Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	church_n	ground_n	pillar_n	2,625	5	10.3132	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44783	The beast that was, & is not, & yet is, looked upon: or, The bo-peeping beast pointed at: or, He that hideth himself hunted because of whom truth complaineth, and is spoken to by Pope and Prelate, by Presbyter, by Independent, by Quaker, by Baptist: together with her several answers to them all. Also one description of the beast. Also the coming forth and progress of the beast hitherto. Also an epistle to magistrates and law-givers, likewise, to take off prejudice if any be. Two epistles, one to the reader, and another to the Christian reader. VVith a true reproof to W.S. a Quaker, who in his book called The lying spirit in the mouth of the false prophet, wherein he endeavours to make men believe that he had answered H.H. his book, called The doctrine of the light within the natural man leading to eternal life, examined by Scripture-light.	Howet, Enoch.	1659 (1659)	Wing H3151; ESTC R215400	46,109	67

there is no need of conversion to make them Christians who are Christians born by the natural flesh of their godly Parents and so the god of this world who hath b●inded their eyes maketh them esteem it a great priviledge to have a perfect dead Act of his supposed Regeneration to be done by force upon their children for they can have no meanes to know or guess that the Spirit is joyned with water in their baptism which is the Instrument or outward Act of their Regeneration Consider how fast the poor Infant is lock'd to presumption when they have either presumption or nothing for the Foundation of their Order or rather Mystery Babylon's Order the god of this world knew well that none could be admitted into the Kingdom of God or government of the Gospel without Regeneration of water and the Spirit and his business in Mystery Babylon is to bring man to invent a form in imitation of God and so keep men that when they come to be capable of believing they should not look after Baptism or Regeneration of Water and the Spirit John ● 5 As Christ hath His Disciples made and baptized so Babylon Mystery hath hers supposed to be baptized too and in this the man of sin exalteth himself above God for God is merciful in forgiving sins and receiving into grace and favour upon Repentance every penitent sinner and therefore hath given Order to His Disciples upon confession of Faith and Repentance to baptize but this man of sin will make men believe that he hath more mercy then God by His word holds forth for he receiveth all in Infancy and needeth neither Faith nor Repentance in receiving his subjects the Subjects of Christs Kingdom have heart-pricking Truth to convince them and bring them to Repentance but Babylons Members are so easily made that they neither knew nor felt when it was done And thus the way is broad and easie that leadeth to destruction Also considering that the keeping of Christs Commandments is a proof of our love to Christ and that the receiving of the Spirit is an effect of obedience Joh. 14.15 16. and knowing that the written word is more surely to be taken heed to then an Act of the Spirit in Transfiguration though Christ Himself be present 2 Pet 2.19 to the end because Satan being a spirit can dissemble a spiritual Act but his mouth is stopped and he reproved with It is written And further knowing that Christ taught duty from the written word and it to be believed and practised rather then the words of one which should rise from the dead Luk. 16.22 I stayed not for Revelation to teach me my duty although I expect Revelation to convey unto us and evidence in us Christ our life but turn'd at Wisdom's reproof expecting after obedience Wisdom's promise Prov. 1.23 And now hating every false way knowing They that err from thy Statutes their deceit is falsehood Psal 119.118 and esteeming thy Precepts concerning all things to be right ver 128. I cannot but say of Scripture record Thy word is very pure therefore my soul loveth it verse 140. and upon this account I took the directions of that Scripture which Paul writeth by inspiration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and proveth it by Isa 52.11 viz. I came out from Babylon Mystery the great her Daughter and Grandchild and touched none of their precedent manners Deut. 12.30 But I say laying aside mans learned mists of darkness and his precedent Examples I took the Doctrine of Christ and His Apostles for my Foundation and their Ensamples for following of Christ for my imitation Ephes 2.20 Truth speaketh I tell thee Church of Christ as thy name is the house of God the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of the truth thou art not in thy order reproveable by Scriptures 1 Tim. 3.15 And if any Enemy whatsoever undertake to reprove thee and hath not Christs weapon he fought Satan with v●z it is written though he tell thee of standing in the Will of God or being led by the Spirit or of an inward Teacher or of Light within as if there were some