you cannot deceive the Nations any more as ye have done Again the Priests of the Presbytery belonging to Glascow made a fast and excommunicated these persons viz. William Gray and James Findly and charged people not to let them come into their houses commanding them to have no commerse with them in buying nor selling nor borrowing nor lending and James Findly being a Smith they charged people that they should not work with him for if they did they should be excommuicated also and Henry Foreside Priest of that parish again told them that it was acted in the presbytery that if any work any longer work that pertaines to the Smiths trade with James Findly they should be excommnicants and should not parake with any of his Church-Ordinances as marriage sprinkling the children and communion of bread and wine which act several of the people murmures under but say they must obey it contrary to their minds because they cannot bear the Priests wrath Again John Burnett Priest of Kilbrid charged his hearers to have no dealings in civil affaires with these people called Quakers that were excommunicated and he summoned such to his Sessions which had eaten or drunken bought or sold with them requiring them to make publick confession before the people that they had given offence in so doing c. Again Robert Paul one of the Priests elders said he would convert James Findly and his doctrine to convert him by was this That the Scripture was the word And secondly That the Scriptures was God Thirdly That the Scriptures is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven and no other under Heaven Fourthly That the scriptures is the Holy Ghost that the Father promised that he would send that should reprove the world of sin c. Ans If he had said that the Scripture is that which testifie of these things that doctrine had bin more like to have converted for the scripture saith That the word was in the begining before scripture was and it saith that Christ is the way and there is no other Name under Heaven by which men shall be saved but by Christ it doth not say that by no other name but the scripture so that all such doctrine will pervert people from God and not convert them to God And the same Robert Paul said he would respect mens persons and that he would never be free from fin neither was it possible Answ How can thou do any other but respect persons and commit sin while thou denyes God to be God and Christ to be the way and would make the scriptures both to be God and the way to God and would make them the spirit the gift of the Father but herein thou art blind and leads none but the blind and doth pervert and not convert for thou art ignorant of that which convinceth the world of sin yet which is the Spirit of truth which the scripture testifies of but that thou must first come to know to convince thee of and to condemn thy darkness before thou do either convince or convert any unto God James Gartsore Priest said they loved God which keeped not his commandements Answ Which is contrary to the Apostles doctrine which saith If any man saith that he loves God and keeps not his Commandments he is a lyar and the truth is not in him and hereby do we know wee love God because wee keepe his commandements 1 John 2.3 4. and his Commandements are not grievous but joyous And Christ saith Why call ye me Lord and doth not the thing that I command you so that none loves God but he who keeps his Commandements and abideth in him and he that abideth in him sinneth not 1 John 3.6 Peter Kid Priest of Douglasse said Put a man in never such a close place his soule will run like a post horse Answ Thou shewest that thou art ignorant of the soul and never knew what it was nor knowes how to Minister to it nor how to watch over it But if thou had seen thine own condition thou might have said that thy vain thoughts and wandring imaginations runs to and fro in the earth and thy mind is not staid upon God and art not come to know the first principal of the the time Religion that which should stay thy mind upon God so thou art to wait to be taught and not to teach William Simerwell Priest of Petinance said that Christ died for the Elect and godly people of the world and not for the Turks and Pagans and Barbarians c. Answ Christ died for sinners according to the Scriptures Rom. 5.8 And he came to call sinners to repentance not the righteous or godly Mat. 9.13 And Christ died for all 2 Cor. 5.14 15. And is the propitiation for our sins saith the Apostle that was the believers and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole World and the Gospel is to be preached to every Creature and remission of sins in his Name to Turks Pagans and Barbarians So herein thou hast shewed that thou was never made a Minister of the Gospel unto any neither knoweth what the Gospel is to be Ministred unto so therefore be silent and learn no more to blaspheme God and his truth as thou hast done Again Priest Simerwell saith Christ calls all men every where to repent but he will not that all should Repent Answ Here thou would make Christ a deceiver and so hath manifested thy selfe to be Antichrist what doth Christ call men to do that which he would not have them to do What is there any guile to be found in his mouth would thou go about to turne the truth of the Scriptures into a lye which saith That God wills that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth that they might be saved and thou here hath charged Christ foolishly and falsly in saying that he