God in thee judge The matter is great weighty which concerneth everlasting salvation And why should it be thought an incredible thing That Christ should now be manifested in mortal flesh qnickening them that were even dead in sins and trespasses for verily I I have written no other thing concerning him or of the operation of his Eternal spirit then what in measure I have really not imaginarily seen and handled and felt of his work and glory for I dare not speak of that which the Lord hath not wrought in me and by me or to boast in other mens lines for all the world have a form of worship talking of Christs words and the Prophets and Apostles words but are out of their Life and Power Behold what headiness and high-mindedness treachery and betraying one another and will be yet far worse by evil men and seducers c. What incontinence men and women burning in their lusts one towards another What eating and drinking and rising up to play c and yet all covered with a Profession of God and Christ But how can any better fruits be expected when Pastors and Teachers tell People for Doctrines they cannot get victory over sin on this side the Grave which herein is plainly proved false and the everlasting way of Truth discovered which leads out of sin and gives power against sin on this side the Grave and to live pure and holy even as God is holy Think it not impossible with the Lord all things are possible And what I have here written is not to render any man odious or to discover their nakedness but for the bringing of Gods truth to Light for I having had something lying on me a long time to give forth amongst the Professors and Baptists who have any true desires after God and as in obedience to the movings of the Lord I passing amongst them seeing their PRACTISES and hearing their DOCTRINES it was now laid on me of the Lord to give it forth as an Answer thereunto which I have done for the clearing of my Conscience in tender love that all who love their souls may be warned while time is For the dispensation of the fulness of time is come nigh for the gathering together all in ONE even in Christ whether things in Heaven or things in Earth The Parable of the Field is fulfilled the Pearl is found Father Mother Husband or Wife House or Land all is forsaken if the Lord calls and followed even to the end of the earth for the gathering into the unity with the Father and the Son This is the onely desire of him whom the Lord hath called into his labour which seeketh your Eternal good With the measure of God's spirit try all things and let not any motion passe away that seeks truly after God that you may come to have an infallible testimony of the spirit of the Lord in you to lead you and guide you For he that believeth hath the witness in himself T. M. THE BAPTIST AND INDEPENDENT CHURCHES So called Set on Fire By a bright shining Light revealed from Heaven Their PASTORS and TEACHERS scorching in the flame of it gnashing and blaspheming God and his Tabernacle As their Principles rash and judging herein recorded do demonstrate Which are answered for the vindicating of Truth and the satisfying of the simple In which they are found to be children of them which killed the Just and have drunken of the Cup of Fornication who also must drink of the Cup of Indignation at the hand of the Lord. 1. EDward-Whale accounted an Independent Teacher Priest of Waterford affirmed That the godliest man that ever was on the earth did not get the victory over sin or lived free from sin on this side the Grave He did not except Christ This he affirmed in his Pulpit before the whole Congregation in the Idol-Temple formerly a Masse-House with a Cross on the top of it and another at the end of it on the 21. day of the 6th Month 1659. in the City of Waterford Answ He that is born of God doth not commit sin because Christ the Seed of God is in him and as he abides in him he cannot sin though he may be tempted to sin as Christ was yet not overcome with the temptation of sin but thorough Faith in Christ gets the victory over sin and temptations on this side the grave 1 Joh. 3.9 ch 5. ver 4. Sin is of the Devil and he that commits it and pleads for it is taken captive by the Devil at his will 1 Tim. 2.26 1 Joh. 3.5.8 And for this purpose Christ the eternal Son of God was made manifest to take away sin and to destroy sin Heb. 2.14,15 And forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood Christ himself also partaked of the same that thorough the death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who thorough fear were all their life time subject to bondage which Christ redeemed them from for saith the Apostle He was made to us wisdom and redemption c. 1 Cor. 3.50 And the Apostle did witness through Christ victory over sin on this side the grave For saith he O death where is thy sting O grave or hell where is thy victory The sting of death is sin the strength of sin is the the Law but take notice thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory thorough our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.54,55,56,57 And so Priest Whale hath preached another Doctrine then Christ or his Ministers and hath as it were blasphemously charged Christ his holy Prophets and Apostles with sin for he did not except them when he said The godlinst man that ever was did not get the victory over sin on this side the grave And so by the holy Scriptures of this truth he is corrected and taken with a lye in his mouth and as it were denying the very purpose work and office of God in