head is sick and the whole heart faint from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it but wounds bruises and putrifying soars they have not bin closed neither bound up neither mollified with oyntment To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me saith the Lord I am full of the burnt offerings of Rams and the fat of fed beasts and I delight not in the blood of Bullocks or of Lambs or of he Goats when you come before me who hath required this at your hands Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an abomination unto me the New Moon and Sabbaths the calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is iniquity even the solemn meeting your New Moons and your appointed Feasts my soul hateth they are a trouble to me I am weary to hear them and when you spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you when yee make many prayers I will not hear your hands are full of blood wash ye make you clean put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evill learn to do well seek judgement relieve the oppressed judge the Fatherless and plead for the Widow c. Now you people of all sorts who makes a profession of God and call together Assemblies examine your selves truly and see if you be not in the condition of those whom the prophet cryes against Mat 7.22 23. Are you not revolted from the Lord Are you not a sinfull people laden with iniquity a seed of evâ—ll doers Have not you provoked the Lord to anger by your unrighteous walking Are not you corrupted with sin from the sole of the foot even to the head Can you deny these things Nay I have heard some of you confesse this in words Then to what purpose is your Sabbaths and your solemn meetings as your calling of Assemblies your dayes of humiliation as you call them and your Lecture dayes and your long prayers who hath required these things at your hands It is all burdensom to the Lord and he cannot away with it it is in quity even your solemn meetings and your prayers are abomination and the Lord will not hear them for your hands are full of blood you are full of envy Mat. 23 14. Deut. 32.29 Isal 47.7 8 9 Luke 11.49 Oh when will yee lay these things to heart and consider and depart from iniquity and relieve the oppressed and undo the heavy burdens and plead the cause of the innocent and not send to prison nor persecute the his innocent servants It is not your saying Lord Lord nor your hypocriticall prayers nor outside holinesse that will avail you nor cover your nakedness in the day of the Lord therefore cease from your sin and your ungodliness and learn the wayes of righteousness that your souls may live Isaiah 55.1 2 3. Again read Isaiah 66.1 2 3. There you may see how the Prophet declared against the Temple and the Sacrifices which were outward Thus saith the Lord Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Footstool where is the House that ye build unto me and where is the place of my rest c. He that kitleth an Ox is as if he slew a Man he that sacrificeth a Lamb as if he cut off a Dogs neck he that offereth an Oblation as if he offered Swines blood he that burneth Incense as if he blessed an Idoll yea they have chosen their own wayes and their soul delighteth in their abominations Consider and let this judge you who have forsaken the wayes of the Lord and have chosen your own wayes and delights in your abominations Mat. 15.8 9 the Lord wall plead with you And Jeremiah cryed against those that trusted in lying words that lived in oppression and sin Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel Amend your lives and your doings and I will cause you to dwell in this Trust yee not in lying words saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these For if ye throughly amend your wayes and your doings if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his Neighbour if ye oppress not the stranger the Fatherless and the widow and shed not innocent blood then will I cause you to dwell in this place Jer. 7.3 4 5 6 1 Cor. 1.14 1 Cor 1.30 Mat. 7.12 7. Let this judge you all that trust in lying words crying the Church of Christ and the Ordinance of Christ and the Ministery of the Gospel and so makes a great noise and talk of words for these things are not known to you while you live in the old nature but if yee throughly amend your wayes and put off the Old man with his deeds and put on the New man Christ-Jesus then shall the Church of Christ be known and all the ordinances of Christ lived in in the life and power of them but not while you live in sin And again Mica 66.7 8. the Prophet Mica he saw through the Figures and saw the upright and just life which the Lord required as you may read in Mica 6.6 7 8. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the high God Shall I come before him with burnt offerings with Calves of a year old Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams or with ten thousand of Rivers of Oyl Shall I give my first born for my transgression the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and love mercy and towalk humbly with thy God These examples I bring that you may see how the Lord did send his Servants and Prophets to cry against deceit and hypocrisie and against those that made a profession but were out of the life and possession And those whom the Lord thus sent they were hated by those whom they declared against in the time of their testimony And afterward another generation comes and cryes up their words as the Prophets in the time of their prophesie they were hated but after their death another generation gets their words but still persecuteth alike And this was manifest in the dayes of Christ Heb. 8.1 when he was manifest in the Flesh who was the substance of Moses Types and the end and life of the Prophets he was hated by the Jewes Chief Priests Scribes and Pharisees who had gotten the words and painted themselves with Moses and the Prophets words and cryed up the Prophets building their Tombs and garnishing the Sepulchers of the Righteous and condemned their forefathers for killing of the prophets and yet these were them that crucified the Son of God Matth. 12.2 who was the life and substance of those things which they upheld which were outward and typicall but though they made a fair shew and large profession and were zealous for their Sabbath
not be guided by the light within Jo 17 21 23. Isa 45 13. John 6 45. Ezek 34 15 and in this he hath denied Father Son and Spirit which are one God who is light and is within a guider and leader and teacher of his People according to Scripture Testimony as I have mentioned before And the said Halls in his talk was speaking of Anti-christ and false Teachers from that Scripture 1 John 2.18 Little Children it is the last time and as you have heard that Anti-christ shall come even now are there many Anti-christs whereby we know that it is the last time Now I shall prove by Scripture and out of his own mouth 1 Jo 2 22. that he is one of the Anti-christs that is against Christ and denies him read the 22. vers Who is a lyar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ he is Anti-christ that denies the Father and the Son Now it is manifest and proved by Scripture that he hath denied the Father and the Son Iohn 10 30 Iohn 14 9 10 11 Rev 21 3. who prayed that they might not be guided by the light within for the Father and the Son are one and they are light and dwelleth within And again read another Scripture in the first Epistle of Iohn Chap. 4.3 Every Spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Anti-christ whereof ye have heard that it should come and even now already it is in the world Now to confess Christ come in flesh at Ierusalâ—m sixteen hundred and od years ago that the Pope doth confess whom he said was the Anti-christ and this most in this Nation of the very prophanest ones and many others do confess But I do further say 1 Iohn 5 11 12. Col 1 27. 1 John 2 22 23. that every particular man or woman that doth not confess Christ but deny Christ come in their mortal flesh are Anti-christs against Christ and this Halls did deny who denies to be guided by the light within and so denies Christ within the hope of glory and so is against Christ Anti-christ Further the said Halls said that Anti-christ was one that did oppose Christ and this I shall turn back upon his own head and prove him out of his own mouth to be against Christ He hath denied the Miniâ—â—ers work which is for the perfecting of the Saints Christ Jesus owned the Doctrine of Perfection and said in his Doctrin Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect as you may read Mat. 5.48 and Halls said that none can be perfect in thâ—s life and so oposes Christ manifesting the spirit of Anti-christ Several other things were spoken by him in opposition to Christ and the pure Doctrin of Perfection but these few that I have mentioned are sufficient to try prove his Spirit onely one Scripture I shall mention which he himself quoted to prove me and my friends to be false Prophets which was Phil. 3.19 but read the 18. verse and so on where the Apostle speaks of false Teachers for saith he many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things Now whether this Scripture doth condemn them or us I leave it to the honest hearted to judge for as soon as he had ended his stuff they both went away and though I called after them and charged them to stay in the name of the Lord yet nevertheless both of them with speed went to the Tavern and there filled their bellies Psal 1 1 2. Psa 145.20 Dan 6 22. and left me amongst a company of bruits and heathen-like raging people haling and pulling and punching with their feet had not the power of the Lord preserved me and my friends we might have been torn to pieces amongst the raging and ravening Wolves Mat 10 10 and that day Christs words were fulfilled who said I send you forth as Lambs in the midst of Wolves And this was plainly manifest I came in innocency and was as a Lamb amongst them and they like ravenous Wolves went about to devour but the Lord preserved me and my friends out of their mouths glory to his Name for evermore Oh! how do these your Priests walk as Examples to the People as the Ministers of Christ did walk as Examples and their conversation was in heaven as you may read Phil 3 17 20. But these your Teachers their conversation is below and if the people should have followed them they might have gone to the Tavern and there filled their bellies and sit sotting and drinking which is a shame to hear tell of which they glory in Tit 1 16. and are enemies to the Crosse of Christ though they profess him in words yet in works they deny him and they do mind earthly things as those did which the Apostle speaks