of things as they are made manifest by the Lord to the Light in you I speak that in it you may be able to understand truth in what I say and by the truth to judge of things that differ for such as the Tree is such is the fruit an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit neither can one Fountain send forth sweet water and bitter Now as concerning a Book given forth by John Stelham Priest at Terling in Essex who having an evil eye because God is good and being filled with indignation because God hath mercy on his own Seed whom he hath blessed hath out of the abundance of his heart spoken it forth Now the way to know that which is spoken in darkness is to read it in the light and if his Testimony in any thing as coming from him is to be believed it is that which is concerning his own condition and if his estate and condition be such that in it he can receive the things of God and minister them to others then they may be received but if his condition be such that in it he cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God then that which cannot receive cannot minister and so he is to be silents and none to expect the things of God from him being neither fit to reprove nor to rebuke but to be reproved and rebuked as will appear as followeth The ground in him and the heart out of which this abundance of words in his Book proceeds in it as he declares is yet the root of all error and of all sin is in him and seen by him not mortified and that he hath an old lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth no good thing a sinful wretch and worm subscribing himself the sinful John Stelham as in his Introduction in pag. 80. and p. 117. Now therefore we having found out the root and the ground to be a root of Errror and the ground of Deceit and a heart wherein dwells no truth nor no good thing therefore from that which is unclean shall we not expect that which is clean to proceed nor truth from that wherein dwells no truth but from the lying heart and deceitful tongue hath the Lord delivered us so that if we be called revilers and be rebuked and a charge laid against us as to contradict the Scriptures of God and be called Antiscriptural Antichristian and Antispiritual we have now learned to know whence it doth proceed even from the lying heart and flesh wherein there dwells no truth and we can bear it because we know that til that heart be taken away and a new heart known wherein is truth we must be reproached and spoken evil of falsly for his sake who hath taken away the old lying heart and hath given us a new heart wherein truth dwelleth and where truth proceeds out from and herein are we manifest from the children of this generation and herein are the two states known and the two conditions of men according to the testimony of Scripture and the parable which Jesus spoke Luke 6.39 Can the blind lead the blind shall they not both fall into the ditch And ver 45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh And hereby is the Tree known by his fruits and the heart of the wicked was ever filled with lying and vanity and understanding was hid from them the Lord was grieved with such that did err in their hearts and had not known his wayes Psal. 119 70. Psal. 140.2 and this was an evil which was under the sun that the hearts of the sons of men were full of evil and madnesse while they live Eccles. 9.3 And such a heart was in the Scribes and Pharisees a lying heart wherein dwelt no truth filled with evil thoughts as Christ said Wherefore think you evil in your hearts Mat. 9.4 and out of the heart did arise all false accusations calling the truth blasphemy and the way of it heresie and such who be in the state as John Stelham confesseth he is was never appointed by the Lord to watch over souls But such where Christ did dwell in their hearts and because they were sons God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts Eph. 3.17 Gal. 4.6 and such had truth in their hearts doing the Will of God from the heart and did draw near unto God with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water these did not profess the things of God in an old lying heart wherein dwelt no truth but called upon the name of the Lord with a pure heart and said that the end of the commandment was charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned from which some swerved in the Apostles dayes having turned aside unto vain jangling and such desired to be teachers of others but the doctrine is corrupt and the Mysterie of Faith is not held where the heart and conscience is not pure and the Lord is good unto such who be of a clean heart Now as concerning the Scriptures John Stelham's Testimony from the old lying heart wherein dwelleth no truth is this That the Scriptures are the Word of God and truly so called and the Letter and Scripture is all one as p. 3.4 but to contradict that himself he saith in p. 5. the Letter taken strictly is but legal administration using these words The Letter killeth i.e. the bare legal command without a promise of power or pardon as a bare Letter void of strength life and spirit it leaveth all men under a killing sentence and curse Let them that have understanding judge Again as concerning the Letter in page 6. he expresseth himself thus The Spirit is given by it And in the next words saith the Scripture is but instrumental to the Spirit Now mark the Letter taken strictly being legal without a promise of power or pardon void of strength life and spirit the Spirit to be given by this which he confesseth is void of strength life and spirit and is but instrumental to the Spirit whether this be not contradiction and confusion let them that read judge For in reading these things which he hath published many may seal to the confession of his own condition to be truth but that which he hath declared of the things of God to be false for now the Light being broken forth such doctrine cannot be received nor believed that thâ— Spirit is given by the Letter but that which is declared in the Letter was given forth from the Spirit vvhich vvas in them which spoke it forth but people may long have the Letter and think in it to find God and eternal life and may dye in
your selves who have for many ages preyed devouringly upon the upright and through perfect covetousness have made merchandize of Souls and now many hath an eye opened to see your shame and it appears with horrible detestation even the saying is fulfilled As troups of robbers wait for a man so the company of Priests murders in the way by consent as the Prophet said and as Christ said Wo unto you you will not enter your selves nor suffer others to enter that would Wherefore thou J. S. even thou repent of this thy Wickedness for the wrath of the Lord is gone forth against thee and evil hast thou done against God and against his people and against thy own soul and this thou shalt know one day to thy exceeding sorrow unto vvhich time we leave thee and could have born all thy scandalous terms vvithout replying again but only for the sake of the simple that thy neighbours may see thy folly and all men to vvhom thine and this doth come and vve have not been large but in short have in singleness of heart born our testimony once more to the truth of the glorious Gospel vvhich vve have received of God and not of man and against thee and thy sinful heart and whatsoever proceeds out of it for thou being evil how canst thou speak good things The Tree must be good before the fruit can be so but out of thy evil heart hast thou brought forth evil and must receive the reward of evil whether thou wilt or no. And vvhat if vve should go about to shew vvherein the Priests of England do contradict the Scripture Might not we have a large Catalogue even all in your Worship and in the most of your practises acting contrary to the Scripture and contradicting that spirit that gave it forth in doctrine and in conversation in such an enterprise as this might we make your folly sound abroad And as to the contradicting of your selves and being of many judgements and opinions and difference in many particulars about the things of God among your selves herein you abound almost above measure and thus if need require could I by the strength of Jesus sufficiently make you appear abominable in the eyes of all just men and so think not in thy self that thou art free from Scripture and self-contradiction but truly guilty your selves in what thou hast wickedly accused us of falsly which doth but prove ehee to be of thy Father who is an accuser of the Brethren according to Christs words we are spoken all manner of evil of falsly for the Name of Jesus Christ whom we serve and therefore are hated of the World because we are not of it but without much more words I leave this J. S. our adversary to the judgement of the great Day wherein we and he shal receive according to our deeds and til then is as willing to have dispraise as praise of men who is not a Jew outward but a Jew inward Who hath no praise of men but of God who is of the Kingdom of Christ which is not of this World The cause of stumbling removed from all that will receive the truth and from before the eyes of the wise men of London In a Treatise shewing the difference between the Spirit of a man which the Candle of the Lord and the Light which hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world Also shewing that though there be diversity of Administrations yet there is not diversity of Lights and Spirits by which they are ministred And shewing by clear testimony what the more sure Word of Prophesie is which the Apostle Peter exhorts the people to take heed unto until the day did dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts Herein also is a false Hosanna and a false testimony reproved and a false witness is rejected and an untimely birth cast out though for the time of travel it might have been a Monster being above two years but in the end is brought forth for destruction tht Name of him which hath so long travelled to bring forth wind and confusion is one known in the City of London by the Name of John Jackson being by the truth of this following made manifest that so by every motion of the Spirit of Truth and every testimony given from it Understanding and Knowledge of the Truth may be encreased in those that follow on to know the Lord. THe Light is broken forth as the morning and the health of the Nations is in it and is springing forth speedily and the righteousness of the righteous