Christ which was to save from sin and thorough â—…ath to destroy sin and death and to take it away narling it to the cross c. And this testimony I give unto all the World for the Lord God and his truth That it is possible in and thorough CHRIST JESUS the light of the world that lighteth every one that comes into the World that all that it love and follow in the daily Cross I say That thorough Faith in the Blood of Christ who is our example whose steps many of us are following according to our measures who did not sin neither was guile found in his mouth c. it is possible to live free from sin and to live a pure righteous and holy life even perfect as he is perfect in this present World before this earthly Tabernacle go down to the grave and at this let none stumble but in the cool and calm spirit and in the Light and fear of God search the Scriptures for they testifie that
THE BAPTIST AND Independent Churches So called Set on Fire By a bright shining LIGHT revealed from Heaven Their PASTORS and TEACHERS scorching in the flame of it Gnashing and Blaspheming God and his Tabernacle As their Principles rash and judging herein recorded do demonstrate which are answered for the vindicating of Truth and the satisfying of the simple In which they are found to be children of them who killed the Just and have drunken of the Cup of Fornication who also must drink of the Cup of Indignation at the hand of the Lord. Wherein also is an Exhortation unto all people to examine themselves in what state and condition they are and to meet the Lord by repentance before that great Day of wrath that is come and coming to overtake them and they perish for ever In which all flesh shall QVAKE and TREMBLE Wherein also are some of the everlasting Truths of God revealed whereby all that have desires and breathings after God and to be partakers of the Divine Nature of Christ and would be acquainted with the one Faith and one Baptism and with the way that leads into it and the Kingdom of God may be directed into it Whereby every Particular may by an infallible testimony according to the Law and Testimony come to know whether they are in the one truth and in it walking In it also is a Word of Comfort to the IEWS Likewise is shewed when all Carnal Ordinances which stood in time and outward things and had a limitation of time ended to every one that believes which were types and figures and what they did prefigure is proved by the holy Scriptures of truth By one who is labouring and seeking the Redemption of all mankind in Christ Iesus who would not that any should perish but come to the knowledge of the Yruth. THOMAS MORFORD Isa 10 17. And the Light of Israel shall be for a fire and his holy One for a flame and it shall burn and devour his thorns and bryars in one day Rev. 16.9,10 And men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the Name of God which hath power over these Plagues and they repented not to give him glory c. And they gnawed their tongues for pain Hosea 4.15 I will go and reurn to my place till they acknowledge their offence and they seek me in their afflictions London Printed for Robert Wilson and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Windmill in Martins l'Grand 1660. The heads of things contained in this BOOKE 1. EDward Whale Priest of Waterford his Doctrine That none was ever free from sin in this life answered pag. 1. 2. Robert Carr Baptist Pastor of Clonmel his Doctrine Thaâ— the Scripture is the Rule of Life and Faith and the more sure Word of Prophesie and the Law and Testimony answered and confuted and the true and perfect Rule and Guide and the Law and Testimony shewed what and where it is p. 9. 3. The said Priest Whale and Priest Millard of Passage affirming That the Light within us is darkness are here answered p. 11. 4. An answer to Samuel Wade Baptist-Teacher who saith He believes that the Quakers are under the highest delusion in magnifying the Light within in opposition to Christ without and the Scriptures p. 12. 5. An answer to an affirmation of Joseph Parsons a Teacher of the Free-willers viz. That God would purge the Tribe of Levi to offer sacrifices external as of old p. 22. 6. A rash Judgement of William Lee Baptist Teacher and Governor of Waterford reproved and found false and so proved according to the Law and Testimony Wherein also is a true Testimony of the operation of the Eternal Power and Spirit of the Lord in the work of Regeneration c. p. 24. 7. An objection That we observe not the Ordinances of Christ as Baptism c. answered What that Baptism Matth. 28. was viz. A threefold Ministration by the same spirit John's Baptism a figure fulfilled and ended Baptism into Christ is another thing then that of water the figure William Lee and William Lamb their gross actions of violence manifesting their fruitless baptism p. 28. 