thy self and to that in thy Conscience I speak and it will let thee see that all thy worship is taken on in thy will and in that nature in which the enmity stands and so hath taken on things and taken up things by tradition from others and that which was commands to others who followed the Lamb whithersoever he went and no commands to thee neither doth God require those things of that nature neither doth he accept it while the bands of wickedness is not loosed and the oppressed is not set free and therefore let all flesh and carnal reason be silent for God will confound the wisdom of the wise and they that have divined in their reasons which is in the curse and under the curse shall be mad now in the day when God is raising up his own Image and bringing back that which hath long been held in captivity and now the men of the Earth Pharaoh and all the Inchanters of Egypt and the South-sayers and the Diviners and Gog and Magog among which thou Hewet art found one and they compass the Camp of the Saints about but fire shall come down from Heaven that shall destroy all the Adversaries of the Lord and Israel shall go free 1. That which thou calls our first Principle And first thou sayest They oppose the Word Christ to the written word and will have a Word that is a discovery spiritual to be the Word but whatsoever it is they call the Word it is perfectly false and not the truth Answer Oh thou Lyar and Slanderer the Lord will plead with thee for Addars Poyson is under thy tongue and thou hast a Whores forehead that art not ashamed of thy false accusing let hundreds in the City of London who hath heard us be witness against thee and thy Lyes that thou hast Printed and suffers them to be cryed up and down the streets as thy filthy Songs and Ballads and runs to disgrace the Truth but to the Lord who is righteous shalt thou give an account and thou art as Ianes and Iambres that withstood Moses and for all thy hard Speeches and filthy Lyes shalt thou give an Account for to him who is the Searcher of hearts and that in thy Conscience shall bear witness against thee and that we oppose the Word Christ to the written word as thou callst it I charge it upon thee that we do not oppose Christ to the Scripture for Christ is the Word Iohn 1. and this the Scripture doth not oppose but bears witness to him who is the Word and his Name is called the Word of God and this Word became flesh and dwelt among us as the Scriptures witness and the Word of the Lord endures for ever but he doth not say the Letter endures for ever but thou that art accusing us that we do not own a form of sound words here thou shalt be judged out of thy own mouth where readst thou of a written word in the Scripture and here thou shalt be tryed by the Scripture and judged by it that thou art a perverter of the Scripture thou wouldst have more words then one the Word is but one the Word sanctifies Sanctifie them through thy Word but he doth not say the Letter sanctifies And the Word of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting but the Letter is not from everlasting and the Scripture had a beginning and was declared in time and Prophesie shall cease but the Word is from everlasting to everlasting And the Word of the Lord is as a Hammer and as a Fire but the Scripture doth not say that it is as a Hammer and a Fire and yet the Word that he spoke was Spirit and Life yet the Scripture is not Spirit and Life and thou that wouldst set up the Letter in the place of God to try all things and search all hearts thou makest an Idol of it and so opposes God with it and so would bring that to contend against the Lord the which they witnessed through sufferings and I tell thee and all the world the Word is but one and all who knows God hears that Word and it is a Light and a Lanthorn unto their Pathes but that is invisible and eternal and what the Saints did witness of this Word they declared 1 Iohn and the Scripture is true and bears true record and testimony of the Word and they were true Witnesses of the Word of Life that wrote it and it is a true Declaration or Testimony of those things that are certainly believed Luke 1. of the which they saw and heard and tasted and all who come to know the Word of the Lord reads it again and sees it as it is written and further thy envy and shame is made manifest that thou wouldst accuse and yet thou sayst whatsoever they call the word it is perfectly false and not truth here thou would judge and yet thou canst not tell what we call the Word but at last concludes its false whatever it be and here thou blasphemes and callest Christ Jesus in whom is all truth false for no other Word I own but Christ and the Scripture speaks of no Word of God but one and thou that wouldst make the Letter the Word it self shall judge thee and thou makest much mincing and arguments in thy carnal reason and sayst the ground of error is ignorance of the Scripture and thou bringst Mark and Matthew alas I know what Mark and Matthew wrote is true if thou hadst an ear to hear the ground of all error is because he is not known nor his voice whom the Scriptures bear record of and thou sayst we drive men into darkness that works upon people to dis-esteem the Scripture and perswades people to an uselessness of the Scriptures let all that have heard us in the City of London or elsewhere speak if they heard us say the Scriture was useless or did dis-esteem it but on the contrary we exhorted them to search if the Scripture did not bear witness to those things we declared and so let shame cover thy face thou false Accuser and thou bringst 2 Tim. 3. 17. that it is for the perfecting the man of God and that its profitable to correct and instruct this is owned but it s not the man of God thou wouldst have perfected by it but such Hirelings as thy self hath been and false Accusers as thou art and I say it is profitable to us to reprove thee and correct thee and read thy portion a Lyars portion is in the Lake and as Rom. 15. 4. its not denyed but as Christ Jesus is witnessed who is the Comforter which the Scripture bears witness of there is comfort and hope and thou sayst the Scripture proves the New birth and teacheth perseverance to the end It bears testimony of some that did witness the New birth and that persevered unto the end but what is this to thee that never came one step in the way and as for promises there is no
Rudiments of the World we testifie against being Witnesses of the Substance and your taking on practices in that nature which is contrary unto Christ from the Words and Commands of Christ unto them that followed him we also testifie against and in it you are found among the Papists which walks by Tradition and not from the Motion of the Spirit of God and here thou art found a Lyar for the Commands of Christ is our life our joy our peace and glory and hereby we know that we love him because we keep his Commandments and they are not grevious unto us which is not received by tradition from without us but by the Eternal Spirit Christ Jesus revealed in us which is not contrary to his Commands without but a fulfilling of them for he is not a Iew who is one outwardly whose praise is of men neither is the Obedience which Christ doth require a conforming the outward man unto an outward thing which Obedience is your boasting onely and there only your difference lieth from all the World in the outward appearance Pharisee-like but the ground of enmity and seat of the Beast is standing within and you are twofold more the children of the Devil and God is risen to confound you and to break your Image to pieces and he shall have the praise of God who is the Jew inward whose obedience and circumcision is inward and who have no confidence in the flesh And whereas thou exhorts to hear one loving Reproof out of the Scripture which their Predecessors I mean the Papists thou sayest would have taken from us in the English Tongue and these would take from us the vertue of it that is to say the sharpness and sweeness of it by working upon us a dislike to it I Answer we do deny thy voice and though thou mayst bring Scripture in thy mouth to us it is but as the Devil brought it to Christ and we deny it from thee for if thou sayst God lives thou swears falsly and the Papists they are thy Predecessors who walks only by tradition as thou dost from a thing without them separate from the Life and both them and thee we do deny and bears witness against you to be without God in the World in the alienation out of the Covenant knowing nothing of him but what you have heard by a Fame and a Report and that we in the least would take from any the virtue of the Scripture it is a Lye uttered by the Devil in thee for we testifie unto all that it shall every tittle be fulfilled even upon the ungodly and thou shalt know it one day to be fulfilled upon thee thou Lyar must be cast into the Lake that burns for ever and this is the sharpness and sweetness which thou must have from it who art a false Accuser of the Brethren bearing the Image of the Dragon the Devil whose servant thou art as it is made manifest by thy Writing and this many will witness with us that often we do declare upon the just and the unjust the Scripture must be fulfilled and the righteous must have a Reward and the ungodly must have their Portion in utter darkness according as the Scripture saith and herein we establish the Scripture in its place to be a true Declaration of God and Christ and what the righteous and the wiced shall enjoy but that it is God and Christ or the Way unto Life we deny it for this is its vertue a declaration of that which the Saints believed and he that witnesses the same Life and Truth which it testifies of to be made manifest in him is a Witness of it and it is a Witness unto him and this is the vertue of it if thou hast an ear thou mayest hear and that we work upon Any a dislike of the Scriptures I charge thee to be a Lyar for to the fulfilling and establishing of it we declare that every one may walk up in the Life of it by that which gave it forth and to be a true witness of it as they were that spoke it but thee and all such we do deny which adds your imaginations upon it to sell for money And whereas thou sayst by way of Query to us Hath the Scripture no power over you have you a spirit to guide you without a written word it is out of Gods Government if it cannot be brought to the Law and to the Testimony I answer Jesus Christ onely hath power over us and not a Letter without us and the Spirit by which we are guided is no other but that which gave forth the Scripture which Spirit is the Word of God and which Spirit the Scripture bears witness unto and this we often say if we speak or act contrary to Scripture let us be judged by the Scripture and we as Paul did do commend all that shall search the Scripture to try whether these things be not so which we declare and herein we are under the Government of God who alone hath power over us but you who have not the same spirit which gave forth the Scripture neither knows it nor us but out of the evil corrupt ground thou judgest of it as thou dost of us and both thy judgment of it and us is to be judged by the Eternal Light of Christ which never erreth nor changeth And whereas thou sayest We may be Familiar-spirits for ought thou knowest what muttering and uncouth howling is among us which you cannot but impute to be a spirit contrary to the Word if we will not come to the Word to be tryed I answer it is true thou knowst us not for we are unknown to thy Generation though you have the Scripture which we in our lives and practices are Witnesses of as Christ was unknown to the Pharisees who had the Scripture which he came to fulfil and thou art ignorant of the Scripture and a Scorner of the Power of it who callst the Power of the Lord uncouth howling what would you have said concerning David who lay roaring all the day long even as a man distracted and concerning Habakkuk whose belly trembled and whose lips quivered when he heard the Voice of God But here you are made manifest who scorns that which the Scripture bears witness of and never knew what it was to be pricked to the heart as they were which cryed out what shall we do to be saved and if thou canst thou may try by the Scripture whether this be any other but that which the Scripture speaks of and not the same Spirit which made the Servants of God to quake and tremble which the Scriptures speaks of which this day is become a reproach even unto them that profess the Scripture for by the Word of God which the Scripture declares of shall all flesh tremble and be confounded and then thy self shall be judged into the Lake that burns for ever except thou repent And whereas thou sayest How shall you do to try spirits if we
deny both the written Word which is your Rule and Reason too for we appeal from both Answ. Art thou not ashamed to say The Scripture is thy Rule who art found a Lyar and a false Accuser thy Rule shall try thee and shall bear witness against thee when God judgeth thee by Jesus Christ for neither by the Scripture nor thy corrupt reason canst thou know the things of God who art a natural man in the fall in the World without God But again I say let any try us in our lives and in our practices and if we speak or act contrary to the Scripture judge us by it but thy eye is blinded and when thou feest the Scripture fulfilled even crying out as a Woman in travel thou calls it uncouth howling and a spirit contrary to the Scripture and how art thou able to try who art blind and deaf in the mystery of the Kingdom of God for thy reason must never enter unto God but is shut out and in seeing thou seest not and in hearing thou dost not understanst and upon thee herein is the Scripture fulfilled And whereas thou sayest We will not have Christ to rule over us for we deny both his Person and Word which is the Rule of Life and Love I answer O thou Lyar God shall judge thee let shame cover thee and let thy own Conscience convince thee of thy Lyes and Slanders against the Innocent Christ Jesus is our Head and we are of his Body and his Word is sweet unto us even our life and rule of life and by him we see thee to be an Enemy to him and from him I judge thee not his Word but the spirit of the Devil is thy rule for he is the Ruler and Father of Lyes and Lyars and thy Portion thou must have with him in the Lake and what thou sayest of us it shall stand for thy own Condition thou wilt not have Christ to rule over thee who lives in thy lust and carnal mind without the fear of God which Christ comes to destroy in all that witness him And whereas thou sayest In the Name of God thou proclaimest That those men that disown the written Word are not Spiritual men they may have the Spirit of Antichrist Answ. Thou hast nothing to proclaim from God but as the false Prophets had other mens words and also I say if thou find any that disown the Scripture we also disown such and do say they are not spiritual men but have the spirit of Antichrist and of this number thou art guided by the spirit of Antichrist who art a Lyar and a false Accuser which is contrary to the Spirit of Christ and art without Faith and so art unreasonable in the corrupt reason without pure and undefiled Reason And whereas thou sayest Who but the spirit of Antichrist durst countermand the Commands of our Law-giver the Lord Iesus Christ I answ The Commands of Christ are Spiritual and in and by the Spirit and not traditional from the Letter without and Antichrist may conform to the Command without as the Pharisees did and yet be an Enemy to the Life and Substance of his Commands and this is thy own condition as it was the Pharisees who said He destroyed the Law who came to fulfil it as thou sayest We make void and deny the Commands of Christ when as we are Witnesses of them and directs all unto the fulfilling of them and thy spirit here is tryed to be the spirit of Antichrist the same which was in them which persecuted Christ and thou raylst and slanderest his Members And whereas thou sayest There were never any men appeared in the World so like those that Peter speaketh of in his second Epistle and these desire to overthrow the Writings of the Spirit of God I answ Peter spoke of such as thou art for as a Cloud carryed about with a Tempest thou art and a Well without water and defilest the flesh and dispisest the Saints dignity and speakest great swelling words of Vanity whilst thou thy self art a Servant of corruption serving the Devil by lying and falsly accusing and that we desire to overthrow the Writings of the Spirit of God thou art a Lyar for we go about to establish them and declares of him who is the Substance of them and God will reward thee according to thy deeds Who also accuseth us of unseemly Kissing in Glasiers-hall thou sayest if Mr Pope do not belye us I answer This is another Lye which proceeds from thee let all the honest hearted which ever have frequented our Assembly at that Place testifie against thee and Pope and your father the Devill whom by lying you serve and that no unseemly Actions have proceeded from us but Sobriety and Civility and unseemly Actions shall stand for thy own condition they are such as thy self who commits unseemly brawling and folly and vain contending against the Truth in Glasiers-hall as many Honest-hearted will witness against you and for us who have seen your base actions as Scorning and Flouting in that Place and so here you your selves are guilty of the Wontonness which Peter speaks of and of aluring through the lust of the flesh which thou slanderously wouldst cast it upon us And thou further sayest None ever promised to themselves so much liberty as these and the Ranters in being freed from the power and tryal of the Word I answer Both the Ranters and thee we do absolutely deny and testifie against you both to be in the enmity against God and against us who are his Servants Thou before didst rank us with the Papists and now among the Ranters but herein the Scripture is fulfilled upon us as they have done unto Christ so they do unto us he was numbred among Transgressors by the Generation of painted Sepulchers and whited Walls as we are by thee and all liberty which is of the flesh and to the flesh we do deny as many can witness who are Witnesses of our Ministery and again I say he that is able let him try us by the Scripture but thou art blind and hath hardened thy heart against God and hath neither salt nor savory and so are good for nothing but to be trodden under foot And whereas thou sayest The Lord bless every one of his from the condition of Chandler who formerly was the head of a Company of Shakers I answer The day is coming when thou canst not flee the wrath of God though thou pray God will not hear thee and if ever thou hast seen Chandler in this condition thou mightst have read thy figure in him weeping and howling and gnashing of teeth will be thy portion for ever and I say unto thee this condition of Chandlers is not come upon him because he was once a Shaker by the dread of the Lord upon him but because he went out from that condition out of the fear of God into the liberty of the flesh out of his shaking and fearing state which once he
Weeping Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth But as for the Elect Wheat of Christ which thou sayest is the Children of Adam thou speakest thou knowest not what the first man is of the Earth earthly and he begat his Image and that which is earthly shall never inherit but are to have their portion with Cain where thou art that hast uncovered thy nakedness but the Elect and the Wheat shall be gathered into the Barn and they are not nor ever were they defiled but shall reign with the Lamb in the New Ierusalem for ever and ever where no unclean thing can enter nor nothing that destroys or defiles in that holy Mountain of the Lord if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear 6 Quer. What is that painful and shameful Death in utter darkness and where it is that is reserved for the Reprobate who are the seed of Cain and not of Adam or blessed Abraham Answ. Thou that queriest shall surely know it is Tophet prepared of old even for the King the burning of it is as Fire the Breath of the Lord doth kindle it it shall be destruction for ever and ever to that which hath given forth these queries and it is to be separated from God for ever among all Idolaters and Adulterers and Lyars the Unbelieving the Abominable and the Fearful in the Lake of Fire where the Worm dieth not nor the Fire goeth not out as for Adam in innocency thou knows nothing of him who art of Cain who slew his brother and must have thy portion with him and not with Abraham the promise was not to the Transgressor nor to Adam when he eat of the Tree of knowledg for the Lord said in the day thou eatest thou shalt dye he was driven from the Presence of the Lord into the Earth in the curse the Promise was to Abraham in Isaac is the Blessing not in Ishmael and here thou shewst thy ignorance but it is but like the former when thou joynest the Elect and Reprobate together Light and Darkness and in Babylon thou art but in that which was before Babylon was thou art seen and as for those dark spirits thou speaks of who minde nothing but their lusts condemning the glorious things of eternity because their carnal reason cannot comprehend them see at home for in the Light of Christ thou art seen that thou knowest nothing of Eternity by thy dark imaginations being naturally as a Bruit to the Light of Christ in thy Conscience I speak which will let thee see it is so 7 Quer. Are they not deceived Persons and utterly ignorant of the true God who judge men and women in darkness if they ask them Questions about the needfull things of Eternity is it not because they went before they were sent and so are of a bitter spirit for want of spiritual Light to satisfie the tender Christian Querier Answ. All who dwell not in this Light which is pure and eternal are ignorant of God and never knew God such judging shall be judged and by the Light which sees and comprehends all darkness thou art seen but the spiritual man judgeth all things and he is judged of none and all Judgement is committed to the Son and where he is made manifest he speaketh and judgeth righteously and those men and women who would be asking questions of Eternity and never came to the first principle to be guided by it the Light which leads to Eternity all such men and women are in darkness and that minde which is in the Earth and in the naturals shall never know and therefore they are judged to be in darkness and darkness cannot comprehend the Light Christ and his Disciples answered and judged that spirit which would have had a sign and called them Adulterers which Spirit we witness to the praise of God and to thee that put forth the queries I speak to thee in the presence of God whether thou putst them forth in simplicity and art ignorant or wouldst know or in the pride of thy heart and subtilty to tempt the Light of Christ will let thee see but thou art rich and full therefore thou must be sent empty away all who queries from that nature that would know but never come to obedience that is to be judged and judgment must thou witness and for a bitter spirit of envy that shall stand for thy self and that thou wantst spiritual Light is made manifest which curses that which God hath blessed as I have seen under thy own hand far remote from this City and that thou hast cursed them soul and body to all eternity which thou never heardst nor saw let shame strike thee in the face and stop thy mouth for thou canst not put a difference betwixt the precious and the vile but cursest thou knowst not what and speaks to that thou knowest not But as for them who have a desire to know the way to the Father we are ready to give an answer and to impart of the gift we have received and doth not break a bruised reed but the fat we feed with judgement and there thou art answered 8 Quer. It is not an infallible demonstration unto them who have a discerning Spirit that that man hath no commission from the true Spirit to preach or speak to a pâ—ople when for fear of his ignorance being discovered or for fear of losing his Heâ—â—ers â—e shall counsell them to stick close to the Word of God or to heâ—â—ken to the Light within thâ—â— in their Consciences without knowing what that is in the Conscience or what will be the issue of it if men be obedient to it or disobedient to it and to beware of false Prophets and not thinking in the least himself to be that false Prophet and thus borrowing Scripture language which we are the true Messengers of the Gospel doth he not in his pâ—…â—inder his Heâ—â—ers from reading the glorious things revealed unto the two last Witnesses and so thou sayst it is clear that the Spirit is not in them which was in Paul who gave theâ— leave to try all Answ. Here thy infallible demonstration is made manifest to be fallible and lying when thou layst that down to be a sign of them that have no Commission from the Spirit and not to have the Spirit because they exhort them to cleave close to the Word of God and to mind the Light which shines into the Conscience of every man which is the Light of Christ here thy Spirit is tryed that thou hast not the same commission as they had who spoke forth the Scripture and so thou preachest another Gospel for the Word of God endures for ever and by the Word which is eternall and which was in the beginning which tryes all things which searches all things comprehends all things and judges all things he that cleaves not close unto that builds upon another foundation and by the Word which endures for ever thou art seen not to have that Word neither knowest what nor where it
found the lyer thy self and this we testifie against thee and all the world that by Jesus and in him are we made Holy Just and Humble he is made these things in us and for us and the Publican state is witnessed by us who have passed through the figure and parable into the life and substance And whereas thou sayst we that boast of our light within and faith thus saith the Lord and brings Christs words I answer this is another lye we do not boast of our Light within but we witness it to be within us and to have enlightned every one that comes into the world which thou and thy Generation denies and so would make Christ a Lyer and the Scripture a Lye but against you all with all the world we bear testimony the Father bears witness with us that every man that comes into the world is enlightned by the Light of Christ which teacheth righteousness unto all that loves it but condemn them that hate it whereof thou art one who utters forth thy lyes and Slanders and false Accusations against the Innocent and that Scripture Ioh. 9. we own and do witness to be fulfilled in us by the coming of Christ he which did see is Blind and he which was Blind now sees and while we did see our sin remained but being Blind we have no sin but this to thee and to thy spirit is a mystery sealed and never to be known in that nature and wisdom and here again thou hast used thy tongue false Prophet like and must receive a false Prophets reward And whereas thou sayst if Christ had not spoke to us in his word we had no sin but now we have no cloak for our sin I answer Christs words we own but here thou art made manifest to all to add to the Scripture in his word this thou hast added false Prophet like and therefore the Lord will add his plagues unto thee as the Scripture saith be ashamed and blush thy folly and wickednesse is made manifest who is not ashamed to carry on thy designe to add to Christs words And whereas thou sayest we do not only neglect the weightier matters of the law but tâ—… law it self teaching men so to do for we said that the Scripture is not the rule of faith and conversation as one of us taught Sept. 27. in thy hearing and many others that will witness it I answer here I challenge thee to prove that thou hast spoken and all thy witnesses which thou speakes of oh thou Lyer be ashamed to forge such Lyes and declare them in writing for Truth we neglect not the weightier matters of the Law nor the Law nor teach any so to do all that ever heard us will bear witness against thee and they though our Enemies shall witness for us and against thee in this thing for we declare the Everlasting Gospel which is the fulfilling of the Law and this we declare that the Law must have its thorow operation before the Gospel be witnessed and one of thy own society said to us we had preached the Law and brought men to understand 〈◊〉 from Grace now let all take notice of the confusion you live in and let your own hearts condemn you and the light in your own consciences convince you that you are in Babylon and in confusion and are no true Church of Christ where all are oâ— one heart and one mind and this again I affirm as before I did in thy hearing that the Scripture is not the Saints rule but the Spirit which gave forth the Scripture as the Scripture it self witnesses Rom. 8. Faith was before the Scripture was and therefore the Scripture is not the ground of it but a Declaration of it and no other faith we own but the faith which Abel had and which Moâ—â—â— had which was when no Scripture was written and that we own to be the Rule of our Conversation which they walked by the immediate Spirit of God which was before the Scripture was written and all you who profess the Scripture to be your rule your own rule shall testifie against you when the eternal God judges you and they who witness that to be their rule which gave forth the Scripture walkes up in the life of the Sdripture more then you all and you are proved to be but the Iew outward who boasts of the Ordinances from the Letter but persecutes them by slanders and false reproaches who witness the Substance and your praise is only of men and not of God and the same woe which thou pronounces upon us will fall upon thy own head for this thy grievous slander that we neglect the Law and teach men so to do And whereas thou brings many Scriptures and saith thus saith the Lord. I answer the Scriptures we own and by that spirit which speaks them forth we witness them to be true and they are ours and though you say they are the savour of death to us that perish yet thou art found a Lyer for we are saved out of the perishing state and death is destroyed through death through faith and thou hast diminished from that Scripture 2 Tim. 3. 15. false Prophet like again and so art both an adder and a diminisher and thou mayst read thy portion in Rev. 22. 18 19. And whereas thou sayest know this thou perverter of the right way of God thou shalt be judged by the word that Christ spake I answer here thou sets the Scripture in the room of Christ and art the perverter of the right way of God thy self for the Scripture saith all judgement is commited to the Son and the Scripture is not the Son and thou didst say and now again writes that the Scripture shall judge the world and so I charge it upon thee that thou art a Blasphemer who exalts the Scripture above the Son of God and shalt be judged by the Son into utter darkness and into the pit from whence thou art come yet this I testifie he that receives the Son rejecteth not those words which was spoken by him though thou and thy Generation Pharisee-like may make a profession of the words which Christ spoke and yet reject the Son and all to whom Christ speaks which receives him not shall be judged by the word which he speaks for he speaks eternally which shall stand eternally but when did he speak to thee For this I do declare thou mayst have those words which he spoke and yet never have heard his word nor voice as the Pharisees had those words which God spake by the Prophets but never had heard his word nor seen his shape Iohn 5. And thou sayst quake and tremble at this that word which you reject and dispise shaâ—â— judge you at the last day and sayst thus saith the Lord and bringst Christs words and the Apostles words I Answer The Lord rebuke thee thou Scorner here thou hast made the filthiness of thy heart known for out of the abundance thereof
as you do neither did one go from the Command which had been given to another using anothers words and excercising themselves in anothers practises when the Lord had not commanded but such they bare witness against which did use their tongue and transform themselves into the likness of true Prophets and Apostles as you have done and are in the love of the World and only separated in the appearance and not in the ground You stumble at the â—ight and therefore know not the Door of entrance nor where the Commands of Christ are to be received and the Will of God to you is to be known and so your obedience is the conformity in your own wills to that which was the Will of God to another this Sacrifice is also lame and blind and God saith to you Who hath required this at your hand For if you have observed and done all those things which the Declaration of the Law and Gospel doth require you are unprofitable Servants and yet one thing do you lack the dying with Christ and the Sufferings and Cross of Christ is not known but in the liberty of the flesh you are and not in the condition of the Promise to Life Eternal Friends you have ruâ— into the form of Godliness without the Power into a Church which is not in God but of the World into a Baptism which doth not wash away sin for you live in sin and plead for it while you live upon Earth into a Communion which is not with God which no unclean thing can enter into for the Proud and Coveteous partake with you and while some of you have said they that preached for Hire have been Antichristian you your selves are fallen into the same abomination taking Gifts and Rewards and large somes of Money and upholding such who do it Here you are unjust to your own Principle and are for condemnation with the Light in your Consciences Let shame cover your heads ye Hypocrites your covering will not hide you nor your high talking of Christ without you so long professed by you will not justifie you while you are found disobeying this Light in your Consciences which Light is one with God with Christ and with the Spirit in its measure and it doth convince you of sin and is a command to you and would lead you if you walked in it from all iniquity which is the Will of God to you and to that mind which is carnal which ruleth in you the Commands of Christ which are Spiritual are not given nor can be received but say Lo here and Lo there Christ is to be found with the Light you are comprehended which if the least measure of it you did own it would lead you to the Baptism inward of the heart and to the Church which iâ— in God whereof Christ is the Head in every Member and into the Communion with God and to follow the Lamb of God wheresoever he goeth and out of your imitations and liknesses and strife and contention about the words given forth from the Spirit who are in your own unity in Division and several Meanings and divers Constructions and Judgments and several wayes of Obedience and Worships and Belief which by your imaginations you draw from the Scripture which is the Declaration but of the one God and one Truth of one Obedience and of one Faith and thus you exalt the great Image of many mixtures your selves being a chief Member of his body You say the Scripture is your Rule but are divided into Opinions and Conceits contrary to the Scripture every one worshipping that which you imagine from the Scripture not being in the Unity of the Spirit which gave forth the Scripture which is one and not divided in Obedience Worship or Faith and while you say the Scripture is your Rule your lives are squared by the spirit of the Divel and hewn out into Pride and Hypocrisie and love of the World And to you who are called Free-willers who say Christ died for All. HErein you affirm that whereof you are ignorant which may be true in Christ but a Lye unto you for you are not dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World but are alive against him in the World they for whom he died are dead and they who yet live put him to death Free-will unto the wayes and fashions and vanities of the World stands in you you know not the daily Cross of Christ which is unto man's will nor what it is to follow Christ and obey him which is contrary to man's will You say He that is condemned it is because he will not believe this is true in Christ but not in your carnal apprehensions of the natural man in whom there is no power to believe He that hath an ear let him hear There are some true desires among you but your minds are not truly informed to the fulfilling of your desires and your minds are outward and apply peace to that which is for condemnation Your reason and wisdom is corrupted and cannot receive Truth but call it error and this is your sin Death over you hath passed and reigns over you as over all men and your knowledge is in time and you cannot hear of things which were before the World was your wisdom is sensual and your comprehension is strong and the little simplicity in you is betrayed by the subtilty which hath dominion in your Governour Your Crown must be laid down and Fools must you become before you be truly wise or can be crowned with the Lamb. And among the rest Remember you had warning and a Day of visitation before you were destroyed and this shall be by you witnessed in the day of the Lord. To all you who say you wait and believe for the Coming of Christ to Reign in Person upon Earth HEre you the Lord's Controversie which he hath against you The Way of his coming is not prepared but Rocks and Mountains are standing and Valleys are not filled up and rough and crooked is your present way your hopes and expectations in that ground wherein they spring will wither and fade away as the Grass for your hope of his comming hath no whit purified you as he is pure for you are in the flesh and in the liberty of it which is Rebellion to his Reign and Christ is kept in Prison in exile with that mind and the Divel is yet at liberty working in your earthly members and leads you captive into his covenant in his government in seeking your selves and to strengthen your selves in the Kingdom of the World and murmur that any should be above you and that is he which put Christ to death and will not have him to reign in his Power over the Earth and to you what purpose is it to desire the day of his coming for with wrath will he come and with vengeance will â—e appear and will break your Kingdom like a Potters vessel for suddenly will he come but your
of Christ Jesus wherewith he hath lightned every man that comes into the world and it will lead into the Kingdom of Peace and righteousness for saith Christ I am the Light of the World he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of Life and this is that which thou wouldst fain call the Lye of the Devil and therefore to cover thy wickedness and impudency thou hast changed and mixed the terms of words that thou mayest have a ground for thy Slander but thou art seen and comprehended and thy folly appears Then thou sayest we say It will convince of Sin Swearing Lying Stealing c. of Sins against the Law and this thou makest a thing of little account to be convicted of sins against the Law by the Light of Christ for there is nothing else that doth convince of sin mind that And this Light thou seems to acknowledge every man hath and this Light I do affirm to be the Light of Christ Jesus and to bid People follow this the Light of Christ to lead into the Kingdom can be no Lye of the Devil for he which convinceth of sins against the Law leads up into the fulfilling of the Law and though thou and thy Generation would leap over the Law yet must the righteousness of it in Judgment be fulfilled upon you and by Christ Jesus in you if ever you receive the Salvation to your Souls Learn whâ—t it means Much more thou ramblest over which I pass by as being not pertinent to the thing in hand but Fools love to be meddling though little to the purpose and as I have said thy Maker will not blame thee for thou hast brought in of thy chiefest substance though it be but as Clay and as Dirt at least that of it which is against the Quakers and the substance of many Pages following is this that I have gathered denying or at least opposing Christ revealed within and in opposition to this quotes many Scriptures of what he did in his own Person which Scriptures I own and the Truth which they bear witness of yet must we beâ—â— witness that without the Revelation of Christ within there is no Salvation However so much is or may be spoken of him without as the Pope can do as well as thou yet are you found to be one Generation persecuting the Life under the zeâ—l of profession of the words Then the next thing that I mind is a Question which thou hast asked thyself Do not the Scriptures make mention of Christ within c And I shall ask further Doth not the Scripture witness that all who have not Christ within are Reprobates But thou hast proved deceitful in answering thy self and shuffled and I may much fear thou wilt not be faithful in answering mine however it rests upon thee to answer it or to stop thy mouth Then the next thing is thou sayest This design of deceiving the Devil carries oâ— by pretending if they follow what is made known to them from the Light within Answ. I observe all thy whole purpose is a secret smiting against the Light within which Christ hath given to every man and thy whole work is to render his â—ight odious But this I further answer The design of the Devil in deceiving souls is thy own and I turn it back to thee but this is truth as it is in Jesus He that comes to eternal Life must follow and walk in what is made known by the Light of Christ within And thou sayest Beg of God to convince thee by his holy Spirit c. And thus thou utterest thy confusion sometime treating for it and sometime against it secretly smiting the Just mixing the Truth with Lyes that thereby thy Slanders may be covered and thy deceit hid The rest of thy Epistle I pass by being from the same spirit which thy Lyes are from and thy Lying Spirit the Children of God cannot own and therefore must needs deny that which proceeds from it And thus much in answer to thy Epistle Sixteen of thy first Pages are filled with this to wit proving that there is a Christ and that he was promised and that he was waited for and expected c. To all this I shall say nothing except thou hadst proved it in opposition to some body for what is Truth I own by the Spirit of the Lord as it is Truth in Christ but as it comes from thy lying spirit I do not so well own it I own the words and I deny thy voice and this is my Answer Only I find thee wresting some Scriptures whether through subtilty or for want of wit I shall not judge especially this hast thou encreased Revel 13. 8. and faisly sayst The Blood of Christ was shed before the World was and it is Since the Foundation of the World betwixt which is great difference the one being a very Lye and the other very Truth Then thou goest on proving That he is the Saviour that was born of Mary c. which thing we never denied and therefore I need the less to answer thee except thou hadst spoken it in opposition to us which I find thee not altogether until the thirty seventh Page where thou again secretly smitest in mixing some Truth with thy Lye And thou sayest How horribly are those deceived who look on Iesus to be but a Shadow or Type This is thy Lye I know not any who do it and yet thou sayest Of something that was afterwards to be revealed c. Answ. This hath some truth in it which is this The same Christ which was born of Mary which wrought Righteousness in his Person by doing and suffering which was is the Substance was afterwards revealed in the Saints And this is no horrible deceit to witness Christ revealed or to wait for him to be revealed within Then thou sayest When he was come then was an end put to the Law c. And here I ask a Question Did Christ Jesus put an end to the Law for them who yet live in the transgression of the Law or doth be justifie that which the Law condemneth before the work of the Law be finished What is the meaning of the Scripture Not one tittle shall fail till all be fulfilled What assurance have any that it is fulfilled for them who are yet transgressors of it in themselves An Answer to this may satisfie the simple Then thou goest on and sayst How are they deceived that think to obtain Salvation by following the convictions of the Law which they call Christ c Answ. Here thou confessest the Law convinceth then it is not put to an end or fulfilled or taken away because it yet works and it is no deceit to mind that which doth convince of sin to lead to Christ to take sin away for the Scripture saith The Law is a School-Master to bring to Christ but thou art in the deceived state who healest up falsly and daubest with untempered Morter and
the end and numbred thy work into a total sum which is a secret smiting and obscure shooting against the Manifestation or Belief of Christ within which there can be no Salvation without as I have proved and in words only I find thee exalting Christ without and worshipping the name of Mary like the Pope I have good ground so to judge And whereas thou callest the Doctrine of Christ within false Opinions and takeâ—â— in hand to discover it as in Page 203. I say to all honest men who have but any knowledge of the Letter of the Scripture thou art hereby sufficiently discovered who callst the chief thing which is the chief unto Salvation and without which can be none false Opinions God shall judge thee thou wicked heart and much more I need not say but shall leave this to the view of any that are honest to judge so have gone through thy Book and passed by many things only I have spoken to that in which thou hast treated any thing upon us and the Truth I have cleared from many Lyes and Slanders and thy Vail of false Reproaches is rent and our Innocency doth partly appear and thy vail of Hypocrisie is a little removed and thy deceitfull heart weighed and seen And as for the rest of thy Book whicg I have not medled with thus much I say of it I suppose you will confess it was all given forth by one spirit and it is proved some of it is given forth by a lying spirit then let the Reader judge what the rest of it can be though the words be true yet is thy spirit false and at the best what thou hast said is but bearing false witness as to thy self of a true thing I own the words and I deny the voice and here I deal plainly with thee Thou then askst a Question Doth not the Scripture speak of Christ within unto which I further add answer it as thou canst Doth not the Scripture say Christ is within except you be Reprobates And is not this thus much all are reprobate but they in whom Christ is within Answer iâ— plainness and darken not knowledge by words without wisdom And towards the end I find thee making up the sum of thy wickedness with this numbring the Quakers with Ranters Sin Death and the Devil I will not bring a railing Accusation against thee but the Lord rebuke thee thou unclean spirit who hast falsly accused the Innocent to clear thy self from guilt but at thy door guilt lodges and I leave it with thee clear thy self if thou art able And thy wicked Reproaches we patiently bear till the Lord appear for us and we are not greater then our Lord who was said to have a Devil by thy Generation and their measure of wickedness thou fulfils and art one of the Dragons Army against the Lamb and his Followers and thy Weapons are Slanders and thy Refuge is Lyes and thy work is confused and hath hardly gained a name in Babylons Record and by us so much of it at least as is against us is cast by as our spoiled prey and trampled upon in all thy reproachfull speeches who art unclean and of more price to us is thy hatred and envy then thy love can be except the gâ—und were better in which you stand Now a few words I may write in Answer to the Queries in the end of thy Book which thou directst thus Some Questions to the Quakers or a few Queries to those possessed with a Spirit of delusion in this Generation Question 1. If sayst thou that every man hath a measure of the Spirit of Christ within him why say the Scriptures That some are sensual having not the Spirit aâ—â— Christ saith The World cannot receive it John 14. Answ. Some men are sensual and have not the Spirit because they received it not some cannot receive it because they believe not in him from whence it comes yet is the measure of the Spirit given unto every man to profit withal as the Scripture saith And it is given to within him to reprove him of sin but few do receive it and when thou canst learn to distinguish between a thing being given and a receiving of such a thing then thou mayst be answered in thy self It is one thing in God to give the Spirit and another thing in the Creature to receive it He gives it to many that receive it not to follow it and to be guided by it thus far I answer and let them that are led with a spirit of Delusion answer thee further Qu. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by from under the Law is it by something that is done within them or by something done without them If it be redeemed by something that worketh in them then why did the man Christ Iesus hang upon the Cross in Mount Calvery without the Gates of Jerusalem for the sins of his People and why do the Scriptures say That through this man is preached unto us forgiveness of sins c. Answ. The Church of God is redeemed by Christ Jesus which is revealed within all that believe and Christ Jesus wrought in them mightily and it was he that wrought in them to will and to do this is plain according to Scripture And the man Christ Jesus was hanged upon the Cross on Mount Calvery because they wickedly judged him to be a Blasphemer and through their envy persecuted him to death because he bore witness against them and as in their account he died and hanged upon the Cross for an Evil-doer and this is one ground at least why he hanged upon the Cross and the Scriptures say That through this man is preached the forgiveness of sins because there is no other that can forgive sin nor the blood of any other thing that can take away sin but the Blood of God as it is written And thus far I answer If thou wilt have more seek it from them who are led with a spirit of Delusion Qu. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is or was crucified within you risen within you ascended within you Answ. There is no Scriptures that mention any one of our particular names and thy Query is raised from thy mis-understanding of us so I judge but Christ is within us that we dare not deny and he is the Lamb that was slain in the streets of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt mind spiritually and he is now risen and ascended this we know through Faith in his Name And I leave thee to receive a fuller Answer from them that are led with a spirit of Delusion if they will give it thee Qu. 4. Is that very man that was crucified on Mount Calvery between two Thieves whose Name is Iesus the Son of Mary is he the very Christ of God ye or nay Answ. Yea he is the very Christ of God which was before the World was by whom the World was made who was made
and in the fulfilling of them by the Spirit or he that talks in words of them and makes a trade thereof but lives in Lying and false Accusing and Pride and vain Glory and tâ—e filthiness of the Flesh This Question being answered will open the understanding of the simple and our innocency thereby will appear from all thy grievous slanders and wicked wrestings of our words As in Page twenty five in thy false conclusioâ—… of this particular thou sayest The Quakers divide the Spirit from the Scripture c. Yea the Spirit and the Scriptures are low things though they bear witâ—… to the truth of each other thus are they divided That every one that hath the Scriptures hath not the Spirit and this is no error nor from a Light of Satan but thy Lyes are from the Darkness of Satan and not from the Ligâ—â— of Christ. Thy fourth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which makes the Scripture cross it self and that in things known by the Light of nature therefore the light of Satan c. Answ. This is also false in the foundation and thy Arguments and Confusions made without effect Friend whilst thy foundation is a Lye thy Building wiâ—… not endure be sure of that the Scripture was given forth by one Spirit and bears witness unto one thing and doth not cross it self in the Light of the Spirit that gave it forth though to thy carnal wisdom it may seem so And for the proof of thy minor proposition thou sayst we quote that Scripture Iames 2. Have not the Faith of our Lord Iesus with respect of Persons c. to overthrow all respect of Persons c. Doth this at all prove that our Light makes the Scripture to cross it self Where is it said in the Scripture Have the Faith of our Lord Jesus with respect of Persons Such a one thou must bring or else thou hast said nothing to this purpose And thy second Scripture is That we say as Christ said Swear not at all Will this Scripture being quoted by us prove that our Light makes the Scripture cross it self What blind confused stuff is this which proceeds from thee thinking to make us odious and vile but thou hast the rather made thy self ignorant and blind in the sight of all the Children of Light who comprehend thee in thy subtilty and as to that of Swearing which thou hast strived in thy Argument to prove the Lawfulness of it thou hast thereby made thy Argument against Christ's own words who saith Swear not at all and thou art he whose Light or rather whose Darkness would confound the Scriptures to blind the eye of the Simple and thy conclusion stands true upon thy self hence thy light is the light of Satan not of Christ. And thou sayest The Quakers bid men be guided by the Light of God within c. How doth this contradict thy own words page twenty second where thou sayest The Quakers Light puts out this light the inward Law set up in the heart c. when wilt thou be ashamed of thy ignorance and stop thy mouth in the dust Thy fifth Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which takes men off from that Rule which is perfect and cannot err and sends them to be guided by a Light which is imperfect and may and doth err therefore the Light of Satan c. Answ. Hast thou given up thy self wholly to lyes and to make them thy refuge thy work is to make a Lye and then to confound it this is an easie way to prove us Deceivers as I said and in the proof of thy minor Proposition thou hast fallen short of proving what thou takest in hand and sayst The Word of God is perfect but the Quakers do not send men to the Word c. This is false we preach the Word and send men to it even that Word of Faith which the Apostle preached which is in the heart and in the mouth and that Word is perfect and errs not and this we send men too to be guided by it and to receive faith in it then thou sayest The light of Conscience is imperfect and may err and takes accasion to speak of that Scripture 1 Ioh. 8. but to what purpose I know not except thou wouldst prove that Light of Christ to be imperfect and err which we say hath lightened every mans Conscience in the World and is a perfect Rule in the Conscience where man is guided by it and this Light leads up unto Christ to exercise the Conscience and he to rule King and Lord in the Conscience and so to make Conscience one with him in the unity and this is true wisdom and no folly as thou accountst it in thy blindness page twenty nine Then thou goest on and hast intimated a falsity from I. Ps Query and then confutes thy own Lye I. P. doth not say every man is lightned with a saving Light but asks the Question to be answered which for the simple sake here I do answer Christ hath lighted every man in the World with the true Light which is saving Light to every one that believes therein and condemning Light to him that believes not yet is the Light true Light and no error nor imperfection in it and they that hate it are such as know nothing of Redemption Justification c. and a great part of England is in that conditin though they have heard the report yet they know it not in truth and righteousness and this Light is in the World and the World knows it not yet doth not this confute that he hath lightned every man that comes into the World as thou wouldst ignorantly make it appear in the same page Then thou sayest If you speak of reason and understanding so Christ lighteth every one c. Here thou hast confessed Truth with thy lying Spirit it is the purest reason that every man should serve his Maker and act nothing contrary to his Maker this the â—ight of Christ lights unto and leads unto and it is the best understanding that gives a man to understand the Way of eternal Peace and Rest for his Soul if he love the Light and lets him understand when he acts against his Maker c. and this hath Christ lighted every man unto Then thou sayest Conscience may err and provest it from Paul's example of persecuting If Conscience be not guided by the Light of Christ it erreth but it was not the Light of Christ in Pauls Conscience which led him to persecute but his thoughts and imaginations which were in the high mind above the Light in the Conscience then many false conclusions from our words hast thou drawn through thy wresting of them thou sayest as in all our books the word of God written is made of no account c. thy lying tongue will God rebuke the Scriptures we account of and set them in their Authority and bring them as a Witness against thee and all thy wayes who art
I perceive thou hast got a catch by some Scriptures being misplaced and not truly quoted which may be the Printers fault for ought I know But all that ever thou hast spoken proves not the truth of what thou hast asserted let shame cover thy face Thy twelfth Argument is Such is the Quakers light viz. which affirms sound Believers walking Evangelically in obedience to Gods Commandments to be in a state of Condemnation therefore it is the Light of Satan c. Answ. Thou being neer at an end hast left the greatest Lye to the last When wilt thou be ashamed and stop thy mouth thy testimony of Lyes is well nigh finished and thou bindest up the sum with an abominable one yet thou confessest in thy Margent We do not say thi◠in many words but by consequence c. Here let all men take notice of thee who hast accused us with a thing and yet confessest we say not the thing thou hast fully manifested thy self we need go no further to lay thee open but thou sayest By consequence c. Friend if thou mighttest be the Interpreter of our Books its like thou wouldest deal deceifully as thy Generation hath done with the Scripture but we write not our Books and leave them for to be expounded by thee but they are as they speak simple plain Language to the ignorant that thy may be instructed thou hast manifested thy skil in wresting our words sufficiently we allow thee not to be our Interpreter we testifie he who is a sound Believer and walks in obedience to the commands of God is in a justified state in the sight of God but we put a difference betwixt condemning sound Believers and speaking plainly in reproof of sin as if we tell the Lyar his portion will be the Lake and the Proud he shall be as stubble before the fire and the Wicked shall be cast into Hell and that no Coveteous Unclean Whoremongers Drunkards c. shall never enter into the Kingdom of God This Language is not a condemning of the sound Believers neither is it so accounted in the Sight of God though falsly judged by thee and we stand to the Judgment of him and not unto thy false Slanders And thou further sayest and desirest the Quakers But to tell thee of one man in the Word of God meaning the Scriptures who was Holy who embraced the Quakers Doctrines Principle and Practises c. David was holy Moses was holy Ieremiak was holy with many more testified of in the Scripture that were of the same Faith with us and of the same Doctrines and Principles and Practices for themselves were Quakers as their own Writings make manifest and hadst thou been in their dayes thou wouldst have spoken no less evil of them then of us for it was such as thou who spoke evil of them and persecuted them and hence I do conclude thy spirit to be the spirit of Satan and not the Spirit of God Thy thirteenth and last Argument is against our Shaking as thou callest it and it is manifest to every one thou sayest whence it comes c. And railest much against it and shufflest off and kicks against the testimony we give out of the Scripture bringing the like examples of the Servants of the Lord. And thou sayest We abuse the examples of Daniel Moses and David to defend these diabolical actings c. God shall reprove thy lying Tongue and rebuke thee with the reproof of his Judgments yea many more than these named can we bring to witness for us in the same actings of the Power of God which thou most wickedly callest Diabolical and leavest the Reader to observe thy foolish Story to which in its place I may answer Then thou goest on and ramblest over a great deal of stuff from an Author like thy self who wrote a Book against us also and whose testimony is no better then thine as being of the same spirit against the Seed of God with thee and his testimony and thine are both for condemnation thou quotest his Lyes to prove thine as though his words were of authority with the Scripture but wrechedness and subtilty lodges under your tongues and though you be of several Opinions and Judgments in your Worships and Ministries yet are you joyned and against us as Herod and Pilato and if it was not such a things as would make for thy wicked purpose thou wouldest scorn to make use of his words to prove thine but the shift of the subtil Fox which would devour the Lamb is taken notice of in all his actings Then thou sayest No you own no such revolation viz by the foregoing words 〈◊〉 you were taught the Gospel by the revolation of Iesus Christ. And here let all men take notice of thee to be one that was never sent of Christ but one who knows not God for as Christ Jesus saith No man knows the Father nor the Son but he to whom the Son reveals him And thou having denied the Revelation of the Son of God hast shut out thy self from his Knowledge For shame talk no more of the things of God but let thy mouth be stopped from making mention of his Name especially on the account of being a Minister all that know God or the Gospel are ashamed of thee some of thy own Brethren will not own thee herein some of this I have laid open before Then thou goest on saying The pretended revelation of the Quakers do cross an Article of Faith and Rule of Obedience in Scripture This is not the least of thy Lyes I deny the Slander the same Truth and Faith and Obedience as ever was witnessed in the Holy men of God which declared forth the Scripture we own and bear witness of and no other The Revelation of Christ in us in Faith and Obedience is witnessed by Paul who is our Example and thou art the man whose spirit is contrary to Scripture as is clearly made manifest and in thee the man of sin is revealed and the Light which should discover him is vailed and I may truly say of thee as thou falsly hast said of us Surely the Devil is the Authour of thy work Then in thy conclusion thou sayst Much more might be gathered out of their Books whereby it may appear by what spirit these Quakers are led by the spirit of Satan scarce trasnformed into an Angel of Light Now to all the honest hearted unto whom this and thine may come even to thy own Hearers at least unto such who have but moderation in their spirits and to that measure of God in their Consciences I do appeal that they by it may judge whether thou hast more discovered the spirit of Satan in us by any thing which thou hast in all thy Books justly proved against us to be evil or sin or error except thy Lyes and Slanders may stand for a testimony or in thy self who hast slandered us unjustly and wrested our words deceitfully and spoken many 〈◊〉 grievous
give in the World unto the World Fear God and give Glory to him for the hour of his Judgements is come and this is the everlasting Gospel of Salvation he that can receive it let him CHAP. XIII Concerning the Word of God and concerning the Scriptures this testimony I give unto all the World THE Word of God was in the beginning before any Creatures were made and by it all things stand and remain unto this day and the Word endures for ever and by it all things in Heaven and in Earth are brought to pass which God doth and it is from everlasting to everlasting without beginning and without end and the Word is powerful dividing and discerning all things even the secret thoughts of every mans heart it is as a two edged sword and as a fire and like a hammer to cut up to burn and to beat down the Word of the Lord reconciles man again to him and this Word is in the mouth and in the heart and the Servants of the Lord handled tasted saw and felt the Word of Life and from it spoke forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the holy Ghost through the eternal Spirit and it is an Declaration of the Word of Life which was in the beginning and endures for ever and it declares what the Saints received believed and enjoyed and none can understand it without the same Spirit that gave it forth and to such who have the same Spirit the Scripture is profitable the Word of God which was in the beginning and which endures for ever is not the Scripture which was not in the beginning neither can it endure for ever but the Scripture testifies of that Word that Word witnesses to the Scripture and they are not contrary one to the other but gives witness each of other but many hath the Scripture that hath not the Word neither knows it but they that have the Word cannot but own the Scriptures and this is the Truth as it is in Jesus Testified to all the World by us who doth deny them that hereof gives any other testimony CHAP. XIV Concerning the Devil and Damnation this Testimony I give to all People THere is a Devil which is out of the Truth who abode not in the Truth but is a Lyar from the beginning and the father of all evil doing and the author of all unrighteousness and whatsoever is contrary to God in thought word and action he is the enmity against God and against all good and by his power subverts creatures and things to another end than wherefore they were created even to the dishonour of the Creator he is the god of this World the prince of darkness and he rules King in all the childern of the first Adâ—â— who are in evil he was the cause of the first transgression and is the cause of disobedience to God to this day in all people who are led by him moving aâ—â— them to Envy Wrath Pride Whoredom Drunkenness Theft and Murther and all the works of darkness sin and death he is the Fountain and Root of 〈◊〉 these and the Leader and Ruler in the exercise of them and of every evil woâ—â— and work whatsoever which are contrary to God he abode not in the Trâ—â—â— and he hath led all mankind out of Truth into all deceit and unrighteousness and into every evil way and he dwells in darkness inhabits in thick darkness and is out of the Light and is separate from the Presence of God for ever boâ—â—â— in chains of darkness and ignorance and unbelief and he hath power in the earthly part of man and a law in the members and he possesses him that is born of the flesh his covenant is with him who is not born of the Seed of God who cannot sin such are in covenant with God renewed into his Image but such as are not hath the Divil power in to captivate and lead their minds into vanity and their affections and desires into all that which is evil by which the Spirit of God the Creator of all things is grieved and his soul vexed and all murther and deceitful works of the World and all whatsoever is contrary to God iâ— words thoughts or actions is of the Devil that wicked one and from him and all that follow his movings and worketh evil thereby they serve him aâ—â— obey him he is their god and their King and they are his people and hiâ— subjects he is their father and they are his children he is their root and they are his off-spring and brings forth fruit unto him and serves 〈◊〉 worships him and not the true God that made all things and all such 〈◊〉 be cast into utter darkness with him and shall have their portion with him in 〈◊〉 bottomless pit of darkness for ever and ever where there is no end of woe anâ— sorrow and misery for in the anger of God there the worm diâ—â— not 〈◊〉 the fire is not quenched and out of that there is on redemption for the â—â—clean and all such who are led of him who is out of the Truth and in evil are judged and condemned and damned by him who is the Truth who judgeth righteously and as he hath not ceased to work evil and to draw the children of men into evil for he continually tempteth to lead from God into Rebellion against him And they that are led by him are destroyed and he shall not cease sorrow wo and misery for ever as he hath not ceased to work evil he liveth and moveth in the anger of God his beginning was in it and all his works are in it and it shall be the reward of him and all that obey him in the separation from Gods everlasting Presence for ever and ever CHAP. XV. Concerning all creatures that God made this Testimony I give unto all the World ALL creatures that God made in their creation and beginning was very good in his sight that made them and unto man that was to use them and no Creature was evil or defiled in its Creation but mankind transgressing against his Maker he become evil and did evil in the sight of the Lord and he being possessed with evil and corrupted he makes all Creatures evil in his exercise of them corrups them and perverts them to another end than wherefore they were created and by the Creatures dishonours the Creator â—…o should have honoured him by them and they are become a curse unto man and not a blessing though in themselves are neither cursed nor evil nor defiled but is become so unto man because of his transgression and disobedience for he being in the curse and defiled all things are so unto him and in his exercise of them he is wicked abusing them upon the lust to satisfie his devillish mind and ruling over them in oppression and cruelty and hard heartedness and not in the Wisdom of God as he ought and he subverts them out from their pure vertue
whereas I said Christ is a mystery and unto hiâ—… he is Light and shall be Salvation where his person supposed son of Ioseph never came which words are true not gain-sayed by thee though thou ask Did he obtain salvation for any without that body which he took of 〈◊〉 Virgin Answ. That body which was begotten by the holy Ghost is not so carnal 〈◊〉 thou supposest and that spiritual Rock which followed them saved them aâ—… the same Son of God the Saviour who was born a Child to them was the Priâ—… of peace yea the everlasting Father but thy eye sees not this and therefore thâ—… sayst Here 's the place where he is not and the place where he hath not been Now thâ—… sayst Thou passes by many things which thou mightst justly examine and also many unseemly expressions O thou deceitful heart and tongue is this thy excuse when my words are Consider of this when thou hast a better understanding for its yet hidden from thee then when thou hast thus cried out against my just Answer thou tells me what I should have said Alas poor man thou reaches not what the knowledge of things eternal is by that wisdom in which thou art I need no man to teach me but the Lord. Then thou sayst Iesus Christ hath obeyed the Law and justified thee c. Reply Nay hold repent first and be turned from thy iniquities and believe in him and boast not thy self so proudly thou art in the transgressions of the Law in disobedience to it a Lyar Slanderer and Scorner one that the Prince of the power of the Air rules in a Child of Wrath and every one shall dye for his own iniquity and the soul that sins shall dye and wrath to every one that doth evil and the revelation of the Judgements of God Learn what this meanes or ask them that are of a better understanding then thy self Then thou seemst to minde me of some weakness and cries out Wonderful foolishness c. Because I said the Light of Christ given to every man Ioh. 1. 9. as thou confessest is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ and to the Grace of God but is one in their nature Mark and a man cannot possibly love one of them and hate another therefore one they are in the union leading in the same way unto the same End and where doth the Spirit of Christ give light or the Grace of God work or lead if not in the Conscience c. These are my words Now let honest men consider and Iohn Bunnion be silent what foolishness or wonderful weakness is in these words but only to the wisdom which is devillish which despiseth truth or what cause was there to blush when I wrote them as he impudently saith who cannot contradict them nor reprove them and yet railes upon them no marvel that thou wouldst pass them as thou sayst with such a poor shift to evade with a Lye that thou hast spoken to it already when as thou hast not medled of these things O let not thy impudency so sottishly carry thee for thy shame is seen and laid open its good in thy light to pass that which confounds thee which is past answering so to save thy credit among thy fellows the cause to blush is in thy self and it s brought to thy own door Then thou pleads for the Scripture to be the Rule in opposition to my Question which is not answered which was can there be any surer thing for the Creature to look to to walk to Life or to come to God by then the Light of Christ which every man hath given him c. But thou mayst for shame cease pleading for Scripture rule being thy self art so far contrary to it for he that walks in the Life of the Scripture I have union with him and the Light of Christ is a more surer Testimony either to witness Justification or Condemnation then any mans words without whatsoever then my other Question was whether the Turks Iewes and thee and others do serve sin and lust because Christ hath not given you Light to discover your sins or because you hate that Light that is given and much to this thou speakest not pertinent nor answerest in plainness I leave it to the Reader to judge and to read my answer Page 17. of my first which clears truth from all what thou hast said against it in this particular Now I come to the next thing where thou Foolishly chargest me That my Doctrine is not according to Truth but a Lye Charging me to affirm that which the Apostle doth deny Because I said the Spirit is given to every man though every man receives it not and it strives with the wicked though he follow it not c. My words herein are Truth and no Lye neither contrary to the Scripture â—…nd let the Reader be judge betwixt us the Apostle saith the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal and some of these to whom he writes thus were wicked given to incest and idolatry and other sins here I prove it was given to the wicked and thou confesses the Righteous had it and there is but these two on the face of the Earth Now if thou canst find a man that is neither wicked nor righteous then thou hast advantage then some hath not the manifestation of the Spirit the Saints had the Comforter the Spirit of Truth and he the Spirit of Truth convinced or reproved the World of sin they that were not Saints but wicked had it reproving them Mark these things and let honest men judge while both thou and I am silent whether thy Doctrine which denyes that which the Scripture affirms or miâ—… which bears witness to the same thing which the Scriptures speaks be to be disowned let an equal Line measure the shame and false Doctrine is fallen upon thee and thou art offended that I should say thou bringst other vain Arguments with a vapour saying Neither I nor my fellows are able to answer c. But I say true the Arguments are vain one is The Devils are convinced but have not the Spirit or such like Now what is this to the purpose that thou contendst in that wherein no body strives with thee nor none affirms against thee and it is a vain Argument to parallel the Devil in such a case as having the Spirit but thou art so blind it s hardly possible to let thee see thy ignorance herein I may not much strive with thee onely I le tell thee of those thingâ—… and the sober Reader shall judge to instance a thing impossible to proâ—… things possible are vain Arguments so that I have herein done thee no wroâ—… Then thou cries out of my weakness and that I Blaspheme and of a great 〈◊〉 of ignorance discovered in me and bidst me be silent and falsly charges me with Presumption and such like c. Because I said thus much I leave with thee 〈◊〉 thou
it is said yea a lively stones are built up a spiritual house and where it is said 〈◊〉 Salt in your selves He asked if a mans belly must be filled with salt Mark this Expositor and his blindness and ignorance and the cause why 〈◊〉 is silent And forbears to aggravate sin is least hard thoughts should be entertained against him Let men judge whether this be not an unfaithful man to the Lord who rather then harsh thoughts should be against him in the wicked he will be silent and hide and cover sin in sinners O wickedness indeed He saith that Christ Ascended into Heaven in our nature viz in his nature and they that are one with him and he and they are proved to be in corrupt nature as they will confess it O what wickedness to hold forth that Christ is at the right hand of God in sinfull nature as his words holds forth from his own mouth Iohn Burton said That men may depend too much upon something called Christ and 〈◊〉 righteousness of Christ within He saith that the Devil Knows how to take the Childrens bread viz. Christ Jesus who only is the Childrens bread and give him to dogs O sâ—d error and damnable He said That the Devil deceives souls by bidding them follow the Light which they brought into the World with them And he confesses that Light is the Light of Christ as God O unutterible ignorance can a sober man read this and not be ashamed to hold forth that the Devil deceives souls by bidding them follow the Light of Christ as God He saith they that follow Christ aright must follow him without to the cross wiâ—… for Iustification or monut Calvery without they must seek for Iustification without 〈◊〉 the Spirit of Christ it leads to Christ without Reader see if this be not near unto Popery or enquire else what he means as if he would have people to go a Pilgrimage and this is contratry to Rom. 10. 6 7 8. He said That the soul of man is the Light wherewith every man is lighted by Christ as God and this is the Light that every man brought into the World with him and the Devil deceives souls by this Light viz. by the soul this is true from his own words let it be marked by sober men what damnable doctrines these are hardly fit to be raked in He saith further That the Devil deceives souls by perswading them to follow the Light within which he confesses is the Light of Christ and that all man hath it He saith Conscience is the Light of God and yet in another place saith Conscieâ—… defiled what concurrence is here let the Reader judge to hold forth that the Light of God is defiled his words plainly shews to say that the Law is the Schoolmaster to bring to Christ. He saith This is a frothy Argument And to make up his wickedness he said He is ruled by Scripture conâ—… whether those doctrines and lyes be not quite contrary to Scripture what is pudency is in this mans heart to say he is ruled by Scripture he saith Thy that look upon Christ no otherwayes then as he was before the World was be dare 〈◊〉 bold to say they are no Christians but Antichristians he said That Christ as he is â—…diator so he hoth not lighten every man that comes into the World though as he is God 〈◊〉 doth Mark here he would divide Christ not to be the same the Son as he is the Father yet he confesses in his Book What the Father doth the Son doth also see what contradiction here is not worth the raking in O blindness that may be felt in the grossest darkness he inhabits He saith That the Devil hath more experience of the knowledge of the eternal power and Godhead then unregenerate men Mark the word more signifies something He saith The Light of Christ 〈◊〉 God is Conscience and Nature it self Mark nature is sinful and wicked and all are children of Wrath in it so are all by the Light of Christ as God wicked and children of wrath if Ioh. Bunions doctrine be true let him make it good as he can O wonderful trash and muddy stuff unheard of before He saith The Devil deceives souls by bidding them listen within and see if there be not that which doth convince of sin Mark his doctrine well He denyes That Pauls bids listen within contrary to that Scripture Rom. 10. 8 9. He said Conscience may be hardned and seared and is naturally evill and yet saith Conscience is the Light of Christ as God see what an agreement is here the Light of Christ as God is hardened and seared and evil else Iohn Bunion must revoke his doctrine or else prove this Consider what stuff this is which is held forth by him He saith he preaches not for hire indeed he had no need to receive money for such doctrines as these He saith Christ is some four or five foot long This is more then he can tell He reckons the doctrine of Christ within a false or among false opinions He saith measureâ—or â—or manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man though Paul saith so plainly to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 12. 7. Mark here he hath spoken quite contrary to Scripture denyed that which Paul affirmed or else counted Pauls words no Scripture He saith They that are born of God do daily sin absolute contrary to 1 Ioh. 3. 9. And therefore he would give the Apostle the lye Now Reader consider whether thou wilt believe Iohn Bunion or the Apostle Iohn for they are at odds and speaks quite contrary one to the other He saith That the Light that shews thee there is a God and that this God is eternal would lead to life then might Devils be delivered from damnation and the Devils knows God as a Creator c. He saith That the Light spoken of John 3. is the man Christ Iesus and yet saith that the man Christ Iesus is not a condemning Light Mark that Scripture saith that Light was condemnation to them that did evil he saith not who must you believe He saith That the Lyar and Slanderer is an Unbeliver and his condition is sad Consider here how out of his own mouth he is condemned who is at large proved a Lyar and Slander out of his own mouth will the Lord condemn him He saith That a man cannot give a more right description of a false Prophet then the Prophets Christ and the Apostles did give Reply In this thou hast truly said Now le ts consider how thou hast confessed to thy own shame and laid open thy own nakedness the Prophets said such were false Prophets as Preached for Hire and divined for Mony and fed themselves and clothed themselves with the wool and that used their Tongues and said the Lord saith it when God had not spoken to them and that cryed peace to the wicked and Christ said such were Deceivers who had the chiefest place in
