The Quakers deny Honour to Superiours and to whom it is due and so blaspheme the Name of God and his Doctrine Ninethly F. H. would never have cryed out of Deceit but a Purpose to deceive the more Tenthly That the Quakers bid open Defiance to the Worship of God Eleventhly That J. N. did say that he was as just and holy and good as God Twelfthly That F. H. said That Christ Jesus was not glorified in Heaven with a real Body Thirteenthly Human Nature is taken for the regenerate Part of Man and the Soul Fourteenthly That the best Men though regenerate bear Nettles Brambles and Pricks Fifteenthly There is an inward Law called the Law of the Spirit of Life which is imperfect and not fit to bear rule but to be ruled Sixteenthly And the Scriptures lead us to the Spirit and encline our Hearts to the Obedience of the rule Seventeenthly And F. H. prefereth Ignis fatuus before the clear Light of God's Word Eighteenthly and lastly when he hath spoken all these Lyes and published them in Print to the World he blasphemously saith in his Epistle to the Reader Have not so much regard to the Authority of the Writer as the Truth of the Matter written by him who was moved of the Lord thus to declare So all these Lyes with many more and all these damnable Doctrines which he hath uttered forth against the Truth these things he would fasten upon the Lord's Motion and so make him the Author of Iniquity and a Cloak for his ungodly Speeches against them who love the Truth as it is in Jesus who have suffered many Reproaches for its sake and have been killed all the Day long by this Generation amongst which R. I. is who hath bent his Tongue to Mischief and his Lips to utter forth Deceit and as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses so hath this R. I. resisted the Truth being a Man of a corrupt Mind and concerning the Faith reprobate but he shall not proceed much further for in what he hath written his Folly will be manifest unto all men and them that fear the Lord will depart out of his Foot-steps which lead to the Chambers of Death and from those dark Paths in which R.I. treadeth which lead into utter Destruction Westmoreland the 15 th of the 4 th Moneth 1660. F. H. To all Friends and Brethren who have been called of the Lord into that Place of New-England to bear your Testimony for the Lord to the answering of his Witness in every ones Conscience FOrasmuch as the Lord through his infinite Love and Goodness which he hath manifested amongst the Sons of Men hath called you and fitted you for his Work and Service which he hath to do you being made Partakers through the Love of God unto you of the like precious Faith with many Brethren which giveth Victory over the World and supporteth all them that keep it in the Day of Tryal My Heart's Desire is that you may all fulfil the Will of God and answer his End in sending you thither that so you may receive your Reward my Heart is drawn out unto you in true Love being sensible of the many Oppositions that you have met with and may meet with by Reason of the Strength and Power of Darkness in those Parts where Satan's Throne is exalted keep all near the Lord and feel his Power in your selves which giveth Dominion and Victory over all the World and over all fading Things which pass away and so you will feel his Strength daily renewed in you to carry you above all Opposition and his Presence to go before you and his Righteousness to be your Reward so will you be preserved in the Peace of God and feel his Life present to refresh you in the Time of Need and as your Tryals and Travails and Sufferings for Christ do abound so your Strength and Joy and Peace and Consolation will also much more abound from his Life manifest and revealed in your Hearts keep in the Power of the Lord over all Deceit and know your own Image in every one to whom you joyn and let no Deceit come near you which may get the Words and not be subject to the Power for those will betray you and rise up in Rebellion against you and glory over you for that only which can receive you through the Cross will stand by you and the other who may receive the Truth in Words into the earthly Part will stumble at the Cross and so get a Knowledge above the Cross these will blow away as Chaff Keep in your Innocency and every one in your own and there you will come to be setled and established as Trees whose Roots are spread in the Earth which cannot easily be plucked up nor a Tempest blow down you know where the Entrance was unto your selves into the Sheepfold into the true Rest thither bring all and keep all down to that to the Measure of God's Spirit through which eternal Life is revealed and the Things of God's Kingdom made manifest and they that would climb up any other Way must come down again and them that walk in any other Way must come back again and they that would strive to enter in any other Thing are shut out forever for you know there is no Communion or Concord with the Spirit of God which is pure and that which resisteth it and gainsayeth it that Wisdom must perish it 's from below that Knowledge must fade away and come to nothing So never heed the Subtilty and cunning Craftiness of the Enemy which would twist and twine every Way to gainsay the Truth and make a Noise in an airy Sound which may satisfie corrupt Minds who vilâ—fie the Truth and set the Corner-Stone at nought look not at them nor never heed that you know in whom you have believed and no other Foundation can be laid then that which is laid already for all to build upon throuâ—h which they that do believe are made a glorious and an holy Habitation for God through the Spirit and any that declare another Way another Door another Life then he that is the Light of Men is accursed So feel hâ—s Eternal Power the Power of his Resurrection in your selves to subdue and bring under all 〈◊〉 Enemies which would hinder your Enjoyment of his Life but he is a tryed Stone and they that have tryed him have found him elect and precious and his Faithfulness Power and Might Love Life and Glory endures forever and ever throughout all the Generations of the Just who are Eye-Witnesses of his Coming Power and Glory which God out of his Everlasting Love and Kindness hath revealed unto Thousands and his Coming is known in Ten Thousands of his Saints and also with them and they with him to judge in Righteousness and to make War with the Sword that proceeds out of his Mouth which slayes the wicked and brings Death and Destruction upon Death that so Life Immortality and Eternity may be brought
which saves you not from Guilt and Condemnation for the Word of the true Christ where it is owned cleanseth and takes away Sin and blots it out and destroyes the Root from whence it flows forth and works a new Creation in Righteousness and the Lamb of God takes away Sin in which the Churches of Christ believed and is Glad-tidings to all that do receive it now none can witness Gladness of Soul where there is Guilt which you all affirm is in every Christian while in this World and so you might see that it 's not the true Christ nor the everlasting Gospel you preach but this you cannot bear yet you say he hath taken away your Sin how much is Sin taken away if you say all how comes the Guilt and Trouble that is in you for if it be taken away and his Justice satisfied this was to make God unjust to charge it upon you again but I tell you when his Witness in your Conscience convinceth you and manifests unto you that you commit it and reproves for it I say you cannot witness his Justice satisfied for the Light is just which is one with God and when this condemns you there is no God that will justifie you but you use to say It 's all done in Christ I ask where if it be not taken away and unless you have the Witness of it in you your Faith is vain for he that believes hath the Witness in himself which none hath which walks contrary unto the Light the pure Witness of Christ for this convinceth you of Sin and bears Witness against you Now shew your Witness within you and your Assurance I say unto you while the Testimony of Jesus bears Testimony against you it bears not Witness unto you and so see your Confusion but after you have believed in Christ as you say and have received all his Ordinances if any thing after did judge you and bring Trouble upon you this you used to call a Temptation and so put Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light I say there is no Guilt where Sin is taken away and crucified but Peace and Rest in the holy God who is unchangeable and so his Witness is unchangeable which judgeth and condemns the changeable but you use to say His Love is uncâ—angeable and whom he loves once he loves to the End yea but it is to him who is begotten by the Immortal Word which was in the Beginning which Word leâ—ds to the Beginning again before the Hatred was the Promise is to this Seed not Seeds as to many but the Seed of the Covenant there he loves from the Womb yea the Womb that bears the Seed of Jacob and the Paps that give them suck and where this is known as to Enjoyment Esau is cast out and Ishmael and the Seed of Abraham inherits the Promise and Edom and Moab is laid waste and Amaleck is slain by the Edge of the Sword and the Seed of Evil-doers cut off blessed are they that can witness this in Truth and till this be known the everlasting Love of God is not known which is stronger then Death and Sin is Death and where it is acted and conceived Love is not witnessed nor its Strength but VVrath comes upon the Children of Disobedience are you not Children of Disobedience while you break the holy Law of God in which is Power which is in the Heart and bears witness against you and in you and yet say You cannot believe that ever you shall be able to fulfil it if you fulfil it not you break it and then the Wrath of God abides upon you but then you say If we must fulfil the Law what Use is Christ of I say he who abides forever fulfilled it and fulfils it in them who know him and his Work and this the Scriptures bear witness of and herein Man comes to be justified in God's Sight by Christ who works all our VVorks in us and for us and self becomes dead and because he lives we live also Glory unto him forever and therefore we cannot but lay open the Deceit of Satan and exhort all to come up to Christ out of the VVorks of Condemnation Oh foolish People and unwise when will ye seek after Wisdom and hearken that your Souls may live How long will ye trust to the Imaginations of your own Hearts Verely verely I say unto you The Time is coming your building shall fall and there shall not one Stone be left upon another that shall not be thrown down and the Shame of Ethiopia and Egypt shall come upon you and your old Garments shall be torn off you and you shall walk naked and bare and shall see your Shame and the holy Nation of the Lamb shall rejoyce and your Sorrow the Lord hastens upon you who will not own the Cross of Christ nor the Word of Life which would turn you from Unrighteousness and out of the World and its Nature but you harden your Hearts and bend your Bowes and shoot your Arrows against the Lord and his anointed Ones and take your Paâ—t with all the uncircumcised in the Nations in the Confederacy in the Nation against the Lamb yea even with them against whom you your selves have declared and many of you who have been a Reproach now reproach O! tell it not in Gath never let it come to other Nations shame shame and blush at this you who thus requite the Lord Evil for Good Hath the Lord broken the Band of the Oppressour without And have you not seen the Hand of the Lord against them that were Oppressours cut off in his Wrath and overthrown And are not many of you the highest Professors both in England and Ireland now acting in their Footsteps Even you who profess Separation from the World who have been taken from the Sheep-fold and as you were seeking the Asses and raised from a low Estate in the World now to Places of Dignity and Honour and to bear Rule and to sit as Judges among the People and now have you forgotten that you were Servants under Pharaoh but now have taken up his Power and have forgotten the Afflictions of Joseph and your Fingers are becoming heavier then your Fathers Loyns and now you are joining your Strength with the Canaanites and Egyptians against the Lord where is the Liberty of tender Consciences you have told of and what is become of your Reformation Is it ended in this like Absolon when you are come to be Judges in the Gate act in open Rebellion against the Lord and now would be Judges of him every where and would limit him and ' set a Bound unto him and would break his eternal Decree which stands forever Oh if they who had professed no Love to God had done thus it might have been born but ye treacherous Hearts your Ingratitude and Hypocrisie cannot be born but the Lord God will visit for these Things that you should now act by those Laws you cryed out
and walk in his Fear and have the Shield of Faith by which they are defended from the Enemy of their Souls and his Temptations are resisted and the fiery Darts quenched and so the Enemies come to be subdued and this Faith is present Power against all Sin and all that keep in it out of Doubts and Distrusts and Consultations and Murmurings come to be preserved and all that have this Faith do believe the overcoming of all Sin and walk from Faith to Faith and they are daily renewed in the Lord's Strength and come to have Victory as they keep in it and so remain in the true Rest with God forever which none that live in Sin shall ever come to attain unto A Word to all the Ministers of the World in all Opinions and Sects and to all your People in every Sect. THE Lord is risen in his Glory and is arising in his Power to tread down the Mountains all Nations make way make way and all ye Isles be removed all ye high Walls fall down and all ye strong Towers be rent asunder all ye strong Gates fly open ye fenced Cities fall ye mighty Men of Valour bow your Hands shall grow feeble you mighty Warriours for the Prince of Darkness a Day of sore Distress is coming upon you the Princes of Tyre shall no more rejoyce ye Dukes of Edom shall fall by the Edge of the Sword ye Daughters of the Philistines shall no more rejoyce nor ye Daughters of Moab who have been at Ease from your Youth shall no more take Pleasure in your Delicacies for the Earth is growing thin and feeble where all your Renown and Glory lay the Root is cursed from whence your Joy hath sprung God is risen and blasting all with the Breath of his Mouth and Darkness shall cover all your Pavilions and Leanness shall cover your Faces who have rejoyced at the Captivity of the holy Seed for now is he arising as a Gyant that runs his course and shall tread down the Earth and Blast all its glory and will fan the Nations and all the Uncircumcised in Heart shall be as Chaff for now is the Lord bringing his determination upon the whole Earth to cut down all the Gods of Gold and Silver and spoil all your pleasant Pictures and Images which stand in the Earth which you have worshipped in your Hearts yea the Lord of Life hath a Sacrifice in Babylon to perform to confound her Languages which are many and to slay all her Children in the Place where they have slain the Seed of the free-born Wo is me what will become of you ye Shepherds who have nourished People into the Nature of Swine and led into the Nature of Dogs and have driven away the Sheep from the Fold and have begotten nothing but Subtilty and Deceit in Peoples Minds have made them wise to do evil and subtil to deceive and cunning to turn away from Righteousness yea many of their Ears you have bored and they have sold themselves to be Bond-slaves unto you and to their Lusts forever a woful Reckoning will you make to the Lord of Heaven and Earth who is coming to take an Account of all what they have done and brought and what Sheep they have gathered in the Bill is drawn against you all you Hirelings the Cup of Vengeance will be your Reward not one Lamb have you brought into the Bosome of the Father nor one Sheep into the Fold but have scattered them so that by deceiving them so long with your strange Voice they have forgot the true Shepherd's voice for into a Wolfe's Nature you have nourished them and they are become wild and now love no Fold no Bond nor Limit but love to lye down with you upon the Mountains of Iniquity Pride Lust and Deceit where all the wild Beasts of the Field play and they are all gone out of the Way into the crooked Pathes of Unrighteousness and they follow your Example who lead them and this will be proved against all you Shepherds who are idle who love the Fleece and feed upon the Fat and seek for your Gain from your Quarter the Blood of Souls will be your Charge guilty will you all be found your Mouthes stopped the Light in your Consciences shall be the Lord's Witness bound will you be and cast into Darkness And you that have set up your selves to be Teachers who pretend Separation from the World who have run in your Wills and have gathered to Worship an Image with a more beautiful Face you are strong you are fat you shine you are full you appear as Oracles at which them that seek after Knowledge seek unto you are painted over with Names and Colours and appear of a comely Hue your Cup is golden and beautiful to behold to the earthly Wisdom and desirable to drink of yea many have drunk of it and are drinking of it and they come to grow tall and strong as Horses in Battel and as rampant as Lyons and as Behemoth who thinks he can drink Jordan dry But one thing you have left behind you and that is the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God Now is the Lord coming to fan you and to weigh you how came you hither to tell of Justification and of being saved by the Righteousness of Christ when you will not own the Simplicity of the Gospel nor the meek Principle to guide you into the Lamb's Nature your flock is not so speckled as the former and yet they feed in the same Pasture where Knowledge the Tree of Knowledge is the food which nourishes them into a strange Nature and turns them farther into Degeneration Wo is me for you all who are leaders and you who are thus led upon the left Hand among the Goats you will be turned who hate the still small voice that you cannot abide to hear in you therefore you are erred for lack of true Knowledge and you shall go into Captivity with them that go into Captivity for you have lost the Key of Knowledge and you are setting up and seeking to open with another thing then the Key of David but you must either have that or else where the Saints Life is you cannot come although you are reaching at it with your sensual Wisdom but farther it flees from you Oh! when will ye be weary of feeding upon Ashes of Wind and Air which puffs up your fleshly Minds when will ye seriously consider what ye enjoy of God and what you possess of him are you not lost in your selves in and about that which you account a great Part of Obedience unto your God Are not some of you who are called baptized Persons differing about the form some baptizing into this some into that some sprinkling some dipping some plunging where is your Example for these things nay do not the most of you conclude no Salvation without it although in Words some of you will deny it And as for that you call your Supper and
by the Light of Christ so keep in all your Minds to this and stop all other Motions in your Minds and keep down all Thoughts and Reasonings in the mind and so keep to few Words and be slow to speak and swift to hear then will you come to know the heavenly Voice of Christ the quickning Spirit which divideth assunder and separateth betwixt the precious and vile in THOUGHTS WORDS or DEEDS and shews you the Ground of each and as you love this Light which Christ Jesus hath enlightned you withal and bring your Deeds to the Light which Christ hath placed in your Consciences which is God's faithful Witness if unto it you take heed then you will feel his Power in you at all Times near at Hand to help you and to subject every vain Thought and every vain Desire and bring them into Captivity and this is the Word of Faith which is nigh in the Heart which doth discern the Thoughts and Intents and Purposes of the mind before ye act or speak them forth I say hearken ye unto this that Faith may be begotten in you and here you will all know your Teacher present and Shepherd and him that said Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden who will give Rest unto your Souls and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart saith Christ and then you will come to see the Differences between the motions of the Flesh and the motions of the Spirit within and come to know each Birth and know what must enter and what must not enter and all who follow this Light which Christ the Light hath enlightned them withal shall come to know the Immanâ—el and Bishop of their Souls for he that hates the Light which he is enlightned withal he hates Christ and he that hates the Light hates that which is the Gift of God in him and he that believeth not in the Light is reproved by the Light and judged already in himself by the Light of the Word and Justification cannot be witnessed where there is Reprehension and Reproof by him that is the Justifier And whoever receiveth Christ must receive him as the Father hath tendered him for he is given for a Covenant of Light to the Gentiles in whom the Gentiles should trust and to rejoyce at the Brightness of his rising and the Isles should be glad and wait for his coming a Leader of his People and Justification is not felt in the Heart of any man but where his Leadings are known and obeyed and none can come out of the Regions and Shadows of Death but as Christ is closed with the true Light who hath enlightned every Man that cometh into the World for he is appointed of the Father a Leader out of the World and all that follow the Light that they be enlightened withal deny themselves for it judges self-Love and self-Actions and self-Righteousness and here the Cross of Christ you will come to know which slayes the Enmity that which crosseth the carnal corrupt Part in man and takes it up and bears it and herein you will come to know what it is to be crucified to the World and the Lusts and Affections thereof and the World within and the Cross being known and loved which is the Power of God the carnal Mind which is Death cometh to be slain within and dyeth to the Fashions of the World and the goodly Noise thereof that passeth away but that which maketh it pass away endures forever the Word of the Lord which was in the Beginning So mind that which endures forever and take diligent heed and watch against the carnal Mind and worldly Thoughts and keep them down and so Power you will come to receive in the Light to rule over all that which hath ruled over you and then you will come to know a transforming of your Minds and that which quickens and enlivens your Hearts to God and crucifies you to Evil and here is the Way in Part declared by which all must come to the Father to the Kingdom to the Power and to the Glory there which is by Christ the true Light who hath enlightned every man that cometh into the World who is the Way the Truth it self the Love it self who is one with the Father And here you will come to know the Minister of the Tabernâ—cle which God hath pitched and not man and his Ministry and the Operation of his Spirit that which reproves for Evil is the Spirit of God wait all that you may receive it for it is given unto all but all have not received it God is kind and bountiful unto unto all and herein is every man left with out Excuse he that receives it receives Power to come out of that which it reproveth for and thus it is known by its Operation and as any errs from it and takes not heed unto it it checks him but as it is loved and closed with it gives Peace and Joy and brings Comfort and this is another Operation And now cease from all Teachers which are only Ministers of the Letter and Ministers of others Words made ready to their Hands for such can never turn any to God and from all such who preach for Hire Gifts and Rewards these are all out of the Doctrine of Christ in Balaam's Way and the false Prophets Way and not in the Apostles and Ministers of Christ's Way who testified Freely of that which they had received Freely and from all such Teachers as take Tythes which deny Christ come in the Flesh for that Priest-hood is changed and the Law is changed and the Jewish Priest in the first Covenant which had a Law to take Tythes of the People is changed and a better Hope is brought in and there is not another Law to be given forth which commandeth such a Maintenance for Gospel Ministers and though such Ministers may tell you of the means of Grace and that you must attend upon their Teachings and Discourses which they call means which are but dead Stories and feed but the corrupt part in the carnal Mind the Grace is near you even the free Grace of God the saving Grace of God that hath appeared unto all and yet all are not saved by it because they have not received it nor love it but all they that love it are taught to deny all Ungodliness and improving of it is the means to obtain more of it and whenever you are Tempted unto Sin the Grace of God which sheweth you the Temptations will save you that you enter not into it nor defile your Consciences thereby and this Grace is God's free gift unto all mankind and is in man and is the means whereby he that loves it comes to be saved from the Power of the wicked One that he touch him not And all must come into silence for the Earth must keep silent and all Flesh must be silent before the Lord be known within or his Voice heard and so all
good Behaviour and shall so continue but it seems a hard thing to me and full of Severity that seeing I am obliged to appear to answer an Indictment of so high a Nature if prosecuted against me which tends to the Loss of my Liberty for Life and my Estate forever I hope the Court will not envy my Liberty for five Moneths Judge Turner said We do not desire your Imprisonment if you will be of good Behaviour And F. H. pressing further that they would not put him upon giving Bond to be of the good Behaviour knowing himself to be bound by the Truth that he could not mis-behave himself One Daniel Flemming another persecuting Justice had framed another Indictment against him for meeting and stood up fearing the Snare of giving Bond would not hold and said as followeth D. Flemming My Lord he is a great Speaker it may be the Quakers cannot want him Judge Let him be what he will if he will enter into Bond. F. H. said he had nothing to accuse himself of for his Conscience bore him Witness that he loved Peace and sought it with all Men. Judges both spake What do you tell of Conscience we meddle not with it but you contemn the Laws and keep up great Meetings and go not to Church F. H. We are fallen in a sad Age if meeting together peaceably without Arms or Force or Intention of Hurt to any Man but only to worship God in Spirit and exhort one another to Righteousness and to pray together in the holy Ghost as the primitive Christians of old that this should be reckoned Breach of Peace and Mis-behaviour Judge Twisden Do you compare these times with them they were Heathens that persecuted but we are Christian Magistrates F. H. It is a Doctrine alwayes held by us and a received Principle as any thing we believed that Christ's Kingdom could not be set up with carnal Weapons nor the Gospel propagated by Force of Arms nor the Church of God built with Violence but the Prince of Peace was manifested amongst us and we could learn War no more but could love Enemies and forgive them that did Evil to us Philip Musgrave stood up and said My Lord we have been remiss towards thâ—â— People and have striven with them and put them in Prison again and again and fined them and as soon as they are out they meet again Then stood up John Lonther called a Justice and said My Lord they grow insolent notwithstanding all Laws and the Execution of them yet they grow upon us and their Meetings are dangerous Philip Musgrave stood up and produced a Paper and Justice Flemming so called seconded him in great Capital Letters and gave the Judge it he told the Judge That it hapned some Quakers were sent to Prison and one of them dyed at Lancaster and they carryed his Corps through the Country and set that Paper upon his Coffin This is the Body of such an one who was persecuted by Daniel Flemming till Death Judge We have spent much time with you I will discourse no more F. H. I acknowledge your Moderation towards me allowing me Liberty to speak I shall not trouble you much longer I shall be willing to appear to answer to the Indictment at the Assizes and in the mean time to live peaceably and quietly as I have done if that will satisfie Judge You must enter into Bond to come at no more Meetings F. H. I cannot do that if I should I were treacherous to God and my own Conscience and the People and you would but judge me a Hypocrite They weare loath to commit him yet at last they did F. H. turning about to the Country People said the Fear of God be amongst you all The Hearts of People were tender towards him and some were very loving and affectionate to him Being thus committed on the 23d of the 1st Moneth 1664. he was detained a Prisoner about five Moneths and a great Part of the time of his Imprisonment kept very strictly and a Charge was given from the Justices several times that none should be suffered to speak with him and the Goaler being a cruel Man was ready to execute their Orders to the utmost and kept him so close that none were suffered to come to him or speak with him but who got secretly to him without the Goalers Knowledge all which the said F H. bore patiently and never opened his Mouth to complain And when the time of the Assizes came he got Liberty to speak with the Clerk of the Assizes who told F.H. that he must prepare himself to come to a Tryal he said he was prepared but thought that all he could say would little avail he believing they purposed to prosecute him with all Severity which proved so as will appear by the Relation following for indeed the County Justices who began to prosecute him had incensed the Judges against him before hand however F. H. endeavoured all he could to convince them of his Innocency and to that End drew up the Substance of the OATH into several Heads which he could SUBSCRIBE to though he could not SWEAR and delivered it to the Court and drew up another Paper to Judge Turner shewing him and the Court the Cause of his first Commitment and the former Proceedings against him and how unequal it was that they waved the other Statutes lately made against Non-conformists and prosecuted him upon a Statute formerly made against Popish Recusants in the same Paper he also signified that he was a Man of a tender Spirit and feared the Lord from a Child and had never taken any Oath but once in his Life and that was twenty Years since and that his refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance was not in any evil Intent to the King's Person or Government neither in Thought Word or Deed but meerly upon a spiritual and conscientious Account and that he could not swear being otherwise perswaded of the Lord. 2. That he could not swear seeing it was against the Command of Christ and the Apostles Doctrine 3. He declared that he was able to make it evident to be against the Example of the primitive Christians for divers hundred Years and so no new Opinion 4. That he did neither in Wilfulness nor Obstinacy refuse it being sensible of the Dammage that would come thereby if they did prosecute him upon that Statute he having a Wife and Children and some small Estate which he knew lay at Stake in the Matter but said if it were his Life also he could not revolt from or deny that which he had most certainly believed in but if any could convince him either by Scripture or Reason in the thing he had an Ear to hear and therefore all those things considered he desired he might be dismissed from those his strait Bonds and from their Persecution of him upon that Account Both which Papers his Wife delivered to the Clerk and he to the Judges and they to the Justices before
to me I have a Wife and Children and some Estate which we might subsist upon and do Good to others and I know all this lyes at Stake but if it were my Life also I durst not do but as I do lest I should incur the Displeasure of God and do you judge I would loose my Liberty wilfully and suffer the spoiling of my Estate and the ruining of my Wife and Children in Obstinacy and Wilfulness sure nay Judge Jury you see he denyes the Oath and he will not plead to the Indictment only excepts against it because of the Form of Words but you see he will not swear and yet he saith he denies the Indictment and you see upon what Ground And then they called the Goaler to witness and swear that the last Assizes F. H. did refuse c. which he did and the Jury without going from the Bar gave in their Verdict Guilty and then the Court broke up that Night The next Day towards Evening when they had tryed all the Prisoners Francis was brought to the Bar to receive his Sentence Judge stood up and said Come the Indictment is proved against you what have you to say why Sentence shall not be given F. H. I have many things to say if you will hear them 1 st As I have said I denyed not out of Obstinacy or Wilfulness but was willing to testifie the Truth in this Matter of Obedience or any other Matter wherein I was concerned 2 dly Because Swearing was directly against the Command of Christ 3 dly Against the Doctrine of the Apostles 4 thly Even some of your principal Pillars of the Church of England as Bishop Usher sometime Primate of Ireland he said in his Works The Waldenses did deny all Swearing in their Age from that Command of Christ and the Apostle James and it was a sufficient Ground and Doctor Gauden late Bishop of Exeter in a Book of his I lately read he cited very many ancient Fathers to shew that the first three hundred Years Christians did not swear so that it is no new Doctrine To which the Court seemed to give a little Ear and said nothing but talked one to another and Francis stood silent and then the Judge said Judge Sure you mistake F. H. I have not the Books here Judge Will you say upon your honest Word they denyed all Swearing F H. What I have said is true Judge Why do you not come to Church and hear Service and be subject to the Law and to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake F.H. We are subject and for that Cause we do pay Taxes Tribute Custome and give unto Caesar the Things that are his and unto God the Things that are his to wit Worship Honour and Obedience and if thou mean the Parish Assembly I tell thee faithfully I am perswaded and upon good Ground their Teachers are not the Ministers of Christ neither their Worship the Worship of God Judge Why it may be for some small things in the Service you reject it all F. H. First it is manifest they are time-servers one while preaching up that for divine Service to People that another while they cry down as Popish superstitious and Idolatrous and that which they have preached up twenty Years together make Shipwrack of all in a Day and now again call it divine and would have all compelled to that themselves once made void Judge Why never since the King came in F. H. Yes the same Men that preached it down once now cry it up so they are so unstable and wavering that we cannot believe they are the Ministers of Christ 2 dly They teach for Hire and live by forced Maintenance and would force a Faith upon Men contrary to Christ and the Apostles Rule who would have every one perswaded in their own Minds and said Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin and yet they say Faith is the Gift of God and we have no such Faith given but yet they would force theirs upon us and because we cannot receive it they cry You are not subject to Authority and the Laws and nothing but Confiscations Imprisonment and Banishment is threatned and this is their greatest Plea I could mention more Particulars then the Judge interrupted Judge Well I see you will not swear nor conform nor be subject and you think we deal severely with you but if you would be subject we should not need F. H. I do so judge indeed that you deal severely with us for Obedience to the Commands of Christ I pray thee canst thou shew me how that any of those People for whom the Act was made have been proceeded against by this Statute though I envy no Man's Liberty Judge Oh yes I can instance you many up and down the Country that are premunired I have done it my self pronounced Sentence against divers F. H. What against Papists Judge No. F. H. What against the Quakers so I have heard indeed so then that Statute which was made against Papists thou let'st them alone and executest it against the Quakers Judge Well you will meet in great Numbers and do increase but there is a new Statute which will make you fewer F. H. Well if we must suffer it is for Christ's sake and for well doing Francis then being silent the Judge pronounced the Sentence but spake so low that the Prisoner though near to him could scarce hear it The Sentence was You are put out of the Kings Protection and the Benefit of the Law your Lands are confiscate to the King during your Life and your Goods and Chattels forever and you to be Prisoner during your Life F. H. A hard Sentence for my Obedience to the Commands of Christ the Lord forgive you all So he turned from the Bar but the Judge speaking he turned again and many more Words passed to the same Purpose as before at last the Judge rose up and said Judge Well if you will yet be subject to the Laws the King will shew you Mercy F. H. The Lord hath shewed Mercy unto me and I have done nothing against the King nor Government nor any Man blessed be the Lord and therein stands my Peace for it is for Christ's sake I suffer and not for Evil doing And so the Court broke up the People were generally moderate and many were sorry to see what was done against him but Francis signified how contented and glad he was that he had any thing to loose for the Lord 's precious Truth of which he had publickly born Testimony and that he was now counted worthy to suffer for it As for the time of F. Howgil's Sickness which he endured with much Patience and Cheerfulness it begun the 11th of the 11th Moneth 1668. and continued till the 20th of the same Moneth and then he departed this Life having then for the Testimony of Jesus been Prisoner four Years and eleaven Moneths he was not unsensible of the Decay of his outward Man sometime before which
moved him to a Disposal of his outward Estate and the setting of his House in Order his Love was very dear to his Brethren and Fellow-Labourers with whom he had laboured and travailed in the Work of the Ministry in Testimony whereof he left to each of them something as a Remembrance of his Love and also was mindful of the Church and left a Legacy to be distributed amongst the poor of the Houshold of Faith in the Parts where he lived And though the time of his Departure did draw nigh and his Sickness encreased yet in all that time he was in perfect and good Remembrance and oftentimes very fervent in Prayer and uttered many comfortable Expressions to the great Refreshment of those who were with him And about two Dayes before his Departure being attended by his dear Wife and several Friends he begun to say unto them Friends as to matter of Words you must not expect much more from me neither is there any great Need of it as to speak of Matters of Faith to you who are satisfied only that you remember my dear Love to all Friends who enquire of me for I ever loved Friends well or any in whom Truth appeared and truly God will own his People as he hath everhither to done as we have daily witnessed for no sooner had they made that Act against us for Banishment to the great Suffering of many good Friends but the Lord stirred up Enemies against them even three great Nations whereby the Violence of their Hands was taken of I say again God will own his People even all those that are faithful and as for me I am well and content to dye I am not at all afraid of Death and truly one Thing was of late in my Heart and that I intended to have writ to G. F. and others even that which I have observed which Thing is that this Generation passeth fast away we see many good and precious Friends within these few Years have been taken from us and therefore Friends had need to watch and be very fâ—iâ—hful so that we may leave a good and not a bad Savour to the next succeeding Geneâ—ation for you see that it is but a little time that any of uâ— have to stay here And often in the time of his Sickness he said He was content to dye and that he was ready and praised God for those many sweet Enjoyments and Refreshments he had received on that his Prison-house-Bed whereon he lay freely forgiving all who had a Hand in his Restraint And he said This was the Place of my first Imprisonment for the Truth here at this Town and if it be the Place of my laying down the Body I am content Several Persons of note Inhabitants in Appleby as the Mayor and others went to visit him some of which praying that God might speak Peace to his Soul he sweetly replyed He hath done it and they all spoke well of him And a few Hours before his Departure some Friends who lived several Miles from that Place came to visit him he enquired of all their Welfare and prayed fervently with many heavenly Expressions That the Lord by his mighty Power might preserve them out of all such Things as would spot and defile And a little after he was saying something concerning Weeks or a time after which Persecution should be ended but his Weakness was so great and his Voice so low that it was not fully heard A little Season after he recovering a little Strength further said I have sought the Way of the Lord from a Child and lived innocently as among Men and if any enquire concerning my latter End let them know that I dye in the Faith in which I lived and suffered for And after these Words he spake some other in Prayer to God and sweetly finished his Course in much Peace with the Lord. George Fox's Testimony CONCERNING Francis Howgil NOW concerning Francis Howgil who was one of the Lord's Worthies that preach'd his everlasting Word of Life from about the Year 1652. until the Year 1668. He was convinced of God's eternal Truth and received his Gospel in the Year 1652. the same Day that he had been preaching in the Morning in Furbank Chappel in the Afternoon he was convinced by a Messenger of the Lord and several others that had been Teachers were convinced by him as John Audland and others He had a great Acquaintance with the highest Sort of Priests and after he did receive the Lord's Power and the Word of Life he was a Torment to them and he did confess to some of the Priests that the Knowledge of God and his Truth he knew no more of whilest he was amongst them as to the inward Enjoyment of it then a Child of five Years old And he and John Audland that had received some Money for preaching at a Parish called Colton in Fornace Fells in Lancashire when they had received the Gospel freely and the Word of Life from Christ they were commanded of the Lord to go and return that Money back again to the Parish and People from whom they had received it which they did and this made the Priests more to rage and the Professors So as the Son of God came to be revealed in him he began to know his Command and powerfully and freely to preach him and his Word of Life this did he and John Audland all the Dayes of their Life after their Convincement preached Christ Jesus freely as they had received him and turned many unto God And no sooner was his Mouth opened but the Priests Magistrates and Professors began to rage against him and began to be offended at the Word of God and the Gospel and sometime after cast him into Appleby Goal in a nasty stinking Prison in the County of VVestmorland and there they kept him for a time in the latter End of the Year 1652. but the Lord God delivered him out of the Mouthes of those Lyons whom God after overturned both Priests Magistrates and Professors And so after he was set at Liberty he grew valiant and bold for the Name of the Lord and travailed up and down on Foot preaching the everlasting Gospel and went to many Steeple Houses to warn both Priests and People of the Day of the Lord that was coming upon them and directing of them to Christ Jesus their Teacher and Saviour and travailed a foot through the Countries to London and was moved of the Lord he and John Cham to go and admonish O. Cromwel after he was newly made Protector and went to some of the Steeple-houses in London and other Meetings declaring to them the Day of the Lord and the Word of Life and where they might find it And after this he travailed through the Countries to Bristol preaching the Word of Life and after went into Ireland with Edward Burroughs and preached the Word of Life there to both Magistrates Priests and People under great Sufferings and many were begotten to the
Lord Jesus their Saviour and Teacher there was Truth and Life by them And after Henry Cromwel the Deputy of Ireland banished him and Edward Burroughs out of Ireland through the Instigation of the Priests and other Magistrates but the Lord overturned them his Adversaries also And so continuing in the Labour of the Lord till the Year 1661. he was imprisoned at London when the Monarchy People rose with many others though clear and innocent from that bloody Act for his and their Weapons were spiritual and they sought another Kingdom And after he and they were set at Liberty he still continued in the Work of the Lord travailing up and down the Nations and coming into the North at Kendal the Magistrates sent for him out of the Market and tendred him the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy and because for Conscience sake he could not swear in Obedience to the Command of Christ his Saviour they committed him to Appleby Goal in the Year 1664. and there they kept him from Sessions to the Assizes in a smoaky Hole and at last they premunired him and his Body being almost spent in the Service of the Lord being a weak man there did he offer up his Life as a Sacrifice of his Faith for the Lord Jesus Christ's Truth and dyed a Prisoner for the Name of Jesus in the latter End of the Year 1668. and so laid down his Life as a Testimony against the Persecutors Breakers of the Command of Christ and his Blood doth cry for Vengeance though he could say The Lord forgive all hâ—â— Persecutorspunc who having the Mind of Christ desired the Good of all yea the worst of hâ—â— Enemies and in that Desire of the Good of all did he labour travail seeking their Good and their Eternal VVelfare in the Inheritance of Life that fades not away of which he was an Heir and is entred into Rest and the Possession of the same And now this peaceable Man the persecuting Priests and Magistrates have gotten their Desire to shut up in Prison this Servant of the Lord to Death for obeying the Command of Christ but how they will answer it before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the great Judge at his Tribunal Day which hastens apace let them consider with themselves for if they went into everlasting Punishment that did not visit Christ in Prison what wâ—ll become of such as cast him into Prison in his Members And so they made his Wife a Widdow and his Children Fatherless who have none to cry unto but the Lord who will relieve the Widdow and help the Fatherless The Place of his outward Habitation was in Greying in Westmorland a man known to be of good Report before he received the Gospel freely from Jesus which he declared freely and great Sufferings and Tryals and Reproaches and Scorns and hard Labours in the Work and Service of the Lord he went through and many vain Disputes Priests and Professors of all Sects rose up against him but the Lord in his Power gave him Dominion over them all Who ended his Dayes in Peace in the Truth of God and the Lord's Service and Testimony for his Name and for the keeping of and obeying the Command of Christ his Lord and Saviour And therefore all Friends and Brethren that are begotten by him through the Word of Life and others live in the same Word that lives abides endures forever that is a Hammer a Fire as a Sword to all that is contrary to that which is holy and pure so that in the Truth Power and Word of Life the Lord God may be glorified in you all the Dayes of your Life And blessed are all they that aye in the Lord they rest from their Labours and their Works will follow them G. F. Richard Pinders Testimony CONCERNING Francis Howgil AS concerning our dear Brother in the Lord Francis Howgil the Author of these ensuing Writings he was a Man so well known through the Churches of Christ in his Day that much need not be writ concerning him as by Way of Testimony to those that knew him and his Spirit and Manner of Life and Conversation yet I having had a full Knowledge of him especially in the time of his long and tedious Imprisonment in the Town of Appleby in Westmorland where for his Testimony sake he ended his Dayes and laid down his Life as a Testimony for that Truth that he had testified of so largely both in preaching the Gospel and in these ensuing Books which he writ at several times according as the Lord put it into his Heart and as there was Occasion to answer Truth 's Opposers and after many Years Travails and Labours in the Work of God he through the Envy of some great Persons in that Country was made Prisoner at the foresaid Town of Appleby they having nothing justly to lay to his Charge yet knowing that it was his Principle not to swear at all Christ having forbidden it they put the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance unto him and only for refusing to swear he was premunired they in the least laying nothing of Misdemeanour to his Charge and when the Judge pronounced the Sentence of Premunire against him he only replyed It is a hard Sentence being only for the Exercise of my Conscience but the Will of the Lord be done and prayed the Lord might forgive them all that had any Hand in it and so after the said Sentence being committed Prisoner he continued a Prisoner several Years in which time I was very conversant with him and I must give this Testimony for him that I never heard him in the least murmur or repine in all the time of his Imprisonment but alwayes appeared as a Man wholly given up inâ—o â—he Will of God and when at any time we had been speaking of his long Imprisonment constantly he would have said The Will of the Lord be done and such was his godly Behaviour and Conversation in the time of his Confinement that he greatly gained the Hearts and Love of the Goaler's whole Family and all others of the Town that knew him and had any Acquaintance with him and even to this Day when his Name is mentioned they are all ready to say he was a Man that truly feared God so that he left an exceeding good Savour behind him in that Place And as for the Course of his Time and Dayes in this World I have this to say he was born of honest Parents and brought up to some Learning according to the usual Custom of the Country and in his Youth and tender Years was one that sincerely thirsted after the Knowledge of God and the Lord was good unto him and gave him Discoveries of divine things unto his Soul 's great Comfort and he was an early Owner of the People of God called Quakers and walked with them and was alwayes ready to suffer with them as at any time called by the Lord thereunto he was one greatly
delighted in Concord and Unity and greatly delighted in the Company of such whom he knew truly feared the Lord and nothing did rejoyce his Heart more then to hear the Truth prospered and that the Churches did encrease in the blessed Fellowship of the Gospel of Christ Jesus And when his Dayes were near spent that Sickness and bodily Weakness came upon him he endured it with very great Patience unto the latter End and his dear Wife and some other Friends being with him he spoke forth heavenly things as one that had obtained the full Assurance of an heavenly Crown and as one whose Heart and Soul was fully fixed upon the Lord who was mightily seen to be with him to his very last End his Soul magnifying of him for his infinite Goodness unto him all his Life long and so he laid down his Head in Peace being he had faithfully served the Lord in his Generation And this is my Testimony for that faithful Servant of God who to the Hour of his Dissolution bore Testimony unto the Truth and my Soul's Desire is his Blood in the Day of the Lord may not be laid to the Charge of some who had a great Hand both in causing him at first to be made Prisoner and also in the continuing of him so to the very last but we leave things with the Lord as knowing Vengeance belongs to him and that he will give a Reward to every one according to their Works By one that loves the Name of the Righteous which shall never rot though the Wicked go down to the Grave and are remembred no more and by one that was a Friend and Country man of the Author of the ensuing Writings R. P. A funeral Verse or Verse in Remembrance of that pious Patriot and Christian Sufferer for the Testimony of his God and his Truth Francis Howgil who faithfully willingly and readily gave up his Life to the Death for the Record which he did bear concerning the Things of Jesus and for obeying the just Commands of Christ. Christian and Moderate Reader IN Silence I had sate and stay'd my Pen Yea as one not appearing till O then Great Pressures suffered me to take no Rest Till that unfolded was which in my Breast Lay cabined then with a mournful Eye Constrain'd I was to wring mine Elegy Love mix'd with Tears made Verse of this my Theam Tears mix'd with Love made tickling Eyes a stream Bedewed Cheeks they then did represent Symptoms of Sorrow weeping Eyes have sent But yet methinks I am not as alone There 's many with me that do make a Moan Yea there are Thousands that do sympathize With me they joyn and stand in watry Eyes When they at first do hear this sorrowing Sound That dear F. H. his Body is laid in 'th Ground But stay what 's need of mourning he 's at 's Rest Perpetual Joyes enjoyes forever blest Redemption from all Pain and Sorrow he Is now attain'd into Eternity Heaven's Joy yea his Soul in solacing The doubled Allelujah now to sing Who was adorn'd who richly beautifi'd Who valiant was for Truth when he was tryd Who stoutly did persist unto the End A Champion like for Christ his Life to spend Like a brave Warriour fighting in a Field Like to a Martyr he his Life did yield O glorious glorious everlasting God Praises to thee Praise sounds to thee abroad Who through thy great Power and wondrous Love Who through thy great Mercy didst approve And him didst call even in his tender Years So that he sought thee daily shedding Tears O this doth speak thy Praise thou living God Who didst so early lay on him thy Rod To bring him home lest he should go astray And step aside from thee another Way Yea this I know that Record he did give That from a Child he sought in God to live Then in process of Time thou by thy Light Remov'd the Darkness of his darksome Night Terrors O Lord from thee took hold of him And Judgment just upon the Man of Sin Thou cut him down with sharpness of thy Word Which was more sharp then a two-edged Sword Thou hewedst him all in Pieces and him try'd That thou mightst cause him to be purifi'd And then O Lord the dawning of thy Day To him appeared in Beauty to array Then did thy bright and glorious Morning-star Yea in his Heart arise and shine right clear Then Lord thy Comliness to him appeared Then Lord thy Mercy to his Soul was heard Speaking great Peace his Soul did consolate Thou madest him happy in a blessed state An Instrument of Praise Thousands give thee Thanks Lord that they his Face did ever see Thou fed'st him in the Valleys where t' was green Where fresh springs run thy Love was therein seen Thou led'st him nigh the Brooks and VVaters still VVith Joy and Gladness thou his Cup didst fill His Ministery in the Truth was great His VVords were piercing powerful and sweet Yea they were soft and tender gentle calm They were as Ointment as a precious Balm To heal to consolate to cure the smart Of many a swooning sorrowed wounded Heart Great was thy Love O God who oft instill'd Thy VVisdom living Vertues of him fill'd Who through thy inspired spirit bright Who with the Glimpses of thy glorious Light Who with the joyous splendour of thy Day Who with thy comely Beauty didst aray Who many Graces didst to him impart Yea Lord great Things revealed in his Heart Let these speak forth thy everlasting Praise By all who know thee now yea and alwayes That thou O living God descended down Into his Heart and there to take up Room So that O Lord nothing to him more dear Was then thy Truth when once it did appear Yea Lord his Life his Liberty his all He gave up freely when of him they call To Prison he resign'd till 's dying Day Truth ballanc'd all and had the greatest Sway Oh shall I now omit and not rehearse His Travails Prisons Perils in my Verse His Beatings Woundings which mine Eyes have seen His Stocking Threatnings Mockings which have been All which for Truth 's sake in his Time did bear Which did confirm his Testimony clear Rest then dear Francis rest in thy glorious Rest Rest in the Lord rest now forever blest Farewel my late dear Friend farewel my Dear Thy Absence causeth me a dropping Tear Thy Countenance thy Comliness to me More joyous was then outward Harmony Thy good Advice thy sound and Serious Words Thy many Writings which to Truth records The loving Aspect which from thee I had When now I do remember O I 'm sad That sweet Salute that from thy dying Lips I did receive in my Remembrance is Thine Eyes my Hands did close thee to thy Rest Once more I bid farewel forever blest Farewel farewel forevermore farewel Thy Habitation's Heaven there to dwell A Well-willer to the Truth who seals his Testimony that he dyed in and for the Truth E. G. Thomas Langhorn's
I was moved to call thy Name Abigail which signifies the Father's Joy or Delight for in thee I was comforted that did mitigate my present Trouble and my Counsel unto thee is That thou remember thy Creator in the Dayes of thy Youth and fear the Lord in thy Youth and learn to know him and serve him all thy Dayes first seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof it 's not far from thee it 's within thee it consists in Life and Power and it stands in Righteousness Truth and Equity Justice Mercy Long-suffering Patience Love Light and Holiness this is the Being and Center thereof therefore seek not lo here or lo there without thee in this or that outward Observation for mâ—ny seek there and never find it but seek and thou shalt find wait and thou shalt receive if thou enquire in what must I seek and what must I wait in how must I seek I inform thee thou must silence all thy own Thoughts and thou must turn thy Mind to that which is pure and holy and good within thy self and seek and wait in that in the Light of Jesus Christ wherewith thou art enlightened which shews thee when thou dost Evil and checks and reproves take heed unto that and it will shew the evil Motions and Thoughts and as thou lovest it it will subdue them and preserve thee for the time to come out of Evil for though thou be born into the World a reasonable Creature yet thou must be born again and be made a new Creature or else thou canst not enter into God's Kingdom thou must know the Seed of the Kingdom in thy self of which thou must be born and formed again into God's Image I have told thee God hath sown it in thee a Grain of it a Measure of it a Portion of it a Measure of Light and Truth of Righteousness and Holiness keep in thy Mind to that and love it and thou wilt feel the heavenly Father working in thee â—nd begetting thee to Life through Jesus Christ that hath enlightned thee and thou wilt feel the Power of the Lord strengthning thee in thy little and make thee to grow in the Immortal Seed of his Kingdom and out grow and over grow all Evil so that thou wilt daily dye to that and have no Pleasure in it but in the Lord and in his Goodness and Vertue shed abroad in thy Heart which thou wilt tast and feel within and have Joy and Comfort therein love the Lord with thy Heart and Soul even him that made thee and gave thee a Being and all things in Heaven and Earth and still wait for the Knowledge of him in thy self he is not far from thee but near unto thee and unto all that call upon him in an upright Heart and do thou enquire of thy dear Mother she will inform thee she knows him and the Way to Life and Peace and hearken unto her Instruction God is a Spirit a pure Spirit of Light and Life and Power he that searcheth the Heart and shews thee when thou dost Evil or think'st Evil or speak'st Evil and shews unto Man and Woman their Thoughts that which shows the Evil is Good and that which shews a Lye is Truth this is within take heed to it this is called God's Spirit in the Scripture believe in it love it and it will quicken thy Heart to Good and it will subject the Evil here is thy Teacher near thee loving it and if thou act contrary it will condemn thee therefore take heed unto this Spirit of Truth and it will enlighten and enliven thee and it will open thy Understanding and give thee to know what God is and to do that which is good and acceptable in his Sight this Spirit never errs but leads out of all Error into all Truth O Abigail believe my Words they are the Words of God and Truth be not wanton but sober minded in thy Youth and wait on the Lord within hearken unto him God is Light immortal Life immortal Truth immortal an everlasting eternal Spirit he speaks spiritually and invisibly within the Hearts and Consciences of Men and Women hear what he speaks and obey his Voice and thy Soul shall live fear to offend him or sin against him for the Wages of Sin are Death therefore prize his Love in thy young and tender Years and do thou read the Scriptures and Friends Books and take heed unto what thou readest to obey it as far as thou understandest and pray often unto the Lord that he will give thee his Knowledge and open thy Understanding in the things of his Kingdom search thy Heart often with the Light of Christ in thee manifest and bring thy Deeds to it that they may be tryed and examine thy self how the Case stands betwixt the Lord and thee and if thou seest thy self wrong humble thy self and be sorry and turn unto him and he will shew thee Mercy and take heed for the time to come that thou run not into the same Evil again keep thy Heart clean watch against the Evil in thy self in that which shews it therein there is Power and thereby thou hast Power to overcome all Evil And dear Child miâ—d not the Pleasures of Sin which are but for a Moment and the End is Misery but keep under and cross thy Will and Affection so thy Mind will have no Pleasure in the Evil but in Good and thou wilt feel the immortal Seed springing up in thee which God's Peace and Love is to O Abigail these are great and weighty things not to be slighted accompany thy self alwayes with them that fear the Lord and fear and worship him in Spirit and Truth and lead a holy and a blameless Life and Conversation deny not them but love them and suffer with them take heed that thou follow not the hireling Teachers who preach for Gain and Lucre and abide not in Christ's Doctrine believe them not heed them not they do People no Good but thou wilt see them thy self they have an outside Shew of Godliness sometimes but deny the Power of God and true Holiness remember I have told thee who have had perfect Knowledge of them but be sure that thou let nothing separate thy Love from God and his People those are his People that keep his Law and obey Christ's Voice and lead a holy Life and they were ever hated and belyed and persecuted and evil-spoken on alwayes by bad and evil loose People these are God's People and his Love and Peace and Blessing is with them do thou grow as a natural Branch up among them of the living Vine and continue all thy Dayes in Obedience unto God's Will and thou wilt feel Joy and Love in thy Heart which above all things covet after and thou shalt attain and obtain everlasting Peace which the Lord grant unto thee according to the Riches of his Mercy and Love which endure forever and ever Amen And now Abigail concerning thy well
