already enjoy and Possess and so the Apostles brought them to a further examination not to look at things visible but to examine themselves whether they were in the Faith for he that is in the Faith is not in that which is visible Prove your selves know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 Now they who came to witness Christ in them knew the Resurrection and the Life in them and Witnessed the Life of the Son of God to live in them and they in it and this was a further State then looking at visible Things which were in remembrance only of his Death and blessed are they who have an Eye to see and an Heart to believe these things And now the Apostle spake unto wise Men and bad them â—udge what he said 1 Cor. 10.15 So that Novices or they that were young or Babes had hâ—rdly been able to discern if he had spoken such things to them but he spoke to wise men which could judge of what he said and ver 16. thus he said The Cup of blessing that we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ And the Bread which we breakâ— is it not the communion of the Body of Christ ver 17. For we being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all partakers of that one bread and that one Bread was Christ who said I am the Bread of Life and this they witnessed and these are great Mysteries and they whose Eyes are towards visible things cannot see them and what a Nâ—ise and a Stir hath been made these many hundred Years and what killing and persecuting about things that are seen And since the Mystery hath been lost and the Key which opens the mystery how People have waded in the dark till they have lost themselves and are sunk down into utter Darkness as hath been manifest about visible things which do corrupt how many have been killed about this Bread and this Cup which are visible since the Apostles Dayes and how many Institutions and Laws have been made about this and have fought like Swine about the husk and discern not the Life neither the Lords Body It is endless to declare what stir they make about this Bread and this Wine in the Church of Rome which I shall not now stand to particularize much but however after the Priest hath consecrated it they conclude it to be the very Body and Blood of Christ and yet a thing which may be seen and that is a temporal thing and so give it Names past numeration And what work have they made about times and dayes when it was fit to be received and how many Decrees have been made about these things Anacletus caused a Decree to be made that all were to come to it under pain of Excommunication and Victor denounced that those should be interdicted from all Service when they should receive the Sacrament that would not be reconciled to their Neighbours of all Grudges and Hatred again Clepharanius one hundred Years after Anaâ—letus commanded that all that professed Christ or bare the Name of Christians being of the Age of twelve or fourteen Years should at least once a year at Easter receive the blessed Sacrament Fabianus decreed that they should receive it three times in a Year and Innocentius the third decreed it should be kept in the church that it should be ready at all times lest they that were sick should want to spiritual comfort of it and Honorus the third confirmed the same and Austin concluded the Eucharist to be of absolute necessity for Infants And what a stir hath been in the reformed churches so called about this and what disorderly work and what high Imputations they have gained to it whenas they commanded the Parishes to buy it and then sell it them again that the Priest must have a Offering at Easter also a token of a piece of Lead a token that they are at Unity with the Priest or else they may not have their Bread and Wine again for which they paid before and this hath been called a great Mystery HAP XII Concerning Ministers and their Office under the Law and the Gospel BEfore the Law was given forth there were divers did offer Sacrifice and builded Altars unto the Lord as Seth Abel Melchizedeck A braham Isaac and Jacob who were Guiders and Directors of People in the Way of Righteousness who instructed their Families in the Fear of the Lord but after the Law was given forth Aaron and his Sons and they were to offer Sacrifice according to the command of the Lord and to perform the Worship that God had appointed for that Time and Age at the Tabernacle and Temple there were Levites who bore the Ark and looked to the Vessels and pitched the Camp and divers other Services as Singers and Readers of the Law and Prophets on their Sabbath Dayes and Porters and the like and all these pertained to the First Covenant and Priesthood which was to have an End both the Priesthood and the Law and the Service thereof for it was but to continue till the Substance came Now Christ being come to the End of the Law for Righteousness unto all that believe made after the Order of Melchizedeck and not by a carnal commandment he offered up himself once for all and became the Author of eternal Salvation unto them that believe put an End to the first Worship and Priesthood Before he was offered up he chose Disâ—iples unto him twelve and also seventy and endued them with Power and many did believe through their Words and they were not Men of great parts but as they were fitted by the holy Ghost that gave them Utterance and they were sent out not to preach the Law but the Word of the Kingdom and many did believe and grew and were confirmed in the Faith and after Christ s Ascension the holy Ghost was poured forth upon them in a more ample Manner and it did bring to their Remembrance as Christ had foretold and they received great Gifts for the Work of the Ministry some were Prophets some Apostles some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and all made Ministers by the Spirit for the Work whereunto they were chosen and many were converted and did believe then they that had the Word of God to publish travailed as they were led and moved by the Spirit to publish the glad-tidings of the Gospel and when the Believers were many and many young in the Faith they ordained Overseers or Bishops or Elders who were sound in the Faith to watch over them that were begotten but mark they were approved men and faithful and of blameless lives not given to Covetousness neither did tyrannâ—ze over them in rigour but were apt to teach and instruct in Love Gentleness and they that had been ancient Labourers in God's Work did so who had received a Gift to minister unto others and as to be
it Gregory annexed three Petitions in the same Dies qui nostros c. Innocentius Priests in the upper Part of the Church called the Quire should kiss one another that Pax should be born to the People blessed with hands chalices came out of the Hebrew ceremonies Christ at his Ascension blessed his Disciples and Surgius from this ordained Agnus Dei seven hundred Years after Christ's Ascension to be sung of the clergy at the time of communion and often turning the Priest to the Altar and wheeling about when he saith Dominus vobiscum or Oratis Fratres these came from the Hebrew Rites when the Mass is ended the Deacon turns to the People and saith Ita missa est which words are borrowed from the Pagans they were used in the Sacrifices of Isis that when the Sacrifices were done this was the watch-word that the People might depart and of this sprang the custom of singing Ita missa est signifying that all Service was ended Mass is an Hebrew Word signifies an Oblation and Sacrifice with all circumstances concerning the same Alexander inhibited that they should not sacrifice but once a Day Telesphorus ordained three Masses to be said â—n Christmas-day the first at Midnight when Christ was born the secoâ—d in the Morning when the Shepherds visited him the third further on the day as at the third hour Foelix decreed that Mass might be said but in Places consecrated and none were to meddle with the Mysteries of consecration but the Priest Anacletâ—s ordained that no Mass should be said but in the Presence of two at the least lest the Priest should say in vain to bare walls Dominus vobiscum the Lord be with you whâ—n none were present and so on this wise one Piece and Scrap was added to another with much more which I shall not trouble the Reader with by which Peoples minds have been drawn from attending on God's Spirit to hearken to these foollish ceremonies and invented charms and so have been led in Ignorance and into the Region of the Shadow of Death where many have taken up their habitations and Babylons Merchants have traded these many hundred Years with such Merchandize under the Name of Apostolical Ordinances and holy Institutions CHAP. XI Concerning the Passeover and the Supper THE Passover was a command of God by Moses unto Israel while they were in captivity in Egypt which God manifested his wonderous Works in the Land of Egypt and in the Field of Zoan for their deliverance Exod. 12.3 4 5 6 7 8. That every family shall take to them every man a Lamb according to the House of their Fathers a Lamb for an House and where the Family was little the Neighbours were to joyn with him ver 21. Then Moses called for all the Elders of Israel and said unto them draw out and take a Lamb according to your Families and kill the Passover and ye shall take a bunch of Hysop and dip it in the Blood that is in the basin and sprinkle the lintle and the two side-Posts of the door with the Blood and none of you shall go out of doors until the Morning ver 22 23. The Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians and when he sees the Blood upon the lintles and Posts he will not suffer the Destroyer to come into your Houses to smite you and ye shall observe 〈◊〉 thing as an Ordinance for thee and thy Seed forever ver 24. And it shall come to pass when the Children shall say unto you whâ—t means this Service ye shall say it is the Sacrifice of the Lord 's Passeover who passed over our Houses in Egypt and smoteâ— the Egyptians And this was the Ordinance which was performed and this is that Passeover which Christ sent his Disciples to prepare according to the time Prescribed because it became him to fulfil all Righteousness and he being not yet Sacrificed up the Offering was not ended but now he being offered up this is to be Witnessed in the Spirit and in the Hearts of his People who were marked and bear his Spot when a destroyer comes to Execute vengeance upon the Wicked he passes over his Seed which bears his Image And when Christ came with the twelve and sate down in the place appointed in the even the same Night he was betrayed And he said unto them I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I Suffer Luke 22.15 17 19. And he took Bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave it unto them saying this is my Body which is given for you 〈◊〉 do in Remembrance of me likewise the Cup after Supper saying this is the Cup of the New-Testament for you in my Blood ver 20. and this he gave as a Sign and a token to the Disciples that as often as they did eat the Bread and drink the Cup they should remember him and it should show forth his Deâ—th till he came again and this was Practised by the Disciples according as Christ had said unto them therefore the Apostle said 1 Cor. 11.23 That I received of the Lord that delivered I unto you that the Lord Jesus the same Night he was betrayed took Bread and brake it and said take eat this is my Body which is broken for you after the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying this Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood this do ye as often as ye do it in remembrance of me ver 24 25. For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye shew forth his Death till he comes and so he putteth them upon Examination ver 28. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of this Bread and drink of this cup ver 29. For he that eats and drinâ—s unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lord's Body But Believers grew in the Knowledge of the Mystery which was revealed through the Spirit and came to see beyond these outward things and things visible 2 Cor. 4.28 While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things that are seen are Temporal but the things that are not seen are eternal So that which was given for a sign to be observed in remembrance of Christ till he came was visible to wit the Bread and the Cup which he gave to the Disciples at Supper which they were exercised in for some time in the time of Weakness while their Eyes and minds were much outward but they came to look at things which are beyond time and things they saw which are not seen in time but things that were Eternal and this they fed upon and so the Corinthians grew up in the Life and knew the Flesh of Christ and his Blood and they did eat his Flesh and drink his Blood and had Life in them now they which eat his Flesh and drink his Blood need nothing to put them in Memory of that which they