the Saints and Churches of Christ look upon them that acted those things to be Ministers of Christ but on the contrary declared against them to be Deceivers So that all you People and you professed Ministers that act those things that the false Prophets acted and all you People that love to have it so and give Hire to your Ministers for Preaching and consent unto it none of you are of the Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures because this part of your Practice in Religion is not according but contrary to Scriptures Now substracting all these in these Nations from the whole which practiseth and professeth these things mentioned for Ordinances of God and for his Worship none of you are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures because these things which you Practice for Religion is not held forth in all the Scriptures by any example or command likewise you are of the greatest number of people in all these Nations and that Practice and Profession of Religion which the greatest number follow and exercise themselves in cannot be the true Christian Religion because the Scripture saith Few are in the straight way that leads to Life to wit in the pure and true Religion but many are in the Broad way that leads to destruction and such that are the greatest number who are in the broad way are not in the Religion in the purity thereof as it is held forth in the Scriptures likewise many of you who Practice those things mentioned for Religion are yet unconverted to God but live in wickedness in the Pride and Vanities and in all the evil of this World in Double-dealing in Drunkenness in Whoredom and in the Works of Darkness therefore you are not of the true Christian Religion neither do your walk with God in Purity and Holiness neither are you changed by Christ into his Image nor are guided by his Spirit neither do you live to God in any thing but to this World in all things and your Religion is manifest not to be according to the Scriptures but contrary And so let all people consider whether or no you must be maintained in your Religion Come forth and plead your cause all ye that are called Presbyterians and Independants and all others stand up and prove if you can your Practice in Religion to be according to Scriptures but seeing no man is able to prove these things mentioned which is practiced by you for Religion to wit Sprinkling of Infants and singing David's experiences in Rhime and Meeter and Worshipping God in set-places as Idol-Temples and preaching for and giving great sums of Money for preaching with other things practiced by you for Religion neither were these things ever commanded in Scriptures neither is there any example for the practise of these things in Scripture by any of the Lords people and therefore you cannot justly own a Title in the Protectors Oath to be maintained and upheld by vertue thereof in these your practises of Religion for it appears he is but bound onely to uphold and maintain that Religion which is according to Scriptures and not them who practiceth those things for Religion which are not according but contrary to the Scriptures Likewise all ye that are called gathered Churches who holds sorth for Doctrine that the Scriptures are the Word by which the World was made and that the Scriptures are the Foundation and that the Scriptures are the Way to Salvation and that the Letter and the Spirit are unseparable and that the Scriptures are both the Writings and the thing fignified and that except a man be Baptized with Water he cannot be saved with such like Doctrines which have been held forth by some professing themselves to be of the Church of Christ all you are manifest not to be of the Christian Religion because those Doctrines are not according but rather contrary to the Scriptures Likewise All ye whose Practice in the Exercise of Religion is but by Imitation from the Scriptures and you are not led by the Spirit of of the Father in what you speak and practice you are not of the true Christian Religion which the Scripture speaks of for the Sons of God and who are of the true Religion are led by the Spirit of God and not by their own Thoughts and Imaginations and the Traditions of men And all that are not led by the Spirit of the Father are not of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures and not any that are such can justly own to be protected in their Religion because it is not according to the Scriptures Likewise All ye that do profess the things of God and Christ and that you are Members of the Church of Christ and profess Righteousness and Truth in words and yet live in Pride and the Vanities of this World and in Unrighteousness and the Customs of the Heathen which are vain and are not cleansed from Unrighteousness nor freed from the Body of sin and death neither do answer your Profession with a Conversation shewing that you are not guided with that Spirit whose words you do profess All you are Hypocrites and live in Hypocrisie none of you are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures For the Exercise in true Religion sheweth forth in Life what is prosessed in words Come try your selves and prove your selves all sorts of people for now your Religion is to be try'd what Name soever you go under And all you that practice and profess those things for Religion for which there is neither Command nor President in Scripture your Religion is concluded not to be according to Scriptures and so no Title or Priviledge can any of you justly own of being upheld or maintain'd by the Protector 's Oath But as I have said For sprinkling of Infants and singing of David ' s Experiences in Rhyme and Meeter c. there is neither Command nor President in Scriptures and therefore you that practice those things which I have mention'd for Religion are not of the true Christian Religion which is according to the Scriptures which is to be protected Likewise all ye that persecute by Reproaches or Revilings and Cruelty or that cause the People of God to be persecuted many of you there are in these Nations which profess Religion yet are Envious Persons and Persecutors of the Innocent Hereby it is manifest that you are not of that Religion which is according to Scriptures for the Saints never persecuted any but were themselves persecuted for Righteousness sake so you are not to be protected in such Exercise because it is not according but contrary to the Scriptures for you have no Example from the Saints for professing and practizing Religion and yet persecuting such as are of the true Religion whose Consciences are truly exercised towards God and towards all men Now seeing that it is discovered in part who it is that
poor man Must I be judged upon thy own meaning nay or must thy interpretation be the judge upon my words We have no such law my words stand true as I have laid them down to be received by such as are Spiritual and such as love to raise constructions falsly where there is no just ground their judgment I do deny and Charity will teach P. T. to judge upon the best sence and so let him own my words as truth and judge himself for his false construction of true and upright words onely this I take notice of saith P. T. A perfect Conformity to the Law of God in our own Persons though not wrought in our own strength but in the Strength and Power of Grace the Spirit working all in us and for us is no other then the Righteousness of the Law I need not much strive to confound this black Doctrine by many Arguments or multitude of words for the thing as laid down in his own words is vile and abominable to the understanding of any spiritual man for say I if it be the Spirit working in us and for us not in our own strength then is it God that worketh in us both to will and to do and the fulfilling of the Righteousness of the Law in us and not the Righteousness of the Law wrought by us and if it be in the strength and power of Grace and not in our own strength then it is the work of Christ in us and the Work of God's own Righteousness in us and any man that knows the least of God in Truth will witness to this and against his imagined Doctrine held forth by P. T. I might demand a Proof of him from Scripture where it is said or signified That the working of the Spirit all in us and for us and the working of the power of Grace in the Creature is reckoned to be our own righteousness the Righteousness of the Law and my words stand true from which he draws his false Consequences and layes down his dark Assertions and my own words I do own which are Such as are taught by Christ and guided by him in all the Wayes of Righteousness are justified by him and none else not in any word or work whatsoever but in what they are led to fulfil by him and in these words there is neither Contradiction nor unsoundness though he hath ignorantly charged them with both but the words shall stand for a Testimony against him and all his false deductions and he and all shall know That God justifies the Righteous and condemns the Wicked and that it is the New Man that is justified and not the Old And let Righteous Men judge what can be in such a mans heart who can draw so bad Consequences from such upright words But further he goes on and hath transcribed more of my words as Christ Iesus the Son of God is the Light and Life of the World and hath enlightned all mankind that cometh into the World with the true Light c. now saith he How do these agree with man's State in the first Adam In transgression is a State of perfect Enmity and Death reigns in every man and he is possessed with blindness and unbelief c. I say these do very well agree and they are both true for Death reigns in every man and he is in Unbelief and Ignorance and in a State of perfect Enmity against God as he is in the first Adam yet Christ hath lightned him and the Light of Christ shines in Darkness in him and the Darkness comprehends it not and he is enlightned that he may be changed from Death to Life and from Ignorance to Knowledge and though he walk in Darkness and is in Blindness and in a State of Enmity it is because he does not walk and believe in the Light which Christ hath lightned him withal and in my words there is no disagrement nor contradiction the Darkness is in his own Mind who cannot comprehend the Light nor the words that proceed from it Further he questions upon my words of having the Witness in themselves of being restored again First whether none are restored again but such as have the Witness in themselves I answer all that are restored again and do believe hath the Witness in themselves and none do believe nor are restored but they have the Witness of it Secondly he queries whether all are restored but some want the Witness in themselves I answer All are not restored nor do believe and such want the Witness in themselves that are not restored to God but them that are restored want it not And again he queries whether the Light which is in all is sufficient without any thing of further Grace superadded to bring up every Man to believe in Christ c I answer The Light which every man is lightned withal by Christ is sufficient to bring up every man to believe in Christ that loves the Light and walks in it and unto such is Grace added and increased daily for as every man improves the Measure of the Gift of God so it is increased the Light is increased Grace is increased Faith is increased but still the Light of Christ in it self is sufficient Again from my words to wit The Spirit is given to be the Guide and Rule of Life to the Children of God from whence he queries whether the Spirit is so given to be a Guide and Rule of Life to the Saints that they have no more need to attend upon the Scriptures I answer It is promised that the Spirit shall lead into all Truth and such do own the Scriptures but not as their Teacher for the Anointing dwells in them and they need no man to teach them but as that Anointing teacheth all things and they have no need of the the Scripture to teach them for all the Children of God are taught of God and need not any other Teacher nor need not to say one to another know the Lord and yet all such do own the Scriptures to be the Testimony of that which they believe and have received Again from my words to wit The Light of Christ in every one shall give testimony to the truth of what I speak unto which I do commend my self from this he queries can these be Witnesses to me and of the Truth in me who are ignorant of the Life and Power of the Creator c. who are following the counsel of their own hearts which are evil c I answer Yes the Light of Christ in such shall judge one day and to it I commend my self and by it one day shall be approved though now the Wicked hate the Light yet doth it witness against them and for us that we are of God though its true they cannot judge between Light and Darkness between Truth and Error yet the Light in them which shines in their darkness does judge and put a difference and when the Book of Conscience is opened it
tell us plainly Are you Redeem'd from Pâ—… 〈◊〉 are you such as oppress the Seed as Pharoah did And tell us who was the Inâ—… of â—…our Images and who was the Former of all your graven Images 〈◊〉 not they all invented and come up since the Apostles dayes which ye have 〈…〉 and what is Purgatory and from what had it its rise and original 〈◊〉 what ground have you out of Scripture for such a doctrine And what is the 〈◊〉 of Faith and what 's Faith and what doth it give victory over and what 〈…〉 it over come and what is the â—aiâ— that hath bin spread over all Nations and 〈◊〉 is the Mountain of the House of God and what are those Mountains the 〈…〉 shall seek to cover themselves under and what are those Mountains that people expect Salvation from in vain and did not Iohn come to throw down the â—…ins and what are the Mountains that he came to throw down and what is the Valley he came to raise up answer us And what is the Sword of the Spirit and whether have ye the Sword of the spirit and the Spiritual Armour and what is youâ— Church defended and upâ—…d by Spiritual Weapons or Carnal are not your Goals carnal Weapons 〈◊〉 your Inquisitions and your killing people aboue Religion are not all these 〈◊〉 Weapons and had ever the Church of Christ such Weapons answer 〈…〉 plainly And do you not expect the Lord will suddenly plead with you and are not 〈◊〉 them that put off the Day of the Lord and cause the Seat of Violence to come near and are not ye them that have Eyes but see not Earâ— but hear 〈◊〉 Hearts and understand not and is not your Eye blind that should see God's Presence and your Ears stopped that should hear his Voice â—nd have 〈◊〉 heard his Voice and seen his Shape if you have what is he like answer 〈◊〉 And what is his Word and where doth it dwell in your hearts or is it without you and can any thing without you purifie you and take away sin 〈◊〉 of your Hearts and must not Christ be within and what are the Fruits and Signs and Marks of a Saint and why do you go Pilgrims to visit 〈◊〉 Bones what is the reason of it and who was the first that â—â—tuted it 〈◊〉 what is the meaning of your holy Water give us Scripture for all these 〈…〉 ces or else the Power of the Lord will tear you to pieces and lay open 〈◊〉 Foundation and none that love God can joyn unto you And can any o◠〈…〉 pardon Sin truly that it shall never more be remembred and are not 〈…〉 sins remembred with the Light in your Consciences sometimes and is there 〈◊〉 a Light in your Consciences that doth convince you tell me plainly And whether do you own That Christ hath lightened every one that coâ—… into the World and what is the Light and do you know Christ as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before Abraham and have you seen his Day as Abraham did and what 〈…〉 Day of Christ doth the Carnal Eye see it give us your Knowledge and 〈◊〉 Judgment in all these things and lay down your Principles at full and 〈…〉 by the Scriptures what you hold and profess if you would have any to 〈…〉 your Religion otherwise renounce your Church and come out of â—… What is Babylon and the Mother of Harlots and what is spirituâ—◠〈…〉 and Sâ—dom where Christ is crucified and what is the Whore and what 〈…〉 flesh that has stain'd the Earth and what is the Fire that must consume her 〈…〉 Many are jealous concerning you that you are not the true Church 〈…〉 you have drunk of the Whore's Cup who hath made all Nations drunk 〈…〉 if that time be come that she hath made all Nations drunk then how 〈…〉 clear your selves being Nations and Multitudes of People To 〈◊〉 these 〈…〉 I expect your speedy Answer And what is the Death that hath raigned over all and how is Man recâ—… out of it and when and what are the Gates of Hell and what is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they cannot prevail against and whether your Church may never 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vailed against and whether they be not your Inquisitions Stakes and â—… and killing people that do principally defend your Church and if yâ—◠〈…〉 cease your Inquisitions and killing those you call Hereticks whether 〈…〉 not you be prevail'd against by many other Sects Lay away yoâ—… perâ—… of People that you call Hereticks and do not deaf with them after the 〈…〉 which you have done by Inquisitions and such like and only by sound 〈…〉 guments and the Power of the Spirit defend your Religion And dare you suffer a certain number of us to come among you and pâ—…ch what we hold and a certain number of you shall freely come among us 〈◊〉 freely preach what you hold without Persecution or any Violence as we would expect and have the same from you engage man for man with us and 〈◊〉 no otherwise deal with ours then we deal with yours and take the free liberty to deal with our men as we deal with your men but no otherwise and 〈◊〉 each of the Messengers preach and hold forth what they would have and whâ—â— they really hold and believe and convert the most either of them can to theiâ— own Religion and then let all the World see which have the Power and Spirit of God with them and whether your Ministers or our Ministers do turn the more people from you to us or from us to you and send your Answer whether you will agree to the Premises and if you do send your Messengers when you pleaâ—â— and we will engage in the Lord their Persons shall not be harmed but if they were then take Man for Man Life for Life of our Men sent to you and let that God be the true God that appeareth in most Power and Authority and let him be worshipped forever whose Power converts the most to the knowledge of him out of Wickedness and let that Church be the tâ—… Church which cannot be overcome And as you are willing to be made manifest joyn issue with us in this business and propound your own time when the men shall return and whether the continuance of the Matter be for Dayes Moneths or Years and let each of the men return without harm of Person and this will be a way truly to try and make manifest all things to all the World and whether you or we be in the right Way and of the right Church and use 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Weapon against us but the foundest Arguments you can by words according to the Scriptures and the same Weapons we will use against you 〈…〉 other but the Authority of the Spirit of God and Arguments thereby 〈◊〉 shall be according to the Scriptures the Apostles Writings and the â—…ony of the true Church And hereby in the sight of the whole World let your Church and Faith 〈◊〉 Principles and Practices
God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 of him who is now appeared in Power and great Glory to gather his People to Himself This is to go abâ—… among all people wâ—o arâ— worshipping in Tempâ—… made with hands â—nd who are under this Ministry and are of 〈◊〉 Church aforementioned that they may come to consider and see the Erâ—… of their Way of thâ—… Worship and of their Miâ—… And this is a Visitation from the Lord unto them all by a Friend 〈◊〉 all your Souls E. B. Some False Principles And ERRORS DISCOVERED And REFUTED 〈…〉 Answer to a Catechism-Book which is said to contain The Principles of Religion put forth by a nameless Author But is supposed to be the work of one Samuel Eaton a professed Minister of the Gospel among the Sect of the Independants in Châ—shire But upon true Examination he is found to be teaching the Traditions of Men for the Commandments of Christ and his Principles are proved to be not according but contrary to the SPIRIT of GOD and the Scriptures To the READER THE Reason and Cause of this being sent abroad is for the better Information of all but more particularly for the good of that Assembly to whom Samuel Eaton is Minister and Pastor that they may know the Truth from Error and the Way of Righteousness from all false Wayes and may turn frâ—â— Idol-Shepherds that destroy the Vine-yard and tread it down and may 〈◊〉 to Christ and receive him who is the chief Shepherd to feed his Flock with the Bread of Eternal Life And the Reason why these False Principles are charged upon Samuel Eaton is this It being doubtful to some who was the Author of that Catechism wherein these Principles and Doctrines were held forth John Gredley and Anne Sheeld by name were with the said Samuel Eaton and asked him If he owned that Book the Catechism and he said He would maintain all in it That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Answer THE Wayes of the Lord are Equal and Just but the wayes of the Sons of Adam are altogether corrupted and different and contrary to the Wayes of Salvation And the Wisdom that is of this World is Foolishness with God and its End is Destruction to its self and to all that walk therein And what is Man that he shall prescribe a Way to his Makerâ— and who is it that will be more wise then God to â—et him a Way how he must â—…ch his People Therefore in-vain have men laboured and have reaped to â—…selves nothing but Wind and Confusion And in vaâ—â— have they sown 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to reap after them whose Fruit hath been Emptiness and not filled the Hand of the Gatherer And in particular this Book with which I am now â—…ing is the Fruit of an empty Tree which cannot satisfie the hungry 〈◊〉 nor comfort the weary Seeker for the Satisfaction and Comfort of the â—…ing hungry Soul dependeth only upon the Lord and upon the Bread of â—â—fe that commeth down from God and the soul that eaâ—â— thereof is â—…ed and comforted forever and hungereth no more nor thirsteth any slâ—… but the Fountain is in him and the Well springeth up unto Eternal Life 〈◊〉 goes no more forth And if so be that all herein were true and souâ—… Doâ—… and were learned so as to express it over again in words this might be 〈…〉 the soul still remaining in Anguish and under Sin and Death though 〈◊〉 in the Knowledge that is from below and yet in a farther Ignorance of God for the wisdom of this World knows not God neither can it teach not receive the knowledge of the things that pertain unto Life Eternal but to the Sâ—…e and to Fools doth the Lord teach and reveal the Knowledge of his Kingdom and it is not received from Books nor the Teachings and Tradition of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 by the Manifestation of the eternal Spirit which doth lead into all Truth â—…eveals the Mysteries of Salvation The first thing that I take notice of is this thou sayst God is a Spirit 〈◊〉 he is one in Beeing and is to be distinguished into three Persons and the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy Ghost are Personal Relations and if one be a Person such are the other c. Answ. The Father Son and Spirit is one this we believe and know according to the Scriptures but as for thy word Person that is carâ—… 〈◊〉 â—oo low a word to denominate God by who is Infinite for God and the Spirit hath no Person nor cannot truly be distinguished into Persons for a person has relation to Place Time and Change and is not in all places at all tiâ—es at â—…e and the Scriptures know no such distinction for God is a Spirit and hath no relation to one Time Place or Alteration more then another but filleth Heaven and Earth and his Presence is in all and over all who is bleâ—… forever and is infinite and without Person or confined Beeing and the Sâ—…pture no where in true Translation doth denominate God Christ and the Spirit by Persons and Personal Beeings nor doth distinguish them into â—…ee Persons for Persons are related to carnal as I have said and Persons is â—oo low to denominate God and Christ and the Spirit by So thy Principles are unsound and not agreeing to the Spirit of God and the Scriptures and therefore not to be believed nor received Whereas thou sayst That the one standing Rule according to which God is to bâ—â—…ht worshipped and served is the holy Scriptures in which God hath revealed himself in all things which he would have believed and doâ—e c. Answ. It is the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit was and is within the Saints that leadeth into all Truth and teacheth to kâ—… all things and that Spirit of God only is the standing Rule to walk in and to walk by it was the Rule to Abel Enoch Abraham and the rest of the â—…ly Fathers that lived before any Scripture was written and it was the Ruâ—… to the Prophets to Christ and to the holy Apostles they all followed the Spirit and walked in it and spake and wrought and acted as the Spirit of God within them moved them and led them it was not the Scriptures but the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures that was the standing unchangâ—…le un-erring Rule of worshipping serving and obeying the Lord God and that same Spirit is the standing Rule to us also For the Apostle commandeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Spirit and that which we are to walk in is our Rule And as many 〈◊〉 the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God and then the Spirit is their 〈◊〉 and that guides the Feet in the Way of Peace And in the Spirit is God â—…pped For they that worship him must worship him in the Spirit and in the â—… and such he seeketh to worship him For it is in the Hearts of his People 〈◊〉 within them that God revealeth himself by his Spirit For it is the Spirit 〈…〉 the thing â—f
God and none knoweth the things of God saving by the 〈◊〉 of God and that revealeth God and teacheth to worship God and to serve him And the Scriptures they declare of the Rule and of the Revelatiâ—… 〈◊〉 God and are a Declaration of all things which are to be believed and 〈◊〉 by the Children of the Lord so that the Scriptures are not the 〈◊〉 Rule neither do they teach to worship and serve God but the Spiâ—…â—â—ve forth the Scriptures that is the standing Rule in and through â—…tions and the Spirit doth reveal the Knowledge of God and how 〈…〉 〈◊〉 worshipped and served And thou sayst The Scriptures are the Word of God given by immediate Inâ—… 〈◊〉 God and that they are given to all men to be read And the Scripâ—…â—…cient to make the Man of God perfect and throughly furnished and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 â—nto Salvation And the Scriptures are plain and easie to be 〈…〉 â—y the simplest and there is Milk in them for Babes and strong Meat for 〈◊〉 grown up â—… Christ is the Word of God and his Name is called The Word of 〈◊〉 and the Word of God was in the Beginning and shall endure forever and this Word is not the Scriptures and the Scriptures are not the Word but the Scriptures are words of God given forth from the Word 〈◊〉 was in their Hearts that spake forth the Scriptures which were wrote 〈◊〉 the Holy Men of God were moved by the Holy Ghost and given by the Inspiration of the Spirit of God And the Scriptures are a Declaration and a â—…tise of the WORD that was in the Beginning and shall endure forâ—… but the Scriptures are not the Word And some of them were giâ—… to one sort of Men and some of them to another and some of them â—… But as for the Threatnings and Judgments propounded and the Reproof of the Wicked that part was not given to the Saints nor spoken to â—…em and so not given to all and the Promises to the Children of the Lord and the Epistles to the Saints and them that were sanctified that part was not given and spoken to the World and to the Wicked who are unâ—…ted and so not spoken to all though all may read them yet none can understand them but by the same Spirit that gave them forth and who have not the same Spirit to guide them they cannot understand the Scriptures for they were given forth by the Eternal Spirit and the carnal â—…dom that is from below and sensual cannot understand nor receive the â—…gs of the Kingdom of God which are declared of in the Scriptures And so the Scriptures are not easie to be understood but are sealed from the World â—â—ither are the Scriptures without Faith which thou hast left out sufficient to make the Man of God perfect but the Scriptures through Faith are able to make the Man of God perfect and throughly furnished this we know and â—…re and do set the Scriptures in their right place and give them their right Hâ—…our and Respect And as for thee and thy Generation who are erred from the Spirit of Truth You know not the Scriptures nor the Power of God for Christ is the Bread of Life and the Water of Life in him is the Milk for Babes and 〈◊〉 for strong Men and not in the Scriptures who testifie of Christ the Life and in them the Pharisâ—â—s thought to have Eternal Life but would not come 〈◊〉 Christ the End of the Scriptures that they might have Life and this is the self same state with yours of this Age who think to have the perfâ—… of Salvation and the Milk for Babes and the Meat for Strong Men in the Scriptures but will not receive Christ who is the perfect Salvation and 〈◊〉 Bread and Water of Life for all the Children of the Lord who are 〈…〉 the Spirit And so thy Doctrines and thy Principles of thy Religion 〈◊〉 not sound nor agreeing with the Scriptures but contrary and by a 〈…〉 spirit and therefore we cannot be of thy mind but do truly 〈…〉 unlearned of the Father and knowest not the Way of Salvation and so 〈◊〉 canst not truly inform nor direct others And thou sayst Men are under a Necessity of multiplying Transgâ—… 〈…〉 3. 12. Ephes. 4. 17. 2. Pet. 4. Answ. In this thou hast erred and spoken contrary to sound Dâ—… 〈◊〉 there is no Necessity laid upon any to commit any sin much less a Neâ—… multiplying Transgression if there be a necessity who layes it 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and why is that Necessity Transgression is of the Wicked One and 〈…〉 is of the Devil and there is no necessity for that upon any account 〈…〉 sin destroyes the Soul and is a Veâ—ation to the Lord God and a Câ—… 〈…〉 lasting Misery and for to act that there is no Necessity which hath 〈…〉 fects And thou hast perverted the Scriptures quoted by thee to prove 〈…〉 Assertion which I have set down for the Reader to peâ—…se that all â—… thou hast perverted them for they prove no such Doctrines as that 〈…〉 a Necessity of multiplying Transgression which thou hast affirmed and 〈…〉 the Scriptures to prove it which is first false doctrine uttered by thee it 〈◊〉 also a perverting of the Scriptures to maintain it and this two Evil◠〈◊〉 thou hast committed in one Work and because thou hast done Evil 〈…〉 at thy Door and there I will leave it And thou sayst To be justified is not to be really â—lâ—ansed from all Sin 〈…〉 take of real Righteousness and Holiness but it is to be accounted and reputâ—… Holy and not to have Sin reckoned c. Answ. There are none justified but who are in Christ and are chanâ—… and renewed and born again and such are cleansed from sin For he 〈…〉 of God sinneth not and it is he only that is justified and not the Old Man that is unchanged and commits sin he is not justified and who are born of God and are justified are really cleansed and do partake of Righteousness and holiness even of the Righteousness and Holiness of the Son of God and in that Righteousness he is accounted Righteous and in no other nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other way then by receiving Christ and his Righteousness and being made Partâ—kers of it in their Hearts for the Apostle said If Christ be not in you 〈◊〉 are Reprebates and such are not justifieth nor accounted just and holy who have not Christ within them and his Righteousness but who have Christ within the Hope of Glory and are accounted Just and Righteous in the sight of God the Body of Sin is put off for if Christ be in you the Body is dead because 〈◊〉 Sin and such are really cleansed and if he be in you you are made Partaâ—… of real Righteousness and Holiness and this is the Truth of the Gospel of Christ which confounds and condemns thy false doctrine for no man it accounted and imputed just and holy but who are cleansed from Sin
I say would not many Sects ere this day have prevailed one against another had not the Powers of the Earth stopped and limitted whom they would and given liberty to set up whom they would But now the Light of the Day is arisen and hath appeared and the Lord is making a Way to establish his own Religion by his own Power and he is gathering his Seed who shall wax stronger and stronger and shall prevail through all Opposition through all false Sects and false Worships of the Earth and they shall wax weaker and weaker and shall never be established in Righteousness but they and the Power that upholds them shall be broken together and this will the Lord bring to pass in his Day And thus I have shewed you what true Religion is and how it cannot be established and how it may be and what the Authority of earthly Rulers is and how far it extends and do shew that true Religion cannot be settled thereby but by the Lord alone it must and that it is the Work of Christ's Ministry and not of earthly Power by violent Laws to establish Religion And this is a testimony from the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to ye Rulers and Parliaments that make Laws and minister Laws meddle not with Religion to establish one Sect or Sects and to limit and throw down others but fear the Lord God and wait for his Wisdom and remember that that hath been a Rock whereupon many before you have been split and brought into confusion even when they have gone about to limit or stop or establish Religion how have they been confounded and never had success from the Lord to such endeavors for the Lord hath never shewed countenance for many Generations to such as have attempted to make men religious by outward Laws and to settle Nations therein by outward Laws Wherefore now be wise ye Rulers and kiss the Son for the Wrath of the Lord is already kindled and he will break in pieces and dash Babylon's Children against the Stones and confound the great Whore the false Church and all false Sects her Daughters who have been brought forth and set up in Nations ever since the Woman the true Church hath been fled into the Wilderness and the Beast hath carried the Whore born her and upheld her and she hath journeyed through Nations upon the Beast and the Beast hath defended her if any man hath an Ear let him hear and this is a Visitation to ye Rulers and to all that make Laws and minister Laws By a Friend to Righteous Men. E. B. Satan's Design DEFEATED In a Short Answer to a Manuscript sent by a Priest out of Sussex to a Member of this present Parliament full of railing Accusations whereby he hath secretly smitten the Innocent by a secret desiring the Persecution of the People of God But herein his Folly and Madness doth appear that while he hath accused others falsly himself is found guilty of the same thing With Invitations of Love to the present Authority that they may save themselves from being the Executioners of the Priests malice least the Lord destroy them A Certain Paper being come to my hand which is said to be written by one Priest Iackson and sent to a Member of Parliament containing divers Particulars charged as Errors upon the dispised People called Quakers wherein he saith he hath set down some of their Tenents which they maintain unto which Manuscript I am moved to write something in answer as to clear the Truth from his foul Aspertions which he casts upon it to the intent that the said Member of Parliament and the whole House may be better satisfied and resolved wherein they doubt of every Particular that the Truth may appear when as the foul Vail of the Darkness and Slanders is removed That the Holy Scriptures are not the Word of God nor the Saints Rule of Faith and Life neither is it the duty of every one to search them Answ. The Holy Scriptures that were given forth by the Spirit of the Lord as holy men of God were moved they are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise Luke 1. 1. and that which the Saints had handled and tasted of the Word of Life that they declared forth in Words and Writings Acts 1. 1. and the Scriptures as they were given forth by the Spirit of God are a true Declaration of what is to be believed and practised in relation to eternal Salvation It is a true Testimony concerning God and his mighty Works and of Truth and Righteousness and it is a Testimony also of the Devil and what he is and of his Deceits and Errors and Uâ—righteousness so the Scriptures are Words given forth by the Spirit but Christ is the Word that was before the Scriptures were for in the begining was the Word of God and the World was made by it and the Word shall endure for ever and Christ's Name is called the Word of God And though the Scriptures are profitable and were given forth to be read and to be fulfilled yet they are not the Rule and Guide of Faith and Life unto the Saints but the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures that is the Rule and Guide the Teacher and Leader into all Truth and them that are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God and if you walk in the Spirit saith the Apostle you shall live and as many as walk acording to this to wit of the Spirit Peace is upon them and so the Spirit of God is the Rule of the Saints Faith and Life and the Spirit leads them to walk in the fulfilling of the Scriptures and according to them And as for all the Priests in England who do profess the Scriptures to be their Rule out of their own Mouthes will God judge them who are found walking contrary to the Scriptures in Life and Doctrine and Practises while they cry it up for their Rule and condemn all that will not say as they â—ay And the last part of this Proposition is utterly false for we never do assert that it is not the duty of every one to search them but we bid every one search the Scriptures and every one ought to search them but yet we say that none understands them but who have the Spirit that gave them forth nor none can profit thereby but by the Spirit that gave them forth which works the same Truth in the Heart which the Scriptures without declare of and this I do affirm they are the Words of God and the Spirit of God is the Rule of Faith and Life to the Saints and all men ought to search the Scriptures and to believe what is therein written and to receive and enjoy Christ who is the Substance and the End of all Things the first and last the beginning and ending and in him the Scriptures are fulfilled and finished They do deny the Doctrine of the Trinity and that Christ
is God and Man in one Person Answ. As for the word Trinity it is invented and he hath learnt it out of the Mass-Book or Common-Prayer-Book but we own the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ that Christ is God and the Spirit is God and there are three that bear record the Father Son and Spirit and these are one but God and the Spirit are not Persons but Infinite Beeings and the Scripture no where in true Translations expresseth God under the Name Person for Person is too Carnal to express God and Christ and the Spirit by but God was in Christ reconciling the World and this we believe and acknowledge according to the Scriptures but for this word Doctrine of the Trinity the Scriptures know no such word but the Truth we own and the Gospel and the Scriptures too They hold that Iesus Christ died onely signally or examplarily and that we are justified by the Suffering of Christ in us and to be healed by his Stripes is to be stripped off or from Sin Answ. Jesus Christ died and rose again and ascended according to the Scriptures this we do believe And Christ was and is the Substance the end of all Signs and Examples yet was he an Example to the Saints and the Apostle exhorted to walk as they had Christ for an example and while he was in the World he did and spoke and acted many things as Parables Signs and Examples the substance of which is to be received in the Saints and known by them through the Spirit and we believe Saints are justified by Christ and through Faith in him which was and is and is to come who is blessed for ever and none are justified by his Death and Suffering and Blood without them but who witness Christ within them for all are Reprobates and to be condemned and cannot be justified that have not Christ in them as thou mayest read Except Christ be in you you are Reprobates and all that believe in Christ and receive him they are healed through his Sufferings and Stripes for he sanctifies them and gives them Remission of Sin and justifies them and in him the Saints are compleat and the New-man the Regenerate is justified and the old-man is in the Degeneration and knows not Christ in him and hath not received him but onely heard of him without him and believes the Relation but this faith doth not justifie for all the false Christians upon Earth have this faith but that Faith alone justifies which gives to receive Christ and him to live in us and to dwell in us by that Faith They utterly renounce the Doctrine of Iustification by the imputation of the Righteousness of Christ or by the obedience he performed or Sufferings he sustained or underwent in his own Person without us Answ. This is partly true and partly a Lye we do indeed renounce the profession of Justification by the Imputation of Christ or his Righteousness performed without men by men while they are in the degenerated estate and unconverted and unreconciled and unborn again for by such profession of Justification many deceive their Souls but yet we say that Righteousness is imputed to us and reckoned unto us who believe in Christ and have received him even the Obedience and Sufferings that he performed without us is ours who have received him within us and witnesseth Christ in us and therefore we are not Reprobates yet we do acknowledge he wrought perfect Righteousness by Obedience and Sufferings without us and that Righteousness is ours by Faith which Faith hath received Christ to dwell in us and he and his Righteousness his Obedience and Sufferings we enjoy in us in Spirit if any can receive it let them for that he wrought Righteousness this is acknowledged but who have a part in this Righteousness that is disputable They wholly renounce the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation and it is one of the great Reasons for which they decry the Ministers because they assert it they say Jacob and Esau are in a man and the good Seed is Jacob which God electeth and the bad Seed is Esau which he reprobates Answ. The Doctrine of Election and Reprobation we do own according to the Scriptures and therefore hast thou belied us and slandered us and art found reproveable and would incense mens minds against us for advantage to thy self but to some in that House we are better known then thou canst report of us and yet thou sayest we say that Iacob and Esau are in a man and the good Seed God electetâ— and the bad he reprobates and thou mayest here see thy confusion and thy ignorance uttered in the self same Lines for thou sayest we renounce the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation and yet sayest we say the good Seed God electetâ— and the bad Seed he reprobateth and this shews what spirit thou art of and how that the spirit of unrighteousness doth possess thee and leads thee to speak without understanding and we further say man being degenerated became reprobated and cast out and all by nature are Children of Wrath and the Children of Wrath are all in the reprobate State and none are elected but who are elected in Christ the Seed of David and so in the first Adam all are reprobated and all that are in the second Adam are elected and the Election and Reprobation stands not in the Persons but in the Seeds and yet the Persons are blessed or cursed in the love or in the displeasure of God according as the Seed of God or the seed of the Serpent lives and dwells and bears rule in the Persons and we do indeed decry and deny you the professed Ministers upon many accounts more then one and we have already and may in time to come shew sufficient Reasons against you both in Doctrine and Practise and other wayes that you are not the Ministers of Christ but the Ministers of Satan generally That Iesus Christ as he is the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of Abraham is in every one and that a measure or part of the Substance that was conceived in the Womb of the Virgin Mary is in every one Answ. Jesus Christ he is the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of Abrahâ—… according to the Flesh and after the Spirit the Son of the Living God and this Christ that was and is and is to come who was dead but is alive and lives for evermore the alone Saviour of the World he hath given a measure of Light and Life unto every man and there is a Light from him that shines in the heart of all men shining in Darkness the Light shines but the Darkness comprehends it not and this was Iohn's Testimony and is our Testimony That Christ enlightneth every man or all Man-kind that cometh into the World for in him was Life and the Life was the Light of men as the Scripture saith and the Apostle preached the Light that shined in peoples
hearts and it was that Light that gave them the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God but thou hast discovered thy self to be a Stumbler at the stumbling-stone and hath taken offence at the Light like the Pharisees who professed the Scriptures as the Priests of England do but were ignorant of the Life the end of the words and knew not Christ the Substance but the Stone at which you stumble will break you to pieces and grind you to powder even Christ the Light of the World that lighteth every man that cometh into the World That the Soul is a part or measure of God as they speak and not a part of man but uncreated and so is that Light which is in every one Answ. The Soul is immortal and God is immortal for God breathed into man the Breath of Life and he became a Living Soul as saith the Scripture and the Soul is related to God for what a man works against God it is against his own Soul for all Sin is against God and against a man's own Soul And God who hath all Souls in his hand who is the Creator and gave Life into the Soul that is immortal and can never die though Death hath passed over it and hath reigned over all from Adam till Moses and Christ is the Light of the World that gives Life unto the Soul and he raiseth up the Soul out of Death and Misery and brings the Soul to rejoyce in God its Saviour and Christ is the Souls Bishop its Pastor and Feeder and who knows Christ knows him that was before the World was made and sees to the beginning and to the ending and his Soul rests in God that is over all That the Light in the Heathen who never heard that Iesus Christ died at Jerusalem is the same for the quality of it with that which is in the most godly Person onely there is a difference in the quantity And men are reconciled to God by following of it This Light they say is the sure Word of Prophesie and that it is sufficient to lead out of all Sin unto God Answ. The Testimony of Iohn is that Christ is the Light that lighteth every mâ—n that cometh into the World and if every man then the Heathen who hath not the relation of Christ's Life and his Death at Ierusalem yea and it is the same Light that is in the Heathen the same in nature and kind as it is in the Saints for the Comforter the Spirit of Truth is one in it self and the same though it comforteth the Saints and reproveth the World and the Wicked for their sins And men are reconciled to God by Christ for he was in God reconciling to himself and none are reconciled but who walk in the Light and follows it for who walks in the Light the Blood of Christ cleanseth them 〈◊〉 all Siâ— and they are reconciled and none else And the Word of God is in the Heart as the Scripture saith Deut. 30. Rom. 10. and that is the Word of Prophesie and that Word is sufficient to lead out of all Sin unto God if men believe in Jesus and receiveth him and the Spirit of Truth leadeth into all Truth all that follow it That Christ as man is not in Heaven yea that he hath ceased to be man and conseqâ—…ly to be Mediator and when I told them he should come in the Clouds in like 〈◊〉 as he ascended and that at his coming the Elements melteth one of their 〈◊〉 told me that the Clouds were scattered and the Elements melted in him Answ. Christ Jesus is ascended into Heaven and sits at the right Hand of the Father yea he is ascended far above all Heavens as saith the Scripture But that is utterly false whereas thou sayest we say he ceased to be man that is â—y Lye and so I pass it And we believe according to the Scriptures that 〈◊〉 shall come in like manner as he ascended and at his coming the Elements shall melt And it is not error for a man to say the Clouds are scattered and â—â—e Elements melted in him for Clouds are Darkness and covers the face of the Sun many times as thou mayest behold in the Firmament But Darkness is yet over thy Heart and the Elements are not melted away and therefore thou art in thy Imaginations putting Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and calling Evil Good and Good Evil. That the Bodies of Men shall never rise again after death and that the day of Iudgement is come already and that now the Saints do judge the World Answ. We do believe the Resurrection according to the Scriptures For if onely in this Life we have Hope we were of all men most miserable And we believe that the Dead shall arise again after death and every one shall receive according to the Deeds done in the Body they that have done Evil shall arise to Eternal Condemnation and they that have done Good to Eternal Salvation in the day of Judgement And the Lord cometh with and in ten thousand of his Saints to judge the World and the Saints upon Earth do receive the Spirit of Judgement and do judge the World even all things for the spiritual Man judgeth all things even in this present Age if thou canst receive it thou mayest They are utterly against Water-Baptism and administring of the Lord's Supper with Bread and Wine because they say they have the Substance of all within Answ. As for Baptism and the Supper of the Lord we do own it and it is practiced of us in the Life and Power of God but as for your Baptism that is to say sprinkling of Infants calling it the Baptism into the Faith and that they are made Members of the Church thereby and that it is a Seal of Regeneration as you say in your Common-Prayer-Book and Directory that we do utterly deny and do say it is no Ordinance of God neither was it ever commanded by him or practiced by his Saints but is an Institution of the Whore of Rome and England received it by a Popish Institution and your practice of it is Idolatry and not any part of the true Worship of God And as for your breaking Bread and drinking Wine in that manner and form as it is practiced in the Church of England among the Unconverted and Unregenerated that we utterly deny also to be of God or to be ever commanded of him or practiced by his Saints and this is neither Heresie nor Error in us but true bearing witness against your Idolatrous Wayes and Practices with which the Nations are deceived whom the Whore causeth to drink her Cup even all people have drunk her Cup and she hath drunk the Blood of them that would not and she hath long sate upon Nations Peoples and Multitudes but now she is made bare and discovered and all you her false Ministers And whereas the Author doth say These are some of the
charged against them whereby the Lord hath been offended But all things and places of men must be new moulded and corrected and purged and regenerated that true Judgment may flourish and Righteousness and Truth prosper as in the Beginning and this will the Lord suddenly bring to pass by his own Power and if thou opposest it thou shalt not prosper but be cut off and taken out of the way For the Spirit of the Lord hath been provoked to Wrath because of these things and his Anger is kindled against the Nations and he hath overthrown and yet will once more overthrow till he comes whose Right it is to Rule whose shall be the Government and Kingdom and all his Enemies shall be slain And as for the publick Ministry as now it is in its present estate we certainly know and testifie from the Lord unto thee and to the whole Nations that it is not the same Ministry of Christ which the Apostles had nor by the same Power and Spirit but is wholy degenerated in Call in Practice and in Maintenance and in all things from what the Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the true Churches before the Apostacy and it is as now it stands in degeneration not of God nor in the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus nor hath it the same End and Effects as the Ministry of Christ once had but it s tasted and tainted with the Spirit of Antichist which long hath ruled in the World and it s become a grievous Oppression in the Nations and people are not converted nor turned to God from their evil wayes but remain unprofited and to say no more of it though much I might say what I affirm of it I may prove by the Scriptures against the wisest of them before thee if thou pleasest viz. That as now the Ministry stands it is not perfectly the same Ministry the Apostles had but is degenerated from what the Ministry of Christ was in the dayes of the Apostles and true Churches before the Apostacy and if ever God toucheth thy heart thou wilt see it so when the Spirit of Christ is chief Judge in thee thou wilt witness this to be true and then may not thy Power uphold any thing which is contrary to God when Government is purged and made pure from all its present Degeneration Again There are many and divers sort of Sects and Gatherings of People and Professions in Reliigion of several contrary Judgments and Opinions Worships in these Nations and these People over whom thou art set to rule are divers and divided in their Wayes and Minds and Professions of Religion some looking for and seeking after Christ in such a manner and others after another manner all crying Loe here is Christ and thus he will come and loe he is there and so will he appear and some are inventing and supposing such a Government to be best and others contrary to that and many are as distracted in their thoughts not knowing what to seek or what to look after some are for such a Government and Religion and others for another and peradventure each one of these may seek to thee for Protection against such as oppose them commending and justifying their own Way and Sect and Form and Religion against all others and craving Laws to maintain themselves and their Sect and to stop and limit all other Ways as Heresie because differing from them and they will each of them turn and rest the Scriptures from the mind of the Spirit that gave them forth to prove their own Opinions and Professions to be right against all others but now thou mayst know that the Scriptures were given forth by the one Spirit of God and is the Testimony of one Truth of one Saviour of one true Worship and one only true Religion and not many and diverse Wayes and them that are of divers Judgments and Worships and Religions and yet all plead Proof from the Scriptures for what they profess and practice all such pervert the Scriptures and wrest them who are thus divided and unsettled in Religion and they shew that none of them have the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit leads into all Truth and in it is the true Worship of God and the true Profession and Practice of true Religion and that Spirit only understands its own words in Scripture but all these divers Sects and Heaps of People that are divided in Worship and about Religion have not the Spirit of God that gave forth Scriptures to lead them into all Truth and guide them in the perfect Way and pure Religion which the Apostles and Churches of Christ were in in their dayes but all these many Sects that are thus divided are risen up since the days of the Apostles and are of another spirit and of a false Religion And as for such called Ministers they will be hurrying about thee and flattering thee with fair and crafty words and smooth Petitions and Requests for Protection and Establishment from thee and for large Maintenance and Stipends and Tythes and possibly they may complain to thee against such as cannot give them Hâ—re and Tythes but may reprove their Evil and Covetousness and Wickedness begging for Laws against such and crying out against Error Herisie because some may be mov'd to cry against their Deceits Oppressions and for the like causes they will run about thee and seek their own Advantage and this we know their nature and spirit is such and hath been for many Ages But now Friend Do thou stand in God's Authority out of and over all such Teachers and Sects and come not under any of them that have the Form of Godliness but want the Power who are in the Apostacy from the Life and pure Religion that the Apostles were in nor believe them not that shall say Lo Christ is â—â—rt or Lo he is there or Who shall ascend to fetch him from without or When shall be come from far to save his People Go not thou after any of these but he arken to the Word of God in thy heart and know that Christ is within thee else thou art reprobate neither do thou take in hand to exalt any one of these Sects or some of them above others neither defend maintain any of them against others of them nor tollerate not one of them above another for if thou dost it will betray thee and the Nations Peace and set all spirits on Fire about thee and while one is pleased and may pray for thee others will be vexed against thee and curse thee wherefore be not troubled about these things nor cumber not thy self about Religion how to establish it for it is God's Hand only to establish his Worship and Religion it belongs to him as he will and not as man by his Policy and Wisdom but stand free from them all and neither establish any nor persâ—â—ute any Sect whatsoever but let them all have their couâ—se and
The Scripture was the Foundation of Foundations but when he heard this he ran away and fled like a Hireling and would not stay and I was and am ready in the Presence of God and any sober men to prove this to be false Doctrine and of the Devil and him to be no Minister of Christ who holds it forth And all you sober minded men may be ashamed of him who managed his work with so much wickedness and impudency while he staid and when it came to the very trial then he run away and would not stand though I desired him hereby did his guilt appear is flying the tryal and this is the substance of the Business though not every particular word and I have gathered it up to send you and him that when you see it and consider and read what you have done you may be ashamed of him and of your own unreasonableness And further He is already proved and may be more largely hereafter to be one that God never sent both by Conversation and Doctrine and no Minister of Jesus Christ and not only in the House but when we were come forth such was your Violence to the stopping of us when we were pasting and had not the Mayor prevented it our Suffering from some of you had been more then it was let the Fear of God strike you and let his Light search Wicked and Ungodly Hearts and repent of your doings and cease to do Evil and turn from your Deceiver if you love your own Souls and learn the Way of Righteousness and Peace which you have not yet known for in the broad way you are and the end of it will be unto your everlasting Destruction And to you this is a Warning and a Visitation from the Lord by a Lover of your Souls who is true though by you called and counted a Deceiver and this in Love to your Souls is sent unto you E. B. Here also followeth certain Queries to Christopher Fowler the same time to which he never yet could give any Sober Answer therefore I here insert them that he may yet give his Answer Christopher Fowler SEeing thou art a man so irrational and so unsober to speak and fairly to debate things in Discourse and thy Auditory so rude and inhumane in Behaviour and words therefore to thee these few Queries I propound to try thee whether thou wilt shew the spirit of a Man by writing more then by speaking seeing therein I have tryed thee to be more like a Wild Inhumaine Creature than a Sober and Upright Christian. Seeing the Scripture saith the Word of God was in the Beginning and the World was framed by it and it shall endure forever hence I query of thee I. Whether the Scriptures be the very Word of God yea or nay Seeing the Scriptures were not in the Beginning neither was the World framed by them neither can they endure forever hence I query of thee II. Whether the very Word of God be Scripture yea or nay Seeing it is confessed that which is written of and declared of in the Scriptures is the Word of God and the Truth which shall endure forever hence Iquery of thee III. Whether the Scriptures the Writings and the Thing or Subject declared and written of are not two distinct things so as one may have the one and not the other yea 〈◊〉 nay Seeing God and his Word Will and Mind is Eternal Infinite and Endless hence I query of thee if thou hast an Understanding answer IV. Whether God his Word Will and Mind is or can be contained or holden in Scriptures and Writings or but only part of the Declaration of him of his Word Will and Mind yea or nay Seeing such were false Prophets which preached for Hire and divined for Money and sought for Gain from their Quarter hence I query of thee V. Whether by this Rule art not thou proved a false Prophet who preachest for Hire and takest Hire for Preaching and hast a Quarter reading of some part of it from which thou seekest Gain answer in Plainness Seeing every Tree is known by its Fruit as Christ saith hence I query VI. Whether by this rule thou that bringst forth the same fruits as the false Prophets did viz. Lies Lightness Pride Covetousness and false accusing art not the same Tree viz. a false Prophet Seeing they were false Prophets who ran and were not sent and did not profit them the people at all but clothed themselves with the Wool and prepared War against them that put not into their Mouths c. hence I query of thee VII Whether by this rule thou art not proved a False Prophet who canst not prove that thou art sent of God neither are the people profitted by thee but are rude and wanton and wicked and thou preparest war against them that put not into thy mouth by suing them at law for Tithes c Seeing Scorning Lying Slandering Envy Hatred Lightness c. with much more of which thou art guilty are the fruits of the flesh and of the Divel hence I query of thee VIII Whether by this rule art thou not proved to be no Minister of Christ but of the Devil and a Servant to him and a Liver to the Flesh and not in the Spirit in whom these Fruits of Darkness and of the Flesh are abounding Seeing the Scripture saith the Word of God was in the beginning and Christ Jesus is the Foundation and no other can be laid hence I query of thee IX Whether by this rule thou art not proved a Deceiver and thy Doctrine false and Error and contrary to Scripture who said the Scriptures are the Word of God which were not in the Beginning and said that the Scriptures which are not Christ are the Foundation of Foundations and whether this Doctrine of thine doth not deny Christ and so art proved to be Antichrist answer according to Truth Seeing thou confessest thou hast Hire for Preaching yet sayst thou preachest not for Hire hence I query of thee X. Whether any of the People of Reading would give thee so much a Year if thou didst not preach to them and if no then whether they do not give thee so much and thou receive it because thou Preachest unto them or did they give thee so much before thou preachest or will they give thee any when thou dost cease to preach to them try them when thou wilt and prove thy self a true Prophet by Preaching some years and receiving nothing and till then I charge thee to be a false Prophet Seeing the Ministry which Christ Jesus sent by the Apostles did bring people that they needed no man to teach them but as the anointing within them hence I query of thee XI Whether by this rule thy Ministry is proved not to be of Christ Iesus nor thou sent of him by which none can come to this condition that they need no man to teach them produce any one if thou canst and so a Ministry of Anti-christ
well Oh that such would consider and not be hasty in any thing to perform or profess Religion in their degenerate estate but that they would come to know the Regeneration and the renewing of their minds by the holy spirit and that the Immortal Birth might be born in them even the Birth of the Spirit which is Heir of God Oh that that might live and rule in them then should they be Heirs of God and Citizens of the New-Ierusalem And oh ye People of London lay it to heart you must be born again or else you can never enter into Gods Kingdom you must be changed in nature and must be crucified to this world that you may live unto God this must you come unto or else you have no part nor portion in Eternal Life and your Duties and Performances in your Forms of Religion they cannot save you not justifie you all your Preaching Praying Singing and all your Duties whatsoever they are all nothing till you come to know changing and renewing inwardly and do witness the Seed of God raised up in you and the head of the Serpent bruised in you by the Seed of the Woman this must you come to witness that your Souls may live Oh that you would consider be not so zealous against that which you may call Heresie and Schism for while you err in judgment you may soon speak evil of Truth and persecute it under the name of Error many have wofully faln into that Snare and brought sorrow upon themselves thereby The wise Iews even the chief Priests Scribes and Pharisees they were as confident in their Way as you can be and yet they erred in judgment and would not receive Christ but persecuted him under the very name of a Deceiver and thus it is possible for many to do in this Age What though you have Christ's words and the Apostles words yet if you have not the Spirit of Christ that was in the Apostles you know nothing rightly of the Scriptures neither can you understand them nor have Salvation by them for you must know Christ in you your hope of glory else you are Reprobates and shut out of the Kingdom of God And search the Scriptures and see if they do not witness this Do not they say Christ is in you except you be Reprobates and do not they say The Law of God is written in the heart and the Spirit of God is put in the inward part And do not they say That Christ hath lightned every man that comes into the World with the true Light And do not they say that the Apostle exhorts people to hearken to the Word of God in their hearts and to be followers of the Spirit of God that was in their hearts And do not the Scriptures say That it was the Light that shined in the heart that gave the knowledge of God unto the Saints Search the Scriptures and see whether these things be so and must not men be born again of the Immortal Seed Oh consider and let not these Doctrines seem new unto you neither reject them though they come unto you in weak appearance not with words of mens wisdom but in Simplicity and in sincerity and in the Power of God And search the Scriptures whether these things be so were not they false Prophets That preached for hire and divined for money and sought for their gain from their Quarter were not such Deceivers in the true Prophets time and them that preached for filthy lucre and for money and for gifts and rewards were not such false Brethren and false Apostles search the Scriptures whether these things be so for the day of trial is now come wherein all must be searched and that Religion and Worship and Ministry which is not according to the Scriptures which was given forth by the Spirit of God let that Religion Worship Church and Ministry be utterly condemned of the Lord and all his People and let such Ministers as cannot prove their Call their Maintenances and Practices to be according to Scriptures let such Ministers be confounded and silenced for ever and come to try this matter when you will For whereas you cry out against us as if we were Deniers of Scriptures as if we were Enemies to Church and godly Ministry and Religion and as if we were Deceivers Hereticks Papists c. But I say unto you these things have you never yet justly proved against us but rather accused us behind our backs to make us odious among people and though for divers years together we have been publick yet when did ever any of you Ministers seek by lawfull means to convert us or shew us our Errors if we were as you say of us oh it had been your time to have sought our conversion and not to have Persecuted to have sent to Prisons Houses of Correction and by such Weapons of any outward force and cruelty have you dealt with us and not in meekness and by the Spirit of the Lord as Ministers of Christ ought to do but have cried to the Magistrates to defend you and your your Church and Worship being unable as it were by the Authority of God's Spirit to defend your selves Therefore I say unto you now lay down your Carnal Weapons and come out in the Spirit of Meekness and come out in the Authority of God's Spirit if you have it convince us thereby if we be in an evil way as you say let us hear your soundest Arguments by the Spirit of God and according to the Scriptures to prove those things which you say of us prove it by evident Arguments that we deny Scriptures and that we are Hereticks and that we are Papists I challenge you all in the Name of the Lord even all you Ministers of London let us hear your sound Reasons openly in the spirit of Meekness and do not back-bite nor slander in the dark and let us not be bawled against by your rude Members as often we have been even in the spirit of wickedness but come out you Ministers we are willing to be tried according to the Scriptures and by the Spirit of God in our Religion and in every part of it and if you be the same then come forth in the spirit of Meekness like Ministers of Christ and lay down your Carnal Weapons and let us have fair dealing openly that Truth may be manifested publickly and Error may be discovered and let us not envy one anothers persons and seek to destroy one anothers lives but let us seek to destroy the evil in one another that men might be saved and this would be a Christian-like way we would hear what you have to charge against our Religion by sound Arguments in Meekness that we may answer it and then we will charge something upon your Ministry Church Religion and Worship and we will prove what we say against you according to the Scriptures and we will not impose our Religion upon you by the force of outward Powers
if the same things come to pass which they declare 〈◊〉 you deny them in this Age and â—ry against such as Hereticks who witâ—… the fulfilling of them which shews you are of Antichrist and that you quench the Spirit in the Sons and Daughters which God hath promised in the New Covenant that he would give and pour forth upon Sons and Daughters and they shall prophesie And are not we to look for these things now What must not God's Promises be fulfilled must not an Heards-man now preach if the Word of the Lord come unto him and must not Plow-men now speak of the things of God if they have experience of them and must not Fisher-men and Tent-makers bear witness to the Name of Christ if they have received of his Spirit and will you deny the Scriptures which saith As every one hath received the Spirit and the Gift so let him administer the same one to another 1. Pet. 4. or do you say None must have the Gift of the Spirit but such as are brought up at Schools and Colledges or will you limit the holy One to such and such Men and Wayes Oh you are blind and ignorant who would quench the Spirit of God that it should not speak in these dayes and thus you are denyers of the Scriptures but God hath given of his Spirit and spoken in our Hearts and we must prophesie and speak as the Spirit of God giveth utterance as the Saints of old did Act. 2. 4. Now for your way of making Ministers at Schools and Colledges and so quallifying them with knowledge in the seven Sciences as it is said and ordaining them in that manner and way as among Papists and Protestants hath been practised for Ages this way of making Ministers and sending of them forth was never known among the Apostles for they were not thus made and ordained and sent to preach nor was this way of making and sending forth Ministers till the Spirit and Power of God was lost and forsaken by the Apostate Christians and the Scriptures make no mention of such ways nor give no Example for such things and we cannot own any Religion nor any Practice thereof but what we have Example for from the Saints of old before us and we believe that it is generally of Antichrist to invent and introduce such and such Practices for Religion towards God and for the Worship of him for which there is no Example in all the Christian Churches in the Apostles dayes and we believe that way of making Ministers and sending of them forth which is not approveable by the Scripture nor according to them is of Antichrist and not of God neither can we own such Ministers nor their Ministry who are not ordained of God and according to the Scriptures nor can we deuy private Preachers nor their Ministry as you call them if they have received the Spirit of Christ though they be not so learned outwardly nor ordained according to what some may call the right way but who are Ministers made and sent of God and have the Authority of his Spirit such we own and cannot deny and such the Lord will bless with his Presence to the confounding of all their Enemies Concerning Settlement in a happy Government Object There hath been great Divisions and Distractions in these Nations for many years and in the midst of them the great cry hath been by many for Settlement and Peace and for a quiet and happy Government Answ. These things hath the Lord suffered to come to pass in the World even great Contentions Divisions and distractions and much Changes of Government in these Kingdoms And the appearing Cause of these things hath been from the Lust that hath warred in the Members for from thence doth Wars and Strife arise and many have been Ambitious Vain-glorious Self-seeking and Covetous of the Honours and Pleasures of this World the lust and desire of these things hath possessed the minds of Men and induced them to Envy and Wrath one against another and hath filled them with Heart-burnings and cruelty of mind to the killing and destroying of one another by Wars and Blood-sheds and by Plots and Contrivances have sought how to extinguish one another from the Earth that themselves might be exalted and thus from the desires that have warred in mens minds have Wars arisen against the Persons of Men and among them and this is the appearing Cause of the Wars and Distractions that have been in these Nation though the hidden cause which hath not so appeared hath been in God and because of the wickedness of Men both high and low and because of their Oppressions and Abominations which have been many and great in the World therefore hath the God of Heaven been provoked in just Judgement towards Rulers and People to suffer Men to destroy one another and to execute Bloodshed and Destructions one upon another and he hath brought it to pass in giving up men to the fulfilling of their cruel intents which have been hatched in their evil Minds every Man against his Neighbour and even because they have been departed out of his Counsel and followed their own wicked Wayes and Justice and Mercy and Truth have been wanting amongst Men in these Nations so that this is the principal cause wherefore the Lord God hath brought about and suffered these Wars Distractions Confusions and Discord in these latter dayes and out of the justness of God's Judgments because of the wickedness of men have these things been And now these Distractions and confusions and Discords amongst Men can never wholly and truly cease to be till Iniquity and Transgression be repented of and turned from which is the very cause wherefore God hath done and suffered these things as I have said and so Men must cease from Oppression from Cruelty and from all Unrighteousness and must turn to the Lord and become cleansed from their Sins ere ever the Judgements of the Lord be removed and these Distractions Wars and Confusions cease to be in these Lands and till Men become Meek and Humble and till they cease to seek revenge one of another and till they cease all Oppression and Covetousness Injustice and Unmercifulness and till they forsake their worldly Honour and high Titles which puff them up in Arrogancy and Ambition and even till every Man forsakes his particular Iniquity till all these things be Distractions will not cease nor shall Settlement and Peace and happy Government ever be This is certainly so for except the Cause be removed the Effect can never cease and there appears to be at this day as great if not far more Dissatisfactions in the Minds of some People than hath been heretofore and it appears to be as far from Settlement and true Peace in an happy Union in Government as for many years though it hath been expected by many that we should have Peace and Settlement in Government yet behold it cannot be for there are Discontents and Murmurings in the