secret thing that passed by peeping and muttering which right Reason cannot be used about the understanding of they are no better the VVizards or Familiar Spirits To the Law and to the Testimonies if there they miss any thing viz. in that they hold forth or teach and speak not according to this word though they talk of Light within it is because there is no Light in them Isa 8.19 20. and their light is darkness Mat. 5.19 fear thou no such Enemies but live in the nature of rejoycing there meet thy God there work Righteousness Isa 64.5 viz. That which Christ began and shewed us when he said Thus it becometh Vs c. Mat. 3.5 Take thou notice o● the continuance of Gods wayes though the Enemy would tell thee they are ended and so expect thy Salvation And against the fear of those that would set a Spirit which teacheth not to obey Scriptures and follow the examples of Christ and His Disciples in opposition to a Spirit that teacheth to live in obedience to Scriptures and to follow the Examples aforesaid Rom. 15.4 Comfort thy self by Faith in Scripture and there with patience cast the Anchor of thy hope Phil. ● 4 Rejoyce alwayes yea again I say rejoyce And that thy rejoycing may not be in vain take these Cautions First Take heed that thou miss not of a way within a way if thou bless thy self in the high way without the way which is called holy Isa 35.8 which holy way is recorded in Job 28.7 8 9 10. Is the turning up all things by the roots cutting forth rivers among the rocks discovering every pretious thing binding the floods from overflowing bringing forth hidden things to light The high way being thy duty to walk in the holy way being the laying of Gods hand upon Christ thy Covenant and doing all thy works for thee Isa 26.12 holding thee that thou canst not depart from him and quickning the desires of thy soul Psal 18.17 18. In all thy acts of obedience thy Faith must be in the operation of God Col. 2.12 through which our Duties are living Ordinances performed by two co-workers Secondly Take heed whilst you walk into the way of God that your great business be to seek God His Face His strength evermore Psal 105.3 4. where the Psalmist maketh this the ground of his joy therefore if you fail herein your joy is groundless In which search love kindleth more and more as thou comest neerer God so as the soul groweth sick of love and cannot cease to press hard after God Psal 63.8 because it is upbeld by Gods right hand till thou know thy self to be set as a seal upon Christs arm and his heart for ever Cant. 8.6 and then also wilt thou follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.3 Thirdly Take heed thou be not defiled in the way

compelled maintenance though some of us think our selves happy for having a Levite to our Priest viz. one of those the Clergy were wont to pray for viz. the whole Tribe of Levi by what name or title soever they were dignified or distinguished Judg. 17.13 But because we would not be too far separated from our Mother we love her a little she may strengthen us and we her we would have a little of her worldly esteem though the rude Multitude own us not in time we may be as much honoured for Godliness as our Grandmother and Mother is for their ability to prefer to setled honour and riches and for their flattery ease and lusts but we doubt we have a little of our Mothers pride and willingness to save our skins therefore we will be modestly Godly and that with so much wisdom as may keep as much of our mothers love and our Mothers friends as we can Also we have Pastors of our own chusing and some of us have Pastors that have no Authority from man nor descent from mans Authority yet we have our Grandmother and our Mothers baptism by vertue of the Popes Decree it was given to our Mothers Mother and so we have that from Antiquity and Succession If we should by denyal of that tear our selves from our Ancient Worship and deny the worlds Baptism and unchristian them all at once 〈…〉 we should lose all at once our relation and hopes of worldly promotion Truth speaketh To have a neer Relation to me onely in similitude will not make thee in Union with me to be almost a Christian like Agrippa is to be no Christian Act. 26.28 To be almost in heaven and go no further is never to come there there is many who undertake to counterfeit me but there is no likeness in all things of me but my self but the Counterfeits are in something lame or in something superfluous I agree with all and every command of God in Scripture and there is room for nothing else in me but what Scripture will own The Scriptures of Truth doth not clearly own you the Scripture clearly owneth that upon believing men and women ought to be and were baptized and walk together in Church-order of this there is many witnesses throughout the new Testament as Act. 8. and Act. 2 c. but not one witness that unbaptized persons walked in Church order or that Infants was commanded to be or was baptized of the first there is certainty neither thou nor all the Learned Rabbies in the world can deny it of the second