the strength of the Creature being to stand still bearing his dayly cross and thereby is made subject unto him who is able to save to the utmost all who come unto him in and through Christ the Door Power and Wisdome of God who is the Light of the World Therefore Salvation is not of works but of grace which is freely tendered to all mankind upon the face of the whole earth for the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2.11 14. Therefore were your Priests truly in the knowledge of God and his Misteries they would bring you to the knowledge of the Mistery that hath been hid from Ages which without controversie is great to wit God Manifest in the flesh which was Christ in the Saints the Hope of glory and were you rightly instructed you would come to know the riches of the glory of this Mistery Col. 1.27 for it would be your glory also for it was the Saints hope of their glory which hope will perfectly save you and cleanse you from sin and evill and thereby purifie you as Christ is pure for this is the only and true hope which anchors and stays the soul And if you once come to this then their Trade is spoyled but they are as ignorant of it as you your selves but the true Ministers of the New Covenant preached nothing but what themselves were witnesses of therefore saith John That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes and looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of life that they did declare to the people that the people might come to have fellowship with them and their fellowship was with the Father and with his Son because their living and walking was in the Light as God was in the Light 1 Joh. And this is the end of the true Ministers ministry who were Ministers of the Spirit and not of the Letter neither did they boast of other mens sayings made ready to their hands as your Priests do for what they pray preach and speak unto you are other mens works yea the greatest part of your worship which is the Masse and the rest thus they make merchandise of your for dishonest gain made and put in by the will of men and by the will of men are upholden and guarded by a Law that none must speak against their open abominations but the day of the Lord hath overtaken them as a thief in the night and their works of darkness must and will be brought to light let them fence themselves never so wisely and dig as deep as Hell for Counsel yea the day is come and though they should exceed all their fore-fathers in burning and persecution it would but add to their torment for the Sword of the Lord is drawn and will never be sheathed until it hath cut them up root and branch yea the cup of Gods fury is filled even to the brim and they must drink the dregs thereof though they be made and upholden by men yet of a truth men shall not be able to save them for let them daub and flatter never so much to make them a wall or shelter the wall which is daubed and the daubers shall fall together This of a truth is the determination will and counsel of the most high God though bryers and thorns do set themselves against him in battel all shall be in vain for the breath of his mouth shall burn and consume them for ever for he of a truth is arisen before whom all Nations are as the drop of a bucket and as the small dust of the ballance Behold he taketh the Isles as a very little thing yea all Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse than nothing and vanity He measureth the waters in the hollow of his hand and meeteth out the Heavens with a span and comprehendeth the dust of the earth in a measure and weigheth the mountains in scales and the hills in a ballance I say even he whose presence fills Heaven and Earth is risen to plead the cause of the Innocent the poor and the needy and to make way for the meek that they only may reign over the works of his hands in his Son who must and shall reign over all for ever and this will he perfect for his own names sake the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it therefore it is a vain thing for men to cloath themselves some in one habit and some in another and one saith he is of such an Order and another sayes he is of such an Order whilest they are all in the order of sin and uncleannesse the root thereof stands firm and untouched within them though they disguise themselves like so many Anticks in severall shapes more like men of unmodest deportment than like men fearing God which doth in no wise consist in such like disguised habits but in a clean heart for The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom which leads to the true understanding of the use of all the creatures of God and how to use them in decency and true order and in the moderation for which end they were created and made even to serve man and man his Creator in fear with a clean heart and pure mind but man being degenerated from this holy life gets into habits and meats by diversities and calls some holyer than other though in the beginning they were all created good as it is written Every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused But these men get into several habits and call them holy as though the wool that came from the sheeps back availed any thing and thus the Pharisees were in dayes past in outward observations of dayes and things and went in long robes esteeming one thing holyer than another for which Christ rebuked them saying Whether is it greater the gift or the Altar which sanctifieth the Gift And likewise in those days being ignorant of that which sanctifieth and maketh clean by which all things comes to be sanctified to the Creature whether meat drink or apparrel through the use of which only they should have had regard to the Giver who regardeth not nor respecteth the person of any man much lesse the cloathing or meats or drinks which desileth not the man but of all Nations He that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him as saith the Scripture But these things the Apostles saw was crept in amongst many in their dayes as Touch not tast not handle not which thing had a fair shew but it was but