8. Breaking of Bread a figure carnal and perishing continuing onely till he came who is come the end of all figures The form not to be used in imitation without power p. 32 9 The Doctrine of Pastor Hunt Baptist against Perfection answered Of Imitation which is Idolatry Truth purifieth and perfecteth A silence of flesh must be before God's Teaching can be received But the Spirit being poured out both Sons and Daughters may prophesie p. 34 To the impartial and unprejudiced REDER READER WHoever thou art that art enquiring after the Good old Way to walk there and hast desires to be directed therein but art a stranger unto that or knowest not where to have it which should give thee an entrance therein here in this following Book is that plainly demonstrated according to the holy Scriptures of Truth which should give thee an entrance therein and also where it is illustrated by infallible testimonies by one who hath wandred from Mountain to Hill to seek the Lord breathing and panting after him as the chased Hart after the Brooks of water but found him not until he came to wait at the true Door which is CHRIST the LIGHT which gives the true entrance into the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ And seeing according to the Scriptures of Truth perilous times are come many are crying Lo her 's Christ and lo there 's Christ whereby the simple-hearted which have true hungerings thirstings after God and would be acquainted with the One Truth one Faith and one Baptism and one Lord Jesus Christ know not which way to turn by reason of the many inventions of man and voices that are in the world each one esteeming hie own his invention that he worshippeth his God with to be the best way Therefore in the fear of God in the cool and calm spirit read over this Book wherein thou shalt find many of the Principles and Doctrines of some of the eminentest Professors Pastors and Teachers who have a form of godliness but deny the Power the which I was an ear witness of and when I heard it I said in mine heart Great men are not alwayes wise in the wisdom of God But in the grief of my soul I said Men of high degree are a lye and men of low degree are vanity Wherein also is an Answer thereunto according to the holy Scriptures of Truth by which their folly is made manifest though not with enticing words or in the form or method of the Serpents wisdom unto whom it is not directed nor for their sakes who by his wisdom are acted is it written Therefore let that noble spirit be in thee as was in the Bereans Search the Scriptures and compare them together and see whether the things herein be true let that of
I have proved by the Scripture of Truth is it not then plainly made manifest that thou hast taken the peoples mony for nought and deceived them and so hast clothed thy self with the fine of the wooll and thy wife her garments laced with silver and gold from the neck down to the foot the poor ready to perish with hunger and nakedness 1 Tim. 1.2 1 Tim. 2.9,10 lace upon lace some near as broad as four fingers which is not according to the ornaments of the holy women of old which were not laced with silver or gold or plaiting of the hair but covered with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price and hast fed thy self with the fat and neither thou nor any of you all have fed the poor and needy nor bound up that which is broken nor healed at the bottom that which was sick nor brought again that which was driven away but with fierce wrath and cruelty have ye ruled And now to cover thy wickedness and deceit thou Priest Whale sayest They must be cleansed from sin in Heaven which is also contrary to the Scripture which saith No unclean thing Idolaters nor Adulterers effeminate persons nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor covetous persons nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners or any that defiles or works abomination or that makes a lye shall inherit the kingdom of God or enter into that holy City and as the tree falls so it lies Eccl. 1.3 1 Cor. 6.9 Rev. 21.27 But saith Paul such were take notice some of you But they came to be washed cleansed and sanctified by the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of their God before ever they entered God's Kingdom which is joy righteousness and peace in the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.9 to the 11. Rom. 14.17 And now let that of God in you all judge Whether that Doctrine Priest Whale preached be according to the Scriptures and all people beware of them to wit such Teachers as Priest Whale and come out from amongst them lest ye partake of their plagues and consider your paths and ponder your waies and what you have benefitted in the things of God by following and learning of such Teachers and cease from them and mind that of God in you and as you come to mind and obey that it will lead you unto God the Father of Life and open your understandings and as you come to wait on the Lord it will reveal the true knowledge and glory of God in you in the face of Jesus Christ the key of which your Teachers have taken from you and caused you to err from the right way of the Lord even CHRIST the LIGHT who is the Way the Truth and the Life 2. The Principles and judging of Robert Car Baptist Pastor in Clonmell He affirmed the 10 th day of the 5 th month 1659 That the Scripture was the Rule of Life and Faith to Salvation And that the Scripture was the more sure word of Prophecie that Peter spake of and the Law Testimony And for us that are called Quakes to affirm that the Spirit of truth from God received was the true rule of life to salvation c. he said It was a fiction of the Devil Answ The true and everlasting Rule of life to Salvation and the Author of Faith which is Christ the holy Scripture is a true declaration of which is Christ the Eternal son of God the Spirit of life and truth which lighteth every one that cometh into the world that all men through him might believe Joh. 16.13 which whosoever loves and followes the Light of the son of God comes to receive the Spirit of Life and truth which leades into all truth and the Light and Spirit of truth is the Law and Testimony which was before the writings of Matthew Mark Luke and John for â—aith