TRUTH UINDICATED Being An ANSVVER To the high flown Fancies of John Perrot known by the name of a Quaker in a Paper with this Inscription to all BAPTISTS every where or to any other who are yet under the shadows and watry Element and are not come to Christ the substance Wherein is laid open the airy vain Foolishness if not Blasphemousness of his words covered over with ambiguous and doubtful tearms unto all unbiazed and rational men But I will come unto you shortly and will know not the speech of them that are puffed up but the power Cor. 4.19 Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son 2 Epistle of John 9. Take heed that the Light that is in you be not darkness Luke 11.35 By Randall Roper a Servant of Christs LONDON Printed for the Author 1661. To the Reader ALthough I am not ignorant of the prejudice which a Subject of this nature hath upon the minds of many men and likewise conscious of my own inability to such a work yet notwithstanding I shall not omit Writing according to the measure of the Tallent that the Lord heth given me in regard of that encouragement that I have met with from the Lord to this work since I first thought on it I shall intreat and beseech thee in the fear of God to read with an unbiazed affection and not to be rash in judging but on the contrary be fond like those Bereians that were more noble than those of Theselonica and the reason is there rendred because they searched the Scriptures whether those things were so or no alledged by the Apostle Paul Acts 17.11 I am nesessiated to say as Laban said to Jacob in an other case it must not be so done here the short volume that I intend to comprize what I shall write at this time is such that it will not bear a long Epistle and therefore I shall with as much brevity as I can give you my reasons of answering that Paper although I think there is abundance of folly at the best if not lies as shall be made manifest first reason that constrains me is the restless condition of the People called Quakers in giving them up and down to People that they think there is any hope to work upon together with that high confidence they have of it as an Oracle of God and that which cannot be answered when it is nothing less than the senseless Prophane and divised words of a brain-sick-apostate Secondly that high estimation they have of the Author of that Paper insomuch that I have been told of two of his judgment which I am sure they will own that he had as great a measure of the Spirit as ever man had and that he had talked face to face with God as a man talketh with his friend and several other things of a like tendency which would be too tedious to insert which I have cause to think nay believe are lies therefore my Friends who ever you are that desire to abide in the Doctrine of Christ having respect to all his Commandement that you may experience Communion with the Father the Son you have cause to praise him magnifie the name of your God that hath so given up and in the way of his justice which men hath so honoured that as he is a rageing wave of the Sea so he hath foamed out his own shame Secondly we have cause of sorrow that any poor souls that aims at the glory of God should follow such Teachers And so I shall leave but shall continue my Prayers that the Lord would keep his Children and Babes from that deceit and that the Lord would grant some that are already turned after Satan Repentance to the acknowledging of the truth which is the end and aim of him that desireth truth may flowrish and that errour and darkness may be done away RANDAL ROPER TRUTH UINDICATED Being An ANSVVER To the high flown Fancis of John Perrot known by the name of a Quaker GOd who at sundry times and in divers manners hath in times past spoken to our Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last daies spoken unto us by his Son even the Lord Jesus who hath told us that false Prophets should arise Mat. 24.24 and by the Apostle Peter whom he did in a special manner Authorize to feed his Lambs and Sheep John 21.15 who hath told us that as there were false Prophets among the people even so there shall be false Teachers amongst you who privately mind that shall bring in damnable Hericises denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow those preniscious waies by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of whether this Scipture is not in a great measure fulfilled by the People called Quakers I will leave the impartial Reader to Judge for those that deny the Doctrine of Christ do privately and covertly deny Christ but they do deny the Doctrine of Christ therefore do privately deny Christ that they do deny declare as useless the Doctrine of Christ is manifest and shall be made manifest and that the truths of the Gospel is evill spoken of by reason of them experience doth testifie is it not the cry of the People you first turn Annabaptist and then Quaker you do not continue in what you first take up But because I design brevity I shall come to the words of this subtil deceiver who is pleased rather with emminancy of words then pregnancy of reason That you may know his words they are in a different caracter from mine which I am necesesiated to insert because I may not beat the air if any be offended at my writting by way of argument I know not any way to demonstrate things beter than that in this critiall age if I did I would take it the Auther of that Paper is confident in his assertions but proveth nothing but I do intend to prove what I say by the Scriptures of truth and in order to the words I shall take this way First by taking a Veiw of the exprese words by him spoken and shall give particular answers Secondly I shall answer that which I apprehend to be his drift and aime in what he saith and that is to lay low extenuate and make void the two Ordinances of the Gospel to wit Baptisme and the Lords Supper or breaking Bread and drinking Wine in remembrance of Christs death not to be used by such as are come to Christ the substance wherein I will shew the duration continuation of Baptisme and the Lord Supper untill Christ shall come himself or personally which is all one and that the coming of Christ by his Spirit into the hearts of his people doth not put an end to those two Ordinances and shall answer some Objections First then he begins with this inscription To all