there is but a May-be and that from mans inventions I charge you all and all that reads this writing as you fear God to search the Scripture and see if in this particular you can attain to a better proof then a May-be if thou canst not be ashamed and repent for I look at thee to have more shame in thee then either thy Grandmother or thy Mother and presume not above what is written you need do no more then Scripture warranteth you it hath enough in it if observed in Letter and Spirit to furnish the man of God throughly to perfection and all good works 2 Tim. 3.17 then lay aside all your Ordinances that are grounded upon May-be though the wisest men that ever were in the world invented them O consider God will take Vengeance on inventions though they be of Moses Aaron and Samuel Psal 99.6 to vers 8. Consider also that mans inventions diverteth him from his Uprightness Eccles 7.29 And whereas yon tell me of chusing Pastors your selves let me tell you Pastors and Teachers are given by God and not chosen by men and except it be found in Scriptures of Truth that man is directed to chuse any such Officers take heed lest thou erect an Idol of thine own invention in so doing instead of following Gods direction God knoweth well thou canst nor chuse as God chuseth for man looketh at the outward appearance viz. a man that delivereth well-composed words but the Lord knoweth the heart take heed lest those that thou hast chosen building upon their choice silence those Pastors which God hath given and that are gifted by God Thou art no more able to chuse a Pastor for thy self then a company of School-boyes are to chuse a wise learned Master therefore God no where in Scripture put the choice of Pastor into thy hands I advise thee take it not It is true that a company of men who have followed Christ in the Regeneration in Faith Repentance Baptism and in the Form have the Spirit and Life have heard and learned of the Father and have the Son revealed in them even as the outward skin of the body and the inwards as Heart Mind Members are all imbodied and presented to our Understanding in one Body so Form and Power living Faith and Repentance and prevailing Prayer which makes us as Israel viz a Prince prevailing with God like as the Tree and Fruit the Sap and the Rinde so Gods Order and Life are not to be separated but are one in another brought forth The Form obeyed being the Creatures Duty Life in the Form being Gods owning or acceptance in the Creature like a golden Sceptre stretched forth by God and like a seal of God set upon the creatures heart which maketh his heart merry the joy of the Lord being his strength Ephes 1.13 Eccles 8.10 A company of such men I say that so have entrance into the Kingdom of God viz. that have submitted to his Government receiving the new birth of water and the Spirit in baptism and all the following commands recorded in the written word that great Charter being their Law without mixture of mans inventions and thereby owning Christ to be their Lord and themselves to be inchartered Citizens he ruling over them not like those recorded in Luke 19.14 by the same Charter have authority to chuse two sorts of Officers for ordering of the outward man but a Pastor is a higher thing it is a gift of God a heart-feeding gift viz Bishops and Deacons the one to keep the Church in order the other to take care of the poors necessities to relieve them whose bowels of tender-heartedness have appeared to their natural Relations whose wisdom hath been fruitful in governing by love these may be chosen by mans Election if there be any that have the qualification the Scripture layeth down not else as in Tit. 1.6 If any be blameless c. There is no haste in chusing what God hath not marked out If God hath not given thee men of such qualifications as he approveth on thou hadst better be without Governors longer then to set up Antichrist in Christs chair In this sense He that believeth maketh not haste Isa 28.16 viz. to act without his Guiders rule The name of a Bishop hath the nature of his Office included into it which is ruling and oversight aptness to teach is but a qualification that any other Member may have

in whom the Spirit of God doth or shall breath being a truth-evidencing and forceable constraint and cannot stay for leave of Election by man to utter it self which indeed is a gift of God or Pastoral Spirit as Marriage is another qualification wherein the spirit of government must appear fruitful both in wife and children and that from conjugal and natural love to the Yoak fellow and procreated in which affections Faith appeareth and for want of them infidelity 1 Tim. 5 8. so that children cannot be wanting to a Bishop in whose government the Royal Law Love of Gods Church is resembled Marriage being the Type of Christ and his Church and it is certain that a batchelor or one that hath no children or one whose wife and children are not qualified according to the word cannot be chosen except man will set his May-be against Gods Must-be And so I leave thee Independant warning