being in this Life this is my Advise and Counsel unto thee love thy dear Mother and ever obey her and honour her and see thou grieve her not be not stubborn nor wilful but submit unto her and be as an obedient Child unto her whose Love and Care hath been too great over thee and thy Sisters which hath brought too much Trouble upon her self learn in thy Youth to read and write a little and sew and knit and all Points of good Labour that belong to a Maid and flee Idleness and Sloth that nourisheth Sin and as thou growest up in Years labour in the Affairs of the Country and beware of Pride and Riotousness and Curiosity but be well content with such Apparel as thy Mother will permit thee and as thou mayest be a good Example unto other be not wanton nor wild not light but temporate moderate and chast and not forward in Words nor Speech but swift to hear slow to speak and do thou alwayes live with thy Mother and be a Help unto her and cherish her in her old Age and latter Years that she may be comforted in thee and her Soul may bless thee love thy Sisters and be alwayes courteous to them and thy Brother Thomaâ— encourage one another in Good And Abigail if thou live to be a Woman of perfect Years keep thy self unspotted and let not thy Mind out after Sports nor Pastimes the End of all those is Sorrow neither of young Men if thou have a Desire to marry do not thou seek a Husband but let a Husband seek thee and if thou live in God's Fear and an honest Life and vertuous them that fear God will seek unto thee let not thy Affections out unto every one that proffers Love but be considerate and above all Things chuse one if thou dost marry that loves and fears the Lord whose Conversation thou knowest and Manner and Course of Life well before thou give Consent be discreet and wise hide nothing from thy Mother and she will advise thee no Doubt for thy Good and if she be living marry not without her Consent and if thou joyn to a Husband be sure thou love him in thy Heart and be obedient unto him and honour him among all so will his Heart be more to thee and his Love increase grieve him not but be gentle and easie to be entreated and mind thy own Business and if the Lord give thee Children bring them up in God's Fear and in good Exercise and keep them in Subjection unto thee and be an Example of Virtue and Holiness unto them that the Lord's Blessing thou may'st feel in Youth and in Age and all thy Life long O Abigail remember these Things keep in Mind these things read often this Writing over get it copied over and lay up my Words in thy Heart and do them so wilt thou be happy in this Life and in the Life to come these things I give thee in Charge to observe as my MIND and WILL and COUNSEL unalterable unto thee as Witness whereof I have set my Hand The 26th of the 5th Moneth 1666. Thy Dear Father Francis Howgil A Wo Against the Magistrates PRIESTS and PEOPLE OF KENDALL In the County of Westmorland The Word of the Lord came unto me saying Write and declare against that Bloody Town of Kendall and leave it without Excuse HEar ye which pretend to be Rulers ye that pretend to be Teachers and ye People the Trumpet of the Lord is sounded gather your selves together for I will plead with you your Iniquities are come up before me and your Transgression is come into mine Ears Wo Wo and Misery is coming upon you you shall be as Sodom and Gomorrah and as Admah and Zeboim Desolation and a Cry a Cry Lamentation Howling Bitterness and Sorrow shall come upon you at unawares the Sword of the Lord is drawn against you it is sharpened for a great Slaughter and you shall be cut off because you have despised my Name and trodden under Foot my Precepts and walk after your own Wills and the Imagination of your own Hearts and yet saith the Lord they say I am amongst them Wo unto you Hypocrites I am weary of you and of all your Profession it stinks in my Nostrils and I abhor it as much as if ye slevv a man you have slain my Son you have mocked my Prophets and despised my messengers vvhich I have sent early and late to forevvarn you of the Evil to come Have I now vvrought Signs and Wonders amongst you as ever vvas in any Day or from the Beginning Have not I made the mountains tumble dovvn in your Sight Have not I cause my Judgments to fall upon them that have set themselves against me Have not I cleansed the Lepers Have not I quickned and raised them out of the Grave vvhich vvere dead in Sins and Trespasses Have not I brought dovvn the Proud Have not I exalted the Lovv Have not I caused the vveak things to confound the Wise Have not I sent Signs among you and have sent my Servants to declare against you as I did to Nineveh and have you not heard it Have not I commanded my Servants to go bare and naked in your Sight to be a Sign to you that your Covering is now rent and your Garment is to be torn and you shall be left naked and bare and you shall be made a Mock and Proverb to all as my Servants have been made a Mock and a Proverb to you all I will scatter you in my Indignation and I will cause my Fury to rest upon you till I have consumed you Ye Rulers that rule by your own Wills and ye false Prophets that cry Peace to this People and all ye People that delight in Lyes is not all manner of Wickedness committed amongst you as Pride Covetousness Oppression Persecution Mocking Stoning Imprisoning and Haling before Magistrates them who are made to do my Will and to declare against you Ye strive against me saith the Lord ye cry a Confederacy ye consult together ye plot ye call all your Inchanters against me thus saith the Lord ye shall be broken as Pharaoh and go down to the Pit with Egypt Mesheek and Tubal and all the Uncircumcised Wo is me the Spoiler is come up against you and Blackness covers you and a Consumption is entring into your Bones my Eye shall not spare my Hand shall not pity but it will bring this upon you howl and lament ye Oakes ye Mountains cleave asunder and all ye People both great and small be astonished put on Sackcloth put your Mouthes in the Dust for I will make my Fury to pass over you and none shall be able to deliver you said the Lord write this let them know but they will not hear till I have caused my Fire to burn them up and there be no Remedy Written from the Spirit of the living God by me who am a Witness for his Name whom the World knows
not F. H. To all you who have Eyes and yet are blind and who have Ears and yet are deaf and have Hearts and yet cannot understand To you am I moved to declare THE Lord is proclaiming himself to be King and all the Mountains and every Isle and every Oak of Bashan and all the Cedars of Lebanon and all who rule as Kings and Conquerors shall bow Hear ye deaf the Trumpet is blown the Standard is lifted up there is open War proclaimed between Michael our Prince and all the Inhabitants of the Earth Arm your selves O ye Mountains and gather your selves on Heaps O ye Isles the glittering Sword of the Lord is drawn and a Fire is before him and all ye will be found as Stubble and you are all to be slain Heaps upon Heaps and are all to go down with all the Uncircumcised Rulers and People into the Pit The Lord the mighty Jehovah is revealing himself from Heaven in Flames of Fire to render Vengeance upon all the Workers of Iniquity for you have slain the Heir of the Vineyard you are killing his Prophets and imprisoning his Saints to you all Professors Rulers and Priests who say you are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan I speak in Plainness of Speech unto you all who live in all the Abominations of the Heathen and yet say you love Christ Do not you call the Master of the House now Beelzebub do not ye mock and set your Mouthes awry ye Sons of the Adultress and of Sodom at the Light of Christ which enlightneth every one that comes into the World which Light did lead all Saints into Purity and up to God and this you call Natural and them who witness Redemption by the Son you call Blasphemers Christ which you profess and yet know not was accounted by your Generation a Blasphemer and all the Apostles and Saints were persecuted by your Generation as Evil-doers as Despisers of Government as Disturbers of the Peace as Leaders of the People into Iniquity as the Off-scouring of all Things as Sheep for the Slaughter and many of them put to Death and in Prison by that Generation which professed God and said they had his Ordinances yet slew them who professed him and kept his Statutes for if ye be not wilfully blind are ye not doing the same now mocking haling imprisoning bringing before Magistrates them that witness Jesus Christ in them and because they bear witness against all Sin Did ever any of the Saints of God persecute imprison or hale before Magistrates and falsly accuse any Did ever the Saints complain to Authority to guard them Hear ye whited Tombs ye painted Sepulchres what Gospel is this you profess What God is this ye serve that must be defended with Clubs Swords Rulers and Carnal Weapons the Saints who had the everlasting Gospel said their Weapons were not carnal but spiritual and yet they were mighty through God to beat down strong Holds even Principalities and Povvers Thrones and Dominions but your Gospel and Ministry can do nothing vvithout a Svvord All People see vvhere you are and vvhat you are doing you run headlong to run those vvho vvere despised by that Generation of Pharisees and Professors vvhich you are in vvere a burthensom Stone upon vvhich all that opposed did break themselves so this Generation vvhom ye set at nought ye shall be made to bovv and throvv dovvn your Crovvns before them and before the Lamb vvho is our Leader and Guider Glory unto him forever more its hard for you to kick against the Pricks for vve vvitness the tvvo-edged Svvord of the Lord shall bathe it self in the Blood of his Enemies and shall be made fat vvith Slaughter O ye Mountains ye shall become a plain for the ransomed to come over you all your Profession shall be as Stubble and you shall be left naked and bare and nothing shall be able to cover you because you are Crucifiers of Christ and the Saints repent that you may be hid in the Day of his fierce Anger vvhich is to come upon all the Workers of Iniquity Francis Howgil This was The Word of the Lord Which Francis Howgil Was moved to Declare and Write TO OLIVER CROMVVEL Who is named Lord Protector The Word of the Lord came to me the last of the First Moneth about the Nineth Hour as I was waiting upon the Lord and waiting in James's Park at London FRiend I was moved of the Lord to come to thee to declare the Word of the Lord as I was moved of the Lord and deal plainly with thee as I was commanded and not to petition thee for any thing but to declare what the Lord had revealed to me concerning thee and when I had delivered what I was commanded thou questionedst it whether it was the Word of the Lord or not and soughtest by thy Reason to put it off and we have waited some dayes since but cannot speak to thee therefore I was moved to write to thee and clear my Conscience and to leave thee Therefore hear the Word of the Lord thus saith the Lord I chose thee out of all the Nation when thou was little in thy own Eyes and threw down the Mountains and the Powers of the Earth before thee which had established Wickednesse by a Law and I cut them down and broke the Yokes and Bonds of the Oppressor and made them stoop before thee and I made them as a Plain before thee that thou passedst over them and trode upon their Necks but thus saith the Lord now thy Heart is not upright before me but thou takest Counsel and not at me and thou art establishing Peace and not by me and thou art setting up Laws and not by me and my Name is nor feared nor I am not sought after but thy own Wisdom thou establishest what saith the Lord have I thrown down all the Oppressours and broken their Laws and art thou now going about to establish them again and art going to build again that which I have destroyed wherefore thus saith the Lord wilt thou limit me and set Bonds to me when and where and how and by whom I shall declare my self and publish my Name then will I break thy Cord and remove thy Stake and exalt my self in thy overthrow Therefore this is the VVord of the Lord to thee whether thou wilt hear or forbear if thou take not away all those Laws vvhich are made concerning Religion vvhereby the People which are dear in mine Eyes are oppressed thou shalt not be established but as thou hast trodden down my Enemies by my Povver so shalt thou be trodden dovvn by my Power and thou shalt know that I am the Lord for my Gospel shall not be established by thy Sword nor by thy Law but by my Might and by my Power and by my Spirit Unto thee this is the Word of the Lord Stint not the eternal Spirit by which I will publish my Name when and where and how I will
in the room of Abraham for ordering the House of God to see that the Seed of Isaac be Inheritors which is like to be deprived by the Egyptian Brood Rep. My Desire is that they may be guided by the Spirit of Abraham who denyed his Country and if they walk in the Light they will be like him and will see that Things be ordered in the Nation in Righteousness but if they will take thy VVord who is the Isaac that thou would'st should inherit thou wilt present them Ishmael But is it not the Inheritance of Tythes and Augmentations and to have People to fall down to worship the Image that they have set up that is it thou would'st have ordered for who are of Abraham are of the Seed which the Promise is to and such you stir up the Magistrates and People by your Flatteries and Lyes to have a Law to keep them in Bondage and so them that dwell in the Light see it is the Egyptian that thou would'st have to inherit And further thou art telling of some that profess high Attainments which hath put the Kingdom in confusion and a flame and thou sayst they ought not to suffer the preaching of the Word to go down nor the Sacraments to fail There is profession enough in the Nation but little Possession and all who profess high things and do not possess them are Hypocrites And now blessed be the Lord Christ is come and made manifest which is the highest Attainment and he comes not to send Peace on the Earth but a Sword and he shall confound the mighty and lofty and they that have lived at ease shall be poured from Vessel to Vessel and now is War proclaimed betwixt Michael our Prince and all the Inhabitants of the Earth and all Inchanters and Deceivers and all such as have made Merchandize of Souls are now made manifest and now the Nations are angry and the men of the Earth are afraid and now Gog and Magog compasseth the Camp of the Saints about and the Beast upon which the Whore rides and the false Prophets and as many as have traded with the Beast and the Whore are troubled for her sorrow is coming in a day and all the Powers of the Earth cannot nor shall not uphold her for she shall be made desolate and burned with Fire and now thou and the rest of the Merchants are troubled and are petitioning to the Powers of the Earth to uphold you I say unto thee and unto all that joyn themselves against the Anointed which is now appearing who was dead and is alive and lives for evermore You shall all be broken and your eyes shall consume in their Holes Gather your selves together howl ye Caterpillars strengthen your selves build up your batteries cast up your mounts for a mighty and terrible one is coming up against you his voice is as the roaring of a Lyon he is greedy of his Prey he shall devour at once and he is bringing about his Determination to cut off every one that withstands him and no VVeapon formed shall prosper the eternal VVord is preached and the Angel is flying through the midst of Heaven with the everlasting Gospel and by it shall Antichrist be consumed And because this Gospel is declared and preached and witnessed thou art angry But that which thou calls preaching the VVord is nothing but thy own Imaginations This they have preached long enough and what hath it done all your divining None hath been turned from his Iniquity And as for thy Sacrament thou wast complaining of the Pope's Emissaries and here thou art one Thou mayst return thy Word back from whence thou hadst it And all who come to witness the word and the preaching of it and the Body and Blood of Christ which is the Saints Communion and the Supper of the Lord will deny all your Inchantment and all your canker'd rusty worm-eaten Divination and all powers which seek to uphold this which was and is Abomination to the Lord they must partake of her Plagues let all consider God hath overturned all the Powers that have pretended to establish Religion by a Lavv whenas they have but established a Form a Husk and so Satan hath crept into that and all the Priests in this Nation have they not transformed into every Image vvhat vvay soever Authority and the Povvers of the Earth bend and so have made merchandize and sold that vvhich is not Bread and so have deceived the People And further thou sayst The Apostle requires them to mark them that cause Divisions diligently And thou goes on and reckons up many that have been polluted in Religion and thou sayes he will cast her into a Bed of Torment if they do not repent Rep. They who are turned from the Light of Christ are turned into Division and they that have not the same Spirit by which the Apostle spake that said so are divided from Christ and from the Body and from the Saints and are in Contention And here I charge thee and all the Priests in England that you are divided from Christ and turned from the Light who prophesie for Hire and divine for mony who go in long Robes who are called of men Master who have the chiefest Place in the Assembly and stand praying in the Synagogue who go to Law with your Hearers and who give Meanings upon the Scriptures who add and diminish who speak but that which you have gathered from other mens Words there doth Sects and opinions strife and division arise And here thou art marked by many in the County of Durham praised be the Lord to be one that is divided from the Light and causes Division who took away Four Oxen for five Pence Halfpenny and so they have turned away from thee and all vvho stand in that Nature wherein thou stands And therefore thou art petitioning that thou might have a Law to bind us under thy Witchcraft wherein the Nations have been deceived And it is true God hath overturned Kings and Princes and Dukes and Earls and Emperors for the sake of his chosen Ones and all they vvho have made an Image like the true God and like the Gospel and have made a Decree and whosoever now make a Decree that any shall fall down to worship any thing which is contray to the Light of Christ in the Conscience God hath hewed them down and he will hew them down who go about to limit the Holy One who is Lord over all and who will have Dominion over the Consciences of men and the time is already when Jezabel is to be cast into the Bed of Torment and all who commit Fornication with her whether they be Kings Emperors Dukes or Earls they shall all go down with the Dukes of Edom into the Pit and with the rest of the Uncircumcised and the Saints shall rejoyce in their overthrow And thou sayest There is yet little doth appear in England but the old Beast under new Habits acts his old Tragedies
I deny them and they and all vvho act in Uncleanness And thou goest on and shevvest as thou hast stollen from other mens VVords from the Prophets and Moses That the Judgment of the Lord was against all Idolaters and false Prophets and Dreamers and how they and them that served strange Gods were to be put to Death Wo unto them saith the Lord that steal my Word every Man from his Neighbour and say thus saith the Lord whenas the Lord hath never spoken unto them thou hast stoln other mens VVords and shalt be judged by thy ovvn mouth and thy ovvn Lavv that thou never hadst the VVord of the Lord made manifest nor never did the Lord speak to thee and therefore thou art that false Prophet and art that Dreamer and he that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream he that hath the Word of the Lord let him speak it novv them that speak the VVord of the Lord from the Mouth of the Lord as the true Prophets did and do then thou callest to the Magistrates to put them to Death And as for the Worshippers of strange Gods many in the County of Durham and many other Places let them declare vvhether they vvorshipped any but a strange God at a Distance and vvent after dumb Idols even as they vvere led vvhile they follovved the ministry vvhich vvas never sent but novv is the Lord made manifest and the strange Gods are put avvay and broken and the false Prophets are seen and the Prophet is raised up vvhich Moses spoak of and vvhosoever hear 's not his Words shall be slain vvith the Svvord And further thou tellest the Magistrates That if any Hypocrite shall presume to speak a Word in the Name of the Lord which he hath not commanded even he shall dye and it is an old Statute unrepeal'd Rep. If thou knevv vvhat thou spoak thou hast given Sentence against thy self I charge upon thee in the Presence of the living God that thou never heardst his Word nor spake his Word but in thy ovvn Name and I charge it again upon thee when did he ever speak to thee that Spirit by which the Prophets of the Lord spoke thou dost deride and call'st it a miraculous Infusion and so thy Spirit is another and not the same and that it is an old Statute thou shalt know that thou hast spoken in thy own Name and what thou hast learned by Tradition but in Christ all the Law and the Prophets is fulfilled and all Statutes who come to witness him he is the Law-giver Judge and King and all is fulfilled as he comes to be witnessed and all strange Gods put away even the Idols of Gold and Silver and all false Prophets by him come to be seen judged condemned and slain and thou that would'st put it upon the Magistrate without to kill Men by a Law and so to usurp the Power which is given to the Son and so make them guilty of innocent Blood thou art a Murderer And now further who must judge of the false Prophets of Heresie Schism and Blasphemy I know thou denyest Revelation and the rest of the Priests in England who trade with other mens Words and I know thou darest not say thou art infallible and thou hast not discerning of Spirits the Apostle exhorted them who dwelt in the Light to try the Spirits but he bad not them who are led by the Prince of the Air and were Children of Disobedience as thou art of a covetous earthly Mind he bad not them to try nor them who were carnal and therefore stop thy mouth thou canst not discern a Lamb from a Dog not a Kite from a Dove And let all Magistrates who fear the Lord either in this Nation or else-where take heed how they judge of Heresie and Blasphemy not that I am ignorant but that there is Heresie and Blasphemy but that none can judge who they are but who have an infallible Spirit therefore it is now as it hath been many have suffered as Hereticks as Christ for a Blasphemer and the Apostles as Setters forth of strange Gods and were persecuted to Death and many do and are like to suffer by this Spirit that dwells in Thomas Ellyson And therefore all you who are Magistrates that sit as Judges and Rulers take heed what you do and take heed of Zeal without Knovvledge for so Paul persecuted and so the Jews slevv Christ the Heir and so many vvould have their Will satisfied but thou must be judged by all vvho dvvell in the Light thou that sittest as Judge over another see that thou be judged in thy self for to take your Knovvledge and Direction from such as these men instead of planting you vvill be Destroyers And thou art offended at some that hold forth new Lights and Gifts which thou say'st the Word of God never taught us Rep. All vvho are taught by the Word vvhich is eternal are guided in one Light for the Light is but one and this is no nevv Light but the same that ever vvas but thou that callest the Letter the Light and the Word thou art blind and art a Hater of the Light from vvhich the Scripture vvas declared And in the Conclusion thou beggest That Schollars and Universities may be preserved for the breeding of able Ministers to preach the Word and hold out the Sacraments Rep. And this is the Sum of all that thou and the rest of false Shepherds may be carryed in the Bosome of the Magistrates and so to preserve you and destroy all that oppose you As for Learning it is Natural I ovvn it in its Place but that it makes and breeds able ministers I deny it and all those ministers for many filthy Frogs and unclean Spirits have come out of the Universities that have spread over the Nations as Locusts vvithout a King and all their Preaching and their Sacraments is carnal and all their Ability that is got by their Trading leads People to be seven-fold moâ—â— the Children of the Devil I speak vvhat I vvas a Witness of vvhile I follovved the chiefest of them And therefore I say unto you vvho are Governours Hold not that up which the Lord hath cursed for that which is Natural cannot lead up to God And therefore be ye all vvarned That you turn not back to build again that which God is destroying who threw out one Power after another because they would needs limit the Lord a Way to walk in And truly God vvill pour you out from Vessel to Vessel till you be emptied of all and till you give him all Power and Honour to rule over his Church and People that they may serve the Lord in Freedom of Spirit and not in the Flesh and if any vvalk disorderly and break any righteous Lavv and vvalk in the Flesh them execute your Lavv upon there is your Place but that you should prescribe a Way for God to vvalk in he cannot he vvill not be bound and you that go about to
read your Cloud of Witnesses who are your Example who persecute the Innocent and turn aside the needy for a Thing of nought you may read in the Scripture what they were and what Manner of Princes Kings and Rulers they were who were Persecutors in all Generations and say not in your Hearts you are Christians and yet walk in the same Footsteps of them who persecuted the Prophets and them that were sent early and late to forewarn them and stood in the Gate and declared in their Tovvns and Cities against the Abominations that vvere committed and Jeremy they put in the Dungeon that his Feet sticked in the Mire and put his Feet fast in the Stocks and Micha in Prison and Daniel in the Den of Lyons and Herod and Pilate were made Friends in the persecuting of Christ and they set him at nought and the Priests and the Rulers conspired against him and sought to entrap him in his Words and the Apostles they put in Prison in the Stocks and whipped them and scourged them and commanded them to depart out of their Towns Villages and Cities and called them seditious and pestilent Fellows and said they bred Tumults in the Cities whenas they were tumultuous themselves and persecuted and mocked and shamefully entreated And novv you that are found acting in those Practices are in the same Spirit you may read your Cloud of Witnesses and your Example and be ashamed O England England and Ireland is this the Fruit of the great Profession you have made so many Years and novv when you are proved the best of you is as a Bryar and the most upright sharper then a Thorn-Hedge What is become of the Promises you made in the Day of your Calamity vvhen Sorrovv Fear and Oppression compassed you about on every Side Hath the Lord broken the Yoak from off your Necks and is your Finger becoming heavier then their Loyns Was there so great Oppression and Cruelty acted among the Bishops and Prelates vvere Prisons so filled vvere there such Gins and Traps laid for the Innocent vvhen their High Commission Court vvas up O Shame Shame that ever it should come in the Ears or be reported in other Nations that ever you should requite the Lord thus for all his Love and Mercies that he should break the Yoak from off your Necks and 〈◊〉 your Enemies on every Side and cut them off in his Wrath and hath given you their Habitations to dvvell in and the Povver into your Hanâ—s shall the Ax boast it self against him that hevvs therevvith and will ye â—â—â—quite the Lord thus for his Love Surely these Things are come before the Lord and a Book of Remembrance is vvritten and all these Things shall stand as Witness against you vvhen the Book of Conscience is laid open But you may be vvill say You know no such that suffer for Conscience sake turn but your Ear and listen but to every Goal and Prison in every County and there may you see many of you poor Brethren stopped up in Holes among Murderers Thieves and Transgressors even they vvho have born a Part vvith you in the Sufferings vvith the Nations in the Heat of the Day and if you say they have transgressed any Law vvhy do you not execute it upon them but some kept in Prison tvvo or three Years and never called to knovv vvhat is the Matter But Friends knovv this many suffer novv for the Transgression of no knovvn Lavv but may be have cryed out in your Tovvns against Iniquity or have declared against the Blindness and Ignorance of some vvho go in the Way of the false Prophets and in the Error of Balaam O! the Land is full of such Deceivers as have flattered the People and her Princes till the Lord bathed his Svvord in their Blood and novv they are flattering you and sovving Pillovvs under your Arm-holes if you say as the Pharisees said We have a Law and by our Law he ought to dye if you execute those Lavvs and stand to those Lavvs vvhich were made by them that oppressed you the same shall come upon you that came upon them and God vvill break the Yoak from off the Necks of the Oppressed and the Yoak shall be laid upon yours vvho make a man an Offender for a VVord and therefore consider a Warning to you all and be you warned from the Lord God to cease from oppressing the Innocent nay you are left all without Excuse for I know you are not ignorant of these Things And further I say unto you uphold not them by your Power who are flattering the Nations and crying Peace and daubing the People with untempered Morter and telling them they are Christians when they are Heathens and live in that Nature that puts Christ to open Shame for the Hand of the Lord is against them and Prophaneness hath gone from them those Teachers that use their Tongues and say he saith when the Lord hath never spoken to them and therefore the People are lost for Lack of Knowledge and there is not one among them that is able to turn any from his Iniquity And therefore I say unto you stint not nor limit not the Lord by your Wills nor your Laws made in your Wills for if you do he which rents the Heavens and makes the Earth reel as a Cottage will break you and your Laws together and there shall be none that shall be able to deliver you out of his Hand who is pure holy just and true and will not give his Glory to another for he alone works and who shall let and bring his own Work to pass and none shall hinder And therefore take heed you strive not against the Lord and so be broken upon the stumbling Stone to Pieces A Lover of Righteousness and a Friend to all just Power F. H. A VVARNING TO All the WORLD WO Wo unto all the Inhabitants for the Lord God of Power is coming in Power and great Glory with Ten Thousand of his Saints to judge the Earth and to make a Desolation and an utter Overthrow and a Consumption shall come upon all Flesh and its Glory shall be stained for all Flesh hath corrupted its Way and gone a whoring after other Gods and hath committed Fornication with Strangers and Whoredoms with the Uncircumcised and the Land is filled with Monsters and the living God is departed from the Lord is grieved the Lord is weary with forbearing and will no longer forbear now is he arising to excute his Judgment in the Earth and to sift the Nations and all shall now be put into an even Ballance and the Wicked shall be as Dust and as Chaff which the VVind blows away and shall be scattered and never more gathered For a Fire is come out of Sion it s before the Lord of Hosts and it 's tempestuous round about him Coals of Fire are kindled by the Breath of 〈◊〉 Nostrils to burn up all the Stubble and Chaff even by the Breath of his Mouth
the Lord hath uttered his Voice before his Army for his Camp is great as a Lyon and is greedy of his Prey as a young Lyon he will not spare but devour and destroy all the Uncircumcised and cut off from the Earth even all the abominable Tremble tremble O Earth before the Lord and all ye careless Sons and Daughters that live at Ease in the Flesh in Wantonness and in Mirth a Day of Howling is coming upon you a Day of Sorrow and Lamentation Howl howl and weep ye that spend your Dayes in Vanity in Lust and Pleasure killing the Just ye Drunkards your Throats are as an open Sepulchre your Throats shall be dryed up and parched with the Flame of the Lord's Indignation the Lion shall be famished Diver 's End is your Portion you covetous greedy Deceivers Oppressours Lyars Swearers proud envious contentious Quarellers ye vain airy light Minds ye are â— Dust and will have your Portion in the Lake that burns Tophet is prepared Hell hath enlarged her self the Grave stands open to receive you the Pit hath opened her Mouth the Deep shall swallow you up ye rebellious and stiff-necked Generation who fear not the Lord but add Sin unto Sin behold the Day is coming ye shall wish the Mountains to fall upon you and the Rocks to cover you and shall seek Death but shall not find it The Arm of the Lord is stretched out the Hand of the most High is against you you fruitless Trees that cumber the Ground you shall be cut up by the Roots and cast into the Fire ye Lyars Swearers cursed Speakers ye proud and covetous double Dealers and Hypocrites which say in Word what you are not in Deed and make a Profession of the Name of God but depart not from Iniquity the Trumpet of the Lord is blown out of Sion the Alarm is sounded out of the holy mountain let all the Inhabitants of the Earth tremble a Noise of War and Rumor of VVar is heard his Sword is furbished and brandished to make a great Slaughter and the slain of the Lord shall be many Oh ye Potsherds of the Earth will ye strive against the Lord will ye set Bryars and Thorns in Battel against him who shakes the Heavens and makes the Earth reel as a Cottage who dryes up the Face of the deep and cuts off all the fresh Springs and makes the Cedars fall and pours down Snares upon the wicked Fire and Hail Storm and Tempest and Pillars of Smoak this shall be your Portion to drink the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it O foolish People unwise when will you seek after Wisdom Wisdom hath lift up her Voice in the Streets but you have stopped your Ears as deaf Adders and say in your Hearts we will not have Righteousness to rule over us but we will walk as our Fathers and worship as other Nations do and as them whom the Lord hath cut off out of the Nations as untimely Fruit and are perished with the Uncircumcised Fear fear tremble tremble ye careless Ones ye hard Hearts ye Rocks shall be broken ye Cedars shall fall ye strong Oaks shall be cut up by the Roots your Root shall perish ye Mountains shall melt ye wild savage Creatures that are as wild Asses upon the Mountains a Moneth is coming wherein you will be found and a Day is at Hand wherein you shall see him whom you have pierced yea behold the Judge of all the World stands at the Door even of the quick and dead and he comes in the Clouds with Power and great Glory and every Eye shall see him and every Heart shall melt and all Faces shall gather Paleness and all Knees shall smite together and every Tongue shall confess his Judgment just when he shall execute his Wrath upon you and sweep you into the Pit and blow you away with the Whirlwind of his Wrath and then you shall be judged out of the Book of your Consciences Therefore fear fear and repent repent and prize your time while you have it and mind the Light of Christ Jesus that shews you your Iniquities and Sins and it love and it will turn you from Sin and Unrighteousness to Christ Jesus from whence the Light comes and it love and it will judge all your vain Actions and bring Condemnation upon all the Deceit and lead you to true Confession and Forsaking and to know the Lord is pure and holy and nothing that is evil can dwell in his Sight And so remember you are all warned in your Life time lest you be swept away into the Pit and perish forever and ever and there be none to deliver you and unto you this is the word of the living God whether you hear or forbear F. H. THE FIRST General Epistle Written to the Camp of the Lord In ENGLAND TO all the Seed of Abraham who are Jews indeed and Israelites in whom is no Guile who are of the true Circumcision made without Hands Who are of the Off-spring of David and of the Church or the first-born who are the first Fruit unto God Ye royal Off-spring of the Rock of Ages who have come out of the everlasting Washing My dear Brethren called Quakers who have eaten your Bread with Fear and Trembling whom your Brethren have cast out Oh how I love you my Soul is knit unto you my Heart and Life breathes after you I am one with you in Suffering and in Joy ye are the choicest of the Flock ye are the fairest of all the Children which are brought forth Oh my beloved Ones though I be among the Tents of Kedar as without where the Voice of the Lord hath neither been heard nor known yet you I forget not if I do let the Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth and let me never speak more in the Name of the Lord who is my Life and the portion of my Cup forever Oh! what shall I say unto you none knows your Beauty nor Innocency nor Glory but them who are redeemed out of Kindreds and Nations and Tongues and People and Countryes who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes For the Name of my God and your God who is living and lives for evermore is in your Foreheads you are his Off-spring and the Fruit that came out of the Eternal VVomb begotten by the Eternal VVord of Life which lives forever and are nourished at the eternal Table in the everlasting Mansion-house of my Father which is in Heaven None so fair none so beautifull none so Glorious none so Rich you are crowned with Love forever you are clothed with Righteousness forever you eat of the Tree of Life which heals the Nations and of the Bread of Life that nourishes you up forever and drinks of the living VVaters which run fresh beautiful and cool in it you are bathed and suppled and made white you are builded upon a Rock storms cannot move you tempests cannot make you afraid in this you have been and
are like to be tryed Your Armour is Righteousness on the right hand and on the left your City is free The Gates stand open Day and Night a VVolf Lyon nor any Beast cannot enter no not so much as a flying-Fowl Oh how goodly are thy Tents O thou Seed of Jacob the Elect whom he hath chosen O how pleasant is your scituation The Tower of David Mount Sion stands sure and cannot be moved O! who is a People like unto you saved by our God that lives forever His Love is large he is kind he is long-suffering he is faithful and keeps Covenant and his Promises are Yea Yea He is the Amen the first and the last Come forth my dear Brethren set forth his Praise declare his Name among the Heathen publish his Name among the Congregations let the Earth be filled with his Love and power that his Judgments may be declared and his Statutes that they sound in the Ears of Generations to come O ye that are convinced of the Truth of our God wait in that which doth convince and keep your Minds to it and love it and follow it whither it leads you and it will lead you to know the Gift of God which leads to Repentance from dead VVorks to serve the living God who dwells in the Immortal Light and take heed of looking back at the Pleasures of Sin you have formerly lived in but wait upon the pure Light of Christ Jesus in Patience that so you may see the Enmity which is against God and it slain in you daily that so you may see him that is the Saviour of the Soul and take heed of rebelling against the Lord who hath given you a measure of his true Light to lead you from Sin if you love it unto Righteousness from whence it comes even from the righteous Judge of all the VVorld who judgeth every man ouâ— of the Book of his Conscience and so prize the everlasting Love of God to your Souls that you may see him who lives forever And all Babes who are born again who have suffered and Pangs of Death and know the Indignation of the Lord against Sin and the Terrour of the Lord against the man of Sin who have roared for the Disquietness of your Hearts who have born the Indignation of the Lord and are come to the giving forth of the Law where there is Thundring and Earth-quakes and Terrour and great Hail and Fire and Smoke even such as was not since the Beginning insomuch that you could not bear his Voice and live nor see his Face and live Stand still in Patience and let it have its perfect Work in you and hear the Indignation ye that are in it if you endure the Tribulation with Patience Hope you will see and a Time of Refreshment will come endure the Cross that the mortal and earthly and carnal may be judged and the bad ground shaken and taken away and that you may see the living Hope to stay your Minds upon And ye who are enlivened and do witness the Law of Righteousness set up in you which is a School-master and keeps in the Fear stand in it and keep in the Fear low in Soberness and Calmness and then you will see your Hearts purified daily and the cursed Nature judged which is out of its Course and it bridled and subjected and the Law which is pure and holy and eternal which stands forever in Power and force against the Transgressor to judge all Unrighteousness And so wait that you may see the Lyon tamed and the wild Heifer yoked and the Yoke of Christ born and the wild Colt tamed by him upon which never man sate before then and not till then is Hosanna sung And all wait in your Measures dear Babes that the Milk of the Word you may see and be nourished by it and grow up as living Branches about the Table of the Lord. And all you young men and Virgins that know Virginity keep your Virginity you in whom the Prince of this world is judged and cast out and the righteous Law of God revealed and given forth in which you stand and walk and have Peace from him who is the Law-giver and Judge who hath saved you from your Iniquities and blotted out your Sins for his own Name 's sake you who know the living Water and Spirit of which you are born again and witness the Birth which enters into the Kingdom of God where no mortal or unclean Beast can come Keep in the Life and Power of God which limits all and chains all under that the Life of the Son of God may live and speak in you and be bold In the dread of God stand and that which leads into Slavery keep out And now being made Partakers of his everlasting Love walk worthy of his Love and of the high Calling whereunto you are called who hath created you in Christ Jesus unto Holiness and Righteousness forever that to the praise of his Grace which you are saved by by which you have obtained the Remission of Sins and an Inheritance amongst them that are sanctified So wait in the living Hope and the living Faith in which God is well pleased in which you ask and receive of him and are accepted of our heavenly Father And this Faith ye know which is a present Power and a Shield against all Temptations and a Helmet and as a Fortress by which you are preserved safe standing in it and putting it on in the Day of Tryal My dear Brethren of the everlasting Kindred and Heirs of the everlasting Promise wait all in Patience having received an earnest of the Inheritance that never fades away to the End abide in the Father's Counsel and at Wisdom's Gate Ye know what I say I write not unto you because you know not the Truth but because you know and are made free in your Measures by him who is the Truth and the Way in which all our Fathers and you also have obtained a good Report even of all the Houshold of Faith and take heed of the Glory of the World and look not at Hardship for verily all the Suffering is not worthy to be Compared to that Glory which is revealed and to be revealed unto all that wait and abide in Patience and Faithfulness unto the end but be ye as good Souldiers endure hardship that you may receive the End of your Hope and the everlasting Price and the purchased Possession and the Crown of Glory which God will give unto you in his own Day which is coming on towards you if you continue in the Hope in the Faith and in the Love unfeigned which thinks no ill by which and in which Love we have Victory over the Grave Sin and Death which he hath freely shed abroad in our Hearts unto whom be everlasting Praise forever and ever to him which was dead and is alive and lives for evermore the Mediator of the new Covenant of Life and Peace in which we have Access
freely to the Throne of Grace and are accepted in him who is the Condemnation of all the World who hate the Light but your Life the Light of the World God blessed forever and ever And all you Fathers and Elders and honourable women who are not a few whose Bones and Sinews are filled with Marrow and Fatness who wait at the Altar of the Lord and know the Mercy-seat which hath overshadowed you and the golden Vessel in which is the hidden Manna by which all the Children of the Lord are fed round the Table of the Lord out of the Everlasting Treasure-house of my Father VVatch over the Flock of Christ Jesus in every Place and Region and Quarter where the Lord hath set you and govern them in all Wisdom and Righteousness that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ may be adorned and take Care of them willingly knowing this the Lord requires of you and hath called you unto and to nourish the Plants and the young Ones and the Babes and that every one may know their place and watch and instruct in all Wisdom and correct and reprove in the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus that no rebellious nor sloathful may grow up nor be harboured among you but all in Diligence may be kept in the Fear of the Lord in their places that the Gospel of Christ Jesus be not evil spoken of nor the Heathen blaspheme And therefore my dear Brethren be diligent in the Work of the Lord so much the more as you see the Day is approached and the Harvest is great and the Vineyard of the Lord is great and large and but few Labourers yea the Lord is enlarging his Borders and spreading forth his everlasting Truth and stretching forth his eternal Arm over the Nations and opening the treasures of Heaven and bringing Rain out of his Treasury to water the Earth that hath been parched and dry and to make his Plants to grow And so all wait that you may see the power and presence of the Lord in all your Assemblies and see that there be no Strife nor Contention nor Exaltation amongst you but all in meekness and quietness and long-suffering and forbearance even as the Lord hath spared and forborn you one submitting unto another even as you have heard and received when the Word of the Lord came first unto you and he that will be the greatest shall be the least but all in meekness and lowliness of Mind serve one another in Love even as you have received and the everlasting God of Life and Power be with you all and make you grow in the living power and virtue of God to order all things in his Wisdom as good Stewards of the manifold Mercies of the Lord which you are made partakers of that he alone may be glorified throughout all the Churches of Christ Jesus every where And to you my dear Brethren Fellow-Labourers to whom the Word of Reconciliation is committed are in the Work and Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ and are made partakers of the everlasting Gospel of peace which unto you is given to declare Lift up your Voices blow the Trumpet sound an Alarm out of the holy Mountain proclaim the acceptable Year and the Day of Vengeance of our God gird on your Sword upon your Loins put on the tryed Armour and follow him forever who rides upon the white Horse and is clothed with the same whâ— makes War in Righteousness Ride on ride on my beloved Brethren and Fellow-Souldiers make all plain before you thresh on with the new threshing Instrument which hath Teeth beat the Mountainâ— to Dust and let the Breath of the Lord scatter it make the Heathen tremble and the Uncircumcised fall by the Sword the Lord of Hosts is with us and goes before us Spare none neither Ox nor Ass neither old nor young Kill cut off destroy bathe your Sword in the Blood of Amaleck and all the Egyptians and Philistines and all the Uncircumcised and hew Agag to pieces break the Rocks cut down the Cedars and strong Oaks make the Devils subject cast out the unclean Spirits raise the Dead shut up in Prison bring out of Prison cast in your Nets lanch into the deep divide the Fish gather the good into Vessels cast the bad away bind the Tares in Bundles cast them into the Fire the Angel with his sharp Sickle is come the Angel of the everlasting Covenant is come thrust in your Sickles reap the Earth the Word of God is come that divides let all Flesh keep Silence divide the Word rightly feed the Lambs and Babes fill the hungry stop the Lyons Mouthes feed the fat and the strong with Plagues and Judgments declare his Name publish his eternal Truth which shall stand forever Eternal Life is come Glory to him forever silence all Disputers and Diviners forever trample upon all the Chaff Dung and Mire forever which all the Wisdom of the World feeds upon Greater is he that is in us then he that is in the World Oh my beloved Ones although I am the lowest and weakest among many of my Brethren yet the eternal Power of God is my Shield forever the Lord of Hosts is with us there is a Crown which none can take away to all who have denyed all yea it is on our Heads the Dread of God is with us And truly dear Brethren we cannot say that we fished and catched nothing for many Vessels are full nor we have not travailed and laboured and brought forth Wind as the false Prophets do for we have the Seals of our Ministry which shall be Witnesses for the Lord in Generations to come Not unto us O Lord but to thy Name be Glory forever who hath done and doth all for us and in us who is our Strength our Glory our Crown of Rejoycing all the Day long for his hidden Treasure is brought forth and made manifest in earthen Vessels unto him be eternal living Praises forever And so all dear Brethren Members of the same Body of Christ Jesus by which we are set free from Sin in the Liberty Life and Power in which you are made free stand as Witnesses for the Lamb and for the holy Nation for the royal Seed of the true Israel of God that it may be brought out of Captivity to serve the Lord in the Land of the living and the eternal God of Power and Life of endless rich Love and Mercy be with you all and prosper his own Work in your Hands that he alone may be glorified unto whom be eternal infinite Praises who is our Life our King God blessed forever and ever And to you all my dear Brethren and Sisters who suffer in Bonds and Prisons and Dens and Holes and suffer the Enemy to plow-long Furrows upon your Backs in Patience and suffer stocking whipping buffeting beating and cruel Mocking and Stripes and Chains and Fetters whom the World is not worthy of even as they did unto our Master of
I began to grow in Knowledge without which is sensual and then I was puffed up for the World admired me but still I was condemned for vain Words and Actions and the Root of Iniquity grew in me and then I followed a more strict Course and often went five or six Miles to hear some more excellent Means as they called it and so did get more Words but still I was the same nay worse for Knowledge puffed me up then along to about fifteen Years of Age I posted up and down after the most excellent Sermons so called and so became acquainted with all the eminent Christians so called in the Region where I lived and I was despised of my Parents and of the World made a Wonder and great Reproach came upon me but still I saw they knew nought and it was no Matter and so much Sorrow fell upon me four or five Years and when I was turned within I was judged for all my Iniquity formerly and still my Heart was shewed to me that it was corrupt but as I kept within to the Light in my Conscience I was restrained from many Actions which I had a Will to do and in the Instant when I have been doing any Unrighteousness in Actions or Words in many things I was often stopped and when I saw that I did it not a great Joy arose in me and when I had done any thing forwardly and rashly I was judged but this the Teachers said was a Natural Conscience that kept from Sin and did restrain it and said he that had but restraining Grace as they called it he was but a tame Devil And so I hearkned to their Imagination and so slighted the Light as too low a thing that was but common Grace that did preserve out of gross Evils but the Saints had a peculiar Faith and Grace and so I hearkened to them and still I was convinced of Sin and then they told how the Saints did believe in Christ and so Sin was not imputed but his Righteousness was accounted to them and so I must seek him in the Means as Prayer and receiving the Sacrament as they called it and judged me a worthy Communicant and in great Fear I was that I should eat unworthily and none could direct me what the Body of Christ was insomuch that one time I read all the Scripture that spoke of Christ's Suffering And they said I must believe he suffered for me and I believed all that they called Faith but yet I could not see how he dyed for me and had taken away my Sin for the Witness in my Conscience told me I was a Servant of Sin whilest I committed it and they told me I must not omit that Ordinance for thereby Strength was confirmed and Faith added insomuch on the one Hand they pressing it as a Duty and on the other Hand I saw that the Scripture said He that eats unworthily eats Damnation to himself I was in Fear notwithstanding none could accuse me without yet then afterward a great Fear fell upon me and I thought I had sinned against the Holy Ghost and great Trouble fell upon me Then they said I had not come prepared and yet I had all the Preparation that they had spoken of but still they were all Physitians of no value Then I fasted and prayed and walked mournfully in Sorrow and thought none was like me tempted on every Hand so I ran to this man and the other and they applyed Promises to me but it was only Words for the Witness of Christ shewed me That the Root of Iniquity stood and the Body of Sin whole notwithstanding I was kept by a secret Power from gross Evils but still Sorrow compassed me about and I questioned all that ever I had which they said was Grace Repentance and Faith And then I told them there was Guilt in me and they said Sin was taken away by Christ but the Guilt should still remain while I lived and so brought me the Saints Conditions who were in the Warfare to confirm it and so I said in my self This was a miserable Salvation that the Guilt of Sin and Condemnation still in me should stand and so I was tossed from Mountain to Hill and heard them preach Confusion and so I mattered not for them and said Sure this is not the Ministry of Christ and so I ceased long by Fits and did not mind them but kept still at home and in desart Places solitary in weeping and every thing that I had done was laid before me insomuch that every Thought was judged and I was tender and my Heart broken and when I could sorrow most I had most Peace for something spoke within me from the Lord but I knew him not then and they said that it was Heresie to look for the Word of the Lord to be spoken now in these Dayes but only the Letter and so I regarded it not much yet often I was made to do many righteous things by the immediate Power and Word of God and then Peace and Joy sprung up in me and Promises were spoken That he would teach me himself and be my God and often I did obey contrary to my Will and denyed my Will but they told me This was legal to obey out of Fear and that was Slavery but there was an Evangelical Obedience as they called it so I got above the Fear and yet acted the former things which they called Ordinances and they said that was Son-like Obedience and Christ had done all Then there appeared more Beauty in them called Independents and I loved them and so joyned my self to them and all the Money that I could get I purchased Books with and walked with and owned them as more separate from the World and they prest Separation but at last I saw it was but in Words that they would do things and chuse Officers and Members of themselves and so made themselves an Image and fell down to it yet there was some Tenderness in them at the first but the Doctrine was the same with the World's Words without of others Conditions Then they whom they called Anabaptists appeared to have more Glory walked more acording to the Scripture observing things written without and I went among them and there was something I loved among them but after they denyed all but such that came into their Way as out of the Fellowship of the Saints and Doctrine of Christ I saw the Ground was the same and their Doctrine out of the Life with the rest of the Teachers of the World and had separated themselves and made another Likeness but still all said The Letter was the Word and Rule and Christ at a Distance without had done all and some of them holding Free-will others opposing and all in the Will But still I lov'd them that walked honestly amongst all these but though I had seen and owned all that I had heard except the Figure which I saw was outward and that was their