of for if it were not more for love of your earthly things than it is in love to your souls you would have fewer sermons for take away their maintenance and give them no money and you will quickly know what they preach for we have tryed them and found them so and so do turn from them Isa 2 22. and warn all others to cease from man and turn to the Lord that he alone may teach you according as he hath promised and according as it is written all the Children of the Lord they shall be taught of the Lord Isa 54.13 After I came from the Meeting-place I writ to William Vpcot and sent it down to his house by one of my friends who coming into his house and asked for him it was said he was within Then Vpcots wife came and asked what his message was and said she would deliver it to her husband and she being earnest to know he told her he had a letter and she promised to deliver it to her said husband where upon her word and promise he gave her the Letter but no sooner she had got the paper not regarding her word and promise did cast the letter into the fire and burnt it and so she was proved a lyer in saying she would give it to her husband but did not but cast it into the fire so she manifested herself to be of the Divel a lyer and the Lake of Fire is the lyers portion as you may read Rev. 21.8 Thus you may see that the Priest and his wife are both of one Spirit for she made no conscience of her woâ—ds and promise but I knowing their spirit did keep a copy of the paper which take as followeth William Upcot SHew me an Example in the Scripture where ever any of the Ministers of Christ did command any of their Hearers to hale forth or take away any that came in amongst them as
example for its innocency and shewes that all must become as innocent as little children for whosoever doth not receive the kingdom of God as a little child he shall not enter therein But what example is this for any one to sprinkle waâ—er on the innocent childs face or what advantage is it for a proud covetous heady high minded sinfull carnall man to take the innocent little child which is not capable of believing what can his prayers or any thing he doth John 9.31 profit or advantage the innocent child Read without prejudice and let that of God in your consciences judge There is one Lord one Faith one Baptism and that one Baptism I own which is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Eph. 4.5 1 Pet. 3.21 Gal. 6.15 1 Cor. 12 13. Heb. 10 22. 1 Pet. 3. 21 For it is neither dipping or sprinkling or not dipping or sprinkling that avails any thing at all but a new creature for that is not the baptism which is outward with the water but baptism is that of the Spirit having the heart sprinkled from an evil conscience the body washed with pure water and as many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ and in Christ all are one Gal. 3.27.28 And for their Sacrament which they tell people of I deny the Scripture knows no such word as Sacrament but the Supper of the Lord I own and witness which is a spirituall eating and drinking of the Body and Blood of Christ whereby we being many are one bread and one body For the cup of Blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ John 6.56.63 John 8.12 the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ for we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread 1 Cor. 10.16 This bread is Iesus Christ the light of the world as you may read Iohn 6.35 I am the bread of life I am the living bread that came down from above he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever and he shall not hunger and they that drink of this cup shall never thirst but it shall be a Well of living water springing up unto eternall life John 4.14 But I say That the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to Divels and not to God and I would not that ye should have fellowship with Divels ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Divels ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and of the Table of Divels 1 Cor. 10.21 Now for a company of profane sinfull people as drunkards swearers lyars scoffers scorners proud lofty John 8.44 1 John 3 8. John 6.70 high-minded ones Whoremongers Adultereâ—s Covetous cruell oppressors and the like for these to meet and eat bread wine and call it a communion I do it deny to be the Communion or Table of the Lord but the Table of Divels Likewise their standing praying before and after their Sermons as they call them and their pulpit and their taking a Text as they call it and add to it the divination of their own brain and speak forth their conceivings and not the word of God these and all or most things that are used and practiced by them in the steeple-house or Idol-Temple are contrary to the practice of the Ministers of Christ and they are to be turned away from for they do not neither shall they profit the people at all for if they had stood in the councell of God they should have turned the people from the evill of their wayes but they run and the Lord never sent them therefore they shal not profit the people at all Jer. 23.32 Thus I have declared and laid open their deceits and contrary walkings to the holy men of God and cleared the truth from their lies and slanders and do deny them and all their way of worship John 4.24 Col. 3.16 John 1.3 1 Cor. 3.3 Phil. 3.3 and do own the worship of God in Spirit and Truth and the Ordinances of God in Spirit preaching praying and singing with the Spirit and with understanding singing with grace and making melody in our hearts to the Lord and Baptism and the Lords Supper and the Scripture in the life and spirituality of them and the Gospel of peace and glad tidings and the word of life and reconciliation I own and witness which separates from sin and joyns to the Lord to be one with him in Spâ—rit where a I the children of God have union even in the pure Spirit and love of God and are written in one anothers hearts not with paper and ink but with the Spirit of the living God and are taught of God and worship him in Spirit and rejoyceth in his love and patience for evermore Awake awake all people awake to righteousness and sin not 1 Cor. 15.34 Eph 5.14 Râ—m 13.12 Luke 21 27 28. Isai 4. chap. 2 Cor 4.6 arise from your dead sleep of carnall security put off the works of darkness and put on the armer of light stand up from the dâ—ad that Christ may give you light For now is the Lord appearing and arising in his mighty power for the redemption of Sion and to put an end to sin and finish transgression his day is dawned and the glorious light of the everlasting Gospel is broken forth and shines in the hearts of the Lords people the Lord is gathering his scattered-flock together in this his day where they have many years been feeding upon the dry husks and running from mountain to hill and from hill to mountain all this cloudy dark day Now is the Lord coming to bring back again that which was driven away and to seek and to save that which was lost and bring his sheep into the fold of the the true shepheard where the sheep shall lie down in peace and feed together in one fold and the Lord alone will be the Teacher and Feeder of his Flock and no ravenous beast shall pluck them out of his hand for he is the good shepheard that will lay down his life for his sheep John 10 1â— and will not flye when the Wolfe comes to devour the Lambs but he doth preserve them all and carries his lambs in his arms and gently leads out all that are with young all his tender babes he seeds with milk and nourishes the tender plants with the water of life and this is the Lord bringing to passe in these our days glory be to his name for evermore he is fulfilling his promises made of old gathering his people into union and fellowship with himself Jer. 23 5 6 7.8 Isai 55 3.4 Psal 2.1 2. Acts 13.40 41 John 15.18 19. where they shall all rejoyce together and be one in the everlasting covenant of love and life
A TESTIMONY OF THE LIGHT WITHIN A glorious Truth which all the Holy Men of God did bear testimony unto and from which they spoke forth the Scriptures and the end of all Preachings and Writings was to bring to Light within to worship God in Spirit and Truth and to Christ within the hope of Glory The Truth cleared from Scandals and some of the Errors and false Doctrines of two Cornish Teachers laid open and testified against WITH A Description of the true Ministers of Christ and of the free Ministery both under the Law and Gospell Administration and how those that preached for Hire and filthy Lucre were testified against both by the Prophets Christ and the Apostles Wherein the Nationall and Parish Teachers in England and else where who preach for Hire and set Maintenances and sue people at Law for Tythes and Maintenance are clearly proved by severall Scripture examples to be contrary to Law and Gospel both in Doctrine Practice and in the steps and wayes of those whom the true prophets Christ and the Apostles testified against Also a testimony of the dawning of the glorious day of the Lord and his appearing in power in the hearts of his people which makes the world to wonder and formall Professors to rage and persecute the appearance of Christ in power with severall Scripture Examples shewing how the Lord sent his Servants to testifie against such who had the Form but not the Power of Truth And how the Servants and Messengers of God in former ages and generations who were in the Life and Power of Truth were hated and persecuted by those who had the Form but were not in the Life of Truth as they are now in this Generation Here is likewise in short declared the difference between the Old Covenant where the Law Temple Sabbath Circumcision and other Services were without and yearly offering up Sacrifice for sin but did make nothing perfect the new covenant where the Law and Spirit and Circumcision and the life and and substance of the shadows are witnessed within and sin and iniquity done away and the bringing in of the better Hope known which makes perfect which is Christ within the Mystery and hope of Glory Also an Exhortation to all people to cease from Man and all their carnall and dead Observations without them which doth not satisfie and to turn their minds to the true light and wait for the appearance of Christ within who gives rest and peace and satisfies the hungry thirsting Soul With a few words to those Dear ones who are torn to see the deadness of the formall profession who are waiting upon God whose faces are turned Syon-wards Given forth from Christ the light within in love to the souls of all people who are groping in the dark without that out of death and darkness they may be brought turned to the true light that they may have union with me