he does not say in all the Steeple houses The Church is the pillar and ground of truth and truth were before Steeple houses And is this the wisdome of your fore fathers that the Steeple-house is the pillar and ground of truth the Church is the body of Christ which he is the head of The Apostle says the Churches of Asia salute you Is this the wisdom of your fore-fathers to say the Steeple-houses salutes people No it is the people of Asia which have the title of Church that Christ is head of doth salute the Brethren And the Church which is in their house 1 Cor. 16.19 This contradicts you and your Fathers for if the Church were in their house it was not the Steeple house but the People met in their house who had the title of Church Ephes 1.22 Christ is the head over all things to the Church which is his body what is this the wisdom of your fore-fathers is the Steeple-house Christ body No it is the People Ephe. 3.10 The manifold wisdome of God might be known by the Church And what is this your fore-fathers wisdom that the manifold wisdom of God should be known by the Steeple house Ephes the 5. the Church is subject to Christ And is this your fore fathers wisdom to say it is the Steeple-house No it is the People that is subject to Christ not an old house Christ loved his church and gave himself for his church what did Christ love the Steeple-house and gave himself for it No it was for the People That Christ might present to himselfe a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle holy without blemish and what is all this put to the Steeple-house by the wisdom of your fore fathers what doth Christ present the Steeple-house without spot or blemish or wrinckle The Lord cherishes his Church what are you wiser then your fore-fathers is it a Steep'e-house he cherisheth Col. 1.18 Christ is the head of the body the Church And what is he head of the body of your Steeple-house Nay this church which is the body is the People and not the Steeple-house Col. 4.15 Salute the Brethren of Laodicea and Nymphas and the Church in his house Mark here again the church was in his house which was the People and the Steeple-house was not the church neither was to be saluted Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1. Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus unto the church of Thessalonica which is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ And what is this the wisdom of your fore-fathers are the Steeple-houses in God the Father of Christ No it is the People and children of God which be in him which have the title of church Philemon 2. To the Church in thy house Mark here againe it was in Philemons house and not his house nor the Steeple-house it was the People Heb. 12.23 To the Generall Assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in heaven Is this the wisdom of your fore-fathers to say the Steeple-house is the firstborne the generall Assemble written in heaven Nay these were the Saints born of God the Assembly of them written in heaven who had this title of the Church 1 Peter 5 13 The Church which is at Babylon elected together salute you Is a steeple house elected together to salute the Saints is this the wisdome of your fore-fathers it is not the wisdome of our fore-fathers the Apostles for the Elect are the Saints Ioh. 3.9 I wrote unto the Church What did Iohn write unto a Steeple house nay it was the People it was the Saints Acts the 8 and 38 the Church that was in the Wilderness what was it the Steeple-house that was in the Wilderness no it was the People that was in the Wilderness the Assembly of Gods People Acts the 8. Now there were certaine Prophets in the Church at Antioch That was the Prophets was in the Congregation which was the People 1 Cor. 6.4 who are the least esteemed to be sett up in the Church to Iudge of outward matters this was in the assemblys of the righteous who had the tytle of a Church before a Steeple-house was 1 Cor. 11.18 When yee come together in the Church c. This your fore-fathers might think was coming together in the Steeple-house nay this was before your Steeple house was hallowed by the Pope coming together was the People in the Congregation Cor. 12.28 God hath set in the Church Apostles and Teachers and Pastors c. That was in the Assemblyes of the Righteous which was the People which was before the hallowed Steeple-house was Col. 4.16 The Epistle was caused to be read in the Church so that was among the Assembly of the Saints which was before Steeple houses were Ephe. 3.2 Unto God be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages world without end The Steeple-houses were not in all ages but it was the People that were in all ages which had the tytle of the Church Acts the 8. and the 3. Saul made hayock of the Church what was it the Steeple-house Saul made havock on is this the wisdome of your sore fathers Acts the 11.22 Tydings came to the Eares of the Church at Jerusalem what hath your Steeple-house Eares which you call your Church are you no wiser then your fore-fathers yet Tidings came to the Eares of the People of the Saints which were titled the Church Acts the 12. 1. Herod the King vexed certaine of the Church this was not certaine of the Steeple-houses but certain of the Saints And Prayers was made without ceasing of the Church this was not prayers made of the Steeple-houses without ceasing but of the Saints which is the Church The Apostles was brought on their way by the Church Acts the 15. and the 3. That is they were brought on their way by the Saints and not by the Steeple-houses And Paul called the Elders of the Church of Ephesus not the elders of the Steeple house but the Elders of the Saints Acts 20.17 Phebee a servant of the Church not servant of a Steeple-house but servant of Saints who was before Consecrated Steeplehouses were Paul saith Gaius mine host and the whole Church Salutes you this was not the whole Steeple house that did salute is this your fore-fathers wisdome but this was the whole Saints which had the Title of a Church Cor. 1.14 That you may excell to the edifying of the Church this was not to excell to edifie a Steeple-house but the People is called a church 1. Tim. 3.5 Paul saith to Timothy how that he should take care of the Church what is this your fore-fathers wisdome that Paul said that Timothy should take care of a Steeple house No it was of the People Heb. 1.12 Christ said he would sing praises in the midst of his Church That was in the midst of the People and not in the midst of a Steeple-house James the 5. and 14. Let them call for the Elders of the Church c. that
