more clear opportunity for I cannot be at Okingâ—â—â— the day mentioned by thee because my service is already determined for that day and for some other reasons also in my own breast Let me have a plain answer from thee that I may dispose of my self is the Lord guides me for his service This is all for present I do desire who am a Friend to all that love the Lord. Reading the 19th of the 10th Moneth 1659 E. Burroughs But to this Letter his Answer was he would not meet me at Reading for there was no need of Dispute there and therefore it is my present work at this time for to answer his ten Particulars in writing and to make them publick to â—ll that all may judge of this matter And indeed but that for these teâ— particulrs Charges and that truth may be clear from those Charges in his ten Particulars I believe I had not thus proceeded in this publick manner but because â—e ceaseth not to speak evil of the Truth and yet will not come forth fairly to Tryal neither will answer me any Queries in publick but keeps a secret reviling and reproaching therefore do I thus proceed Answer to the first Position Thy Major and thy Minor are both lame and both false and thy so conclusion falls to the Ground for the Quakers do not pernitiously deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but they in sincerity say that Christ is the Word of God Io. 1. 1. Rev. 19. 13. and the Scriptures are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise and this Testimony is according to the Scriptures Luke 1. 1 Acts 1. And it is not Heresie nor Blasphemy to deny the Scriptures to wit the writings to be the Word of God but the truth written of and those things declared of in the Scriptures 〈◊〉 â—he Word of God and not the writings which are Scriptures But this iâ—â—â—â—the◠〈◊〉 to before mâ— so I pass it Answer to the second Position Thy Major Position is uâ—â—â—â—ly 〈◊〉 and not grounded upon any part of the Scriptures so that the Niâ—… and the Concluâ—â—â—â— are both denied and cast out for a man mâ—y sâ—y That Chrisâ—â—â—e Foundation of Faith and the Spirit of God is the Rule of Life for thus the Scriptures say and a man may lawfull deny the Scriptures to be the Foundation of Faâ—â—â— and Rule of Life and neither be Heretick nor Blasphemer was the Apoâ—â—â—e a Blasphemer and a Heretick who said No other Foundation could be laid but thâ—â— which was laid already which was Christ And was he a Heretick and a Blasphemer that said The Sons of God were led by the Spirit of God and exhorted to walk â—y the Rule of the Spirit and are the Quakars Blasphemers and Heretiâ—â—s who â—old forth that Truth the Apostles held forth and who walk by the Spirit wâ—… according and not contrary to the Scriptures O thoâ— Perverter of the right way of God who hast falsly accused the Innocent in thy illiterate Logick Answer to the third Position In this thou hast falsly accused but yet let us câ—â—sider thy words There was a Nature in that Maâ— Iesus Christ that was born of tâ—e â—â—â—gin that was subject to cold heat thirst and hunger and subject to be tempted of the Devil and this nature was not God whose nature is Infinite Eternal Unmeasurable me sâ—bject to hunger nor thirst nor to heat and cold nor subject to temptations so that a man may say lawfully and be no Blasphemer that there was a Nature in him which was â—ot God and yet the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him too and he is the Everlasting Father and the Father is in him and he in the Father and thus by a sound interpretation of the Word God by Nature thy Major and Minor and Conclusion are all made void Answer to the fourth The good works of the Saints are wrought in God and by his Spirit and its God that works in them to will and to do and all such Works are worthy Works glorious Works and blessed Works even unto Eternal Life as the Scripture saith Glory Honour and Peace be unto every man that â—orketh good Rom. 2. 7 10. And no man by Faith without Works is justified for Faith without Works is dead and a dead Faith doth not justifie This is our Faith and the Faith which the Apostles were of and we are neither Hereticks nor Papists no more then were the Apostles and thy argument is vain and falls to the ground and hath no weight in it unto sober Minds though Self-righteousness is altogether Abomination to the Lord and justifieth not any man Answer to the fifth Position A man may deny the Sprinkling of Infants and the administration of Bread and Wine as is held forth in your Assemblies and be neither Antichristian nor a Heretick for the Institution of sprinkling Infants and administring of Bread and Wine among unconverted people was never ordained of God nor practised amongst the Apostles if thou sayst it was prove it out of the Scriptures or else stop thy Mouth and to deny such Ordinances and Practices which God never commanded nor the Saints of forâ—er Ages ever practiced is not Antichristian nor Heresie but thu do the Qakers and tâ—â—â—â—fore they are not Antichristian nor Hereticks upon this accompâ— and tâ—â—â— thy Position is not worth any thing for the end proposed by thee but thy Weakness and Folly is made manifest and thy idolatâ—ous Prâ—ctices so much plâ—â—â—ed for by thee are denied and opposed by the Spirit of the Lord. Answer to the sixth Position As for the sin of Infants we do not say That Infants in general that is to say every particular Infant that is 〈◊〉 hath been horn into the World has Sin for some were fillen with the holy Ghost and some were â—â—â—ctified from their Mother Womb and what Sin had such And the Scriptâ—re speaks That the Unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Beliâ—ving Hâ—… eâ—se 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Câ—ildrâ—â— unclean but now are they holy And what sin had these So that â—â—y maâ—… is proved defective and so thy minor and thy conclusion is worth nothing though as to the general part we do believe there is a nature whereby all are Children of Wrath in Degeneration Answer to the seventh This is a false Accusation thy minor Proposition and is a Lye and so thy Conclusion is utterly false Answer to the eighth As for the Christian-Sabbath we do not deny that for Christ is the Saints Rest and the Seventh day of the Week is the Iews Sabboth and not the Christian-Sabbath and so this is but a false Accusation as the rest And as for the first day of the Week which you observe for Sabboth you have neither binding Example nor express Command in Scripture for that practice Answer to the ninth As for the singing of David's Psalms in Rhime and Meeter and in the Custom as practised amongst you we do utterly deny to be any Ordinance of
and their work of God and their end alone his glory such we own to be Ministers of Christ and doth not revile or deny as he falsly saith such a Church and such Ministers of Christ but this we do and without offence to God too we do deny and bear our witness against such a people who professeth themselves to a Church and yet are in the pride in the wickedness and in the evil of this World and not redeemed clensed and seperated from the works and iniquities thereof such we do reprove for their Hypocrisie even â—…ll them that owns a title to a Church because they were sprinkled when they were Infants and hath not another ground and such who professeth themselves Ministers of Christ who hath not received their Ministry by the Gift of the Holy Ghost neither are led by the Spirit of Christ but are such as Christ â—nd the Apostles declared against such we cannot own to be Ministers of Jesus Christ but doth reprove them and deny them even such who Preacheth for Hire and hath Gifts and Rewards for Preaching and set-places for so much a â—ear these we disown and yet doth not offend God herein And this in honesty 〈◊〉 do shew to all people what that professed Church and professed Ministry is which we do deny and what that Church and Ministry is which we do set up to â—e preferred which is a right Ministry and a right Church And thus his reasonless reason is overturned and confounded and is found to be no sufficient reason wherefore a man should not be a Quaker 2. His second reason is No wise man can be a Quaker saith he because their Religion is an uncertain thing and so is not the Religion that must save us c. I answer This again is utterly false and no man that hath Gods wisdom would speak it for our Religion which we profess is a certain thing and we have openly declared it once and again and this is it To believe in Christ and to receive Christ and to be lead by the Spirit of Christ and taught in all things to love God with all the Heart and a mans neighbour as himself and through the Power of Christ dwelling in man to do all good and to be kept from all evil This in very short is our Religion and it is a very certain and established Religion and this Religion we all agree in And this in short is the substance of our faith Even Christ in us believed on and received by us This is the Truth and his lyes is judged and if he say this is an uncertain Religion let him give it under his hand and subscribe to it and he shall have a further Reply 3. His third Reason is No man of Reason should be a Quaker considering that amongst those scraps of their Religion which is made known there is so much notorious falsâ—â—d and ungodliness saith he Ans. Let all Christian people mark this his Reason they are even lyes heaped one upon another What secret Slanders are these behind our Backs who never would clear himself of what is truly charged against him in answer to his Catechism his words are turned by as utter lyes for that which we profess and practice for Religion which we have made known by word and writing is uprightness godliness sincerity and truth and neither notorious falshood not ungodliness as he wickedly saith And why did not he make it appear what this notorious falshood and ungodliness had been that had been more honest then to cast his charges and prove nothing And whereas he saith The very persâ—â— of Christ Iesus many of them do blaspheme c. this is utterly false for Jesus Christ have we owned and believed in onely and for his sake we do and suffer haâ—â— things 4. His fourth Reason is saith he Because their false pernicious Doctrines tâ—… practical Religion doth much consist in most notorious wicked injustice and uncharitableness c. Ans. Here is lye upon lye uttered and wickedness joyned to wickedness and drunk up as an Oxe drinks up water and no conscience made thereof by Richard Baxter it had been just to have mentioned these pernicious Doctrines their practical Religion injustice and uncharitableness and not to have slandered in the dark but we are delivered by the Lord from all pernicious Doctrines and notorious wickedness whatsoever and we find this false Reproacher guilty himself and his people of what he accuseth the Innocent And so his words are true unto himself and upon his own head I turn them 5. His fifth Reason is The worst of all saith he is That they behave themselves like malignant Enemies to the very Church and Gospel and Servants of Iesus Christ c. Ans. This man speaks as if he had sold himself wholly to lye but my answer to his first Reason is sufficient to answer this also and doth say That the Câ—…se and the Church and the Gospel and Servants of Iesus Christ we do fully and freely 〈◊〉 and are daily exercised therein as the very Servants of Iesus and are Friends thereof iâ— our hearts and doth not behave our selves in any way as Enemies thereunto God will judge every lying tongue and shall condemn our false Accusers guilty of that which they charge the guiltless to reprove and bear witness against the wilâ—… wicked and rude conversations and against such as have gotten the Saints words and by art frame an hours discourse thereupon for so much a Sermon or so much a year to deny such to be a Church of Christ and Ministers of Christ this we do and doth not behave our selves like Enemies to the Church or Gospel or Ministers and Servants of Christ as our Adversary wickedly saith 6. His sixth Reason saith he That part of the Quakers peculiar Religion which consists not in error and malignant impudency is made up very much of it of childish and unreasonable foppery c. Ans. As I have said No part of our Religion consists in error and malignant impudency and as for that which he calls childish and unreasonable foppery we stand not to mans judgement for it is a small thing with us for to be judged of any man for we do acknowledge that we are become fools for Christs sake and herein we have cause to glory though he upbraid us with it and it was such as he who called Paul a Babler and that his Doctrine was madness as he saith ours is foppery and let him know that which is foolishness with man is wisdom with God and we know God will confound the wisest of men by that which they may judge to be foolish and unreasonable and foppery for to such who are lost our Gospel is hid where the god of this World hath blinded their Eye as it is plain he hath done this our Adversaries and that is the reason wherefore he hath sent forth such lying Scribbles from his study of wicked inventions and let him make the best
