the Lord that he will bring such honour in the dust and that which he will condemn as unjust The Apostle saith That Women ought not to adorne themselves with gould silver pearls costly attire platting of the hair but to be adorned with a meek and a quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price and the hidden man of the heart c. And if Christendom had minded this it had been more virtuous and more sober and less envious towards one about their Manners XXIV Concerning Objections of the World against the Preaching of CHRIST Object The World Objests and saith That some Preach Christ of Envy and some of Good-will and some of Strife and Contention And that Christ commanded to hear the Pharisees So we may hear say they our Teachers although they be wicked Answ He that hath the Form of Godliness and denyes the Power from such turn away The Apostle bid turn away from Envious men and Contentious men and men of Strife Although there was a time when the Name of Christ was first spread abroad in which time he permitted Envious men to spread his Name abroad But when his Name was spread abroad then he forbad such Envious and Contentious men to Preach and exhorted Timothy to withdraw from and avoid such for they could not bring People into the Power For Envious and Contentious men may Preach the Form and have it but they cannot bring People into the Power And so there came a time before the decease of the Apostles to turn away from such Now as to the hearing of the Pharisees this was before Christ was Offered up and before the fulfilling of the Law for they were Ministers of the Law and so people ought to do as they said but not as they did but when Christ was offered up he commanded them to Preach the Gospel and not to hear the Pharisees and it was the work of the Apostles to bring People to the end of the Law to the Seed into Gospel-fellowship into the Power of God which was before the Power of darkness was XXV Concerning BREAD WATER and WINE Bread Water and Wine are earthly and perishing things for the Bread and Wine which Christ gave at Supper in the Evening which the World takes at Noon those things Christ and the Apostle gave for a shewing forth and a remembrance of his death until he should come And after some of the Disciples had receiv'd it they doubted Whether he was the Christ or not And after the Apostle had given the Supper to the Corinthians in his first Epistle he bad then Examine themselves and so to eat in the remembrance of Christ But in the second Epistle he bad them examine themselves and try themselves whether Christ except they were Reprobates were in them or not Now they may be Reprobates who have taken the Bread and Wine and have had the Water They were Reprobates if Christ was not in them For Bread and Wine is not the Flesh and Blood of Christ which came down from Heaven which flesh whosoever eates lives for ever For People may eat of Bread made of Grain and may drink Wine make of Grapes and yet may dye Reprobates Now they were to take it in remembrance of his Death this was one State and than they were to come to dye with him and this was a nearer state than the taking of Bread and Wine in remembrance of his Death and then they were to arise with him and then to seek those things which were above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God but Bread Water and Wine are all earthly things and they are not Christ and they who have him they are not Reprobates neither do they need outward things to put them in mind of his Death whenas they are dead with him and risen with him to live with him But they who will not dye and suffer with him such live in the Old Nature and desire to have outward things continually to put them in mind of his Death and such live in Strife and Contention about outward things and shaddows and do not come to Christ the Substance who was before the world was made in whom there is no strife at all but only Life and Peace XXVI Of the SABBATH DAY The Jews they kept the Sabbath-Day a Type and Sign of Rest that both the Man-servant and Maid-servant and Strangers and all Cattel should rest within their Gates a sign of Christ who destroys the Devil the Author of Oppression and gives rest to Man and Beast and to the whole Creation and brings it again into that blessed condition which it was in in the beginning before the Fall Now as to the Saints Meeting together on the first Day of the Week this practice is not denyed but owned by us for who are come to the First Day as they Jews on the Last Day But there is more in the Word XXVII Concerning God-Fathers and God-Mothers and SPRINKLING of INFANTS Concerning God-Fathers and God-Mothers and Sprinkling of Infants and such like things the Scriptures make no mention yet the Scripture saith Repent Teach and Baptize XXVIII Concerning the Word TRINITY Of this word Trinitas there is no mention made in Scripture yet the Scripture speaks of Father Son and Holy