the Covenant of Works was not made with Adam in innocency God could not in justice require satisfaction of his posterity under the Fall c. A third supposition to prove Adam under a Covenant of Works is this Either he stood under the Covenant of Works or was under the Covenant of Grace or he was under no Covenant c. Unto which I Answer All such Priests and Teachers who be out of innocency themselves cannot tell what Covenant those are in with God who are innocent and in the image of God in holiness and righteousness and therefore from such have we so much perverting of the Scriptures and violating of the Law of God to make it according to their imaginations But unto such God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest Instruction and castest my Words behind thee psal. 50. 16. Thou givest thy mouth to evil and thy tongue frameth deceit But I say that Covenant in which Adam was with God in his innocency and in his image he stood in that and by that by which he was made a living Soul and in that was in unity and Covenant with God for the disobedience of which he was driven out from God into the Earth and none was under the Law of Works neither was that Law added until there was transgression which it was added because of but that which is innocent and without sin unreprovable in Gods sight is under no Law but that which endureth for ever which doth free from sin and death those that be in it which is made manifest unto some since the falling from it and which the Isles is to wait for till it be made manifest where it is not already revealed and all who come to have right to speak of Gods Precepts and to take his Covenant in their mouths they see and comprehend all such darkness which doth not speak according to words of Scripture but speaks of three Covenants contrary to Scripture saying that the first Covenant promiseth nothing of Salvation nor mentioning nothing of a Saviour and yet saith that that Covenant is a part of Gods Word and his Will and pure law and yet mentioneth nothing of a Saviour and again saith that the Moral Law he calls of Works which promiseth no Salvation mentioneth nothing of a Saviour that this which mentioneth nothing of a Saviour is to be a directory and rule to true believers for the ordering of their Sanctification â—s it is also in Christs hand guiding them by his Spirit so this cannot build nor joyn together and so time to cease building any more in confusion but in denyal of that false doctrine I say That there is but two Covenants spoken of in the Scriptures which is a plain testimony of them without any such confusion or contradiction as the Apostles to the Hebrews saying in that he saith a new Covenant he hath made the first old c. And in the first Covenant as you may read Heb. 9. in all these things there was Christ held out and mentioned in the shadows and figures and so that Covenant which promiseth no Salvation nor mentioneth any thing of a Saviour that we deny for there is not such a Covenant in the Scriptures For that which said Do this and live promised life and mentioned Christ who is the life and by Christ who is the life and light of men is that Covenant fulfilled and by his power both the obedience and life is brought forth of which that Covenant speaketh and the new Covenant being come that God hath promised wherein he hath put his Law in their hearts and his Spirit in their inward part and all such needs not to come to such Priests to be taught who tells of a Covenant which promiseth no Salvation nor mentioneth any thing of a Saviour for we who be in the second know the first fulfilled which Christ was held forth in under Ordinances of Divine Service and a worldly sanctuary and divers washings and carnal Ordinances which never made the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but now is Christ the Covenant of God and Covenant of light come and preached and with his light shineth in mens Conscience that he may make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience which Covenant is now witnessed among thousands and such denyed which speak of a Covenant that mentions nothing of a Saviour and that to be the rule of true believers Again in John Stelhams 5th head of Scripture Contradiction he speaks concerning Sin saying That the more a Soul is sanctified the more he sees his moats to be beams and that Paul was groaning and sighing all his life time under the body of sin and death Both these are false For the more a Soul is sanctified he is not the more taught to lye or to see falsly but the more he is taught to see clearly and discern a moat to be a moat and a beam to be a beam and knows the differance And Paul thanks God who had given him the victory over sin and death which he had not while he groaned under the body of it and so both the Saints and the work of sanctification is falsly accused by such and such are to be denyed as Enemies to God and to his Work In the reading of this let all people take notice That in the several and particular Heads of I. S. Book where he saith he hath contradicted us he is proved himself to contradict the Scriptures and so far as he contradicts the Scriptures in those particulars so far he may say he contradicts us and our testimony being one with the Scriptures in them things For in his 6 Head as concerning Justification he saith He that is justified is justified by God not under the Aspect or Notion of a Saint and as such but of a sinner and as a sinner believing in Jesus not as he loveth God or overcometh the world by Faith c. but as believing on Christ dying c. Now this testimony of I. S. is contrary to the Scriptures for God never justified any as hating of him nor as a sinner but as made obedient through Faith according to the Scriptures as the Apostle witnesseth Gal 2. 16. Even by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ c. so they believed that they might be justified and the ungodly they were first called out of their ungodliness and whom he called them he also justified and they whom he justified them he also glorified and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Acts 13. 39 and so all who are justified by the Lord are justified from their sins and not in them as all shall witness who come to be justified by Christ from their iniquity And
