God in thee judge The matter is great weighty which concerneth everlasting salvation And why should it be thought an incredible thing That Christ should now be manifested in mortal flesh qnickening them that were even dead in sins and trespasses for verily I I have written no other thing concerning him or of the operation of his Eternal spirit then what in measure I have really not imaginarily seen and handled and felt of his work and glory for I dare not speak of that which the Lord hath not wrought in me and by me or to boast in other mens lines for all the world have a form of worship talking of Christs words and the Prophets and Apostles words but are out of their Life and Power Behold what headiness and high-mindedness treachery and betraying one another and will be yet far worse by evil men and seducers c. What incontinence men and women burning in their lusts one towards another What eating and drinking and rising up to play c and yet all covered with a Profession of God and Christ But how can any better fruits be expected when Pastors and Teachers tell People for Doctrines they cannot get victory over sin on this side the Grave which herein is plainly proved false and the everlasting way of Truth discovered which leads out of sin and gives power against sin on this side the Grave and to live pure and holy even as God is holy Think it not impossible with the Lord all things are possible And what I have here written is not to render any man odious or to discover their nakedness but for the bringing of Gods truth to Light for I having had something lying on me a long time to give forth amongst the Professors and Baptists who have any true desires after God and as in obedience to the movings of the Lord I passing amongst them seeing their PRACTISES and hearing their DOCTRINES it was now laid on me of the Lord to give it forth as an Answer thereunto which I have done for the clearing of my Conscience in tender love that all who love their souls may be warned while time is For the dispensation of the fulness of time is come nigh for the gathering together all in ONE even in Christ whether things in Heaven or things in Earth The Parable of the Field is fulfilled the Pearl is found Father Mother Husband or Wife House or Land all is forsaken if the Lord calls and followed even to the end of the earth for the gathering into the unity with the Father and the Son This is the onely desire of him whom the Lord hath called into his labour which seeketh your Eternal good With the measure of God's spirit try all things and let not any motion passe away that seeks truly after God that you may come to have an infallible testimony of the spirit of the Lord in you to lead you and guide you For he that believeth hath the witness in himself T. M. THE BAPTIST AND INDEPENDENT CHURCHES So called Set on Fire By a bright shining Light revealed from Heaven Their PASTORS and TEACHERS scorching in the flame of it gnashing and blaspheming God and his Tabernacle As their Principles rash and judging herein recorded do demonstrate Which are answered for the vindicating of Truth and the satisfying of the simple In which they are found to be children of them which killed the Just and have drunken of the Cup of Fornication who also must drink of the Cup of Indignation at the hand of the Lord. 1. EDward-Whale accounted an Independent Teacher Priest of Waterford affirmed That the godliest man that ever was on the earth did not get the victory over sin or lived free from sin on this side the Grave He did not except Christ This he affirmed in his Pulpit before the whole Congregation in the Idol-Temple formerly a Masse-House with a Cross on the top of it and another at the end of it on the 21. day of the 6th Month 1659. in the City of Waterford Answ He that is born of God doth not commit sin because Christ the Seed of God is in him and as he abides in him he cannot sin though he may be tempted to sin as Christ was yet not overcome with the temptation of sin but thorough Faith in Christ gets the victory over sin and temptations on this side the grave 1 Joh. 3.9 ch 5. ver 4. Sin is of the Devil and he that commits it and pleads for it is taken captive by the Devil at his will 1 Tim. 2.26 1 Joh. 3.5.8 And for this purpose Christ the eternal Son of God was made manifest to take away sin and to destroy sin Heb. 2.14,15 And forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood Christ himself also partaked of the same that thorough the death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who thorough fear were all their life time subject to bondage which Christ redeemed them from for saith the Apostle He was made to us wisdom and redemption c. 1 Cor. 3.50 And the Apostle did witness through Christ victory over sin on this side the grave For saith he O death where is thy sting O grave or hell where is thy victory The sting of death is sin the strength of sin is the the Law but take notice thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory thorough our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.54,55,56,57 And so Priest Whale hath preached another Doctrine then Christ or his Ministers and hath as it were blasphemously charged Christ his holy Prophets and Apostles with sin for he did not except them when he said The godlinst man that ever was did not get the victory over sin on this side the grave And so by the holy Scriptures of this truth he is corrected and taken with a lye in his mouth and as it were denying the very purpose work and office of God in Christ which was to save from sin and thorough â—…ath to destroy sin and death and to take it away narling it to the cross c. And this testimony I give unto all the World for the Lord God and his truth That it is possible in and thorough CHRIST JESUS the light of the world that lighteth every one that comes into the World that all that it love and follow in the daily Cross I say That thorough Faith in the Blood of Christ who is our example whose steps many of us are following according to our measures who did not sin neither was guile found in his mouth c. it is possible to live free from sin and to live a pure righteous and holy life even perfect as he is perfect in this present World before this earthly Tabernacle go down to the grave and at this let none stumble but in the cool and calm spirit and in the Light and fear of God search the Scriptures for they testifie that