calls them to do that which he would not have them to do when he calls all men every where to Repent The Priest of the Presbytery belonging to Glascow summoned James Findly and William Gray to be examined by him for Heresy as they say and when they appeared they shut the door and would let none hear their examination manifesting themselves to be in darknesse and afraid to bring their deeds to the Light left their deceipts should have been laid open and reproved but they would not answere untill the doors were set open and all people to here that would come in Truth is bold and seeks no Corners They Priests affirmed that the Light which every one is enlightened withall is naturall c. Answ Here they manifest their ignorance of the life of Christ which is spirituall whose life is the light of men and this is the true light that lighteth every man that comes into the world and this light is pure that Christ doth enlighten every one withall and whosoever doth truth love the Light and brings his deeds to the light to be proved and by the Light
THE DOCTRINES AND PRINCIPLES THE Persecution Imprisonment Banishment Excommunicating of the Saints of God By the Priests and Magistrates of SCOTLAND Contrary to the Doctrine of CHRIST and the APOSTLES Here all may see The Priests of Scotland and their Church and their Persecution Imprisonment and Banishment and Excommunicating of the Saints and Lambs Servants and Children of God which the Lord moved to go amongst them to visit the Seed of God in that dark wilderness-country who has been as Sheep among Wolves Also How pure Religion is turned upside-down and vain Religion got in its place And the pure Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles which saith Entertain Strangers Love Enemies is lost amongst you In stead of entertaining strangers and loving of enemies they Imprison and Persecute and have made their Church unsavory And the Teachers fruits declares to be false who are wrestlers against flesh and blood and strikers at creatures which Christ and the Apostles did not George Weare John Hart William Grey William Stockdale William Mitchell Richard Ismead LONDON Printed for Robert Wilson at the Signe of the Black-spread-Eagle and winde-Mill in Martins-lane near Aldersgate 1659. THE DOCTRINES AND PRINCIPLES Of the Priests of Scotland c. FIRST These Presbyterian Priests of Scotland which Excommunicate and puts out of the Synagouges knowes not the Father and the Son John 16. so no true Christians for how can they be true Christians that knows not the Son of God nor the Father Secondly They are no Ministers of Christ for Christ saith When they curse blesse ye so they be out of Christs doctrine and teaching not blessing but cursing and giving forth curses and all the people must say Amen to their Curses Thirdly They be out of the Apostles doctrine who saith Blesse and curse not Rom. 12.14 so are no Ministers of Christ that curseth and gives forth their Curses to the people to say Amen to them and here they are shut out of the Apostles doctrine and Christs all people mark and take notice them they are that curse which the Apostle saith Blesse and curse not these are the Cursers and not Blessers that Excommunicate you out of the Synagogues Hugh Archball Priest of Stravan John Hume priest of Lesmahagow William Hambleton priest of Glasford James Durram priest of Glasgow John Castaires priest of Glagow Francis Ard priest of Discert Matthew Mackel Priest of Bothwel Henry Foreside priest of Lingiah James Nesmith priest of Hambleton Robert Semple priest of Losmahagow Thomas Garony Priest of Edenbrough John Burnet priest of Kilbroid A short Relation of the Vnjust sufferings of the People of God called Quakers by those unreasonable cursing Priests who covet after innocent blood as the Reader may finde in this ensuing Treatise WILL. OSBVRNE was Excommunicated by William Sterling Priest because he gave his testimony against him and the rest of the Priests Margaret Hambleton was Excommunicated by Lewis Semerell Priest of New-monkeland for entertaining the people of God called Quakers and the denying the tyrannicall power of the Presbitery John Hutchison was Excommunicated by James Nesmith Priest of Hambleton and the Priest would not give him any account for what he did it George Weare was Ecommunicated by John Hume Priest of Lesmahagow and the rest of the Presbytery of Lenarick for entertaining the people of God called Quakers William Michel John Michel Robert Todd Mary Inglish Elizabeth Lappy Marian Michel these were Excommunicated by Peter Kid Priest of Douglass and the rest of the Presbytery of Lenarick for denying that Matthew Mark Luke and John was the Gospel they witnessing the Power of God to be the Gospel Thomas Jacke Gabriel Hood James Cooke Gavine Scevenson John Hambleton Alexander Hambleton Jannett Hambleton Barbarah Hambleton Jannett Hambleton Andrew Hambleton Jane Hambleton Katherine Hambleton Katherine Hart John Allene James Hambleton William Hambleton Margaret Hambleton John Hart James Actkine John Hart Alexander Hart Jean Hart Gavine Hart John Lacoke Jannett Brown Jeanet Hambleton Andrew Brown Jean Brown Thomas Craiqqe John Torrens Katherina Hambleton Katherina Weare Jeanet Weare These were Excommunicated by Matthew Mackell Priest of Bothwell and the rest of the Presbitery at Hambleton for saying that Priests that preacheth up Sin for terme of life be Ministers of the man of Sinne. James Finly William Gray and many others have been Excommunicated by those Priests