so this is the true Christians life state and warfare to suffer persecution pray for enemies and to do good to them which hate them and ever ready to lay down his life for his vilest enemies and freely forgive as he desireth God his Father to forgive him and out of this life I testifie there is no salvation therefore read and consider a name will never save you without the nature and this nature you can never witness except you follow Christ Jesus through the Regeneration for until the new birth come to be witnessed and the new creature known that is renewed according to the likeness of him that created him for neither Circumcision availeth nor uncircumcision but a new creature there is but those two bare rule in man even Cain and Abel the one a Murderer the other a sufferer for which cause the sacrifice of the one was accepted and not the other though they both offered of the good yet Cain not being in the good was not accepted neither is any in that nature unto this day accepted for the Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord therefore saith Christ Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees you shall in no wife enter into the Kingdome of God Math. 5.20 Mark that and consider what their righteousness stood in even in the same that yours doth to this day even in meats and drinks and in the observation of dayes and times new Moons and Sabbaths and stand praying in the streets as I have seen some of you do and that before Images Therefore cease from those dead works that you may come to worship and serve the living God in spirit and truth for such only he seeketh to worship him And again Christ saith Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. which is certain and true So all people upon the face of the whole earth may prove themselves by it whether they be in the Kingdome yea or nay for no unclean thing can enter there because it is the holy habitation of the glorious God of all power So be no longer deceived by the deceivers but search try and prove your selves If Christ be not in you ye are Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.1 Profess what you will dross and reprobate silver shall ye be called except ye repent and cease from this grievous Idolatry and will-Worship Priests and People without respect of persons Therefore whilst you have a little time prize and lay it to heart before it be too late for your Idolatry much exceedeth that of the Scribes and Pharisees much less your righteousnesse Therefore lay it to heart before things which belong to your eternal peace be hid from your eyes and you be left to perish eternally Consider it is a dreadfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God and if you slight this the day of your visitation ye shall in no wise escape them but shall feel them in dreadful vengeance and judgment which will be too heavy for you to bear and in the day which is nigh at hand you shall cry to the rocks and mountains to fall upon you to cover you from the wrath of him who hath long born with you like a Lamb checking and reproving you for evill by his pure light in your Consciences which if ye refuse to hear and obey you will feel him also as a Lion before whom you shall never be able to flee but by his dreadful wrath will you be consumed and all they who have executed judgment without mercy shall have the same rendred into their own bosomes for God is no respecter of persons And dreadful is that day which is dawning over your heads wherein the hearts of every one shall be made manifest and accordingly shall they receive at the hand of the Lord and not according to names habits or titles These are true and faithful sayings which shall shortly come to pass therefore blessed is he which is found waiting that he may not be found eating and drinking with the drunken nor smiting his fellow servant for an account must every one give of their talents Woe will be to the slothful and unfaithful servant when his Lord shall reckon with him for every one of you have received a talent and gift from God to improve and every particular of you shall be called to an account for it how you have made use of the Lords money Read the portion of him who hid his Lords money in the earth Math. 25.30 for it will assuredly be yours if ye do the like even to be cast into utter darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth If any shall say have I a talent given me to improve seeing I was never told so by any of my Teachers which have been many a one upon whom I have bestowed a great part of my substance yea thou hast a talent given thee of God yet I do believe not any of the Teachers or Hireling Priests could tell thee or any so but of a truth a talent both thee and all men have which is given them of God to improve which talent is the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightned all men which Light shineth in the Consciences of all men and testifieth against all the deeds of darkness Joh. 1. This is the grace of God unto salvation which hath appeared unto all men which taught the Saints to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly and righteously in this present evil world which is the true improvement of it and to that end it is given and because it is given and hath appeared to all men therefore shall all men be left without excuse in the day of account and to plead ignorance will stand you in no stead in that day Christ Jesus saith The Kingdome of Heaven is within you speaking unto the Scribes and Pharisees yet they were not in the Kingdome for if they had they would not have crucified the Lord of glory But this is a Mistery to this dark Generation for Christ compared the Kingdome of Heaven unto a grain of Mustard-Seed and also unto a little leaven which a Woman took and hid in Meal and it leavened the whole lump therefore blessed and happy will they be who come to know this leaven in themselves that so they may be leavened into its own holy pure nature for the seed of the Kingdome is in every one though every one be not in it yet it is there as a grain of Mustard seed yet where it takes root and grows it becomes the biggest amongst all the plants and so covereth the whole earth in man Read the Parable and consider how the sower went forth to sow he sowed upon all sorts of ground but it was onely the good ground where it prospered and tooke root downward and brough forth fruit upward some thirty some sixty and some an hundred fold this is the true increase of the
A Seasonable Warning AND WORD OF Advice to all Papists BUT Most especially to those of the Kingdome OF FRANCE FOR Them to turn from their Idolatry and gross Superstition and speedily to Repent and hast to meet the Lord by amendment of Life least he come on them and smite them unawares Which is good Counsel from a Friend to your souls and a Lover of that which would make for your eternal welfare CHARLES BAILY LONDON Printed in the Year 1663. A Seasonable Word IN Love to all PAPISTS who are scattered on the face of the Earth and especially to those of the Kingdom of FRANCE OH ye Priests of the Nation my controversie is against you saith the Lord God of Heaven and Earth my fury is kindled against you which you shall never be able to quench saith the Allmighty your Idolatry is a noisomness unto me and your prayers are an abomination in my ears your Crosses and your Crucifixes shall not be able to hide you from my terrible irresistable Judgements which is nigh to be powred forth upon you except you repent Repent before the Decree be sealed against you ye make the people drunk with your abominable Idolatry saith the Lord God therefore will I make you drunk with my fury which shall be powred forth upon you which you shall in no wise escape weeping and howling shall be heard amongst you because you have made the Innocent to weep saith the Lord Your strong security shall become as rotten sticks before me And while ye shall cry peace peace suddain destruction shall come upon you the fire of my jealousie is already kindled in your borders which shall never be put out untill it hath consumed you root and branch saith God Allmighty whose power hath set bounds to the Sea and saith to the proud waves thereof Hitherto shall ye go and no further who will also bind and limit your power so that it shall not passe the determined counsel of my God Though you kick against him and say in your hearts Who is the Lord that we should obey him Know ye he is the same as ever he was in Might in Power in Glory in Majesty in Dominion and in Dread who will make all Nations to tremble before him and will render to every man according to his works an hypocrite shall have a hypocrites portion for he shall not be able to hide from his dreadfull presence nor a false god shall not be a cover for them saith the Lord who will roar out of his holy habitation and for his own names sake will he arise yea like a man of war and none shall be able to stand before him in Judgement an Idolater shall have an Idolaters portion money nor favour shall not be able to plead the cause of any saith the Lord but nakedly shall every one be judged and receive according to the deeds done in the body whether they are good or evil an Hireling Priest shall have an hirelings portion an unbeliever an unbelievers portion and a deceiver a deceivers portion the lyar a lyars portion they shall all be cast into the Lake saith the Lord God where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth for ever The mighty and terrible day of Gods vengeance is come Therefore Awake Awake ye people awake and consider what you are a doing will an Idol save you or an Image deliver you saith the Lord surely nay the Image and the Image-maker shall perish the Idol and the Idolater shall have their reward together In vain shall ye cry when ye would be heard seeing ye refuse to hear when I call upon you saith the Allmighty Your prayers to Mary John and James and to the rest of your imagined Saints shall stand you in no stead at all but on the contrary shall adde to your condemnation seeing you have chosen to your selves other Advocates and Mediators then my Son whom I have given for a Covenant of Light to all Nations that he might be your Salvation to the ends of the Earth Hear and give ear ye dull and uncircumcised in heart and ears Is there any other name given under Heaven for Salvation but His He is the Light of the world and he enlightneth every one that cometh into the world which Light shineth into every one of your Consciences checking and reproving every one of you for sin and evill though never so secret or private can any forgive when by this Light you are condemned Surely nay seeing it is my true and Faithfull Witnesse in