Lord and shall make it to appeare by the aforegoing words of the Apostle to the Romans and also by the words following that it was not the Apostles then present condition when he said O wretched man that I am c. but a condition that he had once passed through which through Christ he did witness a freedom from Rom. 8,12 onely it was the manner of the Prophets and Apostles when they writ to the people and for the condescending to the low estate or condition that those they writ unto were in to rank themselves with them to wit in using the word We or Us as for instance if we say we have nosin or have not sinned c. And in mamy things we offend all And as Isaiah saith Lord why hast thou caused us to erre from thy wayes James 3.2 1 John 1.8 Isaiah 36.17 But Paul as is a fore shewed affirmed they were really dead to sin Rom. 6.2 and he giveth an infallible reason for it for saith he Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death that like as Christ was raised from the grave so they were to walk in newness of life Rom. 6.1 to the 8. and so they came from under the dominion of sin and from under the Condemnation of the Law Rom. 6.14.15 Chap. 8.1 but whiles a man lives the Law hath Power over him He that hath an ear to hear can hear and understand Rom. 5.14 but he over whom and in whom death reigns though he may talk of Christ and his righteousness of Faith and Grace c. yet not being turned to the Light which is the Law Rom. 5.13,14 he is not come so far as the pure law of God neither knowes he it in righteousness and truth but is a stranger unto it for saith Paul Know ye not my brethren how that the Law hath dominion over a man so long as he liveth for I speake to them saith he that know the Law for the woman that hath an husband is bound by the Law to her husband so long as he liveth but if her husband be dead she is loosed from the Law of her husband so that she is no adulteress thoughshe be marryed to another Wherefore saith he my brethren ye also are not that ye shall become dead to the Law by the body of Christ that ye should be marryed to another even to Christ who is raised from the dead thorough whom they brought forth fruits unto God for saith he when they were in the flesh he did not then say they now are in the flesh or following the motions of the flesh the motions of sin which were by the Law wrought in their members sin and brought sorth fruits unto death but now he said they were delivered from the Law that they should serve in newness of spirit Rom 6.15 What shall we say then saith he Rom. 7.7 Is the Law sin God forbid for he had not-known sin except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet But sin taking occasion by the Commandement wrought in him all manner of Concupiscente For he was alive mark and take notice of that ONCE He there told them what he was once but by the receiving of the Law which caused sin to abound and appear exceeding sinful he cried out O wretched man c. So there was a time Paul saw his sin to abound by the Law c. and there was a time he did witness he was dead to sin And there was a time he told them The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had freed him from the Law of Sin and Death And that was Paul's then present condition for saith he There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh or its motions for they that so do cannot please God But saith he Rom. 8.1 to 10. Ye are not in the stesh but in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his he gives a character of them that have this Spirit whereby in the Light of the Son of God they may judg and examine themselves for if the Spirit of Christ be in thee the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness So that through this Spirit of Life Paul did witness a freedom from sin and a Victory over sin on this side the grave and thanked God for it and said He had fought the good sight he had finished his course he had kept the Faith which gave victory over the world or sin and henceforth saith he 2 Cor. 12 7 8,9 there is laid up for me a Crown of Glory and Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not onely to me but unto all them which love his appearance And although Paul did cry out of the thorn in the flesh and of the buffeting of Satan lest he should be exalted above his measure Tit. 2.11,12 the Lord did not impute that unto him as sin but said My grace is sufficient for thee which Grace taught Paul and the Saints to deny sin and ungodliness whereby they lived like God in that present world So that it is evident by the Scriptures of Truth that the Apostles and Saints in Light did witness a redemption from sin and were regenerated washed and cleansed and sanctified on this side the grave Read and compare these Scriptures 1 Cor. 1.30 Rom. 6.2.7.22 Ch. 7.6 Rom. 8.2 to 10. 1 Cor. 6.11 Ch. 15.55,56,57 2 Tim. 4.7,8 1 Pet. 4.1,2 So I being cast into Prison that very day that Priest Whale thus affirmed not giving any just offence in word or action as Priest Whale passed by the Prison I required him to prove where man should be made free from sin seeing that he had affirmed That the godliest man that ever was did not get the victory over sin on this side the grave His Answer was They should be cleansed in heaven O wretched man How hast thou darkned the Counsel of the most High God uttering words without the true knowledg of God from thy wisdom which is from beneath which is earthly sensual and bruitish and how hast thou deceived thousands of souls Wo is me for thee the Controversie of the Lord will be great with thee and you all and have taken their moneys for that which is not Bread and have made them spend their labour all the daies of their lives for that which doth not profit their immortal souls which wil be required at thine such blind guides hands as thou art May not the People State wch have given thee a great house 150 l. a year some say 200 l. a year truly say It is for nought for if people can never be made free from sin or get the victory over sin on this side the grave the contrary