have received the Spirit so well as we Therefore I conclude that God the Father and Jesus Christ by him are the Sole Baptisers with the Spirit then it is of necessity water Baptisme that he commissionates his Disciples to dispence I find but three Baptismes at the most in Scripture the Baptisme of the Spirit they cannot Administer the Baptisme of afflictions they surely are not to adminster to overwhelme one another in sufferings none I think will say they are to do therefore of necessity it is water Baptisme an other Objection which I met with from some of that principle say they though it were water Baptisme 28 of Math. Yet it was the Baptisme of John which was then are long to cease when that of the Spirit should come in I answer in briefe because I must draw to a conclusion that the Baptisme of water which is called Johns Baptisme is no otherwise his Baptisme then the Gospel which Paul preached was his Gospel and therefore when the Scripture calleth it the Baptisme of John it is the Baptisme which John was made the cheif administrator of and so the Law of God is called the Law of Moses and so I understand the Apostle Paul Rom. 2.16 When he saith That God shall judge men according to his Gospel according to my Gospel That is to say which I am appointed to preach yet it was the Gospel of Christ which he was to preach and so I say the Baptisme that John did administer was Christs Baptisme John was either the servant of Christ or the servant of the Devil that must be granted I hope none will say he was the Devils servant then if he was Christs servant then the service which he did was Christs service and then surely his Baptisme was Christs Baptisme which he did Administer and not his own no otherwise than he was the cheif Administrator of it consider this you that run upon Airey Notions and fill your Belly with East Wind which will not profit in the day of the Lord and that it was the Baptisme of Christ which John did Administer is manifest because Christ was Commisionated Authorized by the Father to Baptise with water as well as John though it being an external Water he left the actual doing of it to his Disciples amongst whom John was the cheif or else seeing in commanded others to do it and so Baptised by others at least if not by himself as John 3.22.4 1 2. His witness of himself John 12.39 Is it not true if he had not Commission from his Father so to do which would be Blasphemy to think for he saith that he spake nothing of himself but as the Father gave Commandement so he spake and likewise as the Father gave him Commandement so he did there are some circumstancial difference between water Baptisme before the Death of Christ and Baptiseme with water after the Death of Christ but this is undeniable that not only Christ did submit unto it command his Disciples to dispence it while he was with thee not only so but doth Commission his Disciples to be observing of it unto the end of the World after he was risen again Math. 28.19 And accordingly the Apostles did practise it in all the Primitive Church and that the coming of Christ by his Spirit doth not put an end of water Baptisme see Acts the 10.47 Can any forbid water that those should not be Baptised seeing they have received the Holy Ghost so well as we where you may see the Apostle Peter makes it an Argument that they must be Baptised with water seeing they have received the Spirit Oh why should you maintaine such opinions that are so contrary to the Spirit of God in his children in dayes past Oh be not wise above what is written for our Learning but lie low and be not exhalted in your selves see how contrary your Spirit that you are guided by is to the Spirit in that Apostle Peter was guided by he saith there is a necessity of water who can forbid water if there be the Baptisme of the Spirit you say if persons be Baptised by the Spirit they need not be Baptised in water consider of this in the dread of the Almighty and now I will come to that Ordiannce of breaking Bread and drinking Wine to shew forth the Lords Death untill he come and will shew that the coming of Christ by his Spirit doth not put an end to that Ordinance take this reason That which doth shew forth Christs Death that is to continue while he comes personal or himself but when we eate that Bread and drink that Cup we shew forth the Lords Death therefore it is to continue untill the personal coming of Christ see Gal. 3.1 Who hath bewitched you that you shall not obey the truth What is the reason he rendereth Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth Crucified among you which was no otherwise then the Lords Supper I will add this Argument grounded with the Scriptures of Truth that which in the doing of persons do pertake by Faith of the Body and Blood of Christ that is to continue to the end of the World but in eating Bread and drinking Wine the faithful the sencere hearted do by Faith pertake of the Body and Blood of the Lord therefore to continue unto the end of the World for the first assertion see John 6.35 Excepta man eat my Flesh and drink my Blood yee have no Life now life is of absolute nesessity and therefore the means must continue to get this Life and that persons do by Faith in that very Ordinance partake of the Body and Blood of the Lord see Math. 16.26 Take eat this is my Body c. But in a word what need I spend time in reasoning from the benefits that it brings but may only say thus and who can deny it what Christ commanded his Disciples in that case is his Disciples duty to do at this day and that Christ did command see Mat. 26.26 Mark 14.22 Luke 22.19 20. Take eat this is my Body and that the coming of Christ by his Spirit doth not put an end to this Ordinance is manifest for the Church of Corinths had the Spirit in a plentiful measure did not come behind no Church but was enriched with knowledge utterance as you may see 1 Cor. 1.7 8 9. 1 Cor. 12.7 8 9. and so forward yet they did and ought nay was commended that they keep the Ordinances as they was delivered 1 Cor. 11.2 and so in the 26 verse As often as you eat this Bread drink this Cup you shew forth the Lords Death until he come Which of necessity must be an other coming than of his Spirit for by that he was come to them already but it is plain that it was a coming which they was not in the injoyment of for saith the Text vntil he come but as it was said before that he was come to them by his Spirit and
