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A43754 A brief relation of the irreligion of the northern Quakers wherein their horrid principles and practices, doctrines and manners ... are plainly exposed to the view of every intelligent reader : together with a (brief reply) to some part of a very scurilous and lying pamphlet called. Higginson, Francis, 1617-1670.; Fox, George, 1624-1691. Sauls errand to Damascus. 1653 (1653) Wing H1953; ESTC R34465 75,893 103

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this Relator But if they have neglected hitherto to accuse any of us in particular of such wrongs as they complain to have bin done in general why do they not apply themselves to those in authority and charge him or them by name that did infer the injury and prove it by witnesses that they may bring such to condign punishment Or if the Justices have done them injustice why doe they not Petition to their Superiors for remedy If any man shall yet mistake the commitment of Nayler for persecution it were good if he have bin a stranger to his sufferings he were acquainted with the greatest heat of it It was no more but his confinement to the Goalers house where he had as good accommodation as I think his own house would have afforded him or he did desire and better surely then he did deserve and from whence he is now gone well amended both in body and rayment and in purse also For his incomes from the contributions of his Proselytes as is reported by some that have reason to know were not inconsiderable nor would he have had much cause to complain but that he wanted liberty to range the Country if it had lasted as long as he had lived An answer to the false and unfaithfull Relation of the examination of Iames Nayler at the Sessions at Appleby January 1652. Reprinted verbatim in this Book as it is micrepresented in Sauls errand to Damascus REader I suppose thee in this Book at least to have porused that untrue and halting narration of Naylers examination procured by him or some of his friends to be printed and spread abroad for no other end is to us it appears but to bely slander wrong dishonor and bring an Odium upon both the Magistracy and Ministry in this County of Westmerland that have any way appeared against the wickedness of that man and his Faction and to render them concemptible in the eyes of the people of this Nation and those that fear God in it that are strangers to that business if it were possible Thus they give their mouths to evil and their tongues frame deceit against them that never merited it at their hands or pens and desired nought to them but good But the Lord will one day examine and reprove them and set this sin among the rest in order before them except they yet become convicts which from our souls we wish on their behalfs To wipe off that dirt wherewith they have aspersed the Gentlemen that then sat on the Bench I must first inform my Reader that whereas he saith he was indicted for Blasphemy for saying Christ was in him and that there was but one word of God it is a notorious untreth known to all the Country then present I cannot but wonder at their impudence in Printing so well known a lie It easily discovers to him that will see of what spirit they are They would make the world beleive 〈◊〉 Gentlemen were Ignorants indeed that had no better skil then to take those words for Blasphemous T is true these words were contained in his Indictment which he spoke in the hearing of an hundred people that he affirmed Christ was in him as man and that the holy Scripture was 〈◊〉 the Word of God which last words though they may be truly said to be Blasphemous taking Blasphemy in a larger sence as it is used Act 6. 1. Tim. 1. 6. Tit. 2. 5. Yet that he was indicted for Blasphemy at all is utterly false what was the cause of his confinement I have in another place informed my Reader But further to discover the falshood and wilful omissions and imperfections of their Narration I shall give my Reader a true account of the examination of and discourse had with Iames Nayler at the Sessions in all the material passages of it which was as followeth After the Iustices had spoken something to Nayler concerning his refusal to put off his hat in the presence of Authority which he then and there denied to do and had put some question to him concerning the place of his birth and habitation his Profession being a Souldier Col. Brigs demanded of him the cause of his coming into these parts To which Nayler If I may have liberty saith he I will declare it I was in the fields at the Plow in Barly seed time Meditating on the things of God and suddenly I heard a voice saying unto me Get thee out from thy kindred and from thy fathers house and I had a promise given in with it whereupon I did exceedingly rejoyce that I had heard the voice of that God which I had professed from a childe but whom before that day I had never known So I went home and stayed there a good while and not being obedient to the Heavenly Call I was in a sad condition as my friends know and those that knew me wondered at me and thought I was distracted and that I would never have spoken nor eaten more Hereabouts as he was going on Coll. Brigs interrupted him with this question Friend said he Didst thou bear that voice thou saist spoke unto thee Nayler answered Yea I did heare it 〈◊〉 Briggs questioned him again thus Were there not some others besides thy self at plow with thee Yea faith