every one of you which judgeth righteously between me and you without respect of persons saith the Lord drunkard it condemns thee for thy drunkennesse lyar it condems thee for thy lying swearer for thy swearing glutton for thy gluttony and whatsoever is sin or evil it condemneth in you whether pride presumption hypocrisie or covetousnesse which is idolatry it condemns the evil and justifies the good therefore shall ye be left without excuse in the day of Judgement though ye may buy pardons of men yet will not I pardon you saith the Lord God Except you repent This from the Lord is a Warning to you all therefore while you have time prize it least the day of your visitation passe over your heads unawares and you be left to perish for ever Mark the Word ever and lay it to heart before it be too late therefore be you warned whilest love and mercy is stretched out towards you Priest and People Kings Potentates and Rulers from the least to the greatest for if you refuse and reject this tender visitation of love the dreadful sword of Judgement shall bring you down saith the Lord for the Lord is risen to rule and reign over all Nations and none shall be able to stand before him though the Priest preach for hire and the Judges judge for reward and both take counsel against the innocent and so between Head and Tail the whole Body is bound down under oppression yet a day of restoration is coming and the yoak of oppression and the burden thereof shall be taken off from the necks of the poor and needy that they may look towards me saith the Lord who will assuredly plead the cause of the afflicted and deliver him from the hands of him which is too strong for him These things will the Lord do for his own names sake that he might be known amongst the sons of men for he hath been more a stranger amongst them though he hath created them then the Ox is to the Owner or the Asse to his Masters Crib many have professed him in name but in nature are wholly degenerated from him there is more than cause enough in this unrighteous generation for the righteous to be grieved and his soul dayly vexed to behold the wicked conversation of the Inhabitants of the Earth and none more than they who go under the name of Christians from the head to the foot of them and all this chiefly happens from that cursed
Father is in him for people read and consider as you prize the salvation of your precious souls For the soul that sinneth shall dye as saith the Prophet Likewise your Priests tell you you must honour and invoke the Saints that are dead and get pieces of their bones to carry about you such vanity as this do they feed you with for saith Christ The flesh profiteth nothing but the Spirit quickneth This he spake to them who were looking at his flesh outwardly but did you once come to the Spirit which only profiteth you would come to know the will of God fulfilled in you which is your sanctification and then you will be ashamed to make reliques of one anothers cloaths flesh or bones but will come to know the true Sanctification to be in and by the Word which is Christ for so Christ prayed Sanctifie them by thy word thy word is truth and they who come to know the truth come to know the word in them which sanctifies them through soul and body and this word David knew right well and the vertue thereof who said Thy word have I hid in my mouth that I might not sin against thee And if you once come to the knowledge and power of his word it will keep you also from sinning against God which is the true sanctified state and this is no new Doctrine for Moses the true Servant of the Lord preached the same to the children of Israel saying The word is nigh you even in your mouths and in your hearts Mark the word was nigh them even in them and this was the word of faith the Apostle Paul preached he that comes to the word of faith comes to that which purifies and makes clean and here the sanctification comes to be witnessed in the particular by which means the perfect unity comes to be known and enjoyed with the Saints with Christ in God so here will be no need to invoke one another but all will be asked in the name of Christ the power of God which power will infallibly be heard and answered of God For whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name it shall be given you saith Christ Jesus who is the true Teacher and Shepherd of the soul even of all that come unto him who will teach them how to pray and to whom even God the Judge of all And by this you may sufficiently prove your Pope and Priests Doctrine to be none of Christs but contrary to him which is Antichrist You are also forbidden by them meats and marriage which the Apostle said was a Doctrine of Devils speaking lyes in hypocrisie unto you having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron for they forbid you that which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth for every Creature of God is good if it be received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer 1 Tim. 3.4 5. For unto the pure all things are pure For they that come to the purifying come to know all things pure unto them but to the impure nothing is pure their minds and consciences being defiled therefore men knowing this but who comes to the true hope which purifies even as Christ is pure which is a purifying throughout in soul and body in this life yea and gives Dominion over Sin Hell Death and the Devil and he that witnesseth this hope in him needs not a Purgatory to purge him after he is dead for he comes to be purified as Christ is pure as also saith the Scripture This is the true Christian