through and left to be cast to the Moles and to the Batts Oh the Contradiction that is in that Paper and whereas they say they eat the true Body and Blood of the Lord this will be nothing less then a Lye Take this argument founded upon the Scriptures of Truth if Christ hath instituted visible forms to wit bread and wine when persons do by faith pertake of the body and blood of Christ then those persons that do not pertake of the visible forms can not partake of the Body and blood of Christ but Christ hath instituted bread and wine to be pertaken of when persons do pertake of the Body and blood of the Lord therefore those persons that do not pertake of the visible forms cannot pertake that is to say eat and drink the Body and Blood of the Lord that which will be questioned is whether persons must pertake of Bread and Wine when they do pertake by Faith of the Body and Blood of Christ which is plain Mat. 26.26.27 28. Mark 14.22.23 Luke 22.19.20 agree all in one I shall repeat onely that which Mathew writteth and as they were eating Jesus took Bread and blessed it and breake it and gave it to his Disciples and said take and eate this is my Body and he tooke the Cup and gave thanks saying drink you all of it for this is my Blood of the New Testament shed for the remission of sins you see what way Jesus Christ taketh in order to their eating the Body Blood of Christ he gives them Bread and Wine and this must be granted Christ did nothing in vain that needed not be done now if it had been the mind of Christ that they should have eaten his Body and drink of his Blood without eating the bread and wine he would not have given them to his Disciples therefore let none be wise above what is written this I say that I do not find in all the Scriptures of the New Testament that any person did eat the Body and blood of Christ but those that did pertake of the visible forms but I would not be mistaken for I do beleive that it is not the want of Ordinances but the contempt of Ordinances that condemneth for in daies where his Ordinances cannot be injoyed the Lord hath been and will be to his people that in the want of Ordinances and without Ordinances as he is to them in the use of them but that cannot be pleaded now in this day of light the Lord commands obedience to all his Ordinances and will not hold men excused that lives without them see Iohn 3.19 Oh let not the meanest of the Commands of God to carnall reason be a means to hinder thee from the practise of them for it is matter of commendation to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered 1 Cor. 11.2 and whereas he saith we know it because it gives us blessed gronth in the life iunocencie of the Lamb if that which they say they know by that they are in the water and blood and that they eat the body and blood of the Lamb. If that be not true then we may conclude that the things are not true now I say though you do that which is right and just between man and man although that is not found in all your Principle yet this is fare short of the innocency of the Lamb the innocency of Christ appeared in his in that he stooped to the meanest of Gods Commands to carnal reason as Mat. 3.15 Suffer it to be so for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness if any person might have been exempted from the obedience of that commandement Christ might yet he takes a painfull journey to that end to be Baptised of Iohn that he might not only be a commander but a leader to his People Secondly his innocency appeared in that he doth not prove himself to be the Son of God only by the signs and miracles which he did though he had the spirit without measure but by the Scriptures and saith had you beleived Moses you would have beleived me for he wrote of me Iohn 5 46. and though Persons are to honour the Son as the honour the Father yet such was the innocency of Christ that he exhorteth them to search the Scriptures and gives these two reasons First they was such that in them they did beleeve was taught the way to eternal life Secondly not only because it was that they owned beleeved that there was such vertue in them but it was so in Christs account for saith he they testifie of me they declare of me Iohn 5.35 As if he should say if you question whether I am sent of God whether I am the Christ of God search the Scriptures you shall find I am so they testifie of me and further adds an imposibility of beleiving on him if they did not beleive Moses writings 47. verse he did not say turn to the light within and that will satisfie and that will Testifie no he doth not say as the Author of that Paper that the light within is the alone salvation of God and therefore for persons to say they are nourished in the life and innocency of the Lamb and to lay low the Scriptures of Truth not to be the rule to walk by and that which will not deceive that which doth witness whether Doctrines be Truth or Error they that say this is not true are not in the innocency of the Lamb. For how shal any thing or Doctrine be tryed if we have not assure word of prophecie one man saith by his present light within such a thing is an error another saith by his present light within that thing is truth therefore of necessity there must be some thing to inlighten which is sure therefore saith David thy word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path Psal 119.105 Oh therefore search and mediate in the word of God that is to say