Nayler there were two more besides my self And did not they said the Coll. hear that voice as wel as thy self No friend saith Nayler it was not a Carnall voice audible to the outward care O then said Coll. Briggs I know what voice it was Nayler then proceeded thus after I was made willing to go I gave away my estate and cast out my mony and I began to make some preparation as apparel and other necessaties but a while after going agateward with a friend from my own house having an old suit without any mony having neither taken leave of wife or children nor thinking of any journy The voice came to me again commanding me to go into the West not knowing whither I should goe nor what I was to doe there but when I had been there a litle while it was given me what I was to declare and ever since I have remained not knowing to day what I am to do to morrow When he had finished this Relation touching his call Coll. Briggs put this question to him Friend you said you gave away your estate and cast out mony before you came forth to whom did you give your estate and mony Nayler said I gave it to my wife Coll. Briggs replied doest thou call that a giving away of thy estate and casting out thy mony I should not much care if all my estate were so given away But what was the promise which thou saidst was given in to thee Nayler said That God would be with me which I find made good every day Said Coll. Briggs I never heard of such a call as thine in our time To which Nayler replied he believed to M. Pearson then asked whether Christ was
Lancashire to swear things that another man had spoken in the presence of foure Justices of the Peace and for which the man had been tried and cleared And these they brought thinking to ad afflictions to the Prisoners bonds But he is kept in great peace and joy having not any comfort from man but from God who hath appeared to him in this condition and hath given him assurance of his love in whom he rests To whom be praise honour and glory for ever Amen The Examination of Iames Nayler upon an Indictment of Blasphemy at the Sessions at Appleby in Ianuary 1652. JUstice Pearson Put off your hats Iames. I do it not in contempt of Authority for I honour the power as it is of God without respecting mens persons it being forbidden in Scripture He that respects persons commits sin and is convinced of the Laws a Transgressor Just. Pear That is meant of respecting persons in judgement Iam. If I see one in goodly apparel and a gold ring and see one in poor and vile rayment and say to him in fine apparel Sit thou in a higher place than the poor I am partial and judge of evil thoughts Col. Brigs If thou wert in the Parliament-house wouldst thou keep it on Iam. If God should keep me in the same mind I am in now I should Col. Brigs I knew thou wouldst contemn Authority Iam. I speak in the presence of God I do not contemn Authoritie but I am subject to the power as it is of God for conscience sake Just. Pears Now Authoritie commands thee to put off thy Hat what sayest thou to it Iam. Where God commands one thing and man another I am to obey God rather then man Col. Benson See whether the Law commands it or your own wills The Inditement was read wherein Iames was Indited for saying that Christ was in him and that there was but one Word of God Col. Brigs Where wast thou born Iam. At Ardislaw two miles from Wakefeild Col. Brigs How long livedst thou there Iam. Until I was married then I went into Wakefeild Parish Col. Brigs What profession wast thou of Iam. A Husbandman Col. Brigs Wast thou a Souldier Iam. Yea I was a Souldier betwixt 8 and 9 years Col. Brigs Wast thou not at Burford among the Levellers Iam. I was never there Col. Brigs I charge thee by the Lord that thou tell me whether thou wast or no Jam. I was then in the North and was never taxed for any Mutiny or any other thing while I served the Parliament Col. Brigs What was the cause of thy coming into these parts Jam. If I may have libertie I shall declare it I was at the Plow meditating on the things of God and suddenly I heard a voyce saying unto me Get thee out from thy Kindred and from thy Fathers house and I had a promise given in with it Whereupon I did exceedingly rejoyce that I had heard the voyce of that God which I had professed from a Child but had never known him Col. Brigs Didst thou hear that voyce Jam. Yea I did hear it and when I came at home I gave up my Estate cast out my mony but not being obedient in going forth the wrath of God was upon me so that I was made a wonder to all and none thought I would have lived but after I was made willing I began to make some preparation as apparel and other necessaries not knowing whither I should goe But shortly afterward going agate-ward with a friend from my owne house having on an old Suit without any mony having neither taken leave of wife or children nor thinking then of any journey I was commanded to go into the West not knowing whither I should go nor what I was to do there but when I had been there a little while I had given me what I was to declare and ever since I have remained not knowing to day what I was to do to morrow Col. Brigs What was the promise thou hadst given Jam. That God would be with me which promise I find made good every day Col. Brigs I never heard such a call as this is in our time Jam. I believe thee Just. Pears Is Christ in thee Jam. I witness him in me and if I should deny him before men he would deny me before my