Mokell which that day was preaching I being moved of the Lord to give my testimony against him which by good and fair words they were good words us they were spoken from the holy men of God but the deceiver taking them to cover his deceit thereby deceives the simple so after that in my conference with R. M. he said he had not an Infallible Spirit but was subject to erre so this makes good my testimony for the Lord that he spoke not from the mouth of the Lord but spoke the good words as I said before from an erring spirit for all that speak not from an infallible spirit or measure thereof speak from an erring spirit So let that of God in all Judge what Pastors Teachers these be Many other such like passages might I relate which would be too large to write neither do I write it out of prejudice or envy unto any God knows I lye not but it is only that all who are concerned therein may throughly search themselvs with that of God in them see what they have Profited in the things of God by such Pastors and Teachers and into what you are baptized for where the old man and its fruits are standing to wit Pride Lust Envy c. You are not come so far as John's Baptisme the true figure which was to repentance nor the answer of a good conscience by the resurrection of the Just but have need to be taught the first Principles of the true Christian Religion to wit turn to the Light of Christ in you which would lead you to repentance and from dead works c. and to go on to perfection Heb. 6.1.2 And into the daily Cross as I said afore to the crucifying of the old man and his deeds and so to know as Panl did a daily dying and baptized into the death of Christ buried with him in baptism that Like as Christ was raised by the Power and Glory of God the Father of Life from the Grave so to be raised and changed into newness of Life and so the fruits and effects of the Spirit of Truth will be brought forth which are meekness Long-suffering Brotherly kindness Gentleness Temperance Love Faith Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Now if these fruits and effects are brought forth by you Baptists let that of God in all Judge for Christ said false Prophets should come and ye shall know them by their fruits and now false Prophets and brutish Pastors are known by their fruits who cry out the Ordinances of Christ The Ordinances of Christ c. Even as the false Prophets did in the days of old The Temple of the Lord The Temple of Lord but mocked the messengers of the Lord God and despised his Words and killed and mis-used his Prophets against such Christ himself cryed and Prophesied the destruction of that Temple and said God his Father was a Spirit and in the Spirit and in the Truth would he be worshipped And told his Disciples when he was with them That except he did go away the Comforter would not come But if he did go away he would send the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth which should lead and guide them into all Truth and shew them things to come 8 Therfore that very night he was betrayed as a Pledge of his Love knowing that his Disciples were but weak The Holy Ghost not being then given amongst them though he had done many glorious works and miracles amongst them he left them a remembrance of himself which was the figure of the Spirituall breaking of Bread as will be shewed I say that very night Christ was betrayed He took Bread and broke it and blessed it saying This is my Body which is broken for many c. And Likewise the Cup saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood c. which was to be done onely in remembrance of him saith the Apostle mark the Limitation of time till he come who blessed be the Lord many do witness to be come in great Power Glory and when his good Spirit was come unto the Apostles it was their great work to bring the Saints off from outward things that were seen Carnall Ordinances that perished in the using for Bread is seen and Wine is seen and Elementary Water is seen and they all are Carnall and perish in the using 2 Cor. 4.17.18 Col. 2.22 Therefore saith the Apostle If ye be dead with Christ why as though Living are ye Subject to Ordinances which all are to perish in the using after the Commandements of men threrefore he bid them beware Least any man spoyle them through Philosophy and vain deceit and traditions of men after the rud ments of the world and not after Christ Col. 2.8 to the end of the Chap. And bid them if they were risen with Christ to seek those things which were above Carnall Ordinances which perished in the using where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God c. And this testimony I give to all the world That you baptists and other that are found practising those ordinances Baptism and breaking Bread c. you are not to be parallelled or compared to the Saints and Apostles that did practise those things in their purity or first institution by Christ not from tradition or command of mans for whatever Christ or his Prophets or holy Apostles did practise as is recorded in the Scripture is no ground for any one now to practise except commanded or moved immediately by the same spirit that lead them unto it for they that so do will be found in the rudiments of the World walking in traditions although they may say They have eaten and drunken at the Table of the Lord and prophesied in his Name and done many wonders c. yet when God's righteous Witness comes to be raised in Power to judgement it will be said Who required