25. Paul spoke his condicion that he was in to the Saints and what he had passed through which yet thou art alive in the flesh and not come to know the Law of God therefore thy carnal minde rules and reigns in thee and so thou art making a distinction in the Apostles words and wresting of them who witnessed that there was no condemnacion to him that was in Christ Iesus and witnessed the condicion under the Law and without the Law and was made free from the Law through the Law which thou knowest not so thou being a dead man canst not hear thou speakest of a Victory and reigning power of sin and yet in the conclusion of thy words thou speakest to the contrary again and that thou art of that minde that Victory is not fully enjoyed while we are on the earth and here thou speakest contrary to the Scriptures and there is a confusion in thy words for first thou sayst there is a Victory and Dominion â—ver the reigning power of sin and then again thou denyest it and here thou shewest Babylon for the Apostle sayd We are more than conqâ—â—rours through him that loved us and there is no condemnacion to them who are in Christ Iesus Another Scripture thou wouldst be satisfied in 1 Cor. 15. 54. the Apostle did speak what he saw in this Chapter which thou hast taken a word or two of and we witness and see the same yet death reigns in thee and corruption reigns in thee and the natural minde which doth despise the glory of God therefore is this Scripture hid from thine eys but it is as it speaks we witness it to be fulfilled and the Apostle was in the condicion that he spoke of for he witnessed the Victory and sayd Thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 55 56. and sayd O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Rom. 5. 9. and thou hast raced out thy self from the Apostles and from the Saints condicions and shewest that death yet hath dominion over thee and that sin hath dominion over thee and that the mortal hath dominion over the and that corrupcions have dominion over thee and that that thou art in the grave and that Victory cannot be witnessed and art an enemy to it and hast not so much as a belief in thee of overcoming of sin and here thou hast shewed thy hypocrites hope as thou sayst and so keepest poor people in death in corruption and in the mortal and carnal minde and in the grave and in unbelief as thou art in thy self and shewest that thou art damned openly he that believeth not is condemned already he that believeth is born of God and doth not commit sin but is passed from death to life Query 10. Whether any natural man can preach the Gospel yea or no Priests Answer I do believe they may preach the historical part of the Gospel I believe Iudas did preach and was not behinde in his gift to outward vieâ— of the eleven Apostles for the Apostles had no ground to have any ill conceits of him for had they they would soon have reflected on him when Christ sayd One of you shall betray me but they questioned themselves and not him Matth. 26. 21 22. And God gives great gifts many times to wicked men Rom 2. 18 19 20. 2 Cor. 11. 13 14 15. Ministers of Satan may be transformed into Ministers of righteousness Gal. â— 8. They cannot preach the mystery of the Gospel nor Christ from their own experience or enjoyment for this they know not 't is folly to them 1 Cor. 2. 14. A Reply to the Priests Answer Here thou art pleading for the natural man for Iudas and the false Apostles and it is true in that generacion thou art among them and therefore thou must needs love thy own and stand up for them for no other generacion thou knowest I am a witness against thee and I know thee and have tryed thy spirit to be one of these false Teachers which wouldst transform thy self into an Angel of light and which dost intrude into these things thou never knewst and so thou puffest up thy fleshly minde there thou art I witness thee there eternally by the Eternal spirit Thou sayst Ministers of Satan may be transformed into Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11. 15. here thou wouldst make Satan and righteousness one and shewest forth thy error not knowing the words as the Apostle speaks and if they cannot preach the mystery of the Gospel how can they be transformed into righteousness for the Ministers of Satan transform themselves as the Ministers of righteousness but he doth not say he transforms into it here thou shewest thy self to be a Lyar and thy self to be one of those who are no Ministers of the Gospel getting the form but denying the power 2 Tim. 3. 5. which ever was to be turned away from whose end is destruction according to their works and so thou shewest all along that thou hast but onely the form of the Apostles words for thou pleadest for them who are without and against those who are within who are in the power and life of the truth thou pleadest against the truth and the life which the Apostles were in and the life of the Apostles for the Apostles did discern the false Apostles and those who did transform themselves so with the same spirit we discern thee to be in the same generation among them and there thou must own thy porcion and own the Scriptures to be tru and thy porcion in it which it speaks of to the false Prophets and false Apostles Another Scripture thou bringest 1 Cor. â— 14. thou bringest a Scripture which sayth The natural man receiveth not the things that be of the Spirit of God they are foolishness to him that is thy own condiâ—ion own that Scripture for a truth to thy self for the preaching of Christ and the Cross is foolishness to thee as it was to them that held up the Iewish Synagogues which yet thou holdest up another in imitation from the carnal Letter being carnal and blinde and ignorant of the mystery and of Christ and of the Gospel but the mystery and Christ and the Gospel we witness and own but we have not reâ—â—ived it of man neither were we taught it of man but by the revelacion of Iesus Christ Gal. 1. 12. and we do witness forth the substance as the Apostle did and therefore we do deny all such as thou art who art not so much as a Minister of the Letter and hast not yet got the form of it to speak it tru as the form is but thou hast shewed forth thy ignorance and foolishness of the form of the Letter Query 11. Whether the Tree be not known by its fruits yea or no Priests Answer No question but it is Christ himself says so but I pray thee tell me did ever a good Tree bring forth Despeâ—aâ—ion