hope whereby he comes to be-purified and made clean as also knowing that God hath created all things for them that fear him but to the impure as I have said nothing is pure unto them though they may lye and say they fast when they only forbear one sort of meat and eat another which will but adde to their condemnation and their Priests which doth teach them to lye will not be able to deliver them but the Teachers and the Teached shall perish together except they repent for the Lake is prepared for the lyar for is it not damnable lying and hypocrisie for men to say they fast when they only forbear one sort of meat and eat another Is not fish flesh Doth not the Apostle call it so And in this your pretended fast you drink Wine and feast your selves without fear whilest some have hardly bread to eat These things are an abomination unto the Lord God of Heaven and Earth for his wrath you shall surely feel for this hypocrisie except you repent though you say you hope to be saved that shall stand you in no stead in the dreadful day of vengeance which is very nigh you For the hypocrites hope shall perish as saith the Scripture and though some of you who are more zealously given than others may fast and hang down your heads like a Bulrush for a day Pharisee-like and give almes to be seen of men which is as though you offered up Swines blood or as the cutting off of a Dogs neck it being in that nature which crucifies the Just in your selves even that which would lead you out of observation of dayes and times up to God which was before time was and untill you come to take diligent heed to this just principle of God in your selves which condemns for all hypocrisie sin and deceit profess what you will it will stand you in no stead ye though you should give all your goods to the poor and your bodies to be burnt it will avail you nothing for it leads all who diligently follow it to do to all men as they would others should do unto them which is the true Christian life in which only all works are accepted with God for it is the fulfilling the Law and the Prophets for the Law was added because of transgression and untill there be a fulfilling of it in you ye are under the curse profess what you will Some may say this is an hard saying who can bear it Did not Christ Redeem us from under the curse of the Law and was not he made manifest for that end I answer to this end was the Son of God made manifest in the flesh to condemn sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us and all who come to know the teachings of God in the Spirit know him to fulfill the Law not to abolish or destroy it in as much as it is righteous and layeth hold on nothing but the transgressor to condemnation therefore saith Paul The Ministration of condemnation was glorious in its time and this all the Saints and holy men of God did witness Christ the righteousness of God manifest in them who did all their works in them and for them and by which all boasting was excluded because It is not of him that willeth nor him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy
heart and consider for it is because of sin the Land mourneth and because of sin wrath hath ever come upon the sons of men and think not that ye shall be exempted more then others seeing your abomination exceedeth all the forepast Generations for God spared the old inhabitants of the Land of Canaan no longer then till the measure of their iniquity was filled up And by it do you take warning and turn to the Lord by true repentance least the Angel of his wrath smite you which he is sending forth whose sword is already drawn to smite the inhabitants of the earth Therefore except ye turn to God speedily and bring forth fruits meet for repentance and amendment of life the Sword shall be sheathed in your bowels for God respecteth not the manner nor the person of any man nation or people but all in the particular shall receive according as they have done whether good or evil if they slight the day of their visitation which is freely tendered unto them which is Gods endless mercy and goodness after so long forbearance with them therefore beware least this love be turned to your condemnation by reason of the hardness of your hearts and there be no place found for repentance though with Esau you may seek it with tears for he had a birth-right but he sold it for a mess of pottage a thing of nought so before you is life and death set good and evil chuse you whether one or other I shall be clear of your blood if ye perish who have truly warned you as I was moved of the Lord even to you people of this nation of what sort or degree soever and ye shall one day remember though at present ye may slight it and count it as idle talk yet ye are warned in an acceptable time and in a day of salvation if so be ye accept it And also your observing of dayes and times will not excuse you as I have already said for the Apostle said he was afraid of those which were in those things least he had bestowed labour in vain upon them for his labour was to bring people out of the observation of dayes and times up to him who was before time was who is God over all blessed for evermore And they who are not come hither are in the beggerly Elements and Rudiments which fadeth away for saith Paul Let no man judg you in meats or drinks or new Moons or the Sabbath dayes which things are but shadows of good things to come mark how far the Pope and his Ministers are from this doctrine who commandeth dayes and times to be observed which are neither Types nor Shadows of things to come nor of any thing promised but are their