those things at your hands c For since the long Night of Apostasie that Antichrist hath reigned through his subtil working hath gotten into all these outward Ordinances Practises and Forms that were practised by the Primitive Church but the Power he had not which did then even in the dayes of the Apostles begin to work with all Power Signs and lying Wonders in them that perish whom now by the second and glorious appearance of Christ in man is revealing the man of sin and Mystery of Iniquity and by the Power of his Spirit and brightness of his coming is destroying and consuming of him which hath a long time reigned in man the Temple of God And therefore ye Baptists you are found in the Traditions and Rudiments of the World for the Pope Jesuits and all his Fryars and all that they call Christendom are baptizing and breaking bread crying out The Ordinances of the Lord c. But the Spirit of Life from God which is eternal and not carnal nor seen with the carnal eye he I say that hath this spirit is come
to the end of all those shadows and knows himself as he abides in it a member of the body of which Christ is the the Head and a member of the true Church in God with the Saints in Light and so comes truly to say as the Apostles did We being many are one body and one bread I speak as to the wise in God to judge what I say The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood the Life of Jesus Christ And the Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ c. For all are partakers of that one Bread I am the Bread of Life saith Christ he that hath an ear to hear let him hear and he that eats thereof shall never dye So I say in this the day of God's eternal Power his children who meet together sitting in the heavenly high places waiting on the Lord in the measure of his spirit and in the Spirit of Truth are worshipping him they being many are one body and come to be partakers of that spiritual Bread of life which is broken amongst them by the Divine hand through the Power of the Lord so are come to the substance of the shadow or outward sign which was to be done in remembrance by the Disciples till he come c. but not commanded to be practised by succeeding Generations as a traditional rudiment the which did prefigure the spiritual communion of the Saints in the dispensation of times which is come for the gathering together all in one even in CHRIST Eph. 1.10 And those that were baptized unto Moses c. They also eat of this Spiritual Bread and drank of that Spiritual Rock which followed them and that Rock was Christ 1 Cor. 10.2.4 Therefore in the Power and Authority of the Spirit of the Lord I bear testimony That all the children of the Lord that are taught of him and in his righteousness in their measures are established are come to the end of all those shadows types and figures which stood in meats drinks and divers washings and such carnal Ordinances baptising with Water and breaking natural Bread c. Outward Offerings and sacrificing of Beasts c. are carnal and the Apostle said I Paul testifie unto you if you be circumcised Christ will profit you nothing What Scripture had the Apostle to prove that seeing there was a time Scripture required it I say although these Ordinances and commands were instituted by the Father and the Son they stood in time until he that was before time and for ever will remain when time shall be no more was manifest the second time c. even Christ in them the hope of glory and he that believes hath the witness of truth in himself and so is come in truth according to the Scriptures of truth to the end of those carnal Ordinances which were imposed on them take notice of the limitation of time until the time of Reformation Heb. 9.10,11 Rom. 10.4 9 And this testimony I give for the Lord's Truth his chosen ones whom he hath called to labour in his Vinyard that we called Quakers do not deny the Ordinance of God Christ to wit Baptism and breaking of bread c. as they stood in their time and place as is aforeshewed but for any to take them up by tradition or imitation according to the Doctrine of Pastor Hunt Baptist which said in the high place in their meeting at Kilkenny That none could follow Christ to be as perfect as he was Therefore saith he They must be as perfect as they can and follow him so well as they can and by imitation And so hee would make the Doctrine of Christ and his Ministers to be of none effect by his imitation and traditions for his Doctrine and Ministry was for the perfecting of the Saints c. they preacht wisdom amongst them that were perfect and they laboured to present every man perfect in Christ and Epaphras prayed they might stand perfect And the Apostle said They were compleat in Christ and come to mount Sion and to an innumerable company of Angels and to the spirits of just men made perfect And Christ said Whosoever will be my Disciple he must take up his dayly Cross and follow me He doth not say Follow me as well you can c. but his Disciples said We have followed thee in the regeneration c. and they received the Light of Life through which they loved one another and said Herein was their love made perfect and therein was their boldness because even as he was mark the reason in the day of Judgement even so were they in the present and were and are perfect and so they witnessed his Command and Doctrine fulfilled which said Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect And for any as I said before to take up any Ordinance except