declared to be the light of the world and the true light which lightneth every one that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 Joh. 8. Now seeing that this Author hath set up another thing to be the light which hath enlightned every man then Christ viz. the spirit of 〈◊〉 I shall trie this testimony according to the Scriptures whether it be a testimony of the Lords Christ or a testimony against him in these things following which are the Heads of his Doctrine concerning the Light Concerning the LIGHT what it is It is the spirit of every man which is in him and without which he cannot be a man and is the candle of the Lord Prov. 20 27. This spirit of a man is the Reason of a man or tht Understanding of a man What this Light doth it gives him to know his Creator and the end of his creation viz. who made him and why he was made also how he â—â—ould answer the end of him that made him and that God set up this light in man to see by both whom he is to serve and how he is to serve him together with the reason thereof because God made him And with this light God hath set up a Law which Law is called Light Prov. 6.23 whereby the will and mind of his Creator is made known unto him and he sufficiently qualified to see it understand it c. p. 7. It searcheth the inward parts of the belly At first it moved upward and it could look God in the face and serve him But now since the fall the Thief is got into this candle and hath dim'd the light covered the aspiring ascendent quality now it burns downward and discovers the things beneath p 6. That it is all eye it sees all that is done but doth nothing it neither likes nor dislikes approves nor disproves but as it is in conjunction with a Law p. 10. Thae it is the property of Light to make manifest Eph. 5 13. pag 29. That it is not in the power of the Light as it is in every man so much as to call any thing that is done either good or evil p. 32. That the Light did drive Adam from the voice and presence of God so far is the Light from leading up to God that it drives the soul from God and keeps him in the fall p. 53. That it doth not lead into all truth such as love it and obey it p. 54. Nor doth it reveal all truth to them that love it and obey it And that neither the Light nor the Law doth convince of the sin of unbelief That the Lamp and the Light are convertible terms Thy word is as a Lamp Psal. 119.105 and that the Light and the Law is one p. 30. So by this the Light which is the spirit of man or mans Reason and the Law and the Word which of that which is called a testimony of the Lords Christ we shall trie it with the former Testimony of the Lords Christ as it is written in the Scriptures which was given forth from those which were true witnesses First as in answer to these things there is not one Testimony in the Scriptures neither from Prophet nor Apostle that ever said the spirit of man or mans reason and understanding was the Light which every one that cometh into the world is enlightned withal but the testimony of truth concerning those which followed their own spirits is this The Lord sent his Prophet Ezekiel to cry Wâ— unto the foolish Prophets that followed their own spirits and had seen nothing Ezek. 13 3. Now they were not without the spirit of a man for then they could not be a man as he saith now if they had the spirit of man and reason and if this was all eye how was it that they saw nothing when he saith It sees all things so it is not a true testimony of the Light nor of the Lords Christ But the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord and the Lord having lighted it then it searcheth the inward parts of the belly And David who knew whâ—t the spirit of man was and what a candle was without light and what it was when it was lighted he said For thou wilt light my candle the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness Psal. 18.28 So if the spirit of man be the candle of the Lord then whether doth not Christ enlighten every man which cometh into the world and whether is not that light Christ seeing the spirit is but the candle and that it must be lighted Another testimony of his is this That it is the property of light to make manifest Eph. 5.13 but all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light for whaâ—soever doth make manifest is light p. 29. And again in p. 32 he saith that it is not in the power of the light as it is in every man so much as to call any thing which is done good or evil Answ. Whether of these two contraries must men believe whether the light is able to make manifest whatsoever is reprovable or that there is not power in it to call any thing good or evil But by this all men may see that this is not a true testimony to the Lords Christ nor to his Light Never was there any such doctrine preached by any that cried Hosannah to the Son of David nor that did give testimony to the Lords Christ That there is not power in the light to call any thing done good or evil Now let all who have received the measuring-line and the equal ballance weigh and consider seeing the Scripture saith Whatsoever thing is approvable is made manifest by the light Is evil deeds reprovable then they are made manifest then you see them to be evil deeds lying to be an evil deed swearing to be an evil deed drunkenness to be an evil deed covetousness to be an evil deed pride to be an evil deed whoredom to be an evil deed false accusing to be an evil deed gain-saying the truth to be an evil deed anger and wrath to be evil deeds and these things are reprovable as the light doth make them manifest so it reproveâ— them and such are convinced of sin because they believe not in Christ so that unbelief is reprovable and is made manifest by the light And whereas some say That the light doth not reprove for the sin of unbelief that is false for unbelief is reprovable and whatsoever things are reprovable is made manifest by the light but he that doâ—th evil hateth the light and will not bring his deeds to the light lest the light should reprove him Joh. 3.20 And Jesus said unto certain Greeks people which stood by him which objected against his words which was no Saints nor Believers While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the children of light Joh. 13.36 Now he did not bid them believe in that which could not reprove unbelief