in my fathers love who am redeemed and brought forth of Pharoah's Court and do count it greater riches to suffer affliction with the despised people of God rather than enioy the pleasures of sin for a season Whose Name according to the Flesh is Alexander Parker Written chiefly to the Inhabitants of the Town and Parish of Austell in the County of Cornwall but may serve for any others who are in the same Nature and Condition with them London printed for Giles Calvert at the Black spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1657. To all You to whose Hands this shall come OR To whom soever it shall be committed to to read AND To all in whose hearing it shall be read IT is not that I desire to be seen in Print that was the cause of my writing of that which here doth follow if otherwise I might have been cleared But thus it was upon the sixth day of the weeke being the seventh day of the ninth month 1656. there was a Lecture so called at the Town of Austel in Cornwall and as I lay upon my bed in the morning of the day aforesaid the living power of the Lord did arise in me and a great burden fell upon me and waiting in the fear of God where the secrets of the Lord are known it was laid upon me to go to the Steeple-house at the place aforesaid and I knowing the terror of the Lord durst not withstand nor consult but gave up my self in obedience to the Lord and to his protection though I knew the people to be a wicked gainsaying rebellious people yet I knew him who limits and sets bounds to the raging Sea that it cannot passe its bounds and my life being given up in the service and work of the Lord not fearing what man could do unto me in the power and dread of the Lord I went to the Town and so into the Meeting-place where were two of the professed Teachers and in meekness and patience I waited though under much burden of Spirit untill the Priest had ended his confused gathered in imagined stuffe And afterward I standing up to speak and to clear my Conscience and the Truth from his Lies and other things spoken at that time by him both the Priests began to pass away and would not stay though in the Name of the Lord I charged them to stay and answer for I had some thing to speak unto them but notwithstanding all this they would not stay but went away and left me amongst the rude and ungodly people where like ravening wolves they haled and punched both me and other of my friends that were there that so it was I could not clear my Conscience nor ease me of that burden which was laid upon me concerning them though much was spoken at that time but little received after a little time without much harm I and my friends came away But my burden was not taken off though some of my friends seeing their rudeness perswaded me to let them alone and not to come any more amongst them But on the first day of the week afâ—er our meeting was ended I passed down to the Town with some friends and having written to the Priest after one Letter was burnt another was delivered to him though at that time he would not read it neither was very free to speak with me Yet notwithstanding though there was little freedom I passed to the Priests house accompanied with one of my friends where coming to the house I found them very light and scoffing and little freedom I had to clear the Truth though much was spoken it was but like water cast into the Sea And after some little time I shaked off the dust of my feet as a testimony against them and came away But I was not eased of my burden though I laboured to put it off seeing I had been amongst them but it lay still upon me and I waited on the Lord and on the second day of the week at night lying on my Bed I was commanded to write and so
in obedience to the Lord I have written what was given to me which here is committed to the view of the world Read with a single eye and examine those Scriptures that I have set down both in the Margine and other places and then try those men whom you have long looked upon to be Ministers of the Gospell and you may see them both in Doctrine and practice to be contrary to the Ministers of God mentioned in Scripture and in the steps of the false Prophets and false Apostles which the true Prophets of Christ and the Apostles testified against That which I have written it is not in envy to any of their persons God is my record it would rejoyce my heart that any one of them might turn from their wickedness and unchristian practices and cease deceiving and making Merchandize of poor Souls and lay down their Crowns at the Feet of Jesus and learn of him that their Souls might live and though I be hated of them and others for my love in dealing plainly not daring to speak peace to the wicked whom the Lord hath not spoken peace to but freely declaring the Truth as it is in Jesus owning the least appearance of Truth in any where ever I see it and cherish it but do witness against all hypocrisie and outside seeming holinesse and hyocriticall Professors it is abomination to God and the very prophane ones and the Publicans shall enter the Kingdom before such I say if I be hated for this my love in speaking and writing in plainness not respecting any mans person I have peace with God in what I have here written which I value much more than all the dearest love or greatest hatred and frowns of men So I do admonish all who read this or any other not to be hasty to judge nor to speake evill of things you know not but receive in love what you can reach unto and see to be truth and do not rashly censure that to be error which at present you do not well understand but try all things and hold fast that which is good From Tregangeeves in the Parish of Austell in the County of Cornwall the 15. day of the 9. month called November 1656. Writen by one who is a lover of the Truth and tenders all those who love the Truth in sincerity of heart who wait for the appearance of Christ in Spirit who am known to the world by the name of Alexander Parker A Testimony of the Light within a glorious Truth which all the holy Men of God did bear Testimony unto and from which they spoke forth the Scriptures and the end of all Preachings and Writings was to bring to Light within to Worship God in Spirit and Truth and to Christ within the hope of Glory TO all you People in the Town and Parish of Austel young and old high and low rich and poor Priests Professors and prophane ones of what sort or degree soever to you all am I moved of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to write and clear my Conscience whetheron will hear or forbear but chiefly to you who are breathing and hungring after righteousness in whom there are true desires and thirstings after the Waters of Life for you doth my Soul travail and for your sakes and the pure Truth which is daily slandered by false and back-biting tongues do I freely declare and write these following lines it being so the people of their Town and Parish many of them being so rude and bruitish that I cannot have liberty to speak by word unto you but they are ready to lay hands violently upon me and others of my dear friends who in meekness and innocency have come amongst you they have been haled forth and abused by the rude multitude as I my self was upon the sixth day of the week being the seventh day of the ninth moth called November 1656 when I was in your publick meeting-place and heard one of your Teachers whilest he uttered forth the Divination of his own brain that which by his study and labour he had composed and patched up and so spoke forth his conceiving and imagination and not the Word of God Now I having heard and having had some discourse with your Teacher William Vpcot and another of his Coat and being that divers reports and many slanders are cast upon me and my friends both by the Priests and others as that I deny Christ the Scriptures Prayer and the like which things are false and their accusation I do deny as to my own particular all their lies and slanders I do not value they are as dust under my feet and I stand clear and innocent in the sight of God and all just men and their lies and slandeâ—s doth not touch me at all I know it is the portion of the Children of God to be reproached and reviled scoffed and scorned this is but a fulfilling of Christs words who was hated of the world and persecuted and put to death by the professing People and saith Christ as they have done unto me so they will do unto you if ye were of the world the world would love you but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore do they hate you but blessed are ye when men revile you Ioh 15 18 19. Mat 5 11 12. and persecute you and shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you these Scriptures are fulfilled in these daies upon this Generation and truly I can rejoyce in all this and count it joy that I am counted worthy to suffer for my Lord and Masters sake knowing this Acts 5 4â— 2 Tim. 3.12 Heb. 11 26. that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution so their reproaches to me are great riches and truly for my own part I should be silent and bear all these things patiently But for the Truths sake and for their sakes who are tender hearted I shall declare and lay open some of their Deceits and Errors who profess themselves to be your Teachers I shall not speak by hear-say from others but what I have seen and heard with my own eyes and ears in tenderness and love to your Souls and not in envy to their persons Rom 13.8 Mat. 5.44 Acts 13.14 15. Joh 16 2. Mat 12 33. Jude 11. 1 John 3 12 15. 2 John 9. Acts 21. 27 28 29 30 31. Luke 10 3. Mat 6 5. for I owe to no man any thing but love my desire is that they might turn from their wickedness and live and so I shall declare and leave it to you to consider and with the Light of Christ in your Consciences rightly to judge John 7.24 According to the will of God as I was moved by the living power contrary to mans will upon the sixth day of the week being their Lecture day so called I