thee to take the counsel of Christ to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea Rev. 3.17 A Speech that may be aptly spoken by these Quakers who hold forth a stupifying Spirit denying plain Truth and right Reason under the Notion of a higher Mystery and Spirit then plain Scripture and right Reason will admit of which plain Scripture they call Letter and right Reason they call Flesh in contempt notwithstanding that the Spirit of God is promised to be poured into him that turneth at Gods Reproof Prov. 1.23 which Reproof convinceth Reason or else man could not return into Reason among the rest of the Souls Members the Spirit was poured and is wrought upon to order Mans Affairs by Judgement and doth receive wise Counsels when the man of Understanding attaineth to them Prov. 1.5 Truth though we may not talk with thee we are not capable to receive directions by any that is call'd by thy name nor by the writings called Scriptures of Truth for what directions soever we have from without can be but mans teachings and the natural man understandeth not the things of God we are taught by the Light within we are to stand in the will of God and observe the movings and commands of his Spirit Truth speaketh * 〈…〉 resembling God's people 〈◊〉 great humility Psal 17. ●1 As in the vision of Esdras the Eagles heads slept until her Feathers had reigned as in 2 Esd 12 25. These are they that shall accomplish his wickedness and finish his last end even so in Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the whole earth the heads and subtilest and strongest of her delusions she hath kept until her last end which I hope is approaching that thou who wouldst not receive the Truth in the love thereof mightst not hear the reproof of thy walking in false forms any longer in so much that thou couldst not deny that if forms must be owned thou must come out of them and come into the form of godliness Satan hath now cozened thee another way and thy AS GOD he hath perswaded thee that all forms must be cast off and the Law of the Spirit of Life entertained O cunning and subtile but false delusions the words of the Prophets and the Commandment of the Apostles were set in opposition formerly to lusts 2 Pet. 3.1 2. but never to the way of Righteousness by any but these last members of Babylon Peter in Chap. 2. 1. 2. hath these words And many shall follow their pernitious wayes by reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil spoken of Wherein we may perfectly see that their wayes and the wayes of Truth stands in flat opposition one to another Also in the first verse it is testified that to bring in these damnable heresies is to deny the Lord that bought them but he himself is so far from that opinion in verse 21. of the said Chapter that he chargeth the way of Righteousness and the holy commandments as the very Centre from which Apostates fall so that you may behold clearly that it is not a Righteousness they are charged for falling from for that is the secret issues which is betwixt God and the heart but the way of Righteousness which is visible to the understanding of Man Many of their Leaders whilst they were able to hold the Antichristian form they were in the esteem of godly Priests whose infants Baptism and learned specious Pastoral care so much applauded by wise sober rich silken-coated Professors then I say not being able to resist the clear evidence that the true form of Godliness hath because they did not love to be disquieted out of the woman Jezabels bed Rov 2.22 where they lay in pleasure of imagined Godliness amongst a company of wise sober Professors they were then so far from receiving the love of the truth that they grew into disquietness of mind and hatred of that form of Godliness that Christ and His Apostles and their Disciples walked in for many years even till the time that Antichrist grew popular in so high a measure Satan being ready with this Temptation that they struck hands with this strong delusion and so believed the lies thereof 2 Thes 2.11 that they cryed down all forms that they might be shut of yea and avenged of that form the thoughts whereof so much troubled them if they knew their own hearts they would ingeniously confess this Therefore whosoever desireth further satisfaction in this matter is referred to a Book that the Author hath written called The Doctrine of the Light within the natural man leading to eternal Life examined by Scripture Light Baptist speaketh The Spirit of God having instructed me by the Scripture I fell into a course of reasoning which though Mystery Babylon cryeth down in this her last dispensation being the very thing that Isaiah cryeth up and reproveth the neglect of Isa 44. on this manner There is no word for baptizing Infants in Scripture not no regular account from which that invention can arise it is the very door that the god of this world makes all this part of the world called Christendom of one supposed Faith by leaving no man at liberty to chuse his Religion but maketh the instruments of his generation to be