Isaiah Isa 8.26 To the Law and to the Testimony Now when Isaiah spake those words the Evangelists writings were not writen Jer. 32.40 Heb. 8.10 Ier. 31.33 Prov. 6 23 therefore the Law and Testimony is another thing and within man for saith God I wil make an everlasting Covenant with the house of I srael I wil put my Law and fear in their hearts and write it in their inward parts Now the Law is the Light which they that believe in follow come to receive the spirit of Life and truth as I said before and that is the Testimony of Jesus for the Testimony of Jesus saith John is the spirit of Prophesie Rev. 19.10 And this Spirit the Apostle did witness was come amongst them and bare witness to their Spirits that they were the sons of God for saith he because ye are sonnes God hath given forth the Spirit of his Son into your take notice hearts Gal. 4 6. And by this Spirit and Light they came to be led out of the lusts of the flesh and through the Cross of Christ knew a crucifying of it and that life in them that stood in outwards signes and things that perished in the using which Paul gloried not in neither desired to glory in any thing save the Cross of Christ for he knew and said Gal. 6.15 Circumcision though it was in its time serviceable and commanded of the Lord yet it availed them nothing yea he told them Gal. 5.2 If they were Circumcised Christ would profit them nothing But the new was to be accepted which was the onely work of the Spirit of the Lord through its eternal working and operation in their hearts circumcising of it and cleansing of it Gal. 5.6 whereby they who abides its working comes to receive the faith of God's Elect which works by love into the obedience to the Spirit of Truth and the sure word of Prophecie which is nigh them even in their hearts and mouths which divideth the evil motions and the evil words from the good and gives power against them as they do appear whereby all that come to obey and take heed unto that more sure Word come to know their sanctification and so the New Creature they come to know and the Mercy and Peace of God comes to be mustiplied in them and on them walking according to that Rule And Peter did not say the Writings of the Evangelists were that more sure Word than that they heard in the Mount which was the living Word of the Lord that abides for ever which by the Gospel was preached unto them and of this Living Word must all be born that ever come to know salvation which Word is in the heart and is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword even to the dividing of the joints and marrow soul and spirit and the thoughts and intents of the heart And this WORD David said hee had hid in his heart out of which came the Issues of life So Peter told them of another Word than the Words heard in the
airy Spirit and so as your minds come to be staid in the measure of Gods Spirit and receive a word by the inspiration of the Almighty to declare for the edifying or building up the members of that body of which Christ is the head according as you receive mark it must be your own and onely your own not an others So ye are to minister as good stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God and then let him be accursed that should it seek to quench For if one had the tongues of men and Angels and could speak all the mysteries of Kingdome of God in that mind which is not guided by the Spirit of Truth not in the life of truth that is but death and hell talking of the same of wisedom but a stranger as to the enjoying of the thing and must be silent and peradventure death reigning over him and not come so far as to the receiving of the righteous Law of God where the Thunders Voices and Earthquakes are felt seen and heard for so dreadfull was thy presence saith Moses that I exceedingly quake and tremble for where the Law is not received within death reigns and hath dominion and the day not yet known that makes the strong man to bow and the keepers of the house to tremble For I came not to destroy the Law saith Christ but to fulfill it and Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or one tittle of the Law shall pass away till all be fulfilled So all come to the Light and follow the Light which to the life will lead the Law for to fulfill The Law is Light saith Solomon and David said I delight to do thy will O God mark thy Law is in my heart and the mouth of the righteous speaketh wisedom his tongue talketh of judgement the Law of his God is in his heart Psal 37.30,31 Psal 40 8. Prov. 6.23 and Christ said I in them and thou in me that they all may be made perfect in one Jo 17.22,23 chap 16.13 and he that believeth on the Son of God 1 Jo. 5.10 hath the witness in himself And when John Peter wrote to the Churches concerning the seducers that would have seduced them from the anoynting of God within them they told them there were false Prophets amongst the people as there should be also amongst them who privily should bring in damnable heresies take notice ye that deny the Light and Spirit within even denying the Lord that bought them and many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil Spoken of I am the Way and the Truth saith Christ such were and are they that have mens persons in admiration because of advantage without naturall affection filthy dreamers which defile the flesh speaking evill of dignities despise dominion the higher power Christ the power of God unto whomall power in heaven earth is given who have eyes ful of adultery pleading animpossibility of being made free