moved of the Lord by imitation or tradition I manifestly affirm It is absolute Idolatry and Witchcraft drawing the minds of creatures into outward observations contrary to the law Testimony and that is the only Work of Antichrist crying Lo here lo there and Christ saith Go not forth to keepe the minds of creatures in outward things which perish in the using from the Light of the Son of God within which he hath enlightened every one that comes into the world withall that all men through him might believe and walk in the Light which would lead unto the one baptism to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with Fire through which the heart comes to be purified and the Faith of God's elect comes to be received which gives the victory over the world and the mercy and peace from God comes abundantly to be multiplied in and on the new creature who is changed and raised to newness of life by the same power and glory that raised the Lord Jesus from the Grave So in the Light of the Son of God examine your selves ye Baptists whether you are come to know a real change of life and to be new creatures and old things past a way or passing away if not I testifie unto you in the Name of the most High God your baptism avails you nothing and you are not yet come to the true repentance not to be repented of And as sure as the Lord lives his just and righteous Judgement must you all come to feel revealed in you and upon that nature that hath disobeyed his Gospel through which Gods Righteousness comes to be revealed from Faith to Faith c. through which Revelation of his Righteous Judgements in flames of fire comes the creature to know the purging away the filth of the flesh and the consuming of the man of sin which hath a long time sate in the Temple of God and exalted himselfe above God even the mystery of iniquity comes to be revealed which hath a long time reigned through the Power of darkness which hath wrought
Lord and shall make it to appeare by the aforegoing words of the Apostle to the Romans and also by the words following that it was not the Apostles then present condition when he said O wretched man that I am c. but a condition that he had once passed through which through Christ he did witness a freedom from Rom. 8,12 onely it was the manner of the Prophets and Apostles when they writ to the people and for the condescending to the low estate or condition that those they writ unto were in to rank themselves with them to wit in using the word We or Us as for instance if we say we have nosin or have not sinned c. And in mamy things we offend all And as Isaiah saith Lord why hast thou caused us to erre from thy wayes James 3.2 1 John 1.8 Isaiah 36.17 But Paul as is a fore shewed affirmed they were really dead to sin Rom. 6.2 and he giveth an infallible reason for it for saith he Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death that like as Christ was raised from the grave so they were to walk in newness of life Rom. 6.1 to the 8. and so they came from under the dominion of sin and from under the Condemnation of the Law Rom. 6.14.15 Chap. 8.1 but whiles a man lives the Law hath Power over him He that hath an ear to hear can hear and understand Rom. 5.14 but he over whom and in whom death reigns though he may talk of Christ and his righteousness of Faith and Grace c. yet not being turned to the Light which is the Law Rom. 5.13,14 he is not come so far as the pure law of God neither knowes he it in righteousness and truth but is a stranger unto it for saith Paul Know ye not my brethren how that the Law hath dominion over a man so long as he liveth for I speake to them saith he that know the Law for the woman that hath an husband is bound by the Law to her husband so long as he liveth but if her husband be dead she is loosed from the Law of her husband so that she is no adulteress thoughshe be marryed to another Wherefore saith he my brethren ye also are not that ye shall become dead to the Law by the body of Christ that ye should be marryed to another even to Christ who is raised from the dead thorough whom they brought forth fruits unto God for saith he when they were in the flesh he did not then say they now are in the flesh or following the motions of the flesh the motions of sin which were by the Law wrought in their members sin and brought sorth fruits unto death but now he said they were delivered from the Law that they should serve in newness of spirit Rom 6.15 What shall we say then saith he Rom. 7.7 Is the Law sin God forbid for he had not-known sin except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet But sin taking occasion by the Commandement wrought in him all manner of Concupiscente For he was alive mark and take notice of that ONCE He there told them what he was once but by the receiving of the Law which caused sin to abound and appear exceeding sinful he cried out O wretched man c. So there was a time Paul saw his sin to abound by the Law c. and there was a time he did witness he was dead to sin And there was a time he told them The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had freed him from the Law of Sin and Death And that was Paul's then present condition for saith he There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh or its motions for they that so do cannot please God But saith he Rom. 8.1 to 10. Ye are not in the stesh but in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his he gives a character of them that have this Spirit