greatest Glory and I saw they would have all fall down to it else no Communion in the midst of all these and much more which is Death to speak on but only that all honest-hearted may see themselves where they have rested and also may not trust any more to a Reed of Egypt after all this no Peace nor no Guide I found and then the Doctrine of Free Grace as they called it some preached That all Sin was done away past present and to come and so preached Salvation to the first Nature and to the Serpent that bore Rule only believing this and all is finished to this I hearkened a little and so lost my Condition within but still whither ever I went this was spoken in me His Servant thou art to whom thou obeyes and so I being overcome by Sin I had no Justification witnessed in me but Condemnation Then some preached Christ within but they themselves were without had but Words and yet they said All must be within unto which my Heart did cleave and spoke of Redemption and Justification and all within and of God appearing in Man and overcoming the Power of the Devil and then that in my Conscience bore Witness it must be so and I was exceedingly pressed to wait to find it so and something breathed after the living God and a true Love I had to all that walked honestly in what Profession soever and I hated reviling one another and that they should smite one another and persecute one another and with the Sufferer I alwayes took Part but still I saw though they spoke of all things within and of a Power to come that they enjoyed not what they spoke for the same Fruits were brought forth till at last I saw none walked as the Ministers of Christ nor none that pretended to the Ministry had any such Gift neither Pastor nor Teacher nor any such Members as were in the Apostles time So at last having passed up and down hurried here and there I saw all the Teachers of the World that they sought themselves and fed poor People with dead Names and Deceit and that they were not the Ministry of Christ and so I saw them all in Deceit who did not abide in Christ's Doctrine and I got my self quit of most of them for ever as I dissented from their Judgment they hated me and persecuted me So at last there was something revealed in me that the Lord would teach his People himself and so I waited and many things opened in me of a time at Hand and sometime I would have heard a Priest but when I heard him I was moved by the Lord and his Word in me spoke to oppose and often as a Fire I burned and a Trembling fell upon me yet I feared Reproach and so denyed the Lord's Motion and it was revealed in me to wait and I should know his Counsel and the Word of the Lord was in me The Time was at Hand when the Dead should hear the Voice of the Son of God and it burned in me as Fire That the Day was near when it should not be Lo here nor there but all his People should be taught of the Lord but still my Mind ran out and out of the Fear into Carelesness for the Cross of Christ I knew not and yet I say I was wiser then my Teachers I met with in that Generation I do not glory in it for Condemnation is past on it all forever yet still I had ever as my Mind was turned to the Light pure Openings and Prophesies to come and a Belief that I should see the Day and should bear Witness to his Name and so when things opened so fast the Wisdom of the Flesh catched them and so I went up and down preaching against all the Ministry and also run out with that which was revealed to my self and preached up and down the Country of the Fulness that was in the old Bottle and so was wondred after and admired by many who had waded up and down as my self had and we fed one another with Words and healed up one another in Deceit and all laid down in Sorrow when the Day of the Lord was made manifest for I was overthrown and the Foundation swept away and all my Righteousness and Unrighteousness was all judged and weighed and all was found too light And immediately as soon as I heard one declare whose Name is not known to the World but written in the Lamb's Book of Life forever in eternal Record forever as soon as I heard him declare That the Light of Christ in Man was the Way to Christ I believed the eternal Word of Truth and that of God in my Conscience sealed to it and so not only I but many hundreds more who thirsted after the Lord but was betrayed by the VVisdom of the Serpent we were all seen to be off the Foundation and all Mouthes were stopped in the Dust and so we stood all as condemned in our selves and all saw our Nakedness and were all ashamed though our Glory was great in the VVorld's Eye but all was Vanity And then after all this I was ignorant what the first Principle of true Religion was but as I turned my Mind within to the Light of Jesus Christ wherewith I was enlightened which formerly had reproved me for all Vanity and also as I did own it it led me into Righteousness and when I turned to it I saw it was the true and faithful VVitness of Christ Jesus and then my Eyes were opened and all things were brought to Remebrance that ever I had done and the Ark of the Testament was opened and there was Thunder and Lightning and great Hail and then the Trumpet of the Lord was sounded and then nothing but War and Rumour of War and the dreadful Power of the Lord fell upon me Plague and Pestilence and Famine and Earthquake and Fear and Terrour for the Sights that I saw with my Eyes and that which I heard with my Ears Sorrow and Pain and in the Morning I wished it had been Evening and in the Evening I wished it had been Morning and I had no Rest but Trouble on every Side and all that ever I had done was judged and condemned and all Things were accursed whether I did eat or drink or refrain I was accursed and then the Lyon suffered Hunger and the Seals were opened and seven Thunders uttered their Voices mine Eyes were dim with crying my Flesh did fail of Fatness my Bones were dryed and my Sinnews shrunk I became a Proverb to all yea to them who had been mine Acquaintance they stood afar off me the Pillars of Heaven were shaken and the Earth reeled as a Cottage one Wo poured out after another and I sought Death in that Day and could not find it it fled from me and I sought to cover my self any Way or with any Thing but nothing could for the Indignation of the Lord was upon the Beast and the
the Rock and so Love will encrease in you who abide faithful in your Measure and the good and perfect Gift of God will be made manifest in you and the Hope upon which the Soul comes to be anchored will come to be witnessed which Hope purifies the Heart and as you stand in the perfect Law of Liberty revealed in you revealed by the Spirit which cuts down the Oppessor and gives Liberty to his Seed unto which the Covenant is and the Promises forever and this Seed Christ took and takes upon him to redeem even the Seed of Abraham unto whom the Promise was made and so wait that the pure Law of Righteousness which is Life to the Righteous and the Seed may be set up and you will see all chained under and this binds and fetters the unclean Spirits and shuts them up into utter Darkness forever And as you come to be redeemed from under the Bondage of Sin and come above the Bonds of Death and the pure Principle lives in you there will be a Delight in you to do the Will of the Father who hath redeemed you from Sin and its Law unto Righteousness and its Law And all who hunger and thirst after Righteousness wait in that which thirstâ—th that the Gift you may receive which perfects forever them that receive it and believe in it and cleanseth and purgeth you from Unrighteousness and this being revealed in you as you obey it its leads to true Peace and will reveal in you the immortal Seed which came not by the Will of man but is contrary and revealed out of man's Will which all must witness to be born of that inherit the Kingdom of God and this is he who is begotten of the incorruptible Seed which the Promise is unto and are in him fulfilled Yea and Amen come out of time before all time the Son of God who leads out of time and this is he whom the Father revealed in Paul and this is he of whom I am a Witness in whom I have Redemption by the Blood of the Cross and he is my Sanctification Justification and Wisdom who is the Son of God who came to do his Father's VVill and now doth where he is witnessed who by his eternal VVord of Life hath begotten me and made me a Partaker of his eternal Inheritance which never fades away Glory unto him for evermore who is Life and translaeteth all that believe and follow him in the VVork of Regeneration unto his Kingdom So silence all you Diviners and Sorcerers forever who believe with a Faith and teach a faith that none can be ever cleansed from Sin while they are here you and your faith is denyed for it is not the same which was once delievered to the Saints which gave them Victory over the World and by which they overcame Paul a Minister of Christ by the will of God said the Colossians were translated into the Kingdom of God where nothing that is imperfect can come or enter your Preaching is vain your Hope and Faith is vain and all your Hearing is vain while the perfect Gift of God is not witnessed nor the everlasting Offering which perfects forever them that are sanctified by him even by his Word of Life and his Will which sanctifies and makes perfect the Comers thereunto and presents all that believe and receive him without Spot And therefore all you that love the Lord and wait for the coming of the Kingdom of Christ feed no longer upon Imaginations nor vain Words cease from looking lo here and there for the Kingdom of God will the Father reveal in you as you wait in the Measure of the Light in you by which he reveals himself in his Sons and Daughters and will bring them to his everlasting Fold and true Rest all who follow him through the Denyal of all and to the loosing of all for him shall come to witness an incoruptible Inheritance which never fades away And now a few Words to you who would thrust your selves into the Kingdom and would be called Christ's Disciples and Church-members who are gathered into Confederacies and make a Likeness unto your selves and are now professing the Saints Conditions in Words How came you hither to climb up so high in Words when as you are what you were before if not worse think it not a hard Saying for it is so among many of you and in the Light which is pure you are weighed and when one comes to try you your Language bewrays you that you are not what you profess for when you are tryed by the Saints Practices and Life that was in them and the Injoyment they had with God you are found so far from being any such that you even oppose the Faith they even believed in as some of your Pastors openly to my Face in the hearing of two hundred People said All the Saints dyed Sinners and so was so far from owning the Perfect Righteousness of Christ that he even denyed it and said it was Heresie and othres of you say you believe That all the Grace the Saints enjoy are imperfect yea even Faith is imperfect and others saying That all the Righteousness that was wrought in them by Faith was imperfect and others saying while the Light of Christ Jesus condemned them yet Christ Justified them and yet that which was wrought in them there was Failings in it and so you have imagined a Faith and Righteousness of your own and such a Christ to talk on and a Redemption as you may live in Lusts and be Men-pleasers and in the Customs and Fashions of the World and Covetousness and plead for Sin and puts perfect Righteousness to another VVorld and thus the Devil hath deceived you and so you set up and make Covers but all will not hide you in the day of his Appearance for God joyns not to that which is imperfect neither is that true Faith which is imperfect and which layes hold upon an imperfect Righteousness that is such a Faith as never was professed by any of the Saints whose VVords you profeâ—s for they had received Faith the Gift of God the least Measure of which was perfect and as they stood in it though it was but a Grain of Mustard-seed they said to this Mountain be removed and it was so and that which was in them reveal'd by the Son led them that did believe in it to lay hold upon Christ's Righteousness which was and is perfect which had yea hath no Spots nor Wrinckles nor Stain and this Righteousness was made manifest in them by the Faith of the Son by which they were justified in the Sight of God and came with boldness before the Throne of Christ for in them there was no Condemnation neither guilt but became one with the Judge and reconciled unto him and his Throne and to the Lamb by him who is the Mediator and hath made Peace betwixt them and the Father and so were justified in the Sight of God and this
were in Tumults often as we have been and they said that they were not worthy to live and now the same you say As Instance a Warrant given out at Dublin in December 1655. to fetch up and send up bound to Dublin all that are called Quakers and all these things and much more you who sit as Rulers and Judges of the Nation of Ireland have charged upon us and have required the Justices every where to examine us on these things and to lay them to our Charge and to see what Testimony we have or Letters of Recommendation Isay What testimony had the Ministers of Christ from the Rulers or high-Priests then they were false Apostles which were made by man's Will and the Apostle said Need we Letters of Recommendation as others have And of what Church we are in England we are of that which is in God begotten by the Preaching of the Gospel of the Son of God which all the Hirelings and them you uphold by a Popish Law call Heresie and there is that in every mans Conscience which is the Letters of our Recommendation And you say we are not of any settled Principle I say we are grounded and settled upon him who is the Rock of Ages and stand in his Counsel both sure and stedfast and cannot be moved Notwithstanding all the rage of the Heathen we are in Peace Glory unto him for â—vermore who is the World's Tormenter and the Breaker of Death's Covenant and Hell's Agreement and disquiets the Devil's Peace and torments them who plead for his Kingdom And you accuse us we make open and publick Disturbance to the Grief of the godly and sober People and Scandal of Religion if we come and declare the Mind of the Lord as it is revealed in us in publick and declare the Word of Life in Truth and Soberness and then you hale him out and Stock Whip Prison and persecute and what Religion is this that is among you who stop your Ears and as the Jews did with Paul run upon us and rent our Clothes and yet you call us Disturbers Are not these Practices found in most of your Idols Temples into which the Hirelings creep and call a Church and all those Practices among you are found and we are ashamed of you and your Practices that these things should be found among you after so manifest an Appearance of the Lord's Wrath against them and are these godly to that in all your Consciences I speak One haling another beating another punishing and rending our Cloathes and Prisons and Revilings and cruel Mocking and false Accusing and Stoning are these God-like or like God Oh! be ashamed And you that are so soon grieved you are not God-like who is long-suffering and his Saints who were God-like did bear and forbear one another And these Parish Teachers which you hold up in Ireland I challenge them all in the Name of the Lord who lives forever that in all their publick Worship as they call it and them also that they are not like God not any of his Ministers nor any thing that ever they practice And therefore I say Come forth and vindicate your Practice and let your God come forth and be tryed and lay open your Practice and your Principles to the World and stand by them if you can and for shame never run to the Magistrates to help you learned Rabbies you great Orators come forth and stand and prove your selves before the People and manifest your Strength and your weapons and that God that answers by Fire let him be God you have confessed our God answers by Fire for it s kindled among you and the Word which is Fire we have declared and many have heard it and have believed and answered it and now it burns and you shall not be able to quench it post and run as fast as you can dig as deep for Counsel as Hell call up all the Powers of Darkness you shall not be able to quench the Fire that is kindled If we should hold our peace the Stones of the Wall would cry out against you And therefore I say unto you all you Parish Teachers and all you that uphold them arm your selves with all your Strength call your Diviners together for we proclaim in the Lord's Name who hath rent the Heavens and is come down and his Tabernacle is with men open War we declare and sound the Trumpet of our God out of the holy Mountain all the Earth shall tremble before him and the Mountains shall melt before him why should we not be discovered to you we are sent forth to take Peace from the Earth and to warn all to the Battel of the great Day of God for now he is arisen in his Power and Glory and his Kingdom is come Glory unto him forever and we are Witnesses of it and it 's not of this World and we have denyed the World and follow him who hath a Bow and a Sword and makes War in Righteousness and none is able to stand before him therefore gather your selves on Heaps O ye Potsherds and make a Confederacy among the People arm your selves cast up your Mounts and Batteries strengthen your selves and trust in the Arm of Flesh and say None can come near us Verily I say unto you you shall be made level with the Ground and all your Sorcery shall be laid open and Anti-christ is discovered by the Brightness of the coming of Christ our Eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts in his Glory and all your Glory ye Tellers of Dreams and Diviners shall be made as a Dunghil and your Renown shall perish from the Earth the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it And now a few Words unto you O ye Heads and Rulers of the People in Ireland who sit in Judgment remember from whence you are raised and how great Deliverance you have had and how manifest the Lord hath appeared for you to deliver you out of the Hands of your Enemies who despised the Lord and all Righteousness and they were numerous and great when you have been in great Streights and they said in their Hearts We will swallow them up and then the Lord in the Day of your Distress delivered you and hath given you their Possessions and Dominion over them and hath setled you in Peace and you that have been low hath he exalted to bear Rule and expects from you Righteousness Justice and Equity and to be as Feet to the lame and Strength to the weak and to break off every Yoak of Oppression from the Neck of the poor and oppressed and to relieve your Brethren and entertain Strangers remembring you were many of you Strangers in this Land which now is given you to possess I say take heed unto your selves how you act according to the Customs of the Nation and your own Wills nor the customary Worship of the Nation which the Lord laid by and wasted and scattered all them that pretended themselves Teachers of the People
was there any of them that stood in the Gap or turned People from their Iniquity till the Lord broke out in his Wrath as Fire and laid the Land waste and the House of their God waste which you burnt up and will you now joyn with Moab and will you build again those things which you have once destroyed then you make your selves Transgressors think not thus in your Hearts that the Lord hath given you Dominion over the Nation to walk after your own Wills and joyn unto Deceit and that you may establish those things again which the Lord was wroth with and if you hold up those by your Laws and your Power and your Prisons and your Sword which is the People of the Lord's Curse I speak of the Teachers who are in Balaam's Way and greedy dumb Dogs who can never have enough and bestow the Nations Tythes and Lands and Riches which is the Lord's Treasure upon them that they may cry up Deceit and flatter you both you and they will fall together And Friends I am plain with you the Hand of the Lord is against them and all the Power of the Nations shall not save them from his Indignation And therefore be wise O ye Rulers and do not you think to take Counsel against the Lord and prosper nor prescribe not the Lord a Way for his Thoughts are not as your Thoughts nor his Wayes as your Wayes For he hath chosen the weak Things of this World to overthrow the Mighty your Eyes have seen this without and he hath revealed his Will to them and in them whom you look upon but as weak things and base things and in them he is making known his Eternal Power to overthrow the World's Wisdom and Might which is in the Fall and Curse from whence all Heresies and Blasphemies and Sects and Opinions flow and come forth and he is bringing his own Work his mighty Work to pass even to overthrow and overturn all the Power of the Beast and the false Prophet and shut them into the Pit and the Decree is gone forth and sealed and shall not be altered though all the Powers of Darkness joyn against him and although you should make a Law as the Jews did to take away the Life of Christ yet it did but little avail them for he hath carried on his Work through all Generations notwithstanding all Opposition and this is he in whom we trust and do not you think that you are able to limit the Lord by whom he must declare his Name or how or where or in what time but in his own VVay and Time and if he command and will us all mens VVills must be broken though still the holy men of God suffeâ—ed as such and so accounted as Disturbers of Peace I say the Devil's Peace must be broken and though the false Prophets of his Nation cry Peace unto you when you walk in the Imagination of your own Hearts and though you cry peace unto them yet one is come and coming to take peace from you for all your Peace and Agreement that you make against the least Appearance of God in his Servants it will be dashed to pieces And if they were to depart from the presence of God who fed nor the Saints neither clothed them nor visited them in prison but were to depart with the Devil and his Angels into everlasting Fire what will become of you who instead of clothing encourage the people to rent them off us and instead of feeding us give Command to depart because we are Stangers and instead of visiting them in prison you put them in prison and send for them one hundred Miles to be dragged to your prisons and before your Judgment-Seat in whom he is made manifest And now O ye Council at Dublin your Order hath so gratified the Devil and all the prophane in the Nation that they judge your Order was not large enough as that they had not Liberty to banish them who have been long Inhabitants in the Nation and therefore they tell you their Readiness to fulfil your Orders upon this Account and desire your Directions what to do further yea you have made all Lyars Drunkards cursed Speakers and prophane rejoyce and have strengthned the Hands of the wicked and so Judgment is turned backward and Righteousness cannot enter but all these things are recorded and you shall one Day remember what you have done And Friends it 's nothing to us we lay down our Heads in Peace notwithstanding if it had been done by them who had never professed any thing of Liberty of Conscience and Tenderness it might have been born but here your double Hypocrisie is made manifest Oh that ever you should be so led but why do the Heathen rage and the People imagine a vain Thing for he will exalt his Son upon the Hill of Sion and then wo unto them that have joyned their Power to uphold the Beast and the false Prophet for all must go into the Lake together where the Worm dyes not nor the Fire goes out to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels forever And therefore I say unto you Repent and turn to the Lord and seek Judgment and Righteousness that so you may judge for the Lord and break off all Oppression and entertain the Strangers who seek not yours but the Good of the Nation and that all people might know the Lord and worship him in Righteousness that so your dayes might be prolonged in the Land and the Lord of Heaven and Earth might rule over you in Righteousness and that he alone might be exalted in the Nations which hath not been known for many Generations but only all have lived with the Name without his Life and Power in Deceit and all Manner of Unrighteousness and the Lord is wearied and will ease himself of his Adversaries and his Glory shall no longer be given to another Cork in Ireland the 8 th of the 11 th Moneth 1655. AN EPISTLE TO THE Church of Christ BEING MY BRETHREN WHO ARE MADE PARTAKERS of the RICHES OF THE LOVE of GOD IN Christ Jesus In and About the CITY OF LONDON DEar Brethren who are called to be Saints by the Word which proceeds from the Throne of God the Lamb in which you have believed and denyed your Country and followed the Calling of the Lord and are become Children of Abraham and Children of the Promise Grace and Everlasting Peace be encreased amognst you who have believed the Testimony of his Son and are made Partakers of the common Salvation which was delivered unto the Saints and now made manifest in this his own Day according to his Everlasting Love to his Seed which Seed we are which are come up out of Egypt from whence he hath called his Son great is my Love unto you all and it 's the Love that I love withal which is stronger then Death and hath broken the Covenant of Death and now is become a broad River from
Life to come into it F. H. Cork the 18 th of the 11 th Moneth 1655. A LAMENTATION FOR THE Scattered Tribes Who are exiled into Captivity and are now mingled among the Heathen and are joyned to the Oppressor and refuse to return Presented unto all the separated Congregations under what Name or Form soever in Love to the Lost. SHEWING The Difference betwixt them that were separated by the word of Faith and them who have separated themselves in Immitation from the Letter And how they differ both in Doctrine in Matter in Form and so not the same with the Churches of Christ in the Unity The Difference between the true and false Ministry The Difference betwixt the Faith which is feigned and the Saints Faith The Difference betwixt true and false Hope A few words to the Ministry in all Sects and to all the mingled People who dwell in the Land of Darkness and are tossed up and down and know not where the Power is which is of God which gives victory A few VVords for your Information Thy Prophets have seen vain and foolish Things for thee and they have not discovered thine Iniquity to turn away thy Captivity but have seen for thee false Burthens and Causes of Banishment Lam. 2.14 By a Servant of Truth and a Friend to Righteousness who suffers with the Seed which is held in Oppression waiting and labouring for its Return F. H. Printed in the Year 1675. THE CONTENTS Concerning the Word of Christ which the Apostles and Ministers preached who had it in them revealed which did gather them into one that believed in it and its Effect and Operation that it had The Difference shewed betwixt that Ministry and the Ministry of them that preach the Letter for the Word The Difference between them that were separated by the VVord and them who have separated themselves The Difference shewn betwixt them that are taught of Christ and them that follow the Principles of Darkness that lead into Error The Difference betwixt the Faith which is feigned which is the VVorld's and the Saints Faith Concerning Hope and the Difference betwixt true and false Hope True Faith how it s wrought and what it is and its Operation A VVord to all the Ministers of the World in all Sects and to all People in every Sect. A few words to all you who put out the eye through long accustoming unto Sin who are near utter Darkness With some Information to them who are tossed and find no Rest nor know not where the Power of God is that gives Dominion over Sin the Power declared and the Way to Peace A LAMENTATION FOR THE Scattered Tribes TO all you who profess the Name of our Lord Jesus in Words and make mention of his Words and of his Ministers Words who had the everlasting Gospel and the Word of Reconciliation and of those Practices which the Churches of Christ had in their Day committed unto them after they were gathered out of the World and had denyed it and its Nature and were not comformable to it but were changed in their inward man and fruits of Righteousness were brought forth and they were as Lights in the World and did bear witness against the World that they were evil and said they were of God and had the Witness in themselves and were bold to say the whole World lay in Wickedness To you who are called separated Churches and Fellowships under this or that Name to you I write my Soul pities you above the rest of the World and in Love to those Desires which were once among you I write that so if it be possible you may come to see your selves and the Foundation on which you stand that those Desires which were after God begotten may not wholly be slain extinguished and betrayed through the Subtilty of the Serpent whose wayes are crooked and whose Subtilty is great to keep man under his Power This I have to say unto you There was and is a Zeal in you but not according to Knowledge bear my Words and judge that in your selves which would be angry There was that which shewed you the National Way of Worship under Episcopacy and Prelacy and Presbytery which is one in the Ground and Nature that this was the broad Way and not according to the Mind of the Lord neither was it according to Precept nor the Practices of the Churches of Christ which is clear from the Scripture Now you seeing this was not accoding to Christ nor his Ministers nor the Churches you began to separate from them into this or that Body under this or that Name as a Body separate from the World and their Worship because you found in the Writings of that which is called the Gospel People be gathered out of the World now your Eyes being still without you conformed to their Practices as you judged both in matter and manner and Practising those things which you read in the Scripture that the Churches Practised and so some Zealous did go forth and gather people together in this or that Form and here was your beginning and so here you set up your Rest that you walk according to the most exact Pattern that is Visible or Written yet since this you do not agree but are divided in your selves one sets up this and another that thing which you in your Reason judge right Now many things I might write unto you which you cannot bear but rather in Love a few Words that you may see the vast Difference betwixt your Assemblies and Churches and the Churches which you say is your Example And first of all I will shew in the Ground how far you fall short although it may be you may hate my instruction yet I say Suffer me a little for I am one who have obtained Mercy after a long and a sore Travel and tossed up and down in great Tempests but at last entered into the everlasting Rest and do not desire to contend with you for out of Debates carnal I am brought but rather in love to the Honesty in you all which is not of this World I speak First they received Power from on high and Commission given to preach the Gospel to all Nations I speak of the Ministers of Christ and those things which they had heard and seen and felt and tasted of and had handled of the Word of Life which Life was manifest in them this they preached and were sent to turn People from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power unto God's Power and as many as received and believed the Word which they preached which was the Word of Faith and Faith was begotten by the Preaching of it and they heard and learned of the VVord of Life Faith came by hearing that VVord and this VVord which they preached unto them was nigh them in their Mouth and in their Heart which as People turned to it and received it and believed so a Change was wrought in the Hearers of it and they were
Communion which is but carnal and earthly you have none of you the form one of you is for eating before Supper another after Supper another for as much Bread and Wine as you can eat and drink and so your God is your Belly and you mind earthly things and instead of remembring of Christ's Death you crucifie him afresh one with lust another with envy another with Pride and so instead of coming to the Table of the Lord you feed at the Table of Devils and nourish the flesh deceit and uncleanness and as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses by making likenesses so do you resist the Spirit of the Lord because it comes not according to your carnal Will nor your vain Conceptions and so deceit leads you all and the Cross of Christ you know not and those things you have formerly declared against you now take up some pretend sending out to preach and take Tythes others crying out against them in Words and yet uphold them and pay to the Priests whom you say are not Ministers of Christ and so waste the Lord's goods to uphold deceit and betray the Just in your selves and not one of you will suffer for that you judge your Principle and now you begin to creep into the Idols Temples and worship there and seek to the Powers of the Earth to uphold you and one of you preaching up Free-will another down another an Election of Persons and yet you never knew true Faith which is without Respect of Persons another Company of you dreamiâ—g of personal Reign in your carnal Imaginations and judge just such a God and a Christ as your selves that you may live in Pride and Lust and filthy and earthly-mindedness and Envy and yet talk of reigning with him but of being baptized into his Death you know nothing nor suffering with him you know nothing of nor of bearing his Reproach daily nor of suffering the spoiling of all and denying all for him this you are Strangers to you that tell of exercising your Gifts you have no Gift but acquired by long raking in the Letter and the Exercise of your carnal Wit and Knowledge in Contention and Strife you have treasured up a great deal of Stuff in the earthly Memory and this you call a Gift of the Spirit and such an one you make a Pastor or an Apostle of and he begets into his Image but still in the Curse and makes Proselites in the same Likeness leads into Sorts and Opinions from the true Gift of God for who hath a Gift it exercises him first and then he declares unto others of those things which the Gift of God hath wrought in him and he that knows the Gift of God is led out of his own Way Will and Time into his Will from whence it comes and here is the Ministry Christ alwayes blessed not in their own Wills but in his Will and this wrought a real Change in People from Satan's Power unto God's Power and so in all your Separation self shines in all you have not the Form much less the Power Another Sort tell of a Power to come and of a greater Glory to be revealed and a more glorious Ministry then hath been yet yet your Eyes are without and the Glory you look at is in great Words and your Expectation will fail for you neglect the present Measure of Christ's Gift that leads to Repentance and that you are got above and this is too low a thing for you you judge because you heard of this and talked of it therefore you are past this but I shâ—ll say unto you all Adulterers and Adulteresses come down from off your Mountain of Exaltation exalted above the Door and the Cross and you that are here are Thieves and Robbers your Minds are without feeding upon the Tree of Knowledge and imitating the best of you in your fallen Wisdom and your Foundation is upon Report as the Vagabâ—nd Jews were in the Name of Jesus that Paul preached they would cast out unclean Spirits and they were Sorcerers and what are you now who only preach of Christ that Paul and Peter and John in the Name of that Jesus they declared of and his Righteousness they spoke of but know not his Name in you nor his Power nor his Righteousness but in Tradition Imitation and conforming in the earthly Will here is all your Worship all of you calling the Letter the Light the Word the Gospel nay some of you so impudent as to call it Spirit and Life And so now you are made manifest and seen and your God and Worship and all your Profession is tryed by the Light is seen comprehended weighed and judged with the Light and all this will be too narrow to cover you in the Day of the Lord which is coming as a Thief upon all the World who make mention of the Name of the Lord but not in Righteousness And therefore strip you make you bare be uncovered cast off your ragged Covers whiâ—h will rust and wax old and mind the first Principle the Light that shews you Evil and own it to lead you and guide you out of Sin or else I testifie unto you you shall dye in your Sins and Wrath Eternal will be your Portion except you repent and cease from your vain Thoughts and Words and wait to see the Law of God revealed in your Hearts that may shew you Sin and condemn this Nature in the Transgression and do it away and slay you and quicken another thing which is dead in Trespasses and in Sins and while you sin the Image of God is dead and Christ suffers So while you have Time prize it To all you who put out the Eye through long and accustoming unto Sin who are near utter Darkness ANd you mingled People of Babylon and Egypt who are in Darkness and love to be so who are blind and love to be so who wallow in your Iniquity and love to be so who live at Ease in the Flesh in Pleasures and Wantonness you are dead while you live you have taken up your Rest in the Earth you are inlarging your Barns you are cieling your Houses and you are building with hewed Stone and Cedars and are laying House to House and Land to Land and are making your selves great in the World and seeking a Name among men you are swallowed up of the Earth and you go upon your Bellies you feed upon Dust Wo unto you that are here you have your Consolation here you lay up your Bags where Thieves break in and steal your Garments are moth-eaten your Gold is rusty and your Silver is cankered and there is your God which you worship which you have set up and worship in your Heart And when you have over-reached your Brethren and cheated and oppressed and defrauded your Brethren and are grown rich then you say God hath given you all this whenas you have stolen it and got it in Usury and Oppression and Deceit and when you have it
Peace unto others while they run with them into Riotousness and while they put into their Mouthes and these promised Liberty to themselves and others while they themselves were Servants of Corruption and Jude bore witness that they were turned from the Grace of God into Lasciviousness and Wantonness even from the Grace that taught them to deny Ungodliness and was sufficient to preserve them from these Errors before mentioned but they went from it and the Light and Life of men and denyed him and owned another even him who abode not in the Truth the Foundation of God but went out of the Truth and so are bottomless or without Foundation and there is the very Center Ground and Residence of all the false Prophets Antichrists Deceivers all comes from or out of the bottomless Pit and leads to perdition And Paul if not in that age yet in the next age after lived and he saw the Mystery of iniquity already begin to work 2 Thes. 2.6 and Paul an Apostle of Christ wrote to Timothy his Son that the Spirit spoke expresly some should depart from the Faith and they should speak Lyes in Hypocrisie 1 Timothy 4.1 2. and in the 2 Tim. he gave him notice what Fruits they should bring forth they that departed from the Faith Chap. 4. ver 2 3 4 5 6. yea a great Apostacy from the Faith there was while Paul was yet living for he writes to Timothy 2. Tim. 1. This thou knowest that all they which were in Asia be turned away from me and there were a great People in Asia for great persecution he suffered in Asia and stayed two Years in Asia Acts. 19.10 In somuch that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord yea and divers great men and of the chief of Asia were his Friends Acts 19.21 so it 's manifest there were a great people for Acts 19.26 not only at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath perswaded and turned away much people said Demetrius and Paul writing to the Corinthians saith 1 Cor. 19.19 The Churches in Asia salute you and Jâ—hn writes to seven Rev. 1 4. Rev. 11. and as was said before all were deceivers from the Faith even all they that are in Asia are turned away from me and the Apostle wrote to Titus Titus 1.10 11. That there were many unruly and vain Talkers and deceivers who subverted whole Houses teaching the things they ought not for filthy Lucre. And John who wrote the last in the Revelations he writes that the whole World wondered after the Beast and his Power was so great that it was said Who is able to make War with the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying VVho is able to make War with the Beast Rev. 13.3 4. and the Beast that arose out of the Sea having seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns and upon his Head the Name of Blasphemy and the Dragon gave him his Power his Seat and great Authority and he opened his Mouth in Blasphemy against God to blaspheme his Name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven and it was given him to make VVar with the Saints Ver. 6.7 and to overcome them and Power was given him over all Kindreds Tongues and Nations and all that dwell upon the Earth Ver. 9. shall worship him whose Names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life slain from the Foundation of the world This Beast receiving his Power and Authority from the Dragon hath prevailed he rose out of the Sea the Waters upon which the Whore sits and the Waters are Kindreds Tongues and People and the Beast arose out of the Seas also that the whole World wondered after and worshipped and John saw this coming fourteen or fifteen hundred Years ago so that in a few Ages after the Apostles all was worn out the Life lost the Dragon had Power the Beast had Power and all wondred after him and the Whore had made all Nations drunk with her Fornication and then she came to sit upon many Waters Kindreds Tongues and People here are the Waters here is the Sea out of which the Beast rose who received his Power from the Dragon and this is he who upon his Head had the Names of Blasphemy and all Kindreds Tongues and Nations whose Names were not written in the Lamb's Book they who honoured the Beast and worshipped the Beast and said who is able to make war with him admired his Power and submitted unto him and he hath had power and hath prevailed against the Saints did overcome them and the Dragon hath made War with the Seed which keep the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus all this was seen many Ages ago and what Work the Dragon hath made in the Nations and in the Earth where he hath had Dominion and prevailed and what a raging the roaring Lyon hath kept in the Earth is evident seeking to destroy them in whom the Seed remained and to destroy them in whom the power of God was or the least Measure and so the false Prophets Deceivers Antichrists which went out then which the Apostle saw they cryed up that power which was from the Life of God and have cryed it up for the higher power and said all ought to be subject to it and said who is able to make war with the Beast for the false Apostles Deceivers and Anti-christs went from the Grace of God and from the Light and from the power of God into the World and into that Nature which all Kindreds Tongues and People walked in and into the Power that acts the Children of Disobedience and joyned with that Power upon which the Whore sits and they taught Nations and People to admire this Power and to admire the Beast because of his Heads Horns Crowns and Names and hath wrought Miracles before the Beast and this power which the Beast had received from the Dragon this power admires the false Prophet and the false Prophet the Beast so that none could buy nor sell nay nor live but that had his Mark or the Number of his Name and so all have been in utter Darkness and the deeds of darkness have spread themselves over the Earth for the Whore who is adulterated from God and the Dragon and the Beast and the false prophet all have acted from that power which is below the Truth and below the Life which power is at Enmity against the Truth and the Life and against the Light and this power overspread all nations the Sun being set night came over all and the shadow of death over all Nations and a Vail and a Covering hath been spread over all and so out of the midst of thick Darkness all have acted this long and dark Night of Ignorance in the Apostacy wherein the Dragon hath had power and the Beast and that power hath been admired and set up which hath transgressed the Life so that any who have been zealous for the
Now that which shews a man Evil after it be committed is the pure Appearance of God And that which shews a man the Temptations when they arise that is the same now this they call Common and that which preventeth a man and keeps him back that he lend not his Heart nor put forth his Hand to commit Evil but restrains a man from it is not that saving out of evil and that which stops the Adversary in his Way that he enter not but preserveth the Creature out of Defilement and saves him from it is not this saving is not this the same thing that the Apostle who was well acquainted with the Grace of God and of its Operation wrote of to Titus That Grace of God which brought Salvation which had appeared and doth now appear to all men which taught them self-denyal to deny worldly Lusts and also to live godly or like unto God in this present World and now doth the same is not this sufficient to believe in and sufficient to save Now I do not say but there is a greater measure let out unto them that are converted unto God then is to them that are convinced of their Evil by the same Grace yet still it is one and the self-same thing one Gift yet a greater Measure of one and the same pure Vertue and Power which is given to them that obey the Life which is already made manifest by its Appearance unto all Object But some will be ready to say that this is Errour and that which is contrary to the Scripture and to orthodox Teachers that the Grace which is saving is near all men and hath appeared to all men To that I answer Though grace be saving in it self even the grace that hath appeared to all men and may be truly called saving grace yet to them that believe not in it neither are taught by it it convinceth and shews Evil and checks and judges for it yet there is no Variation nor Change in the Gift of God but as it worketh upon different Objects for Faith and Unbelief are two different things as Light and Darkness are different and so the Word of his Grace is the Savour of Life unto Life that is to say unto them that believe and is the Savour of Death unto Death unto them who are in the Unbelief who indeed are dead while they live yet here is the same Grace and the same Word of Grace yet here are different Operations so the Lord killeth and maketh alive yet the same Lord the Spirit convinceth of Sin and reproveth for Sin and also consolates and comforts here is Diversity of Operations yet the same Spirit which never alters Object But further some may say If that it be saving Grace or at least a degree and a Measure of saving Grace that hath appeared to all men then how is it that all are not saved by it Answ. Because I would all stumbling blocks were removed away that the Path might be made plain that all might come to believe in that which is God's Gift in which there is Power and Sufficiency therefore I am constrained by the Grace of God to declare of it and to bear witness to it thus largly which I know will be to the Edification of all that hunger after Righteousness All are not saved by it because they believe not in it neither are taught by it yet its Validity Power and Vertue is nevertheless in it self and though them that are careless and heedless say We feel no Power nor Sufficiency in it to save us from Sin yet this makes not void their Confidence who have receiâ—ed it and know its Power which hath given them Power and also Sufficiency to do the Will of God what though Unbelievers who are in the Alienation say there is no Beauty in Christ neither Fâ—rmnor Comliness this makes not his Glory void who is the express Image of the Father full of Grace and Truth the Disciples saw it and bore Record of him who were in the Faith and the Pharisees said he had a Devil who were in the Unbelief but in brief this is my Testimony that the Grace of God the perfect gift of God which shews Ungodliness and leads from Ungodliness all that are taught by it is a sufficient Teacher of it self I mean as the Power of Christ through it is made manifest unto all them that hearken to it Paul a Minister of the word of Reconciliation who was rapt up into the third Heaven where he saw things unutterable came to be tempted and buffetted with the Messenger of Satan and Fear and Doubting rose up in him and he prayed unto God thrice and this answer was given unto him my grace is sufficient for thee so this is evident to all Understandings who are opened by the Lord that which shewed him the Temptations and Satan's Messengers and Satan's Buffetings was sufficient to preserve him and so is it for all who singly are kept to it and in it sufficient to shew Ungodliness because of its Purity and to lead from worldly Lusts by its Power and to teach the Will of God and to live like unto God in this present World and this Testimony I bear of it and to it even what I have felt and tasted and handled of its Sufficiency and Vertue and Power of its Operation for the Confirmation of the same Truth which is believed by many Brethren and also for the Information of them who thirst after the Lord and for the Opposition of all the Gain-sayers and Opposers of it which Testimony I commend to that of God in every man which will witness me herein in the Day of God when all Hearts are opened and all Falshoods and Truth is made manifest in the mean time shall rest in that which I have declared of in which there is pure and perfect Peace A Word to you wise Men of this World who are glorying in the Sound of Words and worshipping outward Appearances to all wise and literal Professors who think you are worshipping God aright who think to search into the deep Things of God by your natural Wisdom Learning Parts and Study GOD hath broken open the Seals of the great Deep where the wonderful unalterable things of God are revealed from whence eternal Wisdom is flowing forth to his little Ones whom he hath sanctified from the Womb and his Power and Glory he is shedding abroad and making it to flow forth as though it issued out of a Womb by which Power and Wisdom you are all weighed even by one who is swadled about with Righteousness and girded up with the Girdle of Truth you are all measured as with a Span and are all weighed as with a Scale all your Parts Tongues Languages Interpretations Significations Wisdom that are come to be enjoy'd by them who have believed in the true Light that lighteth every Man which rounds you all as an Heap and measures you all as with a Line your Breadth Length
in due time to be revealed through Death they come to be known that is to say through the Death of Death for Israel the true Type after they passed over Jordan and had taken Jericho and Aie and had made an Enterance into the land yet there were many Enemies to be subdued and much Land and possessions which they were not made Partakers of long after even so after there be of the true Rest enjoyed and possessed and an Enterance made into yet there are many Enemies to be subdued and much of the heavenly Inheritance to be enjoyed by them that stand in the Power which giveth Dominion over Sin the Devil Hell and the Grave and they come to be made Partakers of God and so the Enmity being slain man comes to enjoy God who is eternal Life and comes to receive the Crown immortal which God the eternal Power and Strength giveth in due time to them that wait in Patience and in Faith through which the immortal Inheritance comes to be revealed to all the Children of Light And so to conclude in few Words this I say unto all who are longing after God and waiting to feel his Power keep in your Minds to the pure Measure of God's holy Spirit and therein wait to see his Kingdom and his Dominion and to be made Partakers of it which brings the World to an End and will let you see to the End of it too before it was and him who is now glorified with the Father in the Kingdom of God with the same glory he had with the Father before the World began and whoso comes to the End of the World and to the Beginning again comes to see him and his glory and the Kingdom of glory which fades not away which whoso come to enjoy are eternally happy AN Epistle to Friends IN LONDON A Servant of Jesus Christ unto all the chosen obedient and faithful Friends and Brethren in and about London wisheth an Increase of Righteousness Faith Obedience Patience Love Peace Mercy Long-suffering Humility Knowledge Wisdom Virtue Life Power Immortal Happiness and Felicity among you all and in you all that you may know and feel an Increase in the Increase of God that your Joy Rest and Peace may be full in him who is Eternal Life it self who hath brought and is bringing Immortality to Light through the Gospel unto all and in all who receive it and believe in it which is the Power of God unto Salvation unto all that believe and by it alone is the Remission and Forgiveness of Sins witnessed and in no other Name but this who is the mighty Power of God is Eternal Life witnessed nor Victory and Dominion over Sin the World and the Devil but by Christ Jesus the Word of God the Power of God by which Power alone is Strength and Victory witnessed over Death and the Grave by all that believe in him and receive him to them he gives Power to become the Sons of God and to receive an Inheritance with the Saints in Light among them that are sanctified Therefore dearly beloved in the Lord fulfil our Joy who have laboured and travailed amongst you and have declared unto you the Gospel which is preached unto every Creature under Heaven and the common Salvation which was delivered to the Saints who are at Rest in the Lord and now again delivered and declared unto us in this his own Day of Mercy Love and Grace and the Revelation of his Righteousness that they without us might not be made perfect for all make up but one Body and if a Member want the Body is not perfect And you your selves are our Witnesses That we preached unto you Christ the Lord which we were made Partakers of and only our selves your Servants for his sake and the Lord is our Witness and that of him in you all is our Witness that we followed not devised Fables nor through enticing Words of the Wisdom of Man declared we unto you nor handled the Word of Truth deceitfully but in much Fear and Soberness and Tenderness unto all in whom there was any Ear to hear or any Desire in their Hearts after the Lord neither did we seek to exercise Dominion over you but rejoyced when any had Dominion in the Lord over Deceit and when they reigned we reigned also but they who reigned without us and not in the Lord and would have entred through Deceit and Craft any Way into the Vineyard of the Lord and have spoiled the Plants and would have subverted from the Faith we could give no Place unto that no not for a Moment to them who have made the Offence of the Cross to cease and glory in the Flesh and would lead all thither again and have made Havock of the Flock of Christ for whom he dyed and would have had them to have lived and reigned who put him to Death and counted that which cleansed from Sin a vain and a low thing unto such I am wholly without Compassion but wait to see the righteous Indignation of the Lord fall upon them who have resisted the Holy Ghost and have done Despight unto the Spirit of God Misery and eternal Vengeance will be the End of such and the upright shall rejoyce Therefore dearly beloved of the Lord who are obedient unto the Word of his Grace these things are come as a Tryal that none may henceforth glory in Man nor in any thing but in the Lord the Life it self and in them who are in the Life and every one may keep to their own singly and so they will not be easily moved and you whom the Lord hath kept in the Hour of Tryal and Temptations that you joyned not with the Error of the Wicked prize his Love and keep low stand in Awe of the pure presence of the Lord else you will know his Wrath will be kindled against you again but the Fear Awe and Dread of the Lord keeps you clean clear and pure in his Sight mind all the first Love and that which keeps your Hearts open and tender to the Lord and one to another put away all Strife and Contention watch not for one anothers halting for that which would rejoyce in that is in the Transgression it self dwell in Love and Peace one with another take heed of Security and Carelesness and Ease in the Flesh for then Poverty Dryness and Barrenness will be among you and the Womb will be shut that brings forth the Children which the Lord delights in but all feel the Life and the Power of God and let your Faith stand in it alone and they that trust in it shall never be moved for there you will be preserved out of the Changeableness and changeable things which adulterate the Mind from God who never changeth for God who is pure stands off at a Distance from that Heart which goes a whoring after other Lovers there the Bed is defiled there he will not lye nor his Love he will not manifest to the
rest of the People that buy yet our Merchandize that he holds hereticall Opinions and despises the Ministry and the Ordinances and the Doctrines of our reformed Churches or if any say That the Spirit of the Lord is a sufficient Teacher to lead his People into all Truth without outward Means as natural learning Hebrew Greek and Latin and the ancient Fathers and old Authors and so make void all our Arts and Parts which are the Foundation of our Divinity then let us cry in the Ears of all the People and in the Ears of the Rulers and the Powers of the Earth that this is Blasphemy and Error and ought to be supprest And furthermore if any shall say That he believes he shall be made free from Sin in this Life by the effectual working of Chrâ—st the mighty Power of God which condemns Sin in the Flesh and destroyes the Works of the Devil then let us cry Heresie and Blasphemy and let us tell them that the holiest that ever were upon the Earth sinned and that the Body of Sin was uncut down in them and let us prove it by Paul's Words he complained of a Body of Sin and was never in any other Condition while he lived upon the Earth and so it may be we shall keep them in Blindness that they will continue and trade with us and if any say They are come to the Baptism of the Spirit the one Baptism into which all the Saints were â—aptized in which all other Baptisms end and so being come to this deny all the Figures and the Baptism of Infants then let us cry out that they are Sectaries and deny the Ordinance of God Infants-Baptism and let us give them some Scripture how that Christ took up little Children in his Arms and blessed them and how he hid his Disciples go out into all Nations and baptize them in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost and may be with an Inference or two or two or three Consequences raised from this and the like Scriptures we shall make their Eye blind that we shall put off this counterfeit Ware yet a little while And if any shall deny our Church or Chappel and call it an Holâ— Temple which God never commanded to be built then let us bring some Scriptures how that God commanded a Temple to be built at Jerusalem and how the Jews had Synagogues and how God commanded Store-houses to be built for God's Service and Worship and it may be such a Proof as this will satisfie them that they will come to our Shop another Time at the Hour appointed for the Sale of our Wares when the Marke-Bell rings and the Wares are ready to be set out and so by this Means we may hold on our Trade a while And if any shall deny David's Psalms to be sung in Rhime and Meeter and with Organs and Pipes to be an Ordinance of God in Gospel Times then let us bring them some Scriptures and some Fathers and tell them in the Church of Corinth that he that had a Psalm might sing and it may be they will know no Difference between a Psalm which was given forth by the Spirit the Psalm which is gotten by Tradition from another and let us bring a Proof out of Revelations That they that were redeemed from the Earth played upon the Harps and sung a new Song and it may be they will see no Difference between them that are in the Earth and them that are redeemed from the Earth and so we may keep up this still as an Ordinance invented by our Mother Mystery Babylon And let this be agreed amongst us now when many of us are assembled together whose Lively-hood and Riches stand only in the merchandizing of our Mother Church that to whatsoever Place we sail in our Ships if any be heard to say That the Spirit of the Lord ought to move first before any Teacher Minister or Believer ought to pray that so they may pray with the Spirit and in the Spirit in publick and in private whether with many or few that so without the Spirit none can be edified let us all agree to this that it be voted down as an Error and let us do what in us lyes to prove from Scripture that set Forms of Prayer are lawful and are an Ordinance of God and let us bring the Lord's Prayer called by our Mother-Church the Pater noster and see what that will do and also Hosea 14.2 Take with you Words and turn to the Lord say unto him take away our Iniquity and receive us graciously so with a Deduction from these and the like Scriptures we may happily prove that a set Form of Words invented by our Church or any of us that trade with her Merchandize that this is an Ordinance of God and ought to be practised publickly and privately and is accepted with God although the People have not received the Spirit as they had in the primitive Times and if this will not satisfie then use some prevalent Argument as our reverend Brother and Fellow-merchant with us Mr. Samuel Bolton in the like Case in Hand used this forcible Argument Though you cannot command the Wind said he yet you may spread your Sails and see what such an Argument as this will do but if they will not be content with this as it may be they will not in England Scotland Ireland and Holland and some other Parts who are more quick-sighted then some other Places where we merchandize if we cannot stand it out against them that none can pray to God aright but he that is come to the Spirit and knows by the Signification of it what to ask then let us grant them the thing if we cannot help it if Common-prayer Forms of Prayer will not go off as they use to do amongst our Customers then let us agree to them but let that be the last Shift that without Faith or the Spirit it is impossible to be accepted or heard of God yet before this be granted let us strive as much as in us lyes by forcible Arguments from the Scripture if so be they will not allow the Authority of ancient Fathers nor of our Cannon-Books how that there is a Platform laid down in Scripture and the general Heads of true Prayer are laid down in an Orthodox Method in the Scriptures that is to say Confession Petition Intercession Supplication with giving of Thanks and if this will not stave them off from speaking so much of Prayer by the Spirit and with Understanding for iâ— will be a grievous thing if we let this Ordinance fall of set Form of Prayer which our Mother Mystery Babylon hath allowed so many Years and raâ—â—fied and confirmed in several great Councils as Nice and Lateran and divers others and if nothing will serve them but Prayer by the same Spirit as was in the primitive times before we lose them quite let us grant it them in Words that Prayer by the Spirit
