he exhorted them to be (l) Mat. 5.48 perfect even as their Heavenly Father is perfect and that the same Christ spake truth when as he bore witnesse of Nathaniel that he was an Israelite (m) John 1.47 in whom was no guile as also that Paul did not designe that which was impossible when as he laboured to present men (n) Col. 1.28 perfect in Christ Jesus 4. They doe not blush to say that Christ and the Apostles spake as they mean't in the Scriptures and therefore they deny our meanings and interpretations as needlesse especially because we differ among our selves in our own meanings and are fallible in our interpretations we give of them by which means a great part of our craft and imployment is like to fall to the ground 5. They assert that Christ did not speak one thing and intended another when as he (o) Mat. 5.34 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A prohibinon so universall that it admitteth of no exception command men not to swear at all but to let their yea be yea and their nay nay whereas we that are Orthodox doe both swear our selves and teach men so to doe otherwise we may haply go without our maintenance for want of swearers in Courts of justice against those Hereticks that refuse to pay us tithes 6. They are bold to assert (p) Deut. 14.29 that in taking tithes for preaching we are true neither to the old Covenant nor the new Not to the old because tithes were the maintenance peculiarly appointed to the Tribe of Levi of which Tribe we cannot say we are and also the tithes of old were by command to be put into a store-house whether the (q) Numb 18 21. stranger the fatherlesse and the widow were to come and eate of them and be satisfied which we practise not Not to the new Covenant for that Jesus Christ hath put an end to the Leviticall Priesthood and consequently to all the maintenance and apurtenances thereunto belonging 7. They call us hirelings because we preach by indenture first made with the people for our maintenance and doe not go forth trusting our Master Christ as his Ministers of old did carrying neither (r) Luke 10.3 4. purse nor scrip with us which should we practise we are doubtfull we should be reduced to one of these two straights viz. either to work or beg the first of which we cannot doe and to doe the second we are ashamed 8. They call us greedy dogs because we doe not walk after the example of those whom Christ sent out to preach the Gospel viz. eate and drink such things as the people (Å¿) Luke 10.7 give us but in stead thereof doe force that by Law even from the poor and needy viz. the tenth of all they get by the sweat of their browes which by faire means we should never obtaine A thing they say which the true Prophets and Ministers of Christ mentioned in Scripture never practised 9. They call us hypocrites pretending these as the reasons 1. Because we preach the things we practice not accusing us for preaching against pride and yet living in it against covetousnesse and yet being greedy of filthy lucre c. 2. Because often times in the close of our Sermons we tell the people we should have proceeded farther if time had not prevented us when as indeed we had no more to say 3. Because in our Prayers before Sermon we frequently beg of God that he would put words into our mouths and teach us what to say whereas even then we have our Sermon notes either in our pockets or our Bibles or the platforme of our discourse prepared in our heads 10. They call us thieves and robbers because we spend six dayes in the week to gather together the words of the Prophets and Apostles the words of Jerom Augustine Calvin Luther c. and then come forth on the first day and speak to the people saying Hearken to the word of the Lord when as indeed we received it not from the Lord but from the writings of other men with whom we converse 11. They have the confidence to advise us see the boldnesse of these deceivers to Preach no more to the people then the Lord hath spoken to us and then we our selves witnesse the life and power of within our selves which if practised would be of sad consequence to us for that whereas most of us are ingaged by contract to Preach weekly some once some twice some three times if we should Preach no more then we witnesse the life and power of either constant silence or rare speaking would be found in our Congregations and then what our Sheep would doe for Shepheards or what we Shepheards should doe for hire let all that are in Authority judge 12. They say that the minde of God is not to be known by study in a University but by revelation of the Spirit who alone knoweth his (t) 1 Cor. 2.11 12. minde And that Paul and Peter and other the Ministers of Jesus Christ in Scripture did not serve an apprentiship in any University to learne the trade of Preaching but did Preach that Gospel which Christ by his Spirit (u) 1 Cor. 2.10 Gal. 1.16 revealed in them and therefore they charge us to be Ministers of the letter onely because we Preach the Saints words but doe not witnesse their condition 13. Their blasphemies doe not end here but they proceed on and declare both to us and our people that all our talking and profession of Christ his death resurrection and righteousnesse in the notion though never so Orthodox shall nothing availe us or them unlesse we witnesse the life of Jesus in us and his eternall power raising us up to newness of life 14. They doe not spare to publish it as truth and practice accordingly that he that (w) Jan. 2.9 respecteth persons doth commit sin And therefore it is hereticks as they are that will no sooner bow down to the rich man wearing the Gold ring and the goodly Apparell then to the poor man that 's clad with vile raiment Of which if permitted O ye Rulers and Magistrates this will be the sad consequence that you will neither be stiled honourable or worshipfull nor we be called by the well pleasing titles of Doctors and Divines 15. Lastly they doe avouch it to be proper as in (x) H. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thâ—â— Lat. Ta. 〈◊〉 Hebrew Greek and Latin so in English to say Thou and thee to any single person concluding see what it is to be illiterate that because Adam Abraham Moses and we our selves doe say Thou and thee to the great God that made the World therefore the same expressions may be used to mortal men And though we do esteem the impropriety proper for great men and rich men to say Thou and thee to a poor man and a mean man yet we cannot but condemn the same though proper
CHRIST'S Innocency PLEADED Against the CRY of the CHIEF PRIESTS OR A Brief and Plain REPLY unto certain Papers received from William Thomas called Minister of the Gospel at Ubley By THOMAS SPEED a servant of that Jesus Christ who was at the request of the bloody Crew of Chief Priests and Teachers Crucified at Jerusalem Mat. 23.27 Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye are like unto whited Sepulchres which indeed appear beautifull outward but are within full of dead mens bones and of all uncleannes John 8.39 Jesus saith unto them if ye were Abrahams children ye would doe the works of Abraham Vers 40. But now ye seek to kill me a man that hath told you the truth which I have heard of God this did not Abraham Seneca de vit Beat. Quaeramus quid optime factum sit nen quid usitatissimum quid nos in posessione felicitatis aeternae constituat non quid vulgo veritatis pessimo inter preti probatum sit LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1656. To all the publick Teachers in this Nation who are by themselves and the world called Ministers of the Gospel SIRS THE night is far spent the day is at hand and blessed yea blessed from the Lord are all they who are found walking not as children of the night but of the day The houre is coming and now is that all coverings shall be removed and the vails pluckt from off all faces and lamentation and woe will be unto all them who are found covered but not with the covering of my Spirit saith the Lord God Awake therefore O ye Shepheards Awake Awake stand up seriously consider of and prove your coverings make diligent inquisition and search whether you are covered with power or profession with the substance or with the forme with the Spirit or with the letter onely To leane upon the Lord and say is not he in the midst of us as Micha's hireling Teachers and Prophets did