whereby in the Light of the Son of God they may judg and examine themselves for if the Spirit of Christ be in thee the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness So that through this Spirit of Life Paul did witness a freedom from sin and a Victory over sin on this side the grave and thanked God for it and said He had fought the good sight he had finished his course he had kept the Faith which gave victory over the world or sin and henceforth saith he 2 Cor. 12 7 8,9 there is laid up for me a Crown of Glory and Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not onely to me but unto all them which love his appearance And although Paul did cry out of the thorn in the flesh and of the buffeting of Satan lest he should be exalted above his measure Tit. 2.11,12 the Lord did not impute that unto him as sin but said My grace is sufficient for thee which Grace taught Paul and the Saints to deny sin and ungodliness whereby they lived like God in that present world So that it is evident by the Scriptures of Truth that the Apostles and Saints in Light did witness a redemption from sin and were regenerated washed and cleansed and sanctified on this side the grave Read and compare these Scriptures 1 Cor. 1.30 Rom. 6.2.7.22 Ch. 7.6 Rom. 8.2 to 10. 1 Cor. 6.11 Ch. 15.55,56,57 2 Tim. 4.7,8 1 Pet. 4.1,2 So I being cast into Prison that very day that Priest Whale thus affirmed not giving any just offence in word or action as Priest Whale passed by the Prison I required him to prove where man should be made free from sin seeing that he had affirmed That the godliest man that ever was did not get the victory over sin on this side the grave His Answer was They should be cleansed in heaven O wretched man How hast thou darkned the Counsel of the most High God uttering words without the true knowledg of God from thy wisdom which is from beneath which is earthly sensual and bruitish and how hast thou deceived thousands of souls Wo is me for thee the Controversie of the Lord will be great with thee and you all and have taken their moneys for that which is not Bread and have made them spend their labour all the daies of their lives for that which doth not profit their immortal souls which wil be required at thine such blind guides hands as thou art May not the People State wch have given thee a great house 150 l. a year some say 200 l. a year truly say It is for nought for if people can never be made free from sin or get the victory over sin on this side the grave the contrary
affirm in the fear of God we do not put any on works or duries according to the first Covenant for life and salvation for by the deeds of the Law no flesh shall be justified But a measure of Gods Light Grace and Spirit of truth being first given freely to every man to it obedience is required which as I said before is a Cross to the will of man through which Cross is the power of God felt to the slaying of the enmity and the cleansing of the heart whereby the faith of Gods Elect comes to be received which works by love in obedience to what the Lord requires and so by the same power as Christ was raised from the grave comes the Creature to be quickened even his mortall body by the Spirit of Christ that dwells in him and so comes to be changed to walk in newness of Life through obedience to the Life of God in man for Christ himself learned obedience in the days when he was manifest in flesh and being made perfect through sufferings became the author of eternall salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.8,9 and so to press the Creature to obedience to the Light and Spirit of Life and Truth within it is not against Christ nor contrary to the Scripture nor a setting man to work for Life but to work in obedience to the Life received is according to the doctrine of Christ and is the beginning of the ground work of salvation But I must once more return to my present work to wit to the magnifying of the Light and anointing within for saith John when he writ to the Saints concerning those which would have seduced them from the Light and anointing he exhorted them to abide in that of God in them for saith he I have not writ unto you because ye know not the truth but because ye have known it that ye might abide in it Let that therefore abide mark in you which ye have heard from the beginning If that which ye have heard from the beginning take notice shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Father and in the Son and the anointing which ye have received of him mark that abides in you and ye need not that any should teach you but as the same anoynting teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye and as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 1 Jo. 2.21 to 27. and so to magnifie the Light and Spirit within and walk in obedience to it is not Spirituall delusion nor against Christ nor in opposition to the Scripture which is largely proved by the Scriptures of truth But they that are not guided by the Light and Spirit of truth within are in the Spirituall delusion And whereas thou S. W. speaks of magnifying the Light within against Christ and in opposition to the Scriptures of truth Paul saith when he writ to the Philipians I would ye should understand Brethren that the things which have hapened unto me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel so that my bonds in Christ are manifest c. for I know that it shall turn to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ according to my expectation and my hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but that with all boldness as always take notice of that so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body c. And there is not any one thing in all the whole Scripture more clear to be proved then the magnifying of Christ the Law Light and Spirit of Truth in man And as for the first Rise of us which scorners call Quakers which S. W. saith was in London about the year 47 it is no more true then his charging of us that the magnifying of the Light within stands in opposition to Christ and the Scripture But as for the eternall power of the Lord God of hosts which in righteousness hath been revealed and made manifest amongst us more then hath been of late ages through the long night of Apostacy by which proud flesh hath exceedingly quaked and trembled that was not first in London as S.W. dreameth but in the North of England as many faithful witnesses can testifie if required and the first that ever was known to give us that name of Quakers as I heard out of the mouth of a true faithfull witness of the Lord was a persecuting Justice in Darby Shire Gervas Bennet as I remember about the year 1652. yet the power of the Lord was witnessed before that time amongst our friends in the North. Yet that was not the first rise of the Quakers or Quaking which S. W. saith was in London which plainly manifesteth to all the Children of Light that Captain Wade is no Minister of Christ neither following him in the regeneration for they that follow Christ in their mouths is found no guile mark that neither do they speak a lye for quaking was thousands of years before that For saith Moses so dreadfull was thy presence that I did exceedingly quake and tremble Heb. 12.21 And Isaac which was before Moses hundreds if not thousands of years did witness quaking or trembling for when he heard the voice of Esau the cunning Hunter he exceedingly trembled Gen 27.33 And in the holy war in the days of old the Host of Israel and the Garison and the spoylers mark ye spoylers who make a prey and spoyl of the Lords servants and their outward substance a Day of horror and perplexity is coming on you and the spoylers also did quake and tremble and there was a great trembling and quaking in the Host in the field 1 Sam. 14.15 And David said his flesh did tremble he was afraid of the judgements of the Lord Psal 119.120 And Daniel that holy Prophet when he saw the Vision and heard the voice of the Lord stood trembling and a great quaking fell on them that stood by Dan 10.7 to the 11. And Habbakuck when he heard the Decree of the Lord against the wicked who built towns with blood and established Cities by iniquity and that gave drink to their neighbours till they were drunken and their nakedness seen c. and violence was done on mens blood and they taught lyes and trusted in dumb Idols take notice and their rejoicing was to devour the poor secretly for the which the man of God saw the Lord would be avenged of them in the day he would invade them with his troops or compass them about with his terrible army with displayed banners the which when the Prophet heard his belly trembled and his lips quivered rottenness entred into his bowelâ— he trembled that he might rest in that day of trouble such a man as saith Isaiah Isa 66.2 to the 5. hath the Lord regard unto which is of meek and humble Spirit that trembles at his Word Habak 2.8 to the end chap. 3. See thou S. W. and you all that despises
quaking do plainly manifest you are not come to the opening of the Book in which the mystery of God have been sealed hid from the Vultrous eye c. And I beheld saith John when he had opened the sixth seal and lo there was a great Earthquake Rev. 6.12 but thou must come to know the pouring out of the vialls by the seven Angels which is pouring forth the wrath of God on the earth as you may read Rev. 16. the whole world that lyes in wickedness shall feel what is contained in that Chapter much there lies in it which I am not permited to speak And when the seventh Angell poured forth mark ye airy Spirits his viall into the air and there came a great voyce out of the Temple saying it is done and there were Voyces and Thunders and Lightnings and there was a great Earthquake such as was not since men were on the earth so mighty an earthquake and so great Rev. 16.17 This hath been truly witnessed and is witnessing amongst those whom the Lord hath redeemed and is redeeming For the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath roared out of Sion who wil not fear And the Lord hath spoken who can but Prophesie his everlasting power is made manifest and his glory is revealing and he will overturn overturn overturn till he come to raign whose right it is Christ Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the onely Potentate of heaven and earth and he in man shall rule and reign over all the world in righteousness whereby true judgement shall be set up in the earth and executed on all transgressors without respect of Persons for he will rule the Heathen with a rod of Iron and all that gather against his chosen ones shall be broken in pieces like a potters vessell and no weapon formed against them shall prosper and every tongue that riseth against them shall be condemned for in Christ our righteousness are we established and establishing And he that rides on the white horse is goneforth Conquering and to Conquer and with the rod of his lips will he