pass thou proceedest with this inference if so why dost thou deny and say that every one hath not that Light to teach them and guide them to God Is this a sufficient inference that bececause I have it therefore it must not be denied but that all have it Let any that God hath given an understanding to judg surely God hath left you you have even lost your common Reason among you A Reply to the Pr An. Thou sayst thou art able to say through grace that thy Beloved is thine and thou art his so do the false Prophets say He saith it Jer. 23. 31. but thou knowest nothing of the Beloved nor of Jesus Christ which is the Beloved nor through grace Thou sayst all that Christ hath is thine his Light for thy Prophet his Love as a Saviour to guide thee to thy Fathers house as a Thief thou hast gotten the Letter Jer. 23. 30. and a form which Christ spoke and that thou callest thine but thou enemy of Christ thou neither knowest the Light which is Christ that enlightneth every one that cometh into the world John 1. 9. that thou canst not witness according as the Query was put to thee nor the Prophet nor the fathers house nor the Saviour which the Scripture speaks of but thy fathers house thou knowest and thy beloved which is the God of the World and thy imagined Light which leads thee to thy fathers house which we utterly deny thee and thy fathers house and thy beloved thou hast shewed thy beloved is thine which is thy Lust for thy gift Qu. 2. Whether your Gospel be the same that the Apostles preached and if it be Why go you to Oxford and Cambridg when the Apostle said the Gospel he preached was not after man neither was he taught it by man neither received he it from man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ Priests Answer I shall speak as to my own particular and this through grace I have to say God hath carryed forth my spirit to preach and to declare Christ and him crucified as the Apostles preached 1 Câ—r 22. and to declare the manner of Gods giving this gift to sinners as the Apostles did and that freely through grace Rom. 3. 24. the Doctrine of grace appears to be the Doctrine of the Gospel Gal. 1. 5 6. compared with the 9. 10. verses And he that preacheth another Gospel than this is a perverter of the Gospel of Christ and under the curse though he seem to an Angel from Heaven 7 8. v. Thy Inference is If it be so why do you not live on the Gospel I do live on the Gospel and that is thy trouble and grief it seems but thou addest when as it is said Freely ye have received freely give Matth. 10. 8. If thou examinest well what is cited by thee thou wouldst finde that this is principally spoken of healing the sick cleansing the Lepers raising the dead and casting out Devils which were things at that time more likely to get them money than preaching the Gospel but again if thou wilt take no notice of that but apply it wholly to the gift of preaching this I say that Christ did even there approve that the Labourer was worthy of his hire Luke â—â— 7 8. A Reply to the Priests Answer Thou sayst that God hath carryed forth thy spirit to preach and declare Christ and him crucified as the Apostles preached I utterly deny thee to be any Preacher of Christ or to know God or Christ or the Word of God and the Apostles condicion thou knowest not and the grace of God thou art an enemy to and thou art one of them that crucisies Christ Matth. â—7 â—â— wheresoever he is rising thou wouldst know him and crucifie him who art giving thy Exposicions upon the Doctrine of Christ and wresting the Scriptures to thy own destruction Gal. 1. 8. being unlearned and thou art he that preaches another Gospel which art a perverter of the Gospel which art cursed as thou hast made it openly appear in thy Queries and thou speakest of Angels from Heaven them thou knowest not Friend thou sayst thou livest upon the Gospel but it is upon that which the Apostles spoke the Letter a Declaracion that is thy Gospel which was made manifest to the Apostles which is not to thee and that thou livest on and tradest withall as a Thief and a Robber Ier. 32. 30. and so deceivest poor people who art a Minister of the Letter and not of the Gospel and thou sayst that the Labourer is worthy of his hier but what pay did Christ give to his Labourers that he sent into his Vineyard Did not he say they might have but a Penny Wilt thou be content with his wages O thou Enemy to him who art without God in the world and thou hâ—st shewed that Christ never sent thee to preach therefore thoâ— knowest not his wages that he gives but the Devil he leads thee and thou takest his hier and he is thy Master for thou receivest the wages of unrighteousness shewing thy self worse than Balaam who loves the wages of unrighteousness Iude 11. which wo was upon who art without perverting Christs words and wresting the Scriptures and like a Thief wouldst be like one of them in thy words but like the Devil in thy practice and thou sayst the doing of Miracles and the casting out Devils and raising the Dead were things at that time more like to get money than preaching the Gospel O thou Enemy of God! where dost thou finde any of the Ministers of God that took money for working Miracles Simon Magus would have bought the Spirit to have wrought Miracles withall but the gifts of God is not to be bought and sold for money thou sellest thy carnal gifts but thou they must perish that do so for it is your perishing minde for thou canst not witness one of the gifts of God nor of the Miracles of Christ neither the dumb to speak nor the blinde to see nor the deaf to hear but art a silthy Beast wich art spued out from God dead in thy sins and trespasses Ephes â— 1. and whereof thou wouldst have the Scripture answer thee thou art dead from hearing of them Query 3. Whether you can give another meaning to the Scriptures than they are and whether the Apostles did not give the right meaning to them when they spoke them forth or no and if they did what need learned men to give another meaning to them Priests Answer What a man can do is one thing and what he doth or desires to do is another if no man can give an Exposition besides the meaning of the Scriptures me thinks you should be quiet in that particular and not spend your breath so vainly the same Spirit of God that gave out the Scriptures being in the hearts of his chosen ones doth instruct them to compare one Scripture with another and to give out the meaning of one Scripture by another and
with thy carnal minde to maintain thee and to hold up thy carnal gift and these things which Christ forbids his to do so who said Freely you have received freely give but here thou art not and it shews that thou hast not received it freely therefore thou sellest that which thou callest thy gift which the Apostles never did 1 Cor. 9. 18. Paul was not hired when he was refreshed with the necessaries of the Barbarians O thou Enemy why dost thou accuse Paul and would make him like thy self let him alone for thou knowest him not nor his Ministery for he was a prisoner of the Lord a traveller of the sea when the Barbarians lodged him what is that to thee to maintain thee to bear rule by thy means which Ieremy cryed against Ier. 23. 14. holdest up the horrible filthy thing that is committed in the Land to justifie thee to be a hierling and to receive thy gift and here thou hast openly shewed thy self to be an accuser of the Apostle and wouldst make him like Balaam like thy self and would have the woman to help thee and those are thy nursing fathers Kings and Queens which hold up thy gift which the Prophet cryed wo against but it is that fools may utter forth their folly and be taken in their own snare Prov. 13. 16. here thou art answered the Beast that hath held up the false Prophet and the false Prophet shall both into the fier And thou sayst thou dost not take gifts of the world but if any Prophet of the Lord come among you son or daughter you shew your selves to be of the world you shew your selves to be strikers and of the Devil halling them out of the Synagogues Matth. 