Rep. Here I charge thee to be a lyar and a blasphemer in the presence of the lâ—ving God let all people read these Scriptures and see if there be any such thing in them and whether thou hast not misapplied thâ—se scriptures when the spirit saith It câ—ucifieth the deeds of the flesh and walking in the spirit the lusts of the flesh iâ— not fulfilled and here I charge thee to be a lyar and of the Devil who was a lyar from the beginning and in his generation thou art Qu. 17. Whether they do not bewitch the people who withdraw them from the spirit within to observe the ordinances of the world and traditions of men without as the Galatians were bewitched Gal. 3.1 Pr. I must tell you that there is not onely a holy and good spirit within and that in too few but there is also an evil and seducing spirit within and that in too many even the spirit that doth bewitch men and draw them aside from the doctrines and commands of the spirit of truth and to strive by all means to draw the people off from giving heed to seducing spirits it is not to observe the ordinances of the world and traditions of men as you pervert the Text but to obey the command of Gods true spirit who foretelling of false Prophets and false Spirits often in the word commands exhorts and admonishes to beware of such not to give heed to such and not to believe every spirit but to trie them Rep. Here in this answer thy spirit is tried which I have given to all people to read with a single eye that all may see what confusion here is in it First thou sayest that the seducing spirit draws from the seducing spirit and in the seducing spirit thou art and from the spirit of life with the spirit of life thou art judged to be out of the doctrine of Christ nor is not guided by the holy spirit Qu. 18. Whether they be not seducers which tell people these are the ordinances of God which God never commanded as sprinkling Infants telling people of a sacrament which there is no scripture for and draw them from the spirit within to follow your imaginations and inventions Pr. But for sprinkling Infants I have already given you the grounds of it out of Scripture Rep. Here again I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a lyar theâ—e is not such a word in the scripture to bear it out nor a word of a sacrament which there is no scripture for let all read the scripture throughout and see if they can find such a word in the scripture so let all people judge thee to be a lyar and a seducer and in the Devils invention which calls that an ordinance of God which is invention and imagination Pr. We are not blind-folded to follow the dictates of the spirit within Rep. Here I charge thee in the presence of the Lord to be in the flesh and to follow the flesh for who are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God and thou that dost not follow the dictates of the spirit thou dost not follow the commands of God and what hast thou to do to talk of clearing it by the Scripture when there is no Scripture for it and when the Scripture witnesses against the works of the flesh which thy spirit stirs up Que. 19. Whether you have the same spirit which was in Christ the Apostles and Prophets which gave forth the scripture seeing you act contrary to the scriptures and follow your own inventions and traditions and so err from them Pr. Our Ministerial actions are agreeable to the Scripture Rep. Here I charge thee to be a liar for in thy answer to the former Querie thou sayest you do not follow the dictates of the spirit within and art holding up sprinkling infants which there is no scripture for and so walk contrary to the scripture and to them that were led by the spirit which gave them forth Que. 20. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles did first baptize and then preach faith and repentance twenty or thirty years afterwards Pr. Christ himself was not capable of faith and repentance Rep. Here I charge thee to be a liar and a slanderer for he was capable of faith and repentance and the baptism which the Apostles baptised withal what hast thou to do with it who art holding up sprinkling infants which there is no example for in the scriptures nor in all the Apostles practice Therefore silence flesh for thou knowest nothing of the wisdom of God which the Apostle speaks of but art in the state of Simon Magus who art buying and selling the letter worse then he for he would have bought the spirit which the Apostles denied so thou art denied with the same spirit but the Saints baptism we own and the believers and the promises which is to the seed thou hast cleared thy self from who saist Christ was not capable of faith how could he be above it and not capable of it and the life that I live is by faith of the Son of God â—â—ith the Apostle which thou hast cleared thy self from Que. 21. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles received 100. or 200. pounds a year for preaching the Gospel Pr. Many of the Apostles converts sold their estates and brought it and laid it down at the Apostles feet Rep. Here I challenge all the Oxford and Cambridge Teachers in England how many of their Converts have sold their estates and laid it down at your feet but you Teachers and they are so earthly minded you are fit to sue them at the law and imprison them as Lancaster and Kendal Goals may witness where many suffer now because they will not pay tithes and so you shew you preach another Gospel so let Christ and the Apostles judge you all to be without their doctrine and your converts as thou callest them to be without the Apostles and Christ let their example judge you all and so you shew that you never sowed spiritual things but only as a custom and a cloak thou bringest these words for the Apostle did reap carnal things where he sowed spiritual things Que. 22. What scripture is there to limit God to a place calling it a Church when as the Church is in God 1 Thess. 1.1 Pr. You cry down all distinctions as savouring of humane â—earning whereby the naked truth might be clearly and distinctly seen aâ— it is in it self Rep. Here let all people take notice whether humane learning can open the naked truth Here thou wouldest make people believe that humane learning was before the naked truth and again let all people take notice and see if the meeting in a steeple-house in England be a Church when so many hath been moved of the Lord to come into meeting places among them and something hath been revealed to them and they have spoken and he that was the pretended Teacher which was in the chiefest
Son of God and immediate miraculous revelation and sayest there is no need of any such qualifications now therefore doth all your Teachers shew forth your railing and slanders but these things we wave for God will give you you lyars your portion who hath not the same knowledge and understanding that the Apostles had and here thou hast shamed thy mother that is adulterated from the Apostles life Pr. Our gifts are from the spirit of God though studied for with these means that are outward and moral c. Rep. Here I charge thee to be a Lyar in the presence of God the gift of God is a free gift it is not studyed for nor is it gotten by moral means and if it were studied for and found in outward means then it were not a free gift and here thou hast made it manifest that thou knowest not the gift of God for it is not him that wills nor him that runs but God that shews mercy So thou blasphemer for shame blush Pr. No man can be wise without the spirit of wisdom nor knowing without the spirit of knowledge so no man can pray as he ought without the spirit of prayer p. 71. Rep. In thy answer to the first query thou sayest you do not attain the same koowledge and understanding of the Gospel as the Apostles did then if thou have not the same knowledge and understanding it is all deceit for in thy own words thou sayest you cannot not pray without the spirit knowledge and understanding and thou sayest you do not attain the same knowledge and understanding the Apostles had then thou hast not the same spirit of love to pray withall and thou sayest you cannot pray without the spirit yet thou goes and tells people of a Gospel and hath not the same knowledge and understanding the Apostles had therefore thy knowledge is bruitish Jer. 10.14 Psal. 92.6 Psal â—9 8 Pr. That we may according to the Catholick Faith worship one God in Trinity Rep. For these things which thou tells people of there is no Scripture as Catholick Faith and Trinity and of three persons Pr. The second kind of the holy Spirits impressions on humane souls page 78. Rep. There is no Scripture which speaks of humane souls for the soul thou knows not who art a murtherer with thy Deity stuff who would dit up the way from God but praises be to the living God who hath given his sons and daughters eyes to see thee and all your Deity stuff which you imitate who are whoredomed from God but the Saints of the most high God do sing over it and you halelujah to God who witness their souls redeemed And there is abundance of stuff in that Book which thou calls the discourse of the Spirit which is not worth mentioning and abundance of lyes and slanders but them we pass as knowing the author of lyes from whence they come is for destruction And in page 95 thou speaks of Timothy studying for his gift Did he study for his gift or for the proving of it and dividing of the word aright but he did not study for it for the gift of God is a free-gift And in another place thou speaks of the blessing of God being upon your studies but I say the curse of God is upon your studies who have not the same knowledge and understanding that the Apostles had and so preaches another gospel Pr. And most blasphemously to profess and boast of an equality with God p. 66. Rep. Thy boasting is excluded without in thy generation and thou art excluded from the life and mind of the Apostle who said Let the same mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2.5 6. and this thou calls blasphemy and so thou hast shewed what spirit thou art of contrary to the Apostle Pr. And for our new sect of Enthusiasts had they the spirit of God as they pretend abiding in them and speaking in them c. Rep. All pretences and sects are denyed where the Spirit of God dwells though with thy generation such was ever called so And that is thy own who hath made a discourse of the Spirit and here thou art clearly from them that the Spirit of God spoke in and did abide in them which Spirit of God did descend into their hearts which Spirit God hath given to every one to profit withall and the Spirit of the Father speaketh in you saith Christ Mat. 10.20 take no thought and in many places thou art speaking of a study and blessing a study Here thou art contrary to Christ who saith Take no thought and art of the Devil And here I charge thee to be one of them that Jeremy speaks of who speaks a vain divination of thine own heart Pr. As here Angels are Spirits and the souls of men are Spirits but God is not a Spirit as they are Spirits pag 57. Rep. This is confusion for Christ said God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and there thou art raced out to be without the doctrine of Christ. Pr. 'T is the very ground whereupon this last upstart crew of Quakers build all their resolutions and strange fanatick opinions and heresies even that which they call the light within us whereunto we must only give ear pag. 112. Rep. O thou impudent God will make the an example thou lying spirit Is the Light which Christ hath enlighned every one withall that comes into the world a strange fanatick opinion which one he loves it and the other he hates it and he that hates it it is condemnation Here thou art against Christ and the Apostles for the Apostle did exhort the Saints to take heed unto the light within them untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts O thou Lyar did the Prophet cal the truel light a deceit of the heart or is the light of God a false vision Christ Jesus which doth enlighten every one that comes into the world which is witnessed among the Quakers and he that walks in the Light shall have the Light of Life and thou that hates this light speaks a divination of thy own brain and a lying imagination and with this Light of Christ thou shalt be condemned thou blasphemer who calls the Light of Christ heresie and fanatick opinions but here thou dost but fill up the measure of thy Fathers who calls this Light which is Christ in us Heresie p. 113. To all you Readers of his Book I speak to the Light of Christ in you which if you love it it will bring you to weigh and comprehend his words and if you walk in it you shal have the light of life and you that hate it it shal be your Condemnation when the book of Conscience is opened you shal witness that I speak the truth to every one of your souls R. Sherlock thou bids them beware
thing in these Scriptures as that grace is a created thing nor that it is called the new creature but the Apostle saith By grace are we saved through faith and that not of our selves it is the gift of God Now was that grace by which they were saved a created thing if it was prove it by plain Scripture else stop thy mouth for we have searched the Scriptures and we find no such thing but we find that by grace they were saved and that they who are new creatures in Jesus Christ the grace of God was their teacher as it is our teacher to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly godly and righteously in this present evil world which grace is able to keep the hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God of all those who are taught by it but is not a created thing Pr. That the principles of Christian faith is established upon the Scriptures pag. 74. Answ. Faith hath but one foundation and all who are believers their foundation is established upon Christ who is the Author of Faith before any Scripture was written Jacob Enoch Abraham Isaac had no Scriptures written to establish their faith upon and when Moses and the Prophets had known seen and believed and from that wrote of him who was the true light enlightning every one that in him very one might believe so every one whether they have the writings of the Prophets and Apostles or not yet they have that in which they are to believe which if they believe not is condemned and believing in the light they come to be the children of the light and here the first principle comes to be known of faith and so the first principle of the doctrine of Christ must be known before the doctrine be profest and so all who know not the first principle of faith are far from the saith and who knows not the first principle of the doctrine is far from a doctrine and so the principle of a thing must be known before the thing but the Scripture speaks of nothing that the Christian faith is to be established upon but upon Christ who was glorified with the Father before the world was by whom all things which now are were made who hath given us of his spirit and to us it is given to believe and suffer for his names sake as it was given those who were his true witnesses before us and they did believe because it was given them to believe by the spirit so faith is the gift of God and many have the Scriptures which have not faith which is the giâ—t of God and they which are turned from the faith are pierced through with many hurtful lusts have the Scriptures and say they believe what the Scripture speaks but this I say that faith is the ground of the Scriptures and not the Scriptures the ground of faith and none can believe in Christ but they who believe in the â—ight which Christ hath enlightned every one withal that cometh into the World and all who own Christs Doctrine who saiâ—h believe in the light that ye may be the children of light which who believe in shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life and shall not enter into condemnation but who believe in any thing else their faith is vain they are yet in their sins and he that lays another foundation for faith then Christ let him be accurst Thus having laid before the people some of those things with which his book is filled and for this end do I lay them open that those for whom Christ died and unto whom his love is reached forth to bring them to the Father should not be corrupted with the unsound form of doctrine delivered unto them by their Priest And again as followeth I shall lay down some particulars which he hath held forth as affirmed principles in his book which if you receive his testimony you must believe as your principles also but if you come to try them with the measure of the light that Christ hath enlightned them withal then you will deny both him and them therefore mark them as followeth 1 That the Magistrate is an Officer of Jesus Christ as Mediator 2 That Jesus Christ hath a political and spiritual Kingdom 3 That Christ the eternal Son of God is distinct from the Father eternally 4 That the Spirit was distinguished from the Father and Son from eternity 5 That the Father Son and Spirit are three substances 6 That the soul of man is humane and that humane and immortal is both one 7 That Christ may dwell in his people by his special spiritual presence and have no union with them 8 That God dwells in the heavens but hath no union with them 9 That the union between God and believers cannot be comprehended by the Saints here 10 That heaven is not to be enjoyed whâ—le men are here 11 That the Corinthians who were baptized from the dead were ancâ—ent Hereticks 12 That the light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the World is the light of reason and understanding and is natural 13 That natural light is the remainders of Gods image in man 14 That God is a respecter of persons 15 That the grace of God is a created thing and that it is called the new creature 16 That the principles of Christiaâ— faith is established upon the Scriptures I having here answered and laid open those things which is a mist of darkness over the peoples minds and understandings whereas they are either received or believed to the end that all who read it may come to that understanding which is a well-spring of life and to the knowledge of that truth by which iniquity is purged out and to the counsel of God in the heart which is like deep waters whereby judgment in righteousness comes to be set up by which the simple and tender-hearted comes to be preserved out of the snares of subtilty and craftiness to walk in the light of the Lord which is the path of the iust and the way of life and all they are blessed with spiritual blessings that walk in it for they shall be able to tread upon Scorpions and the deadly poyson that is under the tongues and in the hearts of the generation of Vipers and Serpents shall not hurt them and this power shall all those be indued with which believe in the light of the Lord answering that of God in all their consciences which leads into a chast conversation before the Lord ordering their conversations aright in his sight and all such who be turned to the light with which they are enlightned by Christ shall discern who serves God and who serves him not in this day when many profess him but few serve him in spirit and in truth as he will be worshipped by them whom he hath chosen Necessary Questions propounded to the Priests to be answered 1 WHat is that in every man which
believe and they that believe not that he is so shall die in their sins as Christ saith John 8.24 But J.S. going on in his own devised Fables would pervert the words of truth both in our writings and in the Apostles as it is manifest in his writings of this reviling Rebuke concerning R.F. and J.N. E.B. and F.H. and others which whosoever read their words and his they may discern truth from devised fables without much Reply upon it as in places he is mingling his own words with theirs joyning a lye to the truth that he may contradict it as false as every one that reades with understanding will see which when they have spoken plain truths which he himself hath often in his Book confessed unto to be truth will afterwards give his meaning to 〈◊〉 words as he hath done unto the Apostles words saying If they meane thus c. Then he goes about to contradict his own meaning and when he hath contradicted his owne meaning then he saith he hath contradicted their words though he have before confessed the truth of their words so he hath not contradicted the words as they were spoken but because they spoke not his meaning with the words therefore the true words must be false in his judgment and bear his rebuke as his Book doth make manifest and adding his lye to the words of truth these two things are his greatest proofs to resist the truth In page 77. he hath mingled his own words with the words of R.F. in wâ—ich page he acknowledgeth a former addition and yet reneweth another R.F. having been speaking of the light which hath enlightened every man which cometh into the World he adds which where it is and it is in every man it reneweth the judgment c he here adding his own and then rebuking it would make people believe lyes that all might be damned who believ not the truth But on the contrary for we never have said that every mans judgment is renewed with the ligbt though they be enlightened for they are enlightened who haâ—e it and who are void of true judgement because they hate the light which they be enlightened withal And also the Apostles words he perverts and gives meaning unto which if he did not they would be a plain testimony with that which he hath set himself to oppose so giving meanings both to their wordâ— and our words his meanings must be the ground of his Believers Faith and not the Scriptures as he said before The Apostle Peter speaking of a more sure Word of Prophesie wherein they did well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place till the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts 2 Pet 1.19 knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved of the holy Ghost To this J.S. adds not heart-prophesie no breast-prophesie but written down in Books c. which is contrary to the Apostls words for he doth not exclude heart-prophesie for there was never any prophesie but did proceed out of the heart before it was written in any Book And the Apostle saith Untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts and that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost and that vvhich moved them to speak Prophesies was in their hearts and the Apostle did not bid them wait till the day star did arise in the Scriptuâ—es but till it did rise in their hearts and then he told them how the Prophesies of the Scriptures came Peter saying Untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts J.S. saith That is untill by the study of the Scriptures more light he cleered up c. Now let all them of understanding read and compare his words the Apostles and they may well conclude with his confession that he hath an old lying heart and flesh in which dwells no truth but the root of errour and gainsaying of the truth and as for many others of his devised fables and false meanings though I let them passe here unanswered yet they may be seen with the mind informed in the truth and all who are of God and of the truth may know that it is a small matter for us to be rebuked or judged to be in confusion who so evidently hath confounded both our words and the Apostles into his owne false meanings and so contradicts them both but that remaineth sure which gaves forth the Scriptures and abideth in us and we know that they cannot be broken but must be fulfilled as they were given forth by the Word which they were given forth from by taking heed unto which the young mans way is cleansed by which the old lying heart is reproved that which was given forth from that Spirit cannot be by it denyed but that which would darken words without knowledg is denyed that which would set up devised fables above Christ the Spirit and Scriptures that by the Spirit is denyed without contradiction and as we shall by the Spirit and by the Scriptures trye John Stelhams Doctrinâ— which if he deny them both then by his owne Argument we shall prove him and see whether he will own himself to be judged by that with which he would judge others whether they be Messengers sent by Gods Spirit His Assertion laid down Page 60. to try withall is this Such Messengers as speak more than is in the Scripture are not sent by GOD'S Spirit nor guided by him to what they say By this then is all that of him before mentioned cast out being both more and contrary to what is in the Scripture as also that which is to be declared as followeth in his second head as he calls it of Scripture Contradiction he is speaking concerning a Trinity and three Persons which words are not spoken in the Scriptures he meaning the Father Son and Spirit by such nameâ— as the Scripture never did so about words names which the Scripture doth not mention arsing out of the Divination of his heart doth he multiply words to hide the truth and shuâ— the Kingdom from men and so hath no ground for the word three persons from the Scripture but the Scripture in one translation speaking of Christ being the express Image of the Fathers Peâ—son and in another â—ranslation saith that he is the expresse Figure of the Fathers substance as he is witnessed to be by those that know him and so till he find the word three persons and Trinity in the Scriptures let him owne his own rule to judg him to be no Messenger sent by Godâ— Spirit because he speakes more than is in the Scripture who saith the holy Ghost is a Person and this person dwells in Saints though not personally mark this A Person dwell in the Saints not personally all this confusion is as
thee withall to guide thy mind into the fear of God to the Light of Christ in thy conscience I speak which if thou hearken unto it it will lead thee out of pride and lust and envy and will bring condemnation upon that nature thou hast lived and acted in that is out of the fear of God and hearkening to this Light in thy conscience it will direct thy mind to God and draw thy mind and affections out of earthly things and the pollutions of the world by which thou art defiled thy mind and conscience is defiled by lust and unâ—leanness lusting after earthly things and the flesh is defiled by that mind â—hat wallows in the Earth Now minding the Light in thy conscience Christ hath enlightned thee withall thy understanding will come to be enâ—ightned to see the deceipts and the blind Guides which have led thee â—rom this Light in thy Conscience which should exercise it and lead thee â—o go to fear him and to be taught of him and will lead thee from the â—eachings of man which keeps thee in thy sins and draws thee from this Light in thy Conscience which convinceth thee of sin and lets thee see sin â—nd evil and all ungodliness and will bring thee to deny it and lead thee 〈◊〉 repentance and so thou wilt come to know Jesus Christ which gives â—epentance and remission of sins and then thou wilt deny Priest Sherlock â—nd all that generation of Priests who saith in thâ— 32. page of his Book â—hat Christ was a person not capable of Faith and Repentance And here I â—o charge him in the presence of the living God to be a lyar for he is â—he author and finisher of faith and he preached repentance and gives repentance to his people And he denies the knowledge and understanding the Apostles had and yet saith he preaches the same Gospel pag. 10. And saith That external Tongues Arts and Sciences gives them to understand the meaning of the Gospel p. 11. And saith That the spirit causeth fleshly fruits p. 22. and saith That to understand the Doctrine of God they must use the light of distinctions p. 54. and saith That Religion is the Art of Arts p 86. And saith That Prayer in all the parts and species thereof is a means to fetch down the holy spirit of God p. 144. When as the Saints said the Spirit taught them to pray and that they prayed with the spirit and with understanding Now to the Light in your consciences I speak which will let you see these lying Priests and blind guides which have deceived you so long and kept you blind and ignorant So all people cease from them and wait upon the Lord for teaching A lover of the Truth and a witness against the deceit and deceivers and a lover of the souls of all people and that righteousness might be established was I moved tâ— write this Richard Hubberthorn Quest. 1. WHether your Gospel be the same which the Apostles preached And if it be why go you to Oxford and Cambridge when the Apostle saith the Gospel that he preached was not after man neither was he taught it by man Pr. Thy answer is You preach the same Gospel the Apostles preached but do not attain the knowledge and understanding of this Gospel by the same means Rep. Here let all people see what wooden stuff this is How can you preach the same Gospel and have not the same knoâ—ledge and understanding If it be not by the sâ—â—e knowledge and understanding it is not the same Gospel for the spirit oâ— understanding is but one and from this Spirit of underâ—tanding thou hast cleared thy self Pr. And thou sayest You ought not to depend upon any such immâ—diate Revelations from Heaven as the Apostles had Rep. Here again thou hast cleared thy self from the Spirit thâ—â— gave forth the Scriptures who deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven And here thou hast denied thy self to be anâ— Minister of Jesus Christ for no man knows the Son but the Father and he to whom he is revealed And thou that deniest immediate revelation thou hast denied the Son of God and hast shewed that thou hast not life for he that hath not the Son of God hath not life And therefore we deny such Schools as Oxford and Cambridge where the rudiments of the world are invented And abundance of filthy words are in the Answer to this Query that are not worth mentioning Qu. 2. Whether you can give another meaning to the Scriptures than they are Or whether the Apostles did give the meaning to them when they spoke them forth yea or nay And if they did what need learned men give the meaning of them Pr. And in thy answer thou sayest The sence and meaning of the Scripture is involved in it Rep. Here thou wouldest make people believe Christ were in the Letter who is the substance that gave it forth and was in them that spoke it forth for the Scripture doth declare another thing of God and Christ it doth not declare God and Christ is in the Letter but here it is that fools might appear blind and such as thou sayest learned men must give the meaning to the Scripture Pr. And thou sayest That Christ took a Text and that Philip took a Text. Rep. O thou enemy and slanderer of Christ and the Apostle Did they take Texts to get money with them and to lie a quarter of a year or half a year in a Text Christ came to fulfil the Scripture and the Apostle shewed how Christ fulfilled the Scripture and came to fulfil that which the Prophet spoke The Scribes and Pharisees were learned men and they could not open the Scriptures Peter an unlearned man he opened the Scriptures Pr. And thou speakest of standing up in a Pulpit of wood Rep. In the time of the Law when they read it there was a Pulpit of wood to a particular people to whom the Law was given but Christ said Go preach the Gospel to every creature And Christ cryed wo against them that had the chiefest place in the Assemblies And here thou art one of them that would be under the Law and would have a Pulpit of wood and pleadest for thy learning that the Scribes and Pharisees were in which is to no purpose who saith the kernel of the Nut is in the shell and that comparison thou bringest to make people believe that the Life is in the Sâ—riptures and so the poor people are groping in the Letter to find life there when the life was in them that gave it forth Pr. Thou speakest of flying to God by prayer Rep. Yet thou deniest the Revelation from Heaven which the Saints were to wait for the Revelation of Jesus from Heaven and this makes all you blind guides to stumble because you have not the life which gave forth the Scripture which now is made manifest to the children of God Qu. 3. Shew me by the Scriptures who ever was made a Minister of
