as Messengers Ministers or Ambassadors Fourthly Because thou denies the holy Scriptures Fifthly Because thou hast lyed against God and Christ and hast born a false Testimony of them and of the true Prophets of God and Apostles of Christ 1. As to the first That thou denies Almighty God himself is evident by thy own Doctrine because thou saist That the dead after death shall never see any other God or Judge but the remembrance of that Sentence which you the pretended Witnesses of the Spirit did pass upon them in this life which is quite contrary to the doctrine of Christ and the Scriptures of truth John 5.26 27 28 29. Mat. 25.31 32 33 34 41. 2 Pet. 2.9 2. And as to the second that thou deniest Christ of his offices is evident against thee by thy own doctrine in three particulars First Thou deniest Christ as chief Judge ordained of God to set up thy self in his stead because thou saist Thou art ordained chief Judge in the world to give sentence upon men and women spiritual and eternal and what shall become of them after deaâ—h contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the Scriptures of truth Mat. 25 31 32. c. Ioh. 5.26 27 28 29 30. Acts 10.42 17.31 2 Tim. 4 1 1 Pet. 4.5 and as before is proved Secondly Thou deniest Christ as he is the Saviour of men and the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him in whom eternal life is to be had because thou accounts that there is no eternal life to be had but in the faith of thy doctrine saying There is no eternal life to be had but in the faith of the doctrine or declaration of a Prophet who hath a Commission from God saith There neither is nor ever shall be any such Prophet but thy self whilst the world endureth In answer to the which I say That the holy Scriptures which were spoken and declared from the movings of the Holy Ghost in the holy men of God 2 Pet. 1.20 21. were better doctrine declaration of Prophets of God then thine who had a better commission or authority from God then ever thou hadst And concerning their declaration Christ said to the Jews Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye might have life Iohn 5.39 40. And Christ said to his Disciples I am the way and the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me Ioh. 14.6 And the Ambassador of Christ hath declared and said That the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord as it is written Rom. 6.22 23. then not in the faith of thy doctrine And Christ doth give unto his sheep eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of his hand Ioh 10.27 28. And the Messengers of Christ have declared and said This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son 1 Ioh. 5.11 then not in the faith of thy doctrine He that hath the Son hath life eternal though he deny thy doctrine and he that hath not the Son hath not life eternal though he may have faith in thy doctrine By what hath been said it is evident and remains certainly true 1. That Christ Jesus is the Saviour of men and the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him Acts 5.31 32. Heb. 7 25 Heb. 5.9 and is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him 2. That he is the way to the Father without which no man can come unto him Iohn 146 3. That the gift of God is eternal life which Christ doth give unto his sheep that they may never perish Rom. 6.23 Iohn 10.27 28. 4. That eternal life is not in the faith of thy doctrine or declaration but in Christ the Son according to the Record that God hath given For he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life as it is written 1 Iohn 5.11 12. Thirdly Thou deniest Christ as he is the Advocate with the Father and the propitiation for the sins of the whole World because thou saist That no infinite Spirit of Christ nor any God can or shall be able to deliver from thy sentence and curse which is contrary to truth and the holy Scripture where it is said My little children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them as it is written Heb. 7.25 3. And as to the third That thou deniest Christ of his officers is evident by thy own doctrine because thou falsly saist That no man ought to officiate the Office of a Minister Messenger of Ambassador of Christ but such as are appointed by John Reeves and thy self contrary to the Scriptures 1 Pet. 4 10 11 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. Acts 13.2.4 Acts 20 28. Acts 10 19 20 21. Acts 11.12 21. Acts 10.42 43 2 Cor. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 2 Cor. 4.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. and as before I have proved 4. And as to the fourth That thou deniest the holy Scriptures I prove against thee by thy own doctrine first because thou saist That the words which Christ said to his Disciples Bless and curse not concerns not thee nor any man upon earth at this day contrary to the Doctrine of Christ where it is said Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and teach men so he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven Matt. 5.17 18 19. and one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass till all be fulfilled Secondly Thou deniest the holy Scriptures because thou saist The dead after death shall never see any other God or Iudge but the remembrance of that sentence which you the pretended Witnesses of the Spirit did passe upon them in this life contrary to the Scriptures as before I have proved Thirdly Thou deniest the holy Scriptures because thou saist Thou art chief Iudge ordained of God to give sentence upon men and women spiritual and eternal and what shall become of them after death contrary to the Scriptures and as before I have proved Fourthly Thou deniest the Scriptures because thou saist That no man ought to officiate the Office of a Minister Messenger or Ambassador of Christ but such as are appointed by John Reeves thy self contrary to the Scriptures and as before I have proved