the mind of God contained in Scripture and be calling to the Lord for his Spirit that thou maist have a right understanding be not puffed up and think you are in the innocency of the Lamb when it is not so but this is the will of God concerning you what you search the Scriptures for they testifie what Christ would have his Disciples do and if you would be Disciples then walk according to his Commandement contained in Scripture I would hope that there is some of you that love the Lord let your love be manifested in this that you have respect to all the Commandements of the Lord be not partial prefering one thing before another 1 Tim. 5.21 But resist Satan in all his deeps and wills which he hath halled you into though some of you be ignorant of it surely you may have an holy conversation to wards men and yet walk in the worship of God blameless and let the form and the power be kept together bear with me and be not rash and give
Baptists every where or to any other that are under the watry Element and are not come to Christ the substance This inscription is full of ambiguity and doubtfulness if he means by watry Element water Baptisme and by coming to Christ the Substance the coming to Christ the Substance the coming of Christ by his Spirit and if he means that none of the Baptists that do own Baptisme to be a Principal of the Doctrine of Christ are come to Christ or Christ come to them I answer that it is a Lye for many with my self can experience his coming by his Spirit into our hearts and yet we dare not let go the Ordinances of Christ and this we have the sure Word of the Lord to all sincere hearted Souls that have respect to all the Commandements of God and of Christ whosoever abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son that is Fellowship by the Spirit and that this is a Doctrine of Christ see Math. 28.19 20. Go yee teach all Nations Baptising them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things that I command you and Loe I am with you alway unto the end of the World I shall have occasion anon to treat more largly upon this Text therefore I shall not now but you may see plainly and manifestly that it was to be practised in all Ages in all Nations and therefore this I say and testifie in the Lord Jesus that they that do keep close to the Ordinances of Gods House and do adorn it by any Holy Conversation they are come to Christ and Christ is come to them by his Spirit which is all the coming that is promised on this side the Grave in an unchanged condition as to their Bodies If thou wouldest perswade the World that a person cannot own water Baptisme have the Spirit of God thou art found a false Witness I shall shew anon though persons had the Spirit of God yet was to pass under and obey that Ordinance of Water Bpatisme he begins God dwelleth in deeps bottomeless beneeth your Element of Water whence he is utterly departed for it was too shallow for him and his incomprehensible Majesty liveth and raigneth farr above your cloudy Heavens which comprehended not but darkned his Brightness In which words instead of Proof there confident assortions and insteed of sound Arguments to prove what he saith he maketh use of Retorical sentences to deceive the Heart of the simple therefore I beseech you that fear the Lord to consider how he beats the Aire or else tells a manifest Lye If he means God dwelleth not by his special Presence in the Element of Water simply as water which I may safely take so because he calleth it your Element of Water then it is beating the Aire for who ever assorted any such thing I never heard the Baptist assert any such thing neither is he able to prove they Preach any such thing but if he meanes that God is not present with his People in the Administration of Water Baptisme then it is a Lye for the Promises of the Lord are sure he is God that cannot Lye and his counsel must stand who hath promised in the Administration of that very Ordidinance he will be with them to the end of the World Loe I am with you to the end of the World Math. 28.20 I shall not enlarge because of several Books which are yet extant wherein this truth hath been commended to the Consciences of men I would fain know of the Author of that Paper whether any men hath cloudy Heavens which may be appropriated to them for sayeth he your cloudy Heavens Oh thou private subtile and close deceivers when thou writeth again this I say to thee not to sturr up that Spirit of Errour in thee God knows my entent but if by any means it might awaken thee to return to the Lord from whence thou art deeply revolted write plainly that there may not be double meanings in thy words for know this that truth needs not doubtful words to hinder the bright â—rrayes to shine unto men but if he means by Heavens any coverings that are not of Gods alowance such as are forbidden Isa 30.1 We say so too and if so doth he not beat the Aire when the person that he writeth to own no such thing as he speaks of and he further saith He hath given them for a day of fire and your old Earth for a Consnmption in their flames If he meaneth by our old Earth the Earthy mindedness of Professors of the Truth then it may be read that God will cast his Ordinances into the fire that the sins of the People may be consumed though God may and doth cast his People into the fice yet he doth not use to cast his Ordinance into the fire but I find that though some Professors grew weary of the