Father which is in Heaven Just. Pears Spiritual you mean Jam. Yea Spiritual Just. Pears By Faith or how Jam. By Faith Just. Pears What difference then between the Ministers and you Jam. The Ministers affirm Christ to be in Heaven with a Carnal body But I with a Spiritual body Just. Pears Which of the Ministers say Christ is in Heaven with a Carnal body Jam. The Minister so called of Kirkby-Steven P. Higginson stood up and affirmd it again openly before al the Court. Jam. If Christ be in Heaven with a Carnal body and the Saints with a Spiritual body It is not proportionable neither was that a Carnal body which appeared among the Disciples the doors being shut and appeared in divers shapes Quest. Was Christ man or no Jam. Yea he was and took upon him the seed of Abraham and was reall flesh and bone but is a Mystery not known to the Carnal man for he is begotten of the Immortal ●eed and those that know him know him to be Spiritual for it was the Word that became flesh and dwelt amongst us and if he had not been Spiritual he had not wrought my Redemption Just. Pears Is Christ in thee as man Jam. Christ filleth all places and is not divided separate God and man and he is no more Christ. Just. Pears If we stand to dispute these things we should have the Ministers Iames Perceiving Priest Higginson offended because he had told of h●s saying that Christ was in heaven with a Carnal b●dy Iames said Friend I had not accused thee had I not been asked what was the difference between the Ministers and me for I am not come to accuse any for I am against accusations Col. Brigs Wast thou not at a Kirk about Sawrby Jam. I was a member of an Independant Church at Weed-Church Col. Brigs Wast thou not excommunicated for thy blasphemous Opinions Jam. I know not what they have done since I came forth but before I was not to my knowledge Col. Brigs called of Master Goale saying Did you ever heare such a call as this Did you hear it Coale Yea I heard part of it Col. Brigs Didst thou not write a paper wherein was mentioned that if thou thinkest to be saved by that Christ which died at Jerusalem thou art deceived Jam. If I cannot witness Christ nearer then Jerusalem I shall have no benefit by him but I own no other Christ but that who witnessed a good Confession before Pontius Pilate which Christ I witness suffering in me now Col. Brigs Wilt thou deny thy hand Jam. I will not deny my hand if I may see it and I desire that I may have so much favour that that
All that study to raise a living thing out of a dead to raise the Spirit out of the letter are Conjurers and draw Points and Reasons and so speak a divination of their own brain they are Conjurers and Diviners and their teaching is from Conjuration which is not spoken from the mouth of the Lord and the Lord is against all such and who are of God are against all such for their Doctrine doth not profit the people at all for it stands not in the Counsell of God but it is a Doctrine of the Devill and drawes people from God 5. They affirm that the Letter of the Scripture is carnall 6. That he that puts the Letter for light is blind 7. That the word is not the Rule whereby to try their Spirits they will not allow of comparing of that Watcher they say they have within with the written word in Scripture 8. They call the written word of God the Worlds word the Worlds light Touchstone Rule and say our outward Scriptures and glorious Gospell is dust Some of them have affirmed it was no great matter if all the Bibles in England were burnt 9. It is a Doctrine generall with them that the Soule is a part of God or of the Divine Essence and was actually existent long before it was conveyed into the Body This wicked Opinion of the Priscilianists and other old Erronists now reviv'd by this Sect some of the most eminent of them have endeavoured to maintain against Mr. Cole a godly and learned Minister living in Kendall 10. The deniall of any distinction of Persons in the God-head is common with them Fox Sauls Errant Page 12. affirmes that it is but a busie mind to enquire whether there be one Individuall God distinguished into Father Son and Holy Ghost 11. They hold that Christ hath no body but his Church 12. That Jesus Christ is come into their flesh that he is in them as man that the man Christ dwels in them 13. That Christ his coming in the flesh is but a figure and all he did is nothing else but an Example the exploded Doctrine of the Socinians denying the efficacy and virtue of his Blood and Sacrifice by which in his own body he purged away sin which Principle stands cleer in the Lancashire charge against them and nothing evaded by what is layed down under the name of an Answer called Sauls Errant Page 8. 