10. 17. and to be no Saints nor no Church of God nor no Ministers of Christ and here thou shewest thou takest of the world and thy self to be a Lyar for thou never readest of any of the Churches of God if any of the world came in among them that they halled them out and beat them but it shews the effect of thy ministery and blasphemy which sayth ye are Iews and are not but are Synagogues of Satan Rev. 2. 9. 3. 9. we have found thee out and tryed thee Query 5. Whether the Plagues be not added to him that adds to the Prophecy of the things written in this Book Priests Answer 'T is tru the Spirit of God sayth so Rev. 22. 18 19. I do believe it yet again the expounding and opening of it by the Light of the Spirit of God given in comparing it with other Scriptures is not that which brings the curse for then the Apostle himself would have been under it 1 Cor. 9. 9 10. Rom. 4. 3 6. Rom. 11. 3 4 5. For expounding it wherein I have added or taken away is not yet discovered by any of you and that is the waight of the business when thou didst write to me or any other the Lord judg and let all the Lords people judg whether he be not more apt by far to add to the Prophecy of this Book who by his doctrine begetsiâ— slight esteem of the Prophecy of this Book and perswades his hearers that his words are as true as any Scripture and he cannot err and therefore all is to be believed that he speaks and not to be questioned though many things are contrary to this Prophecy than they that are so much blamed by them and reproached dayly A Reply to the Priests Answer Thou sayst it is tru that the Spirit of God sayth that the Plagues are added to him that adds to the prophece of this Book here thou speakest a Lye thou sayst it is tru the Spirit of God sayth He that adds or diminishes to the prophecy of the Book which hadst thou not seen the Letter then hadst known no spirit and because the Letter sayth so that is thy spirit but as I finde thee adding wresting and lying I do see that the plagues are added to thee by the same Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and of them thou knowest nothing in that thou speakest a Lye in that thou sayst thou dost know it for thou knowest it not to be a truth though the Letter speak it as they swore the Lord lived and swore falsly Jer. 3. â— if thou didst thou durst not add nor diminish thou sayst comparing one Scripture with another is not that which brings the curse for then the Apostle would have been under it and so with thy corrupt minde dost accuse the Apostle falsly and wouldst make him like thy self and who speaks of the Scriptures fulfilling which thou canst not witness but makest a trade of them without thee and wouldst have Points and Reasons of them as thou wouldst have made a poynt of the Resurrection in thy former writing and here the plague of God is due to thee and here I charge thee again and here the Fool is out of the truth and the Rod is for the back of the Fool Prov. 10. 13. Prov. 18. 28. and here is the Scripture fulfilled upon thee and thou sayst it is not discovered by any of us whether thou addest or diminishest here thou hast shewed thy self to be a Lyar thou hast been told both publickly and privately of it and of thy deceit and now seeing thou hast openly shewed thy self to be a Lyar here openly do I make thee manifest as a Lyar who wouldst justifie thy self in thy deceit but thou harlot art made bare and discovered Nah. 3. 4 5 6. who hast sitten long under a colour and here is the Scripture is fulfilled upon thee and the Prophets words tru we finde them fulfilled Prayses prayses be to the Lord God of Heaven and Earth for ever who gives his servants victory over the Beast and the false Prophet Rev. 15. 2 3 4. such as thou art who have been ensnared by thee therefore we see that Plagues are thy porcion thou sayst that plagues are the waight that we give thee it is so 't is thy due and porcion thou sayst the Lord judg and let all the Lords people judg 1 Cor. 6. 2. the Lord doth judg and the Lord hath judged and the Lords people doth judg all such as thou art Him that thou dost accuse as to add to the prophecy in the Book he doth not but witnesses it thou having not the same witness canst not believe and neither sees him nor the prophecy of the Book thou seest the outside of the Letter with thy visible eye as they did which saw the outside of the Vision of Daniel Dan. 10. 7. But we that do believe him do believe his Doctrine not an outward testimony but we have the witness in our selves which are one with him and it doth witness that he hath the Spirit of truth which cannot err but we do know thy spirit by the same Spirit to be the spirit of error and here thou wouldst not have the Spirit of God to be believed on but here
a day of power and vengeance Ier. 51. 6. will come upon thee which thou shalt not be able to resist though now thou art querying and canst not tell whether man can resist or no by thy Query thou hast shewed forth thy subtlety Serpent like the children of Israel which had tasted of the mighty power of the Lord when they murmured they were destroyed Numb 14. 28 29. but this thou knewest not but art shutting up the Kingdom of Heaven against men as these did who were called of men Masters which stood praying in the Synagogues which Christ cryed wo against in Matth. 23. reade thy porcion there who hated Christ and there thou art for shame give over professing thy self to be a Minister of God who knowst not the power of God but art querying whether any man can resist it yea or no. Query 1. Who were they the Apostle spake this word to Ephes 2. 12. Answ They were they that were made nigh by the bloud of Christ whom thou art an Enemy to and without God in the world in the generacion of the Pharises and a childe of disobedience Light shines and Darkness doth not comprehend it the god of the world hath blinded thy eys Rom. 11. 8. and thou hast shewed thy self to be a Tempter Query 2. Whether you dare own this as a truth made out by the Spirit of God in the Apostle Answ We do witness in us what the Apostle speaks by the same Spirit that was in the Apostle therefore we witness against thee who hast nothing but the Letter and the lying spirit to be thy witness and we do witness what the Apostle sayth He that believeth hath the witness in himself 1 Iohn 5. 9 10. and this do we own therefore tremble before the Lord thou childe of the Devil Psal 99. 1. and blasphemer and Enemy of Righteousness who art querying without Query 3. If so whether your opinion is not contrary to truth and so a Ly Answ Opinions we do deny and here thou hast shewed forth thy dark minde thou canst not witness that ever thou wert in the Light for darkness cannot comprehend it Iohn 1. 5. and there thou art for thy minde is full of confusion and frivolousuess and the Lye speaks in thee and there is nothing of truth born up in thy understanding and that which should exercise thy conscience thou art an Enemy to and to the Apostles life thou art an Enemy and knowst it not though thou canst and dost make a Trade of his words and Christs words and the Prophets words O thou false-hearted dissembling Hypocrite the Plagues of God are due to thee and that is thy porcion Rev. 18. 