crying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord will not serve the turne in that terrible day in which the righteous Judge of all the Earth shall enter into judgement with you The Scripture of truth doe bear record (a) Mat. 22 23. of a people who shall at the last day make their solemn appeal to the King of glory avouching themselves undoubted Christians pleading that they have given signall testimonies that they were such by their Prophesying casting out of Devils and doing many wonderfull works in his name on whom he will then pronounce that dismall sentence of departure as such whom he never knew for that though they had been much in preaching and profession yet they were reall workers of iniquity You doe all pretend your selves servants to the Son of God and to be Ministers by him called forth to preach the everlasting Gospel from the bottome of my heart doe I wish that I were able truly to say of every individuall of you that you are found walking worthy of such a Master and bringing forth fruit worthy of that high and holy calling with which you pretend your selves called I shall not undertake rashly to judge you or accuse you unto the world let your fruits demonstrate what trees you are and let your works judge you You pretend the Scripture to be your Rule come therefore let us plainly reason together and see if your own Rule will condemn you or absolve you The Spirit of the Lord by the mouth of his Prophet Micha (b) Mic. 3.11 accounted it among the abominations of the Priests and Prophets of those dayes that they taught for hire and did Divine for money and as an aggravation of this their wickednesse he farther testifieth That they even prepared (c) Mic. 3.5 war against him that resused to put into their mouths Let these Scriptures be your inditement before the judge of all the Earth and to the Light of Jesus Christ in every one of your consciences doe I appeal whether you are able to plead to it not guilty And if guilty how then can you escape the same sentence and condemnation that fell on those Priests and Prophets who were found in the same transgressions Jesus Christ the true and great Prophet of his people denounceth the woe against the (d) Mat. 23.5 6 7. Teachers in his dayes for that they did their works to be seen of men standing praying in the Synagogues and the corners of the Streets as also because they loved the uppermost Rooms at Feasts and the chief Seats in the Synagogues and greetings in the Markets and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi View your selves in this glasse also and let the Light of Christ in all your consciences judge whether these spots are not manifestly to be seen in your garments and if so who can absolve you from being sharers in their wo who are found pertakers with them in their evill works The Scripture (e) Joh 15.19 witnesseth that the Sheep and the Shepheards of Jesus Christ were not of the world because by him chosen out of the world and therefore by the world were they hated persecuted imprisoned stoned beaten in their Synagogues dragg'd before Rulers and Magistrates for his names sake cast out as the (f) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 4.13 sweepings and off scouring of all things Stand to the bar O ye Shepheards before that righteous Judge that cannot be bribed and in the presence of him that searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines of all men give true answer to what I shall demand of you Are you by the world hated or are you haters of others Are you persecuted or persecutors Are you imprisoned for truths sake or are you imprisoners of others Are you stoned or stoners Are you by the world beaten in their Synagogues or do you your selves beat or cause others to be beaten Are you brought before Rulers and Magistrates for Christ's names sake or doe you dragg or cause to be dragged others before them Are you by the world cast out as the filth and off-scouring of all things or doe you so cast out others that doe refuse subjection to your lusts If these be indeed the fruits you bring forth as who is he among you that can wash his hands and say he is innocent then whether you are of the number of those that say they are Apostles and Ministers of Christ but are found to be liars let all the wife in heart judge The Scripture farther beareth record that the messengers of Jesus Christ when sent out to preach the Gospel did freely give as they had freely received they coveted (g) Acts 20.33 no mans Silver nor Gold nor Apparell and yet serving a faithfull Master they wanted nothing We never read that Paul or any of the Ministers of Christ in Scripture did so much as claime a maintenance from those without much lesse did they commence suites at Law against the
for a poor man or a mean man to say Thou and thee to a great man and a rich man These are the horrid Blasphemies and damnable Doctrines against the Abettors of which you doe at this day discharge so much passion and rage both from Presse and Pulpit calling to the civill Powers for bonds and Prisons nay fire and fagot against all those who fearing the Lord doe fear to call darknesse light and light darknesse But stop a little and consider what you are doing whilst you are upon the full carreer posting to Damascus upon Sauls bloody errand Will you not out of your own mouths be condemned before him that cannot erre in judgement Doe ye fulfill or violate that Royall Law of Christ written in your hearts to doe unto others as you would they should doe unto you Are not you as notable Hereticks in the esteem of those whose blood you thirst after as they are in yours and would you esteem it just that were the power in their hands they should meet the same measure unto you If you shall despise it as mine yet accept of it as the counsell of Gamaliel that sober Pharisee Take heed to your selves what ye intend to doe as touching the innocent whom ye now so fiercely pursue least haply ye be found even to fight against God If it were better for him that shall offend one of Christs little ones that a milstone were hanged about his neck and he drowned in the depth of the Sea where then will you appeare in that great and notable day of the Lord who doe not onely offend but doe offer all manner of violence and cruelty to the utmost extent of your power against those of whom you dare not say but they may be of the number of Christs little ones Be not too furious least in your rage you ask Barabbas and cause Jesus to be delivered over to be crucified And although in your heat you may be content upon confidence that he is a deceiver to take his blood upon the heads of your selves and your children yet know that it will prove as to the Jewes of old a burden too heavy for you to bear Fear the Lord therefore O ye Shepheards and cease to fight against the Lamb for no weapon formed against him shall prosper Cast off all your coverings that are not of the Spirit of the Lord Say not within your selves we are Preachers of Christs name for the Scribes and Pharisees Preached the Prophets and yet did shed the blood of Christ of whom the same Prophets testified and foretold Boast not your selves in that wisdome which you have scraped together at the feet of Gamaliel for as that wisdome shall never comprehend the mysteries of the Kingdome so likewise remember that Saul who in learning and knowledge was inferiour to none of you was not onely stark ignorant but also with his learning fought against Heaven and thought he had done acceptable service unto God in washing his hands in the blood of his Son And now what is it in all the world that I who am become your enemy because I tell you the truth doe wish unto you Teachers even this that the gracious God would grant you to witnesse the same change that Saul did that the same hand of love that strook him to the Earth would likewise bring you down from all your high thoughts and lofty imaginations to stoop to the teachings of that Jesus whom you now persecute that ye may come to witnesse all the wisdome of this world to be foolishnesse with God and may be content to become fools that ye may be wise that you may cry out from the same root of life with the same Saul Lord what would'st thou have us to doe that you may not in words onely but in truth come to witnesse all your excellency but losse and your glory but as dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ And finally that you may be made able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge All which are the hearts desires of him for you who is A cordiall lover of all your soules and a servant of that Jesus who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilat THOMAS SPEED TO THE READER READER THou mayest understand that I writ a former Letter to my Antagonist in answer to one sent me by him from whence he raised reports touching me which were both untrue and scandalous For which cause it is principally that I have caused this Reply to come to the Presse that so all that will may read and they that fear the Lord may judge betwixt us Both his and my former I would have Printed with this but that this would thereby have encreased to too great a bulk which would have caused it to be unto thee both more tedious to read and costly to purchase Read with a single 〈◊〉 Prove all things hold fast that which is good Farewell Thomas Speed A Brief and plaine REPLY Unto certaine Papers received from WILLIAM THOMAS CALLED Minister of the Gospel at Vbley SIR I Have received your Papers bearing date May 25. which are stufft with much wrath and more confusion Plain dealing I perceive is a great stranger with you for that you give it such course entertainment when it cometh within your doors So accustomed are you to the cap and the knee to greetings in the Market-place and to be called of men Rabbi that he is presently become your enemy who durst without a complement tell you the naked truth Such smooth things as you Prophesie to the People you expect from others but to have a Lie Deceit or Hypocrisie called by their proper names must be at least rayling and reviling But be you pleased or be you more angry I must yet deal more plainly with you for terrible is the Lord to all flatterers and such as speak deceitfully to their neighbours And first I shall begin with the Proem to your Papers W. T. I am sorry that what others will think good counsell hath been so ill bestowed on you when you have got more piety and humility you will have other thoughts and when you have recovered your civility you will write other Letters T. S. That counsell that directeth my minde towards the true counsellour though from the lips of my man-servant or my maid-servant I dare not despise but counsell against truth under the affrighting notion of error I esteem not good Piety humility and civility it seems I have lost But why Because I did not swallow down what you first writ me as unquestionable Oracles of Heaven but proved what you sent me by the Scriptures of truth and from them bore my testimony against your deceit This is no judging from you presently to conclude that man a brute for so he is that hath lost piety humility and civility that doth not presently bow down and cry
are unfaithfull because they take Tithes for Preaching or else take shame to your selfe for asserting a thing so notoriously untrue That they take not Tithes for Preaching when as well nigh all the Parishes in England are witnesses against you But in that you judge Tithes no fit exchange for their Preaching I say the same for that they are just so much more then they deserve And whereas you say they would not leave Preaching if Tithes were not I presume there are scarce two among two thousand through the whole Nation of your opinion in that save onely those that are themselves Tithe-gatherers How few are there of the Teachers of the Nation that will settle themselves in any Parish untill they have made firme Indentures for their hire is not what will you assure me of by the year the first question that is propounded besides is there any thing more usuall then to remove from that place where Tithes augmentations or some equivalent maintenance ceaseth But above all who is he among you that will in conscience betake himselfe to a poor Parish to Preach for soules where there are no Tithes nor other yearly stipend to be had And what should be the reason that among all the struglings that are among you Teachers for severall places you are never found to strive who shall come into a Parish where you can expect no money Neither have I ever heard that any man pretended a call to a people who through meanesse of estate could give him but a mean or no reward So that it is more then probable that that vote which shall ever throw down Tithes will strike well nigh as many in this Nation dumb as Sampson did of the Philistims strike dead by removing the pillars of the house of Dagon their God W. T. Ministers take Tithes because that for the present is the maintenance alotted them which they may justly claime and lawfully take T. S. But by whom are they alotted them not by Jesus Christ whom they pretend to be their Lord and therefore they ought not to take them much lesse can they justly claim them neither doe the Scriptures you bring at all give countenance to them that doe wickedly extort from the people Tithes for their maintenace You doe not read that Paul forced a maintenance from any nor that he dregged any be Courts of Justice and Committees or took any poor men by the throats who had great families to maintaine threatning them with bonds if they would not give them the tenth part of all their labours Let all that fear the Lord judge whether you are not condemned out of your own mouth when as you say in word the Scripture is your rule and yet thus trample it under foot by your practice T. S. Whether he that receiveth Tithes for Preaching do not deny Christ to be come in the flesh W. T. When you prove that the taking a maintenance from the fruits of the Earth in that proportion was a shadow whereof Christ was the body you say something c. T. S. Your impertinent Answer doth intimate that I have said something more already in my Querie then you know well what to say to otherwise I presume you would not so shamefully wave it This I doe say which is according to the Scriptures of truth That the Lord of old appointed Tithes as an inheritance to the Priests and Levites for their service in the Tabernacle and the Temple which being considered let me ask you three things 1 Qu Whether Christ was not the end of the Leviticall Priesthood 2 Qu Whether he that upholdeth that which was to have an end in Christ doth not deny Christ to be come in the flesh and consequently is Antichrist 3 Qu Whether they that claime the maintenance appointed particularly to the Priests and Levites ought not to doe their worke Viz. Prepare the Sacrifices slay Oxen Sheep Goats c. Therefore doe you and your brethren either own the name of Jewish Priests and doe their service and instruct the people in the Jewish Rites and Ceremonies or else for ever quit claim to their maintenance T. S. Thus much of your Answer to my first Querie My second was this By what Rule in Scripture doe you sprinkle Infants and call it an Ordinance of Jesus Christ who never commanded any such thing nor was it ever practised by any of the Saints after him W. T. Inquire again whether you never heard of any Saint since Christ that sprinkled Infants T. S. Doth this ridiculous quibble deserve the name of so sober an Answer as should proceed out of the lips of one that esteemeth himself a grave Divine Was I not demanding of you a Rule in Scripture grounded on the Command of Christ or the practise of the Saints there for sprinkling of Infants And could you imagine that I intended the practise of any without the Scripture when that only was spoken of What weight is there in what you say Or to what purpose did you produce this senslesse inquiry Unlesse you intended it to prove that we may practice any thing that is brought to us by Tradition though we can shew no Rule in Scripture for it either from Christs Command or the Saints practise W. T. Christ by the Apostle Paul commandeth to render to all their dues Rom. 13.7 But Baptism is an Infants due Ergo. T. S. And is this your Rule in Scripture by which you sprinkle Infants and call it an Ordinance of Jesus Christ Do not call it railing if I ask you whether that Scripture be not fullfilled at this day Isa 44.25 which saith The Lord maketh the Diviners mad and turneth the wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolish Consider seriously whether you have not manifested the darknesse of your mind to all the Children of light to be even like that of Aegypt which might be felt If the Lord had not smitten you with blindnesse of heart could you ever produce that Scripture as your Rule for sprinkling of Infants Will this be a sufficient Plea for you to produce for your practice in the day that Jesus Christ shall ask you Who required those things at your hands If this be all you can say you will never be able to escape that wo which is on them that teach and practise for doctrines the traditions of men But to your Arguments and here I must confesse my self non-plust for that there is such a heap of confusion incongruities and illogicall Conclusions that I know not where to begin or where to end W. T. We ought to render to all their dues Ergo Infants ought to be baptized T. S. Was it ever heard or did it ever enter into the heart of any sober-minded man to conceive that Paul intended the 7 Verse of the 13 Chapter to the Romans to prove the sprinkling of Infants faces with water to be an Ordinance of Jesus Christ For shame forbear thus to abuse and belye the Scripture wresting it to the