came into the publick Meeting-place which you call a Church in meekness and innocency according to the practice of the Ministers of the Gospel and I sate down and imediately Vpcot your professed Teacher seeing me envy did arise in him and the image of Cain did appear in his face and he spoke to some of his hearers to put me forth in this thing if it were nothing else it is enough to try him for the tree is known by his fruits envy is a mark of the false Prophets and they who live in envy are of Cains generation and nature and he that envies his brother is a murderer and so of the Devil and is no true Minister and it was not the manner nor practice of the Apostles to cause any to be hailed forth but on the contrary the Apostles and Ministers of Christ were haled forth and beaten and abused and in this age your Teachers are found contrary to the Ministers of Christ not guided by that meek and Lamb-like Spirit that they were guided by but he is plainly manifest to have a contrary spirit of envy and so the spirit of error 1 John 4.6 The same time one whose name is Halls went up into the high place and stood praying there Pharisee-like which Christ cryed woe unto such that did so Mat. 23. and in his prayer he uttered forth his envy and blasphemy against Christ the Light and prayed to his God that they might not be guided by the Light within and afterward prayed that the Lord would reveal his Truth within Now here all who are not wilfully blind may see his confusion and out of his own mouth I leave him to be judged for Christ Jesus is the Truth and he is the Light John 14.6 John 8.12 and if the Truth must be revealed within then the Light is within and where this Light is manifest it leads and guids all who are in it out of death and darkness and all unrighteousness into the pure way of life righteousness and peace as Christ hath said whosoever follows me shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life and all who deny the light within denies the New-Covenant Isa 4â— 6. Jer 31 31. 1 Tim 3 9.16 and the faith of Christ nay further they deny the whole Mistery of Godliness which is God manifest in flesh and this I shall prove by Scripture that all they who deny to be guided by the light within denies God Christ and the Spirit which are all one in substance though differing in names for God is light and Christ is light and the Spirit is light and they are all one God 1 John 5 7. who is light as John the beloved Disciple declares and this was his message that God is Light and in him is no darkness at all as you may read Iohn 1.5 And Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ declares and testifies of God dwelling within as you may read 2 Cor. 6.16 What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said Rev 21 3. I will dwel in them and walk in them c. Again read Ephes 4.4 5 6. There is one body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Col. 3 10 11. mind this well In you all Again read Col. 1.26 27 28. where Paul speaks of the Mistery which hath been hâ—d from ages and generations but now is made manifest to his Saints to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mistery among the Gentiles which is Chrict in you the hope of glory Again read 1 Cor. 3 16. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you And this is the New-Covenant of God prophesied of by the Prophet Jeremiah in the 31. Chap. 31 32 33 34. which was not according to the old Covenant Exod 34 1. Mal. 2 7. Heb 10 12 where the Law was written in Tables of Stone and the Priests lips should preserve knowledge and they year by year offered up Sacrifice for sin c. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in the inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People And they shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their iniquity and will remember their sin no more And again read Luke 17.20 21. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God should come he answered them to wit Jesus and said the Kingdom of God cometh not with observation neither shall they say lo here or lo there mark well for behold thâ— Kingdom of God is within you Another Scripture I shall mention in the first Epistle of John 2.20 to the 28. Ye have an Vction from the holy One and ye know all things c. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you but the annoynting which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same annoynting teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him These Scriptures I have set down to prove that he or they that denies to be guided by the Light within denies God Tim. 32 26. Iohn 4 23 4â— Jer â— 31 34. 1 27. Coâ—h 16 13 Job 8 1. â— Joh 5 29 1 Heb 10 16 Luke 17 21 1 Jo 2 27. 1 Joâ— 1 3 5 Christ Spirit and the Scriptures and in a word the whole Mistery of Godliness which is God manifest in flesh where the true Worship in Spirit and Truth is known and witnessed and the New-Covenant enjoyed where sin and inâ—quity is done away and blotted out of the Lords remembrance and this is light within which leads and guids all the Children of God in the waies of righteousness and peace where the substance and life of all figures and shaddows and the life of all Scriptures is witnessed and enjoyed within for the Law is light and it is within and the Kingdome of God is light and it is within and the Spirit is light and the Annointing and Christ is light and these are all one in substance one God who is a Spirit of light and he dwells within his people and as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Rom 8 14. and here you may see the error and blasphemy of Halls who prayed that they might
thou didst this day to some of the people out of thy envious spirit spoke unto them to take me away because I had my hat on my head when thou thy self hadst a Cap on and thy fellow-Priest and severall others that had their heads covered and yet wouldst condemn and judge me for that which thou and others were guilty of and so stirred up the people to do evill O shameless man It grieves my Spirit to see such actions amongst you Are these the fruits of thine and others Ministery when in meekness and innocency as a Lamb I came among you as that of God in thee shall one day witnesse thou thy self who should have been an example of good unto the people was the first that did appear in envie against the innocent and went about to stir them up to cruelty and rage and to hale me out of your Assembly when in innocency I stood and heard thy partner and brother in Iniquity untill he had ended his frothy and airy lying stuff as I shall prove by the severall things was uttered by him that he hath denied the new Covenant this by Scripture I shall clearly prove and do charge him to be one of the Antichrists that the Apostle speaks of which should come in the last time And when I stood up to speak and to clear the truth from his lies and slanders thou and he like two hirelings fled away and when I called after you and charged you to stand yet you both went away and left me among a company more like Dogs than Men raging and swelling haling rending punching with their feet and so the Scripture is fulfilled which Christ spoke Behold I send you forth as Lambs in the midst of Wolves This was fulfilled this day in thy Assembly who behaved themselves like savage wild and bruit Beasts And this is the nature and the image which thou hast begotten them into your fruits make you manifest to be no Christians but Brutes and Heathens In the cool of the day consider do not wilfully close thine eye nor stop thine ears nor harden thy heart against pure innocent Truth lest God give thee up to a Reprobate mind It is the same Jesus as ever was and the same Truth which thou and other do oppose And surely if thou dost not with speed repent and turn to the Lord utter darknesse will come upon thee thy Talent shall be taken from thee and into the pit of misery shalt thou be turned which is the portion of all envious bitter persecuting spirits I have something further to say unto thee and thy partner concerning his stuff delivered by him this day either come up to Laurence Growdons or else appoint some other convenient place where I and other of my friends may freely come and as you are faithfull to your God fail not Send me thy Answer by this Bearer Austel 7. day of the 9. month 1656. By a Servant of Jesus known to the world by the name of Alexander Parker On the first day of the Week in the evening I and my friend Laurence Growden did passe down to Vpcots house and coming in amongst them Ieer 23 31 Rom. 1 25. Iob 4 7 I found them very light and vain making a scoffe at what was spoken and turning truth into a lye but the Lord will plead the cause of the innocent Then Vpcot accused me and said I denied the Word and I denied Prayer and I denied the Sacraments And my answer was I own the Word and I own Prayer but the Sacraments I did deny there was no such Scripture that speaks of Sacraments Then he said I did contemn the Ordinances and that was because I stood and sate in the Steeple house with my head covered Rom. 2.3 when as both the Priest and severall of them that were there had their heads covered and yet would condemn me for that which they were guilty of but as for keeping on my Hat in contempt it is false but for conscience sake I could not bow to their Image seeing their hypocrisie and dissimulation and feigned humility making a shew of holinesse outwardly unto men Prov. 15 8. Isai 1 1â— Ier 6 20 when they are full of hypocrisie and sin within the Prayers Sacrifices of such arean abomination to the Lord. After I having some discourse with Halls about something spoken by him he not being able to stand before the Truth he would have shuffled off and said not onely by the light within and would have put in that word onely which was not spoken by him in the Steeple-house but his words were plainly proved that they might not be guided by the light within He affirmed likewise that the Scriptures were the rule of life and the way to salvation and the will and mind of God All which things I answered to at that time and owned the Scriptures to be a Testimony and an outward declartion of all these the rule of life and the way to salvation and the will and mind of God but the Scriptures themselves are not the Rule of Life nor the way to salvation nor the will and mind of God which I shall prove by Scripture There is but one Rule of life and that is the Spirit of God which is life and gives life and makes free from the Law of Sin and Death and this is the Comforter which guides and leads into all truth Iohn 14 26 15 13. Iohn 6.61 2 Cor. 3 6. Rom. 8 2. 1 Cor. 2.11 All who obey and give up to be guided by it which the world cannot receive But there is no life in the Scriptures it is a dead Letter and none can understand it but as they are led and guided by the quickning Spirit For though Christ bid the Jewes search the Scripture he doth not say there is life in them or that they were the Rule of Life though they thought to have eternall life in them but they would not come to Christ that they might have life Iohn 5 39 40 Iohn 14.6 Iohn 1.4 2 Pet. 1.21 22. Heb. 13 8. Acts 14.12 1 Cor. 2.16 Acts 4.32 who was the life and his life is the light of men and this Life and Light and Rule was within the holy Men who spoke forth the Scripture and the rule of life is the same now which is spirituall within which the Scripture declares of but is not it Secondly the way to salvation is but one which is Christ Jesus who saith I am the Way the Truth and the Life and there is no man can come to the Father but by me but the Scriptures are not Christ so not the way to salvation but a testimony of the way Thirdly the mind of God is pure and spirituall and was within the holy men that gave forth the Scriptures and they were all of one minde but there are many that have the Scriptures but have not the mind of God neither are they all of one mind but many minds