14. They hold that Christ is a light within every man and that every man must mind that light and teacher within and follow no Teacher without Nailer when Mr. Cole had some discourse with him at Kendall affirmed to him that Christ was in all men even in Reprobates and that in them he is held under Corruption 15. They hold that all men in the world have in them a light sufficient to Salvation Turks Indians yea such as never had or ever shall have any outward means to reveale Christ to them 16. Some of them have argued that the man Christ is not ascended into Heaven 17. They hold that we are justified by Christ alone without Imputation 18. They hold Prayer for remission of sins a needlesse thing 19. They hold that that Righteousnesse which Jesus Christ fulfilled in his own Person with us and before we were born is not the matter of our Justification 20. Some of them and those no meane ones among them neither hold the Popish Doctrine of Justification by works or inhaerent Righteousnesse which Christ in him inables them to perform 21. They hold that in Conversion there is no new nature no habit of grace or Seed of God infused but that Christ that was in man before is then raised up in them out of Prison 22. They hold that there is fulnesse of Glory in this life that they enjoy God here and Christ here the Resurrection Judgment Angels Glory and all they look for they enjoy in this life and mock at those that speak of another World or life to come or a better Kingdome 23. They deny many of them the Resurrection of the body 24. They hold that there is no Locall Heaven or Hell 25. They hold many of them that they have attained to a state of Perfection and that they neither do nor can sin 26. They hold that the calling of the Ministry of England without any exception is Antichristian 27. They affirm that there is no such thing contained in the holy Scripture as a Mediate call to the Ministry by man 28. They hold the Office of teaching to be utterly uselesse in the Church of God and tell the most ignorant people where they come that they have no need that any man should teach them and therefore disswade them from hearing any of our Ministers what ever telling them they shall be damned if they do so and that all that go to the best houses to heare them shall be turned like Chaff and Stubble and charge people not to believe a word that any of them speak And for themselves when they speak they say they do not teach or preach but onely declare the Revelations of God in them 29. They hold that Fox and all the rest of their Speakers are immediately called Sauls Errent Page 4. Fox saith they were moved to come into those parts by the Lord and the Lord let them see he had a people here before they came Nailer also at the last Sessions at Appleby Ian. 1652. affirmed in the face of the Court that when he was at Plow in Barly Seed time meditating on the things of God he suddenly heard a voice commanding him to go out from his Country and from his Fathers house and had a promise given in with it And being demanded whether he heard the Voice he said he heard it himselfe but those that were with him heard it not Being asked again whether it was an Audible Voice he answered no friend it was not a carnall Voice audible to the outward Eare. A little after going on in his relation he said that going agateward they are his own words with a friend from his own house the Voice come to him again commanding him to go into the West not telling him whether he should go or what he was to do there but when he had been there a little while it was given him what he was to declare If my Reader please to be detained with another short Story to this purpose he shall have it Fox with one or two other men his Companions as I heard it came to an Honourable Gentlemans house in Cumberland One of the house came to them to the door to know their businesse They asked if the Gentleman of the house was within calling him by his name for they give no title of respect to any man whatsoever they were answered affirmatively Being called in the Gentleman took them aside to know what they would with him they told him they were sent to him from God He enquired of them how they certainly knew it they
good I do not wish my greatest enemy so much hurt as that he should be one of them But those in Authoritie know they might not give ear to the Calumnies of every Anonymus Psal. 101. 5 7. Who so privily slandereth his neighbour saith David him will I cut off He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my House He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight And that it was Sauls sin and shame to hearken to the calumnies of Doeg against those that ministred at the Altar to the Lord. And we all know it is no new thing for the Ministers of Christ to be the object of the worlds indignation and accused of all manner of evil Our Saviour Christ himself his Apostles and the best of the Christians in the Primitive times did not escape the scourge of the Tongue the worst of slanders Well therefore may the false aspersions of this man be born as an easie burthen But thou O Lord deliver my soul from lying lips and from a deceitfull Tongue Psal. 120. 2. Let thy mercies also come unto me O Lord even thy salvation according to thy Word So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me for my trust is in thy Word Psal. 119. 41. 42. The next part of this Pamphlet which I shall give some answer to consists of a false and scandalous Relation wherein Nayler or some friend of his for him foolishly complains of Persecution and maliciously abuses and belies divers Ministers in Westmerland as his persecutors who I am confident never used any unchristian language to him and were never guiltie of the least incivilitie in Action towards him notwithstanding his outcry of persecution by them Now because I intend to say something by way of reply to this Relation as also to their fals Narrative of the proceedings of the Justices at Appleby against Iames Nayler Jan. 8. 