Ordinance of God by Earthly mindedness as in Mal. 3.14 Saying It is ni vain to serve the Lord and what Profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord what doth the Lord do not destroy his Ordinances and Statutes but on the contrary commandeth the Observations of them Mal. 4.4 Remember ye the Law of Moses with the Statutes and Judgments that the Lord doth not take that way that this notionest Dreams of take this reason That wherein there is no Dross that is not to be cast into the fire but there is no Dross in the Ordinances of the Lord therefore not to be cast into the fire every Ordinance of the Lord is pure therefore doubtless it ariseth from impure hearts to say they must be cast into the fire consider this and hide the word of God in your hearts that you sin not against him He further saith you eat Bread and drink Wine as the Israelites did Manna and Water and yet in unbeliefe dyed in the Wilderness you rest in shaddows like the unbeleeving Jews though you know that in them you are but in the Touching Tasting Handling of the things that Perrish with the using I do answer that the visible Forms of Bread and Wine do remain and are not Transubstantiate yet this let we tell you by the word of the Lord that we do by faith in that Ordinance pertake of the Body and Blood of Christ Take saith Christ This is my Body drink you all of it this is my Blood of the new Testament Math. 26.26 27. And though we practise the Ordinances as they were delivered yet we live upon Christ in them and though I can not say every one discerns the Lords Body that eats the Bread and Drink the Wine for that was not found in the Church of Corinths which is manifest by what the Apostle saith 1 Corinth 11.29 For he that eats and drinks unworthly eats and drinks Damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body for this cause some are sick c. From
which words it is plaine that some did not discerne the Lords Body but did take it as common eating and drinking and that the Lord was angry for so practising that Ordinance but the faithful Souls that come rightly qualified discerne the Lords Body and eat the Lords Body and drink his Blood and therefore for to say that shall perish to wit the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ is Blasphemie it is my Souls desire that as the Lord hath made me sensible would make me more and more sensible of the Wretched Blind and Lame condition of such Souls that speak evil of the Body and Blood of the Lord Oh that my words might be acceptable that I might perswade some poor Souls from perverting the right way of the Lord that the Body of Christ doth not perish see Psal 16.10 Neither thy Holy one to see Corruption which all agree is ment of Christ and that the Blood of Christ doth not perish 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 1.18 Where the Apostles doth oppose the Blood of Christ to corruptable things as things that perish with the using Oh that private Indignity Emulation and Hatred they have to the Blood of Christ which I have cause to say not only from what is here said but from an other Testimony from one Rob. Gresinham who I am sure they do own said he doth thou think that the Blood of Christ that thou mightest have taken up in thy hand can wash away Sin there is one besides my self to testifie this if out of the abundance of the hearts the Mouth speaketh then surely there is very Low and Contemptable thoughts of the Blood of Christ in the heart of that Person that dares speak such Contemptable words surely the Fountaine from whence such streams do Flow is not a pure Fountaine and is much contrary to what the Apostle Peter beleeveth he calleth it pretious Blood consider this you that forget that Fountain that you was washed and cleansed by if you was ever washed Who hath washed us in his Blood Revel 1.5 I would fain know of thee oh thou high Flown talker whether the Apostle Paul Gal. 2.21 22. When he exhorteth from whence I suppose you borrow your Expression Notto Touch Taste Handle which all are to perish with the using whether he meaneth the Ordinances belonging to Moses house as the Ordinances belonging to Christs house or those that God did command by Moses surely I beleeve have ground so to do that they are those that was commanded by Moses for saith the Apostle they were such that were against us such as Christ nailed to the Cross and if so then is it not wresting the Scripture to apply it to the Ordinances of Christ in the Gospel and whereas you say we rest in shaddows it is possible it may be true in some that profess the Truth they may hold it in unrighteousness as the Apostle saith some did in his time but this I can say that those that the Lord hath intrusted with the work of the Ministry do Perswade Exhort and Entreat poor Souls that have laid a good Foundation That they goon to Perfection according to that Heb. 6.1 2. And this there Exhortation in the fear of God hath not come in Word only but in Power and Strength upon our Souls so that many can say with the Apostle Paul Phil. 3. From the 10. To the 15. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after c. And further I press towards the Mark of the high Calling in Christ Jesus and therefore I would perswade all that own that Paper that if they know any that are in such Condition to be perswading them not to rest in it for it is dangerous to hold the Truth in Unrighteousness likewise not to lay it as a general Aspertion upon all that walk in the way of the Lord and are as much for purity of Life as purity of Ordinances and do desire to keep the Forme and Power together and not to disjoyne that which God hath joyned lest they be found Sinners I would have no Soul to think because I am upon this Subject that I am not for purity of Life as well as Obedience to the Ordinances of Gods House I am as free to bear a Testimony against an evil Conversation as corrupt Principles yet not to let them pass but to contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints he further saith We are in the true Water and Blood which washeth the Soul and Baptiseth Dippeth and Plungeth the Conscience and cleanseth it from all Sin which leads into the Heavens where God dwelleth and we eat and drink the true and real Body and Blood of the Lamb hereby we know it because it nourisheth us and giveth us Blessed growth in the Life and Inocency of the Lamb which was with God before shaddows were and henceforth we in it have passed and left them all as Images of Gold and Silver to be cast to the Moles and to the Batts for ever It hath made me affraid to speak sometime against such a People that should declare such things as being washed from Sin as being lead and having Blessed growth in the Life and Innocency of the Lamb and such like expressions but upon consideration I am confident both to speak and to Write although I desire to own any thing of the Lord in any profession whatsoever becauss I find the Apostle Paul prophesing there should be a people Declaring things that are not so concerning their own State and Condition 1 Tim. 4.2 Speak Lyes in Hypocrisie having their consciences seared with an hot Iron Speaking Lyes in Hypocrisie That is declaring they have Communion with God and are washed from Sin and have Growth in the Innocency of the Lamb such like when it is not so that Persons may have a high Estemation of them when it is not so neither is those things found in them and I will prove he speaks Lyes in Hypocrisie although I do remember that Water is put for the Spirit as John 7.38 39. He that beleeveth on me out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water but this he speaks of the Spirit But when John speaks in that place that he alludeth unto 1 Epistle of John 5.8 There are three that bare Record on earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood That it cannot be the Spirit not that I beleeve he hath the Spirit no for this I â—estifie that he that hath the Spirit of God saith not that he hath cast the Ordinances of God to the Moles and to the Batts for evermore my reason is this because the Spirit is one of the other two and therefore it is undoubtedly Truth that it is not the Spirit therefore it must be Water that is used in Baptisme and if so is not his words a manifest Lye when they disown make void and declare as useless that Ordinance of Baptisme nay say themselves here passed
have received the Spirit so well as we Therefore I conclude that God the Father and Jesus Christ by him are the Sole Baptisers with the Spirit then it is of necessity water Baptisme that he commissionates his Disciples to dispence I find but three Baptismes at the most in Scripture the Baptisme of the Spirit they cannot Administer the Baptisme of afflictions they surely are not to adminster to overwhelme one another in sufferings none I think will say they are to do therefore of necessity it is water Baptisme an other Objection which I met with from some of that principle say they though it were water Baptisme 28 of Math. Yet it was the Baptisme of John which was then are long to cease when that of the Spirit should come in I answer in briefe because I must draw to a conclusion that the Baptisme of water which is called Johns Baptisme is no otherwise his Baptisme then the Gospel which Paul preached was his Gospel and therefore when the Scripture calleth it the Baptisme of John it is the Baptisme which John was made the cheif administrator of and so the Law of God is called the Law of Moses and so I understand the Apostle Paul Rom. 2.16 When he saith That God shall judge men according to his Gospel according to my Gospel That is to say which I am appointed to preach yet it was the Gospel of Christ which he was to preach and so I say the Baptisme that John did administer was Christs Baptisme John was either the servant of Christ or the servant of the Devil that must be granted I hope none will say he was the Devils servant then if he was Christs servant then the service which he did was Christs service and then surely his Baptisme was Christs Baptisme which he did Administer and not his own no otherwise than he was the cheif Administrator of it consider this you that run upon Airey Notions and fill your Belly with East Wind which will not profit in the day of the Lord and that it was the Baptisme of Christ which John did Administer is manifest because Christ was Commisionated Authorized by the Father to Baptise with water as well as John though it being an external Water he left the actual doing of it to his Disciples amongst whom John was the cheif or else seeing in commanded others to do it and so Baptised by others at least if not by himself as John 3.22.4 1 2. His witness of himself John 12.39 Is it not true if he had not Commission from his Father so to do which would be Blasphemy to think for he saith that he spake nothing of himself but as the Father gave