in that manner And after those Priests had Excommunicated these aforesaid persons they caused a general Synode to meet at Glascow and made an Order and published it in all their Masse-houses that none of those people called Quakers should have any entertainment and that no people should have any dealing with them in any Civil affaires not to give cursed men work as they styled our Friends and hindring men to work for them and that under pain of Excommunication the extent of which Order is that they should neither buy nor sell eat nor drink with them in the Nation William Stockdale and John Boweram being moved of the Lord to go to Strahavan in Evandale and declaring the word of truth there one a Market-day to the people was oftentimes knockt down with stones and stoned out of the town with violence by the wicked people William Stockdale John Gill and several others having a Meeting in Strahavan a company of the Priests hearers came and fell upon them with staves and stones broke up their Meeting and stoned them above a quarter of a mile out of the town insomuch that some bloud was spilt and many were sore bruised William Stockdale was knockt down in the Steeple-house yard of Damanoy and the people set their feet upon him and pulled much hair off his head insomuch that some of them cried he is kild for he could not speak nor rise off the ground for along time George Weare and several others had their Bonnets taken away from them at a Meeting and they laid it before William Lowery called Justice but he instead of doing Justice threatned them saying If they went to that place to meet again he would have them whipt or else he would whip them himself Richard Gollon Bayliff of Leanarick took away William Michels Bonnet by order of William Jacke priest of Carlooke and the Priest would not let him have it again neither would he let the said William and some others stay in the Town all night although the night was stormy and the Priest and the Bayliff had his Bonnet Mary Inglish for going to ask Peter Kid priest of Douglass why he warned them to the Sessions and did not appear to accuse them there was shamefully abused and beaten by the Priests wife and others here 's the Priests fruits George Fox the yonger Elexander Parker and others had their letters taken from them and broke up by George Monk and the Council of Scotland and never returned to them again also ten pounds worth of true books taken away from the people of God called Quakers by George Monk and the Councell of
came to fulfill The Priests third Curse to which all the people were to say Amen Cursed be all they that say Faith is without sin and let all the people say Amen Ans FAith is the gift of God and the gift of God is without sin Eph. 2.8 Faith is that which gives the victory John 3.4 And that which gives victory is without sin And here they have cursed the Apostles and their Doctrine who saith Faith is without sin and Faith is precious 1 Pet. 1.7 and that which is Precious is without sin Faith is the gift of God and the gift of God is perfect and that which is perfect is without sin and gives victory over sin Without Faith a man cannot please God and that which men please God in is without sin Hebr. 11.6 And so ye have cursed the Apostle and his Doctrine the just and that which is pure that by which they were healed through Faith they were justified Rom. 3.28 and what is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14.23 So what is of Faith is not sin and what is righteous is not sin and the Scripture speaks of the righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.13 Faith is not of sin but what is not of Faith is sin Faith gives victory over sin 1 John 3.4 in which Faith man is justified and hath peace with God Rom. 5.1 and it is a mystery held in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 The Priests fourth Curse to which all the people were to say Amen Cursed are all they that say every man hath a light sufficient to lead him to Christ and that within him and let all the people say Amen Ans HEre they have cursed the Apostles Doctrine who said God would dwell in them 2 Cor. 6.16 and Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1.27 and God is light 1 John 1.5 And they have cursed the Prophets who said I give him for a Covenant a Leader of the people I will dwell in them and walk in them saith God Jer. 31.31 Hebr. 10.16 And he saith I will send you the Spirit of truth and it shall lead you into all truth John 14.17 John 16 13. And I will be their God to rule them and they shall be my people Jer. 31.33 Thy curses are but winde for we are redeemed from the curse and the Apostles said the light that shined in their hearts was to give them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 and they that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 and the light to guide our feet in the way of peace and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and if any bring another Doctrine receive them not into your houses neither bid them God speed 2 John 9 10. You have here shewed your selves in the cursed estate out of the Apostles rule the same spirit of truth that led the Disciples into all truth that shall reprove the world of sin John 16.8 13. The Priests fifth Curse to which all the people were to say Amen Cursed be all they that deny the Sabbath-day and let all the people say Amen Ans HEre thou hast cursed thy self and all the Apostles and all the Saints and their own generation hast not thou and thy