Seed is gone forth before them and the glory of the Lord is revealed to his Seed which now calleth and the Lord doth answer Here am I and the Lord hath made and is making his Seed as a watered Garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not and is raising up the foundations of many generations that people may come to build again upon thus Foundation which they have been driven from especially by their Pastors for saith the Lord Many Pastors have destroyed my Vinyard they have trodden my portion under foot and made my pleasant Portion a desolate Wilderness and have made God's Heritage as a speckled Bird the Birds round about are against her and all the Beasts of the field come to devour Jer. 12.9 10. And now is the Lord come forth against these devourers even as a Lyon bereaved of her young ones for the Lord wil not suffer the spoile of his Heritage any longer but wil dress his Vinyard that it may bring forth fruit unto him And now is the Lord casting out the blind Watchmen and the foolish Prophets which have followed their own spirit and have seen nothing and all such is the Lord casting out and his everlasting fire is he kindling amongst them And now I hear a cry of torment going through the Nation Can any kindle a fire among Serpents and they not be offended and shoot their stings Can any touch the Vipers but they wil swell with venom And when Scorpions are trodden upon wil they not shew forth their strength Can that nature suffer death patiently Nay patience proceedeth from that Seed which slayeth the enmity and destroyeth the man of sin and therefore as we have one Seed to witness for so there is one to witness against and as it is the Work of the Spirit of God to approve the things that are of God so it is his Work also to reprove those things which are contrary to sound Doctrine to the end that every one may know as well what to reject and deny as error as what to own for truth and sound doctrine Therefore of necessity must every one be turned to the Light which Christ hath enlightned them withall that they may discern what they are to approve and what they are to reprove and that judgement is true which stands in the Light and in the measure of the Spirit of Truth To the READER MEN of low degree are
vve ovvn and vvitness and as for our equality or unity vvith God vve that believe in him are one vvith him as the Scripture saith and as Christ prayed for us that believe John 17.21 that we might be one in him and in the Father and unity vve must confess for that is a doctrine â—ffirmed by the Apostles of Christ that as he is so are vve in the vvorld and he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are both one and so vve deny no doctrine but vvhatsoever is a doctrine vve vvitness it And to say that vve corrupt the doctrine of justification that is false for vve are freely justified by his grace and so do vvitness the doctrine of justification and vvho are true vvitnesses of it do not corrupt it but if vvhile vve seek to be justified by Christ vve our selves be found sinners is Christ therefore the Minister of sin God forbid Gal. 2.17 but herein doth the Priests of the World corrupt the doctrine of Justification professing to be justified by Christ while they themselves are found sinners and say that God doth account them righteous in Christ but unrighteous in themselves and so would make Christ the minister of sin and to justifie or save his people in their sins and not from them and so by them the doctrine of justification is corrupted and the Scripture perverted and the grace of God by which the Saints are freely justified is turned into wantonness and so by their faigned words in hypocrisie they cast thick clouds and vails of darkness over the peoples mindes to keep them in ignorance of the redemption of their immortal souls which is to be redeeâ—â—d by the blood of the Lamb they saying that the soul came indeed from God but is not of the being of God and yet in the 51. page tels of turning the whole frame of the soul to center in him again if it must centre in him again then it was in him before and so let thy confusion stop thy mouth Now let all consider in the light which comes from the immortal God whether Gods being is not in life and immortality and whether there is an immortal life but from the same being For God breathed into man the breath of life and through the breath of life he became a living soul Now the breath of life came from the life in which the being is and so to the people I say you have a light which comes from the same life in which the soul lived unto God in the beginning before death passed over which light is made manifest to lead out of death into the life from whence it came and to witness again a living soul and the breath of life and so to be wiser then all your teachers and to know him who hath all souls in his hand who breathed into man the breath of life and he so became a living soul and when he doth the evil the anguish is upon it and to feed atop those mountains which you have wandred after in the forgetfulness of God having forgotten God days without number Rom. 2.9 But now the light is come and knowledge begins to increase and shine in the hearts of the children of light to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and these things live in us Therefore we are his witnesses who is the light and life of men and did only for the seed sake let forth our knowledge of the mystery of God that they may be gathered into the fold among the Lambs of Christ for the day of scattering hath been long but now is the day of gathering begun wherein all they shall rejoyce that fear the Lord. 2 Cor. 4.6 And whereas many other accusations are charged upon us falsly for the name of Christ by the Priest yet seeing Christ the true Prophet hath said it should be so because they know not the Father nor him who hath enlightned every one that commeth into the World therefore can we bear all things being manifest unto God and to all men to be witnesses of those things which he saith we deny His accusations are these That we deny the Resurrection of the body the last Judgment Heaven and Hell Are enemies to all the Ordinances of Christ are not true mortified persons and our doctrine tendeth not to destroy sin That we are the common sink of all Heresies and enemies to civility and good manners Ans. Our doctrine is the same as is testified of in the Scripture of truth and where it is received remission of sins is received it being the same that our Example the first-born amongst many brethren the first begotten from the dead preached vvhich Gospel vve preach to every creature vvhich Gospel is the povver of God and where it is received doth both destroy sin and sanctifie them throughout in body soul and spirit and by it is the members vvhich are upon the earth mortified for this is the povver that raised up Jesus from the dead and doth also quicken out mortal bodies by his Spirit that dvvelleth in us in vvhich the Scripture is vvitnessed which was a Treatise of those things which was knovvn and surely believed amongst the Saints and vvhich saith they that are asleep in the dust of the earth shall rise some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and contempt and from â—he true foundation vvitnessing these doctrines vvhich the Apostles did not lay again the foundation of Repentance from dead vvorks and faith tovvards God of the doctrine of baptisms and laying on of hands and of the Resurrection from the dead and of eternal â—udgment Heb. 6.12 for vve having learned vvhat it is to be baptised for the dead deny such as say there is no â—esurrection of the dead the first fruiâ—s of this Resurrection is Christ 1 Cor. 15.22 of which â—hey tâ—at are of Christ are witnesses of these things and they come to know each seed in the light through the figures and through the parables Now in the parables I say to you that seed which you sow in the earth whether it be Wheat or other grain you sow not that body which shall be but God giveth it a body as pleaseth him If it be so in the earthly parable then learn to know the seeds and the nature of them which God giveth to each of them it s own body there is heavenly bodies and earthly bodies â—he glory of the heavenly is one and the glory of the earthly is another and so all being turned to the light which you are enlightned withal you in it will know the things that differ both the seeds the bodies and the glories and so let every one be a witness of what they profess of the things of God for by the Spirit of the Lord have we received the knowledge and so are made witnesses of these thingâ— which our brethren the Prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ hath testified in the
thing in these Scriptures as that grace is a created thing nor that it is called the new creature but the Apostle saith By grace are we saved through faith and that not of our selves it is the gift of God Now was that grace by which they were saved a created thing if it was prove it by plain Scripture else stop thy mouth for we have searched the Scriptures and we find no such thing but we find that by grace they were saved and that they who are new creatures in Jesus Christ the grace of God was their teacher as it is our teacher to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly godly and righteously in this present evil world which grace is able to keep the hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God of all those who are taught by it but is not a created thing Pr. That the principles of Christian faith is established upon the Scriptures pag. 74. Answ. Faith hath but one foundation and all who are believers their foundation is established upon Christ who is the Author of Faith before any Scripture was written Jacob Enoch Abraham Isaac had no Scriptures written to establish their faith upon and when Moses and the Prophets had known seen and believed and from that wrote of him who was the true light enlightning every one that in him very one might believe so every one whether they have the writings of the Prophets and Apostles or not yet they have that in which they are to believe which if they believe not is condemned and believing in the light they come to be the children of the light and here the first principle comes to be known of faith and so the first principle of the doctrine of Christ must be known before the doctrine be profest and so all who know not the first principle of faith are far from the saith and who