of these Principles and shew wherein we differ and leaue them to the iudgement of the Godly wise First concerning repentance from dead workes they teach that none need repent of performing any bodily seruice to any Idoll as before but that they ought to continue therein making all the beholders conceiue they doe as they inwardly and outwardly when as they in their hearts loath detest that seruice And when they are come to the Family they teach they sinne no more For they write That in this Citty of Communalty there is no more euill Spirit land Cap. 33. sect 9. nor euill suspition nor yet sight of euill in them for within the same one doth neither see nor thinke any thing but all good c. 2. Concerning their beliefe of God thus they write See and marke yee beloued H. Ns mans falling away c. sect 1. in the beginning when God made all things well then was the Lord one Lord of his Kingdome and one God of his workes there was also no more but one God and one Man and they were one and had in all one order being and nature For God was all that the Man was and Man was all that God was And elsewhere thus he writeth H. Ns Epist to 2. Daughters of Warwick sect 22 God had Created the Man that he should bee of one life one being one Spirit and of one Nature with God c. If this be the true Eternall euerlasting vnchangeable and incomprehensible God that had no other Order being and Nature then Man let all that know the true God iudge And concerning their beliefe of Christ we haue formerly related that they hold not the Man Christ that was conceiued borne of that Naturall woman the Virgin Mary for that is a thing ought not to be striuen about but the Perfection of H. N. and his fellow Elders of that louely Family or a Power in man whereby they can keepe the Law without Faith in the Blood of the man Christ This is H. N. and his followers Christ 3. Concerning Baptisine This he writeth Let your selues in all your being nature minde and disposition Crying voyce Cap. vlt. sect 11. become renewed through the loue in her Seruice and giue all your vnderstanding captiue vnder the obedience of the Loue and humble your selues so vnder her seruice to the end that yee all may become washed in the Loue with the pure water of the Loue for to become washed with her pure water is the vpright washing and the true Font of the Regeneration or new hirth So that to be captiuated in H. Ns. loue and her Seruice is the vpright Baptisme And where that commeth not to passe vnto them Epist to the 2 Daugh. sect 20. there is not the Christian seruice ministred let them make themselues so like fashioned to the Scriptures as they will And for the Ordinance of water he calleth that Epist sect 11.17 Ceremoniall Elementish and mens owne Baptisme And M. P. that mighty Prince of the Hebrewes as he calleth himselfe saith Iohns Baptisme is full of many great holy graue shewes M. P. burning light Cap. 13. sect 10. but in power weake as Water he can eate no mans meat drinke no Wine ne strong Drinke therefore must his Head be taken off for he shall not gouerne Disciples still we were glad therefore to depart from him for his going out was the comming in of Iesus 4. Touching their opinion of laying on of handes we are ignorant 5. Euang. Reg. Cap. 35. sect 8.9 Of the Resurrection of the Dead Thus they write Behold in this present Day is the Scripture fulfilled and according to the testimony of the Scripture the raising vp and the resurrection of the Lords Dead commeth also to passe presently in this same day through the appearing of the comming of Christ in his Maiesty which resurrection of the Dead seeing that the same is come vnto vs from Gods Grace wee doe likewise in this present day to an Euangelie or ioyfull message of the Kingdome of God and Christ publish in all the world vnder the Obedience of the loue in which resurrection of the Dead God sheweth vnto vs that the time is now fulfilled that his dead or the Dead which are fallen asleepe in the Lord rise vp in this day of his Iudgement and appeare vnto vs in Godly glory which shall also from henceforth liue in vs euerlastingly with Christ and Raigne vpon the Earth So that all may plainely see the resurrection from the Dead is with these men or rather Deuils to get into H. Ns. Doctrine of the Loue. And because these Godded men that are Godded with H.N. their God doe dye aswell as others and being demaunded what becomes of their Bodies after their death some of their younglings haue answered vs they conceiue their iudgement is that the soule goes into God againe and so