that which giveth him right to the Instruments of his Regeneration and as for the new birth he will have his to presume that from imagination and all this to be done when the party supposed to be baptized could neither assent by understanding to what was done nor dissent by doing any thing but crying which he would have done if they had gone about to kill him as to have christened him as they call it Also herein those err that have schism'd from Popery and Prelacy but hold their baptism of Infants saying That Infants of godly Parents may be baptized by which words they acknowledge in effect that the fleshly copulation of godly Parents giveth right to the children of their natural Body to be instruments of Regeneration so that it must needs follow that

Lord and saviour Rev 15 3 if thou mean to sing his praises in heaven and thou hast no other weapons but the word of thy testimony and the blood of the Lamb and wo wil be to them that sight in Christs quarrel with any other weapons the one is to keep out subjects and spirit of Abaddon who fight with carnal weapons and provoking temptations to destroy one-another which you wil easily see if you compare the 38 of Ezek 10 with Rev 20 8 thy heart being sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb they would destroy thee too if this blood did not ke●p them out but no child of God can be destroyed though his body perish when his heart is held up in its rejoycing delight in God prisons and enemies and all persecution being but keyes to open the hear to God more abundantly and messengers to bring Gods presence into it to keep his heavenly court there then thou wilt not be provoked at thy enemies further then to pittie them and pray for them and do them good the other is the Scriptures which is the word that Christ thy Captain fought this beasts spirit with when he bare testimony against him with it is written and that is the word of the testimony it is written will find all his members out it will approve the proved perfect way of God and discover every false way and that thou and I may walk in the fear of God and comforts of his spirit with the Churches of Christ Acts 9 31. and also in the comfort of the Scripures our way being there recorded Rom. 15 4 we behaving our selves wisely in a perfect way waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus to us Psal 101 2 may walk with a perfect heart is the desire of thy companion in the faith and under the cross of Christ H H To the Reader REader if thou hast a desire to take him in a snare that reproveth in the Gate Esa 29 21. and endeavoureth to make ie matter for thy hating or persecuting spirit to work upon that these things are written against thee as the Pharisees did against my master Christ unworthy I to call him so yet he having given me grace to be faithful and commanding his loving kindness into my heart and opening my heart to receive his father and himself and ovvned me and caused me to ovvn him I am bound to tell thee that thou mayest shevv thy self of the Pharisees spirit and as one of them by so doing But the children of truth follovving the example of their Lord and Lavv-Giver endureth contradictions of sinners Heb. 12.3 vvithout heart-rising-malice or procuring evil or persecution to them but their rule is to love their enemies pray for them that persecute them the Scripture cannot shevv any Disciple that ran to the Magistrate for help against any disputant the Disciples of Christ have all one spirit even the same that Steven had that the gain-sayers could not resist the vvisdom of it and not the Magistrates svvord at their call neither dare they lay it upon the right eye of their enemies that they neither dare look upon nor speak truth because of it Zach. 11.17 though it be the gain-sayers portion yet it is not from Christs Disciples if they should not be inslaved that are fed and maintained by the Magistrate they could not be idle shephards but vvould break through all difficulties to look upon the light though it cost them vvhatsoever harm the svvord that lieth upon their eye could do them Truth and those that are of it begotten are vvilling to come to the light to have their practises and opinions manifested for it delights to be exactly searched and examined and the more contradictions are endured and the current of them not stopped the more it shineth I advise thee to understand that this little book is not written against any persons but such as are ticntured with the spirit of that beast it is a hunting to discover for this spirit cannot be attributed to Presbyterian or Independant or Quaker or Baptist no not to Pope and Prelate alone or at all except they have the acts and instruments of cruelty mentioned by them which are the cognisance of the fourth beast that hath no certain creatures form Dan. 7.7 as the other of the three had but was dreadful and terrible to shew it was a persecutor it had great Iron teeth ten horns which are instruments of cruelty it brake in peices devoured and stamped the residue viz. all but it self here is acts