own inventions so that ye are taught for doctrine the Commandments of men and for the peoples Fear towards God is taught the Traditions of men Therefore cease in time from them for wrath is kindled against them and their works who thus lead the people in gross ignorance even to have as many Advocates as there are dayes in the year And your dayes and times ye observe were never commanded of God nor his Servants yea the very day you call the Sabbath is not the day which was commanded the Jewes they being witnesses against you in that thing for it was the seaventh day that was commanded but it is the first day they put you upon to keep and instead of keeping it holy according to the Commandment it is commonly kept the prophanest of all the rest except your other dayes dedicated to dead men and women as the Heathen do to the Sun and Moon for in the ground there is no difference between you in this particular and your keeping these days as you pretend at best is in honour to such such Saints but ye are a shame to Saints and the very name of Christians is evill spoken of through such means for which cause the Lord will assuredly plead with you if ye repent not for the day which all Saints are in is perfect pure holy peace and rest of which the Land of Canaan was a true Type for saith the Apostle He that believeth is entered into rest and hath ceased from his own works as God did from his which Rest is Christ the Saviour of the soul and whosoever comes to enter in will witness my words and out of him there is nothing but grief and vexation of spirit for in me saith Christ ye shall have peace but in the World trouble Peace is the true Rest so where it reigneth in the heart the true rest and Sabbath is known and not until then can an holy day be witnessed Oh come all to the Light which reproveth for sin in the Conscience so will you come to Christ who is the only way and path of peace to all who believe but to the disobedient he is condemnation And this ye shall witness whether ye will hear or forbear for it is the word of the Lord God to you for if your hearts condemn you ye cannot have confidence towards God for God is greater but if your hearts be turned to the Light they come to be purified and then the peace of God which passeth all understanding will reign there so will you come to have confidence towards God as saith the Scripture for if the heart be smitten it is because of transgression and saith my God There is no peace to the wicked but woe and torment shall follow them for ever though they may seek to avoyd it through the cursed delusion of the blind Priests by giving them money for pardons when ye have committed murder or some wicked act and are judged in your selves for by the Light of Christ Jesus in your Consciences are you judged I say to think to get ease ye run to the covetous corrupt wicked men and confess to them giving them money for pardons for sins and money for saying of Masses and the like but know ye assuredly that the Lord God will not pardon you except ye come to confess and forsake your sins ye will never find mercy at the tribunal seat of the righteous Judg of Heaven and Earth neither you nor your Confessors therefore cease from them least you and them perish together which will assuredly come to passe if ye continue in your stubbornness and gainsaying Remember the dreadful end of Dathan Abiram and of Corah who perished in their gainsaying least you come to the same end which is unrecoverable for evermore Let the word ever sink down into your hearts so may you remember the endless time of torments which is prepared for the Devil and his Angels even the man of sin who was a Lyar from the beginning And do but try his Ministers by this and try if they preach not up sin as long as life lasteth and say that man cannot be free therefrom nor put off the body of sin while in this life by which means they strengthen
the hands of the wicked so that they cannot turn from their wickedness by preaching up their Masters Kingdome for term of life which thing accomplished the Devil knows he hath them sure enough because it was the sin unto death which the Apostle said should not be prayed for So people Consider the miserable captivity and bondage you are in spending all the dayes of your lives in being taught by these Deceivers and in the end you must die in your sins which is a deplorable state for the Wages of sin is death and as the Tree falls so it lyes saith the Scripture and every one shall receive according to the deeds done in the body for his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of righteousnesse unto eternall life So read and consider and be no longer deceived God will not be mocked Such as you sow such shall ye reap and money cannot buy you an immortal possession neither can corruption purchase incorruption as your wicked leaders make you in effect to believe Thus hath the mistery of Iniquity and the man of sin fully wrought and revealed who by all deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse deceived the Nations one after this manner and another after that manner but his subtile wiles hath wrought the deepest amongst men under the name of Christians that thereby he might the easier deceive the hearts of the simple who have any desire in them after the true and living God and for these his instruments in this work he hath imposed the most subtile and craftiest men in all generations since the power of his working thereby the more to amaze the people in saying are not these the learned men are not these the Orthodox men and if these do not know how should we