own generation denied the Sabbath day the Jews met on which is the Sabbath day according to the Scripture do not ye meet together upon the first day and was not Christ crucified on the sixth day and did not he arise on the first day and did not the Saints meet together on the first day and not keep the Jews Sabbath-day do not you work upon it your selves and keep Markets and Fairs on it but as it is said before we are Redeemed from the curse These are the particular Sentences whereupon Matthew Mackell and the rest of the Priests present with him did excommunicate those people called Quakers in the presence of many witnesses and he required his Hearers to say Amen to every particular sentence John Humes Priest of Lismahagow his Principles Pr. THey who have not the Scriptures knowes not the Attributes of God by the light of nature but the Scriptures declare the great mystery of the three persons in Trinity which they who want the Scriptures knowes not Ans Thy Principle is a lie and they that had not the Scriptures knew God and Christ as Abraham and Enoch and the Scripture doth not declare of the three persons nor of the Trinity and the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God Pr. That the Scriptures reveal the great mystery of Election the great works of the Creation and the work of Redemption Answ There thou hast set up the Scripture instead of God and before God and the Son for it is God that doth reveal to babes and sucklings Mat. 11.25 and God did reveal by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 and God shall reveal Phil. 3.15 and the things of God are hid from the wise and prudent Mat. 11.25 that have the Scriptures the Jewes had the Scriptures and God reveals his secrets to the Prophets his Servants Amos 3.7 no man knowes the Father saving to whom the Son shall reveal him Mat. 11.17 now the Son reveals and the Father reveals and the things of God are revealed by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 the Jewes had the Scriptures and knew not the Son 1 Cor. 2.8 nor the Father as in John nor the things of God by a natural light as they call it the Jewes had the Scriptures and did not know the Election Isa 24. because they were from the Spirit So it is God that reveals the Son and Redemption and Election and not the Scripture the Scripture was given forth from them that had the Revelation from God Pr. That wee and the Papists and Jesuites and Priests do agree all together that the Scripture is the word of God that liveth and endureth for ever Answ I do believe that you and the Papists and Jesuits agree all in one but ye did not agree with the Apostles and Ministers of the word for the Ministers of the word calls the Scripture a Declaration as ye may read Luke 1. and ye do not agree with them that set forth the Acts that called it a Treatise Acts 1. likewise ye do not agree with some of your own who say the Scriptures signifies writings and writings will not endure for ever so ye are Babylon and do not agree with Christ and ye do not agree with John Bev. 〈◊〉 who saith the words nor with Moses nor God who spake all these words Exod. 20. In the beginning was the word and the word is God and the word liveth and abideth for ever but the Scripture is words and the Scripture cannot be broken James Nesmith Priest of Hambleton his Principles Pr. THat the soul of man is a reasonable sinfull substance Answ How can that which is sinful be reasonable and if that which is unsinful be
reasonable and sinful be reasonable both then they are one in unity The Lord will take the soul for an offering for sin doth the Lord take that which is sinful for an offerring Isai 53. see how thou and the Prophet agrees here But what is that soul that the wicked is not able to kill is it not that which God hath in his hand and this is a lye to say that which is reasonable is sinful of one that puts light for darknesse God breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living soul who hath all souls in his hand and the soul is immortal and Christ the Bishop of it is immortal and God hath it in his hand which goeth against him that doeth evil whose hand is immortal but man transgressing against the commands of God the soul lies in death so Christ is the Bishop of the souls so they that came to know Christ their souls rejoyce in God their Saviour Luke 1. Pr. That the evil Spirits are both sinfull and reasonable Answ This is a lie for reasonable is not sinful and unreasonable is sinful 2 Thes 3. they have not the faith and if the evil Spirit be reasonable and the good reasonable they are both one who then is unreasonable If the evil Spirit be reasonable thou pots no difference between the precious and the vile thou hast the Mark of a blind guide and a false Prophet in thy so ehead Pr. That one of them Quakers is worse then the Devil A. This is a lie with his strange wonder for there is nothing worse then the Devil whose children you are for when he speaks a lie he speakes of himself and he is the Father of it Henry Foreside Priest of Lingiah in Dunbarton shire His Doctrine and PRINCIPLES Pr. THat God commands all every where to repent to the end that they should not have it to say but they were warned but not that he would give them grace to repent Answ Here thou makes God that he does not intend that he speaks and so thou would make him unrighteous though the Lord commands all men every where to repent Acts 17.30 who hath made all Nations of men of one blood to dwell upon the Earth and