knows not the first principle of the doctrine is far from a doctrine and so the principle of a thing must be known before the thing but the Scripture speaks of nothing that the Christian faith is to be established upon but upon Christ who was glorified with the Father before the world was by whom all things which now are were made who hath given us of his spirit and to us it is given to believe and suffer for his names sake as it was given those who were his true witnesses before us and they did believe because it was given them to believe by the spirit so faith is the gift of God and many have the Scriptures which have not faith which is the giâ—t of God and they which are turned from the faith are pierced through with many hurtful lusts have the Scriptures and say they believe what the Scripture speaks but this I say that faith is the ground of the Scriptures and not the Scriptures the ground of faith and none can believe in Christ but they who believe in the â—ight which Christ hath enlightned every one withal that cometh into the World and all who own Christs Doctrine who saiâ—h believe in the light that ye may be the children of light which who believe in shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life and shall not enter into condemnation but who believe in any thing else their faith is vain they are yet in their sins and he that lays another foundation for faith then Christ let him be accurst Thus having laid before the people some of those things with which his book is filled and for this end do I lay them open that those for whom Christ died and unto whom his love is reached forth to bring them to the Father should not be corrupted with the unsound form of doctrine delivered unto them by their Priest And again as followeth I shall lay down some particulars which he hath held forth as affirmed principles in his book which if you receive his testimony you must believe as your principles also but if you come to try them with the measure of the light that Christ hath enlightned them withal then you will deny both him and them therefore mark them as followeth 1 That the Magistrate is an Officer of Jesus Christ as Mediator 2 That Jesus Christ hath a political and spiritual Kingdom 3 That Christ the eternal Son of God is distinct from the Father eternally 4 That the Spirit was distinguished from the Father and Son from eternity 5 That the Father Son and Spirit are three substances 6 That the soul of man is humane and that humane and immortal is both one 7 That Christ may dwell in his people by his special spiritual presence and have no union with them 8 That God dwells in the heavens but hath no union with them 9 That the union between God and believers cannot be comprehended by the Saints here 10 That heaven is not to be enjoyed whâ—le men are here 11 That the Corinthians who were baptized from the dead were ancâ—ent Hereticks 12 That the light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the World is the light of reason and understanding and is natural 13 That natural light is the remainders of Gods image in man 14 That God is a respecter of persons 15 That the grace of God is a created thing and that it is called the new creature 16 That the principles of Christiaâ— faith is established upon the Scriptures I having here answered and laid open those things which is a mist of darkness over the peoples minds and understandings whereas they are either received or believed to the end that all who read it may come to that understanding which is a well-spring of life and to the knowledge of that truth by which iniquity is purged out and to the counsel of God in the heart which is like deep waters whereby judgment in righteousness comes to be set up by which the simple and tender-hearted comes to be preserved out of the snares of subtilty and craftiness to walk in the light of the Lord which is the path of the iust and the way of life and all they are blessed with spiritual blessings that walk in it for they shall be able to tread upon Scorpions and the deadly poyson that is under the tongues and in the hearts of the generation of Vipers and Serpents shall not hurt them and this power shall all those be indued with which believe in the light of the Lord answering that of God in all their consciences which leads into a chast conversation before the Lord ordering their conversations aright in his sight and all such who be turned to the light with which they are enlightned by Christ shall discern who serves God and who serves him not in this day when many profess him but few serve him in spirit and in truth as he will be worshipped by them whom he hath chosen Necessary Questions propounded to the Priests to be answered 1 WHat is that in every man which
vain have you sought divination against Israel and to no purpose have you risen up to resist Mount Sion whom the Lord is establishing and exalting above the Dominions of the Earth and though many set themselves and of the wisest too in our age to gainsay the truth which is revealed by subtil Arguments and have travelled in pain to bring forth misty vapors to blind the eyes of the simple and have laid and sought so to do stumbling-blocks of iniquity before the people by multitude of crafty productions and lying arguments Wo unto you wise Writers and Scribes you have taken away the key of knowledge and have neither entered the Kingdom nor suffered others to enter that would what will be your doom and what will be your judgement Oh the heavy hand of the Lord will be upon you your damnation sleeps not a moment And whereas John Stelham one of Gogs Army against the Lamb and his followers a falsly supposed and contrarily called and unjustly named Minister of the Gospel hath out of his corrupt wicked old lying heart which he confesseth he hath brought forth a large piece out of Babylons Treasure of falsly collected and falsly framed arguments whereby he hath sought to offend the way of the Lord but the rather hath burthened his own soul by his own wickedness and offended himself and made himself unworthy of life eternal and is reckoned in the sight of the Lord and proved in the sight of man to be indeed sinful John Stelham yea he is numbred and truly too among Babylons children and the Lyars and Hypocrites whose portion is in the Lake and not among the children of the Lord for them he hath set himself to oppose and by his subtilty secretly sought out Inchantments and endeavouring to curse whom God hath blessed he is accounted among the uncircumcised and shall not dye the death of the righteous neither shall his last end be like unto his except he repent yea God hath kept him back from honor and to shame and disgrace he is already promoted in the sight of all the Saints and all his work is trodden down as a branch of a dead Tree to be cast into the fire And what though he hath travelled full ten Months or more yet his birth is imperfect and the fruit of an Egyptian Womb which hath obtained neither praise of God nor favour of man And what though his Arguments be many and subtile through the strength of his divellish Wisdom whereby he hath descended into the darkness to fetch up his stuff and invented in his mind and framed in his evil thoughts which hath filled his Volumes by his envious pen. And what though he hath taken seeming occasion against us by his industry and bent his tongue to utter it as friendly and zealously as may blind the single eye and in as great hypocrisie and pretended righteousness as possibly may What then of all these things Let hâ—m take this for an Answer in full to all his many Arguments and to his whole Work and whatsoever is brought forth or may be yet lodging in his sinful heart ever to declare We are of God and his Covenant is with us and the whole World lyes in wickedness and he that is of God heareth us And this is enough Reply to all what he hath or can say further against us And this Testimony the Father gives of us who hath chosen us in him before the World was and let him and all our Adversaries know That our Religion is in that which keeps unspotted of the World and our acceptance with God is in him who is the Light of the World who exerciseth our consciences in all good things towards God and towards man And though we answer not yet are we no worse and though we answer yet are we no better praise of men approves us not to God nor dispraise of men makes us not sorrowful but our peace is in the Father whether the World do us love or hate or praise or dispraise us And first of all like unto Rehum and Shimshai and their companions he appears with his Dedication much like unto theirs from the same Spirit and unto the same end as may be seen Ezra 4.9 11 12. c. and in the manner of Amaziah Priest of Bethel unto Jeroboam the King with a Message much of that nature as in Amos 7.10 11. c. And this man with his feigned flattering titles appears to the chief in Authority for approbation of his Woâ—k that men may accept it the more But that 's little worth if God accept it less and in much secret hyyocrisie hath he uttered the intent of his mind in less than a sheet of paper to the Protector and Council of State whom we hope in for more honesty than to believe lyes and the indictments of a sinful wicked heart Well but if they will harden their hearts to believe unrighteousness they shall be filled therewith till both the ancient and honorable and the false Prophet that prophesies lyes which is the tayle Isa. 9.15 be consumed together 〈…〉 the Dominion shal be given into their hands then among his flattering titles he seems secretly to Complain of Abuse made of the Press for the spreading of Anti-scriptural and Anti-christian Errors as he saith Indeed his own works do prove his words true that the Presse is abused which hath by his Pen scribled so many Lyes Reproaches Slanders and Errors and the Presse the instrumental cause of spreading them abroad whereby the Press hath been abused to the dishonour of Religion and Piety if not to the dishonour of Authority also Then he seems to hint at the Cruelty and Outcry of many for crying Club-law against the men called Quakers but whether with approvement or otherwise of it his mind is not uttered however by the Lyes and Slanders ensuing out of his owne mouth it is easily proved that he is of that very generation of persecutors though he so well do not approve of Persecuting with the hand yet he allows and himself is guilty of persenting with the tongue which is one in nature so that hereby the great hypocrisie of this man appears in condemning others secretly of what himself is guilty of openly then he is pleased though the Lord be vexed to cast forth his peevish smite against the light of Jesus Christ wherewith every man in the world is lighted in words thus venomously uttered that perverse Principle of their viz Quakers self-adoring light Will the Protector and Council believe this or will they promote him to honour or magnifie him because of his opprobious speeches against the light of the Son of God let them answer and testifie against him for blasphemy who hath in his hastinesse uttered his envie and wickedness and no less then denied the Lord that bought him in calling and shamelesly stiling the pure light of Christ the Way the Truth and the Life Perverse Principle and Selfe adoring light and thus it