8. Query 1. Whether there be not a time that men are darkness Ephes 5. 8. Answ Thou art in darkness and the man of sin is darkness and the Light shines in darkness and thou dost not comprehend it Iohn 1. 5. Thou hatest the Light thou childe of darkness and therefore thou art in darkness which Light shall condemn thee Iohn 3. 19. the righteousness of God is revealed upon thee in flames of fier thou childe of disobedience Query 2. Whether there be a possibility to hide Christ the Son of Righteousness quite under a cloud where he really is Answ Thou Enemy of God thou dost hide the Talent in thee under the clod of earth in thee If thou hast an ear thou mayst hear 1 Pet. 3. 19. the Ministers of God they speak to the spirits in Prison and the Prisoners shall come out of Prison Art thou a Teacher and shewest thy self to be so sottish and to be ignorant of the Form and must be taught the Letter therefore thou shewest thy ignorance because the son of perdicion is above all that is called God in thee 2 Thess 2. 3. Thou blinde Hypocrite was not he in Egypt while Herod was King and out of Egypt have I called my Son sayth the Lord Who hast thou preached all this while or who hath sent thee to preach Here thou hast shewed that thou never knewst Christ nor Christ never sent thee O thou dark dumb Prophet thou wert speaking of the Prophet and of Grace which hath appeared to all men Tit. 2. 11 12. which thou turnest into wantonness for this Grace is the Saints Teacher those who are taught of it deny thee and thou art one that keeps the Light in Prison in thee and the Devil is exalted above all that is called God in thee who art for condemnacion and destruction as it is written Query 3. Whether the Devil be stronger than Christ the flesh than the spirit or where dost thou finde he was ever a Prisoner in Satans chains Answ We witness that he was in Satans chains and is in thee else how could they crucifie him afresh thou Enemy of Righteousness who hast shewed forth thy ignorance and thou art he that keeps him in them here thou shewest thy self to be ignorant of the Letter but art one of them that imprisons the truth Christ sayth I was in Prison and is kept in Prison by thee and ye visited me not Matth. 25. 43. The Devil shall cast some of you into Prison Rev. 2. 10. And Christ sayth Saul why persecutest thou me and in that generacion thou art persecuting but in all these things thou shewest thy self to be ignorant of the life and power within but art querying without with thy busie minde looking with the eye that cannot see and hearkning with that ear which cannot hear which shews that thou never knewst Christ but dost imprison him The same which discended did ascend which sayd He had overcome the world Iohn 16. 33. If thou hast an ear thou mayst hear but thou art he that quenches the spirit and despisest prophecying who lives in the lusts of the flesh who art for destruction and the fier doth not the Letter say he was taken from Prison from Judgment and was he not in Prison when Barnabas was delivered when a company of rude fellows came from the high Priests such as thou art to take him and lead him to Prison and he it is which is imprisoned still the cause of it is thou and such high Priests as thou art Mark 15. 1. which stir up the rude company to bring him to the Magistrate and to the Prison still Matth. 26. 59. O thou Enemy of Righteousness dost thou inquire whether Christ was in Prison thou art born after the flesh and persecutest him who is born after the Spirit here thou art answered Query 1. Whether it be not a needless expression to speak of drawing the soul to Christ if Christ be so near us as in us a Teacher and Leader already Iohn 6. 44. Answ Thou Enemy the Tempter and Serpent Christ hath called thee to repentance and thou hast been convinced with the Light which is Christ but thou livest in the flesh and in the filthiness in the mystery of iniquity who wouldst have the Scripture to be answered without thee who art an
Apostle speaks of thou knowest not but art an enimy to it neither knowest thou the Milk that was given to the Flock but thou art one of them that fayl with thy Feet Ezek 34. 18. that hast nothing but the Husk which is fit for nothing but the Swine but as a Theif wouldst be up in the Apostles Condicion The Apostl spoke the Truth which thou art out of and to the flock he spoke of it and the Vineyard thou art an enimy to and that with all thy power and might wouldst wrest the Scripture but thou art thrust out and discovered with them who are within and seen by us and so I bid thee Farewell unto Perdicion thou must go Query 3. Whether the Apostles did not give a tru Exposicion of the 9 verse in the forecited â—hapter and in the 10 verse And if so then he that Plougheth and Thresheth may do it in hope and expectacion of outward preservacion in his labour not to have his mouth muzelled Answ Thou wouldst not have thy mouth muzeled the mouth of the false Prophets must be stopped as the Apostle saith Evil Beasts Slow-bâ—llies whose mouths must be stopped Tit. 1. 11 12. and thou art one of them who takes the Apostles words for thy carnal ends and wouldst have Exposicions upon his words who perverts his words and sayst he gave Exposicions who spoke plainly and thou showest thy self to be one of them that the Apostle spoke unto Query 4. Whether there be not the same equity that those that wait on the Gospell should have maintenance as well as those that wayted on the Temple and on the Altar Aensw They that waited on the Altar lived upon the Altar and they that preached the Gospel lived on the Gospel 1 Cor. 9 13. but repent thou knowest neither but art a deceiver and makest a Trade upon the Scripture but praised be the Lord God who hath given a Light to discover thee and to draw from under thy bands for thou neither waitest upon the Altar nor canst not witness the Gospel but only that Scripture thou bringest to maintain thy gift which thou confessest thou receivest worse then Balaam 2 Pet. 2. 15. Query 5. Whether the Ordinances of Christ in this be out of Date yea or no Answ Christ is the same he was where he is made manifest and his Ordinances the same but thou art one that dost deny them and disobey them Did not Christ command his whom he made Teachers Mat. 23. 8. 10. that they should not be called of men Masters and that they would not have the cheifest place in the Assemblies for they were all Brethren Come down thou painted Beast and proud Pharisy who ever wast an enimy of Christ Wo is thy Porcion for thou art out of date with them for thou dost not observe them Query 6. Whether simply taking of Wages make a Hierling yea â—r no Answ Thou robest the World whereas the Apostle saith he robed the Churches 2 Cor. 11 8. and thou robst the world for the Church of God is the ground and Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 3. 