out of the Psalms or any other Scripture as the Minister shall think fit will serve to treat upon Reader thou mayest take notice that here is no notice taken of the holy Ghost or Spirit what it thinks fit but what he that preaches hath ready must go off and counted as fit for that People Direct And in the 36th page your Direction is to the Merchant not to rest in general Doctrine but come to particular Application which is a Work of great difficulty to himself requiring Prudence and Moderation and to the natural corrupt man it will be very unpleasant Answ. The Doctrines and the Applications of the natural corrupt man will not be profitable nor powerful at all upon the Hearers neither will disarm the Thoughts of the Heart at all and you that give Prescriptions to natural corrupt men what to preach who set them about performing the Work of God that know it not are very ignorant for the natural man understands not the things of God and the corrupt man in Heart sees not God and he that understands not the things of God must needs preach a Divination of his own Brain Well let who will take this Traffique the Children of Light will have none of it it may be such Husks as these will satisfie a Herd of Swine and so let them take it Direct And you say He that preaches is to be perswaded in his own Heart that all that he teaches is the Truth and that he is to walk before his Flock as an Example Answ. How is he like to be perswaded in his own Heart that sins presumptuously against the Checks of his own Conscience And you set Examples indeed but they are but bad ones would you have your Flock to follow your Example would you have every one of your Flock to have a long Gown or a long Robe and make them all like Cardinals Princes Would you have every one to have a Ring on his finger and a company of Points at his knees like a Beasom and a company of Ribbons and Cuffs like a Fidler Or would you have any of your Flock to come and fetch away a Yoak of your Oxen or a couple of your Horses or take his Teem and come into your Field break down the Hedges and throw open the Gates and load his Waggon with Corn if one could not pay it him for Conscience sake Or would you be sued up two hundred Miles into a Court for a Tythe Hen worth four Pence or six Pence and thrown into the Fleet a Year or two for four or five Shilling Many such Evidences and Examples we have from you you late Reformers but to the Light in all Consciences I leave to judge which you have presumptuously sinned against what Examples you are to your Flocks Direct And now Reader I come to Prayer after Sermon and thou shalt see what Traffick is there The Ministers are to give thanks for the blessing received as Eleâ—â—ion Vocation Adoption Justification and Hope of Glory and likewise to turn the Heads of his Sermons into some few Petitions and after to pray for the Preparations for Death and to entreat of God to forgive the Iniquity of your holy things Answ. Here Reader thou mayest see as bad Merchandize as the Story of the Lady of Lauretta or the Story of Saint Francis which the begging Fryars your fellow-merchants traffick withal First you give thanks for Election Vocation Justification and Hope of Glory and afterwards pray for the Forgiveness of the Iniquity of your holy things How are your things holy when they are full of Iniquity and sinful Is that which is holy Iniquity and sinful Or is that which is Iniquity and sinful holy Are they Elected Justified Adopted and Sanctified whose Sins are not blotted out whose Iniquities are not forgiven let the wise in Heart judge of this Dream What! are not they well prepared for death that are Elected Adopted Justified and Sanctified but they must needs have your Prayers full of Iniquity will that prepare them better What ignorance is here And where learned you this Article of Faith to turn the Heads of the Sermon into Petitions let the wise Judge Was not Prophesie one thing and Prayer another But now Pâ—â—phesie must be turned into Prayer and Prayer into Prophesie Sermons into Petitions and Petitions into Sermons what mangl'd Traffick is this Direct In the 38th Page Thâ—s kind of Prayer fore-mentioned ended a Psalm may be sung if it be convenient if some other Ordinance doth not follow Answ. Then it seems that your Psalm is no Ordinance but if it be it must give Way however if the Priest think fit God must have no Prayers at that Time it may be sprinckling of an Infant may serve in stead Direct And now I come to the great Ordinance Infants Baptism falsly so called in the 40th Page The Minister is to use some Words touching the Institution how that it was instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ that Infants should be baptized and that it is a Seal of the Covenant of Grace and of our grafting into Christ and of our Union with him and of Remission of Sins Regeneration Adoption and eternal Life Answ. Reader take notice Christ never sent them forth as Ministers to tell Lyes as to say he ordained that which he never did and furthermore take notice that the Spirit of the Lord is turned out of Doors there is no Place for it outward Water with which the Infant is sprinckled hath taken up the Authority and the Work of the Spirit the Minister of Christ declared that the Spirit of Promise and the Spirit of Truth was the Seal of the Covenant of Grace and Remission of Sins Regeneration and Adoption and that the Faith and the Spirit are the Seed of Eternal Life but these Reformers have excluded both and have set up a beggarly Element in the room let the spiritual Man judge what kind of Traffick this is Direct And in Page 42. That Children by Baptism are received into the Bosome of the Church distinguished from the World Answ. Now what Kind of Church yours is and what Kind of a Bosome your Church hath distinct from the World the wise in Heart may judge you have confessed that Magistrates Ministers and the whole Nation do not so much as endeavour after Mortification and a Newness of Life and that you are blind hard-hearted full of Unbelief impenitent secure and luke-warm and have not so much as endeavoured to receive Christ into your Hearts by Faith as in the sixteenth Page of your Directory may be seen and how your Church and the Bosome of it is distinct from the World if your Church be as you have said the understanding may judge for you that are impenitent and full of Unbelief and have not received Christ into your Hearts you are of the World and your Bosome full of Deceit and are none of the Church of Christ. Direct And moreover the Minister that baptized the Infant
down the Altars of Baal and thrown down the high Places did they say it 's requisite and convenient that our Priests and the Levites and the Congregation do meet at the Altar of Baal or at the high places Or did the Apostles bid the Gentiles who did believe go to their Idols Temple again and say it was a convenient Place to worship the true God in And have you forgotten that Exhortation or Precept Abstain from every Appearance of Evil And though some know an Idol is nothing in the World how be it there is not in every man that Knowledge and is it not yet called by most of you yet The House of God House of Prayer But as you did begin so will you end to carry no Traffiqe but for your Mother Mystery Babylon And thus Reader I have led thee through many things from the rise of the Whore and through the most of her merchants and through the most of her Traffique merchants of divers orders and Ranks but I find them all to trade with nothing but Inchantments and Sorceries which hath long bewitched the Nations but the time is come that she is manifest with her Merchandize and Sorceries and turned from by me and many thousands more which is my exhortation to thee that so thou mayst come to the Church which is in God and to the Elect assembly and to know the Seed which is heir of the promise and of the Life which is without end Which Mystery Babylon with all her merchants have sought to Destroy since she got up to ride upon the Beast who hath compelled all both small and great to worship him and also all Nations to buy the Whores Merchandize and Traffique which hath deceived the Nations and bewitched them but the time is come that she shall be hated of her Lovers and they shall forsake her and her Merchants shall say Alas alas which day is dawning and dawned which discovers the Whore the Beast and false Prophet with all their Sorceries and the Lamb shall reign and the holy men of God and Prophets shall rejoyce over her when the smoak of her Torment ascends up forever and ever which the Lord hasten saith my Spirit Amen A Warning to Friends to beware of such who had departed from the Faith FRiends and Brethren who have heard believ'd and received the Word of Truth as it is in Jesus and kept the Word of his Patience which will preserve all that abide faithful in this Day of Tryal and Hour of Temptation wherein Satan is let loose for a Season to try them that dwell on the Earth even to try your Faith and Patience and Love that you may be made manifest unto all that love the Lord my Bowels earn after you all and my Spirit is vexed in me for the Lord's Inheritance which the old Dragon which was and is a Deceiver seeks to destroy and root out But all who stand on the Rock and are built thereon the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against you therefore dear Friends be more circumspect and diligent because dangerous Times are come and coming wherein many shall depart from the Faith and give heed to the Deceit of their own Hearts and will endeavour to subvert and overthrow the Faith of some and will labour by all Means to make your Hope vain and your Faith void and they themselves having made Shipwrack of Faith and put away that far from them which works the Answer of a good Conscience and now seek to devour all and destroy all especially the weak and unstable Minds but blessed are they that are not offended and that turn not aside for a Thing of nought after lying Vanities which the Wrath of God will come upon and be revealed upon to the utmost because they have not the Truth and this could not have come upon them but that they take Pleasure in Unrighteousness whose Hearts are filled with Mischief and the whole Course of Nature set on the Fire of Hell being filled with Unrighteousness and now it pours out of their unclean Vessels to defile all who come near it or touch it Friends I say all be awakened for this Spirit could not have come forth nor appeared but first there was a Departure from the Faith and then giving heed to the lying Spirit and Doctrine of Devils their Understandings being darkened have brought forth these Fruits whereof all that dwell in the least Measure of Truth will be ashamed and therefore give no Place to the Devil nor to none of their lying deceitful Confusion nor enter not into consulting with it none have done or shall do but they shall be defiled dwell in that which savours Words the Ground from whence they come and that discerns Spirits take heed of feigned Words and feigned Humility and feigned Tears and feigned Joy touch not taste not handle not but all keep your Garments clean lest you be turned out of the Lord's Camp as they are and be a Vexation to the Children of Light which would be a Lamentation And therefore having seen the Deceit and having heard it judged with the Life of God which answers that of God in every Man and being warned and your Eyes have seen and your Ears have heard that which the least Measure of God cannot but abhor therefore stand not gazing and wondring and sparing one and accuse another for from Head to Tail it is all accursed and cursed is the Father of it and the Womb that brought it forth from this time forth and for evermore and all that shelter under it who have been disobedient here shelter and all who would have the Offence of the Cross to cease that so they may glory in the Flesh will find a Shelter here but the End is Death and Bitterness greater Tribulation then before will come which the Lord will hasten that all who have turned the Grace of God into Wantonness may receive a just Recompence of Reward Flames of everlasting Wrath which shall never be quenched never heed it the same came in the Apostles time after they had planted the Devourer entred and there arose from among them that had believ'd Men speaking perverse things and were proud self-willed treacherous high-minded and presumptuous of which Generation these are the same who are turned from the Truth Life and Power of God after their ungodly Lusts and having started aside from the holy Commandments of God and having slain God's Witness now make merry and call it greater Glory this will God confound for thus is the Enmity got up again which is not of himself but of another and he will not give his Glory to another keep out all feigned Love and foolish Pity and all Imitations and all sloathful Spirits and all those that run gadding up and down in Idleness and Foolishness and are not diligent in their Places all such Practices are denyed and therefore every one be diligent in your Places and Callings and there abide and all wait to
Saying was true then which was spoken by Christ the Power many Generations after I in them and thou in me and all was perfect in one the Father was in the Power the Power was in the Father and all the Creatures in the Power now was the Father glorified now was the Son glorified now was man in Dominion in Power crowned with Honour Lord over all the Works that God had made in the Power and now the whole Family both of Heaven and earth bowed their Knees to the Lamb to the Power and this was then fulfilled At the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow both of Things in heaven and Things in Earth and his Name was now the Word of God and this was in the Beginning and the Word of God is the power of God and now both the caelestial Bodies and the terrestrial Bodies were all subject to the Power and all the Works of the Lord's Hands were finished and he rested and all things both in Heaven and earth rested in the Power and all kept holy Day and rejoyced Though the Heavens and the Earth were created and all things wrought and finished yet the World was not begun that lay in Wickedness which the Devil is the God of neither was the Power which is Christ the Mystery hid neither was the Lamb slain yet Now after all was made and created and were good and blessed and endued with Power Life and Vertue according to the Purpose of his heavenly Will which is eternally pure yet was not the Lamb slain nor the Mystery hid which is the Power which is Christ for what should slay him or what should hide him he that reads let him understand this that I speak of cannot be reached to with that Wisdom that stands in time which was not in the Beginning with God that is shut out but the wise in Heart shall understand Knowledge and the prudent shall know what hath been in the Beginning and of his wonderful Works in the Dayes of old and of the Mystery which was before the World began when the Lamb was in Glory the Son in Glory Christ in Glory the first born of every Creature and was born before the World began he that hath an Ear to hear let him hear when all that God had made and brought forth by the Word by the Power was blessed and stood in the Power then did the Lamb sit in his Throne then was he the Delight of God and God in him and all that was made by him rejoyced in him here was Love here was Glory here was Purity Unity and a sweet Harmony Joy Peace Love eternal Life God's Power ran through all all was good Christ was not now hid he shed himself abroad and all things were Partakers of his Power in which they were made here was Happiness Blessedness Joy Dominion everlasting and eternal Felicity Innocency Purity and Perfection and man in it God in it the Lamb in it man in it after his own Image the Mystery of Godliness was not hid there was nothing to hide it or overshadow it no Vail no Covering but Righteousness was manifest and was the Covering of all Innocency the Cloathing of all Purity the Robe of all and Life the dwelling Place of all and all the Works of his Hands rested with the Father with the Lamb with the Word with the Power with Christ in Glory with the Father in the eternal Glory whereby all was upheld in Purity Unity Harmony answering the pure Will of God and man had Power to answer the Will of his Maker which he received from God the Father of Life by the Power in which he was made and to abide in the Will of God forever and herein he and all things in Heaven and the whole Family thereof and all the holy Host of God bowed to the Lamb's Power and he reigned and the Angels were subject to the first-born of every Creature before the Angels or before any thing was made he was his Age who can declare or his Generation his Age runs parallel with Eternity with Immortality came from the eternal Womb and from the Bosome of the Father where he is even where he was before the World began he that reads let him understand now the Power ruling in all and over all all were in Peace and was blessed Now the Angel stood in his Power moved in his Power and all the caelestial Bodies went in and out at his Command and moved not nor stirred not but when he moved and this was then fulfilled let all the Angels worship him and so they did reverenced him and were subject to him sang and rejoyced in him triumphed in his Power and all the holy Host moved at his Command and marched on in his Strength to perform his Will and to accomplish his everlasting Purpose and to fulfil his eternal Decree and gave Glory to him who sate upon the Throne of Righteousness and judged in Righteousness forever and ruled in Righteousness forever there was Joy in Heaven the Father rejoyced the Son rejoyced the Angels rejoyced the Morning Stars sang the Sons of God shouted for Joy the holy Host gave Praise and all praised in the Firmament of his Power in which they stood moved walked lived and accomplished the pure perpetual and eternal Decree of their Maker Moreover the terrestrial Bodies were all subject to him he reigned in all over all moved all gave Life to all and was the Life of Adam of the Male and the Female and then was this fulfilled even then which was spoken in time though by him who was before all time who was the Life of all things I say he lived then and because he lived Man lived also for he was his Life now Christ the Power reigned over all and all in the Lamb's Power were subject in a sweet Harmony answering the pure Will of their Lord their King that lived forever who was upon his Throne in the Heavens and now his Kindgom was over all there was Joy in Heaven there was Peace on Earth the good Will of God was done in Earth as it was in Heaven Oh beautiful oh glorious oh comely oh admirable oh incomprehensible was the Glory my Tongue cannot express and time would fail me to declare the eternal Excellency which God hath revealed by his Spirit and that which I see is not lawful now for me to utter now were no Mountains nor Hills to hide the Mystery but it shined upon all in all over all and above all was not hid as I said there was now no hiding Place that could or did overshadow the Mystery of Godliness for the Eyes of all things looked upon him whether Caelestial or Terrestrial and all and every thing according to its Kind rejoyced in the Light of his Countenance and of his Power was glad and gloried in him for then there was not another he that can hear let him Now the Earth rejoyced and the Floods clapped their Hands now the great
this Nature he offered and was not accepted for he was in the Imitation out of the Life out of the Power in Feignedness and this was self and not the Lord that moved him The Jews in the Prophets Time who were in Cain's Nature in Envy and Maliciousness grinding the Faces of the poor and oppressing the needy and chopping them in Pieces as Flesh for the Pot they brought Sacrifices Oblations Burnt-Offerings kept Fasts Sabbaths and New Moons and all these Things and lyed swore and dealt falsly and left no room for the poor and yet they said the Lord was among them the Lord sent his Servant the Prophet to tell them the Lord was weary of them and of their Oblations why they were out of the Faith out of the Life out of the Power and Deceit lodged in their Hearts Covetousness Envy Murder Oppression and Violence as ravening Wolves hunting for their Prey the Prophets prophesied for hire their Priests bear Rule by their Means and people were one with it and liked it and loved it should be so the End of those things was Misery the Judgment of God came upon them they were scattered among their enemies their prophets slain and for their sake Sion became as a plowed Corn-field and Jerusalem a Heap and now he that offered an Ox was no more accepted then if he slew a man no more then if he blessed Chemosh Ashteroth or Baal all was Sin and to be condemned by the power out of which they were gone The Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's Time great Worshippers devout Men devout Women zealous Men for Temple Priests Tythes Dayes Sabbaths Oblations and were acting all those Things that were commanded in or about the Worship of God yet Christ said unto his Disciples Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye cannot enter the Kingdom of God they might have said which at least they did in their Hearts this Man sayes he is the Son of God and yet saith and teacheth his Disciples another Righteousness then is commanded in the Law and moreover tells them Except their Righteousness exceedours they cannot enter into God's Kingdom where is there in all the Earth any better Righteousness then ours we do not as the Heathen worship Idol-gods we keep the Sabbaths and purifie our selves and pay Tythes and keep the Ordinances given by the Lord to Moses and our Fathers well these Things they were doing but they were but dead Works they were out of the Faith out of the Power and had not God's Word abiding in their Hearts from which their Power and Ability should have come to have answered the will of God here was self-righteousness although they did the outward things which were commanded of the Lord yet they were dead works their Temple left desolate worship desolate Jerusalem compassed about with Armies not one Stone left upon another which was not to be thrown down they scattered among the Heathen their Priests slain and their Oblations ceased Plagues and Judgments pursuing whithersoever they went did all those things save them from wrath all their works dead worships and self-righteousness save them were they accepted oh nay rejected a Seed of Falshood a crooked Generation an hypocritical Generation these things with many more which I could instance all shewing that Man in the Transgression of the Life of the Power whether he sinned or wrought that which he might judge was righteous yet they were but dead works Obâ—ect But some may say What sayest thou to their Generation of Ministers Preachers and Ordinances we live in a Gospel-time and are under Gospel-Ordinances and they teach that Man is redeemed by Christ from Sins past present and to come and the Ordinances that we practise now I hope you will not call them dead Works Answ. I say the Ministry in these Nations made by man's will and by the will of the Flesh and that are seeking their Gain from their Quarter and are suing Men at Law and throwing Men in Dungeons and Holes to the Loss of some mens Lives already and hundreds have been and are like to be spoiled only to uphold their greedy devouring Nature who have ravened and devoured like evening wolves some mens Estates wholly and sometimes taken ten fold the Value who raven from place to place from one end of the Land to another and into other Nations also for filthy Lucre or a greater Benefit I say they are in the Fall in the Transgression Death rules in them over them and they are Ministers of Death and never brought any to God but of them many other Brethren who are in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ have born a large Testimony which any considerate wise prudent and reasonable man may see them to be Ministers of Death demonstrated by many sound Grounds and unanswerable Arguments and the Scripture of Truth clearly bearing witness to the same and so I refer the Reader to those things and shall content my self at present in what I have said in this particular Now as to the Worship or Ordinances or Practices themselves I come unto and shall speak no otherwise of any thing then God by his eternal Light and Spirit hath made me understand in the true Ground of things else I know well how to be Silent Now this I say to all Sects Opinions and Fellowships though they be divided into many Heads or Societies man acting or performing any thing of worship Ordinance or any practice whatsoever which the Scripture declares hath been or ever was though they should do it in the same manner sutable in every Circumstance to that which others did till all or every man come to believe in the power again which man went from in the Transgression all that he doth is Self-righteousness and dead Works Preaching dead Prayer dead Baptism dead their Communion dead their Conferences dead their exhortations dead their Fasts dead their Offerings like as if one had offered a dead Beast under the Law or a Lame Lamb which had been abomination even so I say till man come to that which he hath lost in the Transgression till man find the Power the Life the Light the Messiah and feel him in them to Work move and lead guide and act all will be accounted with the Lord Self-righteousness dead Works dead Fruit and if all would examine and try they might see the Nations almost spread over with dead men in Adam and dead Works abound and coverings which God will Rent and lay all waste together false Rest imitated Forms and representations without Life I say till men come into the Power again that Adam went from and so died in that Day cannot do any thing well-pleasing to God and whosoever comes to that again passeth every step through Death and denyes himself and all Self-actions self-righteousness and must come to be bare and Naked again even as he was before he came out he and his wife were Naked and were not ashamed
for the Life of the World John 6.51 And as Godliness began to work and the Mystery thereof in the dayes of Christ and the Apostles wherein the Lord discovered much of his Wisdom and Power and manifested his pure Presence and poured out his Spirit plentifully upon Sons and Daughters and fulfilled that which Joel prophesied of Joel 2.28 which came to be fulfilled after Christ's ascension Acts 2.17 and They received the Holy Ghost and spoke the wonderful Things of God as they were revealed by the Spirit which shed it self abroad among them that waited for it so also the Mystery of Iniquity began to work even in that time and as the Apostles laid the Foundation of Truth and declared the Truth Christ to be the Foundation even so the Mystery of Iniquity did Work and a Beginning or a Foundation of error was laid by them who were gone out of the Truth the false Prophets Deceivers Anti-christs who were Professors and Preachers but they were such as were Covetous and Greedy of filthy Lucre and made Merchandize of Souls for dishonest gain and denyed the Power of God Christ and were Enemies to the Cross and gloried in the Flesh and spake Swelling words of Vanity and did all live in the Lust of the Flesh and were proud Boasters and denyed the Lord that bought them for denying the Power of God they did deny Christ though in Words they preached him as this Generation who are their Off-springs do out of Strife and Contention as the Apostles writes and they held the Form of Godliness but denyed the Power and they were they that once were Convinced of the Truth and came into the form of Truth but denyed the Power of Truth but were in Craft and Deceit and they subverted whole Houses from the Faith and led them back into the World into Unbelief in the Apostles dayes and yet had a worship and did Worship but not in the Power not the Life and this began to work and wrought more cunningly and Subtilly in the latter Times And the Apostle Paul in many of his Epistles John and Peter and Jude declare against them and Paul prophesied of them before his departure of grievous Wolves which should spring up which should not spare to make Havock of the Flock of Christ so the false Apostles Deceivers Anti-christs and deceitful Workers they went out then and did what they could to lead Disciples after them into the World inwardly they were ravened from the Spirit and were gone from it into the Earth into the world and served not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies and the God of the world which is the Devil and they went into the World and the World received them and then they and their Disciples turned against the Saints and they held Truth in Words and the Form for a wile but it was in Unrighteousness and here was the beginners and the beginning of the Apostates and of the Apostacy it was began in the Apostles dayes by them that went out of the Truth out of the Light and were ravened from the Spirit and erred from the Faith and were Enemies to the Power of God and these were the beginners and the Layers of the Foundation and then it grew that root of Wickedness faster then the Truth for the Jews resisted and the Heathens resisted and the Apostates and false Prophets resisted and they that were Apostatized they resisted and they caused many to Stumble to Err to make Ship-wrack of their Faith and so the World went after them the World the Nations the Kindreds the Tongues and the People went after Kings Princes and Potentates of the Earth and in process of time they had over-run all and Killed the Saints the Woman fled into the Wilderness and the man-Child was caught up unto God then all Nations who were gone from the Rock became as a Sea reeled to and fro Unstable Unsetled what were they like to settle in the Sea then a great beast arose with his seven Heads and ten Horns and the Whore which had Defiled the bed and She sat upon the Beast and She reached out her Cup of Fornication to the Nations and all Nations were Drunk with her Cup and then the Beast made War and the Nations were Drunk and they loved the beast and received his Mark became Cruel and pushed at the Saints and followed him and made War with them and the Whore she drank the blood of the Saints and the Dragon appeared and with his Tayl drew the third part of the Stars after him to the Earth the false Prophets they are the Tail of the Dragon who were gone from the Testimony of Jesus the Spirit of Prophecy and drew after it the third part of the Stars from the Firmament of his Power into the Earth Rev. 12.4 The man Child was caught up unto God which was to rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron and the Woman fled into the Wilderness where God hath prepared a place for her and then the Dragon went out and made War with the Remnant of her Seed to wit the Woman's Seed And so out of the Sea arose the Beast out of Nations Kindreds Tongues and Peoples which are Waters and the Dragon gave Power to the Beast and his Seat and great Authority Rev. 13.2 And all the World wondered after the beast ver 3. and ver 4. They Worshipped the Dragon which gave Power to the beast and the beast likewise and now the world cryed which wondered after the beast who is able to make War with the beast and ver 6. He opened his Mouth in Blasphemy against God to blaspheme hâ—s Name and Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven and he made War with the Saints and did overcome them and all that dwelt upon the Earth worshipped him whose Names were not written in the Lamb's Book of Life And the Beast deceived the Nations and them that dwelt on the Earth and now Kindreds Tongues People and Nations and all the World which wondered after him they who had lost the Image of God now became the Image of the Beast that blasphemed God and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven and now the Kings of the Earth that had drunk the Whore's Cup of Fornication and the Nations Kindreds Tongues and People who were become the Beast's Image now the Image of the Beast spoak and caused as many as would not worship the Beast and the Image should be killed take notice of that all who are called Christians it was not Godâ—s Images who compelled to worship or else be killed but it was the Beasts Image and wheresoever Compulsion â—nd killing is exercised and practised they worship the Beast Chap. 13. Ver. 16. And he causeth all both small and great rich and poor bond and free to receive a Mark in their Forehead or in their right Hand and none might buy or sell but he which had the Beast's Mark or his Name or the Number of his Name
else according to those 〈◊〉 which hath been made in the Will of man in the Trangression under which we have suffered for the Truth 's sake and therein have peace And as for Ministers bringing Offenders before Magistrates that is an usurped Authority to make a Minister a Magistrate but Edward what was the offence because a company of People came to Cressage and declared the Word of Truth in your Streets and what if it had been in your Assembly this was no offence in the Church of Corinth where all might speak one by one although it 's become an Offence in your Mass-house at Cressage but the Reader may judge in whose steps thou and thy Priest walkes you have done the offence and then accuseth others to the Magistrates as Offenders Let shame cover your Lips you Impudent men Hath not Samuel Smith in his own Narration in his Book said that William Parrat Constable and Humphry Daile Church-warden according to the Ministers direction did pull down the Quakers Speaker charging some to secure him And others also of your own County secured by the Instigation of the Priest by his own Confession in the fourth page of his Book And here he and the rest of the Society at Cressage who had a Hand in this â—hing are manifest to be in the steps of the Pharisees whom Christ cryed Wo against which cast out of their Assemblies and haled the Disciples before the Magistrates and like the Envyous Jews that cryed Help men of Israel for these men turn the World up-side down but you are worse then they The Priest was the first fomenter of the Breach of the Peace the Constable and Church-warden his Executioners and yet thou tells of the Quakers being offenders Now all sober People will see your Envy and Decâ—it and that you are in Cain's way and by your false flattery and Deceit would justifie the Magistrate for your own ends and cause them to turn the Sword against the Guiltless which should be against the Transgressor And who was in the Transgression the Reader may easily judge by that which is forementioned and yet the Priest and you of his Congregation would make People believe that you did not Persecute the Priest did give order to pull down the Speaker the Constable and Church-warden they acted and secured your own Neighbours as Prisoners your own Congregation Swearing against them the breach of the Peace and getting them shut up into Prison and Sentence given against them and yet thou wouldst have this called equal proceedings but to that of God in all Consciences I leave to be Judge in this thing In the fourth and fifth Particular thou saist We have charged to be Envious and Bitter and Malicious against the most eminent Ministers of the Land Them whom thou calls eminent Ministers have charged us with many false things and have written many false things against us for which thou and they in the Dreadful day of the Lord shall give an account Envy Bitterness and malice is put away from us and we Envy no man but speak the Truth in Soberness and yet to say a lyar is a Lyar or a Deceiver a Deceiver or an hypocrite an Hypocrite when they are so is neither Railing nor Malice Christ in whom no Guile was found he said They were a Generation of Vipers and they were of their Father the Devil who were in Envy and went about to Kill him And the Apostle was not envious when he said O full of all Subtilty thou child of the Devil to one who was doing the Work of the Devil and many such workers we find and many Venomous Spirits who shoot out poysoned Arrows even bitter Words and these we must reprove sharply And those things which thou layest to our charge take to thy self for the ground of Iniquity is in thy Heart from whence thou hast uttered forth all these Disdainful Proud and Scornful words of which thou shalt be Convinced and also reproved when the Lord searcheth thy Heart when he brings Anguish and Perplexity upon thee then shalt thou confess to his righteous Judgment and so thy five Principles I have answered which thou sayest thou hast brought into thy Book to fill up the Blancks they had better have been blancks still then have spoiled so much Paper with thy Lying Disdainful Scribles which are not worth the answering In the third page thou saist Thou wilt restate the reputation of the Ministry of England to be Minister of Christ And for proof thou hast brought Col. 1.7 and Rom. 15. Those words prove that Epaphras was a faithful Minister and that Paul was a Minister of Christ to the Gentiles but what hath this proved as to the National Priests nothing at all and if thou hast no better proof then this to bring them into Reputation instead thereof thou wilt bring defamation upon them and when thou shouldst prove them Ministers thou provest that Paul and Epaphras were Ministers will not the least in the Truth see thee to be a busy-body but Fools will be medling Then thou art offended that we call them Priests for receiving of Tythes I say it 's the most proper for none but Priests and Levites did receive Tythes and how long since is it since they generally called themselves the Tribe of Levi For never Minister of the Gospel nor of the word of Reconciliation either received Tythes or commanded that they should be payed neither reproved any for not paying but said the Priest-hood was changed and the Law was changed by which Tythes were due but thou goest on and makest a sound Argument as thou judgest and sayst Abraham paid Tythes to Melchisedeck before the Law And thou askest how he did give it either by the Law of Nature which is called the Law of Reason or by the Light within or by Revelation Thou speakest thou knowst not what where readest thou of the Law of Nature called the Law of Reason except it be in the devised Fables and Stories of the Priests But what doth this prove Gen. 14. Abraham gave the tenth part of the Spoil which he had taken from his Enemies but Melchisedeck first brought forth Bread and Wine to Abraham and his company and greeted Abraham and his company Kindly and Blessed him and Abraham freely gave unto him the tenth part Melchisedeck desired none But dost thou judge that if Abraham had given him none that he would have taken by Force the tenth part of the Spoil from him Now what doth this prove for the Tything-Priests of this Nation they must first do as Melchisedeck did if they will have Melchisedeck for an Example he Blessed Abraham and brought forth Bread and Wine unto him and his Army but which of the Priests have done so which have received Tythes which is not a gift of the People but a forced thing from them If this must be thy proof for Tythes by the gift of Abraham then let the Priests cease forcing and taking them till People be
and the Son of God according to the Spirit is glorified with the Father the man Christ Jesus he is sate down at the right Hand of God But if tho meanest by Human a carnal Body or the same Flesh that thou hast on deal plainly with us and nakedly the next time thou or any of thy Teachers write and prove us by Scripture where the Church is called his mystical Body or where hast thou got these new coyned words as Human Nature and mystical Body Correct thy Pen and let no such Popish Phrases come in Print again lest thou shamest thy self more instead of shaming of us And thou concludest If any say here he is or there he is on Earth believe them not Where learnedst thou this Article of Faith I pray thee shew me Is he not both in Heaven and Earth How should he restore the Earth and all things into their purity if he must not be manifest in the Earth What! wilt thou confine him to or in a place Doth not his Presence fill Heaven and Earth Is he divided from his Presence But may be thou wilt say as thy Generation doth that he is in the Earth by his Spirit and in Heaven in his Body or Person distinct from his Spirit If so then you divide Christ and a Person without a Spirit and not Christ. I will aske thee a Question No man hath Ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven the Son of man which is in heaven Where was the Son of man or the Man Christ when this was spoken If thou canst see this thou mayst be ashamed to shut Christ out of the Earth or from among his Saints where his Presence his Arm his hand and his Power is which is not divided from his Body but I know thou art deaf and canst not hear what I say and thou bringst Heb. 10 12. After he had offered one Sacrifice sate down at the right hand of God that is saist thou In his human Nature The shame is come upon thy self who hast added thy own Imagination and let all see whether the Scriptures speak of Human Nature but thy folly must be manifest to all Thy third Particular that thou namest and as thou sayest shamest is If we say we are without Sin we deceive our Selves Thou hadst better have enquired perfectly whether we said so or no before thou hadst undertook to reprove upon so doubtfull terms and thou bringst Prov. 20.9 For who can say my Heart is clean He can say so and speak Truth whose Heart God hath cleansed by the Blood of Christ from all Sin And then thou bringst Job 9.20 If I justifie my self my own Mouth shall condemn me That 's true we justifie not our selves neither self but deny self and self is condemned and Christ God's Righteousness is become our Justification And then thou bringest Paul Phil. 3. Not as though I had already attained but follow after that I may apprehend What of that he was in his growth and was come to that which was perfect and did believe to attain to the Stature of a perfect man And then thou saist I tell you you are not perfect your contempt of the Ministers of Christ and perverting the Doctrine of Christ are characters of Sin That shall stand for thy self and thy Masters whom thou art joyned with who set up Popish trumpery instead of the Ordinance of Christ and set up the precepts of men introduced in the Apostacy for the Doctrine of Christ And then thou concludest the Scripture hath concluded all under Sin all in the first Adam but I hope the Scripture doth not conclude all under Sin in the second Adam neither doth conclude him under Sin that 's born of God who Sins not And if thou makest any such conclusion thou givest thy verdict for the Devil and not for God then thou sayest I am not pleading for Sin Thou art pleading for nothing else but for Sin and Imperfection in which the Devil's Kingdom stands and thou sayest thou hast cause to cry out O wretched man that I am So thou hast indeed hast thou repented of thy Drunkenness How long is it since thou fell'st off a Bridge being Drunk and broke thy Leg but it is like for thy good Service done to thy Master in writing this lying scrole he will give thee an Absolution for that Transgression The fourth Particular which thou call'st our Tenet is That we deny the Scripture to be the Word of God And thou hast brought many Scriptures to prove that they are but they are as impertinent to the thing as thy former about the Steeple-house or Mass-house Thou hast brought many Scriptures Jer. 37.8 how they are called the words of the Lord who ever denyed that but the Word spoke the words and the Word is greater 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by divine Inâ—piration I deny that some was spoken by the Devil and some by wicked Men and I hope thou wilt not call that divine Inspiration Then thou may be wilt conclude I deny the words of Paul to Timothy I deny the Word Is it is an Addition of the TRANSLATOR which Word alters and varies in the true sense of that Scripture but all Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable for Doctrine c. But knowest thou no dinstinction between Inspiration and Tradition You have it by Tradition the Saints by Inspiration It 's a dead Letter in it self and as it is spoken from your Mouthes who speak of it by tradition but from them that were Inspired the living Spirit uttered forth living Words But what is all this to prove the Scripture or writings to be the Word of God And then thou cites 2 Cor. 2.4.7 Not handling the Worâ— deceitfully What doth this prove nothing at all and all the rest that thou hast ciâ—ed is nothing at all but what we have answered over and over many times wherein all that have any understanding in the Knowledge of God are satisfied That which thou shouldst have proved by the Scripture is where the Scripture or writings or Letter doth title it self the Word of God It is granted they are the words of God and the Words of Holy men Inspired So in thy own words I say take thou notice though thou art confident and presumtuous in this thou hast shamed thy self and not us the Word was before either Scripture Writings or Bible was which Word is greater and gave them a Being And thou that wouldst set that which is brought forth by the Father above the Father art out of the Apostles wisdom speaking a similitude He that builds a House receives more Honour then the House Now to call the Scripture the Word is to give as much honour to the House as to him that builded it but in a word this I say whatever the Scripture doth testifie of it self or call it self that I own it to be And if any man call it another thing it shall testifie against him and
1658. Whereas there is a pernicious Sect commonly called Quakers lately risen who by Word and Writing have published and maintained many dangerous and horrid Tenets and do take upon them to change and alter the received laudable Customs of our Nation in giving civil Respect to Equals or Reverence to Superiors 〈◊〉 Aâ—â—ions tend to undermine the civil Government and also to destroy the Order of the Churches The People called in Scorn Quakers are risen up from under the Powers of Darkness and they are come forth from the rising of the Sun where the Morning hath appeared without Clouds and though set at nought by you yet they are a mighty People and of the Royal Off-spring even â—f 〈◊〉 Family who is the first-born of every Creature and the Heir of 〈◊〉 things the Shout of a King is among them who is greater then 〈…〉 Apollyon his living Presence is with them and they shall come upâ—◠〈◊〉 Hypocrites and Dissemblers as Mortar and Clay and though you 〈…〉 â—orns high push every Way with them against the Lamb 〈…〉 yet your Horns shall be broken by him who is their King by 〈…〉 of Salvation which is now lifted up far higher then the Horn 〈◊〉 an Unicorn and you shall be as Ashes under their Feet we are not ignorant of the swelling of the Sea nor of the Strength of the Beast which hath risen out of the Sea we were not ignorant of his Strength in New-England but he is brought among the Quakers and dwells in their Tabernacle who is able to make War with the Beast and his Followers though you have cast up your Banks very high and fortified your selves as the Pope by his Inquisition yet you must be gone over and made level and yet not by Clubs nor Staves nor Whips nor hot Irons Cain's Weapons the Weapons of the Murderer which you have taken up which shall be broken though your Bows be as Steel yet they shall be broken by the Arm of the Lord the Quakers Strength And what are the horrid Tenets and dangerous things they hold out that you open your Mouthes so wide The horrid and dangerous Tenet is They alter the laudable Customs of our Nation would'st not thou judge Reader when there hath been so many great Words and Accusations that some capital Fact would be laid down But behold the capital Fact the Quaker will not put off his Hat nor his Coat nor none of his Clothes to his Equals nor to a persecuting Fellow who hath a few Buttons and a few Ribbons who calls himself a Superior and here is a Crime indeed which deserves Banishment and Death nothing below this will be able to satisfie Justice for this Crime by the Judgment of the Law-makers of Boston And when became this such a laudable Custom that it is worthy of so much Praise Ye blind and ignorant People have you not read the Scripture He that respects Persons commits Sin and he that hath Mens Persons in Admiration will transgress for a Morsel of Bread And ye never learned this of Elihu this laudable Custom as you call it he said I know not to give flattering Titles to Man for in so doing my Maker would take me away but Envy hath eaten out all Knowledge out of your Hearts And is this your Church-Order to take away mens Beasts Kettles Pots Sheep and Pewter Or is this your Order to fine men five Shillings every Day they come not to your Synagogue or because men cannot break the Command of Christ and swear among a Company of cruel covetous blood-thirsty men to fine them five Pounds Tell the Nations when this Order was made in the Churches among all the Orders and Directions that Christ and his Apostles gave to Believers and to the Churches to be observed I never read of any such as these Oh Ignorance Folly and Madness what fine five Pounds a piece if they will not joyn with you in Worship nor come to hear a covetous Hireling dream an Hoâ—r what banish them that will not come to you what put to Death if they come again Greater Cruelty never appeared among all the persecuting Emperors of Rome in the greatest Apostacy Well if this be your Church-Order it is Time for the Lord to arise and scatter you and blessed shall he be that bears his Testimony for God against you though to the Loss of his Life his End shall be Peace By denying all established Forms of Worship and by withdrawing from orderly Church-Fellowship allowed and approved by all Orthodox Professors of the Truth and instead thereof and in Opposition thereunto frequent Meetings themselves insinuating themselves into the Minds of the simple or such as are least affected to the Order and Government of Church and Common-wealth You that have established such a Form of Worship and such an Assembly as this that if any come into your Assembly and speak the Word of the Lord for the Edification of the Hearers so that Peoples Minds may be informed you pull them out by the Hair of the Head and stop their Mouthes with Napkins or Gloves and if any reprove him that doth so disorderly you send him to Prison and fine him it is time to withdraw from such disorderly Assemblies as yours are And if this be the Order of your established Form approved of by Orthodox Professors then the Church of Corinth was not Orthodox for there one might speak one by one that all might hear and be edefied and comforted but this is accounâ—â—d Disorder in your Church and by your Rulers and they that walk according to that Order approved of among the Saints of old must beâ—r the Name of disorderly Persons and the Sentence is Prison and be fined and be whipped Indeed Amaziah the Priest of Bethel was of your Priests mind and of the Mind of your Rulers and Assemblies you may read your Example when Amos the Herdsman said The Songs of the Temple should be turned into howling and prophesied against such a Generation as you are Hear this ye that swallow up the needy even to make the poor of the Land to fail Amos 8.4 There is your Example ye Rulers of New-England who take away poor Peoples Estates Goods and cast them in stinking Holes tear their Flesh from off their Backs as you have done to many poor People who are dear to the Lord Amos 8.7 Hearken what the Lord's Sentence was to such a People The Lord hath sworn by the Excellency of Jacob surely I will never forget any of their works ver 8. Shall not the Land tremble for this and every one mourn that dwelleth therein And it shall rise up wholy as a flood and it shall be cast out and drowned as by the flood of Egypt read the 9 and 10. I say Amaziah was of your Mind he sent to Jeroboam and said Amos had conspired against Bethel and the Altar their Church-Assembly and against the Land so that it was not able to bear his Words Amos
The Scripture was given by divine Inspiration 't is freely granted and â—s of no private Interpretation and is able to make wise unto Salvation â—â—rough Faith in Christ Jesus for without Faith in him it hath no Power in 〈◊〉 to make wise unto Salvation witness the Pharisees and the Jews outward â—ow for they had the Scripture-Promises as thou callest them which thou callest the Gospel and the VVord yet they were not turned changed nor sanctified nor knew not the new Birth as many do not now who have the scriptures or writings or words written and so thine is a private Interpretation who callest that the Power of God and the Word of God and the Gospel which one may have and not have the Gospel or the Word or the Power of God for Proof Joh. 5.37 38. And it 's no Argument against the Scripture to say the Gospel was preached to Abraham or as thou sayest to Adam but it is an Argument to prove that there was a Gospel and that the Gospel was preached before that which you Parish-Teachers use generally to call the Gospel which is Matthew Mark Luke and John and the Epistles written to the Churches which you raise Doctrines from and Arguments from and sell to People for money and call it preaching of the Word and preaching of the Gospel what dost thou think we are not come past Midnight Is not the Night over and the Morning sprung forth in Brightness without Clouds wherein we now discover betwixt the Husk and the Kernel the Husk will feed Swine but Men must have Bread and a sound without will not serve to administer Life to the Soul and now no longer Talkers of the Gospel will be received or can feed the hungry but it 's he that eats of the Flesh of Christ that hath eternal Life in him Thou sayest Thou wilt remove a gross Mistake from us who think that you cry up the Letter of the Scripture and separate the Word from the Spirit for we own the Spirit going along with the VVord for the VVord and the Spirit are united as the instrumental Cause and Christ and his Spirit in the Gospel is the principal Cause The gross Mistake is not upon our Parts but yours in that you think that the Scriptures or the VVritings are not separated from the Spirit we know the VVord and the spirit is one and cannot be separated but here lyeth the Mistake in putting the sentences or scripture or VVords of Declaration for the word and then say they cannot be separated from the spirit that is another Mistake on your Part for if you so judge then this must needs follow that they that have the words or scripture have the spirit if they be inseparable and why makest thou such Distinctions between the word Christ and his spirit they are one and that which is the principal Cause of every good thing brought forth useth what Instrument he will to effect it we know the Word and the Spirit doth convert and convince and bring to Christ and Salvation through him that we know but doth the Scripture convince without the Spirit And is not the Spirit and Power of God often wanting Doth the Scripture convince then or convert or bring any to salvation And we know there is union betwixt the Word and the Spirit for they are one and that which is attributed to the one is to the other the Word sanctifieth and the Spirit sanctifieth but the Question is still unanswered and the Charge stands still good against you Whether the scripture sanctifies without the Spirit or whether is the Spirit and the Scripture so united together as that when a Hâ—â—â—ling or a Deceiver or a false Prophet speaks the Words of Scripture that the Spirit must needs go along with it and cannot be separated from it And thou sayest The Scriptures are the Word of God as it is a Declaration of what God would have us do and therefore God hath declared his mind Heb. 1.1 God who spoke in times past by the Prophets hath in these dayes spoken by his Son And thou bringst Isaiah 38. The Word of the Lord came to Isaiah saying c. Were it not a gross Absurdity to say that this word of the Lord was Christ in the New Testament The Word of the Lord endures forever and by it the Heavens and the Earth were framed and the things that are therein and without him was nothing made that was made and we can and do distinguish betwixt the word and the Declaration and what a declaration is that which consisteth but of one word a Declaration consists of many words and it s an improper Speech to call that which consists of many words one word and that in Heb. 1. was spoken after the Ascension of Christ and the Voice from Heaven by his Son I question whether thou hast heard or read and we can distinguish betwixt the words of Isaiah and the Word of God and betwixt the words of Jeremiah and the Word of God Jer. 1.2 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah unto whom the Word of the Lord came and there see if thou canst distinguish betwixt the words of Isaiah and Jeremiah and the word of God and how many words can properly be called one word and why is it an absurdity to say that the word of the Lord or the Power of the Lord came upon Isaiah or the Father through the Power or through the word did speak unto Isaiah and is not the Power of God Christ and Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God in the New Testament Now see thy own absurdity and Glory not when thou puts on thy Armour but when thou puttest it off As for John 12.4 8. He that rejecteth me and rejecteth my words c. where the VVords of Christ and Himself are distinguished thou sayest I say Yes and therefore thou hast brought this Scripture against thy self and likewise this the word that I have spoken shall judge you at the last Day and thou sayest this must make us Tremble nay why should we Tremble at this we are one with his words and his words are not against us And thou hast brought all these Scriptures against thy self and fightest with thy own shadow for all the words which God and Christ and the Apostles have spoken we own and now learn thou to distinguish betwixt words and Word for all that thou hast said to prove the Scripture to be the Word of God amount to just nothing but that it is the word as it 's a Declaration and what a Declaration that is the wise will judge which is but one word And now when thou hast Vindicated thy self as thou judgest thou goest to make War abroad to see if thou canst get any into the Pit of Darkness with thy self and now thou fallst upon the stumbling Stone and the Rock of Offence which will break thee to Pieces the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the
R. H. and of E. B. thou hast perverted and not spoken the Truth as afterwards may be made more manifest In the 35th page of thy lying Story thou say'st The Quakers have succeeded much and have prevailed in these Nations and beyond the Seas but thou hopest where-ever thy Book shall arive before them the People will so well know them as to abhor any further Acquaintance with them Here thou hast manifested thy Spirit to be like the envious Jews who crucified the Lord of Life and persecuted the Apostles from City to City sometimes running before them with their Lyes and sometimes after to oppose them and to stir up the Vagabond Fellows and ruder Sort of people to oppose and abuse them yet notwithstanding the Truth prevailed and many believed on the Name of Christ through their Words which they published unto them we have found the like Opposition not only from Strangers but also of our own Country-Men and have had many such lying Stories as thine sent before us and spread over the Nations and yet God hath carryed on his Work notwithstanding all Rage Opposition and Cruelty it hath prevailed and shall prevail for so is the purpose and Will of God and they who shall see thy Book who are but reasonable men will abhor and detest thy envious Spirit and Truth shall be more advanced and that shall be fulfilled the Remainder of the Wrath of Man shall turn to the praise of God Thou sayest They are a very cruel Bloody People if we may Judge the Lyon by his Paw or what is abundantly in their Hearts God will confound thy lying Lips and thy deceitful Tongue whose Blood have we shed can we not say and that of a Truth and have our Testimony by Gods witness in every man that we are clear of the Blood of all men Nay on the contrary hath not our Blood been spilt in your places of Worship which you account Holy and have not many suffered in Bond until Death by the reason of the Oppression of the Blood â—hirsty Priests of this Nation and thou mightst well have been silent if thou hadst not had an impudent Face have not we much to lay to your charge and that truly what dost thou Judge of thy godly Ministers in Lancashire and Cheshire whom thou callst the Valient Captains of Christ's Army which preached up the People into Rebellion upon pain of Damnation And others said except they went to the Randevous it was much if they were saved And others said the Nations must be purged with Blood to shed the Blood of all those that withstood them And others said if God would stand as a Newter they had men enough and such Blasphemous Words and Doctrines were uttered which are too tedious to relate and all this Quarrel they said was against the Quakers Now let the Reader Judge the Lyon by his paw and what is in these mens Hearts by their Words and Actions before mentioned And now to conclude this in thy own wrods what would not these men do if they had Power to their will But the Power of the Lord God preserves the Innocent and is against all the Workers of Iniquity I shall not trouble the Reader with what Priest Ford and Fowler of Readding hath gathered up out of Priests Books which they have Vomited forth against the Way of Truth nor what Tho. Underhil hath licked up and vomits out again which is but that which hath been Vomited up before so that it may be said of them all as the Prophet saith Their Tables is full of Vomit and filthy spewing covers them all all which things hath been answered over and over but that Swine love to be wallowing in the Mire and Doggs love to lick up their Vomit and the Envy of the wicked will not cease till he be cut off nor the evil Eye for watching after mischief till it be put out And now Tho· Underhill and the rest of thy party who resist the Spirit if I would recriminate might not I more justly and truly bring many thousands bad Examples acted by your party who are accounted Christians and charge them all upon you then all these things in thy Lying Story which thou hast brought against the Quakers If I should go from Parish to Parish as thou hast done from one end of the Land to another and so also beyond the Seas and should I rekon up all the Fornicatours and Adulterers all the Thieves and Murtherers all the proud and covetous all the Fighters Brawlers Railers Drunkards cheaters and defrauders and should charge all these upon the Presbyterâ— what a Volume I might make And were not this a just Retaliation wouldst thou count it an equal thing or would it be accounted Just in the sight of sober Men if I should charge the moderate and guiltless with these things before-mentioned then Judge thy self for thy Envy and Foolishness and let thy Mouth be stopped forever for accusing those whom God Justifies In the 38 page in thy Observation on the whole History That one may talk much of God and Christ and of the things of Religion and all in Vain and how the coming in of Unbelief shuts out Truth Faith and Piety and the great danger the Nation is in by being overturn with Hypocrisie and formality in Religion and how many have the form of Godliness but deny the Power He whose Eye is open may see the intent of thy History is to resist the Power of Truth and to strengthen deceit and this shall stand for thy own lot and for the Congregations and Assemblies thou art pleading for who at the best are but in the Subburbs Babylon who talk of God and Christ and of the Spirit and of Religion but all in Vain for nothing is brought forth among you but formality deceit and Hypocrisie and Error and Unbelief and a form of Godliness hath long covered the Nation and Truth Faith and Piety hath been rejected and the Power of godliness but now hath the Lord appeared and hath rent the Vail and manifested the deceitfull Workers and Hypocrites and though thou be observant as to others Foot-steps yet thou hast not viewed thy self neither pulled the Beam out of thine own Eye neither hast discovered thy Envy nor the murderous Spirit that rules in thy Heart from whence all these muddy Waters flow forth and all this Fog and mists arise which darkens the Air which whosoever receives in their understandings come to be Darkned but all that fear the Lord will see out of thy corrupt Heart all this mischief which thou hast long been Treasuring up doth now come forth upon which the day of Wrath will come both upon thee and it Thou saist The Quakers have no reason in the World to Boast of their sufferings as they do for thy have suffered as Evil-doers for being uncivil to Magistrates and disturbing God's People in their Assemblies and for being busie-bodies and some other known Wickedness and all their charginâ— Courts