thy ignorance is made manifest who bringst one Scripture to oppose another and knowst not the conditions in thy self from which Paul spoke and so art ignorant of what he spoke for I say there is a time without the Law and a time under the Law and a time dead to the Law and not under it and all these states Paul witnessed which we also in our measures are witnesses of which thou knowst not in thy self and so wrests Pauls words And whereas thou sayest Yet let not them think that we by this doctrine nourish sin having brought many Scriptures to plead for sin I answer being guilty in thy self thou art afraid and hath a jealousie lest we should lay it to thy charge and truly concerning thee we think nothing in this matter for thy heart and the secrets of it is made manifest in the Eternal Light by which thou are comprehended and answered and by which God will eternal judge thee therefore repent lest the wrath of God overtake thee and thou be swept away with the Beesom of destruction who hath falsly accused and slandered us with lies and false reproaches but now it s the time that Pilate and Herod is made Friends and Gog and Magog is gathered together to compass the Camp of the Saints about and even the Priests and their Crew and the Anabaptists and their Crew and all Sects is combined against the Truth but God is with us and in him alone can we rejoyce over you all for ever and ever and in him make our boast all the day long for this is our heritage every tongue that riseth up in judgement against us shall be condemned for the Lord is our portion and even the stone which is become the head stone of the corner and thou Howet shalt be grinded to powder by it who hath bent thy bow to shoot at the righteous therefore consider what thou hast done and repent lest God tear thee in pieces and there be none to deliver By one who is zealous for the Name of the Lord of Hosts called EDWARD BURROUGH Answers to several Queries Put forth to the despised People called Quakers by Philip Bennett who calls himself a Minister of Christ but is found a Deceiver Also Answers to several other Queries put forth by Iohn Reeve who lives in the City of London who calls himself The last Messenger and Witness unto the true God but is found a false Witness and a Lyar and a Perverter of the right Way of God A Paper being received which was directed to Rich. Roper and to his Quaking Friend which words comes from the dark carnal mind quaking and trembling which the Saints and holy men of God witnessed we own and witness therefore we do deny thee and all thy dark Divinations WHereas thou Philip Bennett in thy Note which thou hast written to Roper in Answer to a Letter which he wrote to thee wherein he charges thee to be a Lyar and a false Accuser and charges thee to bring any man to witness what thou hast spoken by them whom thou sayest denyed that Christ that dyed at Ierusalem and who they were that denyed that Christ that suffered at Ierusalem or else acknowledge thy self to be a Slanderer and in thy Paper thou gives no Answer at all to these words but sayest thou callest the Congregation to witness but doth not mention one in all the Congregation that will witness it whereupon the Lye rests upon thy head and thou found to be the Lyar and the Slanderer and the false Accuser And whereas thou sayest thou hast sent queries concerning that matter thy queries makes thee manifest what thou art many of thy own Tribe and Generation if they saw thy queries would be ashamed both of thee and of thy queries for hundreds there are in the world that know nothing of the true and living God and yet would see thee and thy queries not to be worth answering yet lest thou shouldst boast in thy filthy ignorance and darkness and for clearing of the Truth to the simple Something in answer to them 1 Quer. Whether was the Word made flesh or the Son of God made of a Woman more or oftner then once Answ. In this first query thou hast manifested what thou art to all the Children of Light and where thou art and what spirit thou art of a Reprobate a child of Darkness thou art thou mightest have spared the other nineteen queries for in this query thy spirit is tryed and in the Eternal Light seen and known Thou askest whether the Word was made Flesh any more or oftner then once which makes it plainly manifest that thou knowest noâ—â—â—at thou askest and that thou dost not know nor canst not witness the Word to be made Flesh once but art one of the Antichrists and Deceivers which Iohn speaks of that are entred into the World which cannot confess Jesus Christ come in the flesh and therefore thou queries whether the Word was made Flesh any more or oftner than once which query comes from thy dark polluted mind who is out of the Light and a Stranger to the Life and without God in the world amongst the false Prophets Antichrists and Deceivers which are in the world and in the Light of Christ which condemns the world ye are all seen known and made manifest and are turned away from by these who dwell in the Light which Light condemns thee and all thy Generation eternally and the Word made flesh we witness which dwells amongst us and we behold his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father according to the Scripture whereby we witness thee and all thy Generation to be in the Sorcery and in the Witchcraft deceiving and betraying the Souls of the Simple the Light of Christ in thy Conscience will tell thee so for that thou must be obedient to and witness before thou witness the Word to be made flesh once for thou art Darkness it self and the Light in thy Conscience if thou wouldst let it rise will be thy condemnation and when thou canst witness the Word to be made flesh once then thou wilt know whether the Son of God was made of a Woman any more or oftner than once But thou art the Dragon that wouldst devour the Man-child which the Woman hath brought forth who shall rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron and her Child is caught up to God and to his Throne and thou the Dragon and thy Angels are cast out into the Earth and therefore dost thou persecute the Woman which hath brought forth the Man-child but thou art overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of his Testimony and for thy other nineteen queries thou hast conjured them up in thy black Art out of the Bottomless-pit which is to be turned into perdition if thou hadst an ear thou mightst hear or a eye thou mightst read but thou art blind 2 Quer. Whether did the Man Christ Iesus the Son of God slain in
Life and Power that gave them forth So thou art to be condemned with the Light and with the Life which gave forth the Scripture Let all people read Deut. Chap. 18. from verse 9. to 15. there the Priests and the Levites which were ordained of God were to have no Inheritance among the people but the Lord was their Inheritance and they were to have it of that which was offered up to the Lord and this was a figure of the everlasting Priest-hood which ministreth out of the everlasting Treasure and the Lord God commanded Israel not to do as they did when they came into the Land nor to go after their abominations as you may see but gave Israel their Land to possess that did hearken unto such as the Lord had not sent which was Abomination to him and the Lord said to Israel Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God and in the 15th verse The Lord thy God will raise unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken And so to the end of the Chapter he that hath an eye may see and the Lord is the same that he was and he will not suffer the abominations that are committed in this Land but is discovering the abomination of it A horrible and a filthy thing is committed which Ieremiah cryed against Coveteous Men preach Drunkards preach Swearers preach Lyars preach Strikers preach and Proud Men preach Oh wonderful where are your eyes Try your Priests by the Scriptures see if they be not found in the same Generation that all the false Prophets and the Deceivers were in which the true Prophets of God cryed against and discovered and in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees that Christ cryed wo against and see if they be not the Antichrists and the Deceivers which are entred into the World which Iohn speaketh of which cannot confess Christ come in the flesh but transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ so hath not God neither knoweth him but preacheth for sin and against Perfection and denyeth the Light which enlighteneth every one that cometh into the World so keeps people in blindness and ignorance and out of the Knowledge of God and never any that follow them shall ever come to the Knowledg of the true and living God therefore all people see where you are and mind the Light in your Consciences which is pure and which testifieth against sin and it will let you see all your Blind-Guides which deceive you to be in sin and ignorant of God for they deny that which should make him manifest therefore beware what you hold up and give over going after them to that in your Consciences I speak which shall witness me eternally to speak the Truth if you obey it and shall condemn you eternally if you disobey it These Blinde-Guides that are in this Land deny the Prophet which Moses wrote of which is the substance of the Priest-hood which was before and here they are found in the same Generation in the Sorcery and in the Witchcraft which the Lord commanded should be put out of the Land where the Children of Israel went to possess Answers to several other subtil Queries put forth by one John Reeve who lives in the City of London who callst himself the Messenger and Witness unto the true God but is found a Lyar and a Perverter of the right Way of God A Certain Writing is come to my hand called An Epistle from the Mighty JEHOVAH or Jesus the only LORD and God of the Eâ—ect Israelites from one whose name is subscribed Iohn Reeve Pilgrim who calls himself the last Messenger and Witness unto the true God unto which for the sake of the Simple I am moved by the Spirit of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to write something in answer that so his folly may be made manifest and his ignorance and blasphemy laid open unto the simple-hearted who have been long deceived by such through their false Voice lo here and lo there Friend to thee who hast subscribed this Writing who calls thy self the last Messenger and Witness unto the true God I Answer the Lord of Hosts and God of the Elect Israelites doth not accept thy Testimony and Witness for thy spirit is made manifest not to be the Spirit which came from God and which dwelleth with God which beareth true Witness unto God but the spirit which is driven out from the Presence of God into the Creation and into the visible World and that is the lying spirit and bears not true witness unto the true God but is a spirit which bears witness to the imaginations of thy own heart which looks upon and declares the living God as if he was carnal and a Creature-like Substance and here the Scripture is fulfilled upon thee thou thinkest he is altogether such a one as thy self and for the true God thou art no Messenger nor hast received any Message from him for thy spirit is known and he never delivered his Message unto it in any Generation but kept his Secret sealed up from it And Friend here I charge thee in the Presence of the true spiritual God that thou belyst the Lord of Hosts who sayest thy Epistle is from him thou uses thy tongue and sayest The Lord saith when saith the Lord I have not spoken unto thee And of that Generation thou art which Ieremiah cryed against and therefore let all flesh be silent before the Lord and call not thy own imaginations his Word but thou who hast a Dream tell thy Dream for a Dream and he that hath the Word of the Lord let him speak it faithfully and though thou callest thy self the last Messenger or Witness unto the true God yet I say unto thee verily the Lord hath a Witness which was before thee which hath been slain in the Streets of the great City which the Lord will bring forth after thee which will bear true witness of the true God and against thee and thou who hast been alive shall be judged by him who hath lain slain and he will eternally condemn thy Testimony and Message Friend in the Light of Christ which hath lightened every one that cometh into the World thou art comprehended and seen thy beginning thy time and thy end and with it thy Testimony and Message is denyed for thy Testimony is such that if thou swearst the Lord lives thou swearest falsly and further thou sayst By inspiration of the holy Spirit thou wast moved to present this Epistle I answer the language of the holy Spirit is like it self Pure and Spiritual but thy language is carnal and sensual and so is thy spirit the Saints which spake by the inspiration and moving of the Spirit cursed not that which God had blessed as thou dost neither did they say the Elect were defiled as thou doest neither did they speak of God as a carnal Substance as thou dost but said that God