Spirit and of Water Blood and Spirit and all these are one among us as in the Primitive time among the Apostles who gave no such outward Names to them as Trinity as the World now doth XXIX Concerning the MINISTRY They that receive from Christ they receive freely and they give freely they pray freely and preach freely and the Ministry is the gift of God and is to be exercised freely and of a free People of their earthly things it is to be Administred freely Heavenly men and bringers of glad Tydings of a Kingdom of which they are Heirs must Minister to the Eternal condition of People And this is the highest Love in the Life XXX Concerning Dayes and Times and Meats and Drinks The Kingdom of God consists not in Dayes Times Meats and Drinks and such like things but in Power Righteousness Faith and Joy in the holy Ghost and People ought not contend and Persecute one another about such things for the Apostles gave not any Commandment or Example that any should do so but on the contrary reproved them who did so and keep People in such things XXXI Concerning MARRIAGES Whom God hath joyned together let no man put asunder and those which he joynes he joynes with his Power even by his Immortal Power with a Band over and above the State which is in the Fall where Men joyn and put asunder about outward and earthly things and jangle and fight about them but this is all in the defiled Bed out of the honourable state which was in the beginning where there was no hardness of heart And Marriage in it self is not condemned but owned and among all them who are in the Power I say it is
dayes of the week That day which is the first day of the week they worshiped the Idol of the Sun which was placed in a Temple and there Sacrificed unto and to the special adoration of which Idol they gave the name of Sunday The second day of the week they dedicated to the Idol of the Moon and from whence these called Christians retain the name of Monday instead of Moonday The next was the Idol of the Planets was the Idol of Tuisco who was the first and chiefest man of Name among the Germans unto whom the name of Tuesday was especially dedicated The next was the Idol Woden whom the Saxons honoured for their God of Battel And after this Idol these called Christians do yet call the fourth day of the week Wednesday instead of Woddensday The next was the Idol Thor from whence the name Thursday is retained instead of the fifth day of the week The next Idol was the Goddess Friga to which Idol they dedicated the sixth day of the week and called it Fryday which is retained to this day The last was the Idol Seater from whence is called the seventh day Satureay And as these called Christians have followed the Heathens Examples in naming their Days so they follow them in nameing their Months for the Heathen they called Mars the God of Battel and from thence they called the first Month March. And Venus they called the Goddess of Love and Beauty and from thence they called the second Month April And Maja a Heathen Goddess called Flora and Cloris were called the Goddesses of Flowers unto Maja the Heathen Idolaters used to sacifice from thence was the third Month called May And upon the first day of the same Month they used to keep Floralia Feasts to the two Goddesses of Flowers viz. Flora and Cloris and Flora was a Strumpet in Rome that used on the first day of that Month to set up a May-pole before her door to intice her Lovers from whence came May-poles and May-Day to be since observed by these called Christians And Juno whom the Heathen called the Gooddess of Kingdoms and Wealth from this Juno the forth Month was called June And Julius Cesar a Roman Emperor in honour to him was the fifth Month called July And in honour to Augustus Cesar an Emperor was the sixth Month called August And four of the other Months are called after the Latine Names as September for the seventh Month October for the eighth November for the ninth December for the tenth And one Janus a King of Italy was for his wisdom pictured with two faces whom they honoured as God and from this name Janus was the elventh Month called January And Saturnus Pluto Februs were called the Gods of Hell who the Heathen said had the Rule of evil Spirits there and from Pluto Februs was the twelfth Month called February And by all these Idolatrous Names do these called Christians call their Days and Months to this day which is contrary to the Scriptures the Prophets and the Apostles The Saxons also had a Goddess whom they sacrificed to in the Month of April called Eoster hence they called April Eoster Month and hence in process of time came Easter Page 135. Camb. Brit. Concerning Singing of Psalmes PSalms began to be sung about three hundred eighty three years after Christ brought in by Damasins Bishop though not turned into Meeter Benedistus an Abbot of the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Wirr brought with him from Rome one John