Spirit without the Scripture and that the Words in the 17th of John 22. That they may be one as we are one these Words give an uncertain Sound thou say'st and further thou say'st Surely they are under â— Rule of Lâ—fe who have not the Spirit since the Canon of the Scripture is closeâ— so far is the Spirit from being a Rule of Life that to us it is not the Spirit except 〈◊〉 move in the written Word Answ. Gross Darkness is thy dwelling Place and out of thiâ—k Darkneâ—s all this pitiful Confusion cometh the Doctrine of Life was communicated according to the VVill and Mind of God sometime by Dream sometime by Vision sometime by Revelation to the Patriarchs and Believers from Abel till Moses and by Faith they were Followers of Christ and doubtless they did communicate in their Generation those â—hings that were â—â—nifest unto them by the Spirit which was the then Rule and Guide to the Feet of the upright in the way of Peace before any Scripture was writtâ—â— and if the Scripture be not necessary absolutely thou hast said as much as we say therefore we speak of a Rule and a Way which is absolute necessary without which no man can know the Father or the Son nor the Way of Peace but by the Spirit of Truth which gave â—orth the VVords of Truth which may manifest and doth maniâ—est it self as it will when where and how it will for it is unlimited and it will not be limited by its own VVords as to Sound but may speak VVords which it never spoke before as for instance Paul by the Spirit said The second Adam the Lord from Heaven is a Quickening Spirit which none of the Scriptures before-written speak in these very VVords and if the Spirit be not Spirit without the Letter then where the Letter is wanting the Spirit is wanting and consequently them that have the Scripture have the Spirit which were no less then Ignorance and Darkness to say and what Rule are they under who have not the Spirit or no Measure of it there is but the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error and they that are not ruled by the Spirit of Truth they are ruled by the Spirit of Error though they may have the words to fight with and quarrel about without the Life but last of all thou hast in plain words set the dead Letter before the living Spirit and say'st That the Spirit is no Spirit except it speak by the Scripture and if the words of Christ in John 17. give an uncertain Sound it is but to thy deaf Ear and to thy blind Understanding for he spoak soundly and certainly and prayed to the Father that as the Father and he were one so they alsâ— might be one being guided by the one Spirit of the Father in the Son and that they might live in the Unity of it and have Unity with one another in it and with the Father and the Son In thy 15th page though thou hast set up the Letter for a perfect Rule of Life yet here thou throwest it down again and say'st It is to be unâ—erstood as including Consequences for the greatest Part of Scripture is Conâ—equences and the Scripture cannot be true without Consequences for Thomas and Mary are neither câ—mmanded Obedience or forbidden Diâ—obedience for we no where read thou Thomas or thou Mary are therein commanded Obedience or forbidden Disobedience such an one by Name do this or that Answ. I told thee the Spirit of God is unlimited and whether it speaks of Degrees or Measures of a greater or less thing or whether it speaks the greater first and the lesser after whether it speaks from Major to Minor or from Minor to Major or what may truly follow either from the greater to the less or from the less to the greater it is all Truth but thy Consequences are no Part of this the Spirit still demonstrates its own Mind by what words and Terms and Expressions it pleaseth and will not be limitâ—ed or confined to this or that Form of words and thou errest grosly neither knowing the Scripture nor the Power of God and thy Consequences are false for there are the individual Persons or Names of Thomas and Mary both commanded Obedience and forbidden Disobedience and if thou hast never read this in Scripture I inform thee and instruct thee thou may'st read John 20.16 17. where Jesus saith unto Mary she turned her self and said unto him Rabboni which is to say Master Jesus said unto her Touch me not for I am not yet ascended here is a Prohibition and forbidding that she should not touch him Secondly here is a Command of Obedience But go unto my Brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father to my God and your God and in the same Chapter thou may'st read in ver 27. where Christ spoke unto Thomas by Name after his Resurrection Then said he to Thomas reach hither thy Finger and behold my Hands and reach hither thy Hand and thrust it into my Side here was a Command to be obeyed and be not faithless there is a Prohibition or a forbidding of Unbelief and so thy Foolishness is manifest and Ignorance of the Scripture some of it thou sayest is an uncertain Sound and the Scriptures fore-mentioned thou hast denyed or else never hast read it and so art unacquainted with thy Rule which thou quarrellest and fightest so much about And then thou comest and say'st Thou wilt vindicate some Scriptures and citest 1 John 9. That this was the true Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World hence they affirm that there is a Light in every man which being followed is an infallible Guide and that this Light which lighteth every man is the Rule of Life and not the written Word thy Answer is The Sense of the Text is notoriously false and thy Reason is If Christ the true Light that liâ—hteth every man be the Rule then Righteousness should be by the Law for the Light which is in every Man is not Gospel-Light but there is a natural Light or the Light of Nature which is to be construed in Opposition to spiritual and the Light of Nature and the Light of the Spirit are contra-distinct and by this Light of Nature there is a Difference put betwixt that which is good and bad and it will teach us not to lye nor steal and it will lead to the Knowledge of one God and yet it is in Opposition to one Spirit and it will lead to know Eternity Omnipotency and it will lead to know the Creator yet it is contra-distinct to the Spirit Answ. The Scripture needs none of thy Vindication for thou hast defamed it and sayest Christ's Words are an uncertain Sound and thou hast said that neither Mary nor Thomas was commanded Obedience thou may'st look back of thy Lyes and repent of them and why is the Sense of the Text utterly false that Christ was the
sure Word of Prophecy here is to be understood first a sure Word secondly a more sure Word for the Apostle in that Chapter speaking of their Diligence towards them that did believe and declared unto them That they had not followed devised Fables when we made known unto you the Power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but are Eye-Witnesses of his Majesty verse 16. and heard the Voice from this excellent Glory this is my beloved Son in â—hâ—m I am well-pleased when we were with him in the Mount This was as sure a Word to the Apostles as any that ever the Prophets had spoken before was to them so the Old Testament could not be more sure then this which they heard from the excellent Glory but this was not so sure unto them to whom Peter wrote and this was only the Apostles Declaration but the Word of Prophecy unto which he exhorted them was nearer then any of the Prophets Words or the Apostles Testimony of what they heard in the Mount the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prâ—phecy to wit that which bears witness against Sin and to Righteousness from this the Prophets spoke and this was that publick Thing or Spirit and they that speak not from it speak from a private Spirit of their own and this Word of Prophecy or that wherein they could see or foresee Things to come they were to take heed unto as unto a Light which shined in a dark Place and this was the more sure Word which he directed to which in all thy Book thou quarrelest against and through this they saw the Apppearance and knew the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in Power and great Glory and did see the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in their Hearts and they were to attend to this not only before but also after for by the Word of his Testimony the Saints did overcome And so all thy Interpretations are false and thine is the private Interpretation and not from that sure word of Prophecy which the Prophets and Believers took heed unto and through which they interpreted Things truly according to the Mind of God As for the Story of false Teachers arising and prevailing among People and what the signal Nature is and thou say'st They are sent as Scourges and as Judgments to them who have not received the Truth in the Love of it and thou bringest a Scripture I came in my Father's Name and ye received me not John 5. but if another shall come in his own Name him you will receive It 's manifest that thou comest not in his Name nor in Christ's Name and if not so in thy own Name thou comest by the Appointment of the General Court at Boston and so there will few believe thy fabulous Stories which are not worth rehearsing which will cast a Mist before the Eyes of them who cannot see through thy Deceit and the Sum is thou say'st of all that the Doctrines of Devils audaciously disseminated pretending themselves to be sent of God are signal Signs of evil Times The Doctrines of Devils have long been audaciously seminated by numerous false Teachers and false Prophets as Christ foretold in Mat. 23. 24. which John saw come 1 John 2.18 Little Children it is the last Time ye have heard that Anti-christs should come and even now there are many and they have ruled long in most Parts of the Earth that John said The whole World wondered after the Beast and this hath been a sad Time these thirteen or fourteen Hundred Years wherein the true Church the Woman cloathed with the Sun hath been in the Wilderness in a solitary Place exiled because of the Beast's Power and the Dragon's Power and the false Prophets Miracles and because of the Doctrines of Devils have made it a sad Time and an evil Time such as thou hast taught viz. That the Light which every Man is lighted with is gross Darkness and worse then gross Darkness and that Christ left Political Officers and â—hat the Lord's Supper 〈◊〉 a visiâ—le Political Church Ordinance and that Baptism is a visiâ—le Political Church-Ordinance and that it is Blasphemy to hold Perfection â—f Degrees in thâ—s Life and that none can be cleansed from Sin while upon Earth These and the like Doctrines of Devils have been sown which thou now audaciously seminates by the Appointment of the General Court at Boston but the Time draws near an End the Night is far spent and the Day is at Hand when the Beast shall be taken alive and the old Dragon laid hold on and the Mother of Harlots burned with Fire and the false Prophets which have wrought Miracles before the Beast and have cryed as thou cryest him up in New-England Who is able to make War with him who hath shed the Blood of the Saints of the most high God which will lye as a Stain upon your Political Church as thou callest it which will not easily be washed away the Time of your Mirth in Sodom Egypt is near an End though you strengthen one another and make merry yet Wo will come when all these before-mentioned go down alive into the Pit together and when the Sea is dryed up that your Traffick will not go off then Alas shall be the Note of her Merchants who have traded with her Sorceries and Witchcrafts and have made People drunk that they have reeled and staggered and have been all like a Sea unstable and have not known the Rock of Ages upon whom all that do believe are established Thou say'st The Gospel is a Constitution or Effeâ—t tempered of the Grace of God and of the Blood of Christ. Answ. The Gospel thou knowest not but buildest with thy untempered Morter and unseasonable VVords and what is the Gospel an Effect of it is not only an Effect of an Operation but it is that which operates and is the Power of God which will confound all this Mud and all these 〈…〉 dy Traditions which you mix with the Scriptures and call them Goâ—pel And now thou comest to the destructiveness of the Doctrine of the Quakers to Religion the Churches of Christ and Christian States because thou say'st It appears in this from the Nature of the Oâ—ject they single out to fight against as the Trinity Christ the Scripture Order â—oth Civil and Ecclesiastical as instituted in the Gospel As to those Principles I have answered before in part but dost thou tell of Civil Order in your State or in your Political Church as thou callest it is that to be counted a Civil State who destroyes the Creatures God's VVorkmanship and destroyes Mens Estates and sells their free-born Children as Bond-slaves dost thou judge that these Rule well according to the Appointment of God who is a Terror to them that do well and an Encourager of Violence and Cruelty as your late Actions have sufficiently evinced And as for the Order of your Political Church we have heard of it that you are as
old Writers whom you call Heathen seven Years and other latter Popish Writers and Aristotle's Philosophy any Part of the Gospel and to frame up a Speech adout Religion out of your old Commentaries which were made in the Night of Ignorance and to mix Scripture with them is this the Gospel and to get a Patent from a Protector a Parliament or a Committee to preach at such a Place is this like Gospel may be a great Seal at it and then stay whether the People would have you or no and force Maintenance from them and plead your Letters-patent for your lawfull Call like an Indulgence from the Pope and to claim all the Tythes of a Parish and all Oblations Obventions and Mortuaries is this like the Gospel or like the best reformed Churches you talk on in that you call your Covenant and to set up the old Mass-houses baptized Bells Hour-glasses Clerks to say Amen Church-wardens is this like the reformed Churches and to gather money from House to House to buy Bread and Wine and then mutter a few Words over it and give it to People on the mid-day like a Dinner and call this the Lord's Supper or a Sacrament and to baptize Infants and get Money for registring a Name and call this an Ordinance of God is this like the reformed Churches in the primitive times and to take Money for marrying of People is this Gospel-like to preach over the dead and observe other Cereonmies like the Popes Exequies is this like the best reformed Churches Nay which of all the reformed Churches so called who are broken off from Popery in something have not deny Tythes Is there any Ministers among all the Protestants in Europe but they have wholly relinquished Tythes as to be no Gospel-maintenance as Germany and the Eastern Countries France Geneva and Switserland and many others yet these treacherous Priests of England boast of the Purity of Doctrine Worship and Discipline beyond all and these must go under the Name of Godly learned Ministry and if this be Godly what is Ungodly if this be learned what is Ignorance and to stay at a Village Twenty or Thirty Years if there be gain enough if this be Laboriousness what is Idleness and what Havock and Spoil have you made within these twenty Years in this Land more then the corrupted Bishops did before Oh what Havock have you made and Spoil of Mens Estates in this Nation within these few years which were called years of Liberty if the Chronicles were searched amongst all the Protestants in Europe the like parallel could not be found neither hath there been the like Wickedness acted many dyed in prison for denying your insatiable Desires and because you demand Things contrary to the best reformed Churches which you say you press after you must deny all the things before mentioned before any judicious man will believe and therefore it is in vain for you to cover your selves with a Cloak of Hypocrisie for God hath opened an Eye in Thousands that you will never be able to blind though you stir up Smoak and Dirt and Dust and Fogs and mists of Ignorance that darkens the Air yet they will see through it and by the Breath of his mouth in whom they have believed it will all be scattered but however it is just with the Lord to let loose upon your backs the old Prelates and Bishops to be Tormenters of you and make you Drudges and Slaves as you were formerly and it is just with the Lord to let the Dragon's Power over you all again and to bring a Scourge upon you and the People that have hearkned to your Lyes and Deceit that the Helper and they that are holpen may fall together that the Blind and they that have chosen the Blind for a Leader may both fall into the Ditch together into the Pit that they may never rise again Yet know this Oh Nation and the Inhabitants therein there is a People in thee which is precious and so accounted of the Lord that have not joyned to your Back-sliding but have kept their Integrity and their first Love neither have they joyned to your Brittleness and Instability neither have they sought themselves but the Good of the Nation and all the People therein and though they have had many Provocations as from the cruel and merciless Cruelty of Self-seeking Men yet they have born and suffered knowing Vengeance belongs unto the Lord who in his Day will recompence Fury upon his Adversaries and scatter them as the Wind scatters Clouds and so are in Peace and Quietness under the Shadow of him who hath brought them forth with a mighty Hand and out-stretched Arm notwithstanding all Opposition which hath been very great even by all Parties and Interests hitherto and little or no Regard hath been had to this People but they have been as for a Prey and for a Spoil unto all and unreasonable Men have plowed long Furrows upon their Backs and they have had no Helper in the Earth but on the contrary every one hath lent his Hand to bow them down and tread upon them as Ashes under the Soles of their Feet and yet no Evil to lay to their Charge but false Surmises and receiving the false Representations of corrupt Men whoâ—â— Hearts have gainsaid any Appearance of Good that ever appeared if it crossed their ignorant corrupt Minds What hath this People come to harm thee O Nation that thou makest them thy Butt to shoot at and they are become the Object of your Scorn and Derision What have they plotted or contrived Rebellion Have they gone out upon their Enemies and sought Vengeance against them as every Party hath done else besides Except it 's become a Crime to speak the Truth and bear Witness against the Hypocrisie and Deceit of Treacherâ—us Men and to lay their Iniquities before them that they may see and be ashamed and turn from their Evil which hath provoaked the Lord to Anger and because of their Rejection of God's Counsel they cannot be established And for the Sake of this Remnant he will confound and overthrow on the right Hand and on the left all that rise up against them though they should never open their Mouthes as to plead their Innocency yet the Lord will and condemn them that rise up against them and plead the Cry of the Oppressed that cry unto him Day and Night which the Lord hath heard and considered and is come down and hath begun his Work though man doth not see it and hath poured forth a Spirit of Confusion upon them who have Ill-will to the Lambs of Christ's Fold and who shall act any Thing further as to think to root out the Heritage of God their Counsel shall be turned backward and their Enterprize cursed for God he hath determined to lay the Top-Stone with Shouting and that which he is building he will finish and of a Truth this is the Family which he hath chosen which his Love is unto
and his Power amongst and their Adversaries will God rebuke for their Sake Therefore O Nation consider and take this one Warning more that thou proceed not further to thy Hurt and thou repent when it is too late ONE OF ANTICHRISTS VOLUNTIERS DEFEATED AND THE TRUE LIGHT VINDICATED In Answer to a Book called Ignis Fatuus published by one R.I. wherein he vindicates Edward Dod and Samuel Smith of the County of Salop in their Lyes Folly and Wickedness and hath added more of his own with divers of his false Doctrines Lyes and Slanders c. brought to Light and reproved As that the Law of the Spirit of Life is imperfect and not fit to be a Christian Rule and also Human Nature may be taken for the regenerate Part of Man and the Soul c. and likewise calls Idolatry Civility and Heathenish Complements Courtesie His Vindication made void and his Weapons broken and he taken Captive and left with E.D. and S.S. among the Slime-pits of Siddim near Sodom with his Ignis fatuus By F. H. a Witness to the perfect Law of the Spirit of Life The Wicked are estranged from the Womb they go astray as soon as they be born speaking Lyes AMâ—ngst all the Opposers of the Truth that yet have appeared among the black Army of the the old Dragon who like the Philistians have alwayes defied Israels God and also their Camp through their ostentation and Boasting and with their Clamorous loud Cryeâ— in the Ears of the People like Rabshekah to dish earten and dismay Israel none hath appeared more out-ragious and virulent then one who Subscribes himself R. I. who in Vindication of his Brethren in Iniquity Eâ—ward Dâ—d Drunkard and Samuel Smith an uprofitable Talker otherwise called a Minister at Cressage who hath preached that which he calls the Gospel these divers Years and yet sees no Fruit at all and yet this impudent R. I. whom I believe to be another Dreamer like him for his Language doth manifest him to belong to Mystery Babylon the great City the Mother of Harlots he saith One may Minister and preach the Gospel and the People not be profited at all as Samuel Smith hath done at Cressage And he saith further that they are barren Professors yet saith R. I. that S. S. need not be abashed at it And for instance he saith Was Pauls Preaching of less credit because there were many Runnagates in the End shewed themselves Hypocrites yet this comparison will not excuse S. S. neither E. D. nor R. I. who would cover them with an old patched Cloak some Pieces he hath scraped up out of Esop's Fables a Book full of Lyes and altogether compacted and patched up of fictions and some out of Oviâ— and Seneca Heathens in their own account and the like frivolous Stories and Plato and Diogenes they must serve for a covering if it will to the two former Opposers of Truth but stay R. I. Did Paul stay seven Years in any place and saw no Fruit And though there were many Unbelievers among the Jews notwithstanding the publication of the Word and the miracles of Christ yet some believed and though the Apostles and Ministers of Christ laboured in the Work of the Lord yet some believed and clave unto them but there is no Fruit at Cressage at all but they barren Professors as R. I. saith but if thâ—s will not serve tâ—ke another of R. I. his arguments that God sends his Word sometimes for the hardening of People and upon this account S. S's teaching and Ministry must be kept in credit A sad thing for the People of Cressage that they should Hire a man for seven Years together and pay him Wages for hardening of their Hearts and for counting them barren Professors yet I judge S. S. E. D. and R. I. counted them fruitful and abounding in Zeal and fervency to God when they came into the Meeting of the Quakers some ringing Pans some Candlesticks and Frying Pans and throwing Water like People void of Understanding and saith this R.I. these yielding a better sound then the Quakers So that thou mayst see what will not this R. I. Vindicate and what Wickedness as can be acted and spoken here they may look for a shelter rather then they shall want a Guardian as Pictures Images Crosses Cuffs Ribbons Laâ—e and such other like things invented by the Devil to draw People from serving and Worshipping the living God R. I. will Patronize them all being brought forth and when they are not brought forth he will reach forth his Hand to help to elevate Iniquity and to under prop the Devil's Kingdom which is exalted in the Children of Disobedience as all along may be seen in his Fabulous Scrole called Ignis Fatuus when like his two Brethren before him he goes about to Vindicate Idolatry Images Hirelings Mass-houses Cuffs and Ribbons Tythes Flattering Titles and vain Customs and Popish Practices Pride Persecution and Lying all those things he pleads for and hath used many vain Arguments and false Interpretations of Scripture so that the two former it may truly be said they have done wickedly but this R. I. Exceeds them all who is so stout-Hearted against the Truth and Power of God that whatsoever he can invent in his corrupt Heart against it and gathers up the rest of the Priests lyes that they have Vomited up before and cast in the Face of Truth and â—enders them as good proof and some Scriptures perverted with Eâ—op's Fables and Ovid and Diogenes's Stories and upon such materials he hath framed his Book called Ignis Fatuus which he hath writ in Vindication of E. D. his Book called A pair of Spectacles for a Dark siâ—hted Quaker and S. S. Malice Stripped and Whipt three Pamphlets whose Title will discover what the Substance of their matter is and whose Work they drive on so that I need not say much some of them Vindicating Persecution and incouraging the Rude behaviour of the People another mocking at Innocency and scorneth them who Tremble at the Word of the Lord and last of all R. I. who hath made a Fortress for both the other and hath cast up a heap of confused Darkness to guard his Brethren he mocks at the Light within and calls it Ignis Fatuus and the Law which is Light which God hath Promised to write in his Peoples Hearts this he calls an Imperfect thing and therefore to be ruled and not fit to be a rule of the Saints as may be seen in the 55 th page of his Book and so hath spoken contrary to the Spirit and Scripture of Truth Prov. 6. and the Law of the Lord which is the Law that endureth forever this saith R. I. is imperfect and the Letter or Law without written is perfect and is a standard as R. I. saith for all Controversies then if it be so perfect and so fit to decide all Controversies why doth R. I. borrow his proofs and raise his Arguments from Esop's Fables Ovid's Stories
Plato's and Diogenes's discourses and to omit Seneca because R. I. saith Ambrose hath reckoned him in the Bead-row of Saints it may be with Saint Dominick and Saint Patrick Saint Francis and some other of the Popes Canonizing but however I shall let many of his Envious and frivolous and impertinent Arguments pass as thing of no Validity or worth being they have been Answered over and over by many Hands and all the Fortresses and strong Holds thrown down so that to any Judicious man they will appear to be but Rubbish however R. I. would be gathering together the Rubbish again and would make it appear as goodly a fabrick as he can when indeed there is no thing in it all so thou may'st see Reader in R. I. his Vindication of this Mouldy cankered Ware of Babylon which he would hold up his own Folly Ignorance and Errour made manifest in the ensuing discourse of his Doctrines and most of his Principles thou may view and see which I have taken up and answer'd and his Confusion and Blindness thou mayst see and also view the Spirits that acts this Man and how this man is like to Convince any who hath not Power over his Tongue but lets it run to utter forth the deceit that proceeds out of his own corrupt Heart thinking thereby to blind Peoples Eyes that they should not see how Ignorant and Light vain and Treacherous these Priests are who would monopolize all into their own Hand nay though God commanded and move by his Spirit yet this must not speak nor declare the mind of God except these Priests will allow of it in whom the Welfare of all People lies if thou wilt believe R. I. in the 11 page of his Book yet if these count it disorderly for any to speak as h1 hath received of the Lord from his Spirit it must go for such and be accounted such as disorderly In the Epistle to the Reader R. I. saith such Schiâ—maticks as these Quakers have torn the Church in Pieces and its Authority condemned and the Ministry slighted and false Religion advanced Answ. It seems that the Church that R. I. is of is none of the true Church which is built upon the Rock Christ which the Gates of Hell prevaileth not aâ—ainst neither any weapon that is formed against it can prosper but R. I. his Church is torn in pieces and may be prevailed against sure it is but Babylon whose Stones must be scattered and whose Building must be thrown down it is but the Whâ—râ—s Aâ—â—re that is sending off that her Nakedness may appear and her Deceit made manifest and the Authority which is condemned and reproved is no Authâ—rity but the Authority of the Beast upon which the false Church hath riden and hath câ—lled it by the Name of the higher Power and the Ministry is but such as traffick with the Whore's Sorceries by which she hath deceived the Nations and this indeed and those Ministers indeed are slighted by us because we know him who is the Minister of the everlâ—sting Covenant whose Spirit is manifest according to his Promise to lead his People into all Truth and so the Religion which standeth only in the Traditions of Men and in Idolatry such things as R. I. goeth about to maintain as Images Crosses and Piâ—â—ures Mass-houses Hireling Prâ—â—sts Popish Tythes and Pâ—pish Ceremonies which R. I. so much pleads for all these are slighted as not to be consistant with the true Religion or the true Church of Christ. Yet nevertheless saith R. I. in his Epistle I have adventured voluntarily to side with those that contend for the Truth agaâ—nst the Quakers and yet in the same Epistle saith He was moved of the Lord thus to declare Answ. What Confusion and Lying and Blasphemy is here hath R. I. adventured voluntarily in his own Wilfulness and Perversness to take part with those Contenders against the Truth in which the Quakers live and worship and God must be made the Author of this and all the Heap of Lyes and Confusion which is declared and uttered forth in his Ignis fatuus which if no more were said then hath been were answer enough unto his railing Discourse and yet what Impudency this Man hath to say he was moved of the Lord when as he hath confest he hath voluntarily took part with the Contenders so that it is manifest to all reasonable men who set thee on work and whose Work thou hast been doing for which thou shalt be sure to receive a Reward in the mighty Day of the Lord. And R. I. saith Forasmuch as their counterfeit Coin hath been offered to me for good Sâ—lver I thought it fit to nail it to the Market pâ—st that it might not decieve others and instead thereof I have here made a tender of other Money viz. this ensuing Treatise which I doubt not but it may pass with Truth 's approbation Answ. That which R. I. calls counterfeit Coin was made publick by our selves and it hath been and shall be received by them that know God's Image and the inscription of the Spirit and though R. I. hath denyed it when it was proffered to him the Value and Worth of that which hath been proffered to him is no worse For though a Price be put into the Hand of a Fool he regards it not And now Reader thou shalt see what kind of Coin he hath tendered and how thou judgest it may pass with Truth 's Approbation as hereafter will be made manifest in his further Discourse Wherefore Reader saith R. I. Have not so great Regard to the Authority of the writer as the Truth of the Matter written by him who was moved of the Lord as thâ— to declare against those who are Adversaries to Truth Answ. Indeed the Authority of a writer or of that which is written is of no great moment seeing he is but one of Anti-Christ's Voluntiers who hath not only belyed them that feared the Lord but also hath uttered forth many damnable Doctrines and yet would fasten all these upon the Lord so that his Deceit might be of more Authority and none might question the matter thereof because the Lord alwayes moveth to Truth and Righteousness and so R. I. is one of them that hath taken the Name of the Lord in vain which will not be holden guiltless but will be found guilty when the Searcher of all Hearts shall make all things manifest And then R. I. further saith That sprinkling of Infants is commanded by the Scrptures and is a Seal of the Covenant and Baptism of Infâ—nts is that which answers to Circumcision for Mortification of the Flesh and Remission of Sins and Admission into the Church are sealed unto Infants by sprinkling or that which R. I. calleth baptizing I say Baptism of infants is a Popish-Tradition as hath been proved by divers so that of it I need not say much but where it is commanded in the Scripture as R. I. saith Coll. 2.11 12. is but a
Doctrine and further say'st Charity though shooting at Random cannot miss the right Mark Answ. It is one thing what God accounteth true Honour it is another thing what R. I. counteth Honour True Honour is to obey the Commands of Superiours who rule in the Power of God and this the Quakers do submitting to all the just and equal Commands which are required of them that rule in the Power of God and this is not to blaspheme the Name of God and his Doctrine but this Fellow would have accused the Apostles as his Generation did who put them out of the Cities charging them to speak no more in the Name of Jesus and then when the Apostles return'd plead their Authority saying Did not we command you to speak no more in his Name and now you are disobedient blaspheming the Name of God and his Doctrine Is this Good Reasoning R. I. And Charity shoots not at random neither misses the Mark but it is pure and singles out its Obâ—ect to joyn unto and joyns not unto Deceit but this is R. I. his Charity to think well of them that are doing Evil and joyn to them who are doing the Devil's Work but this Man honours Charity as he doth the Scriptures he saith Charity shoots at random and the Scriptures are the true Cards as hereafter thou shalt see And saith R. I. F. H. labours to disgrace if not to deface our Churches he like a cunning Gamster knows how to alter the Course of true Cards the Scripture as R. I calls them Answ. Because F. H. would have them to take away their Crosses and Pictures and Images which were set up in the time of gross Idolâ—try this R. I. counts graces and adorns their Churches and so he is joyned to Idols I shall let him alone and the Reader may see how R. I. honours the Scriptures when in one Place he pleads for the same Titles to be given unto them which are given to God and saith No Man can dâ—shonour Christ by giving as honoura le Titles to the Scriptures as to God or Christ then by his own Argument he hath brought a great Dishonour to God and Christ and the Scripture by giving them so base a Title as the Name of Cards and so in going about to exalt his own Imaginations he hath vilified the Scriptures of Truth And saith R. I. To call Steeple-houses Churches is no Addition to the Scripture but a true Exposition thereof and what if there be some Reliques of Idolatry in our material Temples is there are some Reliques of Sin in our living Temples 〈◊〉 they therefore be called Idol-Temples Answ. The Temple in which the Jews worshipped was builded by the Command of God which all these Steeple houses cannot be compared unto which were invented and set up in the Apostacy since Men have departed from the Faith and ruined into Formalities and Idolatry when Christ was offered up the everlasting Offering them that did believe in Christ â—eparated from the Temple and the Gentiles who believed separated from their Idols Temples and they met together in Houses which we do not read of were filled with Pictures Images and Crosses and Steeple-houses were not then invented and the Council of Nice divers hundred Years after the Apostles decreed that Images and Crosses were to be placed in the Churches and also worshipped and there is the Original of those things which R.I. saith do grace and adorn their Church And if some of the reliques of Idolatry do abide in your Temples then it demonstrates that you are in the same Spirit they were that set them up And if your Temples take their Denomination from the People that meet therein as R. I. saith in page 32. then they may be truly called Popish Houses and Mass-houses from the People that meet therein and if the reliques of Sin abide in your living Temples and bear rule there then they that defile the Temple will God destroy for Holiness becomes the Habitation of his Hâ—use forever and 1 Kings 8.11 will be but a bad Proof for thee For the Glory of the Lord shall fill the House of the Lord for that is the Temple blind man which was commanded by God and the Glory of God did appear there but if this will not serve we must have another Proof Psal. 76.2 In Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling-place in Sion which may be understood allegorically of our Temple saith R. I. Doth the Glory of the Lord fill your Mass-houses you glory in Deceit and in Pride and your Glorying is not good and thy Allegory is false though his Tabernacle was in Salem and his Dwelling in Sion and his Presence in the Temple is yours the Temple or Salem or Sion or the Tabernacle if not for Shame pervert not the Scripture nor bring it to cover your idolatrous Practices which R. I. pleads for and saith Images Pictures and Crosses may be continued in some Places and it is like R.I. would count it Sacriledge to take them away he is far from the Exhortation of the Apostle Abstain from every Appearance of Evil and hate the Garment that is spotted with the Flesh. And R.I. saith I plead not for Baal nor for proud phantastick Spirits and yet a little while after saith that putting off Lace Ribbons and costly Apparel may be putting on of Pride Now who will believe this R.I. that he pleads not for Baal when he pleads for Pictures Crosses and Images for Cuffs Ribbonds Lace and costly Apparel Now Reader thou may'st observe by R.I. his Decorum how the Wheels go within And further R. I. saith It is utterly unlawful for any Christian whatsoever gifted or not gifted to preach the Word in the Name of the Lord before the Church publickly assembled unless they be ordained and set apart by the Church for such a Work Answ. this man is far from Moses's Spirit who wished that all the Lord's People were Prophets and would not forbid Eldad and Medad to prophesie in the Camp which was a publick Assembly and Israel then the Church of God and R. I. hath made too hasty a Conclusion who would prohibit all from speaking the Word of God if they wanted outward Ordination then Paul was a great Transgressor who consulted not with Flesh and Blood neither with any other of the Brethren nor went not up to Jerusalem for Orâ—ination but preached three years the Word of God and then afterward went up to Jerusalem and saw none except Peter and James and no Ordaination as we read of and afetrward went into Syrâ—a and Cilicia and furthermore saith he that was not known by Face to the Churches of Judea So who ordained him all this time for there were no Churches of the Gentiles but what he had planted then and so they could not ordain him Gal. 1.17 18 19 21 22. And who ordained Apollo but it may be that R. I. will say that Paul was ordained at Antioch Acts 12.2 but I would have R. I. to
understand that here was seventeen years that he preached publickly before that and where was his Ordination Many of the Brethren who were scattered abroad in the Persecution that was at Jerusalem went every where preaching the Word of God and when or where were these ordained And who ordained the Brethren that were persecuted after Steven's being put to death who travailed as far as Phenicia and Cyprus and Antioch preaching the Word and the Hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and were turned unto the Lord Acts 11.19 20 21. yet these things I bring not as to deny but that many went out with the consent of the Church and many were ordained and many were ordained Elders who were grown up in the Truth and established who had received the holy Ghost by whom many were confirmed and strengthned in the Faith but what is all this R. I. to your Ordination and who ordained you the Pope a Bishop or a Council or a Parliament and what are they you ordain Such as learn the Art of Speech seven years at Oxford who have read Homer and Aristotle Plato and Diogenes and learn to play on a Fiddle these are no Mechanicks but gifted Men indeed and qualified and fit to be ordained and made Ministers Pastors and Elders to carry abroad the Traffick of Mystery-Babylon but this R. I. is very peremptory and saith it is utterly unlawful for any that are gifted to preach the Word contrary to the Apostle's Doctrine who saith as every one hath received the Gift so let him administer and not such as R. I. would have to be Ministers who have learned an Art to speak and this must be called a Gift and a Qualification and a fit Man to be a Pastor and thus they have ordained one another and have set up a Trade of preaching and with their confused Stories have filled the World with Darkness And as concerning an infallible Spirit saith R. I. None except Christ who was without sin can challenge it or lay claim to it and I may say of such Runnagates and wandering Stars as this F. H. and the Quakers are as John did 1 John 2.9 They are gone out from us because they were not of us Answ. However this R. I. hath cleared himself and the rest of his Brethren for being Ministers of Christ for they do not only deny an infallible Spirit neither look to be made Partakers thereof but quite shut out all the Saints from enjoying it and though in Christ the fulness of the Godhead dwelt who was full of Grace and Truth he is the Root from whence all that believe come to be made partakers of his Virtue and so many of his Members may lay claim to it as they have received it by a free Gift according to the Promise of Christ I will send you the Spirit of Truth whâ—ch shall lead you into all Truth and the Apostle had received the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus who had freed him from the Law of Sin and Death and the Sons of God had received it and they were led by it and the Ministers of Christ were made Ministers of it who hath made us able Ministers as it is written not of the Letter but of the Spirit and that Spirit was infallible and true and that Spirit which they declared of was an unerring Spirit and as they were led by it they erred not but were kept by it that the Evil one touched them not and they spoke from it and ordered the Church in it in the wisdom of God But what do these Men minister from who wait not to be made Partakers of this but deny that ever any had it or ever shall have so are but a company of Dreamers and tell their dream that they dreamed in the Night or at best steal the Words from their Neighbour and say Thus saith the Lord when God hath never spoken to them And though thou mayest say we are Runnagates because we sit not dreaming over thirty or forty Families twenty years but travail from City from Country to Country to publish the Word of Truth freely as the Apostles Ministers of Christ did we must by such as this R. I. and his Brethren who have gotten Holes and Nests in the Earth to creep into be counted as Runnagates though John said They are gone out from us because they were not of us this he spoke of them who went out of the Light in which he and the rest of the Disciples had Fellowship with God and one with another and they that went out from this went into the Spirit of the World and you are such as they that are gone out already and blasphemously call the Light of Christ Ignis fatuâ—â— and so all that fear the Lord will come out from you and out from Babylon where the Blood of the Prophets hath been shed and the Witnesses killed you who deny an infallible Spirit are like to be in blindness and follow the Spirit of Error for you have nought else to cleave unto And further R I. saith when the Lord said by Joel that he would pour out his Spirit upon all Flesh and his Sons and his Daughters should prophesie the Prophet speaks not of a ghostly Power to open the Kingdom of Heaven given by Christ to his Apostles and Successors but of an extraordinary Measure of enlightning Grace and a more copious effusion of the Spirit and also to Pastors to whom more is given more is required and this Text doth not prove that all Sheep shall be Pastors and all Schollars Teachers An. Nay this Text doth not prove all Sheep to be Pastors neither all that are taught to be Teachers for all are not Prophets neither Pastors nor Teachers for as Christ said the Labourers are but few but this Man 's afraid that there should be too many indeed there are too many hireling Loiterers that are ready to supplant one another for filthy Lucre though many may be said to believe yet all have not received the Spirit of prophecy or a Gift to be Pastors but only they to whom it is given of the Lord for the Work sake yet notwithstanding they who have received it ought not to be limited either Son or Daughter for they who do quench the Spirit and dâ—â—pise Prophecy as this R. I. doth and how should he do otherwise seeing he hath denyed the infallible Spirit from which all the Ministers ministred and all the Prophets prohesied and spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost but R. I. saith the Prophet spoke not of a Ghostly Power to open the Kingdom of Heaven if by ghostly Power he means the Spirit 's Power as I believe he will not deny then was it not by a spiritual Power Sons Daughters prophesied and did not this Power open the Kingdom of Heaven and if it be a more copious Effusion of the Spirit which is given under the Gospel then the Law
none effect by your Traditions and as for Rom. 10.8 The Word is nigh thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart and this is the Word of Faith which we preach here the Apostle saith the word is nigh thee in thy Heart but he doth not say the Scriptures is nigh thee in thy Heart which is the Word of God And 2 Cor. 2.17 For we are not as many which corrupt the Word of God he doth not say we are not as many that corrupt the Scriptures which are the Word of God or the Word of God which is the Scriptures And as for 1 Pet. 1.25 But the Word of the Lâ—rd endures forever and this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto yâ—u he doth not say the Scriptures endures forever or this is the Word the Scriptures which by the Gospel is preached unto you And as for 1 Thes. 4.15 For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord that we whâ—ch ar◠〈◊〉 and remain unto the coming of the Lord shâ—ll not prevent them which are asleep he did not say this we say unto you by the Scriptures for there was not such a Scripture written before and therefore we sâ—y this unto you by the Word of the Lord And what a foolish Mâ—n is this to assert his own Imaginations and then imagines the Scriptures will prove it and what â—n improper speech were this to call twenty â—housâ—â—d Sentences one word and it is called a Declaration and what a Declâ—â—ation would that be thâ—t consisteth but of one word but enough of this hath been published before concerning the particular by divers hands so I shall be brief however R. I doubts his proof already that it will not satisfie F. H. and therefore he thought good to make this Conclusion upon him That he doth not believe the Scripture at all and though F. H say that these Sciptures are nothing at all to prove that thing to deny his Imaginations is not to deny the Scripture but F. H. believes what the Scriptures say of themselves and doth not deny the Scriptures at all but R. I. his Lye and also his false Conclusion And further saith R. I. The Scripture was delivered to the Church in writing that it might be an infallible Standard of true Dâ—ctrine and a determiner of Controversies and the Saints rule of knowing God and living to him Answer Reader take notice here is no room for the Spirit at all the Scriptures and writings have taken up the room of it in R. I. his account for it hath lost its Office if his Doctrine be true the Letter is become the infallible Judge and standard to try Doctrine and a Determiner of all controversies and of the Saints Rule of knowing God and living to him and indeed is become all in this man's Account then what doth R. I. bring Esop's Fables Oviâ—'s fictions Plato's and Diogenes Stories in this Controversie to joyne with this infallible rule and because he hath the Scriptures so high to be a tryer of Doctrines without the Spirit doubtless is the Cause here is no mention made of it and so he shall be Judged by his Rule in the 42th page take his Exposition upon the Words of Joel I will pour out of my Spirit upon Sons and Daughters and they shall Prophesie This is not meant of a ghostly Power but of an extraordinary measure of enlighting Grace Ignorant man is not Ghostly Power or spiritual Power an Extraordinary measure of enlightning Grace and was it not a spiritual Power and an extraordinary Light the Prophets Prophesied by But it is this Mans meaning that must be the Standard when all comes to all and the Determiner of Cases and he speaks contrary unto his own Rule as may be seen through his whole Book who hath either added to the Scriptures or perverted them or otherwise given his false Interpretations or Villified them in calling them the True Cards and so though he extolled them in Words he denyes them in Practice The Jews tryed Christ's Doctrine by the Scriptures and â—udged him a Blasphemer and a breaker of the Law and the Apostles Seditious and so though a man have the Scripture and have not the Spirit it is all as a sealed Book wherein such Unlearned men as this R. I is cannot read and therefore he saith in his 55th page That it is a great fault in us because we say the Law of the Spirit of Life is the Rule and so like him will not say it is imperfect as he doth and so saith R. I. it is not fit to be a rule so Blasphemously he detracts from the Authority and Power of the Spirit and like Anti-christ and his Ministers sets the Letter above it and calls it Living and an infallible standard and saith Thâ— Scripture inclines the Heart unto obedience and like a Drunken man this R I. reels up and down and contradicts himself Before he said The Law of the Spirit chiefly gave Power to conform to the Rule and wiâ—hin four Liâ—â—s Contradicts himself and saith The Scriptures incline our Hearts to the Oâ—edience of the Rule and the Scripâ—ures it self hath caused us to know it as we have it from the Church it is a probable aid and yet giveth but a confused Belief with a light Impression Answ. It is probable enough indeed that thy Faith is confused and the Faith of your Church and that makes thee utter forth all this confused Heap but in what hath been said the Spirit of this man and his Doctrines will be manifest to all whose Eyes God hath opened and so will depart out of his Paths and not give heed to his fabulous Stories It is true saith R. I. There iâ— an inward Law written in our Hearts called the Law of the Spirit of Life Rom. 8.2 And there is the outward Law written in the Scriptures now the outward and external Law is properly the rule of a christian Life and not the inward and internal Law for the outward is perfect in that it declares in what is the Will of God and in what it is not but the inward Law received and written on the Heart is imperfect and therefore unfit to be our rule the Law within is that thing that is to be ruled Psal. 17.4 The outward Law is therefore the rule Answ. This Man would set the sun by his Dial as it might be said although he confess in the very same page that the Law of the spirit of Life giveth Power to the Creature yet now it is become imperfect and not fit to be a rule this man like one unlearned sets the Law which was written in Tables of stone which the Apostle calls the Ministration of Condemnation and was glorious this he sets above the Ministration of the spirit of Life which the Apostle saith is much more glorious but nay saith R. I. the Law written in the Heart is iâ—perfect and not fit to be a rule but to be ruled contrary to
more for fear of Wrath and to please Men then to serve and please the Living God whose Throne is established in the Heavens whose Kingdom is over all how be it Man whose Eyes were Blind the Sons of Adam in Transgression in the fallen State know not the Kingdom nor his Throne further then by report and hear-say and Traditions and Customs though by him Kings Rule and Princes Decree Justice yet few do know him who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the God of the whole Earth neither do they know that in themselves in which Justice is decreed who are rather continuing Ruling in an usurperd Estate then ruling in the Power of the Lord which would be a Terror to Evil-doers but fallen Man calls well-doing Evil and Evil good and so Judges and Rules according to that in his own Eyes so punishes and afflicts them who do that which is evil as it appeareth in his eyes though it be good in the eyes of the Lord. And upon this Account the Righteous have suffered and such as are dear unto the Lord have been made a prey of through many Generations from Cain downward who slew his Brother and who are in the first birth Born of the Flesh judge that Evil which is born of the Spirit and their Wayes evil who walk in the Spirit and their Worship evil who worship in the Spirit and thus many Kings of Judah and Israel made the Righteous Seed to suffer when they were revolted from the Lord then they set up their own Imaginations Decrees and Laws to be observed who laid the Commandments of the Lord waste and made Havock of them that kept them and caused such to suffer as Evil-doers and as Traytors as Factious and Rebellious in the sight of all the People as Jeroboam Ahab Ahaziah Rehoboam and divers others and the Princes and Dukes of Edom made War against Jacob and his Seed unto which the Promise was and the Blessing was and so accounted them vile that were pretious in the sight of the Lord and reckoned them Righteous that were vile in the Eyes of the Lord. And since the Kingdom of Heaven hath been Preached and Christianity the Name thereof hath been in Reputation and the Gospel hath been published abroad and the Uncircumcised have got the Sound and the unregenerate have got the Fame and the Unconverted have got the Name of Christians and yet alwayes turn against them that were in the Nature of Christ these have made the Righteous to suffer and killed the Children of the free-Woman the true Church the Lamb's Wife And know ye this that since Christ hath been Preached and since the true Church hath been brought forth there hath been a great falling away by many from the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints by which Faith they had Victory over the World and Conquered spiritual Enemies and overcame the Grave and witnessed Victory over it Now the Words of them which had this Faith are retained and the Form of the out-side Practices was held for a while but the Power was denyed And Paul saw many such getting up to a Head and growing into a Body in his time who had the Form but denyed the Power who subverted whole Houses who were covetous and Heady and high-Minded then and lovers of Pleasures more then lovers of God and this kind of false Apostles and Satan's Messengers and false Prophets that Christ said should come Mat. 24. and John saw already come in that Age and Peter Jude and divers others wrote of and yet these were Preachers of the Name of Christ and got the form of Words and the Name of Gospel and yet denyed the Lord that bought them and redeemed them as in 2 Peter 2.1 to wit him in whom was Life and the Life was the Light of men Thus they denyed the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World and yet would be preaching up the Name of Christ and Jesus in Words but denyed the Life which is a Mystery and many followed their Pernicious wayes by whom the Truth was Evil-spoken of these were Enemies to the Cross of Christ which mortifies the Deeds of the Flesh and so lived in the Flesh and yet had the good Words the Sheeps cloathing the out-side but were Erred and ravened from the Spirit greedy after filthy Lucre greedy after Covetousness and worldly Honours greedy after Pleasures and these false Teachers went out into the World from the Light and from the Life and fellowship of the Gospel which is a Mystery and from the Saints Communion and from the Apostles fellowship and from The true Church in God the Ground and Pillar of Truth and then withstood the Apostles and spoke all manner of Evil of them and falsely accused them to be in Bondage and these separated themselves and crept into Houses and lead many away Captive and Captivated their Understanding Captivated the minds of those that were laden with Sin and divers Lusts who were ever learning but never came to the Knowledge of the Truth in which the discerning is And these became great Teachers and the whole World went after them and proselyted many into their false Faith which was Fained and into that Hope which was but as a Spider's webb and into a Profession of Christianity without the Life of Christ and those went into the World and those that were in the Perishing state wondered after them and admired them and set them up who admired them because of Advantage and received them and so held up one another in Deceit and so grew into a Body and got the Name of a Church though they were adulterated from the true Faith and run away from Christ the true Husband after other Lovers and yet because the Name of Christ and Christianity had a good Sound therefore they retained the Name for a Cloak that they might not be discovered And so many Children and false Christians which were not begotten and Born again of the Light Immortal and of the Immortal Word of Life were brought forth and these were adulterated Children and Children of Fornication and Children of falshood who would Lye as the Prophet said as the Mother was so was the Daughter and so are the Children And here did the false Church and false Members arise and false Christians and false Children grew Numerous in so much that they spread themselves over Nations Kindreds Tongues Languages and People and so came to be a Universal Visible Church though indeed an deceitful and abominable Harlot who spread her Feet unto every one that passed by as it is easie to make appear neither did she retain long the Practice and form of the true Apostles but joyned themselves to the Heathen and took in their Practice and mixed themselves with the Jewish Worship and took in their Types Figures Shadows Dayes Fasts and Feasts and mixed all these things together and at last called those Inventions the Apostolick Institutions and Ordinances