for if thou dost thou shalt be as Dust before the Wind the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and he will perform his Promise For this is that I look for at thy Hands saith the Lord that thou shouldst undo the heavy Burdens and let the oppressed go free are not many shut up in prison and some stocked some stoned some shamefully intreated and some are judged Blasphemers by those who know not the Lord and by those Laws which have been made by the VVill of man and stand not in the Will of God and some suffer now because they cannot hold up the types and so deny Christ come in the flesh and some have been shut up in Prison because they could not swear and because they abide in the Doctrine of Christ and some for declaring against Sin openly in Markets have suffered as evil-doers and now if thou let them suffer in this Nature by those Laws and count it just I will visit for those things saith the Lord and I vvill break the Yoke from off their necks and I vvill bring Deliverance another VVay and thou shalt knovv that I am the Lord. Moved of the Lord to declare and write this by a Servant of the Truth for Jesus's sake and a Lover of thy Soul called Francis Howgil AN ANSVVER TO A PAPER CALLED A Petition of one Thomas Ellyson late Shepherd of Easington in the County of Durham to his Highness the Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and to all Emperors Kings and Princes through the World THere are many in the County of Durham that knovv that thou hast been a Shepherd lately enough and see thee vvhat thou hast been and vvhere thou hast been and vvhere thou art novv and knovv thee to be one in Nature vvith those Shepherds vvhich the Lord sent Ezekiel Isaiah and Jeremiah to cry against vvho feed themselves vvith the Fat and clothe themselves vvith the Wooll and that thou art one of those Shepherds that cares not for the Sheep and art in the Nature of one of those Shepherds vvhich the true Prophets cryed against vvhich vvere as Evening Wolves and as Foxes in the Desart And for the simples sake I am moved to lay open thy Deceit that thou art one of those Foxes thou speakest of vvhich hath Fire in their Tails and thou art made manifest to be of old Cain's Nature that old murthering Spirit and vvith thy flattering Titles which thou givest unto Men and hast Mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage and thou art born after the Flesh the Son of the bond-vvoman vvho art petitioning to me that they may abuse their Povver and exalt themselves over the Heritage of God and thou that vvouldst have Lavvs to bind the Consciences of men to walk after thy Will thou art Anti-christ vvho art petitioning the Povvers of the Earth to make Lavvs to limit the Holy One of Israel But blessed be the Lord the Day is come that thou and all Deceivers Persecutors and Flatterers are discovered and many see thee among Magistrates that thy Spirit is the same that vvould command Fire to come dovvn from Heaven to have destroyed them vvho vvould not receive them First Thou sayest That Moses who was a Commander over all Israel that he was appointed to bear the People in his Bosome as a nursing Father and thou say'st thou art a Cryer for the Remembrance of those things that all might be carryed in their Arms now and thou goest on and tellest them that God will require the Government of his Church at their Hands Rep. Moses vvho vvas faithful and true over the House of God vvho vvas a Figure of Christ he did receive the Lavv from the mouth of the Lord he acted in Righteousness and vvhen Eldad and Madad prophesied he vvas not angry as thou art but desired that all the Lord's People vvere Prophets and all vvho vvait upon the Lord to receive the Lavv of God from his mouth novv and vvalk in the same they have the same Spirit and they vvill not limit the holy One But thy Cry that thou callest for is that thou would'st have them who are in Moses 's stead as thou say'st they are for to limit the Holy One and thou art the Deceiver the Apostle speaks of vvhich art gone into the World vvho vvould'st persvvade the Magistrates that they must govern the Church and so thou vvould'st have this Generation of Rulers to be dashed in Pieces as all the Generations have been before them in exalting themselves in the Seat of Christ when as the Prophet saith The Government is upon Christ's Shoulders and the Scripture saith He alone treads the Wine-press And therefore whosoever will assume unto themselves to govern the Church by an outward visible carnal Law shall be as sure to be broken as all the rest The Church is in God and is invisible and that which is visible and natural cannot make any Law to bind that which is unlimited but they if they do go about to limit the Holy One of Israel and would set themselves in his Seat of Judgment and take away his Glory which he will not give to any and all such as have made any Laws in their own Wills to limit Sons and Daughters they have all been broken as the Scripture witnesseth every where and therefore let all Governours in England Scotland and Ireland and all the World to whom thou writest take heed how they set themselves in the room of God and lay Yoaks upon the Necks of them who are free by the Son and are brought by the Power of the Lord from under the Breach of all righteous Laws or transgressing any which are holy and just for the Law is for the lawless the Law is not for them who are in Righteousness but the Law is for the Transgressors who are in Unrighteousness and they are those that act by that Spirit which dwells in thee who would levy Troops for the Innocent and art vvroth and thy Countenance falls like Cain and hates thy Brethren and would have a Lavv made over the Conscience and vvould have the Povvers of the Earth to abuse their Povver in turning their Svvords against them vvho live in Righteousness and declare against Unrighteousness And further thou goest on and tellest them This was a Law given to Adam and so thou pervertest the Scripture by thy Imaginations Where readest thou of such a Lavv given to Adam that he compelled his Family to Religion And further thou sayest Which Care of Government is in great neglect in this Nation upon respect to tender Consciences sundry Sects and Sorts of Schismaticks are suffered unsuppressed and they sacrifice to Dan and Bethel And thou goest on and tellest the Nobles that it lies upon their score that they should suppress them Answ. That vvhich vvas given to a particular Family or People vvhich vvas for its time is not everlasting So any that take up any Rule vvithout them to act by act not by Precept but
Riches Honour Dignity and Dominion Strength Wisdom and Goodness Fulness Satisfaction Eternal Treasure Durable Riches Infiniteness is his Name forever unexpressibly I am filled with his Love and Power he opens the Windows of Heaven he rains his Showrs as Silver Drops and as fine Myrrhe as sweet Odours he nourishes the Young he carries the Lambs in his Arms of Love he drives gently them that are with Young he is true and faithful forever he keeps Covenant he is long-suffering and kind who can declare his Power I am lost in the incomprehensible Being of Eternal Love Oh my dear Ones come up hither Fellow-Citizens of Jerusalem which is from above who is our Mother which few know but you who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life sound forth his Praise trumpet forth his Power declare his Name among the People that it may sound into the Eears of Generations to come this is he we have waited for this is he who hath begotten us to himself to reign with him the Lamb upon Mount Sion as Kings and Priests and Judges of the Prince of Darkness Death and Hell forever Salvation Honour and Glory be to him forever eternal infinite Praises Praises to him forever who was dead and is alive and lives for evermore KING OF KINGS forever Majesty Glory and Power and eternal Renown are in his right Hand forever his redeemed Ones live forever dwell follow live in him forever no Beast can touch the Mountain where he dwells but he dyes forever Come away my beloved Ones drink abundantly and be Refreshed and praise his Name forever Eternally I am shed and spilt among you never so as now never to be separated out of the Eternal Oneness sound forth his Praise declare his Word let it go forth as Thunder let the Heathen bow let the Princes of this World fall and the Kings worship at his Feet forever let the Disputer's Tongue Cleave to the Roof of his Mouth forever let all Flesh keep silence forever Babylon is fallen and become the Habitation of Devils forever the judge of all the World hath Confounded and cursed her Language forever God is risen and sits upon his Throne eternal Wisdom is come and the Ancient of Dayes all carnal shall be Confounded stop all Mouths in the Dust forever Eternity shall speak and judge forever whom he binds is bound forever whom he looseth is loosed forever whom he remits are remitted the Devil is chained the Grave gives up her dead and the Sea and Hell all is judged by him that lives forever O beloved Ones who are the Children of my eternal Father who have eaten at his Table and drunken of the new Wine in the Kingdom of God who are nourished and dandled upon the Lap of everlasting Love who suck at the Breasts of everlasting Consolation your Beauty is comely I am ravished I am filled I am filled with Love to you all I am sick of Love your Beauty hath ravished my Heart come sit down my dear Lambs together in the Fold where no Wolf can come and let us rejoyce together and sound forth his Praise who hath washed us and cleansed us and covered us and made us worthy to enter into the Fold the Bride-chamber to eat with him of the Bread of Life forever at the eternal Table of Life the Bridegroom is come Friends of him I know you rejoyce greatly because of his Voice And now my dear beloved Ones follow him for evermore in the eternal Light and Life where we were bred brought forth and nourished and are unknown to all the World but me you know and I know