is manifest the Press is abused by such an Anti-scriptural and Antichristian error proceeding out of John Stelhams old heart and manifested from his Pen then with his lying Message he follows after his flattering titles and sayes ere long the Lord himself will rebuke them viz Quakers to silence that they shall neither write nor speak so presumptuously c. If his Lords believe this Message they shall never bless him but in the end curse him when the production of his lying Prophesie appears which is deceiving of their Soules and will prove a curse upon them and posterity and is feeding of them with hopes of vanity and lyes and on his owne head shall his false vision fall a Rebuke into silence shall come upon him the sin is his writing presumpuously and arrogantly and the judgment thereof shall he feel and all that believe him truth shall be established and his lying tongue is but for a moment then his lye he adds to his Message which is that the Lord Jesus is fighting against them viz Quakers with the Sword of his mouth c. What wicked presentation is this to the chief Rulers of Nations even lyes one heaped upon another to suggest into the minds of men to stir up wrath in their hearts against the just nay Jesus is our Prince of peace and righteousness and is with us and fights for us and who can be against us none but such as are his enemies and have denied him and his light and counted it a perverse Principle O how fain would John Stelham sinfull indeed gaine a Kingdom by flattering and have praise of his works by his Lyes which he hath made his Refuge and his Weapon too they that believe him shall perish with him that 's all that may be said his flattering titles and words of guile may gain upon the wicked but the just man is preserved from the fury of a deceitfull tongue then his supposed humble Supplicate after his false Vision and lying Messâ—ge is That every person whatsoever may not impute strike them viz Quakers Corporally c. This appears fair in word if his meaning was right yet while he supplicates That every one may not though whether he means any one may not I determine not strike them corporally c. Yet to publish his Lyes and Errors and Slanders he would have liberty this is but so much more secretly to strike in the greater hypocrisie in more crafty subtilty and indeed well may the Priests of England be ashamed of what hath already been acted as to striking and cruel abuses and works of that nature the blood of many harmless hath been spilt wofully in streets and Steeple-houses through the means of the false Prophets it may be they will now take another Weapon seeing that hath failed and not wrought effect no more shall any formed weapon agâ—inst the innocent and though some of them have shamefully cried Fight Lads for the Gospel others may with as much hypocrisie write for the fighting lads and in as great deceit And then he gives an Exhortation in his Supplicate and saith Be pâ—eased to let them viz Quakers know that we are guarded by a bettâ—r Law then what they upbraid us with its time to be ashâ—med that you have been so long guarded by a Popish Law yet the secret crafts of this man is noted in this subtile suggestion a better law would he have what doth it too much shame you by the name of Popish Law and would you be lesse discovered if the law of the same virtue were of another Authority then Queen Mary and of another Dominion than the Pope therefore a Law from the Protector he would supplicate if possible That how ever we may not have liberty to deliver our Doctrine in their Assemblies as he saith and this evill man and decever who waxes worse and worse in his way impudently slanders the way of God reproaches the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ and would wickedly make men more honest than himself believe that these mens viz Quakers Tenents as he saith are as reprobate stuff of the Jesuites their blasphemies as horrid as the Popish Parasites O the wickednesse and impudence vvhich hath appeared out of this mans heart in those few words wickednesse in that his words are lyes and devilish and impudent in that he dares thus to appear to an Authority with the Dedication of Lyes Let him take notice of this we are cleer from his false Accusations and of Popish Doctrines But they that are one wiâ—h him are not from being guarded with a Popish Law and these are truly Romes Subjects who are guarded with his Law more than we are Romes Emissaries which scarcely he would cast upon us and make the Protector and his Councel believe it if their hearts be so hardened But better is thought upon concerning them though I.S. would make them evill suggesting evill into their hearts But a false Prophet is known by his Lyes and Slanders and secret smiting and then he saith He would have some of this Sect viz Quakers more narrowly watched c. and stigmatized Oh cruelty out of the abundance of the heart his mouth utters like a Pot boiling with anger that cannot contain it within the mouth what lodges in tbe heart of this man consider what less then in their hearts who â—ere Queen Maryes Jesuiees and Priests if the Protector and Councel would answer the cruel intent of his mind as Queen Mary did theirs Balaam or worse he is or he hath sought inchantment and would curse before they sent for him to doe so but it shall return on his owne head who is watched against for a Wolfe and Devourer and stigmatized for a Deceiver and false Deviner one who art marked for a false Prophet and known to be so by every one who is taught of God and in the end of all this secretly uttered wickednesse and cruelty insinuatingly expressed to suggest evill into the minds of men more honest than himself he wishes for Blessing upon his Highness and Honours that they may discern true Spirits from false such who proceed out of the mouth of the false Prophet from such as proceeds from the Father and from the Son indeed of such a gift of discerning they have need and by the fruits they may try every Spiri t in a just tryal by just judgment are thou tryed they spirit is made manifest to be the spirit which proceeds out of the mouth of the Dagon who wars against the Saints and out of the mouth of the Beast who hath many Heads many Horns which Beast arose up in the Apostacy since the Apostles days thy spirit is made manifest to be the spirit of the false Prophet who deceives the Nations for thy fruits doth discover thee a lyer a slanderer a perverter of the right way of God art thou proved and such things proceeds out of the mouth of the false Prophet so let them
beware of thy spirit who art not guided by the spirit of Christ Jesus nor of the Father but a worker of darkness a revâ—ler of the light of Christ calling it false Prophet-like as being led with the spirit of the Dragon the Beast Perverse Principle We have measured thy spirit to be as I have said and he that speaks otherwise speaks as a lye and if the Protector and his Councel believes oâ—herwise they believe a lye and cannot obtain a blessing though thou with thy lying spirit pray for them whom God the Father of blessings hears not but is against thee and this is my prayer the Lord rebuke thee thy wicked tongue and give the Protector and his Councel a better understanding than to believe thee else will the Lord make them cursed to themselves and to the Nations of them my heart hopes better things and this might serve for a full Answer to thy whole Book and by this little of thy work that I have viewed and turned unto the sigh of all art thou discovered to be an enemy to God and a secret envier of his people and by what thou hast said it appeares what the rest of the whole matter can be an evil spirit cannot bring forth good works but yet a little further is my matter unvayled for the sake of the upright And further J. S. after his wicked Presentation to the Rulers of this Nation with lyes and evill Speeches proceeding out of his old heart he writes an Epistle out of the same heart to the Church as he calls them wherein is many words uttered but altogether tasted with that leaven of his malice against Quakers and Quakerism who seemes to be the greatest burthen upon his evil heart because truth is among them if truth go on his deceit wil be more made manifest wither and perish and so as subtilly as may be he would defend himself in the sight of his Church that his shame may not appear before them it may be least his Hire should be abated and he seems to cast a cloak upon them but whether out of pure love to their Soules or for his owne Gain such a sum of Money God knowes how ever the least Child in the truth dwelling in the light sees his length and can measure his state knows that good cannot come from an old lying heart he speaks something of wondering after the beast and false Prophet but hath not described what the Beast is and the false Prophet And I refer the Reader to a Book called The Measure of the Times wherein the Priests of England such as J. S. is reproved according to the Scripture to be the very branches of the same Root of false Prophets which all the World wondered after in Johns time though he speak much to his Church of Christ without and of his birth blood and his righteousness and justification thereby c. but to all that I say All are Reprobates but such in whom Christ is within them and none are justified but such nor hath any part in the inheritance of God though they may profess never so much of Christ without and what he hath done for others yet except he be within them too to change and renew them and give them power over all their sins their profession of him is vain I am no picker of Quarrels else many of his words might be searched which I run over hastily knowing his voice to be the voice of a stranger and not of Christ who never made use of an old sinful heart to pen Epistles to Churches But into this lets search he saith Christ blesseth Infants-Baptism Where or when I aske proof of this and till then I say J.S. hath belyed Christ and the generation of the just Wel may he bely us when he hath bely'd Christ who could not bleâ—s that which there was not there was no Infants baptism that ever we read of in his dayes sure people will be more wise than to be established through Lyes else their sin be upon them if through hardnesse of heart they be given up to believe Lyes that they may perish He speakes of a well ordered Conversation Inded this seems Hypocrisie to exhort others their Churches to that which many of the Independent Teachers have not thmselves who are Hirelings and takes Guifts and Rewards for Preaching and is in the way of all the Deceivers of old and they that do these things have not a wel ordered Conversation but a Conversing with the generation of ungodly when we read the plain words of Christ Luke 17. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you he saith we madly wrest the reading of the words when we neither add nor diminish now he seems to say It is the Kingdom of Heaven among you and not the Kingdom of heaven within you and so blames the Scripture and confoundâ— the doctrine of many of the Independents who say the Scripture is believers Rule but he seems to charge ths Scripture with false translations and therefore is subject to alteration and so cannot be the Rule of Believers according to his own account thus by wicked men are we blam'd when we do not speak according to Scripture language and now as wickedly charged by I. S. for speaking just in the Scripture-expressions with madly wresting the words but thus it was before whatsoever we do now by enemies must be reviled and our words abused contrary to our innocent intents Then in the end of his Epistle he desires the Prayers of his Church that his Reply may be accompanyed with power according to the truth of it Indeed so it shall and no more according to the truth of it which is very falshoods and deceits so shall the power of the Lord confound it and turne it into folly and confusion as may he seen by a sober man who this following doth with patience read and weigh Then many things is uttered by him in his Epistle to the Reader he seems to shew he saith how R. F. and his Associates have made up A Litter and Fardel of Erroneous Divinity and secretly charging us with making up of what we professe from some Writers before us But to this I answer His reproachfull words Litter and Fardel and Erroneous we beare with patience rather rejoycing that we are accounted worthy of the reproach for the truth sake from an envious man then to be angry with our reproaches But however let him and all our enemies know what we professe and bear witness of we receive not from man but from God even the Gospel which we testify of by the revelation of Jesus Christ in us we received it informs others to the same door which is by our Ministry that they may receive the same and this is but his poor shift to undervalue the power and truth of Jesus in the sight of men who would falsly make men believe That our Doctrines are but the spawn of
many ancient Errors as he saith brooded by some Modern Writers when as the Doctrine of Christ the Apostles we bear witness to by the same spirit not to any other Authors who were without the Spirit of Jesus all these shifts saves not the Priests of England from being discovered their deceits abominations to be made manifest by our Light and Doctrine which is the Light of Christ and the Doctrine of the holy men of God before us And further his wickedness appears by reproaching and reviling dead men such as H.N. Jacob B.W.E. with others whom I confidently believe were men in their Generation more honest than himself and more upright with God and sincere in what was made known to them then this same reviler who is set to revile both living and dead if they do but crosse his fancy Let all men take notice of these things and of his rebukes with an evil heart whom the Lord doth and will rebuke by the Spirit of his mouth in the day of his just judgmens who art a reviler of the just both living and dead and all alonge in that Epistle as in the rest of his Book which is the Rebukes of a Reviler he bends his very tongue as the poyson of Aspes being under it against the Quakers reckoning them with the Papists and such others but this is but as the Pharises his fore-fathers did who numbered the Son of God and condemâ—ed him with transgâ—essoâ—s and betwixt two thieves And in the end he desiers his Reader to receive in love what in his Book is found agreeable to the Spirit of God in Scripture truth agreed so let it be and therefore many things in his Book which is not given forth by the Spirit of God nor according to the Scripture truth which the honest Reader may find upon a serious reading and search with the Spirit of God according to the Scripture is to be judged and condemned not reeeived what shall the honest Reader receive this for truth That the Light of Christ Jesus is A Perverse Principle and that Christ blâ—ssed infants Baptism with very many such like things of the like nature proceeding from the same spirit which is proved not to be of God but of the Devil for every tree is known by his fruit every spirit by its works words many other things more devilish if more devilish can be he charges us withal in a most unreasonable manner that our Religion is the Fort of Babel and that Jesuitical Plots and Designs are carried on by some of us and Quakerism is built upon the fourfold pillar of Papistry with such like the very transcribing of his words shewes his wicked spirit by his unsavoury words which things we do deny in the presence of the Lord and are cleare in his sight from these devilish accusations though J. S. play the Devils part in this Epistle as well as in his whole Book is an accuser of the brethren is to be cast out and judged with the life of God and to give testimony against his lyes and slanders is sufficient Answer the next time he enterprises the like Work we demand of him witness of his words what these Jesuitical plots and Designes are we do carry on Which slander is so divelish could he prove what he sayes his words would take away our lives but to raise the uncleane spirit against us though the Nations is truly supposed the purpose of his words and not being content with what he himself can believe us in his work reaches to raise the rage of whole Nations to execute their fury as well as his own upon us and so his words gives ground to all the wicked that doth believe him for none else can to persecute the people way of the Lord under the false account of being Plotters of haveing ill Designes which thing we stand witnesse against seek the peace of all men though he have bent his tongue for Lyes and brazen'd his face to utter them without fear or shame to suggest evil into mens minds that they may harm the upright but it is known by his words what lodgeth in the heart of such a person who thus openly impudently doth slander just men to the taking away of life if any were so divilish to witness lyes and slanders as he is forging of them and declaring of them that to the Protector and his Council too but from these things we being clear are the more ready to bear his Lyes with Patience doth not pray for fire to devour him though he be our enemy and the Lords but rather wishes his returnig from his ungodilness than a destruction upon him in his ungodliness whereas the subject of his matter invented in his mind brought forth into view is a going about to prove that in 22 particulars mentioned by him we do contradict the Scriptures but his ground is false from whence his whole work proceeds for not in any particular of what is mentioned do we contradict the Scripture though his whole work be founded upon this thing of our cotradiction to Scripture and while we be proved in the sight of the Lord we reckon his slanders to be rather a testimony to us that we are of God then a discouraging of us in the wayes of God and we do not allow that J. S. be our Interpreter and the Expositor upon our words for then no question but he will judge out of his prejudicial mind false judgement and pervert the innocent words into contradiction of Scripture and of our selves but to the single mind and Witness of God in every man we appeal for judgement and do in the sight of God commend our selves to every mans conscience and beg not belief of any but know all that be in the Light of the Son of God witness to us and feel our Doctrine to be the Doctrine of godliness reaching to the Witness of God in every one whereby we are a good savour to God in all And though J. S. judge our Doctrine to be Scripture-contradictions yet his judgement is but out of his old lying heart which can bring forth no better than it self even false judgement and lying words which out of it hath plentifully abounded in his false rebukes therefore let the Reader first search into the ground from whence his Work and Judgement doth spring and try if an old lying heart and sinfâ—l wretch as he confesses he is can bring forth good fruit No we matter not what his judgement of us be when as we know the heart is corrupt from whence it doth spring not in the Light of the Spirit of God do we in any one particular insisted upon by him contradict the Scriptures though by his dark mind so he wickedly judgeth of us even as the Pharisees his fore-fathers did judge of Christ to be a blasphemer and a contradictor of Moses and the Prophets who did fulfil them and