Commandement so he spake and likewise as the Father gave him Commandement so he did there are some circumstancial difference between water Baptisme before the Death of Christ and Baptiseme with water after the Death of Christ but this is undeniable that not only Christ did submit unto it command his Disciples to dispence it while he was with thee not only so but doth Commission his Disciples to be observing of it unto the end of the World after he was risen again Math. 28.19 And accordingly the Apostles did practise it in all the Primitive Church and that the coming of Christ by his Spirit doth not put an end of water Baptisme see Acts the 10.47 Can any forbid water that those should not be Baptised seeing they have received the Holy Ghost so well as we where you may see the Apostle Peter makes it an Argument that they must be Baptised with water seeing they have received the Spirit Oh why should you maintaine such opinions that are so contrary to the Spirit of God in his children in dayes past Oh be not wise above what is written for our Learning but lie low and be not exhalted in your selves see how contrary your Spirit that you are guided by is to the Spirit in that Apostle Peter was guided by he saith there is a necessity of water who can forbid water if there be the Baptisme of the Spirit you say if persons be Baptised by the Spirit they need not be Baptised in water consider of this in the dread of the Almighty and now I will come to that Ordiannce of breaking Bread and drinking Wine to shew forth the Lords Death untill he come and will shew that the coming of Christ by his Spirit doth not put an end to that Ordinance take this reason That which doth shew forth Christs Death that is to continue while he comes personal or himself but when we eate that Bread and drink that Cup we shew forth the Lords Death therefore it is to continue untill the personal coming of Christ see Gal. 3.1 Who hath bewitched you that you shall not obey the truth What is the reason he rendereth Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth Crucified among you which was no otherwise then the Lords Supper I will add this Argument grounded with the Scriptures of Truth that which in the doing of persons do pertake by Faith of the Body and Blood of Christ that is to continue to the end of the World but in eating Bread and drinking Wine the faithful the sencere hearted do by Faith pertake of the Body and Blood of the Lord therefore to continue unto the end of the World for the first assertion see John 6.35 Excepta man eat my Flesh and drink my Blood yee have no Life now life is of absolute nesessity and therefore the means must continue to get this Life and that persons do by Faith in that very Ordinance partake of the Body and Blood of the Lord see Math. 16.26 Take eat this is my Body c. But in a word what need I spend time in reasoning from the benefits that it brings but may only say thus and who can deny it what Christ commanded his Disciples in that case is his Disciples duty to do at this day and that Christ did command see Mat. 26.26 Mark 14.22 Luke 22.19 20. Take eat this is my Body and that the coming of Christ by his Spirit doth not put an end to this Ordinance is manifest for the Church of Corinths had the Spirit in a plentiful measure did not come behind no Church but was enriched with knowledge utterance as you may see 1 Cor. 1.7 8 9. 1 Cor. 12.7 8 9. and so forward yet they did and ought nay was commended that they keep the Ordinances as they was delivered 1 Cor. 11.2 and so in the 26 verse As often as you eat this Bread drink this Cup you shew forth the Lords Death until he come Which of necessity must be an other coming than of his Spirit for by that he was come to them already but it is plain that it was a coming which they was not in the injoyment of for saith the Text vntil he come but as it was said before that he was come to them by his Spirit and
not way to that Spirit of errour that will be getting up in you and let my words be acceptable unto you to this end to own the Scriptures of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles which is able to make the wise to Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 and not to contemn them as is usual as one said to me which I am sure they owne when I said I had the word of God the Scriptures of Truth in me he asked me whether I had ink and paper in my heart Oh that such expressions might cease from amongst you I would fain know from any one of you whether all the Commandements contained in Scripture whether spoken by the Lord himself or by his Prophets or by his Son Jesus or by his Apostles which are not yet abrogated by the death of Christ are not the duty of the People of the Lord to observe and obey and whether the Commandements of God are of less vertue because they are written then if Jesus Christ did immediately speak them unto us and whereas you say we have passed through and left them this is no wonder if I may be certain in any thing what you mean by your expressions I may in this that you mean Baptisme other Ordinances of Gods House for the little number receiving Tenth and the few of them that do receive the Truth continuing in it it is an argument to me we are in the Truth rather than otherwise for saith Christ Fear not little flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome Luke 12.32 It is not only so now but it was in the time while Christ was personally present