in the of the house of the ruder sort 2 Thes 1 7 8 9 10. did threaten mischief against me but neither of the Priests nor any other did reprove them for it but did encourage them rather in their wickedness but the Lord God of power is now appearing and will render vengeance in flames of fire upon all that know not God Psal 111 2 3 Rom 11.33 Rom 1 21 to the end and that do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe read 2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. and truly his work is wonderful and marvellous in our eyes his waies are past finding out by any worldy wit or wisdom as it is written the world by wisdom knows not God for the preaching of the Cross of Christ is foolishness to worldly wise and Scripture-learned ones but unto all that believe both Jews and Gentiles Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men for saith the Apostle Ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and things that are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are Christ Jesus the beloved son of God when he chose himself disciples and Ministers he did not choose them by their greatness in the world nor by their great learning and Scripture knowledge he did not choose him disciples of the great Doctors and learned Rabbies of those times neither of the Rulers nor chief of the people and this made the Rulers and chief Priests to rage and despise and called him a Carpenter Mark 6 3. Jo 7 48 49. Mat 26 3 4. Acts 4 13. Mat 4 18 21. and those that followed him a cursed people that knew not the Law and the Rulers and chief Priests took counsel against Christ to put him to death such as were of great esteem in the world he did not choose but he choosed ignorant and unlearned men and despised ones in the worlds account many of them Fisher men such did Christ make-choice of 1 Cor. 2 cha that the power might be of God and not of man that no flesh should glory in his presence but he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. And when Paul came to the Corinthians he came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto them the testimony of God for saith he I determined not to know any thing amongst you save Jesus Christ and him crucified and I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling but now trembling is despised and made a mock and a scoff at in your Towns streets and villages and most places the Children of God who fear God and tremble at his word are made a mock and a by-word under the name of Quakers it is become their Table talk and at their Ale-houses and Taverns and indeed most places where they come the children of God are become the reproach and as a by-word amongst them every one giving their censures Jer 6 10. Mat 10 22. Jam 3 15. one crying one thing another crying another thing and all are in confusion but these are them whom the Lord doth love and regard who tremble at his word as it is written in the prophets Heaven is my Throne Isa 66 1 2. and Earth is my footstool what house will ye build unto me saith the Lord or what is the place of my rest hath not my hand made all these things and all these things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look to and regard he that is of a meek and a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word But such are now reproached and beaten and whipped and stocked and sent up and down the Country as Vagabonds Prov. 19 29. Prov 10 6 7. Phil 2 12. and abused and sent to prison but God will plead the cause of the innocent and the scoffers and scorners he will judge and bless and preserve them that love righteousness that work out their salvation with fear and trembling And further Paul declares that his speech and his preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that their faith should not stand in the wisdome of men but in the power of God howbeit saith he we speak wisdome amongst them that are perfect yet not the wisdome of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought but we speak the wisdome of God in a Mistery even the hidden wisdome which God ordained afore unto our glory And this wisdome and this mistery the Lord hath revealed unto us for his Names sake that we might be to him a praise and a glory and an honor in walking answerable and worthy of his love in all humility and godly conversation and we cannot partake with the world in their waies of worship Ephes 4 1 2. Col 1 10. Ephes 5 11. Jam 3 15. Tit 1 16. Rom 1 18. which is carnal invented intheir faln estate by their carnal wisdome which is earthly sensual devillish the root and ground of sin and the body and many branches of the cursed Tree is alive and not killed and they live in sin and pleads for a continuance in sin while they live on the earth such are they who profess God in words but in works deny him and such are they who hold the truth in unrighteousness gathering in the Saints words the Scriptures which were given forth from pure life and spirit within these they gather into their unrighteous minds and talks of God and Christ with their vain minds but deceit and iniquity lodgeth in their hearts Mat 23 28. such a Worship and a formal profession we do deny and against them do testifie and cannot joyn with them nor have fellowship with them and therefore are we hated and reviled and made a prey upon and so the Scripture is fulfilled which saith Isa 59 15. they that depart from iniquity are become a prey to this generation 1 Cor 2 9 10 and this wisdome and mistery is hid from the worlds eye and from their ear they cannot see nor hear nor understand the things of God as it is written eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea
they care not and whether they be believers or unbelievers if they do not put into their mouthes they presently go about to compell them by force which is a shame to hear of in a Gospel Ministery the Ministers of the Gospel are ashamed of such practices and what ever was received by any of the Gospel Ministers it was freely ministred and was to supply their present necessities Phil. 4 10. to the 20. and not to store up and spend upon their lusts as those Teachers do Nay further in the time of the Law when Tythes was paid to the Leviticall priesthood there was a store house and the people were to bring it freely into the store house and the Priests were not to eat alone Mal. 3.19 Deut. 14.32 20 the end 1 John 10 17 18. but the strangers and fatherless and widows were to come and be filled that there might not be a Beggar in Israel and the Priests were to minister freely a figure of Jesus Christ laying down his body freely and when any did preach for hire it was an horrible and a filthy thing and the Lord sent his true Prophets to testifie against such as in Isaiahs time he cryed out against the Idol Shepheards that sought gain from their Quarter as you may read Isai 56.10 11. His Watchmen are blind they are all ignorant they are all dumb Doggs they cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber yea they are greedy Doggs which can never have enough and they are Shepheards that cannot understand they all look to their own way every one for gain from his Quarter And Jeremiah he was against the abominations in his time and against the false Prophets and Priests Jeremia the fifth chapter The Prophets shall become wind and the Word is not in them thus shall it be done unto them I will make my words in thy mouth fire and this people wood and it shall devour them this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart they are revolted and gone your iniquities have turned you away and your sins hath with hâ—lden good things from you for among my people are found wicked men they lay wait as he that setteth snares they set a trap they catch men as a Cage is full of Birds so are their houses full of deceit therefore are they become great and waxen rich they are waxen fat they shiâ—e yea they overpass the deeds of the wicked they judge not the cause the curse of the fatherless yet they prosper shall I not visit for these things Shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this is A wonderfull and a horrible thing is committed in the Land the Prophets prophesie falsly the Priests bear rule by their means and the people love to have it so and what will ye do in the end therof Again read Ieremiah the 23 chapter and there you may see how the Prophet was troubled because of the proâ—hanesse of the Priâ—sts and Prophets My heart within me is broken because of the Prophets all my bones shake I am like a drunken man c. So both Prophet and Priest are prophane but read all the Chapter And Ezekiel the Lords Prophet he crys â—gainst the false shepheards in his time read Ezekiel 34. Chapter Son of Man prophesie against the shepheards of Israel prophesie and say unto them Thus saith the Lâ—râ— God unto the shâ—pheards of Israel that do feed themselvs should not the sheepheard feed the flock Ye eat the fat ye cloath you with the wooll ye kill them that are fed but ye feed not the flock c read the chapter throughout and there you may see the deceits and works of the false shepheards in those dayes and the Lords promise to gather his sheep from their mouthes and feed them himself upon the tops of the mountains of Israel And Mica the Prophet of the Lord who dwelt in the light of the Lord he was against the hireling Priests in his time as you may read in Mica 3 5. to the end of the chapter Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my people erre that bite with their teeth and cry peace and he that doth not put into their mouthes they even prepare warre against him therefore night shall be unto you that ye shall not have a vision and it shall be dark unto you that ye shall not divine and the Sun shall go down over the Prophets and the day shall be dark over them then shall the Seers be ashamed the Diviners confounded yea they shal all cover their lips for there shall be no answer of God the heads thereof judge for reward and the Priests thereof teach for hire and the Prophets thereof divine for money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst us no evill can come upon us Therefore shall Sion for your sakes be plowed as a Field and Ierusalem shall become heaps and the Mountains of the House as the High places of the