the Arch-Chanter who first taught in England how to sing in the Quire after the manner of Rome Act. Mon. vol. 1. page 164. Anno 724. Laws made by the Saxon Kings in England concerning singing Psalms In the year seven hundred forty seven at the beginning of King Edgberts Reign the Synod of Bishops disputed the profit of singing of Psalms in the Church and made a Decree that with a modest voice they should sing in the Church so called In the year nine hundred twenty four King Ethelston alias Atelston made a Law that fifty Psalms should be daily sung in the Church as he called it for the King Beza being much diverted with Poetry made his pastime to become a part of the vulgar devotion hence they have been stiled by some Geneva-Jigs These are the express words of the Injunction given to the Clergy and Laity by Queen Elizabeth Item Because in divers Collegiate and also some Parish-Churches heretofore there hath been Livings appointed for the maintenance of men and children to use singing in the Church by means whereof the Laudable Science of Musick hath been had in estimation and preserved in knowledge the Queen willeth commandeth that first no alteration be made of such assignments of Living as heretofore hath been appointed to the use of Singing or Musick in the Church but that the same so remain and that there be a modest and distinct Song so used in all parts of the Common prayer in the Church that the same may be as plainly understood as if it were read without singing And yet nevertheless for the comforting of such as delight in Musick it may be permitted that in the begining or end of Common Prayers either at Morning or Evening there may be sung an Hymn or such like Song to the praise of Almighty God in the best sort of Melody or Musick that may be conveniently devised A Warning to all to keep out of the Fashions of the World which lead them below the serious Life and not to fashion themselves according to the World FRiends keep out of the Fashions of the World let not your eyes and minds and spirits run after every fashion in Apparel of the Nations for that will lead you from the solid life into a full stomack with that Spirit that leads to follow the Fashions of the Nations every Fashions of Apparel that gets up but mind that which is sober and modest and keep your Fashions therein you may judge the World whose minds and eyes are in that what they shall put on and what they shall eat and Friends that see the World so often alter their Fashions and follow them and run into them in that they cannot judge the World but the World will rather judge them Therfore keep all in the modesty and plainness and fervency and sincerity and be circumspect for they that follow those things the Worlds spirit invents daily cannot be solid and many Fashions might be instanced both of Hats and Clothes of men and women that daily are invented which they that run into them are near unto the Worlds Spirit and their eyes are gazing after them when they should be upon the Lord from whom they should receive judgment Therefore all keep down that Spirit of the World that runs into so many Fashions to please the lust of the Eye the lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life And Fashion not your selves according to your former Lust of Ignorance and let the time
your Colledges for our Brother Paul the Tent-maker said If you will not work you must not eat For would you own Christ if he had come in your day who was called A Carpenters Son You Popes with your Triple Crowns and you Lord Bishops with your Coaches and fat Horses and gorgeous Aparrel with your Black Coats and white Coats and Girdles Are you like to entertain him who is called A Carpenters Son or to cast him and his mother into the Manger in your Stables This was the Word by which John the Evangelist saw Christ which did enlighten every man that came into the world and saw how he became flesh and came to his own and his own did not receive him but to as many as received Christ the Light to them he gave power to become the Sons of God which all they that are Ministers of the Letter made by the seven years Colledges and not the Word hate the Light And by this Word the Minister of the Word preacheth Christs Word Life Death and Resurrection And therefore as John saith in his Epistle That which our Eyes have seen our Hands have handled and our Ears have heard of the Word of Life do we preach unto you that which was from the beginning in the beginning was the Word though since the beginning were the words and letters for the Scriptures of Truth are the words of God and the words of Christ and he that adds to these words saith John in the Revelations God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book So the Word was in the beginning and Christs Name is called The Word of God but Christ is neither called Scriptures nor Writings for Scriptures signify Writings So In the beginning was the Word