though some may profess good Conscience and cry for Liberty thereof in their false Sect and Religion not taught them by the Spirit of Christ yet the Civil Magistrate ought not to punish and use Violence to such for their Religion but if they do they persecute and the Lord will lay it to their charge But yet this is safe for all first to obtain true Liberty of Conscience to God-wards and to receive the Spirit of Christ to be taught only by it in the Exercise of Conscience and Religion that they may not err in Conscience and Judgment in spiritual Matters nor suffer Wrongfully under pretence of Righteousness sake whenas it is not truly so CHAP IV. Concerning the Diversity of Iudgments in Religion TO all ye that are of divers Judgments and Opinions in and concerning Spiritual Matters who are divided about Faith Doctrine Worship and Church Government some of you holding one thing some another different and contrary to that being diversly divided in mind and heart concerning the matters that are one in themselves to which you all assent as to the things in themselves and yet are different contrary minded about the self-same things To you all I am moved to write that so ye may be informed perfectly First What the Cause is of your Divisions and why it is thus amongst you And Secondly Of the bad Effects and Fruits such Divisions have brought forth And Lastly The Meant and Way of Reconciliation that ye may come into Love and Peace and Unity with God and one with another in all things pertaining to his Kingdom First The Cause of your Divisions and of the Diversities of Judgments and Opinions that are amongst you concerning the Things and Matters of God's Kingdom is Because you want the Spirit of God to guide you and it is not the Rule of your Knowledge and Iudgment and you wanting the Spirit of God in which is Unity among Saints therefore is it you are so divided and divers and different and contrary one to another in these things it is because ye want the Spirit of God I say which only teacheth the true Knowledge of God and gives an Understanding in all his Wayes and Matters It is the Spirit of God that teacheth true Faith true Doctrine and true Worship and all things about Church Ministry and Religion and if that you had the Spirit of God in you and were taught and guided by it it would teach you into one Faith and one Truth and into the true Worship and into the true Church-Government and you would be in Unity and Peace And if you all had the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and by which Spirit the Saints of God were guided in dayes past it would teach you into Unity and to be of one Mind one Heart and one Soul in all the Matters pertaining to God's Kingdom in Faith Worship Doctrine and all things else If you had the Spirit of God I say and were taught by it then you would have Unity with God and one with another in all his Wayes and there would have been no Division nor Contention amongst you about spiritual Matters but because you want that therefore you have Strife and Division amongst you even throughout all Christendom Here 's a Nation and a Kingdom holding such a Faith and Worship and there 's another People holding Faith and Worship contrary to that and here 's one Sect of People and there 's another different in Faith Judgment and Opinion and this is a Shame to whole Christendom That all should profess Christ Iesus and Faith in him and Salvation by him and his Doctrine and Worship and yet be in strife division and in great contentions concerning the same some holding and practizing one manner of Faith Worship and Doctrine and others holding contrary and different and this shews that ye are all fallen from the Life of Christianity as it was held in the Apostles dayes amongst the true Churches for they were of one heart mind soul and spirit as it is written they were of one Faith of one Worship of one Doctrine and had one way of Church-Government and this continued amongst the Churches of Christ till there were some that had Erred from the Spirit of God in their own Consciences and then they also Erred in Faith in Doctrine and in all other things relating to God and these were the Apostate Christians that had erred from the Spirit and divided themselves from the true Church and differed in Judgment amongst themselves and this was because they had erred from the Spirit of God which would have kept them in Unity with God and one with another for the Spirit is the Bond of Peace and the Seal of the Covenant of Love amongst the Saints So now All ye who are divided in your Knowledge and Iudgement and are in contention one with another about the matters pertaining to God's Kingdom you are the apostate Christians and you are without the Spirit of Christ The first apostate Christians erred from the Spirit and so became divided from the true Faith and from the true Worship and also among themselves and you never yet received the Spirit of Christ that you might come into Unity and Fellowship with God and one with another and that is the Reason of all your Divisions in Religious matters because you have not received the Spirit of Christ to teach you and to unite your Hearts to God and one to another but you having the Scriptures traditionally by discent through Ages which do describe and declare of that Faith and Doctrine and of the Worship and Church-Government which were among the Saints of old which they held and practised and from the Scriptures which declare of the things from thence you take up a Conceit and false Judgment and an Imitation and a false Conformity and then each sort of you call that your Faith and Church-Government and some after one manner of form and some after another and thus you are divided because you want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit did work true Faith in the hearts of them that gave them forth in dayes of old and it taught them Worship Faith Doctrine and all things concerning Gods Kingdom for the Spirit led them into all Truth and now you wanting the same Spirit that wrought in them and taught them and you having but their words to wit the Scriptures from thence in the Wisdom which is below and in the carnal Reason and in the first mans understanding each Nation takes up a conceit that it is so and so and takes up an Imitation of Worship and Church-Government according to their own sensual wisdom and according to the breadth and depth of their Conceits and then imitates and that severally and diversly and in a divided manner and this is amongst Kingdoms and amongst Neighbours and Brethren this Division in matters of Faith Worship and Doctrine and Church-Government
weight thereof as to encourage such a Work of value and worth for many know what a great Sufferer F. H. was and how he lay many years in a bad Prison at Appleby in Westmoreland for the Testimony of Jesus and of a good Conscience for that he could not Swear so that in the same Prison under the Hands of his Persecutors he cheerfully and with much Satifaction and Peace gave up his Life and ended his Dayes in Peace Oh! the remembrance of these two Faithfull Witnesses who both died Sufferers being Prisoners for Truth is never to be forgotten And thus Dear Friends as the Salutation of our dear Brother E. B. according to his desire while in the Body I recommend unto you this Volumn of his Books with my Love in the Truth to you all being therein The Truth 's and your Servant and Friend Ellis Hookes London the 1st of the 2d Moneth 1672. THE EPISTLE TO The Reader TO all the World to whom this may come to be Read that they read with a good understanding and hereby they may come to the perfect knowledge of the ground of difference between the Priests and Professors and all Sects in these Nations and Us who are in scorn called Quakers shewing that the Controversie on our part is just and equal against them all and that we have sufficient cause to cry against them and to deny their Ministry their Church their Worship and their whole Religion as being not in the Power and by the Spirit of the Living God as commanded of him or ever practiced by his Saints But this declareth the ground and Foundation thereof to be another thing and not the same on which the true Church and Ministry and Practice and Worship and true Religion was builded in the days of the Apostles And also this is an Invitation to all Sects and Professions of People to come forth and try if what they hold and profess be according to the Scriptures of truth and to do this in tryal by evident and sound Arguments and by the best spiritual Weapons they have and to lay aside all this Persecution and unrighteous Dealing and Stocking and Whipping and Imprisoning of us for speaking against their Religion and that they come forth in fair dispute to contend in the Spirit of meekness for what they Profess and Practice and to prove according to the Scriptures their Ministry Church and whole Religion that it is in and by the Spirit and Power of God or otherwise to renounce and deny all their Religion and the Profession and Practices thereof that every man may be satisfied who it is that are in the true and right Way and of the true Worship and true Religion and who it is that are not and this is desired by us who are called Quakers and also a true Account of our first beginning and coming forth in the World and of that great Sufferings we have sustained and how we have been carried on and are preserved to this day The Lord God everlasting who is true and faithful hath fulfilled his promise in us and unto us and we are gathered from the Mouths of all dumb Shepherds and out of the mouths of all Hirelings who have made a prey upon us and fed themselves with the fat and devoured souls for dishonest gain And we are come to the Fold of Eternal Rest where Christ Jesus is the chief Shepherd and he is the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls that feedeth his Flock with living Bread that nourisheth us unto Life Eternal he hath called us by his Name and put us forth and he feedeth us in green Pastures and we are fed with hidden Manna and lie down at Noon with his gathered Flock and out of Nations Kindreds Multitudes and Peoples are we redeemed to God and are come out of the World and out of great Babylon and out of spiritual Sodom and Egypt where the Lord Christ was and is crucified and lieth slain to this day and a top of the World hath the Lord set us on the Mountain of his own House and Dwelling where we behold and feel the Life and Glory and Crown of the World that hath no end and the world that hath an end is seen over and its crown and glory is his Footstool that reigns amongst us And as for all that which this perishing world brings forth which men seek after only it s reckoned our temptation though all the Sons of Adam are seeking its glory its riches its crowns its contentments but of that Birth are we which hath no crown no glory nor rest under the Sun and a Birth is brought forth amongst us which is Heir of another Kingdom and Possessor of another Crown whose glorying is in the Lord all the Day long and he is our Refuge our Rock and our Fortress against all our Enemies and what though the Wicked arm themselves and the Ungodly bend their Bow what though all sorts of People from the Prince upon his Throne to the Beggar upon the Dunghil exalt themselves against the despised People of the Lord's Inheritance who for his Name 's sake are kill'd all the day long What though the Wise-men bring forth their Arguments and what though the Rulers bring forth unrighteous Judgments against the Seed that God hath blessed what though the Revilers and Scorners open their mouthes and Reproachers and Revilers cast out their bitter words as a Flood against the Remnant of the Woman's Seed that has long been fled into the Wilderness And what then if the Teachers the Prophets and the Elders and the Heads and Wise men of the World set themselves to pray and preach and print against the chosen Seed of Iacob yet notwithstanding all this though this is come to pass and Hell open her Mouth and her Floods break forth to overflow and be much more increased yet shall the King of Righteousness rule among his People and his Presence will not forsake his chosen Ones but the Lord is with us a Mighty and Terrible One and the shout of a King is amongst us and the Dread and Terror of the Almighty covereth us and it goeth before us and compasseth us about And the Lord is working a Work in the Earth mighty and wonderful he is gathering the Scattered and binding up the Broken-hearted and his People shall dwell in safety and none shall make them afraid and no Weapon that is formed against them shall prosper nor no Hand that is lifted up shall prevail for Sion shall rise out of the Dust her beautiful Garments shall be put on and Mourning and Sorrow shall flee away and her Light is risen that is everlasting and the Sun shall never godown but his day shall remain for ever and the Night shall not again cover her brightness nor the Sun set upon her habitations the City that hath long laid waste shall again be builded and the dwelling that hath long been without Inhabitant shall be replenished for the numberless seed of
or in the day of Judgment when we and all Man-kind shall appear and come sorth to tryal and every mans work shall be tryed and all shall receive according to their deeds And so gladly would we be made manifest to all the World if that after the reading of this Book any be unsatisfied still in this matter And if any especially of the Heads and Rulers have doubts or Jealousies raised in them concerning us and the Priests and that they further would be satisfied and resolved for that end let any Wise-men propound for full satisfaction of all sorts of People that we with the consent of the chief in Authority that have power in this Nation who may preserve peace and safety among people and thereby to stop all Jealousies may freely and chearfully Four Ten Twenty Thirty more or fewer of us give as many of the wisest and ablest of the Priests and Professors a meeting for dispute at any place in England at what place time and for what continuance as they shall ascribe and consent unto and to dispute and controvert betwixt us and them any such thing and every such particular as shall or may be objected by any of the Heads and Rulers or other Grave Understanding Men wherein they are doubtful betwixt us and would thereof be satisfied that by such Dispute and opening of such causes objected full and real and toal satisfaction may be given to the whole Nation and every particular man and member therein Otherwise Let the Priests or Professors or any of them object what they can against us in our Principles Profession Faith and Practice and our whole Religion And if they shall affirm and alledge any one or more things against us that any Principle we hold or Practice we profess in any part throughout all our Religion are false Principles and false Practices and not according to Truth nor the Scriptures but shall affirm that our Religion is not the true Religion nor we of the true Church of Christ and they shall have free liberty to give their best proof and reason for what they affirm and alledge yet by the Strength of Christ and in the power and authority of God and according to the Scriptures we shall confute all their Proofs and strongest Reasons and on the contrary we shall joyn our Principles Doctrines and Practices and all our Religion and every part and particular thereof to be the very truth and agreeing with the Scriptures according to that shall maintain by lawful Arguments and plea that our Religion and Worship and all that we profess and Practice is according to the mind of the Lord and justified of him and that whatsoever is and may be spoken against us upon that account is utterly false and to be condemned and upon this we will ingage with them and with any of our Enemes of what Sect and Profession soever to the intent onely that Truth may be manifest and embraced and Deceit and Error discovered and denied And also upon such an Engagement we should agree to have the liberty freely and soberly to object against the Priests concerning their Ministry their Call their Practice their Maintenance and their Fruits and Effects and concerning their Church and Principles and Worship and whole Religion and shall hear patiently all that can be said in defence thereof by any or all of them and shall prove by the Spirit of the Lord and according to the Scriptures that their ministry is not the true Ministry of Christ nor they true and lawfull Ministers of the Gospel but shall manifest by evident Arguments that their Call Practice Maintenance Fruits and Effects are not according nor agreeing but contrary and differing to what the true Ministry was and its Call Practice Maintenance Fruits and Effects were in the true Apostles and among the true Churches and furthermore by the Grace of God we shall prove their Church their Worship and their whole Religion in all parts thereof to be degenerated from what the true Church was the true Worship and true Religion in the days of the Apostles and true Churches of old and these things shall we make manifest by faithful and sound Arguments according to the Scriptures that all the Earth may know and all people perceive who is in the Truth and of the true Worship and Religion and who are in the contrary and whether the Priests and that which they profess and practice for Religion or the Quakers and that which they profess and practice for Religion be of God and according to him and whether are contrary that the end of this long Travel and War and controversie may be desided and justly ended between us and all people may be resolved and satisfied concerning us and them that do oppose us And let all the Priests and Professors lay aside and give over their Houses of Correction and imprisoning people and whipping of them and stocking of us and dealing in this manner of violence and cruelty as for years by-past they have done in defence of their Religion and resisting of ours and let them lay aside their carnal Weapons and fighting against our persons and imprisoning of us about our Religion and let them come forth in sound Arguments the best they have and let us see what spiritual Weapons they have to resist us and defend themselves and let us try whether their spiritual Weapons or ours be the strongest and the most powerful and mighty and let theirs that are so prevail against the other be it ours or theirs and this is the way to try the truth and to make all things manifest and to deside and end all the whole controversies between us and them which hath been great this many years and let the Truth be set up and exalted where ever it is and all Deceit thrown down to the Ground and let us war with the Weapons of the Spirit against Errour and false Religion one in the other but le ts not hurt Creatures nor imprison Persons nor stock and whip Creatures and make them to suffer but let us thresh Deceit and whip and beat that and all false Opinions let us throw them down where they are found whether in them or in us and let us fight with the Weapons of the Spirit that are spiritual let them fight no longer with such cruel carnal Weapons and then let such as get the victory and overcome appear to be in the truth of the Church and such as falls and is overcome be manifest to be in the Error and of the false Church and Religion and let us love one anothers persons and let them act no otherwise towards our persons then we do upon theirs and towards them and let them take the liberty to deal with us and our persons as we deal with them and their persons and no otherwise And let such whether them or us that cannot prove our selves to be the true Church of Christ nor of the true Worship and true
Life and Power that gave them forth So thou art to be condemned with the Light and with the Life which gave forth the Scripture Let all people read Deut. Chap. 18. from verse 9. to 15. there the Priests and the Levites which were ordained of God were to have no Inheritance among the people but the Lord was their Inheritance and they were to have it of that which was offered up to the Lord and this was a figure of the everlasting Priest-hood which ministreth out of the everlasting Treasure and the Lord God commanded Israel not to do as they did when they came into the Land nor to go after their abominations as you may see but gave Israel their Land to possess that did hearken unto such as the Lord had not sent which was Abomination to him and the Lord said to Israel Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God and in the 15th verse The Lord thy God will raise unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken And so to the end of the Chapter he that hath an eye may see and the Lord is the same that he was and he will not suffer the abominations that are committed in this Land but is discovering the abomination of it A horrible and a filthy thing is committed which Ieremiah cryed against Coveteous Men preach Drunkards preach Swearers preach Lyars preach Strikers preach and Proud Men preach Oh wonderful where are your eyes Try your Priests by the Scriptures see if they be not found in the same Generation that all the false Prophets and the Deceivers were in which the true Prophets of God cryed against and discovered and in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees that Christ cryed wo against and see if they be not the Antichrists and the Deceivers which are entred into the World which Iohn speaketh of which cannot confess Christ come in the flesh but transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ so hath not God neither knoweth him but preacheth for sin and against Perfection and denyeth the Light which enlighteneth every one that cometh into the World so keeps people in blindness and ignorance and out of the Knowledge of God and never any that follow them shall ever come to the Knowledg of the true and living God therefore all people see where you are and mind the Light in your Consciences which is pure and which testifieth against sin and it will let you see all your Blind-Guides which deceive you to be in sin and ignorant of God for they deny that which should make him manifest therefore beware what you hold up and give over going after them to that in your Consciences I speak which shall witness me eternally to speak the Truth if you obey it and shall condemn you eternally if you disobey it These Blinde-Guides that are in this Land deny the Prophet which Moses wrote of which is the substance of the Priest-hood which was before and here they are found in the same Generation in the Sorcery and in the Witchcraft which the Lord commanded should be put out of the Land where the Children of Israel went to possess Answers to several other subtil Queries put forth by one John Reeve who lives in the City of London who callst himself the Messenger and Witness unto the true God but is found a Lyar and a Perverter of the right Way of God A Certain Writing is come to my hand called An Epistle from the Mighty JEHOVAH or Jesus the only LORD and God of the Eâ—ect Israelites from one whose name is subscribed Iohn Reeve Pilgrim who calls himself the last Messenger and Witness unto the true God unto which for the sake of the Simple I am moved by the Spirit of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to write something in answer that so his folly may be made manifest and his ignorance and blasphemy laid open unto the simple-hearted who have been long deceived by such through their false Voice lo here and lo there Friend to thee who hast subscribed this Writing who calls thy self the last Messenger and Witness unto the true God I Answer the Lord of Hosts and God of the Elect Israelites doth not accept thy Testimony and Witness for thy spirit is made manifest not to be the Spirit which came from God and which dwelleth with God which beareth true Witness unto God but the spirit which is driven out from the Presence of God into the Creation and into the visible World and that is the lying spirit and bears not true witness unto the true God but is a spirit which bears witness to the imaginations of thy own heart which looks upon and declares the living God as if he was carnal and a Creature-like Substance and here the Scripture is fulfilled upon thee thou thinkest he is altogether such a one as thy self and for the true God thou art no Messenger nor hast received any Message from him for thy spirit is known and he never delivered his Message unto it in any Generation but kept his Secret sealed up from it And Friend here I charge thee in the Presence of the true spiritual God that thou belyst the Lord of Hosts who sayest thy Epistle is from him thou uses thy tongue and sayest The Lord saith when saith the Lord I have not spoken unto thee And of that Generation thou art which Ieremiah cryed against and therefore let all flesh be silent before the Lord and call not thy own imaginations his Word but thou who hast a Dream tell thy Dream for a Dream and he that hath the Word of the Lord let him speak it faithfully and though thou callest thy self the last Messenger or Witness unto the true God yet I say unto thee verily the Lord hath a Witness which was before thee which hath been slain in the Streets of the great City which the Lord will bring forth after thee which will bear true witness of the true God and against thee and thou who hast been alive shall be judged by him who hath lain slain and he will eternally condemn thy Testimony and Message Friend in the Light of Christ which hath lightened every one that cometh into the World thou art comprehended and seen thy beginning thy time and thy end and with it thy Testimony and Message is denyed for thy Testimony is such that if thou swearst the Lord lives thou swearest falsly and further thou sayst By inspiration of the holy Spirit thou wast moved to present this Epistle I answer the language of the holy Spirit is like it self Pure and Spiritual but thy language is carnal and sensual and so is thy spirit the Saints which spake by the inspiration and moving of the Spirit cursed not that which God had blessed as thou dost neither did they say the Elect were defiled as thou doest neither did they speak of God as a carnal Substance as thou dost but said that God
was a Spirit and here art thou a Witness against thy self that thou speakest not by the inspiration and moving of the holy Spirit but speakest thy imaginations and lyes in the Name of the Lord And whereas thou sayest In this confused Age there hath appeared variety of spirits pretending to be sent by the everlasting God yet they are at war with all their power to overthrow one another that their own Opinions may bear rule I Answer Among the Many Pretenders thou speakest of thou art one and it is true you are at war with all your power endeavouring to overthrow one another that your own Opinions may bear rule and though there be among you variety of Opinions yet by one spirit you act for the Kingdom of the Devil is but one and yet divided and it is at war with it self and therefore it cannot stand and you cannot overthrow one another but one is appearing to overthrow you all and all your Opinions for all you Pretenders are made manifest by your fruits and thereby men may try you for nothing is to be gathered from you but Opinions and airy Imaginations some of you speaking of a God and Christ a far off to believe in others of you speaking of a God and of a Christ within and a far off to believe in thus you feed people by your own imaginations and some of you pretend Revelation others of you denying Revelation and thus you strive to set up your own Opinions but you live all in one nature and are of one Generation and he that walks in the Light seeth you all and comprehendeth you all and judgeth all your Opinions and are redeemed out of all your vain imaginations into the Life of God acting and speaking as the Spirit acteth and speaketh and seeketh to exalt Christ and him to bear rule that all Opinions may be by him thrown down and that by him people may be brought out of a confused Age into the Land of Rest and Peace and Righteousness to serve the true Spiritual God in the Spirit and by the Spirit of his own Son And further thou sayest Some there are that take upon them to speak of a God and of a Christ in the invisible Heavens above the Stars but are uncapable to demonstrate how Christ by his spiritual Word liveth in mens hearts and how he reigneth visibly in glory with his Elect Angels I Answer there are not some but many which lives in and speaks forth their own imaginations upon God and Christ and one of them thou art thy spirit is tryed God who is a Spirit dwells in the Spirit of his Son even in the high and holy Place and with him also who is of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at his Word but this by thy vulterous eye is not seen neither can any demonstrate how Christ dwells in the heart but he who witnesseth it through death and where he reigns his Glory is with him and his Elect Angels this I witness but to thy carnal eye it is invisible and by thy carnal wisdom he can never be known Christ and his spiritual Word is not to be divided though thy sensual spirit would divide them but by the Flaming Sword thou that speakest art divided from both and shalt know neither but to thy condemnation And further thou sayest Others there are which speak of an eternal Spirit or Christ only in the Consciences of men as if there were no Creator or Christ at all visibly reigning upon his Throne of immortal Glory I answer they who talk of an eternal Spirit or Christ in the Conscience by hearsay or of other mens words without as thou dost and doth not in Life and Power witness it from the Father within made manifest such are denyed by them who witness the eternal Spirit dwelling with the contrite heart which Spirit is the Creator which dwells also in the high and holy Place and reigns upon his Throne for ever and who do in Power witness this sees and judges all your carnal imaginations and conceptions of the living God in your carnal minds where he dwells shall no unclean thing enter but is without to be troden in the Wine-Press of his Wrath for ever and ever and by him shall thy carnal conceptions be consumed even by the Breath of his Mouth for he is Eternal and his Throne is Eternal and by the carnal eye shall never be seen And further thou sayst There are some who through unbelief that ever any living Creature had a beginning do affirm there is no God or Christ at all but perishing nature this sort are innumerable witness the lives and conversations of people every where I answer All who do witness the Eternal Spirit made manifest to rule and guide all such do deny and declare against such Opinions for nothing was without beginning but the Eternal Word which was the beginning of all things and will be the end of all things even the destruction of the wicked and the Salvation of them that believe who are born of the immortall Seed and redeemed out of the perishing nature into the image of God and such do set to their seal there is a God who will reward every one according to their works and bears witness against them who in their lives and conversations denies God as all do who do not witness the eternall Spirit of Christ ruling in the Conscience but talkes of a God in imagination at a distance and such are innumerable and sayes in their hearts there is no God and such are the fools the Scripture speaks of and whereas thou beseeches to consider of these ensuing particulars I answer They are considered and by them thy ignorance is made manifest and thy folly disclosed and thy blasphemy who calls thy self the last Witness 1 Quer. In thy first particular thou queriest Whether these men were sent forth by the eternall Spirit to preach which in the least cannot demonstrate what the onely true God is in himself and how he is a distinct Beeing from all living Creatures and how he reigns in the Elect by a created Word Voice or spirituall Motion onely Answ. Those men were not sent forth by the eternall Spirit to preach who have not received it and such know not God what he is nor where he is but in their imaginations imagine him to be like a creature by being in a creaturely Place or Habitation God is a Spirit and he is not distinct from living creatures for in him living creatures lives moves and have their beings and he is not far from them nor distinct from them as he spake who was sent by the eternall Spirit to preach he reigns in the Elect not by a created word voice or a created spirituall motion for the Word which lives in the Elect from which voice and motion proceeds is not created but is uncreated even as God is uncreated for God is that Word and here thy ignorance appears by calling the Word which lives
is neither hast cleaved to it and so art raâ—ed out from the Life and from the Foundation and the Apostle who had his Commission not from man nor by man he exhorted those he preached and wrote to to take heed to the sure Word of Prophesie as unto a Light that shined in a dark place and to wait in it till the Day did dawn and the Day Star did arise and for distinguishing of that in the Conscience what it is he that is not separate from the darkness knows not how to do it But this I say unto thee as we declare unto all the Light which shines into the Conscience is the Light of Christ which he hath enlightned every one withal and it is spiritual like himself and eternal and it leads out of sin and declares against all iniquity and he that comes to own it and to be guided by it it leads out of sin to know the Cross of Christ which is a Mystery to thee and it leads to the eternal Word which was in the beginning before sin was and it will judge all thy imaginations and vain conceivings and it leads to the Inheritance incorruptible out of corruptible if thou hast an ear to hear thou mayst hear it is that which will let thee see thy vain frothy imaginations which thou hast of God and will condemn all thy vain imaginations and hating it it will be thy condemnation and there is the issue of it and all such as steals other mens words and the true Prophets words and never knew the life that was in them all such we deny and shut them up within utter darkness where they and thou art and for the glorious things that thou and thy Partner speaks of which call your selves the two last Witnesses it is manifest that your mysteries are as in thy Book and thy queries where thou putst Elect and Reprobate together and as for tryall of spirits we give liberty and exhort all that may to try and we direct them to that to try by which is infallible and eternall whereby they may see and comprehend thee and all who have not the Spirit But that they should try who have nothing to try with let all such be silent for ever for none understands the Spirit but the Spirit with which we see thee and all who stands in their imaginations are ignorant of it therefore stop thy mouth in the dust and be silent 9 Quer. Do not they that speak to a people that declares against all appearances which are contrary to his way discover himself unto a true discerning Spirit not to be of the Lord unless they can demonstrate a spiritual Commission that he hath received from Heaven by voyce of words through the glorious mouth of the Lord so that no mortal man can disprove him though few for want of understanding receive him Ans. The Way that leads to the Father is but one which is Christ and he that declares from him made manifest in him declares against all Sects and Opinions that which thou calls appearances and the Way is one and the Truth one where there is no rent nor division and he that dwels in the life hath discerning and he that witnesses the annointing discerns he is able to judge and discern and in that thou art seen who wouldst sit on the throne but thou must come down and lick the dust dust is the Serpents meat and they who had their Commission from God and have their Commission from God now they were made manifest to every mans Conscience in the sight of God and this we witness this the Scripture witnesseth and he that believes hath the witness in himself and the father bears witness and they witness the voice of the Lord which is spiritual speaking to them and they declare from that which is spiritual to the Consciences of Gainsayers and this is witnessed but thy voice of words is carnal and is denyed and who art thou made manifest unto that which is mortal cannot discern and disprove thee but that which is immortal can and they who are guided by the immortal denies thee and will receive none of thy Testimony because it is not the same which the holy men of God witnessed and doth now witness which voice shakes the Wilderness and rents the Rocks and makes the Earth to reel to and fro but to thee this is a mystery and sealed 10. Again he that speaketh of an invisible spiritual God or Christ living in the Consciences or Spirits of men thou sayst He questions the truth of all the Scripture records concerning the Life Death and Resurrection and Ascension of the blessed Body of Christ into the Throne of his Immortal Glory And doth he not question Whether the Consciences of the Saints being sprinkled with the Blood of Iesus which dyed without the Gates of Jerusalem are purified from the pollutions of the Flesh and Spirit doth he not question the Resurrection of the Souls and Bodies out of the Earth at the last Day Answ. Here again thou hast made thy shame and ignorance manifest and knows not so much as the Letter of the Scripture Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ not by the will of man and a Minister of the Everlasting God he witnessed the Son of God revealed in him and he said Know ye not that Christ is in you or else you are Reprobates And Christ is not divided And he that is joyned to the Lord is onâ— Spirit And I and my Father are one And where Christ dwells the Father dwells And if thou hast an ear to hear thou mayst â—ear and if the same Spirit be not in you that raised Christ from the dead you are none of his and he that declared these things spake of a spiritual Christ and an invisible God and who shall ascend up to Heaven the word is nigh in thy mouth and in thy heart and this is the same Christ that suffered without the Gate at Ierusalem and no other which Paul travelled till he was born in them if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear and the Apostle did not question the Scripture records for they spoke it and recorded it and they witnessed the Life of Christ and his Death and Resurrection and Ascension and they witnessed him ascended above Thrones and Dominions and to sit at the right-hand of the Father and we witness the same Christ made manifest in us and his Resurrection not because Paul said so but we have seen it and are Witnesses of it the same that ever was the same that did Ascend the same did ascend this is a riddle unto thee and seven seals is upon it and thou that queriest shall never see them opened and they who had Christ in them and the Father and the Son supping with them they had their Consciences sprinkled and none else for his blood thou knowst not and so I say unto thee thou art not sprinkled nor thy Conscience purified from dead works and they who know
Christ in them and no more after the flesh come to know his Resurrection he is the resurrection he is the first and the last who knows him risen and have seen him witness the first day and the last what speaks thou of a last day that never came to the beginning and so thy soul lies in death and in chains and in utter darkness and therefore lay thy hand upon thy mouth and see where thou art and the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures thou canst not witness 11 Quer. If after death there is no bodily Resurrection for the Spirits of men to possess an immortal Glory to eternity or to suffer an eternal Devil-like shame according to their deeds whether good or evil Is it not one of the vainest things in the World to discourse of God and Righteousness unless it be for earthly Gain amongst men Answ. There is a Resurrection both of the just and of the unjust the just into everlasting life and the unjust into everlasting shame and contempt and every one shall receive according to his works whether they be good or evil but this is a mystery hid for none knowes it but through death but what knowest thou who art yet alive in sin what shall be in the resurrection which is after death which whoever comes to know the resurrection knowes the end of all things therefore it is not taking their words nor thy own imaginations that is Faith nor if thou know Christ no nearer than Ierusalem nor no nearer than above the stars thou knowst not where but through thy dark imaginations this is not to know Christ risen from the dead see therefore what hast thou seen in thy self But thou art dead while thou livest in that nature and at the resurrection contempt and shame will be thy portion and turn in â—hy minde to that which shews thee sin and witness the body and sin destroyed within and then and not till then shalt thou know how it is in the resurrection 12 Quer. Thou raises a question from Pauls words to the Athenians and didst before condemn them that stole other mens words and here thou hast stolen a Query and thou askestwhat think you did that spiritual Creator dwell and sive in the Athenians Consciences or did his glorious person visibly appear in the highest heavens Answ. The Athenians to whom Paul spoke worshipped the work of their own hands as this Generation doth their own imaginations and that God whom ignorantly they worshipped at a distance which God lived in Paul's Conscience Paul declared unto them and they looked as thou dost carnally thinking God to be carnal and at a distance but he said he was not at a distance from every one of them for in him they lived moved and had their being and this was the God which Paul preached of which Creator we witness lives in the high and holy place and with him also that is of a humble and a contrite spirit and trembleth at his Word 13 Quer. And thou sayest what think you can there be any living Spirit without a body or person to display its life in or from and must not the Creator of necessity be a glorious personal substance and thou sayest doth not these men that worship an infinite Spirit without any bodily form living in mens Consciences glory only in a god of â—â—eir own imaginations instead of honouring the onely Lord of all life the man Iesus yesterday today and for ever Answ. That which is not possible with men is possible with God which God is a Spirit as Jesus Christ saith and a spirit hath not flesh and bone nor a created body but displays it self as it pleases contrary to thy will and the will of all men and thou who wouldst by thy reason tye the Creator with a necessity to a personal Beeing art void of the knowledge of God and led by thy corrupt reason which shall never know God and all those who worships God in Spirit worships an infinite Spirit which Spirit inhabiteth eternity and lives in the Consciences of the Saints and this is not to glory in an imagination but a witnessing of the same eternal Truth which the Saints witnessed which spake forth the Scripture for they witnessed Christ to dwell in them and the same God they worshipped whose temple they were and not another and the same we witness and this to the honour of the Man Jesus who was yesterday today and for ever 14 Quer. The eternal Spirit Creator and alone everlasting Father which dwells essentially in the glorified Body as our Lord Iesâ—â— his eternall Son and virtually reigns in all the Saints Elect men and Angels be Record between me and you world without end whether this Epistle shall not be sent to you and all the chosen that shall peruse it principally for the establishing of your tender spirits upon that eternal spiritual Rock Iesus Christ God and Man in one distinct body or person glorified and onely honoured with all spiritual praises from Elect men and Angels when this World is consumed into ashes and all time or times is swallowed up into eternity or eternities Ans The Eternal Spirit which is the Everlasting Father which thou sayst is essencially in the Son thy word essencially I deny and thy voice yet Christ and the Father is one and the same Spirit that dwells in the Son dwels in the Father which is one I and my Father is one the same dwells in the Saints thy word virtual I deny the same that dwells in the Father and in the Son the same dwells in the Saints not distinct nor divided For he that hath seen the Father hath seen the Son and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and Christ is not divided I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one and he that is joyned to Christ is one spirit and not distinct nor separate if thou have an ear thou mayst hear and that eternal Spirit which is the Father and the Son which dwels in the Saints is Judge of thee and by that Spirit I judge thee that this Epistle came not from him to none of the chosen for they who are chosen deny thy voice and what dost thou speak of Elect and Angels with whom God dwells when in thy fourth query thou saidst they were defiled and the holy Ghost saith He dwells with no uncleanness and so speaks confusion and Babylons language which is the land of thy nativity from whence all these things have been spoken by thee and all that shall ever be established with thy declaring or thy Epistles shall be thrown down for the Rock shall beat thy Image to pieces and therefore leave off thy speaking of him and of thy distinct body and of his glory for when he shall appear in his glory instead of thy praises thou shalt bowl and lament and wish the mountains to cover thee and he who is out of time shall consume thee to ashes who
which I know will never own nor practice these things She also saith She did oppose those Principles which led to looseness either in conversation or in slighting the Churches or Ordinances of Christ though she believes such Principles naturally follow the others I answer She did and doth oppose the Principle of God which would have led her out of pride and lust into an holy conversation and out of false Churches into the Church which is in God And I charge her here that she believes Lyes and utters what she believes which is Blasphemy who saith she believes that wicked Principles naturally follow the three named by her And whereas she saith As to that Principle of waiting she could yet never come up to it in practice in private duties she could not stay so long from duty till she had such a power but did frequently go to duty when she had it not I answer Here I do believe her she speaks truth with her lying spirit she never yet could wait upon God to act for him but hath run in her own will which is abomination to him which is no acting for God but for self and for the Devil and here hath she shut her self out from the holy men of Gods practice who waited upon him to be led by him by the power of his Spirit and she shews her self openly to all that she went to that which she calls duty in her own power and time and knew not the power of God nor his time to be acted in and all her Duties as she calls them is no more but imagined and imitated from the letter without acted by the Serpents strength and wisedom in her and she hath here plainly discovered that she knows not what waiting upon God is in truth and sincerity She saith She thought sometime she had had it and saith she thought she had had communion with God I answer Her thoughts I do deny who call truth deceit and she did as now she doth live in thoughts and conceivings by which she is beguiled that spirit which rules and speaks in her never had communion with God but is contrary to him nor never was acted in the truth of God but against him She saith She knew no Scripture-ground for the practice of waiting to be acted by the power of the Spirit and led to duty I answer The Saints ground of acting is not the outward letter but the Spirit which gave forth the letter but the Scripture doth declare of such as waited to be acted by the Spirit and Power of the Lord Dare any say the Saints Prayed or Propresied without the movings of the Spirit and Power of the Lord here she hath shut her self among the Heathens who knows not God nor what it is to be acted by his Spirit and Power She speaks of losing her peace and having little or no communion with God nor scarce any thing to speak to or for God I answer True peace in Christ she never knew for there is no peace to the wicked neither have any who denies waiting upon God as she hath done any communion with God nor nothing to say to or for God but through deceit and in deceit is I. Turner That which brought her into trouble and let her see the confusion Which she speaks of which she had lived in before but saw it not till then that Witness I own and it shall witness for the Lord and the Truth of what I say eternally though she have slain the Witness yet it shall arise to her condemnation and her everlasting misery And whereas she saith Some laboured to perswade her it was a dispensation of God and that the Saints after brought out of Egypt must be in the Wilderness before they come to Canaan I answer I bear witness by the eternal Spirit the truth of this particular as having witnessed the same condition and she which hath denied this to be of God hath openly shewed her self to be of the Devil denying the truth of Scriptures She saith this did not at all satisfie her but she continued in a sad condition I answer She here hath shewed what spirit she is of of the viperous Generation which fled the wrath which came upon her and could not abide the judgement and of the spirit of them which would have been back in Aegypt which murmured and therefore with them she entered not but i◠perished with them in the Wilderness Whereas she saith She was never so troubled with temptations as at that time I answer Here she hath shewed her self to be the stony ground which when temptation came withered away She speaks of a particular temptation which was Questioning the Being of God I answer That which was troubled wrought the temptations and not that which troubled and here she shews her ignorance which cannot discern the ground of temptation but layes it upon God which is basphemy for he tempts none to evil Whereas she saith this was the 〈◊〉 fruit of her straying from the pure wayes of Truth I answer Here again she shews her blindness who knows not that temptations are for good That which she calls straying from the pure wayes of truth is otherwise for the stronger man came to dispossess the strong man and then began the war and happy had she been if she had patiently endured to the end but not abiding under the judgement but starting aside she is cast out and must not enter for the second Beast whose deadly wound is healed is alive which makes war with the Lamb which exerciseth all the power of the first Beast and here I. Turner is under the dominion of the second Beast She speaks of blessing God that she strayed no further I answer She who hath denied to wait unto Prayer and Praises but prayeth in her own strength and time her Praise is abomination to the Lord and she calls that straying from God which was leading unto God and so hath forsaken the right way and hath cast the way of God behind her back and resisted him who would have led her out of darkness and out of confusion Whereas she speaks of God remembring her To which I answer he will remember her to plague her who hath brought dishonour to his great Name and hath called his way the way of error and of deceit and his real Truth a shew or notion she hath chosen her own way the way of destruction Whereas she speaks being turned from owning these particulars she was restored to those joyes that once she had I answer She is returned with the Dog to the vomit and with the Sow to her wallowing in the mire and there 's her joy and she now joys in the earthly dust in Forms and Traditions and likenesses of things and knows not what it is to joy in God the Substance as by her writings it is made manifest who hath denied Salvation by Christ within and hath denied to wait upon God for the Power of his Spirit and
calls them deceitfull Principles she hath chosen the way of Death rather then the way of Life and hath taken her self to follow shaddows and likenesses and neglected the Substance which is Christ within the hope of glory her latter end is worse then her beginning and the Parable is fulfilled upon her And she speaks in the 126. pag. of Satan being discovered under his vail and in particular as to that of being saved by a Christ within and not by a Christ without and the Lord was pleased to shew her it was quite another thing differing from the Gospel and that it was attended with this evil consequence to overthrow the whole Gospel and to deny the Lord that bought them I answer I charge her here as in the presence of God with belying the Lord and with horrible Basphemy who saith That that which the Saints and servants of God witnessed who Preached the Gospel and established it Christ within manifested is quite another thing differing from the Gospel and that it is attended to overthrow the whole Gospel O horrible Blasphemy and belying the Lord who saith that the Lord was pleased to shew her it did ever he shew any Lyes all take notice of this wicked and horrible Blasphemer the Lord rebuke that unclean spirit of Antichrist in her She goes on and saith then secondly as to that of waiting for a power to Pray and that here was no command but from within concerning both these the Lord was pleased to shew that it was not according to his minde but a meer invention of Satan and that it was attended with this evill consequence to slight Scriptures and Commands of God and to expose the soul to Satans deceivings to walk by the imaginations of their own heart instead of the motions of the Spirit I answer The Saints waited for the moving of the Spirit which was power in them to help them to pray they knew not to Pray as they ought without it and this command and help they had not without them but within them And I again here charge her with belying the Lord and with notorious Blasphemy who saith that that which the Saints witnessed waiting for the power of the Spirit to Pray is not according to the minde of the Lord but an invention of Satan and she is not ashamed to say the Lord shewed her and the same which they witnessed who spoke forth the Scripture and which walked in the Commands of God tends to slight Scriptures and commands of God and to expose the soul to Satans deceivings this is Blasphemy and Error and corrupt Principles and she which hath denyed waiting to be led by the motions of the Spirit is led by the imaginations of her own heart is under the power of Satans deceiving and speaks contrary to what the Scripture speaks and so slights it and the Commands of God she hath Blasphemed the God of Heaven and accordingly will the Lord requite her And thus have I for the simple ones sake declared the truth and every single eye may see who it is is led by corrupt principles and what I have written shall she eternally witness to be true and all her co-partners And I pass by the rest of her Book as not worth answering for it is nothing but airy imagination and confusion and death yet raigns in her and in her Book is spoken out by her and she knowes not the Baptism of Saints nor Communion nor the true Church of Christ to that witness in her conscience do I declare and when it shall arise it will eternally witness me Whose Name in the Flesh is EDWARD BURROUGH The Copy of a Letter c. FRiends for so I call you I was moved of the Lord to come into your Assembly to declare the truth from him concerning you as by the eternal Spirit was revealed to me and I do acknowledge it it was a mercy from the Lord that I had that small liberty which I had to clear my Conscience amongst you and to discharge my duty in obedience to the Lord and to every ones Conscience am I made manifest whether you will hear or you will forbear truely Friends there is somthing among you which I own and which is owned of my Father but yet many things hath he against you and as I said I now again say from the mouth of the Lord that your Covering is too narrow to hide your shame and your bed too short to stretch your selves upon Now friends the Ordinances of Iesus Christ which you act in you say in obedience to him I do not speak against but do witness them in life and power neither do I judge such amongst you who have entered in at the door by the Principle of God to the Ordinances if any such but you I do declare against and do judge by the infallible Spirit who have in your own wills thrust in your selves and acted by imagination and immitation from the Letter without and not having received the Command from Christ into your selves such I judge to be in deceit deceived by the Serpent which deceives the simple by the likeness of a thing and you that limit the Lord to any outward visible thing that without such can be no Salvation you I judge again to be in deceit and my judgement shall stand for nothing is available that which God once commanded nor that which was not commanded but the new Creature which is born of the immortall Seed contrary to the will of man Truely Friends you are acting in darkness and there is no seperation in you betwixt the precious and the vile betwixt the clean and the unclean for that which did convince you of false Hirelings and of their deceitful worship which is owned of my Father in you hath not been obeyed by you but your minds have been drawn forth from within to obey a thing without and herein have you been bewitched from the obedience of the truth within to obey the letter without as they were which the Scripture speaks of and you are acted in another form and likeness then you were before and which some are acted in yet but by the same spirit and you have a zeale I beare you record but it is not according to knowledge I declare against that spirit by which you are now acted as knowing it to be the spirit of Antichrist and that which is owned by my Father in you is oppressed by you by your wisdom and reason which stands above and is head and rules amongst you which is for destruction and for the Lord to accomplish his wrath upon and happy were you if you knew the day of vengeance which is the acceptable year of the Lord but you are yet full and rich and think you have need of nothing and have a name that you live but you are dead and empty and miserable your form is corrupted and you seek the living among the dead and you act in the form but walks at liberty
but what is declared of in the Scripture by the Holy Men of God and neither without it nor above or beyond it do we speak I challenge thee to prove what thou hast asserted and all the City of London whether we have spoken or declared any thing but what the Scriptures bears witness to and the Light which we declare of is the Light of Christ which the Scripture saith hath enlightened every one that comes into the World and it is not besides the Scripture so as contrary to it but the Scripture bears witness of the Light And here I charge thee with Blasphemy who calls the Pure Light of Christ thick Darkness and that the Light of Christ which is the Light which we declare of hath led men or leads any to contemn God or his Ordinances or Righteousness let shame strike thee in the face thou impudent one who blasphemously sayes that the Light of Christ is thick Darkness and leads into contempt of God let the Light in thy own Conscience condemn thee thou Enemy of God for thy Lyes and Slanders and Blasphemy which in this thy Book thou hast uttered And whereas Thou exhortest to labour to see an excellency in Christ in the Word of Christ and in the Church and Ordinances of Christ. I answer For the simple Ones sake that they may not be deceived none ever shall see any excellency in those things but who owns and walks in the Light of Christ which lets every one see themselves first and your talking of the same and report of Christ and of his Word and Ordinance is not to know the excellency of those things for death in you talks of the same but the thing in Substance you are ignorant of and you who stumble at the Light wherewith Christ lighteneth every one are above the Door which is the entrance unto the life of these things And so I exhort all to mind the Light of Christ and to walk in it and it will lead unto Christ from whence the Light comes and it will lead to the fulfilling of Christs Words and to the one Bread and to the one Baptism and the Light is the Door and Entrance unto the Life of those things But you who hate the Light and deny it to be in every one hath but the Husk and outward Declaration of those things and are without the Life And whereas thou sayst They that are of God will hear John Peter and Paul and the rest that were the Servants of Christ not the fleshly conceits of those or any other men and Christ Sheep hear his Voyce and a Stranger they will not hear I answer They that are of God do own the writings of all the Servants of Christ but many may profess their words as the Pharisees did the Prophets words and as thou dost now and yet not be of God but children of the Devil but that our conceits are fleshly I do deny for all conceits of the flesh we deny and bears witness against and it shall stand for thy own condition and thy voice is the voice of a stranger and they that are of God will not follow it though thou bringst the Saints words in thy mouth as the Devil did unto Christ yet in the Light of Christ thou art seen and comprehended and from the Light of Christ answered and by it judged to be without the life of those Scriptures which thou speakst of and they are to thee but as an empty sound And whereas thou cites many more Scriptures which are exhortations of the Apostles to the Church and exhorts thy Brethren with them To which I answer as before The Scriptures I do own but to thee thou envious man they do not belong for as in this thy writing thou art proved a Lyar and a Scorner and a Slanderer and a false Accuser and a Blasphemer out of thy own mouth be a Witness against thy self and let all thy whole Assembly bear witness against thee that the Scriptures which were spoken to the Saints who walked in the light and had denyed ungodliness do not belong unto thee who art an hater of the light and lives in the pollutions of the world but the Scriptures will surely be fulfilled upon thee The wicked shall be turned into Hell and the Lyar shall have his portion in the Lake and he that works abomination is to be troden in the winepress of the wrath of God without the City and such like And now somthing in answer to some things in the Epistle to the Reader Whereas thou and the rest of you there say although the light hath appeared yet there is a Generation of men in the world that do hate the light and endeavour to put it out crying against the Scriptures of Truth it s a dead letter and against the form of doctrine therein contained To which I answer It is true the light hath appeared Christ who is the Light lightneth every one that comes into the world which light hath appeared in every mans conscience and there is a Generation which hates the light and you are of that Generation which say every man hath not the light and calls the Light of Christ thick darkness and endeavour to put it out and here you have read your own condition though you make a large profession of the Scriptures which is not the light but words declared from the Light as the Iewes did profess the Prophets words but persecuted Christ and spoke against him who was the light and substance of the Prophets words and if you know any who cry against the Scripture and against the doctrine therein contained we cry and declare against such for the Scripture we own in its place to be a true declaration of God of Christ and of the Saints conditions but they are not the light but Christ is the light as themselves bear witness nor are they the Saints guide but the Spirit that gave them forth as they themselves bear testimony neither were the Scriptures given forth to give your own imaginations and suppositions upon but they themselves are doctrine and are as they speak he that hath the same spirit which speak them forth reads them and understands them and none else And whereas thou sayst Lest that simple plain meaning men should be kept in Babels darkness or the enlightned fall into the errour of the wicked for that reason your Book came to publick view I answer truly you are deceived who think to gain into your form the simple plain meaning men by Lies and false Slanders and false Accusation who are simple and plain unto God will descern your deceits and how falsly you have accused the innocent and will see you to be in Babels darkness and who walks in in the light wherewith they are enlightned will see you to be in the errour of the wicked and out of the Truth and it is well for the Truths sake that your Book came forth that thereby your filthiness and deceitfulness and
Law which is righteous and do witness the justness and goodness and holiness of it but if you make a Law in your own wills and judge by such a Law then you will make the Innocent suffer and oppress them who walk in the Law of God and in the exercise of a pure Conscience Christ was put to death by such a Law and the Saints in all Generations were persecuted by such Laws which were made in the will of man contrary to the Will and Law God Therefore take â—eed to your selves lest God hew you down and your Law together and condemn yoâ— by his righteous Law eternally which Law of God needs not to be made but iâ— made already and to be witnessed by the Light in every mans Conscience to Justification or condemnation and is revealed in all that love Righteousness So take heed what you do and know your place and the length and breadth oâ— your law which is committed to you which is to keep the outward man in good order and the Nations in peace and truth and from Theft and Murder and Adultry and Fighting and Quarrelling and Drunkenness and Wronging one another and such like such who acts these things walk contrary to the Light and so brings themselves under the penalty of the law but over the inward man you law which is outward hath no power to bind to limit or to tie too or from any way of worship in Religion but let Religion defend it self and lay not your laâ— upon the Conscience to exercise dominion over it for it is Christs Seat in whoâ— he will rule lest you be found Tyrants and numbred for destruction nor liâ—â—â— not the Spirit of the Lord how when where and by whom it must speak for the Holy-men of God in all Ages ever cryed against such laws as were contrary to the Law of God and did limit the Spirit of the Lord and against such Rulers as did judge false Judgment and for Gifts and Rewards and against such Priestâ— and Prophets as preached for Hire and divined for Money and sought for their Gain from their Quarter and made a prey upon the People and through Coveteousness made merchandize of souls Therefore be ye warned if such you uphold by a law which act those things which the Scripture declares against which the Holy-men of God gave forth by his Spirit the Scripture which you profess shall stand a Witness against you and the Law of God will condemn you and God will lay your honour in the dust and cast you out of the Seat of Judgment But judge the cause of the Poor and Needy of the Widow and Fatherless and joyn Mercy with Judgment and lay your Swords upon oppression and all tyrany and wrong dealing that the Land may cleansed of evil Doers and Equity and Righteousness may flow down and the Nation in good order may be kept iâ— Peace and Righteousness and so God will establish you among his Children who are taught of him alone and are far from oppression To the Light of God in all your Consciences I do speak which if you make laws contrary to it and judge contrary to it it is the eternal Condemnation of you and of your laws and judgment And remember you are warned in your life time and my Conscience is cleared to you and in the Day of the Lord you shall witness 〈◊〉 to be truâ— and this to be the Word of the Lord to you whether you will hear or 〈◊〉 â—ear Written to you by a Friend of Righteousness and true Iudgment from the Spirit of the Lord as moved of him in love to all your souls to go abroad among the Heads and Rulers and Iudges in Dublin and elsewhere through the Nation of Ireland from one who is called a Quaker by Scorners whose name in the flesh is Edward Burrough Written at Dublin the 23d of the 8th Moneth 1655. And now Oye Heads and Rulers happy had you been if you had taken the counsel of the Lord and submitted to have obeyed his Word which came to you as moved of him but in that you have neglected and have made laws in your will and exercise lordship over the Conscience and have limited the Lord and have purposed to â—e a â—error to good and strengthened the wicked and have not regarded the Will of God but have persecuted and imprisoned the Innocent and â—udged 〈◊〉 your own hearts therefore according to the Word of the Lord your blood will be upon your own heaâ—s for you have not taken Warning and I am 〈◊〉 hereof for ever An Exhortation sent to the chief Commander and his Council and the just Cause of the Innocent laid at their door WE who are Servants of the Lord of Hosts who is the Protector of Heaven and Earth we who stand in his Fear and know his Coâ—nsel are moved of him who lives for ever who is I Am and there is none besides him to clear our Consciences and our Lords Truth from the Lyes and Slanders which are cast upon us and the Good Way of the Lord which envious spirits whâ—â— are proud and know nothing that cannot abide sound Doctrine do reproach and slander us and by false 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things to our charge which we never knâ—w therefore we being innocent and clear cannot but deny and 〈◊〉 witness against all those proceedings which are â—ot according to the Law of Righteousness and equity and lay thâ—… at your door whom it nearly concernâ— Unto thee Henry Cromwel who is Commander in chief for the Affairs of Ireland and to thy Council we write We have seen two several Warrants â—â—der your 〈◊〉 dated at Dublin and in them both you say You have received information at your board of great disorders and disturbances of 〈◊〉 in the Couâ—… of â—â—rkâ— and Places adjacent by Francis Howgill aâ—d Edward Burrough This we say unto you your Informer hath declared an â—â—truth at your Board and we deâ—â—re that you may make it appear where in we have made any disturbance or disorder all these things in your Warrants we deny and do charge you in the Name of the God of Justice to send for them that so informed you that have so abused you and are so bold and impudent as to declare unto you any such thing and so have caused you to bring guilt upon your selves in sending ouâ— your Warrants to bring the Innocent before your Judgment-seat and caused us to be dragged a hundred Miles from place to place as Mâ—lefactors and as though we had done some criminal act and when we have dome before yoâ— you had nothing to lay to our charge but have endeavoured to give Sentence of Banishment of us out of your Nation who are free-born English men nor have we been burthenfom to your Nation nor transgressed any known Law of the Nation and you have judged us before our 〈◊〉 came and herein you do us great injustice and you act contrary to the Law of Equity and
your good works brought forth in your own wills in that nature in which the enmity lodges is a lame and a blind Sacrifice and of Cain's nature which God accepteth not you are in the liberty of the flesh and the daily Cross of Christ you do not know but lives daily to the World and dies not to it and your knowledge of Christ is without you by what such a Prophet and such an Apostle spoke of him and the witness of the operation of his Spirit and Power you have not in you nor his sufferings you do not know in your life but by your life make him to suffer in you in his Life the horrible filthy thing is commited amongst you and your Teachers are perfect in the false Prophets steps and some of you are as bruit Beasts in their knowledge gathered in by vain study and humane learning through Phylosophy and vain deceit and have large Quarters from which they seek their Gain and through Coveteousness with feigned words make merchandise of souls and are compleat in Balaams way of Idolatry following his Error loving the Wages of unrighteousness teaching for filthy Lucre devouring souls for dishonest Gain by trading with the Scriptures and selling their Imaginations upon them for money gaining many thousand of pounds a year thereby having stolen the Saints words into their unclean hearts uttered forth by them for advantage to themselves when the Lord hath not sent them nor spoken unto them nor ordained them for his service but their Call and Ordination have been by man and their work and testimony of themselves and have not profited you at all and yet you have loved to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof Even you that have been helped and they that have holpen shall both fall together in the Day of the Lord's Recompence which will fall grievously upon you and none shall be able to deliver you but miserable Comforters and Physitians of no value shall all be unto you and your long applyed Promises shall suddenly fly away No Peace from God is to the Wicked neither do I sow Pillows under your Elbows but to the Light in your Consciences I commend these things which Christ hath enlightened every of you withal which shines in Darkness and you cannot it comprehend nor in it believe but at it stumbles and by it shall be broken which if it you loved it would teach you in the Spirit the Living God to worship and would condemn all your set forms of worship in the imaginations the Light is given you of Christ Jesus unto Life Eternal or unto condemnation everlasting when the Hand of the Lord is upon you remember you had Warning and when you are in the Lake and in the Pit remember you had a day of Visitation upon Earth The Light in all your Consciences shall witness Gods Judgments to be just and your mouths shall be stopped To all you that are called Anabaptists WIth you also is the Controversie of the Lord for you are Children of the same seed more purged in the Fire of blind Zeal and begotten in the transforming of the Serpent into more secret hypocrisie and deeper subtilty your covering being larger the greater deceit and abomination lodges under Death reigns among you and your Kingdom is scituate in the Mountains of exaltation and you feed aboundantly in the Valleys of pride and vain glory and are nourished with the bread of prosperity you are grown high and great in your number and have joyned your selves for advantage and glory in your strength having through Policy and Craft and bowing to the beastly power highly exalted your own Horn and by Flattery have gained much of your dominion which you hold in possession by the Law of guile many simple Ones have by your curious colour and bed of fair pretences been deceived to commit Adultry with your Image brought forth in the likeness of the Saints God by imaginations from the Saints words you worship the Practice and exercise of the Saints with the same mind that the Papists do worship their Names and dayes You allow not Idols without nor a vain conversation in the World but you are stricâ—t in observation in your outward conformity in your self-righteousness which is your greatest sin you are cloathed with the Saints words and practices which you have climed up in your own wills to obtain not having entred in by the Door and while you say you eat and drink the Flesh and Blood of Christ in the Saints manner shewing forth his Death till he come to Salvation you kill him as the Heathens do till he appear unto Condemnation and you shew forth daily that you cruciâ—e him in the World eating and drinking to your selves condemnation you say Christ dyed only for you as Elect but your works make manifest that he dies by you as Reprobate You take up a command from the Letter and imitate the Apostles some of you in a lower and some of you in a higher degree in that mind and nature which in the Apostles was crucified and you say Christ commands it when the Letter doth but declare it and you are not led with the same Light which gave forth the Commands declared to observe them but say in such a Verse of such a Chapter such a Command is not having received the Command by the same Spirit Here you are proved to be them which use your tongues and say he saith it when God hath not spoken unto you but as you read it without you as the false Prophets may do the words of the true Prophets and thus you are in the Witchcraft as they were Gal. 3. who take on things in your own wills and observe Commands without from the Letter thereby drawing from the Teachings of God within by the Spirit you are zealous as they were for the Traditions and Figures and cannot see him which is the end of all that which perisheth with the using so you are not dead with Christ from the World who are yet subject to Ordinances which are of the World They that obeyed Christ and followed him were led by the Spirit and not by the Letter for they were not Ministers of the Letter but of the Spirit and such were judged to be in error and this is your condition who say such are Breakers of Christ's Commands and Makers void of the Scripture and Destroyers of the Ordinances who witness Christ the Substance and him to be King and Judg and Law-giver and in whom and upon whom the Scripture is fulfilled and so it established and the Commands of Christ kept which are in Spirit and his Law daily walked in which condemneth sin And this is not contrary to the Scripture but a fulfilling of it in Principles in Doctrines and in Practise and in Conversation The Apostles were sent to preach the Gospel to every Creature and they were all led by the same Spirit and did not go before it in their own wills
any Creature was made and the whole World is comprehended and mans state in his first Creation is here known what it was and mans state in Transgression is also known what it was and mans state restored again is also witnessed and the difference perceived betwixt the first Adam which was overcome of the Devil though he was innocent and without sin and bore the likeness of his Maker and of the second Adam who cannot be overcome of the Devil whom Satan hath nothing in who is the express Image of the Creator it self He that hath an ear to hear let him hear Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard it hath not entred into the heart of man that which the Father hath revealed by his Spirit things not lawful to be uttered of which there is no declaring that which is Infinite Endless Eternal and in this I shall end By one who hath measured and viewed in true Iudgment the condition of all Mankind who is a Lover of Souls and a Friend to the Creation of God known in England by the name of EDWARD BURROUGH London the 6th of the 3d Moneth 1656. Truth Defended OR CERTAIN ACCUSATIONS ANSWERED CAST Upon us who are called Quakers by the Teachers of the World and the People of this Generation WITH A clear Discovery who are the false Prophets and when they came in and how they may be known and who they are that deny Christ and that preach another Gospel and who deny the Scriptures Churches Ministers and Magistrates whereby the Magistrates and People of this Nation may see they justifie that which the Scripture condemns and condemns that which the holy men of God justified and may read their example and our example through the Scriptures The Epistle To all you who call your selves Ministers of the Gospel and all People in all Relations under what form of Worship soever in England or in all the World whâ— profess your selves Christians THe mighty day of the Lord is come according as he promised of old and this day is witnessed wherein he is establishing his Mountain and exalting it above all Mountains and is gathering his People which have been scattered in the dark and loâ—â— Night of Apostacy which Christ and his Apostles saw coming into the Churcâ—… then and hath had dominion long over the World and hath reigned till now and reigns nâ—â— in all the Professors in all Forms every where But now the time is come wherein the Kingdâ—… of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and thousands witness it to the praise of his everlasting Name And therefore the Nations are angry and 〈◊〉 Pâ—inces of the Earth because Michael one Prince is arisen to plead with all who make 〈◊〉 against him And now Herod and Pilate and all Jerusalem are in an uproar and Ammâ—â— and Amaleck and the Egyptians and the Philistines are joyned now against him And all you who live in Forms and know not the Power do now persecute and joyn your selves tâ—gether being in the same nature as the Persecutors of old which were born after the Flesh. And now you Sons of Bondage and of Hagar are to be cast out and now you are all 〈◊〉 manifest that you are in the Flesh for all your Bows are bent and all your Arrows are 〈◊〉 at a People which are accounted by you as the filth of the World and as the off-scouring of all things whom the World calls Quakers in whose foreheads is written the Name of the living God and unto you I say that make war against them and now take part with the Dragâ—â— against the Lamb you shall all drink of the Cup of Fury and indignation of the Lord 〈◊〉 unto the Living God who is holy and jealous for his own Glory and Name which hath manifested his Mind and Will by his eternal Spirit unto us shall you all bow and stoop For now the Lord hath rent the Vail of the Covering which hath been spread over 〈◊〉 the Nations in all Professions and you are all seen by the ternal Eye which is opened in thousands even all from the highest to the lowest who have stolâ—n and painted your selves with 〈◊〉 â—ens words And all your Images which you have set up and all your traditions from â—en in which you have walked are all seen to be stubble and â—ill not abidâ— in the day of the Lord. And all your Churches which you have gathered together by imitation from the 〈◊〉 shall all be scattered and there you all are for you all deny Revelation and say it is ceased and so you call the Letter the Light and the Word but with that which was before the Scripture you are seen and judged even with that which shall endure for ever And seeing you have cast reproach upon the Name of the God of Heaâ—â—â— and Earth whom we worâ—â—ip and which you call delusion for the truths sake are we moved to lay open your â—akedness that you may be judged by that which you say is your rule Here in this Little Book thou who hast any honesty in thee or any desire of truth and wilt search the Scripture thou wilt see thâ—◠〈◊〉 the teachers of the world in all Forms and all Professors ever cryed out who had but the Form against them who had the Life and Power as you all 〈◊〉 now against them who Worship God in the Spirit and have no confidenâ—e in the flesh and therefore in this following Discoâ—rse which 〈◊〉 written by the same Spirit that gave forth the Scripture thou shalt see who are the false Prophets and who they are that preach another Gospel and who they are that deny the Scriptures and thou mayst see when the false Prophets came in and who they are clearly proved to be by their own rules And all you who call your selves Magistrates and Christians you may see your selves to hold up that which Christ the Prophets and Apostles cryed oâ—â— against and Persecute them who stand in the counsel of God and them thâ—â— Declare against all the deceit as the Holy men of God did and so you are the beast which holds up the false Prophets and those whom the Scripture declareth against God is arisen to dâ—… to pieces all them who withstand him and therefore come out of Babylon â—â—d out of all your painted forms and come to own the first Principle which will change your mindes even the Light of Christ which he hath enlightned every one withal and by it you shall see what you are doing Now if you deny this you deny the Corner-stone and you stumble and shall be broken and by thâ—â— which you call natural shall all your Image of gold and silver and all your mixed invented worship be dashed to pieces and 〈◊〉 for the Pit Therefore all be silent and speak not evil of those thingâ— you know not for now you are all seen you who say you are â—â—ws and are not but are of the Synagogue