from sin on this side the grave living in pride and vanity lovivg pleasure eating and drinking and rising to play for which God slew twenty three thousand in one day 1 Cor. 10. and found in Cains way Core and Balaams way loving the wages of unrighteousness and cringing and bowing according to the fashions of the world which must pass away and worshiping and serving the Creature more than the Cteator Who is God blessed for ever Now in the Light of the son of God Examine your selves ye Baptists whether you are not guilty of these sins and tâ—ansgressing the doctrine and commands of Christ calling men master and are called master and swearing and pleading for it and seeking the favour and friendship of the world which is enmity against God and taking thought what to eat or what to drink and what to put on read Mat. 5.23 What then are you baptized unto And whereas some of you say That every one is not inlightned with saving Light Do you think it would stand with the justice of the Almighty seeing the Scripture hath concluded and testisteth That all men have sinned for to save some in sin and condemne others in sin I tell you nay therefore let every mouth which would so say be stopt before the impartiall God for he would not that any should perish for as all have sinned and come short of obedience to the spirit and grace of God in the first Adam in the fall the Lord is therefore calling all men every where to repentance and hath called some to repentance not to be repented of and hath given to every man a measure of his Spirit Light and Grace though it is not yet made manifest or known to every man and for the time of ignorance God winked and hath now sent forth and is sending his faithfull messengers which love not their lives to the death to the four quarters of the earth to preach his everlasting Gospell and repentance and remission of sins through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ and to turn mens minds from vanities and dumb idols to the Light of the living which he hath enlightned them withall he that believes and receives their testimony which is Christ the truth and it follows shall be saved but he that receives not nor obeys shal be condemned the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and this will be the condemnation of the world to wit the Light in man which shews him his evill deeds of which the impartial God as I said before a measure hath given to every man on the face of the whole earth whom he would have to be saved and come to the knowledge and obedience of the truth this the witness of God in all consciences shal witness to be true Disobedience and Unbelief in Christ the Light within will be the cause of destruction to all that perish Neither do we as some imagine put creatures on works and duties according to the first Covenant for life and salvation The Law indeed saith do this and live but it is one thing to work for life c. and another thing to work or act in obedience to the life and power of God received For God hath first given a measure of his Spirit unto man before he requires ought of him and so his work is before him and his reward is with him even the presence of the Lord of Life which makes glad the hearts of the upright which follow him in the regeneration For saith David in the day of thy power thy people shall be a willing people So in the Light which from the life of Christ doth come and up to the life of Christ it leads all that follow it Is the power in man but not of man It is the gift of God unto it is man required to be obedient and what ever the Lord requires of man is a Cross to man in the fall and contrary to the will of man So that I say and
quaking do plainly manifest you are not come to the opening of the Book in which the mystery of God have been sealed hid from the Vultrous eye c. And I beheld saith John when he had opened the sixth seal and lo there was a great Earthquake Rev. 6.12 but thou must come to know the pouring out of the vialls by the seven Angels which is pouring forth the wrath of God on the earth as you may read Rev. 16. the whole world that lyes in wickedness shall feel what is contained in that Chapter much there lies in it which I am not permited to speak And when the seventh Angell poured forth mark ye airy Spirits his viall into the air and there came a great voyce out of the Temple saying it is done and there were Voyces and Thunders and Lightnings and there was a great Earthquake such as was not since men were on the earth so mighty an earthquake and so great Rev. 16.17 This hath been truly witnessed and is witnessing amongst those whom the Lord hath redeemed and is redeeming For the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath roared out of Sion who wil not fear And the Lord hath spoken who can but Prophesie his everlasting power is made manifest and his glory is revealing and he will overturn overturn overturn till he come to raign whose right it is Christ Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the onely Potentate of heaven and earth and he in man shall rule and reign over all the world in righteousness whereby true judgement shall be set up in the earth and executed on all transgressors without respect of Persons for he will rule the Heathen with a rod of Iron and all that gather against his chosen ones shall be broken in pieces like a potters vessell and no weapon formed against them shall prosper and every tongue that riseth against them shall be condemned for in Christ our righteousness are we established and