all being concluded under sin and unbelief that he might have mercy upon all Rom. 3.9 For both Jewes and Gentiles all were under sin and none of them did good no not one And Gods intent is that when he calls men to repentance they should repent when he calls them and many did repent and you are not fit men to be Ministers of Christ or God Now if God command all men every where to Repent and as thou sayst does not intend they should Repent thou and you go about to make God unjust First the Lord he desireth not the death of a sinner but that he should turn from his wickednesse and live Exod. 33.11 Now in the turning from his wickednesse he lives but in going on in his wickednesse he dies so Repentance was Preached from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 6.1 Christ came to call finners to Repentance not the Righteous for the whole needs not the Physitian but to the sick Mat. 9.12 13. And as for saying God did not intend to give them grace though he calls them to repentance That is a lie unrighteous doctrine for the grace of God hath appeared to all men which brings Salvation Titus 2.11 and so as he calls them to repentance he gives them grace that grace which brings salvation which men are justified by so it is saving grace that brings salvation and teacheth to deny ungodlinesse Now they that live ungodly turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse Jude 4. and these are the wells without water in Cains way Balaams way and Cores way Jude 11. speaks the high words in hypocrisie and these are they that separate themselves from the Apostles sensual having not the Spirit Jude 19. and are of old ordained to condemnation who separated from the light which turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse so these are they that neglect the common salvation it was the charge of the Apostle to Timothy before his decease 1 Tim. 4.2 2 Tim. 4.7 Then told him perillous times should come and Doctrines of Devils and men speaking lies in hypocrisie he said unto them that they should trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men and especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 But the Devils Doctrine leads them from their Saviour and from the grace 2 Tim. 4.1 And they that are not in the Doctrine are from the light which Christ hath inlightned them withall John 1.9 And have turned the grace of God into wantonnesse and pernitious wayes and drawes others from it and we do conclude that to be the Doctrine of Devils which sayes God calls all men to repent and intends not to give them grace nor would not have them to repent as thou Henry Foreside doth say for it was the charge of the Apostle to Titus to speak sound words and sound Doctrine and could not be condemned Titus 2. and told him that the grace of God which brings salvation had appeared to all men which taught them to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lust and to live godly soberly and righteously in this present evill world these things speak and exhort with all authority Tit. 1. But as I said before ungodly men that turn the grace of God into wantonnesse are of old ordained to this condemnation and this the is condemnation of the world that light is come into the World and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evill John 3.19 he that loves the light the light is his Saviour but he that hates the light it is his condemnation Pr. That the two parts of the Church must be prophane and godless Ans The Church is the Pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of the living God for the ungodly are out of its grounds and that which is ungodly the pillar and ground of truth there is no ungodly in it and the Church is without wrinkle or spot holy without blemish Eph. 5.27 and the Church is in God 1 Thes 1.1 That which is in God is in the light and out of the ungodly Pr. That God before the world was had ordained one little part of the people for eternal life that sin or do all the evil they could they could not loose that which was ordained for them Ans Here thou goest about to make Christ a lyar for he that commits sin is the servant of sin 1 Joh 3.8 saith He that commits sin is of the Devil saith the Apostle and thou wouldst make God partial and hast taught a Doctrine contrary to the Scriptures For God is no respecter of persons Rom. 2.11 Who will give to every one a reward according to their works Psal 62.12 And he that works iniquity must depart cursed from Christ
words 2 Tim. 3.5 and murthers them that enjoys their life and persecutes them The Devil abode not in the truth John 8.44 Adam and Eve abode not in the truth but transgressed Gen. 3. Cain abode not in the truth when he murdered Abel Gen. 4. The Jews abode not in the truth but crucified the just Jam. 5.6 The Antichrist and the false-Prophets since the daies of the Apostles and the Beast abode not in the truth 1 Iohn 2.19 that made the war against the Saints Rev. 13. And here is the murderers envious and persecutors warring and fighters and their sacrifice God never accepted Gen. 4.5 in all ages and these are them that persecuted those that was in the truth whose sacrifice God accepted to the witness of God in you all I speak that you may see your fall from the truth out of the Prophets life Christs life and the Apostles life so be out of the commands and fallen from God and say that none can keep the commandments that is the Word that shall stand for ever so ye are they that loves not not God Joh. 14.13 1 Joh. 