God did then for God and his Spirit is the same as ever was and what he once â—aâ—ed he hates forever and no other Christ do we â—â—clare forth which we witness to be made manifest within but that Christ which dyed at Ierusalem which suffered by the chief Priests and Elders of the People he was and is the true Christ which said He was the Light of the World And was the Light which had enlightened every man that comes into the World and which said Except a man would deny the World and take up his daily cross and follow him he could not he his Disciple And which cryed wo against them which were called of men Masters and that had the chief Places in the Assemblies and that stood praying in the Synagogues c. and they who denyed him to be the Light of the World and which tooâ— not up the Cross and which were called of men Masters and had the chiefest Places in the Assemblies and stood praying in the Synagogues and went in long Robes these were Antichrists and â—ere acted by a contrary spirit then the true Christ. And here again I charge all the Teachers and People in the presence of the Lord God who deny Christ to be the Light in every one which reproves for sin and who are called of men Masters and stand praying in the 〈◊〉 and go in long â—obes and who uphold such things and who take not up the daily Cross of Christ but live at liberty in their wills and desires that they are Antichrists and that their spirit is not the Spirit of the true Christ which dyed at Ierusalem but the spirit of a false christ and so they are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us and the same Christ do we witness which the Saints of old witnessed whose blood cleansed them from all sin and in whose Power they had power over sin death and hell And here again I charge the Teachers and People who say That the Saints must not be cleansed from sin nor cease to commit sin while they are on the Earth That the Christ which they profess is not the Christ which dyed at Jerusalem but a spirit contrary and not the Christ which the Saints witnessed and all the People are blind which cannot see these things Did the true Christ once say He was the Light of the World of every man that comes into the World And is that his Spirit in the Teachers and Prâ—…ssors now which say Every man hath not the Light of Christ in him Was that the true Christ which said Except you take up my Cross daily you cannot be my Disciples And is that his Spirit in the Teachers and People that hath its liberty and live in Pride in Lust and Vanity and their own Wills was that the true Christ which cryed wo against them that were called of men Masters and that had the chief Places in the Assemblies and stood praying in the Synagogues c And is that his Spirit in the Teachers and People which act and uphold those things Was 〈◊〉 the true Christ which the Saints witnessed by whose Blood they 〈◊〉 cleâ—sed from sin and had power over sin and is that his Spirit in the Teachers and People which saith The Saints must not be cleâ—sed from si◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to câ—…t sin while they are 〈◊〉 Earth Oh blind and ignorant People who cannot discern between the 〈◊〉 Christ and Antichrist which is contrary to Christ and which leads now to act and speak contrary to what the true Christ once acted and spoke and no other Gospeâ— do we preach but that which the Apostles preached which they received not froâ— nor by man but by the revelation of Iesus Christ which was contrary to man and which suffered by man for the preaching of it who preached to the Spiâ—… in Prison to redeem the captives and by which the fleshly man was judged in the 〈◊〉 that man might live according to God in Spirit and this Gospl we witness to have received not from man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is contrary to man for which we are persecuted and suffer by man neither do wâ— speak to the wisdom and reason but we preach to the Spirits in Prison that the fleshly man may be judged in the flesh that man may live according to God 〈◊〉 the Spirit this will many witness with us that by the preaching of our Gospeâ— liberty is brought to the captives and the fleshly man is judgest and the Spirit which was in Prison is set free And here again I charge the Teachers of this Generation That their gospel which they preach is not the Gospel which the Saints preached but another gospel and they are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us for they have received their gospel from man and by man from the Printers aâ—â— Stationers and are made Minister of it by the will of man at Schools and â—niversities and their preaching is in the will of man a limited time and place neither do they suffer by man but are set up with man and feed the wisdom 〈◊〉 reason of man and the fleshly man is not judged nor the captives redeemed 〈◊〉 their gospel which they preach here they are accursed which preach anotâ—… gospel as saith the Scripture And ye are a blind and ignorant People which cannot see these things Did they that preached the true Gospel receive it contrary to the will of man and can it now be received by the will of man Did they which preached it suffer for it by man and can they now who preach it beâ—… up by man who live in the same persecuting nature Did the true Gospel oâ—… judge the fleshly man and lead to live according to God in the Spirit and doâ—… it now give liberty to the fleshly man to live after the flesh in the lust of it 〈◊〉 the Teachers and Professor of this Generation do who profess the Gospel 〈◊〉 are discovered not to be come to the Law And the Scripture we own to be 〈◊〉 true Declaration of the Life which they lived in which spoke them â—orth and 〈◊〉 the same Spirit from which they were spoken which we have received do we 〈◊〉 to our seals that they are â—rue and the Scripture is ours who walk in the Life 〈◊〉 it proud men spoke it not forth nor they that sought for their gain from theâ—â— quarter nor they that preached for hire nor they that were called 〈◊〉 men master but persecuted them that spoke it forth and denyed it when it was spoken And here again I charge it upon the Teachers and Professors of this Generation that they deny the Scripture and are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us for they say None must be perfect upon the Earth when as 〈◊〉 Scripture declares of such as were perfect upon Earth And they say None 〈◊〉 be free from sin when as the Scripture declares of such as were
free from sin and were the Servants of Righteousness They say Christ hath not enlightened every 〈◊〉 the Scripture saith He is the Light of the World and hath enlightened every one c. can they now who live in the same persecuting nature and walk in the 〈◊〉 steps as they did which persecuted them who spoke forth the Scripture as the Teâ—chers and People do own the Scripture in Truth Their professing of the Scripture is as theirs was which made a great profession of it in the outward appearance but put him to death who had the Life and was the Substance of it They then as the Teachers of the World do now denyed the Spirit and Life whicâ— gave sorth the Scriptures And the Ordinances of Jesus Christ we own and witness Preaching Praying Baptism Communion Singing and whatsoever was ordained for his Saints to practise in Life and Power we witness these things in the eternal Substance having passed through the earthly figures which was but to stand for its time by the Eternal have we been led by the Command of it within us and got by tradition from the Scripture without us And we deny all such who have taken up these things in their own wills by conforming the outward man to the outward Letter and have not entred in at the Door True Preaching we own and do witness in which is the Cross of Christ and the Power God unto Salvation or Condemnation it is foolishness to the World and its wisdom now as ever it was and we deny all speaking of imaginations from the Scripture which is in the wisdom of the World and which stands in the will of man limitted to a set time day or place Prayer by Spirit and in the Spirit we own and witness which is not limitted to a time and place And we deny all the Worlds formal customary Preaching and Praying for a pretence Baptism we own and witness which is With one Spirit into one Body into the Death of Christ And we deny all Baptisms which are imagined and imitated by conforming the outward man to the outward Letter which is but a likeness of the the true Baptism Communion we live in which is In the Light by the Spirit which will endure eternally and we deny the Worlds imitation which is in word and declaration and visible carnal things which will pass away Singing which is with the Spirit and with Understanding of the redeemed of the Lord we own and witness but the Worlds singing in Rime and Meeter proud men singing That they are not puft in mind and prophane men singing That the Law of God is dear to them this singing we deny for it must be turned into howling the Lord hath said it And here again I charge it upon the Teachers of the World That they deny the Substance and Power of what Christ commands his Saints to practice by upholding their own imitations and so deceiving the People but where the Substance is witnessed the figure is denyed and the false imitations are discovered and denied And mans free-will we do deny for the will of man shall never enter to God but leads out from God into the lust and into the flesh and keeps in the power of the Devil and man hath free-will unto that which is evil but not to that which is good and all who follow Christ the Light of the World must deny their own wills and take up the Cross of Christ which is to the will and walk in the Light contrary to the will in the strait Way which leads unto Life which is out of the will of man in the Will of God which the will of man doth resist and oppose And I charge it upon the Teachers and Professors who do not witness the daily Cross of Christ that they live in their own free-will and holds it up and are led by it into pride and coveteousness and lusts of the flesh which stand in the will and here they are guilty of that themselves whereof they falsly accuse us living in their own free-will and walk not in the daily Cross of Christ. And Self-righteousness we have denied and have seen it in the same Light which Isaiah did to be as filthy Rags and we declare against it and against them which live in it for self must not be saved it is accursed from God it is wholly unrighteous and makes the best of actions so and is and must be cast out from God Christ Jesus made manifest and revealed in us is our Righteousness and self is judged and condemned by him who is made unto us Righteousness neither do we teach People to labour in their own strength to obtain Life but do direct People to the Light of Christ within them which walking in will be strength to them to lead them to Life the Light which is of Christ to which we direct all to wait in to be taught by it will lead out of self-righteousness and from under the power of self to witness the power of God to lead and to act and to witness Christ Jesus revealed the Righteousness of God And the Church which is in God which is the Body of Christ whereof Christ is Head we witness and are members of it gathered and joyned by the eternal Spirit and not by tradition in the wisdom of man And we deny all the Worlds Churches whereof they were made members by visible things without and gathered by traditions and not by the Spirit whereof the Serpent is head and not Christ and which is the body of antichrist some of which commits Idolatry iâ— an Idols-temple and the ministry of this church we deny for it stands in 〈◊〉 will of man and the Ministers of it are such as all the Servants of the Lord witnessed against the Churches the Ministry and the Ministers are contrary to God but the Ministry which is to the Seed which is out of the will of man we own and witness which ministers Life unto life and Death unto death and divides the Word aright judgment to the fat and to the strong and feeds the â—…gry and looseth the Bars of wickedness and breaks not the bruised Reed 〈◊〉 quencheth not the smoaking Flax this Ministry we deny not but are Friends unto it and who are Ministers here we have union withal but proud men and such as are called of men Masters are cast out of this Ministry and are Miniâ—… to the body of antichrist and know not the Mystery of the Ministry of Jesus Christ which is to the Spirit in Prison Magistrates and Magistracy we deny not but do give respect unto for Conscience sake for who bears the Sword of Justice who use their power to be a terror to the wicked and for the praise of them that do well are Ministers of God and we desire that there were more Magistracy here and that the Magistrate would more use his power to be a terror to Lyars to Swearers to Drunkards to Railers to
false Accusers and to proud Men and Oppressors this 〈◊〉 are Friends unto but to such as act by their own wills in corrupt Laws and 〈◊〉 thereby violence to the Innocent and strengthen the hands of Evil-doers we cannot be subject but choose rather then to transgress the Law of God whiâ—â— is written in our hearts by submitting to such mens wills and laws to suffer by the corrupt wills of men under corrupt laws for a moment And thus I have answered those false Accusations which are cast upon us and 〈◊〉 declare it to be the same spirit in the Teachers and People of this Generatioâ—… which accuseth us as it was in the Scribes and Pharisees which accused Chrâ—… and his Disciple and this the Scripture witnesseth unto as they did unto him 〈◊〉 would they do unto us A further Answer to that Accusation of being false Prophets and Deceivers JEsus Christ prophesied and said That in the last dayes should many false prophets arise which should deceive many and if it were possible the very Elect. Now the Teachers and People of this Generation do say That we who by the World are called Quakers are those false Prophets and Deceivers which Christ prophesied of Of this their false accusation have they Drunkards Lyars Swearers and all the ungodly People in every profession to witness them but their Accusation and their Witnesses we do deny though they preach it among the People for doctrine And now in answer to this false Accusation and Slander I am moved to write a little and shall to that Principle of God in every mans Conscience clear my Conscience and declare what I know from God concerning those false Prophets who they are when they came in and how they may be known and shall leave it to every honest heart to consider of The Apostles and Ministers of Jesus Christ saw the same false Prophets which Christ prophesied of to be come and coming in their dayes before a Quaker waâ— heard of Iohn said By that they knew that it was the last time for said he Even now are there many Antichrists and false Prophets gone out into the World such werâ— they who confessed not Christ to be come in the Flesh and they were of the World and spoke of the World and the World heard them Now here I charge it upon the Teachers of the World that they are of that Generation which went out into the World then for as they then confessed not Christ to be come in the Flesh so these uphold those things which were under the Law which was before Christ came in the Flesh outwardly and so confess Christ not to be come in the Flesh and so they are Antichrist They uphold an outward Temple and an outward Worship and take tythes as the Priests under the Law did as a Type and Figure of Christ but when he was come and sacrificed these things which were to stand for a time were put to an end and none who witnessed Christ come and were sent by him to preach the Gospel did uphold those things but witnessed forth the Substance and denied the figure they denied the outward Temple and witnessed they were the Temples of God and that God dwelt in them and denied the outward worship and witnessed the Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth within them for they who worshipped without worshipped they knew not what as they do now and they denied to take Tythes but lived of the Gospel and said They that preached it should live of it but the Teachers of this Generation are of the World living in its pride lusts and vanities and they who live in the same worldly nature uphold them and hear them Iohn also said Every spirit that confesseth not Christ to be come in the Flesh is Antichrist And here I charge it upon the Teachers of the World that their Spirit of Pride and Covetousness and Envy and Hypocrisie which rules in them is the Spirit of Antichrist and confesseth not Christ to be come in the Flesh for where he is made manifest and come in the Flesh this spirit is destroyed For as saith the Scripture he was made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil Paul was also a Witness of the false Prophets and Deceivers which Christ prophesied of in his time for he gave warning to beware of such and to turn away from such whom he saw then come and coming in but came more fully in after his dayes he said of this sort They were lovers of themselves covetous proud heady high-minded fierce men and dispisers of those that were good given to filthy lucre and to pleasure and were false-Accusers and Blasphemers and without natural affection and unthankfull and unholy and taught silly women who were led with divers lusts but were not able to come to the knowledge of the Truth by their Teaching they were men of corrupt minds and reprobatâ— concerning Faith And here again I charge it upon the Teachers of the World that they are of that Generation which came in then for they are Lovers of themselves they take money of poor people to whom they are more able to give and they are proud and covetous men that go in their Ribbons and Cuffs and gaudy attire and they preach to them where they can get most money and some takes money of them and sues them at the Law to whom they preach not at all they are heady and high-minded men for poor people bow to them in the Streets and call them Masters They are fierce men and dispise those that are good if any speak against them of the truth they are fierce against and despise such and they are given to filthy lucre and are lovers of pleasure for where they can have most money there they will abide and they live in pleasure in idleness and lust and vanity they are flase-Accusers they will call them Deceivers which are not and that Blasphemy which is not and they are Blasphemers and without natural affection They say the Letter is the Word and the Scripture the Light which is contrary to Scripture for God is the Word and Christ is the Light and they will suffer the rude multitude and some will set them upon it to hale beat and strike out of their Assemblies which is without natural affection They are unthankful and unholy they have great sums of money from the people and are not thankful but compel them by a Law to pay them and herein they are unholy by their actions which are declared which is oppression and they teach always but men and women are ignorant still and none able to come to the knowledge of the Truth by them and they have a Form of godliness they profess the Scriptures That the Children of the Lord are to be taught of the Lord and that Christ said Take no thought what to eat nor what to drink nor wherewith to be cloathed but who witness themselves taught of God and that they need no
to Salvation or condemnation even that Light of which we declare so that thou hast said no less hitherto then we in this particular and the Scriptures say They saw the Eternal Power and Godhead by that which was made manifest of God in them mind in them which once they knew of God but turned from it and the Scripture saith That which reproves of sin is the gift of the Spirit of God John 16. and also the Scripture saith That which makes manifest sin is Light and whatsoever is reproved is made manifest by the Light even the true Light the Apostle speaks of Ephes. And the sum of all this which thou wouldst reprove in us is no more then the Scriptures bare witness of and which thy self hath uttered and confessed And Friend dost thou know this Light that is given of Christ and God unto every man is sufficient in it self for Life and Salvation unto every one that believes if thou say it is not wherein is the blame in God or in this Light or in the Creature shew if thou canst Then thou again sayst This light surely is that wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned every one that comes unto the Word which doth convince of sin Answ. Thus far thou art forced to confess Truth I think against thy mind and thus far in words only we agree as in this particular then why dost thou say By wresting that Scripture John 1. 9. we split our selves and endeavour to split others seeing thou thy self hast confessed no less then thou callst wresting in us I reckon up thy confusion and leave it for thee to read and them to whom this may come Then thou sayst The neglect of this Light will be sure to damn though the obedience to the Law will not save them c. Answ. Here again thou hast confessed truth If the neglect of the Light will be sure to damn as thou confessest then I say surely it is not good to neglect it that must needs follow deny it if thou canst therefore the sum of thy words is the same with us that every one mind the Light of Christ Jesus least they be damned for the neglect of it And Friend to the second part of the clause I say the Law must be obeyed and the righteousness of it fulfilled within thee if ever thou come to Eternal Life if it be not thou cannot escape damnation Learn what this means Then further thou sayst Though Christ doth give a Light to every one that comes into the World yet it doth not therefore follow that this Conscience or Light is the Spirit of Christ or the work of Grace wrought in the heart c. Here thy confusion is seen at large who wouldst seem to divide between the Light of Christ which thou confessest is given to every man and the Spirit of Christ and the Grace of God However thus far I say the Light of Christ given to every man is not contrary to the Spirit of Christ nor to the Grace of God but one in their nature and a man cannot possibly love one of them and hate another neither can any obey one of these and disobey the other therefore are they one in the union leading in the same way unto the same end And where doth the Spirit of Christ give light or the Grace of God work or lead if not in the Conscience And can there be any surer thing for the Creature to look to to walk to Life or to come to God by then the Light of Christ in the Conscience which thou confessest every man hath that cometh into the World Then thou sayst Heathens Turks Iews Athiest c. have that that doth convince them of sin yet are so far from having the Spirit of Christ in them that they delight to serve their lust c. Answ. This Query I ask of thee Do they or thou or any man serve sin or your lusts because Christ hath not given you light to discover your sin or because you hate that Light that is given answer me And surely by this which doth convince of sin is every man in the world inexcusable so it works for God in all men either to justifie or condemn And tell me is not the Spirit or Light of Christ the only thing which doth convince of sin Or doth any thing convince of sin contrary or besides or without the Spirit of Christ if nay then it must needs be that it is from or by or something of the nature of the Spirit of Christ which is in the Heathens And the sum of thy doctrine is no less in the profession of thy words then what we say then why dost thou condemn us But it seems thy tongue speaks one thing and another thing is in thy heart and this is Hypocrisie Then thou sayest Those that are alive to sin have not the Spirit of Christ c. But I say it is given to every man though every man receives it not and it strives with the wicked man though he follows it not And some other vain Arguments thou usest to prove That every man hath not the Spirit of Christ which I pass by only thus much I leave with thee till thou provest the Light of Christ which thou confessest every may hath to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ I shall say every man hath that which is one in union and like the Spirit of Christ even as good as the Spirit of Christ according to its measure Then thou goest on and sayest That the Devil might be sure to deceive or to that purpose he saith Turn thy mind inward and listen within and see if there be not that within thee that doth convince of sin c. Answ. Thou hast confessed that the Light within which convinces of sin is the Light of God and Christ and now thou sayest the Divil to deceive souls bids turn to mind the Light within which doth convince of sin thou hast lyed of the Devil Oh thou blind Priest whom God hath confounded in thy language Was ever such a thing spoken That the Devil can deceive any by the Light of Christ or that he uses any such doctrine Friend it is the Voice of the Gospel to bid listen within to the Light even to the Word of Faith within the heart as Paul preached But thou further sayst They are ignorant of the Gospel who clasp in with these Motions of the Light within or Conscience which doth command to abstain from the evil and to practice good And here thou hast shewed thy blindness and ignorance more then can be uttered as though the motions of the Light of Christ in the Conscience which command to abstain from evil and to practice good were another thing then the Light of the Gospel what and how doth the Light of the Gospel work if not in the Conscience and to command from evil and to practice good Surely thou preachest another Gospel then Paul preached for his Doctrine was
manifest from Mary's womb and was persecuted to death by the Scribes and Pharisees in whose steps thou treadst in asking subtil Queries to insnare the Innocent as they did read thy Example and thy self to be an Enemy to the Christ of God Qu. 5. Is that very Man with that very Body within you yea or nay Answ. The very Christ of God is within us we dare not deny him and we are Members of his Body and of his Flesh and of his Bone as the Ephesians were They that are led by a spirit of Delusion shall answer the rest of this thy Query if they will Qu. 6. Was that very Iesus that was born of the Virgin Mary a real man of Flesh and Bones after his Resurrection from the dead out of Josephs Sepulchre ye or nay for the Scrpiture saith he was and if so then did that Man go away from his Disciples and not into them in his Body as the Scriptures declare or did he with that Body of Flesh go into his Disciples as some fond Dreamers think Answ. What the Scriptures speak of Christ we own to be truth and own him to be what the Scriptures speak of him and all mens imaginations of him we deny and their falsâ— interpretations of the Scriptures concerning him and let the fond Dreamers who are in their thoughts be reproved for we dare own nothing to be truth but what the Spirit of the Lord bearâ— witness of according to the Scripture thus far I anwer in behalf of the Quakers let them who are led with the spirit of Delusion answer the rest which concerns themselves Qu. 7. Hath that Christ that was with God the Father before the World was no other Body but his Church if you say no as it is your wonted course Then again I aske you What was that in which he did bear the sins of his Chrildren if you say it was his own Body on the Tree then I ask you whether that Body in which he did bear our sins was or is the Church of God yea or nay Again if you say he hath no Body but his Church then I ask what that was that was taken down from the Cross c Answ. In this thou hast not only queried but Slandered therefore first thy Slander I do remove It is not our wonted course to say that Christ hath no other Body but his Church thou art herein as in other things a false Accuser but we say the Church is Christ's Body And it is sufficient for Salvation to know Christ Jesus to be head in us and over us and our selves to be Members of his Body and what thou intendst by making so many foldings in one Query it may be judged is to insnare and in that thou answerest thy self for us in somthing that thou mayst have a further ground to lay a deeper snare we do deny thee and thy spirit and see thee to be only feeding in thy imaginations upon the report of things without the Life and thy religion stands in disputes and controversies and querying and many words but our Religion stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience towards God and towards man whether we speak or be silent Thus I have answered thy Queries or so much of them as concerns us and as I have said if thou wilt be further answered go seek an Answer from them who are led with a spirit of Delusion and let them answer their part or else be thou unsatisfied for I shall not answer them to satisfie thee nor I may not feed thy Serpents wisdom nor subtilty which cannot receive of the things of God not understand a reason of the Hope of Christ in us if we declare it to thee For all throughout thy Book I do observe it is that which thou strikest against even Christ within which is our Hope of Glory And it is that Mystery which long hath been hid from Ages and Generations but now is made manifest and declared And though the wise of the World cannot receive it but speak evil against it yet is it dear unto us and so much more precious because despised by such as thee and thy Generation And such things are a testimony to us and against you and go thou with them that are led with a spirit of Delusion for you are one in Nature and the Children of God who are redeemed cannot but deny you together Some few Queries propounded for John Bunyan to answer Query 1. Whether is any man justified by Christ Jesus in the sight of God but he that follows Christ and is it not a work to follow him yea or nay and what is the sight of God Qu. 2. Whether will that Faith justifie a man which hath no works seeing the Apostle saith Faith without works is dead and what is that which works Faith and where is it within or without Qu. 3. Whether any man is justified but he who is born of God and whether doth he that is born of God commit sin and is that within the Creature or without him which works the new Birth Qu. 4. If Christ hath lightened all men as he is God as thou confessest then whether hath he not lighted all men as he is the Son of God and is not the Light of God sufficient in it self to lead unto God all that follow it yea or nay Qu. 5. Whether it is not the same Light in him that hates it as it is in him that loves it Iohn 3. if there be a difference in the Light shew it wherein it lies whether in its nature or otherwise Qu. 6. Whether it is possible that any can be saved without Christ manifest within if no then whether it is not the Doctrine of Salvation which is only necessary to preach Christ within and it is not the whole Mystery of Salvation God manifest in the flesh Qu. 7. Whether is it not possible that many may profess as much of Christ without as thou hast said of him and yet be damned and if this be the faith to profess him born dead risen and ascended without then is there any Unbeliever in England seeing all in the outward sound believe and professe as much as thou hast said yea or nay Quer. 8. Whether hath that man faith in Christ who is not changed in the Nature and is not the Lyar and Slanderer an Unbeliever and of the cursed Nature yea or nay Quer. 9. Whether doth any man receive Christ who receives him not into him if not shew how Christ can be received and whether many do not profess him which never received him Quer. 10. Whether to preach for Hire for Gifts and Rewards and to Divine for Money and to make Merchandise of People for so much a year for preaching to them is not true Marks and Signs of a false Prophet or can any give truer Signs of the false Prophets then Isaiah and Micah gave yea or nay Quer. 11. Whether must not the Devil be chained before Christ reign
open view then thou hast in the least measure discovered us or detected us or justly reproved us in Doctrine or Conversation to be contrary to the Saints in Generations past who are our cloud of Witnesses as being guided by the same Spirit according to the measure as we have received but this is rather a discovery to all the Upright that were of God because we are spoken all manner of evil of falsly by thee and thy Generation who are sufficiently proved in all your wayes and worships to be of the Generation of them that ever persecuted the righteous Seed of God And as for the success thou hast found little profit thereof for the Judgments and Wrath of God will succeed thy Lyes and Slanders and this shalt thou find and they that are deceived by thee shall perish together and this will be the reward of thy duty which thou sayest called upon thee now to speak And seven of thy first Pages hast thou filled in pleading for thy own kingdom and unjustly justifiing thy own cause in Preaching for Hire and in Divining for Money and in seeing for thy Gain from thy Quarter false Prophet like it well appears that sometime thou hast been bit upon thy sore and searched where thy guilt hath lodged and now thou hast endeavoured to heal up the wound and cure thy self and hast brought many arguments and hast sought to clear thy self by guile 〈◊〉 not by innocency and hast gathered many Scriptures together which as thâ— supposest might make for thy purpose herein by preaching of them How fâ—… wouldst thou blind the eye of the Simple that thou mightst alwayes act thy abâ— mination and not be seen and even as Satan brought Scripture against Chriâ—â— so hast thou against the Truth and to uphold thy iniquity Thou sayest It is the great clamour of the Quakers that you are no Ministers of Chriâ—… because you Preach for Hire Divine for Money and are Covetous c. This is true and I will add much more which thou hast spared You are greedy dumb Dogs and can never have enough every one of you seeking for yoâ— Gain from your Quarter and through Coveteousness make merchandise of Souâ—â— and make a Prey upon the Flock and feed your selves with the Fat and cloaâ—â— your selves with the Wool and cry Peace Peace to them that put into yoâ— Mouthes but prepare War against them that do not and are given to filthy 〈◊〉 cre and love the Wages of unrighteousness and go on headlong in the Error 〈◊〉 Balaam and Cain having the Form of Godliness but denying the Power beiâ— heady and high-minded-Men and false Accusers and proud Boasters and Lovers of Pleasure more than God c. Much more also is true upon you according to Scripture for whatsoever the true Prophets and Apostles declared as 〈◊〉 giving a description of the false Prophets and Apostles by their works and sigâ—… the same way may truly be said upon you as being every whit guilty of whatâ—â— ever was charged upon them by the Spirit of the Lord so that all thy wrestingâ— Scriptures will not clear thee and thy Brethren who have some of them said as 〈◊〉 as thou canst say in this particular but Truth stands unmoveable and you 〈◊〉 altogether discovered and made bare and naked and your shame doth appearâ—… thy answer to this which thou callest The Quakers clamour Thou sayest False Teachers may and have preached freely then be sure free Teâ—… could not prove you to be true Ministers c. Reply Thou and this Generation of Teachers exceed such in abominatiâ—â— who have not yet so far transformed your selves like unto true Ministers as 〈◊〉 teach freely and your condemnation will be the greater insomuch as you excâ—… them in wickedness and it is confessed that free Teaching would not prove 〈◊〉 to be true Minsters for you are false and deceitful in every account and 〈◊〉 nisters of Antichrist under many considerations more then one as in your Caâ—… and Worship and many other things And thus thou hast laid open thy own 〈◊〉 ly that thou mayest be judged out of thy own mouth For in the Margent thâ— sayest The Quakers teach not freely for at one Town thou hearest that one of the Quâ—kers had about five Pound gathered for him Friend This is a Slander and a false Accusation and thou hast heard and believed a Lye if not made a Lye and thy Lyes will be no refuge for thee in 〈◊〉 Day of the Lord for I testifie against them and thee and him to be no Quâ—â—â— who acted such a thing if any such was acted Then thou goest on and drawâ— many vain conclusions and arguments to no purpose and bringest the Scriptuâ—â— 2 Cor. 11. 8 9. and thinkest this for thy purpose because of the word Wâ—ges and now boastest as though thou hadst overcome but all this will not clear thâ— from guilt nor prove thee to be a Minister of Christ he reaped where he had sowâ— and not of the World he eat the Milk of the Flock and did not by a Law coâ— pel People to pay him as thy Generation doth neither was he chargeable to any as you are but made the Gospel of Christ free and used not his liberty in theâ—â— things but you go beyond the liberty of equity and by a Law obtain your Maintenance oppressing the Poor to make your selves rich living in Pride Idleness and Fulness but Paul did not thus but was in Cold Hunger and Nakedness and the Wages he took was not to do himself service but them as it is evident So Pauls example herein will not cloak thy filthiness nor cover thy shame hewas a Minister of the Spirit and did sow spiritual things and was no Hireling as the false Prophets who through coveteousness made merchandise of souls and this is thy example and not the practise of Paul whom thou wouldst fain make like â—nto thy self but he is justified and thou art condemned in the Sight of God whose work is not of his nature he gave freely and might reap where he sowed but thou makest a Covenant to reap before thou sowest and sowest not and so deceives the People Then thou sayst We provide for our selves when we wander up and down men must provide us Lodging Food c. Are not People bound to provide for you as well as to entertain us c. Thou alwayes pleadest thy own cause and so hadst thou need for the Children of God cannot plead for thee but testifie against thee It is Christ's Doctrine Into whatsoever House ye enter eat such things as are set before you but it was never his Doctrine Take so much by the year and if they will give you such a Sum preach to them this is the Doctrine Way and Wages of Balaam in which thou art found Many other Scriptures dost thou wrest and many a vain Argument dost thou make unto this purpose And thou sayest He that will be a Minister indeed will say
He findeth all little enough For shame cover thy Lips and stop thy Mouth thy stuff stinks with raking in who sayest That men cannot be sufficient Ministers without Arts and such poor blind stuff of which I am ashamed and pass by it as not worth the mentioning Then thou goest on in the matter of Tythes seeing the Rule and Law of Scripture will not fully bear thee out in thy wicked practise of pleading for Hire 〈…〉 goest to the Law of the Nation and so the Gospel which you preach will not maâ—…n you according to the Apostles Doctrine but by a Law are maintained through the grievous oppression of the Innocent as is witnessed in this Nation and thou art put to all thy shifts though but beggarly some of them to blind Peoples eyes so that you may have your Hire and in thy Arguments thou pleadest That Tythes are no mans own but the Ministers c. But I say if poor men did not labour and improve their time and strength and money you could have no Tythes so that if the Land was not tilled through poor Peoples labours you might go without so Tythes are not paid out of the Land but out of mens labours thereupon and so you rob poor mens labours and not the Land that you may live in filthiness And thou sayest Care is taken for you already many hundred Years before you were born in setting an Estate c. Yea the Pope settled Tythes upon his Priests whose Generation you are of a poor shameless shift to plead such things leaving the Rule of the Scripture and defending your selves both in your Ministry and Maintenance by a Popish â—aw which was the supreme Power in the Nation when Tythes were first established in England but neither the Rule of Scripture nor of the National Law will make your works justified all People shall see your nakedness and God will make you ashamed of your way And as to particular Had we lived in the primitive Churches when the Magistrates were Heathens c. This I shall answer by a Question Doth not the works of some of the Magistrates in England I do not say all prove themselves rather to be Heathens than Christians by their unjust imprisoning of the Innocent without â—…ch of any Law and so to be rather Destroyers of the Church which is the Body of Christ then careing to preserve it and also in giving treble dammage to the Hirelings for Non-payment thereby wasting and making havock of poor mens Estates as is in many places to be witnessed and these are they who are most zealous for you some of them I leave this Question to be answered which being but truly answered will discover whether you who by oppression take Tythes 〈…〉 â—ho oâ—â— of the exercise of a pure Conscience cannot pay Tythes and so are Sufferers and you Oppressors are Carriers on of the designs of Hell and Rome as in thy eleventh Page thou speakest Then thou sayest So much for the Ministers Maintenance c. Yea more then enough but that thou mightest lay open thy own folly therefore wast thou allowed that thy shame might be fully laid open and thou uncovered who hast acted thy part as others of thy Brethren before thee in pleading your own unjust cause of Idolatry to uphold your grievous Oppression of Tythes and set Maintenances under which at this day many thousands do sadly groan and not pittied by you but though you regard not the Lord God doth and will avenge their Cry upon your heads who have made your Ministry and Religion the most grievous Oppression in this Common-wealth and so are fallen into greater abomination than the Heathen and are higher than they in ungodliness and deeper in subtilty and go to the Heathens and they will shame you and take thy own counsel and practise it as in thy tenth Page And much more of thy stuff I pass thus much is sufficient to discover thy deceit in this particular Then thou goest on and from thy Text thy observation is this It hath been of old and it is the practise still of the Prince of Darkness to transform himself into an Angel of Light c. To which I answer It is proved by the Scripture that it hath been of old his practise and it is proved upon thee that it is still his practise and thou art the man upon whom thy observation stands true who art in thy good words and fair speeches and pretences transformed only in the appearance and not in the ground out of gross wickedness into secret hypocrisie and so makest an Image without Life and so as Iannes and Iambres art resisting Truth yet art thou seen and comprehended though thou sayest Satan is never less seen then when he acts as an Angel of Light which I suppose thou speakest by experience as being acted therein undiscovered to the Simple because of thy hypocrisie In thy Page thirteenth thou sayest that The Scriptures are the true Light Here thy blindeness and error is discovered who speakest herein contrary to the Scripture which saith Christ Iesus is the true Light 1 Iohn 9. Here thâ—â— wouldest exalt the Scriptures in the Seat of Christ and thereby deny him in saying the Scripture is that which he only is and nothing else to wit The trâ—â— Light of the World which lighteneth every man that comes into the World and the Scriptures are a Declaration of him and not him And thou goest on and sayest Because these Quakers â—each People they must do justly do no body wrong nor Lye c. some take it for granted they come from Christ c. But this thou snuffest at and makest light of by which is easily discerned of what spirit thou art the Scripture witnesseth He is a Minister of Christ that turâ— from Darkness to Light and from sin unto God and could we but wink at sin and cloak it as you do and cry Peace Peace to them that walks after the imaginations of their own hearts then should we be loved and not hated of the World And in thy fourteenth Page Thou reckonest us with the Fryars and Popish Generation but them and thee we do deny and that holiness and righteousness which is in the will of man for because we cannot run to the same excess of riot with you you think it strange and therefore thou accusest us as with a matter of fact That we drink water and fast and wear no Lace c. That which thoâ— wouldst make us abominable in by the sight of men doth our innocency and uprightness appear in in the sight of God and his Children Then thou goest on in thy confused language and in that which thou callest thy use Take hâ—ed that you be not deceived To whom dost thou speak to them that are in the Truth If thoâ— speakest to thy own flock thy word might have been Search lest you be deceived for we know the whole World lies in wickedness and this Generation under the deceivableness of
a blind Ministry which leadeth not unto God but keeps in Darkness ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth And in thy Page ninteenth Thou hast put forth a Question which is How shall we know this transformed Angel of Light c To which I answer Where he rules he is not known nor discerned for the god of the World hath blinded the eye which should make him manifest and this is true in thee who art led by him and perceivest it not and art doing his work and understandest not but the brightness of the coming of the Son of Man in the Children of the Father hath discovered him in the World and in thee and though thou woulst fain put him among the Quakers yet he is found in thy own house thou endeavourest to prove thy Accusation by vain consequence and false conclusions but our Assertion is proved by the Spirit of God and stands upon thy head and shall be witnessed by the Light in thy own Conscience Now something in answer to thy Arguments and false Conclusion And thy first Argument is That the Light of the Quakers will not admit of nor endure the Trial therefore the Light of the Quakers is the light of Satan c. Answ. Thy proposition and ground of thy Argument is a Lye and so thy conclusion is to no purpose for we deny not a Trial but exhort People thereunto that they search the Scripture to see whether these things be not so and are tried by the Scriptures in Doctrine and Conversation and proved to be simple thereby to be in the Truth as it is in Jesus and are testified of in Scripture by the Holy men of God who are unto us a Cloud of Witnesses in our Faith and Life and Sufferings and Tryals c. Friend thou hast fained a Lye upon us and hast confuted thy own Lye this is an easie way to prove us Deceivers if it would stand in trial neither is thy proof That wâ— do deny tryal any wit to this purpose as I. N. against F. Harris Page the tenth which thou quotest let the honest hearted read but subtilly hast thou wrested the words to bring thy false Conclusion and Lye about to take place among the ignorant People Thy Lye is condemned and thy refuge is taken away and thou art left naked for the Destroyer Thy second Argument is The Light of the Quakers putteth out the Light of Nature therefore their Light is the light of Satan c. Thou sayest by the Light of Nature thou meanest the inward Law which God set up in the heart of all mankind châ—â—king many sins against God and man c. Answ What blind confusion is this which is uttered from thy dark mind no whit savory but stuff hardly worth stirring in and quite contradiction to thy own words Page fifteen where thou chargest us with directing to the Light in the Conscience which thou callest Natural but we call it Spiritual and this is it which cheeks the sins against God which thou sayest our Light puts out and that we preach any thing for Light which puts out this light which is the work of the Law of God written in the heart this Argument is also a Lye and so thy conclusion is made void likewise but that the Knowledge and Wisdom and Prudency of the natural man which is corrupted must be put out this we own and the Quakers Light which is the Light of Christ shall confound the Wisdom of the World and be no transgression against God nor from a light of Satan but of Christ and the proof of thy Argument is as thou sayest Wâ— deny honour to all Superiours and seemest to be greatly offended with the word Thou quoting many Scriptures against it but let the wise in heart judge thee herein none of all these Scripture will prove that ever any of the Saints gave flattering Titles unto men or spoke You to a particular Person which thou art to prove or else thou sayest nothing that the word Thou to Superiours is any denying of honour due unto them and herein thy conclusion is also false being the foundation of thy Argument is a Lye and thy Argument made up of confusion saying That Light is Natural which is the inward Law set up in the heart checking the sins against God and man this is one Lye also saying That our Light puts out the Light This is another Lye Friend if Lyes would prove us Deceivers thou wouldst accomplish it How easie a thing it is for thee to confute thy own Lyes when thou hast made them Thy third Argument is Such is the Quakers Light viz. which teacheth men to forsake the Scriptures setting up a spirit in man which shall not be examined by the Scriptures therefore it is the light of Satan c. Answ. The first part of thy Argument is a very Lye and also the last as thou hast laid it down our Light teacheth not men to forsake the Scriptures but into the fulfilling of them to walk in the Life of them and it teacheth to exalt the Spirit of God in man above all things and in its fruits and opperation may be examined by the Scriptures but it self is the Searcher of all things even of the deep things of God and this is not the Light of Satan but of Christ which teacheth men into the fulfilling of the Scriptures and to exalt the Spirit in man which gave forth the Scriptures which is the trial of all spirits and whatsoever conclusion be gathered for an Argument whereof a Lye is the foundation as of this the conclusion must needs be vain and a Lye like its foundation And in thy proof of the major position thou sayest The Scriptures are left by God to be your Light and Rule c. And the Scriptures say Christ is the Light the Way the Truth and the Life and so the Rule and so thou hast set up the Scriptures above Christ and by thy lying spirit crosseth the Scriptures but thou art accustomed to Lye and so art expert therein And thou sayest Christ bids you seâ—â—câ— the Scriptures Iohn 5. 39. It is true he bids the Pharisees who had not Christ Word abiding in them and who had not heard God's Voice nor seen his Shape but persecuted Christ them he bad search the Scriptures and justly hast thou thrâ—â—â— in thy self among the Pharisees and so art an Enemy to Christ according to thy own confession And for the proof of the minor position thou hast not at at 〈◊〉 proved by any way of the Books quoted thy proposition That the Quakers Ligâ—â— teacheth men to forsake the Scriptures c. Let the wise in heart judge And thou sayst But to speak truly The Quakers make nothing of Scriptures c. This is the very falsness and of thy lying tongue and no truth in it and a Question here I ask Whether he be the more guilty of forsaking Scriptures which live the Life thereof
was set up for a season so that Iohn farther saw and said the whole World went after the Beast and false Prophet whom he saw before was come and worshipped the Beast and his Image but a few whose names were written in the Book of Life And as I have said the whole City with the outward Court was trodden down by the Gentiles foot and darkness surprised all and wickedness abounded more and more and the night came upon all as Christ had prophesied and the Beast grew in his dominion till there was hardly any man left to bear witness in the Truth and in the Power of God unto the Name of Jesus but all was subverted into dead Forms and Shadows and Likenesses without Life and the Lord left the Earth as it were and covered himself in the Darkness and became a stranger in the World and did scarce openly speak by Vision nor Dream nor Prophet but all were in the dark and Ignorance abounded and Superstition was exalted the Saints Spirit and Life which they were in and guided by was lost and then they began to worship the Saints Names and Dayes and Words without the Life and Power and that Nature and that same Seed which had persecuted the Saints to death and gainsayed the Power and lost the holy Ghost turned it self into the profession of the Saints Words which were left upon Record and conformed it self into the Saints Practises without the Life Power and holy Ghost And having lost the Power from which the Scripture was given forth and not being guided in the Life which they were in which spoke it forth then from the Scripture in mens own conceptions and thoughts and by their reason without Gods Spirit they set up Likenesses and Images and Sects and Forms and many Heads and many Horns grew upon the Beast which all the World worshipped and went after for they had lost Christ the one Head wherein the Union stood and grew into Idolatry under the many Heads which were upon the Beast who had many Horns which pushed one against another as it is witnessed unto this day do not the Papists and Protestants so called and other Sects risen out of them push one at another to break and tear one another and these have many Heads The Pope he is a Head and the others they have a Head which every one bowes down under his own Head the Pope will not bow to the Protestants Head nor will the Protestants bow to the Papists Head the Presbyterians and Independâ—… and Anabaptists and the rest every one of them bows to their own Head and will not bow to anothers Head and all these with their Horns push one against another to rend one another and all these are from Christ and know not him the one Head of the whole Body and the one Horn of God's Salvation unto aâ— People for Christ which is but one is the Head and the Horn which all the Saints who are now gathered out of this Apostacy and dark Night unto whom the Light again is risen worship Christ the one Head and know him the one Horn which pushes aganist the Devils Kingdom which hath long been set up and rulâ—â— in the Earth among all these who have many Heads and many Horns who are aâ—… of them the very chiefest but in the night fallen in the Apostacy and Daâ—â—ness since the beginning of the reign of the Beast and the coming in of faâ—… Prophets which came in as I have said when the Churches backslided with the Whore also who hath made all Nations and People Drunk with the Wine of be Fornication and the Beast hath reigned over all Nations in his Dominion and Authority and the false Prophet hath prophesied through all Nations And all these came in since the dayes of Christ for he prophesied that iâ— should be so as it is come to pass and they were coming in in the dayes of the Apostles as you may read Paul saw them coming and largely describes their Character in several Epistles And Peter he saw them coming in and described them what such they were and should be and Iude he saw them also and Iohn more fully then any both in his Epistles and Revelations as I have â—â—â—â—ed at And when the Apostles were taken off the Earth some by cruel Deaths and others were banished then they sprung in more fully and grew through all Nations and to this day hath the Beast with his many Heads and many Horns ruled in Nations and been worshipped and his false Prophet hath ever since been defended and hath riden on the Beast through Nations and hath deceived Nations with vanity and error and at this very day the Nations and People are deceived and lie under Darkness in the slavery and bondage under the authority of the Beast and subject to the doctrine of his false Prophets And as I have said Darkness hath been over all and fancies and likenesses without Life have been bowed under and the Power being lost the Form hath been set up one after this sort and another after that according to mens vain conceits and apprehensions upon the Scriptures and not according to the manifestation of the Spirit of God which fulfilleth the Scriptures and brings to live the Life of them So in divers Colours and in divers Appearances and Robes in several forms and shapes of Garments hath the great Whore been decked who hath sat upon the Beast having the false Prophet serving as a Boy or Servant to do whatsoever the Whore listeth and the false Prophet this Servant of the Whore under the power of the Beast hath moved and turned as the Beast would and according as the Whore hath changed her self into other Garments and Colours even so hath the false Prophet changed his Doctrine and Prayers to please the Whore and to keep people under the Government of the Beast It s known in this our day that some who preached and prayed for the King and Bishops do now preach and pray for others even for them who destroyed the King and Bishops so the false Prophets with all his Children are but the Whores Servants who hath made drunk Kings and Princes and great Men and People and Nations with the Cup of Fornication and Abomination in the several Sects and Forms of Worships which have been set up without the power of Godliness for the Baptism of the Spirit being lost and not known then from the Letter by imaginations were several sorts of Baptism brought forth as sprinkling of Infants that dark folly and vain vanity which all these Nations have been deceived withal by the exercise of the false Prophet And when the Gift of the Ministry through the holy Ghost which the Ministers of Christ had was lost and not any more â—…eceived then began men to make Ministers by natural Learning and Arts and Languages and humane Pollicy and when the gift of preaching by the eternal Spirit was lost through the coming in of the
self-separate Congregations and wait upon the Lord that you may know him to be your Teacher who is the Teacher of all his People and he teacheth in the perfect Way of Peace and Truth and giveth Peace unto all that wait upon him and causeth the heart of the Upright to rejoyce he taketh away sin and removes it from his People and he forgiveth all their iniquities and healeth all their backslidings and blessed are all they that put their their trust in him for he is a God near at hand for he dwells with his People and he is worshipped only in the Spirit and in the Truth He dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is he worshipped in outward Observations his Soul hath no pleasure among any self-separate People who cry I am holyer then another neither is he well pleased with the Sacrifice of the Proud all their Baptisms and Fellowships and Meetings is but a weariness to the Lords Soul and he hath no pleasure in any of their works who follow their own spirit and are not led with the pure Spirit of God alone but unto every one of sâ—ch will he look who is poor in spirit and of a contrite heart and of a single and upright mind he giveth regard unto every one that fears his Name who thirst and hunger after him in Truth and Righteousness and this is of exceeding great price in the Sight of the Lord yea more then all Offerings and Oblations whatsoever even more then thousands of Rams and ten thousand of Rivers of OYLE Therefore hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord and seek him with an upright Heart and thirst for him as for your daily Food loose not your precious time but call upon his Name while he is near for he is come neer unto many he stands at the door if any will open he will come in and will dwell with them for evermore All sorts of People be Awakened be Awakened How doth the Lord wait to be gratious unto you He even tarrieth for you till you return to him 〈◊〉 his Soul may have pleasure in you who hath long been grieved by you Therefore search your own hearts and see how you stand prepared to meet the Lord by following of his Counsel who hath so loved you and all Man-kind that he hath given his Son into the World to be a Light unto you all and every onâ— of you is lighted by him and with the Light you will know your evil deeds and are convinced of them and reproved for them and with this Light Jesâ—… Christ calleth you Sinners to Repentance to turn from your evil that you may be restored If you love this Light you love Christ who will save you from all your 〈◊〉 and from condemnation If you hate this Light you hate Christ and you â—â—main in your sins to be everlastingly condemned And thus is the Way of Life aâ—â— the way of Death set before you all if you follow the Light of Christ Jesus it will teach you to deny this World and all the vanities of it it will teach you to deny your own wills and the counsels of your own hearts and whatsoever is contrary to God in thought word or action and in all things it will teach you to follow Jesus Christ that you may be justified by him But if you follow not tâ—… Light then you choose your own wayes to follow your own wills and yoâ— own lusts and all temptations and you deny Christ and the Way of Truth and 〈◊〉 the Wrath of God abides upon you for you continue in unbelief and in hardness of heart and are the Servants of sin unto death if you follow not the Ligâ—â— which Christ hath enlightened you withal who lighteth every man that comes â—â—to the World that they may believe and be saved Therefore take heed to the Light if you be guided by it you shall not transgress against God but you wâ—… receive the Power of God to overcome all evil all sin and iniquity will be condemned in you and your hearts will be made clean for the Lord to dwell in whoâ—â— dwelling is in his People and you must all cease from professing of what you 〈◊〉 not possess and from talking of what you do not enjoy for that is Hypocrisie anâ— to be judged So all ye Professors be Awakened Christ without you will not justifie you exâ—… ye know Christ within you the Profession of him will not take away sin not â—â—stifie in the Sight of God except you come to witness the operation of his Spirit 〈◊〉 you to teach you to depart from all evil and to lead you into all good Therefore come to the feeling of the Spirit of Jesus in you and the workiâ—â— of it which changeth reneweth and sanctifieth and bringeth to witness 〈◊〉 same Truth to be manifested in the heart which the Scriptures speak of without and as you receive the same Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures so you will uâ—derstand the Scriptures and by no other means For all your preaching anâ— talking of the Scriptures without the Spirit is but vain babling and that moutâ— is to be stopt for God is not known where the Operation of his Spirit is noâ— felt in the heart nor he cannot be worshipped in Truth but where his Spirit leadâ— and guides Much vain Profession there is in thee O City in which the Lord hath no delight and this is the Testimony of the Lord which I give concerning thee and do yet once more call unto thee as often I have done and do seal the Lords Testimony against thee even against all thy righteousness and against all thy sin which are both alike unto God and both to be condemned Thou hast been warned and thy People and the day of a glorious Visitation hath passed over thee the Lord hath reached unto many and stricken many who have not grieved but carelesly walked and slighted the day of their Visitation and have not hearkened to the Lords Call Unto thousands hath the word of the Lord been declared and the Kingdom of God preached nigh at hand and the very Way of Life and Death hath been set before you for the Lord hath sent to thee to warn â—hee and to shew unto thee what the Counsel of the Lord is and thousands have been reached with the Power of God and convinced of the Way of Life â—nd Peace who yet continue in hardness of heart and disobedience following the â—ounsel of their own hearts and the desire of their own minds which are wholly evil â—ontinually and the condemnation of such will be just in the day of the Lord and greater then theirs to whom the Way of the Lord hath not been known And yet â—mongst thy Thousands who are in the way to destruction the Lord hath a Remâ—ant a Few among so many which are precious unto him and whom his soul deâ—ighteth in who are despised in thee and set at nought and cast out of the saâ—our
it 〈◊〉 evident that their hearts are exercised with covetous practises who sue poor Pâ—â—ple at Law some for Twelve Pence which they are more able to give to 〈◊〉 they whom they sue to receive from and they follow the Error of Balâ—… and run after him greedily who went for Gifts and Rewards as do these 〈◊〉 have unrighteous Wages cause people to pay them money for whom they do not work and this is unrighteous Wages these are Wells without Water and Clouds without Rain they make a shew of Godliness and Righteousness when as they are prophane and unrighteous and they speak great swelling words of vanity professing themselves to be Orthodox Divines and such like which are no more but words of vanity without Truth and they seek to allure all people to follow them in their way of Idol Worships and so they are deceived and deceiving and while they promise liberty to others by Christ from sin when they are dead themselves are the Servants of corruption and live in sin to this day and in all things which the false Apostles were guilty of these come not behind but these do shew by their works that they are guided by the same spirit which was in the Deceivers of old and so they agree and concur one with another in unrighteousness Again the false Prophets and Deceivers which were come and coming in the dayes of Iohn they were of the World and the World heard them And they were them which Christ prophesied of should come into the World which should deceive many and such were they which the Apostle saw coming in 2 Tim. 3. and he said after his dayes greivous Wolves should come in which should not spare the Flock such as were departed from the FAITH and spake Lyes in Hypocrisie having their Consciences sâ—â—â—ed with a hot Iron and such were they Covetous Boasters proud Blasphemers Unthankful Unholy without natural Affection Truce-breakers false Accusers Incontinent fierce Despisers of those things which were good Traytors Heady High-minded Lovers of Pleasure more then Lovers of God they have the form of Godliness but deny the Power therereof and People by them were ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth of this sort the Apostle saw was coming and would come more fully and such are the Teachers of this Age for they are of the World living in Pride and the Wickedness of it and the World hears them such as themselves proud and wicked People for they that fear God and walk in his Wayes are departed from many of them and they shew that they have no Faith but are departed from it for FAITH keeps from evil from the wayes of sin and death which they live in and Lyes in aboundance they speak in hypocrisie and their Consciences are seared that is plain else they could not do as many of them do who cause innoâ—ent People to be put in prison and make havock of their Goods who will not pay them Tythes or maintain them and they are the proudest of men and as Covetous as any and Unthankful and Unholy they shew themselves to be and they are false Accusers and Truce-breakers for they hardly make any Conscience of belying the People of God in the Pulpits or to the Magistrates and they are Heady High-minded and if some of them be not Treacherous judge ye who have turned divers wayes in their judgments according to the times and they have a Form of Godliness but not the Power pray and sing in a form and preach in a form and method and people are ever learning by them sixty Years or more or less and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth but dye in ignorance and blindness without knowledge under them And herein do they agree also with the false Prophet and Antichrist which Iohn saw to be come in and such as the Apostle saw which were then coming in and they shew the very same spirit by the same works and the same fruits which appear from them men of understanding may compare them in all these things They do agree and appear to be of that very Stock and Generation which the Apostle prophesied of for they were grievous Wolves which should not spare the Flock which the Apostle saw and these do not spare the FLOCK but even devour them and no less then grivous Wolves can they be said to be For if a poor Woman hath but ten EGGES in all the World they will have one in many parts of this Nation or but ten Chickens they will have one or but a Fire in their House they will have a Penny for the Smoak and such like wolvish devouring wayes and if these be not grievous Wolves let all the World judge And here is their Treachery made manifest while they say they preach the Gospel in love to souls yet its manifest they preach for love of Money for few or none of them preach where there is no money and People are absolute blind that do not see them for in all things they agree with the Deceivers and false Prophets of old and shew that they be of the very same spirit and thus you see their own Rule condemns them and because they say the Scripture is their Rule therefore I have thought good to lay them to it and measure them by their own Line and all People may see wherein they are quite contrary to the Ministers of Christ and wherein they wholly agreâ— with the Deceivers Let them hide themselves from this blow if they can and let them bring their Arguments against this sentence and let all their Friends appear for them and see if they can reverse this judgment which their own line hath judged them by let them bring in their Plea and defend themselves from this if it be possible for in those things which I have named and many other it is manifest that they fully agree with the Deceivers and disagree with the Ministers of Christ and by their fruits they are perfectly made manifest Again Christ spake in his dayes and the Apostles in their dayes that false Prophets and Deceivers should come into the world and after them and they gave descriptions what such they should be and what fruits they should bring forth as I have before mentioned in that 1 Iohn 2. and it is plain that these Deceivers and false Prophets did come in according as was prophesied for Iohn said By this we know it is the last times for now are they come which was many hundred years ago I say the Deceivers and false Prophets which Christ prophesied of to come Matth. 24. came into the World many hundred years ago as you may read 1 Iohn 2. And with this I shall conclude this particular The Teachers of this Age by their â—ruits are proved already to be of that stock and succeeders in the same works by the same spirit of them which Christ said should come and which the Apostle saw was
then come and so they did deceive many as these do deceive many in the same way as them that went before them And so let it not be a thing incredible to the people of these Nations that many of these Teachers which are called Ministers are Deceivers generally bâ—â— if there be any one that â—ears God among them or loves Truth and Sincerity it will be made manifest and such I spare and they shall be spared in the day 〈◊〉 the Lord but yet I say generally and the main part of them even they 〈◊〉 bring forth these fruits before mentioned which the false Prophets brought forth are not the Ministers of Christ but Deceivers the Scripture their own professed Rule doth prove them so for it must needs be that they must be the same men that they were whose spirit they walk by and whose fruits they bring forth and this cannot be avoided they are the same trees that brings forth the same fruits and let no man blame me for saying such are Deceivers that preach for hire and divine for money and goes for giâ—ts and rewards and that are called oâ— men Master and have the chief place in the Assemblies and are covetous and high-minded and seeks for their gain from their Quarter with those things which I have mentioned which are the same things which the false Prophets acted in Ages past I am not now to be blamed for saying These are Deceivers who are acting such things now in this Age as they acted then that were Deceivers but if you blame any begin with Isaiah and Micah and Ezekiel and Christ and his Apostles and the rest of the holy men of God for they are my examples in this who did declare against them that brought forth such works as these do that I have declared against and I have done the Teachers of this Age no wrong for judging them by their own Line and laying them to their own professed Rule therefore do not rage at me nor do not be offended aâ— this for I have but compared them with the Ministers of Christ and with the Ministers of Antichrist and shewed wherein they do agree to the one and disagree to the other and all People may see and the Light in all Consciences may judge of what I have said so that as I said at the first I may again say What think you Was there ever such a Generation of Teachers I now answer Yea There was in the dayes of the true Prophets and in the dayes of the Apostles there were such as these are which were Deceivers and in the times of Christ there were such a Generation as these are who acted the same things by the same spirit as these do at this day Let them reply to this that will my Question is sober and my Answer is just and right and I have dealt faithfully and you may read the Scriptures that I have quoted for your own satisfaction for though they falsly say the Scripture is their Rule and accuse us falsly that we deny the Scripture yet the Scripture shall be Judge between us in this matter and what I have done is not in envy to any mans person neither in upbraiding them in their wickedness but I do it rather to shew them all their iniquities that they may repent and this I have done in perfect love to all people for the Day is come that hath brought hidden things to Light and Deceit and Hypocrisie which hath lain hid is now fully made manifest as at Noon-day But again secondly I answer In some respects I do believe there was never such a Generation of Teachers as these are for we do not read in all the Scriptures concerning the false Prophets that they were so extreamly covetous and greedy of gain as these are or that ever they took such desperate wicked unlawful courses to get their maintenance and compel people to pay them as these Teachers do a very shame to rehearse it and to their shame I do rehearse it many a poor man in this Nation hath been sued by them at the LAW and put in PRISON by their means and had their Goods spoiled in a woful manner for to maintain them and to uphold them yea some hundreds of poor people in this Nation have been dealt cruelly by and unjustly with because for Conscience sake they have denied to maintain them to pay them Tythes and such like this may be proved that for five Shillings unjustly claimed by them they have taken Goods by Distraint to the value of five times so much as Cumberland and Westmerland can witness and many at this very day lie in Holes and Prisons by the means of the Priests who tear the People as Wolves do the Sheep it s even woful to be considered what havock is made of some mens persons and some mens GOODS and all to maintain the Teachers The like never was in any Generation as it is brought forth in this Generation in this particular And again their exceeding covetousness and greediness of Lucre doth appear in that they claim Wages of People and do compel People to pay them Wages after this manner as I have said for which people they do no work neither do these people receive any work done by them with whom they thus deal What thing can be more unjust under Heaven that they should compel people by a Law to pay them and thus punish them if they will not who set them not on work and for whom they do no work neither do the people like their work or love it but know it to be deceitful and yet are compelled by a Law to pay them they have such a way to get money that no Trades-man hath the like of it besides themselves for they cause People and compel people to buy their Wares and they compel people to pay for their Commodity which have none of it nor love it and this is more unjust then may be spoken Are they like Ministers of Christ Or do they follow their example in these practises What do you judge All people bring in your Verdict or are they not like Deceivers herein even exceeding all that ever went before It is true They which preach the Gospel should live on the Gospel this Argument we do own but let these men be tryed and see if by their preaching their Gospel they have gained so much love in people as to maintain them without the Law and without compelling of Maintenance Lively-hood from them by a Law let but the Law cease to compel Tythes and other things from people to maintain them see whether their Gospel will maintain them or not let but the Magistrates hold up their hands from causing people to pay them Tythes by their orders writs and I 'le undertake as I do believe they must either beg or work or a worse thing for a lively-hood or else perish so little love is there in their own People towards them nor have
foolish matters as for not putting off a Hat or for Theeing men and for denying the foolish circumstance of Swearing and we do not read that the worst of Tyrants in the Apostles dayes or before or since ever caused any to suffer for such things as these or ever questioned any upon any such small accounts for hundreds have suffered upon suspition when nothing at all can be charged against them and this is contrary to Magna-Carta And in many other respects which might be named this suffering is greater than hath been in any Age for many have suffered in this Common-wealth which have been faithful and hazarded all in time of war for the good of the Common-wealth and many of them suffer by them who have been Enemies and in Arms against the Common-wealth and herein the suffering appears more intollerable But doth the Magistrate think to come to account for these things Yea the Lord is Just and his Way is Righteous What flesh could but be provoked hereby But the Saints are changed in nature and are to fullfill the Will of the Lord by Suffering the Cruelty of men is become exceeding great against the Lord and his people Again hereby the Persecution in this Age appears more to exceed former Ages because Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion was never so much promised and professed as in this Nation at this day and yet for the exercise of a pure Conscience many are wofull Sufferers even by such who in words profess Liberty of Conscience themselves and yet persecutes the exercise of it in others even for not putting off a Hat or the like to them these with many other things may aggravate the hainousness of the sin of persecution to be great and more unjust than in-former Ages Alas how is the Sword of Iustice turned backward and the Innocent smitten and persecuted and that for Righteousness sake and not for Evil-doing By a Friend to the Suffering Seed of God EDWARD BURROUGH Truth the Strongest of all Witnessed forth in the Spirit of Truth against all Deceit And pleading in Righteousness it s own Cause to the understanding of the Simple against a very great number of Lyes Slanders Perverting of the Scriptures Contradictions and false Damnable Doctrines held forth by the INDEPENDANTS And is a Reply to Bunion's second Book called A Vindication c. Wherein what was wanting in his former of fulfilling wickedness is now appeared by his adding sin unto sin against God and against his own soul. Reader THOU hast here a very great number of Lyes and Slanders and Unjust-dealings and False-doctrines c. Laid open and reproved in plainness and not in hypocrisie and of contention there is not suddenly an end being begun therefore seeing the unbelieving heart of Iohn Bunion cannot believe me when I speak the truth in justness nor may I believe his Lies and Slanders uttered in hypocrisie what is laid down is left to thee soberly to judge of betwixt us while we are both silent And this know the one is a Deceiver and the other is as a Deceiver yet true and thus mayst thou weight things equally First considering of many Lyes and Slanders truly charged upon him in my first of which he is guilty from his first and he hath not at all cleared himself of them in his second which an honest man ought to have done before he had gone further for I soberly desired witness of what he said But be hath added to the number of his wickedness and not proved justly what he hath said against us And it is not for his sake for little thoughts I have of his conversion but thâ—…â—…ther that he will be hardned nor for may own sake as if I were unsatisfied concerniâ—…m that this is written but to undeceive the simple of what his wickedness may falsly suggest into the mind as if all were truth that he spoke if his wickedness were not reproved Again Consider that I have cleared the Truth of my words which he hath wrested and thereby taken occasion against the Truth by answering his own conceptions and not my plain words so my words which are words of Truth being defended all his Reply is made void So I have not so much desired to answer every particular of his words as to vindicate my own words and the Truth from his false Slanders and Accusations O HOW hath Satan filled the hearts of men in this Generation as well as in former Ages with Envy against the Truth and with Wrath against the Way thereof and how hath he filled them with Craft and deceitfull Subtilty to offend the Way of the Lord in all manner of Persecuting and Evil-speaking against it openly and also in secret Gain-saying in Hypocrisie and how are men armed to defend themselves in their naughtiness lying hid under the Vail of fair Speeches and fine Arguments using the Scripture in the words of mans wisdom to oppose the Power and Life of Righteousness even as the Scribes and Pharisees of old how zealous were they in their Observances and in fullfilling the Commands and Traditions of their Fathers having set themselves in Moses Seat professing Moses and the Prophets words and yet persecuted Christ the Life and Substance of Moses and the Prophets And as it was then so is it now how are Christs words and the Apostles professed and preached by such who are Enemies to the Life of Christ made manifest in mortall flesh and secretly opposing the doctrine of the Apostles who said Know ye not that Christ is within you except you be Reprobates But the mighty Day of the Lord is come and coming wherein all hearts are made manifest and the secrets thereof discovered and the light is springing out of darkness and the Sun is breaking thorow the Clouds to give light to all men and Nations and the great Whore which hath decked her self in divers colours to deceive shall be made naked and bare and the day of great striving is come and now every man stands up for his Interest to defend his Possession for the just Judge standeth at the Door to enquire by what Law every man holds his Inheritance and he findeth many holding their Religion and Profession by the Traditions of men only and not by the Revelation of Christ Jesus in them and such he will dispossess though they strive against him yet all is in vain and though they plead Antiquity yet that will not prevail and in that the day of great striving is come betwixt the Lamb and his Followers the Draggon and his Followers every one of that Party appearing with such weapons as the Devil hath armed them withal and with such Armour as the wicked hath they come appearing under divers colours to fight against Zioâ— yet under one Head and Prince of Darkness and unto one Purpose evâ—… that the Seed of Iacob may be rooted out and that the Way of Truth may 〈◊〉 prosper that then the Wicked may go on in