external stuff pours out which hath poisoned many people which thou sayest thou shouldest open the Gospel withall all that have the least convincement may see thee to be a seducer for what is external is natural and what is natural knows not the things of God but the Lord be praised thou hast declared thy self abroad Qu. 12. Whether any Ministers of God were made Ministers by the wil of man yea or no Shew it me by the Scripture Pr. And in thy answer to this Query thou sayest There is 〈◊〉 Minister of God made by the will of man onely but by man in subordination Rep. Here thou crossest the Scripture Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man And here the lying spirit hath shewed it self indeed Pr. And thou sayest There is no such hope of any such calling as was in the time of the Apostles Rep. And here thou hast cast thy self and thy fellowâ— and all thy study to be without the Doctrine and Life of the Apostles for thou concludest there is no such calling yet thou talkest of laying on hands there thou and you are making likenesses which is forbidden and to be confounded and so we conclude and all the children of Light shall judge that your Hope and your Calling and your Ministry made by the will of man and not only by God to be without God and conarary to the Apostles Qu. 13. Shew me by the Scripture whether a man shall grow up to that condition that he need no man to teach him but the Lord or no Pr. We must not look for any immediate extraordinary miraculous teaching by revelation from the Lord and yet all men are taught of God too Rep. What confused stuff is this and blasphemy that comes out of thy bottle Thou wouldest make God not an immediate doth not God teach immediate Here thou shewest that thou dost not know the living God for the teaching of God is immediate in the least degree Pr. None aims to such a perfection of knowledge in his gifts as not to need teaching Rep. Here I charge thee to be a Lyar who speaks contrary to the Scripture and here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a slanderer who speaks of being taught of the Lord Jesus Christ outwardly by the spirit what confused stuff is this and here again I charge thee to be a lyar for the words of our Lord Jesus Christ are spirit and life but such as thou who lookest upon the outward thing cannot receive his words though you have the letter of the Gospel as they had the letter of the Law Quest. 14. Whether they be not Antichrists and disobey Christ that have the chief places in the assembliâ—â— stand praying in the synagogues which Christ did forbid his disciples to act such things and cried wo against those that did act them In thy answer to this querie thou ramblest up and down with many words to justifie that which Christ cried wo against to justifie the chiefest place in the Assemblies and to be called of men Master and for standing praying in the Synagogues which Christ pronounced wo against and so let all the people see if thou and you be not such as are called of men Masters and stand praying in the Synagogues which the wo was and is upon Mat. 23. and there is neither shelter nor hole for thee to hide thy self for them that walk in the truth will find thee out and praised be the Lord God of heaven and earth who hath given us a spirit of discerning and we are able to judge you who live in deceit for the Apostle prophesied with the spirit of the Lord that such should come and we see with the same spirit you are come and with the same spirit you are judged Quest. 15. Whether they be not Antichrists and of the Devil and no Ministers of Christ which do not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Pr. They that swerve from the Doctrine of Christ are of the spirit of Antichrist Rep. There thou art this is thy own condition who deniest immediate revelation and thou that deniest immediate revelation deniest Christ for Paul said the Son was revealed in him and so all that thou speakest is with the lying spirit in the wicked generation and whereas thou slanderest and sayest we rail that is false And again thou speakest of love because the letter declares it but the love of God who dwells in it to such thou art an enemy and as touching using plainness of speech to people because we do not flatter or use enticing words of mens wisdom which thou dost so thou hast cleared thy self from the children of God and to be in the generation of them that swerve from the doctrine of Christ who seekest to justifie that which he cried wo against aâ— Mat. 23. And whereas thou accusest us for railing upon people thou art a liar for love useth plainness of speech and love and charity is out of deceit if we should flatter we should hold it up and should be pleading for thy generation who talks of God and confesses that you have not the same knowledge and understanding that the Apostles had Therefore how can you know God then And whereas thou speakest of trying the spirits the fruits of it is love here with the spirit of love is thy generation tried for when the servants of the Lord have been moved to come into your Synagogues some have been stockt and wounded and imprisoned and hailed out of your synagogues And is this the fruits of your spirit Qu. 16. Whether they be not seducers that draw people from the anointing which is in them and tell them they must be taught of a man whereas the anointing teaches them they need no man teach them but as the anointing teacheth them and the promise is to him that doth abide in it eternally Pr. Many false Prophets are gone forth Rep. Here thou hast proved thy self to be a false Prophet who denies immediate revelation for whom the Lord sent forth he spoke to them immediately which thou deniest and there thou art one of the false Prophets which thou speakest of and knows nothing of the anointing who deceives the simple and ignorant the world may wonder after such but who are in the light and receive any thing immediate will see thee in the dark to be a deceiver for none in thy generation can witness that you need no man teach you but the anointing for who doth are come out from your teaching and you both And as touching Sects them we deny as thou speakest in thy answer to the fifteenth Querie therefore do we see thee with that which is no Sect to be colouring and deluding people telling them thy error is truth who quotes and misappliest the Scripture to maintain thy falshood Pr. The flesh is quickned with the spirit of life to bring forth some kind of fleshly fruits 1 King 8.46 Joh. 14.4 Prov. 20.9 1 Joh. 1.8 10 Eccles. 7.22
