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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41067	A touch-stone, or, A perfect tryal by the Scriptures, of all the priests, bishops, and ministers, who have called themselves, the ministers of the Gospel whose time and day hath been in the last ages past, or rather in the night of apostacy : they are tried and weighed by the Scriptures of truth, and are found out of the life and power of the scriptures, and out of the spirit and doctrine of them that gave them forth, and quite contrary to their principle and practice, both Papists and Protestants : unto which is annexed, Womens speaking justified, &c.	Fox, Margaret Askew Fell, 1614-1702.	1667 (1667)	Wing F639; ESTC R7178	82,431	96

without dissimulation abhor that which is evil cleave to that which is good And thus the Apostle goeth on with gracious Exhortations Rom. 12. to the end of the Chapter not preferring one before another but every one to abide and wait in their Gifts Also when he writeth unto the Ephesians he writeth thus I therefore the Prisoner of the Lord beseech you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in Love endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one Hope of your Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and one Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4. And in this Chapter he also goes on in opening of the manifestation of the Gift of the Spirit of God and in holy Admonitions even to the end of the Chapter Which Gift he saith is given for the Work of the Ministry for the perfecting of the Saints for the edifying of the Body of Christ And this Doctrine and Ministry is contrary to those Ministers which have been of late that limit and bind under their Power which Power is contrary to the Power of God and his Spirit as they themselves will confess for they cannot say they have the same Power and Spirit that the Apostles had and yet they inflict Punishments and lay Oppressions and Burthens and Bondages by their Laws upon those that do not follow and obey their Doctrine and Practices which is quite contrary to Christ and his Apostles For there is but two Wayes Truth and Error Light and Darkness So let the wise and honest in heart judge what a condition the Saints of God are in while this Power of Darkness Ruleth And thus much for the Second Particular of their Practice which is Binding and Limiting and keeping in Bondage those that are under their Power The Third Particular of their Practice is That they upbold and carry on many of these Practices before-mentioned by causing People to Swear in their Courts or upon any other occasion what they like and preach up Swearing and allow of it and hold it up in all occasions whatsoever And in this they are absolute Breakers of the special Command of Jesus Christ and also out of the Doctrine and Practice of Christ and his Apostles and contrary to their Testimony For Christ Jesus when he was in his Sermon on the Mount and was rehearsing the Heads of the Law as we said before he mentioned this also again Ye have heard that it hath been said to them of old time Thou shalt not Forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oathes but I say unto you Swear not at all Matth. 5. Now Christ being the fulfilling of the Law and the end of the Law as the Apostle saith for Righteousness and being that one Offering that hath been offered up once for all in which he said Lo I come to do thy will O God he hath taken away the First that he might establish the Second and when he had offered one Sacrifice for Sin for ever he sat down at the right hand of God expecting his Enemies to become his Foot-stool And the same Apostle saith when he is speaking of his Priesthood And in as much as not without an Oath he was made a Priest For saith he those Priests to wit those that were under the Law were made without an Oath but this with an Oath by him that said unto him The Lord sware and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedec c. Hebr. 7. So this is he that is the Oath of God and the Promise of God the Substance and Performance of all that God swore and promised unto Abraham and unto his Seed for ever this the Apostle makes very clear in the foregoing Chapter where he saith When God made a Promise to Abraham because he could Sware by no greater he Swore by Himself saying Surely in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thee And so after he had patiently endured be obtained the Promise Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an Oath that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to Lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before us which Hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast which entereth into that within the Vail whither the Fore-runner is for us entered even Jesus made an High-Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedec Hebr. 6. Surely all will confess that this is he whom God the Father promised unto Abraham by an Oath as also of whom David said The Lord hath sworn and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedec These are the two Immutable things which the Apostle saith here in which God shews the immutability of his Counsel which both here meet in Christ Jesus the Sum and Substance of all For surely he is the Seed which God promised to Abraham if we will believe the Apostle Gal. 3. 16. Also he is that Priest that is for ever that ever liveth to make intercession for us and this is he that the Apostle saith At his Name every Knee shall bow and every Tongue confess Then I say let all Mouthes be stopt in speaking against him and opposing of him who hath said But I say unto you Swear not at all he that is the Sum and the Substance and the Performance of all that God hath Sworn and hath put an end to the Law under which Oathes and Swearing was allowed he had full Power as well to put an end to Oaths as he had to put an end to the Sabbath For he said the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath which was one of the Ten Words and Swearing was none of them And surely those that disobey Christ Jesus his Commands who is the Sum and Substance of Gods Oaths and the fulfilling and end of the whole Law surely they blaspheme against that Holy One. For the Apostle said He that despise Moses Law died without Mercy under two ar three Witnesses how much more sorer punishment suppose ye shall be thought worthy for them who have trodden under foot the Son of God c. Hebr. 10. All those that are Fighters against God and Holders up of Swearing against Christs Command they will find It a fearfull thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God But they have three Objections First That God Swore Secondly That the Angel Swore Thirdly That the Apostle saith Men verily Swear by the Greater and an Oath for Confirmation is to them an end of all Strife In answer to these three First For what the Lord