unrighteousness and taking them and such have the letter in their mouths but knows not the Word of God which who comes to know it restrains them from all such practises Again I. S. from his blindness and root of Errour and lying heart wherein dwells no truth but much confusion saith that the letter i. e. the Scriptures is the true ground of the believers Faith and again in the same page saith That Christ in the Scriptures is the true Ground of Faith And to prove the former he brings Prov. 22. 19. 20 21. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee have not I written to thee excellent things in Counsels and Knowledge that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee Answ. By this Scripture the Lord is made the ground of Faith and not the Letter And therefore did the Prophet make known excellent things in writing in counsel and knowledge and for this end did the Apostles both preach and write that the Faith of those which heard them and read their writtings might not stand in the wisdom of words nor in the letter as its ground but in Christ the Power of God and Christ who preached the true doctrine that in it every one might believe said to the World and to the pharisees While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be the Children of light and these had the letter but did not believe in the light which light is Christ and which light is the foundation of Faith and is the foundation of many generations in which many did believe before this letter which declares of it was written And that Faith which stands in the light and in the power of God is the ground of the Scripture letter from whence it did proceed after they believed they spoke and wrote that which is now declared in Chapters And every one which come to the true ground of Faith must come to the light to believe in it that they may be the Children of it and then the Scriptures will be profitable unto them they with the light having the understanding opened to see for what end they were given forth and how they come to be fulfilled and witnessed in that which gave them forth for the ground of Faith to believers is but one both before and since the Scriptures was written which is Christ in whom whosoever believeth shall be saved let Christ be in what he will for he was the ground of Faith when the letter was not and he is the ground of Faith when it is and no other foundation for Faith can any man lay than that which is laid Jesus Christ who is the true light and enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world that all men in him might believe and they that believe not that he is so shall die in their sins as Christ saith Joh. 8. 24. But John Stelham 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 writing of this reviling Rebuke concerning R. F. and I. 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 unto it as in some 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 reads 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 meanings to their words as he hath done unto the Apostles words saying If they mean thus c. then he goes about to contradict his own meaning and when he hath contradicted his own 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 judgement 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 which page he acknowledgeth a former addition and yet reneweth another R. F. having been speaking of the light which enlighteneth 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 believe not the truth But on the contrary for we never have said that every mans judgement is renewed with the light though they be enlightened for they are enlightened who hate 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 meanings 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 words 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 shined in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. Knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture 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 I. S. adds not heart-prophesie no breast-prophesie but written down in Books c. which is contrary to the Apostles 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 Until 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 which 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 Scriptures but till it did arise in their hearts and then he told them how the Prophesies of the Scriptures came Peter saying Until the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts I. S. saith That is until by the study of the Scriptures more light be cleared up c. Now let all them of understanding read and compare his words and the Apostles and they may well conclude with his confession that he hath an old lying heart and flesh in
one with him are not from being guarded with a Popish Law and these are truly Romes Subjects who are guarded with his Law more than we are Romes Emissaries which secretly he would cast upon us and make the Protector and his Council believe it if their hearts be so hardened But better is thought upon concerning them though I. S. would make them evil suggesting evil into their hearts But a false Prophet is known by his Lyes and Slanders and secret smiting and then he saith He would have some of this Sect * more narrowly watched c. and stigmatized Oh cruelty out of the abundance of the heart his mouth utters like a Pot boyling with anger that cannot contain it within the mouth what lodges in the heart of this man consider what less then in their hearts who were Qâ—een Maries Jesuits and Priests if the Protector and Council would answer the cruel intent of his mind as Queen Mary did theirs Balaam or worse he is for he hath sought inchantment and would curse before they sent for him to do so but it shall return on his own head who is watched against for a Wolf and Devourer and stigmatzed for a Deceiver and false Deviner one who art marked for a false Prophet and known to be so by every one who is taught of God and in the end of all this secretly uttered wickedness and cruelty insinuatingly expressed to suggest evil into the minds of men more honest than himself he wishes for Blessing upon his Highness and Honours that they may discern true Spirits from false such who proceed out of the mouth of the false Prophet from such as proceeds from the Father and from the Son indeed of such a gift of discerning they have need and by the fruits they may try every Spirit and in a just tryal by just judgement are thou tryed and thy spirit is made manifest to be the spirit which proceeds out of the mouth of the Dâ—agon who wars against the Saints and out of the mouth of the Bâ—ast who hath many Heads and many Horns which Beast arose up in the Apostacy since the Apostles dayes and thy Spirit is made manifest to be that spirit of the false Prophet who deceive the Nations for thy fruits doth discover thee a lyar aslanderer a perverter of the right way of God art thou proved and such things proceeds out of the mouth of the false Pro and so let them beware of thy Spirit who art not guided by the Spirit of Christ Jesus nor of the Father but a worker of darkness and a reviler of the light of Cstrist calling it false Prophet-like as being led with the Spirit of the Dragon and of the Beast Perverse Principle We have measured thy spirit to be as I have said and he that speaks otherwise speaks a lye and if the Protector and his Council believe otherwise they believe a lye and cannot obtain a blessing though thou with thy lying Spirit pray for them whom God the Father of blessings hears not but is against thee and this is my prayer The Lord rebuke thee and thy wicked tongue and give the Protector and his Council a better understanding than to believe thee else will the Lord make them cursed to themselves and to the Nations of them my heart hopes better things and this might serve for a full Answer to thy whole Book and by this little of thy work that I have viewed turned nto the sight of all art thou discovered to be an enemy to God and a secret envier of his people and by what thou hast said it appears what the rest of the whole matter can be an evil spirit cannot bring forth good works but yet a little further is thy matter