A Controversie which hath been betwixt the Quakers Protestants and Papists above this twelve years Concerning the Church Prot. and Pap. THe Protestants and Papists say their Steeple house is the Church to the Quakers and say to the Quakers what are you wiser then your fore-fathers your fore fathers called it a Church and owned it to be a Church and gave it the Tytle of a Church a Company of Silly people Say they yea would be wiser then all your fore fathers Ministers and priests Clergy and Pope that have called it a Church these many hundred years Qua. Answ We do grant that the Papists and Protestants have called it a Church with the Priests and Clergy and learned men and if that be theirs and their fore fathers wisdome to call it a Church we are wiser then those their fore fathers that said so for we are come to the wisdome of our fore-fathers the Apostles who said Christ shed his blood for his Church and is this the wisdome of you and your fore-fathers that Christ shed his blood for a Steeple house It is the wisdome of our fore-fathers that Christ shed his blood for the people And so the People are the Church and is it the wisdome of your fore-fathers that Christ came to purchase a Steeple house with his blood the Apostle said he purchased the people with his blood the People were the Church and are ye no wiser then your fore-fathers that said the Steeple house was the Church and that Christ purchased it with his blood and the Apostle said that Christ came to sanctifie cleanse purifie and wâ—sh his Church And is this the wisdome of your fore-fathers that Christ came to cleanse sanctifie and purifie the Steeple-house which the Apostles said was the People and not an old house made with mens hands Christ saith upon this Rock will I build my Church Papists say it is upon Peter that Christ would build his Church What would he set a Steeple house on top of Peter The Church was built upon that which flesh and blood had not revealed to Peter But our Father which is in heaven and Christ sayed Mat. 18. and 19. If thy Brother trespass against thee if he will not hear thee and them then tell it to the Church and what is this the wisdom of your fore-fathers that they muâ—t tell it to the Steeple houses that can neither hear not see hath this been the wisdome of your Clergy and fore-fathers and learned men he must tell it to the Church which is the People and if he neglect to hear the Church let him become a heathen man and what can the Steeple house speak is this your fore fathers wisdome It is the People that hath the Title of Church which he neglecteth to hear In Acts the 2. and 47. The Lord added to his Church daily such as should be saved and what was this adding to a Steeple house was this your fore-fathers wisdome your learned men he added to the believers who were the Church not a Steeple house Act. 5.11 Great fear came on all the Church Is this your fore-fathers wisdome that great fear came on the Steeple-house No it was the People that was the Church fear came upon that have the title of the Church Acts the 8. and 1. Great persecution was against the Church what great persecution against the Steeple house is this your learned mens wisdome It was the People that was persecuted and not the Steeple house Acts the 11. and 26. Where they assembled themselves together with the Church what is this your fore-fathers wisdome that the Steeple-house could assemble with the Elders Nay it is the People that assembled with the Apostles and Elders Acts the 14. and 23. They ordained Elders in every Church that is they ordained Elders in every Congregation he does not say they ordeyned Elders in every Steeple-house And when they came together and gathered the Church together then they declared what God had done for them what is this the wisdome of your fore-fathers that they gathered the Steeple houses together and rehears'd to the Steeple house what God had done for them nay this was before the Steeple house was it was the People the Apostles gathered together which had the title of a Church and not an old house And the Apostles were brought on their way by the Church as they passed their journey Acts the 15. and 3. what is this the wisdome of your learned men and fore-fathers that the Steeple house could bring the Apostles on their way No it was the People had the title of a Church who brought the Apostles on their Journey for the Steeple house cannot go It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to send chosen men c. Is this the wisdom of your fore-fathers that this whole Church with the Apostles and Elders is a Steeple house Nay it was the People that were the Church the whole People Acts. 18.22 When the Apostles had landed in Cesarea and gon up and saluted the Church What was it the wisdom of your fore-fathers that he went and saluted a Steeple house Nay it was the People that he saluted and gave the title of a Church to Rom. 16.5 Paul saith greet me to the Church that is in thy house so heere you may see the Church was in the house and that it was the People that was in the house and what is this the wisdome of your fore-fathers that the Apostle bid them greet a Steeplehouse Cor. 1 and the 4. The Apostle said I teach in every Church that was in every Congregation he doth not say every Steeple house Cor 14. and 4. He that prophesiâ—th edâ—fieth the Church Is this the wisdom of your Clergy and fore fathers that he edifieâ— the Steeple house and