smite and is smiting the earth and with the Spirit of his mouth and bright glorious appearance is consuming the Spirit of perdition and the pride and glory of all flesh he is marring and staining for Christ is come in his ten thousands c. For so I have read it in an old Arrianish Testament I saw in Clonmell in these very express words as followeth and of these Prophesied Enoch the seventh from Adam saying behold our Lord is come in his holy thousands to do judgement against all and to reprove all the impious of all the works of their impiety whereby they have done impiously and of all the hard things which impious sinners have spoken against him Jude 41.15 Therefore Awake awake ye that are resting in forms without the power feeding on the husk the letter which killeth and are covered but not with the Spirit of the Lord The all seeing eye is opened before whom the secrets and intents of all hearts are naked and bare your bed is to short and your covering will not hide you you are weighed in an equall ballance and comprehended as half a span by him who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out heaven with a span and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a ballance from which in vain is salvation hoped Therefore Arise Arise ye Baptists that is not your true rest ye now are in it is polluted and will be your great destruction except ye speedily repent for the glory of the Lord is departed from you because you have forsaken your first love to wit the true desires and breathings after God in sincerity that was I witness in many of you about 12 years ago Wo is me for you l who were as it were persecuted for Christs sake and now are turned persecutors as will be made appear as followeth For if the Lord send any of his innocent servants amongst you to speak a word in season you cry out you are disturbed Priest-like limiting the Spirit of the Lord to an hour Glass Or if any speak a word as moved of the Lord in the time you are speaking the divination of your own brains then some of you have laid violent hands and haled out of doors and shut the door this many of you in England and Ireland can witness Oh tremble tremble and be ashamed ye careless ones I many days shall ye be troubled the mouth of the Almighty have spoken it And in the Light of the Son of God examine your selves whether riches and friendship of the world which is enmity unto God and the glory of the world have not blinded the eye of your understanding and so Adam the old man by the earthly mindedness hath stopt up or choaked that of God in you which should give you the true knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ which if ever ye Baptists come to be partakers of in truth by the powerfull operation of Gods Spirit working in you must you feelingly know through judgement that part removed till that which cannot be shaken be raised in dominion to raign in you for yet once more will the Lord by his mighty power shake not onely the earth but heaven also c. And will ye nill ye shall ye all know who are of Gogs number making war against the Lamb and his followers a Day of quaking for in my jealousie and the fire of my wrath have I spoken saith the Lord Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking so that the Fishes of the Sea the fowls of the heaven and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep upon the earth and all men that are upon the face of the earth shall shake at my presence and the mountains shall be thrown down and the steep places and walls shall fall to the ground and I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains saith the Lord God every mans sword against his Brother and I will plead against him with pestilence and blood and rain great hailstones sire and brimstone thus will I magnifie my self and sanctifie my self and I will be known in the eyes of all Nations and they shall know that I am the Lord Ezek. 38.19 to the end So the judgement of Captain Sam. Wade concerning the first rise of quaking and magnifying the Light within to be in opposition to the Scriptures is altogether proved false and a Spiritual delusion This have I written only for the sake of the simple the clearing of false reports against the truth and those that have desires after it God knows I lye not 5 The Principles and Judgement of Joseph Parsons Pastor and Teacher to those people called Freewillers he affirmed before his flock That the Lord would purge c. the Tribe of Levy to offer sacrifices and offerings
with signs and lying wonders which glory glory for ever to the Lord he is now consuming with the Spirit of his Wrath and the brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2. and look within for all your preaching and praying and seeming holiness being not moved or guided by and from the spirit of the Lord is the spiritual wickedness which the Apostles vvarred against vvhose Weapons vvere not carnal as theirs are that lay violent hands on the creature and vvould have stoned him to death And so vvill ye nill ye a day of silence if ever you come to enjoy the Lords Truth in the truth of it shall you knovv that is Gods truth to you all For your prayers and sacrifices are as the strange fire unto the Lord that vvas offered by Nadab and Abihu mark vvhich he commanded them not for vvhich fire vvent forth from the Lord devoured them that they dyed before the Lord and for that very cause God beareth me record vve the servants of the Lord vvhen moved of him to come amongst