found and the deeper you have digged the Pit for another the greater will be your own fall and the more miserable your desolation which comes upon you suddenly in a day you expect not How are the Innocent and he that is departed from iniquity become the Table-talk of the Prophane and the Song of Drunkards And how are we become the study-work of the Wise and of the Learned and their subject of wicked doctrines Surely the Diviner is gone mad and the Wise-men are become Fools and the heart of the Disobedient is set to do evil but the Lord taketh our part against our Enemies and therefore are we preserved and our Enemies shall be confounded and Lyars and Slanderers shall fall together and the Innocency of the Innocent shall shine in its Beauty and the vails of Reproaches and Slanders and false Accusations shall be clean removed in the day of our God and for a moment we are willing to submit under the present suffering by slanderous tongues that we may reign for ever It is not unknown to many how that in this day wherein the Lord hath made known his Power to the gathering of his People and to the bringing forth of his own Seed to inherit the Land of Peace how that the powers of Darkness and the strength of Hell is risen and joyned in a body to make war against the Lord and to prevent his purpose and men are sorely disquieted and all is on an uproar and to defend themselves they are come forth to vindicate their interest in the region of Darkness do they appear and because their Kingdom is deeply invaded with the face of a deadly Enemy therefore they have put on their strength and fortified themselves and shewed their strength and force under several colours some in open Persecution Imprisonments and Beatings and cruel Oppressions and some in Scorning and Back-biting and open Lying and Slandering and others appear in the Garments of deep dyed Hypocrisie and Smite secretly and Shoot in the Twilight between Profession and Prophaness and forge secret Slanders and Lyes and seek the Life of the just One And thus poor desolate Zion is compassed about with Enemies and they lay siege against her to make her an utter destruction How long Lord how long hear and consider And Iohn Bunyan and his Fellow who have joyned themselves to the broken Army of Magog Now in the heat of the day of great striving are not the least of all guilty among their Bretheren of secret smiting the Innocent with secret Lyes and Slanders who have shewed themselves in defence of the Dragon against the Lamb in this day of war betwixt them And though some of their Party which have shewed themselves before in the open Field have come off with loss and shame and disadvantage yet needs must the rest appear till they have filled up their measure of wickedness and so be made a perpetual curse for ever and they must spend their strength till shame and confusion overtake them and they be left without hope or stay in the ditch of deep perdition never more to rise up again Friends I have viewed your discourse and numbred up part of your work and this is the sume thereof A corrupted Grain of little value of Babylons Treasure and if a Merchant of your traffique gain it he cannot be the richer yet doth your King the Prince of Darkness accept your labour and your substance for had you been more learned in his subtilty and more stockt in his craft a larger portion and more to the purpose might have been brought in but with such as you had or could procure from your Neighbours are you come and have gained a report and a name in the record of Mischief against the Lamb and his Followers whom you have made your subject to treat Lyes upon And for the sake of the Simple I have taken in hand to return a few words in answer to you in those things at least wherein you mention the Quakers who being falsly accused and slandered by you in many things I am bound in the Law of Righteousness as a Friend unto them at least to vindicate their innocent Cause against your reproaches which may be as a stumbling stone in the eye of the upright though I know not your faces yet your spirit is tried your generation is read at large your stature and countenance is clearly described to me to be of the stock of Ishmael and of the seed of â—ain whose line reacheth unto the murthering Priests Scribes and Pharisees though you profess Christ in words without you yet are you found Enemies to him revealed within his Saints without which there can be no Salvation and this I find the subject matter of your discourse and the length of your tedious travel I shall not transcribe your whole matter only the heads of some particulars I shall draw into a sum and write a few words thereunto not in a large manner And in the first Epistle have spoken something As of God and man together making up one Christ who is the Saviour c. then thou shamelesly sayst This is quite contrary to those commonly called Familists Ranters Quakers and others c. Either deny Chrisâ— to be a real Man without them blaspemously fancying him to be God manifest in their flesh or else make his human Nature with the fulness of the Godhead in it to be but a type 〈◊〉 God to be manifest in the Saints c. 1 Answ. Here thou hast as thy Fore-fathers the chief Priests and Persecutoâ—â— did numbred the Innocent with Transgressors Quakers with Ranters between which there is no more union and likeness then between Light and Darkness good and evil and thy secret subtilty more appears and the wickedness of thy Slander because thou hast joyned in thy Accusation such who may be guilty with the Guiltless for the Ranters I will not justifie neither at present the Familists except I better knew their Principles nor any others will I vindicate who are guilty 〈◊〉 thy Accusation Though thou art condemned for numbring the Innocent in thy Accusation and falsly hast secretly slandered the Guiltless who are free from thy Slanders herein But yet further I say If thou darest lay thy charge only upon the Quakers write thy meaning in plainness and bring testimony of thy accusation and thou mayst receive a further Answer and cease to smite with secret Slanders in the dark lest thou be condemned in the Light with the guilty for numbring the Innocent with Transgressors and charging the Guiltless with the Guilty I dare not plead for Ranters Quakers and others till they be separated lest I should justifie the Wicked and condemn the Righteous but thy wicked heart hath joyned them in accusation that thy Slander may be covered and some ground thou mayst have in appearance for thy wicked tongue who hath hatched mischief against the Upright And thy second Slander is like-unto the first where
the one is the Word of God but the other is not and this all sober men confess to though thou dost jangle and twist about it with thy lame Arguments to no purpose at all except to shew thy Weakness and Folly And also No man is justified by Christ's Righteousness until he receives it and as he receives it and this thou shalt one day witness For though Righteousness be in him sufficient to justifie yet by it art thou nor any man justified but in the receiving of it and dwelling in it and this shalt thou confess to be truth in the Day of the Lord and in the mean time let me bear thy false censure in calling this Heresie And also a man may be tempted to sin and there may be evil motions to him yet he not being overcome of the Temptation not consenting to the motion of sin it is no sin unto him neither shall sin be imputed to him if he commits it not but he that commits sin though he profess never so much of Justification yet for his sin shall he be condemned and this shalt thou witness in the day of Iudgment Also That there is a Perfection attainable in this life even to be perfect and without sin in Christ Iesus and this I affirm to be the Truth of the Gospel and that wherein the Faith of God's People stands and though thou madest a twisting and a wrangling against it yet it is too strong for thee and in thy wisdom and thy arguments is thy folly and thy weakness seen and Truth stands over thee and thou canst not it nor me reprehend And also That some of the Scriptures were spoken to the World and not to the Saints this I also have sufficiently proved and thou art not able to detect it and all thy snarling in opposition to these things is confounded and thy Arguments made without effect and all whose eyes are open see thee to be of too short a measure and of too weak a capacity to understand the deep things of God which are hidden from thine Eye and them thou savourest not in that wisdom though thou hast the words yet thou art ignorant of the Life and the Life is in dominion over thee and to it must thou submit and lay down thy Crown And from thee am I hidden in that Life and Truth which I do profess And though I be as a Deceiver yet am I true and though I be slandered and reproached and back-bited by thee yet it is for Christ Iesus's sake and for his Truth 's sake and not as an Evil-doer But Friend learn more Wisdom then to judge a man before thou hearest him or to condemn the matter before thou hearest the Proof of it for by these things thou hast not gain'd a good Report but God condemns thee for it and men see thy shame in it and the burden of it one day shalt thou bear even thou and all that own thee in these things And now thy spirit is try'd and it is found too light and cannot stand in Judgement for it is unsavoury and though seperate from the World in appearance yet is thy spirit of the world and reacheth not the knowledge of the things that are eternal but art imagining in thy mind not being guided by that Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures and so thy knowledge is natural and cannot contain Spiritual Things Therefore Friend come down to God's Witness in thee the Light which shews thee sin and convinces thee of evil that Light is thy Teacher if thou lovest it and thy Condemnation if thou hatest it I have divers particulars against thee at a convenient season to manifest thy Folly and Weakness by them And whatever thou judgest me I am a Friend to thy Soul Edw. Burrough Richard Goodgroom held forth at the Dispute at Draton the 18th day of the 11th Moneth 1657. HE said The Letter was the Word and by the Letter he said he meant the thing contained in the Scriptures And when I said I had the Letter in my hand meaniug my Bible but not the thing signified he said But I had the Thing signified And he said People were justified by Christ excluding the New Birth and the Work of Sanctification and Christ justified Sinners as Sinners that is while Sinners remaining in sin At Justice Fortescue's house in the year 1656. he did deny That any was converted to God by a Light within And then I asked If it was not that same Light that converted which gave the Knowledge of God and they confessed Yea and yet did deny That the Light within converted to God though I shewed them that Scripture 2 Cor. 4. 6. which did confound the Deceit At Uxbridge one time he said Christ needed not to have come to have judged the World for there was sin enough in the World to judge it before he came Then I asked If Sin judged the World and he answered Yea and he said They were in the Covenant of God spoken of Nehem. 9. which turned the Law of God behind their backs E. B. A TESTIMONY Concerning the Estate of the True Church What she hath been and what she is Being given forth from the Motion of the Spirit of the Father COncerning the true State of the Church what she hath been and what she is at this day and concerning her Increase and Decrease through Ages and Generations past And her present State is this Returning again out of the Wilderness where she hath long been fed having a place prepared of God Now the Apostle saw her a Woman cloathed with the Sun covered with the Light of Heaven and with the Glory of God having the Moon under her Feet the Light which was ordain'd to rule the Night Thus she was and this was her state in the dayes of the Apostles when many were converted out of Darkness and renewed to be Members of this Church for her Glory shone through the World and she flourished through Nations and this was her state in the Apostles dayes And she travelled to bring forth the Man-Child Christ Jesus which is the Child and Husband of this Woman which was clothed with the Brightness of the Glory of God the elected Spouse of Christ the Lamb's Wife and his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones having Power and Dominion and treading under all contrary And thus was it with her in Generations past whose Seed spring forth as Branches fruitful and glorious But in process of time it came to pass That this Woman the Spouse of Christ his Body the Wife and Mother of this Man-Child she was bereaved of her Beauty and her Garments were taken away her Seed was made War against and was smitten and overcome and she fled into the Wilderness and there hath sate desolate as a Widdow lamenting the loss of her Children and being deprived of her Husband and the Man-Child which should have ruled the Nations For she hath been fled into the Wilderness and her former Beauty
upon me many dayes I passed to Dunkirk And that which I found upon me chiefly was to visit and warn the Papists the Iesuits and Fryars and that Company of Idolaters and to sound the Mighty Day of the Lord among them and to proclaim it in the Pope's Borders and to warn them of the Day that is at hand upon them by the Word of the Lord and to sound forth among them the Everlasting Gospel of Truth and against all their Idolatrous Wayes Worships and Practices which I have often felt the weight and burden of before ever I saw outwardly what their Wayes or Practices are which when I saw their Idolatrous Practices and Worships and heard their Doctrines and what they profess I found it to be according to what I had seen and felt in the Light that trieth all things And about the sixth day of the third Moneth 1659. I with Samuel Fisher who was moved to go with me shipped from Dover and came into Dunkirk the next day and being Strangers upon Earth as the Generation of the Righteous Seed ever was we waited in the Will of the Lord to be guided by his Wisdom what to do and how to be guided to act and speak to his Glory So the next Morning the Town Mayor came to us in the Street and required an account of our coming and our Names and from whence we came to which we gave him sober Answers and a reasonable Account And that day it much spread over the Town of our being come thither which wrought no small Cogitations in the Hearts of many as what our Business was and wherefore we were come so that the Deputy Governour Colonel Alsop with the Council of Officers sent for us that Night the chief Governour not being in Town so we went to them who did kindly intreat us and examine us concerning our coming thither and what our Business was there and such like to which we gave them Answers and staid with them in Discourse some Hours and the Deputy Governour much pleaded to us the Danger of our staying in the Town and feared the Division that might grow amongst them through us and withal much desired us to depart the Town supposing as he said the great Danger that might incur unto the Garrison through our stay But our Answer was in much plainness If he desired us we could not receive any such Desire and if he commanded us we could not obey his Command in that case neither could we depart the Town but in the Will of God according to which Will we came thither and having many words and much reasoning