Uncircumcised over the Nations again for the 〈…〉 re more justifiable in the sight of God then these who Profess him in Words and yet are Reprobate unto every good VVork Therefore come out of Babylon all People and Potentates of the Earth and drink no more of her Cup of Fornication and receive no more of her Traditions nor inventions for the Ordinances of Christ and partake no more of the Sins of this false Church which hath drunk the Blood of the Prophets and slew the Saints under the Name of Blasphemers and under the Name of Hereticks as the Jews of old did who had the Words of the Prophets without the Life and were in Error themselves and in the Blasphemies who killed the just One and Crucified Christ as a Blasphemer and the Members of his Body as Hereticks Plagues and Woes are prepared of the Lord God and Thunders Storms and Tempests are to be poured upon the Seat of this Whore and the Seat of the Beast for dreadful is the day of the Lord which is coming upon all Flesh which shall wither as Grass and the hâ—lls shall melt and the Rocks shall cleave the high and lofty shall bow the strong Men shall be afraid Terror shall come upon all Hypocrites and fearfulness and weakness upon all the Mighty and Valiant and upon all that have Warred and striven with carnal weapons and all Worshippers in the Flesh the Sword of the Lord shall come over all which is ready furbished and brandished which shall be soaked in the Blood of Bulls and the strong and the Fat and the Mighty and the slain of the Lord shall be many for the notable Day of the Lord God is appearing such a day as hath not appeared since the Apostacy for God's Controversie shall be with all the Inhabitants of the Earth at the Sound thereof the Nations shall be afraid and the Isles shall Shreek and the Mighty men shall fail for God hath determined to cleanse the Earth of all the fruitless Trees that cumber the Ground and to makeâ—h overflowing Scourge pass throw the Nations to sweep away the Refuge of Lyes Idolatry and Superstition Will-worship vain Human Traditions of men and to make all Flesh to bow before him Therefore all People who look to escape the Judgement of the Lord God which is coming upon the Nations flee flee for your lives out of Babylon out of Sodom and Egypt spiritually so called hasten and come out to meet the Lord God lest you be overthrown in those cursed Cities whose Sins have reached up to Heaven make haste and come out and be not upon your reserves and consult not with Flesh and Blood partake no more of her Sins lest you partake of her dreadful Plagues and of the Cup of the Lord 's fiery Indignation which is the Portion of all the Inhabitants of that City for they shall drink it And all ye Princes and People in Germany who are called reformed who have denyed the Church of Rome in some things and who judge you are come to a good Degree of Reformation I must needs say unto you that the Reformation your Departure from her is yet but weak poor and feeble and you are come but a little way I may say unto you as the Prophet said you must rise and go from that which you are now in which you judge to be the Worship of the true God for it is not your Rest indeed you have departed and cast off some things which are but circumstances you stick still in the old Ground and if you take not heed the Leaven of the Whore's Sorceries which is yet among you may quickly leaven you all again into one Lump and bring you back again within the Walls of that bloody City and you that are Princes will not want Temptations to draw you back to associate your selves again with the Church of Rome that now thereby you may be strengthned against the heathen for if you should enter into any Association with them or give any consent unto such Temptations you do but go down into Egypt for Help then will your latter End be worse then your Beginning and your Bondage and Thraldom will be greater then it was before and I must tell you plainly the Lord will pare the Heathen and exalt their Horn and they shall be as a Scourge and as the Lord's Battle-axe to bring down the Pride and Haughtiness of that blâ—ody City which hâ—th drunk the Blood of the Saints and they that have yoaked others shall now be yoaked and they that have cruelly tyrannized over others shall be tyrannized over and that which hath led others into Captivity Bondage and Thraldom shall go into captivity bondage and thraldom and the Heathen shall rule over it Therefore ye that are called Protestant Princes or Reformed and to all People within your Dominions look not back for help from spiritual Sodom Oh let it never enter into your Hearts you are yet in the Suburbs of that City therefore come further off and out from it for you still retain too much of the Government of that City and too much of their Form Ordinances Institution and Doctrine and judge them to be Apostolick and Catholick but wait you to know the Power of God in your Assemblies which changes the Mind and Heart within for bodily exercises profiteth little you have had Tryal enough of that but what Life and Power do you enjoy which was from the Beginning before the World began Is there no forcing and compelling amongst you about Religion and Hire for your Ministers And do you not limit and stop that which the generality cannot agree unto and brand it for Error and Heresie and is there no killing about Religion nor making men suffer about matters in Religion may every one speak freely of the things of God what he hath received freely of the Lord as they did in the Primitive Times when the Church was in Purity Forcing ought not to be amongst you and you put too great a Price upon outside things which at the best are but Shadows of spiritual things which are to be revealed in the Heart and know you this that they that worship the Lord aright worship him in Spirit and in Truth and they who come to witness the New Covenant come to know the Law of the Spirit of God and the Life revealed in their Hearts by which the Sons of God are led into all Truth and they need not go back to the Tables of Stone nor to literal Precepts for a Rule for their Rule is within to wit the Spirit of God which the Father hath promised to pour forth upon his Sons and Daughters by the Mouth of his Prophets and that they need not say know the Lord for all shall be taught of him from the least to the greatest who are come to the everlasting Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling which purifies the Heart and sprinkleth the Consciences which speaks better things to all
them that receive it then the Blood of Abel There hath been in those Parts some stirring of the Lord amongst you but the Power of God hath been much abused and great runnings out have been amongst you and many have followed their own devisings and one hating another and have erred from the Spirit and there have been Factions and great Breakin gs amongst you and many seeking themselves until Darkness hath come over again and so are come to be setled into a dead Form so that little of the Presence of God is found in all your Assemblies nevertheless though all these things are so yet the Lord's Love is reaching towards you again and a Visitation and a Day of Mercy there is yet held forth Oh happy and blessed will you be if you do not despise nor reject it and be not offended in the lowest Appearances of Christ to the Sons of Men wherein a greater Glory is revealing and shall be revealed then hath been since the Apostates entered in Now the Way wherein God doth purpose to make known his Mind and his hidden Riches and communicate his Heavenly Mysteries will be in a more hidden secret and spiritual invisible manner then yet ever hath appeared for hitherto Deceit hath transformed it self and Satan's Messengers have conformed and Antichrist hath imitated and the unconverted have been worshipping observing and practising of outward things without the moving of the Life so that Antichrist hath gotten into every outside Appearance and by this means hath sheltered himself with a colour and shadow and the Devil the Enemy of all Mankind hath kept his Kingdom whole by covering himself with the Words Shadows and Outward Performances And now take but a View over all those Kingdoms that are called Christendom and see how much of the Life of Christ is brought forth and how little of the Image of God is manifested and the Kingdom of God revealed among people which stands in the Power and Life of Righteousness therefore the full time of the Lord is come wherein every Word and Work shall be tryed and the Secrets of every man's Heart shall be made bare and the root and ground of every Action shall be weighed And Wo will come upon all who are covered with the words and outside shews and cloathed with outward Performances and not with the Spirit of the Lord God Therefore Friends and People high and low rich and poor bond and free of these things we have a blessed Cloud of VVitnesses whom God hath now raised up in this the Day of his mighty Power wherein God hath shined forth in Brightness From his holy Habitation are these things seen which have lightned the Earth from his dwelling Place he hath given forth his Word and great is the Company of them that publish it and there shall be many more for a numberless number shall hear it yea the dead that are yet in the grave shall hear it and by it shall come to live and we are a great Number who have travailed through many dry Places and barren Wildernesses who have had the tryal and tast of all outward professions and visible Worships and external Performances and visible Ordinances which are contained in hand writings and we have waded through all these things with a great deal of Diligence and strict Observancy and we have travailed many Years with great Pain that so we might have found Rest and Refreshment to our Souls that so we might have sitten down in it and as Seekers and Travailers who are weary were willing to lend an ear unto any who have but said come hither and here is Rest and one hath cryed lo here and another hath cryed lo there and so we wearied our selves at last from Mountain to Hill and spent our Strength for nought for none could truly inform us where we should find him whom our Souls loved and whom our Hearts panted after and our Bowels yearned Until at the last the Eyes of many were opened by the Lord who saw that eternal Life was not to be found in any external visible thing and do know that all they who are exercising themselves after those things in the exactest strictest manner cannot be made perfect as pertaining to the Conscience and all these great Talkers of the Fame of Christ and of his Glory and Power Miracles and Works and of his Death Obedience and Sufferings the bare Report and Sound of these things doth no good at all to him who feels Sin hath full Power and Dominion in his Heart so that the Life of Christ must be felt within enjoyed and possessed within and revealed in the Light or else he cannot stand justified in the Sight of God nor clear when he judgeth neither can he find Rest nor Peace for his Soul so I am one who have found Mercy and Favour at the Hand of the Lord among many Thousands to be a Witness of that Life which was with the Father before the World began which is now manifested in the Hearts of Thousands of his People destroying the Works of the Devil and bringing in everlasting Righteousness So the Love of God which is shed abroad in my Heart through the Bowels of Compassion which I have unto all Mankind knowing that all in the first Adam's State are lost in the Fall I do now give forth these Lines and say unto all seek not the Living among the Dead not in dead Forms not in dead Graves not in dead Worships neither in dead Performances for the Lord is risen out of all these things and is sate down in Glory in a living holy Habitation and now his Appearance unto the Sons of Men is in a more spiritual manner for I have fully tried already what is in all these external things and because I know and have seen his Appearance therefore I speak to the informing of all how they may come to find him who is the Desire of their Souls and the Salvation thereof I say listen and hear that your Souls might live for Christ is that eternal incorruptible pure unchangeable immortal Life which hath ligtned every man that cometh into the World John 1. yea he that hath enlightned every man with his true Light he is that eternal and immortal Life so that I say unto you all high and low who desire Rest unto your Souls cease from your willing cease from your running cease from your own Performances cease from worshipping you know not what and cease from seeking in that Nature which the Lord hides himself from and come ye to learn of Christ and sit at his Feet even at the lowest Appearance of him even at the lower End of the Table must you come before you can be exalted for thou must be contented to sit down there that which climbeth high and exalts it self God will bring down and that which manifesteth Sin is Light and that which reproveth Evil is the same and what is reproved in the Heart of man is manifested
false Prophets that shall come unto you in Sheeps cloathing which are inwardly ravening VVolves ver 16. ye shall know them by their Fruits and in Mat. 24.11 But many false Prophets shall arise and deceive many and this came to be seen and fulfilled in the Age of the Disciples and Johâ— testified 1 Jâ—hn 2.18 Little Children it is the last times as ye have heard hat Antichrist should come even now there are many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last times they went out from us but were not of us chap. 4.3 So they entred in then and went out from the Light from the Power of God which the Apostles preached for the Remission of Sins and Jude testified against such as were entred in who were in Cain's way that were degenerated and killed and in Balaam's way for Gifts and Rewards and yet preached up the words which the Apostles spoke but for filthy Lucre and had Mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage And Peter said that false Prophets and false Teachers should arise that should bring in damnable Heresies that should deny the Lord that bought them and many should follow their pernicious Wayes 2 Pet. 9.22 And the Apostle wrote to Timothy the Bishop or Overseer that the Spirit spoke expresly that in the last times some should depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking Lies in Hypocrisie forbidding to marry and abstain from meats c. 1 Tim. 4. And again Paul in 2 Tim. 3. saw the Apostacy coming in and perillous times should come that men should be lovers of their own selves Covetous Boasters without natural Affection Truce-breakers false Accusers despisers of them that are good Traytors heady high-minded Lovers of Pleasures more then Lovers of God men of â—oâ—rupt minds reprobate concerning the Truth having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power and as the same Apostle saith in another Place were Enemies to the Cross of Christ and these went out into the World and this is 1400. Years ago and upwards Then the Mystery of Iniquity began to work and wrought and they went out and did not preach up the Jews Religion the Ordinances of the first Covenant but they preaâ—hed Christ in Words and transformed into the Form of the Apostles Words but denied the Cross and spoke those things they ought not for filthy Lucrâ— Sake and there was the Beginning of the Hirelings that care not for the Flock and those went out into the World and many followed their pernicious Wayes and there held the Form but denied the Power and â—o indeed preached another Gospel and they lived in the Liberty of the Flesh held people in the Liberty yet proselyted them into a kind of Faith which was feigned and these kind of false Apostles and deceitful workers led many after them and there was the beginning of the Apostacy and they published these things in the World and when the Name of Christ came to be in Reputation and the preaching of the Gospel to be in Request then they for filthy lucre went out with the Words and retained the Form not the Jewish Form altogether but the Form of the Saints worship and practice which were in the Church of Christ which were elect and precious and they grew to such a Head and to such a Body and became such a Number and yet Gainsayers and in Cain's Way for they were out of the Power and out of that which mortifies the Deeds of the Flesh and they spread themselves over Nations and Kindreds over Tongues and peoâ—ple and Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and people have now got the Name of a Church and the Seat thereof came to be great the false Church the Harlot Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots which had denyed the Husband Christ the Power of God her Seat was set upon Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and these were her Seat and John said these were the Waters which he saw the Whore or false Church sit upon and she turned and all her Children against the free Woman the Lord's Spouse the Lamb's Wife and made her flee into the Wilderness for a Time Times and half a Time and she reached forth her Golden Cup a fair out-side but full of Fornication within and she claimed Christ to be her Husband and sate as a Queen and the Kings of the Earth John saw in the Revelation drink of her Cup and bewitched by her Sorceries and then all the Nations becoming Water and unstable being drunk with Fornication staggered up and down and reeled up and down and stood in nothing being out of the Power which should have stablished them and then a great Beast arose out of these Nations Kindreds and Tongues and People which are these Waters with seven Heads and ten Horns and then these Apostatized Disciples or Ministers which preached for filthy Lucre and them that believed them sheltered them under the Beast and cryed who is able to make War with the Beast And the Kings of the Earth gave their Strength to the Beast which arose out of the Waters and now the false Church gets upon him these that had the Form of Godliness out of the Power and rides upon the Beast and he carries her and hath done this many Years and she hath travailed in the greatness of his Strength and then Laws began to be made about Religion and then began compelling we heard of none in the Primitive times nor in the true Church but now the false Church calling her self by the Free-Woman's Name and getting on the outward Dress and Habit and Attire saith I am she have I not the Form and Ordinanes which were practised in the Apostles Daves who doubts of that may look into the primitive times and see that I am conformable to the Form which was amongst the first Christians in things that are outward and thus she hath deceived the Nations Rev. 18.23 Now Rome look to thy Beginning and read thy Original and view thy Antiquity VVe will grant thee every Dram and every Hour of time these thirteen hundred Years and prove thee to be in the Apostacy in Doctrine and Practice from the primitive time after the first hundred Years after Christ was manifested in the Flesh And Christendom look about thee for thou art measured and thy Compass is seen If Natioâ—s and Kindreds and Tongues and People have drunk the VVhores Cup since John's Dayes as will be made manifest then what Cause hast thou Rome to boast of Antiquity and Universality for that doth the sooner prove thee to be a Harlot then the true Church and thy Universality which hath long been boasted of proves thee no more to be the true Church of Christ then the Sea can prove it self to be a Rock for if Nations Kindreds and Tongues and Languages and People universally be the Waters that the Whore sits upon and the Beast rose out of the Waters Now read thy self we have measured thee as in
not been spoken and preached bought and sold as a Gospel not only in the church of Rome but also among them that are separated from her even until now this hath been preacht to Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and if the writings be the everlasting Gospel then how doth John say or why did he so say that the everlasting Gospel should go forth again and be preacht again after the Apostacy or to bring out of the Apostacy But it clearly implies the Word had been preached and published and the temporary Writings which were given forth at divers times had been preached up for Gospel these many Hundred Years which many have received by tradition but the Power of God and the Gift of God by which and from which the Ministers of Christ in all Ages ministred hath been wanting if not altogether lost for the most part among them that are called Christians then what is the Quarrel betwixt you and the Romanists it is but in translation at the most and while words translations and Versions have been contented about the everlasting Gospel hath been hid therefore all People are upon heaps and the Nations like waters rowling up and down in Instability now the reformed Ministry so called are in many things in the same practice with the former You deny an immediate Call and set up an outward Ordinatiâ—n and a Form of laying on of Hands without the holy Ghost ordaining such and such who have some Skill in natural Tongues or some Words of Oratory to be a subject matter to make Ministers upon and that which they preach in Words which hath been long held in the Form without the Life you call the Gospel and these are confined to a Parish as the former to such a Cloyster and such a Monastery and these preach for hire and Gifts and Rewards and for Maintenance and kept up all the aforesaid Wayes and maintenance as lawful and will make People believe it is according to Gospel-Institution when alas it is but the Pope's Tythes Oblations Obventions Mortuaries and Prayers for the dead keeping up the Wages but deny the Work And Tythe of all things as Pigs and Geese Hens and Egs Apples and Cherries and Turnips and all nothing excepted this is a feeble thing as to hold out to People for Gospel-maâ—ntenance and the Preachers of the Gospel are ashamed of it Furthermore they that will not give it sue them at Law throw them into holes till they dye take away ten-fold that which is claimed say the man is not subject to Gospel order denieth Ministers Maintenance this hath been Crime enough to take away the Estates and Lives of Men all this is in the Apostacy And seeing it is said we are under a Gospel Administration and Ordinances what do you wiâ—h Organs Whistlers and Pipes in any part of your Services this pertained to the Jews and not to the primitive Church and what do you do with Surplices Tippets and Hoods and other strange kind of Garments it may be the high-Priest's Garments or the Priest's Linnen Ephod or linnen Breeches must be brought in for a Gospel-proof and for an Apostolick Ordinance and what do you with the Pope's Lent and why should the Pope's Lent be among the reformed Protestants churches forbidding Meats and Drinks and why forbidding Marriage in Lent and who ordained these Dayes what have they been borrowed from the Heathen or are they looked upon to be such Dayes as used to be cited in the Calender for the Dog-dayes which have been brought from the Heathen stand to this Day in too much credit among Believer so called And why is one Day preferred before and above another and some counted holy-Dayes as though some others were unholy-dayes and why such a Collect and such a Gospel and such a Chapter and such a Psalm mincing and cutting and severing the Scripture in Pieces and Shreds Is this like Apostolick Doctrine truly Friends many things we have to say if you had an Ear to hear and that upon good Ground we can speak that we look upon all these things to be feeble and poor and beggerly things and have no agreement or congruity with the primitive times And should People be limited or stinted to such a certain Form of words called Service or Prayer and divine Worship was that ever reckoned divine Worship that was not from the divine Spirit But it may be you will say the Words are good or some of them I am not speaking about Words but the Spirit from which every Service ought to be performed to the Lord God and the primitive Christians prayed in the Spirit and with Understanding and sung with the Spirit and with Understanding 1 Câ—r 14.15 And there were some that knew not what to pray for as they ought but the Spirit helped their Infirmities Rom. 8.26 But you know what to pray for and how much must be said on such a Day or such a time and if there be a Homily or a Sermon Letany must be missed Now I say if it be divine Worship or any thing wherein God is honoured and the People bettered nothing of it ought to be wanting But these things the primitive times do not countenance but when the power was lost and the Life gone from and the Spirit erred from these things have come into the latter dayes which have been very perillous times as to them who have kept the Apostolick Faith and in the Order of the Primitive Church Many more things we could instance which are practised as for Discipline and Order and some for Necessity which have no Affinity or union at all with the primitive Churches but rather are things which are too near of kin unto her that sits as a Queen upon the Waters whose Flesh must be burnt with Fire who hath drunk the Blood of the Saints and how many of the Lord's servants have suffered in and about these things not only in the Church of Rome but also by them which have been called reformed many have known and are living Witnesses thereof And all these Temples Bells Hour-glasses Pulpits and Cushions Altars Tables and Fonts which are things that pertain not to them that look they are come out of the Apostacy but the spiritual minded see over them and beyond them and before these things and also see through the Spirit of prophecy the time when they shall be no more adored worshipped and honoured but God shall be feared in the hearts of the Sons of men and Glory shall be given to him and he shall be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth as he was in the Primitive Times when the Beast and the false Prophet and they that wrought Miracles before him and all they that have cryed who is able to make War with the Beast and have cryed worship him all must be taken alive remember that alive in their Strength and cast into the Lake and the Mother of Harlots shall be made desolate her Cup of Fornication thrown
the shadows fly away and clear Air appears and Glory and clearness is beholden eâ—en the Lord with open Face and yet man lives and is not afraid of his Presence but is glad because of the Light of his countenance But this is â— Mystery and these things are hidden from the Wise and Prudent of this World But this is the sum of much there was a time when there were no Oaths outward before the Transgression when man was the Image of God after the Transgression the Oathes were given forth and the commands outward but in the Restoration or Reformation they end again and there shall be none for Truth it self shall live and it shall testifie in man and there shall be no other Witnesses blessed are they that believe and understand But to come nearer the Understanding of all it is granted that in the first Covenant under the Law Oaths were ordained and men did and might swear but this was after Sin entered into the World many hundred Years and the Nations who were Heathens swore some by their Kings and some by their Heathen-Gods the Egyptians swore by the Life of Pharaoh and the Romans by the Life or Fortune of Caesar but Israel was to swear by the living God Deut. 10.20 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God him shalt thou serve and to him shalt thou cleave and swear by 〈◊〉 Name Lev. 19.11 12. Ye shall not steal neither deal falsly neither lye one unto another ye shall not swear falsly by my Name neither shalt thou prophane the Name of thy God I am the Lord Num. 30.2 And if aâ—y vow a Vow untâ— the Lord and swear an Oath to bind his Soul with a Bond he shall not break his Bond but do all that proceeds out of his Mouth and so Jâ—shua kept Covenaâ—â— with the Gibeonâ—ites but when Israel revolted from the Lord in their Hearts and yet sware a true Word and said The Lord lived yet the Prophet Jeremiâ—h said chap. 5.2.23.10 Thouâ—â— they say the Lâ—rd liveth yet they swear falsly no truer thing could be said or sworn then that the Lord lived but he liâ—ed nor in them that did lye and steall and kill and commit Adultery they held the former but were gone from â—he Life and Power and then it was a customary thing with them to swear even as it is now among the Apostate Christians and because of which the Land mourns and in chap 4. vers 15. Though Israel play this Harlot yet let not Judea so offend and come not yet to Gilgal neither go you up to Bethaven nor swear the Lord liveth And Amos saith They that swear by the Sin of Samâ—â—â—a and say the God of Dan liveth and the Manner of Bersheba liveth even they shall fall and rise up again So when they kept the Covenant of God they swâ—re by the Name of the Lord in Truth and in Righteousness but when they revolted they kept the Words and swore without Fear and prophaned the Name and did swear then by the Heathen by Milcom and the Sin of Samaria even as the Apostate Christians now swear by any thing yea even the most religious Swearing is by a Book which is not the living God and so this kind of Swearing hath no ground at all but custom and tradition but still this is granted that the Jews and many of the Faithfull Fathers swore as Jacob and Abraham and many others and all died in the Faith and yet were not made partakers of the Promise but saw through the Vail and the Shadows and an Oath was a Type of Christ the Oath of God and the Promise but now the Promise is come and the Restorer and the Reformer is come and all are to hear him or else be cut off from having any Share in him who is the Promise it self yea all the Promises in him are Yea and Amen in whom not only the Children of Abraham after the Flesh but all the Children of the Promise are blessed and he who fulfilled the Law in whom God fulfilled his Oath who is the everlasting high Priest after Melchizedeck's order he hath put an End to all Oaths and swearing and all the Types and Shadows He saith Mat. 5.33 34. It hath been said of old time thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform to the Lord thy Oaths But I say unto you my Disciples and Followers who have believed in me the true and living Way who makes all things a new swear not at all neither by Heaven c. there being a Generation then as now who said to swear by the Greater is nothing but he that swears by the lesser is guilty he calls them Hypocrites and saith Whosoever shall swear by the Eternity the lesser sweareth by him the Greater that dwelleth therein and he that sweareth by Heaven the lesser sweareth by the Throne of God and him that sitteth thereon the greater and if Christ had only forbid vain swearing and Oaths as most do ignorantly imagine he had done no more then the Law had done before but it is manifest he forbids all Swearing yea even by Lord for if they that swear by Heaven swear by God that sits upon the Throne as he himself saith then he prohibits this also and saith I say unto you swear not at all and James 5.12 who well knew Christ's mind saith Above all thingâ— my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven nor by Earth now we know Heaven and Earth comprehends all created things and yet the Apostle goes further and excludes all manner of Swearing saying neither any other Oath and this he commands above and before all things and that upon the Penalty of Condemnation but much by divers Hands hath been written about this particular so I desire not to be large seeing we have a cloud of Witnesses which have good Assurance in themselves by God's Spirit sealing unto them rather then swear and bring condemnation upon themselves have denied their Estates and Liberties which lie at stake upon it but happy will they be who have no hand in it to provoke the upright and tempt them aside out of Christ's Way for Wo will come undoubtedly upon such And that others may see it is no new thing take a few Examples of the faithful in Ages past who suffered as Martyrs and it were an easie thing to bring a cloud of Witnesses out of the Ecclesiastical Histories of them that denied all Swearing in divers Ages I shall instance only a few Polycarpus who was as it is said John's Disciple and had been a Christian eighty nine years when he came to suffer Martyrdom the Procâ—nsul requiring him to swear by the Emperor 's good Fortune and by Caesar's Prosperity which was the custom of the Romans at that time and divers Heathen Emperors set up their own Images to be worshipped and their Persons to be sworn by but Polycarpus denied and said he was a Christian and would shew forth the Doctrine of Christianity he desired the same
of Men and sport themselves over the Heritage of God what doth he that sits in Heaven and they that are in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus and will not the Lord have them in Derision who mâ—ke a Mock of Sin and rejoyce in Iniquity as though it were the high Way to Felicity Well though the Archers have shot hard at you and hâ—ve come in their Strength against you yet the Lâ—rd hath preserved you that you do not break your Ranks and I feel the Lâ—rd hath put Courâ—ge in you and Wisdom in your Mouthes to withstand yâ—ur Adversaries and the Lord is on your Side the Cause is his the Worship is his the Glory is his you suffer for and be assured he suffers with you and so are his People afflicted with you and in this be comforted that you are not alone though you be counted Fools it 's for Christ's sake though reckoned disobedient it 's because you keep his Commâ—nds and though you be represented as vile and evil and as Transgressors so was Christ so have his Saints been in every Generation since the Devil hath had Dominion in the Hearâ—â— of the fallen Sons of Adam What should you be troubled at thiâ— nâ—y rather rejoyce that the Scripture is fulfilled of you in our â—ge as Christ prophesied unto his Disciples That they should speak all manner of Evil falsely for my Names sake and be 〈◊〉 out of their Assembly and hailed before Rulers and Judgment-Seats for my Names sake but rejoyce and be exceeding glad And also it cannot but appear unto all People who are moderate that it 's only his Names sake you suffer for yea even the Lips of your Adversaries and the Words of your Judges do demonstrate no less that it 's not for any Evil at such a Meeting then it must needs be for your good doing there and to worship God any where but where they would have you is reckoned Crime enough to banish you Oh have not they bewrayed themselves and will not this enter into other Hearts not yet concerned to consider O surely yea and the Devil and his persecuting Enemies shall loose by it and the Truth shall be a Gainer Well Dearly Beloved you know even as the Gospel was preached to others before and as it came unto us and as we did receive it so it was declared unto you in all Simplicity and you have not been beguiled by it nor the Messengers of it of whom some are at Rest and fallen asleep and their Life and Spirit is with you and among you It hath been told you that all must be given up and all must be denyed and the Cross must be born and all must dye to the World before they could receive Christ or be made alive unto him and before the Enmity could be slain or the Peace witnessed which you have found true and happy are you that have believed and keep in the Faith And now beloved though our Adversaries think this is a loosing time and this is the Way to bring us and Truth in which we have believed into Disesteem I tell you the Truth in the Word of God unto you this is the Time of gaining unto many and shall be unto more and this is the Way the Lord hath suffered to come pass Persecution that your Faith and Hope may be tryed from Hypocrites and that it may be made known unto others that you possess something that others possess not that makes you willingly and cheerfully deny that which otherwise might be precious unto you if could be enjoyed in the Truth and them that have lifted up themselves against us may see and be convinced of their Weakness and that they overprized that which now in this Day stands in no stead and have undervalued that which is able to carry them that truly believe through all Difficulties and Distresses as it hath done you hitherto blessed be the Lord and will confirm you and establish you forever When they had crucified the Lord of Life they thought they had brought all to an End but then his Life Power and Glory was more and more manifest and Thousands more did believe and they thought to have stiffled all in Jerusalem and then it came to be preached to all Nations though they think to dam up the Way of Truth and stiffle it here and us I tell you nay the Fame thereof shall reach to the Ends of the Earth and the Sound thereof unto the VVorld's End and Salvation through it shall be known from Sea to Sea we have a glorious Effect thereof in our own Day as ever was in any Age and in so short a Time as I may truly say as the Prophet said The Lord hath wrought a Work upon the Wheels and hath done it through weak poor Instruments that his Arm and Power might only appear and that he alone might have the Glory and therefore be of believing Hearts and look not at the Blackness and Darkness of the present Time but before it and let none trouble you neither be ye troubled at the Words or VVritings of any evil Spies or discontented Minds for that would weaken some Papers I have seen of that Nature abroad which the Life of God judgeth And moreover if any come unto you with any new Doctrine try it in the Light your selves before you joyn to it or if any come with a Shew of Humility and tell you of another Appearance or in another Way then through the Light of the World and gather not to you but seek to make Dissension and Discord and to beget a Dislike in you either of the Truth or Persons of any who have believed receive not that into your Hearts Moreover you know how many have doted about needless Disputes and have busied Friends Minds about Trifles and have begot a Heat in them and have been hurried up and down in the Wind a while and all hath erâ—ed in nothing Moreover if any come and tell you that they who have preached the Word of Truth among you would reign over you and usurp Authority over you and seek Dominion mark for such are unsubjected Spirits for I know the Lord bears Record and be you also Record that they which have laboured among you have not preached themselves But Christ and have not sought yours but you and the Good of all your Souls I have heard such Murmuring sometimes of the Sons of Corah against some who were faithful Men who are fallen asleep and against some living who so have done their End hath not been good But I can say unto you with a clear Conscience and of them who are deceased and them that are living as Gideon said to the Men of Ephraim when they said he should reign over them he answered and said The Lord shall reign over you even I speak of all the ancient Brethren who have laboured and suffered in the Work of the Lord until now I know they only sought that the Lord might reign in
Volunâ—â—ry thing and freely given and there is a good shew of reason in it that it was by Way of gratitude unto Melchizedeck to requite his kindness who brought forth Bread and Wine unto his Souldiers after a great Pursuit which refreshed both him and his Souldiers which was a great sign and a courtesie if Abraham had not given the tenth of the Spoil he had not sinned so an Example of this naâ—ure â—â—nnot be a binding Law to future Generations for if the Ministry 〈◊〉 is last Age will make this a binding rule we may as well requiâ—e of them 〈…〉 Wine of every Priest for our selves and whole Families and every Officer may require Bread and Wine of every Parish-Priest for himself and all his Souldiers for the one example is as binding as the other both of them being Voluntary The next passage that seems to have any weight in it about Tythes is Jacob's Vow This Stone saith he which I will set up as a Pillar shall be God's House and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee This was an extraordinary occasion and more then an ordinary appearance from God unto Jacob before when he went from his Father to Haran to take a Wife of his own Kindred And the Lord appeared unto him as he laid his Head upon a Stone the Night being come and said unto him I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the Land whereon thou liest to thee will I give it and to thy Seed and it shall be as the Dust of the Earth and thou shalt spread abroad to the East West North and South and in thee and thy Seed shall all the Families of the Earth be Blessed He called the name of the place Bethel viz. the House of God because of the Glorious appearance of God and of his great Promise made unto him which he did believe as may be seen more at large in the whâ—le Chapter So Jacob's Heart being opened and filled fall of Joy and Faith he promised again unto the Lord and vowed a Vow saying If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go so that I câ—me again to my Father's House in Peace then shall the Lord be my God and of all that he giveth me I will surely give the tenth unto thee which he performed after twenty Years as Josephus saith in these Words by Oâ—â—ering unto the Lord the â—â—â—th of all his substance which he had got 〈◊〉 â—â—rar after that he returned unto that place where God did appear unto him and made his Promise unto hiâ— then Jacob performed his Promise unto the Lord. But unto whose Hand he gave this tenth appears not for 〈…〉 the Priest hood was solely annâ—â—â—d to the first-bâ—rn â—f Families 〈…〉 well with the Sanctifying of the first-born commanded in Egypt hence it comes that Melchisedeck is commonly reputed to be Shem the eldest Son Noah but that is Câ—ntrovetâ—l and so I shall let it pass But it is thought by some that Jacob payed his vow unto the Hands of Isaac his Father and gave unto him the tenth of what he had gotten as being the chief of the Family then living and a Priest also but as is said before these two instances of Abraham and Jacob are only Voluntary and free Gifts as a return of thankfulness unto the Lord the 〈◊〉 having got a great Victory over his Enemies and â—he other having received a great assurance of the Lord of his Promise and Blessing with him did bind them to it But we do not read that they were at all oblieged by any special Commandment as to give so much though 't is granted that after Jacob had vowed he was oblieged but these are no binding Examples unto future Generations especially them that pretend they are Ministers of the second Covenant the Gospel there is no other mention made of Tythes before Moses his time unless some will dream as they will needs do that the Levitical Law was written before the Creation Yet some of the Ancients seem to have observed a respect had to the quantity of what was as a part of the yearly encrease Consecrated in those times of the Lord that even in the first memory to Sacrifice Cain's Offering was not regarded they say because he did not well or aright divide what he offered as if some quota pars were at that time required But this reason was from no other cause then the mis-translation of the Text in the story of Cain where the Jews read it If thou offer well but not divide aright hast thou not Sinned be quiet unto which agrees the Text of the Septuagint when as the true Translation out of the Original is thus Why is thy Countenance cast down if thou do well art thou not accepted if thou do Evil Sin lyeth at the Door But most agreeable to the Text is that he gave with a grudging mind and not of the best and first of his Fruit for it is expresly said that Abel brought of his first Fruits but Cain only of his Fruit of the Ground Abel giving then unto the Lord a portion of the best the other not regarding of what worth his Offering were So here is not any certain quantity noted but the mind of the Spirit of him that offered and the quality of the Oblation or gift So the chief thing to be noted from this is That Cain was an Hypocrite and offered with that mind and Spirit with which he slew his Brother and so his Sacrifice was not accepted But this is no Plea or Ground at all for the Payment of Tenths as due Tythes were never commanded to be payed by the Lord to any but Israel whose Law was given forth four hundred thirty Years after the Promise as saith the Apostle Neither were they ever payable but by the Jews after they came to the Land of Canaan and to Levi's Tribe only and to the Jewish Priests that had no Inheritance allotted them by the Lord of all the Land of Canaan or beyond Jordan but only the tenths according to the command of the Lord for the Offâ—â—â— of the Priesthood and for the service of the Tabernacle How among the Jews Tythes were payed or judg'd to be due the yearly encrease being either Fruit of Ground or Cattel in the Law of Fruits of the Ground first the first of the first ripe were offered to the Priest in ears of Wheat Figs Barley Grapâ—s Olives Pomegranates and Dates of these seven only the first Fruits were payed in what quantity the owner would Next the Theruma or heave-offering or first Fruits of Corn Wine Oyl and Fleece and the like were given to the Priests but it being not determined by Moses of what quaâ—â—â—iâ—y this Offering should be the Jews anciently judg'd it to be enough at the fiftieth part but so that no necessity was that every one
not out of use till more then one hundred Years after Augustin's coming that is till past seven hundred Years after Christ as may be conjectured out of the Testimony of Bede which extends so far in the City of London till the time of Henry the third no Tythes as Tythes were generally payed but only a Decree made that for every twenty Shillings rent a farthing a Sunday was to be paid which came to fifty two farthings yearly and this was given by way of Offering but was supposed as due and the tenth part of the yearly Rent of their Houses As concerning Laws and Canons for Tythes among the Saxons it is reported that in the year 786. in the time of Pope Adrian when his Power began to grow great he sent two Legates with Letters into England for Reformation as it was call'd first to Offa King of Merceland and Alfewold King of Northumberland who call'd a Council in the North and Offa and Kenulph call'd a Council for the South wherein they ordained That a tenth of the Fruit of the Earth should be Payed as it was written in the Law of Moses and when this Council had thus concluded by Alfwold the Legates and Embassadors took all the Decrees and Canons of the Council and carryed to Offa and he and his Bishops and Abbots did subscribe it with a Cross to it likewise Selden makes mention That Ethelulfe King of the West Saxons in the year 855. he made a Law That the Tythe of all his own Lands should be given to God and his Servants and should be freed from all Taxes But there is great difference among Historians about his Grant some restrain it to the Tythe of his own demesne Lands others to the tenth part of his Land and others to the Tythe of the whole Nation About this time heavy pressures by Danish Invasions and great Wars came on so that he called a Council where were present Bernereddus King of Mercia and Edmond King of East Angles and they to remove the heavy Judgment that was upon them gives the Tythe of all the Land to God and his Servants as the Phrase then was King Athelstone about the year 930. and King Edmond about the year 940. and King Edgar about 970. King Ethelred about 1010. King Knute about 1020 Edward the Confessor and others of the Saxon Kings made several Laws for Tythes as Histories do relate Likewise the Normans afterwards entring this Kingdom and subduing it William the Conqueror confirmed the Liberties of the Church Also Henr. 1. and Hen. 2. did the like and King Stephen also The Reader may understand the Principles upon which these men acted and the Doctrine then was believed by them and maintained to be good by Prelates of that Age that Heaven was merited by good Works and Sins pardoned for Works of charity which Works were chiefly reckoned to be good by the Prelates of that Age when some Monastery was builded Church or Chappel so called and dedication of Lands and Goods to such places for the health and happiness of their Souls they had perswaded many men almost out of their Estates leaving their Heirs and children very poor Many instances thereof might be given but one or two for manifesting the Truth of this King Stephen in his dayes gave to the Priory of Eye in Suffolk as may be seen in an Original charter of his made to the said priory wherein he gives the tenths of all his Mannors of Stedbrook Rading Seldia Bedima with divers other places for the pardon of his Sins and obtaining the joyes of Heaven and not only he gave it for the health of his own Soul but for the Soul of his Father and of his Mother and of his Uncle and interceding Kings to the use and End aforesaid Likewise out of another old Charter granted by Ralph then Bishop of Chichester to the Abby of Battel the tenths of Voulwaine of Hennam and of Servin and of Lezein and Badhurst and the tenths of many other places to the said Abbey for the health of his own Soul and the health of the Souls of his Ancestors Also out of the charter of the Monastery of Ridding in Herefordshire in the time of King John Walter Clifford for the health of his Fathers Soul and of his Wifes and children doth give the whole Tenth of Hamenesca unto the Church of Lempster But notwithstanding the many Laws Canons and Decrees of Kings Popes Councils and Bishops allâ—ding to the page before that every man ought to pay the tenth part of his encrease yet it was left to the owner to confer it where he pleased which made so many rich Aâ—bies and Monasteries And till the year 1200. or thereabouts every one gave their Tythe at their own Pleasure which made Pope Innocent the third send his Decretal Epistle to the Bishop of Canterâ—ury commanding him to enioyn every man to pay his Temporal goods to those that Ministred Spiritual things to them which was enforced by Ecclesiastical Censures and this was the first beginning of general Parochial Payment of Tythes in England this his Decretal was admitted and enjoyned by the Law of the Nation King and People being then Papists The Decree of the Pope receiving all possible assistance from the Bishops and the Priests in whose behalf it was made did not only in a short time take away the Peoples then deâ—â—red right to give their Tythes to those that best deserved them but did also so much corrupt the Clergy that in the time of Richard the second Wickliff our famous Reformer did make a heavy complaint to the Parliament in these Words following Ah Lord God where this be reason to constrain the poor People to find a Worldly Priest sometime unable both of Life and cunning in Pomp and Pride Covetous and Envy Gluttonness Drunkeness and Lechery in Simony and Heresie with fat Horse and Jolly and gay Saddles and Bridles ringing by the way and himself in costly Cloaths and pelure and to suffer their Wives and Children and their poor Neighbours perish for Hunger thirst and Cold and other mischiefs of the World Ah Lord Jesus Christ sith within few Years men paid their Tythes and Offerings at their own will free to good men and able to great Worship of God to profit and fairness of holy Church fighting in Earth why it were lawful and needful that a worldly Priest should destroy this holy and approved Custome constraining men to leave this freedom turning Tythes and Offerings unto wicked uses A cloud of Witnesses might be brought out of the Ancient Fathers and also latter Testimonies who witnessed against them and divers Martyrs some whereof were put to Death others grievously troubled and suffered long and great Imprisonments as John Huâ— Jerâ—me of Prague the famous Reformer John Wickliff who is spoken of before and Walter Brute William Thorpe William Swinderâ—y and it was generally the Judgment of all the Wickliffans and the predecessors of the
Protestants the Bohemians being descended from the Waldenses they did profess and held out that all Priests or Ministers ought to be Poor and to be content with free gifts or what the People freely offered them so faith 〈◊〉 Sylvius in his Bohemian History And it is one of John Wickliff's Articles whose Works are as much esteemed of by the Protestants of England and Bohemia as despised by the Papists and their Clergy having his bones taken up and Burnt 41 years after his decease and his Articles condemn'd by the Council of Constance his own words are That Tythes were and are a free gift as among the Christians and only pure Alms and the Parishoners may for the offence of their Curates detain and keep them back and bestow them upon others at their own will and Pleasures And his Proposition aforesaid is maintained by that godly Martyr John Hus who was Burnt for his Testimony at Constance but take his own words That the Clergy are not Lords and Possessors of Tythes and other Ecclesiastical Goods which are freely given but only Stewards and after the necessity of the Clergy is once satisfied they ought to be Transported to the poor And again if the Clergy do abuse the same they are Theves and Robbers and saocriligious Persons and except they do repent by the just Judgment of God they are to be condemned Likewise Ambrose Preaching upon the 16. Luke Give an account of your Stewardship c. From hence he infers That the Clergy are not Lords but rather Stewards and Bailiffs of other men's Substance furthermore Jerom writing to Nepotianus a Clergy-man saith How can they be of the Clergy which are commanded to contemn and despise their own substance and yet to take away from a Friend is Thieft to deceive the Church it is Sacriledge and to take away that which should be given to the Poor Likewise Bernard in his Sermon upon these Words Simon Peter said unto Jesus Luke 17. from thence infers these words viz. Truly the goods of the Church are the Patrimony of the Poor and whatsoever thing the Ministers and Stewards of the same not Lords Porossessors do take unto themâ—elves more then sufficient for a competent living the same is taken away from the poor by Sacrilegious cruelty Also Eusebius in his Treatise upon the Pilgrimage of Saint Jerome writes thus If thou oft possess a Garment or any other thing more then extream necessity doth require and dost not help the needy thou art a Thief and a Robber And Isidore in his Treatise de summo bono Chap. 24. saith Let the Bishop know that he is the Servant of the People and not Lord over them These and divers more Authors that worthy man John Hus instanced at a Disputation in the University of Prague in Vindication of John Wickliff's seventeenth Article which was that Tythes was a free gift in the time of Christianity and accounted as pure Alms. At the reformed Church in Geneva they live upon free gift and Tythes of all sorts are taken up for the use of the State and laid up for the publick treasury And that good man William Thorp of whom I made mention before who gave a large Testimony against divers abuses crept into the Church it being the Mid-night of Popery being complain'd of by the then Popish clergy and brought to examination in the Year 1407. being accused before Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Chancellour of England He gives a very clear Testimony about Tythes how that they were no Gospel-Maintenance In his answer he saith That in the new Law neither Christ and his Apostles took Tythe of the People neither commanded they the People to pay Tythes neither to Priests nor Deacons and Christ and his Apostles preached the Word of God to the People and liv'd of pure Almes or free gifts but after Christ's Ascension when the Apostles had received the Holy Ghost they travelled Labouring with their Hands and also he saith that Paul when he was full Poor and needy Preaching among the People he was not Chargeous unto them but with his Hands he Laboured not only to get 〈◊〉 own living but also to relieve others that were Poor and needy And further he saith Tythes were given on the old Law to Levites and Priests but our priests time not of Levi Ergo by the Law our Priests cannot challenge Tythes for as the Priesthood is changed so is the Law but since Chrâ—st in the time of his Ministry and also his Apostles lived by pure Almes or else by the Labour of their Hands for the Servant is not greater then his Lord At which Words the Bishop said unto him God's Curse have you and mine for thus Teaching And further the said William Thorp saith that those Priests that do take Tythes deny Christ to be come in the Flesh unto when the Bishop said Heard you ever Lozell speak thus and further the said William saith that the covetousness and Pride of the Priests destroyes the vertue of the Priesthood and also stirs up God's Vengeance both upon Lord's and Commons who suffer these Priests charitably and the Arch-Bishop said thou judgest every Bishop Proud that will not go arryed as thou dost by God I deem him to be more meek that goes every day arryed in his Scarlet Gown then thou in thy Thread-bare blew Gown This is an Answer much like a Lording Bishop and a Tything Priest but I refer the Reader to the whole Discourse and Testimony of Williams Thorpe which is large in Fox his Acts and Monuments Likewise William Swinderby in the Articles that are charged against him is That for an evil Curate to curse his Hearers or Excommunicate them for with-holding of his Tythes is nothing but wickedly and wrongfully getting from them their Money for if saith he that the Priest or Curate be a wicked man as most of the Tything Priests are If the Parishoners do pay him Tythes they are guilty before God of upholding him in his Sin and Evil deeds and further saith he that whereas Christ's Law doth command to Minister freely to the People the Pope with his Law sells for Money whereas Christ's Law teaches his Priests to be poor the Pope justifies and maintains Priests to be Lords Also with him doth agree Walter Brute as is manifest by the Articles charg'd against him viz. That no Man is bound to pay Tythes in Gospel times 2. That if the Parishoners shall know their Curate to be bad they ought to hold from him their Tythes 3. That if any Priest receive any thing by way of bargain or yearly Stipend in so doing he is a Schismatick and accured 4. That if we be bound to pay Tythes in Gospel times then are we debtours to keep all the whole Law for to say that men are bound to one part of the Law and not to another is not true for this were to prefer one part before another and to set the
the Pope being grown great thunder'd out his Interdict against this Nation Excommunicated the King affrighted the Subjects with his Bulls stuffed with Commination or Curses and that against the very point of Arbitrary disposal of Tythes and the Pope did highly insult over Kings and Princes about this time witness Frederick Barabrossa Hen. 6 th and King John and some others as the Histories of them makes mention so that by the Power of the Pope Parochial payment came just to be setled yet notwithstanding the English Parliaments not willing wholly to forget the Poor for whose sakes tythes were chiefly given did make divers Laws that a convenient portion of the tythes should be set apart for the Poor of the Parish forever as in the Statutes Rich. 2 d. 15.6 and the 4 th of Hen. 4. The Pope having by these means brought in Tythes and the Priests made a pretended title by prescription they set up Courts called Ecclesiastical Courts which remain to this day amongst them that say they are reformed to recover their tythes by and the Priests came to be the Judges of the Court so people might easily understand what might be expected from them yet them that did not pay no greater punishment could they inflict upon them but Excommunication Yet notwithstanding this general Decree the Pope did dispense and did give exemption to divers Orders of his Clergy so called to free them from payment as the Hospitallers Templers and generally to all Lands which belonged to the Religious Persons and Houses which is the reason that divers at this day who have any Land which sometimes belong'd to the Monasteries now dissolv'd say they are tythe-free Now when the Pope by colour of the Jewish Laws by which tythes were given to the Levitical Priesthood had gained an Universal payment of tythes to all his Clergy he in further imitation of that earthly tabernacle sets up a new building after the former Pattern and therefore to himself he claims first-Fruits and tenths as a Successour of the Jewish high-Priest Sins also he under takes to Pardon Cardinals are appointed as Leaders of the Families Miters are ordained for the Head as Aaron had Synagogues they Built now falsely call'd Churches with Altars like the Jews with Organs and Instruments of Musick with Singers and Porters c. And in the form of the Levitical Priesthood they transform'd themselves and this was taught for Catholick Doctrine at that time and yet is still upholden and pleaded for by the Protestant Clergy thereby wholly denying Christ Jesus come in the Flesh the end of all types and Figures Likewise afterward Henr. 8. being a Papist and believing the Popes Doâ—ctrine as also did his Parliament made a Law that every one should seâ— out and pay his tythes as due to God and holy Church Also a second Law in his time was made to the like purpose for great need and reason he had having dissolv'd the Monastâ—eâ—â—'s who had many tythes and eitheâ— had them in his own Hand or Solâ— them unto others to be held as Lay possessions And they having no Law whereby to recover them he madâ— a new Law to enforce the payment of them but still restrained the tryaâ— of Tythes in the Ecclesiastical Court trâ—ble Damages who also restrain'd the Tryal to the Ecclesiastical Court these Laws supposed them due to God and Holy church therefore they required every man to yield and set out their Tythes as had been accustomed likewise some Ordinances were made in that which was called the Long Parliament in the time of the War grounded upon the former Law for treble damages all which Laws were grounded on the Pope's Decrees and Constitutions and his Ground is upon the Jewish Priesthood as before is made good by strong supposal all which indeed is without any true Ground in Gospel-times For a Gospel-Ministry I think it nor amiâ—s to add here by the way a complaint made to the Parliament not long after the dissolution of the Monasteries in England when Lay-men began to possess appropriated Churches and Tythes into their Hands but take the Words of Lodâ—rics Mors sometime a Gray Friar c. Ye that be Lords and Burgesses of Parliament House I require in the Name of all my Brethren that are English-men that ye consider well as you will Answer before the Face of Almighty God in the day of Judgment this abuse and see to amend it when as Anti-christ of Rome durst openly without any Vizard walk up and down throughout England he had so great Favour and his Children had such crafty wits that they had not only almost gotten all the best Lands of England into their Hands but also the most part of all the best Benefices both of Parsonages and Vicaridges which were for the most part all impropred unto them the Impropriations held by them were much more then one third of all the Parish Churches in England divided into three parts And when they had the gifts of any not improperd they gave them unto their Friends of the which alwayes some were learned for the Monks found of their Friends Children at School and though they were not learned yet they kept Hospitality and helped their poor Friends and if the Persons were improperd the Monks were bound to deal Alms to the Poor and to keep Hospitality as the Writings of the gifts of such Parsonages and Lands do plainly declare And as touching the Alms that they dealt and the Hospitality that they kept every man knoweth that many thousands were well received of them and might have been better if they had not had so many great mens Horses to Feed and had not been over charg'd with such Idle Gentlemen as were never out of the Abbeys and if they had any Vicaridge in their Hands they set in some times some sufficient Vicar though but seldom to Preach and to teach But now that all the Abbeys with the Lands and Goods and impropered Parsonages be in temporal mens Hands I do not hear that one halfe-penny worth of Alms or any other profit comes unto the people of thâ—se Parishes your pretence of putting down of Abbeys was to amend that which was amiss in them it was far amiss that a great part of the Lands of the Abbeys which were given to bring up Learned men and to keep Hospitality and to give Alms to the Poor should be spent upon a few Superstitious Monks which gave not forty poundâ— in Alms when they should have given two hundred pound It was amiss that the Monks should have Parsonages in their Hands and deal but the twentieth part thereof to the poor and Preached but once a year to them that payed the Tythes of parsonages It was amiss that they scarcely among twenty set oâ—e sufficient Vicar to preach for the Maintenance which they received but see now that which was amiss is amended as it is in the old Proverb It is amended even as the Devil amended his Dam's Leggs when he