Jesus that is within them which preacheth in a Mystery and preacheth righteousness very nigh in their hearts and will cleanse their inward parts and make their hearts clean from that mystery of Iniquity that hath been long lodged in them and held them Captive and led them into sin and transgression and wickedness Oh that all hearts and secret parts might be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and that every one would walk in the Light abide in the Light as he is in the Light and here is the fellowship and unity of the Saints in Light Jesus Christ the Righteous ruling in their hearts and who lives in the Vnity and Spirit of the Lord Jesus they come to have fellowship with the Father and the Son as John had and these things he wrote unto them that their joy might be full and that they might partake of the same Light Life and Spirit and have Unity with him whose message is That God is Light and in him is no darkness at all And whosoever saith he knows God and abides in darkness is a lyar and the Truth is not in him 1 John 1. And this hath been the Condition and Doctrine that hath been holden forth for many hundred years they have walked in darkness and shewed as if they had fellowship with God and they have loved the world and the things of the world which the Apostle saith is not of the Father And if any love the World the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2. And now Reader do but consider how these Teachers of the world live and after what manner and how they do oppress people for their maintenance and whether there is any sort of people more covetous of the world than they are and how they draw people from the Unction of the holy One that the Apostle here turned people to and desired them to take heed unto and to continue and abide in that which they had heard from the beginning and not to turn to those Antichrists that were then entering into the world but they were to abide in the Anointing which thy had received and it would teach them all things and it was truth and was no lie 1 John 2. But these Ministers of darkness that have been in this night of Apostacy all their indeavours have been to draw people from the Light and from the Vnction of the Holy One after them and after their Imaginations dark Studies and brain Divination and so have deceived poor people and have led them captive at their wills and as the Prophet said Have born rule by their means and the people have been so blind that they love to have it so And thus the Scriptures have been fulfilled and there hath been power given to the Beast and people generally have said in their hearts Who is able to make war with the Beast But glory to the highest Lord his time is over and the year of our Redeemer is come and the Spirit of the Lord is upon him and the Lord hath anointed him to preach good tydings to the meek liberty to the Captives and the opening the Prison doors to them that are bound and to proclaime the acceptable Year of the Lord and the day of Vengeance of our God Isa 61. 1 2. Oh Reader The time is short the day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night and all this long-suffering of the Lord that hath been past is because he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance And seeing that all these things shall be dissolved oh what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness looking for that blessed hope and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ that all may be found with him in peace without spot or blemish which is my desire And so read over this following Treatise and weigh in the seriousness of thy heart and consider the Scriptures of Truth by which thou mayest judge by the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ in thee how all the world have been befooled and blinded and led captive even at Satans will and how this Antichrist hath ruled in the hearts of People and sate in the Temple of God and hath been decked and covered over with the Scriptures and Saints words speaking them forth with unclean lips and from unclean hearts and so have deceived the hearts of the simple but this fine linnen and purple and scarlet that Babylon hath been decked with in one day shall be taken from her Amen even so Lord Jesus come quickly M. F. A Touch-Stone OR A Perfect Tryal by the Scriptures of all the Priests Bishops and Ministers c. ME thinks I hear the Bishops mutter murmur and contemn that I should publish it out to the world how I desired the King to beware of their Counsels therefore I do hereby give them my Reasons of the Cause why I did so which Reasons may satisfie them and the whole world except they can by as good or better overturn them In the first place I desired since it pleased the Lord to bring the King to his outward Right and Propriety of the Crown of his Ancestors that he might have done that whereby he might Prosper according to the words of the wise King Solomon who said It is the glory of God to conceal a thing but the honour of a King to search out a matter Take away the wicked from before the King and his Throne shall be established Prov. 25. And again he saith The thoughts of the Righteous are right but the counsel of the wicked is deceit the words of the wicked are to lye in wait for blood but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them the wicked are overthrown and are not but the house the righteous shall stand Prov. 12. Also it was my desire that he should follow the example of the good Kings