unvayled for the sake of the upright And further I. S. after his wicked Presentation to the Rulers of this Nation with lyes and evil Speeches proceeding out of his old heart he writes an Epistle out of the same heart to the Church as he calls them wherein is many words uttered but altogether tasted with that leaven of his malice against Quakers and Quakerism who seems to be the greatest burthen upon his evil heart because truth is among them and if truth go on his deceit will be more made manifest wither and perish and so as subtilly as may be he would defend himself in the sight of his Church that his shame may not appear before them it may be lest his Hire should be abated and he seems to cast a cloak upon them but whether out of pure love to their Souls or for his own Gain and such a sum of Money God knowes however the least Child in the truth dwelling in the light sees his length and can measure his state and knows that good cannot come from an old lying heart and he speaks something of wondring after the beast and false Prophet but hath not described what the Beast is and the false Prophet And I refer the Reader to a Book called The Measure of the Times wherein the Priests of England such as I. S. is reproved according to the Scripture to be the very branches of the same Root of false Prophets which all the World wondered after in Johns time and though he speak much to his Church of Christ without and of his birth blood and his righteousness and justification thereby c. but to all that I say All are Reprobates but such in whom Christ is within them and none are justified but such nor hath any part in the inheritance of God though they may profess never so much of Christ without and what he hath done for others yet except he be within them too to change and renew them and give them power over all their sins their profession of him is vain I am no picker of Quarrels else many of his words might be searched which I run over hastily knowing his voice to be the voice of a stranger and not of Christ who never made use of an old sinful heart to pen Epistles to Churches But into this lets search he saith Christ blessed Infants-Baptism Where or when I ask proof of this and till then I say I. S. hath belyed Christ and the generation of the just Well may he belye us when he hath belyed Christ who could not bless that which there was not there was no Infants Baptism that ever we read of in his dayes sure people will be more wise than to be established through Lyes else their sin be upon them if through hardness of heart they be given up to believe Lyes that they may perish He speaks of a well ordered Conversation Indeed this seems Hypocrisie to exhort others their Churches to that which many of the Independen Teachers have not themselves who are Hirelings and takes Gifts and Rewards for Preaching and is in the way of all the Deceivers of old and they that do these things have not a well ordered Conversation but a Conversing with the
Stelham confesseth he is was never appointed by the Lord to watch over Souls But such where Christ did dwell in their hearts and because they were sons God sent forth the spirit of his Son into their hearts Eph. 3. 17. Gal 46. and such had truth in their hearts doing the will of God from the heart and did draw neer unto God with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water these did not profess the things of God in an old lying heart wherein dwelt no truth but called upon the name of the Lord with a pure heart and said that the end of the Commandment was Charity out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and of Faith unfeigned from which some swarved in the Apostles dayes having turned aside unto vain jangling and such desired to be teachers of others but the doctrine is corrupt and the Ministry of Faith is not held where the heart and conscience is not pure And the Lord is good unto such who be of a clean heart Now as concerning the Scriptures John Stelhams Testimony from the old lying heart wherein dwells no truth is this That the Scriptures are the word of God and truly so called and the letter and Scripture is all one as page 3 4. but to contradict that himself he saith in page 5. the letter taken strictly is but legal Administration using these words the letter killeth i. e The bare legal command without a promise of power or pardon as a bare letter void of strength life and spirit it leaveth all men under a killing sentence and curse let them that have understanding judge Again as concerning the letter in page 6. he expresseth himself thus The Spirit is given by it And in the next words saith the Scripture is but instrumental to the Spirit Now mark the Letter taken strictly being legal without a Promise of Power or Pardon void of strength life and spirit The Spirit to be given by this which he confesseth is void of strength life and spirit and is but instrumental to the spirit whether this be not contradiction and confusion let them that read judge For in reading these things which he hath published many may seal to the Confession of his own Condition to be truth but that which he hath declired of the things of God to be false For now the light being broken forth such doctrine cannot be received nor beleeved that the spirit is given by the letter but that which is declared in the letter was given forth from the Spirit which was in them which spoke it forth but people may long have the letter and think in it to find God and eternal life and may die in their sins though I. S. say that not one man in the world knows God to be God till he finds him in the Scripture But I say unto him as Christ said unto the Pharisees who had neither heard his voyce at any time nor seen his shape had not his word abiding in them nor did not believe in the light and that he was the light which did enlighten every man that cometh into the world search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me saith Christ the life but those thought that they had the life in the scriptures deceived them for they wanted the life when they thought they had it so I. S. thoughts that he hath the spirit by the letter deceives him for when he finds the spirit eternal life then his old lying heart in which is no truth but the root of error will be taken away and so the light which cometh from Christ the life in which the spirit is received condemneth all such thoughts for they proceed out of that heart which is not upright before the Lord neither is it set to seek the Lord in that way in which he and his spirit is found Again I. S. talking of the Scriptures intrudes into things which he hath not seen comparing it with that which he hath seen and so in what he saith he is blind saying The Scriptures is a more standing rule than visions To which I Answer The night is upon him that he hath no vision and therefore doth not know what a vision is a rule unto nor the continuance of it as those in Israel which said that every vision faâ—leth and so would not have them a standing rule and that reproach of the visions of God was so common that it was become a Proverb amongst them but the Prophet who was in the light and had the vision of the Lord and had the word of the Lord he was to reprove that