establishing And he that rides on the white horse is goneforth Conquering and to Conquer and with the rod of his lips will he smite and is smiting the earth and with the Spirit of his mouth and bright glorious appearance is consuming the Spirit of perdition and the pride and glory of all flesh he is marring and staining for Christ is come in his ten thousands c. For so I have read it in an old Arrianish Testament I saw in Clonmell in these very express words as followeth and of these Prophesied Enoch the seventh from Adam saying behold our Lord is come in his holy thousands to do judgement against all and to reprove all the impious of all the works of their impiety whereby they have done impiously and of all the hard things which impious sinners have spoken against him Jude 41.15 Therefore Awake awake ye that are resting in forms without the power feeding on the husk the letter which killeth and are covered but not with the Spirit of the Lord The all seeing eye is opened before whom the secrets and intents of all hearts are naked and bare your bed is to short and your covering will not hide you you are weighed in an equall ballance and comprehended as half a span by him who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out heaven with a span and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a ballance from which in vain is salvation hoped Therefore Arise Arise ye Baptists that is not your true rest ye now are in it is polluted and will be your great destruction except ye speedily repent for the glory of the Lord is departed from you because you have forsaken your first love to wit the true desires and breathings after God in sincerity that was I witness in many of you about 12 years ago Wo is me for you l who were as it were persecuted for Christs sake and now are turned persecutors as will be made appear as followeth For if the Lord send any of his innocent servants amongst you to speak a word in season you cry out you are disturbed Priest-like limiting the Spirit of the Lord to an hour Glass Or if any speak a word as moved of the Lord in the time you are speaking the divination of your own brains then some of you have laid violent hands and haled out of doors and shut the door this many of you in England and Ireland can witness Oh tremble tremble and be ashamed ye careless ones I many days shall ye be troubled the mouth of the Almighty have spoken it And in the Light of the Son of God examine your selves whether riches and friendship of the world which is enmity unto God and the glory of the world have not blinded the eye of your understanding and so Adam the old man by the earthly mindedness hath stopt up or choaked that of God in you which should give you the true knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ which if ever ye Baptists come to be partakers of in truth by the powerfull operation of Gods Spirit working in you must you feelingly know through judgement that part removed till that which cannot be shaken be raised in dominion to raign in you for yet once more will the Lord by his mighty power shake not onely the earth but heaven also c. And will ye nill ye shall ye all know who are of Gogs number making war against the Lamb and his followers a Day of quaking for in my jealousie and the fire of my wrath have I spoken saith the Lord Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking so that the Fishes of the Sea the fowls of the heaven and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep upon the earth and all men that are upon the face of the earth shall shake at my presence and the mountains shall be thrown down and the steep places and walls shall fall to the ground and I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains saith the Lord God every mans sword against his Brother and I will plead against him with pestilence and blood and rain great hailstones sire and brimstone thus will I magnifie my self and sanctifie my self and I will be known in the eyes of all Nations and they shall know that I am the Lord Ezek. 38.19 to the end So the judgement of Captain Sam. Wade concerning the first rise of quaking and magnifying the Light within to be in opposition to the Scriptures is altogether proved false and a Spiritual delusion This have I written only for the sake of the simple the clearing of false reports against the truth and those that have desires after it God knows I lye not 5 The Principles and Judgement of Joseph Parsons Pastor and Teacher to those people called Freewillers he affirmed before his flock That the Lord would purge c. the Tribe of Levy to offer sacrifices and offerings
with signs and lying wonders which glory glory for ever to the Lord he is now consuming with the Spirit of his Wrath and the brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2. and look within for all your preaching and praying and seeming holiness being not moved or guided by and from the spirit of the Lord is the spiritual wickedness which the Apostles vvarred against vvhose Weapons vvere not carnal as theirs are that lay violent hands on the creature and vvould have stoned him to death And so vvill ye nill ye a day of silence if ever you come to enjoy the Lords Truth in the truth of it shall you knovv that is Gods truth to you all For your prayers and sacrifices are as the strange fire unto the Lord that vvas offered by Nadab and Abihu mark vvhich he commanded them not for vvhich fire vvent forth from the Lord devoured them that they dyed before the Lord and for that very cause God beareth me record