not way to that Spirit of errour that will be getting up in you and let my words be acceptable unto you to this end to own the Scriptures of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles which is able to make the wise to Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 and not to contemn them as is usual as one said to me which I am sure they owne when I said I had the word of God the Scriptures of Truth in me he asked me whether I had ink and paper in my heart Oh that such expressions might cease from amongst you I would fain know from any one of you whether all the Commandements contained in Scripture whether spoken by the Lord himself or by his Prophets or by his Son Jesus or by his Apostles which are not yet abrogated by the death of Christ are not the duty of the People of the Lord to observe and obey and whether the Commandements of God are of less vertue because they are written then if Jesus Christ did immediately speak them unto us and whereas you say we have passed through and left them this is no wonder if I may be certain in any thing what you mean by your expressions I may in this that you mean Baptisme other Ordinances of Gods House for the little number receiving Tenth and the few of them that do receive the Truth continuing in it it is an argument to me we are in the Truth rather than otherwise for saith Christ Fear not little flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome Luke 12.32 It is not only so now but it was in the time while Christ was personally present many left him and walked no more with him John 6.66 And this is what is prophesied of 2 Thes 2.2 Let no man deceive you for that day shall not come except there come a falling away and saith the Apostle to Timothy some shall depart from the Faith but let us inquire into the reason which the Servant of the Lord Paul gives The first Reason 2 Thes 2.11.12 Is because they received not the Truth in the love of it and this hath been the reason of some falling away and receiving strong delusions for it hath been confessed to me by one of that Principle that she did submit to the Truth to wit Water-Baptisme because others did submit to it because it was in fashion and if any of your Consciences condemn you in this God is greater than your Consciences and knows all things repent of that your wickedness The second Reason which the Apostle rendreth of persons falling away of receiving strong delusions is because they had pleasure in unrighteousness it is possible that some may receive the Truth in the love of it and yet in time loose their first love and take pleasure in unrighteousness and so loose their peace and so run to airy notions of things that they may get peace which is not the true peace of God and this I find not only by the Scriptures of Truth but from their own expressions some of them hath said to me that they had not peace though at the first they had it and that they lived contrary to their consciences for some years before they received that which they call Truth Oh! that they would juslifie the Lord in his giving them up to believe strong delusions and take shame to themselves for doubtless the Lord will not be mocked for what they sow that they shall reap and though the way of God is at this day called Herisie and hath been so in daies past yet know this that Herisie is a fruit of the flesh as well as prophaneness in conversation and if you live and allow your selves in it you shall dye not only a natural death but the second death dear souls who are much upon my heart that have no ends but to glorifie God in what you do know this that the Devil can transform himself into an Angel of light and this I say to you by the word of the Lord that if men have never so much outward holiness upon them if they perswade you to forsake any of the Commandements of God do not believe them as you will answer it at the great day of the Lord read Galatians the first Chapter and let your Souls tremble at the word of the Lord now that it is the word of the Lord or the mind of the Lord which is all one which the Apostle Paul writeth see 1 Cor. 14.37 If any man think himself to be a Prophet or a spiritual man let him acknowledge the things that I write to be the Commondements of the Lord. Oh! that you of the Ministry as you are called would consider of this Scripture and not to appropriate that to your own Books which you will not allow the Scriptures and for you that say you went away because of the carnality of some Professors you ought to indeavoured their reformation and if not to have dealt with them according to the rule of Christ in that case and not to have forsaken the truth upon that account return return to the Lord and the Truth and you will find many amongst the Baptists as willing to own any thing that is of God as you can be to perswade them He further saith for know ye where God is present there needs not arepresention of him by any thing and where the eterual Fountain of all vertue is set open there needs not digging of other Wells for Water turn therefore to the light within the Conscience which is able to Baptise and wash your Souls from all Sin and make Rivers of living Water flow out of your belly which light is the alone Salvation of God he that loveth it and obeyeth it shall know it In answer to which I know not any Baptist that doth practise or doth set up any thing to represent God but hath renounced those hidden things of darkness and if so doth he not beat the Air when those persons that he writeth to doth not own any such thing but if he means where God is present there needs not outward forms in his Worship as Water in Baptisme and Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper then it is not true as to Baptisme that there must be Water I might give you many Scriptures yet I shall only give you but one because it is full pregnant Acts 10.47 Can any forbid Water that these should not be Baptised which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we For Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper see Mat. 26.16 He took Bread and so likewise the Cup compared with Luke 22.19 20. And therefore let none deceive you with vain words and whereas he saith turn to the light within which is able to Baptise wash from all sin and further saith it is the alone Savation of God such an exhortation we find not in all the Scriptures of Truth if every man is to turn to