lying Thy second proof is That we are Deceivers because sayst thou 〈◊〉 do perswade souls that Christ is crucified in them dead within them kept 〈◊〉 with something within them which was never taught by them that spoke the Scriptures c. Reply These words are falsly laid down but what thinkest thou of such who might crucifie to themselves afresh the Son of God and put him to open shame as it is written this they could not do above Stars they being men upon the Earth and Christ was sent to preach to the Spirits in Prison he that can read let him understand this Doctrine was preached by them that spoke forth the Scriptures who had the Spirit of God but in blindness I find thee and I think so I must leave thee and though I do not feed the Serpent yet my words are plain to him that hath an understanding and an ear open and Deceiver belongs to thee and at thy door it lyes and thou canst not remove it Farther thou sayst We perswade souls that that man that was born of the Virgin Mary is not above the Clouds and the Stars when as the Scripture saith a Cloud received him out of their fight Reply This is another Lye uttered without fear or knowledge or honesty we do not perswade souls to believe any such thing but bears witness to the truth of that Scripture that a Cloud received him out of their sight and we say he is out of their sight and must appear again in sight and this is a wicked way of thee to prove us Deceivers by slandering us adding more to thy own sin and the more will be thy burthen in the day of the Lord when Plagues and Torment are thy portion from which thou shalt not flye though now thou be above shame Farther sayst thou We perswade souls not to believe that that man that was crucified and rose again c. Shall so come again to Iudgment as he went away and shall raise up men and women out of their Graves and cause them to come into the Valley of Jehoshaphat thou sayst we strive to beat souls off from believing this c. Reply O how swiftly thy lying Tongue runs without fear as though neither God nor man took notice of thee or that ever thou shouldst be called to question for them many Lyes together thou hast here foulded up in one thy Lyes I deny and this to be one hast thou set thy self to tell Lyes O abominable wickedness mayst thou not tremble when thou considers what thou falsly sayst of us contrary to my words who said in the truth of my heart we own him to be what the Scripture speaks of him and not otherwise it seems thou cannot believe when I speak truth I number up thy Lyes and returns them back to thee to read and by all this is it not true that thou art of the same spirit with thy fellow and abound more in Lyes as I said in my first his was but about three thine manifold more but thy Lyes are no testimony against us that we are Deceivers but they shall lie heavy upon thee at one day when we shall be clear For in the affirmive I further say that that Christ Jesus that was crucified and rose again shall come as he went away to Judgement and the dead shall be raised and every man shall receive according to their deeds and he shal◠set to judge the Heathen round about according to Ioel 3. and thy portion in that day shall be Howling and Gnashing of Teeth for the Lyars Portion is the Lake Thou sayst again the Quakers make no difference between that Light wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned all and the Spirit of Christ he gives not to all Reply I put thee to prove that they are contrary or divided one against the other for thus Christ saith I will send you the Comforter even the Spirit of Truth which must needs be the Spirit of Christ and he shall reprove or convince the World of sin and of righteousness now mark that same Spirit of the Father and of the Son who is the Comforter of the Saints is the same and not another that doth reprove the World he that can read let him understand the World cannot receive the Comforter yet have they given to them that which doth reprove them which is with the Light of Christ Jesus of the same and not contrary nor divided if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear the Error is in thy self who art without understanding Further thou sayst That every one hath that which is like the Spirit of Christ even as God as the Spirit of Christ which thou sayst is desperate blassphemy and cryes out with an out-cry O wonderfull deceit c. Reply I would have all to take notice that thou hast wronged my words in wresting of them for thy wicked purpose to have a ground of slander there is no such words in the tenth Page of my Book which thou quotest but in one place I say till thou prove the Light of Christ Iohn 1. 9. which thou confesses every man hath to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ Mark I shall say every man hath that which is one in union and like the Spirit of Christ even as good as the Spirit of Christ according to its measure these words I must own But let the sober Reader take notice how fouly thou hast wronged my words leaving out the strength of them to take occasion of slander whe◠thou hadst proved the Light of Christ which in Iohn 1. 9. is spoken of to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ then had been a better season for this charge against me O thou impudent and shameless man so uniustly to deal against the upright who envies thee not but pitties thee therefore when thou or any man can prove the Light of Christ spoken of Iohn 1. 9. and Iohn 8. 12. to be contrary to the Spirit of Christ then I may own the Judgement and charge upon me but till then thou art proved a Lyar for the Light of Christ spoken of Iohn 1. 9. that Light is one in union and not contrary and is of the likeness of the Spirit of Christ and as good in its measure and these words I stand to to vindicate against all thy Lyes and wresting of words and out-cryes who is an unfit fellow to judge what Blasphemy is who art so blind that thou knowest not the difference of words betwixt before and from as I have shewed Repent If so be thou may find mercy Then further thou sayst to cover my self and deceit I do apply that which should be to the children of God c. And yet cannot reprehend my answer which is just and faithful that the Children of God were always counted Deceivers and this is true as thy self confesses but wickedly saith in thy answer and most lyingly too and blasphemy is falen out of thy mouth The Devil
froth proceeds out of thy mouth for this Argument comprehends thee and stands out of thy reach for all thy detestable speeches against me and the truth and the rest of my following words thou hast passed by where I say who owns not that which convinceth of sin how can they own him that takes it away by his Blood and this is truth and tell me in â—ustâ—ess according to my first Query in that page how is sin taken away â—â—om thee more then from the Pope seeing neither of you hath the fruit of ceasing to commit sin And art not thou in the froth who opposes me as though I should say yet never did nor thought that justification must be sought by the deeds of the Law and so gathers a false conception and fights with it and keeps thy self doing in nine sheets against four and yet hast passed over many speciall things almost the chiefest and though no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the Law yet must all flesh living be condemned for the transgression of the Law by Christ who freely gives Life to all that believes if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear in the next thou seemst or wouldst at least to defend thy self from my charge which shall if it doth not lie heavy upon thee which is that I call thee Slanderer and truly too from thy words where thou falsly accused the Qunkers with boasting and Hypocrisie and in thy answer thou sayst I need not be offended for thou dost not know our fellow for boasting in that thou sayst we â—ryâ—p our selves and condemn all others c. But this is no proof of the former Accusation but an addition to thy former wickedness let honest men consider I asked thee when thou didst hear any of them boast or see them live in Hypocrisie but not a word to this sober desire but adds sin to sin a bad way to clear thy self and thy God Be ashamed for crying up self we deny but yet must say or else say falsly That we are of God and the whole World lies in wickedness and he that is of God heareth us and is one with us and this is as the Saints testified and is neither boasting nor Hypocrifie then to my question which was Will that Faith which is without works justifie and thou sayst no c. Then I Reply what is thy condition and theirs who are not only without works of faith but in thy very work of darkness as Lying and false Accusing c. And seeing thou sayst no Consider whether thou hast faith and whether thy works which are like good workes proceed not from the unbeleiving ground and this I add to my next I asked which thou hast passed by must not every one receive according to their deeds in the day of Judgement and then thou runs out in high words against me in that I said if to talk of him Christ his Birth Blood c. Were Faith in him and living by faith then few would want it and further I add the Pope himself would have it and my words are just and honest without exception or contradiction but only that something thou must needs say though thou say many can talk of Christ that will fall short of Heaven c. And asks me a question and fayst Is there not enough in them 〈◊〉 Birth Blood c. to justifie c. I answer the knowledge of all things whatsoever without will not justifie except Christ be within and if he be within the power of his Life Blood Birth c. is known and received and felt and in this I preach not any other Gospel then the Apostles who said Say not who shall ascend or descend to fetch him Mark but what saith it the Word of Faith or of the Gospel which are not divided is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart And thou falsly again charges the Quakers with corrupting and beguiling mâ—y by those Scriptures Reply Beguiling is thy own and corrupting of Scriptures too as is proved and whilst thou accuses us falsly in these things thy self art proved truly guilty in the sight of all that are spiritual and as to thy charging me That the man Christ Iesus is not very pleasant to me And with Scoulding c. Thy slanders I bear with patience and thy reproaches which is not for evil but for Christs sake who dyed at Ierusalem and is revaeled in me and for shâ—… cease to say Thou art ruled by Scripture a Lyar and Slanderer and Preverter of Scriptures is not led with the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture but is ruled by the Devil and is out of Scripture rule then thou goes on and wouldst justifie thy ignorant saying How are they deceived who own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the World began c. And my answer to it thou hast not touched nor truly contradicted which stands over thee and is sufficient to all honest people and Christ we own the same yesterday to day for ever and doth believe the Father granted that request and he is glorified with the same glory that he had before the World was and though thou tell me of a double meaning yet in plainness I speak without doubleness the fault is in thy weakness and sottishness and blindness of heart who knoâ—… not that which is infinite and immortal and eternal the flesh of Christs body is so Then thou falsly charges me again in that I said if every spirit be of God which doth in words confess thus viz. that Christ was with the Father before the World was was born and suffered in the flesh and was buried and raised c. then is not the Pope himself Antichrist c. As in my fourteenth page whiâ—… putting on a vail and ventering upon thy words But I have spoken the truth herein let that in thy Conscience answer in nakedness without a vail the vail is on thy heart thou canst not understand me and so this is thy simple policy to say the vail is on me and what of that if 〈◊〉 ventred on it it is but in the fear of God though I should say I deny all thâ—… thou sayst or the speaking of any thing for I do not own thy voice though some of thy words be true and though thou speak words of truth yet therefore I reprove thee and sometimes may not let it pass for truth for Christ is my example herein who reproved the Devils though they confessed him Mark that but the chief part of my words are passed over and read over again and see if it is not truth it self where I said It is not much better nor more accepted to confess Christ in words to be come and yet in works to deny him theâ—… it is both in words and works to deny him the one is wicked in prophaneâ—… the other in Hypocrisie the one is a Lyar and the other a false Witness and let the honest Judge then
Spirit is given to eveâ—… man this thou hast catched at and wouldst prove it unsound but truth is oâ—… thee and both these are true and further I say that Christ is given unto 〈◊〉 World yea to all but all receives him not and they that do not receive him 〈◊〉 Reprobates though he be given but not received and the folly and figâ—… against truth is in thy self who says it is contrary to the Scriptures to say 〈◊〉 Spirit is given to every one thou here lyest of the Scripture as it s proved 〈◊〉 I do not befool my self in saying the words or some of them I own in 〈◊〉 Book though I have written against the Book for though thou speak Châ—… words and the Apostles words yet thy voice is the strangers and thy 〈◊〉 I deny what ever words thou speakst and is not bafooling my self and 〈◊〉 I could justly end my discourse and what is said is sufficient to manifest thee and me to the honest Reader And thus far thy weapons of Slanders are broken and thy refuge of Lyes are layd waste and this also is cast by as our spoyled prey of Babylâ—â—s treasure and trampled upon and know that we are of God and be that is of God heareth us and to our God shall all bow and before him tremble And whereas thou seemest to be greatly offended and stumbling very much at my answers to thy Queries because thy carnall conceptions is not satisfied nor thy vain minde gratified having as thou thinkst great occasion against me thereby which causes thy mouth to be opened in vapouring words aloft against the simplicity of the Gospel not understanding my words for the things of the Kingdom of God is a parable to thee and sealed from thee never to be known in the reason in which thou judgest But in short thus I Reply I did not purpose to answer fully to them to feed any mans wisdom with my knowledge of the things of Gods Kingdom for the Queries were not fully directed to the Quakers so that quench thy anger and according to my answer go seek a further answer or else be thou still unsatisfied from them who are led with a spirit of delusion for such a direction requires no full answer from me nor any of us who are in the truth and not in the delusion neither did I purpose nor do I at any time to answer fully to such things as are directed in a great part to others I am not a servant especially to them that are led with a spirit of delusion to fufil thy will But yet the short answers that I gave which was not in the behalf of delusion but for the truths sake I still own though thou cannot understand them but products many bad lying wicked consequences from them and my purpose was not to feed thy foolish wisdom in answering nor to satisfie thy reason to receive praise from thee or any man for so I know it must be in hearing and seeing thou must not perceive nor understand who art of the Generation hardened and in parable is the Kingdom of Heaven unto thee and I rejoyce the rather in being a stumbling to thee in that state wherein thou standed then that I should have gratified thee for I seek not nor receives honour from man in what I do but is covered from the Worlds knowledge and know this if thou cannot receive the Kingdom of Heaven as a little leaven thou shalt never know it But yet how wicked art thou in this also though not understanding me in what I said yet so fouly wronging me with above 30. false charges and slanders from my words which thou reaches not the knowledge of so it will be enough Reply to sum up thy Lyes and send them back to thee to seek them out and an evidence for them and the Querys and my Answers shall stand as they are to be judged of by honest men while we are both silent in our own cause they are to be seen at large in my first Book The true faith of the Gospel contended for c. in the 26 27 28 pages And whereas further I speak at the end of my Answers of Christ within the hope of glory and said it is that mystery which long hath been hid from Ages but now is made manifest and declared and though the wise of this World cannot receive it but speaks evil against it yet it is dear unto us and so much more precious because despised by such as him and such things are a testimony to us and against you viz. our Enemies c. As in my 29. Page of my first may be sâ—en and most wickedly this or part of it he calls babling and says he passes by it O horrible impudency What marvel that he should so belye me when as he hath called the very Scripture truth spoken forth in righteousness bablings and these things I leave the Reader to Judge of and all his Lyes thrown upon 〈◊〉 â—â—pudently and consider what ground this man hath from my answers to be seen in my first Book to broach out and belch out such a number of Lyes and Slanders in five sides of paper not any one of them charged against me falsly were spoken by me or ever in my thoughts to speak or ground given by any of my words for such productions as it is seen what lodges in the heart of such a Fellow even desperate wickedness who is without any 〈◊〉 or honesty who dare utter such things against the upright who hates not his Enemies but while I am clear in the sight of God from all his false Slanders I matter not what Iohn Bunion says of me who is as a man given up to wickedness who in less then a sheet of paper hath uttered thirty Lyes or more which I may particularly manifest before he can find evidence a great wickedness 〈◊〉 this mans Converts be good while himself is unconverted is he a Minister of Christ for shame let it not be told so well I beg not vengeance against him he leaves my answers to be read who will clear me from his lying consequences 〈◊〉 wickedly conceived and as wickedly uttered By one of Gogs Army against a Member of Jesus Now I come to reckon up his damnable Doctrines and errors which are contrary to the truth as will manifestly appear to him that is spiritual some of thâ—â— damnable without comparison Iohn Bunion said That Christs second coming is not his coming in Spirit for 〈◊〉 coming in Spirit is no coming He saith this or part of it is a lye made of hiâ— by me when as several Witnesses doth testifie in righteousness that those very words were spoken by him in Pauls steeple-house in Bedford Town Mâ— 23. 1656. as is witnessed and yet this man is so impudent that he deâ—â—â— what he spake or is ashamed of his words and so would cast the Lye upâ—â— me who is clear and the wickedness lies at his door and whereas he
that they should not always be deceived and alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledg of the Truth and hath no other end to our selves God is our witnesse but that people may be converted to the knowledg of God and as I said before though the Papists may hold some truth in words and cry against some sort of people out of a wicked end yet may not we therefore deny the truth as it is in Jesus neither must be silent is declaring against sin and wickednesse and let him say what he will concerting any advantage the Devil reaps by us it will but be the overthrow of his very kingdom Why but saith he If we do but unchurch all the reformed Churches the Papists will give us a fee I say it is a hard thing to unchurch them that never were truly churched and that we seek to unchurch such as are the Churches of Christ this is utterly false and the Papists fee and his reproach we trample upon them both together and let him take the Papists fee as he pleads for it for it was they first that took tythes for a fee and it is he now that strongly pleads for them to be maintained in his Ministry by them 13. His thirteenth Reason Saith he the Doctrine and practice of the Quakers is contrary to the experience and holy nature of the Saints why saith he they have sound a renewed light and life by the Scriptures and Ministry which the Quakers make so light of c. To this I answer this is as false as the rest for with all the Saints that ever were upon earth both in Doctrine and Practice we agree with them and as 〈◊〉 the peoples sakes of England I wish his words were true and that they haâ—… indeed found a renewing light and life by this Ministry but though he may boast of it now in the day of Gods righteous judgments it shall be found otherwise when it shall be tryed that the renewing hath been but in form and appearance from one likenesse to another and not a renewing from death to life and though there hath been sometimes appearing a zeal and a desire after him in the Ministry of England in times past yet from this day hath the Lord forsaken them and such as were sober and sincere in what was made manifest are now become Revilers and Reproachers Slanderers and Persecutors of the People of God and from hence-forth shall they not boast of many being Converted by them from sin unto the way of Righteousness But further he saith We tell the people that their Ministry doth the people no good and none are the better for it If we do we tell them true And though he saith The experiences of many thousands doth confute this yet say I the experiences of ten thousand times so many more shall confirm it It is true there may be thousands like himself which will not stumble to belye their own souls as he hath done of us yet betwixt him and I in this matter God shall be our Judg who hath not sent this Ministry and yet it hath run therefore it doth not nor shall not profit the people at all He saith It is quite contrary to the nature of Saints to damn and reproach the Saints and call them the children of the Devil This is true but it is not contrary to the nature of the Saints to reprove Hypocrites such as profess that which they do not enjoy and speak that which they have not received from the Lord but steal from other mens words such are many of the Teachers of England and it was the way of Christ and his Apostles soundly to reprove such And this is our way and we do not reproach the Saints nor damn them and yet to the wicked which are not Saints we dare not cry peace but do say The wicked and such who forget God shall be turned into Hell And for this David is our example 14. His fourteenth Reason He saith The Quakers are unlikely to be better then other men seeing they are so notoriously proud and thus this pride doth appear Saith he It is the supposed Spirit of God and the extraordinary holiness and inspiration and abilities that they are proud of and saith he They proclaim themselves perfect without sin And this is the pride he chargeth us with c. To which I answer We say that in Christ we are compleat as the Apostles said to the Churches and do not boast of it neither are proud of it more then the Churches were but in the Lord we will glory and in him rejoyce again and again and it is that which we press after and exhort all to press after to be perfect in him who takes away our sins and gives power over the temptations of the Devil And he saith We pretend to know mens hearts Yea we do know that the heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things and by mens words and works we do know their hearts to be evil that acts and speaks wickedness For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh And if we should say we do not know mens hearts that acts and speaks wickedness we should be Lyars but as I said What we are it is by grace in Christ and we boast not of it in the flesh but our glorying is onely in the Lord in Spirit that our names are written in the Book of life And as for our crying against Deceivers which he so much stumbles at it is but the practice of Christ and his Apostles as may be read through the Scriptures and yet we do it not no more then they did in self-exaltation though he would charge us with it 15. His fifteenth Reason Saith he They plainly discover a persecuting spirit Why saith he what man can in reason think but that they run up and down the World to bring Ministry into hatred c. To this I answer Little of this doth appear that our spirits are persecuting spirits for we pray for our Enemies and do forgive them that do evil intreat us and renders to no man evil for evil for if we had sought vengeance or prosecuted the good Laws of England against those that had wronged and robbed us and unjustly caused us to be put in Prison many might have deeply suffered by true Justice before this day if we had not forgiven our Enemies and blessed them that hated us Such hath been the cruelty acted upon us that many might have been arraigned for felony if we had sought the prosecution of the good Laws and not forgiven our Enemies Why but the main thing is because we are moved to go up and down the World and declare against the false Ministers and holding forth that Ministry and truly applying it to many of the Teachers of England But let all the World know this is not from a persecuting spirit not more then Isaiah did it and Micah and the rest of
are not of the true Christian Religion according to the Scriptures it remains to be proved if there be any who they be that are of the true Christian Religion as it is held forth in the Scriptures and who they be that are to be protected in their Practice and Exercise of Religion And as concerning the dispised and rejected People called Quakers herein I shall speak for them as a Friend to them and a Lover of their Wayes who is nor ashamed of their Practices in Religion and shall measure and try their Practices in Religion whether they be according to Scripture and if it prove so to be that what they practice for Religion and hold forth for Doctrine be according to the Scriptures then why should not they own their Right and Priviledge to be upholden and maintained by the Protector 's Oath who hath sworn to uphold and maintain them and their Religion whose Exercise in Religion is according to Scriptures being that same People are and have been faithful Subjects of this Common-Wealth And first of all They dare not own themselves to be Christians nor to be Members of Christ nor to have any Right or Title to the Kingdom of God but as they witness converting by the Spirit of the Lord and are changed from Death to Life and from Darkness to Light and from Satan's power unto the Power of God through the Operation of the same Spirit and as in all their Works and Wayes and Exercises in Religion they are guided by the same Spirit who leadeth them out of the World and out of the Vanities and Evil-Works thereof and this is according to the Scriptures And their Religion herein is justify'd by the Scriptures who witness That Christ is in them and that they have receiv'd him through Faith and thereby are cleansed from all Unrighteousness and have put off and are putting off the Body of sin and death and walk with God in Purity and Holiness being led by the Spirit of God therein and with God they have Peace being reconciled by Jesus Christ who is their Salvation and they have no other And this is according to the Scriptures And again As concerning their Meetings and the manner thereof They are not contrary but according to the Scriptures for though they meet in many Parts of these Nations by great Numbers some in the open Fields and some on the Mountains in some Places and sometimes without Doors and sometimes in Houses all this Practice is according to Scriptures For we read Mat. 5. 1. in the dayes of Christ That there were great Multitudes of People that follow'd him and he went up into a Mountain and preached and taught them upon the Mountain And in Mat. 14. 14. we read That there were great Multitudes that came out of the Cities unto Iesus into the Deserts and he had compassion towards them and did good unto them And at that time there were many Thousands met together as you may read and it seems stay'd many whole dayes together for they sate down on the Grass and eat together and then Iesus sent the Multitudes away And in Mark 6. you may read how that Multitudes came to Iesus out of the Cities into a desert Place and Iesus began to teach them many things in that desert Place for he had compassion on the Multitude And in Luke 9. how the people again follow'd Jesus into a desert Place and he preached unto them the Kingdom of God Such Meetings then were counted strange as such Meetings are now when the People of God meet together by great Numbers to preach and to hear the Kingdom of God preached But their Meetings are according to the Scriptures for the People of God in Generations past met in the same manner as the People of God called Quakers meet now For sometimes Christ preached out of a Ship unto the People that stood on the Sea Shore And Paul kneeled down and prayed among the Saints near the Sea Shore at his passing into the Ship And we read Acts 2. that there was Three Thousand converted at one Sermon then there must needs be a great Meeting and a great deal of People met together Such Meetings now are wondred at but such Meetings are but according to Scripture so that this part of their Practice in Religion is agreeable to the Scriptures and the same as the Saints Practice was in Ages past And as for the People of God meeting together sometimes in the Night-season to wait upon the Lord and sometimes sitting in Silence and waiting upon the Lord and no words utter'd amongst them but every one sitting silent before the Lord having receiv'd nothing from the Lord to speak one to another at which the people of the World do wonder and falsly judge it not to be a Christian Exercise But we read in the Scripture Iob 2. that Iob who was a Christian for he was a just and perfect man he and his Friends sate upon the Ground seven dayes and seven nights and spake not a word one to another this would be a strange thing at this day to see practised And in Ier. 8. 14. you may read where the Prophet Ieremiah exhorted the people to assemble themselves and said Let us enter into defenced Cities and let us be silent there for the Lord our God hath put us to Silence But such a Practice now is thought strange by the people of the World who are not acquainted with the Wayes of God who are wise in their own Eyes and know not what it is to wait upon the Lord in silence who never yet were put to silence in themselves by the Lord. And you may read Ezek. 3. where the Prophet sate down among the People of the Captivity and they were astonish'd seven dayes and at the end of seven dayes and not before the Word of the Lord came to the Prophet So that you see it was the Practice of the Servants of the Lord oft-times to sit and wait upon the Lord in Silence though people wonder at such Meetings now And we do not read That there was alwayes speaking among the Saints in the Churches when they were met together But Acts 2. we read That the Church was met together in a Place and the Holy Ghost fell upon them and then they began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance then it seems they had not spoken before though they had met together in a House and then they spoke the wonderful things of God and some that heard mocked and others said they were full of New Wine even as the people of the World do at this day when any of the People of the Lord are moved to speak as the Spirit gives utterance So that sometimes to sit in Silence being met together to wait upon the Lord as many of the Servants of the Lord do in this Nation is a Practice of Religion and not contrary but according to the Scriptures for many of the Servants
and Assemblies of the Lord's People practiz'd the same thing in Ages past as the Servants of the Lord do at this day so this Practice is to be upholden and maintained because it is proved to be according to the Scriptures for the same thing was practiz'd heretofore And we read Acts 20. 7. That the Church met in the Night for Paul continued his Sermon till Midnight And as for their Practice in Speaking either man or Woman as the Spirit gives utterance this is according to the Scriptures though it be much wondred at and cry'd against by the Wise-men and People of this Age for we read Acts 2. that they spoke in their Meeting as the Spirit gave them utterance without studying before-hand what to say And the Lord promised That Sons and Daughters should Prophesie And in Acts 21. 9. we read of one that had four Daughters that did Prophesie And divers other places in Scripture do shew That Women labour'd in the Gospel which doth prove that a Woman speaking and declaring the things of God is not contrary but according to the Scriptures and that any who are moved of the Lord may declare the things of God Man or Woman And the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 4. 10. As every man hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another So that this Practise in Religion is proved to be according to the Scriptures And as concerning their call to the Ministry some are called from their ordinary callings as from the Plough or from handicraft work or tradings or such like this is according to the Scriptures also for we read Matt. 4. 18 19. where the Disciples were called from their Nets and some were called from the receipt of Custom and we read Amos 7. that he was a Herdsman and a gatherer of Sycamore fruit and Elisha was called from the Plough and some others were called from keeping of Sheep So that their call to the Ministry and Practice in the Ministry is according to the Scriptures for the Servants of the Lord in former Ages were called to the Ministry after the same manner so in that they do agree to the Scripture both in Ministry and ministring and so may own protection herein by the Protectors Oath And as concerning their going up and down through the Countries and from City to City and from one Town to another and from one Nation to another this is according to the Scriptures though some seek occasion thereby against them and unjustly take them as for Vagabonds and executes their envy upon them yet it was the Apostles Practice as you may read in the Book of Acts where the Apostles travelled from Country to Country and from one City to another And though some of the Servants of the Lord are moved now to speak and dispute in the Markets and reprove Sin in the Gates and in the Streets and in the High-wayes and threatning God's Judgments against the Wicked all these things are according to Scripture and their Practice herein is justified by the Scriptures for we read Acts 17. 17. That Paul disputed in the Synagogues with the Jews and with the devout Persons and in the Market daily with them that met with him And we read Ier. 7. That he was commanded to stand in the Gate of the Lord's House and to speak to all that passed into it And Ier. 26. we read That he was commanded to stand in the Court of the Lord's House without doors and to speak to all the Cities of Judah And we read in the Book of Ionas How he was commanded to go through the Streets and to reprove Sin and to threaten God's Iudgments against the Wicked and these Practices were strange in that Generation as they are at this day unto the World who are not acquainted with the Wayes of God But all people may see though the Servants of the Lord do practice these things now as they are moved their Practice herein is according to the Scriptures for the Servants of the Lord in former Ages acted the same things so that in this Practice the Servants of the Lord ought not to be persecuted but protected and maintained in it and that by the Protector 's Oath because it is proved to be according to the Scriptures which he is sworn to maintain And as concerning their crying against such and declaring against them by word and writing That Preach for Hire and Divine for Money and seek for their Gain from their Quarter and such who go for Gifts and Rewards and have Sums of Money by the Year for Preaching and though they deny such that act those things to be Ministers of Christ this Practice also is according to the Scriptures for we read in Mic. 3. that he declar'd against such as Preached for Hire and Divined for Money and such were no Ministers of Christ And we read Isa. â—6 that he declared against them that sought for their Gain from their Quarter which were Greedy Covetous men such as are many of the Teachers of England Again we read Mat. 23. where Christ declar'd against such and did not own such to be any of his Ministers Who were called of men Master who stood praying in the Synagogues and had the chief Places in the Assemblies And we read in 2 Pet. 2. and in many other places where the Apostles declared against such and deny'd such to be Ministers of Christ that preached for filthy Lucre and took Gifts and Rewards for Preaching and by feigned words made Merchandize of Souls who were Heady and High-minded-men as you may read 2 Tim. 3. chap. and such men were deny'd to be Ministers of Christ by the Prophets Christ and his Apostles so that all people may see this Practice of the Servants of the Lord at this day who are moved to declare against such men that act these things mentioned is perfectly according to the Scriptures for the Servants of the Lord spoken of in Scripture did the very same things in this particular as are done at this day Therefore for this Practice they ought not to be persecuted as they have been but ought to be protected and maintained in it and that by the Protector 's Oath who hath sworn to maintain that practice which is according to the Scripture and to declare against them that preach for Hire and have great sums of Money for Preaching and that are called of men Master and that take Gifts and Rewards of people for Preaching I say to do thus is a practice which the Scripture gives a large Example for and so it must needs be according to Scripture and ought to be protected in this Government Again as concerning their denying to respect Persons or to bâ—… with the Hat or Knee in respect of worshipping any Creature this also is according to the Scriptures though the people of the World who live in pride and vain customs are offended with them in this Practice for we read that God commanded
the one is the Word of God but the other is not and this all sober men confess to though thou dost jangle and twist about it with thy lame Arguments to no purpose at all except to shew thy Weakness and Folly And also No man is justified by Christ's Righteousness until he receives it and as he receives it and this thou shalt one day witness For though Righteousness be in him sufficient to justifie yet by it art thou nor any man justified but in the receiving of it and dwelling in it and this shalt thou confess to be truth in the Day of the Lord and in the mean time let me bear thy false censure in calling this Heresie And also a man may be tempted to sin and there may be evil motions to him yet he not being overcome of the Temptation not consenting to the motion of sin it is no sin unto him neither shall sin be imputed to him if he commits it not but he that commits sin though he profess never so much of Justification yet for his sin shall he be condemned and this shalt thou witness in the day of Iudgment Also That there is a Perfection attainable in this life even to be perfect and without sin in Christ Iesus and this I affirm to be the Truth of the Gospel and that wherein the Faith of God's People stands and though thou madest a twisting and a wrangling against it yet it is too strong for thee and in thy wisdom and thy arguments is thy folly and thy weakness seen and Truth stands over thee and thou canst not it nor me reprehend And also That some of the Scriptures were spoken to the World and not to the Saints this I also have sufficiently proved and thou art not able to detect it and all thy snarling in opposition to these things is confounded and thy Arguments made without effect and all whose eyes are open see thee to be of too short a measure and of too weak a capacity to understand the deep things of God which are hidden from thine Eye and them thou savourest not in that wisdom though thou hast the words yet thou art ignorant of the Life and the Life is in dominion over thee and to it must thou submit and lay down thy Crown And from thee am I hidden in that Life and Truth which I do profess And though I be as a Deceiver yet am I true and though I be slandered and reproached and back-bited by thee yet it is for Christ Iesus's sake and for his Truth 's sake and not as an Evil-doer But Friend learn more Wisdom then to judge a man before thou hearest him or to condemn the matter before thou hearest the Proof of it for by these things thou hast not gain'd a good Report but God condemns thee for it and men see thy shame in it and the burden of it one day shalt thou bear even thou and all that own thee in these things And now thy spirit is try'd and it is found too light and cannot stand in Judgement for it is unsavoury and though seperate from the World in appearance yet is thy spirit of the world and reacheth not the knowledge of the things that are eternal but art imagining in thy mind not being guided by that Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures and so thy knowledge is natural and cannot contain Spiritual Things Therefore Friend come down to God's Witness in thee the Light which shews thee sin and convinces thee of evil that Light is thy Teacher if thou lovest it and thy Condemnation if thou hatest it I have divers particulars against thee at a convenient season to manifest thy Folly and Weakness by them And whatever thou judgest me I am a Friend to thy Soul Edw. Burrough Richard Goodgroom held forth at the Dispute at Draton the 18th day of the 11th Moneth 1657. HE said The Letter was the Word and by the Letter he said he meant the thing contained in the Scriptures And when I said I had the Letter in my hand meaniug my Bible but not the thing signified he said But I had the Thing signified And he said People were justified by Christ excluding the New Birth and the Work of Sanctification and Christ justified Sinners as Sinners that is while Sinners remaining in sin At Justice Fortescue's house in the year 1656. he did deny That any was converted to God by a Light within And then I asked If it was not that same Light that converted which gave the Knowledge of God and they confessed Yea and yet did deny That the Light within converted to God though I shewed them that Scripture 2 Cor. 4. 6. which did confound the Deceit At Uxbridge one time he said Christ needed not to have come to have judged the World for there was sin enough in the World to judge it before he came Then I asked If Sin judged the World and he answered Yea and he said They were in the Covenant of God spoken of Nehem. 9. which turned the Law of God behind their backs E. B. A TESTIMONY Concerning the Estate of the True Church What she hath been and what she is Being given forth from the Motion of the Spirit of the Father COncerning the true State of the Church what she hath been and what she is at this day and concerning her Increase and Decrease through Ages and Generations past And her present State is this Returning again out of the Wilderness where she hath long been fed having a place prepared of God Now the Apostle saw her a Woman cloathed with the Sun covered with the Light of Heaven and with the Glory of God having the Moon under her Feet the Light which was ordain'd to rule the Night Thus she was and this was her state in the dayes of the Apostles when many were converted out of Darkness and renewed to be Members of this Church for her Glory shone through the World and she flourished through Nations and this was her state in the Apostles dayes And she travelled to bring forth the Man-Child Christ Jesus which is the Child and Husband of this Woman which was clothed with the Brightness of the Glory of God the elected Spouse of Christ the Lamb's Wife and his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones having Power and Dominion and treading under all contrary And thus was it with her in Generations past whose Seed spring forth as Branches fruitful and glorious But in process of time it came to pass That this Woman the Spouse of Christ his Body the Wife and Mother of this Man-Child she was bereaved of her Beauty and her Garments were taken away her Seed was made War against and was smitten and overcome and she fled into the Wilderness and there hath sate desolate as a Widdow lamenting the loss of her Children and being deprived of her Husband and the Man-Child which should have ruled the Nations For she hath been fled into the Wilderness and her former Beauty
in for then the Worship of Christians was one and in one Spirit but now the Worships of Christians are many and divers and divided one from another and they are not in unity in their Worship 〈◊〉 in strife and division and herein you are apostatized from the Life oâ—…â—…ristianity and its manifest that the Worship of Chrâ—…s now is not in 〈◊〉 Sâ—…t and in the Truth but in vain Traditiâ—… learned in natural knowlâ—…ge by people that are not converted unto God and any part of the Worship which is now practised amongst Christians whether amongst Papists of any sort or Protestants of any sort I say every part of the Worship now practised amongst Christians through the World may by taught unto and learned of and exercised in by a man that knows â—â—t God neither is in the Truth nor converted to the Truth neither hath the Spirit of God guiding nor leading of him And I say That which may be done or practised by a man that is not in the Spirit nor in the Truth not is yet converted to the Knowledge of God nor is not in any measure guâ—â—ed by the Spirit of God is not the Worship of the true God which is in the Spirit and Truth but as I have said any part of the Worship now prâ—…sed amongst Christians may be done and practised by aman that is out of the Spirit and out of the Truth and unconverted to the Knowledge of God 〈◊〉 therefore the Worship now practâ—â—ed amongst Christians is not the true worship of the true God which is in the Spirit and in the Truth and which câ—â—not be practised without it Many more things might be said as to prove the Worship of Christians now 〈◊〉 practised by them is not the true Worship of the true God but this is 〈◊〉 which I have said that which is practised without the Spirit of God is not the true Worship of God which must be in the Spirit and cannot be practised without it but such is the worship of Christians for the Christiansâ—â—ow â—â—ow generally pray some after one Form and some after another in their own wills and times and know not the movings of the Spirit of the Father tâ—ereunto nor guiding them therein but in such a manner as they set unto themselves or as the custom of the Country instructs them therein and know not the intercession of the Spirit of the Father in them nor know not the praying in the Holy Ghost and as for the preaching of Christians it is not now practised as the Christians of old practised it nor by the same Spirit now they study for what they speak and gather out of the Scriptures â—ome having it written in a Book what they will preach to the people and this is not to preach as the spirit gives them utterance neither is this from the teaching or moving of the Spirit of God but by humane Art and humane Craft knowing before-hand what and how much to speak so much as they have collected in their thoughts from such a Verse and how long to preach till a Glass be run and know what to have for preaching and this and such like is the manner of the Preaching now among Christians which hath no savour in it of God's Spirit or of the Teachings and Leadings of God's Spirit in it but altogether contrary to wit This Practice savours of Idolatry and of vain Traditions and Superstitions And in short This Practice of Preaching among the Christians now is not in the same manner neither by the same Spirit nor for the same End as the Preaching of the Christians was in the dayes of the Apostles which sheweth that the Christians now are Apostatized and greatly Degenerated from what the Christians were then For again The Christian Ministers now do not go as they are moved of the Lord up and down from Country to Country to convert people to God as the Christian Ministers did then But enquire for places of great Maintenance where there are great store of Tythes and Set-Wages and if they can there they settle themselves and preach in manner as I have said And this practice savours nothing of the Teachings of the Spirit of God nor of the Movings of that Spirit whereby the Christian Ministers of old were guided which sheweth that the Christian Ministers now are in the Apostacy and in the Degeneration from God and from what the Christian Ministers were then And as concerning the Practice of Singing noâ— amongst Christians it is not in the Spirit nor with a good Understandiâ—… but in a vain Form and Tradition and not in the Spirit of the Lorâ—… 〈◊〉 now the Christians many of them in a Form sing the Conditions 〈◊〉 as David's Prayers and Praises Troubles and Afflictions when as themselves are in a condition quite contrary to what David was and so sing that which unto themselves is false as being out of that condition of which they sing and this is not singing with the Spirit neither is it to sing spiritual Songs And others of Christians have another manner of singing all which singing of Christians now hath no savour of the Teachings of God's Spirit in it neither is it according nor by the same Spirit as the singing of the Christians once was A woful Apostacy is fallen upon you ye Christians through the World and you are fallen you are fallen from the Life of Christ and the true Praâ—… of Christianity as the first Christians were in then their praying was in the Spirit and the holy Ghost but now without the Spirit in Forms and Traditions Their Preaching then was as the Spirit led them and as it gave them utterance but now by humane Learning and Policy at such a Place for so much a Year an Hour by a Glass what they have gathered by study upon other mens Works Then the Singing of Christians was in the Spirit and their whole Worship was spiritual in the Spirit and in the Truth but the Singing of Christians now and all their Worship is in vain Traditions exercis'd without the Leadings and Movings of the Spirit of God Then the Worship of Christians was one and by one Spirit now it is divers and in division and in many coâ—trary spirits Alas oh ye Christians consider how great is your Fall and how woâ—â—l your Degeneration in respect of your Worship fallen greatly from the teaching of the Spirit of God in your Praying in your Preaching and in your Singing to follow humane Learning and worldly Policy and vain Traditions the Customs of the Country and your own Imaginations in your Praying Preaching and Singing as I have proved unto you Oh consider how great is your Apostacy from the true Life of true Christianity Greatly do you err from the pure Way wherein the true Christians walked and being truly paralell'd with them and measur'd with the Spirit of true Judgment you are found not equal to them in any measure but rather contrary altogether shewing you are guided
Truth so well agreed that it is possible to wrong us both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. pag. 4. Rep. That he wronged me it appears in his not relating all that I said 〈◊〉 the Dispute the Ground of this Quarrel not by half and more I kâ—… and in relating more then himself spoke by far And let sober men judge â—…ther he did not here wrong me in relating a thing that passed between us 〈◊〉 relating much more then ever he spoke and much less then I spoke if the truth of that Matter were it wrong or right Matter and my self also be not by this kind of Doctrine wronged I appeal to all honest People whilst both he and I 〈◊〉 silent so the False-Dealing and Wrong in his first Book is upon him still according to my Charge unremoved And the Lye in this his last Book in that he saith I say Falsly when I have spoken the Truth which is a Lye in the highest degree in saying when I spokâ— the truth That I spoke Falsly and his Proof in that the Truth and I do not agree is because I said in my first The Saints have no need of Scriptures to teach them but the Spirit of the Father leadeth and teacheth into all Truth Rep. My words are justifiable for It is the Spirit that leadeth into all Truth John 16. and the Saints need no man to teach them but they have the Aâ—â—inting within them and they know all things by the Unction 1 John and the Spirit of the Father is given them by which the Scriptures were given forth And the Lord is the Teacher of his People and they need not any to say to them Know the Lord Ier. 31. Ye they that witness this do not make the Scripture of none effect but own it in its place yet not as their Teacher for then they should deny the new Covenant Ier. 31. and then something besides the Spirit leads into Truth and they have something to teach them besides the Anointing but if this be all the Proof that can be given against me That I and the Truth do not agree I doubt not but â—ll Spiritual men will see the Emptiness and Weakness of the Witness against me and will be more confirmed rather then shaken that I and the Truth do fully agree though P. T. speaks otherwise falsly against me and as if I had contradicted the Apostles words which he quotes against me who saith Whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning which Scripture I do own and no way contradict it s the Error of his Judgment which so judgeth for even they for whom the things that were written were for their learning yet they were led into all Truth by the Teachings of the Spirit and they were taught of the Father and what was written to them was not written because they knew not Truth or to teach them Truth 1 Iohn 2. 21. let him learn what this means The next thing he notes is whereas I said I then proved meaning at the Dispute bâ—… Scriptures That some were perfect in this life 1 Cor. 2. 5. even perfect without sin John 1. 47. 1 John 3. 7. And to gainsay this he hath brought 2 John 1. 8. If 〈◊〉 say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us and saith he Who speaks truth in this E. B. or the Apostle as if I had spoken contrary to the Apostle Solomon also saith he tell us There is not a Iust Man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not which also he brings as a Witness against what I have affirmed Rep. It s true I held forth a state of Perfection to be waited for and attained â—â—to upon Earth and I am not ashamed of my Principle neither is it found too light For that Scripture 1 Cor. 2. 5. doth testifie that some were perfect upon Earth in the dayes of the Apostles and if they were so the same is to be waited for and witnessed in this Age for the Hand of the Lord is not shortened And that Scripture 1 Iohn 3. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not and 〈◊〉 is born of God doth not commit sin vers 6 9. doth clearly manifest there is a â—â—â—te upon Earth free from sin wherein Power is received and felt over all Temptations and over the Devil even such an estate That the Wicked One canâ—…â—â—ch such that are born of God and this was the thing I held forth and do vindiâ—…e against all Opposers That the Saints may wait for and witness upon Earth to have power over sin and over its Temptations and free from the committing of sin by the Power of the second Adam living and dwelling in thâ—â— And thus must thou believe P. T. or else thou believest not Scripture â—â—â— that any are born of God or abide in Christ if thou believest not that tâ—… confess thou errest in Judgment who art unbelieving of what the Scriptâ—… bears witness of Therefore tell me plainly if thou believest That there â—…y that are born of God and abide in Christ then must thou believe 〈◊〉 do not commit sin elâ—e thou deniest the Scripture And what I held forth herein I do not contradict the Apostle nor Solomon's words for its true the Apostle said If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves but art thou so blind that thou dost not see he speaks there of a state before Confession of Sins and the words saith the Apostle If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us 〈◊〉 Sins and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness so I do agree with the Apostle's words and do not contradict them For I do say If any say they have no sin before they do confess their sin and forsake their sin and be cleansed from it I do say they are Lyars and the Truth not in them and I also say If that after a maâ— hath confest his sin and be cleansed from it and hath his sin forgiven him and witnesseth that he is born of God and does not commit sin I say he 〈◊〉 the Truth also and the Truth is in him And though Solomon did say There is not a just man upon Earth that doth good and sins not yet is my affirmation true notwithstanding for Solomon forgat the Lord and his Heart went after many strange Women and became a Transgressor and in that state did not know the Birth born of God which doth not commit Sin for he was but under the Administration of the Law which doth not make perfect as pertâ—… to the Conscience and peradventure in that state he being erred from God he did not see any that did not sin These things will be plain to some though perhaps thou mayst shut thine eye against them and Solomen was not our Example in Conversation I am sure nor hardly in Doctrine And thus I 〈◊〉 weighed thy Text which thou seemest to say before I have not weighed and my Principles are proved sound and
and are in Christ for who do commit Sin are Unholy and so reputed of God and Sin is neckoned to them and this all will find in the Day of the Lord when 〈◊〉 cometh to judge righteously and to give every man according to his Works and nor according to what he may make a shew of and profess in words thouâ—â— all you false Daubers with Untempored Morter heal up the Hurt of the Daughter of Siâ—n deceitfully and cry Peace Peace by a false applying the Proâ—…ses and Words of Christ when God speaks no Peace and even you and you false daubeâ— Wall will the Whirlewind of the Lord beat down and destroy utterly And this I assert contrary to thy false Doctrine and Principles Tâ—… none are justified but who have Christ in them and really partake of Holiness and â—…sness and are really cleansed from all Sin and are born of the Spirit of God 〈…〉 〈◊〉 of the Prâ—… of Eternal Life 〈…〉 thou sayst Iustiâ—… 〈◊〉 not of any Dâ—gree 〈◊〉 if a Person 〈…〉 from any onâ— Sin he is justifieth from all Sin 〈◊〉 well from Siâ—â— to be committed 〈…〉 are already coâ—…ed and who is 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 Person is not unjustified upon 〈…〉 c. Answ. Grace and Faith and Truth and Christ himself admitteth of Deâ—… which are one and there are several Measures of Life of 〈…〉 and Faith of Sanctification and of Justification also for 〈◊〉 as every man hath received Christ so hath he received Sanctification â—… and no otherwise for Christ is made Wisdom and Sanctiâ—â—cation and Salvation and every one feels his Sanctification and his Justificaâ—… 〈◊〉 to the Measure of the Gift of Christ so that there are seveâ—… of Justification And also a man may be justified from one sin â—… and not from all sin for according to every man's Sanctificatiâ—… Witness of his Justification to him and no more and if thou 〈…〉 â—â—ing by Experience thou knowest this And no man is justified 〈…〉 which he is to commit for that saith gives Licence to sin if any 〈…〉 sin shall believe that that sin is long since forgiven and he is justiâ—… 〈◊〉 and if he shall believe that he is justified though he commits sin 〈◊〉 â—…fore he commits his sin this will be a cause to run into sin and is a 〈…〉 by thee unto all Unrighteousness Why if people can believe they 〈…〉 from the Sins which they have yet to commit what should restrain 〈…〉 running with pleasure into all Unrighteousness And if new Sins 〈…〉 committed do not make Persons unjustified then may the Sinners reâ—… their Sins and take their pleasure in Ungodliness This Doctrine of 〈◊〉 is pleasant to the Wicked and it is the Way and Principle of Liberty in â—… rather then the Principles to lead from sin and so thou hast shewed 〈◊〉 Work thou arâ— doing by strengthning the Wicked in his Way so that he cannot turn from sin rather then drawing him from sin and this is the 〈…〉 work And thou sayst Such as are justified are regenerated and sanctified and a little 〈◊〉 thou sayst To be justified is not to be cleansed nor is it to partake of real Rightâ—… and Persons are justified from Sins which they have to commit Answ. These are Contradictions and proceed out of Darkness and not 〈…〉 Light and thy Folly and Ignorance may be read by all men For who are Regenerated and Sanctified are also cleansed and partake of real â—…ness And thou further sayst That Sanctification is a real Change from sin to the parity of 〈◊〉 â—…ge of God Answ. And I say None are Sanctified but they are Justified so none are 〈◊〉 but who are changed into the Image of God this the Truth saith and wherein thou hast said contrary thou hast spoken contrary to the Truth and the Truth will judge thee 〈◊〉 Thou sayst Sanctification is not perfect in this life and the New Man â—… or Law of the Mind is that Grace or imperfect Sanctification c. Answ. Then Christ is not perfect in this life for he is made of God unto us Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. â—0 But we say Christ is perfect and therefore Sanctification is perfect and the New Man is the Image of God and is created in Râ—…sness and in true Holiness But thou sayst The New Man 〈◊〉 imperfect 〈…〉 of thy Principles when they are compared with the Scriptures and see the 〈◊〉 and Wickedness of them And the Spirit and Law in the mind â—s the Spirit of God and the Law of God in which the Apostles served God and 〈◊〉 all the Saints but thou sayst The Spirit and Law in the Mind is imperfect 〈◊〉 this is Error in the highest degree to say â—…gniâ—… That the New Man 〈◊〉 Image of God thaâ— is in Righteousness and true Holiness and the Spirit of God and the Law of God is imperfect Sanctification and Grace is the Salvation and is God's Sufficiency and that thou sayst is imperfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus thy Principles of thy Religion which thou walkest in thy self 〈…〉 wouldst teach to others are Abominable corrupted Principles of Eâ—… contrary to the Spirit of Truth and to the Scriptures also And 〈…〉 that thy Name is concealed for thy work deserves noâ— a good Mans 〈…〉 it Much more might be said to lay open further thy â—olly but this is suâ—… men of Understanding and contrary to thee I do aâ—â—ert That the New 〈…〉 Image of God the Spirit and Lâ—…f God in the Mind is perfâ—… Peace 〈…〉 Sanctification and thou hast said the contrary and now whether thy 〈…〉 ples of Religion or mine be the most true and whether false let all 〈…〉 judge with the Light in their Consciences And thou sayst The old Man the Flesh the Body of Sin the Body of 〈…〉 the Sin that remains in sanctified Persons Answ. Who are sanctified are freed from thâ— Body of Sin and Dâ—… have put it off and the Law of the Spirit of Life hath fâ—eed 〈◊〉 from 〈…〉 and from the old Man for if the old Man the Flesh the Body of 〈…〉 Death be in the sanctified Persons then there are none sâ—â—ctiâ—â—ed at 〈…〉 what are they sanctified freed and cleansed from if the old Man 〈…〉 the Body of Sin and Death be yet remaining in them Thou spâ—… unlearned man and one that knows not the sanctified state but art 〈…〉 thy mind and Judgment and in thy words also for we have put 〈…〉 Man and are crucified to the Flesh and made free from the Body of 〈…〉 Death and this is our Sanctification and who are remaining 〈…〉 things are not sanctified but are in the Degeneration and hav◠〈…〉 yet in the Kingdom of God nor in Christ Jesus but are withâ—… the World And thousayst The Sanctification of the First Day hath put an end to 〈…〉 fication of the Seventh c. Answ. Here again thou hast uttered that which thou knowest not 〈…〉 dayes are alike unto God and one sanctified as much as another and 〈…〉 of dayes with
him but all are holy and pure and good and when 〈…〉 ctification of any thing is put to an end as thou sayst the sanctification 〈…〉 Seventh Day is then the thing is no more good nor holy but becoâ—… and unclean if it be no more sanctified nor holy and in this Princiâ—… hast erred also As for the Seventh Day it was commanded of God to the Iews to be 〈…〉 and observed holy to the Lord and all manner of Labour to all Creatures 〈…〉 forbidden which thing was a Sign and a Shaddow of a good Thing to coâ—… the End of which Ordinance was Christ the Substance of all things and 〈…〉 End of Dayes and that there was any disanulling of that Command 〈…〉 Iews and a Command to keep and observe the First Day of the Week iâ—… of the other by any outward Command this we read not in all the Scripâ—… and what ground hast thou more then thy Imaginations I know not to aâ—… the changing of dayes and to teach the observation of the First Day 〈…〉 Sabboth instead of the Seventh Day seeing thou hast nothing in the Scripâ—… to raise such a Principle from and so would make exception of Dayes and respâ—ct of Times which the Apostles did not after the Holy Spirit was coâ—… for Dayes and Times all are alike to God and who are come to Christ 〈…〉 true Rest of the Immortal Soul are in the end of Dayes and out of the 〈…〉 spect of Times in the Substance which endures forever And in the Gosâ—… Ministrâ—tion there is no Command or Injunction by Christ or by his Apostâ—… given to 〈◊〉 for the observing any one day more then another And thou sayst when it is sâ—â—d Sâ—… not at all The Meaning is not Vainly 〈…〉 Unnecessarily and it is a Seal and Sign that 〈…〉 is of the Whore of Rome and not of the true Church of Christ for 〈…〉 nor true Church of Christ never ordain'd not practised such a thing â—… and in the true Church as sprinkling of Infants and calling it 〈◊〉 in the Faith of Christ and the Seal of the Covenant there was no such 〈◊〉 and Doctrine amongst them but it is come up since the true Church 〈…〉 Wilderness and since the 〈◊〉 received power over Kindreds and 〈…〉 it is an Institution of the great Whore that hath 〈◊〉 upon the 〈…〉 Generations and she has made Nations drink her Cup of Fornications 〈◊〉 original of this Practice and Principle was received 〈◊〉 of the Whore's 〈◊〉 and not by any Commandment of Christ or Example of his Church and 〈◊〉 And I cannot but charge thee That thou teachest for Doctrine the Tru 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and holdst forth for Principles of Religion to be believed and 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 of the great Whore of whose Cup thou hast drâ—nk and 〈◊〉 also give 〈…〉 they may drink it also And to accomplish which Evil End thou 〈…〉 the Scripture Asts 2.39 for the Scripture hath no such thing intende◠〈◊〉 the baptizing of Infants for which end thou hast fâ—â—sly cited it for 〈◊〉 Promise is to as many as the Lord our God shall call yet what is this 〈◊〉 â—prinkling of Infants which thou assertest as a Principle of Religion and 〈◊〉 seem to enforce it by vertue of the Scripture mention'd But 〈…〉 Scripture and shew'd thy self to be disagreeing to the holy Ministers 〈…〉 of Christ and to be agreeing with the false church of Rome 〈…〉 sufficient to thee 〈◊〉 thou sayst The outward Covenant of God is conditional and the 〈…〉 entitles both such as make it and their Infants unto it to wit the Coveâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 The Covenant of God is not outward but spiritual aâ— I have said 〈◊〉 also free even the free Gift of God and the Promise and Covenant 〈…〉 â—â—nifested without the perfoming any thing by the 〈…〉 God for it stands not upon condition but upon free 〈…〉 make a Profession of Faith which have not right nor 〈…〉 Salvation not to God's fore Covenant neither can any upon 〈…〉 infants void of Understanding have any assurance or Title in 〈…〉 of Life eternal but who are regenerated and born of the 〈…〉 and degenerâ—â—â—â— in that state have no title nor right in the 〈…〉 Seed which is Heir of the Promise which is born of God and not 〈…〉 that is the Covenant so thou hast spoken things thou knowest not 〈◊〉 hast manifested thy false Principles which thou walkest in and wouldst 〈◊〉 others to receive them also Then thou speakest of Bread and Wine Which sayst â—â—ou are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Lord's Supper and are a Seal of the Coveâ—… alsâ— c. Answ. The Supper of the Lord is the Bread of eternal Life the Body and 〈◊〉 of Christ and who â—â—ts thereof shall 〈…〉 dye nor Hâ—…ger and Thirst any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as for Bread and Wine visible and carnal that is not the real Supper of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and even the purest institution Practice thereof is but a Representation of â—… and not the very thing and the End and Substance being come the 〈…〉 may be neglected But as for the manner and institution of that Practice i◠〈◊〉 Church of England and the Practice it self we deny to be either a Sign of 〈◊〉 past or to come but in an idolatrous way it is held forth and not in 〈…〉 Honour to God for he is thereby dishonoured for the false church has 〈…〉 the form of that Practice as well as of many others which the true Church 〈◊〉 practiâ—'d without the Power and now doth practice many things in meer Iâ—… tion and vain Idolatry and in Form and Tradition and without the Teâ—… the Spirit which sometime the true Church and the Apostles practized in the 〈◊〉 and by the leading of the Spirit of God and what the Command of God was â—… So that though you may in some things practice the very same which the 〈…〉 did yet having not the same Spirit to lead you nor being guided thereby as 〈◊〉 Saints and the Apostles were your works are but Idolatry and formal 〈◊〉 not accepted of the Lord but stink in his Nostrils And your Covenant is 〈◊〉 ward and your Seals outward your Baptism and Supper outward and 〈◊〉 and while you are with Zeal prosecuting your outward Performances and â—…lowing them you neglect the inward and the Substance which is Christ 〈…〉 you the Hope of Glory which if he be in you then the body of sin is put off and the vail is done away and the Representations are done away and the Substance and 〈◊〉 is come and if Christ be not in you you are Reprobates notwithstanding all your Profession and Practices of outward Duties unto God without his Spirit And whereas thou hast quoted Col. 4. 10. Gal. 5. 17. Rom. 7. 23. to 〈◊〉 That the New Man the Spirit or Law of the Mind is called The imperfect Sanctification Answ. Hereby openly thou hast shewed thy self to be a Perverter of the Scriptures and a Wrester of them to thy own Destruction for
let but reasonâ—…â—en peruse the Scriptures mention'd by thee and see if there be such a thing 〈◊〉 them as held forth by thee That the New Man the Spirit or Law of the Miâ—â— is called Imperfect Sanctifiation which thou hast asserted and cited those Teâ—… to prove it but as to the thing it self I have answered before only this is to 〈◊〉 thy manner of perverting Scriptures which is the work of the evil spirit in thee and not the Work of the Spirit of God And thus I have examin'd some part of thy Principles of Religion which thâ—â— hast put forth into the world for others to learn and the Error and Falsness of them is laid open and how contrary to Scriptures they are and in haste 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were I have passed over it not willing to rake into things which gave no just occasion against Truth but have only confuted a few of thy many particulars which had I narrowly sought into other things much Unsoundness would have been discovered but what I have said is truly sufficient to discover unto 〈◊〉 persons the Error of thy Judgment and of thy Principles and Practices and 〈◊〉 thy whole Religion And before ever thou be a true Instructor of others in 〈◊〉 Way thou must first repent and believe â—nd learn the Way thy self which yet thou art ignorant of for thou hast shewed no Knowledge but what is senâ—… and devilish and from below and meerly carnal and natural and meeting wiâ—â— thy Book and enquiring what the Author was I was engaged to say something to it by way of answer and to lay it to the Line of Judgment according to the Scriptures and it hath proved very guilty of Error and perverting Scriptures The 21th of the 3d Mâ—â—eth 1659 By a Lover of thy Soul and a Sâ—eker of the Good and Peace of all men Edw. Burroughs A MESSAGE To all Kings and Rulers IN CHRISTENDOM To all called Christian Kings and Princes and to all the Parliaments and Rulers and Governours of every Degree throughout the whole Christian World A CALL unto you all by a Servant of the LORD in the Name of the Lord God Dreadful and Mighty and the Highest Power over all the World That ye take off Oppression and relieve the Oppressed and cease to grinde the Face of the Poor and from drinking the Whore's Cup and from carrying of her and from all Oppressions whatsoever lest the Lord God Almighty execute 〈◊〉 fierce Indignation upon you if ye will not turn at his Reproof 〈◊〉 hearke◠〈◊〉 his Voice when he calleth unto you FOrasmuch as it hath come to pass in the World for many Ages smâ—â— the last Glorious Appearance of Christ Jesus and the Light of his Glorious Gospel through his Servants the holy Apostles That Antichrist that Man of Sin the Enemy of Christ and his Kingdom hath ruled in the Hearts of people and throughout over the Christian World and he has been exalted within and without ever since the falling away from the true Faith which once was delivered to the Apostles and true Churches and he hath shewed himself to be God and hath sitten in the Seat of God and hath exercised Lordship over the Persons and Consciences of Men throughout Generations ever since the falling away from the Faith For the True Church the Elected Spouse the Lamb's Wife which once brought forth him that was to rule the Nations and was clothed with the Sun and had once great Beauty and Excellency hath been fled into the Wilderness and hath been desolate as without Husband and Issue but hath remained in her place prepared her of God where she hath dwelt in Mourning and been fed with the Bread of Sorrow being pursued thither by the Dragon and his Floods of Cruelty who also waited to devour the Man-child when he was born and the Martyrs Blood hath been shed and the holy Prophets and Apostles and Saints have been made War against and killed and persecuted for Righteouâ—â—ess sake and the two Witnesses have long lain slain and rejoyced over in the Streets of the great City and the Blood of the â—…cent hath â—een drâ—…k and thâ—… Lamb and his Followers have been made Waâ—…â—…inst and the Dragon the Dâ—vil and Satan hath deceived the World into the Name of Christians without the true Christian Life and Righteousness and Truth hath stood afar off and Justice and Mercy hath been wanting and the Fear of the Lord and true Obedience to him hath been in a great measure expelled out of Nations and even all that would not worship the 〈◊〉 â—nd his Images and receive his Mark the Beast hath had power to kill 〈◊〉 and he hath had power to execute his Wrath against them that have followed the Lamb even all this time of Darkness and Apostacy which hath overâ—…dowed the Christian-world since the Apostles days until this time and all this hath been since the falling away from the Life and Righteousness and Spirit of Jesus as I have said 〈◊〉 the Beast hath been great that arose out of the Sea and out of the Earâ—… when the true Faith was lost and his power mighty amongst men for he reâ—…ed power from the Dragon and made War against the true Church and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 devour the Man-child and power â—â—th been given him over Kindâ—… Tongues and Nations and all the World hath wondered and followed after the Beast and have been admiring his power and his great authority and saying Who is able to make War with him for he hath had a Mouth given that hath spoken great things and it hath been given him to war with the Saints and to overcome them by his unrighteous Laws and Decrees and all that dwelt upon the Earth have worshipped him whose Names are not written in the Book of Life and he hath had many Heads even divers sorts and changes of Government and many Horns with which he hath pushed the Innocent and ruled over the Earth and kept all under his power and he hath set up Images to worship and Likenesses without Life and he hath caused both Small and Great Rich and Poor Free and Bond to receive his Mark and be 〈◊〉 carried the Whore and she hath journeyed upon him from Nation to Nation through the Earth in the Sheep's Clothing and made all Nations drink her Cup of Fornications And the Whore the false church she hath fate as a Queen in great State and Authority upon Nations Tongues Multitudes and Peoples and throâ—… the Beast's authority which hath carried her she hath ruled in great authority over the Consciences Persons and Estates of People and she hath drunk the Saints Blood and the Martyrs Blood and in her is found even 〈◊〉 this Day the Blood of the Martyrs and the Prophets and of â—ust 〈◊〉 and of all that have been slain upon the Earth and she hath exercised Cruelty and Tyranny over the Heritage of God and she hath had the Sheep's Clothing upon her even part of the Garment of the