you in one who is the Condemnation of the world and in him I meet you and leave you in his Arms I lye down with you in the bosom of eternal Love Life Peace Joy and Rest forever where none can make us afraid My Name ye know my Voice ye know this is to all my beloved Brethren who are redeemed from the Earth Francis Howgil Bandon in Ireland the 7 th Moneth 1655. THE INHERITANCE OF JACOB DISCOVERED AFTER HIS RETURN OUT OF AEGYPT And the leading of the Lord to the Land of Promise declared and some Information of the VVay thither Or a Word of Exhortation to all Professors in England Scotland and Ireland and to all the World where this shall come wherein the common Salvation is declared in which the Saints believed and Deceit discovered and made manifest Also a few Words of Exhortation to the Rulers of England and Ireland AWAKE Oh Sion who hath long sitten in the Dust in Sorrow and Bitterness and hath been covered with Ashes and none hath had Compassion upon thee but all the Kings and mighty men of the Earth who have worshipped the Beast and received his Mark and committed Fornication with the Whore who sits upon many Waters which is full of Abomination and the Cup in her hand have all the men of the Earth drunken of and are made drunk and stagger and now glory in their Abominations and Oh Sion despise thy Virginity and thy Situation and have pulled down thy Towers and made thee as a desolate Widow and have gone over thee and trampled upon thy Glory and have made merry over thee and have slain thy Sons and Daughters in the streets even in Babylon where the Whore sits as a Queen and in Sodom and Egypt with whom they are joyned where the Witnesses lie slain But the time of thy Deliverance is come and the Years of thy Captivity are up Arise Oh Virgin who art not defiled who couldst not joyn with the Daughter of Babylon in her Whoredoms Therefore they have mocked thee and wagged their heads at thee and have said in their Hearts who shall deliver thee Arise shine forth put on thy beautifull Garments behold thy King cometh in his Glory who will adorn thee and crown thee with a royall Diadem in the Sight of â—hine Enemies who have reproached thee and thy reproach shall be taken away for thy Seed shall be as the Stars in multitude yea they that have spoiled thee shall be spoiled and they that have destroyed thee shall be destroyed for the King is coming out of his Tent yea he hath lifted up his Standard against all that have spoiled thee yea the destroyer is come up against Babylon and Egypt shall tremble and the Philistines Hearts shall fail for Fear and all the Cananites shall be cast out and this shall be performed by the Lord of Hosts the God of Jacob who is now arisen in his Jealousie and it burns as Fire against all the Inhabitants of the Earth and the Sea who have joyned their Strength together against the Inheritance of the Lord Rejoyce for evermore all that love his Appearance and who have waited for him he is come and coming to take Vengeance upon his and your Adversaries for he hath a Sacrifice in Babylon to perform even to cut off all her Children who have despised thee oh Sion Arm your selves oh
and walk in his Fear and have the Shield of Faith by which they are defended from the Enemy of their Souls and his Temptations are resisted and the fiery Darts quenched and so the Enemies come to be subdued and this Faith is present Power against all Sin and all that keep in it out of Doubts and Distrusts and Consultations and Murmurings come to be preserved and all that have this Faith do believe the overcoming of all Sin and walk from Faith to Faith and they are daily renewed in the Lord's Strength and come to have Victory as they keep in it and so remain in the true Rest with God forever which none that live in Sin shall ever come to attain unto A Word to all the Ministers of the World in all Opinions and Sects and to all your People in every Sect. THE Lord is risen in his Glory and is arising in his Power to tread down the Mountains all Nations make way make way and all ye Isles be removed all ye high Walls fall down and all ye strong Towers be rent asunder all ye strong Gates fly open ye fenced Cities fall ye mighty Men of Valour bow your Hands shall grow feeble you mighty Warriours for the Prince of Darkness a Day of sore Distress is coming upon you the Princes of Tyre shall no more rejoyce ye Dukes of Edom shall fall by the Edge of the Sword ye Daughters of the Philistines shall no more rejoyce nor ye Daughters of Moab who have been at Ease from your Youth shall no more take Pleasure in your Delicacies for the Earth is growing thin and feeble where all your Renown and Glory lay the Root is cursed from whence your Joy hath sprung God is risen and blasting all with the Breath of his Mouth and Darkness shall cover all your Pavilions and Leanness shall cover your Faces who have rejoyced at the Captivity of the holy Seed for now is he arising as a Gyant that runs his course and shall tread down the Earth and Blast all its glory and will fan the Nations and all the Uncircumcised in Heart shall be as Chaff for now is the Lord bringing his determination upon the whole Earth to cut down all the Gods of Gold and Silver and spoil all your pleasant Pictures and Images which stand in the Earth which you have worshipped in your Hearts yea the Lord of Life hath a Sacrifice in Babylon to perform to confound her Languages which are many and to slay all her Children in the Place where they have slain the Seed of the free-born Wo is me what will become of you ye Shepherds who have nourished People into the Nature of Swine and led into the Nature of Dogs and have driven away the Sheep from the Fold and have begotten nothing but Subtilty and Deceit in Peoples Minds have made them wise to do evil and subtil to deceive and cunning to turn away from Righteousness yea many of their Ears you have bored and they have sold themselves to be Bond-slaves unto you and to their Lusts forever a woful Reckoning will you make to the Lord of Heaven and Earth who is coming to take an Account of all what they have done and brought and what Sheep they have gathered in the Bill is drawn against you all you Hirelings the Cup of Vengeance will be your Reward not one Lamb have you brought into the Bosome of the Father nor one Sheep into the Fold but have scattered them so that by deceiving them so long with your strange Voice they have forgot the true Shepherd's voice for into a Wolfe's Nature you have nourished them and they are become wild and now love no Fold no Bond nor Limit but love to lye down with you upon the Mountains of Iniquity Pride Lust and Deceit where all the wild Beasts of the Field play and they are all gone out of the Way into the crooked Pathes of Unrighteousness and they follow your Example who lead them and this will be proved against all you Shepherds who are idle who love the Fleece and feed upon the Fat and seek for your Gain from your Quarter the Blood of Souls will be your Charge guilty will you all be found your Mouthes stopped the Light in your Consciences shall be the Lord's Witness bound will you be and cast into Darkness And you that have set up your selves to be Teachers who pretend Separation from the World who have run in your Wills and have gathered to Worship an Image with a more beautiful Face you are strong you are fat you shine you are full you appear as Oracles at which them that seek after Knowledge seek unto you are painted over with Names and Colours and appear of a comely Hue your Cup is golden and beautiful to behold to the earthly Wisdom and desirable to drink of yea many have drunk of it and are drinking of it and they come to grow tall and strong as Horses in Battel and as rampant as Lyons and as Behemoth who thinks he can drink Jordan dry But one thing you have left behind you and that is the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God Now is the Lord coming to fan you and to weigh you how came you hither to tell of Justification and of being saved by the Righteousness of Christ when you will not own the Simplicity of the Gospel nor the meek Principle to guide you into the Lamb's Nature your flock is not so speckled as the former and yet they feed in the same Pasture where Knowledge the Tree of Knowledge is the food which nourishes them into a strange Nature and turns them farther into Degeneration Wo is me for you all who are leaders and you who are thus led upon the left Hand among the Goats you will be turned who hate the still small voice that you cannot abide to hear in you therefore you are erred for lack of true Knowledge and you shall go into Captivity with them that go into Captivity for you have lost the Key of Knowledge and you are setting up and seeking to open with another thing then the Key of David but you must either have that or else where the Saints Life is you cannot come although you are reaching at it with your sensual Wisdom but farther it flees from you Oh! when will ye be weary of feeding upon Ashes of Wind and Air which puffs up your fleshly Minds when will ye seriously consider what ye enjoy of God and what you possess of him are you not lost in your selves in and about that which you account a great Part of Obedience unto your God Are not some of you who are called baptized Persons differing about the form some baptizing into this some into that some sprinkling some dipping some plunging where is your Example for these things nay do not the most of you conclude no Salvation without it although in Words some of you will deny it And as for that you call your Supper and
to magnifie the glorious commendation of Martyrs made a Statute that a yearly Oblation should be had in memorial of them and Gregory would that Mass should be said over their Tombs or Graves now Priests read the original of your service over the Graves of the dead and see if this be Apostolical The Fast of Wednesday and Fryday was appointed the one day Christ was crucified and on Wednesday Judas purposed in his Mind to betray him Gregory was he that ordained that neither Flesh Gregory appointed nor any thing that had affinity with it as Cheese Milk Butter Eggs should not be eaten on such days as were Fasts and here came in this Doctrine of Devils Soul-mass-day this was begun by Odilo that was Provost or Provincial of Cluniacensis Order upon the Occasion he heard about Etna the burning Mountain of Sicily oftentimes great Lamentations and Cryings and Weepings were heard which he supposed to be the Weepings of evil Spirits that bewailed because the Souls of dead men were taken from them by the Petitions and Sacrifices of well-disposed Christians therefore he appointed his Covent to make a general Oblation for All-Souls the next Day after the Feast of All-Saints and this great Institution was ordained about the Year 1002. and so all whose Eyes God hath opened will see all this Heap of Invention hath been practisee since the Beast rose out of the Sea and the Whore hath sate upon the Waters which is since the Apostles Dayes CHAP. X. Concerning Priests Vestures and Belâ—s which are practised among Christians as Apostolick Institutions THE Jews high Priests had Vestments and the rest of the Priests who offered Sacrifices and Oblations at the Temple and Tabernacle Lev. â— 6 7 8 9. 