of Israel whose way it was to ask counsel of the Lord or of his Prophets as King David enquired of the Lord whether he should go up against the Philistims and the Lord said Go up 2 Sam. 5. and again King David called Nathan the Prophet and told him that he would build a House for the Ark of God and the Lord sent word again to David by Nathan the Prophet 2 Sam. 7. And when there was three years of famine in the Land David enquired of the Lord and the Lord answered him it was for Saul and his bloody house 2 Sam. 21. Also King Solomon the Lord appeared unto him and bid him ask what he would have and Solomon asked of the Lord an understanding heart to judge his People that he might discern between good and bad for saith he Who is able to judge this thy so great a People And this speech pleased the Lord that Solomon asked such a thing 1 Kings 3. And again the Lord spake unto Solomon the second time concerning the House which he was building

his bait and it is much if they cast not themselves down for it is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ for his Exhortation was That they should take the low●st Seat that it might be said unto them Friend Go up higher but they have not taken that way But they have several Objections or Colours for what they do with which they do a little blind some ignorant people which is an easie matter to do While the Blind lead the Blind saith Christ they both go into the Ditch One thing they alledge for Tythes is That Melchisedec took Tythes when Abraham paid them Gen. 14. when Abraham returned from the slaughter of the Kings and this the Apostle cleareth himself in Heb. 7. and taketh away the objection of all that can be said for Tythes For first of all as for Melchisedec King of Salem Priest of the Most High God who met Abraham in his return from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him to whom also Abraham gave the tenth part of all c. Here the Apostle describes Melchisedec being without descent having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life So that our Tythe-Takers in these last days cannot claim them by this Order for they are not without descent for the furthest they can claim was Levi and hundreds of them have ended their dayes and their dayes are come to an end Besides the Apostle saith that this Melchisedec was greater then Abraham and Abraham had the Promise of God and the Oath of God passed unto him and unto his Seed which the Apostle saith is Christ Gal. 3. But the Apostle saith He was made like unto the Son of God and remaineth a Priest continually Now consider saith he how great this man was unto whom even the Patriarch Abraham gave the Tythe of the Spoils and verily they who are of the Sons of Levi who receive the Office of the Priesthood have a Commandment to take Tythes of the People that are of their Brethren though they came out of the Loins of Abraham but he whose descent is not counted from them received Tythes of Abraham and blessed him that had the Promises and without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better So if our Tythe-Takers can say they are better then Abraham then they may claim Tythes from Melchisedec but if they say nay but they will claim them from the Tribe of Levi then they must own themselves to be of the Levitical Priesthood and they must take Tythes of none but their Brethren the Jews For so the Apostle saith That the Priesthood had a Commandment to take Tythes according to the Law that is of their Brethren Hebr. 7. 5. And he saith further If therefore perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood for ●●der it the people received the Law what further need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec and not after the order of Aaron But the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another Tribe of which no man gave attendance at the Altar For it is evident our Lord sprang of Judah of which Tribe Moses spake nothing coucerning the Priesthood And it is more evident that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest who is not made after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an Endless Life For he testifieth Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec For there is verily a disanulling of the Commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof For the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better Hope did by which we draw nigh unto God Hebr. 7. Here the Apostle testifieth clearly of the overturning and changing of the Priesthood of Levi and the disanulling of the Law by which they took Tythes because that made nothing perfect And for this other Priest that remaineth for ever Who purgeth and purifieth the Conscience from dead Works to serve the Living God for the witnessing of this Everlasting High-Priest being come hath many suffered and do suffer by this Generation of Tythe-taking Priests who are neither according to Law nor Gospel and though they take the Apostles words here and it may be may read them to the people yet do they act quite contrary to the Apostles Testimony here and to all his practices that he practised while he was upon Earth And so we that have a Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ our Everlasting High-Priest that he is come we cannot deny his Testimony in paying Priests Tythes which was paid under the Levitical Priesthood before he came now we have another Priest that remaineth continually who is not made by a Law of a Carnal Commandment as they all are but by another Law Even the Law of the Spirit of Life which maketh us free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. But they set up Laws against us and make us suffer by their Laws and by their Courts and when we cannot Swear cast us into Prison But the Apostle taught his Son Timothy otherwise when He besought him to abide still at Ephesus that he might charge some of them that they preach no other Doctrine neither give head to Fables and endless Genealogies which minister Questions rather then Godly Edifying which is in Faith Now the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and of a good Conscience and Faith unfained from which some having swerved have turned again aside into