set up a light of scriptures as he calleth it And he speaks in p. 82. of having our minds darkned with the light of Scriptures Mark doth that light which he hath in all his Book been exalting above the God head-light above that Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withal darken mens minds What is it then that must enlighten them Here is his testimony of the Light brought up to the ful that all who can receiv it may believ it for he saith to us if our minds were not darkned with the light of the Scriptures the two texts in Rom. 10.18 and Col. 1.23 might resolve us how the Gospel is preached to every creature not to the principle of Light in the Conscience how can the Scripture resolve us of the Light if it darken our minds But by these things this is made manifest that darkness hath blinded his eyes that he neither knows the Light nor the Scriptures which were given forth from it Again Another of his contradictions concerning the Light in pag. 23 24. compared with pag. 75. is this saying the Light that shined in Pauls heart and the Light that shineth in the Scripture is the same Light and God who shineth in the heart by Gospel-light according to the Apostles words 2 Cor. 4.4 contratrary unto which in his 75. page he saith That the Gospel-light about matters of salvation of which the Apostle speaks never entered never shined into mens hearts Ans. To this let all take notice and consider whether of these two Contraries they are to believe The one saying God shineth in their hearts by Gospel-light and the other saith It never entered nor shined into mens hearts But if the Scriptures or the Apostle is to believed he saith For God who-commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ but we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.6 7. Here was the light of the Gospel shining in their hearts in matters of salvation giving them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and they were the Vessels in which the light did shine and from which they spoke the hidden Wisdom of God in a mystery and so that which they spoke of the Light and of the Gospel is yet a mysterie unto such whose eye is blinded with the god of this world and the wayes of unrighteousness knowing neither the light nor the Gospel of salvation but filling up their iine of confusion as hath been already manifest and may further be made manifest Again John Stelham in his sixth Head of Scripture-contradiction speaks concerning the Law and goes about to distinguish between the two Covenants which the Scriptures speak of but knows not what he speaketh nor of what he affirmeth but contrary to the Scriptures speaking of a Moral and Ceremonial law which the Scriptures speak of no such words nor no such distinctions as of a Moral law to be the Covenant of Works and thâ—t the Ceremonial law is not a Covenant of Works but of Grace And whereas he tells of a Covenant of Nature which is one with the Covenant of Works and so here is several Covenants which J. S. hath made and several Names here given to the Covenants which God never gave nor they which spoke of the Covenants never gave such names to the law in the words of Scripture as Moral Legal Natural Ceremonial so that is all without and contrary to the Scripture language And whereas he goeth about to prove Adam to be under a moral law wdich he calls a law of Works but hath no Scripture to prove it from but from his suppositions as thus If it was not of Grace it was a Covenant of works And again if the Covenant of works was not made with Adam in innocency God could not in justice require satisfaction of his posterity under the fall c. A third supposition to prove Adam under a Covenant of Works is this Either he stood under a Covenant of Works or was under the Covenant of Grace or he was under no Covenant c. Unto which I answer All such Priests and Teachers who be out of innocency themselves cannot tell what Covenant those are in with God who are innocent and in the Image of God in holiness and righteousness and therefore from such have we so much perverting of the Scriptures and violating of the law of God to make it according to their imaginations But unto such God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant into thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee Psal. 50.16 Thou givest thy mouth to evil and thy tongue frameth deceit But I say That Covenant in which Adam was with God in his innocency and in his image he stood in that and by that by which he was made a living soul and in that was in unity and covenant with God for the disobedience of which he was driven out from God into the earth and none were under the Law of Works neither was that Law added uhtil there was transgression which it was added because of it but that which is innocent and without sin unreproveable in God's sight is under no Law but that which endureth for ever which doth free from sin and death those that be in it which is made manifest unto some since the fallihg from it and which the Isles are to wait for till it be made manifest where it is not alâ—eady revealed and all who come to have right to speak of God's precepts and to take his covenant into their mouths they see and comprehend all such darkness which doth not speak according to words of Scripture but speaks of three Covenants contrary to Scripture saying that the first Covenant promiseth nothing of salvation nor mentioneth nothing of a Saviour and yet saith that that Covenant is a part of God's Word and his Will and pure Law and yet mentioneth nothing of a Saviour and again saith that the Moral Law he calls of Works which promiseth no salvation mentioneth nothing of a Saviour that this which mentioneth nothing of a Saviour is to be a directory and rule to true believers for the ordering of their sanctification as it is also in Christ's hand guiding them by his Spirit so this cannot build nor join together and so time to cease building any more in confusion but in denial of that false doctrine I say That there is but two Covenants spoken of in the Scriptures which is a plain testimony of them without any such confusion or contradiction as the Apostle to the Hebrews saying In that he saith a new Covenant he hath made the first old c. And in the first Covenant as you may read Heb. 9. In all
it fall into Scripture contradiction but R.F. nor others wil therefore c. This is unfound and laid down but not proved at all neither maâ—or nor minor and hereby he hath concluded wickedly the Apostle Iames and Christ himself to be fallen into Scâ—ipâ—ure contradictions who did exprâ—sly forbid all swearing and did not compare the precepts and examples for Swearing with the prohibition against it and thus J. S. is taken uttering folly with his tongue hath drawn a conclusion upon Christ and the Apostle Iames to be contradictors of Scripture let shame cover his impudent forehead And they that charge Christ and the Apostle James with contradicting Scripture are enemies to God and of the Devil and for eternall vengeance but Iohn Stelham hath done so and therefore he is an enemy to God and of the Devil and for eternal vengeance But further at large as concerning Swearing our testimony thereof is laâ—d down at large in a Book called The glory of the Lord arising And whereas further I. S. as a man not weary of iniquity goes on after his false charging of us with contradicting to scripture â—harges us again that we contradict our selves in many things which accusation we bear with as much patience as we do his former seeing they are all out of one heart and to the same end for it is a small thing for us to be judged by man and so that wherein he charges us with self-contradictions I passe lightly over having cleared the truth That we do not contradict the Scriptures but if this man J. S. had been in Generations past what would he have said of Isaiah who was sent to tell Hezekiah from the Lord That he should die and not live 2 King 20.1 At the same instant of time the word of the Lord came again to Isaiah that Hezekiah should be healed and that he should go up to the house of the Lord These were both the words of the Lord to Hezekiah and yet no contradiction in Isaiah though such a Spirit as J. S. would so have judged And what would he have judged betwixt David and Ieremiah Psal. 119. and the 103. and Jer. 23.29 David saith The Words of the Lord are sweet unto his taste yea sweeter than the honey to his mouth And Jer. saith Thè Word of the Lord is as a fire and like a hâ—mmer which breaks the Rock to pieces Now there is no contradiction in these two not to that Spirit by which they are guided though so it might seem to such as J.S. whose mindes are dark And what would he have judged of Christs words Matth. 12.30 and Mark 9.40 where Christ said He that is not with me is against me and he that is not against us is with us â—nd yet in these words there is not contradiction to him that hath an ear to hear But if J.S. had been in those dayes out of his evil heart would he have charged the holy men of God to be contradictions to themselves it is very like that he would and these things I leave with the Reader to be considered of for we who have the same Spirit do clear Christ and the holy men of God from contradictions and knows J.S. and such as he to be seekers of occasions against the Just and would make offâ—nces where there is none for as I have said we do not allow J.S. to be the Interpreter of our words for then no question but he would have his own end and meaning and J. S. saith We deny the letter of the Scripture to be Scripture this is charged upon him to be a lye as it is well known through this Nation both in Doctrine and conversation we own the Scriptures and to deny Matthew Mark and Johns Declarations of the Gospel is no denyal of the Scripture for the Gospel was preached to Abraham which Gospel was and is the power of God before these four men did declare it though we deny their Writings to be the very Gospel which is the power of God yet we do not deny but they truly declared of the Gospel and this is to own the Scripture as it speaks of it self to be Let J. S. judg what he will of us and whereas he speaks of Gospel-letters and Scripture Gospel the Scripture gives no such names to it but saith the Gospel is the power of God and that is the Gospel which we preach even the power of God unto all people let J. S. judge by consequence what he will And further he would plead for the Title of Master from the Example of Abrahams Servant but this is nothing to prove the lawfulnesse of a Minister of Christ that they may be called Master for Christ saith to his Ministers Be ye not called Masters and the Spirit of Christ being our rule that leads us in the fulfilling of Christs words let J. S. shuffle as he will Also he lyes of J.N. to say he denyes and grants the same thing to be in the letter for though he say He that believes hath the witnesse in himself which is truth yet he doth not say The Letter is the Belivers witnesse which he seems falsly to be charged withall and he saith the Spirit of God must give the spiritual understanding of the Scriptures But this he doth in another way than that whereby he inspired the Pen-men of the Scriptures Now this is false Doctrine For Christ the way the same to us as to them and not another way of understanding Scriptures nor by another Spirit than that which gave them forth and he saith Christ directed to himself John 5.39 as revealed in the Scriptures and more than that as conveyed by the Scriptures to a Soul Now let the Reader take notice and search that Scripture Whether he hath not added to it yea or nay or where any ever had any Christ conveyed to them by Scriptures It doth say the Scriptures testifie of him but it doth not say that he is revealed in the Scriptures nor conveyed by them to a Soul and this is his additional gloss to corrupt the Text to undervalue the eternal Spirit of the Father by which Christ is only revealed and received and not by the Scriptures And for E. B. to say That he came not to them with enticing words neither what he had gathered from the Scripture without him but to declare the Word of the Lord and not to speak his own conceivings and imaginations this is true and no contradiction in it though J. S. say these cannot both be true to say That he neither came with what he had gathered from Scripture nor his own imaginations For the Apostâ—es of Christ did not preach what they had gathered from Scripture neither their own imaginations but preached the Worâ— and Gospel of God which they had received from God and not gathered from Scripture nor in their own imaginations and because he saith both these negatives cannot be true then it is concluded that himself preaches either what