15. Thou blind Sot and coloured Beast doth not wages make a Hyerling thou canst not deny but thou art an Hyerling thou receivest a gift Balaams wages of unrighteousness therefore Wo is thy Porcion VVhat hast thou to do with the Apostles who spoke against gifts Query 7 If so How could Paul be excused from being a Hierling he taking wages as well as others Answ Art thou as Paul was or wouldst thou make him like thy self who robest the world and he took of other Churches O thou filthy Beast who slanderest the Church of Christ and the Apostles with thy filthy minde who wouldst make the Apostle an Hyerling like thy self who hast nothing to do with the Apostle nor the Church of Christ but as a filthy fellow thou makest a trade upon the Letter and other mens Condicions to deceive withall but thou art discovered to be worse than Balaam who denyed the gift of Baalack though he loved it Num. 22. 18. but all thy Pleading and Querying is for the gift showing thy self to be worse than Balaam Query 8. Whether the worlds wages doth not imply some kinde of contract between them yea or no because he had wages of other Churches for preaching to those of Corinth Phil. 4. 17 18. Answ Thou askest whether Paul did well or no in receiving a gift of the Phillipians thou wrestest his words in saying he received a gift for saith he in the Scripture not because I desire a gift but I desire fruit that may abound to your account But I have all Phil. 4. 17 18. How fain wouldst thou make the Apostle like thy self an Offender so thy eye is blinded with a gift as it is written and here I charge thee to accuse the Apostle falsly Query 9. Whether if Paul received a gift why may not others supply their necessaries Answ Paul sayd not because I desire a gift in the same verse which words thou pervertest but that fruit might abound for he denyed Balaams gifts Thou enimy of Righteousness how darest thou slander the Apostle who was a tru Minister of God all thy end in thy Querying is for thy gift to maintain thee in Balaams Seat here I charge thee by the Lord to be a perverter of the Scripture who art in the way of Kain Iude 11. I can scarce compare thee to Balaam for he denyed the gift which thou pleadest for and wrestest the Scripture to maintain it and therefore Wo is to thee who lovest the wages of unrighteousness but thou art one who servest not the Lord Iesus Christ but thy own Belly and by good words and fayr speeches deceivest the hearts of the simple Rom 16 18. Phil 3 19. Query 10 Whether David was not in a heavenly condicion while on the Earth as well as any of you being a man after Gods own heart Acts 2 34. Answ He was in that heavenly Condicion which thou shalt never see David we witness and his Condicion whom thou art an enimy to and with thy aspiring mind wouldst know but it is the subtle Serpent which is shut forth which Christ cryed Wo unto you Serpents which paint your selves with the Prophets words Math 23 33 and so thou art painted and wouldst be painted and Wo is thy Porcion as t was theirs Math â—3 33. Query 11 What Heaven is this that he is not ascended into Answ â—hou wouldst know what Heaven David is not ascended into thou never knâ—west Davids Condicion that he was in that Minde of thine must first know Hell where the wicked are turned into Psal 9 17. Thou hast nothing to do to know where David is ascended for thou never knewest his first estate nor thou art not brought into his Condicion but he that knowes the Heaven of heavens knows what heaven it is he that hath an Eare let him hear but thou art in the generacion of them that hated David Query 3. If not
but thou neither ownest Prcepts Law nor Command nor Statutes nor Ordinances therefore a busie fellow thou art querying whether we own them or no that thou mightst accuse for if thou didst own them thou wouldst own us and Christ but thy Precepts and Commands we deny and Doctrines and Ordinances for they are not to be tasted touched nor handled for they are to perish with the using of them Col. 2. 21 22. Query 3. Whether it be not the work of Satan on your spirits to endeavour to stop the greatest part in the world from giving that to God which he calls for Answ It is the work of God to stop the mouths of the world that we witness and it is the work of Satan to open the mouths of the world and he opens their mouths who keeps open thy mouth whose mouth must be stopped Tit. 1. 11. and that which the world gives to the living God is abominacion for the whole world lyes in wickedness and thou wouldst have the worlds mouth kept open and that which is abominacion to the Lord God set up but the Lord is coming in power to throw down the abominacion and to stop the mouths of the world which thou wouldst justifie and set open shewing thy self to be a Freind of the God of this world It is the work of God to stop the mouths of the world Freind thou wouldst have an Answer to these Scriptures and Queries Roâ— 7. 18 25. 1 Iohn 19. Query 1 Whether thou dost own the Scripture for a Truth Answ We witness the Scripture to be a Truth and thee to be a Lyar not knowing any thing of them Query 2 Do you not deceive your selves in saying you have no sin Answ Here thou errest in not knowing that Epistle which thou bringest to accuse us withall for the same that gave it forth sayd If ye confess your sins he is faithfull and just to forgive and to cleanse you from all uncleanesse 1 Iohn 1. 9. here thou hast shewed thy selfe that thou art not come yet to the confession of thy sinns therefore farre short from cleansing from all thy filthinesse of Flesh and Spirit but blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is making manifest himself to destroy the works of the Devill 1 Iohn 3 8. and here thou shewest that Iesus Christ is not made manifest to thee and that the works of the Devill are yet standing in thee O thou enimy of God and Righteousness what hast thou preached all this while to poor ignorant blind people now thou hast shewed here that thy Faith is vain and that thou art yet in thy sins as the Scripture shews plainly He that beleives is born of God and cannot commit Sin 1 Iohn 3 9 Query 3 How canst thou justifie thy self to be in the Truth and the Truth in thee when thy words make it a very Token and Signe that the Truth is not in thee Answ Thy Token and thy Signe is without thee and here thou shewest thy self to be in the generacion of the Pharises looking for outward Signes and outward Tokens and sayst how can we justifie our selves Thou dark Sot did ever Truth come to justifie Selfe Truth ever comes to condemn Selfe Here thou hast showed forth thy Confusion in this Query and in thy dark minde If we say we have not sinned we deceive our selves and make him a Lyar and the Truth is not in us 1 Iohn 1. 10. But where Iesus Christ is made manifest he is made manifest to destroy the works of the Devill and he that sinneth is of the Devil 1 Iohn 3. 8. Here are the Children of God made manifest and the children of the Devil for he that commiteth Sin never knew God if we had not sined we had needed no Saviour and here thou showest thy self to be a Child of the Devil and never knewest God but standest for the Devils Kingdom making thy self manifest not to be in that condicion as they were that spoke forth the Scriptures but art without God in the world Ephes 2. 12. hating those now who have the life of them made manifest and Jesus Christ who is come and made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil this I witness to be fulfilled and the taking away of sin and the cleansing from all unrighteousness therefore I clear my conscience Prayse to the glorious God for ever who is coming to lead poor simple People from their blinde Guides for to the children of God ye are discovered to be the children of the Devil Query 1. Are the Scriptures owned for a Truth yea or no. James 3. 