of cruelty indeed O how like this beast is those religious people that would destroy all religions but themselves by the Magistrates hand for non-conformities sake to themselves but this beast is in every place yea in the very Temple of God 2. Thes 2.1 and wheresoever there is either power of man spirited to be Abaddon and Apollons subjects or of spirit that opposeth either spirit or form that agree together in the true witness and worship of God or wheresoever that opposing spirit maintaineth his breath there will some time or other appear the Tallands or the ten horns or the stamping power or some deceivableness of unrighteousness that is in them that perish yea though it be the very subtilty of him that can transform himself into an Angel of light and these are all members of that self hiding beast Wheresoever or among what people soever this beast hath lost his honour in one form he taketh up another yea and rather then fail of his purpose denyeth all formes so that it may be said he was and upon his hiding himself he is not there where he was as visibly and formally the same and yet is the same spirit of that beast that ruleth in the children of disobedience that alwayes either opposeth the plainness or the spiritualnesse of Christs commands one while saying they are too low or foolish or carnal as water baptism c. for those that look after spiritual light to one another while exalting a false form another while added form without either spirit or life and thus he playeth bow-peep appearing on the one side and on the other here and there when and where he is discovered changing his form or peeping out without any form and it is apparent that he ascendeth out of the bottomless pit because no rule that Christ hath given in his word can measure him he dsiclaimeth that when it would discover him and then telleth you that the place he cometh from is the movings of a spirit and in this it is bottomless because no right reason nor measuring line can declare where or what or when this spirit will make his progress or try his work that refuseth all tryal but himself These things considered let not the Clergy be enraged that this writing hunteth after this beast if it be not amongst the Clergy or Presbitery in England it may be it wil be found in Rome and some other land let them help me to

slaughter Zach. 11.3 4. where the howling of the shepherds and the roaring of Lyons are mentioned both together where Israels Clergy are reputed pitiless slayers and fellers of the flock and hold themselves not guilty saying Blessed be the Lord for I am rich ah poor England how dangerous are acts of cruelty amongst thy shepherds when they are labourers for license to destroy for Religions sake this was the condition of poor Israel who was sometimes as dear in Gods sight as England when it was at the best Isa 22.25 There is a conspiracy amongst her prophets in the midst thereof like a roaring Lyon they have devoured souls they have taken the treasures of their pretious things they have made many widdows in the midst thereof VVe may also look upon our Clergy how they band together to get if it were possible such Parliament-men as might be as teeth in their heads Christ takes no such care to exalt His Gospel by worldly Magistrates it is apparent that these Priests took no care how many widdows they made or of devouring souls witness our Pulpit-VVar to maintain liberty for themselves to lead soules blindly that were blind to destruction but the pretious things they will bave or else they will sue and distress him that dare not for conscience sake pay them for devouring souls and many poor labouring men and widdows and children that are constrained to fit with bread and water pottage whilst their labours and profits are required to feed them and cloath them with the pretious things of our Nation Is this love and pity the Law of Heaven where the servants in the Gospel should live upon giving and receiving no no it is the contending and distressing Law of hell rather take heed good People of such shepherds if you once come to have a glimpse of them search and look farther for if you delight in such hear and observe that he that loveth as well as he that maketh a lie is without the City of Salvation Rev. 22.15 Of the enmity of a Spirit something like this Beast I found in the mouthes of some of our Lincolnshire Clergy who though they had not forty shillings a yeer according to the Statute of Free-hold were swarming to chuse the Knights of the Shire I desire that any of the rest when Truth provoketh them and will not be found to serve their turns be of a better spirit for these could better digest lying then to be reproved for lying About thirty years agon when I was persecuted by the Bishops wandring from my dwelling place I came to Spalding where I did remain a little time where being in the company of two or three Christians I had occasion to look upon the 139 Psal we being only talking together I did read I am wonderfully and fearfully mad instead of I am wonderfully made I not at all