Proverb and to tell them that they should no more use it as a proverb in Israel and said the dayes are at hand and the effect of every vision and so with the light who be in it doth now reprove all such proverbs and preachings against the visions of God for from the visions was the Scriptures spoken forth and that which they had seen they declared so that which gives forth words is greater than the words and without vision the people perish and they may perish while they have the letter but they cannot perish while they have the vision and although there be vain visions they do not make the true of none effect And although there be Sorceryes and Enchantment that doth not make the true resurrection of the dead of none effect but the blind must stumble at the things which they do not see Again I. S. saith That the Authority of the Scriptures is owned among the Jewes to this day Answ. No Christ is not owned amongst them who is the Authority and Power unto which the Scriptures give testimony that he is so neither are they yet converted as thou thy self confessest and they who be in the unconverted estate doth not own the Authority of the Scriptures though such may talk of them as thou dost speaking that of them which they never spoke of themselves Again I. S. saith in the 17. page As deep things as the Spirit hath Revealed they are all in the Scripture Answ. Nay There was things Revealed which was unutterable and many things which was Revealed and also Written which is not in the Scripture as the Book of Nathan the Prophet and the Prophesie of Ahijah the Shilâ—â—mitâ— and the Visions of Iddoa the Seer which was against Jerâ—bâ—ans the Son of Nabat 2 Chron 9. 29. And the Book of Shemath the Prophet 2 Chron. 1. 2. 15. And the Book of Jehu 2 Chron. 20. 34. And the Book of Gad the Seer 1 Chron 29. 29. And the Book of Jaser 2 Sam. 1. 18. and the Prophesie of Enoch who prophesied of the coming of Christ in his Saints to execute Judgement upon all and to convince all that are uugodly of all their ungodly deeds and hard speeches
which dwells no truth but the root of errour and gainsaying of the truth and as for many other of his devised fables and false meanings though I let them pass 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 own false meanings and so contradicts them both but that remaineth sure which gave 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 and by which the old lying heart is reproved that which was given forth from the Spirit cannot be by it denyed but that which would darken words without knowledge 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 try John Stelhams Doctrine which if he deny them both then by his own Argument we shall prove him and see whether he will own himself to be judged by that with which he would judg others whether they be Messengers sent by Gods Spirit His Assertion laid down Page 60 to try withal is â—his Such Messengers as speak more than is in the Scripture are not sent by Gods 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 aâ—e not spoken in the Scriptures he naming the Father Son and Spirit by such names as the Scripture never did and so about words and names which the Scripture doth not mention arising out of the Devination of his heart doth he multiply words to hide the truth and shut 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 Person and in another translation saith that he is the express 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 own his own rule to judge him to be no Messenger sent by Gods Spirit because he speaks 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 tares which men gather which must be bound in bundles and cast into the fiâ—e for what is the Chaff to the Wheat or what is a I such invented words to the knowledge of the Father Son and Spirit which are one which bear record in heaven and there are three that bear witness in earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one and when these are known in their witness in man what they witness unto and what they witness against within and without such will give them names according to their works and according to the Scriptures The Third Head of John Stelhams Scripture Contradiction is concerning the light which every man is enlightened withal which of all things is most hated by all such whose wayes words and works are contrary to it for it being risen in the hearts of the Children of men to give the knowledge of the truth hath in this day made many wiser than their Teachers and now they which have caused people to err are by the light seen and by the children of light are denyed and they being denyed their envie is up against the light which hath made them manifest and they walk not by the light nor according to the Scriptures but there is a line of confusion comes over them by which now they walk and from which their Writings doth proceed as John Stelham in page 52 saith they may affirm agreeable to the Scripture and yet contradict the Scriptures in saying that Christ is in every man or that the light in every man leads to the Father And saith Christ God or as God is in every man and a spark of his godhead light is in every man but there is not in every man that redemption light which leads to the Father That Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withal leads to the Father all who are led by it and believe in it and condemns all from the Father which do not obey it but hate it and speak dispitefully against it who are turned out from God who is light and truth into the confusion saying that the God-head-light is not the Redemption-light but with the light that Lye and confusion is judged for ever and in affirming that the Godhead light is in every man and then calling it common and old Creation-light and Scripture-light page 61 and the light of Nature page 74 75. a legal light page 76. and a created light page 78. and an universal light unto which I say as God is so is his light and so is his godhead not created nor natural and as every one comes to know the light which by I. S. is so reviled they shall neither follow nor believe his Doctrine till he can prove when the light of the Godhead was created and how it became natural or legal or where he had those names for the Scriptures doth give no such names to the light and so by his own rule he speaking more than is in the Scripture is not a Messenger sent by Gods Spirit nor guided by it in what he saith As also in other things as in Page 64. saying That light without Scripture is no light Then Enoch's light in which he walked with God was no light nor Jacobs light nor Isaacs nor Abrahams for they were without these Writings and this letter which he calls the Scriptures but they were not without light And thousands have so much light whether they have the Scriptures or not as to see this darkness as to say light though saving light without Scripture is no light did the Scriptures make the light to be light and was the saving light made by that which was written let all take notice and turn away from such in another place he calls the Scriptures but the Declaration that Christ is the Word and calleth them a Vessel that the light is put into in page 43. and 44. Now let them of understanding consider and judge whether the vessel be the maker of that which is put into