Jesus Christ that was called of men Master In thy answer to this Query thou bringest the Prophets and Priests under the Law called Fathers to oppose Christ's doctrine Thou wouldst compare Oxford and Cambridge to such as the Prophets and Apostles yet thou deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven And here thou hast cleared thy self and Oxford Cambridge from the life of the Prophets for they had immediate revelation And so thou bringest many names as Pastors and Shepherds and Ministers and Apostles and Evangelists to oppose Christ's Doctrine who saith Be not you called of men Master So let all see if they be not under the delusion who say Master is a civil honor and so opposeth Christ's Doctrine Here thou hast shewed thou dost not believe For how can you believe that receive honor one of another and shewest that thou lovest it as the Scribes and Pharisees did and would not part with it and art in thy pride and vain-glory as the Scribes and Pharisees were who say that is a civil honor and respect which Christ cryed wo against And herv thou hast brought thy self and all thy company under the wo and Oxford and Cambridge in the state which Christ pronounced wo against and thou art judged with the same life that gave forth the Scriptures Qu. 4. Shew me by the Scriptures where ever the Ministers of Christ took Tythes of the people or Augmentations In thy answer thou saist The Priests under the Law received Tyâ—hes Rep. There was a time that they received Tythes they might not neglect them as denying their Tythes to the first Priesthood There was a time after Christ when he was sacrificed up that he was preached the unchangeable Priesthood Heb. 7. then the Priesthood which received tythes was denyed therefore the wo is come upon thee and all thy generation who receive tythes according to the changeable Priesthood Here thou hast shewed thy self without judgement and rhe love of God and the wo is come upon thee and all thy generation who receive tythes and hold up the changeable Priesthood and so deny Christ come in the flesh They that preached the Gospel who lived on the Gospel denied the changeable Priesthood who received Tythes but for shame you Ministers of Oxford and Cambridge stop your mouths for they must be stopt do not you sue men at the Law and imprison men for Tythes And here you shew you do not preach the Gospel for it will not maintain you for them that preached the Gospel lived on the Gospel There thou thief art taken who hath gotten the Apostles words who art for judgement Qu. 5. Shew me by the Scriptures and what Scripture have you which speaks of the word Sacrament which you tell the people of and deceive the simple Pr. And in thy Answer to this Query thou art confused First thou sayest there is no Scripture for the word Sacrament and yet thou sayest Christ commands it and yet thou sayest there is not such a word in Scripture Rep. Here thou which addest to it hast brought thy self under the plagues and wo. And here let all who are in the Light see if thou art not a deceiver who deceives thy soul. I charge thee again that thou knowest not Christ for thou deniest immediate revelation so thou knowest not his commands nor dost not obey them for none know the Son but to whom he is revealed And here I charge thee to be a deceiver and a deluder of the soul from the Lord. This is in reply to the answer of the fifth Query Qu. 6. Shew me what Scripture you have which speaks that the Apostles sprinkled Infants Thou bringest the Scriptures as Christ saith Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God And this thou bringest to justifie sprinkling Infants for circumcision outwardly was a type of circumcision inwardly So thou hast not a word in the Scripture to maintain it but thou ramblest up and down and perverts many Scriptures in which there is not such a word for it And here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a lyar for Christ never commanded sprinkling Infants neither is it any Ordinance of Christ neither is there any example among the holy men of God that ever it was practised the plagues of God are added to thee Let all people see if there be any word for sprinkling Infants let the scriptures which thou bringest judg thee Luke 18.15 Jer. 15.6 Luk. 1.66.80 Act. 10.47 Here I charge thee with all these scriptures to be a lyar and they shall judge theâ— which thou hast brought for sprinkling of Infants let the Reader of thy Book examine the scriptures and find thee a Lyar and all thy dirty stuff which thou hast gathered from them is to be trodden under foot with the children of the Light who witness baptism and circumcision and new birth born again and all who are here do see thee to be blind deaf and a fool and there thou mayest read thy self Let all people see thee here who art without the life of the scripture who deniest immediate revelation from Heaven which the Apostles witnessed and the Prophets for without God thou art eternally I witness it Qu. 7. Shew me what Scripture you have to stand praying in the Synagogues before Sermon and after and whether the Apostles did so In thy answer to this query thou bringest the Apostles words which said pray alwayes to justifie standing praying in the Synagogues and having the chiefest place in the Assemblies which Christ cryed wo against And here I charge thee to be a false Prophet who puts no difference betwixt the Apostle and the Pharisees though he said the Temple which Solomon built him it was a house of prayer Christ said there should not be one stone of it left upon another when Christ Jesus was witnessed Stephen for witnessing him was stoned to death And here thou hast shewed thou hast no judgement and errs not knowing the Scripture And as for Christ's whipping them out of the Temple read thy self to the Light in thy Conscience I speak and so all thy praying before thy Sermon and after as thou callest it in the Synagogues in the chiefest place of the Assemblies the wo which Christ pronounced against thy Fathers hath light upon the son thou who art found in the same place let Matth. 23. judge thee the life which gave forth these words the life of these words is upon thee and so all thy prayers are abomination to the Lord God in the state thou art in and the praying of the Saints who were moved by the spirit thou hast cleared thy self from for thou deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven and how canst thou pray and not with the spirit And here let all people judge and see what thy prayers are if thou be not in the state of the Pharisees who deny immediate revelation and to be one that is blind
and the praying with the Spirit is witnessed among the Saints Qu. 8. Shew me by the Scripture when the Apostles went into the World and gave the people of the World David's Psalms to be sung in meeter the things that you practise answer them by the Scriptures or the Apostles practise without consequence or imagination And in thy answer to this Query thou perverts the Scripture as in the Acts as Paul and Silas sung Psalms in the prison with them of the World they did not go into the World to give them a psalm to sing men that were not come to repentance for saith David The dead cannot praise God there I charge thee to be a lyar that puttest no difference betwixt the Saints singing with grace and understanding and the World which have gotten the form where thou art The Apostle did not speak to such as were in thy condition to be filled with the spâ—rit who were not come to repentance but he spoke to them who were turned from the World and such sung praises to God But for such as thee to go and give to the World Davids psalms in a meeter and say O Lord I am not puft iâ— mind I have no scornful eye O you prophane ones and scornful ones how can you sing this but lye who have scornful eyes to sing all your bones quake and you tremble and you water your bed with your tears and you lie roaring all the night and day when as you scorn Quakers and hate them and speak all manner of evil of them how can you speak this but lye But Davids condition and the Saints is witnessed among them whom the World scornfully call Quakers which power makes all to tremble though you scorn it a while and have gotten the outside the Letter David's condition in a form of words scorning his life and the power of God where it is made manifest Take warning all you scoffers and scorners what came to be the end of all your Fathers that passed before you but destruction You lofty ones fear tremble before the mighty God for all your songs must be turned into howling but singing with the spirit we own the grace which hath appeared to all men teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts And here I charge thee again to be blind that puts no difference betwixt the worlds singing and the Saints Qu. 9. Whether a man shall overcome the body of sin while hâ— is upon the Earth yea or no Pr. And in thy answer to this ninth Query thou sayest It is not possible to subdue the body of sin altogether while we are in this world and thy comparison is A tree while there is life in it will bring forth fruit Rep. Here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be the corrupt tree for by thy fruit thou art known for a good Tree cannot bring forth evil fruit and here thou art proved to be thaâ— corrupt tree who confesseth you do not attain to the same knowledge and understanding the Apostles did as thou speakest in thy Book whose harvest is ripe and now is reaping down Pr. And whereas thou sayest they shall not overcome the body of sin while in this world Rep. And here I charge thee again for say the Saints As he is so are we in this present world and thou sayest not there is the lying spirit and the Apostles said they had put off the body of sin and thou sayest it is not possible and there thy spirit is found contrary to the Scripture and the Apostle saith in Rom. 6. they were made free from sin and thou sayest not it cannot be possible and here thy spirit is tryed Let all the children of the light judge thee and that thou speakest to be contrary to the Apostles words in the Romans and all you that cannot witness these things that the body of sin is not put off wait upon God through Christ for it Qu. 10. Whether the curse be not upon him that preacheth another Gospel then Christ and the Apostles preached yea or no Pr. And in thy answer to this Query thou speakest of receiving the Gospel from Christ and the Apostles Rep. In this I charge thee to be a lyar as I said to thee before who deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven how canst thou be a Preacher of the gospel and deny revelatioâ— What a grosâ— darkness are people in that believe thee For under the curse and wo thou art that the Scripture speaks of and he that hath received the end of his prophesie is made from the curse but this is without thy understanding and knowledge Thou confessest in thy answer to the first query you preach the same gospel but do not attain the same knowledge and understanding Let all people see who are in the Light if it be not the same knowledge and understanding it is not the same Gospel but another and there the curse is upon thee Qu. 11. Whether any natural man can preach the Gospel yea or no Pr. In thy answer to this eleventh query thou speakest of understanding and of studying and of the Gospel and of a natural man and sayest he cannot preach the Gospel and thou saist Your understanding knowledg is not the same as the Apostles was Rep. Here let all who are in the Light see if it be not natural then and if thou be not him that studies a divination of thy own brain and instead of the blessing the curse of God comes upon it for how many are there that were Priests as you are that now cry against you which are come out of your generation and see the curse of God upon all your practises Pr. And thou sayest The flesh which is quickened with the Spirit of Life brings forth some kind of fleshly fruit or other Rep. Here thou hast shewed thy self to be death indeed doth the spirit cause fruits of the flesh Or are the fruits of the spirit the fruits of the flesh O thou lyar and high blasphemer which thou sayest is clear from manifold texts of Scripture all the Scriptures will witness thee to be a lyar and these Scriptutes thou bringest to maintain the spirit of life to bring forth some kind of fleshly fruits and the fruits of the spirit to be the fruits of the flesh Here all who are in the spirit will judge thee to be a blasphemer of the holy Spirit of God for the Spirit brings forth no fruits of the flesh Pr. And thou sayest in thy answer to the first query you do not go to Oxford and Cambridge to learn the Gospel you preach but to learn the knowledge of Tongues and Languages Arts and Sciences Rep. O for shame stop thy mouth here thou hast shamed thy self and all your schools with an external means to open the Gospel People are blind indeed that do follow thee but thy bottle is open and what is within pours out and the Fountain runs and thy
external stuff pours out which hath poisoned many people which thou sayest thou shouldest open the Gospel withall all that have the least convincement may see thee to be a seducer for what is external is natural and what is natural knows not the things of God but the Lord be praised thou hast declared thy self abroad Qu. 12. Whether any Ministers of God were made Ministers by the wil of man yea or no Shew it me by the Scripture Pr. And in thy answer to this Query thou sayest There is 〈◊〉 Minister of God made by the will of man onely but by man in subordination Rep. Here thou crossest the Scripture Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man And here the lying spirit hath shewed it self indeed Pr. And thou sayest There is no such hope of any such calling as was in the time of the Apostles Rep. And here thou hast cast thy self and thy fellowâ— and all thy study to be without the Doctrine and Life of the Apostles for thou concludest there is no such calling yet thou talkest of laying on hands there thou and you are making likenesses which is forbidden and to be confounded and so we conclude and all the children of Light shall judge that your Hope and your Calling and your Ministry made by the will of man and not only by God to be without God and conarary to the Apostles Qu. 13. Shew me by the Scripture whether a man shall grow up to that condition that he need no man to teach him but the Lord or no Pr. We must not look for any immediate extraordinary miraculous teaching by revelation from the Lord and yet all men are taught of God too Rep. What confused stuff is this and blasphemy that comes out of thy bottle Thou wouldest make God not an immediate doth not God teach immediate Here thou shewest that thou dost not know the living God for the teaching of God is immediate in the least degree Pr. None aims to such a perfection of knowledge in his gifts as not to need teaching Rep. Here I charge thee to be a Lyar who speaks contrary to the Scripture and here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a slanderer who speaks of being taught of the Lord Jesus Christ outwardly by the spirit what confused stuff is this and here again I charge thee to be a lyar for the words of our Lord Jesus Christ are spirit and life but such as thou who lookest upon the outward thing cannot receive his words though you have the letter of the Gospel as they had the letter of the Law Quest. 14. Whether they be not Antichrists and disobey Christ that have the chief places in the assembliâ—â— stand praying in the synagogues which Christ did forbid his disciples to act such things and cried wo against those that did act them In thy answer to this querie thou ramblest up and down with many words to justifie that which Christ cried wo against to justifie the chiefest place in the Assemblies and to be called of men Master and for standing praying in the Synagogues which Christ pronounced wo against and so let all the people see if thou and you be not such as are called of men Masters and stand praying in the Synagogues which the wo was and is upon Mat. 23. and there is neither shelter nor hole for thee to hide thy self for them that walk in the truth will find thee out and praised be the Lord God of heaven and earth who hath given us a spirit of discerning and we are able to judge you who live in deceit for the Apostle prophesied with the spirit of the Lord that such should come and we see with the same spirit you are come and with the same spirit you are judged Quest. 15. Whether they be not Antichrists and of the Devil and no Ministers of Christ which do not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Pr. They that swerve from the Doctrine of Christ are of the spirit of Antichrist Rep. There thou art this is thy own condition who deniest immediate revelation and thou that deniest immediate revelation deniest Christ for Paul said the Son was revealed in him and so all that thou speakest is with the lying spirit in the wicked generation and whereas thou slanderest and sayest we rail that is false And again thou speakest of love because the letter declares it but the love of God who dwells in it to such thou art an enemy and as touching using plainness of speech to people because we do not flatter or use enticing words of mens wisdom which thou dost so thou hast cleared thy self from the children of God and to be in the generation of them that swerve from the doctrine of Christ who seekest to justifie that which he cried wo against aâ— Mat. 23. And whereas thou accusest us for railing upon people thou art a liar for love useth plainness of speech and love and charity is out of deceit if we should flatter we should hold it up and should be pleading for thy generation who talks of God and confesses that you have not the same knowledge and understanding that the Apostles had Therefore how can you know God then And whereas thou speakest of trying the spirits the fruits of it is love here with the spirit of love is thy generation tried for when the servants of the Lord have been moved to come into your Synagogues some have been stockt and wounded and imprisoned and hailed out of your synagogues And is this the fruits of your spirit Qu. 16. Whether they be not seducers that draw people from the anointing which is in them and tell them they must be taught of a man whereas the anointing teaches them they need no man teach them but as the anointing teacheth them and the promise is to him that doth abide in it eternally Pr. Many false Prophets are gone forth Rep. Here thou hast proved thy self to be a false Prophet who denies immediate revelation for whom the Lord sent forth he spoke to them immediately which thou deniest and there thou art one of the false Prophets which thou speakest of and knows nothing of the anointing who deceives the simple and ignorant the world may wonder after such but who are in the light and receive any thing immediate will see thee in the dark to be a deceiver for none in thy generation can witness that you need no man teach you but the anointing for who doth are come out from your teaching and you both And as touching Sects them we deny as thou speakest in thy answer to the fifteenth Querie therefore do we see thee with that which is no Sect to be colouring and deluding people telling them thy error is truth who quotes and misappliest the Scripture to maintain thy falshood Pr. The flesh is quickned with the spirit of life to bring forth some kind of fleshly fruits 1 King 8.46 Joh. 14.4 Prov. 20.9 1 Joh. 1.8 10 Eccles. 7.22
place in the assemblie hath cried out they disturb me and then they have hailed them out to the stocks or prison and knockt them or bruised them and may be some have lain a quarter of a year in prison or more Now let all people take notice which have a love to God whether this be the Church which is the pillar and ground of truth or the cage of unclean birds which the Scripture speaks of when as the Scripture saith If any thing be revealed to him that stands by let the first hold his peace and the Church of God we own but all such Churches as are fighters and which do imprison them who are moved of the Lord to come to speak to them such Churches we deny And whereas thou slanderest us that we cry against the Ministers all such Ministers are to be cried against for they are contrary to the scripture Qu. 23. What scripture is there to have a Clerk say Amen and to have groats apiece of the World for his trade Pr. And for the groat he receives yearly of some persons in the world I conceive it is not so much for saying Amen but he hath other offices Rep. Here thou goest about to justifie the Clerk and his groat and the custom of saying Amen which the Apostles practised no such thing neither had they any Clerk to say Amen which had a groat for his labour and let all the practice of the Apostles judge thee who saist that the Clerk hath other offices then saying Amen that is may be to ring the bell to gather carnal people together to hear such a blind guide as thou art and for laying you a cushion that you may lie soft or opening the book or giving forth the Psalms which all this there is no example for that the Apostles had any such thing but it is that you false Prophets might utter forth your folly for to the children of light you are discovered and seen to be without the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles and all the scripture shall judge you and in thy answer thou dost conceive there thou hast brought thy self under that state which must be scattered for the Lord will scatter the proud in their vain imaginations and conceivings and let the Prophets words judge thee Qu. 24. What Scripture is there for taking money for burying the dead or to have ten or twelve shillings for preaching a Funeral Sermon or to take money for marrying man or woman Pr. For our pains in labouring in the word and doctrine the Apostle gives that general rule the labourer is worthy of his hire And what their wages is is not of our choosing but partly the liberality of founders and benefactors partly custom among all people in all Christian Countries hath setled it Rep. Here thou usest the Apostles words which as I have shewed thee before thou art cleared from his life O thou blind guide whose mind is in the earth who art in the customes and art one of them that doth hold them up which all the Ministers of Christ are ashamed on thee and all thy generation who art without the life that gave forth the Scriptures who art one of them that goes in the way of Balaam who durst not take the gift though he loved it and as for the Apostles condition I charge thee and command thee to be silent and let it alone who denies immediate revelation from heaven therefore all that thou speakest is from the earth and below and the word thou knowest not which was in the beginning Joh. 1.1 when the letter was not and therefore in it thou canst not learn and the Christians that are baptised into Christ are redeemed out of Countries where yet thou art with thy customes and ways of the Nation as thou dost confess which Christ comes to redeem from and thou who receivest Balaams wages art spuing forth thy venome against the righteous seed where it is rising Qu. 25. When did any that was sent of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel sue men at the Law Pr. Many differences may arise which cannot well be decided without suit at Law Rep. In thy answer to this Querie thou dost allow of going to Law which the Apostle did not as in the Corinthians and he was a Minister of Christ and here thou shewest thou art none for thou allowest that he did not and who are come to the doctrine of Christ which is yea and nay there is no difference they need no going to Law there is no contention and many differences are in thy generation which is without Christ and his doctrine which many of you professed Ministers sue men at the Law which the Apostle forbad and here openly I charge you all in the presence of the living God to be no Minister of Christ but are raced from the doctrine of Christ and the Apostles and thou writest a Scripture in Act. 19.38 as concerning the rude multitude that was stirred up when truth was spoken these were they which were not brought into the truth and there thou art among such a company let all the people see how Act. 19. will justifie thee for going to Law who professeth thy self to be a Minister of Jesus Christ which the Ministers of Christ denied and here I charge thee again to be a perverter of the scripture and void of the knowledge of Christ and the life of the Apostles and out of their doctrine and do not call this railing which is plainness of speech and love to thy soul. Pr. And you rail very highly in scripture terms too whereby you take the garments of Gods holy Spirit and put them upon the Devils shoulders Rep. Here thou dost accuse us for railing speeches and as we told thee before that we deny and here thou callest thy self a Devil for of him thou art with thy pretences therefore wo is thy portion and whereas thou sayest we revile and accuse the brethren this is another of thy slanders we bid thee answer the queries and thou callest them scrupulous to thee they are so and again thou sayest we misapply the scripture that is false and the Lord Jesus Christ thou knowest not who deniest immediate revelation and what hast thou to do to talk of him and as throwing the woes which the Scripture speaks of which is against the deceiâ—s which thou livest in they are thy portion thou canst not escape them If we should not give thee thy due and portion we should flatter thee and it would not be love and why dost thou talk of understanding and bid us weigh and consider we have considered thy way and do know it and God hath given us an understanding in all things Pr. Hebrew and Greek we do truly call the Original Rep Here I charge thee that thou hast no more original then Pilate thy father had Pilate had Hebrew and Greek which crucified Christ which was the Original and here I charge thee in the presence of the living