13. And Aaron the Priest had a Coat girded with a Girdle and clothed him with a Robe and put a linnen Ephod upon him and put a Breast-plate upon him and a Mitre upon his Head and Aaron's Sons had Coats with Girdles and Bonnets as was commanded by the Lord and in chap. 16.4 and he put on a linnen Coat and linnen Breeches with a Coat and Mitre and girded it with a Linnen Girdle and these were the holy Garments and these Garments were to be put off in the Holy Place and divers other Garments and Vestments which were worn by the Priest about the Temple-Worship and Sacrifice which were Shadows of better things and of more holy Garments but this was in the first Covenant that made nothing perfect which was faulty and was to continue until the time of Reformation But Christ being come and offered up all Shadows had an End and they preached up the everlasting Offering and him who offered up himself once for all Now Christ sent out his Disciples without great Provision as to Attire for they were to take neither Staff nor Sâ—rip nor Shoes nor Money nor Brass in their Purses and yet they were to go among them that were like Wolves renting and tearing devouring and destroying and there was no great Likelihood of obtaining any earthly thing from such while in that Nature but the Apostles liâ—ed by Faith Mat. 10.9 10. and Luke 10.3 4. and they were not to take two Coats and the Apostle in his Travails was often in Necessities in Hunger and Cold and Nakedness and did not go in costly Array nor in disguised Habits but in his old Age wore sometimes a Cloak among the Churches which he sent for to Troas an ordinary Garment 2 Cor. 4 8 9 10. 6.4 to ver 11. 2 Tim. 4.13 and John the Baptist who was a great Prophet had a Coat made of Hair and a leathern Girdle about his Lyons Mat. 2.3 and the primitive Christians wandered up and down in Sheep-Skins and Goat-skins being destitute of whom the World was not worthy Heb. 11.37 38. But after the Apostles Decease deceitful Workers and evil Beasts and they that abode not in the Doctrine and Ordinances of Christ went out into the World and the World went after them and so lost both Power and Form of Godliness and invented things some from the Heathen and much from the Priests under the Law Sextus the first commanded that the Corporis should be of linnen Cloath only and that of the finest and purest and forbad that Lay-men should handle the hallowed Vessels and namely Women were prohibited hallowing the Priests Vestures and Altars and Cloathes Diversity of Vestures of sundry Orders were much what taken from the Example of the Hebrew Priesthood was practised and ordained by Stephen Bishop of Rome and Sabinianus decreed first that the People should be assembled together to hear Service at certain hours by ringing of Bells and John the 22d Bishop of Rome ordained that Bells should be tolled every day three times and that then every man should say three times Ave-Mary as Polidore saith Lib. 6. The Invention of Bells was from Imitation of the Hebrews because the high Priest had in the Skirts of his uppermost Garments little Bells to ring when he was in the holy Place within the Vail And the Banners and Trophies which are hung up in Churches were taken from the Heathen which did bear them to signifie the conquest of their Enemies these have been set up in the Churches so called by some of the Bishops of Rome to declare as they said the Triumph of Christ over Death and Hell Now all Nations who are called Christians look to your original and from whence these Practices have risen and those things are continued even amongst the Protestant Churches are either from the Jews or from the Heathen or from the apostatized Bishop of Rome long after the days of the Apostles and so these Hoods and Surplices and Caps and Bonnets and Cowls and Tippets and Miters and Canonnical-Coats and Girdles and divers strange attires it is like to prove these things we must have Aaron's Breeches brought in and the linnen Ephod and his Son's Girdles and Coats and Bonnets and the high Priest's Mitre and all these Candlesticks for a Gospel-proof CHAP. X. Concerning Mattens and â—inging of Pâ—alms by course in musical Tunes and Supplications and short Prayers called Letany THE Jews under the Law had many Officers which belonged to the Temple-Worship among which were Singers as the Sons of Corah and the Sons of Asâ—ph and Eâ—rahites and the chief Musicians c. and divers Psalms were given forth by the Spirit of God by David and others upon several occasions sometimes after Victories and sometimes when he felt the Presence of God and the working of his Power and who were Eye-witnesses of his wondrous Works as the rest of Israel were many times as at the Dedication of the Temple and also when they came out of captivity Neh. 7.44 12.27.42 43. Psal. 149.3 150.3 4. and all these singers of Songs pertain to the Temple and the first Covenant and to that Priesthood which could not continue by reason of the Faultiness thereof Heb. 8.7
helpers in the Work of the Gospel and all that were ordained were ordained by the holy Ghost although it is true they had the consent of the Brethren and the church in that thing and there were also Deacons ordained which served to look to the Widows and for the Ministration of the poor and these were faithful men and had also a Gift Stephen was one full of the holy Ghost and these were helps unto the Apostles also there were some faithful Widows who were Examples to the younger Women and to instruct them and to be Patterns unto them and were as a Body knit together in Love and served the Lord and strengthned one another in the Faith and served one another in Love and all these forementioned served the Lord freely and willingly and not for Rewards and Gifts and Benefices and earthly things â—n short this was the State and Glory of the church in that time and these are the Minâ—sters we read of in the primitive times But since the Apostacy hath entred in and the power of Godlinesâ— hath been denyed there is such a numberless number of Names crept in we never heard of them and so many Offices and yet none of that Work done which the ministers of Christ did but certain new invented things â—rought in for Worship and Service and the Power despised and men seeking Offices and great Titles and great Benefits and great Revenues and the Heritage of God is laid waste and the Earth become like a Wilderness unplanted with good and the Sheep and scattered And so all may compare these ensuing Names and Offices with the Apostles dayes and the primitive Church and see if they be alike First of all the Pope his Holiness Christ's Vicar Universal Bishop Metropolitane Bishop Lord Cardinals which were but Priests at the first ordained to baptize the Heathen who came to Rome when the Seat thereof began to be had in Honour but now they are swelled big and become Princes and the only Men to govern States also Monks of divers Orders and Fryars of divers Orders Hierom's order of Austin's Order Gregory's order Carmalite Fryars Cross or Crouchet Fryars of Dominiâ—â—s order of St. Francis's order Bennet's order and all of these orders sprâ—â—g up and were ordained in the midnight of darkness within this four hundred Years at the most as were easily proved and Trinity order and Brigandine order of Jesuites and Hermits and Anthony's order and Clunisencies order and Nuns sprung up first of one St. Clara one order then Brigidia a widow to the time of Urban the fifth in the Year 1370. And all these kind of orders were destitute of the true order of the primitive Church and their Service was appointed by them that ordained them and these practised the patched Inventions that were given them for Worship which have not concord with the primitive Doctrine but borrowed from the Jews or Heathen all these kind of Offices and Officers have been acting their parts this many years and have led People into superstitious Blindness and further from the Lord then ever But to come to the reformed Churches so called and there is so many Officers and Names but few that do accord with the Apostles times either in Name or Nature as Metropolitan-Bishops Arch-Bishops Lord-Bishops we heard not of Lord Timothy or Lord Titus Bishops before mentioned but to come on to other orders Arch-Deacons Deans and Chapters Preâ—enâ—â— and these must attend on some old superstitious Buildings call'd Cathedrals or Minsters and there perform a Service somewhat like the former and these are enjoyned their Service like the Levites and Priests of old by turns and course as once in a moneth or two it may be and have a hundred or two hundred pounds in the year for the same and hardly stir from thence till they dye except some greater advance offer it self also Commâ—ssaries Procters and Apparetors and these are subsâ—rvient to the former then Chancellors Vice-chancellors Doctors of Divinity Batâ—hellâ—rs of Divintty Doctors of Art Masters of Art Batchellors of Art Graduates Under-Graduates and these belong to the former then Prelates Parsins Vicars Priests Curates and Church-Wardens all which Titles and Names and Officers if they be but compared with the Scripture there will be hardly any parallel either concerning Office Work or Doctrine And notwithstanding all these Orders and Sorts who are fitted by humane Learning or natural Study though divers years exercised therein are not skilled in the Word of Righteousness neither have the Tongue of the learned to administer a Word in Season to the weary nor to turn the Sinner from his Sins and thus the Form of things Titles and Names are holden up but who seek after the Power of God or to be made able Ministers of the Spirit Litteral Ministers enough while maintenance lasts but the Ministâ—â—tion of the Spirit few are acquainted with and if there be any such it is well if he be not persecuted so in that which I have said the understanding will see that there hath been a great Apostacy since the Apostles dâ—yes in the Ministry in Doctrine in Worship and Practice divers of which I have touched upon to the Intent that they that enquire after the Lord may depart out of the midst of Ignorance and come to worship Gâ—d in Spirit and Truth and in the Temple made without hands and be joyned to the Church which is in God which the Gates of Hell prevail not against though many will claim Authority from the Apostles few will own their Life neither walk after their Example so take but a few more Institutions which are called Apostolick to this Day among them called Christian Churches Cletus the third Bishop of Rome was the first that wrote this Title that is Greeting and Apostolick blessing he ordained the order of Priesthood Everastus the fifth Bishop of Rome ordained that Priests should be honoured and that they should be shaven Alexander the sixth Bishop of Rome ordained that Matrimony should be only solemnized and that the married should be blessed with the Priest there was the beginning of being married by Priests Sixtus about the year 114. after Christ the seventh Bishop of Rome ordained holy water and ordered that it should be strowed abroad in christian Houses and when the People met to worship Telesphorus the eight Bishop of Rome ordained that the communion should be laid upon an Altar and that lay-People should not touch the holy Vessels nor the holy Garments of the Priests he ordained Lent which was to be kept by the Clergy in the year one hundred forty two Higinus the nineth Bishop ordained the Communion to be celebrated three times at Christmas and that Lent should be fasted Pius about the year 147. after Christ the tenth Bishop ordained that chrisme should be ministred as baptism and that children should have God-fathers and God-mothers here was the beginning of this great Ordinance and he ordained that Easter-day should be kept on