heady and high-minded men and covetous and Proud and went in the way of Balaam for Gifts and Rewards and that through Covetousness with feigned words made Merchandize of Souls And are not you like them that Iohn saw were coming in in his dayes That went out from them and that went into the world that were of the world and spoke of the world and the world heard them and which the World went after and are not you of them that have deceived the whole World that hath been of the Whore that hath caused all Nations to drink her Cup and of them that have made War against the Saints and against the Lamb of that stock of the false Prophets that wrought Miracles in the sight of the Beast and the World wonders after the Beast and the Beast hath carried the Whore and he hath compelled and caused all to worship him and the Whore caused all to drink of the Cup of her Fornication Are not these things so may not the Witness of God in all mens Consciences truly answer hereunto and condemn you to be such as were the false Prophets and the Hirelings and the Deceivers against whom the Prophets Christ and the Apostles gave witness Yea it is manifest that you are in the same way and of the same Generation and that you follow the same spirit because you shew forth the same works And are not you like the Papists and the Iesuits was it not by the Authority of the Pope of Rome that your very way of making Ministers was ordained at Schools and Colledges and was it not the Papists and in their dayes that the general part of your Church-Discipline and Government the Call of your Ministers and Practise of them and Maintenance of them was it not first set up by the Papists Was not this way of Tythes first established by the Church of Rome and do not you follow the Papists herein in receiving Tythes and Gleab-lands and Easter-Reckonings and Midsummer-Dues which you hold up and would destroy them that will not give you such things and therefore are not you like the Papists and Jesuits yea we know that the Church of England is but newly come out of the Womb of Popery and hath the Symptoms thereof upon her at this very day in many things yea the Testimony of God in all people may witness hereunto And so it is the very trick of the Whore to cry out against others and to charge others with that which she is guilty of her self but now it will not cover them to slander others that themselves may seem clear for the Lord is opening peoples Hearts and giving them a Spirit to discern all things And whereas the Author speaks against the Quakers for crying against Cuffs Caps and for using Thee and Thou and for crying against Pulpits and Hour-Glasses and for such things and for owning Revelation and for holding the free Grace of God to be given unto all and because of Trembling and Quaking and saying Our Writings are given forth by the same infallible Spirit that the Scriptures were given out by and for crying down the Ministers Maintenance and for calling some of them Vipers and Serpents To all this I answer It is your Generation that makes a great noise about thee and thou and Cuffs and Caps for we in plainness and simplicity do speak the proper Language thee and thou to a single Person and it is the proud and exalted Minds of Men that are offended hereat which Pride and Arrogancy hath eaten out the very Sincerity and the property of Speech also and you are offended at us because of it and for crying against your Cuffs and Boot-hose-tops and Ribbands and Points we cry against all these things as not becoming the Ministers of Christ but as being of the World in the Pride and Vanity and Superfluity abusing the Creation which the Lord will judge among you And as for having an hour-Glass and preaching thereby and as for your carnal Bells which you call people by we do disown these things and say They are old popish inventions for the Ministers of Christ never limitted their spirits to an hour-Glass neither had they a carnal Bell to call people to their Worship and as for Revelation we do own that the Spirit of God doth reveal Truth to us and God hath revealed Christ in us and none ever shall know God but by Revelation For none knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him And as for Free Grace we say The Grace of God hath appeared to all men and it teacheth the Saints to deny Ungodliness but the Wicked turns it into wantonness and doth dispite unto the Spirit of Grace and we also say That who now speaks or are moved to write forth by the Spirit of God they speak and write by the same Spirit that is infallible that the Scriptures were given forth by And as for your Maintenance it is altogether Abominable and Oppression to the Nation and the Lord is against it your taking Peoples Goods and casting them into Prison that will not pay you Wages and give you Tythes against their Consciences And be not offended at being called Vipers and Serpents for these are the Works of venemous Vipers and stinging Serpents which persecute the Servants of God and cryes to the Magistrates for help against a poor People that useth no Weapons at all against you saving that of the Spirit of God and though we do thus to you to the false Ministers to cry against them and give our witness against them in the Name of the Lord yet we do not deny the true Ministers of Christ nor speak any thing against them which are the true Ministers that have received the Ministry of Righteousness by the Gift of the holy Spirit which all that are true Ministers do receive their Ministry thereby And whereas thou sayest we are bitter Enemies to the Doctrine of Iustification and agree with the Cavelierish Party and would silence godly Ministers and are Iâ—suitical and such like things thou falsly chargeth upon us and that we have a not able faculty to delude ignorant unstable Souls c. Answ. These are but the Author's Reproaches and his Slanders he hath filled his Mouth with against the Innocent and he hath set his Tongue on the Fire of Hell to slander the â—ust and the Innocent and all these things we bear in patience counting Reproaches for Christ our chiefest Riches and thus to the substance of this Paper I have given an answer whereby all that love the Lord and desire to be informed in the Truth may receive satisfaction for it is seen that that Generation of Priests are joyned with the prelatical Cavelierish Party and this is known at large in the Nation in the North especially and so as I said they would fain slander others that themselves might seem clear but the Lord will rebuke him and his lying Tongue and the Innocent shall be delivered
was come to search them and try them and would hew down their Idolatrous wayes and worships and works c. And in order to a fair proceeding with them the next day I was moved to write this following Paper to them by way of Queries as to lay some ground of Opposition hoping to have received their Answer that I might have joyned tryal with them for it was in my heart to search and oppose their Wayes and Practices and their whole Religion And these Queries were delivered to them in Latine though from them I have received no Answer to this day but the Queries stand upon them and my Charge they lie under charged upon them in the Name of the Lord. To all ye that profess your selves Devoted to the Service of God and Separation from the World and Mortification in your lives who are called by the the name of Fryars and Nunns in and about Dunkirk THe Mighty Day of the Lord God is come and coming upon you and all the World Awake awake ye that sleep in the Earth for the Dreadful God is arising to plead with you and to give unto all the World the Cup of his fierce Indignation because of your Idolatries and Hypocrisies and Abominations which have corrupted the Earth and are come up before him and have provoked him and the Cry of the Just who hath been smitten and laid slain is entred into the Ears of the Most High and his Sword which is the word of his Mouth is awakened to wound and slay all his Enemies And the Day of your Visitation is now come wherein the Lord is searching you and trying you that he may recompence you and this is the Word of the Lord to you Wherefore I am moved of the Lord to propound some few Queries to you for the tryal of your spirits and wayes to which I demand your Answer that all things may be brought to Light and true Judgement and that you may be judged justly and by the Spirit of the Lord cleered or condemned accorto your Deeds 1. Whether there were such order of Men and Women in the true Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes and where did Christ give Institution for such Worships Practices and manner of Life slouthful idleness and unprofitableness to God and Men as ye hold forth And whether any are bound to believe you and follow your Religion and Practices except you can prove by the Scriptures the Words of Christ or Example of his Saints and Apostles your Religion and Lives and Practices and Worships and whether you do admit of tryal in all your whole Religion by and according to the Scriptures and Writings of the Apostles yea or nay 2. Whether the World in your Hearts and the World's nature even the root of Lust the root of Pride Covetousness and the love of this World and its Vanities and the root of Idolatry is subdued in you to the Light in your Consciences I do speak and what is the root of all these things and what is it that subdues it Is it an outward abstinence by the force of Locks and Doors and Bolts or self-separation and secret Places that subdues the World's nature in Men and Women and is it by such means that Christ gives Victory over Sin and overcomes it in his People or is it not by the Power of God in the Heart onely and whether is it not damnable Hypocrisie in you to appear outwardly Holy and free from these things while yet the Nature and Root of all these things are alive in you and boyling up in the motions of them and is any outward thing the Cross of Christ and Christ crucified which mortifies to the World which the Apostles preached and rejoyced in 3. Whether is it a true denial of the World in you to deny it in one manner and place and to run into it and imbrace it in another way and place it doth not appear to me that you have denyed the World as the Apostles did For answer me where had they any such Seats in the finest and fattest Places of the Cities and Towns as ye have such great fine Houses and Gardens and such Revenues by the year as ye have staying all their dayes in a great House and spending their time in slouth and idleness as ye do they went up and down the World preaching the Gospel and had no certain dwelling Place but followed the Lamb of God in the Spirit and did not settle themselves in fat Places of the Earth continuing all their dayes as ye do therefore we judge that you are out of the Life and not in the spirit as the Apostles were in but are in the Form of Righteousness and Holiness without the Power So I demand an Answer to clear your selves if you can and to prove that you are of the true Church and that your Wayes and Practices are in and by the Spirit of God and according to the Scriptures 4. What is that Death that hath passed over all and reigned from Adam to Moses and whether it doth not reign yet in and over you and what is Moses's Ministration and whether ever through it you yet truely came and whether that part be subdued in you which the Law of God was added upon and whether are you come to Christ and know him as he was before Abraham and before Mary and how was he David's Lord and how his Son and is Christ within you born and revealed to you by whom the World was made and do you expect to be perfectly freed from Sin that ye shall not commit Sin in this Life upon Earth yea or nay 5. What is the Soul and what was its state and condition before Transgression and what is its state and condition in Transgression and whether may man come to be restored by the second Adam into the same estate while upon Earth as he lost in the first Adam yea or nay Friends I demand of you in the Name and Power of the Lord God to answer me these things in writing some of you and to subscribe your names that I may return you an Answer and query further of you for we are sent of God to visit you and to try you and if you be in the perfect Truth and would convert others to your Religion be plain with us and use your best Spiritual Weapons in your Zeal towards us and defend your Cause and appear for your God and if you doubt of your own Wayes and Practices and be not able to defend your Religion then let your Mouthes be stopped then turn from Idolatry for now is the Lord God risen that will judge ye and all the Earth righteously I am a lover of Souls but a Witness against all false Idolatrous Wayes of Antichrist and the Whore that hath reigned in the World and I am the Lord's Servant E. B. By the Scorners of the World called a Quaker These queries were sent to the Fryars in Latine ANd we were with
which hath been of the false Woman and not of the Elect Spouse that is married to the Lamb. 6. That forcing and compelling of Persons by any outward Law and Authority to be of such or such a Religion and to conform to such a Way of Worship is the Worship of the Beast and of the Whore and not the Worship of God and to kill and persecute Persons for the exercise of Conscience and because they will not be of such a Religion and cannot conform to such Worship is of the Devil and the Dragon and not of God nor according to him and that your Church herein is not Successor of the Apostles and the true Church of Christ but is of the Beast and the Whore which Iohn saw was to come in his time and which we see are come in our dayes and have ruled for Generations and I affirm that Persons so made conformable by force and violent Laws to such a Religion and Worship are but two-fold more the Children of the Devil and are not at all converted to God thereby but becomes Idolaters whom God will judge 7. That none upon Earth are true Members of the true Church of Christ having a portion in the Inheritance of Eternal Life but such who are gathered out of the World by the preaching of the Gospel and are changed and renewed by the Power of the Lord God in the Heart and are led by his Spirit within them into all Truth and are joyned unto Christ the Head and gathered into the Eternal Unity of the Infinite Body by the same Spirit and Aâ—ointing dwelling in them and of such onely doth the true Church of Christ consist now in this present time as it did in the Apostles dayes but of such Members doth not your Church consist in this present Age neither is it in the Order and Government of the Spirit of Truth but in the Form without the Power therein was its beginning and its standing at this day 8. That the time is at hand and the Day of the Lord draws near and the fulâ—ess of time is approaching wherein great Babylon shall be thrown down and fall to the Ground and the Lord will be avenged on her and will render Judgâ—ents unto her and the Beast and Whore and false Prophets unto whom the Kingdoms of the World have been subject shall be taken and cast alive into the Lake and the Devil and Satan shall deceive the Nations no more but the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ whose Kingdom shall be revealed in Power and great Glory in the hearts of his Chosen And the Church of Rome and all the false Sects and Churches upon the Earth will the Lord God overthrow and his true Church shall be gathered out of the Wilderness and the Beauty of new Ierusalem of the holy Church the Lamb's Wife shall be as Glorious aâ— before she fled thither and before she was troden down of the Gentiles and the Lord God Almighty shall be known and his Tabernacle shall be with men These things I assert to you in the Name of the Lord and the truth thereof is certain and should be ready to argue and dispute these things with any sober Person amongst you upon equal tearms and to prove the Infalibility hereof by the Spirit of the Lord and according to the Scriptures wherefore consider of them in Patience and Meekness and believe in the Light of Christ which is in your Consciences which Christ hath lightened every man that cometh into the World withall that you may come to the knowledge of the Truth and out of all false Wayes and if any of you will return an Answer hereunto in behalf of your whole Body and can be able to clear your selves in Writing from what is charged upon you it shall be gladly received by me and a Reply iâ— Meekness returned to you for the further mâ—nifestation of Truth that Truth and Righteousness may clearly appear and be embraced and all Deceit and and false wayes of Antichrist may be confounded and denyed and who are in the Truth shall be confirmed and who are in the Error may have Warning now in the Day of the World's Visitation The Lord is coming to Judgment who will judge the Secrets of all Hearts and the whole World in Equity Dunkirk the 20th of the 3d Moneth 1659. By a Friend unto Righteousness and a Lover of all Souls E. B. These Propositions were sent to them in Latine This was sent to the chief Rector of the Jesuits Colledge in Dunkirk in Latine FRiend thy wisdom and thy knowledge is earthly and sensual and thereby canst thou not know the Things of the Kingdom of God thou canst neither learn them thy self nor teach them to others for thou art but a blind Leader of the Blind And thus saith the Lord God unto thee The Fruitless Tree is standing in thee that brings forth no Fruit unto God and the Head of the Serpent is not broken in thee that deceives the Soul nor the Body of Sin put off that burdens the Just and the Sword shall cut thee to pieces even the Sword of the Lord it shall slay thee And Friend The time is at hand that the Lord will make thee know that thou art and hast been in thy Life time a Dishonour to him and that thou hast not served him but thy self and the Devil and thy Heart is not right in his sight but is corrupt and deceitful for thou art tryed and measured and thou art found wanting in all things and God will judge thee and the Witness in thy Conscience shall answer his Judgments and all thy Idolatrous Practices and Profession of Religion and Church and Ministry thy many Prayers and thy Works of Righteousness all this shall not hide thee from the Wrath of the Lamb though now thou art hardened â—nd utterly unsensible yet the Stone shall fall upon thee that will grind thee to Powder and thou shalt not escape but the burden of thy own Iniquities shall weigh thee down into Perdition except thou speedily repentest Therefore fear and tremble before the Lord God and remember thou art warned by one that seeks the Peace of Souls but makes War by the Sword of the Spirit against the Kingdom of the Devil and Antichrist in whomsoever it stands And Friend answer me this one Query What is that Whore that hath sate upon Multitudes and Peoples and what is that Golden Cup in her Hand and what are the Abominations and Fornication of which her Cup is full which she hath caused the Kings and People to drink and with which she hath deceived the World Answer me this and subscribe thy Name E. B. ANd now this I have to say concerning the Church of Rome to them and to all the World as having been in a measure an eye and an ear Witness of their Idolatrous and false Wayes Practices and Doctrines never having in all my dayes
and I have not spared my own Life to serve you but have given out plentifully of the Lord's Treasure that you might be made rich and I have given out from my Life of the Lord's Substance that you might be fed and nourished and I have kept nothing back of the whole Counsel of God which was needful for you to know and for all this the Lord is unto me at this day a sufficient Reward and of you I desire nothing to my self but do sincerely desire of the Father for you all That Love and Faith and Purity and all the Works of the Spirit may plentifully abound in you all that 〈◊〉 Father may be glorified through your bringing forth much Fruit. Wherefore my dear and beloved Friends Look unto the Lord who hath begotten you to himself let his Fear be before your Eyes and his Judgments in your Hearts Oh! keep near the Lord at all times for it s he that preserves his People it s he that leads them and goes before them it s he that feeds them and refreshes them at all times for its be alone and there is not another that gives you Peace and Strength Wisdom and Knowledge and all good things he is â—ot streightened to any of his that sincerely wait upon him he is the Portion of his People and the Inhaeritance of their Souls and he causeth all them 〈◊〉 trust in him to lie down in Safety and none can make them afraid Therefore oh my Friends I say again and again Love the Lord and his Way and be Faithful in the Truth unto the End love not your Life nor â—â—y other thing for his Service sake but give up all things of this World that you may receive all in the Lord be watchful against all your Enemies that you be not overcome of the Devil but resist him in all his Apâ—… that you may not be defiled nor lose your Peace with the Lord 〈◊〉 is to me and I hope to you of greater price then all other things whatsoever and this I have said among you in Faithfulness and at this present do charge yoâ— all To dwell in Love and Unity one with another and to â—ear one with another and to walk in Wisdom one towards another and to be Examples of Righteousness one before another that it may be known that God is amongst you of a Truth and he is my Witness nothing without me can more add to my Joy then to know of your Welfare in the Lord and of your Stedfastness in the Faith of Christ Jesus and for this my Heart wisheth as much as for any other thing besides And though I be outwardly separated from you according to my Father's Will who gave his Enemies power over my outward man to cast it into Bonds for a moment yet am I present in Spirit amongst you and my Love and Life salutes you all in the Fear of the Lord and though the outward man may suffer yet am I in perfect freedom and in perfect Peace and in every respect perfectly well in the Lord who is my Strength my Armour and my Crown and in his Authority I yet once more beseech you all even for the Lord's sake That ye take heed to the true Light Christ Jesus who lighteth every one of you which Light leads to Christ who saveth and redeemeth from Sin and Death and from all the Wayes and Works thereof and this ye know who are God's Witnesses of his Love and tender Mercies and of the Faithfulness of his Servant Moreover my dear Friends All disorderly Spirits who are out of the pure Fear and Wisdom of God my Life doth judge and with the Power such I do deny who are not Simply in the Power of God and them that seek themselves in any thing amongst you my God shall judge and who are rash in Judgment and forward to utter words and bring forth Fruit and not in due season such are a Burden to the Lord's Soul Therefore take heed I charge you all to the guiding and moving of the pure Spirit of God alone for that will stand and its Fruits will never wither and whatsoever is otherwise brought forth among you the Lord will confound and it shall not profit the people This is to be read amongst you in the Fear of the Lord. E. B. To Friends in Barbadoes Virginia and New-England c. TO the Seed of God and to all that are begotten of him by the Immortal Word in Barbadoes Virginia New-England and that wayes even to all that have felt and tasted of the Word of Life Grace Mercy and Truth be multiplyed amongst you Dear Friends dwell in the Truth and walk in it that ye may be a sweet Savour unto God and may have Unity with him and one with another in his Life and Spirit and wait that you may have Victory over the World and the Spirit of it in you which hath captivated your minds in the Luâ—ts of this Creation and which hath led you in By-pathes of Iniquity while you were Strangers unto God and without his Knowledge But now having received Grace and Mercy from God and his Word hath entred into your hearts whereby you are begotten into the Hope of Eternal Life and are changed now the Lord requires of you to be Faithful in his Work and Valiant for his Truth that you may obtain the Promise and be made free from Sin and become the Servants of Righteousness and feel the Word and Power of God in your Hearts which will crucifie you daily to the World and make you alive unto God that he may live in you and walk in you and work all your Works for you and this is the Everlasting Covenant where God works in the Creature both to will and to do and man lives not but Christ lives in him and speaks in him and this you must wait for to be Witnesses of in your own Consciences For what is the Profession of God with the Lips and the Profession of the Scriptures while men do not walk by the Spirit aâ— gave forth the Scriptures and enjoy God in their Hearts so you must all wait to be Possessors of the Substance Christ the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending him must you feel in you to destroy the Devil and his works and to change you into the divine Nature which is like unto God and this is Salvation God with us destroying the Enmity and reconciling man unto himself by overcoming Sin and Transgression and your hearts must be cleansed by the Word of God and that which is contrary purged out and this is the New Covenant where the Heart is circumcised and the Body of sin put off and the Creature freed from the burden of Iniquity and then there is clearness and freeness where sin is remitted and washed away and no burden lying upon the Conscience but the Heir of God born the Redeemer which maketh free from the Devil and Sin and they are the Sons of
manifest though you deny them in some particulars some of you yet you can cry against that in some of them and yet uphold the same thing I may lawfully instance that some of your Brethren some in this Nation and some in Ireland take or have lately taken Tythes for Preaching and have Yearly Stipends and so much by the Year out of the States Treasure for Preaching One Hundred Pound Two Hundred Pound and Three Hundred Pound a piece by the year which indeed doth shew that you are not intending to destroy their oppressing and abominable practices but the rather that you would turn them out of great Places and Benefices and turn your selves in Oh Deceit and Wickedness which I am forced to lay open upon this Occasion of your own just Provocation hereunto And as for their preserving you and you them against such as do oppose you they may easily joyn with you in this if they could hope in your Faithfulness for some of you and your Members have shewed as much Enmity have been open Persecutors even as they and their Members have been and your Members have been sending the People of God to Prison and persecuting them even as the common Priests of the Nation and you appear to be guided by the same spirit in many things and if they be Antichristian in their wayes and practices its sure that you are not of Christ because you are like unto them in Nature And in that you say You would have none tollerated in their Religion that deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but you would tollerate Episcopacy Presbytery or a â—â—inted Form c. say you To which I say I know that spirit that you are of if it had its full authority would tollerate none but your selves for your spirit in nature differs not from the spirit of the Church of Rome And what are you now for tollerating Episcopacy who were once your selves in your Zeal for God when your sincerity was not darkned nor your hearts so much corrupted through Places of Honour and through such things as now they are Instruments to the pulling down of Episcopacy and will you now tollerate it again and help to set it up and build what you have destroyed as if you recanted of what you had done but plainly shewing that you are not of the same Spirit that once you were of but have lost Sincerity and can embrace Idolatry for once ye were the men that did oppose it and did violently help to pull it down but now you are for tolleration Oh! unconstant men this is to you not herein discovering my Judgement in the case and if Episcopacy why may not Popery be tollerated seeing they are one and the self same in ground and nature and not much different in appearance and you may agree to tollerate a stinted Form in others because your selves are in a stinted Form also for what is yours else but a form crying up your water and bread and wine and differing from the World onely in these outward things when as the City and Nation knows you are men as covetous as worldly minded as ambitious as self-seeking of honour and places as any others in the Nation and your Religion appears to be a stinted Form as much as others Alas poor men you have discovered your hearts in your Declaration and according to the corruption thereof I cannot but answer you and there are some that deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and say they are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise of what the Saints believed and enjoyed and Christ is the Word of God that may in time to come be tollerated in their Religion in this Nation though you have renounced them but while they are owned and regarded of the Lord they respect not your love nor hatred who are mortal men and your breath in your nostrils and must fall and perish as the dung in all your beauty and your profession of Religion before the coming of the Son of God And in your Post-script you say you have under you hands sent forth your Declaration in behalf of your selves and others of your Iudgement but I must tell you I do believe there are some even of those called Anabaptists which will reject your work and to them my answer is not for I spare them but to you fearful Hypocrites in a time of danger that have in this juncture of time renounced us without ground or reason in the Sight of God but for your 〈◊〉 as if you would gain the favour of the Nation and City by denial of â—â—s and looking upon your selves to be reproached because of us when as you are a Company of unworthy men even unworthy of our reproaches and to escape them have denied us as seeming to clear your selves but you are deceived in this matter and it shall turn to work against you in the Nation and in the City for we have a more surer witness in their Consciences even in the Consciences of all people that we are of God then you have for take but away your outward water and Bread and Wine and some few outward Practices and what do you differ from the worst sort of men in the Nation for doth not Pride and Hypocrisie and Self-Love and Covetousness and the love of this World abound amongst you as much as amongst any others the Witness in Peoples Consciences knows it which shall be a Witness for us and against you You may indeed have gained League with the worst sort of men in the Nation but you have not gained the sincerity in people and while we have that on our side to witness for us take you the rude multitude for we are not discouraged at all concerning this thing but the rather do glory in the Lord though we be denied of all for though men forsake us yet the Lord careth for us and your own doing shall return upon your own heads and thus much is sufficient to the substance of your Declaration and if I receive any reply I shall expect it under the hands of you all that I may further search and discover you unto your selves and to the Nation And whereas there is a Manuscript goes abroad consisting of five particulars which is said that it was delivered in to the Committee of Safety as Advice and Counsel to them but who the Authors of it are is something uncertain but certain it is that some of the called Independant Ministers and Pastors were the chief Promoters of it and in the Copy which was delivered to my hands it is said These five Particulars were the result of a little Synod made up of Presbyterians Independants and Anabaptists but whether it is so or no I leave that and would say something to some of the Particulars and even to the Committee of Safety and Officers of the Army and all others of the Nation for their better information then the same Paper describeth to
them The third Particular consisteth about the Magistrates Power in matters of Faith and Worship and the Authors say Though they greatly prize Christian Liberty yet they profess utter dislike and abhorrency of an Universal tolleration as being contrary to the mind of God in his Word Answ. It appears the Authors are lovers of themselves and prizers of their own Liberty but not of the Liberty of others but do utterly dislike and â—â—ber the tolleration of others which may indeed be more righteous then themselves and this is no less then the very Principle of the Whore of Rome which Promotes her own Liberty and makes others Slaves and ahhorâ— tolleration to any but themselves and they plead Scriptures as well as you for proof of their Religion and they will say all that differs from them are contrary to the Scriptures even as you say when as there is very little better foundation in the Scriptures for your Religion then there is for theirs and it is doubtful to many what Religion this day extant is perfectly according to the Scriptures but yet thus much may be said That Church and that Religion which are not in the same Spirit as gave forth the Scriptures are not according unto the Scriptures and he that can distinguish of this and who it is that hath the same Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures is only able to judge what Religion is according to the Scriptures But can the Authors shew plainly out of the Scriptures that their Religion is only according thereunto and all others the contrary and until they prove this why may not the Rulers that are of may be in this Nation give Tolleration unto other sorts of People as well as to the Independants the supposed Authors of this Paper The fourth Particular consisteth concerning Tythes and say they The taking away of Tythes for Maintenance of Ministers until as full a Maintenance be as equally secured and as equally settled tends very much to the Destruction of the Ministry and Preaching of the Gospel in these Nations Answ. Alas for you poor ignorant Creatures ye foolish men that seems to have no understanding of the Ministry and Gospel of Christ Do you indeed think that the true Ministry of Christ and the Preaching of the Gospel depends upon Maintenance by Tythes Oh ye Robbers of God who have secretly dishonoured him in your hearts and publickly disgraced him as much as in you lyes to the Nation as if he were not able to save his Ministry and the Preaching of his Gospel from destruction if Tithes be taken away Surely you err in your Judgements and have no acquaintance with God nor with his Ministry nor Gospel who have thus dishonoured him in setting up that Maintenance by the forcible and unjust oppression of Tythes to be the preserving of Ministry and Gospel and as if Tythes were the uphold ing of Ministry and Gospel and you have thus falsly and wickedly measured God his Ministry and Gospel by the wickedness of your own hearts who seem to be indeed of those Hirelings that cheat Souls for money and run for the gift like Balaam and for the lucre like the evil Beasts and Slow-bellies and so I do believe that your false Ministry indeed and your feigned pretence of preaching the Gospel do depend upon great sums of money and upon large Maintenances and we believe that indeed is the chief Reason of your Preaching and of your Ministry and it is very possible that your Ministry and Preaching may fall which is Antichristian when Tythes and Hire is taken away which Ministry dependeth thereupon but the true Ministry and preaching of the Gospel will God maintain and uphold though the oppression of Tythes be vanquished and I hope some of the Rulers of this Nation and Officers of the Army will not believe your advice but yet you seem to be willing to renounce Tythes if you could have as full a Maintenance setled another way so that however great maintenance comes you regard not so you can have that whether by this way of Oppression or the other it s your Maintenance you love and follow after and seek unto the Powers of the Earth for that end and how equally and legally Tythes have been setled which you seem to affirm let all good People judge given they were and setled first in our Nation by the Popes Authority to be the Maintenance of that Whore's Ministers and the Laws that gave them and setled them have been Antichristian and Oppression in the Nation and there is the guilt of Blood and of cruel unjust sufferings lying upon this Nation in that very cause of Tythes and the Hand of the Lord is gone out against it and against all Contenders for it and God will redeem the Nation from â—â—der it though you be putting your strength to uphold it through your hypocritical Prayers and Preaching and Flatteries with God and man The fifth particular is these Authors desire that countenance be not given unto nor trust reposed in the hands of Quakers being persons of such Principles that are distructive to the Gospel and inconsistent with peace and civil society Answ. Here your wickedness and the malice of your hearts is let forth against the dispised People for their righteousness sake and this spirit of yours would not only discountenance them but destroy them from the face of the Earth if it were in your Hands and you are worse then Baalam ever was and far more blind then he for you are as it were seeking inchantments against the People of God for Money and you see not the goodly tents of Iacob as he did nor the People that are altogether blessed Oh! ye envious persons that are even a preparing as much as in you is the destruction of a peaceable People and that would keep them in slavery under you and you would have the countenance of the powers of the Earth but they must not and you would Monopolize all the places of trust for advantage to your selves and you would hardly allow the People of God a place on the Ground Oh! ye sinful Hypocrites and Flatterers and Slanderers of the just but what need you have made such preparation against them do they seek places of honour among you do they delight in great places among men do they love to be great in this World nay their Kingdom is from above and they reject the countenanance of the Beâ—â—â— Authority and they reject any confidence that the Dragon and unjust poâ—… can repose in them and you need not have been afraid in this matter and thereupon slandered us and have back-bited us to the powers of the Earth what do you fear even the thing which you fear will God in a judgement bring upon you and there is a Government to be set up in this Nation even that which is of the Lamb and your Antichristian Monarchy the Beast with all his Heads and Horns shall fall to the Ground and the Lord may
more clear opportunity for I cannot be at Okingâ—â—â— the day mentioned by thee because my service is already determined for that day and for some other reasons also in my own breast Let me have a plain answer from thee that I may dispose of my self is the Lord guides me for his service This is all for present I do desire who am a Friend to all that love the Lord. Reading the 19th of the 10th Moneth 1659 E. Burroughs But to this Letter his Answer was he would not meet me at Reading for there was no need of Dispute there and therefore it is my present work at this time for to answer his ten Particulars in writing and to make them publick to â—ll that all may judge of this matter And indeed but that for these teâ— particulrs Charges and that truth may be clear from those Charges in his ten Particulars I believe I had not thus proceeded in this publick manner but because â—e ceaseth not to speak evil of the Truth and yet will not come forth fairly to Tryal neither will answer me any Queries in publick but keeps a secret reviling and reproaching therefore do I thus proceed Answer to the first Position Thy Major and thy Minor are both lame and both false and thy so conclusion falls to the Ground for the Quakers do not pernitiously deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but they in sincerity say that Christ is the Word of God Io. 1. 1. Rev. 19. 13. and the Scriptures are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise and this Testimony is according to the Scriptures Luke 1. 1 Acts 1. And it is not Heresie nor Blasphemy to deny the Scriptures to wit the writings to be the Word of God but the truth written of and those things declared of in the Scriptures 〈◊〉 â—he Word of God and not the writings which are Scriptures But this iâ—â—â—â—the◠〈◊〉 to before mâ— so I pass it Answer to the second Position Thy Major Position is uâ—â—â—â—ly 〈◊〉 and not grounded upon any part of the Scriptures so that the Niâ—… and the Concluâ—â—â—â— are both denied and cast out for a man mâ—y sâ—y That Chrisâ—â—â—e Foundation of Faith and the Spirit of God is the Rule of Life for thus the Scriptures say and a man may lawfull deny the Scriptures to be the Foundation of Faâ—â—â— and Rule of Life and neither be Heretick nor Blasphemer was the Apoâ—â—â—e a Blasphemer and a Heretick who said No other Foundation could be laid but thâ—â— which was laid already which was Christ And was he a Heretick and a Blasphemer that said The Sons of God were led by the Spirit of God and exhorted to walk â—y the Rule of the Spirit and are the Quakars Blasphemers and Heretiâ—â—s who â—old forth that Truth the Apostles held forth and who walk by the Spirit wâ—… according and not contrary to the Scriptures O thoâ— Perverter of the right way of God who hast falsly accused the Innocent in thy illiterate Logick Answer to the third Position In this thou hast falsly accused but yet let us câ—â—sider thy words There was a Nature in that Maâ— Iesus Christ that was born of tâ—e â—â—â—gin that was subject to cold heat thirst and hunger and subject to be tempted of the Devil and this nature was not God whose nature is Infinite Eternal Unmeasurable me sâ—bject to hunger nor thirst nor to heat and cold nor subject to temptations so that a man may say lawfully and be no Blasphemer that there was a Nature in him which was â—ot God and yet the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him too and he is the Everlasting Father and the Father is in him and he in the Father and thus by a sound interpretation of the Word God by Nature thy Major and Minor and Conclusion are all made void Answer to the fourth The good works of the Saints are wrought in God and by his Spirit and its God that works in them to will and to do and all such Works are worthy Works glorious Works and blessed Works even unto Eternal Life as the Scripture saith Glory Honour and Peace be unto every man that â—orketh good Rom. 2. 7 10. And no man by Faith without Works is justified for Faith without Works is dead and a dead Faith doth not justifie This is our Faith and the Faith which the Apostles were of and we are neither Hereticks nor Papists no more then were the Apostles and thy argument is vain and falls to the ground and hath no weight in it unto sober Minds though Self-righteousness is altogether Abomination to the Lord and justifieth not any man Answer to the fifth Position A man may deny the Sprinkling of Infants and the administration of Bread and Wine as is held forth in your Assemblies and be neither Antichristian nor a Heretick for the Institution of sprinkling Infants and administring of Bread and Wine among unconverted people was never ordained of God nor practised amongst the Apostles if thou sayst it was prove it out of the Scriptures or else stop thy Mouth and to deny such Ordinances and Practices which God never commanded nor the Saints of forâ—er Ages ever practiced is not Antichristian nor Heresie but thu do the Qakers and tâ—â—â—â—fore they are not Antichristian nor Hereticks upon this accompâ— and tâ—â—â— thy Position is not worth any thing for the end proposed by thee but thy Weakness and Folly is made manifest and thy idolatâ—ous Prâ—ctices so much plâ—â—â—ed for by thee are denied and opposed by the Spirit of the Lord. Answer to the sixth Position As for the sin of Infants we do not say That Infants in general that is to say every particular Infant that is 〈◊〉 hath been horn into the World has Sin for some were fillen with the holy Ghost and some were â—â—â—ctified from their Mother Womb and what Sin had such And the Scriptâ—re speaks That the Unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Beliâ—ving Hâ—… eâ—se 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Câ—ildrâ—â— unclean but now are they holy And what sin had these So that â—â—y maâ—… is proved defective and so thy minor and thy conclusion is worth nothing though as to the general part we do believe there is a nature whereby all are Children of Wrath in Degeneration Answer to the seventh This is a false Accusation thy minor Proposition and is a Lye and so thy Conclusion is utterly false Answer to the eighth As for the Christian-Sabbath we do not deny that for Christ is the Saints Rest and the Seventh day of the Week is the Iews Sabboth and not the Christian-Sabbath and so this is but a false Accusation as the rest And as for the first day of the Week which you observe for Sabboth you have neither binding Example nor express Command in Scripture for that practice Answer to the ninth As for the singing of David's Psalms in Rhime and Meeter and in the Custom as practised amongst you we do utterly deny to be any Ordinance of
God or any part of his Worship though you say it is yet we never had other proof of you then Tradition of time and long Custom and by this you would seem to plead the practice to be a Duty But this satisfies not us though we do not quarrel nor deride at your practice in this particular as thou groundst thy Argument but this we do we freely give our Testimony against your practice from time to time in the Fear and Power of the Lord yet not as quarrelling and deriding after the Flesh though we do say they were composed in Rhime and Meeter by Sternhold and Hopkins and others which were Musitioners to the Queen and in this we say true and are neither ignorant foolish nor prophane as thou sayst and we give witness against such your practice to be Antichristian and you Deceivers of the People thereby so hereby is thy Conclusion made void and a place is brought in for another They that act such things and observe such practices in pretence of Honour and Worship to God which is not commanded nor instituted of God nor which his Spirits leads unto They are Idolaters and their Worship and their Practice is Abomination unto the Lord But thus do the Ministers and People of the Church of England and therefore the Ministers and People of the Church of England are Idolaters and their Practices Abomination unto the Lord. Answer to the tenth Thy minor Proposition I do deny for we do not charge the Office and Call of the Ministers of the Church of England with Lies and Calumnies but this we say their Office and their Call is not from the Lord nor by the Authority of his Spirit neither is their Office and Call according to the Scriptures but it is different and contrary both to the Spirit of God and the Scriptures and is not from Heaven but rather from the Whore of Rome And though we do affirm these things concerning the Ministry of England yet we do not charge it with Lyes and Calumnies but we speak the Truth in righteousness And what would C. Fowler and his Brethren have said of the true Prophets that called the Priests and Watchmen of Israel that were made by Divine Institution which the Office and Call of England's Ministry never was that called them blind Watchmen and greedy dumb Dogs and devourers of Souls Might not they have said to the true Prophets you charge the Office and Call of the Priests of the Lord with Lyes and Slanders And this is like the case between us and the Priests of England And did not Christ call the chief Priests Serpents Vipers and Hypocrites and those Priests were in their Office and Call of Gods Institution but might not they have said that he charged the Office and Call of the Priesthood with Calumnies c. and the case is the same with us and it is accounted no sin by the Lord for us to give our witness against the Wayes and Practices of the Priests of England and utterly to deny both its Office and Call for they that do profess their Office and Call to be of God and from him and yet can give no true Testimony thereof by the Spirit of God and according to the Scriptures such are deceived and Deceivers of others but such are the Priests of England and therefore c. And thus I have returned Answer to his Ten Propositions and laid down some others in their place his being confounded and I must leave it to be judged of by the Witness in every mans Conscience whether he hath not shewed his madness and folly in his matter and in the way of his proceedings as for the matter he charges us withal it s wholy invalid as for the end propoâ—ed by hâ—â— and we account of his Work as but the malice of an Antichristian spirit And as for his proceedings they are inconsistent with a Minister of Christ for him and his Brethren to fly from me at his Dispute at East-Hamsted as before mentioned as being not able to defend their Cause this he and they did as many in that Country knows â—â—d then for him the next morning when I did invite him to meet again upon sober reasons which he also denied and refused to meet me any more and yet afterwards when I was gone out of the Country to go and hatch such mischief in his mind as to invent ten such rain Arguments and cause them to be set up on the Steeple-house-door oâ— purpose to villifie and reproach the Innocent People of God this was his Wickedness as all upright men may see And further for him to challenge to dispute these Particulars and leave time and place to our appointing which when time and place was appointed sutable and equitable on all parts and yet for him to refuse to meet at that time and place this was his fâ—dy and madness as understanding men may discern And further for him yet to rail behind our backs against us in his Pulpit and to charge us as if we refused to meet him this is his hypocrisie and the deceitfulness of his heart whereby he thinks to keep the People in blindness but the Light is now arising in the Hearts of People whereby such Deceits and Deceivers are fully discovered and they cannot now be hid And though for many Ages Deceivers and false Prophets have hid themselves under the Profession of Ministers and fine names yet the Day of the Lord is dawned which hath made them fully manifest and now their Sheeps cloathing will not hide them though they cover themselves therewith and have deceived the World thereby and these Babylons Merchants they have made great gain upon people and traded with the Souls of men and Souls have been murdered even for dishonest gain but the Plagues of God is coming upon the Earth which the Whore the false Church hath corrupted through her Sorceries and Witchcrafts and as she hath done unto others in causing them to drink her Cup of Abominations and false Principles Doctrines and Practices which the Beast and his Power hath imposed upon the Nations and Nations have been made drunk thereby and in particular this C. Fowler with whom I am now dealing is made manifest to be one of these Merchants of Babylon who hath made Merchandize of people for gain to himself and such are his covetous cursed Practices having a heart exercised with Covetousness and Oppression as is well known in the Town of Reading as for instance First It was charged upon him and confessed by him that he sued at Law twelve poor men of Reading for the Tythe of their Turnips and with much malice and greediness did prosecute the twelve poor men and put himself and them to great Charges and Trouble onely he confessed he took but twenty Nobles of them and thought he did favourably with them Now this was acknowledged by his own Mouth which is a clear demonstration of the Coveâ—ousness and Oppression of this man
of Answer for the end that People may be satisfied concerning things doubtfull which are in controversie this day among many for it is well known the Controversie hath been long and is grown very high between us and you concerning Church Ministry and Religion and divers things in your Exhortation are doubtfull unto many and that all doubts may be removed if possible therefore I do return what follows as an answer unto you Whereas you say You are not ignorant of the prejudices and prepositions wherewith the carnal World is leavened concerning you Calling Office and Doctrines and what Clamors and fiery Contentions abound for them every where that pleads Christ's Cause in the Gates c. Answ. As for your Calling Office and Doctrine there is much to be said against them in and by the Spirit of the Lord for your Calling and Office is not according to the Example of Scriptures though the Calling and Office of Ministers of the Gospel hath Example in the Scripture yet as you are called into your Office that is not according but rather contrary to the Scriptures And as for your Doctrine it is in some things unsound also Now as for Seasonable Exhortations of Ministers to People I do acknowledge that it is a Duty which ought to be done but how seasonable and sound your Exhortations are that remains to be tried and it is not onely the carnal World as you speak that are doubtfull concerning your Calling and Office but it the best of the people whose eyes the Lord is opening to see and behold the false immitations of the Calling and Office of Ministers as you have stood for many Generations and it is true them that pleads Christs Cause they are cryed out upon and contended with but this fully belongs not to you though you apply it to your selves but it pertains more to others for the World speaks well of you as it use to do of false Prophets And you say We the Ministers of the Gospel in the City of London do with earâ—…ess exhort the people of this City to awaken as out of Sleep and to lay to heart the great dangers that threatens you which you represent under a threefold consideration 1 The fear of the return of Popery 2 The distracted estate of Religion amongst us 3 Other symptomes of Gods wrath hanging over your Heads Answ. That you are Ministers of the Gospel this is doubtful unto many and many more testimonies might be given to the contrary then can be given for it But this is not the present debate and therefore no more of it And what is the people of your Congregations yet asleep Have not you awakened them in so many years time Have you been preaching over them and taking their Money so long and are they yet to awaken as out of Sleep Will not the blame of this and the condemnation of it fall upon you their Watch-men who hath not yet awakened them And may not they say that you have dealt unjustly by them who are left as asleep under all your preaching and are yet unsensible of the danger that threatens them Oh Friends will you consider and your people with you what you have been preaching and what they have been hearing for so long a time seeing you now acknowledge they are yet asleep and unawakened Now as to the first of your considerations The fear of the return of Popery for which you lay down divers things to make the people believe it First The union of foreign Popish-Powers Secondly The vast numbers say you of Popish Emissaries and Jesuites that swarms amongst you Thirdly The vending and printing of so many Popish Books every year c. Answ. As for Popery I know it is Idolatry and their Church and Worship and every part thereof abomination to the Lord and the spirit that leads them is not the Spirit of Jesus and as for Popery it was never yet truly cleansed out of the Nation but there hath been and are great remainders yet standing which may indeed easily recover its former strength For is not the most part of the worship of the Church of England made up of such things as was first instituted and practised amongst the Papists witness the making Ministers by natural learning at Schools and Colledges and their maintenance by Tythes and yearly Stipends and their way of Parochial settlements are not all these things Papistical and witness sprinkling Infants calling it the Baptism into the Visible Church and witness the singing of Davids Psalms as now they are sung among you these things for the most part are of Popish institution and many other things also pertaining to your Church Religion and Ministry so that Popery was never clean cast out of the Nation though the Lord hath wounded it yet there is the remainder of it yet standing in great force so that while Tythes are pleaded for by you and those things practised by you it may indeed be feared the return of Popery seeing you stick so fast in those Practises which were of Popish institution and the cause of fear lies at your Door and upon your selves principally and if there be vast numbers of Popish Priests and Jesuites swarming amongst you if you be Ministers of Christ why do you not discover Wolves in Sheeps cloathing and fright them away Why do you not lift yp your Spiritual Weapons if you have them as the Apostles did whose Weapons were powerful and mighty through God and who shall bear the blame but you if Wolves in Sheeps cloathing tear your Flocks that is a sign you are lazy idle Shepherds and that your want the Power and Authority of God and when the Powers of the Earth fails you and your carnal Weapons are all broken then you are like to be overcome with the swarming of Popish Priests and Jesuites if there be any such among you look you to it for I know not any and if you know any by name and where they are you ought by your Law to discover them Now you say they are acting under the disguise of Sectaries and subtilly insinuating many of their Doctrines as teaching Iustification by Inherent Righteousness Perfection 〈◊〉 lawfulness in joyning in your Ordinances and nullity of your Ministry c. Answ. Now these that you call Sectaries may truly plead against you against your Church Worship Ministry Practises upon good grounds as for Justification by Inherent Righteousness it is a Doctrine of the Church of Christ that the Saints witnessed Christ and his Righteousness within them and that none are justified by any righteousness without them but who witness Christ revealed in them for all are Reprobate that do not witness Christ in them 2 Cor. 13. 5. And as for Perfection that is the Doctrine of the Gospel and of Christ for the Apostles spake wisdom to them that were perfect 1 Cor. 2. 6. and Christ commanded them to be perfect Mat. 5. who never commanded impossibilities You might better have charged
these Doctrines upon the Apostles then upon the Papists and as for joyning to your Ordinances there is many that fears God who are not Papists that for good conscience sake cannot joyn to your Ordinances nor own your Ministry neither in its Call Practise nor Maintenance and if these things were in dispute I should shew you according to Scripture that it is not lawful for the Saints of God to joyn themselves to your Ordinances nor own your Ministry but it is lawful for them both to deny your Ordinances and Ministry in their present standing and as for printing and vending so many Popist Books as you say Oh it had been your wisdom to have mentioned the Books by name that all might have known which were Popish Books but because your Charge is general I cannot answer particularly either to clear or to condemn except you had mentioned in particular which you ought to have done rather then to have slandered in the dark Your fourth reason whereby you would make your people believe that there is fear of the return of Popery is That the whole body almost of Popery is published by Sectaries especially Quakers and you say you cannot but observe a ready co-incidency with Papists in their Opinions c. Answ. As for the Quakers which you have long opposed by Prisons Goals and Persecutions and your carnal Weapons and now also charge great things upon them to make them odious to the people Alas do you not know that they are blessed of the Lord Is there never a man among you sixty one Priests so wise as Balaam was he saw there was no Inchantment against Israel nor durst he curse whom God had blessed but however they have born with patience and they do therein continue all that you have caused to be acted and all that you have spoken against them and your words and works against them shall be your own burthen in the day of the Lord and shall sink you into misery who hath made the innocent people the people of your malice and fury but God is with them I need say nothing and why have you not particularly instanced what particular part of Popery they do publish Why will you charge in secret and prove nothing in particular therefore I do charge you to mention what particular things they do publish which is Popery and not the truths of the Gospel and then you shall have a further answer Your fifth reason is Jesuitical designs and you mention the Protestant Universities and the impoverishing and disgracing and overthrowing a goodly learned Ministry c. Answ. As for the Universities thousands are satisfied concerning them that they are of Popish institution and are not the Fountains of Divinity as they have been falsly called for its possible I could give large testimonies of the wickedness of the educations which is there in those places and how little good they learn and how much evil but you have stated the Cause wrong for the plucking down the Universities would rather seem to be the removing part of Popery then to be the way to let in Popery And as for a godly Ministry that is truly godly and truly learned alas there is no fear of impoverishing disgracing and overthrowing of that for that is alwayes poor and low and contemptible to the World and so it must be and it is Antichrist's Ministers that fears to be made poor and that their Tythes and Stipends should be made less and it is they that fear to be overthrown and not the Ministers of Christ for the Ministers of Christ are out of all such fears because their standing and falling depends not upon earthly powers but are builded upon the Rock of Ages and cannot be overthrown Your sixth Ground is Tolleration for Popery is publickly pleaded for in Print c. Answ. That Popery is Idolatry and the Church of Rome a false Church that I have said and I hope shall never renounce it but shall alwayes give Testimony until death against the Church of Rome but I must tell you plainly it is not my judgment that the Papists ought to be burned for their Religion or if a Jesuite be taken in England I would have him so tollerated that he should not have his life taken away by inhumane cruelty not for Religion sake except something can be charged upon him besides matters of his Religion or Conscience This is my judgment that both the Papists and you are Antichristian in this in that you kill each other when they take one of your Ministers and you theirs to destroy each other this is not of God but of the Dragon's power in both and there ought to be more tolleration in both that lives may be spared and you ought to conquer with spiritual Weapons if that you have them and not to kill and murder persons but to judge Spirits That is contrary to Scripture and the Apostles Example to destroy mens lives for Religion sake And why may not the Papists have tolleration in matters concerning God as well as others So those that plead for their Tolleration upon this account that they may be converted from sin and not destroyed in their sin this is no Error that their lives may be spared but to plead for their tolleration as the right Religion this is sin And thus your sixth Ground wherefore you fear the return of Popery is answered Now I come to the second consideration which is The present distracted estate of Religion which you say is evidenced in divers particulars First your division in civil and spiritual things so that the wonted love and communion in holy Duties is interrupted strangeness and distances fomented censures and hard Opinions of each others entertained c. Answ. Here is your Error for true Religion is not distracted nor divided in it self but it is one in unity and peace and so are all they that are in it their hearts being united by the Spirit of the Lord in their Faith Practice and Worship and in all things pertaining to their Religion It s true there is distraction amongst all the false Sects and Churches upon the Earth and it must be so Babylon is divided and confounded in it self and one part of it against another so the distractions is amongst your selves among Papists Prelates Prefbyters and the rest tearing and rending one another about Church-Worship and Religion all like Wolves in Sheep's clothing biting one another being divided in civil and spiritual things one crying for this and another for the other way of Government in Church and State and you are out of the true love and true communion in holy Duties and interrupts one another and what one faith is right another saith is wrong and all this is in Babylon among your selves and none of it among them that are in the true Religion and in true Church-Union who are gathered by the Spirit of the Lord. Your second Evidence of the distracted estate of Religion as you say is
the many horrid and hideous Errors which for some years past have abounded amongst us against the Authority of Scriptures the Deity of Christ the holy Ghost Trinity of Persons Immortallity of Souls Doctrines of Repentance Humiliation Sanctification Resurrection from the Dead the Eternal recompence of Heaven and Hell yea divers Sects encreasing every day in numbers power and malice and under the name of Quakers Ranters Seekers c. oppâ—gning the received Doctrine and unquestionable interest of Christ Iesus amongst us Answ. That many horrid Errors have abounded amongst you that is very true as in many particulars might be instanced But why do you maliciously charge the Quakers with opposing the Interest of Christ Jesus The Lord shall judge you in his Day when he makes it appear to all the World that those whom you charge with the contrary are the very Friends of Christ's Interest and have been patient Sufferrers for his Name sake under the wickedness of your Generation and as for the Ranters Seekers and others whom you have reckoned up together with the Quakers it is well known that we are in opposition in spirit unto all these and have given large testimony in the Fear of God against them though it is certain that there is many as upright and sincere men towards God among these Sects you have mentioned as any of your Congregations and though in some things they are condemnable yet in some things they are as justifiable as you are before the Lord And what the Seekers Ranters Familists and the rest mentioned by you do hold as in these things you have charged them with I will leave that for I am not now pleading their cause but the Cause of God and his People whom you in scorn call Quakers and though you have joyned them in Accusation with others yet I must separate them from others in my Answer and must tell you in the fear of the Lord that you have belyed them and falsly accused them out of your malicious hearts for they do not deny the Authority of the Scriptures but gives that authority to them which the Spirit of God that gave them forth hath formerly given neither do they deny the Deity of Christ but do say In him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead neither do they deny the holy Spirit nor the Father Son and Spirit but say there are three and these three are one but as for your Trinity of Persons that is language beside the the Scriptures and we do affirm the Soul is Immortal and as for the Doctrines of Repentance Humiliation Sanctification Resurrection from the Dead the eternal Recompence of Heaven and Hell these Doctrines are publickly held forth by them in words and also in practice more then by your selves therefore with what face you could charge them with the denial of these things it is almost wonderfull and there are thousands of your Congregations that are and have been sometimes hearing in your City that shall bear witness against your Accusations and give Evidence that they have heard them whom you call Quakers give faithfull witness of and for all these things which you charge them with denial of Do you think that your Congregations are all so blind as to receive for truth what you have herein spoken nay I must tell you some of them are offended with you because hereof First in that you have reckoned the Quakers with Ranters and others between whom there is absolute opposition and not agreement neither in Doctrine nor Practice Secondly That you should charge the Quakers with such things as they are altogether clear of and known to be so by many but this is that your folly and weakness might appear and as you speak of encreasing every day in number power and malice some part of this is true for the Lord doth encrease his People daily in number and power by his Spirit but not in Malice and that is your torment the encrease of the Quakers which as they have begun to encrease so the Lord will continue them and you nor mortal men shall not be able to hinder neither the Magistrates Persecution nor the Ministers Instigation thereunto though you have joyned hand in hand against them for the Lord is with his People and his Authority and Power is theiâ— Defence and they are not in empty Forms as you say but in the Power of Godliness and as for your Ordinances and Ministry of which you speak something I have said to it already and more I shall say to it hereafter Your third Evidence is The odious Scandals of those that profess themselves to be the People of God as their self-seeking their unparallell'd breach of all civil and sacred Oathes whereby the Mouth of Iniquity is opened and the reverence of Religion abated so that to us say you there appears no visible way of repairing the credit of strict profession but by a severe punishment of Professors c. Answ. It is true many that do profess themselves the people of God but are not but by their lives and practices gives odious Scandals and are Self-seeking as you say but upon whom the guilt of this may be truly charged that remains to be sought out doubtless it lies as near your doors as any others for is not your pride and oppression by taking Tythes suing people at Law for Wages and casting them in Prison because for good Conscience sake they cannot pay you your seeking for your gain from your Quarter and your taking great sums of Money and preaching for hire taking so much yearly are not these odious scandals and very self-seeking practices which you are guilty of while you pretend publick good as for Breaches of Oaths and Covenants I wish you to search your own hearts for that Iniquity doth lie as near your Generation as any others witness that you and your Brethren have from time to time engaged to such and such things As first Did not you engage for the Government to be without King and House of Lords And did not you then cry up the Protector contrary to your Engagements and now cry up another And thus it is very evident that the guilt of breach of Oathes and Covenants lies near unto your selves which indeed opens the Mouth of Iniquity for the very Cavaliers and Prelates say you were once strict in your Way but now you have struck hands with them and are now your selves doing that which you cried out against in them And thousands in this Nation is abated in their affections from your Church and Ministry as knowing them to be upon a false Foundation and to be of Babylon and not of the Heavenly Ierusalem And what do you mean by severe punishment of Professors Do you mean to set up Ecclesiastical Laws again and that all must be forced to your Church Way and Religion Is it in your hearts to drive the Nation by force and if they will not to punish them with Fire and Fagot and Prisons If
that you would learn more Wisdom and that your people would come to receive the Spirit of the Lord into their Hearts whereby they may be led into all Truth and into the Covenant of God where there is no Unbelief Ignorance Prophaneness nor Confusion but Peace Love and Unity altogether and if you and they did come into this you might be happy and the Judgments of the Lord would be removed Now I come to some Particulars which you do promise for your selves First That you will use all holy Endeavours to keep Cod and his Truth among you Secondly That you will be more diligent in watching over your Flocks Thirdly That you shall endeavour the Establishment of your Congregations against Popish Delusions To all which I Answer You must first make clean your own hearts and you must first Repent of your own Iniquities before you can heal others and you must first learn Obedience to God in your own hearts before you can truly instruct others therein And indeed there is need enough for you to mourn before the Lord and to fast and to confess your Sins as you say for the Lord has been long departed from you and his Presence from your Assemblies and that is the Cause of Deadness and Dryness and Barrenness among the people because God's Presence is wanting among you and you had indeed need to be more diligent in watching over your Flocks for you have been negligent therein and have fed your selves and not them and you have sought theirs and not them it s partly evident and it is time for you now to amend and to put away the Evil of your Doings but first before you dispence the Word to others you must feel the Word in your own Hearts to be as a Fire and as a Hammer in you and you must know another Foundation for Ministers than you have long stood upon even the Lord Jesus Christ must be your Foundation and you must cease to Preach for Hire and to Divine for Money and then should it be better with you and your Flocks would have comfort in you if you had received freely from the Lord and ministred freely to them but while you do it for Ends to your selves they can have no good Hopes nor Confidence in you And whereas you exhort your Congregations in divers Particulars First To take heed of false Teachers trying their spirits and holding fast that which is good especially to beware of Popish Insinuations c. say you Ans. Your Exhortation is good in it self but you should have demonstrated more plainly how false Teachers should be known comparing their Fruits now with what they were in the dayes of old when the Scriptures were written and that had been a good way to have discovered false Teachers That Mat. 16. mentioned by you bids them beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Christ said They were such as were called of men Master stood Praying in the Synagogues loved uppermost Rooms at Feasts went in long Robes and of such Christ bids beware and of such now the People in London are to beware where-ever they are for such as do these things are in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees which Christ cryed Wo against and the true Prophets cryed against such in their days as preached for Hire and that sought for their Gain from their Quarter and such you ought to cry against now as seek for their Gain from their Quarter except the guilt of these things in your selves stops your Mouthes from crying against them in others and the Apostles cryed against such as went for Gifts and Rewards such as taught for Filthy Lucre and such as made Merchandize of People for Gain for themselves such the Apostles and Christ declared against and such you ought to declare against But the People of your Congregations may say Who are such now and Where are they That I leave to their Consciences to judge who they be and where they are now and whether there be any of them in this City now and in the Nation that are called of men Master and love uppermost Rooms at Feasts and that preach for Hire and Money for Gifts and Rewards seek for their Gain from their Quarter teach for filthy Lucre and Gain who are found in these things now such are false Teachers who ought to be taken heed of I shall not now say it is any of you but I shall leave it to you and to your Peoples Consciences to whom your Exhortation is And as I have said before let all Popish Inventions and Popery be first cast out of this Nation and then if you joyn with us against it through the Spirit of the Lord we will endeavour the keeping of it out and that it shall no more enter in amongst us into this Nation And you say That your Knowledge here and all other Graces here are imperfect To which I say Then you are imperfect Saints imperfect Ministers But what do you mean by here I suppose that you mean upon Earth Now there are none of the Graces of God that are imperfect but the Grace of God is perfect in it self and the Spirit of God is perfect and every Gift of God is perfect as say the Scriptures Now that you should say the Graces of God are imperfect this is Error even abominable Error and you shew unsoundness in Judgment even in the things of God and hath belyed the Graces and Gift of God which in their measure are perfect And thus I have looked over your Exhortation and thus I have returned to you again not but that I know it is the Duty of Christ's Ministers to exhort their Flocks and that Exhortation in it self is good but when I find where Lyes and false Accusations are against the Quakers whom I dearly love and own upon that account and not otherwise have I engaged with you and what I have done it is not rendring Evil for Evil but rather to reprove your Evil and to undeceive your Congregations who might otherwise take all for true that you have said if it were not reproved Again You exhort your Congregations That they manifest Sincerity not only by hatred of Error but by a Love of the Truth c. Answ. Sincerity of Heart is indeed precious especially where the Spirit of the Lord is the rule of Judgment and doth mannage that Sincerity but where a false spirit rules in the Judgment the Sincerity is often betrayed into a Zeal against the Truth and against the Wayes of the Lord rather than otherwise and thus it was with the Iews whose Sincerity through their Error of Judgment was turned into Zeal and Bitterness against Christ And thus it is to be feared it is with many in your Congregations who may have a Zeal without Knowledge and be short of true Discerning between what is Truth and what is Error I speak not this of all but of some for it s no small thing to discern between Truth and Error
and divers practises thereunto pertaining it is not the true Worship of the True and Living God though never so zealously practised because it cannot be believed that the Authors and Composers of it were moved led and guided by the Holy Spirit of God in their very Institution and forming of it and whatsoever is brought forth whether in Faith or any practise in any kind of Profession and practises in any way of Religion and not onely by the Spirit of God is not the true Worship of God which is only in Spirit and Truth and consists onely of such practises moved unto and guided in by the Spirit and the true Worship of God is not otherwise neither for matter nor manner but in what things and after what manner as the Spirit of God leadeth unto and guideth in for the Father seeketh such to Worship him as Worship in Spirit and Truth 4. As for the Method and Form of the matter it is not according to the example of the Holy Scriptures nor agreeing to the practise of Worship held forth by the Apostles but different from and partly contrary to the Spirit that was in the Saints and their example of Worship as in many circumstances pertaining to the orders of Common-Prayer-Book might be instanced but even some of the Practises themselves and the manner of performing them are for the most part Invention and Tradition traduced into the World long since the Apostles days and they are not according to the Scriptures nor example of the Saints Worship in the Church of Christ in their days and therefore the Matter in it self partly and the Method of it are not the true Worship of the Living God which is not after the traditions of men as the manner of performance of Common Prayer-Book is when as the Worship of God is in and by the Spirit of God as before witnessed 5. And as for the Practice of it in this Nation as by Imposition and force upon pains penalties as it was practised for many years together as so held forth it was not the Worship of God but Abomination to him as I have shewed and that Worship which is practised by any people being forced upon them is but Hypocrisie and deceit and outward conformity in such Worshippers and God requires it not of them and such was the Worship in the Common-Prayer so called for there were many who did bow and conform thereunto even because of the terror of men even many in the Ignorance of their Consciences and some against their Consciences and contrary to the Light thereof and some were persecuted because they could not conform all which was Abomination in the sight of the Lord even the consequence of the thing was as evil as any part of either matter or manner also even while many conceited themselves in their Ignorance that they had Worshipped God and done well while they had onely performed such Worship forced upon them and which the Lord never required at their hands and that cannot be the true Worship of the true and Living God which can be performed by a People without the Spirit of God by which alone and without it God cannot be Worshipped and the practise of Worship after the order of Common-Prayer did many thousands if not most perform without the Spirit of God whereby it fully appears that in the practise of the Book of Common-Prayer the Worshippers did not Worship the true and Living God but walked only in a part of the Form of Godliness but had not the Power 6. But as for the Practise of it as now in England without Imposition upon all by force and penalty but by some out of supposition that it is the best way of worship and that willingly and neither forced upon them nor they forcing it upon others as thus practis'd is not so great Idolatry nor of so bad effects as if it were violently forced upon all but if any suppose it to be the best way of worship and be so perswaded such may more equally have their Liberty in the exercise thereof while they allow Liberty to others to follow what worship as they are preswaded and as it is unjust to impose by violence that or any other Form of worship upon people so it is unjust to impose penalty or punishments on the Bodies or Estates of any for their conformity to the Book of Common-Prayer or any other kind of Worship for as it is contrary to God to compel by force to that Practise of Worship so it is unjust to stop by force from that Way of Worship or to inflict Penalties upon the Persons or Estates of any because thereof for though many exceptions may be justly made by sound Arguments against that way of Worship in matter manner and effects as I have said yet none ought to be afflicted in Person or Estate for the error of their minds while their error extends not to destroy the Person and Estate of another for all force by violence that hath been put on the Bodies and Estates of men about Church-Worship Ministry and Religion of any kind hath been Antichristian and not of God even for many Generations 7. And therefore them that read the Book of Common-Prayer and all other sort of Worshippers that are either perswaded by the Spirit of God or suppose in their hearts of the Verity and Truth of their Way let them all have their Liberty in their way of Worship without force or restraint by outward Laws while they impose not one upon another violently for the true Worshippers ought not to be persecuted for their Worship but if they are it will confirm them in the truth of their Way the false Worshippers ought not to suffer affliction of Persecution nor loss of Estate though they do err in their Minds and Judgments about Worship in spiritual things but if they are afflicted because thereof it will harden them in their evil wayes and not convert them nor turn them from the evil of their wayes for men are converted to the right way and out of that which is evil by the Spirit of God and through perswading of the Conscience inwardly and not by force or violence put upon their Bodies or estates outwardly never any were converted to God by such means And this is my Answer to the Objection and my judgment of the case inquired into The Book of Common Prayer so called partly the Matter it self and the Method of it and the Manner of its performance is not the true Worship of the True and Living God no not the free Practise there of without Imposition much less the Practise of it by Imposition and force for that is altogether Abomination and hath with it woful effects upon whatsoever People it hath been or shall hereafter be forced and violently Imposed This is given forth for the Satisfaction of all that desires in this Matter The 5th Moneth 1660. E. B. A Postscript AND some set up the Institution