c. And the first Scripture they bring in is Luke 11.41 You pay Tythe of Mint and Rue and all Manner of Herbs As also Mat. 23.23 You pay Tythe of Mint and Annise and Cummin Also Luke 28.12 I am not as this Publican I pay Tythes of aâ—l that I possess c. It is answered that Christ spake this to the Jews and Pharisees in the time when the Levitical Priesthood was not ended and they were bound by the Law whilest it was of Force to observe this Ordinance amongst the rest which were in the first Covenant which was faulty which continued until the time of Reformation viz. till Christ was offered up and said It is finished and was the End of the Law for Righteousness unto all that believe but it is manifest that the Jews then unto whom Christ spoke were not Believers but were such as withstood the Son of God and did not receive him who was the Sum and Substance of all the Types and Shadows of that Covenant and so this is great Ignorance to conclude that because these Scriptures are written in the New Testament so called that therefore Tything is a Gospel-Ordinance for it is manifest that these Scriptures had Relation to the Jews who were under the Law and not under the Gospel and so their Plea as to this is made void But though Divine Right hath been long pleaded and is yet by some but few are now left that will only stand to it for if Tythes be absolutely due as by the Law of God no Custom Prescription Priviledge Exemption Dispensation Law or Constitutions of man or men can acquit any from the utmost Penny of the tenth Part but scarce the tenth Person in England payes Tythes in kind and many plead that they are Tythe-free and pay none at all but if any will stand to this and plead Divine Right then they are to be payed and received for the End and Use for the which they were commanded for the Levites Strangers Poor the Fatherless and Widdow and then where is the Impropriator's Share And some Lawyers of late of very good Fâ—me in England have given their Judgment that Tythes are not due by the Law of God Other Scriptures they seem to plead for the receiving of their Tythes as Rom. 13.7 Render therefore to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due And Mat. 22.21 Give unto Caesar the things which are Caesar 's and unto God the things which are God's Answ. Herein is a clear Distinction betwixt the things which are Câ—sar's and the things which are God's this speaks only of Tribute and Custom or Taxes or Assesments which the Civil Magistrate doth claim by Law and by Custom for the Preservation of a Nation or Conservation of every man in his proper and particular Right and herein every one ougâ—t to render Subjection and Obedience not only for Fear of Wrath but for Conscience sake but these Scriptures have no Relation to Tythes at all nor forced Maintenance for Priests Object But it may be objected Hath not the Magistrate Power to command or make Laws for the Payment of Tenths or what other Part he will to the Ministry Answ. This was answered before if God disanulled his own Command Heb. 7. for the Payment of Tythes who or what is Man that he should make a Law as well to contradict that his Command as also on the contrary to establish them And seeing the Work of the Ministry is the Work of the Lord for Conversion of Souls and that he is the Lord of the Harvest he provideth for his Labourers and Harvest-men whom he sends 〈◊〉 so that there need not any outward Law be made in this Particular the Ministers of old needed not though Believers were but few and the Ministry of this Age reckons whole Nations to be Believers and yet they dare not relye upon them for their Subsistance but run to the temporal Powers to make them a forcing Law to establish their Maintenance which demonstrates they are not true Believers whom they reckon to be so or else that the Lord of the Harvest never sent them forth or else that they do distrust the Lord of the Harvest who they say sent them out to preach Other Scriptures are brought to plead for Tythes or at least some Part of them and forced Maintenance as 1 Cor. 9.9 Thou shalt not muzzel the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn c. Ver. 7. Who plants a Vineyard and eats not of the Fruit thereof and who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock Ver. 11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things Answ. Unto all which I answer that they which do believe and have received spiritual things indeed that they are enjoyned by the Doctrine of Christ and of his Apostles and not only so but even from natural things all that believe are largely taught their Duty therein to distribute and communicate freely unto them who labour in Word and Doctrine and are sent out in the Work of the Lord that they be comfortably provided for by them that are Partakers of heavenly and spiritual things from the Lord as to go in the Warfare of the Lord and to plant in the Vineyard of the Lord yea and it is agreed that the Ministers of Christ did not do these things at their own Charge but if they might not be muzled that tread out the Corn yet they may be muzled that tread out no Corn but run ramping through the Lord's Fields and spoil the Corn these ought to be muzled Again they that watch over a Flock though they may eat of the Milk of the Flock yet they that kill them that are fed and feed themselves with the Fat and cloath themselves with the Wool and worry the Lambs they ought not to eat of the Milk of the Lord's Flock and of such as they reckon Unbelievers and Hereticks and they look upon belong to another Master and not to the Fold of Christ they ought nâ—t to cliâ— and shear other mens Sheep But in short all the aforesaid Scriptures make nothing at all for Tythes or any Part thereof either from Believers or not Believers and these Scriptures also grant that every man is the sole Owner of his own Labour and Possession yet ought every one freely to glorifie God with his Substance and to communicate to him that teacheth in all good things needful and such Sacrifice God doth well accept Again other Scriptures they bring in which there is as little Ground or Footing as in the former but that they are necessitated to get a Shelter and a seeming Cover for their Practice to blind People withal that they may get their Money and so they bring 1 Cor. 9.10 13 14. For it 's written or saith he It 's altogether for our sakes no doubt this is written that he that ploweth should plow in Hope and he that
thresheth in Hope should be made Partaker of his Hope Ver. 13. And do you not know that they who minister holy things live of the things of the Temple and they that wait at the Altar are Partakers with the Altar even so hath the Lord ordained that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Upon these Scriptures as upon the former Inferences have been made to prove their lawful receiving of Popish Tythes and forced Maintenance The Apostle having travailed and laboured in the Gospel of Christ among the Corinthians afterwards wrote unto them exhorting them to Stedfastness in the Faith and also reproving the Disorders that were amongst them which were crept in iâ— hiâ— Absence whiâ—h were sown by them of the Circumcision who boasted themselves against Paul and led away the Hearts of the Corinthians from him as much as in them lay into the Liberty of the Flesh and looked upon Paul as in Bondage whereunto the Apostle useth Plainness of Speech and tells them that doubâ—less he was as an Apostle to them and magnifies his Office and declares also his Power which he had received from Christ as he told them Ver. 4. have not we Power to eat and to drink and I and Barnabas have not we Power to forbear working doubtless yes it was the same that Christ gave unto his Disciples when he sent them forth with them that are worthy to stay and to eat and drink what was set before them and doubtless they had Power to forbear labouring with their Hands but they would not alwayes use it lest they should seem burthensome but laboured rather to make the Gospel of Christ without Charge so this which is alledged as out of the Law for the Equality of it as the Ox not to be muzled when he tred out the Corn and a Husbandman ploughs in Hope to receive a Crop and the Thresher thresheth in Hope to get out the Corn even so he that ministreth in Word and Doctrine in the Faith and Hope is also made Partaker of his Hope and goeth not to War of his own Charge but Christ maketh Provision for them and opens the Hearts of People to contribute freely in the Work of the Lord and for his Service And seeing the Corinthians allowed this Power unto others who sowed Dissension among them the Apostle urgeth it that he much more had Power though he had not used it And further like as they that ministred at the Temple who were Partakers of the Altar as God had appointed them likewise now they that preach the Gospel live of the Gospel as God hath ordained it But that Clause Ver. 14. Even so hath been miserably strained by this last Generation of Teachers as though they that preached the Gospel should live of Tythes even as they viz. the Levâ—tes that ministred at the Altar did live of the Offerings and Tythes that pertained to the Altar but there is no Necessity to understand the Words Even so as thereby to infer that they who preach the Gospel should live of Tythes but as the Levites lived of Offerings and Tythes that ministred at the Altar in their Day even so they that minister the Gospel should live of the Gospel in their Day and be content with Christ's Allowance and as the Apostle saith else-where having Food and Rayment to be therewith content for to live of the Gospel is not to live of Jewish Tythes nor Popish Tythes nor forced Maintenance for this is contrary to the Practice of the Ministers of the Gospel for we never read of any Commandment given for Payment of Tythes under the Gospel neither Exhortation to any neither Reprehension of any for not paying in all the Writings of the Apostles so that we conclude there is none due neither ought to be received by any Minister of the Gospel but People being generally taught that the Scripture is the Foundation of Faith and Practice of Christians the Teachers of the last Age they know that People will expect to have some Ground or Scripture for Proof of their Arguments or Pleas and they having not what they could desire bring such as they can get miserably turning and twining perverting and straining these and the like Scriptures before-mentioned to blind People withal but the Day is manifest that discovers all the crooked Pathes Windings and Turnings of the old Serpent and Ministers of Unrighteousness and Wages of Unrighteousness But another seeming Hold is 2 Cor. 11.8 I robbed other Churches taking Wages of them to do you Service Answ. Here the Apostle shews how he had behaved himself amongst them though he had Power to eat and to drink and to forbear Labour and to receive of them to wit the Corinthians those things needful yet he had not done so for Reasons given before-mentioned and in divers other Places though he saith whilest he was present with them that he wanted as in ver 9. and had preached the Gospel freely unto them ver 7. and did not use his Power as aforesaid but received something from the Brethren of Macedonia which was freely given and ministred by them amongst whom he had ministred before and he made Use of this even while he was in the Corinthians Work and this he took being offered freely by the Macedonians that he might preach the Gospel freely among the Corinthians and this he reckoned as Wages and as taking from others that he might serve the Corinthians and that he might keep himself clear and not be burthensome but this was ingratefully done of the Corinthians seeing it was that which they freely allowed unto them that had deceived them to wit false Apostles but what doth all this prove for Tythes and forced Maintenance even nothing at all but on the contrary proves receiving freely that which was given freely by them unto whom he had preached freely and the Ingratitude also of the Corinthians But being willing to answer all the Pleas and Arguments that ever I heard and all the Scriptures in the New Testament so called which have been brought in for a Plea by the Ministry of this last Age that their Cover may be rent and their Vail done away and the Feebleness of their Arguments shewed forth that People may see they are without Foundation or any grounded Bottom for thâ—se challenged Tythes and forced Maintenance and that all may see we do not suffer Imprisonment and spoiling of our Goods wilfully or ignorantly but for our abiding in the Doctrine of Christ and keeping stedfast to the Ordinances and Order of the Gospel in the purest times of the Publication thereof but take one other Scripture which they alledge and I have done which is Heb. 7.8 And here men that dye do receive Tythes but there he receiveth them of whom it is witnessed that he liveth Answ. Unto which I answer because this is written in the New-Testament so called which they ignorantly call the Gospel therefore because this Word here is mentioned in the Scripture they have
way though to the detriment and ruin of all those mighty Nations Christ the Light of the World now in the End of the World and in this last Age hath chosen a People out of many Peoples and a Family out of many Families and a Nation out of many Nations to serve him and Worship him to Honour and obey him in Life Spirit and Power in their Generation and unto them the promise of eternal Life is made and the Kingdom that is not of this World and Inheritance that fades not away And Christ the King of eternal Glory is their Leader and many are determined to follow him and love not their Lives to the Death and are willing to lay down all in this World for thâ—â— which is Promised and would fain walk on their way in quietness and Peace without any molestation to any man in Person or Estate in the world eâ—â—ing their own Bread and drinking their own Water either by â—aâ—our or by Price but alas their way is stopt and Divinations are sought against them the Balaamites are called forth to Enchant and divine 〈◊〉 Curse and they give Counsel to the Princes to stand up in defiance and seek by all means possible to stop and have fram'd many engines to see if that will do to wit forceable Laws confiscations premunires Jayles Prisons Houses of Correction Fines Stockings Whippings execrations comminations and Excommunications and what not that can be invented by worldly policy and now the Battel is set though one party hath no carnal Weapon in their Heart or Hand and all Nations mark the Issue remember the Battel and the End thereof and do no more if the Lord do not manifestly say and make it evident one way or other for I dare not limit him a way saying as he did of old Touch not mine Anointed do my Prophets nâ— harm to every Kingdom Nation and people who riâ—eth up against the Inheritance of the Lord and if he bring not a Rebuke upon whatsoever Nation people or Family that arises up in Opposition against Christ and his people whom he hath redeemed then let all conclude that God is not among us neither is with us nor hath spoke unto us but to be short in this matter because a few Words to the wise is enough and a little Counsel to the prudent may suffice but in this particular of which I have been treating most-what about Tythes and Ministers Maintenance in this I shall conclude and also assent unto as being the Judgment of thousands of the Lord's people as that the Ministers of Jesus Christ who are trâ—ly so manifest in Doctrine and Works who sow unto us oâ— any people Spiritual things they should and ought to reap of our Temporal things But here lies the difference First of all that the Spirit of the Lord in our Consciences must be our judge who these Ministers are and no other man's direction for to the Conscience were alwayes the Ministers of Christ made manifest and not approved with the Reason and Wisdom of Man Secondly that our gifts may be free and by no man's compulsion are this is according to primitive Example and the Church of Christ's order iâ— the first 〈◊〉 times which all do conclude was the most purest time And would not this ease the temporal Magistrate of much trouble that he puts himself unto and also be more acceptable to God and man for who hath made him a Judge of these things in Gospel-times But seeing I have run over the many particular Judgments from the Apostles time downward and have given the best President that can be given in every Age as to this Particular and seeing divers things are written by other Hands this may be enough to satisfie the Consciences of all who do scruple in this Matter And so I shall conclude upon these many good Reasons and Grounds before-mentioned which are agreeable some of them in every Age unto the Doctrine of Christ and the Practice of the Apostles and this is a certain and positive Truth believed among us which also is agreeable unto the Scripture that Tythes and forced Maintenance as to the Ministers of Christ never was is or shall be counted as Gospel-maintenance neither are the Consciences of Believers at all oblieged at all in this matter Concerning Parochial Churches and Division of Parishes and Parish Profits COncerning these Parish Churches about which there is such heavy Stir at this Day and for Parish Pay and an Injunction for all to worship there is a very Novelty and compared with the Apostles time though it 's granted that there were places wherein the Saints did assemble themselves for the Worship of God yeâ— no limitting to any such Place nor no limitting nor no tying to pay these were but set up at best in the time of Popery and not altogether in the Beginning of it neither for as iâ— mentioned before the Teachers were sent out of the Monasteries and religious Houses so called and the People did go to worship at any Place and at their own free-will gave their Offerings where they pleased till the Year 1200. as before is mentioned as learned Sâ—ldeâ— hath well observed in his exact Treatise of Tythes As for the Brittains little or no Testimony is extant of any Credit that discovers their Order in their time but some about the Year 500. after Christ was found amongst them for when Dabritius was Bishop of South Wales and his See appointed at Lanâ—aff divers Churches were erected and Oblations and other Profits were appropriated to him and his Successors likewise mention is made of a Church built in the time of the Romans to the Honour of Saint Martin in which Austin and his Followers when they came first from Rome made their holy Assemblies as they were called but Guildas saith that about the Year 580. the Clergy having Lordship had resort to them for filthy Lucre's sake First Parochia or Paraecia be diversly taken as first it was taken by the Saxons for a Bishoprick or a Diocess or otherwise for a limitted Place within that Diocess called a less Parish but it is manifest these Parishes had no Profits at all belonging unto them but only were Places where Augustine sent his Monks unto in the time of the Saxons and to preach and receive the Offerings and they were carried into a general Treasury for the Clergy for then they had all things in common so at that time when they began to grow rich they began to build some Houses called Churches and to repair the old Temples of the Gentiles as Pope Gregory advised them out of the Offerings of the Peopleâ— but now Parish Priesâ—s take Tenths and Oblations also and that by Force and will neither build nor repair these Mass-houses and so are worse then the Papâ—sts in their time for the Conveniency of the neighbouring Inhabitants were assigned to the ministring Priests where they exercise their Shrivings but not so limitted that every one was bound to
been manifest among you above all the people and Families of the Earth in our Generation constrains me thus to write unto you and to stir you unto Faithfulness in this Day of Trial for now Satan desires to win now you within and to sift you without therefore all watch and pray that your Faith fail not which now will be tryed and your Hope and your Love and your Zeal to the Lord and his Truth and whether you will confess him before Men his Way Worship Laws and Statutes which he hath revealed in your Hearts which fallen men oppose and contradict and Sayers gainsay and would not have him to rule nor his Servants to obey so let it be manifest to all you fear God rather then men and love him and obey him above the Precepts of men which are against him and whether you love the things that are above beyond the things that are earthly and whether you will own him his Cross Reproach and Suffering or deny it and have the Liberty of the World which is Bondage and free from Righteousness it 's no time of Reserves concealing hovering or halting for there is an utter Discord betwixt Christ and Belial and so much the more of Christ his Power and Kingdom is brought forth so much the more is the Hatred Envy and Wrath of the Devil kindled who hath deceived the Nations and blinded their Eyes and in his Subjects who oppose the Lamb of God and tread under Foot the Blood of the Covenant so that to one or other each one belongs and which is for each part will be seen for there can be no Concord or Reconciliation Therefore all Children of the Day put on the Armour of Light and have your Feet shod now when we walk through thorny places and be not fearful or doubtful but of believing Hearts stand not aloof off and idle when others are engaged in this spiritual War pull not your Necks out of the Yoak when others draw shelter not your selves when you see others in Jeopardy love not the World when you see others have thrown it off be not entangled in cumbersome Things when you see others throw off all Weights turn not your Backs in the Day of the Lord's Controversie but follow the Lamb This is the Day of Tribulation we have to follow him in our Age like as all the Martyrs and Prophets had in their Age whose Garments were made white in the Blood of the Lamb So all that continue and are not faint-hearted shall receive the Crown the Honour the Reward and shall reign with Christ who now suffer with him Therefore all dear Children of God and Followers of Christ Jesus let the Loins of your Minds be girded up be now ready when the Lord calls who is on my Side who will take Part with me who will own my Reproach who will engage with me who will gather to my Standard of Salvation lifted up and to my Ensign of Righteousness held forth in the World to redeem it anâ— who is ready and not abroad in the Field neither hath to go to the House top but that all may say in their Hearts here am I ready to do thy Will ready to obey thee and follow thee and to suffer for thee for whoso draws back the Lord hath no Pleasure in such he that will save his Life shall lose it and he that will save his Liberty shall lose it in the Spirit and he that will save his earthly Possessions and for the doing thereof will deny that which God hath perswaded him of that he ought to be faithful in he will lose his Inheritance in the heavenly in a Word whoso fails in holding forth that Testimony that they know God requires and is their Duty to render unto him will lose the Testimony of his Spirit they have sometimes felt in themselves and will decay and their Love will wear out therefore whosoever are resigned and given up unto the Lord will be approved and manifest to be on the Lord's part by Obedience to these things mentioned Friends do you not believe it a Duty that every Christian ought to be exercised in to meet together to wait upon him to worship him and to admonish exhort and strengthen one another to pray together in the Holy Ghost and one for another and to edifie and comfort one another and do you not believe God dwells not in Temples made with Hands neither hath any Fellowship with Idols but is worshipped any where and in every Place where the Saints meet in his Name Again have you not been comforted edified and strengthned in meeting and have you not found the Presence of the Lord and his Face and have you not felt his great Power working in your Hearts when you were assembled together in his Name working in you to the opening of your Hearts and quickning and enlivening your Souls unto God and judging down the Evil and have you not felt his living Mercies shed abroad in you and the Springs of Life opened and the holy Seed refreshed and God's Witness reached in all and many convinced and converted unto God in your Assemblies so that all have gone away comforted and refreshed and resolved to continue in the Grace of God the Consideration of these Things dwelling in your Hearts and the Sence of your own present Condition should stir you up and provoak you unto Stedfastness in the Faith and Practice you have received and walked in from the Beginning of the Manifestation of God's Love unto you so that there should methinks need little Exhortation God's Enemies are resolved to do wickedly be you also so to do your Duty they seek by any means to make any fall from their Principles and Stedfastness do you seek to escape their Snares and to be kept clear in your Consciences before God be valiant for the Truth sell it not but all for it that it may be your all and then you shall see your Lot is fallen in a good Place and your Possession is pleasant the Lord calls now to Suffering put now your Necks in the Yoak bear one anothers Burthen and so fulfil the Law of Christ and take heed you give not Ear to that Voice that speaks Save thy Liberty save thy Estate possess thy own and provide for thy self and spare thy self that is the Voice of the Enemy of your Souls So keep over the World and its Spirit let no Slackness appear for that makes Sufferings long and that gives Ground to your Adversaries that they shall prevail and that weakens the Hands of others and strengthens not this confirms our Enemies in their Deceit that we are but as other men and people that have professed God in Summer and fair Weather but will make Ship-wrack of all in a Storm and in Suffering and any turning aside from the holy Commandment of God openeth the Mouth of God's Enemies do not seek every one your own Profit Ease Life and Liberty only but every one another's
of Faith for that had been contrary to the Apostles Commission and their Doctrine for saith the Apostle We have not preached our selves but Christ the Lord and our selves your Servants for his sake And I may say to thee R. E. as Paul said to the Corinthians when they were striving about Men Cor. 3.21 Therefore let no Man glory in Men for all Things are yours or as he saith in Chap. 1. Ver. 13. was Paul crucified for you or were you baptized in the Name of Paul were they not carnal that so glorified was Peter crucified for us or were we baptized in the Name of Peter is not your visible Church carnal who thus judgeth that Christ intended Peter to be the Foundation of his Chruch for what was he or the rest of the Apostles but Ministers by which many believed 〈◊〉 and if thou hadst been present it is very like would have instructed Christ what to have said and bidden him have spoken after the Grammer Rule and Construction upon that Rock I will build my Church for Peter 's Faith in Christ is too mediate it seems and his Confession too remote and antecedent to be the Rock meant in Mat. 16.18 and therefore Peter must be immediate and the Rock upon which Christ hath doth and will build his Church but as immediate as he was and as sure a Rock as he was when he began to rebuke Christ he turned him about and said unto Peter Ver. 23. Get thee behind me Satan thou art an Offence unto me for thou savours not the Things of God and so say I to R. E. and his Catholicks they savour not the things of God but it is thy private Spirit and your own Interpretations and not the Mind of Christ and how far antecedent is Peter's Confession of Christ the Son of the living God is it not in Vers. 16. and wherein was Peter blessed but in this that it was revealed to him that Christ was the Son of the living God the Rock of Ages and the Foundation of his Church and as for thy visible Church with its two Heads independent Head and dependent Head which sure must have two Bodies where they can be found but that I shall leave to R. E. and I hope from the Grounds that thou hast here laid which did appear so clear to thee that none will be afraid nor judge that such a visible Church with two Heads is to be Rule and Guide to all to whom all are to submit under Pain of Damnation which is to have Peter for its Rock which if he had been living he would have denyed you all as Setters up of Men and Slighters of Jesus Christ the Rock of Ages the Foundation of the Church the Head of the Body the Rule of Life the Judge of Quick and the Dead the Law-giver Director Instructer and Preserver of his Church forever but R. E. goes on and saith It only remains that we consider which among all these Congregations now on Earth which pretend themselves to be this Church of Christ for having once found her and knowing that she is so assisted with the holy Ghost that she cannot teach us an Error we shall no more dispute the Verity of her Doctrine then we would have questioned the Articles of Faith taught by the holy Apostles or the Words of Christ himself wherefore if this Church this infallible Guide shall teach us that Infants ought to be baptized and that it is as lawful to desire the Saints departed to pray for us as to desire the Prayers of them that are alive and that the Body of Christ our Saviour is really and truly present in the Sacrament of the Altar or any other Article of Faith we shall no more doubt it then the first Christians did the Verity of what the Apostles taught them Among all those Congregations on Earth that look upon themselves to be the Church and Spouse of Christ there is one if thy Eye could behold or if thou could'st discern it but before thou canst there is an Eye in thee must be put out and there is a Wisdom in thee that must be confounded and turned into Foolishness before thou canst discern it in its Glory as it is but however that is it undoubtedly which is begotten into the Faith through the Publication of the immortal Word of Life and who are translated from Death unto Life and who have received the Power and Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ and meet in his Name and Power and do witness his Presence among them and have received a Measure of that infallible Spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth and out of the Pollutions of the World and are dead unto the World and baptized into the Sufferings of Christ and are crucified with him who keep unviolated his Statutes and Commands without adding to or diminishing from who walk in the Order of the Gospel and are not conformable to the World nor to that which fallen Men set up but to the Power of God that worketh in the Hearts of all that believe to the framing of them a meet Habitation for God to dwell in and abide in the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and are Sayers and Doers speak the Truth and do the Truth and hold the Truth in Righteousness and the Faith once delivered to the Saints in a pure Heart and a pure Conscience who pray in the Spirit and with Understanding who publish the Truth and declare it in the Spirit reaching to the Consciences and to the Witness of God in all that hear who rejoyce only in Christ Jesus the great Power of God and the Wisdom of God and have no Confidence in the Flesh nor fleshly Performances whose Faith stands not in Words but in the mighty Power of God which she hath received according unto the Promise of God this Congregation or Congregations which is one and doth hold the one Head by which all the Members of Christ are knit together in the one Faith by which they overcame the World this undoubtedly is the Church of Christ and the Spouse of Christ But whether R. E. will not dispute against the Verity of her Doctrine I question notwithstanding all his Submission in Words and if this Church should teach that Infants are to be baptized with Cream and Spittle and signed with the Cross as absolutely necessary to Salvation or that it is the Duty of the Saints alive to pray to the Saints departed this World or to teach that Christ's Body which was broken for us and hanged upon the Tree at Mount Calvary that this should now be in a Morsel of Bread and a Sup of Wine and conveyed thither by the Priest and this to be really the Body of Christ if this Church should teach any such Doctrine there were good and weighty Reason to Question seeing that R. E. before hath said that they cannot be infallible who contradict one another and teach two contrary Doctrines and yet say they are both
before-mentioned and see if thou canst receive them because the Church of Rome saith they are true and must not be questioned for if thou do thou art like to come under a hard censure by the verdict of R. E. and his Catholick Church first to be reckoned as an Unbeliever secondly to be a Hater of God and thirdly in not believing these Miracles or whatsoever else shall be declared unto thee by the said Church or else thou comest under no less Penalty then Eternal Damnation as R. E. saith in the 80th page of his Epistle but it is a small thing to be judged by man and especially such a man who hath gadded abroad and changed his way so oft so that he hath forgotten the true Path of Righteousness to walk in or else never knew it and hath turned and wheeled about and now at last doth as the poor Indian doth with his Deer-skin hangs it upon one Shoulder and so upon the other shoulder to shelter him from the Wind and Tempest that comes of that side But the day is dawned and mens Spirits are discovered beyond their Words and all the turnings and wheelings of things upside down is but as the Potter's Clay for God measures every man not by his Words but by his Heart and Spirit and Works and will judge every one in Righteousness according to their deeds And R. E. goes on as confident that his Arguments and Reasons laid down have prevailed and almost takes its for granted that it must needs be evident to all that the Roman Church is the true Church and saith He knows but one single Point between the Catholicks and them that stand divided from them and that is saith he That we follow a several Rule to Guide and Judge in the great affairs of Faith for all sides are bound to believe all Truth sufficiently propounded to them to be revealed of God and therefore if the presence of Christ in the Sacrament Purgatory Worshipping of Images Invocation of Saints and Prayer to the Dead and for the Dead If these or any other Point of Faith be sufficiently propounded by denying them God's Veracity is denyed and God thereby made a Lyar. The difference stands betwixt you and them that are divided from you in more particulars then thou art aware of or ever wilt be able sufficiently to propound them to be revealed of God though it is true some are divided from you in Circumstantials and Ceremonies and some others in some points of Faith and Worship yet some deny you in the very ground though 't is true the different Rule by which each party are directed is a great and a main thing Thou sayest This Cathâ—lick Church is the Rule but I say and am not alone that Christ is the Way to the Father and the Way to the Kingdom and the Rule and Means by which his Church is Governed and he is the Law giver and the Judge and all Judgment is committed to the Son and it is he alone that propounds Truth sufficiently and they that are in him are new Creatures and that which is the New-Creature Rule Guide and Judge is the Rule Guide and Judge of the Church of God and Christ is the Author of Faith and it is nothing that avails any thing with God but the New-Creature and as many as walk according to this Rule Peace is to them Gal. 3.16 And Christ hath not left his People without a Guide for he said Lo I am with you to the End of the World so as to commit the guidance thereof to fallible men who may assume Authority without his Power and to fasten those things upon God as to be revealed from him when the Lord hath spoken nothing and we are so far from looking that the main grounds that thou lâ—yest down to prove your Church to be this Rule Guide the many Doctrines propounded by you are not sufficiently propounded to be revealed of God but rather they are the Imaginations of your own Brain and things packt up since the Apostles dayes by different Popes and different Mutations and Alterations in your Church â—or filthy Lucres sake and so to deny them is not to deny God's Veracity neither to make God a Lyar as thou falsely sayest but thou and you are the Lyars as to propound those things to be revealed from God and to be received by all under pain of Damnation when God hath revealed no such thing but the contrary and so thy own Words at last shall turn to be thy burden because thou sayest the Lord saith and hath revealed and sufficiently proposed the real presence of Christ in your Sacrament of the Altar as a divine Revelation Worshipping of Images Prayer to the dead and for the dead and all â—hese foolish Imaginations which you have brought in and introduced and thrust upon People by force and these are sufficiently propounded as thou sayest as divine Revelations and the Father Son and Holy Ghost or the incarnation of Christ Silence deceit and for shame blush so to say the Prophets who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and Prophesied of things to come they declared of the Father Son and Holy Ghost all and prophesied long before that a Virgin should bring forth a Son whose Name should be called Emanuel God with us and the Government should be upon his Shoulders This the Pope hath usurped and you put it upon his Shoulders but your invented Doctrines aforesaid are meerly the Imaginations of your own Brain which neither the Prophets nor Apostles bore Witness unto but against And therefore it is thy and your great Presumption to make God Christ and Apostles the Foundation of all this Rubbish Straw and Stubble which thou would'st put off as divine Revelation and as sufficiently proposed as the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles was nay blush for shame they brought in the Prophets for the Peoples sake to prove that they had testified of the same before and had declared the coming of the Just One besides they commended themselves to the Witness of God in every man's Conscience and upon waiting upon the Lord and in the measure of his Spirit they found the things even so and by searching the Scriptures as the Bereans did found the things even so as had been declared of but upon due consideration we find not these foresaid doctrines so propounded as to have the Testimony of the Prophets and Apostles neither doth your Doctrine and Worship answer the Witness of God in every mans Conscience and so to deny you is not to make God a Lyar but God true the Prophets and Apostles and the Witness of God true and you Lyâ—rs who contradict them and their Testimony and the Power of God and would assume it to your selves though you be erred from the Spirit and would put all under the Name of Infallibility and by such Heavenly Arguments as R. E. calls them to wit the Miracles aforesaid by which you have deceived
plain Words of the Scripture and Interpretation to prove his false Assertion that he laid down at the first that Christ did not forbid all Swearing I say I could willingly have been silent rather then to be found over and over again contending with every new Opposer of those old Truths that have been believed and received long before the Apostacy entered in which hath been answered by that People I own in Judgment and Conversation long ago to let pass those Disadvantages we have adventured upon our low persecuted imprisoned and in a Manner condemned Condition so that we may expect our Words how true soever yet they are not like to gain much Credit against such an eminent Man as Doctour Smalwood Again considering how we expose our selves to the Lash and Severity of a sharp Law which some Men in their blind Zeal are far more rigid and severe in their Prosecution of it then I am apt to believe the Supream Enactors of it were in their Intentions when they did enact it all which notwithstanding are no Discouragement unto me forasmuch as the internal and eternal Truth of our God which we have known received and believed is very precious in our Eyes yea far more then either Life or Liberty and Estate which some have forfeited and lost upon Truth 's Account or any external Treasure or outward Enjoyment whatsoever so that considering how the Truth lyes at Stake we cannot be silent lest thereby we should appear to some Mens Apprehensions as to be satisfied with what the Doctour hath said and own his Arguments and Reasons that he hath laid down for positive Truth I could do no less then to show our Dislike of his Doctrine and to manifest the Weakness of his Arguments about this Particular of Swearing at all under the Gospel though he hath strained very hard to prove his Assertion That Oaths may lawfully be taken by Christians in some Cases notwithstanding Christ's â—rohibition and Command to the contrary but of how little Effect or Force hiâ— Reasons are thou wilt see in the ensuing Discourse although his Book be looked upon by some to be sufficient Force to convince all Gain-sayers and although he say he hath had divers Papers and Books of Dissenters who are of a contrary Judgment where he found any Reason offered against what he has laid down for Doctrine he hath answered though indeed he hath over-riden the most weighty Matters in them and hath said little but that hath been said before by other Opposers of Christ's Doctrine though it 's very like the Doctour will count this but a loose Discourse as he hath done others of very great Weight yea indeed of more Weight and Reason in them then any thing he hath exhibited to the contrary and so count it not worth taking Notice of but though he do not it 's not of much Moment for that End only have I writ to bear my Testimony for Christ's Doctrine against all the false and feigned Interpretations of Men being that which I have stedfastly believed and is of that Force and VVeight upon many Consciences so evident by the Spirit of Christ that they can receive nothing of Mans fallen Reasons and Conceptions which are variable and changeable to answer or weigh down the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and primitive Christians who walked in the Order of the Gospel and obeyed the Commands of Christ before the Apostacy entered in and the Power was lost and the Life and Spirit of Christ erred from and mingled the Ordinances of the first and second Covenant together the Injunctions of Men among them for Doctrine and then compelled all to receive it all this long Time of Antâ—christ's Reign and the false Church's Visibility wherein she hath sitten as a Queen upon the Waters which are the Nations Kindreds Tongues and People which A. S. brings as a great Argument to prove Swearing in Use among Christians since Christ gave out that Command Swear not at all the Reasons the very strength of them I have laid down as A.S. hath published them without varying from his own Words the Answer thou may'st peruse and read without Prejudice and weigh with the Measure of God's Spirit in thy self for unto that I appeal which is a more certain Thing then Councils or Nations or Consent of Multitudes who have the Name of Christian and walk not in his Doctrine neither live his Life nor do the Things he saith I am shut up in a Corner and have not that Advantage that some Opposers have of others Labours as to bring Authors of divers Ages that denyed to swear though not only some there were but many but alas they are condemned by A. S. and others for Phanaticks and Heterodox and so their sayings will seem of less Force but however I have not much striven neither shall to fetch Things from far in the Apostacy but rest in that which makes all Things evident even the Spirit of God in thy own Heart and the Scriptures of Truth which were spoken by the Spirit which are so clear unto many that there needs not Multitude of Words to demonstrate this Truth of the Prohibition of all Oaths among true Christians but I shall not detain thee from the Matter it self and the Lord give thee an Understanding OATHS NO Gospel-Ordinance But prohibited by CHRIST THere being a Book lately published by A. Smalwood D. D. as I understand Doctor of Divinity first preached in a Sermon at Carlile I suppose before the Judges at the Assizes then holden the 17 th day of August 1664. since which I perceive many Additions by Reasons and Paraphrases are added thereunto and Printed at York In which Discourse he hath Vindicated the lawfulness of Swearing under the Gospel and hath gone about to prove it by many Reasons and Authors how that Christ upon that subject Mat. 5.34 Swear not at all did not intend an absolute Universal prohibition of all manner of Swearing under the Gospel which Book of his I have perused with an upright Heart and an impartial Eye seriously to the End I might own that which is good in it not as one being glued to an Opinion or Judgment but what as carries demonstration of Truth with it upon my Conscience and in my Heart it being a Principle well known and believed amongst us to have our Consciences void of offence towards God and towards Man and seeing my self and many more are great Sufferers at this day upon this very account which I look upon being truly and Conscientiously grounded upon the Doctrine of Christ and consonant to the Primitive Christians and seeing so large things have been written by other Hands in asserting the Truth of what we have believed which yet stands as a Witness unto the Doctrine of Christ notwithstanding all opposition and gain-saying that it hath had by many Hands I could have been wholly silent and have referred all that hath been said to the Judgment of the Lord and to
sometime that and changeable whenas every true confession and Testimony is equivalent thereunto in the presence of the God of all Truth and who ever denyed this And there is no necessity so to Judge that he that fears to Swear and take an Oath yet refuseth not to give Testimony about any matter whether it doth concern the Lord or his Neighbour that therefore he denyes the Magistrates Authority or yet disobeys their legal commands so that though all Swearing should be denyed yet that which answers the cause in hand is not denyed true Testimony and therefore the Magistrates Authority and their lawful commands may well stand and be obeyed and right done unto every Man and Christ's command stand also these are but the Secret smitings and suggestions of A. Smalwood to render them Odious to the Magistrates and all People who dissent from him in Judgment And indeed such like Discourses and Instigations from such like Mouths and Pens as his is who is accounted Learned and Eminent hath not a little added afflictions unto our Bonds and they have made wide the Wound and have made the Breach seem greater then it is and the matter more grievous then there hath been any Cause for I desire they may consider of it and Repent And in page 13. from this Text Mat. 5.34 But I say unto you swear not at all he layes down this Proposition or Doctrine viz. Our Saviour did not intend by these Words Swear not at all an absolute universal and limited Prohibition of all manner of Swearing and goes on to prove it by divers Reasons The first he gives is That the Father and the Son are one in Nature Power Wisdom Immutability and Eternity and one in Will and Wisdom therefore they cannot give forth contrary Commands but God the Father hath commanded Swearing in these Words Thou shalt fear the Lord and swear by his Name and serve him Deut. 6.13 And therefore it is not possible that God the Son should forbid it Answ. Though the Father and the Son be one in Nature Power and Wisdom and Immutability and Will as in themselves and alter not but keep Covenant from Age to Age and from Generation to Generation there is no Contrariety in them yet there are Diversities of Gifts but the same Spirit and there are Differences of Administrations but the same Lord It is granted that after Sin entered into the World and Death by Sin and Diffidence and Unbelief Variance and Strife and many Transgressions for which the Law was added and because of which the Law was added and the Command given forth unto the Jews to swear by the Name of God as Jerome saith upon Mat. 5.3 37. It was permitted the Jews under the Law is being tender and Infants and to keep them from Idolatry which the rest of the Nations did run into they might swear by the Name of God not that it was rightful so to do but that it was better to swear by the Lord then by false Gods or Devils but the great Evangelical Sincerity and Truth admits not of an Oath Secondly For the ending of Strife and Variance being in the Unbelief which was the Occasion of the adding of the Law and the Cause of the Command given forth Deut. 6.13 with divers more Words specified by Moses and the Prophets And though Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it and to destroy that which the Law was against and which it took hold upon and to finish Sin and Transgression and bring in everlasting Righteousness and to restore to the Beginning and we say according as we have believed and received of the Lord and have a Cloud of Witnesses both them that are gone before and of them that yet remain alive As Christ said of Divorcement It was not so from the Beginning so we say Oathes were not from the Beginning but were added after Hardness of Heart and Sin and Unbelief entered into the World but Christ who was made under the Law and fulfilled the Law put an End to the Transgression Sin Unbelief Variance and Strife in whom all the Promises of God are fulfilled he is the Righteousness of God and who are true Christians indeed are come out of Unbelief Variance and Transgression and do see and know Christ to be the End of the Law for Righteousness unto them that believe who exhorted to do the Truth confess the Truth and speak the Truth who said Swear not at all by Heaven and which after more shall be said God willing to the Text it self And so A. Smalwood his Reason is made void and his Impossibility made possible that God gave forth a Command and permitted the Jews to swear in that Covenant and Ministration and yet Christ in the New Covenant countermands it as in the Text being the Minister of a better Covenant which stood upon better Promises who leads to the Beginning and is the Restorer of all Mankind that do believe and yet the Father and the Son are one in Will Wisdom Power And though A. S. and others cannot understand or else have no Mind in that Latitude as generally prohibitive of all Swearing because he sayes God did require it no less then he did his own Worship and Service in the moral Law these nice Distinctions of Moral Judicial and Ceremonial have confounded Peoples Understandings though it is still acknowledged they did vow and did swear in the first Covenant under the Law but whether he or any other making Swearing moral judicial or ceremonial is not much matter seeing that Christ the Righteousness is the Sum and Substance of all and the End of the Law for Righteousness to them that do believe and in him is Life and Righteousness enjoyed for the Law was given by Moses but the Grace and the Truth cometh by Jesus Christ who in the Sum of all Types and Shadows and therefore the Apostle said We are circumcised in him and baptized in him and we do look upon an Oath under the Law to have some Type and Figure in it notwithstanding A.S. sayes It was none and that Christ is improperly called the Oath of God no more improper then he is a Vine a Door a Way a Shepherd for all the Promises are fulfilled in him and are yea and amen And as for the Morality of it so far as it is moral and perpetual to all under the Gospel is in Confession of Truth and bearing Witness thereunto as before the Lord or in his Presence and speaking the Truth when there is Necessity as when any man's Person or Estate or any Part thereof is in Danger and this we have ever owned and do own and have and are ready to testifie the Truth before the Lord or in his Presence as concerning any Matter which concerns the Glory of God or the Good of our Neighbour without being pinched or bound up to a certain Form of Words imposed upon us but according as Necessity requires so amply and largely
were good as they stood related to the end wherefore they were commanded instance the Worship at Jerusalem and the Service there and the place where God had promis'd to place his Name yet Christ said as foreknowing the End of all the aforesaid Worship which appertained to that Covenant and therefore he said to the Woman Joh. 4.23 but the Hour cometh and now is when the true Worshipers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth for the Father seeks such to Worship him and 24. vers God is a Spirit and they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and Truth 2. Cor. 3.17 From hence it is clearly evident for this was before he was offered up that then was the time that neither at Jerusalem nor in the Mountain of Samaria it shall be only said they worship the Father though at Jerusalem was the place Deut. 1.1 2 5. of Worship formerly and the Jews held it then and the Worship was that which was commanded to wit Sacrifices and Offerings and many other legal Services which belonged to them to perform according to the command of God and if Swearing or Oaths was any part of the Service of God as in that Covenant as we with A. S. do grant Deut. 10.20 You shall fear the Lord and serve him and Swear by his Name then I say that Swearing amongst the rest of the Worship is included but saith Christ neither at Jerusalem nor this Mountain but they that worship shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth so that the time was then but came on more afterwards to be fulfilled that both the place and the worship and Service that belonged to the place they should no more Worship the Father with and in but in the Spirit and in the Truth and this may be in Answer to that which A. S. makes a great adoe with in his Book how that Christ said Swear not at all it was before his Death and therefore they that Argue saith he That swearing was prohibited only and ended in Christ's death cannot plead that all Oaths were prohibited but that command of Christ Mat. 5. because he spake this in his Life time I say â—o did he this Jo. 20.21 22 23. And he may as well Argue that Christ destroyed the place of Worship at Jerusalem and the Worship also and came not to fulfill it as he saith he did and why but because he spoke this before he was Crucified and so did he Swear not at all and why may not A.S. conclude with us that this is a commodious place to interpret and explain Christ's meaning in those words in the 5 th Mat. 23 and 24. and so the Words may truly be understood thus ye have heard that it hath been said of old time thou shalt not forswear thy sâ—lf but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oaths Exod 20.7 and Deut. 5.11 but the Hour cometh and now is when I say unto you that say more then the Law hath said Swear not at all neither â—y Heaven nor by the Earth but let your Yea be yea and your Nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of Evil and yet whatever may or can be said A. S. will needs conclude That all Swearing is not forbidden and why because it hath been the praâ—â—ice of holy Men and also an Angel this Argument is of little force so was it the practice of holy Men to offer Sacrifice and burn Incense and as for the Swearing of the Angel Dan. 12. and Revel 10.6 to prove the lawfulness of some Swearing these have been answered over and over and over again though A. S. will take no notice of it though I perceive he hath read the Arguments that have been used as Answers to these things though he will not seem to take notice nor to reply to confute the Arguments but rather minds his own and to assert what may seem to mâ—ke for his purpose as to the matter he hath taken in Hand but as for good Men's Swearing and the Angel's Swearing if their Example would â—uâ—tifie the lawfulness of Swearing yet they could not be any president to us who are under the Gospel of the Son that is greater then the Angels by the dispensation of whom the Law for Oaths Tythes offerings oblations and other legal Rights and Rudiments were given which Son also all the Angels of God are bid to Worship for the Apostle saith Hebr. 2.5 For unto the Angels hath he not put into subjection the World to come but that is committed unto the Son under whose Ministration and subjection we are who said Let your Yea be yea and you nay nay and speak the Truth and do the Truth and bear witness to the Truth who said Learn of me and these things we have learned of him unto whom all Power is committed for he is counted Hebr. 3.3 more worthy of Glory then Moses though Moses was faithful in his House as a Servant but Christ as a Son which is that great Prophet that Moses Prophesied of which all are to hearken unto with whom the Father is well pleased being made so much better then the Angels Hebr. 1.4 as he hath â—y Inheritance obtained a more Excellent Name then they vers 5. for unto which of the Angels said he at any time thou art my Son this day I have begotten thee vers 6. Again when he bringeth the first â—egotten into the World he saith let all the Angels of God Worship him of the Angels he saith he makes them minâ—strâ—ng Spirits and a Flame of Fire but unto the Son he saith thy Throne oh God is forever and ever the Scepter of Righteousness is the Scepter of thy Kingdom for if the Words spoken by Angels wer stedfast and every Transgression received a just recompence of reward how shall they escape Hebr. 2.3 who do not only neglect the command of Christ but labour to pervert through their Strengâ—h of their own reason the ministration of the Son who is the sum and substance of all Shadowy and Typical Ministrations and therefore A. S. and all concerned look â—o it who would introduce Judaism and the Mosaical Observations upon the Neck of Christs Disciples and as Laws in his Kingdom and whether would not this prefer the Servant before the Son yea or nay and his Ministration before the Ministration of the Son though the one is not against the other but the one pointing at the other and in the latter the first is fulfilled the Truth declared the Truth spoken the Truth lived in and the Truth confessed in every matter wherein any Christian is concerned which is the sum and the matter which all Oaths in their highest and greatest Ordination could or can effect In the 40 th page of his Book he saith our Saviour saith Amen Amen 24. times in John's Gospel which he saith St. Ambrose will needs have to amount unto an Oath and he cites Apoc. 3. These things saith the Amen compares it with Isa.