know who are illiterate and unlearned every way and by this his deceiveable working hath he possessed the hearts of the people with a lye for the wisdome of the wise men of this world know not the things of God neither can the naturall man discern the things of the Spirit for they are spiritually discerned therefore saith the Apostle Ye see your Calling Brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called for God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are that no flesh might glory in his presence but of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God hath made him unto us wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption that according as it is written he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 26-31 yea and God taketh the wise in their own craft and turneth the wisdome of the wise backward because the foolishnesse of God is wiser then men and the wisdome of man is foolishnesse with God and Christ Jesus also saith I thank thee Father that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes and sucklings Mark God hath even revealed his secrets unto babes and sucklings in which God doth perfect his praises and this is marvelous in the eyes of many And also the Apostle James saith God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdome Friends this is far from the Romish Doctrine who exalt learning above the Spirit of God in whom is the candle of wisdome and in saying this I doe them no wrong for it appeareth evidently every way doe they not make use of a sort of men which they call Jesuits and Monks whom they esteeme the most to go to and fro abroad in the Nations and by their subtilty any way exalt their own horn through which means much blood hath been shed and grievous disorders amongst many hath been their fruits and effects will be witnesse enough for these things This is far from the example of Christ Jesus who made choyce of simple poor Fisher-men to send forth in his work even such who knew not the letter as saith the Scriptures and the wisdome of the Jews in those dayes had the simple hearted who believed in derision esteemed them accursed because they knew not the Law and asked if any of the Rulers did believe for ye may see preaching of Christ was esteemed a thing very much below them yet through the foolishness of this preaching as it was accounted of by the wisdome of man it pleased the Lord to save many for the Cross of Christ was preached which to the Jews was a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishnesse who sought after wisdome in those dayes but to every one that believed it was the power of God unto salvation as hath been said for he that will be truly wise unto salvation must truly become a fool as saith the Apostle that he may be made wise and saith Christ Except ye be converted and become as little children ye cannot enter into the Kingdome of God And this was witnessed by Paul who according to the learning and wisdome of this world surpassed many in his generation who was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel yet accounted it but dung and drosse that he might win Christ though according to the flesh he might glory above many Where is the wise where is the disputer hath not God appointed the the foolish things to confound them yea verily and shall for ever The little stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands which is spoken of in Daniel shall become a great mountain and cover the whole earth and blessed are they who shall fall upon it that they may be broken for if it fall upon them it will grind them to powder be they never so mighty or never so learned and never so prudent they shall never be able to stand before him Therefore all people submit and come under the banner of his love which is stretched forth over your heads for if you doe not you must come under his iron rod which will dash you to pieces for reign over all he must for ever and evermore though Gog and Magog set themselves in battel against him yea no weapon formed against him shall prosper for their great grength shall be turned into confusion for ever the Lord God of Heaven and Earth hath determined it whose will and purpose none shall be able to prevent though the Heathen may rage and the people imagine a vain thing yet all shall be in vain for God will set his Son upon his holy hill of Sion to reign over all for ever whose right alone it is and for his sake he will rebuke Kings Therefore blessed shall they be who resist not his glorious coming though Satan may have power a while to kill some of his followers and cast others into prison to
were it not that men were given over to believe a lye that they might be damned because they do not like to retain God in their knowledge nor take heed to that of God which is manifest in them which if they did they would soon come out of this horrible deceit into the true knowledge of his eternal power and God-head for God would manifest it unto them Oh People seriously consider and read the Scriptures and see if you can read a word of Purgatory or that if ever men gave money to be prayed for after they were dead or that if any sought to give money to men for pardons for sins or whether any of the Apostles and Disciples of Christ did appoint people a set manner of prayer one part to such a Saint and another part to the Virgin Mary and the like Surely if you are not wilfully bent to be enemies to God and your own souls and resolved to perish you would certainly look unto these things and be no longer deceived for the arm of Gods everlasting love is stretched out towards