1652. I think it will not be amisse first to expose the Quakers own Relations verbatim to the view of my Reader as they are contained in Sauls errand to Damascus Divers particulars of the Persecutions of Iames Nayler by the Priests of Westmerland JAmes being at a meeting at Edward Briggs house on the first day where many people met he was desired by divers friends to meet the day following at Widow Cocks house about a mile from Kendal whereof the Priests having notice raised the Town of Kendal against him but being long in gathering together the meeting was done but Spies being out upon the Steeple top and other places notice was given what way Iames passed from thence and coming down towards Kindal two Priests being accompanied with a Justice of Peace and some other Magistrates of the Town with an exceeding great multitude of people following them met him saying Nayler I have a Message from the Lord Iesus Christ to thee but that there is not a convenient place To which James answered The Lord Iesus Christ is no respecter of places The message that he had to declare was this I conjure thee that thou tell me by what power thou inflictest such punishment upon the bodies of creatures James answered Dost thou remember who it was that did adjure Christ to tell if he were the Son of God and asked by what authoritie he did those things for James saw him to be one of that Generation But the Priest still conjuring him to tell by what power he did it James answered Dost thou acknowledge it to be done by a power Yea saith he I have the Spirit of God and thereby I know it is done by a power James said If thou have the Spirit of God as thou sayest thou hast then thou canst tell by what power it is done The Priest said When God comes he comes to torment the souls and not the bodies James said He comes to redeem the souls But after much jangling the Priest began to accuse him before the Justice and Magistrates of many things As that he taught people to burn their Bibles Children to disobey their Parents Wives their Husbands People to disobey the Magistrates such like accusations To which James answered Thou art a false accuser prove one of these things if thou canst here before the Magistrates But not being able to prove any one he began to accuse Iames for holding out a light that doth convince of sin which saith the Priest all have not To which Iames said Put out one in all this great multitude that dare say he hath it not Saith the Priest These are all Christians but if a Turk or Indian were here he would deny it James said Thou goest far for a proof but if a Turk were here he would witnesse against thee The people beginning to fight the Priest turned away saying Here will be a disturbance Said James These are thy Christians and this is the fruiuts of thy Ministery But the Justice with some others did endeavour to keep the rude people off him so that they could not come to their purpose there But he being to passe over the bridge and through the town they that were of the Priests party ran before swearing they would throw him off the bridge into the water but coming thither and seeing their purpose he was encouraged in his God who gave him assurance of protection and did wonderfully keep him and those that were with him for when he came unto the bridge the word of the Lord came unto him and he was made to cry out against their rage and the power of the Lord was with him so that he received no harm though he was made to speak all along and in the Market-place and till he came out of the town But the raging Priests continued shouting crying and throwing stones at him a quarter of a mile out of the town But such was the power of the Lord that neither he nor any with him received any harm The work was wonderfull and we were brought much to admire it and praise the Lord who is blessed for ever and ever Another time Iames being desired of many Christian Friends to be at a meeting at Ortor there to wait upon the Lord for what he would make known to his people did accordingly and many friends and brethren accompanied him but the Priests having intelligence some dayes before five of them were gathered together and many people from all quarters A friend in the town desired Iames to come to his house and being come into his house a message was sent from the Priests desiring him to come into the field under pretence of a more convenient place for the great multitude To which Iames answered It is my desire that all may be edified and coming into the field the Priests came with a great multitude and asked him by what authority he came thither and had gathered so many people together to break the peace and tempting him said Wilt thou be bound that none here shall break the Peace To which Iames answered We come
True it is so said but that Face of God which Moses saw is not spoken of as that full vision of God which we cannot have till we be changed but of a more extraordinary appearance of God in his outward discovery of his Glory And therefore when afterwards Moses desired to see Gods Face he shewed him but his back parts Dost thou then believe said Nayler to see God with thy carnall eyes Master Coale answered in the words of Iob Yea with these eyes shall I see Him Onely said he friend understand That though these same eyes shall see Him yet they must be though not in substance yet in quality changed He shall change this vile body saith Paul and make it like unto his own Glorious body Saith Nayler Had I said so I had been charged with Blasphemy though it be Truth Master Coale answered he would then have had a great deale of injury done him but said he though we shall be made like