begets and procreates all our errors and our love of error with our derisions of the truth here is many lyes folded up in one which are all denied with the life of God and the author of them proved to be of the Devil and we proved to be of God who are spoken all manner of evil against falsly for the name of Jesus His fifth lye is that we do subtilly couch many errours under specious words of truth this lye also I bear witness against as also against his sixth wherein he charges us with meer ignorance and wilful blindness about the covenant of Grace c. His seventh lye is That much of mystical Babylon and confusion is in our Writings and ways this is also a lye and of the Devil and also against his eighth I bear testimony our doctrine and practice ends not in Apostasie neither are they blasphemy against Christ as J.S. impudently asserteth so that from the first of his book to his last his whole Work is born witness against not to be of God but of the Devil and in vain hath he striven and his Work shall not accomplish any part of his desire for the Quakers against whom he hath written cannot be offended in Christ though J.S. have endeavoured for to make their way and doctrines in the sight of men abominable but his Work shall not prevent the purpose of the Lord nor the gathering in of the upright hearted from the mouths of devouring Shepherds such as J. S. and the Priests of England who is it that doth not begin to see their deceits and abominations yea thousands do and many more shall do so that all their striving to uphold their kingdom is but in vain for God hath blasted all their glory and he will teach his people himself and govern them by his own Law and order and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and Antichrist and all his Ministers shall be confounded and the Beast and the false Prophet shall boâ—h be taken alive and cast into the lake Ah John Stelham against whom hast thou set thy self and exalted thy horn against whom hast thou bent thy strength and shot forth thy envie in crafty words of guile who is it that thou hast defied and girded on thy armour against and counted them as nothing before thy uncircumcised strength even against the Lords people hast thou thus done though thou wilt not now know it yet one day thou shalt know it when iniquity is come to an end and transgression finished and thou shalt stand in thy lot at that day and receive according to thy work a just and righteous reward from the hand of the Lord in the day of judgement when every secret work of iniquity shall appear to condemnation and in the mean time the Lord will bring forth good unto his people even from thy evil and all things even thy evil purposes shall work together for good unto such whom God hath called and thy works and purposes which are to trouble them and to break them and to make them appear vile in the sight of men even thy work doth the Lord turn to establish them and to unite them and in the sight of men thy working against us proves us to be of God and thy self to be of the Devil who was a persecutor from the beginning and thou shalt be scattered in thy imaginations and thy whole work hath God confounded and it shall not accomplish any whit of that end propounded in thy sinful heart which hath brought forth mischief for it s blasted in the anger of God and men shall neither call it nor the father of it any more blessed And friend hadst thou known how little it doth accomplish of thy evil intent thou wouldst have spared thy labour and imployed thy service to another end and then had not thy wickedness so greatly appeared in the sight of God nor thy shame and nakedness in the sight of men as it now doth by this thy sinful deed brought forth of a cursed womb and conceived in unrighteousness Alas alas man how art thou fallen into the pit which thou hast digged for another and how doth the shame overtake thee which thou hast thought should have fallen upon us Let thy wickedness correct thee and know thou that the Lord will not forsake his people who cannot be offended in Christ though thou cast stumbling blocks of iniquity in the way and would cause them to sin but even so much the more as thou speakest evil against the way of the Lord are they the more upright therein and the more loving and delighting in the path of righteousness and thou hast but the more fully discovered in many things from thy own pen the wickedness and wrath that hath secretly lodged in thy heart and it appears that thy wisdom is devilish and from below deceiving and being deceived and thy path is in craft and subtilty and not in innocencie and plain simplicity and in this manner and by this means chiefly is thy work managed unto an evil end but the Lord hath rebuked it and wil do yet more til it appear to all men as it doth to us to be what I have said of it and it shall be a shame to thee and shall not receive praise neither of God nor man but condemnation in the sight of both and hadst thou known that we are established even on the top of Gods holy mountain and cannot be moved nor shaken by such weak pitiful blasts of confusion ignorance coming out of thy mouth where poyson lodges under thy tongue sure hadst thou known it thou wouldst have travelled in another path but that thy folly might appear unto all men is thy work sent abroad that they may see what lodges in thy mind even more envy them in the heart of Balaam and more desire of evil to the Lords people than ever was in him and thou fulfils the measure of thy fore-fathers wickedness till the sum be accounted and destructioâ— follow thou hast too much troubled thy self in labouring and thy reward will not contervail â—hy pains hadst thou but only spoken against us we should have born it and thou might have been the more excused but in that thou hast spoken against the light of Christ called it a perverse Principle many other blasphemous words of bitterness against the very truths of Jesus This is the cause wherefore we have answered thee and thou art utterly inexcusable for what thou hast done it is not altogether through ignorance though much ignorance be in it but out of perfect rebellion and purpose of mischief and for Masteâ—y we do not strive with thee but rather wisheth thy repentance than thy destruction and who doth not believe but your kingdom I mean the Priests of England is going down apace and your glory fading as a flower and the Lord will make you a shame to
sound of Christ as a light hath never been heard where sin and iniquity is discovered but that which hath brought forth these things may well be called an untimely birth which ntver saw the Sun not never knew the light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall which cometh into the world for a little of this fruit doth manifest that tree from whence it springs so we shall judge the tree by it's fruits Another fruit from this tree is to give his testimony of the Law of Faith which is this How far the Law of Faith may be said to be written upon every mans heart is not given unto me to understand only this glimpse I have of it That it appears to have had an influence upon the heart of man by those sacrifices which were offered up to God before the publication of the positive Law wherein as well Cain as Abel offered sacrifices Gen. 4.4 Answ. This testimony doth not proced from the word of Faith in thy heart for that would give an understanding how the Law of Faith is written in the heart as well as how the Law of Works is written and this thy glimpse which thou sayes thou sees from the proposing of the promise and the influence which thou sayes thou seest upon the heart of man by the Sacrifices of Cain as wel as Abel offered unto God if this thy pretended light and glimpse which is so far of Christ be truly weighed and tryed it may prove but a vain vision and a divination of thy own heart as all who consider thy testimony of the Law of Faith in saying that the discovery thereof ariseth from what is without and that it had never been known nor never thought of nor never would it or could it rationally have come into the heart of man to have conceived such a thing but from the declaration of God in his promise Here it doth appear Faith is a mysterie to thee and thy eye hath not seen it nor the ear heard neither hath it entered into thy heart to conceive Faith in the working and operation of it And in that thou sayest well that it was not given thee to understand how it is written upon every man's heart and thou had done well if thou had not stretched thy self beyond the line of thy knowledge and understanding for thou thy self confessest that unto those first believers Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Moses David Daniel and the rest there was communicated unto them a Spirit of Faith and a Light sutable and proportionable whereby they were enabled to behold Christ who was the object of their Faith Then if it did arise from the Spirit of Faith within them the Light of Christ who was the Author of their Faith it did not