sheeps cloathing but are within ravening Wolves who are such as their Predecessors the Scribes and Pharisees were Painted Sepulchres all glorious without but within full of rottennesse With those that witnesse against such doe I close yea and am ready with thousands more in the Nation to bear my testimony against them even unto bonds and unto death But why doe you not come where these false-witnesse-bearers are as you all them and manifest them to be such that so the People may beware of them You and your brethren of the Clergy have a rare faculty of conquering men in the Pulpits with whom you never spake and riding triumphant over those who never had liberty or opportunity to return you an Answer You are very excellent at confuting men at the greatest distance and damning things and persons for errors and Hereticks in the absence of the concerned And so you meet worse measure to many that are innocent then Pilate and the Jewes did unto Christ viz. by condemning them not only without a cause but before they are heard T. S. I ask did you receive that gift by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery which Timothy did or did you only imitate c. W. T. If Timothy received extraordinary gifts in that way to that we doe not pretend as being proper to those times c. T. S. The gift that I asked you whether you had received was that which Timothy received by the laying on of hands which he was exhorted to stir up which the Scripture doth no where call extraordinary And if this be the gift you pretend not to I thinke in that you doe well not to pretend to that which you never received But why doe you then pretend to Timothy's Ministry if you pretend not to his gift And as for your distinction betwixt that laying on of hands that did confer extraordinary gifts and that which did promote ordinary I disown it as that which the Scripture knoweth not but is a distinction of your own creating It 's usuall with those that call themselves Ministers in the Nation when they practice that which the Scripture alloweth not to help themselves by some groundlesse distinction or other and if they are demanded touching the qualifications of the Ministers of Jesus Christ in Scripture then to disclaime any pretence to them as such as were proper to those times and were not the holinesse patience sobriety meeknesse freedome from the love of filthy lucre and coveteousnesse found in the Ministers of Jesus Christ mentioned in Scripture also proper to those times If you lay claime to them it were well if you would shevv that they are indeed vvithin you by bringing forth more of the fruits of them in your conversations then at this day you doe You call the ceremony of laying on of hands a fit signe of your being appropriated unto God T. S. Many amongst you that received this ceremony are found vvalking in the paths of the Devil being svvearers drunkards revilers and openly prophane and are you not ashamed to say that that ceremony is a signe of their being appropriated unto God And as for the most of the rest of you you are hardly come to so high a pitch of holinesse as the Scribes and Pharisees who drew the blood of Christ in witnessing the outside of the Pot cleansed Is there among the most ignorant any eye so blind to whom your spots of pride coveteousnesse envy oppression are not visible And are you yet such as are appropriated unto God They that are appropriated unto God are found doing the will of God and working the works of God but so are not most of you who set up your owne wills in opposition to the will of God and whose works are not such as were wrought by the holy men of God mentioned in the Scripture You say further touching Imposition of hands that you own it as a very antient ceremony and signe of consecration and of the blessing of God setling on them so consecrated T. S. Doe the Scriptures any where call that Imposition of hands of which we were speaking used on those that were made Deacons a signe of consecration And is it also a signe of the blessing of God setling on them that receive it Hath not imposition of hands been used on those that are enemies to God and goodnesse such as are before mentioned And doth the blessing of God settle on such Is the blessing of God or the woe and the curse to the Idol Shepheard and slothfull Hireling that maketh it his businesse to feed himselfe and to persecute the poor flock of Christ You cannot avoid giving these the blessing also who are for the curse for these also had that mock-shew and empty imitation of laying on of hands by the Bishops and their Presbyters used on them Next you spend some time to prove that laying on of hands is not the foundation of your call To which I shall only say That you esteem it so much the foundation of your call that you judge him no Minister that hath not received it and whoso hath received it you presently esteem him a Minister After this having demanded of you an example in Scripture where any of the Saints or Ministers of Jesus Christ did persecute any man for conscience sake You Answer W. T. That bad Ministers should persecute is no wonder c. T. S. Then from your owne lips we may conclude that they that doe persecute are bad Ministers And then how few are there to be found that are good Is not the blood-thirsty spirit of Saul manifestly seen in the generality of those that call themselves Ministers in the Nation Have not they who conscientiously refused to join with them in their will-worship for severall years past yea and at this day been the objects of their wrath and violence And what have been the obstacle to their execution of as great cruelty on the Saints in these dayes as Saul did on them in those save that as his commission was of equall extent with his will these have had their wills to persecute larger then their commissions And whereas you say that divers who assume to themselves the name of Saints doe persecute the generall company of ordinary Ministers and doe in their scolding Books cast all the reproach they can upon them I Answer They who were Saints of old mentioned in the Scripture did call an Idol Shepheard by his name and a greedy dumb Dog by his name and if any that are called Saints doe at this day call the same persons by the same names I know no reason why you should call it persecution unlesse it were persecution in the Prophets of the Lord mentioned in Scripture who did the same If any there be who charge those with that of which they are not guilty I am no Patron of them but doe judge them Revilers When I ask you in the next place for an Example in Scripture where any of