God to be a lyar for the word was in the beginning before any tongue was and your Hebrew and Greek is natural and the natural man knows not the things of God and the world by wisdom knows not God Pilate was a worldly man and he had this original and the wisdome of the world and there thou art and there the curse is upon thee so here thou preachest another original then the Apostles did they preached Christ the fountain and thou preachest Hebrew and Greek that is thy original and thy father Pilate had that original which crucified Christ and set it over him and the scripture came not by the will of man Therefore it is not the knowing of it by Hebrew and Greek but by the spirit that gave it forth therefore all people take warning and cease from such deceivers and take heed to the light in your conscience which is the light of Christ to guide your minds up to God the Father of light and be not deceived nor wander not up and down after such who know not the truth but put Hebrew and Greek for the original which Pilate had which crucified Christ Jesus as you may read in Luke 23. All people may see thou art brought no further yet then thy father Pilate so all thy prayers we deny for there is nothing of truth born up in thy understanding who art led with a seducing spirit into delusions who saist the spiriâ— of life stirs up the flesh to bring forth fruits and thou that art in the flesh canst not please God And there thy spirit is tryed to be the spirit of error And a great deal of such stuff thou hast in thy answers to the queries which is not worth mentioning And this thou hast written to publish thy self that them that have a love to Christ their hearts may be turned from thee to God to see how thou hast uttered forth thy solly though with many fair glosses thou and such as thou art deceive the simple But all who are in the light do see thee and comprehend thee Something in Reply to the Epistle thou wrotest to the Lady BINDLOSSE TO her thou speakest of the doctrine and spirit and the holy Ghost Here I charge thee to be a lyar who knows nothing of them who deniest immediate revelation for thou who deniest that deniest the Father and the Son as in Matth. 11.27 Wherein goest thou about to exhort others who art in the condition thy self but art as Martha that would be serving If she do but take heed to the light which Christ hath enlightened her withall she will quickly see thy folly for the light which Christ hath enlightened her withall shall be her condemnation if she hate it and if she love it it will guide her into the way of righteousness up to Christ And there O woman is thy teacher and his condemnation And the Work which is brought forth in the North doth tâ—rment thee R. Sherlock and such as the Lord doth move to exhort or to speak such thou slanderest and dost accuse as tempting for thy slanders and reproaches the wo wil turn upon thee from God who is the Justifier of his children and with such Priests as thou art the righteous seed was ever hated as you may read throught the Scriptures If she that thou callest a Lady be grounded upon thy doctrine be a member with thee of thy body let her read thy answers to the queries the replies to them to the light in her I speak which is of Christ which will witness me and let her see thee and if her mind be guided by it it will condemn all her former practises of worship and let her see thy delusions And again thou art flattering the Lady and tells her of a discourse of the Spirit and these are thy unsavoury words who art discoursing of the Spirit but deniest it for thou that deniest immediate Revelation denies the Spirit In the Corinthians the Apostle said things were revealed to him by the spirit and all thy doctrines to be denied and all that thou speakest and thou art seen to be one of the evil beasts and slow-bellies whose mouth must be stopt And what dost thou tell her of growing up in the knowledge of God and stop the way for her to pass who deniest immediate revelation which the Apostle exhorted to And the Saints were to have the loins of their minds girded up as in 1 Pet. 1.13 And what hast thou to do to talk of Heaven or happiness who art a Beast in thy colours And so this is the intent that I have written this Reply to the Epistle which thou wrote to her thou callest Lady that she might with the Light of Christ in her see thy folly for to that I speak which is the Light of Christ which if she hate it it will be her eternal condemnation Something in Reply to thy Introduction Pr. NO age hath brought forth more pretenders to the Spirit of God than this wherein we live Rep. Let all people take notice if thou be not he that pretends the Spirit who hath not the same understanding and knowledge that the Apostles had and there thou art in the pretence who art blind and thy worship as thou callest it is thou dost not know what worse than it was at Samaria who art in the pride of heart And as thou sayest the Devil hath sown his crop and reapt his harvest and there thou art one of his servants sowing his seed and amongst the delusions as thou calst them for that is in thy generation which comes out of thy own bottle which now flows out what is within issues forth this is thy own condition who seducest the people The fire is kindling and the tares are burning which makes you wicked ones to cry out And so all Impostors and Blasphemers are in thy generation and you are ignorantly worshipping and your gross Idolatry which thou speakest of is your own and thou art a Murderer and understandest not what thou speakest of them and God thou knowest not who deniest immediate revelation from Heaven but onely what thou knowest thou knowest naturally as a bruit Beast which Jude speaks of And a great deal of stuff thou hast in this Introduction which is not worth mentioning If the Reader doth but read with a single eye he may see all thy confused stuff which is not worth naming And a great deal of stuff thou hast written in discourse of the Spirit and the Holy Ghost which thou knowest not what thou speakest of and of the Trinity which there is no Scripture for A Reply to an Epistle that thou wrotest to him whom thou callest Sir Robert Bindlosse THe Queries being sent to his house from Rich. Hubberthorn being his desire that they should be made publike and we do praise the Lord that deceit is brought to light And thou saist Perhaps some satisfaction might be given to those seduced wavering souls amongst you Truly I do
believe they will and see your folly that under his Name whom thou callest Sir Robert Bindlosse under his name and patronage they may appear as a cover to veil their imperfections Therefore R. B. to thee I say Be wise and fear the Lord and run not on in the broad way with such a one who doth confess in his answer to the first query that he doth not attain the same knowledge and understanding of the Gospel as the Apostles attained Therefore thou R. Sherlock thy knowledge is brutish and thy understanding sottish as the Scripture saith for none knows the Apostles condition and knowledge but with the same understanding and in this thou deniest it and thou art in another knowledge and understanding and art in another doctrine and the true Gospel thou dost not know and thou art to be held accursed as the Scripture saith Gal. 1. And so here thou hast given satisfaction to many that stood in doubt though to all the children of light thou wast known and all things shall work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8. therefore R.B. take heed what thou sets forth under thy Name and Fathers for if thou see a thief and consent with him thou art guilty And R. Sherlock the Queries that were sent to thee thou callest them scrupulous and the Letter which was sent to thee as a Libel Why dost thou slander the innocent and simplicity but of thy generation we look for no other whose mouth is ful of slanders Thou slanderer in thy Epistle to the Lady thou slanderest privily under a colour who flatters her where thou art telling her of love stirs her up to envy as in p. 46. and incensing her and wouldst stir her up against them whom thou callest Quakers so thou might'st have as well have incensed her against Moses who was a Judge over all Israel quaked and David who was a King quaked so all that are vertuous will own us who deny opinions for them we deny and there thou art who livest in opinions and as thou speakest of some to strike at the root of many infections and errors which are overspread amongst you the Lord Jesus Christ hath raised up a Light in his children that they are striking at your root and laying open the deceits and bringing forth his own Work to his own praise And thou sayest All men do worship God and Christ with one heart and one mouth and after one manner is not onely decryed but also dismist our congregations and since the pale of Ecclesiastical Discipline is pulled down by whose coercive Laws all men were kept within the limit of the true Faith Here I charge thee to be a lyar Was the true Faith and the Worship of God maintained by an outward Law Thou Traytor have they pluckt down the true Faith and the Woship of God or your old Ceremonies Thou seducer how art thou tormented by that which hath pluckt down the traditions Tremble for the hand and sword of the Lord is against thee as it was against them thou dissembler and envious one the Law was not made for the Church which is the pillar and ground of truth which worships God in the spirit but for such envious persons as thou art who hast cleared thy Church Worship here from the true Church and Worship of God to the view of all honest hearts and thou art tormented because the freedom is given for the liberty of tender consciences to worship God his own way even in spirit and in truth as in John 4.23 24 And thou sayest Since under the name and priviledge of liberty of conscience licentiousness of opinion hath got footing And this thou seems to father upon the Magistrates We who are in the Light of Christ Jesus which doth exercise our consciences towards God and man all opinionâ— licentiousness we deny therefore thy mouth must be stopt O slâ—nderer which soweth dissention for since the Lord hath opened the Magistrates understanding with the Light of Christ in them the same light doth give freedom to the light in others consciences which worketh into tenderness of conscience teacheth to exercise a good conscience towards God man such Magistrates do not make a Law over the consciences of men which thou seducer brutish fellow wouldst have a law upon but the law is against such as thou art and so thou hast shewed thy self to be in the frantick state heresie which thou talks on and many such speeches as thou hast in thy Epistle to Sir R. Bindloss as thou callest him And whereas thou speakest of your church and hope your hope will perish your church and all who are in the Light will be ashamed of your church And thou art he who art of the Devil who dost promote lies and untruths which is of thy Father the Devil Joh. 8.4 but God is coming with his mighty power to chain thee up thy Father the Devil the old Dragon who is the Father of lyes and thou art one of his servants who blindeth the understandings of the people who are in the unbelief and seeks to poison their affections with vanities and lying slanders And in thy conclusion thou wouldst not have him to perish with the blind and giddy but if he follow such as thou art he doth follow both and in the ditch both will perish together And thou speaks to him of walking in the paths of the just and righteous and such thou privily slanderest and their way hatest thou who walkest in the steps of the wicked and with those that forget God and thou must be cut down with the sword of the Almighty God To that in thy Conscience I speak when thou art in the terror remember me for that in thy conscience wil condemn thee and witness me And Friend to the light in thy conscience I speak under whose Name this Book goes there is thy Teacher if thou lovest it which is the Light of Christ if thou lovest it it will teach thee as thou goesâ— up and down and shew thee the way of the just for it is just it will condemn thee if thou hate it And when the Book of Conscience is opened thou shalt witness what I speak that it's truth to thy soul. Pr. And whereas thou sayest You do neither pretend to any such sublime and eminent gifts neither do you nor ought you to depend upon any such immediate revelation but do use such means and helps which God in all ages hath afforded to people viz. by study and industry in the Schools of the Prophets Schools thou sayest they had at Bethel 2 King 1 3 5. And Elisha 's Colledge was so full that they enlarged it 2 King 6.1 1 Sam. 14 20. and upon the Hill of God 2 Sam 10.5 10. Rep. Here let all these Scriptures witness against thee that thou art no true Prophet no Minister of Christ who witnessed the end of the Prophets and were all taught of God which
thou deniest that deniest immediate Revelation from heaven And here I charge thee in the presence of the living God to be a lyar and false Prophet and that thou art guided by the Father of lies Where thou tells of Elisha's Colledge and saist that it was so full that it was enlarged and bringest in that place of Scripture to colour over thy lyes 2 King 6.1 Let that Scripture be a witness against thee that thou artâ— lyar and a perverter of the Scriptures thou full of all subtilties blush for shame thou lyar is there any mention of any Colledge there Or is there any mention of the Schools of the Prophets where the Word of God was studied in those places of Scripture before-mentioned as thou sayest Let them witness against thee All the Prophets were taught of God and there was no studying for what they spoke at Naioth see if they did not receive the Spirit of Prophesie and spoke by immediate Revelation which thou denies knows not their manner of teaching and learning 1 Sam. 19 20. to the end of the chap. And the Prophesie came not in the old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the holy Ghost and the Scâ—ipture is of no private interpretation 2 Pet. 1.20 21. Here art thou proved a lyar and a perverter of the Scripture wresting it to thy own destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 Now call not Truth railing thou dissembler and enemy of all righteousness the Scripture turns edge against thee and witnesses against thy deceit and filthiness whereby thou seeks to strangle the truth but thou art found out to be among the dogs sorcerers and lyars spoken of in Scripture and art shut out of the Kingdom of God and art no Minister of Christ Rev. 22.15 18 19. Thou Enemy of God how darest thou say that the Prophets studied the Word when no prophesie came by the will of man but by the will of God and no man knoweth the Father but the Son neither knoweth any man the Son but the Father and he to whom is revealed Maâ—th 11.27 And here thou deniest both the Father and the Son and the Prophets and Apostles that deniest immediate revelation for they all bear witness against thee and such as thou art for the Apostle said Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ And all the true Prophets witness that which thou deniest And here I have proved thee a lyar a false prophet and a deceiver perverting the Scriptures and they bear witness with me And thou full of all guile and deceit the word of the Lord shall rise up in judgement against thee and such as thou art Something in reply to thy Discourse of the Spirit as thou callest it FRiend the Spirit of the living God thou hast not for thou deniest immediate Revelation from Heaven who art discoursing of the Spirit and here thou art made manifest but to be in the pretence of the spirit and knows nothing that is revealed with the spirit For thou that deniest immediate revelation from Heaven deniest the spirit of the living God The Apostle saith Eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2 9 10. And here thou hast denied immediate revelation from Heaven hast denied the spirit of God and manifested thy self to be in the natural state Therefore I command thee and charge thee in the presence of the living God to be silent and to give over receiving of the people 2. Thou that denies immediate revelation from Heaven thou denies the grace that was to be brought unto the Saints whose minds were to be girded up which grace was to be brought unto them at the revelation of Jesus Chrisr And thiâ— thou hast denied again as all people may see 1 Pet. 1.13 and here thou hast denyed Jesus Christ and his grace who deniest immediate revelation and art in the fashion of the world and a blasphemer 3. Thou that hast denied immediate revelation from heaven hast denied the Spirit to pray withal and so all thy prayers are hyyocrisie 4. Thou that hast denied immediate revelation from heaven hast denied the Son of God For none knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him Mat. 11.27 5 And thou that hast denied immediate and miraculous revelation from Heaven hast not denied the Son of God onely but the Father also And thou that haâ—t not the Son of God hast not life Pr. The power is originally from God as the Fountain but conveyed through the Ministry of man as the conduit p. 90. Rep. Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man but by the will of God And here thou art proved to be a seducet and thy Ministry contrary to his here thy spirit is tryed And thou slanders them who hear the voice of God and art scorning them and in a deriding way calls it a deceitful eccho but we know that God scorns the scornful and hath them in derision Pr. For any man to pretend immediate calling from God without the Ministry of man is a new Gospel distinct from Christ and his Apostles and such can be no other then ths dictates of seducing spirits and doctrine of devils p. 9. Rep. Here I take all the children of Light to record to prove and try thy Spirit and Gospel to be of man and whether thy Ministry and Gospel which thou preachest which is of man be of God For Paul said that Gospel which he preached was not of man And here again thou art contrary to the Apostle and thy spirit is tryed to be a seducing spirit and thy Doctrine to be of the Devil who deniest immediate revelation Pr. For thou sayest That which is immediately from God and without the Ministry of man is the doctrine of the Devil and of the seducing spirits Rep. Paul said the Gospel that he preached he received it not of man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ and here thou art contrary to the Apostle and thy self in the state thou speaks of And Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man but by God the Father Thou impudent enemy of God and blasphemer wilt thou say his doctrine was of the Devil who denied man as Gal. 1.1 who said Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man Pr. Therefore there is no need of any such qualifications for the best of us dare not stand to such sublime and eminent gifts of the spirit or to any immediate and extraordinary spiritual gifts p. 93 94. Rep. Here thou preachest up that which is not qualified for we do believe you that you dare not stand to such eminent gifts of the spirit for we have tryed you and know your spirits how can you have the same gifts who deny the
of false Prophets and saith the tryal of the spirit is the Word of God Rep. By the Word of God thou art tryed who are in the conceivings Again thou speakest of the High-Priests and Pharisees that councelled against Christ to put him to Death Rep. So do you now where he is made manifest shevving your selvet to be in the same generation Pr. It waas this spirrit also that stirred up Demetrius the Silver-smith with the rest of the Crafts-men against St. Paul and his companions because his Profit and gain which he got by making silver shrines for Diana was in danger to be lost pag. 116. Rep. The same spirit novv being made manifest it cryes against your Trades-men and Crafts-men and your Diana and your two great Schools where you learn your trade which are puddles of darkness and the same spirit being stirred up to cry against your profession it sets you in an uproar novv as in the Synagogues vve do vvitness Pr. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed Corah and all his Company a fair warning for Lay-persons pag. 86. Rep. The judgement did not come upon Corah because they vvas Lay-persons but it vvas for gain-saying the truth as thou doest For many of them that gave forth the Scripture vvas plain men Paul a Tenâ—-mâ—ker and most of the Apostles Fishermen Moses a keeper of Sheep thou mayest call these Lay-men vvhich gave forth the Scripture vvho make a trade of their vvords And here thou hast shevved that thou hast not the knovvledge and understanding vvhich the Apostles had vvhich thou confessedst thou hadst not tberefore thou art as a bruit beast and there I leave thee to be condemned vvith the light vvhich thou callest Heresie The Mittimus answered by which R. H was sent Prisoner to Norwich Castle by Ralph Woolmer Justice of the Peace October 9 1654 WHereas I am committed to Prison by a Mittimus under the pretence of the breach of the Law in these things therein expressed and laid to my charge As first Openly to declare before all the people That he that preached viz. Mr. John Mony was a deluder of the people I answer This accusation was false for that word was not so spoken but to the Light of Christ in all your consciences I speak declare openly to all people that he that acts those things which Christ declared against is no Minister of Christ all who are hirelings as Christ saith John 10. who seek for their gain from their quarters as Isaiah saith Isa. 56.11 who bear rule by their means as Jeremiah saith Jer. 5.31 and who preach for hire as Micah saith Mic. 3.11 and all who are called of men Master stand praying in the Synagogues and have the chiefest places in the Assembly and lay heavy burthens upon the people which Christ cryed wo against Matt. 23. such are no Ministers of Christ who act such things for they who are the Ministers of Christ do abide in the Doctrine of Christ to the Light of Christ I speak that with it John Mony may see himself to be out of the Doctrine of Christ holding up those things that Christ cryed wo against Another thing charged against me is That the people in a great number gathered together about me which might have proved of evil consequence they being the under-sort of people I answer Where-ever the gospel was preached there were gatherings together and uproars and tumults as you may read in the Scriptures Acts 19. and the same gospel worketh the same effects now as in did then and those whom thou callest the under-sort of people were all quiet and were willing to hear the word of the Lord and did not offer any persecution or violence but you who profess your selves to be Saints have proved your selves to be the undersort of people as by your consequence have made it appear by your persecution by taking me out of the multitude who were willing to hear the Word of Truth sent me to Bridewell and then to prison for declaring the Word of the Lord freely as I have received it and so are persecutors and not Saints for the Saints were ever persecuted but never did persecute any Another thing charged against me is That being often asked my Name and Countrey would give no account I answer The Lord hath called me out of my own countrey and from my Fathers House to declare his Word as I have received it and I was freely declaring the Word of the Lord when opposingly thou camest and asked my Name and Countrey which when I ceased speaking I declared it unto thee before I went out of the yard and so there is no ground for this accusation but enmity Another thing charged against me That being brought before me he in contempt of Magistracy as I apprehended would not once move his hat off his head I answer O! for shame never profess to be a Magistrate and make such apprehendings the ground of thy Law as to call this contempt of Magistracy not to put off the hat Where was ever such a thing mentioned in all the Scriptures by any who were set to rule over the people to execute the Law of God upon offendors When did Moses who was a Law-giver and a Judge over all Israel command any such thing of any that came before him to put off his hat or ever in all his Writings make mention of such a thing as contempt of Magistracy or imprison any that did not But it was the transgression of the Law of God to respect persons for he that respects persons commits sin but by your Law those who cannot respect persons and so fulfil the Law of God you say they contemn Magistracy and are not to subject to Authority Oh! for shame never make Laws upon such outward traditions for here you go from the life of God and from the law of God and from the practice of all the holy men of God which the Scripture speaks of When did ever Joshua or Japhat when the people came before them command any such thing or mention it to put off their hats and prison them if they would not or tell them they contemned Magistracy When did ever Solomon who was in the large Wisdom command any such thing of the people whom he was over to put off their hats or imprison them if they would not Shew me one example amongst all the Heathenish Emperors Kings Princes Dukes Rulers or other Officers which the Scripture speaks of that ever commanded any of their people to put off their hats and imprison them if they would not Did ever Pharoah King of Egypt whom Moses and Aaron went before command any such thing and imprison them if they would not Did ever Nebuchadnezzar or Darius command any such thing of any Did ever Herod command any such thing or imprison them that would not Did ever Agrippa or Festus command Paul to put off his hat vvhen he came before them Here you outscrip all the Heathenish
stumbling and the occasion of it is in them who hates the light and calls it natural which light is Christ for him a witness I am against all such who deny Christ to be the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world who is of the World called Richard Hubberthorn NOw as in answer to thee Frederick Wodall who hath put a stumbling block before the eyes of many by thy lyes and deceit to keep them from receiving the pure truth of God which the Lord is now spreading abroad and making manifest to gather to himself his own from the mouths of all false shepherds that Jesus Christ the true shepherd they may come to witness who is the true light and is not natural as thou wouldsâ— make him to be nor that light in the conscience is not natural which Jesus Christ hath enlightned every one withal but all who in it dwell shall witness against thee and thy malicious spirit who hath uttered forth thy bitterness and venome against those who walk in the light and who witness the truth of God in the life and power of it and against all false accusers In the beginning of thy Epistle to the Reader thy enmity thou utterest forth against those â—ho for the name of Christ do bear his reproach in the world in whom the Scripture is fulfilled which saith they shall speak all manner of evill of you falsly for my name sake and thou art one of them who art speaking evil and encouraging others to speak evil against those whom thou and the rest of the scorners call Quakers and calls them a nest of stinging Wasps and saith that they have leavened a dear brother and sister of thine and made them Prosylites unto them I answ This accusation is returned back again upon thy own head for the poison of asps is found under thy tongue and forth of the venome doth proceed as all who hath understanding may see and discern and those whom thou callest thy dear brother and sister are made able in the light to testifie against thee and thy lie and to witness that they are brought out of the Prosylites condition and out of the leaven of the false Prophets and false teachers which they were in so long as they followed thy doctrine but now that doctrine they do see which doth leaven and draw peoples minds to the light of Christ within them and so makes Prosylites and children of the Devil but in the light of Christ art thou and all that uphold that doctrine seen and denied In the first page of thy paper thou wouldst make people believe that thou makest no defence against my reply to thy answers and yet in the second page thou repliest against mine concerning the tenth Querie and chargest me in reputing thee the author or father of a lie in returning to thee again thy own words in answer to the tenth Querie which words are these It is intolerable that Christ should be the Prince of Peace I answer Let every one that hath a desire to know whether this be so read thy own words in thy printed Paper in thy answer to the tenth Querie in the twelfth page whether these be not thy own words the tenth is intolerable and the rest of thy words which are in answer to that Querie are full of confusion and all wdo reads them may see it so I leave thee to be judged of all and condemned of all who in the light of Christ do see thy confusion which proceeds out of thy own mouth Priest 'T is a priviledge we have cause to bless God for every day viz. that unto us are committed the Oracles of God Answ. Here I charge thee to prove when ever the Oracles of God was committed unto thee or to the Priests of England unto the Jews they were committed which was before Christ came in the flesh and they who had the oracles of God committed unto them did seek to kill and crucifie the Son of God as you the Priests of England who go in the way of Cain and after the error of Balaam do now seek to destroy the Son of God where he is made manifest and the oracles of God were never committed unto you nor the ministration of the Gospel but in the steps of those you are found who ever persecuted the righteous seed of God as you have made it manifest in this generation And again thou art bringing scriptures to prove the letter to be the word of God which Scriptures will witness against thee for the Scripture saith that God is the Word Joh. 1.1 and thou art diminishing from some and adding to others and perverting the Scriptures to thy own ends thou bringst that scripture in Titus 2.10 11 12 13. and these words thou speakest from them this is the grace of God bringing salvation when the Apostle saith For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world and here though thou bringest this scripâ—ure in thy paper yet it thou canst not own that the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared who denies Christ to have enlightened every one that comes into the world Pr. This Word for the manner of delivery unto us is called Scripture and we are commanded to search it Joh. 4.39 and laid under the promise of blessing in that way Psal. 1.2 Answ. Here thou hast numbred thy self amongst those whom Christ commanded to search the Scriptures and amongst them shalt thou be numbred and in that scripture thou mayest read thy condition and the rest of the Priests with thee as Joh. 5.37.38.39 40. ye have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape and ye have not his word abiding in you for whom he hath sent ye believe him not search the scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me and ye will not come to me that ye might have life now all you who are in the same condition the same command is unto you But there is no promise of blessing promised unto you in that way no more then was to them which was so commanded but never prove your selves Ministers of Christ for they were no Ministers of Christ that this was spoken unto nor Saints but such as received honour one of another as you do who are in that generation And they were such as did not believe that which they did profess Moses and the Prophets but Christ tells them plainly they did not believe Moses nor his writings al you no wthat profess Christ you cannot believe Christs words who saith He is the true light which doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world Therefore out of the doctrine of Christ you are shut and out of the Scriptures which you do profess for the Sons life which witnesseth the Scriptures you