many left him and walked no more with him John 6.66 And this is what is prophesied of 2 Thes 2.2 Let no man deceive you for that day shall not come except there come a falling away and saith the Apostle to Timothy some shall depart from the Faith but let us inquire into the reason which the Servant of the Lord Paul gives The first Reason 2 Thes 2.11.12 Is because they received not the Truth in the love of it and this hath been the reason of some falling away and receiving strong delusions for it hath been confessed to me by one of that Principle that she did submit to the Truth to wit Water-Baptisme because others did submit to it because it was in fashion and if any of your Consciences condemn you in this God is greater than your Consciences and knows all things repent of that your wickedness The second Reason which the Apostle rendreth of persons falling away of receiving strong delusions is because they had pleasure in unrighteousness it is possible that some may receive the Truth in the love of it and yet in time loose their first love and take pleasure in unrighteousness and so loose their peace and so run to airy notions of things that they may get peace which is not the true peace of God and this I find not only by the Scriptures of Truth but from their own expressions some of them hath said to me that they had not peace though at the first they had it and that they lived contrary to their consciences for some years before they received that which they call Truth Oh! that they would juslifie the Lord in his giving them up to believe strong delusions and take shame to themselves for doubtless the Lord will not be mocked for what they sow that they shall reap and though the way of God is at this day called Herisie and hath been so in daies past yet know this that Herisie is a fruit of the flesh as well as prophaneness in conversation and if you live and allow your selves in it you shall dye not only a natural death but the second death dear souls who are much upon my heart that have no ends but to glorifie God in what you do know this that the Devil can transform himself into an Angel of light and this I say to you by the word of the Lord that if men have never so much outward holiness upon them if they perswade you to forsake any of the Commandements of God do not believe them as you will answer it at the great day of the Lord read Galatians the first Chapter and let your Souls tremble at the word of the Lord now that it is the word of the Lord or the mind of the Lord which is all one which the Apostle Paul writeth see 1 Cor. 14.37 If any man think himself to be a Prophet or a spiritual man let him acknowledge the things that I write to be the Commondements of the Lord. Oh! that you of the Ministry as you are called would consider of this Scripture and not to appropriate that to your own Books which you will not allow the Scriptures and for you that say you went away because of the carnality of some Professors you ought to indeavoured their reformation and if not to have dealt with them according to the rule of Christ in that case and not to have forsaken the truth upon that account return return to the Lord and the Truth and you will find many amongst the Baptists as willing to own any thing that is of God as you can be to perswade them He further saith for know ye where God is present there needs not arepresention of him by any thing and where the eterual Fountain of all vertue is set open there needs not digging of other Wells for Water turn therefore to the light within the Conscience which is able to Baptise and wash your Souls from all Sin and make Rivers of living Water flow out of your belly which light is the alone Salvation of God he that loveth it and obeyeth it shall know it In answer to which I know not any Baptist that doth practise or doth set up any thing to represent God but hath renounced those hidden things of darkness and if so doth he not beat the Air when those persons that he writeth to doth not own any such thing but if he means where God is present there needs not outward forms in his Worship as Water in Baptisme and Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper then it is not true as to Baptisme that there must be Water I might give you many Scriptures yet I shall only give you but one because it is full pregnant Acts 10.47 Can any forbid Water that these should not be Baptised which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we For Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper see Mat. 26.16 He took Bread and so likewise the Cup compared with Luke 22.19 20. And therefore let none deceive you with vain words and whereas he saith turn to the light within which is able to Baptise wash from all sin and further saith it is the alone Savation of God such an exhortation we find not in all the Scriptures of Truth if every man is to turn to