Hosanna to the mutable directions of the Pulpit W. T. I confesse I have been something put to it to determine whether I should say any thing to you or no. T. S. Truly as good you had said nothing as to no purpose neither were you more put to it then I have been what to make my reply to in your last Papers so full are they of confusion falshood contradictions impertinences and grosse absurdities as herein after will be made manifest to any that are sober minded And had I not received them signed with your name I should rather have judged them compiled by some old superstitious Episcopall Priest then by one that professeth himselfe a Minister of the Gospel and an emminent Doctor of the times W. T. I shall say something to the matter of your Letter the rather because in some parts of it you pretend to reason though much of it be stufft with that clamor which is the character of that company with which you close T. S. To tell a Clergy-man of his wickednesse in plainnesse of speech is clamor Were not Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel and Micha clamorous fellowes that durst cry out against the abominations of the false Prophets and wicked Priests of their times If this be such a black character that rendreth my Companions unlovely in your eyes I shall yet choose those who are more unlovely As the fear of God and working of righteousnes are the character of such whom he accepteth so are they of those with whom I close But as for those that cry the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord and yet have their hands full of unrighteousnesse that Preach to others the things that themselves contradict in their practice with such I desire to have no fellowship W. T. In defence of whom you bring the examples of Moses and Ezekiel but though such men quaked occasionally now and then as Gods servants still doe yet you doe not finde that they received a denomination from it or made a trade of it T. S. I brought nothing in defence of those whom you intend I onely quoted my own practice and the reason of it viz. that I did close with such as from a principle of holy fear did tremble before the great God of Heaven and Earth such as were Moses Ezekiel and other holy men of God mentioned in Scripture And was this that which needed a defence Are you so fierce an Antagonist against such as tremble at the word of the Lord as Moses and Ezekiel did that they need be defended against your rage I doubt not but if Moses and Ezekiel were now living they would finde the same measure at your hands as they did at the hands of the false Prophets of old since they that walk in their steps need a defence against your fury It sufficeth for me that you grant the thing that I intended viz That the servants of God of old did and still occasionally doe quake and tremble before the Lord. But you say they received no denomination from it nor made a trade of it T. S. Did I ever assert either of these things if not whom doe you contradict to what end doe you produce such pittifull stuffe as this for my part I cannot imagine what you could intend by it unlesse it were to fill up paper and keep your pen in action What would you conclude thence unlesse you would reason thus Because they that now tremble at the word of the Lord as Moses and Ezekiel did are by the world in scorne called Quakers therefore trembling at the word of the Lord is a hatefull thing Because we read that the Disciples from their faith in Christ and profession of his name received the denomination of Christians can that be brought as an argument against faith in Christ and a serious profession of his name And as for making a trade of trembling or quaking I never mentioned any such thing neither doe I understand what you intend by this impertinency of speech unlesse to reproach those that dayly walk low in the fear of the Lord and if so I say to you let the scorner cease to scorne lest the dreadfull day of the Lord overtake him unawares and give him his portion with scorners in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Sure I am that you never read that the holy men of God of old made a trade of Preaching as you and other men doe who just as the handicrafts man maketh his wares and exposeth them to sale in the Market so you doe compile your Sermons gathering a shread out of one Author and a shread out of another and thereunto add your own inventions and then sell them unto the people for money some for one hundred some for two hundred others for three hundred pound per annum according as you can make your Market So much of the Proem to your Papers Now to your reasonings and arguings And first you begin with the Scriptures quoting this as one of the detestable Doctrines of those called Quakers that they say that the Scriptures are not the Saints rule contrary you say to these Scriptures Gal. 6.16 James 2.8 Deut. 5.32 33. 2 Pet. 1.19 to which you say I make answer that no Scripture that I remember saith so in terminis and therefore it s a false charge T. S. That which I said was that I did not finde the Scripture in terminis so called in either of those you quoted and therefore you charged them falsly in saying they reject the Scriptures because they deny that which the Scriptures never said In which I said truth for he that chargeth another man with the denyall of Scripture because he denyeth that which the Scripture no where faith I say he chargeth him falsly Now let any man of a sober understanding judge whether any of those Scriptures you produce doe speak any such thing as you would have them to speak and consequently whether you are not found bearing false witnesse of which you accuse others But you reply three things to salve this mistake W. T. That is Scripture which is necessarily deduced from it though it be not in so many words contained in it to prove which you produce the example of Christ who proved the Resurrection of the dead from that Scripture I am the God of Abraham of Isaac and of Jacob. T. S. So then you grant the thing that I said viz. that the Scripture in words doe not say any such thing and therefore you appeal from the expresse Scripture to your own consequences and deductions thence which you make the lame shift when the Scripture will not help you any longer by which to patronize all your miscarriages and deviations from the truth Here is the refuge that all the blinde guides of the Nation make to themselves when as they are driven by plaine Scripture from their strong holds and cannot stand before that which they pretend to be their rule they fly to their own meanings
nay therefore in the second because it is alone to be had in the first Is not this as good reasoning to say That salvation is alone to be had freely by Jesus Christ and therefore by the works of the Law we must pray alone to the Lord that made us and therefore to graven Images Minde feriously if the Lord hath not given you up to a spirit of slumber that you should write such barbarous contradictions in stead of Doctrine whiles you fight against the truth The Reason you give for your bold assertion is this W. T. Because the Scripture setteth forth Christ alone as the person in whom life is to be had T. S. That the Scriptures doe testifie of Christ is true and that there is no other Jesus but that onely begotten of the Father of whom they testifie is as true But is life therefore to be had in them Is a declaration touching any thing the thing it selfe Old Jacobs sons made a declaration to their Father of the great plenty of corne in Egypt to keep them alive and will you therefore say that food and sustenance were to be had in their declaration Many Philosophers have given a description in their writings of the nature of bread and doth it thence follow that bread is to be had in their writings Plinny and others since him have declared the nature of that sweetnesse which is in honey and was ever any man so ignorant to conclude that therefore honey with its sweetnesse is to be had in the declarations of Plinny For shame doe not assume to your selfe the name of a Divine nor undertake to teach others the way to life whilest you are not able to put a difference betwixt a declaration touching a thing and the thing it selfe and so put the Scripture for Christ and the letter for the life In the next place you speak of men that cannot or will not put a difference between word and word between the Essentiall word and the Enuntiative word and so accommodate themselves for the shaking off of Scripture as if nothing were the word but Christ T. S. Must he presently be sentenced for a shaker off of the Scripture who cannot adore every School distinction as an Oracle from Heaven Where doe the Scripture make mention of the Essentiall word and the Enuntiative word and if the Scripture knoweth not any such termes pray tell us when you received your commission from Heaven to coyne distinctions and father them on the Scripture and then accuse men for shaking off the Scripture because they shake off the vaine imaginations of your own brain W. T. I would ask you this one question whereupon must I believe that Christ is the