Forrest And as Troops of Robbers wait for a man so the company of Priests murder by the way by consent for they commit lewdness Hosea 69. Read Mal. 2.1 2 3 4 Here you may see the testimony of the Prophets of God against the hirelings and false shepheards and greedy Teachers and those that did not minister freely were cryed against and those that did not bring their Tythes into the store-house they robbed God as you may read Mal. 3 8.10 Will a man rob God yet ye have robbed me but ye say Wherein have we robbed thee in Tythes and Offâ—rings Bring ye all the Tythes into the storehouse tâ—aâ— there may be me â—t in mine house and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of Hosts if I will not open you the windows of Heaven and poure you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it Now here you may see that in the time of the Law they had a store house and those that did not bring their Tythes thither it is not said they robbed the Priests but they robbed God But the Priests of England that take Tythes of the peoples have no storehouse to put the Tythes in neither are the Strangers Widows and Fatherless fed but may sterve for them or go a begging so they are not according to the law And I do not read in all the Scriptures of the Gospel-ministers testimony that ever any of the believers in Christ did either take Tythes or pay Tythes much less to go to law and sue people for any outward maintenance so it is manifest that the Nationall and Parish Teachers who take tythes and sue those at law which do not or for conscience sake cannot put into their mouthes are neither according to law nor Gospel And the Ministers of the Gospel did testifie against such as went in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balam for gifts and rewards Iude 11 And such false Tea hers who
privily shall bring in damnable heresies denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction through covetousness shal they with feigned word make merchandize of the people whose judgment now of a long time lingreth not and their damnation slâ—mbreth not 2 Pet. 2.1 23. and a Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre Tit. 1.7 And Paul speakes against all covetous practices and all self-seeking and against the love of money And saith he having food and rayment let us be therewith content but they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition for the love of mony is the root of all evill which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows 1 Tim. 6.8 9 10. All these Scripture examples that I have here set down doth condemn the self seeking Teachers in England and elswhere who so much mind earthly things and the love of money that if they do but hear of the death of any of their fellow priests if their Benefits be larger than theirs they long to be there and strive for the place but if the Benefice be less there is no such striving and this is manifest amongst most of the Priests if they can but get forty pound or threescore pound a year more in another place they will leave their own hearers and go thither and so love money which is the root of all evill which the man of God was to flye these things and follow after righteousness godliness faith love patience meekness 1 Tim. 6.11 Christ said unto his Ministers Be not ye called of Men Master Matth. 23.8 for ye have but one Master even Christ and ye are Brethren and they did not transgress but did obey his commandements for they were not called by the name of Master Peter nor Master Paul and the like but Peter a Servant of Iesus Christ and Paul a Servant of God an Apostle of Iesus Christ 2 Pet 1.1 Titus 1 1. But those who are professed Teachers in England are called of Men Master contrary to Christs command and example of his Ministers and in this they are contrary to the Ministers of Christ The Ministers of Christ did teach the Doctrine of Perfection and it was the chief thing and the very end for which they were given forth as you may read Ephes 4.10 11 12 13. He that descended is the same also that ascended up farre above all heavens that he might fill all things And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Crist till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ And again read Col. 1.28 where Paul witnesseth to this and for which he laboured and others warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus But the Nationall and Parish Masters do deny this doctrine of perfection and cryes against those that preach it as blasphemers they tell the people that none can be perfect in this world and so they have denied the Ministers work and their preaching is in vain for if they do not perfect them here as the true Ministers office was as is plain in Eph. 4. then where will they perfect them will there be any need of their Ministery in Heaven Surely no for there shall be no need of mens teaching there but the Lord alone will give them light Rev. 21.10 to the end and all shal know him from the least to the greatest and shall walk in his presence and rejoyce in his love and praise his holy Name and worship him in the beauty of holiness for ever and ever And many other things there is which they practice which is contrary to the practice of the holy men of God declared of in Scripture as their singing of Davids conditions in Rime and Meeter his weeping Psal 6. Psal 119 120. Psal 51 1. Psal 45.1 Psal 66.1 Psal 131.1 his wailings his roarings and cryings his tremblings and quakings his prayers prâ—ises and prophesies these they give to simple ignorant proud covetous and prophane people and sâ—y they sing to the praise and glory of God as O Lord I am not puft in mind I have no scornfull eye I do not exercise my self in things that be too high and such like when both Priest and people are puft in mind and have scornfull eyes they can scarce look one upon another they are so scornfull and they do exercise themselves in things that be 100 high in medling with the Saints conditions giving their constructions and meanings and privat interpretations to the Scriptures and thus they cause people to lye in the presence of the Lord and so they dishonor God and when they read the Psalms they keep on their hats and when they sing them they put off their has and so worship the works of their own hands when the Friest hath a Cap or two on his head and so makes a seeming shew of holiness and humiliation when their hearts are full of grosse hypocrisie and dissimulation Ia. m 5.13 Isal 35.10 Hosea 8 10 Now whereas it is written in the Scripture If any be afflicted let him pray if any be merry let him sing Psalms this is owned and witnessed but who are those that are merry truly none but the ransomed ones of the Lord who are redeemed from the earth and from the bondage of corruption these can truly sing the songs of deliverance and they shall return to Sion with joy and singing and everlasting joy shâ—ll be upon their heads But the Songs of the wicked shal be turned into howling and weeping therefore take heed how yee take the name of the Lord in vain and sing with your vain minds without understanding for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain Exod. 20.7 Levit. 19.12 Likewise their sprinkling Infants and caâ—ling it an Ordinance of Christ whereas neither Christ nor any of his Ministers did practise any such thing therefore I do it deny Now whereas Christ saith Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God verily I say unto you whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein and he took them up in his arms put his hands on them and blessed them Mark 10.14 15 16 but he did not sprinkle water on their faces and said he baptized them into his Church but he sets the child as an
in the Lord Jesus Christ And this makes the heathen to rage and the world to wonder at the mighty works of the Lord our God But it is no new thing to be reproached by the world who knowes not God For saith Christ If ye were of the world the world would love you but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore doth it hate you While we were of the world we were loved of the world 1 Pet. 1.14 when we were alive in the old nature and did partake with them in their wayes of worship and in their vain conversation being one with them in vanity and run with them to pleasures and vain delights in vain and foolish jesting and idle and vain talking our tongues being our own and our wild natuâ—e not being tamed but we could do as they did and speak our own words and think our own thoughts and do our own works no knowing the Crosse of Christ nor bearing his yoak but were at ease in the flesh and in the carnall liberty feeding upon perishing things and created objects loving the world and the things of it and delighting in and loving the Creature more than the Creator I say when we were in that condition one with the world in most things then were we esteemed and loved of the world and they spake well of us if we did not crosse their wills but even then though we could talk of God and Christ and Scriptures we were strangers from God and Christ Eph. 2.1 2 3. Gal. 1.15 16. and from that pure life that the holy men of God lived in that spake forth Scriptures but then it pleased the Lord to manifest himself unto us and revealed his truth within us our understanding was opened by his pure light shining within whereby we saw the deceits of the world and their worship and the hypocrifie and dissimulation of professors Priests and people and that their religion was but a shew and shadow and meer outside seeming colour and talk of words and names Isai 29.13 drawing neer to God with their lips and mouthes when their hearts were after the things of the world and there was no life appearing nor fruits of righteousness from a true ground brought forth but pride and self-love and covetousness every one seeking themselves and to advance themselves by fraud and deceit guile and hypocrisie yea and all manner of wickedness we saw acted amongst them which did grieve our spirits and wâ—s a burden to our tender consciences and we separated from them and could not partake with them neither in their wayes of worship as it is established nor in their conversations but we seeing in the light of the Lord 2 Cor. 6.1 that they are out of the way and their worship doctrine and practices are contrary to the pure worship of God and the doctrine and practices of the holy men of God declared of in Scripture Tir. 1.16 as I have shewed before We seeing these things for Sions sake we cannot hold our peace but in love to the souls of all people do declare and testifie against the world and the unrighteousness of it and against the deceits and hypocrisie of the Parish Teachers and Hirelings of these