have been baptized into Christ were baptized into his death c. Rom. 6.3 And he said unto the Galatians As many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 So the Scripture doth not say any where that they that are baptized into the Father are baptized with water or they that are baptized into the Son and Holy Ghost are baptized with Elementary water which onely was a type or figure of the inward washing and sanctifying for the baptisme of the Father Son and Holy Ghost is three distinct things of a various operation though wrought by one and the same spirit the one a ministration of Terror and Condemnation the second of Salvation or washing and cleansing from sin and the third a Sanctifying and Glorifying with the same Glory that was with the Father before the world or sin began And so I do affirm in the fear of the Lord which is according to the Scriptures of Truth That Christ is the end of the Law and of John's ministration for righteousness sake to every one that believes in the Light which Christ hath enlightned every one withall that whosoever I say believes in the Light of Christ in them it leads as they follow it into the one baptism Eph. 4.5 and daily Cross of Christ to the Crucifying and slaying of the Lusts of the flesh Pride of Life envyings wrath strife adulteries Idolatry witchcraft variance emulation seditions heresie Drunkenness murders self-willedness c. the which they that live in are not Christs neither are such actions the fruits of the members of the true Church And whether many of those sins be not standing amongst you Baptists Let that of God in you all Judge for I standing peaceably in a meeting amongst the Baptists in Waterford where William Lee was Preaching and when he had done I stood upon a form to speak the Word of the Lord that was in my heart as fire desiring their moderation I speaking no other things then what is contained in the Scriptures of Truth but Will. Lee came out of his Pulpit and laid violent hands on me and thrust me down gnashing his teeth on me Another member of that Church Serjeant Wilson Constable of the Town laid violent hands on me and haled me out of the room and said That I deserved to be stoned to death and another time I walking peaceably in the next room to their meeting came Geo. Caldron called an Alderman and told me It was their hired house and if I did stay there it should be to my perill and the day aforesaid when I was with the Mayor when Will. Lamb Pastor was taking his leave of the Mayor he bowed hat and knee saying Your humble servant Sir according to the fashion of the world which passeth away for which I reproving him he came and laid hands on my hat and took it off my head and threw it violenton the ground which some of his Brethren would have had him taken up again but he would not so because I know they were ashamed of the brutishness of their Pastor one of them took up my hat and ran after me and put it on my head which was said to be Captain Boulton And that same day because I testified the writings of the Prophets and Apostles were not the Word of God but I said that which was spoken from the Spirit of God were the Words of God but Christ is the Word Bov. 19. Jo. 1.1 So Will. Lamb was speaking with the rest and would have had me to been taken hold of for he said there was an Act of Parliament that if any should say the Scripture was not the Word of God they should suffer c. And being somtime after that amongst the Baptists of Waterford Jo. Deck a Teacher of them was whispering with some of his Brethren and came presently unto me and held up the Bible in his hand and asked me whether that was not the Word of God Judas-like to betray or insnare me I asked him whether that was the Word of God which Rabshaka and Sennacherib spoke blaspheming and reproaching the Living God and that the Devil spoke to Christ his answer was That it was And Roger
with signs and lying wonders which glory glory for ever to the Lord he is now consuming with the Spirit of his Wrath and the brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2. and look within for all your preaching and praying and seeming holiness being not moved or guided by and from the spirit of the Lord is the spiritual wickedness which the Apostles vvarred against vvhose Weapons vvere not carnal as theirs are that lay violent hands on the creature and vvould have stoned him to death And so vvill ye nill ye a day of silence if ever you come to enjoy the Lords Truth in the truth of it shall you knovv that is Gods truth to you all For your prayers and sacrifices are as the strange fire unto the Lord that vvas offered by Nadab and Abihu mark vvhich he commanded them not for vvhich fire vvent forth from the Lord devoured them that they dyed before the Lord and for that very cause God beareth me record vve the servants of the Lord vvhen moved of him to come amongst you cannot joyn or bovv to your imaginary prayers in vvhich time some or most of you are sitting at ease and the Pastor or Teacher standing praying many times in a Pulpit Priest-like taking a Text of Scripture preaching by an hour-Glass and so you plainly shevv you are not come in righteousness to