not the Apostle Paul sufficient Grace when the Lord said My Grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 And had not the Corinthians sufficiency of Grace 2 Cor. 3.5 whose sufficiency was in God and from God to them made manifest and had not they sufficiency in all things 2 Cor. 9.8 And was Paul with those Corinthians at the last breath when those things were spoken but thy thoughts have deceived thee in thinking such a thing to be past controversie for thou must be both controverted and contradicted while thou thus in thy extreams and floods of fury sets thy self against the Truth as it is made manifest in us and also in the Scriptures Again thou saist Thou thinks it is time for men that have any sence of the common interest of Christianity Reformation to lay by these contentions that hav brought you so low almost made you a prey to the common Romish Adversaries saying the Lord grant it be not too late Ans. Art thou now sensible of the emptiness in and the disadvantage which thou gets by thy contention and thou may well see it if thou be but sober how the Romish adversaries may have advantage against thee condemning that in them which thou allowest in thy self and thou mayest have a ground of jealousie in thee that it is too late But as for an interest in Christianity and Reforâ—ation thou art far from it who art striving to keep people from the Light by which people should be reformed and by which they should be led into the life of Christianity And although thou confessest that you are brought low by contention and by too eager disputation yet again thou exalts thy self and thy Brethren as if you were above Christ or his Apostles in the Work of the Ministry for thou saist How few did Christ convert that spake as never man spake And how many places did the Apostles preach in where they converted not one for a hundred that some of you see converted in one Parish And thus thou defames Christ and the Apostles Doctrine to set up thy own buâ— if thou do not as well deny the Scriptures as Christ and the Apostles Minstry thou mayest read how that three thousâ—nd were converted at one Sermon and If thou truly consider and try thy own Work thou wilt see that all the Sermons which ever thou hast preached hath not converted one in thy Parish into the State of a new creature where all old things are done away and all things are become new and so thy boasting thereby may be ended Again thou saist That you do not fear that quaking should become the Nations Religion we know those squibs will soon be out Ans. If it were but a squib that would so soon be out what need you make so much a do about it and bring forth so many floods and draw dry so many wells to quench it And what is the cause of such jealousies in your hearts as sometime to fear that it 's too late to strive against it And why are you so afraid that it should have its liberty in the Nation if you think it will be so sooâ— out but it is your constant practice to speak one thing and to think another for this which you say is but a squib will be as an eveâ—lasting burning that none shall be able to quench it and it is the powerful appearance of the Lord from Heaven and who may abide the day of his coming or who may stand when he appears Not those who have contemned his Light and reproached the children of it not those who preach for filthy lucre who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies who make merchandize of souls for dishonest gain but he that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly he that despiseth the gain of oppression that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil such a one loveth the appearance of him who is come a Light into the World and loveth the children that walk in his Light for he that loveth him that doth beget loveth also those that are begotten of him who walk in his Light but the Wicked shall become silent in darkness and many who have used their tongues and said Come Lord Jesus come quickly shall not be able to stand when he appears nor to abide the day of his coming which to them that hate him is destruction but to them that love him is everlasting salvation And this is the day of his appearance in which blessed are they that are not offended in him Truth and Innocency Clearing its self and its Children Being declared in a few words which in this day of striving and of the Lords power is brought forth in many agaâ—nst the deceveable ways of the Unrighteous which abound and is as Mountains in every Region Countrey and County But the Lord is now risen to make them plain that People may see that they are but earth and may feed upon the top of them Also in this Treatise is a Mountain of confusion lyes and slanders proceeding from one Jonathan Clapâ—am a Priest made manifest which swelled as though it had been no Earth against the Lords Mountain and against the way of his Holiness which now the holy Seed which the Lord hath blessed with spiritual blessings tread upon as upon the Mire in the low Valleys which is dryed up and with it they are not defiled for the feet of them that bring glad tydings of the Gospel of peace tread upon the top of those Mountains for Mountains were never seen till the Light appeared which is now brought forth making all things manifest Given forth from the light of Truth which answereth the Truth in every man and continues the offence of the Cross to the deceit in every man R. H. To the Reader In the night all the beasts of the field raven and now many of them are come out of their Dens into which they must be driven again for the Lord is now coming and his Power with him and his day is appearing to deliver his prisoner which hath long been in the Pit covered with darkness and now all the Powers of Hell and Death gather themselves together that they may be broken to pieces against the Heir of Gods Inheritance which is not possible should be kept always under the power of death as surely as they rise up against the Lord so surely shall they be broken to pieces for the arm power of the Lord is with us no inchantment formed against us can prosper for the Lord hath stretched forth his and touched our lips and put his words into our Mouths and in this day hath made us a defenced City and an Iron Pillar and a Brazen Wall against the whole Land even all both Priests and People who deny the Light of the Lord to be the way of life and not only against those gross Priests of the