times and against all the formall and carnall professors who in words profess God but in works deny him and for this cause are we hated reviled reproached beaten whipped stocked stoned and sent up and down the Countrey as Vagabonds and abused and sent to prison and this is manifest at this day in England the war is begun already betwixt the Beast and the Lamb but the Lamb shal get the victory though all joyn hand in hand against the innocent it shall all be in vain they shall not prevail Rev. 17.14 Mica 4.1 2. Mat. 5.10 11 12. John 16.20 21. Psal 30.35 2 Pet. 1.19 Rev. 21.23 24 Heb. 11.26 but the Lord over all shall be exalted and his kingdom shall be established in righteousness and the Mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains and it shall be exâ—lted above the Hills and people shall flow unto it and though we now be persecuted and hated and troubled on every side yet it shall not be long for the Lord will plead the cause of the innocent and though sorrow and trouble may endure for a night yet joy will come in the morning when the glorious day of the Lord doth dawn within and the day-star doth arise in the heart then shall darkness be expelled and all the children of the Lord shall walk in the light of the Lord and rejoyce in his presence and reproaches to us are great riches for we know it is our portion from the worldly and carnall professors those who have the name and form of godliness but are not in the life they are and were ever found persecuters of the life where ever it did appear As in the time of Moses administration when the Lord did appear darkly as it were under types and shadowes Mar. 23.31 John 5.35 John 1.14 and the people for a time were held under that administration And in the times of the Prophets more light was discovered and they saw through the shadows and declared against them and those who were in the types and shadows persecuted the Prophets The Law and the Prophets were untill Iohn and amongst all that were born of women there was not a greater than Iohn for he was a burning and a shining light and this was a greater light than the prophets yet the least in the kingdom is greater than Iohn And in the admistration of the Gospel when the fulness of time was come when Christ was manifest in the flesh who was the end of the Law and the Prophets Those who had the form of the Law and the Prophets words Mat. 26 3.4 Mark 15 15. Col. 1.20.21 22 23. they persecuted Christ the life of the Law and the Prophets as many do now in these our days who have got the words of Christ and the Apostles and cryes up names and words as the Ordinances of Christ and the Church of Christ and the Ministers of the Gospel and notwithstanding all this are persecuting the appearance of Christ and his life that is now manifest in his people as it was in former times under the Law those that multiplied their Sacrifices and burnt offerings but their hearts were far off and the bond of iniquity was not broken nor the oppressed set free but they lived in their sins and so were testified against by the Prophet as thou mayst read Isaia chapter 1. The Ox knoweth his Owner and the Asse his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider a sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity a seed of evill doers children that are corrupters they have forsaken the Lord they have provoked the holy one of Israel to anger they have gone away backward The whole
and strict in their observations yet they lived in their sins and Christ saw their hypocrisie and cryes wo unto them as you may read Matth. 23. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisies hypocrites for ye make clean the outside of the Cup and of the Platter but within they are full of extorsion and excesse Thou blind Pharisee cleanse first that which is wihin the Cup and Platter that the outside may be clean also Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye are like unto whited Sepulchers which indeed appear beautiful outward Mat. 26.3 4. 27 26 Acts 2.41 Acts 7.48 49. to the end but are within full of dead mens bones and all uncleaness Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquity Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites because ye build the Tombs of the Prophets and garnish the Sepulchers of the righteous and say If we had lived in the days of our fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets wherefore ye be witnesses unto your selves that ye are the children of them that killed the Prophets Fill ye up then the measure of your Fathers Ye Serpents ye generation of vipers how have ye escaped the damnation of Helâ— Here you may see that Christ deals plainly with them and doth not wink at sin but reproves them sharply And it was no railing as some call it now for he saw their deceit and they were in rage and envy against him and the Chiefe Priests and Rulers took counsell against him and crucified him but notwithstanding all this did not put a stop to the work of the Lord but he appeared again unto his Disciples and filled them with his Spirit of power and they went and preached the Gospel and cryed down the Temple-worship and the Ceremonies of the Law and for this they were hated Acts 8.2 3. and persecuted and some were stoned to death by such as upheld the Temple and the outward commands and Saul amongst the rest made havock of the Church and persecuted them from Citie to Citie And thus in the Apostles time they were persecuted by such as had the form of godliness but were strangers to the power and life of godliness But I do not read in all the Scriptures that ever the Christians did persecute any who were Christians indeed so that persecution is a mark of the Beast and of Antichrist and it was ever blind After the Apostles time many there was that got the form of truth 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 John 2 18. and in the Apostles times the Doctrine of Antichrist crept in which now hath over-spread a great part of the world and darkness hath long been over all Nations and though some have born the name of Christians yet far they are from the Christians life and these now in our age have gotten the Scriptures and as those in the days of Christ had gotten the form of Moses and the Prophets words so these have gotten the form of Christ the Apostles words but are far from Christ and the Apostles life and as they then in that generation did did condemn their fore fathers for killing the Prophets Luke 11.47 48. and yet did persecute Christ the Life so these now in this generation do condemn their fore fathers the Jewes for crucifying of Christ and yet are found in rage and malice and persecution against the appearance of Christ in Spirit in his Saints now yea those who have been looked upon as godly men and preached and prayed for the pouring forth of the Spirit upon sons and upon daughters and that the Lord would teach his people himself by his Spirit those things have been spoken of and talked in this generation by Priests and People And now when the day is come and the Lord hath poured forth his Spirit upon Sons and Daughters yet because it is not in their way and in their time and according to their expectation therefore they cry out and persecute and revile and speak against the Lords light and appearance within as it was formerly by the enemies and opposers of Truth and these cry out against freedom from sin and against perfection as a blasphemous Doctrine but it is that which the Lord is bringing to pass Heb. 10.16 17 18. Rev. 21.27 1 Cor. 6.9 10. gathering his people into his everlasting Covenant where sin and iniquity enters not but is for ever shut out of the Kingdome and Covenant of God For these Teachers and People in these our dayes who cry up and professe Christ without and a Church and a worship without and a Law and Light and Word without and their Rule and Ordinances without and their Teachers and all other things without are but in in the state and condition nay they are short of those who upheld the Temple-worship and Ceremonies of the Law which made nothing perfect though there was in the first covenant Ordinances of Divine Service and a worldly Sanctuary For there was a Tabernacle made the first wherein was the Candlestick and the Table and the Shew-Bread which is called the Sanctuary and after the second veil the Tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all And other things as you may read Heb. 9. the holy Ghost thus signifying that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing which was a figure for the time then present in which were offered both Gifts Sacrifices that could not make him that did the Service perfect as pertaining to the conscience which stood onely in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnall ordinances imposed on them untill the time of reformation and in that covenant and admin stration there was an outward Temple and a Law and Sabbath and Circumcision without and Priests that did offer up Sacrifices and Burnt Offerings whose lips were to preserve knowledge but nevertheless there was a disanulling of all these things for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof Heb 7 18 19. Heb 10.1 Heb. 8.7 8. to the end for the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope by the which we draw nigh unto God and all these things were but as Types and Shadowes of better things to come and of a new Covenant in which sin and iniquity shall be done away For if that first covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sound for the second for finding fault with them he saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenent with the House of Israel and with the House of Judab not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in thâ— dâ—y when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt for they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord for this is