being preaching then as the Lyar did report some that failed in their Duty of taking things in the best part reported it notwithstanding at the same time I did correct my self and own the true reading and this report being gotten into the nest of the Clergy and there hatched by hatred scorn brought forth this enlargement that I should preach it as a Doctrine But I know not what It came to pass at the chusing the Knights of the Shire upon Jan. 10. a great company of Priests being got together in Lincoln Castle I coming neer where they were one of them comes by me with a boy-like behavior and cryeth I am wonderfully and fearfully mad to which I said nothing and he past into the crowd of them and another either a Priest or one of their dear Berns seeing the first did not provoke me to speak accused me by the name of this fellow for preaching of that Doctrine but what I could not gather his words were so confusedly uttered onely wonderfully and fearfully mad for there is none of them agreeth in words what the Doctrine was and so turned his back to whom I answered Art thou not ashamed to maintain the Priests lies and then turn thy back when thou hast spoken the words but he turning his face and averting the same the Synod of them turned to me with out-facing countenance to whom I said I stand here to maintain the Truth against the whole Synod of you And whereas I might expect something to be said that might make that which they said probably appear first one of them and then another of them cryed Hout him Boyes hout him all the rest standing silent approving for they did not reprove what the two spake Also Mr. Wood Merchant of Boston told me That one that he looked at to be a godly Minister told him That when some cryed a Hall a Hall I cryed a Halter a Halter which here by my pen and heart in the presence of God I deny for I did not speak those words nor any words to the contempt of Mr. Hall nor had ever in my Life an offended thought at the man Observe if the supposed godly of them bend their tongue like a Bow for lies Jer. 9.3 and the active men among them be so inclined to mutiny as the Reader may judge how dangerous such words were at such a time and place Are they not like to be Members of the aforesaid Beast and like that company of Priests aforesaid that muther in the way by consent for these sought my undoing either by Mr. Hall's hands or the multitudes and to stain my repute according to the interpretation of Christ Mat. 5.21 and also guilty of slander Psal 50.20 and making a man an offender for a word Isa 29.20 21. and shall according to that word be brought to nought consumed and cut off if they repent not H. H. The coming forth and Progress of the Beast hitherto THe holy Scriptures foreseeing Devourers for to grow Amongst out of church of Christ a Eph. 2.2 12 Acts 20.30 Doth truly stile such so As Lyon Bore and Wolfe And dumb and greedy dogs That selfness honors beast-like wealth Doth wallow in like hogs In mire yet still fild with fears Their only loved prey By strength of day-spring valiant truth Should taken be away Their Lepord-like with Lyons mouth do grin b Rev. 13.2 And paw of Bear with Dragons strength stretcht out A child of truth in the act of covering Their worrying paw least men should spie Their naked shameless beastial cruelty With Christ sheeps cloathing whil'st they can deceive c Mat. v 15. With that when not they Magistrate ask leave That they may use his sword and then they 'r bold Though inside wolvish nature men behold To tel truth's children that they must not prate But put into their mouths else they will make d Mica 3.5 War against them whom God doth love they hate From somtimes Church of Christ Did Pope and Prelate spring From Pope and Prelate did This Presbyter begin From Presbyter did Independant fly Yet members still of

one body Made ere they knew in infancie But Scripture Baptist doth them all deny For the good old way that Jesus walked in e Ier. 7.16 And the Apostles taught repenters to begin f Acts 2.38 Hereupon the spirit of the beast rouzeth up himself again Yea thinks the Quakers spirit then will I All that is called God or worshiped deny g 2 Thes 2. For where by order * by making false order I can have no place I must exalt my self to the disgrace * viz. in his deceived ones who exalt the sound of name but have being ignorant of the nature of the law of God and Christ Of God opposing order of his face Though God be the God of order Plainness of truth opposite to the beasts mysticall pretences GOD sent his son in flesh to come True naturall blood to shed And did ordain his death to be In simple man bake't bread And Vine fruit wine that men do drink Which God and man doth chear When in his ord'nance spirit joynd The price of Christs blood dear Shown to hold forth his death for sin Until he come again That is gone up true advocate Our cause for to maintain Where holy God and sinful man By Christ a treaty hold Who takes our prayers and there to God Our miseries doth unfold And doth return into our hearts The fruits of his blood shed