Jangling desiring to be Teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm But we know that the Law is good if a man use it lawfully Knowing this that the Law is not made for a Righteous man but for the Lawless and Disobedient for the Ungodly and for Sinners for Unholy and Prophane for Murtherers of Fathers and Murtherers of Mothers for Man-slayers for Whoremongers for them that defile themselves with mankind for Men-stealers for Lyars for Perjured Persons and if there be any thing further that is contrary to Sound Doctrine 1 Tim. 1. Surely these late Bishops have learned another Lesson then this Bishop Timothy did for they execute their Law against the Harmless and the Innocent and such as abide in Sound Doctrine and those that bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit which is Love Peace Long suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such the Apostle saith there is no Law Gal. 5. And yet these are they that are made the object of their Laws and are kept under the Scourge of the Laws in these dayes and this disorder is because our Leaders and Teachers have caused the people to err from the Faith and from the Truth But to come to the particular which is concerning Ministers Maintenance where they object and say The Apostle alloweth them a maintenance by what he holds forth 1 Cor. 9. where he saith Have not we

a murderer and ye know that no murtherer hath eternal Life abiding in him Hereby perceive we the love of God because he hath laid down his Life for us We ought also to lay down our lives for the Brethren Chap. 3. And so this is contrary to what hath been the practise of those that have taken upon them the function of the Ministers of Christ for many hundreds of years for though they have professed Christ and Christianity yet they have been killing and slaying and murdering one another as many examples might be instanced in ages past Those that call themselves Papists and those that call themselves Protestants one killing and slaying and murdering another and yet all professing and confessing themselves to be Christians and would profess the Scriptures Christ and the Apostles words and in doing thus one to another they have thought they have done God good service and so have fulfilled Christ's words who saith Yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service and these things will they do because they have not known the Father and me John 16. And this may suffice for the second head which is their Quallifications The third is their Call For Jesus when he came and spake unto his Disciples he said unto them All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even to the end of the world Mat. 28. And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preaceh unto every creature he that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned And again he saith Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem till ye be endued with Power from on high and he blessed them and they worshipped him and they returned to Jerusalem Luke 26. Which is rehearsed again in the first of the Acts and fulfilled in the second Chapter and the Spirit was poured upon them plentifully and there were some then that mocked and said These men are full of new Wine but Peter stood up with the eleven and said These men are not drunken as ye suppose but this is that which was spoken of by the Prophet Joel It shall come to pass in the last days saith the Lord I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and Daughters shall prophesie and whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord in that day shall be saved This holy Spirit the Apostles received when they were met together also Paul the Apostle who was made an Apostle after them he also was separated for that work by the holy Ghost for as the Apostles were met together with the Church at Antioch as they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost departed c. Act. 13. And so the Apostle writes himself when he wrote to the Romans Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospel of God And again when he wrote to the Galatians he wrote thus Paul an Apostle not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead and all the Brethren which are with me unto the Churches of Galatia And he saith further I certifie you brethren that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man for I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ But when it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Heathen immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood Gal. 1. And again when he wrote to the Ephesians when he was a Prisoner of Jesus Christ he wrote thus to the Gentiles Ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of the Gospel of God which is given me to you ward how that by Revelation he made known unto me the Mystery as I wrote unto you in a few words which in other Ages was not made known unto the Sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit Ephes 3. I do not know neither have I heard that the Ministers and such as take upon them to teach People neither those that are their Lords Bishops and Arch-Bishops that they have had their Calls after this Order for there have been other wayes and meanes used for many hundred of years together as Schooles and Colledges and Universities and Nurseries of Learning which they call their Mothers with a heap of Stuffe which are better known by them that exercise themselves in them than the Revelation of Jesus Christ is and the Ministers they make are by men and of men and they will have them Fitted and Ordained according to their Wayes and Orders But if any one have received the Revelation of Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit if any such have a Word to speak from the Lord they must not be received nor admitted this is not according to their Order this they call an Heresie and a Sect any that speak and meet together and worship the Lord God in his Spirit and in his Truth such are taken notice of and are brought under the Whip and the Scourge and are apprehended and cast into Prision if they do but pretend the Teachings and Leadings of the Spirit of God and if they have not freedom in their