airy Spirit and so as your minds come to be staid in the measure of Gods Spirit and receive a word by the inspiration of the Almighty to declare for the edifying or building up the members of that body of which Christ is the head according as you receive mark it must be your own and onely your own not an others So ye are to minister as good stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God and then let him be accursed that should it seek to quench For if one had the tongues of men and Angels and could speak all the mysteries of Kingdome of God in that mind which is not guided by the Spirit of Truth not in the life of truth that is but death and hell talking of the same of wisedom but a stranger as to the enjoying of the thing and must be silent and peradventure death reigning over him and not come so far as to the receiving of the righteous Law of God where the Thunders Voices and Earthquakes are felt seen and heard for so dreadfull was thy presence saith Moses that I exceedingly quake and tremble for where the Law is not received within death reigns and hath dominion and the day not yet known that makes the strong man to bow and the keepers of the house to tremble For I came not to destroy the Law saith Christ but to fulfill it and Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or one tittle of the Law shall pass away till all be fulfilled So all come to the Light and follow the Light which to the life will lead the Law for to fulfill The Law is Light saith Solomon and David said I delight to do thy will O God mark thy Law is in my heart and the mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedom his tongue talketh of judgement the Law of his God is in his heart Psal 37.30,31 Psal 40 8. Prov. 6.23 and Christ said I in them and thou in me that they all may be made perfect in one Jo 17.22,23 chap 16.13 and he that believeth on the Son of God 1 Jo. 5.10 hath the witness in himself And when John Peter wrote to the Churches concerning the seducers that would have seduced them from the anoynting of God within them they told them there were false Prophets amongst the people as there should be also amongst them who privily should bring in damnable heresies take notice ye that deny the Light and Spirit within even denying the Lord that bought them and many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil Spoken of I am the Way and the Truth saith Christ such were and are they that have mens persons in admiration because of advantage without naturall affection filthy dreamers which defile the flesh speaking evill of dignities despise dominion the higher power Christ the power of God unto whomall power in heaven earth is given who have eyes ful of adultery pleading animpossibility of being made free from sin on this side the grave living in pride and vanity lovivg pleasure eating and drinking and rising to play for which God slew twenty three thousand in one day 1 Cor. 10. and found in Cains way Core and Balaams way loving the wages of unrighteousness and cringing and bowing according to the fashions of the world which must pass away and worshiping and serving the Creature more than the Cteator Who is God blessed for ever Now in the Light of the son of God Examine your selves ye Baptists whether you are not guilty of these sins and tâ—ansgressing the doctrine and commands of Christ calling men master and are called master and swearing and pleading for it and seeking the favour and friendship of the world which is enmity against God and taking thought what to eat or what to drink and what to put on read Mat. 5.23 What then are you baptized unto And whereas some of you say That every one is not inlightned with saving Light Do you think it would stand with the justice of the Almighty seeing the Scripture hath concluded and testisteth That all men have sinned for to save some in sin and condemne others in sin I tell you nay therefore let every mouth which would so say be stopt before the impartiall God for he would not that any should perish for as all have sinned and come short of obedience to the spirit and grace of God in the first Adam in the fall the Lord is therefore calling all men every where to repentance and hath called some to repentance not to be repented of and hath given to every man a measure of his Spirit Light and Grace though it is not yet made manifest or known to every man and for the time of ignorance God winked and hath now sent forth and is sending his faithfull messengers which love not their lives to the death to the four quarters of the earth to preach his everlasting Gospell and repentance and remission of sins through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ and to turn mens minds from vanities and dumb idols to the Light of the living which he hath enlightned them withall he that believes and receives their testimony which is Christ the truth and it follows shall be saved but he that receives not nor obeys shal be condemned the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and this will be the condemnation of the world to wit the Light in man which shews him his evill deeds of which the impartial God as I said before a measure hath given to every man on the face of the whole earth whom he would have to be saved and come to the knowledge and obedience of the truth this the witness of God in all consciences shal witness to be true Disobedience and Unbelief in Christ the Light within will be the cause of destruction to all that perish Neither do we as some imagine put creatures on works and duties according to the first Covenant for life and salvation The Law indeed saith do this and live but it is one thing to work for life c. and another thing to work or act in obedience to the life and power of God received For God hath first given a measure of his Spirit unto man before he requires ought of him and so his work is before him and his reward is with him even the presence of the Lord of Life which makes glad the hearts of the upright which follow him in the regeneration For saith David in the day of thy power thy people shall be a willing people So in the Light which from the life of Christ doth come and up to the life of Christ it leads all that follow it Is the power in man but not of man It is the gift of God unto it is man required to be obedient and what ever the Lord requires of man is a Cross to man in the fall and contrary to the will of man So that I say and