against all such wayes of daâ—kness but now thou art here found teaching people how to make the Pope supream Monarch by saying God made two Lights the greater to rule the day viz. the Pope the lesser to rule the night viz the Emperor and so makes the Pope and Emperor to be those two Lights Here I charge thee to prove wherever the Ministers of Christ taught any such thing to the people or did so contemn and despise the Ordinances of Heaven and the Lights which God made to rule the day and the night which thou compares to carnal men like thy self And here thou hast perverted the Scriptures and made thy folly and deceit manifest to all that they that can but read in the natural Heavens will condemn thee and out of thy own mouth thou art condemned for in thy paper thou hast said That which is not Scriptural is not spiritual Now for that which thou hast said thou hast no Scripture to prove it and the Scripture will testifie against thee and the Sun and the Moon which are in their course in the Firmament of Heaven will testifie against thee and so these we do deny and thy doctrine with the Pope and his Supream Monarch and all who worship the Host of Heaven we deny being clear from their doctrine and deceit Priest If they will establish implicite faith thus it may be done Job 1.14 The Oxen were plowing and the Asses feeding besides them i. e. the Priests were preaching and the people believing this is to crucifie the Word of God Here thou art proved and made manifest to be a false Teacher who art teaching people how to establish implicite faith and to blind the eyes of people thou bringest that Scripture Job 1.14 when as there is no such word as implicite faith spoken of there nor in the Scripture thou finds no such word nor did ever any of the Ministers of God teach people how to establish any such thing and those priests who preach that and that people which believe it do make the Word of God of none effect through tradition Priest Thou art charging and accusing some to hold forth the mysterie of iniquity in principles and to affirm a community of persons and things Ans. The mysterie of iniquity we know and them in whom it worketh in all deceivableness of unrighteousness and from it and its workings we are separated by Christ Jesus and in his Light do see and comprehend its workings in the children of disobedience and all vile and unclean persons who are in the lusts of uncleanness and in the mystery of iniquity and all things which are separated from the light we have no union nor fellowship with and all these practices we do deny which are unclean which is acted contrary to the light which is pure in which we are called not unto uncleanness but unto holiness And to this God is our Witness and our Consciences also bears us witness against all false accusers So I charge thee who hath put forth this accusation to turn thy mind to the light of Christ in thy conscience with it thou may see in thy self the ground where this mysterie of iniquity worketh and thou may see in thy self that which hath unity with that which is unclean the lusts of uncleanness inordinate affections and evil concupiscence the ground which the mysterie of iniquity worketh in is yet standing in thee and so of the same things of which thou accuses others art thou found guilty which is for condemnation with the light Priest 'T is pity Christ should be the foundation and wood hey stubble built thereupon yet this is possible 1 Cor. 3.15 Ans. Here thou hast perverted Paul's words and speaks thy own invention contrary to the Scripture for Paul did not say 't is pity Christ should be the foundation but said other foundations can no man lay than what is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold silver precious stones wood hay stubble every mans Work shall be made manifest Now in the Light art thou made manifest that Christ is not thy foundation who takes Pauls words out of their place who witnessed Christ to be the foundation but thou art found building upon this foundation gold silver hay stubble and making a refuge of lyes which are for the fire whose work is to be burned in the day of the Lord. Priest Thou sayest Wisdom is grown up to perfection amongst that people called Quakers Ans. In the Light of Christ we dwel which comprehends thy Wisdom which is earthly sensual and devillish and from that Wisdom these things published forth in thy paper do proceed which is full of lyes and confusion but in the Light of Christ made manifest in those thou calls Quakers art thou seen to be in that Wisdom which is not perfect and so thee and thy Word we do deny which is for condemation with the Light which is contrary to thy earthly Wisdom Priest Thou Priest Woodall art accusing me for numbering thee amongst those who are guilty of preaching for carnal things who reap carnal things and this thou makes thy defence saying This is my case More then seven years I have served in the Gospel where I am receiving what a people freely give for my Family reproach in outward things refusing a considerable setled maintenance elsewhere Ans. Such as thou sowest such shalt thou reap and all they who have given thee money for preaching such things as thou hast here published forth in print they have given thee money for that which is not bread and so bought the carnal with the carnal but their souls are yet made merchandize of and that unjust gain which thou hast received this seven yeers from that people will rise up in judgement against thee who hast not only used it for thy necessity and support in outward things which were needful for the use of the body but hast spent it upon thy lust and pride in thy family spending more in lust and pride and gay apparel than those whom thou receivest the gift from And thou who hast professed thy self to be a servant to that people and they having given thee Wages so long for that which did not profit them thou after the manner of the Gentiles hath exercised Authority and Lordship over them and whereas thou shouldest be their hired servant they call thee Master thou which should be the least of all amongst them art greatest of all exceeding them all in pride and high-mindedness in ease in pleasures in idleness and fulness of bread but as the Lord doth open the eyes of those whom thou hast kept in blindnesse and ignorance they wil come to see thee and thy doctrine to be contrary unto the Gospel of Christ as they may plainly see and read in those things which thou hast published forth in print which is serviceable unto all who hath understanding that thy confusion and folly and lyes against
be approved true unto all that come unto God by Christ. Again John Tombes in page 5. pretending to answer the Quakers Objections which was never by them Objected goeth about to pervert the Scripture Luke 17.21 Behold the Kingdom of God is wiâ—hin you saith To his apprehension it is more truly rendred among you so that in his apprehension he would make a more certain rule and form of words then the Scripture so in this he doth not answer our Objections but contradicts Christs words and to prove his apprehension he saith That the Light within each man cannot be meant the Kingdom of God for the Kingdom of God is a thing that was not before Christs appearance in the flesh and was taken from the Jews and given to the Gentiles Ans. Here thou wouldst make people believe strange things or Preach a new Doctrine which hath not been heard or read of before thou hast said That the Word written in the Bible is thy light but there is not such a Word written in that Bible that saith that the Kingdom of God was not before Christs appearance in the flesh but thou may finde it written in the Bible that his Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom Dan. 7. Was not the Kingdom of God before the World was was not the Kingdom of God in the time of Enoch Isaac and Jacob Abraham Moses and the Prophets And when the Apostles did Preach the Kingdom of God was come nigh unto them and was at hand did they not Preach that which was in the beginning But herein it is manifest that thou neither own Scripture Light nor Scripture Words but this Doctrine few will believe that the Kingdom of God was not before Christs appearance in the flesh And therefore it is returned back upon thee that thou mayest see and be ashamed of what thou hast declared from thy darkness Again in page 55. another Scripture thou goes about to pervert Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of glory but thou wilt not have it in you but to you and so denieth both the truth of the thing and the Scripture words for the Apostle saith That this is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory but against the Mystery and glory of it thou hast set thy self to oppose and also that history thou wilt not own to be true and herein thou art guilty of that whereof thou hast accused others and herein thou wouldst make it appear to those that would believe thee that thy false apprehensions is the light of Scripture and not the Scripture thy light as before thou said it was And in the same page 55. thou sayest It is a meer fantastick delusion to imagine a Christ in themselves different from that Jesus Christ born of Mary who is the Saviour of the world Answ. If so then thou ownest that Christ as aboâ—e mentioned is in those that do believe except thou wilt deny that any Christ is in them contrary to the Scripture 2 Cor. 13.5 and this which thou hast here affirmed thou and thy brethren will not own unless you deny what you have formerly preached and printed Again page 41. thou hast accused Paul falsly saying that Paul followed the light within him and yet he accounted this his great sin Act. 26.9 1 Tim. 1.13 Answ. Paul in these Scriptures doth not say that he followed the light within him but he followed his thoughts which led him to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus and what he did it was ignorantly in unbelief and that was his sin and not following the light within but if it be sin to follow the light within why doth Baxter and thou say that a man should hearken to it follow it and obey it And Baxter saith that he is no Christian that denies it and so here thy reverend brother hath proved thee to be no Christian. Again page 50. thou sayest If David had had a light within him of it self a sufficient and safe guide to God he should not have been jealous of his own heart and thoughts so as to need God to search know and try him but it is otherwise with David and therefore he knew that he had not a light within him as a sufficient safe guide to lead him into the way everlasting Answ. Dâ—vid saith Psal. 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee so that contrary to what thou hast affirmed he knew that he had a light within him which was sufficient to lead him to life everlasting and this light in him was that which made him jealous of his own heart and thoughts and let him see that he had need of God to search prove and try him lest iniquity should be found in him but what Prophet or Apostle is it that can escape thy slanderous Tongue who affirmeth that the Word of God is not a sufficient guide to lead unto him before thou saidst a supposed light was not sufficient but here thou hast accused the word of God with insufficiency and David that he did not know such a light in him and so wouldst make him like unto thy self a giver forth of lyes in writing Again page 55. thou sayest The light within each person is by creation and inward work of the Spirit but the Gospel is the wâ—rd brought to our ears by preachers without us which is never received by many of those to whom it is preached Answ. In this thou hast said more of the light within each person then thou hast heard the Quakers say of it for thou hast here affirmed that the light in each person is an inward work of the Spirit and thou hast made it to be more inward spiritual and effectual then thou hast made the Gospel to be for the Gospel thou sayest is but the word brought to your ears without you and by mâ—ny never received but the light of each person is a work of the Spirit which is more then words outward to the ear so why hast thou so much contended against those who say Christ hath enlightned every man with his light which is spiritual when as thou not onely confesseth all is enlighâ—ned but saith That each person haâ—h a light within by creation and inward work of the Spirit but whether thou plead for or against the light in every person it is but from ignorance and darkness both concerning the light and the Gospel which is preached in every creature and so whether thou own or disown the light in words it is manifest thou art out of the life of it and knows not the spiritual work by it So these things are written unto thee that thou mayest see thy self and put thy mouth in the dust waiting in silence if so be there may be hope Again page 65. thou sayest The Apostle denies mens calling 〈◊〉 the Communion of Gods grace to be universal 1 Cor. 1.9 24 26. And again
in page 66. saith The Apostle then commanded every man every where to repent Act. 14 16. Act. 17.30 Answ. Herein thou hast contradicted thy self but yet falsly accused the Apostle for he doâ—h not deny mens calling to the universal grace in the Scriptures mentioned 1 Cor. 1.9 24 26. but doth bear witness to their calling which was already come into the obedience of the truth and so all men every where was called to repent according to Act. 14. and 16. which is Universal and the free grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men Tit. 2.11 by which all is called unto repentance and to the knowledge of the truth that they might be saved which call is universal Again page 33. thou sayest Where lust imprisons light where corrupt affections put out the lamp of truth there is no entrance of the light of Christ into the soul. Answ. Where then is that light which lust imprisons and where is that lamp of truth whiâ—h corrupt affections put out if it be not within and if no light of Christ be entered into the soul how can it then be imprisoned or put out if it never was there nor never shined but this is like the rest of thy confusion Again page 85. thou sayest Light within you whatever Quakers tell you will leave you in perplexity Answ. They shall be left in perplexity which do not walk in the light which we have spoken of and declared to people and this is that onely which leadeth out of perplexity into the knowledge of God and unity with him wherein is the peace and rest of all that in it walk But where didst thou learn those revilings against the Light or from what sort of thy diverse Truths doth those words proceed from seeing thou sayest there is two sorts of Truth Metaphysick Truth and Logick and Moral Truth and whether is Christ another Truth then those seeing the Scripture mentioneth no such name as Metaphysick Logick and Moral Truâ—h and no other Truth do we own then that which the Scripture declareth of Christ to be the Truth who hath enlightned every man which cometh into the world which light leadeth them that obey it out of perplexity Again page 68. Thou sayest Let us be wise therefore so to use candles that we do not burn day light Answ. The light of the day comprehends thee and sees all thy works and words and seest thou hast lost thy wisdom and understanding of the light which the day brings forth and so though thou light thy candles in foolishness yet thou cannot burn the day light although thou strive to do it but thou mayest read in the Scripture that a fool when he holdeth his peace is counted wise and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding Prov. 17.28 So if thou hadst learned to be wise thou wouldest have been silent from that which thou hast preached in thy nine Sermons which is but sparks of thy own kindling or candles of thy own lighting the end whereof is to burn day-light which is arisen and hath shined forth and cannot be quenched by all thy candles doctrines nor arguments for it is as impossible for thee to quench or hinder the shining of that light which is now risen as for thee to light a candle and thereby quench the light of the Sun in the natural day and so that Scripture is true unto thee before cited for if thou hadst been silent people would have esteemed thee a man of more understanding although inwardly thou hadst been the same but not outwardly so made manifest as thou art Again thou tellest us of thy enjoyments page 32. saying that the best enjoyments or best habitation here is no better then lying upon a bed of Thorns or on the Mast of a Ship where winds storms and perpetual tossings take away all rest Answ. Then thou dost not yet enjoy Christ neither art built upon the Rock which cannot be moved neither art thou come to the Faith which they that believe are entered into his rest and so thou hast truly numbered thy self among the wicked which are as a raging Sea that casts up mire and dirâ— and so art in the perpetual tossings and so art such a one as the Apostle speaks of beguiling unstable souls for how canst thou bring any to the enjoyment of Christ when thou thy self art a stranger to that experience and how canst thou establish others when thou thy self art so unstable to be tossed with every wind as the Mast of a ship And what wouldst thou gather People unto To a bed of Thorns or to the top of the Mast of a Ship where they should enjoy nothing but continuall tossings therefore seeing thy self to be in that condition cease from opposing of that Truth which brings People to their true rest where they may lie down in peace and nothing make them afraid as they cannot do upon the top of a Mast and which Truth brings them to be as Mount Zion which cannot be moved nor their rest taken away and who are not as Children tossed too and fro with every Wind of Doctrine which hath been Preached by such as have seemed to be somewhat in words and pretences but when tryed is found nothing but Emptiness and Vanity An Answer to Richard Baxters Queries 1. Query HOw comes it to pass that all Nations that never heard the Gospel are utterly void of faith in Christ when the Nations that have the Gospel do generally know him more or less Ans. The Apostle saith they have all heard but they have not obeyed the Gospel Rom. 10.16 18. And the reason why all Nations are void of Faith in Christ is because they have not obeyed and believed that Gospel which is Preached in every Creature and the Nations which have that which thou calls the Gospel to wit the letter are as void of Faith in Christ as those which have it not and as void of his knowledg for the Gospel is the Power of God Rom. 1.16 And it is the Light of the glorious Gospel shining in the Heart which gives the knowledge of God in the Face of Jesus Christ which light while thou opposest the Gospel from thee is hid and the eye blinded which should see it 2. Que. Why did not the World believe in Christ even Generally before his coming if reason was then a sufficient light Ans. This is an Ignorant and unlearned question who hath said that reason was then a sufficient light or who doth say that reason now is a sufficient light but thy self but the reason why the World did not believe in Christ both befoâ—e and since his coming was because they hated the Light in which they should have believed and was despiteful against the spirit of Grace and all its appearances as thou and Tombs art at this time Qu. 3 Why did Christ preach himself while he was on Earth if the people had all sufficient light before Ans. He preached that they
not the Apostle Paul sufficient Grace when the Lord said My Grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 And had not the Corinthians sufficiency of Grace 2 Cor. 3.5 whose sufficiency was in God and from God to them made manifest and had not they sufficiency in all things 2 Cor. 9.8 And was Paul with those Corinthians at the last breath when those things were spoken but thy thoughts have deceived thee in thinking such a thing to be past controversie for thou must be both controverted and contradicted while thou thus in thy extreams and floods of fury sets thy self against the Truth as it is made manifest in us and also in the Scriptures Again thou saist Thou thinks it is time for men that have any sence of the common interest of Christianity Reformation to lay by these contentions that hav brought you so low almost made you a prey to the common Romish Adversaries saying the Lord grant it be not too late Ans. Art thou now sensible of the emptiness in and the disadvantage which thou gets by thy contention and thou may well see it if thou be but sober how the Romish adversaries may have advantage against thee condemning that in them which thou allowest in thy self and thou mayest have a ground of jealousie in thee that it is too late But as for an interest in Christianity and Reforâ—ation thou art far from it who art striving to keep people from the Light by which people should be reformed and by which they should be led into the life of Christianity And although thou confessest that you are brought low by contention and by too eager disputation yet again thou exalts thy self and thy Brethren as if you were above Christ or his Apostles in the Work of the Ministry for thou saist How few did Christ convert that spake as never man spake And how many places did the Apostles preach in where they converted not one for a hundred that some of you see converted in one Parish And thus thou defames Christ and the Apostles Doctrine to set up thy own buâ— if thou do not as well deny the Scriptures as Christ and the Apostles Minstry thou mayest read how that three thousâ—nd were converted at one Sermon and If thou truly consider and try thy own Work thou wilt see that all the Sermons which ever thou hast preached hath not converted one in thy Parish into the State of a new creature where all old things are done away and all things are become new and so thy boasting thereby may be ended Again thou saist That you do not fear that quaking should become the Nations Religion we know those squibs will soon be out Ans. If it were but a squib that would so soon be out what need you make so much a do about it and bring forth so many floods and draw dry so many wells to quench it And what is the cause of such jealousies in your hearts as sometime to fear that it 's too late to strive against it And why are you so afraid that it should have its liberty in the Nation if you think it will be so sooâ— out but it is your constant practice to speak one thing and to think another for this which you say is but a squib will be as an eveâ—lasting burning that none shall be able to quench it and it is the powerful appearance of the Lord from Heaven and who may abide the day of his coming or who may stand when he appears Not those who have contemned his Light and reproached the children of it not those who preach for filthy lucre who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies who make merchandize of souls for dishonest gain but he that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly he that despiseth the gain of oppression that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil such a one loveth the appearance of him who is come a Light into the World and loveth the children that walk in his Light for he that loveth him that doth beget loveth also those that are begotten of him who walk in his Light but the Wicked shall become silent in darkness and many who have used their tongues and said Come Lord Jesus come quickly shall not be able to stand when he appears nor to abide the day of his coming which to them that hate him is destruction but to them that love him is everlasting salvation And this is the day of his appearance in which blessed are they that are not offended in him Truth and Innocency Clearing its self and its Children Being declared in a few words which in this day of striving and of the Lords power is brought forth in many agaâ—nst the deceveable ways of the Unrighteous which abound and is as Mountains in every Region Countrey and County But the Lord is now risen to make them plain that People may see that they are but earth and may feed upon the top of them Also in this Treatise is a Mountain of confusion lyes and slanders proceeding from one Jonathan Clapâ—am a Priest made manifest which swelled as though it had been no Earth against the Lords Mountain and against the way of his Holiness which now the holy Seed which the Lord hath blessed with spiritual blessings tread upon as upon the Mire in the low Valleys which is dryed up and with it they are not defiled for the feet of them that bring glad tydings of the Gospel of peace tread upon the top of those Mountains for Mountains were never seen till the Light appeared which is now brought forth making all things manifest Given forth from the light of Truth which answereth the Truth in every man and continues the offence of the Cross to the deceit in every man R. H. To the Reader In the night all the beasts of the field raven and now many of them are come out of their Dens into which they must be driven again for the Lord is now coming and his Power with him and his day is appearing to deliver his prisoner which hath long been in the Pit covered with darkness and now all the Powers of Hell and Death gather themselves together that they may be broken to pieces against the Heir of Gods Inheritance which is not possible should be kept always under the power of death as surely as they rise up against the Lord so surely shall they be broken to pieces for the arm power of the Lord is with us no inchantment formed against us can prosper for the Lord hath stretched forth his and touched our lips and put his words into our Mouths and in this day hath made us a defenced City and an Iron Pillar and a Brazen Wall against the whole Land even all both Priests and People who deny the Light of the Lord to be the way of life and not only against those gross Priests of the
he hath affiâ—med And again consider that Heaven is God's Throne and the place of his rest And whether God can dwell in the Heavens and have no unity with them with his own Throne and with the place of his rest And consider whether there was ever such a doctrine preached or believed among the sons of men from Abel unto this day there is no record of such a Doctrine neither in the Scriptures Histories Heathens Pagans nor others therefore it is now fit to be recorded or put in Chronicle that all may see what a doctrine is crept into the World and that all may see that Night is come upon all such Prophets that they have no vision nor knowledge of God nor his wayes And this is the man that hath set himself to oppose and gainsay the truth and is a daily reproacher of those that walk in it yet professeth himself to be a Minister of Christ and those whose hearts are upright towards God is he reviling comparing them to Papists Hereticks Scribes and Pharises Indians and such like but to none of those in these things before-mentioned neither to Scribe Pharisee Pope Turk Indian or Alcaron can he be compared for they have been all restrained by something of God in them from writing so blasphemously against God and Christ and the Holy Ghost the Soul Heaven and Union and the Saints as he hath done And so this is another Gospel than that which was preached by Christ and his Apostles and so by the Spirit of God to be accursed for ever And whereas he saith That the union between God and believers cannot be comprehended by the Saints here he charges a lye upon the Saints and speaks contrary to the Scriptures 1 Joh. 1.7 1 Joh. 4.15 1 Joh. 5.20 for the Saints did witnesse union with God here for he that sanctified and they that are sanctified were one they said they were of God and the whole World lyeth in wickedness as he is so are we in this present World they comprehend with all Saints the heighth and length and the breadth of the love of God while they are in the world Now whoever would have believed it that the teachers in England had been so blind or durst have spoken so contrary to the Scriptures they professing them so much to be their rule and learning so long and studying so much to get the Letter of them but now is found both out of the Letter and Life but now the day of God is risen in his peoples hearts and they are seen to be such before their books come forth and now that which they were judged to be before they published themselves in print comes forth that all the world may see that the judgment of God is true from his servants upon them and that all the Rulers of the Nation may see that such are not fit to be held up but be cried against and if any should by a Law give such the tenth parts of mens estates they may expect that by the righteous Law of God ten parts of theirs may be taken away and given to strangers so if any people maintain this doctrine they maintain that which the curse of God comes upon and if they come not out from it will be partakers of the plague And again as concerning Hell Clapham saith that men are not in Hell while they are upon earth And here is another lye Answ. The Prophet said while he was upon earth thou hast redeemed my soul out of hell and Jonah said Out of the belly of hell cryed I unto thee and so the believers doctrine was contrary to Claphams for they knew both heaven and hell while they were upon earth and a redeeming out of the one into the other by Jesus Christ. Again he accuseth Peter saying that he speaks of the divine Nature being communicated to the Saints but understands divine graces Answ. The Apostle doth not speak one thing and understand another as the Priests do for he speaks with the Spirit and with understanding and knows how to divide the word of God aright who spoke unto them that had escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust and knew what it was to be partakers of the divine nature but herein the wickedness of this Priest is manifest who would keep people from being made partakers of the divine Nature and would shut up the kingdom of heaven from men while they are upon earth Again he accuseth the Corinthians in the 33. page of his book to be the ancient Hereticks who were baptized for the dead Ans. Those who were baptized for the dead was no Hereticks neither did they deny the resurrection of the dead though Paul said How say some among you that there is no Resurrection of the dead yet he did not call those that were baptised for the dead Hereticks for those that were baptised for the dead and stood in jeopardy every hour did believe the resurrection of the dead and did wait for it and did not deny it as Clapham saith who hath proceeded on in his book with many of the like false accusations against us also but it is a small matter for us to be judged by such a one for herein is but Christs words fulfilled As they have done unto me so shall they do unto you for neither Christ nor the Apostles nor the Church of God hath escaped his accusation for Luk. 6.26 Wo unto you saith Christ when all men speak well of you for so did they of the false Prophets but blessed are you when men shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my names sake for great shall your reward be in heaven now though against us all manner of evil be spoken falsly in the Book before mentioned yet in truth do we stand out of it all and over it all and our accuser is found in the evil and vve clear And as for the 13. Sect. wherein he hath wearied himself for very vanity hath he proved nothing against us but against himself in which he hath said that we are enemies to the holy Scriptures and deny Christ come in the flesh also his death and resurrection and that we have said that Christs flesh perished and that we own not the man Christ in the Heavens as pag. 11. and chargeth us to say that he did not ascend into heaven is not at the right hand of God shall not come to judge the world pag. 12. Again Whereas Clapham saith we deny prayer the Lords Supper and Water-baptism and giving of thanks at meals and singing of Psalms Ans. This is false as his own writing and confession will witness against him which in a former Letter said that I prayed three times at one Meeting and now in this book saith we deny prayer Here confusion is grown into impudency and lyes are made his proofs Again he saith we deny the â—ords Supper yet confesseth we own eding on Christs flesh Now Christ saith
Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood ye have no life in you And this is his Supper in eating of which the creature hath life in himself Therefore fly from idolatry I speak unto wise men judge what I say the cup of blessing which we bless is the Communion of the blood of Christ and the bread which we break is the Communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread 1 Cor. 10.14 15 16 17. For the bread of God is he that came down from Heaven and giveth life unto the World John 6.33 Then said they unto him Lord evermore give us this bread and Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst John 6.34 35. I am the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world v. 51. But the Jews could not belive this neither can this Priest but saith we own feâ—ding on Christs flesh but deny his Supper and so as blind as they But by the life which we receive in eating of his flesh and drinking of his bloud are we manifest to be of those that feed at his Table and cannot have communion at the Table of Devils as the Church of God could not 1 Cor. 10.21 Again He saith that we own baptism with the spirit but deny baptism with water I answer Who come to the baptism with the spirit into one body they are come to the one baptism which the Saints witnessed not laying again the doctrine of baptism which waâ— several but witnessing the one the substance of the other which was necessary to salvation so all those things in which the substance was signified whether circumcision or water is not denied in their time and place when the obedience in them was from the command of the spirit and not from tradition but people now in the ignorance of God and his ways take up things by tradition being both out of the command and out of the substance and such deny the substance where it is witnessed as for this Priest Clapham he hath never ministred water baptism as it was ministred when it was a doctrine from heaven for there is not one in all his Congregation that had first received the holy Ghost nor believed in Christ before he baptised them with water and so both the substance and the figure is denied in him so that in that in which he would accuse another without ground is he upon good ground found guilty And as for denying to give thanks that is false for we are bound in spirit to give thanks always to the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light and whether we eat or eat not we give God thanks and this we are come to witness to pray without ceasing and in all things give thanks for so is the will of God concerning us and in us is it fulfilled and we sing with the Spirit and with understanding also but such take Davids conditions which waâ— made manifest unto him in the sure mercies of the Lord to him and sing his deliverances whose soul is yet in the pit and sing his prophesies who never knew the spirit of prophesie in themselves and say they have roared all the day long by reason of their sins when as they have roared all the day long in fulfilling their sins and iniquities and for the scorners to say they have no scornful eye and for the proud to say they are not puft in mind such singing we deny which is without the Spirit and without understanding also For light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart so to the light with which Christ hath enlightned every one that cometh into the world I speak which tends to uprightness of heart and unto holiness without which no man can see the Lord those things which are reprovable are made manifest in the Liâ—ht and that which doth make manifâ—st is light which all who be out of it is in darkness and know not whether they go nor what they profit as many now in these days being kept from the light and gate of truth by the doctrines of men and so never come to read in the Lambs book of life which first all must come to know the vials poured forth upon the earth upon the Beast and his works and his sear which is found standing in all them who be from the light they be enlightned withal But the hour is coming and now is when all they that be upon the face of the earth may see the appearance of the Son of God and may receive his power in the measure which his Father hath given them to receive him in therefore every one who comes to see with the light of the Son of God enter into thaâ— which you see to be of him and out of that which you see to be of the World that so the everlasting righteousness and peace you may possess in your obedience to what is made manifest that you may come to see and favour the things of God from those things that be of the World and as every one walks in the light you will be as a sweet smelling sacrâ—fice unto the Lord and knowing and feeling the power of â—he Lord with it the everlasting door vvill be opened and the vvell-springs of life to the feeding of the plants of God with the uncorruptible food which is every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord vvhich vvill be received as that of God in every particular is kept single Again The Priest in his 3 4 5. Section saith That we deny the doctrine of the Trinity and that we hold equality with God and the soul be â—ne being with God and corrupt the doctrine of justification Answ. For a Trinity of persons there is no such docâ—â—â—ne in the Scriptures neither the vvord three Persons nor Trinity and so three distinct one from another eternally as he hath held forth saying Christ is the eternal Son of God distinct from the Father eternally and the Spirit is distinguished from the Father and the Son eternally This is a Tradition of men taught for a doctrine but no doctrine and in denying of that vve do but deny Claphams tradition but as for the Father Word and Spirit which bear record in heaven these three are one and vvas never separated eternally for Christ in the days of his flesh vvhen he vvas in the vvorld said I and my Father are one and said I in them and they in me that they may be one as we are one John 17.11 22. and so this doctrine of the unity of the Father Word and Spirit
Scriptures and though our way be called the sink of all heresie as the Apostle was called the ringleader of the Sect of the Nazerens and his way Heresie yet in it do we worship the God of our Fathers though the chief Priests do call it so yet that doth not mâ—ke it so no more then it did in the Apostles days for we are manifest to God in all our ways and unto that of God in every mans conscience Again Priest Clapham accuseth us for working of miracles naming several places in which they vvere vvrought in the eighth Section of his Book so that all may take notice that in vvhomsoever the Lord is manifest to make his povver knovvn in doing good that is the object of â—is envy so that it is manifest that he doth not despise us but God and his povver so as if the povver of God vvere not manifest in us to convert turn unto God and seal vve should not be despised by him And also take notice that the grounds of his knowledge of these things is reports that came to him as himself declares in his eighth Section and yet in the beginning of his book he saith he vvill lay nothing to our charge but vvhat he hath sufcient personal knovvledge of himself Novv he hath not been personally present in seeing or hearing any of those things vvhich he chargeth against uâ— as pretended Mâ—racles and so the beginning and end of his vvork is a lye and in page 51. of his book he charges us with some in Yorkshire poisoning of themselves in prison which is false and he hath it but from a false report and so hath no personal knowledge of it himself And likewise he saiâ—h That the light that all be enlightned withal is the light of reason and understanding and that this light is natural and thâ—t it is the light of nature and that the natural light is the remainder of Gods image as in pag. 57. Answ. Here hath he fully manifested his ignorance of the light and of Gods image as first Of the Light calling it the light of reason Now some are unreasonable men and so all have not reason and some are Idiots and so have not understanding So then all are not enlightned with reason and understanding but Christ calls it not reason nor understanding but calls it the light which is the condemnation of all thâ—m that do not believe in it and with it those works which are wrought in God are justified and that which is after the flesh is condemned and that which is able to justifie and condemn the creature in the sight of God according to their obedience or disobedience to God is not natural for there is no other condemnation buâ— the light which whosoever believes in it are the children of it and who are children of it are children of God and heirs of the everlasting inheritance and they that walked in it was the light of the World and their light shined before men and upon whom doth not his light arise Mat. 5.14 Job 25 3. The wicked and deceitful man doth the Lord enlighten they whose deeds are evil though they that rebel against the light knows not the ways of it nor abide in the pathâ— of it Job 24.13 And many such are in this generation and are as Job did see that such have light though they walk not in the paths of it nor known at the ways of it because they hate it but to the light in such are we made manifest and it shall witness us before the Lord And such as were fools and scorners and vvithout understanding the Lord bids them return at his reproof them vvho did hate knovvledge and said I vvill pour out my spirit upon you and make knovvn my vvords unto you but they hated knovvledge and did not chuse the fear of the Lord they vvould none of Gods counsels but despised all his reproof therefore saith God they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices for the turning away of the simple shall slay them and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them Prov. 1.23 29 30 32. Mark this is one with your case who hate the light which doth reprove you by you the simplicity of Christ is turned away and despised and your folly remains who hate the light and calls it natural reason or understanding but Christ calls it the light which is the condemnation of all them that do not believe in it And again to say that is the remainder of Gods image which is natural is blasphemy for the image of God is spiritual Christ the express image of the Fathers person and if there be a remainder of Gods image in all men since the fall as Clapham affirmeth then there remains that which is spiritual in all men but to him I say let all flesh be silent from saying that the light or any thing of Gods image is natural for such things will not the Lord suffer unpunished Pr. Again Clapham in the 12. Section of his Book saith That God is said to be a respecter of persons and brings Gen. 4.4 5. to prove it The Lord had respect unto Abel but unto Cain he had no respect Answ. Abel was righteous and Cain was wicked and God had respect unto the righteous and unto the seed and so it is now in all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People every one that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him as Abel was And God is no respecter of persons for unto Cain God saith If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted so if Cain had done well he should have been accepted as Abel was So let God be true and every man a lyar that saith God is a respecter of persons when as the Scripture saith God is no respecter of persons neither did the Apostles respect any mans person but declare against such as do calling such filthy dreamers which had mens persons in admiration because of advantage and those were they which spoke great swelling words and separated themselves sensual having not the spirit against whom Jude is a witness Jude 8 16 17. and against such are we witnesses and the Apostle James in his Epistle to the twelve Tribes he is a witness against such that respect persons and told them that the Law which is light would convince them that it was sin and such was traâ—sgressors and did not abide in the doctrine of Christ hath not the Father nor the Son as John witnesseth 2 John 1.9 and all such as do respect persons now the Law of Christ which is written in the heart whose Law is light will convince them to be transgressors and so the light which convinceth is one with the Apostles doctrine but contrary to Jo. Clapham Pr. Which again saith That grace is a created thing and that the Scriptures calls it the new creature and brings Eph. 2.10 2 Cor. 5.17 to prove it Answ. Here is no such
the sight of the bird Try all things by measure of the spirit hold that which is good A friend to righteousness I am and a lover of thy soul. R. H. IN thy former Book thou hast been proved to deny the Father Son and Spirit and denied that there is any thing in thee above nature And in this book also thou hast made it manifest to be guided only by the naturall senses and so to be sensuall having not the Spirit and so in this thy sensual wisdom without the Spirit of God thou goest about to prove us to be the Harlot and to be upon two dangerous designs the first by our Doctrine the second by the Sword First as from our Doctrine to prove it thou bringest four particulars as first that wee say That the peoples soules understanding and reason were carnall fleshly and unto condemnation To which I answer All people which hate the light of Christ as thou dost and set up reason and imagination to be their guide knows nothing above nature in them their senses are reprobate and their understandings darkened and their reason carnall and fleshly which is for condemnation with the light and to those that were sensual whose reason was carnall and flâ—shly did the Apostles minister condemnation as thou mayst read in the Scripture and yet that proved them not to be harlotâ— but their design in their Doctrine was to exalt Christ which is the true light and lighteneth every one that cometh into the World and our design is the same against which no inchantments lyes nor fals accusations from Priest or Atheists can prevail The second particular wherein thou would prove us to be the Harlot and our design to be dangerous is because we say That Christ lighteneth every one that cometh into the world And to this thou thy self in the fifth page of thy Book confessest to be a truth cleere from Scripture and that this light discovers to every one that will both good and evill and in the fourth page thou callest this particular That Christ hath lightened every one that comes into the World a pure truth and yet thou would make the people believe that we were the Harlot for holding forth the pure truth and so thy own breath as fire shall devouâ— thee And hereby the pure truth of God which we hold forth is cleared and thou broken to pieces by the stone upon which thou fallest But all the Atheisme and all the Priesâ—s doctrine cannot make the people so blind as to believe that holding forth the pure truth of God will make us to be an Harlot or our design dangerous and here thou hast manifested â—hy spirit that all may see what we are accused for and by whom being accused to be harlots hereticks deceivers and deluders blasphemous and dangerous because we hold forth the pure truth of God according to the Scriptures yeâ— so far hath God turned the wise backwards and made their wisdom foolishnesse that even our enemies and accusers are forced to confesse that it is holden forth to the pure truth according to the Scripture for which we are accused as T. Winterton hath done to his owne shame and confusion The third particular from which thou would prove us to be the harlot and our designs dangerous are in these words which thou sayest thou gathered from our Doctrine That whatsoever believers in this light it is as a fire and a hammer to break and consume all carnall lust and fleshly and selfish desires whatsoever that now they cannot sin Ans. Here thou hast gathered that which we have not strewen and in thy imaginations thou hast gathered thy evill thoughts conceiving of that which never was spoken from us as thou speakest it and now they cannot sin But this I say that he that believeth in the light and follows Christ who is the light shall have the light of life and shall never come into condemnation if he abide in the light which comes from Christ the Word which is as a fire and a hammer which where it dwels consumes all carnall and fleshly lusts And hereby it is easily known who have the word from them who have but the letter And whereas thou sayest that light is but to discover and not active at all here thou hast shewed thy self to be ignorant both of the light and of the Scripture which saith the light of Israel shall be for a fire and it shall burn up and devour his thorns and bryers in one day And this light was witnessed to burn and consume that which is contrary to it and whereas thou sayest that if we will be purged we must seek somthing else for light will not doe it I answer God is light as in 1 John 1.5 and Christ is the light John 8.12 and if God and Christ who is the light will not do it then what else must people seeke unto to be purged And again thou sayst thou deniest that light or any thing within man or without man doth or ever did so cleanse purifie and make perfect the souls of men and then thou addest to make up thy darke saying as that it were safe and convenient to allow them no other guide or director but the dictates of their own light spirit within them As for the latter thou mayst take it to thine own for we deny all those which walks after their owne whether thou call it light or dictates for that which is their own is darknesse and not light but those that follow the light of Christ and deny that which is their owne for his sake we owne And as for thy former to deny that light or any thing within or without man doth or ever did cleanse or purifie and make perfect the sons of men let all here take notice of thy Atheisme who hath denied Christ and his light either either within or without men to do it The fourth particular by which thou would prove us to be the Harlot and our designes dangerous is in these words That now the Scripture is no more a guide for us to walk by nor nothing without them but the light within them and that seeks after any other guide but that within him is in the flesh still Which words are thy one and was not so spoken by any of us But to thee I say that the Scripture which did foresee that which we now do see we owne to be one with the light which was before the letter and to be our guide in the way of truth and this guide is within us but by the Scripture letter without thee thou neither sees nor foresees the things which belong to eternal life which if ever any come to see it must be by the light of Christ within them and all who own this light and with it is guided cannot deny the Scriptures which was spoken forth from the light within Again thou wouldest accuse E. B. to be changing in his doctrine from one thing to another
because he said that all strife and contention and revenge was of the flesh and of the Divel and to be condemned with the light which testimony is also true and this testimony can we never deny nor change from And whereas thou bringest his salutation to contradict that where he saith Make war in righteousnesse against Gog and Magog and prepare for the Lord. Herein thou hast manifested thy blindness which cannot see the war which stands in righteousnesse from that which proceeds from the lust but as thou hast imagined carnally of all the things of God which was spoken from the same spirit and so as well may thou make lyes and pervert our words as thou dost the Scriptures and now having published many lyes against us thou makest a profession of thy own condition that all people may see froâ— what thou judgest us to be in delusion thy words are these Now forasmuch as I have not an infallâ—ble spirit infallibly to interpret what may be intended in these revengfull expositions notwithstanding my imaginary faculty might find ground enough of bad consequence in them yet I shall leave them to better judgments as in the ninth page of thy book Ans. Thy now leaving of us to better judgments or to them that have the spirit of truth will not excuse thee for what thou hast done already that hath had nothing to judge us by all this while that thou hast spoken and written against us but evill consequences out of thy imaginary faculty How art thou fallen from what thou seemedst to pretend against us in thy books as if thou hadst known that we had held forth false Doctrine or intended a carnall war because we spake of a war in righteousnesse But now thou speakest plainly that thou hast not the spirit of Truth truly to interpret what we intend in our expressions but leeves it to better judgments Here thou hast manifested thy self a foolish builder it had been lesse shame for thee if thou hadst not begun then having begun in thy imaginary faculties and bad consequences and now confessest thou wantest the spirit of Truth here thou hast proved thy selfe to be the Harlot and fit to be chased out of the Citie who doth raise strife accusations and lyes against the truth of God from thy imaginary faculties and bad consequence being without the spirit of truth Again in thy answer to E. B. salutation thou boasts from thy imaginary faculty and sayst in thy 11. page O thou proud presumptuous ambitious Quaker whence is thy originall thou art not yet seven yeares old and art thou the only people of the whole creation in the favour of the Almighty therefore woe be to them that live to see thee prosperous to a manly age Answ. Our original is before all ages or the number of years and before any imaginary faculties which is thy rule was and this in time being brought forth which before all times was they who are found in their imaginary faculties as thou art the woe comes upon them and thy woe and torment will increase as the truth increaseth as it was from Christ to the Jewes Scribes and Pharises in the dayes of his flesh who questioned the truth of his word from the youngnesse of his yeares as thou dost his truth now having nothing to judg with but thy imaginary faculties having nothing of infallible spirit and yet thou goes on accusing us that we deny all matter and form of worship I say where the spirit of truth is which thou sayst thou hast not there is both the matter and form of the true worship owned and not denied which spirit we have and know both the matter and form but in thy imaginary faculties there is neither And whereas thou sayest that we deny actuall obedience and the authority of the Scriptures that is false for by that authority that gave forth the Scriptures are we daily in actuall obedience to the Lord. Again thou bringest several particulars which thou callest the markes of the Harlot by which she may be known as first in her language which is to speak the word Thou to a particular person in stead of You thou wouldest make the language of the Harlot then all the Prophets Christ and the Apostles did speak the language of the Harlot and then the Scripture is translated in the language of the Harlot which doth not use the word You to any particular person But here thou hast made it more manifest to be without the spirit and to speak from thy imaginary faculties The second mark is her weapons which is saying that people is carnall and in the flesh and that they know not the light of Christ but stumble at the stumbling-stone and are in the cursed ground and that they cannot believe though the truth be declared unto them they having not the spirit but are in their sins And this thou sayest is the weapon of the Harlot Answ. Now these words were all used by the Ministers of the most high God against the Harlot as thou art manifest to be who stumbles at the stumbling-stone as it is written Romans 9.32 John 11.9 10. Here thou may see they which were no harlots told them they stumble at the stumbling-stone and told some that they were carnall 1 Corinthians 3.3 and the Prophets told them they had eyes and could not see eares and could not hear and hearts and could not understand Isaiah 44.18 and this was no marke of a Harlot in the Prophet but they whom he said was so was Harlotted from the Lord and Christ told them that they were yet in their sins and told them they should die in their sins John 8.24 if they belâ—eved not and told them they were of their father the Divell and had not known God but was from beneath John 8. And these thing in Christ was no marke of a harlot but they were harlots whom he so Judged and so thy marks discover thee The third mark Her presumption attempting to share with the Almighty And this which thou calls presumption is to be guided by God and hereby thou doth accuse all the Saints of God for they all did so far presume as to be guided by God and by his spirit and to say that all the children of the Lord should be taught of the Lord and this was no presumption nor no mark of the harlot and they said as he is so are wee in this present World and this was no presumption nor the marke of the harlot but humility if thou were not blind thou would see it The fourth mark is pretending to own the Scriptures and speak much of Religion and yet have nothing in matter form or essence Answ. This hath marked out thy condition that pretends to owne the Scriptures and professeth them and hath not that Spirit which gave them forth being guided by the imaginary faculties and so without the power and effect of that which thou professeth but we by that spirit which gave them forth
his folly but our judgement in this is known he that can receive it let him and the belief of the wicked we shall not beg In these things we are approved of God and in the denial of all false imitations and who is he that shall condemn In the 14 th Head concerning Prayer Concerning prayer we do not contradict the scripture in our practâ—ce J.S. is the lyar herein who hath made it a subject to treat two leafs upon for praying in the spirit and by the spirit and in publick and private too we own and do practice as is known to thousands our Enemies can witness for us and according to the scriptures too and not contradicting to it any way But this is the offence against him at which he is troubled that we should deny the prayers of the Pharisees or of such who are in the steps of the prayers of the Pharisees viz. who for a pretence make long prayers and stand praying in the synagogues who are out of Christs and the Apostles Doctrine and the prayers and practices of such we do not deny according to the scripture which saith the sacrifices of the wicked are abomination to the Lord and they shall receive greater condemnation who make long prayers for a pretence as it is manifest concerning many in this genetation and against the praying of the Hypocrites and of Hirelings who pretend to pray in love to souls when as if they had not a great sum of money from the people would not pray among them but seek a place to pray at among such who would give them money and hire and this praying is for a pretence and we do deny it in publick and do not offend God herein though we vex J. S. hereby because some wil not worship the Beast and bow a hat off while he is praying in an idols Temple which he complains of in J.P. though he himself that prayâ— hath a cap on and he confesses himself not wicked mens prayers are accepted publick or private and here he hath condemned all his own praying who confesses he is wicked and sinful and his heart is old and lying let all take notice of this which if he had not confessed it it is sufficiently proved Then why shall he ever hereafter be offended seeing his prayers are not accepted according to his own confession if any tell him so or declare against his praying and before any can truly pray they must receive the Spirit of the Father and them we know who are not led by the Spirit of the Father them and their prayers are to be declared against by the Saints and are condemned in the sight of God And J. S. saith If this counsel be followed viz waiting in the Light till the Spirits leadings be known it makes known nothing of publick Ministers Church-Officers Baptism Lords Supper publick order of prayer nor of Christ as Mediator nor of the Spirit of promise c. The Light that every man hath makes manifest nothing of this he saith he in this is a lyar and as landerer of the people of God who are led by the moving of the Spirit in the Light of the Word Christ Jesus that lighteth every man and owneth the publick Ministry of Christ which is received by the Holy Ghost and Church and Baptism and Christ as Mediator and the Spirit of promise and all these things all the Saints upon earth who have the spirit of Christ shall witness against J.S. herein to be a lyar of the Light and Spirit of God and so is a transgressor and his wickedness may largely be laid open but the least of the children of Light may see his folly and madness who also lyingly saith that Quakers they nourish up people in the Light that every man hath which is the Light of Christ Jesus in opposition to Scripture-Light This is also utterly false and a lye and the Author proved to be of the Devil for the Light of Christ leads up in the fulfilling of the Scripture and not in opposition to it but by his lightness and lyes he is made manifest to be a deceiver of the people and so take thy own words in thy conclusion to thy self thou art he that is alienated from the Scripture and from the Spirit of God also by thy lying spirit of contradiction which is manifest in thy Writings In his 15. Head concerning singing We do not contradict the Scripture herein again thou art a lyar but singing with the spirit and with understanding we own of such as are redeemed out of the World and are not of the World but singing of David's experiences sung in the World by such who are of the World this singing we do deny as it is practised in this generation in Rhime and Meeter in a vain multitude of people where all or most of them do dishonor God in singing Davids words which themselves are out of the life of and in a life quite contrary singing the Law of God is dear to them and that they exercise themselves in it when every moment of time they are exercised in wickedness and cast the Law of God behind them and thus singing lyes and that which is not true to them yet in the Name of the Lord. Other Reasons many may be given why we deny singing in this form and manner and way as singing is practised in this generation but this instance is sufficient to all honest people but cavillers mouths are not soon stopped not by the truth And all J. S. professes as to maintain this manner and practice of singing are all impertinent he proves that the saints sang and were exhorted to it but what is this to the purpose to prove the World must sing who are unconverted which singing we oppose onely and not the saints singing in 〈◊〉 spirit who are moved to it by the spirit O thou lyar Wherâ—fore dost thou say To be against singing Davids words by the World in Rhime and Meeter as we do is contrary to Eph. 5. Col. 3. doth these scriptures hold forth any such thing let the Reader try as that Davids experiences may be sang in the World in Rhime and Meeter nay they do not and so thou art a lyar on the scriptures to be taken notice of and marked for a wrester of the scriptures and in this we have often declared our minds by words and writings that poetry and J. Hopkins and T. Sternolds brain-invention we have denied yet Davids Psalms wâ— have owned and do own them as they were given forth by the spirit of God and not as they are perverted and added and diminished to such a compass of syllables as they are now in practice and thus I have given you a further testimony for and against singing wherein we deny it and wherein we own it and so leaves his muddy stuff and so counts it not worth raking in onely a lye or two or more he is proved in as the Reader may take notice also of