if the Proconsul would appoint a Day to hear it so at that time it seems Christians did not swear as afterwards they did in the Apostacy And Basilides a Souldier and afterwards a Martyr being required to swear affirmed plainly that it was not lawful for him to swear for that he was a Christian so it seems that it was the mark of a Christian not to swear And the Waldenses or Leonists whose Names are so famous amongst the reformed churches and who are said immediately to succeed the Apostles and were the most ancient and true Protestants professed it to be nâ— way lawful for a Christian to swear In defence of whom in this very thing Bishop Usher late Bishop of Argmagh Primate of Ireland pleaded their cause against the Papists and Jesuits who are the Swearers and Breakers of Oaths and yet plead for Swearing And the Plowâ—man in his Prayer which is so much esteemed of and commended in the Book of Martyrs saith Lord thâ—â— givest us a Commandment of Truth in bidding us say yea yea and nay nay and swear for nothing thou givest us also a Commandment of Meekness and another of Poorness but Lord he that calls hâ—mself thy Vicar on Earth hath broken both these Commandments for he maketh a Law to compel men to swear Fol. 585. And it is one of John Wickliff's Articles whose Works were as much esteemed of by the Protestants in England and Bohemâ—a as despised by the Papists and their Clergy having his Bones taken up and burned forty one years after his Decease and his Books and these Articles condemned by the Council of Constance who also burned John Hus and Jerome of Prague for holding John Wickliff's Opinions That Oaths which be made for any Contract or civil Bargain betwixt man and man be unlawful And Walter Brute a Teacher among the People of God in that Age by Scorners called the Devil's Servants called Lollards against whom the Pope and the King Richard the second and then the ungodly Bishops make so much ado to have the Name of Truth extinguished and the Professors thereof cut off This is Walter 's Testimony As concerning Oaths I believe and obey the Doctrine of Almighty God and my Master Christ Jesus which teacheth that Christian-men in affirmation of a truth should pass the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees of the old Testament or else he excludeth them from the Kingdom of Heaven for he saith except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and as concerning Oaths he saith It hath been said of old time thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform those things unto the Lord thou knowest but I say unto you thou shalt not swear at all neithâ—r by Heaven nor by Earth c. but let your Communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more then this cometh of Evil therefore as the perfeâ—tion of Ancient men of the old Testament was not to forswear themselves so the perfecâ—iâ—n of Christian-men is not to swear at all because they are so commanded of Christ who 〈◊〉 Commandment in no Case must be broken although the City of Rome is câ—ntrary to this Doctrine of Christ c. A good Testimony of a blessed Martyr Here it appeareth that the Swearing which Christ forbids is not only prophane swearing in the communication for that was forbidden in the Law where it is said Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain c. but solemn Swearing which was to be performed and that was the Perfection of the Law and Kings and Princes may take warning by this King Richard not to fulfill the cruel and bloody Desires of their Prelates And Chrysostom who was Bishop of Constaninople in câ—mmendation of whom much is said in the ecclesiastical Histories he blameth them greatly that brâ—ng fâ—rth a Book to swear upon charging Clerks that in no wise they constrain any Body to swear whether they think a man swear true or false saying that it is a Sin to swear well now I mentioned before that it was an Emperor commanded first that men should swear by a Book and this Chrysostome reproves so hereby it may be seen by these Examples it is no new Doctrine to deny all swearing and there hath been a People very many years in the low Countries that have denyed swearing in any matter therefore their yea and nay stands in Courts of Judicature equal with an Oath they being men generally of known Integrity whose yea is yea and nay nay in all Places and Matters If they that despised Moses 's Law died without Mercy of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall they be thought worthy of who tread under Foot the Son of God c. and disobey his Commands and teach others so to do they shall be shut out of the Kingdom of God and have no part with the obedient who keep Christ's commands through Temptations and Sufferings and are not offended at them neither count them grievous they only are happy and shall inherit everlasting Life Likewise Jerome who was an ancient Father and Teacher in the Church which the Protestants own upon that place Mat. 5.37 and James 5.12 these are his Words It was permitted under the Law to the Jews as being tender and as it were Infants that as they were to offer Sacrifices to God lest they should sacrifice to Idols so they might swear by God not that iâ— was rightful so to do but because it was better to swear by the Lord then by false Gods and Devils but thâ— great Evangelical sincerity and Truth admits not of an Oath since every true Saying is equivalent thereunto In like maner doth Theophilact an ancient Father of the Church whom the Protestants own and have often cited his Doctrine for proof upon the place in controversie saith Learn hence that then under the Law it was not evil for one to swear but since the coming of Christ it is evil as is Circumcision and in sum whatsoever is Judaical for it may become Child to suck but not a Man So that Oaths pertained to the Jews who were under the changeable Covenant and the mutable Covenant which continued but for a time till the Seed Christ the Oath of God was revealed here he is revealed and witnessed all the Judaical Types and Figures and changeable Ordinances have an End Likewise Ambrose upon Psal. 118. he saith None doth swear aright but he that knows what he swears and the Lord hath sworn and will not repent Psalm 110. Ambrose saith Let him then swear that cannot repent of his Oath and a little after the said Ambrose saith Do not imitate him in swearing whom we cannot imitate in fulfilling And indeed the principal Solution given by him is Swear not at all And the aforesaid Waldenses who condemned all manner of swearing as unlawful they made it their care to avoid swearing and
from Sea to Sea that all that wait for him and love his Appearance now when he is made manifest might rejoyce in his Goodness and Life and may be made glad as Zeâ—ulon and Nephtali beyond Jordan in the Dayes of old upon whom sprung up a marvelous Light that the whole Earth might be filled with his Praise and Glory that hath been filled with Darkness Violence and Cruelty in the time of the Devil and Anti-christ's Reign which hath been long and great in the Earth so that the Hearts of the Sons of Men have been corrupted and they are gone backward from the Lord and have been degenerated into a strange Nature and have brought forth evil and corrupt Fruit like that of Sodom and they that do Evil are not at all ashamed neither do they blush but are become impudent through the long Custom of Evil and hard and impenetrable upon whom the Hammer of the Lord must come and his Indignation be poured forth But you whom God hath called out of this Estate into a State of Redemption and Purity by his Son the Light of the World who hath illuminated the Eyes of your Minds Consciences and Understandings that you might bear Witness unto him that is true a Testimony against the World that lyes in Wickedness and pleads for it and lives in it as though it were the Way to Felicity hold fast your Liberty hold fast your Faith hold fast your Hope hold fast your Testimony let none take your Crown and so much the more as you are compassed with Temptations and the times be perilous so much the more you had all need to keep near the Lord for now Father would betray the Son and Sâ—n the Father the Mother her Daughter and the Daughter her Mother and Brother and Kinsfolk betray one another and them that exercise Authority would betray who are not in the Power of God and through Flattâ—ry and Threats and fair Promises and Frowns and Gifts and Rewards and Ease and Liberty and the Glory of the World and whaâ— not to lead your Hearts away from the Lord and then glory over you and rejoyce that your Feet should slip and you fall into the Mire and Dirt and gross Abominations and Pollutions of the World that lyes in Wickedness Dearly beloved nâ—ver heed none of those things let not the Philistines put out your Eyes nor damm up your Wells for then would they mâ—ke you grind like Sampson and you might perish in the Drouâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Look of Moisture and then your Dayes would be miserable and 〈◊〉 Yeâ—rs full of Sorrow for the Lord will perfâ—rm 〈◊〉 Promise and 〈…〉 with them that keep Covenant with him but if you forsake him in your Hâ—arts in what is made manifest then he will forsake you and then 〈◊〉 are left to the Mercy of your Adversary which will be cruel Therefore 〈◊〉 the Pride of Moab nor the Reviling of the Children of Ammâ—n 〈◊〉 thâ—â— are uncircumcised in Heart and the Moth shall eâ—t them up aâ— a 〈◊〉 Oh! if any draw back from following of the Lamb through Suffâ—ring they will be smitten and the Lord will have no Pleasure in them and what will Amaleck say when Israel turn their Backs in the day of Battel but where is their God in whom they trusted and he that brought them forth was not able to deliver them to the End Oh that such things might never be spoken of now in Gath or Ashkelon as in the dayes of old lest the Sons of the Philistines triumph and the Daughters thereof rejoyce in their Wickedness and this would make the Hearts of the Israel of God to mourn this is the day of the Lamb's War indeed in our Age and a Day of Battel though his Weapons and his Followers be not carnal but spiritual and there is none that goeth to War doth entangle himself that hath a Purpose to hold out and is resolved to continue with him in his Sufferings but will shake off these things that incumber lest he should not obtain the Victory and come short of the Promise Victory Crown which all that endure Hardship to the End shall receive Oh dear Friends look above all visible things and stand out of them all and loose from them that the Enemy do not ensnare you what is not the Earth the Lord's and the Fulness thereof and hath not he given the utmost Part of the Earth for a Possession to his Son What was not Abraham our Father blessed when he was faithful and obeyed the Voice of the Lord and went out of his own Country he knew not whether was not the Lord with him whether ever he went and his Blessing upon him where he sojourned in a strange Land did not God intreat him kindly in Mesopotamia and among the Hittites and was not he loved and feared among his Enemies Was not John the beloved and faithful Disciple of Christ banished into Patmos for the Testimony that he held Was not Shadrach Mesach and Abednego Children of the Captivity cast into the Furnace and Daniel too among the Lyons for the Testimony they held against