2.4 but are of the Beast and false Prophets that makes war against them that keep the commands of God Rev. 22.11 so that which saith none can keep the Commandements is fallen out of the truth and the Commandments of God 1 Iohn 2.4 Ioh. 8.44 And to him the truth is death and the commands of God in which the Saints live to whom the Commandments are not grievous 1 Iohn 5.3 Thomas Garwine Priest of Edenborough his Doctrine and PRINCIPLES Pr. THat the Childe that is not sprinkled with outward water is in a damnable state and worse then an infidell Answ Now here he and the rest of the Presbyterian Priests of Scotland may say Abraham was in a damnable state Isaac was in adamnable state Jacob was in a damnable state and Joseph was in a damnable state and David was in a damnable state and John the Baptist was in a damnable state which were not sprinkled by a Priest with outward water nor named by the Priest so thou and you with your traditions that say a Child is in a damnable state if ye do not sprinkle it with water and the Apostle bids them not look at the things that are seen and you are in the damnable state and the damnable doctrine teachers of lies and many simple people have been deceived by you and given over to believe you but God hath taken the vail off their hearts that you begin to be seen and their salvation shall they know stands not in elements as though you with your sprinkling Infants with outward water could bring out of the damnable state Oh ye deceivers did not the Apostle say they that were Circumcised Christ profited them nothing Gal. 5.2 ye have long deceived people with your beggerly rudiments and elements and doctrines and traditions Col. 2. hatched up at Schools and never commanded of God and say if people will not observe your traditions or your elements which you call a Papist word Sacrament and perishing they not observing it are in a damnable state and worse then the Heathen and Infidels an Infidel is an Heathen one that knowes not God But your generation says it is blasphemy to say any hath known God and hath seen God and spoken to God so they themselves have concluded to be Heathen The Heathen know not God The Heathen observes traditions and they that know God cannot observe the traditions of the Heathen but obeys the Apostles doctrine and touches not tasts not nor handles the traditions of men and Ordinances which will perish so not saying so they that observe not traditions are not worse then Heathens but they that observe traditions are as the Heathens and be out of the Apostles doctrine in their own traditions and rudiments and are offended at those that will not touch them Robert Semple Priest of Lasmahagow came to George Weare of Saffield to reason with him and he laid down these following things for his doctrine and principles His first doctrine and principles was to prove the lawfulnesse of being called of men master standing praying in the Synagogues going in long Robes and he mentioned Ezras Pulpit of wood upon which he stood and read the Law to the people and for the rest he said nothing for his mouth was stopt concerning these things being found in the steps of the Pharisees Mat. 23. we do grant that Ezra had a Pulpit of wood but you profess your selves Ministers of the Gospel and plesbyterians and are ye sain to run to Ezra in the Law for a Pulpit now you have shewed your selves what you are and brought your deeds to the light but the Priesthood was made by the Law of God so were you never that priesthood changed and the Law changed also by which it was made and pulpit and Tythes ended and Christ the everlasting Priesthood witnessed so thou and you have proved your selves no Ministers of the Gospel Christ Jesus the power of God and the wisdom of God the ever lasting Priest-hood who is the end of Priests Pulpits and Tythes that was true in their place So you that have got up another Pulpit Tythes Temple like Readers of the Law and not like ministers of the Gospel and Priests are separated from the Apostles in the delusion and from Christ the everlasting Priesthood Heb. 7. and are them that Jude 19. and 2 Pet. 2. speakes of That separates themselves having not the Spirit that they were in who witnessed against Pulpit Tythes and Priest-hood and witnessed Christ the everlasting Priest-hood which Pulpit Tythes and Priesthood ye are crying up and so Antichrist George Weare bad him prove his practice for sprinkling of Infants and whether or no they were not to believe before they were Baptized He said the promise was to Abraham and his seed George answered him it was not to seeds as to many but to thy seed which is Christ Robert the Priest said That seed Christ was natural contrary to the Apostles doctrine Gal. 3.16 who said Christ was the power of God 1 Cor. 1.14 15. and Christ the mistery Col. 1.2.7 The first man is of the earth earthly the second man is the Lord from Heaven heavenly 1 Cor. 15. the spirituall man judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.15 The seed of the woman bruiseth the serpents head Gen. 3.15 and the promise is to the seed and the seed is Christ the power of God And Christ the seed is the spiritual man and so not natural but the Priest said the seed is natural Now let all see in this whether he be not given up to delusion to speak lies in hypocrisy 1 Tim. 4.1 to delude and deceive people for dishonest gain Ezek. 22.13 Which seed he and all the Presbyterians shall finde spiritual to judge them and bruise the heads of them and break their wicked cords and bonds of iniquity which they have laid upon the people Mat. 23. Ezek.