true light that lightens every man that comes into the world c. T. S. I ask you againe whether that all the holy men of God from Abel to John who spake those words did believe that Christ was the true light If they did then I demand on what ground did they beleeve it and on what ground did John himselfe who spake the words beleeve the truth of them W T. Suffer the Scripture then to be the ground of faith T. S. I say to you and the rest of those that call themselves Teachers in the Nation doe you suffer the Scripture to abide pure as it was spoken and doe not darken it by your corrupt glosses nor raise imaginations of your own upon it which you call Comments and so make the Scripture to swell into so many volumes that a great part of a mans life time must be spent in perusing them suffer the Scripture to be that which it declareth it selfe to be and speak not that of it falsly which it never spake of it selfe You proceed hence in your Papers to descant on my testimony that I gave touching the Scriptures and because you can therein finde no matter of quarrell taking my words in that plainesse they were spoken therefore you fly to making of meanings on them and say if I mean so by this and that expression then there is truth in it but if so then there is danger in it T. S. Are you troubled because my words were so plaine and so spend time to seek a knot in a bull-rush what would you have would you make me speak what I intended not Let it suffice that I tell you that I spake as I mean't and did mean as I spake Therefore you may forbear to impose your drousie Interpretations on what I declared in words sufficiently intelligible by any man whose minde is not darkned with ignorance or passion What Lordly spirit is that which lodgeth within your brest that your Probatum est must serve for a stamp under which my testimony must passe for truth and without which it must be of necessity erronious Much more stirre you make about meanings and sences in your discourse but I shall not trace you in all your wilde divinations but leave them to be burn't up as stnbble with the fire of truth W. T. But such words as these will serve a turne being very taking with poor mistaken and seduced soules T. S. You told me but even now of deceit and danger that were in my words but it seemeth there is no great danger in them if they are like to take with none but those who are already seduced for there is little danger of hurting them that are already under deceit and seduction When as in my last I declared my disowning of any mans testimony that was found contradictory to Scripture You answer W. T. For ought I know then you must leave the most or all of your new Religion which is upheld by a pretended inward light that will never abide the tryall c. T. S. For ought I know unlesse you prove me to have taken up some new Religion you may expect your portion among those that are shut out of the new Jerusalem for lyars and false Prophets I own no Religion but that which teacheth a man to fear the Lord and work righteousnesse to visit the fatherlesse and widowes in their affliction and to keep himselfe unspotted of the world Christ is the light of the world which I own as the foundation of my Religion who is within me unlesse I am a Reprobate and dare you be so impudent as to call him a pretended light You would be very angry if I should disown you for a Minister of Jesus Christ but did he ever make such Ministers or did ever any of the Apostles that were sent forth by him in scorn call him a pretended light If false Prophets may be known by their fruits then let all that know the Lord and walk in his fear judge what you are who doe bring forth such sowre Grapes as these And whereas you say my new Religion will never abide the tryall as may appear in part by what hath been already said I answer If wresting and belying the Scripture if contradictions and confusion be that
by which you prove my Religion I must confesse my Religion will not abide that tryall but teacheth me to bear my testimouy against all such Romish filth and Babylonish rubble But that you may know that my Religion will bear the tryall of a greater then you I doe hereby declare my selfe free and willing on seasonable notice given me to appear in the midst of your Congregation or in the presence of the whole County where you live to have both my Principles and practises tryed by the Scriptures of truth which if you shall refuse to doe then take shame to your selfe for a false accuser W. T. In this testimonie you have given concerning Scripture you know your own meaning and the sincerity of your heart in the declaration of it I am afraid it will come to little else if all were known then the owning of that Spirit that breathed it forth and that 's to own the Author not the Scripture or the living the life of Christ and that 's to expresse the effect and work of Scripture knowledge rather then to owne the Doctrine T. S. You told me ere while after you had made a comment on my plaine expressions that if I meant so and so then my words did require my second thoughts sure I am here are expressions that require your second thoughts and if you are not past blushing you will finde in them matter of great shame to your selfe Dare you say that you are afraid that my testimonie touching Scripture will amount to little else then owning the Spirit that breathed it forth or living the life of Christ Can any man be said to own the Spirit that breathed forth the Scripture and living the life of Christ and yet disowne the Scripture which is the testimonie of that Spirit and that Christ Doth not he that disowneth the Scripture disowne the Spirit that breathed it forth and disowne the living the life of Christ and yet whilest you confesse that my testimonie amounteth to the owning of that Spirit and the living the life of Christ is it matter of fear to you that I should yet disowne the Scriptures doe not call it insulting if I ask you whether ever such a parcell of language dropt from any sober mans pen and withall tell you that if you and others that take the Scriptures of truth to make a trade on and get a lively-hood by did truly own the Spirit that breathed them forth and the living the life of Christ you would not Preach and write as at this day you doe For close of this I shall repeat what I said in my former Viz. That I own the Scripture against all whose sayings and practises are found contrary to it such are those who say in word it is their rule but deny it in their works that Preach it in the letter and have a forme of godlinesse but deny the power thereof that talk of Christ with their tongues but abide not in the Doctrine of Christ that own him in outward profession but persecute him where he appeareth in life and power Against such and all others that live not the life of those Saints and holy men of God that spake them forth doe I own the Scriptures T. S. For the Supper of the Lord the Scripture maketh expresse mention of it but for the word Sacrament the the Scripture knoweth it not W. T. The Scripture knoweth such words as come very near it as the word signe calling the old Testament Sacrament 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a signe or token of the Covenant Gen. 17.11 2. The word seal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 4.11 1 Pet. 3.