the common Worship of Nations commanded by a Law Did Christ endure the Death of the Cross and the Contradiction of Sinners and condemned by the most Did not the believing Hebrews who were banished wander in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins in Holes Dens and Caves of the Earth for the Hope they held and the Country they looked for Did not Moses through Faith forsake Pharaoh's Court and became a Companion of poor Brick-makers in Captivity A Cloud of Witnesses might be brought even of them who dyed in the Faith and yet were not made Partakers of the Promises who many of them saw not what you have seen nor heard those things that you have heard nor enjoyed that which God hath made many Partakers of and have we not a great Cloud of Witnesses in this our own Age some who have not loved their Lives unto the Death for the Testimony they received believed and held fast unto the End unto Death have not many dy'd in Prison with hard Usage have not some been hang'd and dyed a shameful Death and finished their Course with Joy and Peace have not many endured great hard and long Imprisonment for Years and are they yet weary nay have not many suffered great Spoil of their Goods and have not they a Reward seven-fold into their Bosom Oh let the Consideration of these things dwell upon your Hearts and provoke you unto Suffering and Long-Suffering with Joyfulness that in the midst of all Tribulations as it abounds you may feel according to the Promise of God your Joy much more abound to carry you above it indeed now is the time come and he that will manifest himself to be on the Lord's Side must suffer and he that will not but turns back into the broad Way and runs with the Herd of Swine into the Sea of common Pollution must perish there and indeed there is no Place
Volunâ—â—ry thing and freely given and there is a good shew of reason in it that it was by Way of gratitude unto Melchizedeck to requite his kindness who brought forth Bread and Wine unto his Souldiers after a great Pursuit which refreshed both him and his Souldiers which was a great sign and a courtesie if Abraham had not given the tenth of the Spoil he had not sinned so an Example of this naâ—ure â—â—nnot be a binding Law to future Generations for if the Ministry 〈◊〉 is last Age will make this a binding rule we may as well requiâ—e of them 〈…〉 Wine of every Priest for our selves and whole Families and every Officer may require Bread and Wine of every Parish-Priest for himself and all his Souldiers for the one example is as binding as the other both of them being Voluntary The next passage that seems to have any weight in it about Tythes is Jacob's Vow This Stone saith he which I will set up as a Pillar shall be God's House and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee This was an extraordinary occasion and more then an ordinary appearance from God unto Jacob before when he went from his Father to Haran to take a Wife of his own Kindred And the Lord appeared unto him as he laid his Head upon a Stone the Night being come and said unto him I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the Land whereon thou liest to thee will I give it and to thy Seed and it shall be as the Dust of the Earth and thou shalt spread abroad to the East West North and South and in thee and thy Seed shall all the Families of the Earth be Blessed He called the name of the place Bethel viz. the House of God because of the Glorious appearance of God and of his great Promise made unto him which he did believe as may be seen more at large in the whâ—le Chapter So Jacob's Heart being opened and filled fall of Joy and Faith he promised again unto the Lord and vowed a Vow saying If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go so that I câ—me again to my Father's House in Peace then shall the Lord be my God and of all that he giveth me I will surely give the tenth unto thee which he performed after twenty Years as Josephus saith in these Words by Oâ—â—ering unto the Lord the â—â—â—th of all his substance which he had got 〈◊〉 â—â—rar after that he returned unto that place where God did appear unto him and made his Promise unto hiâ— then Jacob performed his Promise unto the Lord. But unto whose Hand he gave this tenth appears not for 〈…〉 the Priest hood was solely annâ—â—â—d to the first-bâ—rn â—f Families 〈…〉 well with the Sanctifying of the first-born commanded in Egypt hence it comes that Melchisedeck is commonly reputed to be Shem the eldest Son Noah but that is Câ—ntrovetâ—l and so I shall let it pass But it is thought by some that Jacob payed his vow unto the Hands of Isaac his Father and gave unto him the tenth of what he had gotten as being the chief of the Family then living and a Priest also but as is said before these two instances of Abraham and Jacob are only Voluntary and free Gifts as a return of thankfulness unto the Lord the 〈◊〉 having got a great Victory over his Enemies and â—he other having received a great assurance of the Lord of his Promise and Blessing with him did bind them to it But we do not read that they were at all oblieged by any special Commandment as to give so much though 't is granted that after Jacob had vowed he was oblieged but these are no binding Examples unto future Generations especially them that pretend they are Ministers of the second Covenant the Gospel there is no other mention made of Tythes before Moses his time unless some will dream as they will needs do that the Levitical Law was written before the Creation Yet some of the Ancients seem to have observed a respect had to the quantity of what was as a part of the yearly encrease Consecrated in those times of the Lord that even in the first memory to Sacrifice Cain's Offering was not regarded they say because he did not well or aright divide what he offered as if some quota pars were at that time required But this reason was from no other cause then the mis-translation of the Text in the story of Cain where the Jews read it If thou offer well but not divide aright hast thou not Sinned be quiet unto which agrees the Text of the Septuagint when as the true Translation out of the Original is thus Why is thy Countenance cast down if thou do well art thou not accepted if thou do Evil Sin lyeth at the Door But most agreeable to the Text is that he gave with a grudging mind and not of the best and first of his Fruit for it is expresly said that Abel brought of his first Fruits but Cain only of his Fruit of the Ground Abel giving then unto the Lord a portion of the best the other not regarding of what worth his Offering were So here is not any certain quantity noted but the mind of the Spirit of him that offered and the quality of the Oblation or gift So the chief thing to be noted from this is That Cain was an Hypocrite and offered with that mind and Spirit with which he slew his Brother and so his Sacrifice was not accepted But this is no Plea or Ground at all for the Payment of Tenths as due Tythes were never commanded to be payed by the Lord to any but Israel whose Law was given forth four hundred thirty Years after the Promise as saith the Apostle Neither were they ever payable but by the Jews after they came to the Land of Canaan and to Levi's Tribe only and to the Jewish Priests that had no Inheritance allotted them by the Lord of all the Land of Canaan or beyond Jordan but only the tenths according to the command of the Lord for the Offâ—â—â— of the Priesthood and for the service of the Tabernacle How among the Jews Tythes were payed or judg'd to be due the yearly encrease being either Fruit of Ground or Cattel in the Law of Fruits of the Ground first the first of the first ripe were offered to the Priest in ears of Wheat Figs Barley Grapâ—s Olives Pomegranates and Dates of these seven only the first Fruits were payed in what quantity the owner would Next the Theruma or heave-offering or first Fruits of Corn Wine Oyl and Fleece and the like were given to the Priests but it being not determined by Moses of what quaâ—â—â—iâ—y this Offering should be the Jews anciently judg'd it to be enough at the fiftieth part but so that no necessity was that every one
might as reasonably have concluded that the high Priest rent his Cloaths and cryed Blasphemy not so much at thou hast said or I am as of this the next words nevertheless I say unto you ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the Power and coming in the Clouds of Heaven for then the next words are then the high Priest rent his Cloaths and cryed Blasphemy and then A. S. goes on It was enough that Christ denyed not to Swear and the sum of all or the most that he can make when he hath twined about with many Circumstances to prove that he did Swear or consented to Caiaph is adjuring and answered his adjuring this is all I am and thou hast said and therefore what either may or can be said A. S. hath concluded Christ did Swear yet Sect. 27. he tell us that the essence of Swearing is in calling God to Witness and how or where did Christ call God to witness then this overturns his own Argument seeing we do not read that Christ saied any more in his answer then as is aforesaid I am and thou hast said and he sayes To alledge that Christ Swear not because he laid not his Hand upon a Book or kissed or lifted up his Hand is but to trifle yet he says that Ceremony is Ancient as Chrysostome tells him that it 's above 1250. years since if it be but to trifle why are so many Conscientious People in bonds this day in England under a Premunire for these trifles a very shame to Christianity for where any or all of these have been denyed though they have answered the Truth and the whole Truth and as much as A. S. calls an Oath yet this hath been counted insufficient and we know Justinian the Emperour ordain'd the Ceremony that Men should Swearly the Gospel or Book and lay their hands thereon and kiss or the like and though it be so many Years since it was ordained as A. S. sayes this adds nothing to the warrantableness thereof but Custome is proof enough to such a Ceremonious Age as this when Formalities Ceremonies Gestures and Postures are more regarded then the power of God and Godliness and we say such a Ceremony about Swearing is not without the Appearance of evil for the Bible is a Creature made up of many Creatures and laying the Hand and kissing and ordering it in such manner is I know looked upon by many to be Swearing by it and so the most takes it and this were unlawful and therefore better to be wholely avoided then so many suffer because thy cannot do it besides as I said the evil appearance of it for it is not any Gospel Institution but an innovation since the Apostacy entred in and if God had ever judged any necessity thereof or that it had rendred an Oath more solemn the Law would have said something of it and it was never a practice among the Primitive Christians and therefore a vain Humane tradition crept in since which ought to be avoided and and though A.S. says to reply that Christ Swore not though Caiaphas adjured him is vain for an examinate is to answer both in matter and Form according to what is proposed I say it 's A. S. his vain supposition and presumption without Ground so to judge that Christ Swore I say sometime he held his Peace that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet of him before that he should be as a Lamb dumb before the Shearer as sometime he was both to the chief Priests and Elders to Pilate and to Herod which were all in some