with them that Night we parted from them And the next Morning I was moved to write this Letter following and to give them all a sober Account of our coming and what our Work is in this World wheresoever we come which Letter was delivered to them and read by many of them but to it we received no Answer according as the latter part did require as may be seen Dunkirk the eleaventh of the third moneth English account 1659. To the Deputy Governor and the Officers of the English Army in Dunkirk these FRiends we the Servants of the Lord are Lovers of all your Souls and wisheth well unto you in the Lord that Truth and Peace and Righteousness may be among you and in your Hearts and we are Travellers in the Labour of the Gospel of Christ Jesus for the Elect Seed â—ake having received the glad Tydings of Life and Eternal Salvation into our Hearts through the Revelation of Christ in us who is our Hope of Glory and the Lord hath manifested greatly his Power amongst us and revealed the Riches of his Grace in our Souls to our own everlasting satisfaction and peace with God and also he hath made us Ministers of his Grace and of his Word to many others to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power to God and of him we are called and ordained by his Spirit into this his Work to preach the everlasting Gospel to the Nations and to war against Antichrist the Whore and false Prophets who came up since the dayes of the Apostles and have reigned over all the World for many Generations and this is our work in the World to fight the Lamb's Battel with his Spiritual Weapons and Armour and to follow him whithersoever he goeth and to give up our â—elves in his Service to do or suffer for him whatsoever he calleth us unto and in this hitherto hath the Power and mighty Presence of the Lord God been with us and is with us unto this day and great is his Name amongst us his People and to be praised for evermore And of this hath God given us the sure Witness in our selves even the Testimony of his good Spirit which bears us witness in our own Consciences that these things are true whether men believe or reject our Testimony for we are not Ministers of Man nor by man's will neither do we stand to man's Judgement to be approved or disapproved thereby but to the Witness and Testimony of God's Spirit in every Conscience we do commend our selves where ever any of us do come in the simplicity of Truth in the demonstration of the Spirit and not by words of Man's Wisdom and in the Day of the Lord shall we be justified herein by him and by his Witness in all mens Consciences and in the mean time we do suffer all things patiently and in the meek and quiet Spirit of the Lord And as for us two in particular who are now come into the Town of Dunkirk as we have in some part declared unto you already and so here I again say unto you not being ashamed nor unwilling to give you an account of our coming for we came to be made manifest openly in the sight of all men in our Doctrines Principles and Practises which are of and from the Lord and fully agreeing in all things with the Scriptures of Truth which were given forth by the Spirit of Truth as the holy Men of God were moved and as we have said to you we still testifie we were moved of God and by his Spirit to come unto this Place in love to the Souls of People and it is the Lord God that hath sent us and not Man and whether you believe us herein or do reject us the Testimony of God is sure and remains with us and for the Truth hereof we are not afraid to do and suffer but can do and suffer in the strength of Christ whatsoever is put upon us though chiefly our coming was so far as the Lord shewed us in relation to these Popish Idolaters to discourse with their Iesuites Friars and Priests and to discover to them the Errors óf their Wayes and the falsness of their Worships and to testifie unto them in the Fear and Power of the Lord concerning their Church that it is not a true Church of Christ but a false
Church come up in the Apostacy and these things we have to argue with them if the Heads of them will admit dispute otherwise to charge these things upon them from the Lord and by his Authority and if they do any of them receive our Testimony and turn from their Idols and be converted unto the Truth they may be happy but if they shall reject our Testimony and not believe the Truth then shall they the more be fitted for Destruction and the Day of their Destruction the sooner approacheth and the Lord shall be clear of their Blood and our Reward shall be with us from God for our Testimony shall not return to us in vain but shall accomplish its end wherefore it is sent and the Word of the Lord by us shall either convert to God and to the Truth that they may be saved or shall through rejecting of it harden the Heart against God and against the Truth that they may the more justly be condemned and the Lord and his Servants be the more clear and no other thing saving this do we promise to our selves as the success of our endeavours and not so much in relation to the men of our English Nation are we come though the Gospel of Salvation is freely come to them also that they may be freed from the Captivity of Sin and Death and we may not work nor cause any disturbance or grief to any of them further then what they may take at us for the Truth 's sake or for declaring it in the fear of God and without any just cause given by us to any of you or them though we dare not promise to you nor our selves what we will do or what we will not do onely this we say if the transgression of any just Law can be charged upon us we refuse not to suffer what shall be imposed and this we do believe that the Lord will so keep us and order us by his Spirit of Truth and carry us in Meekness and Righteousness towards you while we stay amongst you be it weeks or moneths that you will have no just occasion against us by any Offence justly ministred by us and if you do take occasion against us without any just cause given be it upon your selves to your own Shame and Condemnation in the sight of God and men for we are clear onely this we do give unto the Lord and cannot unto Men the exercise of our Consciences and to be obedient unto the Teachings of his Spirit in all things as he shall guide and lead us and if he commands to do or not to do any thing and you the contrary we must obey him though we disobey you for its better to obey God then Man and when he bids speak in what Place or Season soever we may not be silent for to keep our Consciences clear in the sight of God in all things by Obedience to him is our care and study and that which we are given up to do and if you set your selves to gain-say this it will turn to your own destruction for no other promise then this can we make for our selves but to do and speak amongst you as the Lord our God shall move us and lead us and this Testimony we do bear for the Lord he doth not move us nor lead us to any thing saving to what is Just Good and Holy which may tend to the Happiness and Peace and Welfare of your Souls and Bodies also and in the Father's will we stand and as we came in his Will so we cannot submit to stay or go at any Man's will save the Lord 's alone And as concerning our coming and staying and Work here this is a sober account to you which may satisfie you and any sober and reasonable men And as concerning our being with you yesternight many things passed from some of you and your Ministers chiefly to which I had a great desire to have answered and to have cleared the things objected against us but time and his patience afforded not the opertunity therefore now this I do propound about the Call to the Ministry which was the thing in dispute to which I then could freely have spoken whether he will give me and us a fair meeting in some publick Place that is convenient for your selves to hear and be judge between us to discourse this Matter viz what the true Call to the Ministry is which is truely according to the Scripture and that to be laid down first and then to compare his Call to his Ministry and also his Call to Dunkirk with what the true Call is which is allowed of and approved in the Scriptures and also to compare our Call to the Ministry and even our call to Dunkirk with what the true Call of Christ s Ministers was as declared in the Scriptures that it may be seen whether his Call or our Call is the most different from or agreeable to the Scriptures and even the Light in your own Consciences shall be Judge between us in this Cause and upon such an Issue upon a just Determination would we gladly joyn tryal and such a Meeting upon such Grounds and Proceedings may tend to satisfie your selves and many more and such a Meeting I do fully desire with your consent and concurrence who may preserve the people in Peace and Soberness that all may be â—dified in the things of so great moment as this is For if he can prove his Call to the Ministry to be such as was the Apostles and Ministers in the true Christian Churches before the Apostacy then shall we own him and not deny him but if he cannot do this and if we can do it on our own behalf in the Power and Spirit of the Lord then may you and all men judge who are the true Ministers of Christ and who are the Deceivers And this manner of proceedings would deside all Doubts in you about us and we shall be clear in manifesting the Truth concerning the true Ministry and the false and the difference between them in their Call in their Practice and in their Maintenance And this is sent to you to read and consider of in the Fear of God as the Testimony of our Love to you and the Truth that you may take heed to your wayes and we would receive first your Answer whether you do consent and will allow such a Meeting and secondly his Answer whether he will undertake such a Dispute and we further are ready to clear all Doubts that may remain in you about us who are your Friends and desire your Prosperity and Faithfulness in what the Lord calls you unto By Edward Burroughs Samuel Fisher. And the same day we went to the Capuchine Fryars and had some Discourse with the chiefest of them in their Garden concerning the Light of Christ that every man is lighted withal and we did declare to them of the Mighty Day of the Lord that was at hand upon them and the Lord
are to wait for Counsel to receive it from the Lord by that of him made manifest within you and as for all your outward Teachers that have used their Tongues amongst you and said The Lord saith it when God hath not spoken to them nor sent them and that preach for Hire and Sums of Money and these are them that cannot profit the People nor ever bring you to the Knowledge of God nor give you Counsel from the Lord and if you seek to uphold them and defend them against the Power of the Lord and his Word which is gone forth against them then shall you not prosper but fall with them and if you do enterprize any work in that spirit that doth oppose the Spirit of Christ Iesus in his people you can never have good success but the Lord will confound you before your Enemies And so now that you may all come into the New Covenant to be taught of the Lord and to be far from all Oppression this is the thing that you are all to wait for and to know the Power of the Lord and to go on in that against Unrighteous Men and Unrighteous Laws which are set up in the Nations that they may be destroyed and brought under and yet though such a Victory would be honourable unto you yet there is a Victory more Honourable to wit The Victory over Sin and Death and the Devil in your selves and that you are to mind and there is a Kingdom which is not of this World which cannot be obtained by an Outward Sword and this Kingdom are you to wait for that you may know it and feel it in your own particulars and this is the Doctrine of the Gospel of Peace unto you and the Glad-tidings held forth unto all of you come into the Power of the Lord and mind it that you may be lead by it and then may you be fit Instruments for the Lord to work by And take heed how you oppose those whom the Lord hath sent and is sending abroad in the Nations to proclaim the Mighty Day of the Lord they are no Enemies to you nor to any mans Person and therefore be tender over them for they go about the Lord's Work of this I warn you all in the Presence of the Lord. And so you dwelling in the Power of the Lord there is nothing shall destroy you nor confound you but you shall have Victory over all your Enemies within you and without you and the Lord will make you a Dread and a Fear to the Nations And so this is a Warning unto you all both Officers and Souldiers that you may mind what the Work of the Lord God is in the Nations Your Work hath been and may be honourable in its Day and Season but he hath a Work more honourable to work after you that is To destroy the Kingdom of the Devil and the ground of Wars And your Victory hath been of the Lord but there is a more honourable Victory to be waited for even the Victory over Sin and so we are the Friends of the Creation that do preach this Victory and this Kingdom and Peace which is Endless and Everlasting and which many are come into And as for the many and divers sorts of Worship which are come up since the dayes of the Apostles and are of the Whore and not of the true Church they are all to be thrown down and the Worship that is in Spirit and Truth to be set up by the Lord and he is gathering people into that Worship but if you be out of the Fear of God in the Rudeness and Wickedness of the World and seek your selves and not the Freedom of the Nations only then the Lord will lay you aside as a broken Pot-sheard and raise up unto himself a People that shall fulfil his work and do it for he hath much Work to do in the Nations for he is gathering his Elect Seed and changing the Kingdoms of the World and making them become the Kingdoms of Christ and so be low in your own eyes and do