his present light within is not this to make several Sects and opinions in the World which they some time cry out of would it not be more agreeable to the Truth to exhort them to take heed lest the light within be not darkness that which may be darkness that is not to be turned unto as a rule to walk by but the light within may be darkness therefore not to be turned unto as a rule to walk by Take heed saith Christ that the Light in you be not darkness Luke 11.35 But we find the Prophets Jesus Christ his Disciples and Apostles commanding and exhorting Souls to obey the commands of the Lord the Prophets under the Law exhort the People to keep the Law of Moses Christ exhorteth to keep his Commandements If you love me keep my Commandements John 14.15 Which are now recorded in the Scriptures and so the Apostle Paul this I say to you by the word of the Lord that those that are asleep c. that is to say by what the Lord hath said I tell you these things by which is now recorded Mat. 24.38.39 40. So the Apostle John 2 Epistle 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not neither bid him God speed what Doctrine he tells us the Doctrine of Christ his sayings Precepts Commandements which are now recorded in the Scripture of Truth because of the shortness of the Volume I cannot shew you concerning all the rest of the Apostles how they had an eye to what was written in what they write and therefore in a word there was never any true Prophet or Jesus Christ or any of his Disciples and Apostles but did make it their business to provoke persons to keep the Commandements of God and that there was never any of the Faithful Servants of the Lord did esteem the Commandements the worser because brought to them in writing this I say by the Testimony of Scripture that the light within hath carryed Persons to do that which was not acceptable in the sight of God nay to do that which was very offensive to God even to persecuto his People see this in the Apostle Paul before conversion I thought within my self I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazereth Acts 26.9 from whence you may see that he did follow his light within in persecuting the Church of God and saith Christ those that kill you shall think that they do God good service from whence you may plainly see they shall follow their present light within in killing the Saints therefore I would exhort all to this that they will labour to get their consciences rightly informed by the word of the Lord that is to say his precepts and promises and threatnings of the Lord and then be zealous according to their light within and not before for know ye that the conscience is a light of acceptation and not a light of information until it becomes inlightned and whereas he saith It is the alone Salvation of God it gives me to believe that he is of the same mind with Nicholas Blith one of his principle who did assert before a Congregation of People that his obedience to the light within did make attonement for Sins that are past therefore this I desire to speak unto you in the fear of the Lord to desire you to consider of such expressions whether such expressions do not plainly and manifestly declare that Christ dyed in vain if Justification freedome from fin is procured by our obedience such an opinion is damnable folly and weakness for if it was possible to become as holy in nature and life as the holy Angels it would be very dangerous to reckon attoining vertue thereto my souls desire is that you would not get up in the vanity of your minds and plead perfection when such great imperfections remain in you see 1 Pet. 1.18 For as much as we are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gould but with the pretious blood of Jesus Christ and now I shall according to my promise to the second general thing that is to answer his main drift and aim which is to lay low and make void the two Ordinances of the Gospel to wit Baptisme and the Lords Supper and answer some Objections First then to Baptisme that it is to remain continue and be stedfast unto the end of the World see Mat. 28.18.19 20. Jesus Christ after he had accomplished the work of our Redemption and was risen again and that the Father had conferred all power upon him in Heaven and in Earth he gives out his commission to his Disciples go ye and teach all Nations Baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things what I command you and loe I am with you to the end of the World Truly the very reading of the words doth evidence this to be Truth to wit that Baptisme must and ought to remain untill the end of the World Such was the state of the People of God under the Law that if at any time they found the Law of God though not spoken immediately to them nay though hundreds of years distance so long as they was under that dispensation did judge it their duty to do those things that the Law required as Josiah 2 Kings 22.23 Chapters make appear when he had found the Law of God he doth not say it is true such things are commanded in the Primitive time but they are not commanded me he doth not say it is true we walk contrary to the Laws of God commanded in Mount Horeb but these things was not commanded us they have been lost and we have been in a Wilderness condition and now they do not belong unto us no but he believeth that he was bound to observe those Laws and commands as well as those they was first delivered unto and accordingly did set upon the work and the Lord was well pleased with them read those two Chapters and the Prophet Malachi though many hundred years after the Law was given upon Mount Horeb yet is perswaded that it is the Peoples duty to observe Mal. 4.4 Remember the Law of Moses with the Statutes and Judgments it was the duty of the People of God to keep these Laws and cerimonies until the coming of Christ in the flesh so it is the duty of the People of God to keep the commandements of Christ until his coming in the glory of his Father with all his holy Angels If any persons can prove which I am sure they cannot that there is another Prophet risen that the People of God are to hear as the appointment of the Father then the commauds of Christ do cease to be a duty or else to remain while he comes to put an end to them the Law of Moses or any precept of it had not such adjuncts adjoyned to them to demonstrate it to be a duty until they