it and whether Wine that is put into a Bottle be made Wine by the bottle or whether is it not Wine without the bottle and Water put into a vessel be not Water without the vessel or whether the vessel make it to be Water John Stelham saith Every verse of Scripture is a little vessel of light and that light without Scripture is no light so these things have I laid open that every one may see how the Lord hath turned wise men backward and made their wisdom foolishness and that they may see how those stumble and fall and are snared and taken whose light is turned into darkness and how great that darkness is and now are the Scriptures not denied but fulfilled for now is the light and truth come into the world by which they are found to be blind which said they saw and in which they see that were blind and now the depths are seen which are covered with darkness and Babylon is seen the Mother of Harlots which bring forth in confusion and bind up in ignorance other confusions and lyes I shall also mention given forth by I. S. in his Book As page 68. he saith That God was and is the Word according to Joh. 1. 1. and in page 69. he saith The Father is not the Word nor never so called which is contradiction and in page 70. saith Christ is more in the Scriptures than in his Saints which is false for greater was that which the words came from than the words which did but declare of the fulness from whence they came as all that know Christ will bear witness unto and against all such that say Christ is more in the words than in them which speak the words Again in page 73. he saith Christ the Author of Salvation to them that obey him speaking in the Scripture saveth by the Scripture which is false and contrary to the testimony of the Scriptures and the witness of them which witnessed his Salvation who said By his life are we saved and by Grace through faith which was the gift of God and not by the letter and their witness was true for God his Works against all such who are of a lying heart and spirit of errour who would make the letter to be the light yea more even that which makes light to be light and so greater for that which makes a thing is greater than the thing that is made and would have the letter to be the Word when as the letter saith God is the Word and would make the Scriptures to be that by which people are saved as in page 73 saying Christ saveth by the Scriptures but the Scriptures speak no such thing of themselves for they say that there is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved but by the name of Jesus neither is there such a word written in the Bible that say men is saved by Scriptures nor that the light of the Godhead is natural as I. S. saith that he may set up a light of Scriptures as he calleth it And he speaks in page 82. of having our minds darkned with the light of Scriptures mark doth that light which he hath in all his Book been exalting above the Godhead light and above that light which Christ hath enlightened every man withal darken mens minds what is it then that must enlighten them here is his testimony of the light brought up to the full that all who can receive it may believe it for he saith to us if our minds were not darkned with the light of the Scriptures the two texts in Rom. 10. 18. and Col. 1. 23. might resolve us how the Gospel is preached to every Creature and not to the principle of light in the Conscience how can the Scripture resolve us of the light if it darken our minds but by these things this is made manifest that darkness hath blinded his eyes that he neither knows the light nor the Scriptures which was given forth from it Again another of his contradictions concerning the light in page 23 24. compared with page 75. is this saying the light that shined in Pauls heart and the light that shineth in the Scripture is the same light and God who shineth in the heart by Gospellight according to the Apostles words 2 Cor. 4. 4. contrary unto which in his 75 page saith That the Gospel light about matters of Salvatioâ— of which the Apostle speaks never entered never shined into mens hearts Answ To this let all take notice and consider whether of these two Contraries they are to believe the one saying God shineth in their hearts by Gospel light and the other saith It never entred nor shined into mens hearts But if the Scriptures or the Apostle is to be believed he saith for God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ but we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us â—Cor. 4. 6 7. here was the light of the Gospel shining in their hearts in matters of Salvation giving them the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and they were the vessels in which the light did shine and from which they spoke the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery and so that which they spoke of the light and of the Gospel is yet a mystery unto such whose eye is blinded with the God of this world and the wayes of unrighteousness knowing neither the light nor the Gospel of Salvation but filling up their line of confusion as hath been already manifest and may further be made manifest Again John Stelham in his 6. head of Scripture Contradiction speaks concerning the Law and goes about to distinguish between the two Covenants which the Scriptures speaks of but knows not what he speaketh nor of what he affirmeth but contrary to the Scriptures speaking of a Moral and of a Ceremonial Law which the Scriptures speaks of no such words nor no such distinctions as of a Moral Law to be the Covenant of Works and that the Ceremonial Law is not a Covenant of Works but of Grace And whereas he tells of a Covenant of Nature which is one with the Covenant of Works and so here is several Covenants which I. S. hath made and several Names here given to the Covenants which God never gave nor they which spoke of the Covenants never gave such names to the Law in the words of Scripture as Moral Legal Natural Ceremonial so that is all without and contrary to the Scripture language And whereas he goeth about to prove Adam to be under a Moral Law which he calls a Law of Works but hath no Scripture to prove it from but from his suppositions as thus If it was not of Grace it was a Covenant of Works and again If