not seek your selves but seek one anothers Good and seek the Glory of the Lord and the Freedom of the Oppressed and in that you will be blessed and prosper till you have set up your Standard at the Gates of Rome I am a Lover of all your souls and a Sufferer in Patience under the Cruelties of men E. B. And some small Discourse we had with our English Priests that supply the Place of Chaplins to the Army and in particular one of them which had spoken something behind our backs against us and we proffer'd to have some discourse with him but he refused it only to evade the matter at that present he bid us state some of our Principles in writing and he would answer them in dispute in some publick place and being he was not willing to engage to dispute otherwise we were free to write this following Paper but we had no answer in agreement to dispute with us but shifted the thing from himself by telling us The Governour was 〈◊〉 willing But this was not the same Priest before mention'd that we had discourse with at our first coming into the Town Friend FOr the manifestation of Truth and that the perfect difference between thee and us may be known and who are in the Truth and who in the Error and that Truth from Error may be clearly discerned therefore according to thy own Proposals and expressed Desires thereof before many we do here assert some Particulars of that Truth which we have receâ—â—ed from God and do hold forth and maintain in the World in opposition to thee or any other that shall gainsay them viz. 1. That Christ hath lightened all men with a Light sufficient in it self to bring them to Salvation if they follow it 2. That God hath given Christ to be the Saviour of all men 3. That none are justified by Christ and his Righteousness without them but as they have receiv'd Christ and his Righteousness and witness them reveal'd in themselves 4. That the Saints of God may be perfectly freed from Sin in this life so as no more to commit it 5. That the National Ministers and Churches not only of Papists but of the Protestâ—â—ts also as they now stand are not the true Ministers and Churches of Christ. 6. That the Scriptures are a true Declaration given forth from the Spirit of God by holy Men of God moved by it to write them and are profitable but are not the Foundation nor the most perfect Rule of Faith and Life to the Saints These things we are freely willing and desirous to discourse upon with thy self and any others that shall joyn with thee in the presence of sober and wise men who may judge between us in any publick Place that may be procured by thee according to thy Engagements in this Particular provided it may be in the Spirit of Meekness and Moderation and that all fair
nought and let it be left off to cry out Deceivers and Heresie c. and causing any to suffer upon suspition thereupon but bring all things to light and true Judgment that what is proved to be the Truth may be owned and not persecuted any more for we are willing to be made manifest to all men and if any thing be objected against us which may not be sufficiently answered and resolved to sober men then our Enemies are more free and hath whereof to glory in against us but and if all occasion of stumbling be removed by Answers according to the Scriptures and our Principles Practices and Doctrines thereby vindicated then let all the Teachers and all our Adversaries shut their Mouthes from biting at us and railing against us and accusing of us to thee and let thy Ear be shut from believing Lyes against the Innocent and let none suffer in thy Dominion under the cruelty of men upon such a ground And hereof I shall be glad to receive an answer and to joyn issue in this Cause and in the mean time and alwayes am a Lover of thy Soul but a witness against all Oppression E. B. This was delivered to his hands at Hampton Court in the 4th Moneth 1658. For the Protector Friends Know that there is a God that doth whatsoever he will all power is in his hand and he bringeth to pass the Counsel of his own heart and he rules in the kingdoms of men and bringeth down and setteth up he killeth and maketh alive and he changeth times and seasons and Governments and bringeth to nought the counsels of men for all power in Earth and in Heaven is in him and all his doings are right and his wayes are equal and thou and all Mankind are as Clay in the hand of the Potter he can honour and exalt as he pleaseth and he can mar and break to pieces and dishonour whensoever he will wherefore be humble and low in heart before him for he is the highest power that subdueth all things under his feet if he wound who can heal and if he kill there is none can make alive and know thou it is the Lord God Almighty that doth this in whose hands are the Issues of life and death and he it is who can break thee down and build thee up who can wound thee and restore thee and bring thee to destruction and say unto thee return and to know him that doth this belongs to thy eternal peace Wherefore hearken thou to the Word of the Lord that thy soul may come out of death and live and fear the Lord God before whom thy heart is naked and bare who can mould thee and change thee and fulfill his pleasure upon thee even according to his own will and who shall say what doth he and now come to consideration and let thy heart be more upright before him and chuse his way and counsel that he may bless thee and seek his face to behold his countenance that thy soul may be satisfied by his Word and the Milk of the Word may nourish thee unto life Immortal and mind his pure presence which is life even God with thee Christ the Emmanuel to dwell with and walk in thee which is the promise of the Father and first come to the Principle of God and feel the Word of God in thy heart that will beat down the nature into which Temptations enter and the Word will bring thee to war against and overcome all thy Enemies which would defile thee or betray thee and it will bring thee to know a Birth Immortal born in thee and a Crown Immortal received from God that dies not nor fades not away and then he that rules over Heaven and Earth will be thy Shepherd to feed thee and thy Teacher to guide thee and thy Counsellor to direct thee in all things and thy immortal Soul will be satisfied with the Bread that cometh down from Heaven which the Father giveth and the Covenant of God and the Mercies of David that are sure will be revealed and his Promise fulfilled in thee and Life and Immortality brought to Light through the Gospel which is the Power of God which destroyes and puts off and confounds the first man and his knowledge and wisdom and his sin and righteousness all which is in Transgression against the Life of God and the Gospel the Power of God being received it will raise up the Seed of God in thee and bring thee to know the second Adam the Image of the Father which the Devil hath nothing in but he overcomes the Devil who hath been the Lamb Slain by Transgression since the Foundation of the World and he it is that comes out of death that must take away thy sin and destroy it and cover thy nakedness and create thee anew and give thee acceptance in the Father whereby thy soul in him may be refreshed and a habitation in him thou mayst have when this World is no more and for this thou oughtest to wait above all things And Friend thou hast need of the Wisdom of God which is from Heaven to guide thee in all thy affairs that by it thou may be preserved from the will of thine Enemies and from all that hate thee that their Eye may be blinded that watch for Evil and their Wisdom and Policy confounded and brought to nought that hatch Mischief against thee So feel a Measure of the Wisdom of God in thee to guide thee in Dread and Authority and thy Enemies will be afraid for to walk in the Fear of the Lord and in his Wisdom and Authority in Justice Truth and Righteousness that will make thee a greater Terror unto thy Enemies then all Worldly Policy and Craft the Nations will over-reach thee if thy strength be there and if Judgment Justice and Righteousness be neglected by thee how should the Lord Honour thee and Defend thee Nay he will bring Dishonour and give thee into the Will of thy Enemies For want of Truth and just Judgment causeth the Land to Mourn and her People to sit as a Widdow comfortless wherefore love Judgment Truth and Righteousness and walk therein and thou wilt leave a Praise behind thee and a Witness to other Ages that thou hast served the Lord in thy Generation and then thy Memorial shall never dye nor thy Name come into Reproach among the Heathen Wherefore let all Oppression be removed and let the Just go free and let Judgment and Righteousness run down and be thou a Praise and a Blessing to all that do Well and a Terror and a Dread to all the contrary Arise and stand up for the Lord and he will give thee Strength and Victory and will make thy Horn as Iron and thy Hoof as Brass to push down and tread under the high places of Idolatry in all the apostatized Churches both Papist and others out of the Life of the Apostles and as thou comest into the Life the Apostles were in
and thou of the Divel Seeing they that abide not in the Doctrine of Christ have not God hence I query of thee XII Whether by this rule thou art not proved to be without Christ and without God who abides not in Christ's Doctrine but are called of men Master and stand Praying in the Synagogue and hast the chief Seat in the Assembly and contrary to Christ's Command Answer these Queries with the Spirit of Soberness if thou hast it and shew thy self a man if thou hast the Heart of a man and Repent of thy Wickedness and own thy Condemnation upon thy Former Words and Works I am a Friend unto thy Soul but a witness against thy Deceits E. B. And after which time for the space of two years I had no Communication with Christopher Fowler till this last nineth Moneth at a place called East-Hâ—â—sted where a Meeting of Dispute was appointed and challenged by some of his Brethren at which place again I met with this my Adversary where we had some hours Discourse and many particulars of False Doctrine fell from Fowler 's mouth some few of which hereafter follow First one of his brethren in his prayer before the dispute prayed to God to forgive them the Atheism that were in their hearts of him and his Brethrens Answer now an Atheist is one that denies God and Atheism is denying of God according to common reputation Atheism is so taken so that how shall such a Generation of men bring people to the Knowledge of God by their Ministry or how should they ever convert people to profit them who yet in their own Hearts denyed God as the man acknowledged in his prayer before the Lord and many witnesses the Poor People of England had thought that the Spirit of God had been in your Hearts but now we know that you deny God in your Hearts and you have confessed it to your own shame are you Ministers of Christ and yet denies God in your hearts and in whose hearts lodges Atheism Oh! let not people be deceived by you but repent ye that know not God but with your Mouthes confess him and with your hearts do deny him Christopher Fowler also affirmed that day That the Scriptures are the Glorious everlasing Foundation of Foundations Answ. And hereby it is made manifest that he hath totally denyed Christ and so proved with his brother confest in his prayer that indeed Atheism is in their Hearts and so he hath denyed Christ whom the Scriptures say is the Foundation and no other Foundation can any man lay and upon him were the Saints builded in their Faith and all their Practices of Religion for he is the corner Stone as it is Written and thus he hath dishonoured Christ in setting the Scriptures above him and taking the Honour from him and giving it to the Scriptures and I shall leave this his Doctrine to be considered with a query to these people of his Church in Reading whether he is worth hearing or giving Money to for preaching that holds forth such Doctrine and whether it is possible he should bring them to Christ who hath in effect denied him to be the Foundation and held forth that the Scriptures are the glorious everlasting Foundation of Foundations Much I need not say to uncover the error of sucâ— a Doctrine Again he affirmed That a man at one and the same time might be a Minister of Christ and a Deceiver Answ. And here all may see the weakness and Ignorance of this strange Paradox and indeed which is contrary to the Scriptures which saith No man can serve two Masters and it s very certain that he that serves the Devil doth â—ot serve Christ at the same time and he that serves Christ doth not serve the Devil and so his Doctrine is Antichristian which would make People believe that though they serve the Devil yet they are the Servants of God and this is as much as he hath said that one may be a Minister of Christ and yet a Deceiver now a Deceiver is one that follows the Spirit of the Devil and a Minister of Christ is one that followes the Spirit of Christ and these two Spirits are contrary and not both ruling in one man at one time But then to help the matter he said a man might serve Christ in Office but not in Love to which my answer was let him say whether he and the Priests of England did serve Christ by way of Office or Love both or either and I should prove the contrary but that we prosecuted no further Some other things were affirmed by him that day not now remembred He said That Christ was a Sinner from this Argument laid down by him all that dies â—â—e Sinners Christ died therefore c. These and such things he held forth all that day besides the unsoberness of his words and carriages towards me who called me a Dog divers times and did use very ridiculous jestures and words towards me even to his own shame in the sight of many people and the people of that County do yet well remember his unchristian-like proceedings and were ashamed of him but at last went his way and all his brethen and I was left among the people and I need not now mention for many even themselves know it what loss and disadvantage they sustained that day and Gods loving Truth was advanced and the advantage of it that was obtained on the Lords behalf but I being not yet as it were wholly satisfied but would endeavour further to the laying open deceit and to invade Antichrists kingdom the next morning after the dispute it was upon me to write forth and to send him this paper of Propositions following whereunto is annexed his Answer C. Fowler FRiend seeing thou art so high in thy spirit against us and against the truth which we profess and from time to time dost open thy Mouth so wide in Justification of thy self and thy Practices and in false charges against us and though we have had divers Meetings and the differences between us alwayes appeared greater and greater therefore this I propound unto thee Whether thou wilt give another Meeting of open dispute for the tryal of thee and thy wayes and of us and the truths which we hold forth for the satisfaction of the people and these things following I propound as the subject matter worthy to be handled which may discover thee and us to the satisfaction of all that desires in that case First What be the evident signes and tokens of a Wolf in sheeps clothing and whether thou or we in the sight of the people and of the Lord God can clear our selves to be clear and free from the marks and signs of such aforesaid Secondly Whether wilt thou stand to be tried in thy Ministry in thy Call to it Practice in it and Maintenance of it by and according to the Scriptures of the old and new Testament and wilt thou admit of tryal of thy Church and