are you no wiser then they this prophesie was among the People which edified them who had the title of Church In the Church the Apostle saith I had rather speak five words with my understanding then ten thousand in an unknown tongue and this was in a Congregation of People who were called the Church Seek saith the Apostle that you may excell to the edifying of the Church What is this the wisdome of your Fathers that the Steeple house should be edified No it was the People that was to be edified who were the Church And the Apostle saith when the whole Church comes together to one place and all speak with tongues c. Is this the wisdome of your fore-fathers that a Steeple house should gather together and speak with tongues and an unbeliever should come into a Steeple house and think the Steeple house was mad This was the People that was the Church and were gathered together and spoke with tongues The Apostle faith the Spirit of the prophets is subject to the Prophets and God is not the author of confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints This was in all the congregations of the Saints
testify these things unto you in the Churches this was to the Congregations of his People and he did not send them to the Steeple-houses which you call Churches for that title belongs to the Saints for the Church is flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone and the Steeple-house is not flesh and bone for it is his People that are Christs Church is a Spituall house-hold made of living stones but so is not the Steeple-house it is not living stones nor a Spirituall house-hold offering up Spirituall sacrifices and the Church is Christs Spouse the Steeple-house is not Christs Spouse the Church is Christs Bride and and his Wife but the Steeple-house is not Christs Bride nor his Wife but his People The Bride saith come which is the Church but the Steeple house cannot say come it cannot speak no more then Baals God The Church which is the woman she fled into the Wilderness and was there fed of God 1260 dayes Then the witness prophesied in sackloth and ashes 1260 dayes Then the Beast got up having the Dragons power and the whore the false Church and he was to continue 42. Moneths 1260 dayes this time did he set up a wooden and stone house and called it a Church when the true Church was gon to the wilderness and so came up the wood and stone Cross 300 years after Christ and then was set up instead of the fine linnen and white which is the Saints garment the righteousness of Christ then did they set up the Surplice And again after the judgment of the great whore should come and the beast the Dragon and false prophet should be taken and cast alive into the lake of fire and the everlasting Gospel should be preached again to all Kindreds tongues and People and the true Church the Bride should prepare her self and make her self ready for her husband and the Man child which was caught up to God should come down again to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron and the Marriage of the Lamb should be known and now the marriage of the Lamb is come Christ and his Wife which is the true Church which he is head of and flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone who reigneth over the false Church so the true Church the title of Church belongs to her she cannot give her title away to a house made with mens hands the true Church cannot give an old Steeple house the title of Church nor worship who sees over it and is come to the Church worship which belongs to her selfe and the wisdome that was amongst the Apostles so cannot give a house made with mens hands the title of the flesh and bones and body of Christ which is the Church no more then they can give the title to bread and wine and say that is Christ and his body no more then the true Prophets could give the title of God to Jesebels baal so you must never look for us more to give that title to Christs body and wife which is flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone to an old house for Christ's Church were the Temples of God and his body is set above all those Temples or Churches which are made with mens hands as it was in the Apostles dayes so Gods work is set above mans work G. F. POSTSCRIPT YOur Steeple-houses you call Churches when there is no People in them this is as much as to say that the Steeple-house is the People seeing the People is the Church so whether People be in or out you call a house of Wood Lime and Stone a Church which you never read neither Jews nor Heathen did so for a Church signifies a Congregation of People you know And all the persecutions ever since the Papists set them up both amongst Papists and Protestants hath been the greatest part of it for not going to the Steeple-houses which you call Churches which are the works of mens hands which never did the Apostles nor Christ persecute any for not coming to their Assemblies which was the Church and not a house For what Laws have been made and Fines since the Apostles days and set upon People for not coming to that house you have set up which you call a Chuâ—ch which People could not give a house the title which belongs to themselves And what persecution has been and Stocking and Prisoning and Shedding of their blood that have come to declare against those houses and the teachers made of men and testifying that all should bâ— taught of God and the title Church belongs not to the house made with mens hands but to the People and the other ground is as holy as that ground for the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof and so all is made holy by him and all that he made was good blest as you may read in Genesis and so one place not holyer then another And do you not give the sâ—me worship to the house of wood and stone which you call your Church in putting off your hatts Yea and when you go through it do not you commonly go bare headed all the way through it though there be no body in it and what do you more to them that are in it The End