of what they falsely accuse us in words for such who walks in the steps of the false Prophets as he and they doth that preach for hire and takes Giâ—ts and Rewards for preaching are contrary to all the true Ministers of Christ and the Scripture and the Spirit that gave it forth condemns them and much as to this we have publickly spoken and written and so here I need say the lesse though much might be said to manifest I. S. folly and vanity though they that plant a vineyard may justly eat the fruit thereof yet what is this to purpose he is a thief that eats of the fruit of that which he hath not planted but is hired thither for so much per Sermon or per annuâ— and plants nothing for the Lord and he that preaches the Gospel may live of it but this shames I. S. and this Generation of Teachers who many of them might begg bread at peoples doors had they not a Law by violence to compell maintenance from them which thing is a very shame to all righteousness which is practised by most of the Priests of England at this day grievous to be related what unjust proceedings are acted upon the poor people by unjust judgements against them for to maintain Ministers so called what is the thing that I. S. pleads for Tithes or a hundred or two hundred pound a year he is a Lyar to say that we contradict the Scripture because we cannot uphold this but must bear witness against it so whilst he falsely charges us with contradicting the Scripture in the very same thing he and his Generation are found in this practise contrary to all the Ministers of Christ that ever was sent by him and in the very practice of the Deceivers Antichrists and false Prophets in making merchandize of people through covetousness in preaching for hire and in seeking for their gain from their quarter and this is the very truth let I. S. and all his fellows read their own contradiction to the example of all the Ministers of Christ in their cursed practise of maintenance which is the greatest oppression this day in England and this is their grief against us because God hath opened our mouths to declare against them and to shew their folly and wickednesse unto all people and when the Law of the Land ceases to maintain them which will come sooner then they expect then may they begg their bread or perish for want and that is all the fruit that their vineyard of wild Brambles will bring forth to them and if every particular of his words should be searched much rottenness might be let forth but in plainness I have spoken as to the truth of things in pleading for truth and in denying his deceits and the oppression of hirelings which I cannot call Ministers maintenance His 18th Head concerning immediate Calling In this we do not contradict the Scipture I. S. is a Lyar herein also but we say such as are called of God are called by his Spirit and lead with it and fulfills the will and work of God in the Spirit and such as are called by the Spirit of God are appoved by all the Saints of God who with the same Spirit bears witness to such as are called by it and speaks by it the Ministry of God is not of Man nor by Man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is not learned by natural arts but received in the Holy Ghost and this the Scripture bears witness to but the Call to the Ministry by naturall learning at Oxford and Cambridge this I deny and trample upon and all your arts and knowledge and humate study and languages is not able to make a Minister of Christ this I do affirm though they approve one another yet are they not approved of God without his Spirit and they that have his Spirit denyes naturall learning as to be made a Minister of Christ hereby and E. B. his words are owned transcribed by I. S. cited page 16. in the warning c. and all that he saith doth not prove that any of the Ministers of Christ were called by the Church or approved unto that work of the Ministry by them who were not called by the Spirit and guided with it he saith the sending of God is two-fold and for this he hath no Scripture to prove it and so holds forth that which the Scripture will not evidence And further he saith he pretends to no such Call of an Apostle if he have not the same Call by the same Spirit as the Apostles had he is no Minister of Christ and in measure he hath confessed to be without the same Call as the Apostles was called with and will not pretend such a Call Again He falsly Charges R. F. with Crucifying the Ministers of Christ which is a Lye and of the Devil though none of us may spare to call Hirelings greedy dumb Doggs and devourers and lazy sheperds and in this we do not contradict the Scriptures nor work offence towards God nor our neighbour And he concludes Who of us we or they shall have the worst of it in Conclusion the day shall declare unto that day we are willing to come by which we and all the blind Priests of England shall be manifest and we know Liars such as I. S. shall not have the better who is to us made manifest already to be out of the way and out of the power and life of God His 19th Head concerning immediate Teaching In this we do not contradict the Scripture as I. S. falsly charges us withal but doth say that we are taught of God and needs no man to reach us but as the anointing of God which abides in us and the promise of God is fulfilled upon us Jer. 31. we are all taught of God from the least of us to the greatest with whom the Covenant of God is established and this is the cause wherefore we let forth our selves to the world who are yet in the unconverted state that they also maâ— come to the knowledge of the wayes and teachings of God in the Spirit and may come into the Covenant of peace where none need to say know the Lord but all these are taught of him yea and immediately too by his Spirit and this we do witness and the Lord doth witness with us though the unbelieving heart of I. S. and his fellows cannot believe it but doth gainsay it as being contrary to the Scripture when as themselves doth contradict the Scripture in denying it so proving themselves guilty of what they do accuse us of falsly but this is that their folly may appear to all men as it doth to us and I. S hath belyed the Scriptures Dan. 9. 1. 1 Tim 4. 14. in saying it is contrary to those Scriptures to say the teaching of God is immediate let the Reader try and I. S. saith he is yet to learn the promise of the immediate teachings of God to be
given to all that are to teach others and this doth make it manifest that himself is without the promise of God and is not yet taught of God and so without Gods Covenant being not learned in the teaching of God by his Spirit which is immediate And thus to confound truth he hath by his confession shamed himself and shewed himself to all men to be unlearned in the doctrine of Salvation Further he saith If God had intended to have given teachings immediately without any medium then would he not have sent Preachers abroad for them to hear mark this manâ— blind productions and what impudence is in his heart who holds forth That God intended not the thing to be what he promised should be he promised to teach his people himself and this man holds forth that he intended it not and so hath no less than charged God with Hypocrisie let the Reader mark this but this is the ground wherefore the Ministers and Preachers were and are sent abroad to bring all people to be taught of God by his Spirit and to inform their minds to the gift of God in them that by the Spirit received the knowledge of they might know the things of God which is not known but by the Spirit of God which all that are Children of God are led and guided by and they that are not led with the Spirit of God which Spirit is immediat are not the heirs with Christ nor none of his let I. S. say what he will or may this we believe and this the Scripture gives testimony of for us and with us Yet further to manifest his folly he saith It is erroneous enough and contradictious to the whole Scripture when R. F. truly tells him and saith Thou that art not taught of God shewes that thou speaks a vision of thy own heart and not from the mouth of the Lord let the Reader