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 8 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 T. S. I spake not of words that come near it but of the word it selfe And because it is not there to be found therefore you spend time to prove thence some words that come near it May you not as well prove a false Prophet which is a ravening wolfe to be a true Prophet because he is in sheeps cloathing which cometh near the true But if you never come nearer the truth then the words you have mentioned doe to the word Sacrament you will dye very great strangers each to other What Scripture is there that calleth circumcision the old Testament Sacrament if you did not indeed esteem your selfe priviledged to write any thing without controll you would not so confidently offer the inventions of men for Doctrine and avouch the Scripture as your Author What if circumcision be called by Moses a signe and by Paul a seal doth it therefore follow that the Lords Supper is by them called a Sacrament Or what though Baptisme be called an Antitype and the Priests offering gists according to the Law be called an example of Heavenly things will you thence conclude the other called a Sacrament Sacramentum Anglice a Sacrament you doe or might know principally signifieth that oath by which souldiers of old bound themselves to be faithfull to their Captaines and is there such affinity betwixt this word and the words signe seale Antitype and Example W. T. What you speak therefore of adding to and substracting from the Scripture savours more of calumny then of charity and hath in it more of censure then of convincement T. S. Is it not a manifest adding to the Scripture to attempt the fathering of the word Sacrament upon it when it knoweth no such terme doe not you your selfe confesse that it is not there to be found and therefore doe labour to being forth words that are nere it Is it calumny and censuring to charge you with the truth I have not so much charity as to call falshood truth or darknesse light and if telling you the truth be an offence to you expect that I doe more offend you You are very angry for my speaking concerning those guides that go with the proud envious coveteous to eate bread and drink wine And you tell me that he had need be of more understanding and judgement then my selfe that shall undertake to determine what is to be done about Sacrament admission T. S So far am I from boasting of my own understanding and judgement that I shall esteem it rich grace to be content to be yet much more a fool then I am And yet you will doe well to call to minde and consider what Solomons judgement is of a man that is wise in his own eyes And as understanding as you and others are whom you call godly guides about Sacrament admission as you call it a terme that Christ and his Apostles never knew yet this I know and am well assured of that it 's no hard thing to finde many Congregations in which Pastour and people come together to eate bread and drink wine with their hands full of wickednesse a proud heady high minded Pastour and like people coveteous Pastour and coveteous people envious Pastor and envious people and is this to eate the flesh and drink the blood
the Saints did call to the civill power to punish Hereticks you quote me in answer the example of Elijah 1 Kings 18.19 20. T. S. It seemeth that the practice of Christ and his Apostles will afford you no example that you are feigne to goe so far back as to the practice of Elijah which yet will not at all serve your turn for 1 How doe you prove the Prophets of Baal to be Hereticks unlesse you will say that the poor Indians in America who worship the Sun and Moon and other pieces of the Creation are Hereticks 2 Doth that Scripture say that Elijah called to Ahab to punish Baals Prophets who was himself a worshipper of Baal Or doth it onely say that he bid him send and gather them together And doe you read that Ahab did more then Elijah desired of him You said ere while that 't was no wonder that the Apostles did not call to the civil powers to punish Hereticks who could not hope that Heathen Magistrates could doe any thing in it And must it not be a greater wonder that Elijah should call to Ahab to punish those who worshipped the same Idoll with himself with any hope to have his call answered 3 Besides the Prophets of Baal were not executed by any order or command of Ahab but what was done on them can be looked on as no other then the fruit of that compact made betwixt Elijah and the Prophets of Baal with the consent of the people signified by their choosing each a Bullock to slay the consumption of whose flesh on the Altar by fire from Heaven should be the cryterion by which the living God should be knowne in the view of all the people Neither can it be imagined but that if Elijah's God had not that day been known to be the God that answered by fire the portion of Baals Prophets had fallen to Elijah's lot W. T. But I wonder what calls to punishment you can specifie that are sutable to your complaint T. S. Nay I can specifie calls both from Presses and Pulpits that are much more then sutable to my complaint the sound of which is gone up into the eares of the Lord of hosts who will certainly avenge the blood of the innocent that at this day suffer under the blood thirsty generation of Idoll Shepheards in this Nation Doe you ask me what calls to punishment I can specifie Let almost every prison this day in England speak and they will answer for me where is there almost one in which some innocent heart or other doth not lye in bonds for the testimony of Jesus Christ and that at the instigation and procurement of some or other of your persecuting generation What doe your Pulpits more frequently breath and belch out at this day then threatnings against those that walk innocently and uprightly in the land stirring up and conjuring the Magistrates to imprison and punish those as hereticks and blasphemers whom the Lord doth stir up to bear testimony against your deceit and abominations Is it not at this day as it was of old when the single voyces of the people could not then did the voyces of the Chiefe Priests added to them prevaile for a sentence of death against innocent Jesus in whom although Priest-ridden Pilat could finde nothing worthy of bonds or of death yet to gratifie the impetuous lusts of that murderous Crew of Scribes Pharisees and Chiefe Priests he must be given up to their mercilesse cruelties as a blasphemer and deceiver to be crucified And as the witnesse of God in Pilats conscience bearing testimony to the innocency of Jesus made him unwilling to sentence him to the Crosse but yet was overcome by the incessant urgings of the Chiefe Priests and Pharisees So I doubt not but the same witnesse of God in the consciences of most in Authority would keep them from executing wrath and violence on many that are innocent as at this day were they not hurried on by the clamor and out-cryes of that same generation that drew the blood of Christ at Jerusalem And I doe believe that were the hand that holdeth the sword as ready to strike as the blinde guides of this Nation are to call for execution the cruelty of Queen Mary's dayes would soon be out-done by them and as much as in them lyeth the name of Israel would be cut off from the land W. T. And let me tell you withall that Christians will one day rue the liberty of these dayes T. S. So difficult a thing is it for any man to have a viperous persecuting spirit lodging in his breast and not discover it by the fruits thereof Do you gnash your teeth for anger and are you tormented in your spirit because others have a tast of that which you injoy at the full Would you have liberty of conscience and would you not give it are you of so barbarous a spirit that having your selfe but a few years past gotten your neck from under the woodden yoaks of the Bishops you are now angry that iron yoaks are not prepared and laid upon the neeks of others Are not you of the number of those who not many years since Preach't and Printed Parliament and people into armes and into blood for the rescuing of you from under the tyranny and oppression of the Bishops and are you now acted by so unrighteous a principle that being got into the Chaire you would become Judges of what liberty others should have to whom you would measure out no more then would well consist with the support of your own Diana Was it tyranny in the Bishops to persecute those that were in their dayes called Puritans and may the then Puritans now persecute others and be held blamelesse were not you and the most zealous of your brethren as grosse heriticks in the eyes of the Bishops then as they whom you invocate the civill power to punish as hereticks at this day are in yours And if it were oppression in them to punish you for conscience sake is it not the same aggravated in you on the same ground to punish others What was all that precious blood and vast treasure spilt and spent in the late wars hazarded onely for the redemption of liberty of conscience to the imperious Clergy will nothing satisfie your unsatiable lusts unlesse you can have the necks of all men under your feet and become carvers at discretion of that to others in the purchase of which their blood have had a far greater share then yours Is it not sufficient that you usurp Authority over mens estates contrary to the Law of Christ unlesse you can also sit as Lords and Kings ruling over their consciences I know no liberty in these dayes that Christians will on juster grounds ever rue then that liberty which you and your brethren assume to your selves to take away the liberty of others more righteous then you W. T. For though liberty be a good thing yet it is not good for children its