or to persecute any for their Conscience and the exercise thereof towards God And now I come to the Accusation it self which is this in substance That the Quakers are Enemies unto and have sought to root out the true Protestant Religion The words are these calling upon the King to honour the Lord which saith he is done by establishing and preserving the true Protestant Religion which of late years hath been in great danger to be rooted out by Anabaptists Quakers and Atheists page 6. line 1 2 3. of his Book Answ. In answer to this divers things are considerable as to the manner of his Charge against us That this Accuser hath proceeded in the same manner and by the same spirit as the Iews Scribes and Pâ—â—â—isâ—â—s and chief Priestâ— proceeded against Christ Jesus for they numbred him with Transgressors as it is written and crucified him between two Thieves that they might add to his Afflictions and bring him under the greater reproach to Ages after and thus this Accuâ—â—â— hath done in numbring the Innocent People of God called Quakers with and among Transgressors even that he may the more add to their Reproach and have his Accusation heard before the King even that it might be received for truth as if the Quakers were no better then Atheists that deny God for for this end this Accuser in these Terms vilified us and made us equal in this account to the Atheists and thus numbered us with Transgressors and Sinners and that unto the King and for this end no doubt that we might be destroyed and cut off and crucified with such as deny the Lord God Oh how unjustly and unmercifully hath this our Accuser proceeded in thus dealing towards us let the King and all People consider 2. As for such as are Atheists who deny there is a God or who deny the true God that is and who live after the desires of their own lusts saying Let us eat and drink for to morrow we must die and there is no pleasure in the Grave nor state of happiness or misery after this Life such we do deny and have no Affinity Amity Union nor Fellowship with them nor they with us and this is well known through the whole Nation and fully believed in Bristol and I am perswaded in the very Conscience of this our Accuser he knows we are not such as deny God nor have any fellowship with such therefore how hainous is this man's Crime both to God and Men who hath abused the whole Nation with his Slanders and endeavoured to mis-use the King's Ears with false Informations and hath perverted his own Conscience in speaking contrary to it and hath vexed the Lord by his Lyes and all in this his numbring of us in Accusation with the Atheists as if we were one with them and no better then they 3. As for the Anabaptists so called the other Party with whom we are accounted and numbred in the Accuser's charge It is well known what difference there is between us and them and how that we have been opposite one to the other in Controversie about spiritual things and also in matters of Judgement about Government and fighting with carnal Weapons c. and they have dealt sometime with us and proceeded towards us too hardly and maliciously as some of themselves know in accusing us to the Powers of the Nation as this man hath done But I shall at this time say no farther of them then this There may be a sincerity and uprightness amongst them in many of them more then is in this our Accuser though there is no small measure of Error in Judgement in them as concerning many Doctrines and Practises held by them and it s not my work now to accuse them neither to reward them evil for their evil but only on this occasion I am forced to clear the truth for the better information of all and I do wish well to them and even that they may confess to the justness of God's Judgment in what hath befallen them in this the day of their reproof who have been too ambitious and hard-hearted towards others that have not been of their Way and Sect and now the Lord deals justly with them in bowing them under others and in defacing their glory which was of man and not of God But to the case in hand I return and say How unrighteous still doth appear the manner of this our Adversary's Charge for whatsoever the Anabaptists or any others may hold or do though I at this time shall neither justifie nor yet condemn all what they profess and practise cannot we be charged guilty of except it first be lawfully proved that we holâ— and practise the same things And as for us who are scornfully called Quakers which Title was given unto us of derision and nick-naming I cannot in this place say much of us lest I should be said to justifie our selves which I seek not to do because it is the Lord that justifies us neither do I love much to be heard in our own Cause when it is onely our own nor do I seek praise of men for us nor of men to be â—…ed yet this I may say on Gods account and in his cause and not of our 〈◊〉 we are the people of the Lord whom he hath called and chosen and 〈◊〉 and though hated of men yet it is for the Lords sake and not for any 〈◊〉 amongst men that can be chaâ—ged upon us And we are Worshippers of 〈◊〉 â—â—ue God in spirit and in truth and we are of God and they that are of 〈◊〉 are not against us but with us and as for any Doctrine or Practise in 〈◊〉 Religion held forth by us they are according to the Scriptures of Truth 〈◊〉 I assert and can prove if need require in opposition to any that shall â—â—â—y it for we are not of a new Religion as if we worshipped strange godds though by the ignorance of men we are so reputed but are of the same Spirit 〈◊〉 in the same way of truth and we walk in the same light and life even as tâ—â— Apostles and Churches of Jesus Christ were of and walked in in the days 〈◊〉 old and this I am ready to make proof of if so it come to pass even beâ—â—â—â— the King and the whole Nation and do further declare That whatsoeâ—â—â— Church-Government Ministry Doctrine and Ordinances Faith and â—â—â—ship and whatsoever Religion in whomsoever that is not according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament but differing from and coâ—â—rary to that Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures I do for my self and on the behalf of all them that are one with me utterly renounce and â—â—y and freely give witness against notwithstanding upon whatsoever foundation such Church-Government Ministry Doctrine Faith and Worship be builded if not upon Jesus Christ as the alone Foundation and according to the Scriptures and proveable thereby they are Antichristian and the Lord will confound
in your own Consciences you are in a condemned condition and you cannot be justified of the Lord while you are accused by the Light within you of such and such sins and that you are guilty of them and sorsake them not for the God of Heaven condemneth and justifieth men according to the Witness of the Light in their own Consciences for it is Gods Evidence to bear witness for God and to accuse or excuse every man in his sight and according to its evidence God justifieth or condemneth all the Children of men III. Again Whosoever will be saved must be born again of the seed of God and must be changed and renewed in Mind and Heart and Spirit and old things must pass away and all things must be made new and a new Nature must live in you and the Image of God must be brought forth which is in Righteousness and true Holiness which is like unto God and this is the new Creation which every one must witness to be wrought in them that ever â—â—â—â—ers into Gods Kingdom For saith Christ Except a man be born again he canâ—â—â— enter into the Kingdom of God for it is not a profession of Religion made with the Lips nor the practises of Duties and Ordinances taken on and performed in the old nature and a holding of truth in unrighteousness this is not the way of Salvation but it is the regenerating and making like unto God being his Image of Justice Truth and Righteousness it is this in which men may be saved everlastingly IV. Again Whosoever will be saved must receive the Spirit of God and it must dwell in them even the Spirit of the Father and they must be taught by it and led into all Truth to do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things even the spirit of Truth must be received to teach and to lead in all the wayes of God it alone must teach and all the Hireling-Teachers of the World must be turned away from by whom peoples souls have been deceived all such as have run and God never sent them that have cryed up Tâ—â—ching and Ministry and through whom people have not received the Spirit of thâ— Father all such Teachers must be denyed their Church and Ministry and the Spirit of the Father must only teach and lead and you must walk in the Spirit and not after the Flesh for if you walk after the Flesh in the wayes and works of it you are in the state of Condemnation and not of Salvation and the Spirit of God doth not teach you but you are out of the New Covenant of God in which Covenant all are taught of the Lord and in Righteousness are they established the Spirit of God is put within them and the Law of God is written in their hearts and they need no man to teach them but as the Spirit teacheth and this is the New Covenant of Peace with God into which all must come to witness this or else they cannot be saved V. Again all that will be saved must be sanctified cleansed and purified from all Unrighteousness by the Spirit and Word of God whereby every Heart must be made clean and every Conscience sprinkled with the Blood of the Lamb and the body of sin and death must be put off and the bondage of Corruption must be broken and Iniquity must be forsaken and turned from and siâ— must be judged in the Flesh and Purity Holiness and Righteousness must live and reign in all that will be saved and Sin and Transgression and the guilt of it must be removed and you must shew forth the Image of God in Holiness and Righteousness and must be pure as he is pure in kind and quality and you must walk in Holiness and Righteousness being freed from Corruption and from the Wayes of Sin and Death being sanctified in Body Mind and Spirit by the Word of the Lord and Sin must be blotted out and Transgression must be covered and Iniquity must be remembred no more and in all things you must cease to do evil and learn to do well if ever you will be saved VI. Again whosoever will be saved must witness Christ revealed in yoâ— â—â—d â—e must live in you and you must be Followers of him wheresoever he goâ—s â—â—d your Bodies must be the Temples of the Living God and God must walk 〈◊〉 you and dwell in you according to his Promise and he must be your King your Judge and Law-giver your Teacher Father and Master and he must be 〈◊〉 in all unto you even God the Father who is blessed for ever you must â—â—ow him near you and feel his Presence in you to be your Joy Life and â—eace and you must have fellowship with him in spirit and must worship him 〈◊〉 Spirit and by the Spirit without respect of Dayes Times or Places every one that will be saved must come into this and witness it for this is the way of the Salvation of God VII Again whosoever will be saved must live in the Power of Godlinâ—ss and must deny all Forms of Religion without the Power all Profession of Scriptures Ordinances Church-member-ship Praying and Preaching which is not in the Power of God and by his Spirit must be denyed and that part that holds it that holds the Form of Godliness without the Power must be crucified and every one must come into the Power of the Spirit of God and must witness that to work in them to will and to do and no more professing the Things of God but as they are witnessed by the work of his Spirit in their hearts you must not hold Truth any longer in unrighteousness nor make a profession of it in your your unrighteous minds no more talking of Justification and Redemption nor of any of the matters of Gods Kingdom but according as they are witnessed by the working of the Spirit of God in the heart and every one must feel in himself the evidence and Testimony of the Spirit of God to witness the Truth in his heart or Conscience of what he professeth with his mouth VIII Again Whosoever will be saved must witness the Scriptures of Truth fulfilled in themselves the things that they have read of without them must be wrought within them wrought in their hearts by the same Spirit as gâ—ve forth the Scriptures they must pass through the same conditions as the holy men of God did and the same truth that the Scriptures declare of must be revealed in the heart by the same Spiâ—it that gave forth the Scriptures and none must profess more than they do enjoy from God and all flesh must be silent from speaking of the things of Gods Kingdom which they have not seen handled rasted and felt by the working of the Spirit of God in their Consciences and this is to witness the Scriptures fulfilled when you have experience of the same conditions and of the same operations and manifestations which the Servants of the Lord passed through
and bad experience of and so that you may speak what you have heard and seen and handled and tasted of the Word of Life All that will be saved must come to this and witness it IX Again Whosoever will be saved must believe in Jesus Christ and receive him and they must take up his daily cross and follow him and must know him to mortifie and crucifie them to the World and he must work the same things in you by his Spirit spiritually as he wrought without you in his Person or else you have no part in him nor salvation by him For it is not enough unto eternal life only to believe that there was such a one as a Christ and that he did and spoke such and such things at a distance without you for many may make a belief and a profession of this and yet perish but Him that was of whom you read without you must you receive and witness within you and you must know Him as he was before Abraham was and before the World was and He himself by his Spirit in you must give you the knowledge of Himself what He was before the beginning what he is now and what he shall for ever be X. Again Every one that will be saved must come up out of the Apostacy into which all Christendom hath been fallen and must come into the same Spirit Life and Power as the Apostles were in from which Life Spirit and Power all Christendom have been Apostates and they have held the words and practices of the Apostles without the same Life and Power and made Sects Churches and Ministers but out of the same Life and Spirit as the holy men of God were in and all that will be saved must be restored and received into the same Spirit and Life in their Churches Ministry and Ordinances as the Apostles of Christ Jesus were in and this is Restoration when People come again into the same Life and Spirit of God which the Apostate Christians have all wanted and been in the Form of Ministry Churches Religion and Godliness without the Power And unto this is the Lord God restoring People his Day is dawned and his everlasting Light is risen and his Name will be known in the Earth and none can be saved with the Salvation of God but who believe receive and understand these things A General Objection answered â—…ject 1. And whereas there is a great cry by some People of late That there must be no private Meetings but all People must come to Church as they say â—â—d that there must be no more Conventicles c. Answ. As for Conventicles I understand you mean Meetings out of publick Steeple-houses and that there must be no private Meetings for preaching and Praying but all People must be forced to come to publick Places of Worship Now I say If the Authority that is now set up and hath the Power doth exercise it self in this way then the God of Heaven will be provoked against it to overthrow it and confound it if it proceed contrary to the End of just Rule and Authority ordained of God which is for the punishment of them that do evil things between man and man but not to impose upon mens Consciences in things relating to the Worship and Service of God But the Lord God 〈◊〉 wholly Judge in such Matters and not any Man and if any Men 〈◊〉 erâ— in their Minds concerning Faith and Doctrine and the Worship of God that belongs to the Lord to punish and not to any Earthly Authority And what must not the People of God come together to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth Must not People conveen together in this Age as the People of God did in Ages past Did not Christ many times preach in the Dâ—sert and sometimes in a Ship by the Sea-side and sometiâ—es on a Mountain as you may read in the Scriptures And did not he often preach unto the Pharisies and sometimes to his Disciples out of the publick Synagogues And might not the Iews have called those Meetings Conventicles because they were not in their publick Synagogues And also did not the Apostles and Saints after the Resurrection of Christ when they returned from Ierusalem meet together privately for they went into an upper Room and waited upon the Lord anâ— continued with one accord in Prayer and Supplication And again at aâ—…er time they were about an hundred and twenty in number that were in one Place to wait upon the Lord and Peter preached unto them and were these Meetings Conventicles because they were not in a publick Synagogue but in 〈◊〉 upper Chamber and in a private Place And thus the Saints of old met together as ye may read Act. 1. and worshipped God in Spirit and in Truth and preached and prayed and must not the People of God now meet together to pray and wait upon the Lord but they must be reproached with th◠〈◊〉 of Conventicles and threatned and punished for so doing Oh how blind iâ— this Generation and how contrary to the true Christian-Spirit in their Practices And did not Philip preach Jesus unto the Eunuch in a Chariot as 〈◊〉 â—ent on the way and this was not in a publick Synagogue as in Act. 8. 〈◊〉 â—id not Peter preach to Cornelius with many others in Cornelius his house 〈◊〉 â—is was a Meeting and not in a Synagogue Acts 10. And did not the â—…les and Saints meet together in an Upper Chamber where Paul preached until midnight amongst the Saints Act. 20. and was this a Conventicle and aâ— unlawful Meeting Might not the Iews have said this was an Unlawful Assembly being in a Chamber and not in a Publick Synagogue And again Did not Paul preach in his own Hired House for two whole years together and received all that came in unto him Act 28. And here were Privatâ— Meetings out of Publick Synagogues But did the Iews threaten them and inflict sufferings upon them because they met in private houses and would not come to their Synagogues and Publick Worship or did they reproach them with the name of Sectaries and Conventiolers when they met together to wait upon the Lord sometime in praying and sometime in preaching And thus you may see by many Examples that the Saints and true Christian Churches in the dayes of old met together sometime on Mountains and sometimes in Deserts and sometime in Upper Chambers their own hired houses and not in the publick Synagogues but they were gathered from the Temple and first Priesthood and from the Worship which God had once commanded which stood in outward things and Ordinances and when they had received the substance they denyed the shadows types and figures and did not uphold them any longer And they were gathered by the preaching of the Gospel into the second and new Covenant and they met together in private Houses and upper Chambers and by the Sea-side to preach and pray and to worship the Lord and we do
not read that the Iews persecuted them for so doing And will you that have the name of Christians persecute the People of God though they meet together in private houses and their own hired houses and cannot come to your Temples and Steeple-houses And will not you suffer such to meet together out of your Publick Places but you will persecute them and call them Hereticks and such like Is not this worse than ever the Iews did to the Apostles And so you are out of the Example of the true Christians who met together and preached and prayed often and not in a Synagogue or Publick Place but you cry against them that do so and threaten to persecute for it and thus you shew your selves out of the true Christian Example and in this you are worse than the Iews and more cruel if you should persecute People for meeting to wait upon the Lord in their own houses or in what place or time as the Lord should move their hearts but if you proceed in this way and will not permit the People of God to meet together in their own houâ—â— and not in your Idol-Temples then the Power of the Lord will confound you and God will break you to peices and you will feel his heavy Wrath upon your Consciences and God will smite you with his Judgements inwardly and outwardly Now for your restraining of people from one way of Worship and forcing them to another and compelling them about Religion by cruel Laws and Commandments of men this is of Antichrist for you to do and of the Devil for all forcing of People to this kind of Worship and from another 〈◊〉 posing upon their Consciences in matters of Gods Kingdom this is also of â—…tichrist and contrary to Christ and his Way for he won People by sound Doctrine and by Love and by a good Conversation and so did his Disciples for they never forced any by outward violence to their Worship nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Church-Government and Ordinances but it was the practice of the Beast and the Dragon that first forced People and compelled them 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ship since the dayes of the Apostles Rev. 13. It was Antichrist that first 〈◊〉 upon People in the Ignorance of their Consciances and contrary to their â—…ences by the Commandments of men false Faith false Worship false Ministry false Doctrine and false Religions so that now if you should force any contrary to their Consciences to your Steeple-houses to 〈◊〉 and say your Form of Prayers we shall say then you are Antichrist 〈◊〉 of the Devil if so be you should endeavour to compel any either against 〈◊〉 Consciences or in the Ignorance of their Consciences to your way of Worship or Religion Therefore take heed how you meddle in these things lest God confound you And as for us we are the People of God we fear his Name and worship him and cannot bow to the Devil and we need not be forced to worship the Lord for his Spirit leads us into all Truth and we need none of your outward Prescriptions or Form of Prayers for the Spirit of God teacheth us in all these things when and where and how we should worship the Lord God who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth which is free and not by outward force and all the Worship that is otherwise and not in the free Spirit of Christ is of great Babylon whom the Lord will confound and destroy Another general Objection answered Object 2. Again whereas it is said by some Now there must be no more private Preachers unlearned men and men not ordained must not now preach anymore Lay-Persons must not be Preachers that are not so qualified nor so and so ordained and this is the present talk among some People Answ. To this I also answer and say Wo to them that would stop or quench or limit the Spirit of God in Sons or Daughters for such are Denyers of the Scriptures and the Power of God and such bring guilt upon their own Consciences and work fearful Abomination against God And what must not the Spirit of the Lord speak now where it is in this Age as it did in the dayes of old as you may read in the Scriptures for was not Elisha a Plow-man and was not he called from the Plow 1 King 19. and became a Prophet of the Lord unto the House of Israel and had the spirit of Elijah poured upon him and would not you have said he was a Lay-man a Plow-man unordained not fitting to preach if you had lived in his dayes And was not Aâ—â—â— called from following the Flock who had been no Prophet nor no Prophets Son but an Herds-man Amos 7. 14 15. and it was lawful for him to preach the Word of the Lord though he was but an Herds-man and had been no Prophet nor Prophets Son which if he had lived in your dayes you would have called him a Lay-man an unfit Person unlearned and one not ordained for the Ministry and you like Amaziah the wicked Priest of Bethel would now quench the Spirit as he would have done in Amos who was a Trades-man and such a one as you call Lay-men who are not as you say fitting to preach And did not Christ Jesus himself chuse Fisher-men and sent them forth to preach the Gospel and such as were men of Trades and unlearned in Books as it is written Act. 4. 13. When the Ruâ—â—â—s saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived they were Unlearned they â—â—velled and these were Ministers of Christ and preached the everlasting Gospel whom you would have called Lay-men and men unfit to preach 〈◊〉 you lived in their dayes And Paul himself by Occupation was a Tent-â—…er it is said and he laboured with his Hands and yet was a Preacher of the Gospel and there are multitudes of Witnesses in the Scriptures of these things how that men of Trades and unlearned in Letters and Books and never were brought up at Schools and Colledges but followed the Plough and were keepers of Cattel and some followed Fishing such as these in old 〈◊〉 had the Spirit of God given them and they preached the Gospel And what if the Lord at this day give his Spirit to such as these and send them 〈◊〉 to preach the Gospel even to such as were brought up and educated 〈◊〉 â—ay be at Handy-craft Trades and are labouring men and are not 〈◊〉 at Schools and Colledges will you limit the Lord and quench his 〈◊〉 and reproach his Wayes and Servants and now call them Lay-perâ—… and say they are not fitting to preach for they are not Learned nor â—…ed say you and calling them Mechannicks and private Preachers and 〈◊〉 they must not now be admitted to preach the Gospel and in this you 〈◊〉 the Scriptures and the Example of the Saints in former Ages and so neither 〈◊〉 the Scriptures nor the Spirit that gave them forth though you say 〈◊〉 own the Scriptures yet
charging all this upon us Answ. 1 That we do boast of talking with God or of Revelation This is another of his false Accusations for we boast not nor do we glory in any thing saving in the Lord and this is no Error but that which we must acknowledge unto or else deny the Truth to talk with God and God with us in and by his own Spirit for all the Saints have converss with God and union and fellowship with him in his own Spirit as the Scriptures do declare and as for Revelations we do acknowledge according to Christ's Words that we had never known the Father nor the Son but by Revelation For none known the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him as it is written and all such as have not converss with God and that have not Revelation are not in the Way of Eternal life but are ignorant and without God in the World and neither know him nor have fellowship with him 2. As for killing all the Wicked this is another false Charge for it is not our Principle to war against the Persons of any Men and kill them with carnal Weapons about Church and Ministry and Religion as the Papists and Protestants do one against another but it is our Principle to war against the evil spirit in men and to smite that with the spiritual Sword of God's Word and we would have mens wickedness killed and their Persons saved and their Souls delivered and this is the War we make even till men be changed by the Power of God and all things made new even a new World and a new Earth we do expect according to the Lord's Promise so that it is no error to expect a new Earth and a new World for there is a new Creation which the Saints do witness created anew in Christ Jesus to bring forth good fruits unto the living God and all that do not witness this are in the transgression of the old Creation which brings the Wrath of God Again The Accuser tells a story of one that professed the Gift of discerning spirits and to know the Elect from Reprobates and that made holiness consist in speaking little and living homely and sordidly as our Quakers do saith he Answ. 1. As for discerning of Spirits that is a Gift which the Saints of God do receive in all Ages for the Apostles said to some was given the discerning of spirits by the manifestation of the Spirit of God So to profess discerning of spirits is no error in us though it be stated as a great error before you by an ignorant man who knows not what he saith nor whereof he affirms And its possible to know the Elect from Reprobates by their fruits and works for the Children of God who are the Elect are known by their holy and Righteous works and fruits and the Children of the Devil who are the Reprobates are known also by their works and fruits of unrighteousness which they bring forth and this the Scriptures bear witness of 2. As for speaking little and living homely and sordidly If he means by homely and sordidly plainly and without superfluity this is also works and fruits of holiness and its better to speak little than to utter multitude of vain words and its more justifiable to God and just Men to be plain and homely as he saith in Apparrel than superfluity of naughtiness in vain Attire and more holy for true holiness consists in the Power of God which crucifies all idle words and all superfluity in Apparrel and whatsoever is not like God And was but this Accuser as wise as he is envious he would never be seen to scorn the Quakers scornfully so called with speaking little and wearing plain and sober Apparrel but Fools love to be medling to manifest their own folly as it is written Again The Accuser telleth another Story of Muntzer how he did exhort some that were on his part viz. Anabaptists to kill every Mothers Son for a Sacrifice to the Lord and saith he by this we may gâ—ess if Anabaptists and Quakers should get the upper hand what they would do c. Answ. 1. As for the Quakers getting the upper hand we strive not for it by carnal Weapons to have victory over mens Persons though we know the Lord will give us victory and dominion over the Beast and over the false Prophets for the Lamb shall get the victory and they that are with him who are called and faithful and chosen but this victory is spiritual and obtained spiritually and thus we believe the Lord will give us the upper hand even victory over â—ll our Enemies 2. But what a wicked envious siâ—rmise and suggestion is here coutched under as if the Quakers if they had victory would kill every Mothers Son for a Sacrifice and that they would make War c. The Lord rebuke his slanderous Tongue who hatched Mischief in his mind against the Innocent and presented you with forged Lyes and Surmises and imagined guessed cruel and evil things against us who are far otherwise Principled than as he suggesseth but all this his own doings doth but manifest the folly of his own Heart and 〈◊〉 own wickedness for we are of the Spirit of Mercy and Peace and not of Murder and War not to kill mens Persons but to war with the Spirit of God against spiritual Enemies that mens Iniquities may be slain and their Persons and Souls saved Again The Accuser pag. 4. tells a long story of Micher Hopman and others with him what things they held As they condemned the Baptism of Children they would not take an Oath they pulled down Magistrates they undertook to kill all Princes they taught that in their Churches all were holy and that it was lawful to have many Wives that all Learning is prophane and that mean men are fittest to expound Sâ—riptures and there must be no ordinary calling in the Church but every man must speak as he is inspired And thus it is saith the Accuser with the Quakers and Popish Agents who are their Ring-leaders have been endeavouring in these three Nations these eight or nine years by-past c. Answ. 1. It is to be considered that all these things are fully charged upon us as being guilty thereof and so to every particular I shall answer As to that of the Baptism of Children we do say there is neither Command nor Example for it in all the Scripture God never commanded it nor did the Apostle ever practise it in their dayes but it is a Tradition of the Church of Rome introduced into the World long since the Apostles dayes and except better ground can be shewed for the Practice of it than bare Tradition it is lawful to deny it as being no Ordinance of God in his true Church except I say that it can be proved that God ever commanded it or the Apostles and Saints practised it till which be done it is no error to deny the
sprinkling of Infants and to deny it to be the true Baptism into the true Church 2. Concerning taking an Oath we say Christ Jesus commanded Mat. 5. Not to Swear to all and the Apostles Iames said Above all things my Brethren Swear not so that to deny to Swear and take Oathes is according to the Command of Christ and his Apostles and is no error though the Accuser hath here charged it on us as a heinous crime but we do deny all swearing in obedience to the Commands of Christ and our Yea is Yea and our Nay is Nay as Christ hath taught us without an Oath who hath commanded us not to take Oaths nor Swear at all 3. As for pulling down Magistrates and killing all Princes and that it is lawful to have many Wives These are Lyes and Slanders charged upon us by a false Accuser for our Principle is to obey all Magistrates and all Princes in every thing either by doing or suffering and we would have Princes and Magistrates to rule and reign in the Power of God justly righteously and according to the Law of God and would not have them killed and pulled down And we say it 's better to keep in the single chaste life than to have many Wives but any Accusation to make us appear vile this your Informer spareth not but according to his Work will be his Reward in the Day of the Lord. 4. Concerning all being holy in the Church we say That every Member in the true Church of Christ is holy for the Church of Christ is his Body and every Member of his Body which are Flesh of his Flesh and Bones of his Bones are holy as he is holy in kind and quality and it is his Exhortation to his Saints Be ye holy for I am holy saith Christ So that to hold that every member of the Body of Christ is holy is no error though it be so reputed by an ignorant man 5. Concerning all Learning being prophane and that mean men are fittest to expound Scriptures I do say that Learning in it self is a gift of God and is not prophane though as to the knowledge of God and the things of his Kingdom learning in Tongues and Languages is little available for it 's the Spirit of God that teaches the things of God and reveals all the things of his Kingdom and none can know God but as the Spirit of God discovers him for the Disciples who were some of them unlearned men in Books and letters had the knowledge of the matters of God's Kingdom taught them by the holy Spirit and such as have the gift of the Spirit of God be they poor or rich are fitted to expound and understand Scriptures for none can understand the Scriptures nor the things therein declared but by the Spirit of God that gavâ— forth the Scriptures and it is not Latine Greek or Hebrew that teacheth to understand the Scriptures but it is the Spirit of God and to whomsoever that Spirit is given and God gives it to whom he pleaseth they only are fit to declare the things of God unto others and to expound Scriptures and none else but them who have experience of the operation of the Spirit in their own hearts and this we hold and believe 6. Concerning ordinary Calling and speaking as he is inspired I say the Scriptures no where speak of ordinary calling and if by ordinary calling it be meant calling to any Office in the Church without the Spirit of God I say there was no such Calling for the Ministry of Christ in the Apostles dayes was called by the holy Spirit and the Ministry of the true Church is made ordained and called according to the Gift of God's holy Spirit which he giveth And as every one saith Peter hath received the Gift of the Spirit so let him administer the same one to another So that it is manifest by the Scriptures that the Call to the Ministry in the Apostles dayes was not of man nor by man saith Paul but according to the gift of the holy Anointing the Spirit of God and also every one in the true Church might speak as it was revealed to them for saith Paul If any thing be revealed to another that stands by let the first hold his peace for â—e may all speak one by one that all may be edified So that it is no Error to hold that every one in the true Church may speak as the Spirit of God gives them utterance and to whom the things of God are revealed by the Spirit 7. That there are Popish Agents among us and that such are our Ring-leaders this is a false slander and you ought to put the Accuser to prove it it is your duty so to do and that such Popish Agents be named and where they are And I challenge the Accuser to name one among 〈◊〉 or else let him stop his Mouth for a Lyar who hath abused your Names with dedicating Untruths to you for your approof Again He accuseth us for saying The Spirit bloweth where it listeth and he saith we judge none have the Spirit but our selves Answ. 1 Christ himself said The Wind bloweth where it listeth and so iâ— every one that is born of the Spirit And we do judge God hath given of his Spirit to many that are yet Ungodly and many are convinced of sin by the Spirit of God in their Consciences that are wicked and ungodly who are not of Us but yet we say as the Saints in Ages past said We know that we are of God and that the whole World lies in Wickedness and they that are of God hear us and are one with us and we do inform all People to the measure of the Spirit of God in their Consciences that they may come to the Knowledge of God and to be one with us Again He accuseth us to be acted by the same deluding spirit as John of Leyden was acted by Answ. 1. What spirit Iohn of Leyden was acted by we now dispute not neither doth this Accuser well know but what he hath from the reports of others which may be false as like as true in fome particulars but the Spirit that we follow is the Spirit of God by which we are acted in the wayes of Truth and Righteousness and are not deluded nor Followers of a deluding spirit for we are willing to be tried in our Doctrines and Practices according to the Scriptures and though we stand accused of these and the like things yet we challenge him to prove it before you and that we may be admitted to make our defence and we shall the rather easily prove that our Accuser is acted by the spirit of the Devil who is an Accuser of the Brethren like the Devil and that is a deluding spirit that teacheth men to backbitâ— lyâ— and slander as this man hath done so he is proved fully guilty of that whereof he hath accused others and must own the shame and condemnation to himself
extream Reproaches as I have said in Contempt and Derision of that People and all this as if those People were guilty of heinous Crimes that it might appear to thee as if these Petitioners had done nothing but Iustice in what they have done and they seek to cover themselves and to hide their Wickedness before thee in what they have unjustly acted and this seems to be the Current of some part of the same Petition already presented unto thee like as if they had done no Evil though they have Unjustly Banished 〈◊〉 off Ears Whipped inhumanly and taken away lives as aforesaid And they would have thee believe they are Innocent towards thee and towards us whenas it is evident as the Sun at Noon-day that they are our Persecuters and that they have â—â—justly persecuted us unto Death for the Name of Christ and that also they are not unto thee as they Hypocritically feign themselves And therefore O King for the clearing of our selves and the Name of the Lord which we profess and for reproving of their bold impudent Insolencies both in what they have already done to us and now in seeking to cover themselves unto thee And also if there be any doubtfulness in thy Heart of these Matters for these Ends and Causes with Respect to the Fear of God and Honour 〈◊〉 the King I hereby presume to pursue their said Petition even unto thy Court and to wipe away the Slanders and Reproaches of Ungodly Men as much as possible hoping thereby thou wilt receive due and just Information in this matter of proceeding between us and them that thy just Judgment may be given accordingly And I shall transcribe some few of their own words presented to thee and thereupon spread some few Considerations before thee also and I pray God give thee an Understanding to judge justly in this and all other cases The first thing that I note is whereas they say That they have chosen rather the pure Scripture-Worship with a good Conscience in this poor remote Wilderness to â—it New-England among the Heathens than the Pleasures of England with subjection to the Imposition of the then so disposed and so far prevailing Hierarchy which we could not do without an evil Conscience c. say they The Considerations presented unto the King upon these words are divers 1. The Worship Doctrine Discpiline and Constitution of the Church of New-England is different and contrary and not purely according unto the Scriptures in the Administration of the Gospel nor in a pure Conscience purely guided by the Spirit of God though they seem to justifie their own Way and Case before the King and this may justly be made appear in his Presence upon good Occasion only at this time I assert the Case and if ever God gives oportunity I may prosecute it with Proofs and Evidences and that to the great Reproof of the Church so called of New-England who are not only in Doctrine Worship and Conversation contrary to the Scriptures but impudent and too presumptious to affirm their own Self-justification and Innocencâ— before the King when as it is manifest as the Day is from the Night that the Pastors and Members of the Church of New-England want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and follow the spirit of Persecution Violence and Cruelty and are void of a Good Conscience both towards God and Men. To prove this there needs no greater Evidence than their own Deportâ—…nt towards the Harmless Quakers for these five years time who as I have said have spoiled their Goods and imprisoned their Persons cut off their Ears Banished them and inhumanely put them to Death and all this because of difference in Iudgment and Practice in Religious Matters when as no manner of Evil could be charged upon them in the things between man and man And if these be not works contrary to the Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them forth and contrary to a Good Conscience I am yet ignorant and must leave it to the Judgment of the King before whom this Matter is brought to receive his Judgment 2. Let the King consider how they have ignorantly condemned themselves in the same things for whith they have judged others for while they seem to complain of the Impositions of the Bishops which they stile prevailing Hierarchy if it was Transgression in the Bishops in dayes past to impose upon these Petitioners and to Persecute them for Non-conformists how much more are these men guilty of Imposition and Persecution of tender Consciences Nay they have exceeded in the same Transgression and become seven-fold guilty of the sins themselves which they complain against in others for they have gone further in Cruelty and Persecution towards the Innocent Quakers than ever the Bishops proceeded against them even so far further as the murdering of a man is more than cutting off his Ear And the Cause of the Quakers towards these Petitioners hath been as Innocent as ever theirs was towards the Bishops Oh hypocritical Generation who are condemning of others for that whereof themselves are guilty and imposing upon others in a far higher degree than ever the Bishops imposed on them witness their Law in New-England which judgeth every man to pay 5s per day who come not to their Assembly and imposing Fines of 40s and 50s apiece on such as meet together to worship the Lord which are evident signs of an evil Conscience as themselves speak The next thing that I note upon which the King ought to consider the Petitioners say concerning the Quakers Open Capital Blasphemers open Seducers from the Glorious Trinity the Lord 's Christ the Blessed Gospel and from the holy Scriptures as the Rule of Life open Enemies to the Government it self as established in the hand of any but men of their own Principles malignant Promoters of Doctrines directly tending to subvert both our Church and State By way of Answer to this let the King consider 1. The envious and detestable spirit of maliciousness of these Accusers and how vehement and fervent their persecuting spirit is drawn forth with reproachful Tearms in the highest degree like as if they could not utter sufficiently the Envy of their Hearts or as if they wanted words to demonstrate their Malignity and devouring Malice against that People whom they in scorn call Quakers and all this to present us Odious and Abominable before thee O King I say but this of them unto thee The Lord forgive them if they have not sinned unto Death and Unpardonably I have no desire of Revenge towards them but I leave Vengeance to the Lord who will recompence in his season neither do I desire to provoke or incense the King against them only Duty to God and the King teacheth me and Love Constraineth me and an absolute Necessity presseth much upon me to spread our Denyal of their Bitter and Malicious Accusations against us before the King unto whom we are thus foully accused And I say I
am confident That the King hath better Experience of us than to believe these our Malicious Accusars And I do appeal to him from the knowledge which he hath already of us that he believes we are Innocent and not guilty of those things thus unjustly charged upon us and I question not but he will rightly understand that these Accusations are more out of Hatred and Envy against us than out of desire to benefit the King by such Presentation 2. I do testifie unto the King and before the whole World That we do profess and believe concerning the Father Son and Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Gospel and the Holy Scriptures I say we do believe and make prefession in Truth and Righteousness concerning all these things and by our Doctrines and Instructions do perswade all people to believe and not seduce any from these Truths of the Gospel and this is known through these Kingdoms concerning us though we stand now accused falsly concerning these Matters before the King But as for the Scriptures being the Rule of Life we say The Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures is the Rule of Life Faith unto the Saints and leads not contrary but according unto the Scriptures in the Belief and Practice of whatsoever the Scripture saith And if these Petitioners did make the Scriptures the Rule of their Lives and Practices for the denyal of which they here accuse us they would not have cut off Ears Banished and put to Death for the Cause of Conscience which is contrary to the Scriptures and proceeded from another spirit than that which gave forth the Scriptures 3. Concerning Government our Principles and Practices are well known to many and partly to the King We are not Enemies unto Government it self as these our Accusers do charge us but it is our Principle and hath ever been and is our Practice to be subject to whatsoever Government is set up over us either by doing or suffering and neither to vilifie nor rebel against any Government or Governours by any Malicious Plots or Contrivances but to walk in Meekness and Humility towards all being subject for Conscience sake as I have said either by doing or suffering and I doubt not but the KING is sufficiently informed hereof and believeth this Testimony 4. As for our Doctrines tending to subvert both Church and State this is also a false Accusation and Slander for our Doctrines are to convert and not to subvert even to convert to God and Truth and Righteousness that men should live in these things and forsake all that which is contrary and this Effect our Doctrines have wrought in the World as the Testimony of many Consciences shall bear witness Oh let the King consider of our Defence as well as of our Enemy's Charge who have thought it not enough to Whip most cruelly Banish cut Ears and put to Death the Innocent but must still accuse them â—alsly and seek to cover themselves by fawning and flattering Addresses unto the King like as if they had done no Evil whenas the God or Heaven is Witness to whom we can appeal That our Brethren suffered the Tortures of shameful Death in New-England through their unjust Laws and Sentences as Saints and Servants of the Living God for the Name of Christ Jesus and for his Truth which they held until Death and not for Evil-doing And the Executioners of these inhumane Cruelties seem so far from Repentance for their Evil doing that they rather justifie themselves in what they have done and cease not to smite and wound and reproach the Innocent and that before the King and that after they have Martyred them Again These Petitioners say After all other means for a long time used in vain we were at last constrained for our own safety say they to pass a Sentence of Banishment against them upon Pain of Death such was their Dangerous Impetuous and Desperate Turbulency to Religion and to the State Civil and Ecclesiâ—stical as that 〈◊〉 unwilling soever could it have been avoided the Magistrate at least in Conscience both to God and man judged himself called for the Defence of all to keep the Passage with the Point of the Sword held towards them this could do no harm say they to them that would be warned thereby their willing rushing themselves thereupon was their own act and we with all humility conceive a Crime bringing their Blood upon their own Heads By way of Answer to this let it be considered 1. What Means was for a long time used before they put them to Death is shameful to mention Was it not by the means of Cruel Whippings Banishment Imprisonment Cutting off Ears and taking their Goods by Violence It s true by this Means the Petitioners dealt with the Quakers and never by any Christian like Means for the very first of our Friends that ever came among them they made them Prisoners ere they came on shore and inhumanely dealt with them and Banished them and this was the first and fairest Means that ever was used by them which are not Gospel-Means nor the Way by which the Church of New-England ought to have proceeded Had our Friends been in Error and such as they say of them it had been their Duty to have gained them by Love by Mercy and by Long-suffering these are the Weapons of the Spirit of God which ought to be us'd towards them that are in Error in order to the converting of them from the Error but contrary to this the Magistrates and Church-Members of New-England took Cain's Weapons and dealt Cruelly and not like Christians nor like sober Men towards the Innocent but their thus proceeding was in vain as themselves acknowledge for notwithstanding the Gospel of Christ grew and encreased and many were converted to the Faith of Christ Jesus throughout New-England 2. Let it be considered what their dangerous and desperate Turbulency was to States Civil and Ecclesiastical Did ever these poor People whom they condemned and put to shameful death lift up a Hand against them or appear in any Turbulent Gesture towards them Were they ever found with any Carnal Weapon about them or What was their Crime saving that they warned Sinners to Repent and the Ungodly to turn from his way We appeal to the God of Heaven on their behalf whom they have Martyred for the Name of Christ That they had no other Offence to charge upon them saving their Conversations Doctrines and Practices as Saints of the Most High God and this is witness'd by many of their Neighbours though themselves have hardened their Hearts against the Reproof of God's Witness And we certainly believe it was their Malice and Envy that constrained them to pass Sentence of Death upon them and not the Equity of either just Law of God or man for they deserved not the merit of Death such was the Innocency of their Cause And they are no more safe by the taking away the Lives of our
to say Occasion is Wrongfully taken against us to destroy us and we are proceeded against contrary to the End of Just Government which is To preserve the Peaceable and not to destroy them and contrary to the KING 's former Promises who hath said We should not suffer for Matters of our Religion and Conscience living Peaceably in the Land And if we suffer because we cannot Swear at all such our suffering is for our Conscience sake and we are therein Persecuted Unrighteously as Innocent People and without just Cause And we must commit this our Cause to God who regardeth the Oppressions of his People and will avenge their Cause in his season And for the present this is all I have to say and present concerning this Case of Swearing and concerning the Oath of Allegiance CHAP. II. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning our Meeting together to Worship God 1. WE do Meet together in the Name of Jesus Christ and in his Power and Spirit and we do come together in the Fear of God to wait upon him and to receive the Teachings of his Holy Spirit and his Council to direct us in all our Wayes how to walk Righteously towards God and Men and in our Meetings we practice our Hearts and Minds in Godliness and speak of the Things of the Kingdom of God in Preaching the Word of God and in Prayer to Him according as his Holy Spirit guideth us which is given us of God to lead us into all Truth according to his Promise Iohn 16. 13. and that we may edifie one another in the Wayes of Holiness and Truth for the benefit of our souls and this is according to the Scriptures For they that feared the Lord met often together and spake one to another and edified one another And this is our Principle That it is our Duty to God-wards to meet together and that he requires it of us and for the exercise of our Consciences to him it hath been alwayes and is our Practice to meet together in the Exercise of the worship of God as aforesaid and not for any other End as in Contempt of Authority or to Plot or Contrive or to Meditate Evil against the King or his Government or any of his Subjects we have no such end I say in meeting together But our alone only and absolute End in our Meeting is to worship the Lord our God and to serve him and to wait upon him in obedience to his Will and for good Conscience sake as our Duty towards him 2. And this our Practice of Meeting together for the End and Cause mentioned if it be in publick Houses or more private in Upper Chambers or in the open Fields on what day soever is Lawful and Just in the sight of God and is according to the Example of the Primitive Saints and provable by the Scriptures as in Acts 1. 13 14. And when the Disciples and Saints returned from Jerusalem they went up into an upper Chamber both Men and Women and Waited upon the Lord and continued with one accord in Prayer and in Supplication And in Acts 20. 7. 8. The first day of the â—…k the Saints met together and Paul preached unto them and continued his Sermon till Midnight holding forth the Matters of the Kingdom of God And they were met in an upper Chamber from whence Eutychus fell down And Acts 28. 30 31. And Paul remained two full Years preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in his own hired House in Rome and he exhorted the Saints Not to neglect meeting together as the manner of some was whom he reproved Heb. 10. 25. By which Testimonies with divers others that might be given it is manifest that the Saints of God in former Ages did meet together to worship God and to wait upon him in Prayer and Preaching as the Spirit of the Father taught them that dwelt in them And sometime they met publickly and sometime more private and sometime on the day time and some in the night season and they met separate from the Synagogues and wayes of publick Worship among the Iews according to the Will of God and as it was ordered amongst them And thus it is manifest That our Meeting for the Worship of GOD at this Day though they are separate from the Way of Publick Worship of the Kingdom and are in more private Houses are justifiable being after the Example of the Saints and according to the Scriptures of Truth and therefore our Meetings are according to the LAW of GOD Just and Lawful 3. And forasmuch as by Reason of the late Insurrection of some few Persons in London our Lawful Assembling of our selves together in the Worship of God is under present Restraint and Prohibition and by Proclamation forbidden under the Denomination of Seditious and Unlawful Meetings and our Friends Imprisoned and persecuted for that Cause of Assembling themselves to wait upon God Now in this Case this I plead unto the King That we are no manner of way guilty of that Insurrection upon which the Proclamation of forbidding our Meetings was grounded and therefore ought not to suffer with the guilty being Innocent from the very Occasion of that Proclamation And for the King to prohibit our Meetings for and because of the ill Use that others made of theirs this seems a Condemning of the Innocent with the Guilty which is no way just in the sight of God nor men but altogether unequal that we should suffer for other mens Fault though such did abuse their Liberty and pervert the End of their Meetings into rising up with Carnal Weapons against the King so did not we neither in Intent nor Action and therefore our Meetings ought not to be prohibited for the Cause of other mens Faults and Miscarriages in that Case And also We have the King's Promise divers times That we should not suffer for our Religion while we acted nothing against the Peace of the Kingdom and Government which yet we never have done nor made any ill use of our Meetings nor of the King's Promises nor forfeited them and therefore according to his own Promises we ought to have our Meetings and enjoy them without Restraint because we have not forfeited the benefit of his former Promises in that behalf nor ever made use of our Meetings to Plot or Conspire against the Government to its Harm or Detriment and because of our Innocency herein the Benefit of his former Promises are yet in force unto us to protect our lawful Meetings and not to prohibit them And though upon Suspition only our Meetings have been Restrained and our Friends Imprisoned by the late Proclamation yet we being proved Innocent and without Guilt of that which occasioned it the KING and Council may and ought in Justice and good Reason to Reverse and Revoke that part of the Proclamation related to us as being Innocent that we may enjoy our lawful Meetings according to the Scriptures and Example of Saints and according to
practised among the Papists we have no Command or Example for it in all the Scriptures only the Apostle exhorted to confess your faults one to another but no mention of distinction of persons as if there was an Order of men among the Saints Ordained for Confession to be made unto as is among the Papists practised But such kind of Inventions are among them and all that gain-say them in their Wayes must be burned as Hereticks and this is the way that the Papists do uphold their Religion not by sound Arguments and by the Spirit and Power of God but by killing such as will not Believe and Practise as they do Doct. 6. That it is not necessary or profitable to have any Church or Chappel to pray or perform Divine Service in Opposed by the Papists as a great Error Answ. As for the Church it is in God 1 Thes. 1. and the Body of Christ is the Church Ephes. 1. 23. the Saints of Christ that have Believed in the Church of Christ for the Church was in Aquilla's House as may be read and in this Church of Christ wheresoever come together is the Divine Holy Acceptable Service of God performed in the Spirit and in the Truth And as for Houses of Wood and Stone builded and called Churches and Chappels which Papists have builded to perform their Service in these are Idolatrous Places and not true Churches God dwells not in Temples made with Hands as it is written And though a man affirm That God may be worshipped and served as well in any Place as in your Churches and Chappels and that such Places are not necessary but God may be served in other Places This is no Error deserving Fire and Faggot as the Papists do affirm and Practice Doctrines 7. and 8. That burying in the Church-Yard is unprofitable and vain That Holy Dayes Instituted by the Church are not to be observed and kept in reverence in as much as all Dayes are alike Opposed by the Papists as Errors Answ. There is no respect of Places with God neither are the Dead more or less acceptable to him notwithstanding the Place of Burial whether it be on the Land or cast into the Sea if occasion so happen as some times it doth The Patriarchs of old had Places appointed and purchased for Burial of their Dead as it is at this day among the Lord's People but that the Church-yard so called is more Holy than another Place as the Papists do account This we believe not nor can it be proved to us by Scripture or sound Reason And as for Holy Dayes instituted and observed is but a meer Invention of the Romish Church without any ground from the Apostles and it is no sin against God not to observe them and all dayes are as to God alike holy in His sight without respect of one or another And for the Papists to invent Practices without Example in the Scriptures as Religious and then to impose them by force upon all People and to kill and burn such as Hereticks as cannot conform thereunto How Impious Oppressive and Antichristian this manner of work is let all sober People judge And this is but a mocking of God for the Papists to profess Holy Dayes and with a pretence of God's Worship to observe them as Holy when as more Rudeness Drunkenness Wantonness and Ungodliness is usually committed that Day which they profess to keep Holy than is on the other dayes beside And this is manifest to all People that thus the Papists do mock God in their exercise of keeping Holy Dayes Doctrines 9. and 10. That it is sufficient to Believe though a man do no good Works at all That no Humane Lawt or Constitutions do oblige a Christian Opposed by the Papists as Errors Answ. It is sufficient to believe in Iesus Christ and that Believing is a good Work and if a man truly believes he cannot but bring forth by that Faith good Works and it is impossible for a true Believer in Christ but to do good Works if a Man do no good Works he is not a Believer For Faith without Works is dead and that is no true Belief which is without good Works and a Christian one that is truly so is obliged and bound by the Law of God To do all Good and to forsake all Evil and the Laws of men they are subject to them all for Conscience sake by performing them or suffering under them And as for Humane Inventions of the Papists which they bind on the Consciences of Men upon loss of Life or Estate or Damnation These things we say do not oblige the Conscience nor any Laws or Constitutions of men do oblige Christians to Obedience which are not truly grounded upon the Law of God Doct. 11. That God never gave Grace or Knowledge to a great Person or Rich Man and that they in no wise follow the same Answ. This is a false Doctrine for God gave Grace to all The Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared unto all men as it is written which Grace teacheth the Saints to deny all Ungodliness and the Wicked turn the Grace of God into Wantonness but the true Knowledge of God is given but to a few and not many Wise men after the flesh are called but God chooseth the Poor and Contemptible as saith Paul to confound the Wise and Mighty of this World and yet God gives Knowledge to Rich and Poor without respect of Persons as it pleaseth Him Doct. 12. That any Lay-man may preach by his own Authority without Licence of the Ordinary Opposed by the Papists as a great Error Answ. All in the true Church and that are of the Church may Prophesie and Speak in the Church one by one as Paul saith without distinction of Titles such as the Papists use Clergy and Lay-men and such like Terms of their own Inventions without Example from the Churches of Christ in the Apostles dayes for the Apostle saith If any thing be revealed to another that standeth by let the first hold his Peace for ye may all Prophesie one by one that all may be edified And again Peter saith As every man hath received of the Gift of the Spirit let him administer the same one to another Thus it is manifest by the Scriptures That every Member of the true Church of Christ may Preach by the Authority of the Spirit of God as that moveth and leadeth and this was the Example of the holy men of God declared in Scriptures Elisha that was a Plow-man and Amos that was a Herds-man and Peter that was a Fisher-man these and such as these whom the Papists would have called Lay-men did Preach and Teach without any Licence from men but as the Lord Commanded them who said Ier. 23. He that hath my Word let him speak my Word faithfully and this without respect of Persons and without distinction of Names of Lay-men or otherwise though contrary to this the Papists would limit the Holy
and the Papists by the Example of others against them Now I say The Wickedness of one will not justifie the Wickedness and Cruelty of the other for neither Party of them are justifiable in the sight of God but condemnable in such Proceedings and it was doubtless of Antichrist and the Devil in both Papists and Protestants to Destroy and Burn one another only for and because of Difference in Religion and wherein the Protestants did put any of the Papists to Death only for and because of Difference in Profession and Practice in Religion and because they were Papists herein the Protestants were acted by the same persecuting spirit of the Devil as the Papists were acted by against them so that I am not an absolute party with the Protestants against the Papists for I know that there is Error of Judgment amongst them both in Faith Worship and their whole Religion only my End is at present in pursuing Semper Iidem to confound his Bloody spirit of Persecution and Cruelty which I find him possessed withal as by his Discourse is apparent and also to put the Protestants in mind how their cause begins to be Reproached Vilified and Despised even in their own Land publickly in the Streets of their chief City which hath not been the like for above an Hundred Years And this is the End of my pursuing Semper Iidem with this Answer and I shall not much enlarge further only in the 11th Page there is one Passage worth observing There is instanced one Richard Woodman of Sussex who affirmed That he had the Spirit of God and can prove said he by the Scriptures that Paul had the Spirit of God as I my self and all God's Elect have Now saith Semper Iidem No Arguments nor Reasons could reclaim him from his Errors and so he was Burnt at Lewis because he said He had the Spirit of God and could prove that Paul had it Answ. There its manifest that this Martyr suffered for Truth and Righteousness sake as a Saint and Servant of God and for witnessing the Truth according to the Scripture which saith If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his which is manifest in the Scriptures that all that are Christ's and Members of his Church have and it is also manifest That the Papists have not the Spirit of God because they Burn such as do witness and testifie that they have it as here Semper Iidem hath given us an Instance that they Burn and Destroy such for Hereticks as say they have the Spirit of God he not believing that Paul had it but saith It is an Error to affirm it and yet this work seems now to be justified up and down London streets which is the double Iniquity and that which once many looked not to have seen that any being condemned and burned as Hereticks for saying They had the Spirit of God that this should be justified now in these Glorious Dayes of Light this seems almost incredible but that our Eyes behold it and causeth wonder in many what will be the Effect of such a bad sign appearing as a Justification of putting to Death the Innocent for no other Cause but in that he affirmed He had the Spirit of God And by this we learn to know how great the Ignorance Darkness and Blindness of the Church of Rome is and deserveth not the name of a Church if they be all of this mind to condemn men and Burn them for Hereticks for saying They have the Spirit of God and then an Hundred Years after justifie the doing of it to their shame and confusion let this be rehearsed who have themselves denyed that they have the Spirit of God and Condemning and Destroying others for saying they have it And this I leave to the Consideration of all the Protestants who must either deny that they have the Spirit of God or be Condemned and may be Killed as Hereticks for affirming it if so be the Church of Rome recover her desired Power and Pupose in England It s worthy to be minded while it may be 〈◊〉 lest the time come when it cannot be prevented And thus I have run through the main part of Semper Iidem and chiefly hinted at the principal Matters worthy to be taken notice of though much more might be said but that it is my property in all Cases to be as brief as may be for that is the best for the Understanding to contain what is spoken or written only shall not forget William Pryn who is stated in pag. 18. as one of our Modern Phanaticks I would not forget to mind him I say to answer his part and to clear himself if he can of the Aspertion of a Phanatick by which term he stands reviled though Semper Iidem fawneth upon him and flattereth with him and telleth him He is the only Person in this unhappy Paralel who hath given Testimony of his Reconcilement But what better is William Pryn for this Flattery I hope he is not yet reconciled to the Papists and become one of them if he be I desire he would let us know it and if he be not then Semper Iidem accounts him a Phanatick I shall say no further but shall leave him to answer for himself And now last of all for Conclusion I have some CONSIDERATIONS to present to the People of ENGLAND and particularly to the People of LONDON occasioned by the Publication of Semper Iidem 1. COnsider how the Ancient Martyrs as Wickliff Hawkes and Cranmer Latimer Ridley with many more who have been accounted by the Protestants themselves Famous for Piety and Faithfulness and Honourably esteemed Innocent Martyrs for their Witness-bearing against the Romish Idolatries and this for many years in these Kingdoms how I say they are now rendred Odious and Contemptible and Scorned and Slandered as Hereticks seditious factious Blasphemers and Phanaticks by the Author of Semper Iidem and this published openly through the Nation and up and down the Streets of London and this without rebuke from any in Authority that we know of I say this deserves serious Consideration That the Faithful Martyrs in their Day according to their Knowledge who were as the first Fathers of the Protestants-Church so called and did lay down their Lives and seal their Testimony with their Blood against the Idolatry of the then present Times and the Lives and Blood of these Men now to be made void and they that Martyred them justified as doing of Justice and they now reputed Hereticks and Phanaticks publickly this ought to be considered both in the Cause why it is thus and in the Effect of it if it be not restrained 2. Consider How that the generality of the People of England and London are reputed and stand under the present Reproach of being Phanaticks even all the People of England I say except the Papists not only the Separatists from the Church of England as Quakers Anabaptists Independents so called and
but it was not according to True Knowledge And thus the Iews were zealously performing that as their Duty and as out of a Good Conscience which the Lord required not at their hands and so they made Conscience to do that which the Lord required not and their Consciences were mis-led and not righly informed and as it was amongst the Iews in this case in the dayes of old so now is it amongst the Christians in the Apostacy their Consciences being mis-guided by a false spirit they are doing and performing the things in great Zeal and for the exercise of their Consciences which the Lord doth not require of them Thus do the Papists they do and practise the things in great Zeal and through a false Fear in their blind Consciences which things are in themselves Idolatry and not commanded nor required of the Lord as in many particulars I might shew even in many parts of their Worship and Religion which out of a Fear and blind Zeal and mis-guided Conscience they practise which is in it self but Idolatry and not required nor accepted of the Lord. And many things in relation to the Protestants Worship and amongst all the several false Sects upon Earth which are done and practised in great Zeal and out of a false Fear and as in pretence of a good Conscience and yet are things in themselves Idolatrous as done and practised by them And this comes to passe as I have said because the Conscience is mis-informed and a false spirit guides and rules in the exercise of Conscience and the understanding of the People is blinded and they know not but they do well though their minds are captivated and their minds and judgments in error and though there be a sincerity to God-wards and a desire of Him in the bottom among some People of all Forms and Sects and some of all are zealous towards God in their practices in their Religion and Worship yet among all People and the Churches that have been for many Generations there hath been great Error in Judgment and much blindness in mind and the Conscience falsly exercised towards God and the Superscription hath been To the Unknown God and He hath been ignorantly worshipped and the Spirit of the Lord hath not truly exercised Peoples Consciences nor guided their Zeal nor been Ruler in the Judgment And by this means the sincerity and humility towards God hath been eaten out and always quenched and the bare practice of things and profession of Religion in the outward appearance hath been more lookt at than the presence of God felt in the Practices and the Zeal hath been more for the performance of such things than for God purely enjoyed through them And thus it hath been through Christendom in the Apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles and true Churches Many have erred in their Judgments and the Zeal for God hath proceeded out of the error of Iudgments and out of mis-information of Conscience some other things than only the Spirit of God hath ruled in the Iudgment and been the exercise of Peoples Consciences And this is a hint of things about true Liberty of Conscience and about the Error in Iudgment and the blind Zeal in captivated sincerity Now it may be objected What is the only absolute Rule of the right Exercise of Conscience and when are Mens Consciences truly guided To this I answer The only chief and perfect Rule of the right Exercise of Conscience both to God and all men is The Spirit of Christ for it is only that which can truly guide the Conscience in Faith Doctrine and Worship and in all things towards God even the Spirit of Christ which is the gift of the Father it only leadeth into all Truth as it is written and all whose Consciences are guided and exercised by it are in unity and Peace in their Worship Doctrine and Religion for the Spirit of Christ is but one in it self and guideth the Conscience into the exercise of one Truth and Faith and in this same Spirit is true â—nion and Communion of SAINTS in Religion and Worship and this is manifest through the Scriptures for the Apostle exhorted To walk in the Spirit and by it and as many as walked by the Rule of the Spirit Peace be upon them and it is the Spirit of Christ the Everlasting Comforter that teacheth all Truth and the Holy Anointing of the Spirit that dwelt in the Saints taught them all things and they need no man to teach them but as the Anointing that dwelt in them And then are mens Consciences truly guided in all the Ways of Righteousness when the Spirit of God guides the Conscience and is the Rule of all Faith Doctrine and Practices So that Traditions of Men Prescriptions of Councils Antiquity of Time Commandments of Men nor Example of others without the Spirit of Christ cannot be the only true Rule of the Exercise of Conscience for all these things are changeable alterable and subject to variations and therefore cannot infallibly guide the Conscience in the Duty towards God nor rightly exercise the Conscience in Unity and Peace but while a Nation or Kingdom or People walk by the Rule of Traditions Prescriptions Commandments of Men Example of others or the like they err in Judgment in Faith Doctrine and Worship and are all divided in Contention about these matters because their Rule of Conscience and Judgment is doubtful and alterable and not infallible and therefore they have no perfect assurance of Gods acceptation to them in their Faith and Religion nor perfect Peace and Unity in their Faith and Worship But as the Rule of their Consciences in their Duty towards God is divers some make one thing and some another their Rule so are they divers and divided in what they hold profess and practice and are but of great Babylon in their Religion And because that something besides the Spirit of God exercises the Conscience therefore it is that here are so many Wayes and Sects of Religigion and kinds of Worship in Christendom and amongst Christians while the Spirit of Christ only is not the Rule of Iudgement and Exercise of Conscience to God and Man for the only perfect Rule of Conscience in the Exercise to God is the Spirit of Christ and not any other thing And now Whosoever shall persecute the Exercise of Conscience when guided by the Spirit of Christ such persecute Christ Jesus And this is Persecution for the Name of Christ when Sufferings are inflicted as Reproaches Imprisonment or whatsoever for the Exercise of Conscience towards God by his Spirit but and if any are persecuted for Religion-sake only so if that in such their Exercise of Religion they are not guided by the Spirit of Christ yet that suffering is a kind of Persecution also if I say the Suffering be only for and because of their Religions-sake and they walk Justly and Righteously as men so that as is signified about the middle of this Chapter
and yet all these have had the name of Christians and Church Members and Worshippers of God but yet are of many wayes of Worship holding different and contrary Principles of Faith and Doctrine and also of Worship and Church-Government and thus have Nations Cities and Countries been for many Ages and thus hath it been and is at this day amongst the Apostate Christians that want the Spirit of Christ to be their Rule of Knowledge of Iudgment and Worship and of their Faith and Practices in Religion And this is a shame to whole Christendom amongst whom the spirit of Antichrist hath entered which hath thus divided Nations Cities Neighbours and Brothers for all these Divisions about Religion amongst the Apostate Christians are of Antichrist and not of God it is that spirit of Antichrist that hath wrought all these Divisions and planted them in the minds of People 2dly Concerning the bad Effects of these Divisions in matters of Faith and Worship as I have said This Division in Religion hath begotten and brought forth very much Evil throughout the World much heart burning envy hard heartedness strife and contention between Kings and Rulers and between Nations between Cities between Neighbours and between Brothers this Division hath bad Effects amongst all these so that it hath brought forth much War and bloodshed between Kings and great Persecution between Rulers and their People and great Debate and Strife amongst Neighbours and Friends so that great Murders and losse of many Lives have been produced and brought forth upon this Quarrel about Difference in matters of Faith and Religion and Antichrist hath not only divided People in Iudgment but hath also Provoked People into rage and envy to the killing and destroying of one another and even that Division about Spiritual things begotten by Antichrist amongst false Christians hath been turned into personal enmity and brought forth in the end murdering and killing the bodies of Thousands when the original debate hath arisen about Church-Government or Points of Religion and this is the woful Effect that Division of Religion hath brought forth in all Christendom And all this Fruit and Effects as well as the Cause of it hath been of Antichrist and of the Dragon and the Devil throughout the World all this Persecution and spoyling of Goods Imprisoning of Persons taking away of Lives and Banishment and whatsoever Persecution otherwise that hath risen and been inflicted upon any for and because of Differences in Religion and about Faith and Worship all this hath been of Antichrist and even all Laws made for that end and all Executors of such Laws and all Penalties of such Laws and all Wars and Bloodshed whatsoever that have ensued only and upon the account of Differences in Religion that being the first and the only ground of the Quarrel All this hath been of Antichrist and it came out of the bottomless Pit and never rose from the Spirit of God but from the Antichristian spirit of Envy and Wickedness that hath first divided People about matters of Faith and Religion and then Provoked them to envy and malice stirring up Kings to fight one against another that was not of their Religion but different and contrary to it And so the hearts of Rulers have been stirred up to persecute all under them that were different contrary in matters of Faith Worship and Religion and this the spirit of Antichrist hath effected throughout Christendom and so each King that hath been strongest would maintain the Principles of his Faith and the Practice of Religion according to his own Conceit in his Dominions And thus hath Religion Worships and Church-Government been set up stood amongst Apostate Christians throughout the World by Force and Power and by violent Laws and through Persecutions and Murders and all this hath been by the spirit of Antichrist and the Spirit of God has had no hand in those matters for setting up and contriving of false Faith false Worship and false Church-Governments all this hath depended upon the Powers and Authorities of the Earth through many Ages and what Religion and Church-Government or Way of Worship that Kings or Queens have set up that only hath been promoted but all the rest Persecuted and restrained by force and violence and all this hath been of Antichrist And now to all ye that are of divers Judgments in matters of Faith and Worship in Religion this is a Caution to you all and I do warn you all in the presence of the living God that though ye be divided in the belief and practice of Spiritual things yet live in peace and unity with all men in all outward relations and do not envy nor hurt one anothers Persons though you are in difference about Religion yet suffer not that Difference to grow into persecuting or envying one anothers persons but seek to inform one another and instruct one another in the Spirit of Meekness and perswade one another out of that which is evil to that which is good by patience gentlèness and long-suffering and do not force one anothér by violence nor persecute one another neither by words evil-deeds nor actions but live in love to the persons every one of another and fight not with Persons nor kill one anothers Persons with carnal weapons about Religion but take the spiritual weapons war with the spirit against the evil one in one another and love persons though they are enemies this is Christs Doctrine neâ—er hereafter let your divisions about Spiritual things grow into personal quarrels to the envying or killing one another And this is a Charge to you all in the presence of the living God Lastly The Means and Way to be reconciled and to come out of all Division and Strife and to come into Peace with God and one with another about Faith and Church-Government is by the Spirit of God and every one of you in particular must receive the Spirit of Christ that it may work in every one of your hearts true Faith and teach every one of you the true Worship of God and the way of Doctrine and true Church-Government it is the Spirit of Christ in every one both male and female that must reconcile and bring into unity with God and one with another in all Spiritual things for it is that which is the bond of peace and love among true Christians and it is that which reconciles Peoples hearts into oneness And if you receive that Spirit every particular person of you it will bring you to be of onâ— Faith of one Worship and then your Doctrine and Church-Government will agree if you receive the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures it will work in you the same Faith and lead you in the same way of Worship which the Scriptures speak of and then you will cease taking up Conceits and making Imitations of Church-Governments from the Letter but the same Spirit will work in your hearts Faith and Knowledge in the fulfilling of the