search where the errour and contradiction to the whole Scripture lyes in these words or whether he hath not proved himself blind and ignorant and in errour and contradiction to the Spirit of God Further he saith Never did any but God slayers and Spirit-wounders go about to separate the Word of God and his breath Now let this be considered Christ did tell them the Pharisees who had the words which God had spoken by the Prophets that they had never heard the voyce of God here he divides or separates betwixt the words and the voyce or breath and was no God-slayer nor Spirit-wounder as thou hast wickedly and blasphemously laid down thy Position where thou hast concluded Christ to be one against whom thy words are laid down let the Reader prove thy doctrine His 20th Head concerning Questions In this we do not contradict the Scripture I. S. is taken with a lye in his mouth who hath made it a subject to treat upon for Questions in their places we own but such as are of the Devil we deny as Christ did who shewed himself as a sool unto all mens wisdom when the subtil Pharisees and others tempted him who would not answer their crafty Questions though them that questioned insimplicity he did to resolve and satisfie them and inform them into the knowledge of the Father Then some leaves he hath filled with producing some of our Queries out of some of our Books Commenting thereupon and would prove them ignorant and unprofitable and the like but it had been more just and of a better report for him to have answered them and shewed them to be as he saith of them to all people rather then in a manner backbited them and reproached them and not shewing wherein it lyes and if they be so needless and vain aâ— he saith then the sooner had such a wise man as he thinks himself I. S. confuted them by sober and plain answers but what if our folly in the sight of men be wisdom in the sight of God and his wisdom foolishness with God no matter what he say of us who hath shewed himself already and confessed truly that his heart is old and lying and sinfull so we can expect no better judgement from his Pen then what is in his heart but while we are approved in the â—ight of God we matter nor what men say of us especially one that hath set himself to be our enemy and the Lords enemy and I leave the honest sober Queries to be read which he hath falsely branded with Pride and Ignorance and such like as this what rule have you in scripture for putting off the Hat this is an honest question which he wickedly slanders with pride and whether is your Gospel free without charge as the Apostles was yea or no these and such other questions he rails against to be Ignorant and quarrelous and vain and of the devil now it had been more honest to have confuted them in answering discreetly then to have thus branded them And he saith It is one thing to take hire for preaching and another thing to preach for hire whereby his scope is to excuse himself may be and his Brethren who are hirelings and would not be counted to preach for hire though he dare not deny lest all men should see his folly but that they have hire for preaching but then let him tell us when or where ever any of them preached and had no hire and then we will believe they preach not for it but such as receives sums of money of one man or a country which would not be given him except he preached to them this same man is a hireling and preaches because he hath hire and hath hire because that the ground he preaches Further he saith Christs righteousness which justifies a believing sinner is not the essentiall righteousness of his Godhead and here he hath spoken ignorantly and held forth as if there is two righteousnesses of Christ which I call for a proof from him for else let him confess to his shame that he hath added to the Scripture for the righteousness of Christ is but one by which all the Saints are justified Further he saith ignorantly enough that which is done according to the bare letter of the written command or from a gift of the Spirit or in a Gospel way from a living principle of grace acts of holiness by the holy Spirit and Faith given stirred up this is a righteousness of ours saith he and seems to separate it from the righteousness of Christ as he holds forth let men behold his ignorance Further he saith though it be wrought by the strength of Christ in us yet as to Justification Paul would not be found in it this for a word mark again Reader canst thou see any thing here but ignorance as if Paul were justified by another Christ then what wrought in him to will and to do Further he saith Paul counted all things but losse and dung even what he had done or suffered since conversion that he might win Christ Mark again what was
the converting of many hundred of souls by Paul and many other works of God wrought by him but dung and losse so I. S. holds forth this is Ignorance indeed he hath shewed his Ignorance by what he hath said and not proved in any thing that concerning questions we contradict the Scriptures His 21th Head concerning Civill Honour In this we do not contradict the Scripture by arguments nor practise but doth honour all men in the Lord and cannot respect mens persons nor have them in any admiration for any advantage yea we honour men in reproving them in their unrighteousness and I. S. pleads much for civil honour the Scripture speaks not of Civil honour and the question is what this honour is that he calls civill and wherein it may be done and not in transgression nor in respect of persons Magistrates is to be honoured by subject on to their just commands requests and laws and by patient suffering under their corrupt Laws and evill commands and not resisting evill yet the person of no man is to be respected for he that doth commit sin and is a transgressor of the law of God and Ministers of Christ are to be respected for their works sake and they desire no honour nor praise of men but knows reproach and infamy is their respect from the men of this Generation and as for hirelings deceivers they are respected of the world but condemned of God and of his Saints and testified against and Parents are to be respected in the Lord by their children and Masters by their servants but where God commands one thing and Parents or Masters another as it often comes to pass in Christs time as it doth now whether to give respect to God or man this I leave to be judged by sobe men that makes conscience of what they say and thus in short I give a testimony how we honour and would have all honoured in the Lord and leaves I. S. long discourse to himself and his company and doth bear witness against the vain superstition and foolish customes of this Generation His 22d Head concerning Swearing In this we do not contradict the Scripture but saith and practiseth according to Christs words Swear not at all which is spoken absolute and without condition and mitigation and he saith we take these words of Christ against his meaning and this is false and wicked too in I. S. who would he seen to hold forth that when Christ said Swear not at all he meant not as he spake for both Christ and the Apostle James were righteous in what they delivered concerning Swearing who forbids all manner of Swearing