arise from the Declaration of God in the promise without so that the mysterie of Faith vvhich is held in a pure conscience is yet to be learned vvhich vvas vvitnessed amongst the Saints So vvhen thou vvrites again of the Lavv of Works or the Lavv of Faith or the discovery vvhich the Lord maketh to his creature under the diversity of these administrations keep back to the measure of the gift of God and then vvil thy testimony be no larger then thy knowledge vvhich is a guilt hath spread over many in these days but this I say Blessed is the man which doth not condemn himself in the thing vvhich he allovveth and vvhich doth not destroy himself vvith the breath of his ovvn mouth but there is a generation which their own breath as fire shall devour them Again concerning the Light which every man is enlightened withal which is thy stumbling-block and rock of offence as it is unto all the rest whose deeds are evil Thou saist God hath not annointed it to that Work nor laid the weight of eternal salvation upon the shoulders thereof it being too weak for that service Answ. Him hath God annointed who is the Light of the World and hath enlightened every man that cometh into the World and there is no work of eternal salvation wrought but in the Light which every man is enlightened withal and this Light is of him and from him which bears the sins in his own body and is not too weak for that service which the Father hath given him to do and this Light is Christ. And whereas some say Hath every man Christ Every man hath Christ to save or to condemn him Christ is as truly the condemnation of those whose deeds are evil as he is the Saviour of them that believe and as those that believe in the Light are already saved by Christ so also those that believe not in his Light which he hath enlightned them withall are already condemned And so Christ is near unto every one to answer every mans work according to the nature of it whether he serve sin unto death or be found in the obedience of truth unto eternal life for now is the day appeared to try every mans Work of what sort it is and now are many offended because the Light is broken forth and their eye is evil because the Lords is good But wo unto the World because of offences if any have the Spirit of a King let him search out the cause of the offence which is now broken forth amongst the children of men that the enmity which is in all sorts of people of all professions should rise up together and become a body the wicked joâ—ning hand in hand preaching and printing and crying for unity which they are making up of enmity that they may be strong against that which the Lord hath now brought forth in his Light and Power to be Witnesses unto him in every place wheresoever he doth call them witnessing forth his Mercy and Truth by which iniquity is purged out and preaching the Gospel to every creature whereby they may come to the knowledge of the truth that they may be saved But in the World it is so come to pass in these days that he that can but give reviling terms and hard speeches against the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withall calling it natural or insufficient and if they do but revile those whom they call Quakers and put this in the beginning of his Book then it passeth with toleration and hath as good approbation from the World as any of the Priests have for their Ministry but if any man begin to speak of the Light within and the Annointing within and the Word of Faith in the heart and of the Mystery of Faith in a pure conscience and of the sprinkling of the heart from an evil conscience and of believing in the Light as Christ said such a one speaking of these things and not directing his speech in open reproach against them called Quakers the peoples hearts will be fiâ—led with jealousies lest he be one So that even the Light is become a reproach unto them and their derision daily but the Lords hand is
had another day of Tryal given them into their hands but a mad zeal and fury attended them against the honest and upright-hearted people and the Fury of the Oppressour was highly exalted amongst them burning like fire in which they could not contain themselves nor possess their own Spirits in quietness in which fury was folly the effects of which did betray and destroy both themselves and others They being diverted from their first intentions and desire after righteousness a just recompence of reward for their disobedience came upon them according to many true Testimonies from the Lords servants unto them which if in time their ears had been open to the Lords instructions and their hearts inclined to righteousness that swift and sudden desâ—ruction had not so soon come upon them but they being blinded with fury in their anger would neither hear nor see that which was the effect of their own work nor the Lords hand of Justice near come upon them as now they may consider it XII The Secluded Members then came in as a rod of Gods anger and of Justice or a prey upon them and it was manifest to the seeing Eye that God had turned his hand against all those which haâ— abused his Power and neglected his work who had sought and set up themselves insâ—ead of the Lord and his righteousness and now when the Lords hand is justly stretched forth to wound those that by him would not be healed who shall forbid it until the cause be removed and they purged through judgment and suffering And now unto you the present power King and Parliament be not high-minded but fear be not lifted up as though by your Arm Power and Policie you had got a Victory For it is Righteousness yet which the Lord doth require and if by his immediate power without your Sword he have cut off all those that you might be grafted in Consider therefore Gods end in so doing for it is by that immediate power of God which hath broken them that you must stand if you do stand for God is the same and will be to you as he hath been to others as you answer or not answer his requirings For it is not Persons that God accepts but he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him therefore as you look to be established by the Lord do righteousness equity and justice to every man without respect of persons and according to the equal and Royal Law of God walk doing unto others as yee would that others should do unto you Take heed of imposing any thing relating to the matter of Worship upon the Consciences leâ—â— you kindle Gods wrath against you as others have done which will not easily be quenched for upon this Rock have many been broken and others wounded so that they could not again be healed And two things we would mind you of especially First That you are not come in by your own Sword or Power but by a remarkable hand of God in such a way as neither your selves nor any other could have expected Secondly Consider what a flood of unrighteousness licentiousness and flâ—shly liberty hath of a sudden overspread the Nation upon your comming in which although it received some little seasonable curb by a Proclamation from King Charles till which scarce a man scaring God and that could not joyn with them in their rioting and drunken healths could pass the Streets in most places of the Nation yet the body of that iniquity still stands in many places as in May-games Fiddlings Dancings Stage-Plays and divers other ungodly vain Sports by which Gods righteous Soul is still grieved the Spirits of all people that truly fear God sadned the weight of that wickedness which already lay upon the Nations mightily encreased quite contrary to what such a work as your coming in after such a manner required All which speaks dreadful things against these Nations in the sight of many who are most acquainted with Gods fear and have that Eye in them which foresees evil to come in whose hearts and mouths it is now to warn you in love to your own Souls who are in power to scatter such Wickedness and the Nations peace and wel-being that the Wrath that is already threatned might be prevented from coming in your day And we desire that you may take more notice of the Lords warnings to you then others have done that have gone before you that Gods hand and power be not turned against you as it was against them R. H. An Epistle to Friends OH my dear and truly beloved Friends by the holy Spirit of my Father is my heart freely opened and enlarged unto you even in the love which is as a Fountain of Life which plentifully flows forth in the virtue of the Father in the hearts of the beloved children of God which many Waters cannot quench amongst such who have known the Lord in the outgoings of his Power to be as the Morning to your souls the virtue of whose Grace and Love hath been as a dew remaining upon your branches and whose Doctrine hath even dropped as the rain upon your tender-Plants that you thereby might be refreshed and nourished up unto eternal life the Lord God hath honored you with his presence and hath often fed you with his living appearances and manifestations and you have known what it is to drink of the pure Waters of Life even from that living Fountain which doth always flow in the Spirit by which there is pure and spiritual refreshment ministred unto the soul and the Waters of Strife have ye refused which doth corrupt those that drink them and so as it hath been so let it always continue that you may be kept clean by the Word which you have heard from the beginning and by which you have been gathered out of the World by the Word of his Power and fed together as sheep of his pasture and lambs of his Fold So let not the feeling-sence of the loving-kindness of the Lord be forgotten neither let the purity of your first love decrease but let the dear love of the Father in the freeness of liffe flow forth plentifully one towards another which is the bond of perfection among the children of Light by which you will come to be established in the free Spirit of the Lord in the unity of Life and in the fellowship of the Gospel not being subject to change or be moved from that Word and Spirit by which you have been taught and led in the vvay of Life and by which you have known the mind of Christ and by his gift of Righteousness vvhich you have received are you able to try every spirit as you abide in it whether it be of God both as to Doctrines without and as to motions vvithin So therefore let nothing move you nor unsettle your minds from that measure of Life which in all things is a perfect Instructor which will keep you in a pure Dominion over