now I have with as much speed as I could come to the end of what I promised only I have a short word or my mind in shortness to speak unto two sorts of People to the People called Quakers Secondly to those that are under the profession of the Truth according to the mind of God contained in Scripture First then to the People called Quakers if any of you answer what I have writ in writing do not wrest my expressions for I have dealt ingeniously with you in answering that Paper though it would be better for you to be silent then to speak evil of the way of God if you do I shall not promise you to answer truly friends God is my witness that what I have written is in tenderness of Spirit towards you I beseech you to consider of it and do not please your selves with airy conceits but meditate in the Law of the Lord that so you may hold fast the form of sound words I do hope and beleive the Lord hath a remnant amongst you that fear the Lord and do what you do in the integrity of your Souls which that prophesie shall be fulfilled upon Isa 29.24 They also that erred in Spirit shall come to understanding and those that murmured shall learn Doctrine This I have faith in shall be accomplished upon some of you when many amongst you shall discover themselves what they are now privately then you that have erred in Spirit shall understand that is you shall see that the Devil can and hath transformed himself into an Angel of Light and you that murmured at the way of the Lord shall then learn Doctrine Dear Souls whom I love that have no corrupt ends but only have the honour of God in your eye have respect unto al the Commandements of the Lord and be not lead by the errour of the wicked be no longer deceived by false Teachers who as much as in them lies makes the Commandements of God of none effect read and consider of that text of Timothy that thou maist have such an esteem of the Scriptures as holy men had of old 2 Tim. 3.15.16 and you that are called the Ministry I do exhort you from the Lord who hath made me sinsible of the losse of Souls cease from perverting of the way of the Lord Oh be careful what you say and Preach lest the Lord lay the blood of poor Souls upon you I am not unsensible of that high confidence that you have of your selves aâ— being such that canno err Let me perswade you to lye low in your selves and tremble at the Word of the Lord his saying precepts and Commandements contained in Scripture lest what I have said be as a witness against yâ—ur in the great day of the Lord when persons shall not be judged by what they have supposed light but by the Words of Jesus Christ content not your selves with morality but worship God in Spirit and not only so but in Truth and trust in nothing below the blood of Christ to make attonement for sin this I speak not to stir up prejudise against you but to warn you of the danger which will come upon you if you repent not and shall continue my prayers for such of you that are in the lemits of a Christians duty to pray for And unto you my Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ do not make a wrong application of what I have said do not think you are in a safe condition barely because you are in the profession of the Truth of the Lord no friends do not trust or lean there for know this if thou hast been Baptised and if thou eat and drink at Christs Table yet if thou work iniquity thou wilt be shut out of the kingdome Oh my Friends do not hold the Truth in unrighteousness as some did in dayes past but answer the end of the Ordinances of the Lord it is possible that some may be in that condition that professe the Truth as the professing People of the Lord wherein the 7 of Ier. who was punctual in the observation of outward things and yet gave way to several evils do not rest in such a condition but remember from whence you are fallen and do your first work Oh my Friends let your lights shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven and let not the enimies of the Truths of God have no just accasion to speak evil of the way of God by reason of you but study to adorne your profession and unto you my Friends which are a pressing after the Mark of the calling in Christ Jesus go on in that work until you perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord and esteem of the Ordinances of the Lord never the worser because men that seem to have outward holiness upon them speak against them see the 2 Cor. 11.13.14 15. but do and say as the holy David in Psalm 119.126 127 128. I love thy Commandements above gold yes above fine gold Therefore I esteem thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way which that we mâ—y all do is and shall be the prayer of him that is willing to serve you in the Gospel of Christ according to the Tallent the Lord hath given me faithful is he that hath promised who hath began a good work in us and will carry it on to the day of the Lord. THE END ERRATA EPistle Page 2. l. 10. r. and for him Epistle Page 2. l. 11. r. him for and Page 8. l. 22. r. arreyes for errour Page 14. l. 1. r. that for what