becōmeth God and their bodies lye and become as when they were not which opinion may well stand with all their other execrations For if the bodies rise not againe thē no question they may aswell worship an Idol as the true God and commit all their abhominations for after this life there is neither reward nor punishment for the bodies Oh fearefull wickednes Lastly Euang. Reg. Cap. 3. sect 2 3.4 concerning the Eternall Iudgement thus they say When as now in this same day the wicked world becommeth Iudged with the Lords mighty hand which wicked world is reserued or kept in store vntill this same day of the loue to the fire of Hell for to be condemned in the selfe same day of the Loue for euermore to her eternall cursing and iudgement of the fires cruell vehemency And againe Sect. 4. verily now in this same day when as now all vngodly and selfe-wise with all vnrepentant persons and false hearts of the Scripture-learned c. inherite with much smart and griefe in the vehement cruelty of the fire of Hell the terrible condemnation then shall the people of God Spirit land Cap. 27. sect 11.12 namely the whole cōmunialty of the loue c. reioyce them in all loue c. And further thus After this time no time more After the which there is no life more to be wayted for for the same life continueth for euermore This estate of H. Ns. loue and her Seruice it is with the Familists the Christ It is the Holy Ghost the Baptisme the Resurrection the euerlasting Life the eternall Iudgement and all in all Of all which wee are destitute yet herein we haue knowledge that they are abhominations fetcht out of the deepest pit of Hell such as we are perswaded were heuer before vttered by the mouth of any mortall man No maruaile now that H. Ns. Schollers say we vnderstand not one word in all the vniuersall Bible and that we are totally ignorant of the principles of the Family who to set a gloze vpon their wicked forgeries abuse and
peruert Heb. 6. and other holy Scriptures to their owne destruction Hauing now discouered some of H. Ns. principles The summe of the true Faith wee will in short set downe our Faith concerning these 6. Principles Heb. 6. First of Repentance from dead workes we doe beleeue that euery transgression of any Law of God is sinne 1. Ioh. 3.4 Rom. 6.23 and the wages of euery sinne is Death and so a dead worke That no man by reason of weake Flesh can keepe the Law Rom. 8.3 and therefore by transgression becommeth dead in Sinne Ephe. 2.1.3 and so by weake Nature the Childe of wrath For the Law causeth wrath Rom. 4.15 for where no Law is there is no transgression but the power of Gods word contained in the holy Scriptures 1. Cor. 15.34 Ephes 5.14 and not the Reuelations or Dreames of H.N. nor any others awaking man and setting his sinnes in order before him and the fearefull terror of Gods wrath against him Act. 2.37 16.30 Act. 2.38 3.19 causeth man to be pricked in his heart and to cry out what shall wee doe to be saued To which God answereth Repent of thy sinnes confesse them sorrow for them and reforme them But man seeing by the same holy Scripture that this his repentance or any other thing that he can doe cannot appease Gods wrath nor satisfie his Iustice for his sinne he is inuited hereupon to flye vnto Gods Grace by the Redemptiō purchased through the blood of his Sonne who is God ouer all and tooke our Nature vpon him and became Man Dyed for vs and is risen againe in his Body ascended into Heauen sitting at the right hand of his Father making intercession for his seruants euen for all that obey him Heb. 5.9 through whom alone wee haue Redemption euen the forgiuenes of our sinnes 2. Thus by Faith in the Blood of Christ is this Sinner sprinckled in his heart from an euill Conscience Heb. 10.22 and must also be washed in his Body with pure water 3. This is the Baptisme that saueth not onely the washing away the filth of the Flesh but in that a good Conscience maketh request vnto God 1. Pet. 3.21 by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ Yet not onely the good Conscience is Baptisme but also washing with materiall water into the Name of the Father c. For to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen which is the estate of Grace or true Christianity in this life called the Kingdome of Heauen Ioh. 3.5 Ephes 4.5 Wee must haue Water and Spirit Christ hath coupled them together as his one Baptisme and let no man seperate them 4. By laying on of handes wee conceiue is meant the whole ministery of the Church which consisteth of those Offices mentioned in Christs