2. Answ Here thou hast shewed forth thy busie minde one question had been enough to have asked whether the Scriptures be tru yea or no We witness the Scriptures to be tru and we witness thee to be a Lyar and erring from the Scripture not knowing them Matth. 22. 29. Many Scriptures thou hast stollen to maintain thee in thy sin and to uphold the Devils Kingdom who livest wholly in offences and bringst them into the same offences like thy self and wouldst make the Apostles offenders like thy self for the Apostle sayth Whosoever offends not in words the same is a perfect man and able to bridle the whole body and whosoever hath not power over his own tongue his Religion is vain James 3 2. and here thou shewest thy Religion to be vain Query 2 Is there a greater Priviledg or Freedom now for Christians than there was for the Apostles or Brethren in those times if so discover it by Scripture Answ Here thou hast shewed thou knowst nothing for thou art desiring to know their Priviledg which minde in thee never shall for the same Priviledg the Apostles did enjoy we enjoy and the unity is but one Ephes â— 13. and the same word they did enjoy we do enjoy and the same Christ we enjoy and the same God they did enjoy we do enjoy here thou wouldst make two which shews thou art in the conâ—â—sion there is a greater Priviledg and Freedom now than there was then yet the same and in thy query thou hast shewed thou knowest nothing of Scripture and again thou sayst that as for what any of us say besides or above it or against it thou weighest it not And all Scripture is for the perfecting of the man of God Ephes 4. 1â— which we witness but thou shewest thou knowst nothing of the Scriptures but hast spoken besides it and against it as oft I have shewed thee in thy former Writings and Queries and added to it and perverted it therefore are the Plagues du to thee and are thy porcion Clear thy self if thou canst let that in thy conscience clear thee but it cannot I know thou wouldst be satisfied if we can what are the Reasons that so many questions should never be answered till our days though God had still a People in the world and where didst thou see such questions put forth before for the darkness
has reigned long and Gods People did ever stand against such things thou mayst reade of many Martyrs that suffered Death who witnessed the truth against the pretended truth for the dark time and power of Babylon hath long reigned and the works of the Beast but now God is raising up Light in Peoples hearts 2 Cor. 4. 6. by which ye are descended that profess the Scripture to be your Rule and Touch-stone to try withall for the queries are put forth to you that ye might see your selves 1 Cor. 4. 5. that there is no Scripture for what you act and that you might shew forth your filthiness and here in thy queryes and writings thou hast made it appear openly the dark power that hath reigned in thee hath been an upholder of this Babylon that never knew any thing of the life of the Scripture come to be opened to thee but now thy torment is but beginning and so fare thee well and if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear Rev. 2. 11. but thy carnal filthy blinde minde in this will not be satisfied nor never must but must first know destruction and is for desruction which is an Enemy to God therefore do we not flatter thee nor few Pillows under thy arm-holes that thou maystly soft Query A question thou askest Which is most likely to be Antichrist and of the Devil he that preaches a Power in all men to obey Answ Now here thou shewest thy self openly to be Antichrist and of the Devil and knows not the first Principle for Jesus Christ sayth I am the light of the world that enlightens every one that comes into the world he that loves the light brings his deeds to the light that the light might prove them and he that walks in the light there is no occasion of stumbâ—ing and the other he hates the light because his deeds are evil and the Light will reprove them Iohn 3. â—â— The Light is the condemnacion of the World which Light is Christ who sayth He is the Light here thou hast made thy self openly to be blinde and one of the children of disobedience who disobey the Light and wouldst have all others to disobey it and to follow thy imaginacions and so thou dost not onely deny it thy self but thou wouldst have all others to deny it For the Grace of God which bringeth salvacion hath appeared to all and teacheth us the Saints to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2. 11 12. this is the Saints Teacher but thou shewest thy self to be blinde and ignorant of the Letter this Grace hath appeared to all freely and this Grace of God is the free Teacher but such as thou art in the world turns this grace into wantonness and sets up Teachers without you and so denyes the Grace of God to teach and so lives in ungodliness and unrighteousness and tempts God for Grace when the Grace of God hath appeared to all and here thou shewest thy self to be a Tempter of God Iames 5. 5. and void of grace and understanding turning it into wantonness which should teach thee and drawst ot hers from it Query Another question thou askâ—st Who is more likely to be Antichrist and of the Devil he that sayth he is Christ and the Light of the world or he that preaches that false Christs should come Answ The same that sayd false Christs should come the same Christ sayd he was Christ and the Light of the world this Christ and this Light we witness here thou callest Iesus Christ Antichrist and hast shewed forth thy blasphemy Iames 2. 7. Thou blasphemer how darest thou profess thy self to be a Minister of Christ and blasphemest Christ 2 Tim. 3. 2. and questionest whether he that sayth he is Christ be not of the Devil or no and here thou hast shewed thy self to be in the generacion of the Iews that blasphemed Christ and called him Devil Iohn 10. 33 36. for the same Christ we witness made as manifest as ever and thee to be a Reprobate without Christ and thou hast made thy self openly to appear to be a Reprobate without God and Christ in the world Ephes 2. 12. Query Another question thou askest who is like to be the man thou speakest of he that sayth he is equal with God and Christ or he that preached Christ the Head Ans Here in this question thou hast openly shewed thy self not to have the same minde the Apostle had for sayth he I would the same minde were in you that was also in Christ Iesus who thought it no robbery to be equal with God and yet made himself of no reputaâ—ion Phil. 2. 5. and here thou hast shewed thy self that thou hast neither the minde of Christ nor his Apostles but art an Antichrist and an Enemy against them that witness these things which the Apostle said I would that ye were of the same minde and again the Apostle sayth Our fellowship is with the Father and the Son 1 Iohn 1. 