the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will wriâ—e my Law in their hearts and put my Spirit in their inward parts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people and they shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for all shall knew me from the least to the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness their sins and iniquities I will remember no more This is the new Covenant prophesied of the dayes of Jeremiah Luke 4.21 A s 2.16 17 Exod. 34.1 Exod. 31 14 15 16 Exod 40 12 13. 1 Chron 17.12 Gen. 17.10 Exod. 37.29 2 Cor. 3.3 1 Cor. 3.16 17 Rom. 2 28 29. Matth. 12.8 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. Mat. 10.28 29 1 Iohn 2 27. Heb 4 12 Rom 10.8 1 Cor 6.11 Heb. 9 13 14 and was sulfilled in the days of Christ the Apostles and is now fulfilled and fulfilling in these our dayes and as in the old covenant the Law without written in Tables of Stone and the Sabbath was without and the Priests were without whose lipps were to preserve knowledg and the Temple was withont circumcision and many other things were without and the anointing Oyl these things were outward but did not make the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience they did but cleanse the outside But in the new Covenant the life and substance is within the Law is written in the Tables of the Heart and the Spirit is within to teach them and their Bodies are the Temple of God and Circumcision of the Heart with the Spirit and the Sabbath or rest is witnessed which is Jesus Christ who is the Rest and the Rock and Refuge to flye unto and whosoever doth come unto him and take his yoak upon them and learn of him they shall find rest to their souls And the Anointing is within and the Word of Life and Reconciliation which is as a sharp Sword to cut down all sin and all the lusts of the flesh This word is within nigh in the heart and in the mouth and by this Word of Life and power within were the Saints and holy men of God purified and cleansed and their consciences purged from dead workes and were created anew to serve God in the new life of Righteousness and it is the work of God within that doth make perfect from sin Eph 2.10 Rom 8.2 2 Pet. 1.19 21 even the law of the Spirit of Life that Paul speaks of that made him free from the law of Sin and Death And from this Word and Spirit of Light within was all the Scriptures given forth and all words or writings that are spoken or written are to bring to the Word and Spirit within For whatsoever was written or spoken by Moses or by the Prophets Christ or the Apostles John 4.24 1 John 1 7 being spoken and written from the Spirit and Light within they are all to bring out of all Shadowes and Figures Luke 17.20 Col 2 20 21 22. Heb 9.9 10 Heb. 10.1 Luke 15.16 Isaiah 55.2 Luke 24.5 Jer. 2.13 Ezek 3 4 5 6 Mica 6 6.14 Mat 7 22 23. Mal 3 5 John 3.17 20 and carnall Observations to the worship of God within in the Spirit where the Saints union and fellowship is in the Spirit and Light within So all you both Priests and People in this generation who are seeking the kingdom in your Observations whose worship and Ordinances and Light and Word and Rule and other things are without I say unto you your worship is but carnall and all that which you practise it doth not cleanse you nor make you perfect you are but feeding upon the husks you are spending your labour for that which doth not satisfie and spending your money for the which is not bread you are seeking the living amongst the dead you are seeking water among the broken Cisterns that will hold no water you are as the woman that sought the lost Groat without you are as sheep without a Shepheard scattered upon the mountains but find no rest you are hungry but are not satisfied Nay I know there is a cry within you for purity and holiness of life and notwithstanding all your talking and your observations your preaching and your praying you are condemned in your selves for your unrighteous walking and this is the condemnation of the world because light is come into the world and yet men love darkness better than light because their deeds be evill Therefore take heed of despising the light within 2 Pet. 1 19 John 1.5 John 8 12 1 John 3 5 but take heed to and mind the light that shines in your dark hearts and reproves you for your sin that out of transgression ye may come and follow Christ in the light which whosoever follows shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life John 14.6 Acts 4.12 John 1.9 for God is light and he out of his love hath given his Son for a covenant of light unto the people to lead them out of darkness and to separate them from sin and to joyn them to the Lord and there is no way to life but by the Son of God there is no other name under heaven given by which any man can be saved than by the name of Jesus who is the light of the world and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world and this light is true and pure and testifies against sin and evill though you act sin never so closely that none in the world can accuse you yet this light within you doth stand a witnesse against you condemn you and though you may alter and change your wayes and be tossed to and fro by mens changeable Doctrines yet this light of Christ within you doth never change but doth reprove you for sin and evill make manifest darkness the deeds of darkness Eph 5.13 that is the light or all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light whatsoever makes manifest is light that which tels you that lying is a sin and swearing is a sin and whoredom drunkenness and pride and covetousness that which doth reprove you when you act any evill that is the light that I speak of and do direct your minds unto to wait upon God in the light for teaching and power over sin and as you have many years been seeking without and talking of Christ and Saviour without but have not found peace nor freedom but are alive in your sins and laden with iniquity so now turn in your minds to the light of Christ and there wait for the appearance of Christ in you 2 Tim. 3.6 7 Col 1.27 2 Cor 4.10 11. 1 John 3.8 1 John 5.12 29. 1 Cor. 3.17 Eph. 3.17 Rom. 8.10 and for his life and power to be made manifest in your mortall bodies to kill and
slay sin and to purifie your bearts that your inside may be clean by the pure power and life of Christ within that so your bodies may be Temples of God holy and pure that God who is Light may dwell within you and Christ Jesus who is light may appeare within you For he is not known in power to kill and destroy the workes of the Divell but as he is known within and where he is witnessed come in the flesh there is peace abiding in him but while you live in your sins there is no peace and as you love that little light within you 2 Cor. 13 5 Iohn 14 27. Isal 48.22 Mat. 13.31 32 1 Iohn 2.27 Iohn 3.19 20 21. 1 Tim 3.9 Ezra 3.19 Psalm 1.6 which at first is but small like a grain of Mustard-seed but waiting in patience and bringing your deeds to it to be tried by it it will grow and spring in you and fill your hearts with joy and teach you continually but if you hate this light and run to men for teaching and live in your old nature where the curse and wrath is this light will be your condemnation and truly this I say unto you That if ever you own God or his truth as it is in Christ Jesus or if ever you own a good conscience where the mystery of faith is held you must own this light to be your guide and teacher so take warning in your life time and let not the love of God be tendered to you in vain lest you perish in your sins Written in love to your Souls by a Labourer in the Lords Vineyard known to the world by the name of Alexander Parker To all those who are separated from the Worlds publick Worship as it is called and for conscience sake cannot joyn with them DEarly beloved friends you whose hearts are touched and understandings opened with the light of Jesus whereby you are come to see the deadness and emptiness of all the Formall and Carnall Worships and profession that stands in mans will gathered in by the strength of the wisdom of the subtile Serpent whose head is not bruised but doth rule as King in faln Man and leads him captive at his will to do his lusts Such are those who professe God in words but in works deny him drawing nigh unto him with their lips and mouthes crying Lord Lord but their hearts are far off the Divell he keeps possession there and sits as King and they are his slaves who live in envy wrath and malice pride lust covetousnesse lying swearing railing and reviling and the like Such beares the mark of their father the Divel who hath begotten them into his image and likenesse and their prayers and and sacrisices are abomination and stinks in the nostrils of the pure God and they do not neither shall they profit the people at all but leads them captive laden with sin and led away with divers lusts ever learning but never come to the true knowledge of God as it is plainly manifest to the children of light And these things friends the Lord hath let you see and turned you from them and their carnall worships Now wait in patience upon the Lord in his light that you may receive his power and word of life and reconciliation in your hearts to separate you from all sin and uncleannesse That as the separation is made without in a measure so the separation may be made within by the pure power that your hearts may be purified and your consciences purged from all sin and your Bodies made Temples holy and pure for the Lord God to dwell in that you may worship God in Spirit in his holy Temple and be taught of him in Spirit according as he hath promised and according as you have been directed by his servants and faithfull witnesses so wait and walk with the loyns of your minds girt up and stayed upon the Lord that his living Word may abide in you and quicken your mort all bodies and raise you up from death and dead works to serve and worship God in the new life that you may truly witnesse Jesus to be your Teacher and Feeder If you should never behold the Face of man more this is that which I and and all my friends do wait for that all of you may eat your own bread have oyl in your own vessels for the time draweth nigh that all who have not oyl in their vessels will be shut out of the Kingdom It will then be in vain to beg or buy from others Therefore beloved as you and many others have long been looking without and seeking the kingdom of God in Observations without and talking of a Christ and a Saviour without but no peace nor salvation was found there Now return home and seek the lost groat in your own house and wait in the light for the glorious appearance of Christ in you that his life and power may be manifest in you to save you from your sins So as branches abide in the vine Christ Jesus that you may be fruitfull and abound in love and all the gifts of God This I write unto you by way of remembrance to stir up your pure minds that you may be kept watchfull and diligent waiting in patience untill the work of the Lord be perfected in you So the Lord God of power breath forth his Spirit upon you and enrich you with his spirituall blessings that you may abound in all good things and be kept blamelesse and harmlesse amongst this wicked and untoward generation of men standing faithfull to the Lord in all things that you may finish your course with joy and be crowned with glory and reign with the Lord God and the Lamb and praise his holy Name and worship him in the beauty of his Holinesse for every and ever A. P.