Testament All which are to be entred into by laying on of hands as these Scriptures teach * Act. 6.6 13.3 For other laying on of hands by which extraordinary guiftes were communicated vnto men wee vnderstand they were myracles giuen of God in the primitiue Church for the confirmation of the Apostles authority who taught thinges that neuer before were taught Heb. 2.5 which that they might be credited they did such thinges as neuer men did And if any Familist can doe Myracles as did th Apostles thē might they haue had some colour to write and bring into the world new Gospels as they are not ashamed to doe 5. Concerning the Resurrection from the Dead We beleeue that our soules shall be seperated from our bodies by naturall Death That the Body returnes to earth whence it came and the Spirit to God that gaue it Eccles 12.7 1. Cor. 15. vntill the day that Iesus Christ shall come againe to Iudge quicke and dead Then shall our Bodies rise againe euen these bodies Ioh. 19.25 c. and with these eyes shall wee see our Redeemer Lastly we doe beleeue and looke for to our great reioycing the blessed appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ to that Eternall iudgement wherein hee shall Iudge both quicke and dead according to their works done in this Flesh 2 Cor. 5.10 whether they be good or euill Reuel 20.12 to an Eternall being to wit Them that by continuance in wel-doing seeke glory and Immortality Rō 2.7 c. 1. Thes 4.17 Rom. 2.8 they shall come to Eternall Life where they shall bee euer with the Lord. But those that are contentious and disobey the Truth and obeyes vnrighteousnes haue done euill and haue not repented thereof They shall come forth to the resurrection of condemnation Ioh. 5.29 indignation and wrath shall bee vpon them burning in the Lake for euermore with the Deuill and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Now let all Iudge whether wee be totally ignorant of the 6. Principles Heb. 6. as these accusers doe suggest or rather that themselues are not only ignorant of them for if they were their sinne were the lesse but they deny them and that after their enlightning The 9. transgression they accuse vs of is Ninthly you will not bee reformed by the Light which God hath manifested in these latter times and whereof much is in the Booke of Common Prayer and in the Homilies and in the Booke of Ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons Answ VVEE hauing asked some of them what Light this is that in these latter times God hath manifested for we conceiue God neuer spake nor euer will after his speaking by his Sonne in these last dayes who by himselfe and his Apostles hath deliuered all the Counsell of God sealing it vp with these sentences If wee or an Angell from Heauen teach any otherwise then we haue Preached Gal. 1.8 9. let him bee accursed And if any adde to what they haue done Reuel 22.18.19 God will adde the plagues written by them or if any take away any of those their wordes God will take away their names out of the Booke of Life we say we hauing asked them concerning these thinges they haue answered vs God hath spoken to the world at three seuerall times First by Moses and the Fathers 2. By Christ and the Apostles And thirdly by an euerlasting Gospell in these last dayes alledging Reuel 14. Which what Gospell should it bee but the Gospell of the Kingdome which H. N. hath published to the world in which many of his poysoned Doctrines is broached concerning which hee hath giuen himselfe a stately stile farre exceeding the Apostles in all their writings full of blasphemies which is this H. N. through the Grace and mercy of God Euang. Peg. Cap. 1. and through the holy Spirit of the loue of Iesu Christ raised vp by the highest God from the Death according to the prouidence of God and his Promises annoynted with the Holy Ghost in the olde age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christ Godded with God in the Spirit of his loue made heyre with Christ in the heauenly goods of