Authority and sometime he answered them in the Wisdom of God and sometime he spoke and bore witness to that and Prophesied unto them which was not at all either as to the matter or form of the high Priests adjuring for the very next Words but thou hast said nevertheless I say unto you hereafter shall you see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Power and coming in the Clouds of Heaven Mat. 26.64 and therefore these show A. S. his Argument to be frivolous and vain and Mark saith the chief Priests accused him of many things Mark 15.3 but he answered nothing either to their accusations or took notice of the high Priests adjuring to answer him in matter and form as A. S. would have it neither did he look upon himself so oblig'd but answered sometime and spoke the Truth alwayes when he spoke and that which alwayes displeased and dissatisfied the Jews when he answered and for ought can be perceived by his arguing that every Examinate is to answer directly to every matter and form to any that pretends Power to administer an Oath or to adjure he goes about to establish the Popes Inquisition and create matter as sometime they did here in England in the height of the Popes domination forged matter out of their own wicked Hearts to ensnare the Lambs of Christ and then to require them to Swear that they might destroy them and accuse them out of their own Mouths even as the high Priest sought to destroy Christ and to ensnare him which methinks A. S. hath said too much in Vindication of his adjuring and will needs have Christ to be of his mind and at last concludes that Christ Swore but it s but upon his own presumption and supposition and is more then ever he is able to make evident from what is written And A. S. tells us over and over again Swearing was a part of God's Worship wherein God's wisdom Power and justice is acknowledged and then incommunicable to any Creature or false God as is answered before so was Circumcision then and the Oblations and Burnt Sacrifice and Offerings and new Moons to be performed only to the Lord and were peculiarly to be performed unto God and not communicable to any Creature and we say and prove Deut. 6.13.10.20 that these were a part of the service and Worship of God and which as we shall grant that an Oath under the Law was commanded as well as these Services or in his own terms an Oath was equally commanded with his Service as is proved above In this he hath no Adversary but what doth this prove in respect of his Argument which makes it more then equally commanded for he will yield that these services were but temporary but Swearing is perpetual and so he hath given it a priority above the rest his Argument all along hath been chiefly drawn from the Mosaick Law that it was joyned equally with Fear and Service under the Law and so hath striven without an Adversary but now it must needs be above the service of God then and yet from the same command he would only prove it for he hath no better strength nor Ground and we may as well alledge as he doth and say consequently to this sort of Service that was commanded by the Lord as well as Swearing for God hath joyned
denyes the veracity of his word or the immutability of the most high yet notwithstanding I cannot set up the changeable Priesthood and Covenant and the Ordinances belonging thereunto against the unchangeable and everlasting Priesthood and Covenant and as hath been said before as though that all the precepts therein were so unalterable as that of necessity they must needs continue as obligatory to Generations I might truss up together many Scriptures and thwack them one on the Back of another which belong to the Jews and the first Covenant most properly till the Seed Christ was revealed and offered up and I might bring in Scripture to prove that many things were commanded by the immutable God and by him who is uncapable of alteration and multiply many words as A. S. doth to little purpose and say what was written in the old Testament was by the Inspiration of God and that his precepts are no more alterable then the Laws of the Medes and Persians and therefore they must needs still be observed by all Christians to the World's end or else conclude they that do not are atheistical and deny God's veracity and make the Law of God void and what would all this in arguing prove nothing at all the Jews will confess as much and plead as hard as A. S. can who yet have not believed in him of whom the Prophets prophesied neither have received him who is the Substance of what Moses and the Prophets bore witness and in whom the Law is fulfilled and the Promises made good and confirmed with and in whom all the Shadows end and the vail done away and all the Worship precepts belonging thereunto who hath manifested and revealed the Father in all that believe who is the new and living way whose Worship is not now in the Letter nor in the Shadows nor Types nor in any outward Observations but in Spirit truth is he worshipped for he seeketh such to Worship him for the great Promise of reward was to as ever was to Swearing yet when they resisted him whom the Father had sent all their observances though never so strict did not avail but their Circumcision became Uncircumcision and their Worship and service became Prophaneness when they despised the substance by whom Grace and Truth came to all the Children of promise and we grant with A. S. that he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it and to end both Sin and Transgression and the Law which was added because of it and to bring in everlasting Righteousness and it to rule in the Hearts of all that believe and against such there is no Law and though Christ enjoyned the Disciples Mat 23. to observe what the Scribes and Pharisees bad them who sate in Moses's Chair and read the Law and performed those services in part commanded that was the time before he was offered up and the Ministration of that Covenant was not fully ended yet I hope A. S. with us will grant that they were not to heed them or to obey them in their vain traditions and false glosses and Interpretations and Evil manners which he cryed wo against Mat. 23.13 14. neither after his Resurrection did he enjoyn them to hear the Pharisees neither to observe the Legal Ordinances of the first Priesthood but they declared against them and their practice which continued in the Observation of those things which did not make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience Heb. 8.9 Heb. 9.9 and for all these Texts he alledges out of the Old Testament Mat. 6.13 Psal. 63.11 Jer. 12.16 unto these it hath been answered that this proves nothing that Christians under the second Covenant should Swear as they did in the first for these Precepts were only to keep them from Idolatry for Jer. 12.16 If you will diligently learn the wayes of my People to Swear by my Name the Lord liveth as they taught my People to Swear by Baal then shall they be Builded in the midst of the People And the 6th of Deut. 13.14 is to the same Effect You shall fear the Lord and serve him and Swear by my Name And Verse the 14. Ye shall not go after other Gods All these only prove that the Nations went after other Gods and Sware by them and served them and Israel too prone to follow their manners did so also and therefore he gave them these Precepts to serve him and fear him and acknowledge him to keep them from Idolatry as hath been said in the state of their Minority and weakness and that before the Seed was revealed and that which A. S. calls a Prophecy by Isa. 19.18 of Christians Swearing under the Gospel it 's no such thing but a Prophesie of Egypt his joyning to the Jews and owning their Worship and their God and acknowledge him and do Sacrifice and Oblation yea and vow a vow unto the Lord and perform it ver 21. Which clearly hath relation to the Law and the Worship of the Jews and not to the Gospel so that A. S. might have as well said it was a promise how Christians under the Gospel should offer Sacrifice and Oblations as under the Law as well as Swear But the Doctor hath traversed many Paths which are crooked winding and turning to gather something together and hath fetched it far to prove Swearing under the Gospel but all his proof falls short of his matter by much And that of Isaiah 5.23 is a Prophecy of Israel's return out of the Captivity of Babylon in the days of Cyrus whom the Lord called his Anointed and shepherd Isa. 44.28.45 who made a Decree for all Israel to go out of Assyria to Jerusalem and build their City and their Temple and Worship their God according as he had commanded as may be seen at large in the Book of Ezra and Nehemiah and this was fulfilled then when they builded the City and the Temple in those days long before Christ was manifest in the Flesh and then did Israel return and every Knee did bow and every Tongue did Swear by the Lord which before the Captivity had not bowed nor served nor acknowledged his Name but Idols which provoked the Lord and therefore gave he them into the hand of the Babylonians for seventy Years till they were humbled and then brought them back according to Jeremiah Isaiah Haggai and Zachariah's Prophesies for this was fulfilled then is spoken by Isaiah in this Prophesie Isaiah 5. ver 23 24 25. without contradiction to Christ's command and his command entrencheth not upon this prophesie neither doth this make the Gospel thwart the Law beyond all terms of Reconciliation as A. S. vainly suggests in his margent for this Prophesie was fulfilled long before Christ gave forth this command Swear not at all Moreover if this prophesie have any relation to the state of the Christian Church as A. S. supposes upon what Ground I know not saving his own affirmation then we shall consider and see how it is fulfilled under the