is lead to life but every one that doth evill hateth the light and will not bring his deeds to the light lest they should be reproved and so the light is his condemnation John 3.18 19 20 21. They affirmed That Christ died not for all contrary to the Scripture 2 Cor. 5.15 as abovesaid They say that the Scripture is the Word of God which is but a Declaration of the Word Luke 1.1 And Christ his Name is called the Word of God Rev. 19.13 The Scriptures are words of God and Christ is the Word that fulfils and ends the words They affirmed That men and women and Children should be condemned for Adams Transgression c. contrary to the Scripture which saith The Children shall not bear the iniquity of their Fathers nor the Fathers the Childrens but every one shall give an account of himself and every one shall bear his own burden They affirmed That none could be perfect on this side the Grave and that a Ohilde of God cannot be perfect as to have no sinne at all Answ Contrary to the Scripture Mat. 5.48 Where Christ saith Be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect And Christ doth 〈…〉 nor command impossible things and the Apostle saith We speak wisdome amongst them that are perfect 1 Cor. 2. And let as many as are perfect be thus minded and the Childe of God is perfect and without sinne for whosoever is borne of God doth not commit sinne and his seed remaines in him and he cannot sinne because be is born of God 1 John 3.8 9. It is as impossible for him that is born of God to commit sinne as it is impossible for him who is born of the Devil to cease from sinne They affirmed That none was Ministers of Christ but such as wait for an ordinary and mediate call from Men. Answ Contrary to the Scripture which saith The things of God knowes no man but the Spirit of God And contrary to Pauls Call who saith Not of man nor by man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ for he neither received of man neither was he taught it but it was given to him of God and this was the Gospell he preached Christ within the hope of Glory and if any bring another let them be accursed 1 Cor. 2. Gal. 1.1.12 Colos 1. They affirmed That an oath was lawfull to be taken of men and women Answ Contrary to Christs Command Mat. 5. who saith Swear not at all c. and contrary to the Apostles Doctrine James 5.12 who saith Above all things my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven nor by Earth nor by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into Condemnation They affirmed That Bread and Wine is the Communion with Christ Answ John and the Saints had Communion with God and his Son Jesus Christ and their Fellowship was in the Light For saith he if we walk in the Light as he is in the light then have we fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.5 7. And they who are in the Light have fellowship with Christ and receives every thing in the purity from the Lord but they that hate the Light they remain in darknesse and every thing to them is accursed to the unbelieving and disobedient their is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled They affirmed that sprinkling Infants is an Ordinance of Christ when as Christ never ordained such a thing and their is no Scripture for it let the Priests of Scotland or any of their brethren in England prove it if they can They affirmed it was lawfull for them be called of men Master Answ Contrary to Christ his expresse words in Mat. 23.8.10 be not ye called of men Master c. They affirmed Tythes to be lawfull for Ministers now shewing themselves to be Antichristian dark and blind denying Christ Jesus to be come in the flesh and saying that is lawful which Christ hath disannulled and made void and there is no Law in the new testament that doth allow of Tythes to be paid to a Gospel Ministry therefore not lawful These are some of the false Doctrines and Principles of the Presbyterians about Glasgow Whereby it was plainly manifest that they are guilty of heresy and are heriticks which they would charge upon others But true Light now shineth which maketh deceipt and deceivers manifest Henry Foreside said in the hearing of several people that Christ was not in the Apostle Paul c. Contrary to Pauls words in Gal. 1. After it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb and called me by his Grace to reveal his Son in me c. and in 2 Cor. 13. Ye seek a proofe of Christ speaking in me and Christ in you the hope of Glory Col. 1. and Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates Peter Kid Priest of Douglasse said to preach that people should walk according to the Light and law within them is the Doctrine of Devils Answ Paul and other of the Apostles and Saints and true Christians who believed in Christ had the Light shining in them and the Law in them and the Spirit in them and God and Christ dwelt in them for their bodies were made Temples of the Holy Ghost as the Scriptures declare and the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus had made the Apostle free from the law of sin and death and saith John these things I write unto you that your fellowship may be with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ This was the Doctrine of Christ to bring people to Light Law life and spirit within to worship God in spirit and in truth and all who draw out and lead people from this are deceivers and their Doctrine is devilish William Somerwell