you to draw you out of these miserable delusions and his voyce calleth unto you therefore whilest it is called to day harden not your hearts as in the provocation for if ye do ye will surely perish eternally which is the Word of the Lord unto you all whose bowels of pity and mercy is unto you therefore repent repent that ye may meet and receive the mercy and be accepted of the Lord for truly his pure Spirit hath long been grieved with you and hath been oppressed even as a Cart is laden with sheaves with your iniquities therefore be warned and repent And from whence come all the abominable abominations and delusions but from the painted Harlot that rideth upon the Beast cloathed with Scarlet with the Cup of fornication in her hand by which you are made drunk as not to discern her devilish witchcraft which she deceives you with to the end that she may uphold her own pride lust and wickedness painting and decking her self like Jezabel her mother out of whose womb she came seeking and hunting continually after the Servants and Prophets of the true and living God to destroy them while she feedeth many hundred false ones at her Table fed like so many pompered Beasts at the Stall of the Staller which she maintains to minister to her Idols and Images from which they can have no answer in the day of tryall as it appeareth plainly and will upon further tryal therefore woe will be unto them which joyn with her to uphold her for they shall perish utterly with her for ever and though she hath pretended to forgive many yet God will not forgive her but as she loveth blood she shall have blood to drink yea a double portion in her own bowels shall be rendred unto her for the evil which she hath done to others The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and the Dogs shall eat her flesh and none shall be able to deliver her out of the hand of the Allmighty who hath determined her destruction and sealed the decree against her and many hath the Lord already mounted in the Chariots of Israel to go forth against her yea chosen men of valour and strength whose hearts shall not pity nor their hands spare untill the purpose of the Allmighty be accomplished upon her and their Bow shall abide in strength in battel and none shall be able to deliver her out of their hands And People look not for peace look not for peace so long as her witchcrafts remains amongst you though you may desire it yet surely it will be in vain for the consummate decree is gone forth against all her abominations therefore as you love your immortal souls and desire the salvation thereof joyn not with her but joyn unto the Lord so will you be blessed and happy for evermore surely were you sensible of the abominations of Romes City you would fear and be ashamed to call it a Holy City where all manner of impiety is nourished viz pride whoredome murder and the most openly of any place in the world This testimony is faithful and true concerning it under pretence of keeping of Hospitals for the poor there is tolleration for Play-houses where all manner of wickednesse is committed and those must pay great sums of money to the Pope under pretence of hospitality Oh unheard of wickedness where did ever any of the Saints or holy men of God countenance any such things is not this an open sign they are not of God did not the Apostle say Above all things keep your selves from fornication and is not fornication tollerated by a Law did he not also say Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths and are not Comedies and Stage-Playes nothing else but such like wickedness and yea thither do resort the chiefest of the Clergy-men Cardinals and the like and do ye think God beholds not these things yea verily and his fury is kindled hot against it And in their open Market-places there is Conjuring Pupit-Playes and the like to amaze and draw the minds of people after vanity is this the fruits of an holy City nay it s the fruits of Hell Do not Cardinals out of which they make Popes from whom come your chiefest Pardons for sins go up and down in such pride and pomp as is not usual amongst the Princes of this world with great trains of men after them and before them bare-headed and their Gowns held up before them was this the practice of the Saints Search and see and be no longer deceived with lying vanities by forsaking your own mercies In the Scripture is recorded of Elders to oversee the Churches which signifieth properly Bishops which whosoever desireth desires a good Office even to be an Elder in the Church and Assembly of Gods people but such were to be grave sober men not given to filthy lucre nor wine the husband of one wife and of good report that he might be a good example to others But the title and name of a Cardinal who brought them in let the wise in heart judge for Cardinal signifieth properly Supream as your own Catechisme teacheth which is against Christs Doctrine who said He that would be greatest amongst them let him be servant unto all So People come to the Light of Christ in you and with it Try all things and hold fast that which is good And if any preach any other Doctrine than this which hath been preached let him be accursed saith the Apostle yea though themselves or an Angel from Heaven So whosoever keepeth up Superiority in the Church of God preacheth another Doctrine for they were all Brethren And again In Rome there is men they call Bishops but they differ from them whom the Apostle speaks of let him which readeth judge who ride up and down in round Caps and green Ribbons such as fools use to wear and in great pomp far from examples