spirits to pay them Tythes or to maintain their Steeple-houses presently they are brought into the Bishops Court and if they cannot for Conscience-sake swear and take an Oath then presently they are cast into Prison But of this more hereafter And thus it is truly manifested that the order of their Calling is not according unto Christ nor his Apostles for Christ saith expresly All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whom the Son revealeth him Mat. 11. And again Christ saith It is written in the Prophets They shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me not that any man hath seen the Father save he that is of God he hath seen the Father John 6. This may be sufficient to prove the Third head which is their Call which is contrary to the Apostles The fourth their Worship and the manner of it And first for the Worship it self Christ when he spake to the woman of Samaria and she told him That their Fathers worshipped in that Mountain of

burdens grievous to be born But this is contrary to Christ and his Apostles Doctrine and Example as hath been shewed already Moreover the Apostle Paul when he writeth his second Epistle to the Corinthins chap. 1. and relateth the sufferings and hardships that they had passed through how that they had the sentence of death in themselves he saith Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us in God who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts not that we have dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your joy for by Faith ye stand Here the Apostle did not bind them and limit them nor called them to Courts to keep them under oppression and penalty in those things that were contary to their Faith and Principles this was contrary to Pauls practice for when he called the Elders of the Church of Ephesus unto him he said unto them Ye know that from the first day that I came unto you after what manner I have been with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befel me and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from house to house testifying both to Jews and Greeks Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ And when he goes on mentioning his sufferings he saith None of these things move me neither count I my self dear unto my self so that I may finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God Take heed therefore unto your selves and to the whole Flock of God whereof the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers and feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20. Here the Apostle gives them no Commission to oppress or bondage those that they were Overseers over but to feed them and to watch over them For saith he after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter among you not sparing the Flock Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things therefore watch and remember c. This hath been fulfilled and largly manifested Wolves and Devourers have had a large time since that day Also the Apostle Peter saith thus The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but being examples to the Flock and when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. Here is a perfect Example and Rule for all the Overseers of the Church of God Moreover when the Apostle writes unto his Son Timothy he saith That the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a Pure Heart and a good Conscience and Faith unfeigned Also he exhorts him First of all that supplications prayers and intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty and so he goes on exhorting this Bishop but never biddeth him set up Courts nor be a Lord over Gods Heritage for he saith This is a true saying If any man desireth the Office of a Bishop he desireth a good work a Bishop must be blameless the Husband of one Wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach I believe our Bishops are wanting here because they Hire and Imploy so many petty Teachers under them but he goes on Not given to wine no striker not greedy of filthy lucre but patient not a brawler not covetons now our Laws and Courts signifie the contrary of this not a Novice lest being lifted up with Pride he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil Moreover he must have a good report of those that are without holding the mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience So the Apostle goeth on exhorting the Bishops and Deacons that they may know how to behave themselves in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God the Ground and Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 2 3 chap. So he goes on exhorting them what to Teach and Preach and how to order the Church in the 4th and 5th chapters concerning the Elders Elder-men and Elder-women Younger-men and Younger-women as also Servants he directeth him how to go by way of Exhortation to them all and saith If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsom words even the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness he is proud knowing nothing doting about Questions So he goeth on dehorting them from those things But thou O man of God saith he flee these things and follow after righteousness godliness faith love and patience meekness fight the good fight of Faith lay hold on Eternal Life whereunto thou art called and hast professed a good profession before many Witnesses I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession that thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukeable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ O Timothy keep that which is committed unto thy Trust chap. 6. Here is a weighty and a hard Charge laid upon Timothy the then Bishop and Overseer of the Church but here is nothing of making of Laws and setting up Courts and oppressing people and keeping them in Bondage and Slavery for when he writeth his Second Epistle to Timothy he saith My dearly beloved Son Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the Gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound minde That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us This thou knowest that all they which were in Asia be turned away from me yet he doth not bid him Arraign them nor call them up to Courts nor Cite them nor Excommunicate them nor cast them into Prison but he exhorts him to be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus and he layeth down how he should teach the people and commit