vve the servants of the Lord vvhen moved of him to come amongst you cannot joyn or bovv to your imaginary prayers in vvhich time some or most of you are sitting at ease and the Pastor or Teacher standing praying many times in a Pulpit Priest-like taking a Text of Scripture preaching by an hour-Glass and so you plainly shevv you are not come in righteousness to glorifie God vvith one mouth and one mind for vvhen your Teacher stands praying and you fitting it is a true testimony you are not brought into the true humility but are in the stubborn rebellious nature at ease in Sion which the wo is to nor to the Covenant of Life to perform and fulfill the oath of God which said As I Live mark ye stiffe necked every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess unto me saith the Lord and the Apostles and members of the true Church kneeled down to prayer by the Sea shore And so I say it is not out of contempt as to your Persons or as denying prayer that we cannot join with you in it as is afore shewed for the prayers of the faithfull as the Lord leads to it by and from the breathings and movings of his eternall Spirit we own in all humility as may be expressed c. Yea somtimes God knows I lie not were it not for giving and offending his holy Spirit for the oppressed seed sake that it might arise amongst you to praise the Lord I could even bow down amongst you when the Lord hath sent me amongst you but knowing the terrors of the Lord and having felt his Righteous Judgements and bore the Indignation of his wrath dare not do it but have many times stood bearing a heavy burden a witness for the Lord against you For Israel in the days of old bowing to the Sacrifices of the Gods of Baal the Anger of the Lord was therefore kindled against them and Moses said unto the Judges of Israel that the fierce anger of the Lord might be taken away slay ye saith Moses every one his men that were joined to Baalpeor Numb 25.1 to the 6. and therefore as I said before a day of silence shall ye Baptists and all professors of the earth know that make mention of the name of the Lord but in the unrighteousness which is sin The Lord God of heaven and earth hath a controversie with you all for your manifold transgressions and for rejecting his counsell and misusing his messengers which he hath sent rising early coming from far unto you and you would none of his counsell but hate and despise his servants who reprove sin in the gate and you abhor them that speak uprightly Wo is me for you my soul mourneth for you in secret Oh! repent yee backsliders repent ye backsliders who have forsaken the Lord of Life and have settled your selves on the Lees and think in your hearts because many of you have gotten great possessions and treasure in the earth ye shall not be moved Oh! again I say unto you meet the Lord by speedy repentance before the day of your visitation be past away and you find not a day of repentance though you seek it with tears as Esau did for the mighty day of the Lord God over all the world is come and coming such as hath not been known since the world began a day wherein your solemn solemnities and breaking Bread that perisheth in the using c. will be a day of great and thick darkness felt even as the Egyptian darkness in it your Prudent must keep silence mourning even as a woman mourneth over her onely son for he that formed the mountains and created the winds and sheweth to man his thoughts will plead with you and all flesh by fire and by sword and great will the slain of the Lord be yea they shall cast out their dead bodies with silence for saith David Let the wicked be put to silence in the Grave and all that makes mention of the name of the Lord our God who is a consuming fire must depart from iniquity And as you and all people on the face of the earth come to wait on the Lord in the way of his Judgements you will sensibly come truly and gladly to say blessed be he that comes in the Truth and in the name of the Lord for he keepeth the feet of his Saints mark that but the wicked shall be silent in darkness and David said Let the wicked lips be put to silence mark and take notice ye that despise the Light and speak proudly against the Light and Spirit of God in man to be the Rule and Guide of Life c. That speaketh proudly grievous things contemptuously against the Righteous Psal 31.17.18 for the Lord is arisen and hath appeared in his Temple Let the earth and all flesh keep silence before him And therefore I say unto you who despise the servants of the Lord who preach silence to all flesh who sit silently waiting on the Lord speaking as they are moved if ever the true joy in God you come to be partakers of it must be by returning in your minds into that of God in you waiting in the silence of all flesh for let the Islands keep silence before me mark that the people may renew their strength Isa 41.1 and thousands who are come to know the honourable silent waiting on the Lord do witness daily strength renewed And when the seventh Seal was opened there was silence in heaven halfe an hour And so to preach silence to all flesh is according to the practise of the holy men of old they spake as they were moved of the Holy Ghost and so according as they had received they ministered as good stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God and Christ bid his Disciples go and wait at Jerusalem till they were indued with power from on high And this hath been the substance of my testimony from the Lord unto you Baptists That the Lord requires you to wait for the