thing in these Scriptures as that grace is a created thing nor that it is called the new creature but the Apostle saith By grace are we saved through faith and that not of our selves it is the gift of God Now was that grace by which they were saved a created thing if it was prove it by plain Scripture else stop thy mouth for we have searched the Scriptures and we find no such thing but we find that by grace they were saved and that they who are new creatures in Jesus Christ the grace of God was their teacher as it is our teacher to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly godly and righteously in this present evil world which grace is able to keep the hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God of all those who are taught by it but is not a created thing Pr. That the principles of Christian faith is established upon the Scriptures pag. 74. Answ. Faith hath but one foundation and all who are believers their foundation is established upon Christ who is the Author of Faith before any Scripture was written Jacob Enoch Abraham Isaac had no Scriptures written to establish their faith upon and when Moses and the Prophets had known seen and believed and from that wrote of him who was the true light enlightning every one that in him very one might believe so every one whether they have the writings of the Prophets and Apostles or not yet they have that in which they are to believe which if they believe not is condemned and believing in the light they come to be the children of the light and here the first principle comes to be known of faith and so the first principle of the doctrine of Christ must be known before the doctrine be profest and so all who know not the first principle of faith are far from the saith and who knows not the first principle of the doctrine is far from a doctrine and so the principle of a thing must be known before the thing but the Scripture speaks of nothing that the Christian faith is to be established upon but upon Christ who was glorified with the Father before the world was by whom all things which now are were made who hath given us of his spirit and to us it is given to believe and suffer for his names sake as it was given those who were his true witnesses before us and they did believe because it was given them to believe by the spirit so faith is the gift of God and many have the Scriptures which have not faith which is the giâ—t of God and they which are turned from the faith are pierced through with many hurtful lusts have the Scriptures and say they believe what the Scripture speaks but this I say that faith is the ground of the Scriptures and not the Scriptures the ground of faith and none can believe in Christ but they who believe in the â—ight which Christ hath enlightned every one withal that cometh into the World and all who own Christs Doctrine who saiâ—h believe in the light that ye may be the children of light which who believe in shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life and shall not enter into condemnation but who believe in any thing else their faith is vain they are yet in their sins and he that lays another foundation for faith then Christ let him be accurst Thus having laid before the people some of those things with which his book is filled and for this end do I lay them open that those for whom Christ died and unto whom his love is reached forth to bring them to the Father should not be corrupted with the unsound form of doctrine delivered unto them by their Priest And again as followeth I shall lay down some particulars which he hath held forth as affirmed principles in his book which if you receive his testimony you must believe as your principles also but if you come to try them with the measure of the light that Christ hath enlightned them withal then you will deny both him and them therefore mark them as followeth 1 That the Magistrate is an Officer of Jesus Christ as Mediator 2 That Jesus Christ hath a political and spiritual Kingdom 3 That Christ the eternal Son of God is distinct from the Father eternally 4 That the Spirit was distinguished from the Father and Son from eternity 5 That the Father Son and Spirit are three substances 6 That the soul of man is humane and that humane and immortal is both one 7 That Christ may dwell in his people by his special spiritual presence and have no union with them 8 That God dwells in the heavens but hath no union with them 9 That the union between God and believers cannot be comprehended by the Saints here 10 That heaven is not to be enjoyed whâ—le men are here 11 That the Corinthians who were baptized from the dead were ancâ—ent Hereticks 12 That the light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the World is the light of reason and understanding and is natural 13 That natural light is the remainders of Gods image in man 14 That God is a respecter of persons 15 That the grace of God is a created thing and that it is called the new creature 16 That the principles of Christiaâ— faith is established upon the Scriptures I having here answered and laid open those things which is a mist of darkness over the peoples minds and understandings whereas they are either received or believed to the end that all who read it may come to that understanding which is a well-spring of life and to the knowledge of that truth by which iniquity is purged out and to the counsel of God in the heart which is like deep waters whereby judgment in righteousness comes to be set up by which the simple and tender-hearted comes to be preserved out of the snares of subtilty and craftiness to walk in the light of the Lord which is the path of the iust and the way of life and all they are blessed with spiritual blessings that walk in it for they shall be able to tread upon Scorpions and the deadly poyson that is under the tongues and in the hearts of the generation of Vipers and Serpents shall not hurt them and this power shall all those be indued with which believe in the light of the Lord answering that of God in all their consciences which leads into a chast conversation before the Lord ordering their conversations aright in his sight and all such who be turned to the light with which they are enlightned by Christ shall discern who serves God and who serves him not in this day when many profess him but few serve him in spirit and in truth as he will be worshipped by them whom he hath chosen Necessary Questions propounded to the Priests to be answered 1 WHat is that in every man which