God the Jews indulged themselves in but what doth A. S. gain by this it's evident enough that solemn Oaths by God himself as those familiar Oaths by Creatures in which they tacitely Sware by God are forbidden by Christ but I say unto you Swear not at all But A. S. tells us as Grotius tells him out of Philo Judeus That the Pharisees taught them to perform what-ever they had promised Swearing by God they under a specious pretence that they would not take God's Name in vain upon slight occasions fell to Swear by Creatures which the Pharisees did no disallow to cheat People withal which they themselves neither thought obligatory nor meant to keep The name Elohim and Jehovah they might possibly scruple at but that name Adonai they oft as superstitiously repeat in their much babling as they superstitiously decline mentioning of the other but that in serious cases of concerns of Justice and Equity and in Judicature in matter of debate or ending of Controversies that they should wave and forbear swearing by the Name of God when their Scriptures was so express for it and they should chuse that way of Swearing that is no reason at all to believe it seeing Drusius sayes among the Jews all things in Judicature were confirmed by Oath wherein the Name of God was interposed as above mentioned 2dly That they should wave Swearing by the Name of God in matters of concernment which they all believed were binding and should Swear by Creatures in order to the giving satisfaction to one another and security of each other and by such Oaths as they judged not to be obligatory and never meant to keep them seeing A. S. says It was in pretence of Reverence to God they Swear not by God but by Creatures to cheat and never meant to keep they knowing this that he that so Swears by Creatures meant not to keep but to cheat and not perform such Oaths were not very probably used in Judicature among them neither in serious cases for such Oaths instead of giving satisfaction and putting an end unto Jealousies and Distrusts would have sure created them more then before forasmuch as he that so Swears believes himself not to be bound thereby then if he had not Sworn at all and he unto whom he Swears also knows the same that such Oaths as A. S. tells on that they did Swear is not binding neither can any more credit be given to them then to a Lyar because in this sort of Swearing there was no security it is not probable I say that they should chuse this in Judicature or any serious case of Controversie And if it be that Swearing that Christ only prohibits by Heaven Earth and Creatures which the Pharisees indulged them in wherein as to the point of Swearing does he prescribe a Righteousness and Perfection above or beyond Moses his Servant whom he was to exceed for God by Moses in the Law it self had Universally forbidden all other Oaths either in general terms or sometime more particularly but still all false oaths vain oaths and Oaths by Creatures are included save only solemn Swearing by his own Name that there was no more Swearing left for Christ to forbid his Disciples but Swearing by God himself which the Law allowed of Besides moreover the Opposition then which lies intimated in that Particle But being not between false Swearing and prophane Swearing and Swearing by Creatures as A. S. would have it but between Forswearing then and No Swearing now shews Christ's Intent to be to prohibit all Swearing for it is indeed as if he had thus said God under the Law commanded you to swear by his Name and when you had sworn in Truth by him to perform the Oaths you made by him whether to him or any other but I say now God allows you not to swear at all not by Heaven Earth or any other no not those Oaths which ye did and might make of old unto the Lord your God in things lawful but no Oath by a Creature did God account as an Oath made to him provided ye performed it when ye had done any more then he counted their solemn Fastings to be to him Zachariah 7.5 Again Christ's own Expressions in the affirmative Part shew his meaning in the negative to be a Prohibition of all Swearing as well as any but let your Communication be Yea Yea Nay Nay so the Negative of his Words Swear not at all must be understood in such an universal exclusive Latitude as admits of no Oaths whatsoever among his Disciples and as hath been said that Particle But which stands between these two Prohibitions of Moses saying Forswear not but perform to God thine Oaths and of Christ saying But I say unto you Swear not at all doth manifest that Christ forbids all Swearing as much as any even such Swearing as was not indulged to them by the Pharisees only but by Moses and God himself who by his Servant dispensed with them in and instituted even their Swearing by God's own Name who never indulged or dispensed with any of that Creature-swearing as A.S. speaks of but threatned Woes to it under the Law and by the Law again if it be said Christ only prohibited all such voluntary Oaths which they sware to perform to the Lord by any Creature as Heaven Earth in their Communication and mutual Converse as A.S. sayes but not solemn Oaths by God in Courts or before Magistrates and not between Man and Man and Matter of Deliberation as some others say and have interpreted the Words Let not your whole Conversation be interwoven with Oaths Reply Christ doth indeed forbid all such voluntary Oaths as were used by the Jews and Pharisees and all Swearing by any Thing besides God or below God also all Swearing in common Communication and ordinary Conversation where Yea and Nay should serve yea and that which is called solemn and by some sacred and lawful even by God even all Swearing by God commonly frequently or generally which is now in Courts and imposed by Justices and Magistrates then which nothing almost is more ordinary frequent and common if our Communication and Conversation should be without Swearing and our mutual Converse one with another among men should be without Oaths of any kind whatsoever is not this exclusive of Swearing in Courts and before Magistrates as well as other men whether in Courts and Consistories as well as other Places where men have their Conversation and mutual Converse with each other as ordinarily and commonly as else-where which being considered I have with other often mused why some men have been so inconsiderate as to interpret Christ's Words and Prohibition as exclusive of mens Swearing in their ordinary Converse in Courts where Oaths are as ordinary frequent and common as in any Places whatsoever especially that some men plead so much for Oaths in Courts and before Magistrates only as though they were sacred and solemn there and no where else and holy and
not F. H. To all you who have Eyes and yet are blind and who have Ears and yet are deaf and have Hearts and yet cannot understand To you am I moved to declare THE Lord is proclaiming himself to be King and all the Mountains and every Isle and every Oak of Bashan and all the Cedars of Lebanon and all who rule as Kings and Conquerors shall bow Hear ye deaf the Trumpet is blown the Standard is lifted up there is open War proclaimed between Michael our Prince and all the Inhabitants of the Earth Arm your selves O ye Mountains and gather your selves on Heaps O ye Isles the glittering Sword of the Lord is drawn and a Fire is before him and all ye will be found as Stubble and you are all to be slain Heaps upon Heaps and are all to go down with all the Uncircumcised Rulers and People into the Pit The Lord the mighty Jehovah is revealing himself from Heaven in Flames of Fire to render Vengeance upon all the Workers of Iniquity for you have slain the Heir of the Vineyard you are killing his Prophets and imprisoning his Saints to you all Professors Rulers and Priests who say you are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan I speak in Plainness of Speech unto you all who live in all the Abominations of the Heathen and yet say you love Christ Do not you call the Master of the House now Beelzebub do not ye mock and set your Mouthes awry ye Sons of the Adultress and of Sodom at the Light of Christ which enlightneth every one that comes into the World which Light did lead all Saints into Purity and up to God and this you call Natural and them who witness Redemption by the Son you call Blasphemers Christ which you profess and yet know not was accounted by your Generation a Blasphemer and all the Apostles and Saints were persecuted by your Generation as Evil-doers as Despisers of Government as Disturbers of the Peace as Leaders of the People into Iniquity as the Off-scouring of all Things as Sheep for the Slaughter and many of them put to Death and in Prison by that Generation which professed God and said they had his Ordinances yet slew them who professed him and kept his Statutes for if ye be not wilfully blind are ye not doing the same now mocking haling imprisoning bringing before Magistrates them that witness Jesus Christ in them and because they bear witness against all Sin Did ever any of the Saints of God persecute imprison or hale before Magistrates and falsly accuse any Did ever the Saints complain to Authority to guard them Hear ye whited Tombs ye painted Sepulchres what Gospel is this you profess What God is this ye serve that must be defended with Clubs Swords Rulers and Carnal Weapons the Saints who had the everlasting Gospel said their Weapons were not carnal but spiritual and yet they were mighty through God to beat down strong Holds even Principalities and Povvers Thrones and Dominions but your Gospel and Ministry can do nothing vvithout a Svvord All People see vvhere you are and vvhat you are doing you run headlong to run those vvho vvere despised by that Generation of Pharisees and Professors vvhich you are in vvere a burthensom Stone upon vvhich all that opposed did break themselves so this Generation vvhom ye set at nought ye shall be made to bovv and throvv dovvn your Crovvns before them and before the Lamb vvho is our Leader and Guider Glory unto him forever more its hard for you to kick against the Pricks for vve vvitness the tvvo-edged Svvord of the Lord shall bathe it self in the Blood of his Enemies and shall be made fat vvith Slaughter O ye Mountains ye shall become a plain for the ransomed to come over you all your Profession shall be as Stubble and you shall be left naked and bare and nothing shall be able to cover you because you are Crucifiers of Christ and the Saints repent that you may be hid in the Day of his fierce Anger vvhich is to come upon all the Workers of Iniquity Francis Howgil This was The Word of the Lord Which Francis Howgil Was moved to Declare and Write TO OLIVER CROMVVEL Who is named Lord Protector The Word of the Lord came to me the last of the First Moneth about the Nineth Hour as I was waiting upon the Lord and waiting in James's Park at London FRiend I was moved of the Lord to come to thee to declare the Word of the Lord as I was moved of the Lord and deal plainly with thee as I was commanded and not to petition thee for any thing but to declare what the Lord had revealed to me concerning thee and when I had delivered what I was commanded thou questionedst it whether it was the Word of the Lord or not and soughtest by thy Reason to put it off and we have waited some dayes since but cannot speak to thee therefore I was moved to write to thee and clear my Conscience and to leave thee Therefore hear the Word of the Lord thus saith the Lord I chose thee out of all the Nation when thou was little in thy own Eyes and threw down the Mountains and the Powers of the Earth before thee which had established Wickednesse by a Law and I cut them down and broke the Yokes and Bonds of the Oppressor and made them stoop before thee and I made them as a Plain before thee that thou passedst over them and trode upon their Necks but thus saith the Lord now thy Heart is not upright before me but thou takest Counsel and not at me and thou art establishing Peace and not by me and thou art setting up Laws and not by me and my Name is nor feared nor I am not sought after but thy own Wisdom thou establishest what saith the Lord have I thrown down all the Oppressours and broken their Laws and art thou now going about to establish them again and art going to build again that which I have destroyed wherefore thus saith the Lord wilt thou limit me and set Bonds to me when and where and how and by whom I shall declare my self and publish my Name then will I break thy Cord and remove thy Stake and exalt my self in thy overthrow Therefore this is the VVord of the Lord to thee whether thou wilt hear or forbear if thou take not away all those Laws vvhich are made concerning Religion vvhereby the People which are dear in mine Eyes are oppressed thou shalt not be established but as thou hast trodden down my Enemies by my Povver so shalt thou be trodden dovvn by my Power and thou shalt know that I am the Lord for my Gospel shall not be established by thy Sword nor by thy Law but by my Might and by my Power and by my Spirit Unto thee this is the Word of the Lord Stint not the eternal Spirit by which I will publish my Name when and where and how I will