True pordon strength comfort and joy By spirit witnessed Who doth with blood and water joyn One witness manifested a Iohn 1.5 8. In Gods one way whil'st men obey Repent and be baptised And then expect pardon of sin And holy spirit Gods gift b 2. Acts 38 Whil'st that our loves is prov'd to Christ In making it our stri●t For to keep all Gods commandments Where Scripture comfort dwells c Rom. 15.4 With Son and Father manifest Where men are not Rebels a Iohn 14 21. Hereupon the spirit of the beast proceedeth Thinks disobedient spirit I have No share in this strong Saviour I l'e cry down Lawes and holier be Then all that formes do favour In the eyes of those that have the love Of simple truth denyde I l'e serve their lusts and them perswade They need not to be ti'd I strong delusion can command Affections into tears b Ezek. 8 14 And cause men for to lean on God And so free them from fears c Mica 5.11 And cause men to protest to God That they 'l obedient be d Ier. 42.6 Yet his commandments to deny And say it is not he e Ier. 43. i 2 For in right steps of humbleness f Ps 17 11 They shall seem after God to press And though by Christs knowledge they scape Through lusts the worlds pollution g 2 Pet 2 20 Yet Gods commandments turning from They 're fast in my possession Although that they his way forsake They holiness may hold * The strength of delusion lieth in their seeming to themselves others to hold forth their formal holiness For I will spirit them my self Whil'st they 're fearless and bold I can my self transforme Into an Angels light And there maintain the light within The disobedient wight a 2 Cor. 11 14 2 Thes 2. Truth speaketh As righteous they must sure appear Whilst they can have the Skill To seem as Christs Apostles right And preachers of his Will b 2 Cor. 11 13.15 These were so far convinc't As to disclaim prophaneness But love of truth did not receive To bring them to obed'ence c 2 Thes 2 Self-love did them provoke Lest they should damned be Or of salvation be deny'd Prophaneness for to flee Doth it avail saith they To save us let us see All other Scriptures they throw by As useless for to bee Delusion speaks Therefore to them I me sent d 2 Thes 2 11. compared with 10 Verse Such lies they shall believe As me their inward Teacher to Prefer though God they grieve e Gen. 6.6 Before that simple Christ That Scripture-writing gave That men might read know his law And sure instructions have f 2 Pet. 1 19 20 2 Tim 3.17 Truth speaks The Man of God to make perfect And furnish him throughout There is a rule to know Gods will None need of it to doubt Delusion speaketh In mans imagination I le frame a lawless Christ And set my selfe up there as God And in his name be hi'st I le cause these to ascribe to me What ere to God is due And to my inward motions To flye from Scripture-view Remember Ahabs case 1 King 21.23 Truth doth and will conclude When beauteous holiness appears In sweetned-soul the dew of youth to bring Psalm 110 In morning womb it never fears To own its Jesus Lord and King That God-begotten Virgin-born That crosfide flesh was crown'd with thorn Hath saving power and law-giving In person place and time No true man can deny this thing And say he 's without crime That doth salvation to himself apply Whilst that obedience he doth clean deny Though faith and bapti'm in one book be writ Yea in one Chapter and in one Verse too Delusion saith he can the faith out pick And leave the bapti'm for some else to do Thus self-love his salvation minds Whil'st love of righteousnesse thinks fit To hate iniquity betimes The Oyle of gladness with his Christ to get a Psal 45.7 And thinks nothing for himself to imbrace To be too low carnal or base That his Jesus to his Apostles gave For Church direction but will tread the trace With Christ and his Disciples to his grave And knowes when 's left his body then that he From 's bodyes worship not before is free If our great God by such a lowly thing As blew in fringe would Israel mind Of their obedience to their Lord and King b Num 15 38 That they might not to their own heart Nor to their eyes be seeking With spirit of disobedience dark Though light calld go a-whoring Then think not baptism breaking bread Mean Lawes by Christ b'ing uttered Flying to holier spirit they think then Christ That doth and will exalt himself the high'st Within the disobedient child That is by spirit but not by God beguil'd To all Law-givers and Magistrates WIth the submission of a poor worm that is under your feet that you may behold what God hath given to my heart to write a warning to men and that you may avoid all provocations to that horrid sin of building up Sim with blood Micah 3.10 I tender this treatise to your view hoping that you will not despise the words of him that is as much your underling as any maid-servant to her Master though they may Contend with some of you Iob 11.13 Being I am heartily engaged by Christ Jesus my master to disswade all men from adhering to mans inventions or devices in and about the worship of God because they are so dangerous