the Gospel is to be preached unto which is able to receive believe and obey it which if not received believed and obeyed is their coâ—demnation 2 And what and where that light is which every man must be turned unto before they can receive the remission of their sins 3 And whether that be not in the Heathens which if they obey not will be their condemnation though they have never heard nor seen the Scriptures and what is it that is the condemnation of such 4 And whether any things which is not spiritual and eternal can condemn the creature from God for not obeying it 5 And whether such have not the Gospel who have not seen nor heard the Apostles writings and what the Gospel is which they that disobey the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against though they have not known the Letter 6 And whether any be condemned for disobeying that which they do not know 7 And whether that in all which are come into the world by which they are justly condemned disobeying it is not able and sufficient to lead them to life eternal obeying it 8 And whether such who speak good words to the people and they themselves be out of the life of them be not deceivers and cannot profit the people at all 9 And whether ever any was sent of the Lord to preach that to others that was not fulfilled in themselves 10 And whether the Gentiles have not that light in them which justifies them that believe in it 11 And whether thou be in the life of all that which thou preachest to others und be a witness of it if thou hadst not seen the Scriptures 12 What is it to be baptized for the dead and whether they who were baptized for the dead did not deny the resurrection of the dead 13 Did Christ own the praying of the Pharisees in the Synagogues or did he not call them heathens and what was it that made them Heathens seeing they were Jews after the flesh Whether was it not their idolaâ—rous worship and oppressing the people and is not this your mark and proof by Christs words 14 Is there any unrighteouser trade in the Nation then the Priests in selling the Letter for they will have money of them that do not buy of them as they have of them that have agreed with them and hired them 15 Is there ever a Tradesman in the Nation so unrighteous that sells his wares on the week day as the Priests do on the first day to take money of them and compel them to pay money they sell nothing to 16 Is there ever a poor hireling or hedger or labourer in the Nation that will force people that have not hired them nor set them at labour to pay them money would not this be an unrighteous thing in those labourers and hirelings as the Priests do take of them that have not hired them nor set them on work is this a righteous thing let all honest hearts judge 17 Whether would not the Priests account it an unrightâ—ous and unequal thiâ—g in us to compel them to repair our Meeting-houses in every County and to give us summs of money and if so whether are they yet come to the royal Law of Liberty to do unto all men as they would men should do unto them and if short of the Law much more of 〈◊〉 Gospel 18 Are not you them that eat mens bread for nought Mark eat mens bread for nought to whom you do nothing for and to pluck it out of the mouths of fathers and children I wish that you were either in the Law or in the Gospel for then some of your practises ways or words might be justified which now they cannot therefore learn wisdom while you may see your folly which now is made manifest with the truth Richard Hubberthorn The Horn of the He-Goat broken OR An Answer to Tho. Winterton his Book which he affirmeth to be A chasing of the young Quaking Harlot out of the City which if those that he writes against be not by it chased out of the City then all may take him to be a false Prophet which reads what he hath affirmed by his Book to be brought to pass To the READER READER THE time is come and coming wherein the God of Heavenis setting up his Kingdome which is not carnal but spiritual and establishing his throne in righteousness the day is appeared and appearing wherein all that oppose him shall be ashamed Now when he is declaring his righteousness and his saving health in the Nations and now the Man of Sin and Antichrist is discovered and the hidden things is brought to light and now when his enemies cannot hide themselves any longer but their shame must appear who are covered and not with the spirit of the Lord Therefore I say because the Lord in his mercy hath caused his marvellous light to arise in the earth the Prince of darkness is angry and all his subjects because their judgment draws nigh and their strength must be thrown down And as the Lord hath made manifest his light more then in some generations past Therefore the rage of the old Dragon is greater and his Angels and instruments who are to be taken with the Beast and the false Prophet and shut up in the pit and sealed in utter darkness for ever and therefore he is come forth in his power and his strength and all his subjects every one with such weapons as they have some with clubs some with prisons whippings reproaches and mockings some with their corrupt sensual wisdom to oppose some with lyes and slanders but all is at work to defend their Masters Kingdom and would not have the man to rule Christ Jesus who will judge all their unrighteousness and bring down the Beast out of his seat amongst whom thou mayest see Tho. Winterton sitting near his Master unto whom he is fallen upon the throen of unrighteousness In a former Book he denied any thing above nature to guide man and in this his last book would judge of us by his evil consequence and he hath denied that he hath any thing that is infallible but he saith he judges by his imaginary faculty and he judges us in the 15. page to be Harlots because we speak plain language as Thou and so hath made all the holy men of God Harlots and Adulterers who used the same and so blasphemously against the spirit of truth hath set himself and makes lyes his refuge as the rest of the Dragons Army do and therefore these few things mind wherein his shame is laid open and his lyes denied and his sensual Queries answered which rose from his imaginary faculty And so take heed Reader thou come noâ— in the way of the lyars nor lend thy ear to the wicked but mind the light of Christ Jesus which will shew thee men of corrupt minds and corrupt things and seeing in the single eye In vain doth the Fowler spread his net in