further offer to you by way of inquiry as followeth 1 Qu Whether Christ be separable from his righteousnesse if not whether he being within the Saints his righteousnesse Be not there also And consequently whether he that denyeth the righteousnesse of Christ to be within the Saints doth not blasphemously deny Christ to be there also 2 Qu Whether Christ be not made of God unto the Saints Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption and whether is he so made to them within them or without them 3 Qu Whether redemption and righteousnesse must not be there witnessed where the seat of sin and uncleanness is And whether is that seat of sin and uncleanness within or without 4 Qu Whether doth not the Scripture witness that Christ gave himself for his that he might redeem them from all iniquity and purisie them unto himself And whether is that redemption and purisying from their iniquity and polution within them or without them As you draw nearer the conclusion of your Papers you wax more fierce and furious casting out a great deale of folly and froth from your unsavoury spirit charging me with laying foule hands on you and reviling of Protestant Ministers c. T. S. To which I Answer That it was never my Principle neither is it my practice to lay violent hands upon any man And as for that spirit that teacheth men to revile I doe abominate it as such betwixt whom and the Spirit of the Lord which is the Spirit of meeknesse there is no fellowship If I were inclined to be led by example I must needs say that I might ere this perfectly have learned how to practice both these from the example of your brethren of the Clergy and their enraged Disciples who are at this day very frequent in laying their bloody hands on the innocent beating in and casting out of their Synagogues and haling before Magistrates and Rulers those that bear testimony against the same deceit and hypocrisie in them that Christ bore testimony against in their Predecessors the Scribes and Pharisees crying out to those in Authority Crucifie them trucifie them for they are not fit to live foaming out mire and dirt speaking all manner of evill causlesly for the truths sake And are these the Protestant Ministers you say I revile because I speak the plain truth of them You pretend the Scripture for you rule then let me ask you and let that of God in your own conscience judge betwixt you and me Doth the Scripture judge those to be true Shepheards or Wolves that worrie and persecute the poor sheep Are they ever numbred among Christs sheep that devoure his innocent Lambs Is it the badge of the Dove-like Disciples of meek Jesus to be Persecutors or Persecuted Christ before he left the world foretold what should be the Portion of his Ministers and Disciples viz They should be beaten and scourged in the Synagogues be brought before Rulers and Magistrates be cast into bonds and Prisons hated of all men nay be killed by those that zealously intended the service of God thereby And if this be the portion of Christs Ministers and Disciples to be thus evilly entreated by others can they be other then the Disciples and Ministers of Antichrist who doe themselves beat and scourge or cause others to be beaten and scourged in their Synagogues who doe bring before Rulers and Magistrates who doe cast into bonds and into Prisons who doe hate nay who doe for want of power in their own hands stir up the Magistrates to proceed to take away the lives of those whom they condemne for Hereticks because they cannot bow down and worship the golden Calf which they have set up Now then judge if you can righteous judgement the Tree by his fruits and say if such as these be your Protestant Ministers for speaking truth of whom without flattery you accuse me of reviling and tell me if these be Ministers of Christ who doe not abide in the doctrine of Christ who never persecuted any man nor gave any such Commandement to those that were his but instead thereof did strive to fore-arm them against all the sore persecutions they should undergoe from the hands of the false Teachers and their zealous Proselytes And therefore whatever the doctrine of these your Protestant Ministers be sure I am their deeds are evill and may expect the reward of those that say and doe not Thus have I traced you even unto wearinesse through the dark and crooked paths of your arguings and assertions conteined in your last Papers And now a few words by way of Reply to your Satyricall Monitorie added in your conclusion and I shall close all In which you charge me very highly but prove nothing Specifie some of those wayes of practice or opinion in which I live contrary to the truth and I shall soon disown them Otherwise you beat the wind in making a great noise with your Rhetorick touching dangerous Practises and Opinions but neither have quoted nor can prove any upon me With comfort and confidence shall I dye living in the fear of the Lord and being found faithfull to the teachings of that Jesus whom you persecute That many are found passing from one fancy to another in these changing times as you call them is no wonder for they learn it from the practice of their Teachers who own and preach some one fancy some another I know no seducers in the Nation but such as draw men from the light love and fear of the Lord to listen to their own fond dreams stilling him who is the only sure Teacher of the Saints a pretended inward light And therefore by way of retortion let me advise you not to trifle in those things that are of eternall concernment calling darknesse light and light darknesse Put not far from you the Son of God because of the meannes of his Garb. Stumble not at his coming because not attended with the pomp and splendor of this decaying world The worldly-wise Jew expected him from the Pallace but the great God whose habitation is in the contrite spirit called him from the Manger This was the stone which the wise builders refused this was the Rock against which the learned and the mighty dashed themselves in pieces What the Religious Scribes and Pharisees esteemed the Deliriaor mad whimsies in the lives and teachings of the Saints in those dayes the same doe you judge now but the persons and things which they judged base the Lord hath made honourable and what proud man would root out of the Earth or shut up in the grave of silence he hath caused to flourish as a branch of renown which shall out-live all the Idols set up by the wisdome of the World Therefore look well to your standing and build not on that Religion which consisteth only in outward profession crying The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord lest you be found in the great day of the Lord to be of no Religion but that which must be burned up as Hey and stubble I desire you nor to become a Disciple to any practice or opinion because mine but unto the truth turn not unto me but return unto the Lord against whom you are now found fighting You utterly mistake me in judging that I endeavour the bringing you over to any opinion for I disown that Religion that consisteth in opinions and doe desire in singlenesse and seriousnesse of spirit to wait for that power to which all Opinionists are strangers Therefore doe not esteem me studious to prevaile with you to be of this Opinion or that Sect no my hearts desire unto the Lord is that he would prevaile with you to come down from the heighth of your vain imaginations and wait to be made wise with the Wisdome of God to live low in his fear which is the beginning of that Wisdome to become a foole that you may be wise and finally to abide faithfull in that measure of light which you have received which would lead you out of the by-paths of deceit and hypocrisie and bring you to witnesse singlenesse of heart which leadeth unto that peace which the world knoweth not and to that joy which none should be able to take from you I wish eternall good to your precious soule and rest Your Friend as you owne and walke in the Truth as it is in Jesus T. SPEED FINIS