no cause excepted and we take Christs words according to his mind and doth deny all Oaths and abides in Christ and the Apostles Doctrine and our yea is so and our nay is so and whatsoever is more cometh of evill and I. S. would plead for swearing before a Magistrate but that Magistrate which fears God and loves his way will believe a man sooner that cannot swear for conscience sake then he that makes no conscience of Swearing and such a one is liker to testifie lyes with Oaths then he that for conscience sake denyes Oaths and in his conclusion he saith scholastically though Ignorantly they that will not expound Scripture by Scripture and compare the precepts and examples for Swearing without prohibition against it fall into Scripture contradiction but R. F. nor others will therefore c. this is unsound and laid down but not proved at all neither major nor minor and here by he hath concluded wickedly the Apostle Iames and Christ himself to be fallen into Scripture contradictions who did expresly forbid all swearing and did not compare the precepts and examples for Swearing with the prohibition against it and thus I. S. is taken uttering folly with his tongue and hath drawn a conclusion upon Christ and the Apostle Iames to be contradictors of Scripture let shame cover his impudent forehead And they that charges Christ and the Apostle Iames with contradicting Scripture are enemies to God and of the devil and for eternall vengeance but I. Steâ—haâ— hath done so and therefore he is an enemy to God and of the Devill and for eternall vengeance But further at large as concerning Swearing and our testimony thereof is laid 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 Contradictions to Scripture charges 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 pass lightly over having cleared the truth that we do not contradict the Scriptures but if this man I. 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 Word of the Lord to Hezekiah and yet no contradiction in Isaiah though such a Spirit as I. S. would so have judged And what would he have judged betwixt David and Jeremiah Psal 119 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 The Word of the Lord is as a fire and like a hammer 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 I. S. whose minds 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 and yet in these words there is not contradiction to him that hath an ear to hear But if I. 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 I. S. and such as he to be seekers of occasions against the just and would make offences where there is none for as I have said we do not allow I. S. to be the interpreter of our words for then no question but he would have his own end and meaning and in I. 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 Luke and Johns Declarations of the Gospel to be 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 of 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 I. S. judge what he will of us and wheras he speaks of Gospel-letters and Scripture-Gospel the Scripture give 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 I. 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 lawfulness 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 I. 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 Believers witness which he seems falsly to be charged withall and he saith the Spirit of God must give the spirituall 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 Joh. 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 Christ conveyed to them by Scriptures it doth say the Scriptures testifies 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 enâ—icing 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 I. 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 Apostles of Christ did not preach what they had gathered from Scripture neither their own imaginations but preached the Word 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 he hath gathered from Scripture or his own imaginations and let him chuse to say whether he will and in the next he will be proved a false Prophet and that E B. compiled a Book out of Scripture Collections is false for having the same Spirit which gave forth the Scripture which brings the Scripture to remembrance is not compiling a Book out of Scriptures and I. S. is found a false accuser and E. B. neither a self Contradictor noâ— self curser and these are true words to this generation and owned with the Spirit of God though I. S. in his scornful spirit abuse them he that hath the Word of the Lord from the mouth of the Lord to declare he is reviled and mocked But he that speaks the imagination of his own heart from the Saints conditions he is heard and owned and this is neither Scripture contradiction nor self-contradiction let I. S. judge out of his own heart what he will neither is this self contradiction to ask which of the Saints hâ—d the witness of their souls union to seek in the Letter and yet to affirm the Spirit opens and brings that which is spoken in Scripture to remembrance Let I. S. first answer the query in plainness which is an honest query and not to imply from it his own conceptions to make appear self-contradictions let the sober Reader judge where the contradiction lyes and he saith the Spirit is in the letter and goes about to prove it if he could if the Spirit be in the letter then all must have the Spirit that hath the letter and the Spirit is where ever the Bible is which I do deny for many hath the letter and professes it which knows not the Spirit and many hath the Bible in their pocket which hath not the Spirit there and this will be confessed by I. S. and all his fellows and so he must revoak who â—aith the Spirit is in the Letter and the Spirit gives life but the Letter kill In his proof he saith The written Word viz. the Letter is of greater authority then the Writer mark here Christ was one of them which gave forth Scripture and he was a greater authority then what was written and I say as it is plain to all honest men who can believe truth that the holy men of God who had the Spirit were of greater authority than the Scriptures since hath been which they left behind them But I. S. hath set Christ and all them that gave forth Scripture to be lesse in authority then the Scriptures let wise men judge of this matter he saith They were imperfectly holy that wrote forth the Scriptures and this is an absolute lye for the Scriptures gives this testimony of many of them that wrote it that they were perfect men and he hath also slaundeâ—ed Christ to be impâ—rfectly holy and in his next let him pâ—ove what this Imperfect Holiness is and till then we deny there is any Holiness â—mperfect Further he saith The promises of the Scripture are his Chariot to convey him Spirit whether he pleases to go but where is his proof for such a Doctrine but all that he saith doth not prove that the Spirit is in the Letter though he say to make up the sum of his matter Daily experiences doth demonstrate that the Spirit is in the Letter but where is the man let him answer that thus hath experienced that alwayes when he hath seen the letter and handled the letter hath seen and handled the Spirit the testimony of