souls then will they confess That it had been well if they had loved the light and walked in it which they have so long hated and despised with those that walk in it and all those which have exercised their strength to shut others out of the Kingdom of God by their Preaching Printing and false Accusations they shall know that while they serve sin they are free from righteousness and do keep others from it But the time is coming that their mouths must be stopped and the Lord wil cause his everlasting righteousness to spread abroad as broad Rivers and streams unquenchable and nothing shall hinder it and this is the day in which the Lord will try those that dwel upon earth as he hath tried many and measured them with a true line and hath found them deceitful although they have made profession of his name and of his words for a cloak for their iniquity But now the light is come into the world and there remains no more cloak for their sins nor hiding place for their iniquity An Epistle concerning the sufferings of friends shewing the Priests wickedness and persecutions GOD hath a great work to do in this generation to pul down the abominations which hath long reigned and many are straightned till it be accomplished and onely such must be exercised in this work who are called chosen and faithful and many have been called but have not been faithful but have destroyed in their works that which they seemed to have established by words and was not faithful to witness the fate of their words by their works so that by a true search we have fouâ—d the words of righteousness in many but we have found the works of righteousness but in few and though God hath shined into the hearts of many by his light yet there are but few children of it in comparison of the disobedient The eye of God hath looked into the world and he sees men differ more in words then in life and conversation and some in words do witnesse for God but in their works deny him As for example How many of late years had a zeal stirred up in them by the spirit of the Lord against the abominations of the Priests and the oppression of the tithes preaching both down even as that which denied Christ to be come in the flesh So that if words had been that which would have finished the work the Land had been cleansed before this time of that abomination but the Lord hath brought a tryal upon such spirits whether they will own their testimony through the spoiling of their Goods and imprisonment of their bodys and therefore hath God suffered an earthly power a Law to try them and now they do rather deny their Testimony then suffer by that Law which gives the Priests tithes as for Witnesses most of the baptized people in England have betrayed their testimony and profession in that thing And how are you worthy to be called Saints which bear such a testimony can this equally be compared with the testimony of the Saints of old Did they cry down false worships and false teachers in words and did they uphold them by giving them wages Have you not herein sinned against light Did you not once see that they were never sent of God And will you now uphold them because you cannot suffer for your testimony Is not your paying them wages giving them tithes a greater witness for them then your preaching them down in words is against them and may they not herein rejoyce over you Christ is not herein your example which for this end was born and for this end came into the world to bear witness to the truth and did finish the work which the Father had given him to do and was made perfect through sufferings but such never need suffer who preach down deceit in words and hold it up in workes And the Apostles is not your example for they were in workes that which they declared in words therefore hath God cast you by as not fit to be Labourers in his Vineyard But a people is the Lord raising up whom he is giving his holy spirit unto whose witness to him must stand as well in works as in words who love the truth more then their lives or liberties goods or estates and are valiant for it upon the earth which cannot be subject to the powers of darkness nor the Rulers of the darkness of this world but believeth that whatsoever they deny for Christ in this life they shall receive a hundred fold and in the world to come life everlasting And these are they whom the Father will exercise with his holy spirit in the gathering his seed from the ends of the earth and for the turning of many to righteousness and such shall shine as the stars in the firmament of Heaven when as the false and deceitfull witnesses shall be turned into darknesse because their testimony is not able to endure the tryal for the Lords house must be built with tried stones that the winds of persecutions cannot blow it down and upon such will his light arise who when they are tried are found faithfull and who are counted worthy to bear a testimony in this work though it be through sufferings in this day when the powers of the Earth have set themselves to wear out the Saints of the most High God by changing times and Laws whereby to restrain the liberty of the Lords people whose worship stands in the spirit and in the truth Times they have changed by a Law in making the first day of the week to be their Sabbath but that day is more prophaned then any of the seven And Laws they have changed to get a grouâ—â— to stop the word of the Lord from having free course and 〈◊〉 utterance among â—he people These seek to scatter the power of the holy people and to 〈◊〉 the truth to the ground by their acts of cruelty and deâ—rees 〈◊〉 unrighteousness and by a tolerating cruelty and or pression â—mong a company of Priests which are worse then those in Hosea'â— dayes who then were As a Troop of Robbers that wait for a man eveâ— so the company of Priests murther in the way by consent Hos. 6.9 and saith the Prophet I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel but now we may say We have seen a more horrible thing in the Land of England even a company of Priests taking mens horses from their work their Corn off their field driving away their Oxen and Kine out of their Pasture taking their wool out of their Barns taking away their Brasse and Pewter out of their Houses taking away their Bedding off their Beds even off their childrens Beds Such a horrible thing was never seen in Israel for the Priests Robbery was not so great then as now for they did never so spoile mens goods nor destroy mens Estates nor imprison mens bodies as now in England the Priests have