if he owned Moses Law and if he had denyed it then they would had an occasion against him which they sought for They pleaded Fact saying Master This woman was taken in Adultery in the very act Joh. 8.4 Then they pleaded Law saying Now Moses in the Law commanded that such should be stoned Joh. 8.5 But what saist thou This they said tempting of him that they might have to accuse him John 8.6 And they continued asking of him John 8.7 shewing how earnest they were to have had an accusation against him they tempted him for that very end and to see if he would deny putting Moses Law in execution upon that woman which they had taken in Adultery and brought before him to accuse unto him But Jesus himself who was chief Judge ordained of God and had power or authority given him to execute judgement John 5.22 27. he did neither accuse the offender nor countenance those bloody accusers that brought her before him though they pleaded both Law and Fact unto him as aforesaid who teacheth by his example in that case That it is not the duty of a Court to accuse any though a known offender nor to countenance bloody accusers but rather to mollifie their rigour as Christ did in the same case who in great wisdom answered their question and said unto them He that is without sin among you let him first cast a stone at her Joh. 8.7 or put Moses Law in execution upon her but those accusers were none of them without sin because they sinned in tempting of Christ and the Witness of God in their own conscience testified the same unto them whereby they were convicted and thereupon went out one by one beginning at the eldest even unto the last and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst John 8. ver 9. First By which wise answer of his he put a stop to their cruelty against the offender and thereby he delivered her from their cruelty and took her into his mercy who knew better how to deal with her then they would have had him Secondly He by that gracious wise answer unto them put a stop to their subtilty and crost their intent which they had in their minds in their temptation against him Thirdly He hath shewed by that wise answer unto them That criminal persons are no competent Judges to condemn others for that which themselves are guilty of 4. He also by that wise answer unto them preserved himself out of their snare for he thereby owned Moses Law in its time and place which if he had then denyed they thought to have had an occasion against him or whereof to have accused him and having preserved himself out of their snare and taken the woman sinner out of their cruelty into his mercy as aforesaid He then as a gracious and merciful Judge looked upon her with an eye of compassion saying Woman where are all those thine accusers Hath no man condemned thee Joh. 8.10 She answered and said No man Lord. And Jesus to manifest his mercy and the pardoning power which remained with the God-head he said Neither do I condemn thee go and sin no more Joh. 8.10 11. And as a merciful Judge he forgave her that offence and set her free and gave her commend to abstain from sin for the time to come saying Go and sin no more as much as to say let mercy held forth in forgiving thy offence that is past engage thy heart against sin and unto God for the time to come But though thou Lodowick pretend to be the chief Judge in the World thy example doctrine and practice teacheth quite contrary to the doctrine and example of Christ whereby it appears and is plainly made manifest That thou art not ordained chief Judge in his stead First Thy Example Doctrine and Practice teacheth to be both Judge Accuser and Witness contrary to the Law of God and the Law of the Land Secondly To condemn at a distance without any due course of Law or orderly proceedings before thou have the parties and their Accusers face to face before thee to hear what they can say Thirdly To condemn at will and pleasure contrary to any known Law either of God or the Land 4. It teacheth not the preservation of any known Law but rather the destruction of all known Laws both of God and the land 5. Thy example doctrine and practice teacheth to condemn the bodies of men and women without any known law either of God or the land as a rule of direction to guide and lead in the ways of right Justice to give judgement upon them accordingly Lastly Thou teachest thereby That if judgement or sentence be given pronounced or past though never so contrary to truth it ought not to be redressed or reversed undone and holden for nothing which is quite contrary to the law of the land And we are sure that the judgement of God is according to truth Rom. 2.2 but thine is not so whereby it is evident that it is not the judgement of God It appears and is evident first That thou art an unlawful Judge because thou presumes to pass the sentence of death upon the bodies of men and women without cognizance or lawful Authority so to do 2. That thou art a foolish unwise Judge because thou passest the sentence of death upon the bodies of men and woman at a distance from thee without having them and their answers face to face before thee Thirdly That thou art an unjust Judge because thou passest the sentence of death upon the bodies of men and women contrary to truth without any known laws either of God or the Land as a Rule of direction to guide and lead thee in the ways of right justice to give judgement upon them accordingly 4. That thou art a cruel unmerciful Judge because if thy sentence be once pronounced and past though it be never so erroneous and false thou wouldst have it impossible for any God to reverse and undo the same or to deliver therefrom Seeing that it is so it remains certainly true That thou art no true and competent Judge neither ordained of God nor man to pass the sentence of death upon the bodies of men and women and it remains as true That the souls in the Father's hand thou hast nothing to do withal First Because Christ giveth to them eternal life and they shall never perish John 10.28 Secondly Because no man is able to pluck them out of the Father's hand as it is written John 10.29 And thirdly Because the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them Likewise it remains true That thou art not the chosen Witness of the Spirit of Truth and that thou hast not received thy pretended Commission from the God of Truth to do as thou hast done and pretendest to do by colour thereof First Because thou denies Almighty God himself Secondly Because thou denies Christ Jesus of his Offices Thirdly Because thou denies him of his Officers