it fall into Scripture contradiction but R.F. nor others wil therefore c. This is unfound and laid down but not proved at all neither maâ—or nor minor and hereby he hath concluded wickedly the Apostle Iames and Christ himself to be fallen into Scâ—ipâ—ure contradictions who did exprâ—sly forbid all swearing and did not compare the precepts and examples for Swearing with the prohibition against it and thus J. S. is taken uttering folly with his tongue hath drawn a conclusion upon Christ and the Apostle Iames to be contradictors of Scripture let shame cover his impudent forehead And they that charge Christ and the Apostle James with contradicting Scripture are enemies to God and of the Devil and for eternall vengeance but Iohn Stelham hath done so and therefore he is an enemy to God and of the Devil and for eternal vengeance But further at large as concerning Swearing our testimony thereof is laâ—d down at large in a Book called The glory of the Lord arising And whereas further I. S. as a man not weary of iniquity goes on after his false charging of us with contradicting to scripture â—harges us again that we contradict our selves in many things which accusation we bear with as much patience as we do his former seeing they are all out of one heart and to the same end for it is a small thing for us to be judged by man and so that wherein he charges us with self-contradictions I passe lightly over having cleared the truth That we do not contradict the Scriptures but if this man J. S. had been in Generations past what would he have said of Isaiah who was sent to tell Hezekiah from the Lord That he should die and not live 2 King 20.1 At the same instant of time the word of the Lord came again to Isaiah that Hezekiah should be healed and that he should go up to the house of the Lord These were both the words of the Lord to Hezekiah and yet no contradiction in Isaiah though such a Spirit as J. S. would so have judged And what would he have judged betwixt David and Ieremiah Psal. 119. and the 103. and Jer. 23.29 David saith The Words of the Lord are sweet unto his taste yea sweeter than the honey to his mouth And Jer. saith Thè Word of the Lord is as a fire and like a hâ—mmer which breaks the Rock to pieces Now there is no contradiction in these two not to that Spirit by which they are guided though so it might seem to such as J.S. whose mindes are dark And what would he have judged of Christs words Matth. 12.30 and Mark 9.40 where Christ said He that is not with me is against me and he that is not against us is with us â—nd yet in these words there is not contradiction to him that hath an ear to hear But if J.S. had been in those dayes out of his evil heart would he have charged the holy men of God to be contradictions to themselves it is very like that he would and these things I leave with the Reader to be considered of for we who have the same Spirit do clear Christ and the holy men of God from contradictions and knows J.S. and such as he to be seekers of occasions against the Just and would make offâ—nces where there is none for as I have said we do not allow J.S. to be the Interpreter of our words for then no question but he would have his own end and meaning and J. S. saith We deny the letter of the Scripture to be Scripture this is charged upon him to be a lye as it is well known through this Nation both in Doctrine and conversation we own the Scriptures and to deny Matthew Mark and Johns Declarations of the Gospel is no denyal of the Scripture for the Gospel was preached to Abraham which Gospel was and is the power of God before these four men did declare it though we deny their Writings to be the very Gospel which is the power of God yet we do not deny but they truly declared of the Gospel and this is to own the Scripture as it speaks of it self to be Let J. S. judg what he will of us and whereas he speaks of Gospel-letters and Scripture Gospel the Scripture gives no such names to it but saith the Gospel is the power of God and that is the Gospel which we preach even the power of God unto all people let J. S. judge by consequence what he will And further he would plead for the Title of Master from the Example of Abrahams Servant but this is nothing to prove the lawfulnesse of a Minister of Christ that they may be called Master for Christ saith to his Ministers Be ye not called Masters and the Spirit of Christ being our rule that leads us in the fulfilling of Christs words let J. S. shuffle as he will Also he lyes of J.N. to say he denyes and grants the same thing to be in the letter for though he say He that believes hath the witnesse in himself which is truth yet he doth not say The Letter is the Belivers witnesse which he seems falsly to be charged withall and he saith the Spirit of God must give the spiritual understanding of the Scriptures But this he doth in another way than that whereby he inspired the Pen-men of the Scriptures Now this is false Doctrine For Christ the way the same to us as to them and not another way of understanding Scriptures nor by another Spirit than that which gave them forth and he saith Christ directed to himself John 5.39 as revealed in the Scriptures and more than that as conveyed by the Scriptures to a Soul Now let the Reader take notice and search that Scripture Whether he hath not added to it yea or nay or where any ever had any Christ conveyed to them by Scriptures It doth say the Scriptures testifie of him but it doth not say that he is revealed in the Scriptures nor conveyed by them to a Soul and this is his additional gloss to corrupt the Text to undervalue the eternal Spirit of the Father by which Christ is only revealed and received and not by the Scriptures And for E. B. to say That he came not to them with enticing words neither what he had gathered from the Scripture without him but to declare the Word of the Lord and not to speak his own conceivings and imaginations this is true and no contradiction in it though J. S. say these cannot both be true to say That he neither came with what he had gathered from Scripture nor his own imaginations For the Apostâ—es of Christ did not preach what they had gathered from Scripture neither their own imaginations but preached the Worâ— and Gospel of God which they had received from God and not gathered from Scripture nor in their own imaginations and because he saith both these negatives cannot be true then it is concluded that himself preaches either what
offence now to preach the word of Faith to be as a little light or to preach the annointing to be as a little light in those in whom the light is little doth this also offend you What then if we should say That Christ is the light of life the son of righteousness the glory and express figure of the Fathers substance in some and but as a little light or day-star in others or in others as a light before the day-star arise in their hearts Is not the light great in some little in others And is not Christ the same May that only be called Christ which takes away the sins And may not that also be called Christ which pierceth through the soul revealeth the thoughts of many hearts Luke 2.35 May he only be called Christ unto whom the Father hath given the Heathen for his inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession who reigneth and hath all his enemies under his feets is not he the same as he is descended into the lower parts of the earth which took upon him the form of a servant So therefore that none may err in their judgments concerning the testimony which is given of Christ of his light his light is more or less according to his manifestation in every one there being given to every one a manifestation of the spirit to profit withal every one is to be turned to the measure of their manifestation to know witness Christ in it though in many it be but as a little light yet they are to be turned unto it while it is so which as it doth encrease is enlarged it may be called or declared under another name than little as the Kingdom of Heaven is not alwayes like unto a grain of mustard-seed nor as a little leaven but comes to rule in the children of men And whereas the Accuser replieth against the light and against Christ to be the word of Faith saying Christ is called the Word of God Rev. 19.13 but not the Word of Faith and yet saith in page 45. That Christ 〈◊〉 the Author and finisher of Faith Answ. If Christ be the Word of God and faith come by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God then how is it that he is not the word of Faith being that word by which Faith comes when it is heard and he being the Author of it may he not then as well be called the Word of it as the Author of it seeing he is the Word by which it comes but that all may understand what this word of faith was which the Apostle preached This was Christ Rom. 10. and they preached no other Word to be the Word of faith but Christ That whosoever believed on him should not be ashamed So that if the ignorance of Christ and of the Apostles words were blotted out of the hearts of our Accusers they would be silent and the daily reproach would cease And whereas it is affirmed by us That the Light or a measure of Christ within is a sure word of prophesie or a more sure word of prophesie as Peter saith 2 Pet. 1 19. And whereas many are offended at this and labours to make people believe that this is the Writings of the Prophets which is the more sure Word of Prophesie the Apostle speaks of because he saith Knowing this first that no prophesie of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation for the prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost c. Answ. Now I shall make it appear that it was not the Writings of the Prophets which was that more sure Word as first concerning that here is one thing held out to be a sure Word and another thing held out to be more sure as unto thoâ—e to whom it was spoken And as concerning the first That whâ—ch is held out to be a sure Word is that which came from the Father the voice which came from the excellent Glory saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and this voice which came from heaven the Disciples hâ—ard when they were with him in the holy Mount This was a sure Word when it was spoken and when it was written it was a sure testimony as sure as any of the Prophets Writings for the Prophets did see that he was to come and he that was to come was the well beloved Son of the Father and they wrote this down and it was a sure testimony of Christ and Peter and the rest saw that he was come and did hear the voice from the excellent glory proclaiming him 〈◊〉 be the Son of God and when they had seen it they wrote it down and this was a sure testimony yea a surer then the Prophets and that which the Apostles were eye-witnesses of and did write down for truth was as much to be taken heed unto as that which the Prophets declared and this will all men of understanding judge that the Apostle Peter did not direct the people to the Prophets words to take heed to them because they were more sure then his own and more to be believed But although the Apostles words and writings were confirmed with more power and witness of the Spirit then the Prophets and both true yet the Apostles Ministry unto those which did not see those things which the Prophets saw much less those things the Apostles saw no not so far as the dawning of the day nor to the day-â—â—ar risen in their hearts therefore Peter dividing the Word of God aright saith unto them We have a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 It was more sure for them to take heed unto that which was as a light shining in a dark place till the day-star did arise and the day dawn in their hearts then the declaration from others without them declared in words and writings as thus for example by experience to suâ—h I shall direct my speech who cannot witness the day dawned nor the day-star risen in their hearts nor hath heard the voice from the excellent Glory to such I say That which I have seen and heard the visions power and glory wherein I am an eye-witness of his glory and of his appearance this I may declare and write unto you and you may believe it But to such I say It is more sure for them to take heed to the light that shines in the dark place till they come to witness in themselves the day dawned and day-star risen and the Son of God made manifest in them then to take heed to the words which I have declared though it be a true testimony for the Apostle did not write to himself nor say that it was more sure unto him but unto
done so that they do not only exceed the false prophets of Israel but also all the Robbers both in Israel and in England hath not spoiled so much Goods and Cattel as they have done within these five years some without any Law or pretence of Law and others with false oaths and false witnesses and the Law not permitting a man to give in a true witnesse except he will swear contrary to Christs command who saith Swear not at all which swearing is as great a sin as bearring of a false witnesse And by theâ—e things do they seek to wear out the Saints of the Most High God first taking away a mans Goods and then casting him into prison as Christ said to the Saints so is it come to pass in these dayes also amongst us The Devil shall oast some of you into prison and you shall have tribulation ten dayes If the Devil now or his Ministers or Messengers of Satan be permitted to cust some into prison or bring tribulation upon others do they therefore think that we will yeild to the devil or to his Messengers that we may be free from tribulation and imprisonment Nay that is not the price of our redemption nor way of deliverance â—or that which was written before-time was written for our â—earning which through suffering and patient continuing in wel doing we have learned without which we could never have learned nor known Christ's words fulfilled as they are therefore happy iâ— that day wherein the everlasting love of God is broken forth unto us in bringing us his children prophets and holy Apostles to rejoice over the false Prophets and false Teachers though they spoil our Goods and imprison our bodies yet we can rejoyce over them and suffer the spoâ—ling of our Goods with joy knowing that this is for a testimony against them by which the reproach which the Lord will bring upon them will appear to all men And this is so far from silencing our testimony against them that it doth daily renew it so that if all that which is past were forgotten their daily abominations doth so increase that a testimony must be continued against them for of them the Scripture is true which saith Evil men and deceivers wax worse and worse for the deceiver in former ages was never so bad as by force to take away the goods of those that would not hear them and take away their lives by imprisonment as some have done because they could not pay them tythes as this Record of the unjust sufferings will make manifest Our brethren the prophets hâ—ve given their testimony concerning such Prophets and Priests which was prophane and that the Lord found folly amongst them as Jeremiah saith Jer. 23. he had seen a horrible thing amongst them they strengthned the hand of evil-doers that none did return from their iniquity and it is so now for these reasons How can a drunkard return from his drunkenness when he sees his priest drunk and how can a swearer return from his swearing when he sees his priest swear and hire men to swear falsly as many have done in this Nation And how can a covetous man return from his covetousness when he sees his priest so covetous that he taketh away mens goods by violence which he hath no right unto but only through covetousness makes merchandize of People So how should any return from such things who are taught by them and how can a proud man return from his pride when he sees his teacher lead him into it by example How can an envious man turn from his envy seeing his teacher envious and provoking others to wratâ— and envy So these Reasons prove that the Prophets words are true that â—one can return from their iniquity by following the practise of theiâ— Priests and Christ's words are fulfilled also Math 23. which saith they lay heavy burthens upon people grievious to be born and devour Widowes Houses as many in this Nation can wiâ—nâ—sse who have their Goods spoild taken from them as this following Record makes mention abounding all the cruelty and wickedness which ever was heard of or read of exceeding all the false prophets in Israel althoug they had a price preached for hire yet they never did use such cruelty for their Hire as these have done and exceeding all the false teachers among the Gentiles which never was known to sue any at the Law that would not hear them much less to take from them seven times the value of what they demanded but the Lord doth for a time let his children deeply suffer to fulfill the testimony of truth in this thing that it may be recorded for ages to come the faithfullness of their testimony and the cruelty of their oppressors and then will the Lord finish the testimony of their sufferings and will give them an inheritance among the Seed which he hath blessed and all their persecutors shall be ashamed for God will bring an everlasting reproach upon them and a perpetual shame which shall not be forgotten Jer. 23. Richard Hubberthorne A Call to the Ministry according to the Scriptures held forth in these few words following contrary to that Call which is of man and by man To the Reader IT being of the Lord so ordered that a publike Dispute was appointed betwixt Thomas Dance Priest in Sandwich in Kent and those called Quakers which was upon the twelfth and thirteenth days of the second Month in which many weighty things concerning Religion was discoursed of in which it was first proved by us according to the Scripture That Christ Jesus the true Light hath enlightened every one that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 and Joh. 12. And another weighty matter concerning Religion discoursed upon was the righteousness by which man is justified before God which by us was witnessed and proved to be only by the righteousness that was in Christ Jesus being also made manifest in us the everlasting righteousness being brought in according to Dan. 9.24 Again upon the tenth day the discourse was Whether the Scriptures were the Word of God The answer was That the Scriptures were Writings and the Writings was not the Word but the thing written of was the Word of God Unto which the Priests also consented Another thing was concerning the Call to the Ministry whether theirs or ours was according to the Apostles and according to the Scriptures the heads of both which Calls are declared as followeth that all people may judge according to their measure of the gift of Christ whether of them is according to Scripture-Testimony THat by which the Apostles were called into the Work of the Ministry having gifts differing according to the measure of the manifestation of Christ by the same am I called which is also according to the Scriptures as Eph. 4. Unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gifts of Christ by which gift according to the measure of it were they made some Apostles some
Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers c. And this was by the power virtue and operation of the gift of Christ in them and as then so now for there is not another way to be called into the Ministry by neither doth any profit the people at all but they who minister from the power and moving of that gift which they have received from the Father by Jesus Christ by which gift was I called out of the World and separated for the Work of the Gospel by which gift I saw that which had corrupted the earth and by it was moved to minister against it which gift is that which hath the power in it both to convince and convert unto God according as the Apostle Peter who was unlearned in the Letter vvas made a Minister by the gift of the Spirit of Christ and saith 1 Pet 4.10 As every one hath received the gift even so let him minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God And if any man speak let him speak as the Oracle of God and if any man minister lee him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified So that that Ministry by which God is glorified and people converted is that which proceeds from the operation and power of his own gifts in them which is that Ministry which perfecteâ—h the Sâ—ints edifies the body of Christ brings into the unity of the Faith unto the knowledge of the Son of God and unto a perfect man and unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. But they vvhich gather Scriptures together in their earthly Wisdom and from that which they have gathered minister unto others this Ministry doth not perfect the Saints nor edifie the body of Christ nor bring to the unity of the Faith but into strife and divisions nor to the knowledge of the Son of God but leads from his knowledge nor unto a perfect man but pleads against perfection nor unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ no not unto the measure of the least Saint so that Ministry is to be ceased from vvhich proceeds not from the measure of the Father's gift and that onely continued unto the end of the World vvhich his gift calleth into and carryeth on in So I by the measure of his free Spirit being called and made a Minister of it unto others not of the letter but of the spirit in which in all ages the true Ministry stood having not received it of man neither was I taught it but by the revelation and manifestation of the life of Christ in me Which Spirit in me according to its measure is as true and as infallible as it was in them which by it were made Apostles Evangelists Prophets and Teachers formerly being the same in power virtue and operation as it was as able to reveal and make manifest to teach edifie and perfect as it was and to beget people out of the World into the Covenant of Light and Life and all who are Ministers of Christ for the gathering of his seed from the ends of the Earth into the Kingdom of his dear Son must from the same Spirit witness their call and separation to that Work and all other calls are false and their Ministry profits not which doth not singly proceed from the measure of that gift but all who do abide in the measure of his gift and from it minister by it they are manifest to be of God and in that Ministry they commend themselves unto every mans Conscience in the sight of God and this is the calling and Ministry in which as every one abides they glorifie God And this is the Ministry of reconciliatâ—on which was committed unto the Apostles and is unto his Ministers now by the power of which the Devil's Work comes to be destroyed and then all things reconciled in one things in heaven and things in earth But that Ministry which is received from man and taught by man never reconciles any thing unto God but doth separate from God and beget into enmity but that which proceeds from the measure of the gift of God brings every one to know the truth in their own particular which Truth as they abide in it sets them free from sin and this Ministry hath the power in it in all them that have received it to save them that preach it and them that hear it and obey it no other Ministry doth profit the people at all but that which from the gift of God is ministred so that this call and Ministry here declared is one with and according to the Apostles and the Scriptures The Heads of Priest Dance his professed Call to the Ministry as followeth Pr. If I should speak non-sence as others do then I might say that I am made a Minister by the measure of the gift of Grace and then I should be accounted a Minister as well as they c. But I do not pretend to any infallibility in my Ministry but as these Acts 6 6. which when the Apostles had prayed laid their hands upon them although saith he that laying on of hands is not of such necessity but that a man may be a Minister without it and as Timothy although he had some extraordinary gifts yet he was not infallible 1 Tim. 4.14 and saith he I desire the Office of a Bishop which he that desireth desireth a good work according to 1 Tim. 3.1 And as for his Qualifications they are such as whereby he might have advantaged himself more abundantly in the world as to outward means nnd might have been cloathed in Sâ—aâ—let c. but did rather chuse and incline himself to be a Minister of the Gospel and that the outward means was not his end in chusing to be a Minister but if that he could be satisfied or see that there did not want labourers in the Lords work he could freely leave off c. And further he said That God had made his preaching effectual for the converting of many and that there were many though not in that place yet some in that place of whom he could say as the Apostles said That they were the seal of his Ministry c. These being the heads of the particulars Objections against this Call WHereas thou sayest That it is non-sence to say that a man is made a Minister by the gift of grace Ans. Then the Apostles spake non-sence when they witnessed forth their call to the Ministry for to every one of them was given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ from which Grace they did minister Eph. 4. But the Apostles spoke sensible truth therefore he that contradicts it speaks non-sence and ignorance as will further appear in saying that he pretends unto no infallibility in his Ministry Ans. Then he pretends to nothing of the Spirit of God much less to be a Minister of the Spirit
elected Ans. There he hath belyed the Ministers of the gospel for they could discern the elect from the World as it is written Ye shall discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not and Paul and Peter vvrote to the Elect So these Teachers vvho knovv not the Elect and yet exhort all their hearers to believe and lay hold on Christ their preaching is in vain for if God hath but intended a certain number to be saved and the rest to be condemned then they set their Hearers on work in vain and many to expect that vvhich they are never like to have So these people are in a miserable state And note that these Priests though they take sums of money and tythes of their Hearers in many parishes in the Nation yet they know not vvho are elected among them according to this mans words Pr. That the Sword of the Spirit is ineffectual without the Letter Ans. The Svvord of the Spirit is the Word of God vvhich vvas effectual before the Letter vvas to Enoch to Isaac to Jacob to Abraham and others and from the Word vvas the Letter given forth and the Letter is not effectual without it Pr. That there was no Scripture written but what is extaut and in the Bible Ans. Yes against that shall the Scripture bear witness the Book of Nathan the prophet the Book of Ahijah the Book of Iddâ— 2 Chron. 9.29 the Book of Shemaia 2 Chron. 20.15 the Book of Gad 1 Chron. 29.29 the Book of Jehu 2 Chron. 34. the Book of Jasher 2 Sam. 1.18 the prophesie of Enoch Jude 2. one Epipistle of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 5.9 one Epistle to the Ephesians Eph. 3.3 one Epistle to the Laodiceans Col. 4. All these Scriptures vvere given forth from the same spirit and to the same end and use as those are which are bound up in the Scriptures although these be left out Pr. That there was no Scripture â—or Writings appointed of God to be a Rule of Faith and Manners but what is bound up in the Bible Ans. Those Scriptures which are not bound up in the Bible were given forth from the same spirit and by the motion of the Holy Ghost and so for the same ends and uses that the other Scripture was given forth for and as he appointed the one so the other Pr. That the Letter doth antecede and go before the spirit in all that walk in the spirit Ans. This is false for the spirit did antecede the Letter in all that walked in the spirit who gave forth the Letter from the spirit Pr. That the works of Christ in some respect are not perfect Ans. That is false for every gift of God is perfect and every work of Christ is perfect in all his children but that spirit in thee which is fallible makes nothing perfect and therefore judgeth all things yea Christ and his Works to be fallible and deceivable like it self Pr. That the Law requires more strict and exact obedience than the Gospel Ans. Nay The Law saith Thou shalt not commit adultery but the Gospel saith Thou shalt not lust The Law saith Thou shalt not kill but the Gospel saith Thou shalt not be angry The Law saith Thou shalt not forswear thy self but the Gospel saith Swear not at all Matth. 5. And so the Gospel requires more exact obedience then the Law contrary to this affirmation Pr. That God chose a Devil to be one of his Ministers in chusing Judas and his proof for it is this That the Divine Natuâ—e did not see it good to communicate the knowledge of all things unto the humane nature and therefore though he was a Devil when he chose him yet he knew it not Ans. This is a charging of Christ with ignorance contrary unto John 2.24.25 which saith That Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man And though Judas by transgression became a Devil and the Devil abode not in the Truth doth it therefore follow that he was never in the truth But Christ speaks of him and to him as well as to the rest that they had power to cast out unclean spirits Matth. 10.1 and that the Spirit of the Father spoke in them Matth. 10.20 So that there was no difference while the Spirit of the Father led him and taught till the Devil entered into his heart to betray that Lord of Life So that is a false charge to say That Christ sent out a Devil to minister the Gospel Pr. That the Spirit of God may accompany a Ministry and the Minister not have the Spirit Ans. This is another Doctrine than ever the Prophets or Apostles preached for I never read in the Scripture that ever any did minister for God which had not the Spirit or that ever any was converted unto God by such a Minister as had not the Spirit Therefore prove this assertion to the people where or when the Spirit of God did accompany that Ministry when the Minister had not the Spirit so that thou mâ—ist as well as thou hast said not pretend unto any infallibility nor unto any truth in thy ministry for if thou didst people would see that thou didst pretend unto that which thou art far from So that if thou wouldst not pretend to minister neither no more than to have the Spirit it were better for thee Pr. That the power that went forth in the Apostles Ministry was in God and not in them but as they have it communicated to them by the exercise of Faith Ans. Here thou hast confounded thy self for if they had it communicated to them by their exercise of Faith then it was in them for the exercise of Faith is within in the pure Conscience and so the power was in them from which they ministred and they did not abuse their power but from the power ministred forth their gift as they had received it Thomas Ramsay said That we preach a Doctrine of Devils in saying that men may be free from sin in this life Ans. Then the Apostle Paul preached a Doctrine of Devils For he said Rom. 6 2. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein And in the 7 th verse saith He that is dead is free from sin And in the 18 th verse he saith to the Believers being then made free from sin Ye became the servants of righteousness in ver 22. he again tells them That now being made free from sin and become servants to God you have your fruits unto holiness and the end everlasting life And this was spoken to the Romans while they were in this life and it was not a Doctrine of Devils but the Doctrine of the Gospel and Christ preached the Doctrine of perfection in this life Matth. 5.48 saying Be ye perfect as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect and also it is written Be ye holy for I am