converted and that the ground thereof is the same wherewith Paul was converted is as evident as the rest to them that are in the Light and out of the imaginations and your envy to him since he owned the truth is no small Testimony of it and so all things testifying together the Tree will be known by its fruits to them that are not blind 10. Whethee God did not convey this new Light or Dispensation to Sauls understanding through his sences in that it is said he heard and saw as a sure ground to build his faith upon And also whether he did not give him Power and Authority by signs and wonders to convey to the understanding of those to whom he was sent to convert a sure ground of faith also Ans. Here thou hast manifested that thou art blind and in confusion for the ground of faith is but one in Paul and those that were converted and this ground of faith is not of man nor conveyed from one man to another but it is the gift of God and Christ is the Author of it In thy Query thou art speaking of the Light in which he heard and saw being the ground of Pauls Faith and the signs and wonders wrought by Paul being a sure ground to convey faith to the people If thou were not blind thou wouldest see that in Paul and the people the ground of Faith is but one and they that believed because of the Miracles their Faith as thine doth stand in that which is changeable and is not from the true ground but those whom Paul preached unto he told them that the Word of Faith was within them The Word which he preached and the Light was in them and so he was to turn them to the Light and to the Word which was within them And whereas thou asks Whether it was not conveyed through the senses to the understanding First learn to know where it is and what it doth enlighten in thee and then thou wilt know what is conveyed through for as yet in thee thy senses are ignorant of it though it shine in darkness 11. Whether if John Lilburn have received the same ground of faith so conveyed to his understanding immediately from God as Saul had or by some other whom God hath endued with Power and Authority to convey a ground of Faith as Paul did then far be it from me for blaming of J. Lilburn for being a Quaker Otherwise whether if he have not received the ground of faith aforesaid whether it be not easie to discern that John Lilburn's Resurrection is but a meer imagination or Quaking Delusion Ans. Faith is the gift of God and not the gift of Paul and herein thou art blind And Christ saith Believe in the Light while ye have the Light but he did not bid them believe in that which was of man nor conveyed by men to one another Yet thou confessest that it was conveyed to Paul immediately from God Therefore seeing thou makest a difference shew who did ever receive Faith or the ground of it and not from God and what was the ground of Abraham's Faith and Enoch's before the Scripture-Letter was written But the ground of Lilburn's Faith is immediately from God as Paul's was and therefore thou mayest cease blaming of him for his being turned to the Faith 12. Whether it be not easie to find out whether the Quakers doctrine be a dispensation of God or a dispensation of man's will Whether if it be of God he will not take the same care for the divulging of it as he did of his former dispensation that is by such evidences as no false Minister could procure as when he commanded his Apostles to preach to the world and to baptize them that believed and to teach them to observe all things c. Ans. Although our Doctrine be of God yet to thee and all in that nature it is not easie to know nor find to be so for none knows our Doctrine whether it be of God but he that doth the Will of our Father and walks in his obedience and it is manifest that thou yet hatest the way whereby our doctrine is known for thou having not the Spirit of Truth how art thou like to know that doctrine which is of God from imaginations that which thou tryes withall being thy imaginary faculty but that the Lord takes the same care for his Ministers now as ever he did is manifest even by such evidences as no false Minister can produce for never any of the false Ministers which the Lord did not send did turn any from their iniquity nor from darkness to the light nor from the power of Satan unto God which now many do witness from the Ministry which God hath now raised up in this age which is the torment oâ— the false Prophet for if it had not been evidenced in power and by the Spirit of the Lord to be contrary to the false doctrine especially in turning people from the wickedness whicâ— your doctrine keeps them in then it might have found favouâ— amongst you and would not so much have been despised but to us it is an evident token of salvation and that from God though 〈◊〉 of perdition The Rebukes of a Reviler fallen upon his own head In an Answer to a Book put forth by one John Stetham called a Minister at Terliâ—g in Essex WHereas the Ancient of days hath appeared and the Lord God of Israel and of his holy Seed for ever hath in these our days being his appointed time stretched forth his hand to gather in his Remnant which hath been scattered and starved upon the barren Mountains and he hath made known his Aâ—m and Power in raising up his righteous Branch and is bringing out of captivity his own chosen that his own name may be exalted for evermore and his marvelous light hath he caused to shine forth unto many that have set in darkness and he hath cryed Behold me behold me unto a people that hath not been called by his name yea from this time it shall be said What hath God wrought And who is like unto them that are saved by the Lord a happy people And blessed are they whom he hath chosen for his own Inheritance they dwell in their Tents and none can make them afraid for there is no Inchantment against Israel nor no divination against the Seed of Jacob he that curses them it shall return upon his own head and he that defies them shall surely be confounded in a day for God hath spoken and it shall surely come to pass he hath said and it shall not be revoked They that wait upon him shall never be ashamed but his presence shall go before them and his righteousness shall be their reward Therefore O ye Mountains and Hills wherefore are ye gathered together ye high and lofty Oaks and rebellious children to what purpose have ye set your selves as in Array for Battel against the Lord and against his Annointed in