Worship and Ministry thereby and this being done we do engage to suffer the like tryal in any part and every part of our Religion Thirdly Whether there be any other Foundation of Faith c. for the people of God at this day then Jesus Christ onely and alone and whether he was not the Foundation to the Fathers before the Scriptures were written and whether he that layes or preaches any other Foundation doth not dishonor Christ and speak contrary to the Scriptures These things with some others which we may have occasion to speak of are we willing to discourse with thee for the further clearing of the truth and laying open deceâ—… for yesterday I had much more to have spoken to thee hadst thou not goâ—…â—…o hastily away so if thou art willing to joyn in discourse wâ—â—h me again â—…int place and hour either this day or to morow for my occasions wâ—ll admit of either of these two days always provided that we may have all modeâ—â—tion and may proceed in meekness like men and not like Raylers as thou appearedst yesterday to thy own shame An answer hereof we do expect with speed and we are Friends to all that love Righteousness E. B. Thomas Câ—… THe original of this was delivered to the hands of C. Fowler in Reading the next morning after the dispute at East-Hamsted and being given to him at his Steeple-house-door when he was comming out from his worship he would have given them again to the Messenger after he had it in his hand and opened it but not being taken he said he would burn it and thus people may see that though he cryed against us as Deceivers behind our backs yet he is one of them dumb Dogs that cannot bark nor fright us away if we were such as he saith of us And here all sober people may understand the temper of this my Adversary and I shall leave them to judge of the proceedings between him and me but yet though he denies to meet me yet when I was passed out of the Country becaused the following paper to be fixed upon the Steeple-house-door at East-Hâ—â—sted where the dispute was drawn up by him and set there as a hidious vapour to enchant the minds of people it may be not supposing that ever it should have come to publique view as now it is like to do to his shame A true Charge in ten particulars against the people called QUAKERS 1. THey that pernitiously deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God are Hereticks and Blasphemers But those called Quakers do thus deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God therefore they are Hereticks and Blasphemers 2. They that deny the Scriptures to be the Foundation of Faith and Rule of Life they are Hereticks and Blasphemers But the Quakers do this therefore they are Hereticks and Blasphemers 3. They that do not own the Lord Iesus Christ to be God by Nature are horrible Blasphemers But those called Quakers do not own the Lord Iesus Christ to be God by Naâ—â—re therefore they are Blasphemers 4. They that say the good works of the Saints are meritorious of Eternal Life are Hereticks and Papists of the worst sort But the Quakers say so therefore they are Hereticks and Papists 5. They that deny the Ordinance of Water-Baptism and the Administration of the Lord's-Supper they are Antichristian Hereticks But the Quakers do this therefore the Quakers are Antichristian Heretick 6. They that deny the sin of Infants are Pelagian Hereticks But the Quakers deny the Sin of Infants therefore they are Pelagian Hereticks 7. They that deny the Resurrection of this Body are Hereticks But the Quakers deny this therefore they are Hereticks 8. They that deny the Christian Sabbath are very erroneous But the Quakers do this therefore they are very erroneous 9. They that quarrel at and deride the singing of David's Psalms theâ—…de â—…de of Hopkins and Sternhold the Kings Fidlers they are fooâ—… ignorant and Pâ—…ne in that But the Quakers do this therefore they are fooliâ—â— ignorant and Prâ—phane in this 10. They that publikely charge the Office and Call of Ministers with Lyes and Calumâ—… they are Railers and Slanderers But the people called Quakers do this therefore the people called Quakers are Railers and Slanderers These things through the Lord I am able to justifie and if I do not I shall be contented to be called a Deceiver Let them chuse their own time as soon as they please in witness whereof I have set to my hand this twenty sixth of November 1659. Christopher Fowler And according to providence this paper coming to my hands though it s believed without any purpose in him to which I did return my Answer as to answer his Challenge and neither time nor place being mentioned by him but both left to us to appoint I did appoint Reading for the plate and nominated a certain day â—â—r the time and he had â—â—gh a week notice from me and the time appointed I went to Râ—â—ding to attend the Service but when I came there I understood that be would not meet me according to his own Proposals and Agreement but nominated another place and another time which was supposed by me and others â—o â—e but a present evacting of the â—…er whereupon his denial to meet me at the time and placâ— appointed by me this following Letter I sent unto him C Foâ—… WHereas a Challenge of â—hine to us called Quakers for a Dispute upon ten Particulars was set upon the Steeple-house door at East Hamsted and leaving it to us to appoint time and place I did appoint Reading for the place and the fourth day of this week called Wednesday the 21th of this moneth for the time and in order to proceed upon the Particulars in dispute with thee the place and â—â—me aboveâ—â—id I ordered my occasions so as to attend upon the Service the said time but I being come into the Town this night do perceive that thou art not content with the place and time though they were left to our appointing in thy Challenge but hast appointed another place and time upon some feeble Reasons which thou givest which I might shew the weakness of and might upon many better reasons say that Reading is the only place seasonable to dispute at â—or if thou be indeed a true Minister of Christ the people of this Town best deserve to know it by hearing it to be so and if thou art a Deceiver the people of this Town had the most need of any others to know it by hearing thee disproved So upon this place I have pitched and cannot now change my resolution nor alter neither time nor place by me before-mentioned my occasion will not admit me to it Therefore I thought good to write to thee to know for certain under thy hand whether you will give a meeting or not in this Town the fourth day next as aforesaid if not this matter must yet remain as it stands between us till a
you will not allow it us but will persecute us and seek to destroy us only for our Conscience-sake and because of our Faith and Religion if you do make and execute Laws against us in opposition to the Law of our God that you may take an occasion against us to destroy us because thereof then Innocent blood and cruel suffering will be upon you and the weight of it will 〈◊〉 into confussion when your measure is full and if you should destroy these vessels yet our Principles you can never extinguish but they will live for ever and enter into other bodies to live and speak and act through other vessels for our Principles are standing and unchangeable through Ages and Generations and may be clouded but can never be extinguished for every man hath a Light in his Conscience which Christ hath inlightened them withal which Light reproves Men for sin and with it they know they should not Lye nor Swear nor be Drunk nor deal doubbly nor walk in any sin but and if they do these things and live contrary to the Light in their own Consciences then they deny Christ and are unbelievers and they are condemned and have trouble in their Consciences but if men do own that Light in their Consciences which doth reprove them for sin then it leads them to Repentance and to the forsaking of all sin and they cease from all Iniquity and receive Iesus Christ and his blood to cleanse them And the Light of the Spirit of God leads them into all Truth to do and speak the Truth in all things and then he hath peace with God in his Conscience And these are some of our Principles which can never be Subdued by all the Powers of the Earth though the vessels which now retain these were cut off yet these Principles are unchangeable in themselves and can never be extinguished so that this our Religion cannot come to ruin but they that think so they are indeed deceived and whosoever shall seek to destroy that which Gods purpose is to exalt wo shall be unto them and as they purpose towards others so shall it come upon them from the Lord in his Day and Season And thus I have answered the Queries directed to the Quakers and subscribed Trâ—â—ite hanc Amico Regis and I do desire that the Friend of the King and all his Friends and he himself may receive and read over these my Answers and may consider them in coolness and moderation for they may be to their Edification if they be Sober minded I am a Friend unto all men as men and creatures and a lover of all Souls and am in Principles and Practises one of them scornfully called a Quaker E. B. An Objection Answered concerning the Kings Supremacy ANd whereas it is Objected by some Whether or no we will be obedient Subject accepting of him as our Lawful King and own his Supremacy and will obey him willingly or unwillingly and be Subjects in Conscience or against our Consciences Answ. It is our Principle and hath ever been our Practise to be obedient Subjects to whatsoever Power or Authority of man or men as have been in being over us either by doing and fulfilling their just Commands or by suffering under their Commands which have been unjust and thus we are perswaded and resolved in the Lord to continue even to be obedient to the Commands of Men in Authority which are just and according to our Consciences but and if any thing or matter be required of us and Imposed upon us which is contrary to the Law of God and our Consciences that we must fulfil by Suffering whatsoever is put upon us by him or any under him and so we own him and accept him as knowing and believing that he is set to rule in this Nation not without but by and according to the Purpose of the Lord and that he hath secretly purposed and suffered the accomplishing of these things and thus we account that he is CHIEF MAGISTRATE because these things are effected through the Lord's Power who doth whatsoever he will and we do own that he is set and proclaimed to be the Head and Supream over this Nation in Civil and Outward Affairs and Matters and in those things that are related to the outward man and all his Commands which are just we can willingly be subject unto even in Conscience and all hiâ— Commads which are otherwise we are willingly and in our Consciences contented in patience to bear what men shall put upon us and thus we do accept of the King and his Government as he and it are according to God and answerable unto him if it be so we are willingly and in Conscience accepting thereof and shall be obedient Subjects thereunto but if it be otherwise that is to say if he Rule in Tyranny and Oppression and his Government be unjust and unrighteous and contrary to God then we must give our witness against him and it yet not so as by outward opposition and rebellion to seek the overthrow of him or the Government by Carnal Weapons but shall patiently bear and that for Conscience sake all that cruelty and injustice and suffering which can be imposed upon us And as for owning his Supremacy if it be meant his Supremacy over the Church as if he were Head of the Church and were Supream Law-giver and Iudge and King in Church-State as to give and prescribe Law for Worship and Faith and to pass all Judgement in matters that are Spiritual and appertaining to Conscience and about the things of the Kingdom of God if by his Supremacy this be meant and intended thus we cannot own his Supremacy but must deny it and we do ascribe Supremacy only to IESUS CHRIST in and concerning all these things mentioned and that he alone is Iudge and King and Law-giver in all the matters concerning his own Spiritual Kingdom and he must prescribe for us Faith and Worship and must be the only Iudge in all cases of Conscience and Spiritual matters and not Charles Stuart King of England c. not any other man upon the Earth for let it not be understood that we deny his Supremacy in opposition to the Pope of Rome as if we should own the Popes Supremacy over the Church for that we do not nor any man upon the Earth as I have said but only IESUS CHRIST is principal in that relation and to him we give the Dominion in all the cases of his own Kingdom but if owning his Supremacy it be intended whether we will own him to be Head and Ruler as in the affairs of his Nation pertaining to mens Persons and Estate without any relation to the Worship of God or matters of Conscience so we own him as I have before mentioned and must be Subject for Conscience-sake in fulfilling all his commands whatsoever either by doing or suffering and this is our principle which we are perswaded in and resolved herein to continue and abide To