carnal weapons to destroy or overthrow either him or the Government thereby for that is contrary to our life But as for swearing it being contrary both to Christs command and our Consciences as we never have so we never shall swear neither for nor against any Man Power or Government but shall be true and faithful to what we promise and profess And as concerning the Church of God and spiritual things relating unto Gods Kingdom we own onely Jesus Christ as Supream Head Ruler and Lawgiver there according to James 4.1 There is one Lawgiver which is able to save and to destroy and as it is written Ephes. 1.12 that God hath given him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all and as the Apostles did hold forth him to be the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first-born from the dead that in all thâ—ngs he might have the preeminence Col. 1.18 And him we do own as head Ruler and Commander in all matters of Faith Obedience and Worship in things appertaining unto his Kingdom and he onely is to rule give laws and order in the Consciences of men by his spirit light and power and as he is the author of his people Faith so he is the defender of it and them in it and so to him we give the Dominion Rule and Government as Head and Supream over his Church and not unto man so in him who is our Life King and Lawgiver we honour all men and do seek the peace of all men and not the destruction and unto this we do acknowledge and bear witness to who are members of his body which is his Church Richard Hubberthorne George Fox the younger London 23. day 4. Moneth 1660. Antichristianism reproved and the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles justified against Swearing In Answer to John Tombs's six Propositions for the lawfulness of Swearing All which Propositions are both agaâ—nst Christ and his Apostles Doctrine as is here proâ—ed according to the Scriptuâ—es For the satisfaction of all tender Consciences Because of Oaths the Land mourns Hos. 4 And as saith the Prophet every one that sweareth shall be cut off Zach. 5.3 The Epistle John Tombs IS it not a shame for thee who art called a Baptist thus to manifest thy self and divide thy self from thy own people Hast thou not taught people to swear first one way and then another Did ever any of the Apostles so in the Primitive times But on the contrary that people should not swear at all And why dost thou bring the Scripture that was spoken to the Jews and apply it to the Christians And why dost thou bring the Scripture where the Angel sware but brings not the Scripture which saith All Angels must worship the Son who saith Swear not at all So is not this like Antichrist and Anti Apostle that preaches up that which Christ and the Apostles denied as in Mat. 5. James 5. And whereas thou saist in thy Epistle that thy writing is short and indigested in that thou hast said truly for how can they that fear God digest it seeing it is so contrary unto Christ and the Apostles Doctrine And so both thou and it are become an ill savour to God and them that love him but thou shalt be rewarded according to thy work But God hath made thee manifest who hatst so long been hiding thy self under so many false coverings but now art discovered that thou shouldst no more deceive the Nation R. H. But on the contrary from the Scripture it is proved that the Believers and Christians are not to swear at all Therefore to them that are in Christ Jesus no Oath is lawful WE read in the Scriptures of truth Matt. 5.19 That whosoever breaketh the least commandment and teacheth men so he shall be least or not at all in the Kingdom of God But we do find some men especially John Tombs breaking the commands of Christ and teaching men so therefore he is guilty of that judgment but to the first proposition which is this That some swearing is lawful His proofs are these That which is not de toto genere in its whole kind evil may be lawful but swearing is not de toto genere or in its whole kind evil therefore some swearing may be lawful Answ. This argument is thus disproved To break any of Christs commands or to deny the Apostles Doctrine is de toto genere in its whole kind evil but to swear at all by any Oath is to break the command of Christ and to deny the Apostles doctrine as Mat. 5.35 36 37. and Jam. 5.12 Therefore to swear at all is not lawful but evil according to Christ and the Apostles Doctrine and in the state of condemnation Jam 5. Again John Tombs concluding that his major is manifest of it self goes To prove this minor thus That is not wholly evil about the use of which some Directions are given by God but God giveth directions about the use of swearing as Jer. 4.2 And thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth and judgment and righteousness ergo Answ. By the same argument may it as well be proved that the Christians and believers in â—hrist may be circumcised offer incense burnt-offerings and sacrifices because for the use of it God gave some directions and therefore it is lawful but as circumcision incense burnt-offerings and sacrifices of the Law is ended in Christ so is the Oaths which was among the Jews in him ended also to the Believers and by him forbidden for it was said of old time Thou shalt swear and shalt perform thy oath to the Lord but Christ in the 5. of Mat. makes mention of the Jews oath which God gave once directions for yet saith he Swear not at all here Christ puts an end not onely to frivolous and vain oaths but to the true oaths which the Jews was once commanded of God to sweâ—r for these oaths are they which Christs words hath relation to for he came to end the Jews worships and oaths who is the oath of God Christ the truth and righteousness of God saith Swear not at all which ends the Jews which was to swear in truth and righteousness 2 Argument That which is approved by God is lawful but some swearing is approved by God Psal. 63.11 Every one that sweareth by God shall glory ergo Answ. That Scripture Psal. 63.11 saith thus but the King shall rejoyce in God every one that sweareth by him shall glory but the mouth of them that speak lyes shall be stopped This was spoken of David the Anointed of God who was in that covenant of the Law wherein he might swear in truth and righteousness that oath As the Lord liveth and as my soul liveth but there was some in that time which if they used that Oath the Lord liveth surely they swear falsly Jer. 5.2 But what is that to the Christians under the new
Covenant who are under Christs command who saith Swear not at all neither by that oath which David and the Jews swore by nor any other oath but if upon any occasion they were required to testifie their obedience whether they would be subject to such or such things their answer was to be yea or nay and to keep their words which is more then the hypocrites and hireling Priests in these times hath done by their oaths for this we have good experience of that such as do now plead to swear for a thing hath sworn against the same thing and do now preach against that which they have preached for so that they will preach pray or swear any thing for their belly and for filthy lucre and the oath which David was to swear in truth and righteousness who called Christ Lord he that was Davids Lord and glory saith Swear not at all who hath all power and glory Again whereas John Tombs instanceth Abraham Isaac David Solomon Elijah Micah Elisha the women of Shunem and Itai Uriah and Samuel c. their swearing and entring into covenant to be examples for swearing Answ. All these were under the first covenant and was in that which Christ called the old time Mat. 5. and proves nothing that Christians in the new covenant should swear for although Abraham swore and Solomon swore yet Christ which was before Abraham and greater then Solomon saith Swear not at all and although David swore yeâ— he was Davids Lord which said Swear not aâ— all and though the Angels swore by him that liveth for ever yet Christ unto whom all the Angels shall bow and worship saith Swear not at all so that all these arguments and Scriptures doth not prove that it is lawful for the Believers and Christians to swear at all but it is Tombs ignorance in his applying Scripture in disobeying Christs command Again To prove swearing lawful John Tombs saith that Paul put an oath on the Thessalonians 1 Thess. 5.27 which words are these I charge you by the Lord that this Epistle be read unto all the holy brethren Now saith Tombs the Greek word translâ—ted I charge you by the Lord is I put the Lords oath on you or swear you that this Epistle be read to all the holy brethren a like charge are 1 Tim. 6.13 2 Tim. 4.1 c. Answ. This is the long and thick mist of darkness which hath been long kept over the understandings of people that when the plain Scripture will not prove their ends and intents then they tell people it is otherwise in the Greek or Hebrew did not the Translator of the Bible understand Greek as well as John Tombs or are we not to believe the Scripture as it speaks till again it be translated by him but lest he should be wise in his own eys as it is in the Greek it is here set down that all that can read and understand it may judge whether Paul did put an Oath upon them or did swear them to read that Epistle to the brethren As 1 Thess. 5.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is I oblige or charge you in the presence of God c. Not I put the Lords oath upon you or swear you as John Tombs saith for if they did read the Epistle among the brethren then his obligation or charge to them was fulfilled but seeing John Tombs saith he swore them he might have declared in what manner they were sworn seeing Paul was at Athens when he wrote to Thessalonica Again he saith the like charge is in 1 Tim. 6.13 which according to the Greek he would make an oath the words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is I enjoyn or command thee before God not a putting an oath upon them or causing them to swear as John Tombs saith Again he saith there is the like charge or oath put upon them in 2 Tim. 4.1 which in the Greek is thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is I charge thee in the presence of God c. Not that he took him sworn or put an oath upon him that the should preach the word but did charge him to be instant in season and out of season in his Ministery Again John Tombs saith in the times of the Gospel Paul used this Oath 2 Cor. 1.8 But as God is true c. Answ. Now those that mind this Scripture may see that Paul doth onely justifie Christs words in keeping to yea and nay saying that with him it was not yea and nay for saith he ver 18. but as God is true our word toward you was not yea and nay and ver 19. for the Son of God Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us even by me and Sylvanus and Timotheus was not yea and nay for all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen So that this Scripture is so far from bringing people to Oaths and swearing that he labours to bring them all to yea and nay in all things and so to Christ the substance in whom all the promises of God are yea so that the Apostle might well use these vvords That as God vvas true c. so also vvere they true to their yea and nay the end of all oaths other Scripture Tombs bring to prove the Apostles did swear as Rom. 1.9 and 9.1 Gal. 1.20 Phil. 1.8 Answ. As to the first Rom. 1.9 where the Apostle saith for God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of hiâ— Son that without ceasing I make mention of you alwayes in my prayers is this a proof for men to swear and take oathes either for men or against men hath not the man here lost the understanding of a man thus to compare and call this the Apostles oath when he takes God to witness that he prayes for the Saints continually and his saying in Rom. 9 1. I speak the truth in Christ I lye not my conscience also bearing me witness in the holy Ghost that I have great heavinesse and continual sorrow in my heart c and Gal. 1.20 where the Aposâ—le saith Now the things that I write unto you behold before God I lye not is this an oath to testifie the truth of his writings against lyes indeed this we desire that John Tombs and the rest of the Priests in this Nation would write nothing but what God would witness unto the truth of and that they would speak truth before God and not lye then they would not thus abuse the Apostles words and plead for swearing from them when as the Apostles intend no such thing in their words here asserted and whereas it is again said that the Apostle took and oath Phâ—l 1.8 where he saith for God is my record how greatly I long after you in the bowels of Jesuâ— Christ. Now let all honest and sober-hearted men consider whether the truth of God and the Apostles that speak it forth be not abused that from a novice that is lifted
Arguments as Tombs hath used is manifest the ignorance of foolish men wherein their folly appears to all men as the Scripture saith 2 Tim. 3.9 And whereas thou sayest that there is holy and harmlesse Christians and many upright soules whose Consciences are very tender and many godly persons that have excepted against that Oath and the lawfulness of taking of it as fearing it may take away the liberty of their Consciences which is dearer to them then their lives Ans. These that are so are in a better condition then thy self and to such thy ministery if received would beget them from their holy and harmlesse state into trangression of Christs command and from the tendernesse of Conscience into hardnesse of heart and now to answer their objections thou tells them that it was imposed for excluding of the Popes jurisdiction c. if so why doft thou preach it up to be imposed upon the holy harmlesse godly Christians who are redeemed from the Popes power and jurisdiction and is come into the doctrine of Christ and into the life of Christ which is out of all such Oaths Thou art a miserable Comforter to tender Consciences but thy end is seen therefore thou canst not deceive many but for those that thou hast before mentioned who are holy harmless upright and godly which are tender of an Oath they ought to be thy Teachers who thy self art far from righteousness or tenderness of Conscience therefore for thee it is a shame to be an imposer of Oaths upon tender Consciences who professest thy self a Minister of Christ who did forbid all swearing and his Ministers did preach against it and said Above all things swear not at all lest they fall into condemnatien and not into the obedience to Christ's command therefore they that fear God will turn away from such 2 Tim. 3.5 Now saith John Tombs the grand objection against swearing is our Saviour words Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. and Jam. 5.12 which words saith he doth seem expresly and fully to forbid any swearing at all excluding some sorts of Oaths by name and the rest by general terms that our communication should be yea yea nay nay and what is more cometh of evil or of the evil one yet saith he We must of necessity find out a limitation of the speeches as we do and the limitation is this that is frequent vain light prophane unnecessary customary passionate swearing or in secular matters of no importance in these Scriptures are forbidden Ans. Indeed it doth plainly appâ—ar that thou must of necessity either disprove Chrisâ—'s words or else deny thy own seeing they are contrary the one to the other so therefore thou saist that it was those oaths abovementioned that was forbidden by Christ and the Apostles And I shall shew it plainly that thou hast no necessity to limit Christs words to vain and prophane swearing but only that thou wouldst have thy words true and his false for Christs words in Mat. 5. doth not intend such Oaths for he speaks of the true Oaths which was used among the Jews and such Oaths as Christ told them they were to perform for it was not said in old time that they should perform vain light prophane unnecessary customary and passionate oaths but such as they were to perform betwixt the Lord and them the solemn vows covenants which they made in old time to their Kings and one unto another the Christians now by the command of Christ was not to swear these Oaths neither any Oath true nor false so that Christ is not to be limited to intend vain Oaths when as for instance Christ mentions the Jews swearing who was in the Commandment who did deny all vain customary false and passionate swearing so that Jo. Tomb's limitation is taken away and Christs meaning must be as large as his words which is not to swear at all by any Oath but to keep to yea and nay in all promises professions and engagements upon all occasions and so to keep out of the condemnation whereby all peoples consciences may be kept clean to the Lord in all things and they brought to the exercise of a good Conscience for the Lord is now teaching his people himself and bringing them to obey the doctrine of his Son in which they may find peace for their souls and not to be in bondage unto such Teachers as are given to change with every Government who preach as the false Prophets did for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread such are they who preach the lawfulness of swearing or sinning against Christs command but the Lord hath made them manifest and is redeeming his Elect and Chosen from amongst such who have made a prey upon people and fed upon their sins but not upon the life which the Saints was in An Answer to a Book called A just Defence and vindication of Gospel-Ministers and Gospel-Ordinances Put forth by J. G. in which he prâ—tends an Answâ—rs to E. B's Tryaâ— of the Ministers and other things against the Quakers But on the contrary hath manifested that he is altogether ignorant of the Gospel-Ministry and Ordinances as will appear to him to him that reads this Answer with desire to understand the Truth and so to receive satisfaction And instead of clearing the truth in any particular he hath falsly charged God Christ the Holy Spirit the Primitive Churches and the Quakers with such thingt of which they were never any of them guilty as will appear in the following Testimony Given forth from him who desires the edification and satisfaction of all in things appertaining to the Kingdom of God R. H. Psal. 59. The Workers of iniquity have no knowledge there is no faithfulness in their mouth their inward part is very wickedness and with their words they shew forth the same WHatsoever is written or acted against the Truth and those that walk in it is but a fulfilling of the Scripture of Truth which saith The way of the wicked is darkness and they know not at what they stumble Prov. 4.19 although the stumbling-stone be the Light the Foundation of many generations in rejection of which many go about to build and would be approved one of which I shall here mention John Gaskin who would defend and vindicate the Priests their Preaching Practice and Maintenance though contrary unto Christ his Apostles his Light and his Words declared in Scripture as will appear And first That his Testimony may be received he begins in an appearance of feigned humility and begging of Pardon for his slâ—ps and impertinencies and rudeness of stile used against the Quakers saying his work is not with Eloquence nor Humane Arts. In the examination of which we do find that he hath often slipped and used much impertinency of speech and rudeness of stile and neither Eloquence Spirituality or true Humanity in his Works many of which being so plainly seen to all is accounted not worth printing again But something here is mentioned
by which all the other may be compared and judged Again divers Reasons are alledged as a cause of printing J.G. his defence of the Priests First he saith The great malice and envy against the Ministers and the many Letters and printed Books sent by Quakers and the great growth and encrease in Errors and because many of his old Friends and Acquaintance are as he saith seduced from the Church and to strengthen such as are wavering through ignerance and weakness and to clear himself c. and that it might be seen and come into many hands Ans. He that would accomplish those things before-named to wit subdue malice envy and error and instruct the ignorant and him that is out of the way and strengthen the weak he must be such a one as is led by the Spirit and walks in the Light of Christ which is so much hated and contemned by Priests their defenders that first those things may be subdued in themselves and then minister against them in others but none of those things can be done by that spirit which hath ruled in J.G. but that his latter reasons which he saith moved him to print may be fulfilled that is that it may be seen and come into many hands that to thy own shame when they read and consider thy unlearned Logick wherein thou goest to prove that it is not sufficient to bring us to Heaven to be freed from sin for thou saist a Horse hath no sin and so by thy comparison a man without sin is but as a Horse so that thou hast truly said thy work is without Eloquence or Humane Art But seeing thou hast taken in hand to put things to publike view in thy next prove who those men are upon the Earth that are without sin and are not sufficient for the Kingdom of Heaven and whether was it any thing that did separate man from God but sin And was not Christ only made manifest to take away sin And is not man perfectly righteous when his sin is tâ—ken away made the righteousness of God in him which takes it away to wit the Lamb of God which all the Nations of them that are saved must walk in his Light and it is those that hate the Light iâ— against freedom from sin that have no understanding of the mysteries of God which is like the horse or mule whose mouth must be held with bit bridle and are like the beast that perish but they that are freed from sin are not so neither is the horse their comparison but herein thou hast shamed thy self thy Ministers that they should be so ignorant as neither to teach thee better doctrine before thou didst write nor correct thee when thou hadst written but to suffer such a thing to appear in this Nation where Light is broken forth that the state of freedom from sin is no better then the state of a horse but as the Scripture saith Your folly shall be made manifest unto all men Which Scripture is daily fulfilling and we are satisfied in it Again to vindicate the Priests of England to be Ministers of the gospel thou bringst many Scriptures whereby thou wouldst prove them to be lawfully called though they be out of the power of God and want the power of that which they teach p. 7. As the sons of Eli thou saist were lawful Priests though they were wicked men and this is a fit comparison as thou may read in the first of Samuel 2.12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial they knew not the Lord and so according to this thou hast rightly compared the Priests for though they have the name of being called yet know they the Lord no more then the sons of Belial did Again in the same page thou saist The Scribes and Pharisees were called to teach and Judas was a true Apostle from which thou wouldst prove the call of the Priests to be a true call to the ministry Answ. If the Priests did minister as truly as the Scribes and Pharisees did that is read or speak the Scriptures truly then thou mightest exhort the people to do as the Priests say but not to do as they do but seeing that they do not truly speak the Scripture but by consequences pervert it as thou hast done in thy book it is not therefore a good doctrine to bid the people either do as they say or as they do because they both say falsly and do falsly And as for thy comparing of them to Judas as for his being called and receiving part of the Ministry that they are not like unto him in because as yet they have no part nor lot in that matter but for his treachery and covetousness bearing the bag and betraying the Lord of Life for pieces of money in that they may be compared to him But thou saist The wickedness of the person doth not disannul his Office being lawfully called thereunto until he be degraded from that Office And to prove it thou bringst several Scriptures as Ezek. 34.3 where the Shepherds eat the fat and cloath with the wool and did not feed the Flock Isa 56.10 11. They are dumb dogs that cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber they all look to their own way every one for his gain from his Quarter Come ye say they I wâ—ll fetch Wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant And these saist thou were truly called From which example your Ministers as thou thus provest are lawfully called to the work of the Ministry but when these Ministers and people read thy book they wil not much commend thee for such a defence for them but how dost thou prove that those before mentioned were lawfully called unto the work of the Ministry being wicked persons but when thou read'st the Scripture over again thou maist see that those are such as the Lord said did run he sent them not and said the Lord saith when he had not spoken unto them Jer. 14.14 Now in this Vindication thou hast not done any thing of that pretended confuting E.B. his Book called A jusl and lawful Tryal of the Ministers and Teachers of this age but hast rather confirmed it for he truly compared them unto those spoken of before-mentioned and thou hast compared them as to the sons of Eli which were sons of Belial knew not God and so his Book yet stands in force for a tryal to such unanswered And again as for thy pleading for tythes for such as are like the sons of Belial thou hast no precept practice nor example in Scripture to plead for such a thing neither as such nor as the Ministers of Christ. And whereas thou mention'st Acts 4. and Acts 5. and 1 Cor. 9.4.5 c. These Scriptures speak nothing of tythes nor of any Maintenance to the Ministry but only how that when they had planted a Vinyard they might eat of the