Truth Ascended OR The Annointed and Sealed of God defended IN AN ANSWER Written by Richard Farnsworth AS A TESTIMONY AGAINST A Conterfeit Commission And all Injustice and false Judgement done and pronounced under pretence of the same LONDON Printed in the Year 1663. Truth ascended or the Annointed and sealed of God defended c. Lodowick Muggleton THough thou pretend to be the chosen Witness of the Spirit and the last that ever shall speak by Commission from God and to be the chief Judge in the World ordained of God to give sentence upon men and women spiritual and eternal and what shall become of them after death and saist That in obedience to thy Commission thou hast already cursed and damned many hundreds of people both body and soul from the presence of God elect men and Angels to Eternity and pretend'st to go by as certain Rule in so doing as the Judges of the Land do when they give Judgement according to Law and saist That no infinite Spirit of Christ nor any God can or shall be able to deliver from thy sentence and curse c. as appears in a Sheet of paper dated Aug. 10. 1662. written by thee in answer to Edward Bourns to Dorothy Carter and also four sheets dated Novemb. 3. 1662. written by thee and directed to Thomas Highfield in Nottingham for Samuel Hooton and W. S. I am bold on the behalf of the Lord once again to bear my Testimony against thee and against thy pretended Commission and the Doctrine thereof and shall make it appear that it ought not to be entertained by any man or woman upon earth because it is contrary to truth and that thy judgment ought by all to be reversed undone and made void because it is contrary to truth and that thy judgement ought by all to be reversed undone and made void because it is erroneous and false for thou art no chosen Witnesse of the Spirit of Truth neither hast thou received any Commission from Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witnesse as hereafter appears 1. That there were chosen Witnesses of Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witnesse is certainly true Acts 10.38 39 40 41. Acts 5.31 32. Acts 1.8 2. That they had a Commission from Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witness or that he Commanded them to preach to the people is as true Acts 10.42 But that thou either art or dost so I do deny 3. They who were chosen Witnesses of Christ whom God the Father annointed sealed and sent and had a Commission from the Spirit and Power of Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witness in testifying on the behalf of Christ their Testimony stands as an evidence against thy pretended Commission and the Doctrine thereof because they say on the behalf of Christ that he commanded them to preach to the people and to testifie to them that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead Acts 10.42 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 10.43 But thou dost not so by thy pretended Commission and the Doctrine thereof who instead of preaching to the people and testifying to them that Christ is chief Judge ordained of God to judge the quick and the dead thou wouldst dis-throne him to set up thy self in his stead whereby it appears That thou art not a chosen Witness of the Spirit of Truth and that thy pretended Commission is a counterfeit thing by which thou presumes to give judgement contrary to Truth which makes it evident That thy doctrine and judgement is false and being so it ought not to be entertained or received by any but to be denied and against testified by all that love the Lord Jesus 4. By their Commission they were to preach to the people and by the same Commission and the Doctrine thereof they were to testifie to them that Christ was ordained of God to be the Judge both of quick and dead but thou art not Christ to whom all the Prophets gave witness therefore it is evident that thou art not chief Judge ordained of God to judge the quick and the dead though thou presume to say that the dead after death shall never see any other God or Judge but the remembrance of that sentence which you the pretended Witnesses of the Spirit did pass upon them in this life which is a false Doctrine and contrary to the Doctrine of Truth left upon record in Scripture where it is said That the Father hath given authority to the Son to execute judgement and all that are in the grave shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation as it is written John 5.26 27 28 29. and Christ shall give judgement upon them Matth. 25.31 32 33 34.41.46 And as thou wouldst exclude Christ from that great office and work and assume it to thy self so thou wouldst exclude his Officers and deny him of them to set up thy self alone in their places and stead because thou falsly saith No man knows the Scriptures but thy self and that no man can truly interpret the Scriptures but thy self and that none ought to officiate the Office of a Minister Messenger or Ambassador of Christ but such as are appointed by John Reeves and thy self which assertions or doctrines of thine are false and not true for this I say That the only knowledge and right of interpreting Scriptures belongs not to thy self but to the Lord Jesus and his blessed Spirit who is the true Judge and hath power to open mens understandings and can give them the true knowledge and right understanding of Scriptures Luke 24 32. 24.45 And the Gospel is preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven as it is written 1 Pet. 1.11 12. and the holy Ghost hath a true power and right Authority without John Reeves and thy self to make overseers over the Flock of God to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20.28 and to appoint Ministers Messengers or Ambassadors of Christ and to call to the work of the Ministry Acts 13.2 4. And they who by the Holy Ghost are called to the Work of the Ministry may with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven preach the Gospel without the appointment of John Reeves and thy self Take notice of that for as every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God if any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ as it is written and left upon Record in Scripture 1 Pet. 4 10 11. 5. The chosen Witnesses of Christ who had a Commission