neither was there any necessiâ—y or just occasion whatever A. S. mâ—y call just occasion we cannot for he hath left such a great compass for himself to turn in though here and thâ—re he seem to disallow of customary Oaths and frequent Oaths yet notwithstanding his Discourse rather tends to an allowance of Swearing frequently and unnecessarily for we reckon it to be a piece of ordinary Communication for a Christian Minister to write a Letter of admonition or Exhortation or an Epistle unto the believing Hearers and that there is no necessity of Oaths in such a Discourse for what-ever A. S. sayes this would make the Apostle guilty of frequent and unnecessary and common Swearing which we are far from believing forasmuch as they did believe through the word of Life declared by the Spirit of God in him neither through his Epistles written being assisted by the Holy Ghost they were not like to believe him for Swearing if he had Sworn but saith A. S. If his words had really been believed which he spoke and wrote what occasion would there have been for him to have written so to the Roman 's Rom. 9.1 I say the Truth in Christ I Lye not The Apostle knew what occasion he had to speak these Words and the occasion was this that the Jews sought to be justified by the Righteousness of the Law and by the Works thereof and would needs look upon themselves as the Children of God because they were of the stock of Abraham according to the Flesh but the Apostle knew and also gave them to understand that the Children of the Promise were counted for the Seed and again for they are not all Israel which are of Israel Rom. 9.6 7 8. And thus he spake Truth unto them as it was revealed by Christ whom the Father had revealed in him and why might he not say I speak the Truth in Christ seeing that Christ was in him and he in him I Lye not my Conscience also bears me Witness in the Holy Ghost he might also as well say that Paul Swore by his Conscience seeing that he took it for a witness away away with such perverting and straining of the Scripture beyond and beside the mind of the Holy Ghost for God is witness and I speak the Truth in Christ they are no more then arden and Zeâ—lous or fervent expressions as the Spirit of God at several times did stir up in his Heart both to speak and write for the end that they unto whom he spoke or wrote might believe and therefore we conclude not as A. S. would needs have it that the Apostle spoke these fervent words unnecessarily for we know and see his end and purpose was good and therefore he spoke with fervency and with boldness the Spirit of the Lord beâ—ring witness in his Conscience that he spoke the Truth which we are fâ—r from believing is either juration or abjuration and for ought can be perceived by A. S 's disdainful Spirit all that do dissent from him in his Opinion he calls Phanaticks and Paul shall hardly go free nor divers of the ancient Fathers as Origen Chrysostome Jerome Theophilaâ—â— and others who denyed not only Swearing in private Conversation but to Swear at all but now these must be called Phanaticks who dissent from all men but themselves by A. S. and such as he who Sail with Wind and â—ide and exalt and applaud that which hath praise among men and hath not the praise of God and so the last of all he makes this Conclusion that so help me God is the most certain expression of an Oath which form of Words that though he count them certain we find not either under the Law or under the Gospel and I look upon it mâ—re as a piece of flattery in A.S. because this is the Form and the Câ—stom which 〈…〉 câ—lled Swearing which is in use in this Nation and it's stranger to us that they will reckon this so great a piece of peculiâ—â— Service which is incommunicable to any Creature but only to God whenas indeed we never find it written or commanded either among the Jews or commended or used amongst all the writings of Christ and the Apostles that hath relation to Christianity Indeed I remember that I have read that in the days when the Pope's Authority was in full Power here in England how that the Chancellour then of England said to one of John Wickliff's followers being brought before him in Examination he said unto him Lay thy Hand upon the Book thou Heretick and Swear so help me God and holy doom An old Superstitious Popish Form I look upon it to be and hath no consistance with an Oath in its true matter and Form under the Law when iâ— was commanded and for ought I see A. S. will rather take part with the Church of Rome and her Members who Persecuted rather then Wickliff that famous Reformer who had his Bones taken up and burned 41. Years after his Decease and his Books and these Articles condemned by the Council of Coâ—stance who also burned John Hus and Jerome of Prague for holding John Wickliff's Opinions which was That all Oaths under the Gospel be unlawful I say A. S. might have been more modest then with the Council of Constance condemn them for Error seeing they were the only People in their Age and time that opposed and suffered for opposing the Church of Rome in the Apostacy seeing that they are fain to own them if they look for any Reformation before Luther to be their Witnesses against the Church of Rome which I have heard many Protestants say that they were on their part against the Church of Rome and though A. S. tells us of a Generation of People quos non persuadebis etiam si persuaseris who as they will not be perswaded so they will not be counselled who will have nothing else to be the formality of an Oath but by God but this he sayes only of his own Head except he knew some People that we know not of for we say to Swear the Lord liveth as an Oath and again as the Lord lives is an Oath or by the Lord that lives forever and ever is an Oath and yet we must needs deny that Paul Swore in the 1 Cor. 15.1 when he said by your rejoycing I die daily And we never said A. S. mistook himself in saying that by as the only mark and Character of an Oath and if Austin said upon these words of Paul as A. S. tells us per vestram gloriam juratio est upon Paul's words I suspect his judgment and therefore shall not so much regard it But A. S. seems not to be at Unity in his Book with himself notwithstanding all his raveling out where he seems in his 41. page to dislike of Nicholas Fuller's Judgment viz. that there is no Oath where God is not interposed and yet in the 56. page he saith That the Substance of an Oath consists in the
and are ready to answer all these necessary ends and as well and this is as good and expedient to be put in practice among Christians as interposition of Oaths enjoyned by God in the first Covenant and far more Evangelical and therefore shall conclude with that of Jerome The Gospel Truth admits not of an Oath His eighth Argument is That Christ did never any things without some Ground of reason but no reason can be shewed why all manner of Swearing should be forbidden in a due manner and upon a just and necessary occasion and therefore we may well believe that such Swearing was neither here or any where else forbidden Reply We shall not much dissent or disagree about terms with A. S. that Christ did never any thing without some Ground or Reason but yet we must deny his Conclusion that no Reason can be given why all manner of Swearing should be forbidden first of all there was a time since Man had a being in this Creation when he was in the Image of God and stood in the Covenant of God when there was no Oath neither any necessity thereof Man being endued with Power from God which was placed in him so that he was in a capacity to fulfill obey and serve and believe his Maker without an Oath for unbelief or Sin had not entred and this was before the Fall Gen. 1.26 27. Secondly Christ the unspeakable gift of God who is the Mediator of the everlasting Covenant yea the Covenant is self who is given for a Leader to the People and who is made a Propitiation for Sin and Transgression to end both Sin Transgression and Unbelief which was the cause of the Addition of the Law who leads to the beginning again all that truly do believe and are worthy to be called true Christians or by the Name of Christ to have Union with God again in that Life Power Truth Righteousness and Wisdom in which the Image of God truly consists which was before Sin and Transgression and before the Law which was added because of it which was commanded four hundred and thirty Years after the Promise was made Gal. 3.17 Thirdly After Sin was entred and Death by Sin an unbelieving part got up in all the Sons of Adam so that they could not believe God nor his Promises and yet such was his love unto Mankind considering the State into which they were plunged for confirmation of his Word unto Man he Swore by himself this was the Lord's condescension unto their low and unbelieving Estate all that time and no way exemplary for Christians truly such who are come into the Faith and to the Truth in it self who do believe that all the Promises are fulfilled in Christ yea and Amen who is the Author of Faith and of eternal Salvation to them that believe Heb. 9.12 who prohibited that by his command Mat. 5.23 which sometimes was permitted yea and commanded yea and added because of Transgression and for which the Law and the command for Oaths was only added which he did not destroy because he leads from under the Power of that which the Law came against which is just and good and Holy and the Seed fulfills it and hath Unity with it and with him who is the Judge and Law-giver and Saviour of all that do believe in him from Sin and Transgression Fourthly At that time when the Law was given forth at Mount Sina Exod. 19.20 generally all the Nations were given to Idolatry and to serve and Worship strange Gods as Baal Ashtaroth Chemosh Rimphan and many others as the Gods of Samaria which were said to be according to the number of their Cities and their Idols were called the Sin of Samaria Amos saith They Swear by the Sin of Samaria that did say thy God O Dan lives and the manner of Barsheba lives even they shall fall and never rise again Amos 7.14 Which was no other then the Calves which Jeroboam set up at Dan and Bethel which they feared Worshipped and Swore by therefore God having chosen a peculiar People to himself to Worship and serve him and honour him who should not walk after the manner of the rest of the Nations who knew not God he commanded them to serve him and Worship him and Swear by his Name as Jerome saith well to keep them from Idolatry and that they should not Swear by the Gods of the Heathen as the rest of the Nations did round about yet still this must be considered that this State of the minority of the Jewish Church wherein God gave them Ordinances suitable to their State but it doth not follow neither can it be reasonably concluded that these Ordinances were to be perpetually binding unto all future Generations especially when Christ the Seed unâ—o whom all the Promises are in whom the Law is fulfilled and in whom the former Ministrations end that his Disciples and true Christians should always be bound to these things once commanded especially seeing Christ their Master in whom the Father is well pleased hath prohibited this about Swearing and also did Prophesie of the time to come after his Resurrection and his Ascension that those Visible things which were as a Ministration for a time should end as to the outward exercise and Typical and Figurative appearance of them and that all these things should be revealed within by the Spirit and felt in the Power of God in all that did believe when the Holy Ghost should be poured forth and the Promise of the Father be made manifest Fifthly Now considering that the Name of God is believed in and he is confessed unto and his Christ and that there is not that Idolatry especially outward as there was in the Nations before and after the Flood especially in that which is called Christendom though we dare not conclude that all are Israel that are of Israel or that all are Christians that have the Name yet generally I say the Name of God and his Christ is acknowledged and worshipped and not Idols and false God's therefore there is no necessity of Swearing by the Name of God as there was at the time of the giving forth of the Law but especially among them that the Father will reckon as truly his subjects and Disciples of Christ who are partakers of his divine Nature here is not that necessity among them for they through the Law being dead to it it hath no more Power over them and therefore no reason that they should be kept as under Tutors and Governours seeing that the Age and Ages is come which the Apostle spoke of Eph. 2.7 wherein Christ is revealed the hope of Glory and whom he makes free are free indeed Joh. 8.32 36. Sixthly and lastly The command of Oaths was given for the ending of Strife and Controversies among Men Heb. 6. which hath relation to the Law and to the State of the Jews and their Political proceedings the Apostle brings but that in as an instance or an example and
Persecute you Mat. 5.44 and the Apostle exhorted give no offence to Jew or Greek so that his Doctrine went beyond the Law put up pass by forgive forbear again you have heard it hath been said of old time where Exod. 20.7 Deut. 5.11 Numb 30.2 Mat. 5.33 Thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oathes but I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven for it is God's Throne nor by the Earth for it is his Foot stoole neither by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King neither shalt thou Sweare by thy Head because thou cannot make one hair white or black but let your Communication by Yea yea and Nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of Evil It 's most evident that Christ prohibits somewhat more here then was forbidden under the Law yea what ever Oaths were lawful under the Law therefore it must be all Swearing at all or else none at all either all such Swearing as was used lawfully and allowed as a Type for a time in the Law Oaths made lawfully and acceptably to God or else nothing more at all then what was forbidden in the Law for all false Swearing and forswearing and all Swearing by Creatures or breaking of solemn Oaths made as unto God were forbidden in and by the Law therefore Swearing it self is forbidden or nothing but saith A. S. The grand objection falls of it self which is either all kind of Swearing is forbidden or else Christ forbids nothing which was not forbidden before which is utterly improbable saith he and he grants that God had formerly prohibited all false and vain Oaths and all Swearing by Creatures saith he which I grant to be true then how is the grand Objection fallen for is not Heaven Earth Jerusalem the Head Creatures and this is the most that A. S. and divers others affirm that it is only Oaths by Creatures such as before mentioned that Christ only prohibits and vain Oaths and Swearing by Creatures A. S. sayes Christ reckons among sinful Oaths then if so as they are indeed had not the Law forbidden this before in general terms wherein all Creatures are included therefore the reason stands still in force and the Objection that either Christ forbad all Swearing or else he forbids nothing but what the Law had forbidden before It 's manifest it stands still in force for Christ forbad even those Oathes the Law required and all vain Swearing and Swearing by Creatures and all Swearing whatsoever Mat. 5. Ye have heard it hath been said by them of old time not of late by the Scribes and Pharisees only putting their false Glosses on the Law as A. S. intimates Pareus and others in his Annotations and hence conjectures that by them of old time is only meant the Scribes and Pharisees and not Moses and the Law and of old time must be meant a good while ago or not very long as Commentators understand it less then twenty Years and thus he twists and twines to make the true sense of Christ's words void it 's evident of them of old time is Moses time the place before cited Numb 30.2 is the place Christ alludes to you have heard it said thou shalt not forswear thy self so saith the Law in forty places but perform unto the Lord thine Oaths But I say unto you Swear not all no not by any Oath at all note the opposition in the particle but which is between the old lawful legal Swearing and no Swearing at all not between no Swearing and such prophane Swearing as was unlawful under the Law the whole sum is this the Law said break no Oaths but I say take none for if Christ intended no more in these phrases Swear not at all not by any Oath then thus Swear not vainly prophanely ordinary or by Creatures in your Communication forswear not your selves what forbids he more then the Law forbad for Heaven and Earth Jerusalem A. S. says Christ reckons among sinful Oaths and these are Creatures and Swearing by Creatures was forbidden by the Law I grant quoth A. S. Then this reason stands still good he either forbad all Oaths or he forbad no more then the Law forbad and though it be granted that the Jews Swore by the Creatures as the Temple Altar Jerusalem and therefore Christ prohibits them and reproves them for these things and likewise all Swearing whatsover what doth A. S. gain by this for it 's evident in divers passages of his Sermon in the 5 th Chap. of Mat. that he teaches a Righteousness which exceeds that of the Law as I have shewed before which he came to fulfill and not to destroy by taking away the Ceremony of Swearing and establishing the substance in its stead which is speaking the Truth as in the sight of God in uprightness of Heart yea we say a-again what saith he more to his Disciples else then the Scribes and Pharisees to theirs they said Swear not falsly prophanely but by God only Swear not falsly For Bishop Gauden cites for his Author Drusius among the Jews all thing sin Judicials were confirmed by the Religion of an Oath wherein the name of God was interposed therefore Christ says more unto his Disciples in express terms Swear no Oath at all otherwise how would their Righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees which except it did they could in no case enter into the Kingdom of God the Perfection and Righteousness of the Law therefore in this point of Swearing was not forswearing the Perfection and Righteousness of the Gospel in the same is not Swearing at all so though the Gospel be not against the Law yet the Gospel exceeds the Law in every point the Law said kill not the Gospel be not angry the Law commit not Adultery the Gospel look not on a Woman lust not so in all the prohibitions of Christ the Commandments of Christ went beyond the Law also in this of Swearing yet it did not if now there be any Swearing at all among Christians and Disciples of Christ yet we shall also with A. S. agree that Christ not only forbad all Swearing even that commanded by the Law sometime lawful but he also forbids and reproves and condemns Swearing by Creatures and vain Swearing in all Communication and their perverting of the Law and too much loosing it by Traditions and making it void by their false Glosses and counts them blind Guides which said To swear by the Temple by the Altar by Heaven was nothing he pronounced a Wo against them and concluded they were bound to keep those Oaths though they ought not to have Sworn them for as much as he that swears by the lesser swears also by the greater as he that Swears by Heaven swears by the Throne of God and him that sits thereon Mat. 23.16 17 18 19 20 21 22. We confess with A. S. this was but a sinful prophane Creature Swearing an irregular form of Swearing by the Name of
lawful only there and yet can bring no better Proof under the Gospel for them nor of their Right to impose them upon Christians more then others among the many false Instances they bring of Paul Swearing frequently to the Churches in his Letters and such pitiful Proof as A.S. offers of Christ being charged by the high Priest as he sayes to Swear though he Swore for I deny that I adjure thee proves not that Christ Swore it being not his but another's Charge upon him and it 's silly to think that Christ who said Swear not at all no not by Heaven for it's God's Throne which whoso Swears by Mat. 18. Swears by God that sits thereon that he should Swear by the living God he was the Christ at the Command or Charge of the High Priest who was his Inferiour though he had been a better Priest then he was as being but the Type of himself but indeed there was no such matter as A.S. and others have affirmed for when the High Priest barely asked him only whether he were the Christ or not he answered I am besides the Law was not in the Shadow of it fully ended although Christ had instituted divers Things among his Disciples which were not in the Law and yet not against it but all these Instances which A. S. with many Opposers hath brought of the Apostles and Christ's Swearing are but Shrouds and Shelters they make for themselves because they have a Mind to obey the Commands of men rather then Christ's Doctrine for avoiding of Persecution and Suffering and therefore would make all Things they take in Hand look like their own Image but having discoursed of this before I come to A. S. his last Part of his Discourse and his Interpretation upon Mat. 5. and Jam. 5. In his 41 Section he sayes If any still urge the Universality of the Expression Swear not at all and that of Jam. 5.12 Above all Things my Brethren Swear not neither by Heaven nor by Earth neither any other Oath To the first he sayes It 's plain that they that thus argue break off our Saviour's Sentence in the middle and suffer him not to come to his Period for he saith not Swear not at all there fixing a Point but Swear not at all neither by Heaven nor by Earth c. and for that of James must of Necessity by understood with Restriction quotes Austin upon the Text it cannot be that Swearing is worse then Forswearing Theft Adultery Murder these are hainous Crimes nulla autem culpa est verum jurare but if no Sin to Swear the Truth why then Above all Things Swear not not that Swearing is so great an Offence as many others but lest we contract a Habit thereof then probably by rash Oaths we shall offend God by false Swearing which is no more then in an especial Manner forbear forswearing and any other Oath must be restrained in a limited Sense for there is not meant any Oaths whatever but such as the Apostle speaks of neither by Heaven by Earth nor any other Oath that is any Oath taken by other Creatures for so must they be understood unless we interpret his Words to make them contradict God's and seâ— the Servant in a manifest Opposition to his Master Reply We who are of a contrary Judgment to A.S. do still urge the Universality of the Text Mat. 5.33 34 c. and we shall not break off Christ's Sentence in the middle Swear not at all c. but shall render it as it is neither was it ever intended otherwise but for Brevity sake because the Enumeration of Heaven and Earth c. are only inclusive in the Prohibition and we shall speak on and what Christ hath joyned we shall not separate but read the Words as they are Ye have heard it hath been said of old Time thou shalt not forswear they self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oaths but I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven for it is God's Throne neither by the Earth it 's his Footstool neither by Jerusalem for it 's the City of the great King neither shalt thou Swear by thy Head because thou cannot make one Hair white or black but let your Communication be yea yea nay nay whatsoever is more then these cometh of Evil. James 5.12 But above all Things my Brethren Swear not neither by Heaven neither by Earth neither by any other Oath but let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay lest you fall into Condemnation In which two Texts we say in the Affirmative all Manner of Swearing is forbidden for the Truth of which many Reasons have been and may be given First Because all Manner of Swearing is here expresly instanced in these two disjunctive Clauses which are expresly conclusive and consequently because spoken by Way of Prohibition exclusive exceptive of all Swearing that can be thought on Swear not Swear not at all sayes the Text yea that none may imagine as A. S. would make men do that this general Rule admits of any Exception but all know the Prohibition is so strict as to allow of no Permission in the Point to swear by any Thing but God he adds neither by Heaven neither by Earth neither by Jerusalem neither by thy Head and these are only more ample Expressions of that Prohibition and are not exclusive or disjunctive from the Prohibition but conclusive of the Prohibition of all Swearing whatever But lest any should think he forbids only and no more then extravagant Oaths of such as swear by Creatures as Earth Jerusalem the Head and such like whenas whosoever swore lawfully under the Law was to swear by none but God himself but that there be no Root at all for any reasoning for Swearing against the flat Prohibition of it James 5. he concludes and shuts up all in these universal Terms and excludes all Oaths and all possible Pretence of Plea at all for any Swearing adding neither by any other Oath what Words more plain Words can be uttered or can be more expresly exclusive both of all Kinds or Sorts of Swearing and of all sorts of particular Oaths of every Kind and by Heaven and by Earth and by Jerusalem are so far from signifying that those Oaths by Creatures are only the Oaths that Christ prohibits that they are but only Enumerations and Amplifications of the former Part of the Prohibition Swear not at all which we grant were spoken to reprove the Pharisees and the Jews Practice about their vain Swearing And why must those Words of James 5. needs be understood with Restriction Above all Things Swear not neither by Heaven neither by Earth c. why St. Austin scruples at the first Words Quare ante omnia jurare est quam furari c. quam adulterare c. quam hominem occidere it cannot be that Swearing is worse then forswearing then Adultery Theft Murder we do not say it is but if it be not or that be not
the Reason why he sayes Above all Things Swear not because Swearing is a Sin above all Sins can no other Reason but that be rendered yes yet we shall agree with Austin and A. S. too if their Judgment be one thus far that it was not Sin to Swear the Truth when called unto it under the Law why then Above all Things Swear not not that Swearing is so great an Offence as Murder or Adultery but lest we contract a Habit thereof and then possibly by rash Oaths we should offend God which is no more saith he then in especial Manner forbear Forswearing and any other Oath saith A. S. must be restrained in a limited Sense for there is not meant any Oath whatever but such as the Apostle speaks of by Heaven by Earth c. Though there be some Truth in what is said yet it 's too short to answer the Apostle's End and Scope and the Reason falls short that is rendered but the main Reason is they were Jews unto whom he wrought the twelve Tribes scattered whom we deny not but were run into that Custom of vain Swearing by Creatures as Heaven Earth Jerusalem Head and Temple c. but that is not all though we grant it is some Reason but they being Jews who might under the Law Swear â—erious or solemn Oaths and were not so fully informed of the End of the Law in Christ under which among them some Oaths were lawful they were apt to think they did as well in swearing so now as they did before so though Adultery and Murther may be as bad worse then Swearing yet the Law being so expresly against them which yet in its time allow'd some kind of Swearing in some Cases it was more hard to bring them of from some Ceremonious services of the Law that were once lawful as is evident long after Christ's Ascension the Apostles had much to do with them about the Rites of the Law as Circumcision and Times and Dayes and new Moons c. then from such Sins as were known and hated by them and held accursed by the very Letter of the Law and therefore he says Above all things my Brethren Swear not that they might not only take hold of all vain Swearing and Swearing by Creatures that was ever unlawful but if that they might know that now to be unlawful which in former times was accounted lawful for them and so it 's ordinary to say to Men above all things take heed of that to which they have been long accustomed and with which through heedlesness of the unlawfulness of the thing they are apt most easily to be overtaken Again It is by Solomon who spoke by the eternal Wisdom of God and in it to fear an Oath is made the Character of a righteous Man that Sacrificeth acceptably to God to Swear at all is more the Character of a wicked and unclean Sinner Eccles. 9.1 2. for howbeit Men shall once return and discern the happiness of him that serves God from his woe who serves him not yet he is one event to the Righteous and the Wicked to the good and clean and to the unclean to him that Sacrificeth and him that Sacrificeth not as is the good so is the Sinner as he that Sweareth so he that fears an Oath and so as above all things Swear not is to be taken not only of those Oaths which were ever unlawful by Heaven and Earth but even of those that sometime were lawful under the Law in the Type which now when the Substance the Oath of God is come and the Covenant of Light given to all Nations Isa. 5.5 Luk. 1.72 73. who ends all not only vain Oaths but all Oaths and is the Substance of all even to the subsequent neither by any other Oath is not only to be taken of such Oaths neither by Heaven neither by Earth which were ever unlawful but even of those sometime lawful even all Swearing and all Oaths and the Servant is not in opposition to his Master but knew the mind of his Master Christ and therefore taught like Doctrine and the same but whatever Christ or James had said A. S. would make them if he could to mean as he means to set their plain express words against their mind But so much hath been said by many others who fear the Lord and an Oath too and so many Demonstrative and weighty things have been offered to the Consciences and publick view of all which A. S. I perceive hath seen some of them though he come not so much as near as to answer them but only asserts his own being a work it seems he was put upon by others to plead for Swearing so that something he must say on that behalf and draw that way and to make all things look towards that end and to concur together to justifie them and the lawfulness of Oaths under the Gospel and their Work who Persecute the Servants of Christ for abiding in his Doctrine who speak the Truth and dare not Lye nor Swear at all I say I shall be the more brief because I know many things are extant by others of weight which have not yet been answered nor are by A. S. though here and there a little in his Annotations he craps sometime upon smâ—ll Ground although he hath asserted nothing but that which hath been answered over and over again But I draw on to his last Refuge and plea his answer to both the Texts Conjunction That these Propositions says A. S. How Universally soever exprest ought not in equity to be extended beyond the intention of the Apostles but be limited according to the subject matter Swear not at all says Christ neither by Heaven nor by Earth c. That is I Universally forbid you all those Oaths which you were wont to use frequently to wicked purposes and further he sayes all vain and false Oaths by God even by the acknowledgement of the Pharisees were sufficiently forbidden before so there was no need either for Christ or James to speak of them again others places of Scripture most of necessity be thus interpreted 1 Cor. 10.23 Mat. 15. Luk. 2.1 Mat. 12. Luk. 8.47 how Universally soever exposed must be restrained according to the mind of the Speaker and so must these words Swear not at all Reply It 's freely granted that these two Texts ought not to be extended beyond the intention of the Speakers but be limited according to the subject matter as for General terms and Universal prohibitions admitting of exception they do so we grant now and then they do and of restrictions but when they do these exceptions and restrictions are usually in one place or other of the same Testament where they are made or at least manifestly amplified by him that gave out these general prohibitions and so are most of these generals and restrictions that A. S. hath instanced 1 Cor. 10.23 All things are lawful for me to eat that which was sold at
People otherwise by their wicked Glosses that made the Commandment of small Effect by their Tradition and the Practice of that Nation was widely distant from the Commandment both which were necessarily to be reformed which our Saviour did in these Words But I say unto you Swear not at all Reply Who ever denyed but that the Pharisees were blind Guides and that they laboured to make void the Law and made the Commandments of God of small Effect by their Traditions or that the Practice of that Nation was not widely distant from the Commandment and that they sware by false Gods sometime and vainly by the true God and took his Name in vain and sware also by Heaven and Earth and Jerusalem like as many do now all this we grant that they were out of the Way both in Oaths and other Things also that Christ reproved in the fifth of Matthew and else-where which Christ reformed and reproved their Doctrine and Manners I say again how is the grand Objection fallen by this That either all kind of Swearing is forbidden here by Christ or else Christ forbad nothing which was not forbidden before which is utterly improbable saith A. S. but it is more probable then any thing that A. S. hath yet offered for if only by Heaven Earth Jerusalem Head Temple and Altar be that which Christ forbad that the Pharisees taught the People they might swear by these were forbidden before inclusive in false Swearing or Swearing by Creatures though not expressed or enumerated nominally yet included among the sinful and vain Oaths under the Law and so were forbidden before and saith A. S. I grant that all vain Oaths and Perjury and all Swearing by Creatures were formerly forbidden and if so as indeed they were what more did he forbid then was forbidden if the Words must only be understood of those sinful and vain Oaths by Creatures above-mentioned that the Pharisees indulged the People in and taught as A. S. would limit his Prohibition and Exception I shall leave to the Conscience of every enlightned man to judge and say that in these Words It hat been said of old Time thou shalt not forswear but pay thy Vows unto the Lord but I say who am come to restore Man again into that Estate he fell from by Transgression and to redeem him that believes out of Strife and Contention and Idolatry to have fellowship with the Father Swear not at all neither by Heaven nor Earth nor any other Oath that as hath been said before here is a prohibition of all vain Oaths and false Oaths and Perjury and all Oaths by Creatures and all the vain Traditions of the Scribes and Pharisees about Oaths and somewhat more even a prohibition of those Oaths to his Disciples which the Law allowed after Sin had entred for which cause the Law was added and Oaths added but Christ ends it not by destroying it but by fulfilling it and hath set up that which is more Evangelical Truth it self in which there is no shadow of change and it is binding upon the Souls of all true Christians and that by which they are bound one to another and every Word Promise or Testimony that goes out of their Hearts and Mouths they by it are bound to keep least they fall into Condemnation but their Yea is yea and Nay is nay and whatsoever is more then this cometh of Evil and therefore they do not cannot nor dare not go beyond this or that which doth but amount to as much and there needs no more among true Christians Now as to them who are in the Contention and Strife and Unbelief and Oaths works of the Flesh as Variance Discord whom the Law hath Power over and is against as long as they live in such estate it 's granted that the Law was added because of these Transgressions and is against such and how far Swearing can be binding among evil contentious unconscionable Men that make no Conscience of any thing who cannot believe one another nor give credit to one another without Swearing Experience hath manifested whether they judge one another to be believed better by Swearing then without Swearing that 's little to us neither shall we meddle in contentious matters nor have to do with striving Men as little as possible but rather suffer wrong then wrong our Consciences by Swearing which we are perswaded by Christ we ought not to right our selves as hitherto we have done and have Peace blessed be God in our Hearts however we could rejoyce and be glad to see all Men be at Peace and agree and it 's our desire to live in that love and we shall seek it with Men and to be at Peace as much as in us lyes even in that love that works no Evil nor thinks no Evil but believeth all things and beareth all things and so carries beyond Strife and Oaths but if they will not be without Oaths in Courts and Judicatures we are clear in the matter if they exact upon us and do as they have done to the undoing and Ruining of many in this World we must be content knowing it is better to suffer wrong then to do it and shall acquiesce and rest in the will of God till he plead our cause and open the Hearts of Men to see through the Clouds of Error and Ignorance that is over their Consciences Yet however this I must needs say this frequent common prophane Swearing that hath exalted its Horn more of late Years is one of the crying Sins of England that God's Anger is against and will draw down his Judgment and kindle the Indignation which hangs over this Nation not only because of those that command Men to Swear contrary to Christs command and that for to establish Cruelty and injustice but also that Swore falsly and vainly and that against their Knowledge for their own profit and the disadvantage of others to accomplish their wicked Malicious and Revengeful designs against the Innocent who dare not Swear at all and thereby are made a prey to the Teeth of Wolves and to the Wills of corrupt Men who take occasion as it were To plow long Furrowes upon the Backs of the poor and needy for which things sake the Wrath of God will be poured out upon the head of the Wicked and the Nation shall be on Heaps and the wise Men shall be turned backwards and their Table shall be a Snare and the Curse shall be upon the Rebellious and they shall fall and be broken and rise no more and this may justly befall this Nation because of Oaths and because of Oppression And oh much pittied Nation it may be said of thee truly as the Prophet Hosea 4.2 3. Because of Swearing and Lying and Killing and Stealing and Whoring they break out and Blood toucheth Blood therefore shall the Land Mourn and every one that dwells therein shall be cut off Oh! what sad times do we behold nothing but extreames of Evil are presented to our Eyes
and Ears some do little but Swear ordinarily commonly and vainly in all kind of Communication and Conversation not only in their usual outer Courses in Courts with Judges and Magistrates but in their hourly discourses also with other Men in Cities Townes Princes and great Mens Courts and Places Universities Colledges almost all Houses at least all Taverns and Ale-houses and in the open Streets and Assemblies almost every where are full of dreadful Oaths and Mens discourses interwoven with execrable and direful Oaths even as it were daring God to confound them and damn them and such like and though there be divers Laws against swearing vainly and forswearing yet these are not looked at but how should we exspect that they should look at the Execution of the Laws of Men which are good who heed not the Law of God and are so buzzed now a dayes with over-executing those intangling Laws that are extant for Oaths and forswearing to intrap and insnare poor Innocent Men who dare not Swear at all but keep the Commands of Christ so that there is no leisure lost to look after those most wholsome and profitable Laws of both God and the King which are against vain Oaths and forswearing which the Land abounds with the like hath not been in any Age which is a sad presage of the Judgment of God to be at hand And last of all A. S. says He hath done and he fears it 's more and time to have done with the Exposition of those words and so comes to Application and so he speaks to all in general who at that time or any other may be legally called to take their Oaths which you have heard Vindicated to be lawful notwithstanding the seeming opposition of these words Swear not at all but those must be understood of necessary Oaths and your Righteousness is to exceed the Scribes and Pharisees but they condemned Perjury in the verse immediately before my Text and your Warrant for swearing is in Jer. 4.2 which thence appears not only lawful but in some cases necessary Reply It 's more then time indeed to have done to pervert Christ's plain Doctrine with his imaginary Exposition and what he counts legally caled seeing Christ prohibited it is not of much force neither will A. S.'s Vindication stand against the real opposition of Christ's words Swear not at all but his seeming Vindication in the day of the Lord when the secrets of all Hearts shall be manifest by Jesus Christ when the Book of Conscience shall be opened will be found to be in real opposition unto Christ and his reward will be according to his works who hath by his work strengthn'd the hand of Evil-doers and Persecutors to the adding affliction to affliction upon the Righteous and if the words must be understood of necessary Oaths then there is none necessary among Christ's true Disciples who commanded Let your Yea be yea or your Nay nay for whatsoever is more comes of Evil and whether the Scribes and Pharisees condemned a Perjury or not we are sure the Law did which Christ's words hath reference to It hath been said of old time thou shalt not forswear thy self and if the Righteousness of Christ's Disciples be to exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees and they condemned Perjury and all false Swearing by God and the Law condemned all false Oaths and vain Oaths and Oaths by Creatures as A. S. hath granted then the Righteousness of the Disciples is to be another then the Righteousness of the Law which condemned all Perjury and vain Oaths then what is it but not to Swear at all any Oath but speak the Truth and confess it to the Glory of God in yea and nay and this is that which exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees and is only lawful and necessary under the Gospel and as for Jer. 4.2 this is pittiful proof and warrant for Christians to Swear under the Gospel for that was only spoken to Israel or Juda who were under the first Covenant and yet were revolted from the Ordinances thereof and were back-sliders as is to be seen Jer. 3.22 and hath not Reverence to the second Covenant But I shall come towards an end as well as A. S. and conclude and refer all what both he and I have said to the judgment of the Lord and the measure of God's holy Spirit in all Mens Consciences to be received or denyed by that as he and his Witness bears evidence so shall the matter stand eternally Yet I cannot but mind the Reader though A. S. hath had as appears certain Books of the Dissenters in which are weighty things about this particular of Swearing which he hath not answered at all as to their Arguments only carped here and there at a word which is not of great moment but though he may plead some reason that it was not possible to answer all things in so short a Discourse as a Sermon wherein he was limited as to time yet since he had I perceive by his Annotations time enough to have answered them having their Books extant by him but hath not in the most weighty Considerations therefore I refer the Reader to them for his further satisfaction viz. to the Answer of Bishop Gauden by that faithful Servant of God Sam Fisher where this point is largely discussed likewise his Antidote against Swearing in Answer to Heary Den and Jeremiah Ives likewise a Book published by Isaac Penington titled The great Question concerning the lawfulness or unlawfulness of Swearing under the Gospel stated and considered of wherein are weighty things declared in short 1st what an Oath is 2dly the Ground and occasion of an Oath 3dly the causes wherein an Oath was to be used 4thly the end of an Oath 5thly the suitableness of its NATURE to the end aimed at by it 6thly the Persons to whom the use of an Oath was proper and lawful Wherein also is clearly shown the state of man-kind from the Creation comprised in four Heads or particulars First The State of Innocency when there was no Oath Secondly An estate of Captivity wherein an Oath was proper and lawful Thirdly The estate of shadowy Redemption wherein it was lawful also Fourthly An estate of true and perfect Redemption wherein it 's neither needful nor lawful seeing it 's prohibited by Christ all which A. S. hath passed over and hath not answered Likewise a Book published by John Crook Titled The Case of Swearing at all discussed with and several Objections answered These things A. S. hath not answered I only instance them for the Readers further satisfaction if unsatisfied in what hath been said already all which great and weighty things are worthy of the Serious consideration of all Likewise a Book Titled Swearing denyed in the new Covenant by Morgan Watkins When all that hath been said is duly considered and weighed in the Righteous Ballance of God's holy Spirit they will not think it strange that some deny to Swear at all but
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ open all your Hearts and keep them open that he according to his Promise may come in and sup with you and make his Abode with you and us all Amen Amen Brethren I might and could write largely unto you but that I know that Word of Truth hath been and is plentifully from time to time published among you which I would have you all prize as a Mercy and Blessing from the Lord it was said in the Dayes of Eli the high Priest That the Word of the Lord was scarce in those Dayes and Amos prophesied against Israel when they slighted the Commandment of the Lord and said to the Sâ—ers see not and were out of Love with the Word of the Lord That there should come a Famine of it and they should wander from Sea to Sea and should not hear which was a great Judgment for that End I speak that you may prize that Plenty God hath scattered and sown among you and not loathe like Israel what nothing but Manna nothing but Manna or lust after new or unknown things as some prophane Minds say What one and the selfsame thing still we hear if we go from Year to year yest indeed the Truth is one the Way to Life one the everlasting Covenant of Life is one by which Salvation Peace and Reconciliation comes to all that believe and Union with God known and perfect Satisfaction to the faithful so that they say and believe in their Hearts he is come and the Way is declared that leads to everlasting Felicity and we look not for any nor after any other I say I might write largely unto you but you are written in my Heart even all that keep their Integrity feel my Love unto you all in the Life that hath quickned you that it runs as fresh and freely as Euphrates that watered the Garden of Eden and is no other then the bubling and springing of the VVater of Life of Love which the Lord caused to flow forth and in it to salute you all the Peace of God rest in all your Habitations Amen Appleby the 22 d of this 6 th Moneth 1668. Your Dear Brother in Suffering for Christ F. H. Cause this to be read in the Assembly of the Church of God in and about London Hartford and Kingston THE TABLE OF THE Principal Things contained in this BOOK A Warning to the Priests and People of Kendal page 1. The Word of the Lord to Oliver Cromwel p. 5. An Answer to Tho. Ellison 's Petition to O. Cromwel p. 7. The fiery Darts of the Devil quenched In Answer to a Book called The second Beacon fired presented to Oliver Cromwel then Protector p. 17. A Warning to all the Rulers in these English Nations p. 24. A Warning to all the World p. 26. A General Epistle to the Camp of the Lord in England p. 28. The Inheritance of Jacob discovered after his Return out of Egypt p. 37. A Lamentation for the scattered Tribes p. 65. I. The Difference shewn betwixt them that learn of Christ and are taught of him and them that follow the Principle of Darkness that leads into Error p. 72 II. The Difference betwixt the Faith which is feigned which is the World's and the Saints Faith p. 77. III. Concerning Hope and the Difference betwixt true and false Hope p. 79. IV. True Faith how it is wrought and what it is in its Effects and Operations p. 80. V. A Word to all the Ministers of the World in all Opinions and Sects and to all your People in every Sect p. 81. VI. To all you who put out the Eye through long accustoming to Sin who are near utter Darkness p. 84. VII To all them that are tossed and find no Rest for the Sole of their Feet but are still lead aside into Pollutions and Sin and know not how to come forth nor where the Power is p. 86. The measuring-Rod of the Lord stretched forth over all Nations p. 89 Some of the Mysteries of God's Kingdom declared p. 109. I. What the Day of the Lord is and to whom it hath appeared and how it is seen and discovered p. 114. II. What the Day of the Lord is and what it will be to the Wicked declared p. 115. III. What the Day of the Lord is to the Righteous and how he appears to them and whether any are to look for it whilest in the Body resolved p. 116. IV. Where the Day of the Lord doth appear and how it comes and how it is to be looked for declared p. 118. V. What the Spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the Things of God p. 119. VI. How the Spirit of Truth worketh and appeareth in them who are convinced and yet have not obeyed showed p. 121. VII How the Spirit of the Father worketh in them who are turned to it and have taken Heed unto its Manifestation and are in some Measure Partakers of its Power p. 125. VIII Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears Witness and seals Assurance of the Father's Love and of Justification with God declared p. 125. IX What the free Grace of God is and unto whom it hath appeared and where all are to wait to receive it declared as it hath been revealed by the Spirit p. 127. X. Whether all have received the Grace of God or no declared and whether it be a sufficient Teacher in it self to wit that Grace that hath appeared to all if it be received demonstrated p 129. XI A Word to the Wise Men of this World who are glorying in the Sound of Words and worshipping outward Appearances to all Wise and Litteral Professors who think you are worshipâ—ing God aright who think to search into the deep Things of God by your Natural Wisdom Learning Parts and Study p. 134. XII The Kingdom of God and of his Christ declared in some Measure as it is revealed what it is and how it comes to be revealed to them and in them that believe that all that are waiting for it may know wherein it consists and so receive the End of their Hope and the End of their Expectation and know the Dominion which hath no End p. 137. An Epistle to Friends in London p. 141. Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots discovered p. 145. The Invisible Things of God brought to Light by the Revelation of the Eternal Spirit p. 173. I. The Work of the Lord declared which was in the Beginning when the Word was with God and was the Father's Delight and Man made in the Image of God c. p. 179. II. The Vndâ—rstanding may read the Wisdom of God in a Mystery and also may see thi sottish Doctrine of the Apostates p. 182. III. An Objection answered p. 183. IV. How Peace Joy and Delight possâ—ssed every Thing that God had made how every Thing which he had formed glorified him with one Consent in the Beginning p. 184. V. How Man lost his
which is a Popish Invention and not an Institution of Christ however he is to press it upon People as such an one and to exhort them to look back to their Baptism and to repent of their Sins against God and to stir up their Faith Answ. Said ye not even now that Baptism with Water was an ingrafting into Christ and of Regeneration and of eternal Life and he that is baptized hath the Seal of all this and yet they are to repent of their Sins and how should their Faith be stirred up that have none which yet have to repent what blind Doctrine is this that these blind Merchants of this last Edition have given out for a Platform Direct In Page 44. The Minister is to joyn Prayer with the Word of Institution for sanctifying the Water to this spiritual Use. Answ. Mark Reader what Sorcery is here was not the Water instituted in the Beginning by the Word and gathered together into one Place by the Word and then it was sanctified holy and how became it unholy again how hath the Water transgressed that it is become unholy that it needs sanctifying again But instead of sanctifying it you abuse it and would make it serve for that End which God never ordained viz. to be a Seal of the Remission of Sins a Seal of Regeneration and eternal Life all which is contrary to the Scripture contrary to the Ministers of Christ and contrary to the Precepts of the Ministers of Christ but are indeed Institutions of your Mother Mystery Babylon Direct And now I come to the Celebration of your great Sacrament of Bread and Wine you say in Page 48. We judge it convenient to be done after the Morning Sermon and that all the ignorant and scandalous are not fit to receive this Sacrament Answ. And why after the Morning Sermon ye great Reformers If you intend that Christ's breaking of Bread and giving the Cup to his Disciples that this must be your Foundation for your Sacrament that was at Supper in the same Night he was betrayed and if he had judged it more convenient why could he not have given it them after some Morning Sermon what Example have you for so doing it may be Saint Gregory Benedict or Damasen or some other of your Mother's Merchants And if they be unfit that are ignorant and scandalous to receive this Sacrament as you call it then none more unfit then your selves none more ignorant and scandalous who have left that undone which God hath injoyned and have done that which he never commanded and that not only out of Ignorance but also presumptuously against the Checks of your own Consciences and Motions of his holy Spirit what not so much as endeavoured after Mortification or Newness of Life but are a blind hard-hearted unbelieving and impenitent People witness the sixteenth Page of your Directory and if such as you be fit to receive this Sacrament as you call it I know none unfit to receive it Direct In Page 50. The Minister is to warn all that are ignorant and scandalous and prophane that live in any Sin or Offence against their Conscience that they come not to this holy Table and on the other hand to encourage and assure them of Refreshment and Strength by coming to this Table if they desire a further Progress in Grace Answ. Whom do you call ignorant prophane and scandalous Is not he a scandalous Person that sins presumptuously and against the Checks of his own Conscience and God's holy Spirit And if such be prohibited all you Reformers are excluded and if you do come you are like to have no Refreshment or Strength here if your own Doctrine must stand good for Refreshment and Strength which you promise to them that have a Desire after the Progress in Grace but say you of your selves we have no Desire after Mortification or Amendment of Life and so you are without Hope come or not come Furthermore Bread and Wine was a Seal of Eternal Life before you said and now Refreshment and Strength is promised to the weak I say as the Apostle said to them who discerned not the Lord's Body but came unworthily For this Cause many are weak and many are sick and many are fallen asleep and though they have come to your Table they have come sick and weakly and have gone away so and have found your Promises and Assurances of no Effect at all Direct And now I come to the Consecration The Minister is to begin the Action with blessing the Bread and Wine setting them aside for this holy Use. Answ. I say Bread and Wine was sanctified by the Word for that End and Use that God created them that is to say for the Nourishment for Man and they were holy and good before ever the Priest touched them as it is written Unto you that believe are all Things clean but if you set them apart for any such End or Use as to be a Seal of Remission of Sins Regeneration and eternal Life then you convert them or rather pervert them to that End which God never intended but this is like the rest of your idolatrous Merchandize Direct In Page 55. Then after the Sacrament is taken the Minister is to put them in Mind of the Grace of God held forth in the Sacrament and to entreat for Pardon for the Defects of the whole Service Answ. The Church of Rome your Mother saith that the Body and Blood of Christ is held forth in the Sacrament and you say the Grace is held forth in the Sacrament and the Seal of Eternal Life what do you think to make it the Fountain of Life from whence all Good comes And in the Conclusion of all the whole a Sacrifice must be offered up for the Defects of your whole Service what pitiful blind Merchandize is its before it was a Seal of the Vocation and Election eternal Life and Pledges of Adoption and by it the Comers thereunto are not made perfect but are full of Defects and sinful and your whole Services full of Iniquity and Sin and Defects will not any who hath but the least Sight abhor your hypocritical Sacrifice and your mouldy rusty cankered Traffick And now their holy Ordinance and their most holy Things are ended in Defect in Sin and Iniquity and these Worshippers the more they offer the more they sin and how the rest of their Ordinances will end thou may'st judge before thou pass any further Direct And now I come to the Sanctification of their Sabbath The whole Day you say is to be celebrated as being the Christian Sabbath Answ. If you intend the first Day of the Week where is that called the Christian Sabbath The Sabbath in the first Covenant was given for a Sign of the Christian Sabbath which was to be revealed when they ceased from their own Works Words and Thoughts then the rest was to be known the Christian Sabbath and whether is the Christian Sabbath a visible or
invisible thing But stay Sirs do you keep this Day which you call a Christian Sabbath holy to the Lord Is not this your Market Day upon which you sell your Traffick one or two Glasses for twenty or thirty Shillings a Day besides what you get for sprinckling of Infants Do you not speak your own Words nor think your own Thoughts nor work your own Works If you say you do not how comes it to pass that there are all these Defects in your Performances and all this Iniquity in your holy Things I hope you dare not say that Defects are from God or that Iniquity or Sin is of God and if you have not a Male in your Flock let sacrificing or offering alone and do not think that God will be pleased with your lame blind maimed defective Sacrifices neither with your strangled Things nor your Swines Flesh so I say unto you repent and learn to be reformed in your selves before you prescribe Rules for others lest both you and them that follow you fall into the Pit because the Merchants of this Rank and Order do love to be medling with every Thing wherein there is Hope of any Thing to be got they will try all kinds of Merchandize and so present they their Direction about Marriage to any who will take their ignorant Counsel Direct They say Marriage is no Sacrament nor peculiar to the Churâ—h of Gâ—d and they say we judge it expedient that it be done by a lawful Ministâ—r and to be published there Times before it be solemnized by the said Minister Answ. If you mean by Sacrament an holy thing then Marriage is either holy or unholy if unholy then fit to be done by none if holy why is it not proper and peculiar to the Church of God if they who are Members of the Church of God may marry in the Lord and in the covenant in which man was made the male and the female then what hath any to do with it who are not of the Church of God and what hath the Church of God to do with them that are without and what hath a Priest to do with this where was Abrahams and Sarahs Priest when they were married and where was the Priest to solemnize the marriage of Isaac and Rebeccah and of Zachariah and Elizabeth and because you say it is not peculiar to the Church of God whether were these of the Church of God before mentioned but what hath the Priest to do to publish it three times like a Bel-man for the loss of a Horse or Cow through the Market or rather why ought not the Man and the Woman both in the fear of the Lord if they be moved thereunto by the Lord publish their own intentions And moreover their joyning together in the Church of God when the members of the Church of God are present but this frustrateth the Priests 5 or 10 s. and his Clerk 6d or a Shilling more or less as they can get Direct Further more they say It may be done any time of the Year but on a Fasting-day or on the Lord's Day Answ. Why are these Dayes prohibited if Marriage be a holy thing or an honourable thing why may it not be done in the Fear of God and the Power of God why not on any Day were Dayes made for man or man made for Dayes your ignorant Predecessors the Pharisees judged as you do that it was not expedient or convenient that he should heal a Daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound on the Sabbath day And now they say that the honourable Estate of Marriages is the Covenant of their God and before it was laid It was not peculiar to the Church of God if entering into a state of Marriage be the Covenant of God and if the Covenant of God be peculiar to the Church of God then what is the reason you Reformers that Marriage is not peculiar to the Church of God And now take their directions who hath a desire to Trade any more with their Merchandize concerning the visitation of the Sick Direct The party sick is to send for the Minister timely and seasonably before their understanding fail them and if the Minister suspect the party of Ignorance he shall not examine them in the principles of Religion especially touching Repentance and Faith and to make known unto him the danger of deferring Repentance Answ. If he be such a one who is the sick as hath traded much with the Priests Merchandize if he be capable of understanding there is some hope he may give the Priest 5 Pound or ten Pound and it hath been high time for the Minister to have shown him the danger of deferring Repentance before now when he is like to go out of the Body not to have deferred his exhortation till this time and if the party be ignorant it were more time to inform him about the Principles of Religion and Repentance and Faith then to have him make answers to that which he knowes nothing of and then you conclude if desired the Minister shall pray for him to this Effect Direct Confessing and bewailing Original and actual Sin and the miserable condition of man by Nature and that God would give him an evidence of an interest in Christ and the Seal of Eternal Life by Christ. Answ. In Sin you began and in Sin you will End complaining of original and actual Sin before you know what it is and holden on till you come to the Grave and never depart from it and what must not the Minister pray except he be desired it seems they alwayes must please other mens desires rather then mind the Spirits motion in themselves And what is interest in Christ yet wanting and evidence and Seal of eternal Life yet wanting and it may be the party 40 or 50 Years old What was not this man baptized when he was an Infant and have not you said in the 48 page and 45 page of your Directory that Water-baptism is the Seal of the Covenant of Grace and of being ingrafted into Christ and of Regeneration Adoption and eternal Life and what is the evidence and Seal lost now useth not this to be the doctrine amongst you once in and ever in Christ and whom he loves once he loves to the End and hath not this man partaken of the Sacrament and eaten the Flesh of Christ and drank his Blood and a Church-member as you call it and is his Evidence now to seek and the Seal now wanting utter Darkness is your dwelling Place Direct And now we come to the Directory for solemn Fast That when some great and notable Judgment is inflicted upon some People or apparently evident or when some special Blessing is to be sought or obtained then solemn Fasting is a Duty that God expects from a Nation and People and they are to abstain from all Food and from worldly Labour and Discourses and bodily Delights and rich Apparel and Ornaments and such like although lawful at
are not these Articles of the church of Rome yea or nay If I should traduce the church of Rome in their Bishops and Councils these 12. hundred Years and upward I might bring a â—loud of Witnesses that the church of Rome is not the same in Articles of Faith in Religion but divers Popes I might prove have made distinct Articles and divers Councils and Bishops so that I might clearly prove and can and shall if God permit me with Life if I hear any more of the church of Rome or the Author of this Book that I shall prove that the church of Rome in the articles of her Faith is not the same that the church of Christ was in before Rome was Planted a church 2. I shall prove if need require her Universal Councils as she calls them to vary and her Bishops to be different in their Decrees and that her Faith in points of Religion is not the same from the Apostles day to this time as the author of this Book would make People believe but what I have said to this unanswerable Proposition as he calls it may be sufficient to convince both the author and them that are doubtful in their mind about this particular 3. Proposition is That neither the Sacraments nor Ceremonies or any Doctrine of the Church of Rome contain any thing that is contrary to the Scriptures but learned Doctors maintain the same and that there is no alteration in any article of Faith and then the Author makes a conclusion though full too hastily That they which dissent from the Church of Rome which he is pleased â— Stile Sectaries and Hereticks have no reason to withdraw from the Catholick Church Answ. As for that which you call the Catholick church of Rome we find such diversity of Orders and constitutions one distinct from another that to begin to enumerate them all would take up much time before one ended and would prove tedious to the Reader to view over the Variety of Constitutions and Decrees that have been made concerning the Ceremonies Sacraments as they call them and other Doctrines of the church of Rome which at this time is not my intention but Pope Alexander commanded that unleavened Bread should be used in the Supper in the Year 1119. Lib. Concil grat Sabil Before that time the outward Bread was indifferent whether it was leavened or unleavened notwithstanding the Greeks do use leavened Bread unto this day in that which is called a Supper and they use Wine only in the Cup but the church of Rome mingles Water with Wine according to the Pope Alexander's Decree And the Doctrine of Transubstantiation of turning the Bread into the Body of Christ and Wine into Blood as they say was an unknown Doctrine in the Apostles dayes and also among the Greeks until Pope Innocent the third 1215. Likewise Honorus the third he made a new Ordinance that the Sacrament of the Altar as the Church of Rome terms it should be Worshipped and kneeled unto of the People and also it should be born unto the Sick yea and that with Candlelight though it be at noon-day in the Year 1214. D. 3. Tit. cap 10. Lib. Council Pant. And Innocent the third ordained the Sacrament of the Altar should be kept under Lock and Key that such as were like to dye might not want Spiritual comfort at the time of their Death Lib. Council Cron. Pant. Pope Innocent the 8th permitted that the Priests of Norwegia might sing Mass with Water for lack of Wine in the Year 1484. Math. Falm Pant. And as about the Ceremonies about the Sacrament or Mass in a Council held at Rottomage it was decreed that the Sacrament should not thenceforth be given to Lay-men nor Lay-women in their Hands any more but the Priests should put it in their Mouths contrary to the use and practice of the Primitive Church yea of the church of Rome it self many Years after Lib. Council c. And so here the Church of Rome in contrary to the former Churches and to their own Church of Rome in former times though C. M. would elevate the Propositions of Francis Costerus a Jesuit unanswerable 4. Proposition The Author saith It cannot be proved that any have been admitted Priests but were duely consecrated by Bishops Whence we infer That Lutherans Calvinists and other Hereticks are no true Ministers neither are of Divine Priest-hood because they give to People a meer piece of Bread and nothing else and they have no Power to absolute People from their Sins but send them away entangled with Sin as when they came to them Answ. As for the Consecration of the Priests of Rome you have consecrated many who are out of the Doctrine of Christ who are Traytors to Kings and Governments and it 's a Maxim and a thing Meritorious in your Church to slay a Heretick that is one dissenting or not consenting to your corrupt Principles and as one Deceiver hath ordained and admitted another so hath your Bishops and Popes ordained the rest to Execute their Drudgery and corrupt Traffick and as I have offered unto thee before if it be not a piece of Bread and Wine except mingled with water according to your changeable Ordinances before mentioned put it to Trial upon the terms I before mentioned that you may be made manifest to be Deceivers or else we to all People And as for your Absolutions and Pardons it hath been that which you have sold for Money which made Luther and divers of your own Church to deny you because it hath been contrary to Christ and the Apostles Doctrine And as for forgiveness of Sins it properly belongs to Christ and to them that are in the same Power to them that confess forsake and turn from Sin to Pronounce forgiveness and Mercy but the Members of your Church confess from day to day unto your Priests that are as much entangled in Sin as they who do confess and neither do Repent nor find Mercy at the Hand of the Lord and your confessors and they that do confess they are defiled as much with Sin when they End their Work as when they began 5. Proposition It cannot be found in the holy Scripture that nothing is to be believed but what is clearly and expresly contained in the same Hence follows the overthrow of the Ground-work of the Sectaries who say that nothing is to be believed but what is expresly set down in the Scripture Answ. What others have said as to this particular I shall not now stand to Vindicate because it is not my Work to Vindicate every particular Judgment Person who believe contrary to your Church but I say many are of that mind that are not of your Church that things may be believed to be true according to the manifestation of Godâ—s Spirit though the Scripture in express words doth not declare the same yet you to bring in fabulous Stories which you call unwritten Verity that are to be believed though never
so Repugnant unto the Scripture and to the Truth contained in it this we cannot receive neither believe and this will never be attributed by the Lord unto any for Unbelief although you say it 6. Proposition The Author saith He would fain have Luther and Calvin and the other Sectaries to shew where Matthew 's Writing is called holy Scripture more then Nicodemus his Gospel and seeing they cannot prove the one no more then the other they must needs believe something that is not written in the holy Scripture Answ. I shall let Luther and Calvin alone they were Men that God did honour and I do honour and many more as in their Day they are at rest in the Sepulchres of their Fathers where your reviling cannot touch them they prevailed in their Doctrine and Faith so much against you as you have not recovered in an hundred and thirty Years neither I believe ever will so long as the Church of Rome will have any Cause to call her self Christ's only visible Church upon Earth And I do not believe Matthew's Writing only because it is reckoned by you and us for holy Scripture but becaâ—â—â— we feel by the Spirit of God that gave forth all Words that it is a Declâ—ration of those things which were brought to pass in his Day and likewise Mark John and Luke testifie unto the same Matter but for Nicodemus his Gospel as you are pleased to call it the Spirit of God doth not testifie in us unto the same but that it is repugnant unto the Mind of the Spirit and is a meer patcht up thing in the Corruption of time wherein many things are contained that are in Opposition and contrary to Matthew Mark Luke and John their Declaration And so thy feâ—â—le Argument is answered which thou concludest hath not been alâ—erable these fifteen hundred Years and let not him that puts on his Armour beast but him that hath overcome and puts it off 7 Proposition is That it cannot be shewn for these fifteen hundred 〈◊〉 that there hath been any Catholick that held that the Pope of 〈…〉 or that did rail at the most holy Sacrifice of the Mass or Inâ—ocation of Saints and Angels and usual praying for the dead and such like Worâ—â— of Piâ—ty â—elongâ—â—g to our Faith and Religion which the whole World hath laudably practised and reverenced for fifteen hundred Years It is a Wonder that this Author belonging to the Church of Rome is not ashamed of his Arguments and the silly Propositions that he hath propounded from another Hand It seems neither this Author nor Francis â—esterâ—â— whose Propositions the Author hath vaunted in and boasted of know the Apostles Doctrine who said The whole World lay in Wickedness and if any Man love the World the Love of the Father dwells not in him and Christ said to his true Church Ye are not of the World therefore the World hates you and again I have chosen you out of the World and John in his Day saw through the Spirit all the World wondering after the Beast and worshipping his Image and not the Image of God and saw all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People to be Waters and the Nations Kindreds Tongues and People to drink the Whore's Cup and these the two Aâ—thors bring in for a great Proof and for an unanswerable Proposition as that the whole World lyes in Wickedness in whom the Love of God dwells not and thâ—y that have drunk of the Whore's Cup of Fornication and they that have wondered after the Beast to wit the whole World these are his dark Cloud of Witnesses to prove that the Pope was never called Anti-christ will they that have received the Roman Faith and accounted the Pope Christ's Vicar and the visible Head call him Anti-christ which hath exalted himself and the Church of Rome's Faith over the whole World as the Author boasts That the whole World hath laudably practised and reverenced Invocation of Saints and prayâ—ng for the dead for the Piety Faith and Religion of the Church of Rome for these 1500 Years This proves the Church of Rome to lye in Wickednesâ— aâ—d to be contrary to the Doctrine and Practice of Christ and his Apostleâ— and this doth not clear the Pope at all but rather mâ—kes him to be an Anti-christ and your Church to be the ill-favoured Harlot and not the true Church of Christ Hast thou forgotten how John Bishop of Constaâ—â—â—nople would needs be chief Bishop over all the rest of the Chuâ—ches about the Year two hundred fifty and upwards and how the other Bâ—â—hops cryâ—d out against him for to be Anti-christ but your Bishop he got to be called chief Bishop over all Christian Churches not by Consent of the Elders nor Churches but by the Means of Phocas an Heathen Emperor as before I have said and is not he much more an Anti-christ And as for the Sacrifice in the Mass Invocation of Saints and praying for the Dâ—â—d which thou say'st is a laudable Practice I say none have or do reckon it worthy â—f Praise but they that worship the Beast and his Image and have drunk of the VVhore's Cup and are erred from the Faith and Religion that the Apostles and true Church of Christ were in which all the World did that wondered after the Beast Lastly This I say he that teaches a Faith a Religion a Doctrine contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles is an Anti christ but the Pope these fifteen hundred Years hath taught a contrary Doctrine therefore he is an Anti-christ The 1st Proposition is evident from divers Testimonies of Scripture who teach only to pray unto the Lord in the Name of Christ and for them that are alive in the Body and not for them thâ—t are dead The second is proved by the Author 's own Testimony that the Pope and Church of Rome have prayed unto the Saints and prayed for the dead these 1500 Years to his Shame be it spoken therefore the Consequence must necessarily follow The Pope 〈◊〉 an Antâ—-chrâ—st 8. and last Proposiâ—ion is this That the first Authors of the Christian Faith in Germany Italy Spain France England and Low Countries have acknowledged no other Faith nor brouâ—ht any other to them then the Catholick Roman Faith which the whole Universe hath acknowledged which we have learned of our Fore-fathers therefore they that have brought in another are accursed That which the whole Universe hath acknowledged in the Apostacy which lyeth in Wickedness seeing all have wondered after the Beast and drunk of the Whore's Cup since the Apostles Dayes is but a lame and pitiful Argument as to prove the Church of Rome the true Church and as for the Faith delivering such as it was to the Nations before-mentioned only excepting Spain because it 's probable that the Apostle Paul spread the Faith there seeing that he said he had a Purpose to come there into Spain which if he did thy Boast may cease as for the planting of Religion