Logick its like they will set thee no more a work to defend and vindicate them with such weapons Again page 89. thou saist that it is said by the Prophet Prov. 21.4 that the ploughing of the Ploughman is sin Answ. Here thou kast belyed the Prophet and perverted his words aâ— thou hast done the Quakers for the Prophets words is an high look and a proud heart and the ploughing of the wicked is sin but he doth not say that the ploughing of the Ploughman is sin But who can escape the envy of slâ—ndrous tongues which accounteth lying no sin if thereby they can accomplish their own wicked end but the truth hath found thee out and made thee manifest and the Priests had better wanted thy defence then to be so shamed by it as they will be unless they deny both thee and it Again in the same page thou saist to hear read pray sing Psalms and giving of thanks they are works morally good being Commanded by the Lord but the person doing them being not justified they are not good to him for whatsoever is not of Faith is sin Answ. This is another piece of confusion and charging of God foolishly and fasly to say that the Lord commands those things to be done and those he commands to doe them in doing of which it is not good to them but sin Where hast thou learned or where dost thou read of such a doctrine that wicked men are commanded of God to do such things which in doing is not good to them but sin Is God or Christ then the Minister of sin or commands a man to commit sin Is not this Blasphemy and Error in the highest degree And how darest thou speak of God or of his Commands or of his obedience seeing thou thus Blasphems him in his Worship but this shall remain as a Testimony against thee many other lyes and abominations hast thou spoken against us and against God and his Truth a few of which is sufficient to make thee manifest In page 107. thou saist our Quaking fits many are of opinion that they are diobolical by a kind of witchcraft and saist thou hast heard strange relations of Enchanted Ribbans and giveing drink after c. Answ. Upon the same account many was of opinion that Christ had a Devil was a Deceivâ—r that the Apostles were Ringleaders of Sects Heresyes such strange relations might have been heard concerning the Apostles in their dayes it seems to thee that such reports is sufficient proof but this is contrary to what thou hast said in an other place that thou wouldst speak nothing but according to what was written in the Scriptures And whereas thou tells of Enchanted Ribbans Is there some Ribbans that are enchanted it may be thou meanest enchanting Ribbans but if so where didst thou ever know such a thing for proofe thou names Gilpin and Toldervyes books which neither of them doth relate such a thing so that it is thy enmity and wickednesse for there was never any such thing among the Quakers as giving Ribbans and drink after but that charge thou mightst have laid upon the Priests and their Defenders for there are the most ribbans used and justified till in pride they are become the Servants of the Devill and there is the giving of drink one to another untill they be enflamed and made unsensible of God and of his fear by which they are enchanted and bewitched that they doe not obey the Gospell but are given up to their own hearts Lusts and thereby are become the Servants of sin and so free from righteousnesse Lastly not onely we have been falsly accused in these and many other things by thee but even the spirit of God which is the Fountain of cleanness is by thee charged and accused to be corrupt and defiled page 33. by passing through mans corrupt nature thou saidst it becomes defiled Answ. Is not this a sin against the holy Ghost which shall never be forgiven to charge the spirit to be corrupt and defiled And in this thou also chargest both the Father and the Son to be corrupt and defiled for they are one so that if one of them be corrupt the other is corrupt also and as the spirit is in the Saints so is the Father in them and the Son the hope of their glory and none of them are defiled by mans corrupt nature But there is that in man by which that which corrupteth his nature is wrought out so that man is made clean and undefiled by the spirit and that spirit is not made corrupt and defiled by Man for that is contrary to the Scriptuâ—e to say that by mans nature the spirit is defiled but to say that by the spirit mans nature is clensed and sanctified this is according to the Scripture but it is the work of Sathan and his Messengers to Blasphem God in his Temple and so account his spirit by which he leadeth into all truth an unholy thing and so thou art of the number of them which account the blood and spirit of the Covenant an unholy thing and we seeing and knowing these things as concerning our selves we are satisfied because the Servant is not above his Master for if the Master be called Belzebub and the spirit a defiled or corrupt thing well may we be called Deceivers although we be true and falsely accused with all manner of evil according to our Masters words and these things we should bear in patience and silence as to our selves but as in respect unto others we are constrained by the uncorrupted and undefiled Spirit of the Lords to testifie to the world that their deeds are evil and to manifest the workings of Satan in the Mystery of Iniquity which now already worketh in many justifying the wicked and condemning the just which is abomination to the Lord which his Spirit will not bear unreproved and not only the just men are condemned and falsly accused but also the just undefiled eternal and unerring Spirit is accused by him who makes a defence for the Priests in their unrighteous practices and Wages so by the plain evidence and demonstration of Truth he being made manifest to be an Enemy to God by his wicked Works and Words I do judge him not worthy of much more answer to his Book also I do judge him not able to prove any of the false accusations charged in it against us some of which is herein returned unto him again vvhich vvhen he doth but really weigh it and consider it may be he will sit down in silence and wait if there may be hope of his forgiveness for this not only ignorance but wilfulness charging us the Spirit of God and his people vvith that of vvhich they vvere never guilty for vve are in the Truth unto vvhich every tongue shall confess and by vvhich every Opposer shall become silent before the Lord in the Spirit of this Truth do vve desire not the destruction
Lord R. H. According as vve read in the Scriptures That the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding so by its inspiration is an understanding given us of the things of God Lord. Then one of the Lords said How do you know that you are led by the true Spirit R. H. This we know because the Spirit of truth it reproves the world of Sin and by it we were reproved of sin and also are led from sin unto righteousness and obedience of truth by which effects vve knovv it is the true Spirit for the spirit of the vvicked one doth not lead into such things King and Lords Then the King and his Lords said It was truth King Well of this you may be assured That you shall none of you suffer for your Opinions or Religion so long as you live peaceably and you have the Word of a King for it and I have also given forth a Declaration to the same purpose that none shall wrong you nor abuse you King How do you own Magistrates or Magistracy R. H. Thus vve do ovvn Magistrates Whosoever is set up by God whether King as Supream or any set in Authority by him who are for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of them that do well such we shall submit unto and assist in righteous and civil things both by body and Estate And if any Magistrates do that which is unrighteous we must declare against it only submit under it by a patient suffering and not rebel against any by insurrections plots and contrivances King Then the King said That is enough Lord. Then one of the Lords asked Why do you meet together seeing every â—ne of you have the Church in your selves R. H. According as it is written in the Scriptures the Church is in God Thes. 1.1 And they that feared the Lord did meet often together in the fear of the Lord and to us it is profitable and herein we are edified and strengthened in the life of truth King How did you first come to believe the Scriptures were truth R. H. I have believed the Scriptures from a child to be a Declaration of truth when I had but a literal knowledge natural education and tradition but now I know the Scriptures to be true by the manifestation and operation of the Spirit of God fulfilling them in me King In what manner do you méet and what is that order in your méetings R. H. We do meet in the same order as the people of God did waiting upon him and if any have a word of exhortation from the Lord he may speak it or if any have a word of reproof or admonition and as every one hath received the gift so they may minister one unto another and may be edified one by another whereby a grovvth into the knowledge of the truth is administred to one another One of the Lords Then you know not so much as you may know but there is a growth then to be admitted of R. H. Yes vve do grovv daily into the knovvledge of the truth in our exercise and obedience to it King Are any of your Friends gone to Rome R. H. Yes there is one in Prison in Rome King Why did you send him thither R. H. We did not send him thither but he found something upon his Spirit from the Lord whereby he was called to go to declare against Superstition and Idolatry vvhich is contrary to the Will of God Kings Friend said There were two of them at Rome but one was dead King Have any of your Friends been with the Great Turk R. H. Some of our Friends have been in that Countrey Other things were spoken concerning the liberty of the servants of the Lord which vvere called of him into his service that to them there vvas no limitation to Parishes or places but as the Lord did guide them in his Work and Service by his Spirit So the King promised that we should not any ways suffer for our Opinion or Religion and so in love passed away R. H. His Answer to John Horn. J. H. IN thy Answer to my Queries thou seemest to be resolved to say something although it be absolutely contrary to the truth and to that which thou knowest to be Truth as will appear in what follows In answer to my first thou sayest Christ in his Spirit ascended up to Heaven when his Body was upon Earth Is this an answer to the Question Is the mind or Spirit called the Son of man according to John 3.13 which came down from Heaven And no man doth ascend up to Heaven but the Son of man which was then in Heaven So by this thy Answer it appears then that the Spirit is the Son of man and that there is no other Son of man that ascends into Heaven but the Spirit then what becomes of that body thou speaks of if the Spirit only be that Son of man In thy Answer to the second and third Queries thou provest in thy way that Mary did that which was forbidden by Christ when she held him by the feet and worshipped him but in Mat. 28.9 there is no forbidding of her to touch him but this is plainly manifest that thou art in a snare and cannot tel how to get out and yet thou wilt be saying something though thereby thou more ensnares thy self but this Scripture thou wilt once know fulfilled The Wicked shall be silent in darkness When thou shouldst answer to the fourth thou tellest of its being a secret and of prying into things above what is vvritten although the ground of my Query is grounded upon that vvhich is vvritten in Luke 24.4 To the fifth thou saist That the Women did distinguish which was Christ vvas certain but hovv they did so is a foolish curious Question What certainty is there that they did knovv vvhen thou knovvest not hovv but this is like the rest of the Priests doctrine beating the air and leaving all people in uncertainties and yet would be paid for so doing but the Lord hath made thee manifest with the rest that you cannot deceive much longer To the sixth thou sayest the two Angels were seen visibly but were not Bodies nor Persons of men but in thy answer to the fourth saist that they both saw them as men and heard them speak and had two individual Forms Now if thou wert but simple and not wilfully blind thou mightest be the more excused In thy answer to the seventh thou art more lost and confused then in all the rest for when thou shouldst answer who were the eleven Disciples that were met together mentioned Luk 24.33 thou saist that Thomas might occasionally be gone out Ans. If he was gone out then the eleven was not together as Luke 24. Again thou saist that Matthias was chosen before the Evangelist wrote his Book What darkness and ignorance is this Thou art not questioned when the Book was written nor when Matthias was chosen but who was the eleven that was together
deny and are strangers unto He that hath an ear to hear let him hear Pr. Satan hath from the beginning envied a people this priviledge and saith at Christs first coming the commandements of God was made of none effect through tradition Mat. 15.6 and saith at Christs second coming the commandements of God will be of none effect through revelation Answ. Here thou hast uttered forth words without knowledge but it is that thy ignorance and folly may be laid open unto all for it was they that made the commandements of God of none effect through tradition which precryed standing in the Synagogues had the chiefest places in the assemblies and was called of men Master and in these steps art thou and the rest of the Priesâ—s in England who say the same things for at Christs first coming he cried wo against such and the same Christ cries wo against the same things now and whereas thou sayest that at â—hrists second coming the commandements of God will be of none effect through revelation Here I charge thee to be a blasphemer and dost speak that thou hast no scripture for and contrary to the scriptures and contrary to the Apostles doctrine for Paul did witness Christs second coming which was in the spirit as in Gallatians 2. and 2. and saith I went up by revelation and communicated unto them that Gospel which I preached amongst the Gentiles and he did witness the Son of God revealed in him and all the Apostles who did witness him to be come again to them the second time to reveal the will of the Father unto them this did not make the commandements of God to be of none effect and the same Christ we do witness to be come and hath revealed the Fathers will unto us for no man knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him this we do witness eternal living praises to him for evermore and by his revealing his Son in us his commandements are fulfilled and so all such we do deny that say by the revelation at the second coming of Christ they shall be made of none effect Pr. Certainly many Old Testament Saints saw into the glory and liberty of New Testament times yet durst not cease from that worship which was burdensome worldly and carnal till the Lord did come in person and call them out Answ. Here I do charge thee to prove where ever any of the Saints before Christ was made manifest in the flesh did continue in that worship which they saw to be burdensome worldly and carnal but did declare against all false worship sacrifices and services which was worldly and carnal and against all who drew near to God with their mouths whose hearts was from God and against all idolatrous worships which were carnal and did cast off every burden as is witnâ—ssed in the Prophets which were before Christ came in the flesh and here all the Prophets and holy men of God shall witness against thee as Isaiah Jeremiah David Ezekiel Micah and the rest who worshipped God and their worship was not carnal nor worldly neither did Christ come in person to call them out of their worship for they had finished their testimony before Christ came in the flesh who did fulfil their testimony and did bear witness unto it that it was of God and did declare all that were out of that worship which the Saints were in who worshipped God before Christ came in the flesh who was the end of the Law and the end of the Prophets let him that hath understanding read these things now here doth Christ the Saints and the Scriptures all bear witness against thee and thy doctrine whâ—ch would make people believe that the Prophets and holy men of God who were before Christ came in the flesh did live and continue in that worship which was burdensome worldly and carnal which here is proved against thee by Christ the Saints and the Scriptures that shame may cover thy face and that thy mouth may be stopped and that the simple may know the truth for whose sakes this is given forth Pr. So New Testament Saints may see into that liberty and glory which is to be revealed but let them not go forth before the time but abide in New Testament worship till the Lord come in person and call them out and then they shall go out all together Mat. 24.27 It is indeed a worthy life whâ—ch we live in the spirit but it is an unworthy deceit that except we live out of the Gospel we cannot live in the Spirit Answ. O be ashamed for ever to confess thy self a Minister of Christ and of the Gospel why dost thou preach at all or what art thou a Minister of if that Christ be yet to be revealed or uncome in person which thou holdest forth to the people and how many souls hast thou led into that pit of darkness and blindness as to believe that Christ is yet to come in person he that confesseth not Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh is an Antichrist and he that preacheth any other Gospel or any other Christ then that which did come in the flesh and was made manifest in the Saints and is now made manifest and witnessed to be come in the flesh let him be accursed now the Scripture which thou bringst in Mat. 24.27 proves no such thing as another Christ coming in person for the same Scripture we do witness to be fulfilled in us and in his light do we see all those who are in the desert and who are in the secret chambers whom they go out unto who turn from the light of Christ within them to hearken unto those who cannot witness the comâ—ng of the son of man as the lightning from the East shineth even unto the West but talks of an expectation of the appearance of Christ in person and professed to be Ministers of that Christ which yet is to come in person and here thou art rased out from the Apostles doctrine who did not preach any other Christ but that which was come and made manifest and did never tell of Christ's second coming in person nor of his personal reign and thou that tells of such a deceit that except ye live out of the Gospel ye cannot live in the Spirit here thy deceit is indeed made manifest and thy life who would separate the Gospel from the Spirit But against that life and deceit we bear witness who by this Spirit do and according to the Gospel Again thou art teaching people how to set up Popery as followeth Priest If they will prove the Pope supream Monarch this way it may be done God made two Lights the greater to rule the day viz. the Pope the lesser to rule the night viz. the Emperor Ans. Here thou hast professed thy self long to be a Teacher and preached against Popery and hast not been ashamed to accuse others of it who stand clear in the truth of God witnessing
vve ovvn and vvitness and as for our equality or unity vvith God vve that believe in him are one vvith him as the Scripture saith and as Christ prayed for us that believe John 17.21 that we might be one in him and in the Father and unity vve must confess for that is a doctrine â—ffirmed by the Apostles of Christ that as he is so are vve in the vvorld and he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are both one and so vve deny no doctrine but vvhatsoever is a doctrine vve vvitness it And to say that vve corrupt the doctrine of justification that is false for vve are freely justified by his grace and so do vvitness the doctrine of justification and vvho are true vvitnesses of it do not corrupt it but if vvhile vve seek to be justified by Christ vve our selves be found sinners is Christ therefore the Minister of sin God forbid Gal. 2.17 but herein doth the Priests of the World corrupt the doctrine of Justification professing to be justified by Christ while they themselves are found sinners and say that God doth account them righteous in Christ but unrighteous in themselves and so would make Christ the minister of sin and to justifie or save his people in their sins and not from them and so by them the doctrine of justification is corrupted and the Scripture perverted and the grace of God by which the Saints are freely justified is turned into wantonness and so by their faigned words in hypocrisie they cast thick clouds and vails of darkness over the peoples mindes to keep them in ignorance of the redemption of their immortal souls which is to be redeeâ—â—d by the blood of the Lamb they saying that the soul came indeed from God but is not of the being of God and yet in the 51. page tels of turning the whole frame of the soul to center in him again if it must centre in him again then it was in him before and so let thy confusion stop thy mouth Now let all consider in the light which comes from the immortal God whether Gods being is not in life and immortality and whether there is an immortal life but from the same being For God breathed into man the breath of life and through the breath of life he became a living soul Now the breath of life came from the life in which the being is and so to the people I say you have a light which comes from the same life in which the soul lived unto God in the beginning before death passed over which light is made manifest to lead out of death into the life from whence it came and to witness again a living soul and the breath of life and so to be wiser then all your teachers and to know him who hath all souls in his hand who breathed into man the breath of life and he so became a living soul and when he doth the evil the anguish is upon it and to feed atop those mountains which you have wandred after in the forgetfulness of God having forgotten God days without number Rom. 2.9 But now the light is come and knowledge begins to increase and shine in the hearts of the children of light to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and these things live in us Therefore we are his witnesses who is the light and life of men and did only for the seed sake let forth our knowledge of the mystery of God that they may be gathered into the fold among the Lambs of Christ for the day of scattering hath been long but now is the day of gathering begun wherein all they shall rejoyce that fear the Lord. 2 Cor. 4.6 And whereas many other accusations are charged upon us falsly for the name of Christ by the Priest yet seeing Christ the true Prophet hath said it should be so because they know not the Father nor him who hath enlightned every one that commeth into the World therefore can we bear all things being manifest unto God and to all men to be witnesses of those things which he saith we deny His accusations are these That we deny the Resurrection of the body the last Judgment Heaven and Hell Are enemies to all the Ordinances of Christ are not true mortified persons and our doctrine tendeth not to destroy sin That we are the common sink of all Heresies and enemies to civility and good manners Ans. Our doctrine is the same as is testified of in the Scripture of truth and where it is received remission of sins is received it being the same that our Example the first-born amongst many brethren the first begotten from the dead preached vvhich Gospel vve preach to every creature vvhich Gospel is the povver of God and where it is received doth both destroy sin and sanctifie them throughout in body soul and spirit and by it is the members vvhich are upon the earth mortified for this is the povver that raised up Jesus from the dead and doth also quicken out mortal bodies by his Spirit that dvvelleth in us in vvhich the Scripture is vvitnessed which was a Treatise of those things which was knovvn and surely believed amongst the Saints and vvhich saith they that are asleep in the dust of the earth shall rise some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and contempt and from â—he true foundation vvitnessing these doctrines vvhich the Apostles did not lay again the foundation of Repentance from dead vvorks and faith tovvards God of the doctrine of baptisms and laying on of hands and of the Resurrection from the dead and of eternal â—udgment Heb. 6.12 for vve having learned vvhat it is to be baptised for the dead deny such as say there is no â—esurrection of the dead the first fruiâ—s of this Resurrection is Christ 1 Cor. 15.22 of which â—hey tâ—at are of Christ are witnesses of these things and they come to know each seed in the light through the figures and through the parables Now in the parables I say to you that seed which you sow in the earth whether it be Wheat or other grain you sow not that body which shall be but God giveth it a body as pleaseth him If it be so in the earthly parable then learn to know the seeds and the nature of them which God giveth to each of them it s own body there is heavenly bodies and earthly bodies â—he glory of the heavenly is one and the glory of the earthly is another and so all being turned to the light which you are enlightned withal you in it will know the things that differ both the seeds the bodies and the glories and so let every one be a witness of what they profess of the things of God for by the Spirit of the Lord have we received the knowledge and so are made witnesses of these thingâ— which our brethren the Prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ hath testified in the
up in pride and that would do or say any thing for his hire he should bring those Scripture to plead for swearing and that lawfulnesse of oathes in all which the Apostle took God to witnesse his love to the Saints and labour in the work of his ministry signifying to all that understand how that he spoke the truth and did not lye and kept to his yea and nay according to Christs doctrine and did not swear at all Now further to prove swearing Lawful John Tombs brings This fifth argument That which hath a necessary use for the benefit of humane society is not unlawfull but some swearing hath a necessary use for the benefit of humane society ergo Answ This argument is thus disproved and both the major and minor to be false For to break any command of Christ is of no necessary use for humane society but to swear any oath is to break his command ergo For Godlinesâ— is profitable unto all men in all their societies bat he that swears goes from Godlinâ—sse into ungodlinesse and trangression which trangression is of no use nor service amongst Christians so that John Tombs might as well have thus stated his Argument that to break Christs command is of benefit to humane society therefore to break Christs command is lawfull c. and might thus have proved it that excâ—pt we break Christs command we cannot preach for hire nor sue men at the Law for tythes nor live in pride ease and vanity nor keep our places of profit and benefit which is necessary for our society of Priests ergo But we whose eyes God hath opened do see that all his book tends to the perswading of people to swear when Christ hath said Swear not at all and that which he now would swear for again he vvould svvear against for the same advantage profit vvhich he hath in his eye yea or he vvould persvvade all men not to svvear and bring Scripture to prove it upon the same account so that vvhat he doth in this kind is because of advantage for tvvo years since he did not preach this doctrine nor vvrite those arguments Novv it being proved that the follovvers of Christ and believers in him are not to svvear at all then all those promissory oaths upon vvhich John Tombs hath grounded his other propositions is not to be taken But again to prove an oath of supremacy to King Cesar he brings the example and rule of Christ and argues thus If the Lord Christ in the dayes of his flesh did ackovvledge Cesar as supreme Governor in his dominions and did subject himself to his jurisdiction in ansvvering before the Roman Deputy and vvas obedient to his parents real or supposed then all Christians even the highest Ecclesiastical Prelate should be subject to the King as supreme Governor in his Dominions and for proof of this he brings Mat. 22 21. vvhen the Pharisees shevved sus the Tribute money Christ bid them Give unto Cesar that vvhich vvas Cesars unto God the things that are Gods so then it vvas the tribute money that vvas due to Cesar but doth this prove that Christ did swear or vvas any example of svvearing to Cesar or account Câ—sar the head of the Church Ruler in Ecclesiastical things so that this Scripture proves the contrary then for that which thou brings it for those Pharisees that brought the money to Christ said they knew that be respected no mans person but taught the way of God in Truth so then if Christ be our example and rule in this then to the supream King or Kings we must not respect their persons but give them their due which is that tribute whâ—ch hath their own superscription upon it and we must teach the way of God in Truth give unto God the things which are Gods which is all honour glory and rule in spiritual matters and give to Châ—ist alone the prâ—heminence which is head of his body which is his Church and we must not swear at all neither for nor against any man for Christ did not swear neither for nor against Cesar and we must live peaceably with all men nor envy nor fight for nor against any man and this is quite contrary to what Jo. Tombs would perswade people or to what he understands from the Scripture which would make people believe that Christ was an example of the oath of supremacy to Cesar so that people may well be blind ignorant who hath such Teachers But we also shall follow the example of Christ as 1. Tim. 6 13. who did witnesse a good confession before Poâ—tius Pilate and this is a good confession before any King or Ruâ—er now to say that we have obeyed the Truth from our heart and have not broken the Commands of Christ by swearing for or against any neither have we transgrest the example of Christ in respecting any mans person neither do we in our hearts envy any man King Ruler or people but hath love even to our enemies and can do good to them that hate us and can pray for them that persecute us and do desire and daily labour that all men might come to the knowledge of the Truth that they might be saved And this good Confession we can witnesse before the King or any in Authority and say that God is our witnesse and our Conscience also bears us witnesse in the sight of God as the Apostle did and we can say also that we speak the Truth before God and lye not for our eyes is not blinded with gifts and rewards neither have we taken Oath Covenants nor Protestations for Parties Powers or Religions but since we knew the way of Christ we have walked in it and kept to his Commandement Oath which is yea nay in all things so have not entred in condemnation with those that are given to change but the unchangeable Priest the unchangeable Covenant and unchangeable Law hath been our Rule and of this we need not be ashamed but in Gods power and Authoritie can we hold up our heads when others do bow down their backs alwayes crouching under every power and change of Government as Davids enemies did Psal. 69.23 for that is their place condition as the Apostle doth witness Rom. 11.10 Again Jo. Tombs saith that Paul a Saint was subject to the judgement of Cesar and appealed to him then he acknowledged him supream c ergo Answ. Paul was a Prisoner for the word of God and testimony of Jesus and appealed to Cesar for justice because he was unjustly accused and had not done any thing worthy of bonds or of death therefore according to their Law he ought to be set free but Paul did not call Cesar the supream head of the Church and chief Ruler in Ecclesiastical things for if Cesar had been the supream head of the Church of which Paul was a member he would have needed but little appealing unto for setting of him at liberty but in such