since the beginning were Writings and Scriptures In the beginning was the Word since the beginning were all false Wayes false Churches false Teachers and in the Word ye comprehend them all The Priest saith That Hebrew Greek and Latine were the Original the many Languages and the many Languages began at Babel which Nimrod the Hunter before the Lord began to build after God had destroyed the Old World with water then would he go build a Tower which should reach to Heaven then God came down and confounded them into many Languages so he hunted before the Lord but the Lord followed him and confounded him in all his work as he will do all the Builders that run before him and so all the Priest that have gotten the many Languages which began at Babel they tell simple ignorant people that they have the Original and are the Orthodox men and get in a different habit from them and say the Quakers are a simple people and despise the Learned Orthodox men who have the Original Give ear O people if these Languages which came up at the confounding of Babel are the Priests Original that makes them Orthodox and Divine then Pilate that crucified Christ was as good an Orthodox Divine as they for when he crucified Christ he writ a Paper in Hebrew Greek and Latine and set a top of him he was as ignorant of Scripture and of Orthodox and Divine matters as you and you as he and the Apostle saith That Tongues must cease then that which makes Orthodox men and Divine as you say must cease according to the Apostles Doctrine and so then Tongues neither are the Original nor make Orthodox nor Divine and John that gave forth the Revelations saith That the Whore and the Beast are set upon Tongues and the Everlasting Gospel must be preached again to all Kindreds and Tongues which were before Babel was who was the first beginner of Tongues Now it is clear that the Gospel must be preached to all Nations and Tongues and that Tongues are not the Original neither do they make Divines or Orthodox men but it is clear that it is the Word which was in the beginning which makes Divines yea Tradesmen which are base and contemptible in the eyes of the proud and them that have gotten Babels Tongues who are confounded by the ministers of the Word which was in the beginning before Babel was for all the Earth was of one Language and Speech before Babel And you that call your selves Orthodox men made by Tongues and say that is your Original who are so blind and cannot see that there was an Original before Babel was for did not Enoch the Prophet the seventh from Adam who prophesied in the Old World before it was destroyed and long before Babel was concerning the coming of Christ in Ten thousand of his Saints as in Jude and Lamech prophesied in the Old World concerning Noah and Adam and others might be instanced before your Tongues which you call your Original were and so we say that the Word of God is the Original which doth fulfil the Scriptures and the Word is it which makes Divines which is called a Hammer but it is a living Hammer and a Sword and Fire but a living Sword and a Fire to hammer cut and burn up that which separated and kept man from God by which Word man is reconciled again to God which is called The word of Reconciliation by this word are men and women sanctified and made clean and this is the Word that makes both men and woman Divines and brings them into the Divine Nature which hammers and cuts down that which corrupted their nature and by this Word aâ—e they brought into a Divine Wisdom Understanding Knowledg Spirit and Power And this is the Word that lives and abides and endures for ever by which the Saints are born again of the Immortal Seed and Word of God who feed upon the Milk of the Word up into a Divine Life Wisdom and Understanding and Divine Nature and by this Word they do see all Flesh to be as Grass and as the Flower of the Field that fadeth and the Word of God that lives and abides and endures for ever which is Christ whose Name is called the Word of God And so to Keep the Word of Patience which is over all the impatient Spirits and then you will know the Word of Life the Word of Patience and Word of Wisdom is Everlasting and abides and endures for ever which all they that be in the Letter out of the Life and Word have neither Patience to themselves nor others for the Word of patience and the Word of Life which is to be kept in all Tribulations was before Death and impatient Spirits were Concerning the Heathen Idolaters naming their Dayes and Moneths THE old Pagan Saxons in their Idolatry Were the first that brought in the names of the Days which those called Christians have retained to this day for they adored Idols and unto them offered Sacrifices and Worshipped the Planets See Vestigans Antiq. and Cambdens Brit. As touching the Idols which these Saxons adored they were divers and though they had many yet seven among the rest they especially appropriated unto the seven