3. and he did write to others that their fellowship might be with them and he that hath the Father hath the Son also and he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit and he that is joyned to an Harlot is one flesh and there thou art harloted from all the Saints Christ and the Apostles and hast shewed thy self to be an Enemy against them who are in the same minde and condicion as the Apostles and Saints were here be thou a witness against thy self that thou art witnessing against the life of the Saints he that preached Christ witnessed the Head and the Members and wished the same minde to be in them as was in Christ who thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2. 6 7. which thou art ignorant of but thou hast shewed thy self that thou neither knowest the Head nor the Members nor the Body but wouldst seek to take the preheminence from Christ who hast got the chief place in the Assembly and art called of men Master but Christ sayd Call no man Master on earth for you have one Master even Christ Matth. 23. 7. and there thou hast taken the preheminence which Christ sayth He that will be greatest must be servant to all Matth. 23. 8 11. but thou art got above all in the place of them that the Wo was preached to and there is thy porcion own it FINIS Certain QUERIES occasioned by a Printed Paper of Richard Farnsworth sent to be answered and no Name subscribed From dark mindes which be full of subtlety not knowing the first Principle 1 Query WHether that Light within unto which thou exhortest all to attend be in unbelievers as well as in believers yea or no. Answ Friend in this first Query thou wouldst know whether the Light be in others which shews forth thy dark minde which cannot comprehend the Light neither hast thou the Light which the Scripture speak of Iesus Christ sayth I am the Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the
it thou art and there 's a Hell thou shalt finde it and there thy sinfull body shall suffer who art seperated from God Heaven is Gods Throne which the Saints do enjoy he that can receive it let him but thou art shut out of it and that which asketh the Question shall never know it for thou art without the Gate as I said to thee before And whereas thou wouldst know how the Wicked should be tormented here thou wouldst learn thy Porcion Rev. 20. 131 4. with that Fier that cannot be quenched look upon Fier and Brimston and it may teach thee and thou mayst read thy Figure daily Whereas thou wouldst know if every Saint and Devil have a particular body thou art of the particular body of the mystery of Iniquity 2 Thess 2. 7. who art to be tormented from the presence of the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb and all his Saints and Angels Rev. 20. 10. and if thou call that a Locall place take it The Saints shall stand upon Mount Sion who are redeemed from the Earth by the Blood of Iesus Christ who sings Hallelujah for evermore Rev. 14. 1. Rev. 21. 10. whose Body is but one and Christ is the Head of the Body Col. 1. 18. If thou hast an Eare thou mayst hear for without this Body thou art kept from making any division 2 Thess 2. 3. Thou Enemy of God and man of Sin for destruction thou art ordained to go therein thy fear of it doth begin and the Lake that burneth and the Pit thou art for to be turned into Eternally thou shalt know me that I speak the Truth for whosoever thou art called by Name thy Spirit I know 5 Query Whether Iesus Christ be the Eternall Father and fullest Fountain of Bliss and that besides him and above him there is no God Was he the first Contriver Determiner and Former of all things the Creator of every thing the giver of every good gift Or was he the begotten of the Father so not the Father and Fountain but set apart from him being by him when he gave to the Sea his Decree so Christ is not truly God in the Originall but a Son being alwaies by the Father to see what works he doth the Son may do likewise Is he but the Gift and Dispensator or Maker-out of the Fathers Love to Sinners as a Mediator and Advocate betwixt the Father and them so not the substance and Fountain in the Bult and Dignity Therefore what is Christ hath he a body and the Father none how may he be distinguished from the Father So not the Father So no God unless there be two or three distinct Gods and no more one God Answ Whereas thou wouldst know whether Iesus Christ be the Eternall Father and fullest Fountain of Bliss thou Serpent thou askest a question and art giving an answer thy self as the Serpent did Mich. 7. 17. 2 Cor. 11. 3. he is not thy Eternall Father that puâ—st forth this Query nor Fountain for of another Fountain thou drinkest and Bliss us thou calst it which is one of thy Conjured words and thou sayst besides him and above him there is no God God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself 2. Cor. 15. 19. he that hath an Eare to hear let him hear Whereas thou wouldst know whether Christ was the first Contriver Determiner and Former of all things him who is the First and the Last shalt thou never know but death and destruction for thou art the Contriver Determiner and Former who wouldst poynt out God a way and who art contriving with thy Serpentine wisdom to intrude into the things of God and to know God and Christ Col. 2. 18. who art cursed above all the beasts of the field from God and Christ Gen 3. 14. In the world thou mayst make a division but betwixt God and Christ thou canst make none as it is written A Virgin shall have a Childe whose name shall be Emmanuel which is by interpretacion God with us Math. â— 23. Luke 1 31 32 he that hath an Eare to hear let him hear but thou hast none who art making divisions He that is the Father is the giver of every good gift and the Creator of all things and he that was in the Father and the Father in him by him were all things made and by him doth all things consist visible and invisible Col. 1. 16 17. whereas thou askest if Christ was the Begotten of the Father which shews thou neither knowest the Father nor the Son for he that knoweth him that did beget knoweth him that is begotten of him for the Son is in the Father Iohn 5. 1. who is not born by the will of man and thou in thy will shalt never know him Iohn 14. 10 11. for thou art Herod that seekest to know but it is to destroy Matth. 2. 13. if thou knewst the Son thou wouldst know the Father who cannot be divided for the Father and the Son are one from whence all good and perfect gifts flow and as he sayd to the Disciple Hast thou seen me and not seen the Father I am in the Father and the Father in me Iohn 14. 9 10. and he that hath the Father hath the Son and if there come any among you and bring any other Doctrine receive him not into your houses neither bid him God speed Friend thou art the subtle Serpent the Tempter who shewest forth thy presumptuous blasphemy thou sayst Christ is not truly God in that Original thou hast no more knowledg of him than the outward Original for through thy subtlety thou hast conjured up these many Queryes which must go into perdicion again who art making a differenâ— and distance betwixt God and Christ for as I sayd to thee before God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself and he that sees the Son sees the Father also the Mover of all things and Maker of all things but here with thy busie minde thy blindness and ignorance doth appear who art scraping in Hell to gather up your conjured stuff who neither knowest God nor Christ and it is Christ that you crucifie Friend here thou sittest as a Judg of the Father and of Christ thou Enemy of God who sayst Christ is not the Father and Fountain but set apart from him being by him when he gave to the Sea his Decree God was in Christ who is both Father and Fountain reconciling the world to himself and it was he that gave to the Sea its Decree and he that sees the Son sees the Father also for the Son is in him but thou that makest a difference to set God in one place and Christ in another art in the same nature that the Iews had that could not discern the Father that spoke in him as he sayd It is not you but the Spirit of the Father that speaketh in you Matth. 10. 20. but thou livest in Philosophy and Logick which are of the Devil Col. 2. 8. who art storming with