hardness as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 2. And when he writes to Titus he saith To Titus mine own Son after the common Faith for this cause left I thee at Creet that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting Tit. 1. And again he saith to Timothy Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an Example of the Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity Till I come give attendance to reading and to exhortation Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4. I would know which of the Bishops hath received such a Gift as this and whether by making proof of this Gift of Prophesie that is in them they have attained to these Titles of Lord-Bishops and Reverend Fathers in God But since we find the Scriptures so much contrary to these Titles it must needs follow that they have received their Titles from men But Timothy and Titus were made Overseers of the Church of God by the Holy Ghost but no Lord-Bishops and so was the Apostle Paul and the other Apostles And James the Apostle speaks expresly My Brethren have not the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of Persons For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold Ring or goodly Apparrel and there come also a poor man in vile Rayment and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay Cloathing and not to him that is Poor Are ye not partial in your selves c. But if ye have respect to persons ye commit sin and are convinced of the Law as transgressours Jam. 2. Here the Apostle gives perfect judgement against the respecting of mens persons which most men do because of advantage but with Christ Jesus and his holy Apostles you see it was not so and therefore those that take upon them the name of the Ministers of the Gospel of Christ should follow their examples and not go quite contrary And this I look upon to be sufficient for the proof of the first head which is their Titles The Second is their Qualifications State and Condition First Christ Jesus said to those he preached unto Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoak upon you learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Mat. 11. This is contrary to highness and haughtiness And when he preached his first Sermon in the Mountain and his Disciples came unto him He opened his mouth and taught them saying Blessed are the poor in Spirit Blessed are they that Mourn Blessed are the Meek as you may read Mat. 5. And likewise when he sent forth his Disciples he said Behold I send you as Lambs in the middest of Wolves be ye therefore wise as Serpents but harmless as Doves Mat. 10. And when he had sent out the seventy by two and by two he said unto them Go your wayes behold I send you forth as Lambs among Wolves Luke 10. This was one Quality of those that Christ sent forth they were Meek they were Harmless Secondly They were such as were to go into Sufferings as he said unto them in the next verse Beware of men for they will deliver you up to the Counsels and they will scourge you in their Synagogues and ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my Names sake for a Testimony against them and the Gentiles and ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake Mat. 10. Mark 13. 9. And when Peter rebuked his Master when he told them that he was to go to Jerusalem to suffer He turned and said unto Peter Get thee behind me Satan c. Then said Jesus unto his Disciples If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me Mat. 16. And when he told them that tho Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the Elders and Chief Priests and Scribes and be slain and raised again the third day and he said unto them all If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 9. Mark 8. And according to this the Apostles of Christ went through many hardships and sufferings as may be read at large throughout the Book of the Acts. And the Apostle Paul saith to the Corinthians And I brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or wisdome declaring unto you the Mystery of God for I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him Crucified and I was with you in weakness and fear and in much trembling For Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words least the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect for the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness 1 Cor. 1. and Chap. 2. It is many ages since those that took upon them the Preaching that which they have called the Gospel were in this state and condition for the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God which makes to tremble as the Apostles did hath been an offence unto them and is mocked and scoffed at by them to this day Thirdly They were also such as were to live in Love and of this Christ himself gave them an example when he took a Towel and girded himself and poured water into a Bason and began to wash the Disciples feet and said Ye call me Lord and Master and ye say well for so I am If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet ye ought also to wash one anothers feet And a new Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you for I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another John 13. and Chap. 15. And the Apostle saith when he wrote to the Thessalonians but as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another and indeed ye do it towards all the Brethren But we beseech you that ye increase more and more 1 Thes 4. And the Apostle John saith He that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in darkness He that loveth his brother abideth in the Light 1 John 2. And again he saith This is the Message that ye have heard from the beginning that we love one another not as Cain that slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous But we know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren He that loveth not his brother abideth in death whosoever hateth his brother is