to dissemble if Authority command it then suffer any afflictions to the outward man abusing for his purpose this Scripture Blessed is the barren that beareth not c. As also that Christs yoake is easie and his burthen light And therefore bringeth not his to suffer persecution to the outward man but to doe any thing that Authority commaundeth whose grosse abhominations hath been formerly confuted and we trust our innocency defended against all the accusations of these Children of that olde accuser of the Brethren The Lord discouer their most palpable abhominations and deliuer poore simple soules from their snares Pro. 9.18 for assuredly the Dead are there and her guests are in the depth of Hell Conclusion IF these Familists or any that are not willing to be knowne to be of them doe except against any thing either by word or writing which is here written and say that we wrong them in alledging H. Ns. and the rest their hellish sayings and laying them vpon them we answer them many of these sayings are their owne and all the rest for any thing that we knowe for otherwise they would not disperse their Bookes if they did not approue of the Doctrine contained in them in all things that we know follow their course and we hartily beseech all that shall haue to deale with them that if they be ashamed of H. N. and this his new light or euerlasting Gospell which they so much glory of that they would require them by writing to be published to testifie their abhorring of these his wicked blasphemies otherwise they will not onely confirme all of their holding the same but also giue all occasion to iudge them to bee as they are dissembling hypocrites who hold thinges and yet endeauour to perswade people that they doe not holde them Let them testifie their abhorring 1. FIrst that which H. N. hath written of God That God and Man had one Order Spirit Nature and being that God was all that Man was and Man was all that God was 2. That Christ is the Perfection in the Louely being whereunto their Godded Elders doe attaine Or any power in man whereby hee can keepe the Law without Faith in the man Christ 3. That the true Baptisme is To bee in the loue and her Seruice 4. That the Resurrection of the Dead The Eternall Iudgement and the euerlasting life is in this life before the naturall Death of the body And that the Body commeth to nothing after Death 5. That they ought to prostrate their Bodyes before any Idoll or Idol-seruice at the Magistrates command keeping their hearts to God 6. That the Worship of God standeth not at all in any outward Ordinance or obseruation 7. That if one bee tempted to any Sinne and cry and there come no helpe hee or she is guiltlesse though they commit the Act. 8. That they doe not binde themselues in Matrimony of men nor yet suffer themselues to be bound therein but are like the Angels of Heauen 9. That they ought to confesse before the Eldest in the Family all their euill thoughts wordes and deedes whatsoeuer they be and all that their inclination and Nature draweth them vnto 10. That some of them are come vnto such a perfection that being Godded with God neither in thought word nor deed they can sinne any more 11. That no man maketh any thing his owne or proper to himselfe but all thinges whatsoeuer is in the Loue is free and is as one 12. That any that are ignorant though Idolaters and worshippers of Deuils and iustifying themselues therein may bee saued though they know not nor beleeue in the Blood of the man Christ 13. That H. N M. P. and the seruant of M. P. were raised vp of God to publish these thinges to the world in these latter dayes as an euerlasting Gospell All these thinges hath Henry Nicholas and his followers published being raised vp out of the infernall pit to the deceiuing of them that beleeue not the Truth which Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Eternall Father hath reuealed but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnes being of God deliuered vp to a reprobate minde that they might be damned If they testifie their abhorring of these thinges without scores euasion or mentall reseruation we shall be glad If not let them be content to be called his Disciples whose Discipline they maintaine Wee doe herein as we would be done vnto for we are content that any whatsoeuer shall aske vs a reason of our Faith in any thing and we will render it to them Now the Lord Iesus Christ the great and good Shepheard of his Sheepe disclose and destroy the lyes and snares of this Theefe and robber H. N. and his followers that the soules of all for whom Christ hath payed so deare a price may be deliuered from their destruction and be brought vnto and continued in his Folde to their Immortality of soule and body in Glory euerlasting By the same our Lord and Sauiour to whome with the Father and the blessed Spirit one Eternall and euerliuing God be Glory and Dominion now and for euer Amen PSAL. 111.104 By thy precepts J haue gotten vnderstanding therefore J hate all the wayes of falshood VERS 115. Away from me yee wicked for I will keepe the Commaundements of my God FINIS