Priest said It was ill manners to to say thee and thou to a man c. Contrary to the Scripture which all along doth give thee and thou to a particular not onely unto man though never so great in the world but also to God himself and unto Christ William Morton Priest of Wonstone summoned James Simmonton to his Sessions and being required to prove his Ministry he said he scorned to prove himself a Minister of Christ Contrary to the Scripture which saith be ready to give account of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and fear to every one that shall aske you And when he was told of taking hire for his preaching contrary to Christ his Commission who saith Freely ye have received freely give then the Priest arose in arage and called him base-born beggarly raskall contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who saith Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth William Stockdale being in the Steeple-house of Lesmahagow where John Lum Priest thereof was preaching and he being writing some of his lyes the Priest cryed out and said There
Commission from Paul for giving people Bread and Wine Paul never gave such a Commission to any neither doth he say he had power to give any Commission but declares himself a servant neither did Paul own any of thy generation of hirelings which drew people from the true foundation but declares against them and bids people turn from them Therefore give over deceiving the people and repent and call not Bread and Wine any more an Ordinance of God which thou sayest you are commanded by man to practise lest thy and their portion be in the Lake where there is Weeping and Wailing and gnashing of Teeth which you cannot escape unlesse ye Repent for ye are such as make the Word of God of none effect by your Tradition and so are to be turned from Reasons why we deny them and the Priests of their Generation FIRST They are such teachers as walk in the steps of the Pharisees which Christ cryed woe against Mat. 23.6 They stand praying in the Synagogues and are called of men master contrary to Christs command who said to his Ministers be not ye called of any man master and because they are such as break Christs command therefore we deny them Secondly They are such as preach another Gospel then the Apostles did and saith Salvation is by the Scripture which is contrary to that which is held forth by the Prophet Isa 49.6 Who said Christ was given for Salvation to the end of the earth and the Apostle said their is not salvation in any other Acts 4.12 And because they preach another Gospel therefore we deny them Thirdly They are such teachers as say the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the foundation for Believers to build upon which is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who saith Christ is the Foundation and cheif Corner Stone Psal 118.22 Act. 4.11 Rom. 9.33 1 Pet. 2.7 Mat. 21.42 And because they hold out another foundation then the Holy Men of God did therefore we deny them Fourthly They are such as take hire for their preaching contrary to Christs command who said to his Ministry Freely ye have received freely give and because they neither receive freely nor give freely therefore we deny them Fifthly They are such teachers who deny that the Grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared unto all men and so would make the Apostle a lyar and a false Minister who saith in the 2 Tim. 11. The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all men and because they deny the Apostles Doctrine therefore we deny them Sixthly They are such teachers as deny the Doctrine of perfection which is the Doctrine of Christ who said be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect and Holy for I am Holy which Doctrine the Apostles walked in and spake amongst those that were perfect 1 Cor. 2.6 And labored to present every man in Christ Jesus and because they are not found in this labour that the Apostles was in to present men perfect in Christ Jesus but cryes against it and preaches up sin for terme of life which is the Doctrine of Devils therefore we deny them Seventh They are such Teachers as go into Cains way and running greedily after rewards and covetousnesse Jude 11. contrary to the Apostles who said he covered not mans gold silver nor apparell Acts 20.23 therefore we deny them Eighth They are such as are made Ministers by the will of man and persecute and raile against such as fear God and are of a honest conversation therefore we deny them Nineth They are such Teachers as adde to and diminish from the Scriptures unto whom the plagues of God are due therefore we deny them Tenth They are such as Ezekiel cryes against in Ezek. 34. That feed with the fat and clothe with the wool and make a prey upon the people therefore we deny them Eleventh They are such teachers as uphold a false worship in the I dolls Temples made with hands which Christ sent his Ministers to cry against and do deny the true worship which is in Spirit and in truth therefore we deny them Twelfth They are such Teachers as keepes Drunkards Swearers liars proud covetous and all manner of vile persons in their Assemblies and cast out them that fear God and are of honest conversation therefore we deny them Written by one that Worship God in Spirit and in Truth and do deny all False Worship which men sets up and is also a witnesse for God against all deceit and deceivers known by the Name of Will Stockdale The 26 of the last Moneth called Feb. 1657. THE END