vain have you sought divination against Israel and to no purpose have you risen up to resist Mount Sion whom the Lord is establishing and exalting above the Dominions of the Earth and though many set themselves and of the wisest too in our age to gainsay the truth which is revealed by subtil Arguments and have travelled in pain to bring forth misty vapors to blind the eyes of the simple and have laid and sought so to do stumbling-blocks of iniquity before the people by multitude of crafty productions and lying arguments Wo unto you wise Writers and Scribes you have taken away the key of knowledge and have neither entered the Kingdom nor suffered others to enter that would what will be your doom and what will be your judgement Oh the heavy hand of the Lord will be upon you your damnation sleeps not a moment And whereas John Stelham one of Gogs Army against the Lamb and his followers a falsly supposed and contrarily called and unjustly named Minister of the Gospel hath out of his corrupt wicked old lying heart which he confesseth he hath brought forth a large piece out of Babylons Treasure of falsly collected and falsly framed arguments whereby he hath sought to offend the way of the Lord but the rather hath burthened his own soul by his own wickedness and offended himself and made himself unworthy of life eternal and is reckoned in the sight of the Lord and proved in the sight of man to be indeed sinful John Stelham yea he is numbred and truly too among Babylons children and the Lyars and Hypocrites whose portion is in the Lake and not among the children of the Lord for them he hath set himself to oppose and by his subtilty secretly sought out Inchantments and endeavouring to curse whom God hath blessed he is accounted among the uncircumcised and shall not dye the death of the righteous neither shall his last end be like unto his except he repent yea God hath kept him back from honor and to shame and disgrace he is already promoted in the sight of all the Saints and all his work is trodden down as a branch of a dead Tree to be cast into the fire And what though he hath travelled full ten Months or more yet his birth is imperfect and the fruit of an Egyptian Womb which hath obtained neither praise of God nor favour of man And what though his Arguments be many and subtile through the strength of his divellish Wisdom whereby he hath descended into the darkness to fetch up his stuff and invented in his mind and framed in his evil thoughts which hath filled his Volumes by his envious pen. And what though he hath taken seeming occasion against us by his industry and bent his tongue to utter it as friendly and zealously as may blind the single eye and in as great hypocrisie and pretended righteousness as possibly may What then of all these things Let hâ—m take this for an Answer in full to all his many Arguments and to his whole Work and whatsoever is brought forth or may be yet lodging in his sinful heart ever to declare We are of God and his Covenant is with us and the whole World lyes in wickedness and he that is of God heareth us And this is enough Reply to all what he hath or can say further against us And this Testimony the Father gives of us who hath chosen us in him before the World was and let him and all our Adversaries know That our Religion is in that which keeps unspotted of the World and our acceptance with God is in him who is the Light of the World who exerciseth our consciences in all good things towards God and towards man And though we answer not yet are we no worse and though we answer yet are we no better praise of men approves us not to God nor dispraise of men makes us not sorrowful but our peace is in the Father whether the World do us love or hate or praise or dispraise us And first of all like unto Rehum and Shimshai and their companions he appears with his Dedication much like unto theirs from the same Spirit and unto the same end as may be seen Ezra 4.9 11 12. c. and in the manner of Amaziah Priest of Bethel unto Jeroboam the King with a Message much of that nature as in Amos 7.10 11. c. And this man with his feigned flattering titles appears to the chief in Authority for approbation of his Woâ—k that men may accept it the more But that 's little worth if God accept it less and in much secret hyyocrisie hath he uttered the intent of his mind in less than a sheet of paper to the Protector and Council of State whom we hope in for more honesty than to believe lyes and the indictments of a sinful wicked heart Well but if they will harden their hearts to believe unrighteousness they shall be filled therewith till both the ancient and honorable and the false Prophet that prophesies lyes which is the tayle Isa. 9.15 be consumed together 〈…〉 the Dominion shal be given into their hands then among his flattering titles he seems secretly to Complain of Abuse made of the Press for the spreading of Anti-scriptural and Anti-christian Errors as he saith Indeed his own works do prove his words true that the Presse is abused which hath by his Pen scribled so many Lyes Reproaches Slanders and Errors and the Presse the instrumental cause of spreading them abroad whereby the Press hath been abused to the dishonour of Religion and Piety if not to the dishonour of Authority also Then he seems to hint at the Cruelty and Outcry of many for crying Club-law against the men called Quakers but whether with approvement or otherwise of it his mind is not uttered however by the Lyes and Slanders ensuing out of his owne mouth it is easily proved that he is of that very generation of persecutors though he so well do not approve of Persecuting with the hand yet he allows and himself is guilty of persenting with the tongue which is one in nature so that hereby the great hypocrisie of this man appears in condemning others secretly of what himself is guilty of openly then he is pleased though the Lord be vexed to cast forth his peevish smite against the light of Jesus Christ wherewith every man in the world is lighted in words thus venomously uttered that perverse Principle of their viz Quakers self-adoring light Will the Protector and Council believe this or will they promote him to honour or magnifie him because of his opprobious speeches against the light of the Son of God let them answer and testifie against him for blasphemy who hath in his hastinesse uttered his envie and wickedness and no less then denied the Lord that bought him in calling and shamelesly stiling the pure light of Christ the Way the Truth and the Life Perverse Principle and Selfe adoring light and thus it