you cannot joyn or bovv to your imaginary prayers in vvhich time some or most of you are sitting at ease and the Pastor or Teacher standing praying many times in a Pulpit Priest-like taking a Text of Scripture preaching by an hour-Glass and so you plainly shevv you are not come in righteousness to glorifie God vvith one mouth and one mind for vvhen your Teacher stands praying and you fitting it is a true testimony you are not brought into the true humility but are in the stubborn rebellious nature at ease in Sion which the wo is to nor to the Covenant of Life to perform and fulfill the oath of God which said As I Live mark ye stiffe necked every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess unto me saith the Lord and the Apostles and members of the true Church kneeled down to prayer by the Sea shore And so I say it is not out of contempt as to your Persons or as denying prayer that we cannot join with you in it as is afore shewed for the prayers of the faithfull as the Lord leads to it by and from the breathings and movings of his eternall Spirit we own in all humility as may be expressed c. Yea somtimes God knows I lie not were it not for giving and offending his holy Spirit for the oppressed seed sake that it might arise amongst you to praise the Lord I could even bow down amongst you when the Lord hath sent me amongst you but knowing the terrors of the Lord and having felt his Righteous Judgements and bore the Indignation of his wrath dare not do it but have many times stood bearing a heavy burden a witness for the Lord against you For Israel in the days of old bowing to the Sacrifices of the Gods of Baal the Anger of the Lord was therefore kindled against them and Moses said unto the Judges of Israel that the fierce anger of the Lord might be taken away slay ye saith Moses every one his men that were joined to Baalpeor Numb 25.1 to the 6. and therefore as I said before a day of silence shall ye Baptists and all professors of the earth know that make mention of the name of the Lord but in the unrighteousness which is sin The Lord God of heaven and earth hath a controversie with you all for your manifold transgressions and for rejecting his counsell and misusing his messengers which he hath sent rising early coming from far unto you and you would none of his counsell but hate and despise his servants who reprove sin in the gate and you abhor them that speak uprightly Wo is me for you my soul mourneth for you in secret Oh! repent yee backsliders repent ye backsliders who have forsaken the Lord of Life and have settled your selves on the Lees and think in your hearts because many of you have gotten great possessions and treasure in the earth ye shall not be moved Oh! again I say unto you meet the Lord by speedy repentance before the day of your visitation be past away and you find not a day of repentance though you seek it with tears as Esau did for the mighty day of the Lord God over all the world is come and coming such as hath not been known since the world began a day wherein your solemn solemnities and breaking Bread that perisheth in the using c. will be a day of great and thick darkness felt even as the Egyptian darkness in it your Prudent must keep silence mourning even as a woman mourneth over her onely son for he that formed the mountains and created the winds and sheweth to man his thoughts will plead with you and all flesh by fire and by sword and great will the slain of the Lord be yea they shall cast out their dead bodies with silence for saith David Let the wicked be put to silence in the Grave and all that makes mention of the name of the Lord our God who is a consuming fire must depart from iniquity And as you and all people on the face of the earth come to wait on the Lord in the way of his Judgements you will sensibly come truly and gladly to say blessed be he that comes in the Truth and in the name of the Lord for he keepeth the feet of his Saints mark that but the wicked shall be silent in darkness and David said Let the wicked lips be put to silence mark and take notice ye that despise the Light and speak proudly against the Light and Spirit of God in man to be the Rule and Guide of Life c. That speaketh proudly grievous things contemptuously against the Righteous Psal 31.17.18 for the Lord is arisen and hath appeared in his Temple Let the earth and all flesh keep silence before him And therefore I say unto you who despise the servants of the Lord who preach silence to all flesh who sit silently waiting on the Lord speaking as they are moved if ever the true joy in God you come to be partakers of it must be by returning in your minds into that of God in you waiting in the silence of all flesh for let the Islands keep silence before me mark that the people may renew their strength Isa 41.1 and thousands who are come to know the honourable silent waiting on the Lord do witness daily strength renewed And when the seventh Seal was opened there was silence in heaven halfe an hour And so to preach silence to all flesh is according to the practise of the holy men of old they spake as they were moved of the Holy Ghost and so according as they had received they ministered as good stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God and Christ bid his Disciples go and wait at Jerusalem till they were indued with power from on high And this hath been the substance of my testimony from the Lord unto you Baptists That the Lord requires you to wait for the