glorifie God vvith one mouth and one mind for vvhen your Teacher stands praying and you fitting it is a true testimony you are not brought into the true humility but are in the stubborn rebellious nature at ease in Sion which the wo is to nor to the Covenant of Life to perform and fulfill the oath of God which said As I Live mark ye stiffe necked every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess unto me saith the Lord and the Apostles and members of the true Church kneeled down to prayer by the Sea shore And so I say it is not out of contempt as to your Persons or as denying prayer that we cannot join with you in it as is afore shewed for the prayers of the faithfull as the Lord leads to it by and from the breathings and movings of his eternall Spirit we own in all humility as may be expressed c. Yea somtimes God knows I lie not were it not for giving and offending his holy Spirit for the oppressed seed sake that it might arise amongst you to praise the Lord I could even bow down amongst you when the Lord hath sent me amongst you but knowing the terrors of the Lord and having felt his Righteous Judgements and bore the Indignation of his wrath dare not do it but have many times stood bearing a heavy burden a witness for the Lord against you For Israel in the days of old bowing to the Sacrifices of the Gods of Baal the Anger of the Lord was therefore kindled against them and Moses said unto the Judges of Israel that the fierce anger of the Lord might be taken away slay ye saith Moses every one his men that were joined to Baalpeor Numb 25.1 to the 6. and therefore as I said before a day of silence shall ye Baptists and all professors of the earth know that make mention of the name of the Lord but in the unrighteousness which is sin The Lord God of heaven and earth hath a controversie with you all for your manifold transgressions and for rejecting his counsell and misusing his messengers which he hath sent rising early coming from far unto you and you would none of his counsell but hate and despise his servants who reprove sin in the gate and you abhor them that speak uprightly Wo is me for you my soul mourneth for you in secret Oh! repent yee backsliders repent ye backsliders who have forsaken the Lord of Life and have settled your selves on the Lees and think in your hearts because many of you have gotten great possessions and treasure in the earth ye shall not be moved Oh! again I say unto you meet the Lord by speedy repentance before the day of your visitation be past away and you find not a day of repentance though you seek it with tears as Esau did for the mighty day of the Lord God over all the world is come and coming such as hath not been known since the world began a day wherein your solemn solemnities and breaking Bread that perisheth in the using c. will be a day of great and thick darkness felt even as the Egyptian darkness in it your Prudent must keep silence mourning even as a woman mourneth over her onely son for he that formed the mountains and created the winds and sheweth to man his thoughts will plead with you and all flesh by fire and by sword and great will the slain of the Lord be yea they shall cast out their dead bodies with silence for saith David Let the wicked be put to silence in the Grave and all that makes mention of the name of the Lord our God who is a consuming fire must depart from iniquity And as you and all people on the face of the earth come to wait on the Lord in the way of his Judgements you will sensibly come truly and gladly to say blessed be he that comes in the Truth and in the name of the Lord for he keepeth the feet of his Saints mark that but the wicked shall be silent in darkness and David said Let the wicked lips be put to silence mark and take notice ye that despise the Light and speak proudly against the Light and Spirit of God in man to be the Rule and Guide of Life c. That speaketh proudly grievous things contemptuously against the Righteous Psal 31.17.18 for the Lord is arisen and hath appeared in his Temple Let the earth and all flesh keep silence before him And therefore I say unto you who despise the servants of the Lord who preach silence to all flesh who sit silently waiting on the Lord speaking as they are moved if ever the true joy in God you come to be partakers of it must be by returning in your minds into that of God in you waiting in the silence of all flesh for let the Islands keep silence before me mark that the people may renew their strength Isa 41.1 and thousands who are come to know the honourable silent waiting on the Lord do witness daily strength renewed And when the seventh Seal was opened there was silence in heaven halfe an hour And so to preach silence to all flesh is according to the practise of the holy men of old they spake as they were moved of the Holy Ghost and so according as they had received they ministered as good stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God and Christ bid his Disciples go and wait at Jerusalem till they were indued with power from on high And this hath been the substance of my testimony from the Lord unto you Baptists That the Lord requires you to wait for the