Scriptures and this is true Christianity and the other is the way of all Apostate Christians all Imitations from the Letter without the Spirit as gave it forth for there is a great deal of difference between making a Conformity in the Imitation of a Worship and Church-Government from the Scriptures without the Spirit and between the Spirits teaching and leading into the same Truth and same Worship and Church-Government which the Scriptures speak of the one is of Christ and is in unity peace and everlasting fellowship the other is of Antichrist and is in division strife and contention so you must all wait for the Spirit of Truth that you may receive it to work in your hearts to teach you and lead you or else you will never come to true Union and everlasting Fellowship with God and one with another neither can you be of one true Faith in one true way of Worship nor in one way of Church-Government except you receive the Spirit and walk in the Spirit And these be the words of the Lord God unto you all Now as concerning the Way of Uniformity in Faith and Church-Government imposed upon Nations and Countries and Cities by cruel Laws of Kings and Rulers as hath been the practice through Christendom to cause a whole Nation and Kingdom to bow and conform to such Principles of Faith and Worship and Church-Government according to the Will and Pleasure of a King or a Ruler such Uniformity and Union and Fellowship among Christians hath not been of Christ where people have walked by Imitation and conformed to the Commands of Men in such a Faith or to such a Worship or Church-Government this hath not been of God neither could this Unity stand or remain forever but it hath perished and will perish where-ever it is and that Faith and Worship and Church-Government which is so set up and so held will never save the Soul nor comfort it but it is blasted of God Whilst a Nation or a Kingdom or a People have Uniformity or hold Faith Worship or Religion either in the ignorance of their Consciences or contrary to their Consciences by the force of mens commandments and not by the perswasion of the Spirit of God in their own Consciences such Conformity I say is of Antichrist not of the Father neither can it stand in the Day of the Lord but the Fire of his Wrath will consume it All the apostate Christians in their uniformity of Faith Worship and Church-Government which is some other way or by some other means than only by the Spirit of God is of Antichrist and will be confounded for there is no true Unity and Fellowship in the ways of God and his Truth and Worship but what is in the spirit and that Unity will stand forever for it is in God not feigned neither because of the Love and Fear of this World as the other is That Uniformity in Faith and Worship which is forced upon people is all but Hypocrisie and Deceit both to God and man and God will judge it in the Imposers and Imposed Therefore no true Unity in Faith nor Worship nor in Religion but what is in and by the Spirit of God for as Christians come to divide themselves into many Ways and into divers Sects when they went from the Spirit of God and lost it and whilst they have been without the Spirit they have remained in Division Strife and Contention about Religion so now the means and way to come into Union and Fellowship and Faith is by receiving the Spirit of God again and not any otherwise and as Christians are brought again to receive this Spirit and walk therein all Division and Strife about Religion will cease and the cursed Fruits Effects thereof will also wither and be no more but then Unity Peace Blessedness Everlasting Fellowship and Comfort with the Lord and one with another in all his Wayes will be witnessed amongst all People By a Servant of Truth E. B. The FIFTH GENERAL EPISTLE Being A Tender Salutation OF PERFECT LOVE Unto the Elect of God the Royal Seed the Saints of the Most High who have Believed the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ and Walk in the Light that hath enlightened every man that comes into the World IN the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ blessed forever the Tender Salutation of my Immortal Life is daily abounding towards you who are the true Flock of the Father's Love and Care who hath begotten you to himself by his Word that lives forever in us and with us that ye should be a People Chosen and Elected of him unto Eternal Blessings and to be a Praise and an Honour to him throughout the World by and through the vertue of his Life and Power and in the Fruits of his Spirit brought forth by you all who are the only Children of that Birth which is only the Lord's Well Dearly Beloved My Heart at this time is filled in the Father's Love with the dear Remembrance of you whom the Lord hath gathered with his Arm of Power and in his Spirit do I desire the encrease of all Mercies and Peace and Blessings unto you that you may be Rich and Strong and Wise and Mighty through the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving daily of his Grace may ever be preserved constant and faithful in the Heavenly Calling unto the End And forasmuch as the Lord hath began his Glorious Work in the midst of you and gathered you out of the Darkness and Ignorance and Unbelief of this World where some time your Converse hath been while ye knew not the Lord and raised you up into the Light and Power and Wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ having largely tasted of the same in the Experience of his Leadings through divers Operations and Manifestations of his Spirit so that many of you have attained to a good measure of Peace and Rest with the Lord in your inward Man Dearly Beloved seeing it is thus these things the Spirit of the Father in me travelleth to bring forth unto you for the End to Comfort you and to Confirm you and to Edifie you in the saving Truths of the Gospel of Peace 1. Consider what your former Estate hath been an Estate scattered like Sheep without a Shepherd some of you dispersed into one false kind of Profession of Religion and some into another walking in such Wayes as the Lord led you not in but ye were Driven from God into the pathes of Death and Darkness and were led by blind Watch-men in the Hypocrisie and false pretences towards God Honouring Him with the Lips while the Heart was far away this was the Condition of some of you and others of you were wallowing in the open Prophaneness of the Sinful World and such was your Estate wherein you were all Strangers to God and were without him in the World and served the spirit which leadeth Captive to Destruction and in that Way you were strayed even in the
of his truth so in conversion and regeneration that many can say the Way of the Lord is so made manifest that we look not for another nor are doubtful of the Way of Eternal Life therefore be established stedfast and constant in that way not easily moved nor tossed too and frô with men nor new Doctrines nor changeable things but approve your hearts in uprightness before the Lord by being faithful to the end faithful I say to be and do according to the measure of Light and Grace and Knowledge that God hath already committed to you that ye may not offend against the Grace of God but may glorifie the Lord in your Souls and Spirits being joyned in your hearts and married to the Living God and the Lord becomes Your Husband according to the Promise but if any be of a changeable Spirit such will receive Temptations and go out of the Covenant of God and abuse the gift of God if their heart be not meek and lowly and humble and perfect in the sight of God though there may be a taste of the Love of God yet there can be no assurance of it if the heart be not aright before the Lord and faithful and constant in his Truth and therefore all must wait to receive the assurance of Eternal Life in themselves even such an assurance of Life and Peace and Joy and Comfort that there can be no departing away being established in the Heir-ship never to loose the Crown Heirs of the power of God of his Wisdom of his Righteousness inheriters and Possessors of the Eternal Life that ye may dwell in the house forever not onely as Servants but as Sons not onely as such that have tasted of the Love of God but as such as are born Heirs thereof and must inherit the same forever Now dear Friends if this were my last unto You more then this the Lord hath not to say by me and last of all in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus I charge all the Saints to be faithfull to the Principles and Doctrines which Ye have heard and received and been taught of Christ through his Gospel Oh be not inconstant and unfaithful in those Principles and Doctrines which the Spirit of God hath perswaded your Consciences of the truth of for if any are unfaithful they deny the Lord of Life before men and must be denyed of him before the Father therefore let us put on strength and courage to be faithful and constant in life or death to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes and if we must suffer for our profession and practice of those truths which God hath perswaded our Consciences of the verity of we shall never be ashamed nor confounded before the Adversary though we gaom Tribulations Persecutions yea death it self for the Name of the Lord and his Truth yet we shall obtain the Crown of Glory which never fades away and verily all the Suffering and afflictions of this Present time are not worthy to be compared to that weight of Peace and comfort which is and shall be revealed amongst us And as concerning our Obedience to Government ever since we were a People Ye know what our Principle and Practise in that case hath been even to obey all men in all things either by doing or suffering if at any time ye are required to do any thing by any in Authority which is not agreeing but contrary to the Scriptures example of the Saints and the Spirit of Christ in your own consciences then ye are to suffer whatsoever if it be death it self rather then to obey and submit to the doing of that which is contrary to a good conscience this hath ever been our Principle and Practise since we were a People agreeing with the practise of the holy Prophets Apostles and Martyrs in all ages who rather did suffer grievous oppressions and persecutions then to obey any command of men in power by doing any thing contrary to the testimony of the Spirit of God in their own particulars let us all be like-minded this day not to do nor bend nor be in any wise contrary to the Spirit of Christ that dwels in us but rather suffer whatsoever may be imposed then to sin against that Light and knowledge of the Spirit of Christ which he hath given us but let us keep a clean heart and a pure Conscience to God-wards and therein we shall triumph over all in our inward Man though our outward man be afflicted and in this we shall have peace and comfort in God over all our Adversaries And as concerning your meetings the Lord hath given you the testimony of his Spirit in you for the verity and righteousness thereof though ye should suffer persecution for the same yet ye have the Spirit of Christ testifying in your hearts that this Way and Practise of meeting together as our practise hath been is of God and he Justifies us in the same and we have sufficient of assurance by the holy Spirit to stand faithful in that practise of assembling together to Worship God First we have the testimony of Scriptures and example of Saints in the Apostles daies to prove this practice of Meeting together The first Christians they met together in this manner and way as we do now they met in private houses and from house to house separate and apart from the Publique Synagogues and all other Sects and it is clear that we have the example of Saints and Scripture Proof for this our practise of meeting together 2. We have our own experience for these divers years how that the Spirit of the Lord hath moved our hearts to assemble together and the presence and power of the Lord Jesus Christ hath been amongst us and we have tasted of the goodness and love of the Lord being so met together how often hath the Lord met with us and his countenance shined upon us and our souls have been refreshed strengthened and comforted in this practise of meeting together these things are true and may confirm us in this practise of meeting together and to be faithful to the end 3. We have the full perswasions of the Spirit of God lively and fervent in our hearts at this moment that we ought not to neglect the Assembling of our selves together but that God requires it of us and it is his will that his People meet together to worship him in Spirit and Truth separate from all the world even in one Spirit and in the Name and power of Jesus I hope ye are all like-minded herein and that the Spirit of Christ perswades your Consciences in the Truth of that practise therefore be faithful unto God herein and sin not against the testimony of Scriptures and example of the first Christians nor against your own experience nor against the admonitions of the Servants of the Lord who are the first fruits unto God since the Apostacy and have again and again in the Name and Spirit of Christ exhorted you to meet
proceedings have been in the Enmity and Ignorance and not in the Power and Life of Jesus whereby it hath come to pass that many men hath been destroyed for the cause of which they have been more innocent then they that have destroyed them And thus by false Judgment and cruel proceedings in the matter of Heresie and Error many have been destroyed unjustly and the World filled with Enmity about difference in Religious matters and with Murders and Cruelties upon the false Judgments of men about Heresie and this is weighty to be truly considered a Case to be lamented and grieved for by the Righteous Oh! what strife in the Christian World hath been for Ages on this occasion each sort of People exclaiming against and persecuting others as Hereticks and seditious persons onely for difference in Judgment in Spiritual Cases and each particular person almost raging with fury and intending his Neighbours destruction and onely for being contrary-minded in point of Doctrine and Worship Oh! the view of these things and woful effects produced in the World for Ages in these occasions makes my heart grieve because of the destructions of men yea of the destruction of many upon wrongful judgments and proceedings on these occasions I am troubled I am troubled and ever since I have known the Right hand from the Left in God's matters my Soul often in the deep search of these things hath cryed out How woful are they And when shall it once be that these things shall be no more in the World but that every man may sit at rest and quiet with his God in the Way Faith and Practises of Righteousness as his heart is perswaded of and not be tossed with false Judgments cruel Afflictions and hard dealing because of his Judgment and Conscience in the belief and Knowledge of Heavenly Matters Thus hath my Spirit been framed with zeal against these things this imposing of Religion by force these procedings of killing and destroying men upon the account of Heresie these things my soul hath loathed and I am weary of them and my zeal is kindled against them Oh I when will the Rulers of this World learn Wisdom and forsake false Judgment and Oppression And when will it be that they will onely rule and judge for the Lord in their state and compass of Worldly affairs between man and man in the matters of outward wrongs and injuries And when will they leave it to the Lord to be Judge King and Ruler only in all the Cases of his spiritual Kingdom Then should it be happy and blessed unto men unto Kings and their Subjects to Rulers and their People and to all sorts of Persons if Judgment were onely ascribed unto God that he only might judge and determine of these Cases and punish men according to the desert of their Offences of Error then should it be well with them But in the mean time whilst men are judged and supposed to be Herericks and thereupon sentenced to Death Banishment or corporal Punishment for their supposed Errors sake in matters of Iudgment and Conscience Tribulation Misery Distractions and wofull Consequence will follow upon that work to Kings Rulers and People in every Nation and Countrey and no Peace true Comfort nor Happiness shall be in the midst of men And this is the Judgment of the Spirit of God in him who hath obtained favour from God to receive Knowledge and Understanding in these matters He that can receive this let him CHAP. III. Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceiveableness What he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and What his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom 1. THese things are great Mysteries and though in the World they are very much abounding and extant throughout all Nations yet for the most part unknown unto the World and not discovered among the sons of men but secretly hidden and veiled under false covers and in much deceivableness dwelling and working upon Earth in the deep Mysteries of Iniquity to the deceiving of multitudes of People who are indeed of Antichrist among whom he dwells appears rules reigns and hath his Authority and Government and yet they know it not nor do they discern him in his Wayes and Works though they are under his Power and subjects of his Kingdom such indeed is the Mystery of Antichrist his hidden false covered pathes in which he works and walks amongst the Sons of men in the World that he easily beguiles and betrays men and deceiveth them unto perdition while yet they know not that they are beguiled and deceived but think they are altogether well and do well and are in the way of Salvation being led of that wicked one and blinded by him and are bewitched into the false faith and deceivable pretence of goodness righteousness holiness and sanctity as if they were indeed Members of the true Church and Saints of the Most High and had a right to Eternal Life and were the very Sons and Servants of the Almighty wher indeed and in Truth they are yet in the estate of Enmity against God in the Degeneration and Bondage of Corruption unconverted and unsanctified and Sinners and Ungodly the very Children of the Devil and Servants of unrighteousness and have no assurance nor right unto the Kingdom of God to rest in his Peace and Glory Such I say is the working of Antichrist that he appears to be in the World contrary to what he truly is in his own beeing and nature and deceives men and People into the apprehensions and conceits of what they are not even contrary to what they are in their present State and Standing even so deep and Mysterious is Antichrist in himself and in his working among the Children of men 2. That there is such a Man or Spirit in the World as Antichrist this is not doubtfull but confessed by all and proved by the Scriptures for the Apostle wrot to the Church They had heard that Antichrist should come and even now saith he are there many Antichrists come into the World 1 John 2. 18. and also 2 John verse 7. saith he For many Deceivers are entred into the World and this is a Deceiver and an Antichrist c. and 2 Thes. 2. the Apostle speaks of the Man of Sin and of the Son of Perdition that should be revealed in the World and should exalt himself above all that is called God These with many other Scriptures do prove that there is such a thing in the World already come into the World and now dwelling and walking in the World as Antichrist Man of Sin and Son of Perdition and as I said 't is confessed by all that there is an Antichrist such a Man or Spirit now extant in the World though there are great Debates and Contentions amongst many called Christians what this Antichrist is and who he is some holding one thing and some another about him and also
the World at this day and through all Christian Nations there is a great Cry concerning False Prophets and Deceivers each one Sort and Sect of People accusing and charging the Teachers and Ministers that are of others and not of their Way to be Deceivers and false Prophets Thus the Papists cry against the Protestant Ministers and the Protestant Ministers do the like by the Papists each one sort of people cryes the like against the Ministers of the others And without all controversie there are in the Christian-World so called and in these Kingdoms many false Prophets and Deceivers even at this day and hath been for many Ages since the dayes of the Apostles And the World and Nations and Multitudes have been deceived into the way of Error through the means of the Deceivers who have done much Hurt in the World by their Divinations and Antichristian-wayes that they have walked in But though it is acknowledged by all sorts of Christians That there are and have been many Deceivers and false Prophets yet the great Controversie is at this day Who are the Deceivers and false Prophets seeing as I have said that every sort of Men are accusing others to be such But now it remains to be sought out and that carefully by all who are the Deceivers and false Prophets whether Papists Ministers or Protestant Ministers or whether any others and who such are in this day Now therefore for this very End that it may be made manifest unto all who the Deceivers are and that they may be turned from and their Wayes eschewed by all People thus I try them and bring them to right and true Judgment and shall not charge the Papists the Protestants or any others by their Name or because of their Name that therefore they are Deceivers But seeing that all sorts of Christians do profess the Scriptures and that they own them Therefore according to the Scriptures and by the Spirit of God I shall lay both Papists and Protestants and all others to the Line of Judgment by the Rule of Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them and if Papists Protestants or whose Ministers soever come under the Judgment of that Rule they shall be concluded by the Rule of the Spirit of God and the Scriptures to be false Prophets and Deceivers Therefore come out Papists Protestants Anabaptists Quakers and all others come forth and hear your Tryal and receive your Judgment First of all It is concluded and that I hope by all reasonable men That whosoever they are at this day through the World whether Papists or Protestants so called or whoever that shall be found walking by the same spirit and in the same Wayes and doing the same things that the false Prophets of Israel did in the dayes of old and that the false Brethren and false Teachers among the Churches of the Christians in the Apostles dayes walked in and followed such may at this day be adjudged deemed and taken to be false Prophets and false Teachers Deceivers and Seducers and this without respect to any Name or Title whatsoever that they bear in their Religion And this is the Rule of Tryal and Judgment in which I may Justly and Righteously proceed 1. They were false Prophets and Deceivers in the dayes of the true Prophets Isa. 56. 11. That were Greedy Dumb Dogs which could never have enough and that sought every one of them for their Gain from their Quarter and that Preached for Hire and Divined for Money Mic. 3. 11. The Priests that Taught for Hire and the Prophets that Divined for Money against such as these Isaiah and Micah cryed and that by the Spirit of the Lord being commanded of him so to do Now whosoever whether Papists or Protestants of any sort Independents Presbyterians Quakers or any other that have a Quarter from whence they seek their Gain for Preaching and Teach for Hire and have Hire for Teaching viz. Tythes or Sums of Money and Divine for Money such whatsoever they be without respect of their Names or Professions walk by the same spirit and in the same way and do the same things as the false Prophets did and are false Prophets and Deceivers And therefore all People it is left to the Witness of God in your Consciences and that you may give Witness in this Case who are they now and where they are that can never have enough but are greedy after Gain and Covetous and that seek for Gain from their Quarters or Portions of a Country or City and where are they now and who is it that Preach for Hire and Divine for Money that take so much Money or Gifts by the Year or Moneth for Preaching who is it or who are they now that walk in these Wayes such whoever they be whether Papists Protestants Sectaries so called are false Prophets and Deceivers 2. They were false Prophets and Deceivers That stood not in the Counsel of the Lord and that did not turn People from their Iniquities and Evil Wayes but spake a Vision of their own Hearts and not from the Mouth of the Lord And that cryed Peace to them that walked Wickedly and Prophesied Lyes and used their Tongues and said The Lord saith it whenas the Lord had not spoken to them and that seduced the People by crying Peace when there was no Peace and saw Vanity and spokâ— Vanity and Lyes in the dayes of the true Prophets I say such were false Prophets and Deceivers Now whosoever whether Papists or Protestants or any others that do not stand in the Counsel of God and that do not turn People from their Iniquities and their Evil Wayes but speak a Vision of their own Hearts and not from the Mouth of the Lord and that cry Peace to them that walk wickedly that prophecy Lyes and use their Tongues when the Lord hath not spoken to them and that seduce People by crying Peace when there is no Peace and that builds the Wall and daubs it with untempered Mortar and that do not Profit the People at all but cause them to err Such are false Prophets and Deceivers at this day wheresoever and whosoever without respect of Name or Title in their Profession Such now walk by the spirit of the false Prophets and are in the way of the Deceivers which the Lord sent true Prophets to cry against And now to all People of what Name soever it is left to the Witness of God in you all to give witness who they are now and where they are that are guilty hereof Who is it now that stand not in the Counsel of God and that do not turn People from their Iniquities that do not convert them to God by their preaching But speak what they have studied for even a Divination of their own Brain and not what they have received from God and that use their tongues and take other mens words the Words of Christ the Prophets and Apostles when as they have not the same Spirit of Christ and his
Apostles Nor have they heard the Voice of God speaking to them But take Chapter and Verse and say Hear the Word of the Lord when the Lord never spoke to them nor sent them Who is it now and where are they that are guilty hereof and that cry Peace to the Wicked when the Lord speaks no Peace to them and that are light vain persons and covetous and greedy persons and that see Vanity and daub with untempered Mortar that cry Peace unto People and say they shall have Peace by Christ while yet they kill Christ and are not Changed by Him Where are there such now by whom People are not converted to God although they preach time after time Let all People bring in their Witness For whosoever are such at this day whether they be Papists or Protestants Anabaptists or Quakers so called or whosoever Such I say are led by the spirit of the false Prophets and are in their way and practices and all such are to be judged deemed and taken for Antichrists Ministers false Prophets and Deceivers without respect of Persons or Titles of Religion 3. They were false Brethren and false Teachers that taught for filthy lucre that professed they knew God in words and in works denied him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate who had a Form of Godliness but denied the Power and were heady and high-minded men and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God that were ever teaching and never able to bring people to the knowledge of the Truth And such were false Prophets and false Teachers that through covetousness and feigned words did make Merchandize of People that beguiled unstable Souls and that had hearts exercised with covetous practices being out of the right way and following the way of Balaam who loved the Wages of unrighteousness These and such as these were Deceivers and false Teachers in the Apostles dayes Tit. 1. 11. 2 Tim. 3. 5 7. 2 Pet. chap. 2. Now whosoever whether Papists or Protestants or of what Sect soever they be that do these things that teach for filthy lucre that profess God in words but in works deny him and that live wickedly and are disobedient to God and have the Form of Godliness but want the Power and are heady and high-minded men and love pleasures under whom people are ever learning but not able to come to the knowledge of the Truth and that through Covetousness and feigned words make Merchandize of people that are unstable men and do exercise themselves in covetous practices and are not in the right way but do follow the way of Balaam who loved unrighteous Wages Whosoever are such whether they be Papists or Protestants or Quakers or whomsoever they be they follow the Spirit of the false Prophets and are in the way of the false Teachers and are Ministers of Antichrist even false Prophets and Deceivers And now to all people whatsoever I appeal for Evidence to the Witness of God in your Consciences that you may judge in this case Where are they now and who is it are there not some such present amongst you this day in your Cities and Towns and Countries even such as teach for filthy lucre that will preach where they can get gain for preaching but not otherwise and that Profess God and Christ with their lips and shew much love but deny God in works who live unholy lives and in evil wayes and give bad Examples to People and that are reprobate to good works and that have the Form of Godliness but not the Power and that are heady and high-minded and ambitious persons and that are teaching many years together and People cannot come to the knowledge of the Truth by them but are alwayes ignorant and wicked And do not your Teachers exercise covetous practices among you and go in the way of Balaam for Gifts and Rewards viz so much for a Sermon and for a years Preaching Such who are made Ministers by man and not by the Lord and who do not profit the People at all Whosoever they are that are such now in this Age are False Prophets and Deceivers and follow the spirit and walk in the steps of the Deceivers of old and whosoever they are whether Papists Protestants or any others they may lawfully be taken judged and deemed to be false Prophets Ministers of Antichrist and Deceivers 4. The false Prophets and Deceivers in the dayes of old were feigning and flattering men and cryed peace to the wicked and cryed Peace peace to every one that put into their mouthes but Prepared War against every one that did not Micah 3. 5. And they respected mens persons and held mens persons in Admiration because of Advantage Jude 16. Now whosoever whether Papists or Protestants or any else that are Feigners and Flatterers and that cry Peace to the Wicked and cry Peace to them that put into their Mouthes but are Bitter and Angry and Perverse against such as will not or cannot give them Hire and Money for Preaching and that respect mens Persons and turn every way from one kind of Worship to another and have mens Persons in Admiration for their own Gain and Advantage whoever are such now in this Age are false Prophets and Deceivers And therefore all People bring in your Evidence Who are such now and where are they that are flattering men that cry Peace to all that will give them Means and put into their Mouthes and that Admire the Persons of Great Men and that respect the Persons of Great Men for Advantage If there be any such now amongst you whether they be Papists or Protestants Anabaptists or Quakers so called you may justly take such and let such be deemed judged and reputed false Prophets Seducers and Ministers of Antichrist And now all People upon Earth try learn and examine your Teachers and Ministers lay them to the Line of Iudgment For if they are such as are here described if they bear these Marks and Fruits declared and if they follow the same spirit and do as the false Prophets of old did according as 't is declared in the Scriptures then may you justly judge them to be Deceivers and false Prophets and Ministers of Antichrist For whosoever they be that are amongst you as Preach for Hire and that have a Quarter from whence they seek their Gain and Divine for Money and go a Preaching for Gifts and Rewards and that teach for filthy Lucre and that are Covetous Persons Heady and High-minded Persons and Ambitious Men that do not profit the People at all nor turn them from sin by their Preaching and that Prophesie Lyes and that are Flatterers and Changeable Persons and will turn from one Way to another and have mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage Whosoever he be that is one of these above described who hath these Marks and Signs upon him of this Physiognomy of this Nature and Feature as before described wheresoever such a one shall be
be with you all Edw. Burroughs Underbarrow the 18th day of the 8th Moneth 1661. THE CASE Of the People called QUAKERS ONCE MORE Stated Published TO THE WORLD VVith the ACCUSATIONS charged upon them and their ANSWERS WE are an afflicted and Suffering People in these Kingdoms at this day Mocked Reproached Haled before Magistrates Violently abused and Imprisoned and much Hard-dealing exercised upon us This is apparently visible to all people and needs no further Proof But whether these Afflictions and Sufferings Imprisonments and Hard-dealing be Just or Unjust according to our Deserts or out of the Malice and Enmity of our Adversaries this is the Question to be enquired into Unjust and Unrighteous and out of Malice and Enmity and not of true Desert say we are these Sufferings imposed on us But Justly and according to Desert and the Laws of the Land say our Adversaries Who shall be judge in the Case between us Even the Law of God the Gospel of Christ the Scriptures of Truth the Example of Primitive Christians our Neighbours and the Witness in every Mans Conscience and to the Judgment of all these we appeal and shall abide their Sentence First We are Accused of an Heinous Crime and as if we deserved the greatest Punishments Because we are Dissenting and Differing from the Church of England and cannot Conform to all Her Worships and Ceremonies therefore are we said to be Hereticks Because holding and practizing Different Things from Her c. Plea First The Scriptures of Truth which are according to both Law and Gospel do say and Judge That they who sometimes did Dissent and Differ from some of the Church of Christ in some Principles and Practices and could not practice in all things what some others did as Romans 14. where it is signified That some of the Church of Christ believed they might eat All Things some others of the Church did eat Hearbs some esteemed One day above Another others esteemed Every day Alike this kind of dissenting and difference about Meats and Dayes and Ceremonies were amongst the Members of the True Church but What is the Judgment of Scripture in this case of Difference amongst them Not that the Dissenters one from another should be Punished and Imprisoned and Banished but ver 5. Let every man be perswaded in his own mind And One was not so much as to Judge Another in this case of Difference and Dissenting much less to Imprison one another for that Cause And in Phil. 3. 15. it is there signified That if any persons were dissenting and different in Judgment or in the growth in Grace from the rest of the Church every one was to walk in that measure of Truth as he had attained to And if any were otherwise-minded viz. Different in the Growth in the Grace of God then God should reveal the same unto them And notwithstanding their difference in Judgment whether in cases Substantial or Ceremonial yet they were still to be in Love and Unity and walk in their measures to which they had atained and they were not to be Imprisoned and persecuted as we are at this day Hence observe That the Judgment of Scriptures which the Law of God and Gospel of Christ are according to is clear for us and against them that hate us that imprison us and afflict us for dissenting and differing in some Doctrines and Practices from the Church of England But Secondly If we were indeed Hereticks and Erroneous People suppose so which never yet was truly proved of us nor can be What Judgment do the Scriptures which are according to the Law of God and Gospel of Christ give in that case Not that we should be thus imprisoned and Afflicted with corporal punishments but according to Titus Tit. 3 10 11. we should first be Admonished in Love and Exhorted once and again and then if we gain-say and will not hear Reproof to be Rejected cast Out and Denyed of the Assembly of Saints but not imprisoned and banished and according to 1 Cor. 5. where it is signified That some in the denomination of the Church did Offend against Christ and the Church and were Hereticks and Dissenters because of their Evil deeds from the True Church yet these were not to be imprisoned and persecuted in their persons but delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the Flesh that the Spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord they were to be Spiritually dealt withal and they were to be cast out into the Wicked World anong the Ungodly to have their portion from God with the Wicked to be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the Flesh that it might be destroyed and the Spirit saved in the Day of the Lord. So if we were indeed such as these were Dissenters and in Difference from the true Church because of some Wickedness yet the Judgment of Scriptures are against our Enemies in this Case who persecute and imprison us for thus it ought not to be done unto us if the Church of England were the true Church of Christ and we in difference from her by False Principles or Evil Conversation or any thing else Thus you see the Judgement of the Scriptures and of the Law of God and Gospel of Christ is against our Persecutors Thirdly But suppose we doubt That the Church of England and its Ordinances Discipline its Worship and Ceremonies be not according to the Scriptures of Truth but are in the Form of Godliness without the Power suppose we in Conscience believe this and think we can prove it which is the very truth of the Case and therefore do deny Conformity to her lest we should sin against God and wrong our own Consciences at least as we believe What Judgment doth the Law of God and Gospel of Christ give in this Case We are Exhorted and Comanded in Scripture 2 Tim. 3. From Covetous Men and Proud Men Lovers of themselves false Accusers Despisers of them that are Good High-minded Men and Lovers of Pleasures they that have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power from all such we are to turn away And therefore we believe we are Justified by the Scriptures in turning away for these divers years past and till we be otherwise perswaded by sound Doctrine from the Ministry and Churches that are in England or lately have been and sound Reason hath not been yet shewed us to the contrary by you because they are such as the Scriptures exhort us to turn away from and because we have judged that they have had the Form of Godliness but not the Power so we are not to be imprisoned and persecuted though we differ and dissent and turn away from all them that are Covetous Proud Boasters Lovers of themselves Despisers of them that are Good High minded Men and such as have a form of godliness but not the Power But we are Judged Just and our Case not condemned by the Law of God and Gospel of Christ and by the holy
Scriptures but rather such as inflict Sufferings upon us And for any of our Principles and Doctrines that we hold we deserve no punishment nor persecution because hereof for we testify before God Angels and Men That we hold and maintain no principles of Religion nor practice of Worship nor Doctrines of Gospel but what are according to Scriptures of Truth And we are ready to be tryed and proved in that case and to bring the matter to Issue in fair proceedings with any man that shall object the contrary And thus the Judgment of Scriptures are for us as we suppose at least and if we are in Errour either by denying any thing on the one hand or affirming any thing on the other we have not been hitherto well Proceeded against in order to our Conviction Secondly We are accused as for a great Crime and Imprisoned because we meet together in the Name and Power of Iesus Christ to wait upon him and to Worship him in Spirit and Truth in Prayer to God and Exhortations one to another to Righteousness and Holiness But what Iudgment doth the Law and Gospel and holy Scriptures give and our Neighbours also between us in this Case Le ts come all to their Barr and receive Iust Sentence Plea First The Judgment of God's Law Christ's Gospel and holy Scriptures are not against our meeting together but on the contrary do command us and Exhort us with promises of blessings to meet together in the Worship of God and to wait upon him And it was the practice of the primitive Christians to assemble themselves together in that form and manner as we do at this day to wit in a private manner and separate from the multitude and all the Iews Synagogues as in Acts 1. 17. The Saints and Disciples both Men and Women to the number of one hundred and twenty which were far more then five went into an upper Chamber being a private place and no publique Synagogue and their waited upon the Lord in Prayer and Supplication according as we do at this day Thus the Scriptures justify the way and manner of our Meetings and condemns them not Again in Acts 20. 8. the Saints and Disciples were gathered together in an upper Chamber and Paul Preached unto them until mid-night Here was a private Meeting far above the number of five and out of any Publick Synagogues and Christ Iesus said Where two or three are met together in my Name there I am in the midct of them And He and his Disciples often met together in private places apart from the Jews publick Worships sometimes in a Ship and sometimes in Desarts and on the Mountains and in particular Houses and Preached and Prayed this the Scriptures Prove And also in Heb. 10. 25. we are expresly commanded not to neglect the Assembling of our selves together but to exhort one another and so much the more as the day approached By all which Scriptures with many more that might be quoted it is Evident to all the World That our meeting together for the Worship of God in that form and manner as Practised by us is according to the Law of God the Gospel of Christ Jesus and the holy Scriptures And all these give Just Judgment for us and Justify us and therefore consequently condemn such as do violence to us for this practise of Meeting together for the Worship of God And thus though we are Accused and Imprisoned as Evil doers yet such our practise of meeting is manifestly according to the Law of God Gospel of Christ Scriptures Example of Saints and President of primitive Christians all which give Judgment for us Secondly What Judgment do our Neighbours give in this Case they say concerning our Meetings That they have known us to meet together in such manner for diverse years in their Towns and Villages and never knew nor understood of any harm or danger herein nor ever were any way prejudiced either in their Persons or Estates by our meetings The very witness of God in all our Neighbours do Testify and give Iudgment that our Meetings have alwayes been peaceable and quiet and that we come together in peace and good order and parted in the same and no person hath been harmed by such our Meetings enquire of the Nighbourhood and they will tell you they believe in their Consciences our Meetings are for good and have good effects and are not evil nor brings forth any evil to any And as for the manner of our Meeting and and sitting together it 's orderly and decently and of good report among men and for any Doctrine that ever was there held or heard by any none can truly accuse it to be either Error or Heresie or Sedition but on the contrary they know it witnesseth against all Sin and Iniquity and tends to the turning of people from Ungodliness and Unrighteousness to Truth and Holiness And many can tell this is effected by our Doctrine Preached in our Meetings and our Neighbours can witness that we part again in Peace and Good order and in convenient time and they can shew you they are not terrified nor the peace of the Land disturbed on our part by our Meetings which are in God's fear and to the Glory of his Name which all sober men know are according to the Law of God and Gospel and primitive Christians Example And thus our Neighbours give Judgment for us and in their Consciences do not Justify them that Imprison us for this matter of meeting together which Gods Law Gospel Scriptures and our Neighbours do thus clearly justifie Thirdly We are Accused as guilty of a heinous Crime and Imprisoned Because we refuse to Swear at all or take any Oath in any Case Plea First The Judgment of the Law of the New Testament of God and Gospel of Christ and Scriptures in this case is clear on our behalf As in the express Command of Christ in his Law and Scriptures Recorded Mat. 5. where he saith Swear not at all by Heaven nor Earth nor by Ierusalem nor by the Head but let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more comes of Evil. And again Iam. 5. the Apostle commandeth the Saints in these words Above all things my Brethren Swear not by Heaven nor Earth nor any other Oath And many holy Martyrs since the Apostles dayes did deny all Swearing Thus you see the Judgment of Christ Jesus and of the Gospel and of the Apostle and of Scriptures are so far from Condemning of us to Imprisonment and Banishment for our refusing to Swear that we are Commanded and Exhorted by them not to Swear at all and therefore consequently justify us in our refusing to Swear and thus give not Judgment for such as do Imprison and Persecute us for not Swearing Come to the Judgment of Christ his Gospel and holy Scriptures Let you and us appear together be fore their Judgment Seat whether they give judgment against us that deny all Swearing or
against you that Imprison us for that Cause And let the Lord God Angels and just Men give their Judgment in this Case we a poor Afflicted people do appeal to you for just Sentence of Judgment between us and our Opponents Secondly Let our Neighbours give their Judgment though we do refuse to take any Oath because of the Commands of Christ and his Gospel as aforesaid yet what harm hath this ever yet been to any of our Neighbours let them speak or what detriment ought this to be to any of them they will tell you Though we cannot formally take an Oath yet we are ready at all times to do the Truth and to speak it on all good occasions as much as if we did Swear upon a Book and they can trust us upon our words as much if not more then they can do any that Swear upon their Oaths and therefore they shall give judgment that according to their best knowledge we ought not to be Imprisoned and Banished though we cannot Swear formally upon a Book being the Truth is not suppressed nor yet the administration of justice ought to be obstructed for our refusing to Swear Thus the Neighbourhood bears witness for us and against such as deal hardly by us and Persecute us because hereof Fourthly We are accused as Heinous Offenders and imprisoned because 't is supposed We do not submit to obey the known Laws of the Land but break them and will not conform to the Church pay Tythes take Oaths leave meeting together c. though we know the Laws of the Land command these things Plea First As to submitting to all known Laws of the Land this is known to God and our Neighbours that our Principle and Practice is and ever hath been to submit to every Government and to submit to all Laws of men either by doing or by suffering as at this day we resist not the greatest of Afflictions and Tribulations that can be imposed on us and this is well known to our Neighbous and all People that we are submissive to all Laws of Men by patient Suffering without Resistance even when any Law requires any thing of us which we cannot perform for Conscience sake that Law we fulfil by patient suffering resisting no man noâ— rendring Evil for Evil to any And the Judgment of the Scriptures which are according to both Law and Gospel and the Presidents of Saints justifie us in this Case in chusing patiently to suffer the greatest Penalties of the Law rather than to obey by doing any such Law as requires things contrary to our pure Consciences as in the Example of the Three Children Dan. 3. who were commanded To fall down and worship the Golden Image at what time soever they heard the sound of the Musick upon the Penalty of being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace which Commandment they could not obey nor could Truth fall down to worship the Image but rather chused to suffer the Penalty of being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace which accordingly was done unto them Again in the Case of Daniel chap. 6. who was commanded To make no Petition to any God or man for Thirty Dayes save to King Darius upon the Penalty and Affliction of being cast into the Lyons Den But Daniel did rather chuse to suffer the Penalty to be cast into the Den of Lyons than to obey the Commandment and was cast into the Lyons Den. By these Examples of holy Men with many more that might be given out of the Scriptures 't is evident That Righteous Men will rather chuse to suffer than to obey any Law of Men contrary to their Consciences So the Law of God and Example of Saints and holy Scriptures give Judgment for us in this Case of rather chusing to suffer than to obey Laws contrary to our Consciences and consequently must needs condemn such that Persecute and Imprison us because they require Obedience of us in Things against our Consciences Secondly Though we do disobey Laws and cannot actively obey every Law of man when it requireth and commandeth things contrary to a good Conscience yet herein also are we justified by the Law of God Example of Saints and holy Scriptures and they give Judgement for us and consequently against our Enemies in this Case and in particular in the two Examples before mentioned in Daniel the Three Children were expresly commanded To fall down and worship the Golden Image and Daniel was also required by the King's Decree Not to pray to any God or Man save to King Darius yet all these Holy Men of God did absolutely disobey the Law and Decree so requiring of them and did contrary to the Commandment for the three Children did not how nor Daniel cease to pray to his God but prayed as at other times and yet were justified of God in so doing Also the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 4. 18. were commanded To Preach no more in the Name of Iesus but the Apostles did disobey their Commandment and went on and preached in the Spirit and Power of Christ contrary to the Commandment of the Rulers and appealed to them Whether it were not better to obey God than man Many Examples we might collect out of the Scriptures that the Servants of God did disobey the Commands of Kings and Rulers and could not obey by doing any Command contrary to God but rather choosed to suffer Afflictions and Death it self than to obey such Laws and Decrees as required any thing contrary to a pure Conscience and this is our case at this day we cannot obey by doing any thing against our Consciences but must break the Laws of men and disobey their Commandments rather than break the Law of God and sin against their own Consciences whatsoever we suffer because hereof and yet the Examples of Saints and Scriptures justifie us in this behalf And let all our Enemies cease to cry out Rebellious and Disobedient to Laws and Government for we are not such as do wilfully and obstinately disobey any Laws of Men but for Conscience sake and that we may not sin against God nor offend his Witness in us therefore we cannot obey Laws contrary to our Consciences whatsoeveâ— we suffer which we resist not nor rebel against any in this Case So that our Principles and Practices are to obey every Law and Government either by Doing or Suffering And though we disobey such Laws as are not according to the Law of God and rather do chose to suffer yet herein we are justified by the Law of God and the holy Scriptures Thirdly And as for our Conversations among men in respect of our daily walking and converse with them in our dealing in respect of Honesty and Faithfulness and Truth and Justness in Works and Words our Neighbours shall give Witness for us We will not justifie our selves 't is God that justifies us and the Law of God Gospel of Christ Scriptures Examples of Holy Men our
was in and this he shall witness with me to be true and against thee who would reproach the Way of Truth by him when the Book of Conscience is opened And whereas thou further sayest Their spirit will perswade them that they are not fallen from righteousness and would therefore justifie them I answer We are gathered up into righteousness and fallen from vanity and this the Spirit of God perswadeth us and witnesseth in us and for us by which onely we are justified freely and not by the works of the Law nor by any outward observance and herein thou also art a Lyar who sayst we are fallen from righteousness for even the righteousness of God is manifested to us by which we deny all your carnal outward observances by which you think to obtain life and righteousness Now in answer to thy sixth Particular which thou calls a heavy and sad offence which is a denying honour to men which thou sayst is the example of good men to which I do answer God hath commanded to honour him alone and not to how down to any Creature and thou hast brought many Scriptures to oppose the command of God and so art more fully made manifest to be an enemy unto him which would plead against him by that which is written from him pleading the example of good men which is no example to us to break the command of God no more then Davids example in comming whoredom and Iosephs example in swearing by the life of Pharoah is an example for any to act those things now and I do utterly deny that any of these Scriptures which thou hast cited will prove and maintain your heathenish custom in your deceitfull way of honouring one another to please the Devil in one another which is without the fear of God and it is a sad offence to none but the Devil because it weakens and disturbs his Kingdom of which thou art as is made manifest who pleads to uphold it from the Scripture but vain honour with flattering titles unto any man we do deny but yet we honour all men in the Lord and out of him we honour none to uphold the pride of man for God will bring it all down and lay it in the dust and exalt himself to reign over you all and whereas thou sayst how far are these men from the holy Writ To which I say and answer thou slanderously wouldst make us to appear odious in the sight of men but all the upright in heart will see thee and thy blindness and ignorance who bringst that Scripture where Christ in fulfilling the Law of God which he came to fulfil worshipped in the Temple to prove and maintain the worship of man Answ. O thou blind Pharisee and perverter of the Scripture God will plague thee thou enemy of his truth who perverts the Scripture to thy own destruction and art worse then the Pharisees who said he respected no mans person and they shall witness against thee and whereas thou speaks of honouring Father and Mother which thou sayest we deny in this our practice I answer I charge thee to be a Lyar for as I said we honour all men in the Lord and direct all Children and Servants to obey their Parents and Masters in the Lord and this many can witness for us which have more frequented our Assemblies then thou hast done but this we also testifie where the obedience to any man stands in opposition to God the obedience to God is rather to be chosen and herein he that will not hate Father or Mother for Christ sake is not worthy of him but thou carnal earthly man art pleading for the Kingdom of the Devil to honour man above God and I say how can you believe that seeks honour one of another your honour and your heathenish custom we testifie against yet unto every Ordinance of man we are subject for Conscience sake Now to that which you call the seventh mistake affording absolute perfection at one Instant in admitting of none but perfect men into conjunction Answ. It is a mistake in thee for such a word never proceeded from us I may say it is rather an absolute Lye invented by thee to make us odious then a mistake from us for thy heart is desperately wicked and thy torment is kindling by the Breath of the Almighty many which have heard us will testifie against thee for we say the Saints have their growth up into a perfect man in Christ as Christ himself had and we say also there is children and young men and fathers as the Apostle said but thou art not ashamed to utter thy Lies and Slanders which hundreds in this City will witness against thee for a Lyar and even the light in thy Conscience will accuse thee to thy face that thou hast imagined lyes and mischief upon thy bed against us and whereas thou bringst many Scriptures to prove thy slanders against us to be true to which I answer all the Scriptures we own and bear witness unto by that Spirit from which they were spoken but thee and thy spirit we deny for both you and it is of the Devil and thou hast devillishly added thy imaginations upon them and wrested them which I shall not now mention because I do deny the thing which thou assertest for its an absolute lye and do say unto thee God will reward thee thou slanderous tongue and whereas further thou sayest in our perfection we deny any man being under frailty or capableness to sin to be of our communion I answer here again thou art a Lyar these words were never uttered by us as thou hast set them down but I say he that sins is of the Devil and such we have no unity withal nor such hath no unity with God for no impure thing enters to him nor hath communion with him for whosoever works abomination is to be cast out and trodden in the winepress of his wrath where the portion of Lyars is among whom thou must receive thy reward for with such we have no union who are disobedient children but with him who in the least measure which he hath received from God walks up in the Light unto God we have unity and communion with him Thou sayst one of us told thee that which sinned could not be saved I answer it is out of the reach of thy wisdom and thy vulterous eye shall never see it I say as the Scripture saith The soul that sinneth must die and every man must die for his own iniquity if thou hast an ear thou mayst hear and further thou sayest that our Doctrine may appear to be utterly against the Scripture thou bringst Rom. 7. 23. where Paul was under the Law and saw a Law in the members warring against the Law of the mind I answer his Scripture we own and are ture Witnesses of it but there was also a time that the Law of the Spirit of Life had freed him from the Law of sin and death but
thy ignorance is made manifest who bringst one Scripture to oppose another and knowst not the conditions in thy self from which Paul spoke and so art ignorant of what he spoke for I say there is a time without the Law and a time under the Law and a time dead to the Law and not under it and all these states Paul witnessed which we also in our measures are witnesses of which thou knowst not in thy self and so wrests Pauls words And whereas thou sayest Yet let not them think that we by this doctrine nourish sin having brought many Scriptures to plead for sin I answer being guilty in thy self thou art afraid and hath a jealousie lest we should lay it to thy charge and truly concerning thee we think nothing in this matter for thy heart and the secrets of it is made manifest in the Eternal Light by which thou are comprehended and answered and by which God will eternal judge thee therefore repent lest the wrath of God overtake thee and thou be swept away with the Beesom of destruction who hath falsly accused and slandered us with lies and false reproaches but now it s the time that Pilate and Herod is made Friends and Gog and Magog is gathered together to compass the Camp of the Saints about and even the Priests and their Crew and the Anabaptists and their Crew and all Sects is combined against the Truth but God is with us and in him alone can we rejoyce over you all for ever and ever and in him make our boast all the day long for this is our heritage every tongue that riseth up in judgement against us shall be condemned for the Lord is our portion and even the stone which is become the head stone of the corner and thou Howet shalt be grinded to powder by it who hath bent thy bow to shoot at the righteous therefore consider what thou hast done and repent lest God tear thee in pieces and there be none to deliver By one who is zealous for the Name of the Lord of Hosts called EDWARD BURROUGH Answers to several Queries Put forth to the despised People called Quakers by Philip Bennett who calls himself a Minister of Christ but is found a Deceiver Also Answers to several other Queries put forth by Iohn Reeve who lives in the City of London who calls himself The last Messenger and Witness unto the true God but is found a false Witness and a Lyar and a Perverter of the right Way of God A Paper being received which was directed to Rich. Roper and to his Quaking Friend which words comes from the dark carnal mind quaking and trembling which the Saints and holy men of God witnessed we own and witness therefore we do deny thee and all thy dark Divinations WHereas thou Philip Bennett in thy Note which thou hast written to Roper in Answer to a Letter which he wrote to thee wherein he charges thee to be a Lyar and a false Accuser and charges thee to bring any man to witness what thou hast spoken by them whom thou sayest denyed that Christ that dyed at Ierusalem and who they were that denyed that Christ that suffered at Ierusalem or else acknowledge thy self to be a Slanderer and in thy Paper thou gives no Answer at all to these words but sayest thou callest the Congregation to witness but doth not mention one in all the Congregation that will witness it whereupon the Lye rests upon thy head and thou found to be the Lyar and the Slanderer and the false Accuser And whereas thou sayest thou hast sent queries concerning that matter thy queries makes thee manifest what thou art many of thy own Tribe and Generation if they saw thy queries would be ashamed both of thee and of thy queries for hundreds there are in the world that know nothing of the true and living God and yet would see thee and thy queries not to be worth answering yet lest thou shouldst boast in thy filthy ignorance and darkness and for clearing of the Truth to the simple Something in answer to them 1 Quer. Whether was the Word made flesh or the Son of God made of a Woman more or oftner then once Answ. In this first query thou hast manifested what thou art to all the Children of Light and where thou art and what spirit thou art of a Reprobate a child of Darkness thou art thou mightest have spared the other nineteen queries for in this query thy spirit is tryed and in the Eternal Light seen and known Thou askest whether the Word was made Flesh any more or oftner then once which makes it plainly manifest that thou knowest noâ—â—â—at thou askest and that thou dost not know nor canst not witness the Word to be made Flesh once but art one of the Antichrists and Deceivers which Iohn speaks of that are entred into the World which cannot confess Jesus Christ come in the flesh and therefore thou queries whether the Word was made Flesh any more or oftner than once which query comes from thy dark polluted mind who is out of the Light and a Stranger to the Life and without God in the world amongst the false Prophets Antichrists and Deceivers which are in the world and in the Light of Christ which condemns the world ye are all seen known and made manifest and are turned away from by these who dwell in the Light which Light condemns thee and all thy Generation eternally and the Word made flesh we witness which dwells amongst us and we behold his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father according to the Scripture whereby we witness thee and all thy Generation to be in the Sorcery and in the Witchcraft deceiving and betraying the Souls of the Simple the Light of Christ in thy Conscience will tell thee so for that thou must be obedient to and witness before thou witness the Word to be made flesh once for thou art Darkness it self and the Light in thy Conscience if thou wouldst let it rise will be thy condemnation and when thou canst witness the Word to be made flesh once then thou wilt know whether the Son of God was made of a Woman any more or oftner than once But thou art the Dragon that wouldst devour the Man-child which the Woman hath brought forth who shall rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron and her Child is caught up to God and to his Throne and thou the Dragon and thy Angels are cast out into the Earth and therefore dost thou persecute the Woman which hath brought forth the Man-child but thou art overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of his Testimony and for thy other nineteen queries thou hast conjured them up in thy black Art out of the Bottomless-pit which is to be turned into perdition if thou hadst an ear thou mightst hear or a eye thou mightst read but thou art blind 2 Quer. Whether did the Man Christ Iesus the Son of God slain in
appears in the World then he transforms into the Likeness and formal appearance of the Way of the Lord and his Truth and when the Devil cannot kill Christ so but that Christ will rise again appear and live for ever contrary to all the malice and enmity of the Devil then rather then he will submit to be no more he will transform himself and take upon him the Name of Christ of his Honour and Glory and profess him in words and seem a Friend to Christ and his Kingdom And this he doth that he may live still in the World and by deceiveableness beguile the sons of men into perpetual destruction 9. And the very work of Antichrist this day in the World is to deceive beguile seduce and betray the World and all mankind 't is his only work and calling as I may say to deceive 't is his nature and property to work deceitfully and thus it ever was with him it hath been his Property and his Work in all Ages and in every Age since the beginning of the World to deceive and beguile to lead men from God and to lead them into Perdition this I say hath ever been his work in the World and by the means aforesaid to wit by transforming and changing himself into the likeness of Righteousness and Verity and putting the pretence of Goodness Vertue and Holiness upon his Actions and Doings though never so evil and unrighteous he hath always I say by this means and in this way deceived the World by appearing as a Saint as a Well-doer as an Angel of Light pretending Wisdom Righteousness and Vertue and colouring his Deeds thereby as is proved in the Case of the first deceiving of Eve What said Satan to the Woman Not that I am such a one and do intend to deceive thee with Falsity but Thou shalt be as God Thou shalt be wise of thy self and know and be and do as God Here was a fair pretence by which he deceived the Woman And the false Prophets and false Apostles in the dayes of old did not deceive the World into an absolute denial of God and Christ and Truth but did deceive them into the false Profession of the same holding out the Form of Godliness without the Power and by feigned words and good Speeches did deceive the hearts of the Simple and by false Doctrine and Ordinances and Form of Religion did the Antichrist deceive the World in dayes past as he doth at this day For if he did appear to be as he is in his own nature and property a Devil Deceiver and wicked one a Leader to Perdition and Destruction and should vindicate himself as such and entice and tempt People as such then none would believe him nor follow his Wayes for none would willingly be destroyed But he appears not as such in the World but alwayes transforms himself into the Likeness of God and Goodness still pretending the same And by this means is he more capable to deceive mankind for he cannot so readily deceive and lead men to Perdition in his own proper Nature if he appear as he is such but therefore he appears contrary to what his own nature is and transforms himself And thus doth Antichrist deceive the Christian World so called at this day even by his false Wayes of Religion false Worship false Doctrine false Humility false Faith and false Church pretending Zeal and Sanctity and such like Herein and hereby generally doth Antichrist that Man of Sin deceive and beguile the World unto Perdition and Destruction Oh! how many thousands of Peoples of Nations and Countries are at this day deceived on this wise thinking they are in the Truth and true Way of Religion Faith and Worship professing and performing these things with much Zeal as if they were indeed the wayes and Ordinances of Christ when as they are but false feigned formal and of Antichrist and deceivable to the souls of men even Shews without Substance Forms without Life and Power of Antichrist and not of the true Christ. And thus and after this manner with the very likeness of Righteousness and appearance of Godliness and profession of Faith and duty to God hath Antichrist deceived the World and doth at this day delude Nations to the perdition of thousands And Antichrist doth not generally deceive men in his works and appearance as he is in his own Proper Nature but in his appearance and works transformed and changed into another likeness even into the likeness of Truth and Righteousness By this means and way Satan Antichrist and that Man of Sin doth delude and deceive the Nations of the World 10. What the Works of Antichrist are by what is said doth partly appear His Works are all deceivableness to deceive and delude the World to lead mankind captive in the wayes of sin and death unto the destruction of their souls and to be cruel and hard-hearted envious malicious and perverse a hater and persecutor of goodness and good men and to murder and work wickedness to do all evil and to oppose gain-say and deny all good This in general is the work of Antichrist though as to particulars I now intend not to mention saving as I have before shewed to impose upon Conscience in Religious matters by outward force and violence is a main principle work of Antichrist and to kill and destroy Persons on the account of Heresie and Error and to use violence and cruel impositions in Spiritual Cases contrary to the Spirit of Christ Jesus These are works and wayes of Antichrist which he brings forth in the World as also the promoting of all the false and Idolatrous Worships and false Church-Governments in the World and in short every evil work and word brought forth amongst the sons of men are the Works of the Devil and Antichrist which he seduceth the World into the working and doing of and to consider the state of the World as it is at this day and how it is deceived in many grievous and abominable wayes of Error Superstitions Idolatries and Wickedness it makes the hearts of the Righteous sad and mournful because of the deceivableness of the working of the Mystery of Iniquity of Antichrist that Man of Sin in the World who deceiveth Mankind with the appearance and shew of godliness and leads the Children of Men in the wayes of Ignorance Death Blindness and Error yet holds them under a false pwerswasion of safety and security as if they were in the right way and walked in the pathes of Happiness when indeed and in Truth they are beguiled and deceived and nigh unto the pathes of perdition Oh! how hath Antichrist prevailed in these latter Dayes since the dayes of the Apostles and deceived the World with the very Formal Profession and practice of such Doctrines and Things as the Apostles held and Practised in the Power of God in their dayes But now Antichrist he holds the Form in his False Spirit and hath the appearance and likeness of
Righteousness Truth Faith and Worship without the Power of God even likeness of the things that the Apostles and Saints held in the Power of God And hereby is the World deceived though Antichrist hath taught them to Plead Scriptures and Prove by Scriptures â—…t the Apostles did the same things and held the same Profession yet being now held and professed out of the Power of God and not in the same Spirit that the Apostles were in 't is but of Antichrist and deceivable and leads captive the souls of men into destruction Oh therefore that the World and all that dwel therein would consider the danger of that deceivable Spirit of Antichrist and how he deceiveth mankind and would turn from him and forsake the wayes and works of Antichrist that they may be saved and not destroyed Oh! all ye called Christians 't is time to consider what Spirit ye are of and what Spirit leads you and how ye may escape his delusions for the Day of the Lord is come and he is gathering People out of the wayes of Antichrist and setting them free from his cruel Bonds to serve the Lord in Liberty and Freedom of the Spirit of Christ Jesus and blessed are all they that witness this where Christ reigns and Antichrist is subdued with his works and fruits and discovered and destroyed by the Spirit of the Lord and the brightness of his Coming who comes to judge the World in Righteousness and Truth 11. These things are said in general of Antichrist Now it remains to be shewed What the Government of Antichrist is in it self and where it is in beeing and who the Subjects of his Kingdom are That Antichrist the Man of Sin hath a Government a Kingdom a Power an Authority a Rule and a Dominion which is indeed his Government this is not doubtful to any but acknowledged by all but what this Kingdom and Government is many are Ignorant Now the Kingdom and Government of Antichrist is not the Government and Authority of some particular man in some particular Countrey and Nation upon Earth distinct from all other persons and Nations as if such a particuler visible Kingdom and Authority were Antichrist's Government and none besides But the Authority Kingdom and Government of Antichrist is more invisible more hidden as it were more spiritual and undiscernable unto the sons of men then any visible outward Kingdom is And indeed the Kingdom of Antichrist is the Authority and Power of Spiritual Wickedness of Spiritual invisible Iniquity or the Rule and Dominion of the Son of Perdition of the Man of Sin exercised in the hearts and Spirits of all ungodly men This is the Kingdom and Government of Antichrist an Authority of Spiritual Wickedness a Power of the Mystery of Iniquity and of invisible prevailing of the Son of Perdition in and over the hearts of the Sons of men not onely of one person or in one Nation or Kingdom of the World but in all sinful persons and over all Nations of the Earth Antichrist's Government is such throughout Kingdoms of this World even a Spiritual Power of Wickedness a Dominion and Authority of the Mystery of Iniquity ruling and raigning in the hearts of many men even of all sinful men of all unjust men of all unconverted men through all Nations in the World So that it may not truly be said that Antichrist's Kingdom and Government is onely the particular Authority of any particular man in a particular Nation of the Earth and all others Men and Nations are free but it is as I have said the Authority Power and Rule of the Spirit of Wickedness of the Mystery of Iniquity in the hearts of all evil men in all Nations through the World And this is truly the Kingdom of Antichrist in it self 12. This Government is placed and set up and chiefly the place and beeing of it is not only in all Nations at large but in the Hearts even in particular Hearts of the Sons of men in the Heart and Inward Parts of man is the place where Antichrist's Government is his Authority Power and Dominion is in the Hearts of the Ungodly in the inward Parts of Transgressors in the Heart Antichrist that Man of Sin dwells and works according as it is written 2 Thess. 2. 9 10. speaking of the Man of Sin Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all lying Wonders and with all Deceivableness of Uurighteousness in them that perish His dwelling and working is in them that perish in the Ungodly in the Hypocrites in all â—…aters in all false Worshippers Thus it is manifest That the Government of Antichrist is in the Heart not only to one man in some Nations but in the Hearts of all such men mentioned in all the Kingdoms of the World even the Mystery of Iniquity the spiritual Wickedness the authority and power of that spirit that is against Christ and contrary to him which is the Rule Kingdom and Government of Antichrist dwelleth and worketh in the hearts of the Sons of men even like as Christ Jesus dwelleth and walketh in his Saints as it is written so accordingly doth Antichrist dwell and walk in all that are the Subjects of his Kingdom Yet notwithstanding the Government of Antichrist is in the hearts of men originally there as having got dominion and Power over the seed of God and placed it self in the heart which is its seat and where Christ should reign yet the Government of Antichrist is not so spiritual so hidden and invisible in the heart but that it appears outwardly and visibly in the actions and fruits of men so that the outward actions and works of men are 〈◊〉 and sinted with the spirit of Antichrist and his government apaears visible in Antichristian Ways and Works brought forth by men the Sinfulness of men the Hypocrisies of men the Idolatries of men and the false Principles and Doctrines of men which appear visibly are the Works of Antichrist and his Government stands in these things in these Works he Governs men and to the doing of them he leads and rules men by his authority and power which is in the Hearts of men And thus Antichrist's Government appears visible and outward and is in the outward Actions and Works of men to be seen in the World as well as the working of his Power and Authority is in the Heart inwardly And also Antichrist's Government is extended not only as first dwelling and working in the Hearts of the Ungodly nor secondly as over the Works of men particularly but over the Governments of many Nations and Countries in general is Antichrist's Power and Rule extended so that the Governments of the World are leavened and tasted with Antichristian-power and authority in many Nations even the spirit of Antichrist hath possessed many hearts many Works and not only so but many Governments amongst men and this hath appeared and broken forth visible in all the works of Unrighteousness Injustice Oppressions and Persecutions brought forth in