them The truth of these things being proved and rightly considered by the King 〈◊〉 all others no just occasion will be found for this our Adversaries Charge nor 〈◊〉 place can rightly be found in the heart of the King for the reception of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tion but may upon just tryal condemn both Accuser and Accusatiâ—â— I mean not destroy the man but reprove the Accuser and his lyes â—…er And now I shall proceed to the Accusation it self and shall lay open the folly 〈◊〉 â—â—norance of the matter of his Accusation as well as I have done the wickedâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 the manner of it 〈◊〉 the true Protestant Religion hath been in danger to be rooted out by the Quakers 〈◊〉 This is the Charge it self â—â—sw If by true Protestant Religion the Accuser mean true Christan Reliâ—â—â—â— then I deny his Accusation utterly and do charge him to be a Slanderâ—… Lyer and False Accuser and must desire of the King that such a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taken notice of who hath abused and dishonoured him and that very 〈◊〉 in presenting him with Lyes and Falshoods for Welcomes which is inâ—… lesâ— then disgrace to both the Person and Office of a King What a 〈◊〉 â—â—tending so much to Love and Loyalty and so much rejoycing on his beâ—â—â—â—â—nd as if he were one of his choice Subjects and gave such reverence and 〈◊〉 to him and attempted so high as to be the Kings Informer and Instructer 〈◊〉 to be found a Presenter of Falshoods and Slanders against as good Subâ—… 〈◊〉 the Nation as himself O how abominable is this both to God and the 〈◊〉 and the whole Kingdom that these things should be much more that 〈◊〉 should pass unreproved for we are of the true Christian Religion as beâ—… 〈◊〉 have said even in the same way and of the same Spirit as were the holy 〈◊〉 and for that Religion we stand to do and suffer all things for that cause 〈◊〉 for the true Christian Religions sake But if this our Accuser by Protestant Religion mean the Sects of Lutheâ—…â—r â—r of the Sect of Calvinists so called or whomsoever else which I do 〈◊〉 heartily that I had the full intent of his mind of whom he means by the true Protestants for his words admit of divers acceptations and so a sound Answer can hardly be given while I do answer onely what I suppose to be his meaning by true Protestant Religion for there are divers sorts of Protestants Lutherans Calvinists and many others which are all Protestants and have protested against the Pope each one sort of them saying They are the true Christians and true Protestants yet are very much divided among themselves even to the killing and persecuting one of another so that which sort this man means and who of them are of the true Protestant Religion which we would root out c. this is doubtful I would I knew his meaning that I might give him a true Answer and sound for we may deny and oppose Protestant Religion or some part of it that is some Sects or divers sorts that have protested against the Church of Rome and yet be no Transgressors in the sight of God not many men for divers of the Protestants themselves are denying others of the Protestants and their Religion and it is my belief in this case that some have deserted the Pope and the Papists Religion upon bad grounds and have taken up a Religion as bad and no better then Popery not that I justifie Popâ—ry in all things but have a large Witness to give against it and men ought to protest against it yet I say some called Protestants in their Religion are as corrupt as any of the Church of Rome so on some account I may as lawfully deny Protestant Religion or some sort of them that do profess it as the Church of Rome for it is as corrupted some part of it and no more acceptable to God in the Profession and Practise of it This is spoken in general of it because his Accusation is general Now if I had his full intent whether he means Lutherans or Calvinists or what others if not them that are of the true Protestant Religion that we would root out then I should insist upon that particular sort and give my exception against them for I have many things to object at least and some things wholly to except against in the Protestant Religion or some sort of it not that I condemn or judge every individual man of the Protestant Religion for I believe there are many that are sincere and zealous towards GOD though with some Error in Judgement yet as to the Form of Worship and Constitution of Church and Ministry and Ordinances in the Protestant Religion it is much if not wholly differing and contrary to the Church Ministry Worship and Ordinances of the Apostles and true Christians in their dayes and more then this I now may not say a more full Answer I cannot give to this Charge except that I did know what sort of Protestant he intended which if I did I should utter my mind more large as to the Matter according as the Spirit of God gave me utterance And now that I have spoken of the manner and also of the matter of his Charge I shall hint partly of the end and purpose of his thus accusing as to the King His end intent and purpose of his thus charging us must needs be and it will appear to be out of Malice Wrath and Enmity for to incense and move the Heart of the King against us to destroy us as I have before mentioned And in answer to this some things most especially are considerable to the King and all his Friends 1. If he should upon the Report of this Man or any others let his Heart be moved into Rigour and Enmity against us and thereby seek intend or work Evil against us to destroy us he did but fill the Land with Violence Cruelty and Persecution and Innocent Blood and fill his Government with Oppression and Tyranny and provoke the God of Heaven against him to destroy him and overthrow his Kingdom and Power and Government and this would doubtless be the effect of receiving such a Mans Counsel and of his so proceeding if that he seek to pluck up what the Lord hath planted and if he dip hiâ— Hand in innocent suffering of God's People unjustly and if he reach forth his Hand to touch God's Anointed and hurt the Peaceable in his Land thâ—â— shall the Lord take him from his Authority and give his Dominion to another more worthy then he And this is for him to consider in the coolness of his 〈◊〉 2. â—f he did proceed to do any thing against us or be moved in his heart â—…unto barely upon the report of this or such other men without hearing Face to Face and lawful tryal in the matter and hearing our Answer and â—â—fence as well as our enemies Charge against us then all the Nations of
is a Heretick who are the true Iudges of it and what Punishment pertaineth to such as are truly convicted thereof and that to kill burn banish or to punish Hereticks as such Corporally is of Antichrist c. p. 859. 3. Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceivabless what he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and what his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom p. 868. A Hue-and-Cry after the false Prophets and Deceivers of our Age Being a short and full Discovery of them by their Works and Fruits p. 879. The Case of the People called Quakers once more stated and published with Answers to the Accusations charged upon them p. 888. Several Epistles written to Friends in Truth A Word to the Brethren and Companions in Tribulation by the World scornfully called Quakers page 12 13. To the Camp of the Lord in England Shewing 1. The Work of God which hath broke forth in this Nation p. 64. 2. And where it first arose p 66. 3. And iâ— exhorts to put on the Armor of Truth and to keep the Watch-Tower p. 66 67 Several Epistles to Friends in Truth in London at their first Convincement from p. 64. to 76. Containing these Exhortations following viz. 1. To dwell in the Iudgements of the Lord and to abide in the Counsel of God p. 68. 2. To mind the Light which keepeth out of all perishing things and discovers aâ— Deceivers and to keep to the Cross of Christ and to do nothing Rashly p. 69 70 71. 3. To keep in Lowliness p. 73. 4. Sheweth what the Living Hope is p. 75. The First General Epistle and Greeting of the Fathers's Love to all the Saints Being to all such as are found worthy to suffer for the Truth 's sake an Exhortation to the strengthening of their Faith whereby they may continue boldly witnessing to the End Also an Exhortation to try the Spirits and the Marks of the wrong spirits made known p. 204. to 213. An Epistle to Friends in Westmoreland and Cumberland Exhorting all to know a Hiding-place in God and to put on the Armour of Light c. p. 364. The Second General Epistle to all the Saints Being an Exhortation 1. to the Brethren who are called into the Work and Ministry of the Gospel 2. To all the Babes and Children in Christ to live in Unity and to bear their Afflictions and Sufferings with Patience p. 368 369. To thâ— Elect and Câ—â—â—sen â—…ed of God iâ— London Câ—…aining Exâ—…tations to be watchfull and to keep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disâ—…erly spirits p. 373 374. To all Friends that are moved of the Lord to go into other Nations p. 386. The Third General Epistle to all the Saints Being an Exhortation to seek the Glory of God above all p. 387. Two Epistles to Friends in London Being a Testimony against deceitful spirits and such as profest the Truth and turned from it and were unfaithful to the Lord p. 392. An Epistle to Friends in London concerning how to proceed against disorderly spirits 543. To the Churches in New-England Barbadoes and other Islands Exhortations to be obedient to the Light and to dwell in the dâ—ily Cross c. p. 546. An Epistle to Friends in London Exhorting to dwell in Love and Unity one with another and to be Examples of Righteousness c. p. 547. An Epistle to Friends in Barbadoes Virginia and New-England c. p. 548. The Fourth General Epistle to all the Saints Exhorting To feel the Immortal Life begotten of the Father in them and to dwell in it alwayes that they might not be overcome by Tryals and Temptations p. 662. To the Friends of Christ in London Exhorting to live in Patience in all Tribulations and to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes p. 690. To the Beloved and Chosen of God in the Seed Elected particularly in London and else-where Exhortations to mind the Word which first begat them and none to be troubled at the Dayes and Seasons p. 700. An Epistle to all his dear Companions in the Travel and Labour of the Gospel of Christ and in the Faith and Patience 〈◊〉 the Sufferings for his Name 's sake p. 764. The Fifth General Epistle Being a tender Salutaion of perfect Love unto the Elect of God the Royal Seed the Saints of the Most high containing Exhortations to Friends 1. To consider their former Estate p. 839. 2. The tender Dealing of God towards them since p. 840. 3. To consider what their then present State and Standing was p. 841. With several other weighty Things very necessary to be often read and kept in mind by Friends To the Friends of Truth in and about London Which Epistle sheweth wherein every oxes Preservation standeth and that in the highest Estate there is need of Watchfulâ—â—ss c. p. 884. THE END 1 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 1. 27 Psal. 8. 2. 1654 Act. 6. 58. from 51. Isa. 56. 10 11. Ier. 1. 6. Ionah 〈◊〉 3. Gal. 1. 1. Isa. 66. 3. Ioh. 9. 21. Prov. 15. 9. Isa. 55. 6. Mat. 2. 5. Ioh. 8. 44. Mat. 23. 3. 27. Mat. 2. 5. Isa. 5. 20. Ier. 5. 31. Ier. 23. 24. Ioh. 14. 6. Mat. 23. 13. Gal. 1. 1. 12. Gal. 6. 7. Mal. 4. 1. Mat. 3. 1. 1 Cor. 10. 14. Ior. 6. 53. 1 Cor. 14. 15. Eph. 5. 19. Rev. 14. 3. Isa 35. 10. Amos 6. 5. Rom 2. 6. Mat. 5. 1 Cor. 1. 18. 21. 1 Cor. 2. 4. Rom 10. 8. 17. Isa. 66. 18. Mat. 12. 34. Mat. 7. 18. 1 Cor. 3. 11. Ioh. 1. 9. Mat. 7. 29. Ier. 23. 29. Mat. 6. 5. Luk. 24. 5. Ioh. 14. 6. Isa. 2. 25. Isa. 29. 13 Ezek. 33. 31 Ier. 5. 31 Luk 6. 26. Ioh. 5. 43. Ezek. 14. 9. Pro. 21. 15. Amos 5. 18. Mat. 23. Isa. 25. 6. Mal. 1. 1. 2 Thess. 1. 8. Mal. 3. 2. Isa. 33. 14. Ier. 9. 25. Ier. 7. 20. Rev. 6. 16. Hab. 1. 13. Psal. 102. 7. Mic. 3. 11. Ier. 23. 31. Mat. 3. 10. Heb. 4. 12. Ioel 2. 2 to 12. Exod. 7 8 9 Chap. Rev. 14. 7. Pro. 28. 13. Ioh 1. 5 9. Ioh. 8. 12. Ioh. 11. 9 10. Iude 1. 4. Tit. 2. 11. Ezek. 34. from 2. to 9. Mic. 3. 5. Ioh. 1. 7. Ezek. 22. 6. Is. 56. 10 11. Rev. 13. 10. Ezek. 34. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Rev. 3. 20. Col. 3. 8 9. Mat. 24. 48 to 51 Ioel 2. 12. Na. 1. 16. Isa. 2. 12. Ioel 2. 2. 1 Iohn 1. 7. Ioh. 4. 24. 1 Thess. 1. 1. Iohn 3. 19. Iohn 14. 6. Mat. 23. 4. Isa. 56. Ier 23. Ezek. 34. Mich. 3. Mal. 2. Rev. 17. 1 2 3. Mat. 23. Mat. 10. 33. Acts. 26. 24. Iohn 14. 6. 1 Iohn 2. 10 11. 1 Ioh. 5. 19. 1 Ioh. 4. 6. 2 Tim. 4. 3. Gal. 1. 16. Mat. 11. 25. Rev. 14. 6. Nahu 3. 4. Mat. 13. 20. Mat. 24. 48. to the end Psal. 50. 22. Iohn 3. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 20 22. Rev. 21. 1. Rom. 6. 16. Rom. 2. 6.