unto him I doe not understand it thus that we shall be made equal to him there is a vast difference betwixt likenesse and equality Nayler after this speaking of the life of Christ said he lived by the life of Christ and Christan him Master Coale told him it was true that a Christian lives by the life of Christ but that life saith he which I live is a created life and t is I am quickned and I that am made alive 〈◊〉 saith Nayler by an uncreated life True said Master Coale A Christian doth so but he must make a difference between living the Essentiall life of Christ and living by it The uncreated life of Christ said he is the cause of my life but not the matter of it For they were the influences of that life upon me that did beget a life in me but that life that is in me is a created life for which he quoted Ephesians 2. You hath he quickned and 1. Cor. 15. The last Adam is made a quickning Spirit or a life creating Spirit as he told him the word signifies Also 2. Cor. 5 If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature And you are his workmanship created in Iesus Christ unto good works To these he replyed nothing but said I do witnesse Christ is in me and is persecuted in me this day Master Coale told him he persecuted him not but came to crave Protection The foregoing discourse produced some words about Justication touching which Nayler said he was justified by Christ in him To which Master Coale replyed thus Christ in me is my sanctification but Christ fulfilling the Law for me is my Justification Justification is an Act of God for Christs sake acquitting me and absolving me from the guilt of sinne not done in me but without me in the Court in Heaven Onely the Manifestation of it is in my Conscience Nayler said nothing to this but that which is without is without Being asked whether the Scriptures were the Word of God he answered he knew no Word of God but one Being asked again whether he believed the written Word to be the Word of God he said I know no such thing Master Coale told him That it was true that Jesus Christ is the Eternall Word but in the ordinary sense a word is as much as the Declaration of a mans mind He asked him therefore whether he beleeved the Scriptures did declare to us the Minde of God and so whether that which they deliver to us is the very minde of God He answered I do believe it This is the substance of all those Passages ANd now good Reader compare this faithfull Relation which may be attested by many judicious and observant witnesses with their foolish and scandalous stories and you may find them full of such grosse abuses and pernicious suggestions and falsehoods as are apt to proceed from a spirit that premeditatech mischief and abhorreth not evil I think none of us that are traduced in Sauls Errand to Damascus should have made any thing publick in this kind in respect to our selves We know t is as easie is common for Christs Disciples indeed to beare the lying accusations and reproaches of his Enemies But knowing again how Errour may strengthen it selfe and get a party by lying reports and the Cause of God contract an Odium by misrepresentations and Religion sometimes suffer through silence especially when Satan labours to speake so like the Language of a complaining Saint and Truth it selfe is under prejudice and disadvantage we were moved in Spirit to speake what we have heard and know and to testifie what we can witnesse though the world should not receive it That Mystery of Iniquity which doth so Energetically work against the Gospell in this Nation and that designe of Satan which now appears with open face in Multitudes of his Agents to overturne the Ministery of the New Testament and roote out the Soule and Life of Christianity from among us the despised Servants of the Lord in these parts are hopefully encouraged that the Lord will ere long crush to pieces and make it as the untimely Fruite of Summer and as the grasse upon the House top of which the Mower filleth not his hand nor hee that bindeth Sheaves his bosome Yea we see already some probable Symptomes of Death upon these New born Principles and the markes of Vengeance from Heaven upon them The hollownesse and unholynesse of their fanaticke Notions which as blazing Starres doe dazle the weaker or delight the more wanton eyes of many The fruit of our Prayers in the returning of some who were esteemed Godly The Divisions of the rest Their visible palpable Atheisme And the Lords Eminent leaving of them both living and dying in either the most despairing or most bruitish Condition ever heard of which though sad as to their persons yet wee cannot but looke upon them as Signall Testimonies of GOD against their Heresies and Impieties O that Men would receive the Truth of God in the Love thereof that those Glorious Beams of the Eternall Word might ravish the affections of all that know them Least otherwise as is the sad condition of this poore Country the Lord doe in his just Judgement send them some strong Delusions to believe a Lye and plunge their Soules from their Imaginary highest Elevation of Spirituall Knowledge into the lowest depth of Atheisticall Heathenish or Popish darkenesse In this Prayer I hope good Reader we shall have the Communion of your Spirit and the joynt compassion of your Soules for a misguided Generation The Lord inable us to contribute what strength wee have for the Gospels Interest FINIS Nayler saith to this Question he could get no answer