it which is cast out from God and shall never enter into God where thou and all you are who are disobedient to the Commands of God and stumble at the Light because it will overthrow thy Pride and High-mindedness who art Lucifer-like tempting with thy Queries as the Serpent did Eve Gen. 3. 5. So here thou art cursed and cast out Eternally 10 Query Whether all men are conceived in Sin Thou art conceived in all Sin and livest in Iniquity What hast thou to do to meddle with other men stop thy mouth with that thou evil-Beast and Slow-belly whose mouth must now be stopt Tit. 1. 10. 11. 12 11 Query How is it done away It is done away in destroying of thee thou Man of Sin and Enemy unto all Righteonsness and Son of Perdicion whom Iesus Christ shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and destroy with the Brightness of his Comming 2 Thes 2. 8. but this thou man of Sin putst far from thee verse 3. but this shalt thou know before thou know thy Sin taken away and witness thy Queries to be vain thou dost not yet know Sin taken away but livest in Iniquity and Sin which thou wast brought forth in and as a Theif thou hast named Christ but not departed from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. and Christ comes to destroy the work 's of the Devil 1 Iohn 3. 8. 12 Query Whether is it a Righteousness in Christ imputed unto us by Faith Or a Righteousness of Works in our selves by which wee are justified before God Answ Here thou hast tempted to thy own destruction for thou art not yet come to know the Righteousness of the Law of Works in thy selfe nor the state of the first Covenant and the Faith of God thou art a Reprobate to which justifies alone without imputacion Rom. 3. 28. and thy imputed Faith we utterly deny which Faith is dead without Works and thou art dead both to Faith and Works and thy imputacion to thy dead Works without thee we do deny Rom. 4. 5. 6. for that is your Cloak for your Sin and Filthyness Abraham to whom the imputacion was spoken he was come from his Fathers house which thou art not and he was a Freind of God which thou art an Enimy to Rom. 4. â—2 and God will wound the Head of all his Enemies Psal 68. 21. for thou hast not Faith we are witnesses against thee The Righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 22. this we own which was witnessed of by the Law and Prophets therefore we are witnesses against thee and all thy blinde Guides to be without the Faith of Jesus and the Prophets the Law and not yet come to see the Death reign in thee which hath passed over all men and there thou art as it is written Death reigned from Adam till Moses and Death and Destruction saith wee have heard of the fame thereof with our Eares and this is thee Iob 28. 22. and thou mayst read the Chapter through it is servâ—cable to thee 13 Query Whether a man may keep the whole Law Answ Thou askest a Question whether a man may keep the whole Law as though thou wast affraid and durst not keep the Law if I should say yea thy Master would be angry with thee for thou and thy Master sayth nay Our Master Christ Iesus is the end of the Law and fulfileth the Law in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit which makes us free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. 12. and we love God because we keep his Commandements 1 Iohn 5. 23. and to us they are not greevious and God saith if yee love me keep my Commandements 2 Iohn 1. 6. 1 Iohn 3. 14. and thou askest a Question whether a man may keep his Law here thou hast shewed thy self to be one that hath cast his Law behinde thy back for God cals for the walking in and keeping of his Law and thou queriest whether a man may keep it or no therefore thou hast cast away the Law of God and despisest the word of the holy One of Israel Esay 5. 24 14 Query Whether Christ is an Advocate for all Beleevers if some be without Sin Answ Thou full of all Subtilty and full of Sin and Tempter Christ is the Advocate for all Beleevers and doth take away their Sins and destroyes the works of the Devil which are yet standing in thee therfore dost thou stumble at the Scriptures and here hast thou shown forth thy Envy Kain-like I know the intent of thy Queries and the mischeif of thy minde who art in the Generacion of Kain seeking to slay the Righteous Seed which cannot Sin but thou that Sinnest art of the Devil 1 Iohn 3. 8. 9. and ther is no Mediator for thee but thou art for Destruction for thou that sinnest art of the Devil and never knâ—wst God but art a Transgressor of the Law 1 Iohn 3. 4. To that in thy Conscience do I speak 15 Query Whether is the Blood of Iesus Christ that was shed upon the Cross at Ierusalem the Price that bought us Answ In the Query thou pervertest the Scripture and the same minde thou hast there that the Pharises had The Blood of Christ is but one as ever t was by which we are redeemed from our vain Conversacion and by which all are redeemed Ephes 1. 7. which thou makest light of who livest in thy vain minde and Conversacion for this Blood is our Witness and Seal by which we are redeemed but not at Ierusalem only but made manifest in us Glory Glory to the Lord God for ever who hath begotten us from the Dead and brought us again by the Resurrection of Jesus and the same dost thou seek to crucifie now Math. 3. 34. the same minde being in thee as was in them that crucified him at Ierusalem and the Saviour thou lookest for at Ierusalem his Blood is upon thee as it was upon the Jewes and the Price of Blood thou knowest not no not in the first Covenant nor the Blood of Lambs and of the Goatâ— which was a figure of the Everlasting Covenant which makes perfect but thou art one of the filthy Swine wallowing in the Mire and without are Dogs Rev. â—2 15. 16 Query Whether is Faith counted for Righteousness to him that beleiveth Answ Faith is Righteousness and was counted to Abraham for Righteousness Rom. 4. 9. and is so still with them who are of Abraham And the Righteousnesse of Faith speaks on this wise not to say in thy heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ from the dead But what saith it the Word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart this is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. and this we witness and are witnesses against thee and all thy Train who are Reprobates concerning the