but they also neglected to serve God and the Nations to serve themselves and because of the Ambition and Pride of some of them the Lord suffered them to make this last Interruption upon you which was great Treachery in mans account that thereby their measure might be filled up and that he might give you occasion against them and suffer you to be filled with Indignation towards them to break them to pieces And what you do to some of them in casting them out and afflicting them you are but God's Executioners therein you are the Executioners of his Anger in what you do to them and who shall prevent you or forbid you to go on for they have long enough dissembled with the Nation in professing more then others and doing less and their Downfall is now come And God hath looked upon you to be hard-hearted and cruel enough and very fit Executioners of Vengeance upon such men as I have mentioned But now concerning you and your present state as you are in present Place and Power I have something to say to you Though they are fallen and you yet stand and you have a little time after them but this I say do not glory over their Fall neither glory as though you should stand forever for they were not greater Sinners then you are neither are you one whit more Righteous then some of them but you are as sure to fall as they are fallen with no less measure of Dishonour and Affliction then is come upon them and you are in your last Hour and I dare not say that God expects much more from you then for the End aforesaid viz. To be the Executioners of Iustice upon men as sinful as your selves So do not glory over them that are fallen but know that your time also is but short and your Fall may prove to your Destruction and theirs may prove to make them better and refine them And if God hath chosen you to execute some part of his Wrath upon them for their Wickedness he will doubtless find Instruments to execute his Wrath upon you else he will do it with his own Hand for he purposeth not to spare you for your Sins cry as loud as any other People and the Oppressions are as great under you as under them whom you condemn And I desire if there be any good men amongst you that such who are wise may consider and mind the Hand of the Lord in and through all these things that are come to pass for God is working as well as you he is seeking to set up a Kingdom as well as you and his Government and yours cannot stand together and he will make you know that he is stronger and his Government of more force and your kingdom cannot stand in place with his Therefore oh that you would take heed oh that you would be wise if so be some of you may be spared and be not too zealous in your way nor too furious in your proceedings do but to others as you intend to receive from others and from the Lord and go not beyond your Commision for a Permission at least you have from God even to scourge Hypocrites and to be a Judgment upon that Hypocritical seeming Religious Generation of men aforesaid which have many a time as it were mocked God pretended love to him with their Lips when their Hearts have yearned after Self-honour and Treasures of this world I say your present hour and permission is for this end but not to persecute the people of the Lord nor to destroy God's Heritage but if you shall extend your Power unto such a work and if you do persecute the Innocent without cause and make war against the Lamb his Followers and make Laws and execute them to the oppression of the Saints of the Most High then you go beyond your Commission for God hath not called you unto this but to be Instrument in another Cause And the Children of Zion they trust in the Living God fear not the terror of mighty men neither can they be afraid at the roaring of the Sea nor at the present threatning of the Heathen for God is with them And I say to you The Servant of the Lord hath pondered and considered all these proceedings and viewed the present state of things at this day and there is no Vision from God unto you of Peace and Comfort nor of a happy and lasting Government as you now stand If any Prophet shall divine this unto you he speaks what he hath not from the Lord but the Vision of his own Heart and he deceives you and himself for you are not established upon a right Foundation neither are you acted by a right Spirit which can truly Govern for God but the Spirit of Wrath and Fury is put into you for the work which you are called And I know not how to warn you that you do not persecute the People of God For why It may be you must fill up your measure of Wickedness thereby that God may break you perpetually yet the less will be your Judgment if you do it not but and if you do it the Lord will take occasion against you to wound you and you shall never be healed and as you do afflict others so and much more shall it be done unto you from the Lord. Wherefore consider what I have said for this is the Vision of the Almighty unto you that shall not go unfulfilled And what you do you must do it quickly for your time is short and your Power will God subdue and his Kingdom and Power will he speedily exalt over your heads and make you and the Nations know that he is God and that all Power is with him and that he can do whatsoever he will and it is his Right alone to reign and his Childrens Portion to possess the Kingdom with him Let the whole Earth and all the Powers thereof Bow and Tremble before him let not your Hearts be stout and rebellious against him for he can grind you to Powder and sink you into Confusion and Misery as a Stone into the Sea This was directed for the hands of the Speaker in Parliament and accordingly was given to William Lenthel being inclosed to him with these Line following Friend THE inclosed I do commend unto thee for to present unto the House and to endeavour sincerely the reading of it in your Assembly for it is of special Concernment to you all and in the Name of the Lord and by his Spirit I do charge thee not to be negligent in this matter as though it were not of worth to you and I do lay it upon thee as a Work of Righteousness and Truth to be done by thee as thou wilt answer the contrary in the dreadful Day of God when the King of Righteousness shall judge thee and all Mankind Edw. Buroughs The 24th of the 11th Moneth 1659. AN ANSWER TO A DECLARATION Of the People called Anabaptists In
and about the CITY of LONDON VVherein their VVeakness and Ignorance is Discovered under their own Hands to the City and Nation as hereby may appear FRIENDS WHereas your Declaration consisteth of five Particulars four of which are not of so much concernment to me to answer but as for one of them for the Nation 's sake and for the Truth 's sake and that you may be reproved even you the Heads and principal Men of your Congregations and because you are such under whose hands your Declaration passeth therefore in that consideration with many others this I return as an Answer to you and to the City and Nation in pursuit of yours that hath proceeded from a Heart of Unbelief and unto Evil and Malicious Intents against a Despised People whom the Lord hath owned and will own though you and the whole World do reject them And whereas you say You are Mis-represented to the Nation that you do Countenance the People called Quakers in their irregular Practice And to clear your selves you say It is well known to all there are none more opposit to their irregular Practices then we are say you nor are there any that they have exprest more Contradiction to then against us though their Provocation therein hath not put us on a desire say you of depriving them of their Iust Liberty while they live Morrally Honest and peaceable in the Nation c. Answer Oh ye Heads and principal Men and ye chief Pastors Elders and Members so called of Churches What have ye done and wherefore have you thus proceeded Why have ye renounced an Innocent People that never did you harm nor ever gave any Offence unto you saving in crying against the deadness of your Forms and Traditions and seeming Religious Practices and reproving Evil in you Alas for you ye accounted Wise-men Do you judge any Advantage will be unto your selves in this thing or Do you think to work a Disadvantage unto us by your Renouncing and Denial of us I must tell you We are not troubled hereat for our own sakes neither is any part of our Hope or Confidence concerning you made void for we never looked upon some of you to be otherwise then our Enemies in your hearts Oh ye Hypocrites whom God will judge because of your Hypocrisie who now as much as in you lies if it were in your power you would leave us to the Mercilesness of Cruel Men you would save your selves and leave us to the Mercy of the Devil but though you renounce us yet the Lord hath owned us and will own us to your grief And what are you become our Accusers Are you become Chargers of us with irregular Practice Are you endeavouring to make us more odious in the Eyes of Wicked Men then we are for Righteousness sake But wherefore have ye done this Is it to save your selves from Reproaches Have you therefore Reproached us and have you sought to make us Vile that your selves might appear free And have you thought to gain the Favour of the Wicked and to make a Peace with your Enemies by reviling of us unto them Is this your End Oh ye Dissemblers to Reproach us to the Nation and City behind our backs You Church-Members so called and Teachers and Pastors and principal Men that would save your selves and gratifie the Devil and joyn in Union with the Wicked and make your selves Friends with them by Slandering and Renouncing the Peaceable People who are more so then your selves and none of them guilty of Irregularity as much as some of you though you would fawn upon the Nation and City by renouncing of us as if we were Irregular and so and so but do you think the Nation and City have not taken notice or however hereby they may What if I say unto them and you That none of the Quakers ever were so instrumental by illegal Opposition for the turning out of Parliaments and changing the Government of this Nation into Confusion like as some of you Anabaptists have been And this the City and Nation may take notice of the Irregularity of some of your selves who have been instrumental even by illegal Opposition and perfect Tyranny in mens account and Treachery also to the turning out Parliaments and thereby wronging the Nation for their own Advantages so that the practice of some of you hath been more unlawful and contrary to Law then ours hath been and the City and Nation may take notice of it as your Declaration is to them so is this my Answer Never any Quaker so called in War-like posture hath stood in Defiance and been Instruments to turn out peoples lawful Representatives Did not some of your Brethren even of the Anabaptists take Commission from the late Parliament and no less then Vowing Fidility to them and yet presently rose in Opposition to them and turned them out of doors And was not this Treachery and Hypocrisie and Irregularity And can the Nation charge any of them called Quakers with any such Work No they cannot but some of the Anabaptists they may even with this and other the like illegal dealing And more I might instance and not charge you behind your backs as you have falsly done of us but I may affirm to your faces and justly prove these and such things upon you But why have you not named what irregular Practice the Quakers are guilty of I charge you you Subscribers against us and Accusers of us to prove your Accusation I say I charge you before the Lord and this whole Nation and City to prove your Accusation and to instance what particular Practices performed and owned amongst us either in relation to just Government in Church or State that are irregular and you shall have a Reply though you say There are none more opposit to our irregular Practice then you are Oh! how fain would you flatter and fawn upon our Enemies to make peace with the Devil how would you creep by Craft and joyn into a League with our and your Enemies and how fain would you be at peace with them and leave us even to their Mercilesness if it were in your power have we ever dealt thus by you Have we ever sought to render you Rebels and Traitors to the Nation as in effect you have done to us Have we ever sought Occasions against you and to present you to the Nation as vile as we could for to save our selves and leave you to the will of your Enemies this have you done to us and we leave you to be rewarded even by the Lord who will never renounce us nor cast us out though you do in such a time as this a time of Confusion and Distraction wherein if the Lord did not appear to be our Defence more then men we should be swallowed up of our Enemies And must you even a seperate People Members Pastors and Ministers of Churches so called renounce us at this season on purpose to have us destroyed so much as you may